Chapter 7 …
The detached house provided by Bamboo Grove Manor.
Dong Seol‑ah placed her teacup down with a sharp clack and spoke with a face full of displeasure.
“Brother, I can’t stand this anymore. Because of that sickly Ouyang Cheon‑gang, Grandfather’s grand plan has been delayed for thirteen whole years!”
Across from her, Dong Ha‑jin quietly savored his tea without even lifting his gaze.
“Don’t be impatient, Seol‑ah. Everything must follow its proper order. Even Grandfather is waiting, isn’t he?”
“Order? Why take the long way around when the shortest path is right in front of us?”
Seol‑ah continued, her tone sharp with frustration.
“Tonight, I can have the man I brought handle Ouyang Cheon‑gang quietly. Then Ouyang Cheon‑gi will naturally become the successor, and uncovering the secrets of the Atlas Blade Diagram that Grandfather wants so badly will become much easier.”
At her words, Dong Ha‑jin set down his teacup and gave his sister a pitying look.
“How foolish. If Ouyang Cheon‑gang dies the very night we arrive, who do you think Ouyang Baek will suspect first?”
Seol‑ah scoffed.
“So what if he suspects us? Without any evidence, what can he possibly do to us—direct descendants of Geumtap Mountain Villa?”
Dong Ha‑jin clicked his tongue.
“No matter how far he’s fallen, he is still the head of the Ouyang Clan. Underestimating someone like that is how you lose everything.”
“Brother, you always overestimate that man,” Seol‑ah said with open contempt.
“To me, he looks no different from a stray mutt that lost its home. Hoho.”
Dong Ha‑jin let out a deep sigh.
He knew well that although Seol‑ah was clever, her arrogance often clouded her judgment.
“Do not act rashly, Seol‑ah. We proceed exactly as Grandfather planned—slowly, and with certainty. I won’t repeat myself. Understand?”
Seol‑ah nodded obediently, but her eyes held not the slightest intention of listening.
Back in his room, Ouyang Cheon‑gang shivered lightly, sat down cross‑legged with the jade statue in his hand, and began meditating.
A chill rising from deep within his chest made it difficult to breathe.
He activated Clear and Serene Mind Formula — Plus, guiding the warm energy from the jade statue down to his Qi‑Sea Point in his lower abdomen.
As he practiced the 4‑2‑6 breathing cycle and circulated a minute amount of energy, the icy cold in his chest gradually faded.
“Hoo…”
Finishing his breathing, he exhaled long and opened his eyes.
This body… is absolute garbage.
Back on Earth, he’d lived in chronic fatigue thanks to research work, but his health had always been relatively fine.
He jogged every morning and worked out at the lab’s underground gym during lunch.
Research was a battle of stamina—without physical conditioning, he would’ve collapsed long ago.
But unlike back then, this boy’s body was frail enough to be blown away by a breeze.
A few steps left him breathless, and cold surged unpredictably through his body.
Trying to stay positive was nearly impossible.
Just then, Akasha’s voice rang.
[The effects of Clear and Serene Mind Formula — Plus are excellent. The intensity of the chill has decreased by 2%.]
That explains it—my symptoms really are easing. My stamina feels slightly better too.
[Correct. It’s not a cure, but symptom management is stable. Overall condition has improved by about 7%.]
Akasha continued brightly:
[Doctor, I believe I’ve uncovered the secret in the pattern engraved on the jade statue.]
Oh!
A smile lit Cheon‑gang’s face.
[Uploading the analysis as a visual projection.]
A pure white mental space formed in his mind like a theater screen.
It was Akasha’s visualization.
The palm‑sized jade statue appeared, and the patterns on its surface lit up one by one in shades of blue—like lights flickering on.
Strangely, the brightness differed from spot to spot.
Cheon‑gang immediately understood.
The brightness corresponds to the order and pressure needed when pressing the patterns?
[Correct. It seems to function like a “password” system.]
A password?
[Yes. You must press each segment in a specific sequence and with specific levels of force to activate the hidden mechanism.]
His eyes sparkled.
And once the password is entered?
[Something will activate or be revealed, but I cannot determine exactly what. I can detect another hidden layer beneath the surface, but not its contents.]
So it’s a complete unknown?
[Yes. This world’s technology limits my analysis.]
He examined the statue.
It looks like a simple carving, but there’s something hidden inside?
[Exactly.]
Is it related to my illness?
[Possibly. You were given this warm jade because it helps with the Nine Yin Severed Pulse. Whatever’s hidden may be a continuation of that purpose—but we must open it to know.]
Cheon‑gang thought for a moment.
Would Dong Yeon‑hwa or Dong Hyun‑do know about this?
[Unlikely. If they did, they would’ve told you how to use it. They merely said to keep it on you. They probably think it’s ordinary jade.]
Cheon‑gang tightened his grip.
I’m too curious to wait. I’ll enter the password right now.
Akasha quickly stopped him.
[Doctor, please be cautious.]
Why? Is there danger?
[Not detected, but something so well‑hidden likely has safeguards—incorrect input could trigger self‑destruction or permanent lockout.]
Cheon‑gang grimaced.
[I recommend more simulations. Once the success rate reaches 95% or higher. Currently at 83%.]
That’s still pretty high…
[Doctor, failure might be irreversible. Better to ensure success.]
Cheon‑gang stared longingly at the jade.
So… how long?
[By tomorrow noon, I can fully decode it—possibly sooner. Once I finish analyzing the micro‑patterns, accuracy will exceed 99%.]
Fine. I’ll wait.
[Thank you.]
He looked outside—the sky was pitch black.
He hadn’t noticed night falling while focusing.
Old Huang brought dinner.
“Young Master, you should sleep early tonight. You must be tired after dealing with guests.”
“You’re right. I really am tired.”
Cheon‑gang forced a bitter smile.
The physical exhaustion was bad enough, but the mental fatigue was several times worse.
After Old Huang left, he ate and sat at his desk.
[Aren’t you going to rest?]
I don’t have much time left in this body. I can’t waste it just because I’m tired.
He opened a book.
The previous owner of this body had a wide range of interests—humanities, history, astronomy, metaphysics, architecture, medicine, botany… every field imaginable filled the shelves.
Cheon‑gang read at an astonishing pace.
Shrrrk—
It looked like he was just flipping pages, but he absorbed and understood everything completely.
Akasha, I feel like a super‑genius.
[Doctor, you were already a genius.]
Not to this level. Without your processing and optimization abilities, I couldn’t do this.
[That too, but the original owner’s intelligence was extraordinary. Neural transmission, synaptic activity, brain connectivity—everything is unusually strong.]
So both global and local processing are optimized?
[Correct. This brain handles information efficiently, enabling seamless integration of my optimized data.]
What a waste for someone this gifted to have died.
[Consider that he’s living on as you.]
Yeah, yeah…
Then—
The candle beside the bookshelf flickered.
Despite the still air.
Which means…
[Doctor! Danger!]
At that instant, Cheon‑gang looked up.
A masked man stood in front of him.
Dressed in black night clothes, eyes gleaming with murderous intent—like the shadow of death itself.
The candle extinguished, plunging the room into complete darkness.
“Who—”
Before he could finish, the masked man extended an open palm.
Fwoooom—
An invisible force shot toward Cheon‑gang’s chest with a faint tearing sound.
Akasha screamed in his mind:
[Doctor! Danger! High‑density energy reaction! Evade immediately!]
He wanted to move—but the frail body would not obey.
Before the warning finished, the hostile palm force struck his chest squarely.
BOOM!
Guh—!
A massive impact hit him like a giant hammer.
Agony tore through his entire body.
As consciousness faded, he faintly heard Akasha’s distorted voice:
[…Emergency… Protocol… Forced… Migration…]
His body flew like a rag doll, crashed into the wall, and collapsed with the bookshelf.
Crash—!
Blood poured from his nose and mouth.
The masked man approached to confirm the kill—
Bang!
Old Huang kicked the door open.
“Young Master!”
His eyes blazed upon seeing Cheon‑gang bleeding on the floor.
“How dare you harm the Young Master!”
A terrifying killing intent burst from him.
The frail old servant was nowhere to be seen—only a predator awakened from its slumber.
The masked man snorted and launched another palm strike.
But Old Huang was no Ouyang Cheon‑gang.
Fwooooosh—
A scorching red aura blasted from Huang’s right hand, obliterating the incoming force instantly.
“What—!?”
The masked man froze for an instant—just long enough.
Old Huang’s fist was already flying.
“For twenty years, I endured… but tonight, I will not!”
Swish!
His fist slammed forward.
BOOM!
The masked man used the recoil to fling himself through the window.
He had already achieved his goal—no reason to fight another dangerous opponent.
“Stop!”
Old Huang tried to pursue, but the masked man had already vanished into the night—
