assistirfilmes Chapter 178
Chapter 178
“...You said you wouldn’t leave.”
“...I-I almost said that.”
Seo-jun quickly changed the subject.
“There are a few things I wanted to ask about martial arts techniques. Could you spare some time later?”
“Of course... Feel free to visit me anytime.”
*****
Seo-jun, now unofficially serving as Chun-bong’s mental health counselor, was deep in thought.
‘Chun-bong’s condition isn’t great...’
It wasn’t surprising, really. If something could be shaken off so easily, it wouldn’t be called trauma.
But Seo-jun wasn’t an expert in mental health. He had no clue how to fix it.
What he did know, however, was martial arts—and he knew them well enough to be considered a master.
‘Once she reaches the Peak Level, things will get better.’
Balancing Essence (Jeong), Qi (Gi), and Spirit (Shin) wasn’t just some technical achievement—it influenced everything about a martial artist, including their mental state.
Seo-jun knew this firsthand. After reaching the Peak Level, his own mind had become noticeably more stable.
‘She’s already prepared to attempt the Life-and-Death Resonance Technique.’
Not only Chun-bong but also Namgung Su-a could meet the conditions.
But in theory, there was one major side effect to the technique.
“You need an epiphany to ascend to the Peak Level.”
Specifically, failing to achieve that epiphany meant death. Without breaking through the Gate of Life and Death, Qi would reverse flow, Essence and Spirit would shatter, and—if they were lucky—they’d simply explode into a bloody mist.
“But if you use the Life-and-Death Resonance Technique to break through, you skip that epiphany.”
In simpler terms, it was like skipping a crucial power-up event.
“And why is that a problem?”
Namgung Su-a tilted her head.
“You can still gain enlightenment after reaching the Peak Level, can’t you?”
“Well... technically, yeah.”
“Doesn’t that make it easier to grasp enlightenment later?”
“...Also true.”
Correction. It wasn’t skipping the power-up event—it was just rearranging the order.
Being at a higher level naturally gave you a broader view of the world, making it easier to achieve enlightenment later.
“Anyway, here’s what I’m getting at.”
Normally, someone who reached the Peak Level through conventional methods would start at the initial phase of that realm.
But those who broke through using the Life-and-Death Resonance Technique often didn’t quite reach that point.
“It’s like... a sub-Peak Level, I guess.”
The name sounded lame, but Seo-jun wasn’t great at naming things.@@@@
He recited the Life-and-Death Resonance Technique’s mnemonic formula to Chun-bong and Namgung Su-a, even handing them written copies.
“You need to memorize this word for word. One slip-up, and you’re done for. I’ll be supervising, but still—got it?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Namgung Su-a smiled brightly. Chun-bong, on the other hand, nervously clutched his sleeve.
“You’re giving us this because you’re planning to leave for the Demonic Cult, aren’t you...?”
Even as she said it, Chun-bong felt frustrated with herself. She knew she was holding him back, and that wasn’t good for anyone.
But the fear wouldn’t go away. What if Seo-jun really disappeared this time?
Ever since she’d seen his body explode, Chun-bong had been haunted by nightmares—visions of Seo-jun dying in countless horrific ways.
Exploding, being beheaded, poisoned, or simply vanishing without a trace.
Her breathing grew ragged as she gripped his sleeve even tighter.
A regenerating sword.A sword with a particularly sharp edge.A sword that splits into two and reassembles itself.And... a demonic sword?
A low hum resonated from the blade, and a faint voice echoed in his mind.
[Accept my will and—what?! No! Stop!]
Silence.
Seo-jun tapped the blade, and it vibrated as if wagging its tail.
“...Seriously?”
“Just as expected.”
“...Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Absolutely.”
The steward, clearly pleased, then pointed to a set of clothes hanging on the wall.
“These were woven from Heavenly Silkworm Thread. They don’t have any outstanding abilities, but the sleeves can unravel and reattach themselves. When infused with Qi, they become durable enough for both defense and offense.”
“And this scabbard?”
The steward coughed awkwardly and stroked his short mustache.
“...To be honest, I hesitated to show this one.”
He picked up a sword and inserted it into the scabbard.
Click—
Though the sword and scabbard didn’t quite match in size, the blade fit snugly inside, thanks to the scabbard’s spiritual properties.
“This scabbard can change the appearance of any sword placed inside it.”
“...Wait, doesn’t that make this the best item here?”
A scabbard that could alter a sword’s appearance? That practically made it a Swiss Army knife for weapons.
“Well, it only changes the handle and the guard.”
“Oh. Never mind.”
So it was just for show.
Seo-jun clicked his tongue but then had an idea.
“Hold on a second.”
Taking the scabbard, Seo-jun inserted the demonic sword into it.
Woom—!
The demonic sword resisted briefly, but it didn’t matter. Seo-jun focused his imagination, and moments later, the sword’s handle transformed into an ornate design.
“Oh...!”
Golden dragons coiled around the guard, giving it an imperial look. It resembled the swords used by royalty.
“I love this!”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. This is perfect for shady business.”
“...Excuse me?”
The steward blinked in surprise as Seo-jun grinned and grabbed the scabbard, the demonic sword, and the Heavenly Silkworm Thread clothes.
“Can I just take these with me?”
“Of course. They were prepared specifically for you.”
“Awesome.”
Seo-jun laughed gleefully.
Then, Chun-bong, who had been clinging to his back, leaned in and whispered,
“You’re planning something weird again, aren’t you?”
“Obviously.”
“...Just don’t do anything dangerous.”
“...What?!”
Seo-jun’s eyes widened.
This was bad. Chun-bong’s condition was serious—so serious that she was worried instead of nagging.
“Steward, I think I need to leave right away.”
After bidding the steward farewell, Seo-jun hurried back to his room, carrying Chun-bong.
“Stand straight, Chun-bong!”
“...Why?”
She reluctantly stood in a stiff posture, pouting as she did.
Seo-jun smiled despite himself, lifted her up briefly, then set her down.
“How long are you planning to stick to me like glue?”
“Forever?”
“...Hmm. That doesn’t sound too bad.”
Now that he thought about it, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.