The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Yeon Woo Jin entered the Clan Lord’s residence of the Hwangbo Clan alongside Namgoong Myeong.
“Welcome. I am Hwangbo Won, Clan Lord of the Hwangbo Clan.”
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Yeon Woo Jin.”

Hwangbo Won studied Yeon Woo Jin carefully.
Namgoong Cheon had written in his letter that this was an esteemed guest, and that he should not be treated with the slightest negligence.
The letter also stated that a matter of great importance had arisen and that Hwangbo Won would hear of it through Yeon Woo Jin.

Given the emphasis, it seemed this person truly was important, and the matter equally so.
But the young man before him… showed no particular traits of note.
More than anything, he looked barely in his early twenties.

“Forgive me, but… may I ask which family you are from?”
“I am the Master of Sincheonjang and the Sovereign of the Sincheon Trading Group.”
“Sincheonjang?”
Hwangbo Won tilted his head.

It was a manor he had never heard of.
“It was only recently established.”
“I see.”

No matter how closely he observed, he could not grasp why this person was considered so important.
But his close friend had insisted that this young man be treated well, and had even sent the Young Lord of the Namgoong Clan to accompany him.
For now, he resolved to treat him with proper respect.

“Forgive me. It seems I have been rude.”
“Haha, not at all. I should have properly introduced myself from the beginning. I am the one at fault.”
The man’s character was decent.

A faint smile crept onto Hwangbo Won’s lips.
“Come now, let us not stand here talking. Please, be seated.”
The two sat at the round table.

Namgoong Myeong, however, remained standing.
“You, come sit as well.”
“I am fine. I shall stand here.”

At Namgoong Myeong’s words, Yeon Woo Jin spoke.
“Young Lord. I have something to discuss privately with the Clan Lord.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Namgoong Myeong immediately bowed his head.
“I shall wait outside. Please speak comfortably.”

His posture was that of one pledging loyalty to his sovereign.
Seeing this, Hwangbo Won was bewildered.
To make the Young Lord of the great Namgoong Clan behave like that…

What in the world was this young man’s true identity?
As Namgoong Myeong left, Hwangbo Won questioned Yeon Woo Jin.
“Now that we are alone, what is it you wish to speak of?”

“First, I must deliver this.”
Yeon Woo Jin produced a book from within his robe, one that clearly resembled a martial manual, and held it out.
“What is… Huh!”

The hand holding the book began to tremble uncontrollably.
On the weathered cover of the book were the faded words Sumicheonwang Divine Art (Heavenly King’s Divine Art).
“H-How did this come into your possession?”

“I was told to return it, so I have come to do so.”
“T-Told to return it… C-Could it be… are you from Mushincheon?”
“Yes.”

Only now did Hwangbo Won begin to understand why Namgoong Cheon called him an esteemed guest.
He truly was.
A martial manual that their family had once offered up to Mushincheon was being returned to them.

The original, untouched.
Even now, as if unable to believe it, Hwangbo Won stared repeatedly at the manual in his hands.
Then, as he recalled Yeon Woo Jin’s name during their introduction…

Thunk—
Hwangbo Won nearly dropped the priceless manual in shock.
Someone had come to mind.

“C-Could you be… related to the First Martial God?”
“The First Martial God? Ah, he’s my grandfather.”
For a moment, hearing his grandfather’s epithet instead of the usual Martial God of Mushincheon threw him off.

“Gasp!”
So he wasn’t simply an errand boy delivering a martial manual—he was truly an esteemed figure.
Now that he thought about it, they would never entrust such a precious manual to just anyone.

Now he understood why Namgoong Myeong acted as he did.
Hwangbo Won stood and respectfully clasped his fists.
“I failed to recognize a noble guest.”

“It is understandable. The world doesn’t even know the Martial God of Mushincheon has a grandson.”
That was true.
Hwangbo Won had thought the same as everyone else.

If he has a grandson, why hold a successor selection?
But before he could dwell on that thought, Yeon Woo Jin’s next action swept away all doubts.
As if the martial manual wasn’t enough, he produced another item.

It was a small wooden box, roughly the size of a fist.

“What is this?”
“An Inyeondan.”

“Inyeondan!”
He knew that name all too well.
How long had he struggled to obtain even one?

In the end, he barely managed °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to acquire a few inferior Johwadan pills instead.
Some of those Johwadan pills had been mixed in with the goods the Sincheon Trading Group recently delivered.
With trembling hands, he opened the wooden box, revealing over ten Inyeondan inside.

“W-Why are you giving me this?”
“It is a gift.”
“Y-You’re giving me such a precious treasure… as a gift?”

Yeon Woo Jin nodded.
“But… why? Surely there must be a reason? Is this… a ploy to entice us to join Mushincheon? Are you here to recruit us?”
“No. Though… I understand why you might think that.”

“Then why? Returning the martial manual alone is a great enough gift, yet you even bring these pills?”
“The Inyeondan is to help you master that martial art.”
“Meaning?”

“The Demonic Cult will soon reveal itself to the world.”
At those words, Hwangbo Won’s movements halted.
“W-What are you saying? The Demonic Cult…?”

“Master Cheongi foresaw it in the Heavenly Divination.”
“Is… is that true?”
“Yes. That is why we are returning martial manuals to the sects of the Central Plains, and providing elixirs such as these, so that you may strengthen yourselves. Only then will you be able to resist the Demonic Cult.”

Hwangbo Won alternated his gaze between the martial manual and the Inyeondan.
“The Inyeondan… Did Mushincheon create these?”
“No. I made them.”

Hwangbo Won’s eyes widened.
“T-Then the Johwadan as well?”
Yeon Woo Jin nodded.

Thinking back, the only trading group distributing both Johwadan and Inyeondan was the Changcheon Trading Group.
He now understood why Namgoong Myeong was accompanying Yeon Woo Jin.
Most likely, the Namgoong Clan had formed close ties with Mushincheon.

Could it be… the Namgoong Clan had fallen under Mushincheon’s influence?
It was certainly possible.
Hwangbo Won shook his head.

That wasn’t the important issue right now.
The Demonic Cult.
If Mushincheon was returning martial manuals, it meant even they did not possess the strength to stop what was coming.

This was no mere crisis—the Central Plains could face annihilation.
When would they reveal themselves?
Mastering the Heavenly King’s Divine Art alone would require several years.

“I will assist you.”
“With what?”
“The Heavenly King’s Divine Art.”

What was he saying now?
In that moment, an enormous fist materialized in Yeon Woo Jin’s hand.
It was unmistakably The King’s First Fist , one of the techniques of the Heavenly King’s Divine Art.

“C-Could it be… You’ve mastered the Heavenly King’s Divine Art?”
“While inspecting the original to confirm its authenticity… I accidentally mastered it.”
Can one accidentally master a martial art like this?

No.
Of all the martial techniques of the Hwangbo Clan, this was the most profound and difficult.
Even he would need considerable time to fully interpret it.

Yet he mastered it while simply inspecting it?
“Have you… mastered other sects’ martial arts as well?”
“Yes.”

“Hah… You’re saying you mastered them at first glance?”
“Yes.”
It was unbelievable.

But what choice did he have but to believe it?
The martial manual had already been taken by Mushincheon, presumed lost forever.
Could he complain if the grandson of the Martial God of Mushincheon had mastered it?

“Do not worry. I will not use this martial art elsewhere after today.”
…Huh?
If Yeon Woo Jin was the kind of genius who could master the Heavenly King’s Divine Art after seeing it only once, then regardless of anyone’s opinion, the next Lord of Mushincheon was undoubtedly him.

In terms of legitimacy, in terms of talent—there was no question. Yeon Woo Jin would be the next Mushincheon Lord.
Moreover, judging from the brief demonstration of the Heavenly King’s Divine Art he had shown earlier, Yeon Woo Jin was by no means inferior to Hwangbo Won himself.
He looked barely in his early twenties, yet already stood on par with him in cultivation?

That alone was proof enough.
The successor of Mushincheon wielding the martial art of the Hwangbo Clan?
That alone would elevate the clan’s prestige.

Just imagine it—the world knowing that even the Lord of Mushincheon used their martial art.
Once his thoughts reached that conclusion, Hwangbo Won hurriedly spoke to Yeon Woo Jin.

“You may use it as freely as you wish. No, in fact… would you honor us by using it openly at times?”

“Pardon?”
“I beg of you.”
“Ah… very well.”

He had expected resentment, but instead, the man was encouraging it. Yeon Woo Jin was momentarily taken aback.
“You must be tired from your long journey today. Please rest well. I shall ensure you are properly cared for.”
 

****
The next day.
Hwangbo Won declared that he was entering closed-door training.

He ordered that the clan’s affairs be handled through the Young Lord, Hwangbo Gwang, for the time being.
At first, the Hwangbo Clan’s leadership was bewildered by the sudden announcement.
But upon learning that the purpose of the closed-door training was to master the Heavenly King’s Divine Art, they were overjoyed by the return of the clan’s long-lost martial treasure and nodded in understanding.

There was one odd detail, however.
The Clan Lord had not entered seclusion alone—he had brought someone with him.
Once they discovered who it was, they tilted their heads in even greater confusion.

Why had the Sovereign of the Sincheon Trading Group entered the closed chamber with him?
Was it to renovate the facility?
Or to deliver supplies for the chamber?

Hwangbo Gwang, the Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan, was equally curious.
As he continued to dwell on it, Namgoong Myeong quietly approached him and spoke.
“Do you want to know?”

There was a knowing look in Namgoong Myeong’s eyes.
Hwangbo Gwang nodded.
“Then let’s go somewhere private.”

“Let’s go to my room.”
 
****

Once I enter the chamber with Hwangbo Won, tell Hwangbo Gwang the truth about me.
That was Yeon Woo Jin’s command.
Namgoong Myeong was carrying it out faithfully.

“Well? Spit it out already. Why did my father enter the closed chamber with that man from the Sincheon Trading Group?”
“They went in to train together.”
“What? Are you joking? Do you even hear yourself?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Even I, his son, have never been allowed inside, but some stranger he met yesterday gets to join him in seclusion? Does that sound reasonable to you?”
“Of course not. But… wouldn’t it make sense if that person fully understood the Heavenly King’s Divine Art?”

“What?”
“Why do you think they returned the Heavenly King’s Divine Art through an unknown trading group?”
“To deceive others, obviously.”

“Wrong. The Sincheon Trading Group is directly tied to Mushincheon.”
“What? The Sincheon Trading Group belongs to Mushincheon?”
“More or less.”

“You received something too, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. They returned our Emperor’s Sword Manual.”
“So… it wasn’t just for us.”

“Right. They’re returning manuals to every sect in the Central Plains. For major factions like the Nine Great Sects or the Five Noble Houses, the Sovereign himself delivers them.”
“That Sovereign mastered our Heavenly King’s Divine Art, didn’t he?”
“Not just that. He mastered our Emperor’s Sword Manual as well. To be honest… he wields it better than my father ever could.”

“What? And you’re okay with that?”
“At first, I was frustrated. But later, I realized there’s no point in being frustrated.”
“What do you mean?”

“There’s no reason to resent it… when your opponent isn’t even human.”
“Speak clearly. Not human? What are you saying? That he’s a god or something?”
“Exactly.”

“…What?”
“He’s a god.”
“You’re insane. You messing with me right now?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Namgoong Myeong’s expression was dead serious.
“What happened to you? Why are you acting like this?”

“If you spend time with him, you’ll understand naturally.”
“Understand what?”
“His greatness.”

Hwangbo Gwang stared at Namgoong Myeong, dumbfounded.
“Our Clan Lord realized it too—recognized his greatness. That’s why he entered the chamber with him. To receive his instruction.”
“Don’t spout nonsense! Are you insulting my father right now?”

“It’s not an insult.”
“Fine. If he’s so great, he must hold some important rank within Mushincheon. What is it? Tell me.”
“He’s the grandson of the Mushincheon Lord.”

“…What?”
“And he will become the next Lord of Mushincheon.”
At Namgoong Myeong’s response, Hwangbo Gwang’s eyes widened.

“W-Wait… are you telling the truth?”
“Yes.”
“But that doesn’t make sense. If he has a grandson, why hold the successor competition?”

“Maybe… it’s a gift to amuse his grandson? Or a lesson—to show everyone that no matter how hard they struggle, they can’t surpass the real thing.”
It was a plausible theory.