Book 16 Chapter 14

Empty Bottom Matter (空底物事)

-One Principle, Many Manifestations (理一分殊)-

Wiji Cheon stared at the pill in his hand, its ominous name, 'Blood Explosion Pill,' sending a shiver down his spine. Wrapped in red paper, its contents looked as if they were made from coagulated human blood, radiating an unholy crimson aura.

'Attacks from the outside are strong, but attacks from the inside are weak. You will naturally understand the use of this medicine.'

The masked man had clearly said that as he handed him the pill. And he now knew exactly how to use it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have volunteered to be Wiji Cheon's successor, whom he despised so vehemently.

'The effects of this medicine manifest in three stages over time. Especially in the final stage, you will feel immense energy swirling within your body. It is said to feel as if your very life is being consumed by flames. Be warned, for if you cannot release it properly then, you may face death.'

The masked man's voice still echoed vividly in his ears.

'There's no point in hesitating now, is there? I have something I must do!'

There was no turning back. He was the chosen one, tasked with delivering divine punishment in place of heaven. He overcame his fear through self-suggestion and delusion.

'Alright!'

He squeezed his eyes shut and poured the blood-red medicine into his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, he was engulfed by a shock, as if a fireball had exploded within him. Simultaneously, an immense surge of murderous intent welled up. Even if this uncontrollable, explosive rage was part of the medicine's effect, he didn't care. The power that had been simmering in his dantian like molten lava began to flow into his limbs and organs. He was seized by a strange delusion, as if he had become an omnipotent god. He felt capable of anything.

"Hahahaha! Is this the effect of just the first stage!"

He felt confident he could crush that fool Biryu-yeon even in his current state.

"Biryu-yeon, you scoundrel! Wait for me! Today, I shall deliver divine punishment upon you in the name of justice, in place of heaven!"

"Well then, shall we prepare ourselves as well?"

"Ooh!"

Biryu-yeon's words were met with a powerful affirmation.

The order was: Biryu-yeon, Wiji Cheon, Oban, Jang Hong, Hyoryong, Yun Junho, Na Yerim, Gyo Ok, Lee Jinseol. The women were placed towards the end because the danger decreased as it progressed. No one objected to this arrangement.

"Be careful of him, Ryun!"

Hyoryong whispered in his ear, her face still etched with worry. Biryu-yeon nodded and replied,

"Don't worry! Nothing will happen!"

Wiji Cheon, who had gone to relieve himself, was returning. His already unpleasant face looked even more so with the strange smile and glint in his eyes.

"Alright, the final 7th team! Please begin!"

With the command of the four-line rule-maker acting as the host, the trial began.

The core of this inner energy assimilation test lay in how long one could gather the energy transmitted from others and then release it all at once. Therefore, the paramount challenge was how long one could bind and control energies of different natures in one place. For this reason, the role of the first person, who had to simultaneously perform the roles of 'holding' and 'releasing,' was the most crucial.

In such inner energy assimilation tests, the total ability of the participants did not necessarily translate into proportional power. Significant differences could be created depending on the ability of the leader.

In that sense, Biryu-yeon was gathering energy for longer than average. Half an hour had passed, yet he showed no intention of releasing the energy. This was no easy feat, as energy had been continuously flowing from behind him. The person most astonished by this was Wiji Cheon himself. He had been pouring a massive amount of energy into Biryu-yeon's dantian since earlier. Combined with the vast, river-like flow of energy from the rear, it should have been an immense quantity. However, Biryu-yeon was absorbing it without showing any signs of distress.

'This is absurd!'

Wiji Cheon could not accept the possibility that Biryu-yeon's inner energy control might be superior to his own.

"Alright, then!"

Just then, the medicinal effects of the Blood Explosion Pill were beginning to enter the next stage. Inner energy began to surge as if from a spring. It felt as if inner energy was constantly being generated from his dantian. His face and entire body turned red.

'No matter how large your vessel is, it's still a vessel! It will eventually be full! Let's see who wins!'

He forcefully pushed the enormous amount of energy generated by his body into Biryu-yeon's body. And he didn't forget to slightly alter its nature to be more violent. Just as a raging river is difficult to control, so too was the flow of inner energy within a person's body.

'Huh? Something's wrong.'

Oban, positioned behind Wiji Cheon, immediately sensed the anomaly. Wiji Cheon's energy felt unusual through his palm. Moreover, his body was turning completely red.

The amount of energy he felt through the backlash alone was staggering, let alone the amount flowing into Biryu-yeon's body.

'This is dangerous if it continues! An accident is bound to happen! Half an hour has already passed! It's time to release the energy! It's impossible for a human body to endure any longer! This will surely damage his body!'

Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his cheeks. His neck and armpits were also drenched. As his anxiety grew, his focus wavered, and controlling his energy suddenly felt difficult. In that instant, the river of energy within Oban's body surged violently.

'Ah, ah! Focus! Focus!'

If he made a mistake, he could put not only himself but everyone else in danger.

'I can only trust him for now!'

There was nothing he could do at this point. Stopping it now was impossible. Abruptly halting it risked all nine of them falling into energy deviation. He couldn't take that gamble.

'Persistent fellow!'

Wiji Cheon was also growing impatient. He was still holding on! Still, he could feel a slight tremor in Biryu-yeon's body through his palm.

'Of course! His body must be nearing its limit. But can he truly control the wild horses of energy raging within him? Come on, release it quickly! That moment will be your final moment.'

The moment of releasing the gathered energy was the most dangerous and the moment when the greatest vulnerability was exposed. Furthermore, it was the moment when the greatest damage could be inflicted if something went wrong. Wiji Cheon was waiting for that opportunity. The moment Biryu-yeon attempted to release the concentrated energy, he would block his meridians. Then, the ball of energy, unable to find an exit, would wander aimlessly, and with a 'bang!', everything would be over. But even if that didn't happen, the violent currents of energy, like a torrent during the rainy season, would ravage his insides.

'Either way, it's the end, Biryu-yeon! There's nowhere left to run!'

Wiji Cheon gritted his teeth and forced the river of energy into Biryu-yeon's body. Biryu-yeon's body shook violently, and cold sweat began to stream from his forehead.

"Huh? Something's wrong?"

Murmurs arose from the onlookers watching the 7th team.

'What in the world are they doing to be able to unleash such powerful energy?'

The pressure emanating from the 7th team, currently executing the energy body transformation, was immense compared to the preceding teams. Only the 1st team was comparable in terms of this energy.

"This isn't good, if it continues like this…"

Cheong Heun, watching with a grim expression, muttered to himself.

"You think so too?"

Mun Jeol Baek Mu-yeong, who had approached unnoticed, asked.

"Yes! And Cheon-ah's appearance is strange!"

"Yes… I think so too… Hmm!"

At that moment, Cheong Heun and Baek Mu-yeong's eyes widened.

Pop!

Thick, worm-like blue veins bulged from near Wiji Cheon's temples. But that was just the beginning. The veins, starting from his temples, began to protrude all over his face without discrimination, spreading like a spiderweb. It was a horrifying sight to behold. The veins throbbed menacingly, as if they were about to burst.

"What in the world is happening, Mu-yeong?"

"I don't know! I might have to return the nickname 'Earth Dragon' today. But I have a terribly bad premonition!"

Bang!

Finally, something immense exploded within Wiji Cheon. It was a feeling as if his entire life was being consumed by flames, just as the masked man had said. It felt like his acquired energy, and even his primordial energy stored in his dantian, were being extracted.

"Kuaaaang!"

Unable to bear the pain any longer, Wiji Cheon let out a tremendous scream. Opening his mouth during inner energy circulation was almost forbidden, but he seemed unable to endure it.

An immense amount of inner energy, burning even his life force, surged into his finite human body. Biryu-yeon's body swayed violently. His mind was also becoming hazy.

"Ryun-ah, what do you think is the best state to receive energy?"

"Well…"

Biryu-yeon faltered at his master's question.

"Then let me rephrase the question! Even if a vessel is a great vessel (大器), it has its limits. Do you want to be a vessel with limits?"

"No, I don't want that."

"Not only do you not want it, but you cannot cultivate the Thunderclap Sword (비뢰도) to its peak if you confine yourself within such a self-made frame. You don't learn martial arts to be confined by limits. Therefore, disciples of the Thunderclap Sect must train themselves to become 'no vessel' (無器)."

For pride's sake, he couldn't say he didn't know again. So he desperately tried to come up with an answer.

"To become a 'no vessel' means to break the frame, to break the form of the vessel. Does that mean one must make oneself formless (無形)?"

"Half correct. But how will you become formless? Are your hands, feet, eyes, nose, and mouth not forms that constitute a human? Will you get rid of them?"

"No, I don't want to go that far. Hmm… Then, emptying the mind?"

"That is also half correct!"

"If half is correct, then the whole thing is correct, isn't it?"

*Snap!*

Biryu-yeon clutched his forehead.

"Ugh! You hit me again!"

His lips protruded like a pout.

"If you put two cut-off platters together, does it become a whole platter? What will you use to join two divided pieces? You need another connecting point to link the principles of the two divided parts into one."

"A connecting point?"

Biryu-yeon said, rubbing the lump on his forehead.

"Yes, a connecting point! That is like the thread that can string together three bushels of beads. It is a single principle (理) that can bind the scattered truths of the world."

"Just tell me the conclusion."

Biryu-yeon said with slight annoyance.

"You must make yourself an empty bottom matter (空底物事)."

"Empty… what?"

"Empty Bottom Matter (空底物事), meaning an empty object. It means to make yourself into a state of emptiness (空)."

"You said that earlier, didn't you?"

"Incorrect!"

"By even a speck?"

"In the realm of truth, that much is the difference between heaven and earth!"

'Just because it's empty, just because it's empty (空), doesn't mean there's nothing. It is precisely because it is empty that it can transform into anything. Whatever it is, whatever its nature, all things came from one… and so does qi (氣)!'

'You must have said that for sure!'

No matter how different their forms appear, they are all derived from a single principle (理). Therefore, by understanding that principle, everything can be integrated. The furnace of emptiness (空) accepts anything and melts everything into one.

Empty Bottom Matter…

Because it is empty (空), it is infinite (無限). Because it is empty (空), it is impermanent (無常). He emptied himself and made his inner universe a state of emptiness. The universe itself was originally empty from the beginning, but humans forgot this fact and defined themselves within a frame. By realizing this fact alone, he could return to the state of 'emptiness.'

Eight kinds of energy with different natures flowed into his body. Biryu-yeon's body, already in a state of emptiness, had no need to reject anything. As his inner power flowed like a river into the empty space, the eight energies were absorbed like souls being drawn into the abyss, harmonizing within him. But suddenly, one of the energies began to rampage wildly, trying to destroy him from within. The ferocious dragon raged madly to break his insides, but it was impossible to break something that had no frame to break. Finally, even that fierce dragon became one within him.

At last, the nine forces harmonized into one within him and flew outwards.

At that moment, a dazzling light emanated from Biryu-yeon's body. It was a brilliant light, like the radiance of the Great Sun Tathagata. But no sound echoed. Only great stillness [Great Samadhi] occupied the space.

"Huh? What was that just now?"

Cheol Ok-jam Ma Haryeong blinked and muttered.

"I don't know… Did I dream?"

Yong Cheonmyung, standing next to him, was equally bewildered.

As the warm and cozy light that had enveloped the hall disappeared, people blinked. They felt as if they had just woken from a dream. The moment had become so quiet that it didn't feel real. Was it that blissful to remain in stillness? Still groggy as if they hadn't fully woken, people stared blankly, thinking. Licking their lips… if possible, they wished to remain in that state once more.

"Ah, right, the results! What were the results?"

As something they had momentarily forgotten came to mind, Ma Haryeong's gaze returned to reality, directed at the 7th team. The 7th team included a man she intensely disliked. But the 7th team was no different from the onlookers. They were still dazed, as if they hadn't fully woken from a dream, and their hands, which had been on each other's backs, were now separated.

Then, the rock face? She quickly turned her gaze to see the result. Suddenly, Ma Haryeong's eyes widened.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Ma Haryeong burst into laughter, a genuine, hearty laugh she hadn't had in a long time. She laughed with exhilarating joy, disregarding her dignity. Her laughter echoed through the mountains, wild and unrestrained. Yong Cheonmyung, standing beside her, despaired at his predicament, unable to join in or stop her.

"Hahaha! What is that, what! It's perfectly fine! Perfectly fine!"

She bent over double, clutching her stomach with laughter. Her eyes watered from laughing so hard. The members of the 7th team were equally stunned. How could this be possible? The rock face was spotless. Not a single inch of damage.

"Hohoho, then this decides the last place! Last place! No matter how incompetent, not a single scratch!"

Ma Haryeong seemed truly exhilarated. It appeared as if her pent-up frustrations were being released through this "digging."

However, Biryu-yeon stood there in a daze, as if he couldn't hear Ma Haryeong's words. He still looked as if he hadn't fully woken up. What was that? That feeling as if the inner and outer worlds had suddenly inverted…

That feeling was not a lie. It had really happened.

Biryu-yeon glanced at his own hands and then reached out again towards the black, glossy wall. A short distance away, Ma Haryeong was still laughing merrily. The others, joining her laughter, began to laugh along. The laughter spread through the crowd like diluted ink dropped on parchment. But Biryu-yeon heard no laughter. His only concern now was what had happened to him and this world.

*Tap!*

Biryu-yeon's fingers, which had moved closer, lightly touched the rock face.

At that moment, the laughter vanished as if washed away, and silence returned. No one spoke. Biryu-yeon watched it with slightly dazed eyes. And everyone else watched it blankly.

*Swoosh!*

The rock face that had blocked his view crumbled into dust as if it had been built from it, scattering in the wind, some parts collapsing like a sandcastle… as if a mirage.

And a vast cave, at least five paces in diameter, appeared before them.

No one spoke.

*Thump!*

The first to break the silence was Ma Haryeong.

Ma Haryeong, who had been laughing heartily moments before, collapsed onto the ground, her legs giving out.

Wiji Cheon also no longer had the strength to stand. So he sat down.

Amazingly, his hair had turned completely white, like burnt ash. This was a phenomenon caused by the instantaneous release of an excessive amount of inner energy. His skin was also as dry as aged bark. He was unrecognizable from the person who had stood at the start of the trial. His very survival was a miracle. This miracle might have been related to the mysterious phenomenon Biryu-yeon had displayed earlier. But none of that mattered to him now.

'Failed again… I failed again!'

Only this thought filled his mind. He had no strength left to get up again. Only the remnants of his life, burned away meaninglessly, remained. What was left was no longer Wiji Cheon. It was merely the dregs of the life that had been called Wiji Cheon. No one approached to help him up. Biryu-yeon gazed at the pile of ashes, which had once been called Wiji Cheon, and finally approached him.

Placing a hand on the shoulder of Wiji Cheon, who had fallen into a state of complacency, Biryu-yeon brought his mouth close to his ear and said in a gentle, sweet voice,

"What a shame, if you had pushed a little more, you might have achieved your wish. So, what did you pay as the price for achieving your wish? Your soul?"

Wiji Cheon stiffened like a statue. His face was pale and rigid, as if plastered with gypsum. Biryu-yeon continued,

"I wonder if you'll have anything left to pay next time. You should be careful. Otherwise, you'll have nothing left for yourself. Remember that you cannot gain everything by discarding everything."

Wiji Cheon bit his lip and swallowed a groan. He shivered, suppressing his resentment.

Thus, the Water and Fire Trial ended.

And the first place for this trial went to the 7th team.