Reincarnation of the Cloud Dragon - Chapter 10

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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Chapter 10.
Whoosh―!
A boy draped in tattered rags.
His skeletal legs sliced through the air, perfectly executing the opening form of the Blood Wind Kick—a technique Ma Chung had devoted his entire life to mastering.
‘This… this is….’
Though I didn’t know the secret incantations and wasn’t channeling inner energy, the power was nowhere near his level.
But the ‘form’ itself was flawless, as if I were staring into a mirror.
‘I only showed it once. And yet… he’s copied my Blood Wind Kick perfectly?’
A shock that seemed to bleach his mind white.
A gasp of astonishment burst from Ma Chung’s lips.
“…A genius!”
But Yun Cheon didn’t stop there.
“Senior Instructor Ya Jin’s movement technique seemed to work like this, didn’t it?”
Slip―.
This time it was the Shadowless Step.
As Yun Cheon shifted his stance, his presence faded away.
It wasn’t perfect concealment, but a bizarre state where no aura could be sensed despite standing right before their eyes.
Ya Jin’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
‘This isn’t mere imitation… the shift of center of gravity, the concealment of breathing—the very core principles of my martial art… he grasped it all from a single viewing and stole it!’
Anger vanished from both instructors’ faces like a lie.
In its place came astonishment at a talent beyond comprehension.
‘That’s… a monster! Indeed, there was reason for Young Master Yu Ha to take notice of this boy!’
In the eyes of the two instructors, now frozen like statues, desire blazed toward Yun Cheon.
Ma Chung, the newer instructor with an anxious heart, moved first.
“Ahem… you go ahead. Senior Instructor Ya Jin. I happen to have a debt to settle with this brat.”
“How transparent! I also have teachings left to impart to this wretch.”
The two began glaring at each other, their qi clashing.
But it didn’t last long.
“Damn it! This won’t do! Brat, you don’t even need to earn contribution points! Learn the leg technique from me!”
The impatient Ma Chung even forfeited the contribution points he’d gain from teaching.
Then Ya Jin’s heart grew urgent too.
‘Young Master Yu Ha even gave me a hint… if neither of us teaches him, that’s one thing. But I can’t lose to some new instructor!’
If Yun Cheon chose to learn from Ma Chung, not only would the sect’s prestige suffer, but I’d lose this monster forever.
“Wait! I will… give you contribution points! Learn from me. There’s nothing you could learn from someone like Ma Chung!”
“Blast it, Senior Instructor Ya Jin! Have you no shame? An instructor bribing a student?”
“Hmph, bribery? This is an investment!”
At Ya Jin’s words, Yun Cheon tilted his head and asked.
“…You’re investing contribution points in me? Can contribution points be used for something other than instruction?”
At that innocent question, Ma Chung jumped to his feet.
“You fool! Of course! Contribution points are practically currency in Qian Mo Cave! Whether it’s spiritual medicine or secret manuals, you can buy anything with them!”
“Hmph, a mediocre instructor like Ma Chung would hang himself for a few martial tokens, but true investment looks toward something greater. I saw a future in you. Tokens are irrelevant.”
Ya Jin took up the conversation, his voice dripping with contempt for Ma Chung.
“Well, aren’t you impressive! Then let me make an investment too! If this brat learns martial techniques from me, I’ll give him tokens as well!”
Now the two instructors growled at each other as if ready to seize Yun Cheon by the collar, each insisting on giving him their tokens.
Yun Cheon stepped between their quarrel and spoke softly.
“…Very well. I accept both of your investments.”
“Brat, are you serious!”
“…Both our investments? You mean to learn from us both?”
Yun Cheon nodded.
Ya Jin and Ma Chung, who had been staring at each other in contemplation for a moment, soon sighed and spoke.
“Fine. But investments must be recouped. Henceforth, not only during evaluations but whenever opportunity arises, you must demonstrate all the martial arts you’ve learned from me to everyone. That is my condition.”
“And if you promise to demonstrate the Crimson Wind Technique and show results, I will invest my tokens!”
Two masters of the highest caliber were now hanging on the words of a mere boy—a complete reversal of circumstances.
Yet Yun Cheon wore an easy smile.
“Of course. Having received instruction from both of you, how could I fail to show results? However….”
He displayed confidence, grinned widely, and extended his hand.
“…?”
“What is it?”
“The deposit must be paid upfront.”
In the end, Yun Cheon extracted tokens from both instructors.
Ten tokens each—twenty in total.
Twice as many as other students received upon their initial allocation.
‘…I wonder where I should put this to best use.’
After confirming the substantial weight of tokens filling his pockets, he finally wore a satisfied expression.
“Then, the contract is sealed.”
Ya Jin asked with a face still struggling to believe what had happened.
“Brat… what do you intend to do with those tokens? Surely you’re not planning to seek instruction from another instructor?”
“Not at all. Instruction from you two instructors is more than sufficient. For now, I intend to invest these tokens in my own body.”
As Yun Cheon said, his frame was gaunt and lacked proper muscle definition.
Only then did Ya Jin grasp Yun Cheon’s audacious plan and let out a hollow laugh.
“…Your body. So you mean to invest in medicine and nutrition. Not a bad strategy. Very well. Instruction begins tomorrow.”
“Then I shall see you both tomorrow.”
After bowing, Yun Cheon immediately took the tokens and departed with a light step toward some destination.
In Yun Cheon’s grasp, the order and common sense of Qian Mo Cave crumbled completely.
The two remaining instructors could only stare at each other in bewilderment.
“…It feels as though I’ve been bewitched by a little ghost.”
“Indeed, Senior Instructor Ya Jin.”
“Now we’re in the same boat, Instructor Ma Chung.”
“…My technique would surely be more practical in actual combat, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmph, with my Shadowless Technique, exploiting the flaws in your method would be child’s play.”
The two of them were still bickering.
Ga Cheon Ak, the instructor watching from the darkened corridor, narrowed his brow.
‘One new recruit has completely dominated two Kyoto disciples. More than that, the talent to steal their martial techniques outright is remarkable.’
Ga Cheon Ak’s gaze turned glacial and sharp.
“Deputy, investigate that child thoroughly and report back to me.”
The deputy beside him swallowed involuntarily.
It wasn’t merely the instructor’s tone of voice.
The corners of the instructor’s mouth—always as emotionless as steel—had curved upward in the faintest, most peculiar smile.
“Of course, include any anomalies from the examination results that Chuk Mu Gwang oversaw as well.”
“Understood!”
“Even their background before entering the Demonic Way Hall. Bring me everything about that child!”
* * *
Yun Cheon, walking alone down the corridor after leaving the two Kyoto disciples behind, suddenly leaned against the wall and coughed.
Cold sweat streamed down his face.
“Cough…! Hah…!”
The composure he’d maintained through that tempestuous ordeal had vanished.
As tension released, the signals of pain from his frail body overwhelmed me.
Simply mimicking the martial techniques of those two disciples moments ago had left my twisted meridians screaming in agony.
‘I must do something about this body.’
I looked down at the twenty token chips in my hand.
Their cold, solid texture grounded me in reality.
‘If the sect leader were still alive, would he have scolded me for such scheming unbecoming a Taoist? Or would he have laughed heartily at outwitting the Demonic Cult disciples?’
I swallowed the bitterness.
‘But now… the sect leader is gone, and Kunlun is gone… only I remain.’
A solitary path to destroy the Demonic Cult from within.
I had to walk that path alone.
‘To achieve vengeance with this wretched body… I’ll do whatever it takes to stand supreme and unchallenged.’
My gaze hardened with resolve.
‘What I need most right now is survival and recovery.’
I didn’t head toward the Training Ground or the Scripture Repository.
Instead, I made for the place within Qian Mo Cave that addressed the most fundamental needs.
[Spirit Nourishment Hall]
The place responsible for meals in Qian Mo Cave.
My first intended use of the token chips.
Inside the Spirit Nourishment Hall.
The disciples were lined up in a single queue, receiving their rations of thin gruel.
“What is this supposed to be? Give us more!”
“…Will you hand over your token chips?”
“Forget it. Who wastes their chips just to get extra scraps?!”
I bypassed the regular distribution line and approached the quieter special preparation counter.
Po Dae San, the director of the Spirit Nourishment Hall, spoke with an irritated tone.
“Kid, the regular meal line is over there.”
Yun Cheon shook his head and placed ten contribution tokens on the counter.
“That’s not it. I’d like to order special prepared dishes.”
Po Dae San’s eyes widened in surprise.
It was unprecedented for a new recruit to spend his meal allowance tokens so quickly.
Po Dae San examined Yun Cheon’s disheveled appearance and offered advice.
“…Boy. No matter how hungry you are, using up an entire month’s worth of contribution tokens on food is foolish. Are you planning to skip instruction from Kyoto?”
Yun Cheon paid no mind and smoothly stated his requirements.
“From now on, please add Black Scale Snake, which replenishes vital energy, and Ginseng and Astragalus Broth, which invigorates true qi, to every meal. I would appreciate it if you don’t spare the deer antler and goji berries in the broth.”
Po Dae San’s expression transformed in real time as he listened.
‘I thought this brat was just some starving recruit dragged in here….’
What Yun Cheon had requested was not merely a nourishing tonic, but a carefully curated combination of medicinal cuisine—the most effective for a martial artist’s physical recovery and growth.
“You… know something about ingredients, don’t you? What’s your real identity?”
“I’m merely a frail recruit, nothing more.”
Yun Cheon simply said that and turned to leave.
“Heh… Very well. Your first order, then. Come back in two hours. I’ll have it ready starting this evening.”
Po Dae San watched the remaining tokens and Yun Cheon’s departing figure alternately, mentally marking him as a “rare specimen worth observing.”
Next, Yun Cheon headed toward the place that managed and traded all supplies in Qian Mo Cave.
[Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion]
Unlike the Spirit Nourishment Hall, it carried the subtle scent of medicinal herbs and metal in a calm, cool atmosphere.
The shelves were neatly organized with various herbs, secret manuals, and martial weapons.
There sat Do Chan Su, a gaunt old man clicking an abacus.
At first glance, he appeared stubborn and quick with numbers.
Though Yun Cheon entered the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Do Chan Su merely glanced at his shabby appearance before returning his gaze to the abacus.
“Tsk tsk, a new recruit, I see. You hardly have the means to spend tokens yet. Well, looking is free.”
However, Yun Cheon promptly approached the counter and placed ten remaining contribution tokens before him.
“I wish to conduct a transaction.”
Do Chan Su finally showed interest.
“Hm…? A new recruit seeking a transaction with me already? Very well… What do you want?”
“Please prepare Purple Glow Heavenly Root and Frost Heart Grass into pills so I can consume a set amount daily.”
Click.
Do Chan Su’s hand, which had been clicking the abacus beads, froze.
‘…A new recruit seeking such herbs? It’s typical for them to only look for materials that aid in cultivating inner strength.’
The herbs Yun Cheon mentioned were not for advancing cultivation, but rather for stabilizing twisted meridians and treating internal injuries.
“Boy. Those aren’t things for a recruit like you to use. If you had internal injuries severe enough to need such herbs, you wouldn’t be standing here.”
Yun Cheon answered calmly.
“…I haven’t suffered internal injuries, but my constitution is such. Therefore, I need these herbs immediately.”
….
Do Chan Su completely set aside his abacus and, for a moment, regarded Yun Cheon with an intrigued expression before speaking.
“…You should understand, but these medicinal materials alone won’t alter your constitution.”
Yun Cheon already knew as much.
Harvesting countless herbs while dealing with Demonic Cult disciples had become routine for a Kunlun Sect disciple.
“It will suffice to merely stabilize my vital energy and blood.”
“Tsk, very well. Return after one hour.”
Do Chan Su turned back to his meditation mat without further comment.
‘An intriguing fellow.’
Yet in his heart, he remembered Yun Cheon as a rare specimen—one possessing both an unusual constitution and extensive knowledge of medicinal herbs.
That night.
After Yun Cheon passed through the Spirit Nourishment Hall and the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Strange rumors began to bloom throughout Qian Mo Cave.
“Some gaunt fellow appeared and ordered medicinal cuisine with snake meat at the dining hall!”
“What? At the Spirit Nourishment Hall too? A new disciple with an unusual constitution appeared at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and searched for internal injury medicine.”
The rumors multiplied and exaggerated, soon spreading throughout all of Qian Mo Cave.
“Some mad new disciple spent all his dining credits on medicinal cuisine!”
“What? Another one used only his initial credits to order internal injury medicine?”
“What are these fools doing? Do they have no sense?”
Naturally, the subject of these bizarre rumors was Yun Cheon.
But no one imagined that both rumors concerned the same person.
Even if I hadn’t spent a single dining credit on martial arts, I wouldn’t have had enough credits to orchestrate both incidents alone.
Yun Cheon returned to his Stone Chamber.
After consuming the medicinal cuisine and ingesting the special pills that stabilized vital energy and blood.
A faint satisfaction finally crossed his face.
“So only the ten credits originally allocated remain.”
Yun Cheon practiced the Prolonged Life Breathing Technique and the Heaven and Earth Unified Force until late into the night to observe the effects of the medicinal cuisine and pills.
Only as dawn broke did he finally rest his eyes.
The next day.
“Brat, it’s time for instruction!”
Ma Chung and Kyoto pounded on Yun Cheon’s Stone Chamber door, shouting from early morning.
Yun Cheon slowly opened his eyes and rose from his seat.
Upon opening the Stone Chamber door,
Beyond it waited not only the eager Ma Chung and Kyoto, but also unexpected figures.
“Hey.”
A boy leaning against a corridor pillar, watching Yun Cheon with curious eyes.
Yu Ha waved his hand.
“”
And on the opposite side stood Yalü Hee, her arms crossed, her expression a complex mixture of contempt and curiosity.
Ma Chung asked with a bewildered expression.
“What are these fools doing here?”
The boy spoke first.
He bowed respectfully with a cunning smile.
“I am Yu Ha, Master Ma Chung and Kyoto. Would it be permissible for me to observe the instruction?”
But Yalü Hee ignored Ma Chung entirely.
She turned directly toward Yun Cheon.
“So you’re the glutton who traded away all the rice cakes for food, aren’t you?”

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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