Chapter 9. Reckless (4)
“Get up.”
“Ghk!”
Startled, Janggu sprang to his feet.
The moment he saw Moyong Cheon’s eyes glowing in the darkness, he immediately threw himself flat on the ground.
“I’m sorry!”
“For what?”
“…Pardon?”
“Cut the nonsense and carry that pig.”
“Yes, sir!”
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation.
Even while limping on one leg, Janggu hoisted Gahang onto his back and stood at attention. His face was even more battered than before, but his discipline was razor-sharp.
“Tch.”
Carried on his subordinate’s back, Gahang couldn’t even groan.
Moyong Cheon smacked the back of his head and asked,
“It’s not far, right?”
“…That’s correct.”
“Figured. Cowards like you wouldn’t bury your money somewhere far.”
The humiliation was unbearable.
But it wasn’t even wrong, so he couldn’t argue. Not that he was in any position to argue anyway.
“Let’s go, dunghead.”
“Yes!”
The three of them passed through a small hole behind the residence and arrived at a tiny forest.
Not even animals seemed to pass through here. It connected directly to the hill behind the residence—less than half a gak away on foot.
“You buried it in the ground?”
“…Yes.”
“Lack of imagination. So where?”
Gahang, trembling, pointed at a small tree.
“I buried it there.”
“Under the rock?”
“That’s right.”
Truly fitting of a thug.
Moyong Cheon gestured with his chin.
“Dig.”
“Yes!”
Setting Gahang down, Janggu pushed the large rock with all his strength.
Even for a big man, it wasn’t something an ordinary person without internal energy could move—but Janggu shoved it like his life depended on it.
Rumble.
As if the heavens favored him, the rock rolled aside.
Beneath it was soil where grass strangely didn’t grow.
“Should I dig here?”
Absurdly, Janggu asked Gahang instead of Moyong Cheon—too afraid to address him directly.
Gahang glared murderously.
“Yes, you idiot! There!”
“Yes, sir!”
In the face of greater fear, authority meant nothing. Janggu began digging furiously with his bare hands.
Watching with arms crossed, Moyong Cheon suddenly frowned.
‘It’s starting.’
A sharp, needle-like pain pierced his head.
After decades of enduring severe headaches, this level of pain was nothing. But this wasn’t just pain.
‘Here it comes.’
Brain Gate Divine Art.
He had intended to complete the initiation back at his residence, but fearing something might happen, he had recited the incantation on the way here.
Fortunately, the initiation was easy. As a child, it had taken him a year—but now, as someone who had once stood among the strongest in the world, it took less than half a shijin.
‘Was going to finish after digging… guess it’s happening on its own.’
The technique was as temperamental as ever.
Bzzzz—
The Yintang acupoint between his brows slowly expanded.
Moyong Cheon leaned against a tree.
Then—
Twitch!
It felt like the needle in his head pierced through his forehead and exited.
Dizziness surged, but he gritted his teeth and endured.
If he couldn’t withstand even the initiation, he wouldn’t survive anything else.
Whoosh.
External energy entered through his forehead and churned inside his brain.
His body trembled violently. It felt like invisible hands were kneading his brain.
‘Damn it!’
More terrifying than pain was the alien sensation.
The first time he practiced this, he had passed out for two days. But now—
Wooooong—
As pure energy filled his brain, the Baihui point opened and expelled turbid energy.
Drawing energy through Yintang, refining it, expelling impurities through Baihui—
No technique in the world worked like this.
That was why most people went insane or died just trying to begin.
But Moyong Cheon had perfected it.
‘Don’t provoke it—just pass through!’
The energy surged.
When it filled his head completely, he quickly closed the acupoint.
Opening and closing meridians at will—his will was merging with the technique.
Fwoooosh!
Impurities burst out.
Cold sweat drenched his body. Blood dripped from his nose.
And finally—
Flash!
His eyes sharpened.
‘Done.’
The first stage—Burning Soul Method—was complete.
It enhanced mental clarity, focus, and control over energy.
From this moment, he could manipulate energy at will—skipping years of training others needed.
And more—
Whoosh!
His hand snatched a falling leaf midair.
His shoulder ached, but his speed had clearly increased.
“Phew.”
As he wiped the blood from his nose, he noticed Janggu staring blankly.
“What are you doing?”
“Y-you suddenly groaned… and started bleeding…”
“Your focus is garbage. Move already.”
“Yes!”
“Hey, I can see your hands slowing. Not tired yet, are you?”
“No, sir!”
Janggu dug faster—like a dog clawing dirt.
Moyong Cheon turned to Gahang.
His face was filled with despair, fear, anger, and worry.
Moyong Cheon smirked.
“What? Feeling wronged?”
“…No.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not the one being wronged.”
Gahang bit his lip.
Still, he had to ask.
“One thing… may I ask?”
“I said I won’t kill you. Keep it up and I might change my mind.”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
“Then what?”
“What… technique did you use on me…?”
“Why? Planning to use it on me later?”
“…Of course not!”
“It’s called pressure point sealing.”
“…!”
Gahang’s jaw dropped.
Not because he didn’t know it—but because Moyong Cheon could use it.
Even martial families rarely mastered it.
‘This lunatic…’
Then—
“Gasp! S-sir!”
“What, found it?”
“Yes!”
Janggu pulled out a large bundle.
Gahang felt like the sky was collapsing.
Thud!
It was heavy—easily over ten gwan.
“Open it.”
“Yes!”
Inside were silver ingots, gold pieces, and stacks of banknotes.
Moyong Cheon grinned.
“Gahang, was it?”
“…Yes.”
“Impressive. I’m very satisfied.”
Gahang’s heart broke.
Everything he and his brother had accumulated—gone.
Moyong Cheon inspected it carefully.
“Clean money. Nicely organized.”
Then—
“Bring him here.”
“Yes!”
Janggu dragged Gahang forward.
Gahang’s face turned pale.
“Y-you said you’d spare me!”
“I will.”
Thud!
A strike to the back of his head knocked him out.
Moyong Cheon turned to Janggu.
“I’ll spare him. What about you?”
Janggu collapsed.
“Please spare me!”
“You saw everything.”
“I won’t tell anyone! I’ll leave this place forever!”
“Really?”
Moyong Cheon handed him three silver ingots.
“You’ll need travel money.”
Janggu looked touched.
“Thank you!”
“Well, you have to run anyway.”
“…What?”
“When he wakes up, who do you think he’ll go after first?”
“!”
“Even if he dies, the gang will investigate. Think you’ll survive?”
Janggu’s face turned pale.
“Run. Don’t come near Hubei again.”
“Thank you!”
He bolted.
Moyong Cheon rummaged through the bundle.
“Let’s see.”
He tossed a few items back into the pit.
“Came for a few thousand… hit the jackpot instead.”
He then smashed Gahang’s jaw with a stone.
Crack!
Even unconscious, Gahang twitched.
His jaw was shattered—and his voice gone forever.
“Take care.”
With the bundle on his back, Moyong Cheon walked away.
A cold wind brushed past the unconscious Gahang.
