In the dead silence of the night, a bird could be seen flying swiftly through the darkness, a small note tied to its leg. It was a messenger bird, heading at great speed toward a large household. It landed at one of the room's windows and knocked several times against the closed glass, alerting whoever was inside.
The window soon opened, revealing a servant who carefully untied the small note from the messenger bird's leg. He then carried it deeper into the room, toward a bed concealed by a veil. The veil prevented any clear view of the person inside, with only a faint light source within casting the shadow of a figure.
"Young Master, a message has arrived from Secret Flower."
"Another message? Give it to me. I hope this one brings better news than the last."
A displeased male voice came from behind the veil. Clearly irritated by the previous report, he reached a hand out from within the veiled bed and took the small note from the servant.
He slowly unraveled the note and read it carefully, taking his time to digest its contents. After a while, the shadow behind the veil could be seen crumpling the note in his hand before ripping it into shreds. His displeasure deepened as he spoke again, his tone far colder than before.
"Damn peasant! Not only did that peasant blood awaken from his coma, he was even treated by the Life and Death Doctor and is now completely fine! This damn peasant is far too persistent in clinging to life!"
"…Then, Young Master, should we begin sending true assassins to eliminate him? It would be an effective way to reduce your competitors, even if it is only the removal of an illegitimate heir."
"No. As much as I want that peasant dead, we cannot send real assassins. It is not worth the risk, and there is still the possibility that the Lord could use it as justification to blame our clan."
It was true that the clans had been sending assassins after the Eighth Young Lord, but it was blatantly obvious that all seven Ghost Clans were involved. If the Eighth Young Lord were to die, it would not be difficult to claim that one of the seven Ghost Clans was responsible.
That was precisely why none of the seven Ghost Clans dared to send genuine assassins. That was because the current Cult Leader was a man who despised the Seven Ghost Clans and sought to erase their status within the cult.
'The Lord has been waiting for us to make an actual move on that peasant for the longest time. Once we do, he will gain a reason to weaken our influence over the cult or declare war on the Seven Ghost Clans.'
For a reason unknown to the Young Master, the lord has been for the longest time seeks to erase the Seven Ghost Clans from existence perhaps the mysterious death of Lady Yeon could be the reason but the lord has shown signs of despise towards them even before that.
Instead, they relied on half-baked killers who could not be traced back to them. Skilled assassins required direct commissions, often face-to-face, depending on their skill level, leaving behind undeniable connections and that also meant their own clan's trained assassins were also not possible.
"But, Young Master, with the Guyang Clan under the greatest suspicion, wouldn't they be the ones blamed?"
"You are a fool if you think matters are that simple."
Among the seven Ghost Clans, the Guyang Clan was indeed under the heaviest suspicion in the Lord's eyes. The reason was the untimely and mysterious death of Lady Yeon, the Eighth Wife of the Twenty-Eighth Cult Leader. She had been found dead from an unknown poison and illness, naturally pointing suspicion toward the Guyang Clan, which specialized in poison and medicine.
Because of this, each clan became extremely cautious in their actions toward the illegitimate heir and anyone connected to him. The moment any clan was definitively proven to have killed the Eighth Young Lord, war spreading across the cult become inevitable.
"Even if the Guyang Clan bears the most suspicion for the death of that peasant blood's mother, the other Ghost Clans are still under scrutiny. If we act rashly, the Lord will seize the opportunity to weaken our power and wage war against all Seven Ghost Clans and place our clan in grave danger. The peasant is only bait laid out by the lord to catch us."
"T-This subordinate apologizes, Young Master. I spoke without foresight. Please forgive me."
"It is fine. However, think carefully before making suggestions. One careless mistake could harm the clan, and you will not be so fortunate next time."
The servant immediately knelt, filled with remorse and fear. His repentance was not only born of loyalty but also of terror toward the clan's punishments should his carelessness ever bring disaster upon them.
Silence filled the room as the figure behind the veil contemplated the contents of the message. The oppressive stillness weighed heavily on the kneeling servant, who dared not rise without being dismissed.
'…This is strange. According to Secret Flower, immediately after being treated by the Life and Death Doctor, the peasant and his bodyguard left for one of their camping trips. That is suspicious. One would expect time for recovery, yet they departed the very next day.'
"…"
'Not only that, Secret Flower could not eavesdrop on the discussion between the peasant blood and the Life and Death Doctor, but she noted that the doctor's demeanor subtly changed afterward. Something must have occurred during that conversation. Did they strike some kind of secret deal?'
The person behind the veil continued pondering, increasingly uneasy. Even if the peasant posed little threat compared to other competitors, it was still wise to monitor every move of a potential opponent.
Moreover, it was not unusual for the Life and Death Doctor to act independently. Known as an eccentric black sheep of his clan, he had openly defied them in the past. Cooperating with the peasant could very well be another act of defiance.
'...Or maybe the lord has ordered the Life And Death Doctor to work with the peasant.'
The lord while he has not shown any sort of care towards the illegitimate heir only giving him his basic rights as a heir to the throne it wasn't out of the possibility that he would give a form of assistance to his son from a woman he loved.
What better way to give him assistance than to order one of his close aides: The Life And Death Doctor to assist his son in some way perhaps even outright ordering him to serve under the peasant although the young Master doubted that he would betray his own clan for a useless cripple peasant.
'And the earlier report stated that the peasant's behavior changed drastically after awakening from his coma. Could he have resolved his inability to cultivate? No… impossible. That peasant will always remain a cripple. There is no defying such a hopeless fate.'
"…"
'Still, while it may not be worth sending assassins, it costs nothing to keep a close watch. I must confirm that nothing is happening behind the scenes.'
"Order Secret Flower to monitor that peasant's every move and report everything to me."
"But Young Master, she is currently away from his location."
"Then have her remain at her station and report the moment they return. I want every action, no matter how insignificant, and every person he meets. Ensure he is not gathering allies or forming a force."
"Yes, Young Master."
The servant rose and began writing a small note, carefully recording the orders given. He returned to the window, where the messenger bird waited patiently for its reward. After feeding it a handful of seeds, he tied the note to its leg and sent it flying back to its origin, carrying new orders for the secret agent known as Secret Flower.
Then the servant was dismissed and left the room leaving the Young Master to his own thoughts as the shadow of the figure beneath the veil appear to have beams of light as eyes gleaming sinisterly and appeared as if a monster awakened beneath the veil with an overwhelming intensity.
'Though I doubt that peasant can truly threaten me, perhaps I am being overly cautious. Still, by chance you survive till the day the academy begins, no matter what… you will die before you even set foot on the academy's entrance.'
****
A few days passed since my battle with the tainted beast, and two full weeks had gone by since I began body training. After killing the beast, the forest gradually returned to its original state, once again teeming with wild animals and abundant prey.
My training had now reached the mid-stage of difficulty. With each passing day, I grew stronger, eventually surpassing normal human limits and stepping into a superhuman realm akin to that of martial artists.
Of course, I had yet to learn actual martial arts, but I could feel that day drawing closer. My body was now far more defined, my muscles larger and denser than ever before. I believed this physique finally met the requirements to withstand the power of martial arts.
'Come on, push!'
I was currently in the middle of the final enhancement exercise, pushing a massive boulder. This boulder was taller than me, making the task just as grueling as before, despite my increased strength. The same was true for the rest of my training, yet this time felt different.
This time, I was not pushing the boulder solely for training. Geonu was standing beside me, watching. I pushed with everything I had, determined to prove the results of my hard work and avoid embarrassing myself in front of him.
'Come on, you can't embarrass yourself in front of Geonu! You're better than this! Show him you're ready to learn martial arts!'
Driven by that resolve, I unleashed all my strength. My muscles strained continuously, and the boulder began to move, slowly, but unmistakably.
I continued pushing until I reached the five-meter mark. At that point, my strength was completely spent, and I collapsed to my knees, breathing heavily. Even as I gasped for air, I looked toward Geonu, eager to see whether he was impressed or disappointed.
"…Huff… How was… huff… that, Geonu? Huff…"
"Hm. That was quite impressive. You reached this stage faster than I expected."
"Huff… Really?! Huff…"
"Yes. I am genuinely impressed by your diligence. I expected you to give up at least once, forcing me to encourage—or even coerce—you into training."
"Huff… Thank you, Geonu… huff…"
"…You are exhausted. Rest and recover for now. Take your time."
'Honestly, I thought it would take him two months to reach this stage. To think it only took two weeks… I underestimated the young master's unique physique.'
Though he did not show it outwardly, Geonu was inwardly stunned by my absurd training speed. For an ordinary person, this level would require at least three months. Even knowing about my unique constitution, he had estimated two months at best.
Yet he had gravely underestimated the significance of the Reverse Heavenly Body. Even resembling the true Heavenly Body granted extraordinary adaptability and growth, a trait shared by legendary martial artists.
'At this pace, I may be able to help him establish a truly solid foundation.'
Geonu resolved to train him as thoroughly as possible within the limited time remaining. He planned to leave behind guidance for his continued training once he entered the academy. Before, he doubted he could even pass the entrance exam without the ability to cultivate.
Now, however, everything had changed. With his rapid progress, he believed he could prepare him properly before the academy began, ensuring he could face whatever awaited him without his protection.
'Perhaps it is time to test him… to see if he is truly ready.'
"Young Master, follow me for a moment after you finish recovering."
I snapped out of my meditation, having used the Qi Body Recovery Technique. Excitement surged through me as I stood up fully restored, brimming with anticipation. Ever since learning I had impressed Geonu, my heart raced with hope that he would finally teach me martial arts.
The moment I stood, Geonu was briefly startled and stepped back before quickly regaining his composure. Slight embarrassment flashed across his face, but he said nothing more and turned away. Not wanting to hurt his pride, I also said nothing and followed him.
****
"This… is…"
I followed Geonu in silence until we reached a clearing. Before us stood a massive boulder, far larger than any I had seen before. It looked as though it had once broken off from a mountain, judging by the deep depression beneath it, a crater formed long ago by its fall.
I had passed this boulder countless times and saw it nearly every day treating it as some scenery as I had more important things to do. Now, standing before it, I felt a sense of dread. A suspicion formed in my mind that Geonu intended to make me do something to do this.
"Wait, Geonu! You're not planning to make me push that thing, are you?! There's no way I can move it—it's far too big and heavy!"
"Push it? Of course not. I would never ask that of you. Even I would struggle to lift this boulder. What gave you that idea?"
"…Phew. Is that so? Sorry, I jumped to conclusions."
"It is understandable, Young Master."
Relief washed over me. I was grateful that I wouldn't be forced into an impossible task. Still, the question lingered, if not for pushing, then why were we here?
Surely, such a massive boulder could not be unrelated to whatever we were about to do. As there would be no reason to move all the way here just for it to serve no use.
"You are wondering why I brought you here, correct?"
"Yes. I was honestly terrified you planned to make me train with that thing."
"Haha. Of course not. Still, this boulder is indeed related to the reason I brought you here."
'I knew it…'
"Then what is it for, Geonu? Why are we here?"
"After some thought, I decided it is time to give you a chance to prove that you are ready to learn martial arts."
"!!!"
My entire body trembled with excitement. The long-awaited moment had finally arrived. Yet just as quickly, I realized Geonu had said he would give me a chance, not that he would teach me outright. I had almost gotten ahead of myself once again.
Though slightly disappointed, that feeling vanished almost instantly. Even being given the chance was enough. I was determined to prove myself.
"Then what must I do to prove that I am truly capable of learning martial arts?"
"You must undergo a test—one that determines whether your body has been sufficiently trained to handle martial arts."
"A test?"
The moment I heard those words, I understood this would be a true challenge, meant to measure the results of my relentless training over the past two weeks. Confidence surged within me. I had never missed a day and had pushed myself to my limits.
Geonu stepped beside the massive boulder and pointed toward it, signaling its role in the test. Nervousness crept in as my earlier fears resurfaced.
'I beg that this test isn't something too insane…'
"To pass this test, you must strike this boulder with all your strength and break it."
"!!!"
"…?"
"…What!"
****