‘Grandfather… was the Deputy Palace Master of the Demonic Palace?’ 

A faint tremor ran through Bu Eunseol’s body. He had long suspected Bu Jan-yang was no ordinary mortician. But to think he was the second-most powerful figure in the Demonic Palace, the organization that ruled the demonic Murim… 

‘No. That can’t be right.’ 

Bu Jan-yang had worked as a mortician under the Constabulary for over thirty years. No matter what unspeakable past he might have had, it was inconceivable that a man who managed the entire demonic Murim would spend his days washing the bodies of those who died away from home.

“Umm.” Hyeol Geum-gang was just as confounded. ‘The even-Fingered Demonic Blade was a Shaolin master? That’s impossible.’ 

There was no way the even-Fingered Demonic Blade, a man rumored to rival the Demonic Palace Master himself, would have learned Shaolin’s Sutra of Changing Tendons and Washing Marrow. Yet, Hyeol Geum-gang was certain that what Bu Eunseol had learned was the energy circulation and breathing exercise from the Sutra of Changing Tendons and Washing Marrow. He could be sure because he himself had once read the genuine text of the Orthodox Faction’s supreme cultivation art.

“I don’t know whether I should teach you, or tell them to bring me someone else.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Hyeol Geum-gang stared intently at Bu Eunseol and said, “The breathing method you’ve learned so far… is actually a secret art of the Shaolin Sect.”

The shocking revelation struck Bu Eunseol, and his complexion turned ashen. ‘Does that mean… Grandfather was originally an Orthodox Faction master?’ If Bu Jan-yang was an Orthodox Faction master, and if this fact were revealed to the Demonic Palace? Bu Eunseol’s status as a Ten Demonic Successor would be irrelevant; his very life would be in jeopardy.

“Are you… suspecting me?”

“I am not.” Surprisingly, Hyeol Geum-gang looked unconcerned. “The Demonic Palace has already completed its investigation of all the Ten Demonic Successor candidates. If there were any suspicions about your internal energy, you would never have become one.”

“But… isn’t that only because the Demonic Palace didn’t know about the breathing method I learned?”

At Bu Eunseol’s sharp, insightful point, a strange smile touched Hyeol Geum-gang’s lips. “Correct. If they knew you had learned an Orthodox Faction’s nurturing method, the Demonic Palace would undoubtedly investigate you again.”

Bu Eunseol fell silent. Whether he could become a disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, or if he would be dragged away for investigation by the Demonic Palace, rested entirely in Hyeol Geum-gang’s hands.

“This humble monk…” After a long silence, Hyeol Geum-gang finally spoke. “…does not care whether you have learned Orthodox or Demonic internal arts.”

“Why… is that?”

“Why, you ask?” Hyeol Geum-gang let out a soft snort, his gaze drifting to the distant sky as he spoke in a low voice, “I will pretend I did not hear that question.”

A flicker of unfulfilled longing passed through Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes, a look that wasn’t focused on the present but clearly recalling a distant past. It was as if to prove that among the people of Murim, who live by the sword, there is no one without a story.

“Thank you.”

As Bu Eunseol bowed his head, Hyeol Geum-gang shook his own. “There is no need for thanks. If I teach you the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, this humble monk can also leave this place.”

“Leave… you say?”

“Correct. That was the promise made with the Wolf Fang Pavilion from the beginning.”

Hearing this, Bu Eunseol began to understand. How Hyeol Geum-gang, whose danjeon had been destroyed, managed to recover his internal energy and reappear in the Murim. And why he was residing on this mountaintop within the Wolf Fang Pavilion’s domain on Sword Tail Mountain. 

‘He is indebted to the Wolf Fang Pavilion.’ 

The Wolf Fang Pavilion must have helped Hyeol Geum-gang recover from his crippled danjeon. In exchange, they must have demanded his internal energy cultivation art. There was no other reason a master would impart his internal energy cultivation art – the lifeblood of a people of Murim, a secret taught only to one’s most trusted direct disciples – to a complete stranger.

“Hmph.” As if reading Bu Eunseol’s thoughts, Hyeol Geum-gang spoke, his voice turning savage. “If you expose the cultivation art this humble monk teaches you to anyone from the Wolf Fang Pavilion, or to any other person…” He paused, and his eyes seemed to erupt with hundreds of blades. “No, if you let slip even a single character of its principles, I will immediately kill not only you, but everyone associated with you.”

A normal people of Murim would have put on a solemn expression and sworn a blood oath. But Bu Eunseol simply bowed his head, performing a deep, respectful bow. The gesture carried more weight than hundreds of solemn oaths.

“…”

For a moment, a deathly silence hung over Iron Palm Peak.

“Very well. In that case, there is no need to waste time. Let us begin immediately.” Breaking the long silence, Hyeol Geum-gang continued, “The cultivation art this humble monk will teach is called the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art. This cultivation art transitions from the Demonic Path to the Righteous Path…” He paused, frowning slightly. “Do you even know the difference between Orthodox and Demonic internal energy cultivation arts?”

“I do not.”

Internal energy cultivation arts were the most profound aspect of martial arts. Bu Eunseol, having learned only the basics of swordsmanship, had no way of knowing.

With an expression of resignation, Hyeol Geum-gang began to explain, piece by piece. “Orthodox internal energy cultivation arts build internal strength through nurturing techniques like energy circulation and breathing, accumulating it in the danjeon. This is akin to the sun rising in the morning and the moon at night. In other words, it is a method that is extremely natural for the human body, one that walks the righteous path.”

“Natural…”

“Correct.” He paused, then questioned Bu Eunseol, “In that case, can you guess what the Demonic Path’s cultivation arts are like?”

After a moment of thought, Bu Eunseol answered, “Isn’t it trying any method whatsoever, as long as it can build true energy?”

“Precisely.” Hyeol Geum-gang nodded. “Demonic Path internal energy cultivation arts will use any method, as long as it can build true energy in a short period. Because of this, most of their principles are written to amass enormous amounts of true energy right from the beginning.” As he continued, Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes narrowed. “However, such methods are a reverse-flow that goes against the body and logic. Do you understand the difference?”

When Bu Eunseol shook his head, Hyeol Geum-gang explained. “If practiced for ten years, you cannot feel a great difference between Orthodox and Demonic internal energy cultivation arts. But after twenty years, a gap emerges in the purity of the true energy. And after thirty years, the level of internal energy becomes so different they are beyond comparison.”

Bu Eunseol took a deep breath. “So to properly master martial arts, one must ultimately learn an Orthodox internal art.”

“Not at all.” A deep pride spread across Hyeol Geum-gang’s features. “The Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art that this humble monk will transmit is the most mystical and outstanding of all internal energy cultivation arts scattered across the world. This cultivation art is completely free from the limitations of demonic martial arts.”

Despite this astonishing claim, Bu Eunseol did not look pleased. On the contrary, the more magnificent the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art sounded, the darker his expression became. ‘Truly great things… demand an equivalent price.’ 

Just as he suspected. Hyeol Geum-gang’s expression darkened as he continued. “However, this Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art is agonizingly difficult to learn. One must forge a body capable of synchronizing the flow of internal energy and qi vessels under any circumstance.” He then held up his left hand. Where his fingers should have been, there was nothing left. “The process was so painful that I opened my mouth and chewed off my own fingers.”

For a master like Hyeol Geum-gang to chew off his own fingers… The pain must have been not only indescribably intense but also agonizingly prolonged.

“The Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art is divided into eight stages. By reaching merely the fifth stage, I was able to possess the world’s greatest internal energy.” Even as he proclaimed himself the greatest in the world, Hyeol Geum-gang’s expression was bitter. “However, in martial arts, one cannot claim superiority based on the realm of internal energy alone. It is merely one tool.”

“I will work hard.”

“It is too soon to say such things. I have not yet decided to teach you the cultivation art.” Hyeol Geum-gang’s words were baffling. Then what was the point of all this explanation? “It is because the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art is not something that can be learned just by being taught.”

A profound light shone from Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes as he stared at Bu Eunseol’s face. “If you are unable to learn it, this humble monk will have failed to keep his promise of transmission… and this body, too, will be unable to leave.”

He gazed at the distant sky and spoke in a low voice, “From the beginning, that man Dan Cheong promised to send me a prodigy capable of learning the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art. Ten years have already passed since that time.”

Ten years.

To fulfill his promise, Hyeol Geum-gang had waited ten long years for a prodigy capable of inheriting the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art.

“I will absolutely master the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art.”

Hyeol Geum-gang nodded at Bu Eunseol’s declaration. “To do that, you must first pass a test. To see if you can learn the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art.”

“A test?”

“From this moment, I will use the Polarity Reversal True Energy to open your acupoints. To learn the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, there must not be even a speck of impurity in your qi vessels.” 

‘Just clearing out the body’s impurities is the test?’ 

“Infusing true energy to clear impurities from the acupoints must be done slowly, over a long period. Even a man of iron can only open one acupoint per day.”

As Bu Eunseol looked on, uncomprehending, Hyeol Geum-gang smiled, revealing his fangs. “This humble monk will now open all three hundred and sixty-five of your acupoints simultaneously. I guarantee, the pain will be unbearable without chewing off a finger or two.” Hyeol Geum-gang stared fixedly into Bu Eunseol’s eyes and parted his lips. “I warn you, if you lack confidence, it would be better to give up.” He then held up his mutilated left hand, smiling. “Without fingers, no matter how great the internal energy you learn, you will be unable to master the martial arts of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.”

“I will do it.”

At Bu Eunseol’s answer, given without a trace of hesitation, Hyeol Geum-gang nodded. “Good. Do not regret this!” With his shout, hundreds of light beams erupted from Hyeol Geum-gang’s right fingers. The ultimate technique of Heavenly Dragon Temple, the Finger of No Beginning and No End, unfolded. 

Chwarararak. 

The finger winds scattered by Hyeol Geum-gang rained down on Bu Eunseol’s body like a brilliant explosion of fireworks. 

Papakapak. 

As the finger winds struck, Bu Eunseol’s pupils dilated. 

Jjijik. 

His muscles swelled, pushing against his worn martial uniform. Simultaneously, sweat poured from his face like rain. 

‘So, it begins.’ 

Hyeol Geum-gang narrowed his eyes. The act of clearing impurities from the body by opening acupoints was, in reality, akin to torture. This was because as the true energy blasted open the acupoints, one felt a pain as if their bones were being forcibly ripped out and scraped with a knife. Many of the Murim’s most infamous torture techniques, such as the Hellish Yin Torture or the Blue Death Hand Torture, were based on this very method of forcibly injecting true energy into the acupoints. 

‘He should be screaming any second now.’ 

Hyeol Geum-gang was sure of it. Having blasted open the acupoints in such a short time… Bu Eunseol must be feeling a pain as if every blood vessel in his body was on fire.

“Eum.”

But Bu Eunseol merely let out a short groan. And he did so with a very low, impassive expression. 

‘Hm?’ Expecting the boy to be writhing in agony, Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes flashed with puzzlement when Bu Eunseol let out only a brief groan. ‘Have I not expelled enough of the impurities from his meridians yet?’ 

He quickly shook his head. Sticky sweat was already flowing from Bu Eunseol’s body like rain. This was a phenomenon that occurred when the injected true energy was working correctly, forcibly expelling the impurities.

“Eum.”

Just then, Bu Eunseol groaned again. His tone was one of deep satisfaction, his expression like someone receiving a therapeutic acupressure massage at a pleasant resort. ‘So this is what it feels like to have your acupoints cleared.’ Bu Eunseol slowly closed his eyes. The true energy circulating within him felt like a mother’s gentle touch, softly caressing his acupoints. Occasionally, a savage surge of energy would feel as if it were tearing his meridians apart, but a warm heat would quickly rise from his danjeon, alleviating the pain.

“Eum.”

Heat constantly rose from his danjeon, warming his entire body, and with every drop of sweat that fell, it felt as if the filth inside him was being cleansed.

“Could it be?” Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes widened as he looked down at the sweat Bu Eunseol was shedding. His expression was like that of a charlatan shaman who, while scribbling a talisman, suddenly sees a real ghost. ‘He had no impurities in his acupoints to begin with?!’ 

The sweat expelled after clearing acupoints should be stained black and reek terribly. But the sweat Bu Eunseol shed, while slightly murky, had no smell at all. His qi vessels was in a pristine state, like that of a newborn baby.

“Hehehehe.”

Understanding everything, a laugh bubbled up from Hyeol Geum-gang’s lips. The Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, a secret art of death considered impossible to learn due to its death-like agony. But sitting right in front of him was the one prodigy capable of mastering it.

“Uwahahaha!”

Hyeol Geum-gang let out a wild laugh. “Bu Eunseol, was it?” A heat intense enough to melt iron erupted from Hyeol Geum-gang’s eyes as he stared at Bu Eunseol.

“From this day forward, I shall transmit the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art to you!”