CH 26
Jang Yi-seo sat on the floor and slowly nodded. Seeing this, Mao exhaled in relief and plopped down opposite him.
“You scared me, man. What the hell? You took out Maggwi and those assassins in one strike, then collapsed after using a bit of internal energy? That makes no sense. Spill it—did you learn demonic arts or something?”
“Good. It’s better if you think that.” Jang Yi-seo waved him off with an irritated nod.
“How could a lowborn like me grow strong so easily? I just swallowed every poison and medicine I could find. This is the result.”
“But back then, you shot lightning from your hand. You’re strong.”
“It’s all double-edged. Greater power means greater backlash. So you’d better get stronger fast, Your Highness. I don’t know when I’ll collapse for good.”
When Jang Yi-seo mentioned his uncertain fate, Mao’s expression darkened instantly—like a trembling puppy. An unexpected sight.
After all, those who push others away the hardest are the most vulnerable to bonds.
Why wouldn’t he be afraid? He’s just pretending otherwise. Not even twenty yet.
‘Now that I think of it, he’s the same age as Yoon.’
Next year, his younger brother would also turn twenty. Fourteen years had passed since they’d last met. The memory of that cold winter dawn felt like yesterday: his brother, awakened from sleep, sprinting outside with snot dripping down his face, begging him not to leave.
‘I hope he’s well.’
He’d heard the boy was thriving at a prestigious academy. By now, he’d probably forgotten him.
After a moment, Jang Yi-seo rose slowly.
“Hey, need more rest?”
“No. Listen carefully—we’re short on time. Your Highness, you broke through the peak’s barrier long ago. But your control over internal energy is worse than a third-rate martial artist’s.”
“Third-rate my ass… Fine, got it. So what? You want me to ‘release energy’ like you?”
“You don’t tell a baby who can’t walk to climb a mountain.”
“What?”
“What you must master before reaching the Heavenly Demon Hall is—”
Jang Yi-seo’s gaze sharpened.
“—Balchul (Energy Release).”
Palm energy from the palm, finger energy from the fingertips, sword energy from the blade.
It meant gathering internal energy into one point and expelling it explosively.
The first stage Mao needed to conquer was Balchul—the gateway to the peak.
“To do that, stop chasing your energy. Make it follow you.”
“Follow me…”
Mao muttered gravely. Jang Yi-seo nodded with equal resolve.
“Yes. Start by breathing slowly. Painfully slowly. Master that first.”
“Got it. Slowly.”
Mao’s nod was more convincing now. Had vomiting blood and collapsing helped? Even dog dung has medicinal uses, they say. Everything helps, apparently.
Jang Yi-seo smirked and glanced toward the distant forest path.
“Let’s go.”
Mao strode ahead eagerly.
“Yeah!”
Yet Jang Yi-seo remained rooted, scanning their surroundings.
“Where are you going?”
“You said ‘let’s go’!”
“Carry me.”
“Huh?”
“On your back. I’m exhausted.”
“I’m the Seventh Prince. You’re my aide.”
“Exactly. So carry me.”
“This is backwards!”
“It’s called duty.”
Grumbling, Mao bent down. Jang Yi-seo slumped onto his back like a corpse. Kid’s got a broad back.
“Circulate your energy slowly. Slowly.”
“I know!”
“Start with the Small Heavenly Cycle.”
“Ugh, shut up. Can’t focus. I’d rather sleep.”
“…….”
‘Seventh Prince. I’ll make you the sect’s heir. No matter what.’
For now… a nap would do.
His eyelids slid shut.
*
Thirteen days had passed since Mao and Jang Yi-seo departed.
Today marked their private audience with the sect leader—and their final chance to train.
Though called “training,” it amounted to sitting cross-legged in an abandoned house, repeating breathing exercises.
This was Jang Yi-seo’s prescribed method to master Balchul.
His goal was singular:
“Haa…”
To slowly circulate the Great Heavenly Cycle.
A task fit for Shaolin novices, yet Mao struggled relentlessly.
The floor grew soaked with sweat; dark circles hollowed his eyes.
Jang Yi-seo claimed mere mental focus was enough, but Mao’s mind wandered like the reckless prince he was. Countless attempts. Countless failures.
But each failure neared success.
‘Focus. Almost there. Almost.’
Finally, on the thirteenth day—
Whoosh
“It’s done!”
As dawn lightened the window, he’d slowed the Great Heavenly Cycle for the first time.
“It worked, right?”
Mao’s trembling eyes sought Jang Yi-seo, who leaned against the doorway. A nod confirmed it.
“Ha… haha…”
Mao collapsed onto the sweat-drenched floor, strength spent. Why such joy? His smile spread, light as cleared skies.
He tapped his forehead and shook his head.
“I’m a genius after all.”
Jang Yi-seo, who’d mastered the technique instantly, found it absurd—but what mattered was success.
“Do you understand now? Making energy follow, not chase?”
At the question, Mao sat up sharply, confidence blazing in his eyes as he nodded.
This time, he truly knew.
"I figured it out after trying to control my energy slowly. Until now, whenever I got excited, my energy would burst out on its own. What a vicious thing it is."
"Yes. Correct answer."
"Exactly. Energy is like an angry beast. It’s impatient, rushing out first, and escapes faster when you try to restrain it. That’s why you must control it through breathing. To make it follow where you want. That’s how you train it."
As Jang Yi-seo spoke with flowing gestures, Mao nodded repeatedly.
Though not yet fully accustomed, he distinctly felt the energy writhing in his dantian and slowly coaxed it to follow his will.
"Then can you gather it where you want now?"
At Jang Yi-seo’s question, Mao swallowed dryly. Honestly, he wasn’t sure. But if he could herd it like before into one spot...
"I can do it."
Good. Now only the real test remained.
"Come out."
Creeeak.
Jang Yi-seo stepped outside the abandoned house. Following him, Mao saw a massive egg-shaped boulder in the small clearing ahead.
Larger than two men combined, its flat front seemed perfect for carving.
Jang Yi-seo gestured at it with his chin.
"Begin."
The threshold of mastery—emission.
Huuu… Haaa…
Mao took deep breaths.
Then—
"Hyahhhh—!"
Crack!
With a shout, he unleashed a strike.
Bang!
A sharp sound scattered like an explosion.
But…
The boulder remained unchanged.
Whoooosh—
Only a seaside breeze swept past.
Mao mumbled awkwardly, frozen mid-strike.
"What… Did I fail?"
He’d clearly channeled energy to his palm and unleashed it fully. Yet the boulder stood pristine, as if a fly had briefly landed.
Jang Yi-seo stared blankly before answering.
"Yes… A failure."
"Gaaah! Why?!"
Mao gripped the boulder, screaming. No. Say it’s a dream. Say it hurts! He’d been certain of success. Did this mean he’d return empty-handed to the Heavenly Demon Hall’s sealed gates?
Enduring Jang Yi-seo’s nagging all the way back?!
"Won’t! Can’t! I quit!"
Mao flopped down, thrashing like a child.
Yet Jang Yi-seo kept staring at the boulder, soulless. No mockery, no scolding—just stunned silence.
The emission failed. Energy condensed in his palm but wasn’t severed in time. It lingered at his fingertips instead of being released. A failure. But…
Jang Yi-seo studied Mao with solemn eyes.
He’d felt it earlier—
The moment Mao struck. An overwhelming surge of Extreme Yang energy erupting from his body like lava.
Had that palm touched the boulder, it wouldn’t have shattered. It would’ve turned to dust.
This was why Jang Yi-seo had frozen.
He already knew Mao’s Heavenly Yang Body was a once-in-centuries rarity. He’d witnessed the terrifying power behind Mao’s casual punches.
But this… was merely the iceberg’s tip.
Mao’s internal energy might already rival orthodox sect elders’.
Is this the Heavenly Yang Body’s power—accumulating energy through mere breathing? Could I… envy him?
"Gaaah! I’m a genius! A genius! Yet I lost to a rock?! Why?! It’s your fault, you bastard!"
Watching Mao wail while clinging to the boulder deepened Jang Yi-seo’s despair.
Sighing, he approached.
"It’s not a total failure. Stop this. If you gather energy, you must release it. What use is hoarding it?"
"Huh? Release?"
As Mao blinked innocently, Jang Yi-seo sidestepped to the rock wall. He adjusted his stance—feet shoulder-width, right palm open behind his chest, left hand forward.
"Watch. Don’t gather energy first. Extend your hand while sending it out. And at the moment of contact—"
Whoosh!
Jang Yi-seo twisted his waist, hurling his right palm forward.
KABOOM!
Dust erupted. A deep palm imprint remained on the wall.
Mao gaped. Jang Yi-seo turned slowly, concluding:
"Release energy’s tether from within. Let it flow freely outward."
"Ooh… Oh! Why’d you wait to say that?! I get it now! This time—I’ve got it!"
Naturally. Jang Yi-seo smirked. Mao seemed foolish but wasn’t dull—just overshadowed by his Heavenly Yang Body. Now that he controlled energy, severing it would be simple.
"Try."
Jang Yi-seo retreated three steps. Mao took his place.
"Feet here… hands here…"
He began clumsily mimicking the motions.
Unbelievable…
#Just as I Thought, I’m a Genius (2)
