Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#020

It was the day the first snow fell.

Ja-gang-cheon realized for the first time that winter could be beautiful.

Winter on Gwigokdo had only been a difficult and painful time.

‘The world I knew was truly narrow.’

When he had the leisure to enjoy it, there were so many beautiful things.

He sat in the rear garden pavilion, drinking steaming tea while watching the world turn white.

But then a sound broke the peaceful silence.

“Lord! We’re here!”

“Lord!”

It was Seok-ho and Nam-sik.

They appeared with Pansuk and immediately ran over to bow their heads to Ja-gang-cheon.

With tall and lanky Seok-ho and short and fat Nam-sik, when they were together they seemed mismatched yet somehow balanced.

What was interesting was that they belonged to different organizations.

Seok-ho belonged to the Donghai Merchant Guild, while Nam-sik belonged to the Sea Dragon Labor Office. Despite this, the two were old friends and close companions.

“Lord. Have you been well all this time?”

After taking over the manor, the way they addressed Ja-gang-cheon had changed to “Lord.”

“Lord. Please have this!”

“Please have this first!”

The two each held out a box.

“This needs to be eaten quickly, so I’ll prepare it right away.”

The box that tall and lanky Seok-ho held out contained wriggling sea cucumbers. But they were black as if ink had been spilled on them.

“Black sea cucumbers! They’re precious, so please eat them right away. These are excellent for vitality!”

“What does the Lord need vitality for at his age!”

Short and fat Nam-sik quickly opened his box, not wanting to be outdone. Inside was a round fruit he had never seen before.

“Dragon eyes! They just came up from the south.”

A grape-sized fruit produced only in the south, called dragon eyes because they resembled a dragon’s eyes. They were so precious that ordinary people could never even see them in their lifetime.

“If you steep this in tea and then bite into it at the end, it’s absolutely delicious.”

“Wow. There’s fruit like that too?”

Ja-gang-cheon, honest with his emotions, showed interest in the dragon eyes first.

“Brother Pansuk. Divide everything here into five portions and bring it.”

“Yes, brother.”

When Pansuk took the boxes away, Seok-ho and Nam-sik looked troubled.

“Lord. You shouldn’t share these.”

“It’s more delicious when we eat together.”

In the end, they had tea time in the rear garden pavilion with the strange combination of steamed sea cucumber and fruit tea.

“Brother, is this really five portions?”

“It’s five pieces.”

Ja-gang-cheon asked, looking at the black sea cucumber. It was indeed five pieces, but one piece was half of the whole. The largest piece was naturally placed in front of Ja-gang-cheon.

“Gangcheon. What’s wrong? I divided it equally.”

“Yes, brother. I really paid attention when dividing it.”

“Alright. Thank you. I’ll eat it well.”

Ja-gang-cheon ate happily without arguing.

“Wow.”

He couldn’t really taste the difference with the black sea cucumber, but when the dragon eyes he was trying for the first time were steeped as tea, they had a sweet and fragrant taste.

“It’s delicious!”

At times like this, he was unmistakably a fifteen-year-old boy. Seeing this, the faces of those who had brought the gifts also brightened.

“How are the merchant guild and labor office these days?”

“Well, it’s the same as before. The brewery sales have gone back up, but other businesses have died so much. Especially with all the trading businesses falling through, the damage is significant. The Merchant Guild Leader said we should focus on internal affairs for a while and look for opportunities again.”

It meant they would experience a recession for quite a long time. They were barely holding on with the brewery.

“What about the labor office?”

“We’re not much different either. However, there are some internal problems. Since we can’t just use force like the Black Society used to, many people are frustrated.”

“You can’t go back to being the Black Society.”

Ja-gang-cheon comforted them like an adult.

“Just wait a little. After this winter passes and spring comes, things will get better.”

Ja-gang-cheon encouraged the two who had come to see him.

***

It was a long winter.

While it was a season for everyone to rest briefly, Deungmyeong Manor was busy with construction throughout the winter.

And on the deepest winter day.

It finally bore fruit.

“What will you name it?”

This concern was Cheon-gu’s responsibility. However, Cheon-gu’s deliberation wasn’t long.

“Bingokgo.”

It was the name of the new building.

A new plaque was hung on the building completed after six months of countless experiments and research.

Cheon-gu, who hung the plaque himself thanks to Ja-gang-cheon’s consideration, couldn’t hide his proud expression.

“Brother. Just coming near here makes it cold.”

“That’s because the ice crystals are buried in the ground.”

The ice crystals were buried deep underground. Not stopping there, they had to adjust the crystal boxes containing the ice crystals to reduce the cold air that escaped. And to gather the cold air in a specific area, they buried sawdust and stones to create zones.

After countless experiments, the current Bingokgo was completed.

“I can’t believe this actually works. Brother Cheon-gu is really smart.”

Bingokgo looked like an ordinary warehouse, but the first floor was completely empty with no structures. Instead, if you removed the wooden floor, you could see the interior of Bingokgo underground.

The interior had a structure of wooden frames stacked horizontally.

It was a system where you could pour water, freeze it, and remove it to get rectangular ice blocks.

One frame could make nine ice blocks, and this was built in a ten-story structure.

This meant ninety ice blocks could be made at once.

“This timing is sufficient for making them again.”

Even this was mostly the time needed to replace the frames.

“Remember, you must never enter without winter clothing. If you accidentally fall down, your life could be in danger.”

At Cheon-gu’s words, Pansuk answered several times that he would keep it in mind.

Only after getting confirmation did Cheon-gu move to the special place prepared behind Bingokgo.

“This is the Yeonggongshil.”

It was a space so narrow that it would be packed if three people sat side by side.

“I’ll try it first.”

Ja-gang-cheon sat cross-legged and took a long breath.

“Mm. Good. It’s definitely clean cold energy. This level will be a great help for mental cultivation.”

The Yeonggongshil was made at Ja-gang-cheon’s request, and there were three in total.

It wasn’t made to match the number of people, but to adjust the intensity of the cold energy.

“Perfect.”

When he drew the clean cold energy into his inner energy, a refreshing feeling spread throughout his body. This was the Northern Ice Palace’s training method using ice crystals. Ja-gang-cheon hadn’t learned it separately, but had naturally acquired it on Gwigokdo.

“My body is cold, but my heart has become warm.”

Another special place had been prepared in their space.

***

The time when winter and spring meet.

Everyone talks about hope during this period and brings out the food they saved during winter.

A time when people who traveled far return with generous hearts, and shops keep their lights on all night long.

This was the Spring Festival (Chunje).

The year’s biggest holiday announced the beginning of the new year.

“Whew.”

Ja-gang-cheon opened his eyes after finishing his mental cultivation training in the Bingokgo’s Yeonggongshil.

Hiss hiss hiss.

As he gathered his internal energy, the frost that had formed on his body melted away instantly, and thick water vapor spread around him.

“Refreshing.”

He could feel the results of his winter training throughout his body.

Not only had his internal energy become pure and clean, but it also changed quickly according to his will.

After finishing his long training session, Ja-gang-cheon stood up with satisfaction and left the Yeonggongshil.

As he pushed through the water vapor and went outside, he heard a familiar voice.

“Big brother! Are you done with your winter hibernation now?”

“Hey. Am I a bear?”

Ja-gang-cheon thought hibernation would suit Pansuk better.

“Are you finished with your training?”

“Yeah.”

“Congratulations!”

Ja-gang-cheon had been staying only in the Yeonggongshil ever since the Bingokgo was completed.

-There’s a wall I need to overcome before winter passes.

Fortunately, he succeeded in overcoming that wall by borrowing the energy of the ice crystals.

“Hey. Thanks to you. Thank you.”

“It was something I naturally had to do.”

Pansuk had been taking care of minimal water and food for him throughout the training period.

“Where’s Cheon-gu?”

“Brother Cheon-gu is receiving guests.”

“Guests?”

“Isn’t today the Spring Festival? Everyone came to see you, but when they heard you were training, they said they’d have a meal and go.”

“Really? Then let’s go.”

“Shouldn’t you rest a bit?”

“How can I do that when they came to see me? I’m fine.”

In the end, Ja-gang-cheon headed to the dining hall where people were gathered.

Deungmyeong Manor was bustling.

“There are a lot of people?”

He thought there would be about five people at most, but there were enough people to fill the dining hall.

“They’re all people who came to greet you.”

Cheon-gu, who spotted Ja-gang-cheon, approached and said.

It was a bewildering situation, but he didn’t feel dislike or rejection.

“It’s nice having so many people.”

Deungmyeong Manor was too spacious for three people to live in. Naturally, it couldn’t help but feel empty.

“So this is what it feels like to live among people.”

This was something his parents often said.

Especially on someone’s birthday, they would always say those words.

-It would have been nice if there were more people. I miss the scenery filled with human presence.

-That’s right. There’s also the charm of being noisy and lively.

Ja-gang-cheon couldn’t understand those words.

Since birth in this world, only three people had been permitted to him.

But today, he finally understood the meaning.

Everyone was saying different things and laughing and chattering as they pleased, but from a distance, it was a very warm atmosphere.

People who had been awkward with each other quickly became close, and they even exchanged jokes, forgetting their ages.

“Lord!”

“Did your training succeed!”

“I’m glad we could see you today!”

Ja-gang-cheon was grateful and happy that he could get along with so many people.

“The world is truly beautiful.”

The early spring sunlight was warmly embracing the world that Ja-gang-cheon saw.

***

That night, after enjoying the Spring Festival among the people.

Ja-gang-cheon entered the secret warehouse alone.

“I think it’s time for you to come out into the world too.”

Standing before Mukryeomdo, Ja-gang-cheon spoke to the friend he was meeting after a long time.

During winter, he hadn’t simply focused on increasing his internal energy, but on controlling his internal energy.

‘I need to control it perfectly.’

Could he be perfect in his current state?

‘I’m still far from it.’

Nevertheless, he unwrapped the cloth covering Mukryeomdo.

“Let’s train together. I’ll learn from you, and you’ll need to learn from me.”

It was a method that would shock other martial artists if they heard it.

Because he had to be prepared for qi deviation every time he trained. But Ja-gang-cheon felt no resistance at all.

‘Because it’s always been like this.’

For him, it was as familiar as playing.

Besides Mukryeomdo, many of the martial arts manuals he possessed had unique properties. He had been handling such manuals since he was a newborn baby.

Mukryeomdo was the most dangerous among them, but he wasn’t afraid at all.

‘I’ve grown too.’

He was no longer a child, and his internal energy had reached a mature level.

“Shall we begin then?”

Ja-gang-cheon took Mukryeomdo and went to the rear garden.

It was a place where no one was watching.

“Whew.”

First, he exhaled and let his internal energy flow.

The internal energy that entered Mukryeomdo was instantly amplified, becoming sharp sword energy that slashed in all directions.

“Calm down.”

Ja-gang-cheon controlled his energy while soothing Mukryeomdo, which was absorbing his internal energy.

“Whew.”

The energies that had been spreading outside the blade began to gather again. As he slowly gathered them over a long time, he felt a heavy center as if the entire Mukryeomdo had become heavier.

‘Like a weight.’

Ja-gang-cheon, who had condensed the energy like a bead, finally deployed his sword technique.

It was a basic sword technique without a name.

It was a slow and simple movement of cutting and slashing. But the result was by no means light.

Slash! Slash!

Every time the sword passed, clear lines appeared on the ground. Sword energy had extended out and split the earth.

What would happen if he used his full power?

Knowing how dangerous such curiosity could be, Ja-gang-cheon didn’t rush.

For half a si-jin, Ja-gang-cheon repeated the same movements.

Mukryeomdo still acted sensitively, but it didn’t scatter sharp sword energy like at first. Nevertheless, Ja-gang-cheon’s body was soaked with sweat.

‘The last one!’

Ja-gang-cheon pushed a large amount of internal energy in an instant and swung Mukryeomdo with force.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

With a thunderous roar that shook the quiet night, a clear and deep furrow was carved into the ground.

Ja-gang-cheon clicked his tongue as he examined the jagged traces.

‘It wasn’t perfect.’

Ja-gang-cheon pulled out a cloth without hesitation and wrapped Mukryeomdo.

“Good work. See you tomorrow.”

Mukryeomdo fell asleep again in the Underground Storage.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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