Chapter 6

Travelling Swallow Qi Technique.

The qi cultivation I’m practicing is a bit unusual.

Have I already explained that Travelling Swallow Qi Technique is closer to a health-preserving method than a true qi cultivation-technique? I think I did.

The advantage of this method is clear: merely circulating qi expels filth and makes the body healthier, it’s remarkably effective.

Does that mean it’s some unparalleled supreme technique? Not at all.

I bought the Travelling Swallow Qi Technique manual at the black market for a mere two silver coins.

Why? Because Travelling Swallow Qi Technique has clear limitations.

Specifically, the amount of internal qi accumulated in the dantian through circulation is pitifully small, like an ant’s tear.

The previous owners who read the manual before me probably practiced it for three months, cursed, and threw the book away.

Not that I’m exaggerating, the manual really had scratches and dirty marks all over.

No wonder the black-market seller, who joked he’d thrown his conscience into the River of Three Crossings, called for two silver coins while avoiding my gaze.

…Now that I think about it, even two coins were a waste. This damn thing. How dare he rip me off?

Anyway, yes. Travelling Swallow Qi Technique is a qi cultivation that’s more like a health practice, both a technique and not.

I wanted to quit and toss it away many times, but I endured.

In fact, among the martial arts I’ve learned, not just Travelling Swallow Qi Technique but several others had their flaws.

Isn’t that how wandering martial arts are? You pick up bits and pieces to survive, ending up with nothing outstanding, just a patchwork of skills.

So I kept practicing Travelling Swallow Qi Technique steadily instead of abandoning it.

…It’s absolutely not that I forced myself to learn it because those two silver coins were precious. Absolutely not.

And I became certain.

There is no one in the world who has practiced this crappy method more than I have. There’s no idiot like that besides me.

And then I realized again.

Travelling Swallow Qi Technique really is different from other mind-techniques.

The first year, it felt like, “Oh, my shit comes out a bit easier.” That sort of impression.

The next year: “Hmm, things downstairs are a bit firmer in the morning.”

The following year: it progresses to “No stiffness anywhere in the body.”

…But come to think of it, wouldn’t other techniques give similar effects?

No, it’s not. Travelling Swallow Qi Technique has something more; something definitely different.

Travelling Swallow Qi Technique isn’t merely a martial art that makes the body a little healthier.

To be precise, it’s a method that elevates the body to match the level of the mind-technique.

This was a function only someone like me, who’s undergone seven regressions, could notice.

No one in the murim world has experienced the strange return to a past body like I have.

Even while repeating regressions, I consistently practiced Travelling Swallow Qi Technique.

After I discovered Travelling Swallow Qi Technique’s function, I invested all spare time into training the method.

That’s also why I immediately began qi-circulation right after this regression.

I’ve reached the point where a short circulation session can achieve a minor purification state.

Perhaps the pinnacle of Travelling Swallow Qi Technique is truly to shed the body’s shell and ascend as an immortal, feathered apotheosis.

…But which comes first: escaping this damned regression or achieving apotheosis? I don’t know.

Anyway, right after regression a brief session wasn’t enough to fully restore the body.

If I had built a temporary bodily framework back then, now it’s time for the detailed work.

Until then, I must focus solely on one thing: circulating qi and practicing.

Ah, and one more thing. Travelling Swallow Qi Technique has another special ability.

While other mind-methods easily cause internal injuries or possession during circulation, Travelling Swallow Qi Technique has none of that.

Maybe that’s natural; after all, the internal qi you use is as small as mouse droppings.

So once the body’s framework reaches a certain level, Travelling Swallow Qi Technique’s basics shift from seated meditation to moving practice.

What? How long does it take to build that bodily framework?

Hmm, probably….

Roughly speaking, about seven ten-days?

Yeon Mujin came out at the same time the next day and began circulating qi.

The day after that, and the day after, day after day.

On the seventh ten-day period now, he came out to the training ground at the appointed time every day to practice circulation.

Thanks to the head guard’s restrictions he wasn’t assigned tasks, so the warriors had to see Yeon Mujin’s face every day.

In the meantime, the guard warriors gave Yeon Mujin a new nickname.

“That bastard crawled out again today.”

“At this point, I don’t know if he’s clueless or just thick-faced.”

“Hey, Warrior Seo, did you hear what nickname they gave that guy at the meal earlier?”

“What was it?”

“They called him the ‘Sitting Zen Vagabond’.”

“Sitting Zen Vagabond?”

“As if he’s some hermit from a cave. He comes out and just sits in meditation all day. Seriously, have you heard of a vagabond doing zen? Ridiculous.”

Warrior Seo laughed loudly at the nickname.

“Exactly. He seems to be trying hard not to be looked down on as low-born. But it still looks pathetic.”

Even now, Yeon Mujin sat cross-legged in the same spot, eyes closed, circulating qi.

Since unless one is a master you can’t hear surrounding chatter during circulation, the two freely mocked him.

What could he do even if he heard them?

“The Bukgung family’s prestige has fallen to the ground. Even some vagabond crawls in.”

“With filthy scum coming into Flying Swallow Manor, it feels like our own status drops too. It’s truly lamentable.”

“Besides, did you hear him blabber in front of the lady the other day? He said he’d make Yoon the family lord?”

“It’s laughable and infuriating. You and I, we know our backgrounds support us. The youngest becoming lord? A daughter at that? No way—Miss could never become lord of the Bukgung family, even if she came back to life. She can’t even manage her own estate—head of the family indeed.”

“You’re right.”

“After all, what would a vagabond know? Those without family usually grow up as ronin. Naturally, they lack a sense of reality.”

“Exactly.”

“I noticed it when he talked back to the head guard before. How did our hall’s dignity sink so low that this guy…”

Yang the warrior, who was speaking, suddenly shut his mouth.

Seo, seeing his pale companion, asked:

“What’s wrong with you?”

“No, that, that guy…”

“What about him?”

Yang pointed to Yeon Mujin with his finger.

Seo looked at Yeon Mujin, but he was still seated in meditation, deep in circulation.

“What’s wrong?”

“That guy just opened his eyes.”

“What did you say?”

“Uh, look at that!”

Seo turned his head again, but Yeon Mujin remained unchanged.

“That bastard just mouthed a curse at me!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“No, I’m serious! Didn’t you see it?”

“Of course you didn’t. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to open your eyes or mouth during qi cultivation?”

“No, I’m telling you he did just now!”

“Are you sleepless? Did you not eat properly?”

“Uh! That bastard again!”

Yang grabbed the back of his neck. He had clearly seen that sitting vagabond mouth a curse at him!

See! He’s even moving his lips now, mouthing curses!

“……”

“What!”

“……”

“No, this guy, seriously!”

“……”

“You, you, you double-damn bastard!”

Yeon Mujin had the uncanny habit of mouthing curses only when Seo wasn’t looking.

He only moved his lips, yet the words were so distinct, some kind of talent.

Yang could no longer hold back and lunged at Yeon Mujin.

Seo grabbed his trouser leg.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

“Let go of this! I’m going to beat that bastard to death today and quit guard duty!”

“No, killing aside, you can’t touch someone practicing qi cultivation! It’ll bring shame to your family for years to come!”

Yang’s family was a mid-ranking martial clan from Zhejiang Province: the Pan’an Yang family.

If they assaulted someone in qi cultivation in full view, who knew what rumors would spread about the family.

He calmed down at Seo’s words.

But then.

“……”

“That, that son of a bitch! He cursed again!”

Yang’s eyes rolled wildly.

As he struggled in excitement, Seo eventually gave up trying to restrain him.

They’d reached the point of letting things take their course.

“I’ll be cleaning up a corpse today if this keeps up…”

Just as Yang lunged at Yeon Mujin, aiming to strike his crown!

With a dull smack, a heavy impact sounded and Yang slowly fell backward.

His jaw half-twisted, foaming at the mouth, Yang collapsed.

Then Yeon Mujin rose slowly.

He spoke to those gathered.

“Is this how the Flying Swallow Manor welcomes guests?”

Everyone looked between the fallen Yang and Yeon Mujin in bewilderment.

“Is it your way to ambush an unprepared fellow, mock him behind his back, and mouth curses at him?”

“What is this guy saying right now!”

Seo stepped forward.

Yeon Mujin looked at him coldly and said:

“This one just tried to ambush a comrade in circulation. You saw it too, didn’t you?”

“What?”

“You mustn’t touch someone in circulation! It’ll shame your family for years!’, that’s exactly what you just said.”

“…!”

It was indeed Seo’s own words.

The one they thought was foolishly meditating had actually been listening to their entire conversation.

“Not only that, you spat ‘filth’ and ‘orphan’ and chewed a man out right in front of him. Wow, what a noble household you’ve come from. Truly noble.”

At Yeon Mujin’s glare, each warrior who met his eyes quickly averted their gaze.

Not only Seo—no one had refrained from treating Yeon Mujin as an idiot or mocking him.

They thought even as they avoided his eyes:

‘Why should we watch our behavior?’

It’s just one person. A rootless wanderer they all despised.

Mocking him behind his back left no proof; if they shut up and pretended not to know, the matter would blow over.

Moreover.

They disliked Yeon Mujin’s audacity and the way he raised his voice.

“Hey, Guard Yeon.”

In the end, Seo took a step forward.

“What?”

Seo frowned at the curt tone. But now was not the time to be proud.

“Do you have proof we did it? Don’t raise your voice and make a bigger deal; let it pass. If trouble starts, who do you think suffers? Us? Or you? It’s obvious.”

“Ah.”

Yeon Mujin scanned the people around him.

“So you mean all of you here are in on it together?”

“What are you talking about? Calm down first…”

Seo approached Yeon Mujin to soothe him.

But what happened next?

The moment he tried to place a hand on Yeon Mujin’s shoulder, an unknown force pulled his arm.

“Huh? This isn’t right?”

By the time he thought that, it was already too late.

His clenched fist had already flown toward Yeon Mujin’s face.

And the maddening fact was:

“…He’s smiling?”

Yeon Mujin watched the incoming punch dead-on and smiled faintly.

A chill ran down Seo’s spine.

Soon after.

Smack!

For the second time that day, flesh met flesh with a thud.

Yeon Mujin took the blow to the face and stepped back a couple of paces.

“Was that really a hit?”

“No, well, wait a minute!”

Two streams of blood trickled from Yeon Mujin’s nose.

His eyes were bloodshot, and malicious intent flowed from his gaze.

Seo wanted to scream that it was all a misunderstanding. But,

“Come here. You’re finished now.”

Rolling up his sleeves, Yeon Mujin moved faster.