#11

Chapter 3

The Qi-Heart Method (3)

“Nine Hearts.”

A was a man who possessed nine hearts in total, counting the physical heart and the virtual Qi-Hearts.

Hyeong-un didn’t know it, at the time, but this was the pinnacle level of internal energy cultivation that all martial practitioners in the world regarded as the absolute pinnacle.

Gwi-hyeok continued,

“You will one day possess internal energy surpassing even mine. To achieve that, elixirs will be necessary.”

Ever since the Qi Heart Method first emerged in the world, countless heart methods have branched off from it. Each developed while competing in distinct traits and efficiency.

However, the speed at which inner power itself could be increased had already reached its limit.

If the average rate were defined as 1, then even the most exceptional method barely reached 1.5.

Inevitably, this creates a necessity for Spirit Medicines and Secret Elixirs, and the value of the Alchemists who create them has only continued to rise. It was a natural consequence that the ‘Guardians of the Star’ came to boast such immense power and influence.

After listening to the explanation, Hyeong-un spoke with a serious expression.

“I will work hard.”

“Well, there is no need to rush. If you simply follow my teachings, you will get there eventually.”

Gwi-hyeok spoke with a rather relaxed attitude.

Immediately following this, Gwi-hyeok passed down a specific heart method.

“The name of the heart cultivation method I will teach you is the Vast Soul-Heart Method. I should tell you beforehand: it is different from the one I cultivate.”

“Huh? It’s different?”

Hyeong-un’s eyes widened. No—was that even possible? For a master to pass down a martial art different from the one he himself practiced?

As if he had anticipated the reaction, Gwi-hyeok smiled.

“I’ve had a certain design in mind for a long time.”

“A design…?”

“A design to raise my disciple, using everything I can possibly make use of. And the Vast Soul Heart Method is the most ideal Heart method for that purpose.”

Hyeong-un was a person of average talent with no special gifts. Considering that disciples of prestigious sects master heart methods starting from five or six years old—or as early as three or four—he is already at an age far too late to even enter the world of martial arts.

Yet Gwi-hyeok intended to raise this very Hyeong-un to the point where he would surpass even the Star-Fated Prodigies.

At this point, Hyeong-un couldn’t help but ask the question he had been harboring in his chest. it was a doubt that had occupied his heart from the very moment he learned about those gifted by the stars.

“How can an ordinary man defeat a genius handpicked by the heavens?”

According to Gwi-hyeok’s own words, they were beings who had received the Mandate of the Heavens. How could an ordinary person surpass someone destined to leave their name in the annals of history?

Gwi-hyeok answered as if he had been waiting for that very question.

“Even if it is talent bestowed by the heavens, the vessel that holds it is still human. Therefore, the way to defeat it is to leverage what humanity has built up.”

“What humanity has built up—What is that? Is it some kind of swordsmanship superior to what a genius masters?”

If both were to master techniques of equal level, there was no way an ordinary man could ever defeat a genius. That was why the possibility crossed his mind, but his master just shook his head.

“No. Well, that is one means, but there is no such thing as an ‘absolutely superior’ technique under the heavens. Whether it be martial arts or Phantom arts, it is all the same.”

“Then what?”

“Money.”

“…Pardon?”

Facing Hyeong-un’s as his eyes widen in shock, his master grins with unshakable confidence and says

“Everything humanity has built is destined to be valued and traded through money. With wealth, we shall eclipse even the talents of the heavens.”

“Is that… even possible?”

Hyeong-un asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

It ran completely counter to common belief. Wasn’t a true hero someone born with destiny itself—someone beyond the reach of money or power, someone chosen by heaven? And yet here he was being told that such fate could be overcome by…money?

But Gwi-hyeok was certain.

“If not that, then with what could you surpass those chosen by heaven? Can you think of any other answer?”

At that question, Hyeong-un fell silent. He had a few thoughts, but they all felt hollow.

Working oneself to death?

That was a given. And while you were striving, would the other party simply sit idle? If hard work alone were enough to achieve everything, the world would be filled with far more successful people than it is now.

Then, a fated encounter?

In heroic tales, the protagonist always gains tremendous treasures through fated encounters—but how often do such chances fall to just anyone? From the start, what people call a fated encounter suits a Star-Fated Prodigy far more than an ordinary person.

“One cannot win through effort alone. Nor can you expect some common-sense-defying miracle to bridge the gap. In that case, must we not do what lies within human power? If ‘Chance’ belongs to them, then we must compete with Inevitability.”

Exhausting every possibility within human power. Gwi-hyeok believed that this alone was enough to surpass those who carried heaven’s mandate.

‘You are not like me. But you too will surely surpass those bastards…’

After briefly recalling the past, Gwi-hyeok began transmitting the Vast Soul Heart Method to Hyeong-un.

“First, I will pass down the oral incantation of the Vast Soul Heart Method.”

Transmitting the profound principles of the art through spoken word—that is the Gu-gyeol (Oral incantation/key). Since it was a mnemonic that would normally fill an entire secret manual, the length was considerable. After repeating it three times, Gwi-hyeok asked.

“Can you memorize it?”

“Ah, um..well…”

Hyeong-un shrank back. The oral incantation Gwi-hyeok had recited proceeded slowly, with clear and deliberate pronunciation, lasting over a ban-gak (approximately 7-8 minutes). And yet, after hearing it only three times, to ask if he could memorize it?

His expression alone seemed to provide the answer. Gwi-hyeok wore a wry smile.

“As I thought, it’s too much?”

“… Yes. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest.”

Those words struck Hyeong-un like a dagger. Hyeong-un asked quietly,

“Master… was this something you were able to do, back in your day?”

“…Hmm.”

Gwi-hyeok hesitated for a moment. How should he answer? Had it been anyone else, he would have calmly and coldly stated the truth and been done with it. But Hyeong-un was his one and only disciple. Moreover, he had chosen the boy knowing full well he possessed no talent.

‘This is difficult.’

Conveying the truth while being considerate of such a child. That was something Gwi-hyeok had never done before.

Seeing his hesitation, Hyeong-un spoke up.

“It’s okay to tell me the truth. You’ve already told me that I lack talent.”

“Hmm. Alright. For me, something like this… I could memorize it after hearing it just once.”

“……”

Hyeong-un barely restrained the sigh that threatened to escape. Was talent in martial art not only about quickly mastering physical skills, but also requires a sharp mind?

‘How is that possible? I don’t even understand the meaning of the words…’

Hyeong-un had worked as an inn-hand since he was young, so listening to instructions or remembering customers’ orders had become second nature to him. Seeing how most people around him often got confused or failed to remember even simple details, he had thought his own memory wasn’t half bad.

But to think there were people in the world who could remember such a long recitation after hearing it only once? Furthermore, it would be one thing if it were language he understood, but to Hyeong-un, it sounded no different from a chant in some foreign, incomprehensible tongue…

Gwi-hyeok, looking slightly awkward, spoke.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ve already thought of a solution.”

“What kind of solution?”

“I’ll write down the mnemonic verses of the Vast Soul Heart Method and give them to you. Carry them with you and study them until you memorize them. In any case, the Vast Soul Heart Method must be mastered completely. If you do that, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

“Ah, u-um… Master…”

At those words, Hyeong-un once again showed signs of discomfort. Gwi-hyeok asked, puzzled.

“What is the matter?”

“The thing is…”

“Speak. Is there something troubling you? If you tell me, I’ll take it into consideration no matter what.”

At Gwi-hyeok’s words, Hyeong-un let out a sigh and confessed.

“I… I don’t know how to read.”

“……”

Gwi-hyeok was speechless.

From a young age, he had lived within the organization known as the Guardians of the Star. Although his background wasn’t prestigious and he had started with menial chores among the warriors, there had always been plenty of people around to teach him how to read. And once he had learned to read, obtaining books for scholarly learning was never a difficult task.

But certainly, the world was full of illiterates who knew nothing of letters. Gwi-hyeok was aware that for poor children, learning to read was an immense luxury, and upon reflection, Hyeong-un was exactly such a case.

‘No talent and no supporting environment… this truly is a difficult path, isn’t it?’

Gwi-hyeok instinctively felt that teaching Hyeong-un would be a far more arduous task than he had initially imagined.

_A teacher must possess a patience greater than anyone else’s. Sometimes, the act of teaching someone requires more endurance than overcoming a heroic trial._

“…is something I once heard from my old calligraphy tutor.”

Gwi-hyeok muttered as memories of the past surfaced. Then, from behind him, Seok-jun replied,

“So you’re only realizing the meaning of those words now?”

“Mm. Embarrassingly enough, yes. Back then, I used to think, ‘What’s so hard about playing teacher?’ and felt he was just being pretentious.”

Since his youth, Gwi-hyeok had grown up hearing himself called a genius. Whether it was martial arts or academic studies, he mastered everything he was taught so effortlessly that his teachers never needed to repeat a lesson twice.

But now that he had found himself in the position of teaching someone, the words of his old tutor rang true.

“Even at this age, the world is still so full of things to learn; it makes life truly worth living. Seok-jun, you mentioned before that I never took in any disciples, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Thinking about it now, if I had taken in those ‘geniuses’ recommended by the organization, I might have died from sheer frustration. It’s this hard teaching just one person; the thought of teaching several… it’s terrifying.”

Gwi-hyeok shuddered at the thought, while Seok-jun let out a bitter smile.

“Ah, that wasn’t meant to belittle Young Master Hyeong-un.”

“Tsk. I know what you’re trying to say. But…”

Gwi-hyeok spoke, frowning slightly.

“Aren’t those so-called prodigies all idiots compared to me anyway?”

“……”

At this point, Seok-jun didn’t know what kind of face to make. Though he was flustered, he barely managed to keep from wearing an expression of pure absurdity.

But what was even more absurd… was the fact that Gwi-hyeok’s words weren’t some groundless bluff.