Chapter 203: Attaining the Inner-Outer Realm (2)

‘Ah!’

Once he heard that, a vivid memory resurfaced for Yong Hwarin.

After the energy of the Tai Chi Dantian formed the Realm of Self-Existence, it had suddenly poured out through the Laogong Point without any control. Because Seok Unjeong had screamed from being overwhelmed by the Moon Yin Energy, he had snapped out of his circulation of qi before experiencing the Inner-Outer Realm.

How regretful that moment had been.

But at the time, he hadn’t known whether it was a proper energy inducement. There was no one to ask, so he’d only pondered over it in many ways. Now, after hearing the Demonic Master's words, he realized that it hadn’t been a mistaken use of energy.

He had gained a great understanding—that all those states called Inner-Outer Realm, Realm of Emptiness, or Body-Nature Realm, were essentially the same. They were states where the internal energy tried to move outward and respond to Nature’s Energy.

‘If I diligently circulate my qi and blend my energy with Nature’s Energy, I’ll be able to achieve Protective Energy. Then, when facing a master of poison arts, I can fight cloaked in Protective Energy, preventing the venom from invading my body.’

It sounded simple, yet it was also incredibly difficult.

If he attained Protective Energy, he’d no longer be vulnerable to poison techniques and wouldn’t be forced to shrink back in battle.

Yong Hwarin, deeply impressed by the Demonic Master’s knowledge, asked a question.

‘Then, what if my opponent has also attained Protective Energy? How should I confront such an enemy?’

Upon hearing that, the Demonic Master couldn’t help but acknowledge that Yong Hwarin was indeed a sharp one.

To consider not just one’s own mastery, but also to anticipate how to counter it when wielded by an opponent—that required true intellect.

Considering multiple variables meant his mind worked quickly.

‘If one unfolds Protective Energy, then where do you think the internal energy comes from?’

‘That would differ depending on the cultivation technique.’

‘Yes, but even if it differs, it can be narrowed down to a few cases. Either the energy flows through the Laogong Point, or it exits through the mouth to form the Protective Energy. That means those spots become weak points. Occasionally, masters with highly developed Upper Dantian release energy through the Celestial Opening. If you observe just those areas, you can find their weak point.’

In other words, the tactic was to target the origin of their energy.

It might have seemed like a foolish question to some.

But whenever Yong Hwarin discussed martial arts with the Demonic Master, he resolved even the smallest doubts through questions like this.

Because the Demonic Master knew what no one else could teach, Yong Hwarin didn’t want to overlook even a single detail.

Soon, Yong Hwarin ended the conversation and focused on his qi circulation, aiming to enter the Inner-Outer Realm.

Thankfully, the Self-Revolving Inner Qi that had previously gone on a rampage was now lying dormant, so there was no interference in his Qi Circulation Training.

As he continued his practice, Yong Hwarin was once again struck by the benefits of attaining the Realm of Self-Existence.

Until now, he had always tried to operate his energy intentionally. Since he had to control the direction, it drained a lot of mental strength.

But now, when he simply left the energy alone, it naturally moved, gently caressing and healing the wounded parts of his body.

Without intentionally inducing the energy flow, his consciousness naturally slipped into a state of ego-lessness.

Falling into ego-lessness during qi circulation was theoretically possible, but practically, it was close to impossible.

Normally, one had to guide the energy consciously. If one truly lost themselves in ego-lessness, the energy could end up misdirected, causing Qi Deviation.

Therefore, ego-lessness was not something one could attain during energy circulation.

Yet at this moment, Yong Hwarin had indeed fallen into that state, contemplating the Inner-Outer Realm.

The power of the Three Gaps coursed through his entire body, amplified through the Tai Chi Dantian. That power twisted and unraveled like a seductive cat, sweeping across his entire body, and then suddenly flowed into both hands’ Laogong Points.

Energy flowed out through the Laogong Points without showing any signs of stopping.

‘Damn it, at this rate it’ll all pour out.’

Panic surged within him. He feared the energy might leave and never return.

But he remembered the Demonic Master’s words and didn’t forcefully block it.

Then, just like a bottomless jar, the energy drained out entirely.

As the energy left his body, a hollow sensation overcame him—an emotion he had never felt before.

His body felt as light as a feather, as if floating in mid-air.

Because he felt like he was sitting on a cloud, he could no longer feel the weight of his body.

‘Ah… Now I understand why the Inner-Outer Realm is also called the Realm of Emptiness. The enlightened one must have been describing exactly what they felt after attaining this. It wasn’t a metaphor. They literally meant what they felt.’

At last, having truly entered the Inner-Outer Realm, Yong Hwarin felt the energy that had flowed outside blending with unfamiliar energies.

Just because the energy had left his body didn’t mean he could no longer sense it.

Now that he could feel it vividly, every hair on his body seemed to stand on end.

‘This sensation… it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the feeling of an immortal.’

It wasn’t something felt through sight or touch—it was a sense received through energy perception, and it was extraordinarily unique.

Yong Hwarin thought there was no proper way to describe it in words. If anything, there was only one thing that came close.

It felt like the overwhelming sensation of being deep inside a woman’s body.

It reminded him of the nervousness he felt the first time he caressed the body of the woman he loved. That blissful feeling of energy harmonizing with Nature’s Energy was overwhelming.

As the expanding energy blended with Nature’s Energy, Yong Hwarin infused it with intention and summoned it back.

Then, a strange phenomenon began around him.

As he sat cross-legged, a heatwave-like aura rose around him, gradually gathering into his body.

The energy began to wrap around Yong Hwarin’s body like a silkworm weaving a cocoon.

Though not visible to the eye, the shimmering waves of energy formed that exact shape.

In his ego-less state, Yong Hwarin could vividly feel the energy, now mingled with Nature’s Energy, enveloping his body.

‘Is this it? The so-called Protective Energy!’

Yong Hwarin realized, almost unconsciously, that he had achieved Protective Energy.

Then, perhaps because he had stimulated his Upper Dantian while in the Ego-less State, the Demonic Master awoke and spoke.

‘Hahaha, I’ve never seen a brat like you awaken Protective Energy at your age. I hate to admit it, but you’re the most naturally gifted since me, the Demonic Master. And yet you wasted your life in the Upper World—how much agony that must’ve caused your body. With a body like that, you couldn’t even train in martial arts, so it was as if you were tormenting yourself. Maybe that’s even why your body swelled for no apparent reason.’

Yong Hwarin had never once thought of himself as particularly gifted.

He’d told Mo Biyoung and the Violent Dragon Twin Swords that he secretly trained in martial arts for pride’s sake, but in truth, he had filled the gap in his lacking natural talent with the fifty years of knowledge and experience from his past life.

While learning martial arts, he came to understand that his aptitude wasn’t as low as he’d assumed—but still, he hadn’t thought it remarkable enough to earn the Demonic Master’s praise.

‘I didn’t know myself at all.’

The Demonic Master said,

‘Protective Energy doesn’t just block poison. It has many other useful effects. But that’s something you’ll have to realize through experience.’

‘Elder, where did you use Protective Energy?’

Yong Hwarin was curious where the Demonic Master had used Protective Energy.

‘I used it to seduce women.’

‘Pardon? Is that even possible?’

‘You’d know if you thought about it a little. Like I said, Protective Energy must mix with Nature’s Energy to function. So when you’re cloaked in Protective Energy, even if it’s invisible to the eye, others feel drawn to you. With Nature’s Energy enveloping your body, people are naturally attracted to that sensation. Nature’s Energy lets you resonate with the other person’s energy.’

‘Ah! That… might actually make sense. But wouldn’t using such a great ability just to flirt with women be a disservice to Protective Energy?’

‘People risk their lives to win over women. So what’s the big deal about using a little Protective Energy?’

In his previous life, Yong Hwarin had found it strange how top-level masters seemed to attract beauties with ease.

He had brushed it off, thinking the women were just drawn to the fame of martial artists.

But hearing this, he now thought that if a martial artist was capable of forming Protective Energy, they might indeed be using it to charm women.

Even if they didn’t actively use it for that purpose, people could still be drawn to the purified energy blended with Nature’s Energy.

‘Hahaha, with this I could probably conquer all the beauties in the world.’

And it wasn’t entirely wrong.

‘But would a martial artist who has reached the level of Protective Energy really use it just to attract women? You know this too. Unless you're obsessed with martial arts, you’ll never attain Protective Energy. And those obsessed with martial arts see women as distractions. Beauties don’t even register in their sight.’

Indeed, Yong Hwarin hadn’t considered using Protective Energy to seduce women either.

‘But from now on, troubles with women may grow worse. So don’t go smiling at women you don’t even have feelings for. The same goes for men. There may be people who want to follow you. So don’t use Protective Energy without a good reason. If you don’t want your life to become exhausting, save it for battle.’

Truly, the Demonic Master was not only a teacher of martial arts but also a mentor in life.

He explained everything in great detail, just like a master passing down his experience to a disciple.

Having completed his Qi Circulation Training, Yong Hwarin awoke with a much lighter body and mind—but the scene that greeted his eyes left his heart heavy.

Gam Heum and Go Ram were breathing like lifeless corpses, and even Seok Unjeong had not yet awakened.

The middle-aged Demonic Master was still immersed in Qi Circulation Training.

And seeing Eum Sajeok unsettled him further.

As soon as Yong Hwarin awoke from his training, Eum Sajeok stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

Judging by the crusted blood on his lips, he had coughed up blood several times.

And since only his eyes moved while the rest of him did not, it seemed the Demonic Master had sealed his Blood Channels.

The Blood Green Unit had been hiding around the manor.

Baekseom stood guard outside until Yong Hwarin awoke.

“Has it gotten this late already?”

The moment I had begun Qi Circulation Training was during the moonlit night, and now the sun was beginning to rise.

It seemed I had performed Qi Circulation Training all night without realizing how much time had passed.

Though I had spent the entire night in Qi Circulation Training, it only felt as if an hour or so had passed.

“Thank you.”

I was grateful to Baekseom, who had remained completely still while standing guard outside all that time.

Baekseom simply nodded slightly in response to my gratitude.

After I washed the blood off my body at the well in the manor, the Demonic Master awakened.

Having raised his Innate Qi to the limit, the Demonic Master looked ten years older.

Fortunately, he had calmed the Innate Qi again with another session of Qi Circulation Training. Had he not, he would have lost most of his cultivation.

As the Demonic Master regained consciousness, I began asking the questions I had been holding in.

“Please tell me about that man. I know he’s called the Third Young Master.”

“He’s called the Third Young Master, and his name is Eum Sajeok.”

“What exactly is he?”

I was truly curious about Eum Sajeok’s true identity.

He was one of those involved in the fall of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, and in some ways, he had played a part in pushing me toward death. There was no way I couldn’t be curious.

“I couldn’t properly grasp their identities either. Even when they gave me tasks, they always made sure I couldn’t see the full picture. It was difficult to even meet the people involved. That bastard never gave tasks that would expose their identity. However, while helping him carry out those tasks and watching the martial arts performed by their subordinates, I came to form a hypothesis.”

I knew that the Demonic Master's hypothesis could be trusted.

“What is it?”

“I pride myself on having mastered all the demonic martial arts. When I analyzed their techniques using all the martial arts I know, it seemed they were using the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon Sect, which had long vanished from the murim.”

At those words, Eum Sajeok’s eyes froze for a brief moment.

It was as if his eyes themselves confirmed the Demonic Master’s words.

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