The Martial God with Psychic Powers

At the Azure Dragon’s words, Myung Cheon thought to himself that he’d better watch what he said.
—Smart choice. Even if you're thinking of just one thing, be cautious about it.
What should he do?

After some hesitation, Myung Cheon ultimately agreed to the dragon’s request.
—But I can’t let you drink often.
—Doesn’t matter.

—Anything else?
—Meat!
—Hey! I’m a Taoist, you know!

—So you refuse?
—This is insane.
—I’m the one going insane here. Of all people, the human I ended up with can’t drink or eat meat.
—Alcohol and meat are the two things a Taoist must avoid the most.

—Says who? Who says you have to avoid them?
—Isn’t that how everyone cultivates?
—Nonsense. Even Jang Sam Bong enjoyed alcohol and meat. It’s all nonsense.

—What? T-That can’t be!
—It’s true. I don’t know when things got so uptight, but back in the day, Taoists used to drink and eat meat.
—I heard you can’t ascend if you do that.

—Kahahaha! Ascend? If you knew how much of a bunch of drunks the immortals are, you’d faint. And don’t even get me started on the kind of meat they eat. There are barely any animals left in the Immortal Realm because of them.
Myung Cheon was confused.
Should he believe what the Azure Dragon was saying?

—But what are you even trying to do by becoming an immortal? Do you want to go around slaughtering humans too?
He flinched in shock.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?

—W-What are you talking about! I said I wanted to be an immortal, not a demon!
—Humans. This is your problem. You follow immortals without even knowing what they are. To them, humans are just things to toy with and kill whenever they feel like it. You're nothing but trifling insects.
—Nonsense!

—Heh heh heh. It’s true. I never lie. If an actual immortal were walking the human world, he’d be going around slaughtering humans for fun.
—Are you confusing them with demonic beings?
—Demonic beings? Heh heh. Those freaks from the Demon Realm and the Immortal Realm are all the same.
Myung Cheon’s head spun at the Azure Dragon’s words.

Then what had he been working so hard for all this time?
‘No! He’s saying this crap just to confuse me.’
Myung Cheon shook his head, trying to brush off the dragon’s words.

—Tsk, tsk. I don’t know how to lie. Especially not to a human. It’s aggravating enough that I have to negotiate with the likes of you.
—Do the other Divine Guardian Entities experience the same thing I do?
—The Black Tortoise and the White Tiger are surprisingly submissive to humans. Idiots. They think it’s the natural order or something. The Vermilion Bird is more like me. That one probably wants to eat humans too. Decide quickly. Time’s running out.

—What do you mean? We haven’t even talked that long.
—Heh heh. Time flows differently in the Mental World than it does in the human world. Keep this up and you’ll collapse from exhaustion. Or go eat something and come back once you’ve cleared your head.
With those words, the Azure Dragon disappeared, and the white expanse of the world vanished with him.

Myung Cheon opened his eyes.
He sat there dazed, still wrapped in the mystique of what he had just experienced.
And then—

Grrrrgle—
His stomach roared.
Hunger hit him like a storm, along with an intense thirst and a splitting headache.

“Wh-What the hell? What is this extreme hunger and thirst?”
He didn’t even have the strength to stand.
Practically crawling, Myung Cheon dragged himself to where the Byeokgokdan was stored, grabbed a handful, and shoved it into his mouth.

Crunch—crunch—
Then he crawled toward the stream and drank water.
Gulp—gulp—

Only after eating and drinking did he feel like he might live.
“Haah! I can finally breathe. Just how much time has passed?”
He was muttering to himself when—

“You’ve finally opened your eyes?”
A sudden voice startled him into leaping up.
Sitting with his legs crossed on a rock in the corner was Yeon Woo Jin.

“Wh-When did you get here, sir?”
“I haven’t been here long, but I’ve been checking in often.”
“Huh?”
“I was debating whether to wake you or not since you’d been meditating for a week.”

“A-A week? I’ve been sitting here for a week?!”
“Yep. So, did you gain anything?”
At Woo Jin’s question, Myung Cheon recounted everything that had happened during his meditation.

When he finished, Woo Jin looked intrigued.
“Hooh. It has a sense of self. I had a feeling.”
“A feeling?”

“It seemed afraid of me. I wondered if that meant it had ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ a will of its own—and it does.”
“What should I do?”
“Hmm. First, go back in and meet the Azure Dragon again.”

“And then?”
“Just… keep meeting him.”
Myung Cheon tilted his head, confused.

Then he nodded.
“Understood. This time, I’ll speak properly and make sure I reach a good outcome.”
Woo Jin smiled and nodded.

Myung Cheon once again crossed his legs and entered meditation.

 
*****

—Did you fill your belly?
—Yeah. Time really did pass differently, huh?
—Heh heh heh. I told you, I don’t lie. So? Have you given it any thought?

—I’ll agree to it… but I don’t think I can give you as much as you want.
—Human. You’re standing before an immense opportunity for fortune. And you’re hesitating over booze and meat? You think I’ll cooperate with you like this?
The Azure Dragon, clearly irritated, began to release its aura, pressing down on Myung Cheon.

—The moment that human disappears, I might just devour you. Until now, I held back so I wouldn’t damage the body, but now that your physique is tougher, I don’t have to anymore.
—Is that a threat?
—A threat? I’m just telling you how much I’ve been compromising.

Myung Cheon was about to argue back when—
—Unbelievable. I came in because I was curious what kind of conversation you were having, and some lesser creature is threatening a human?
—L-Lesser creature? You’ve lost your mind! How dare you!

The Azure Dragon exploded in fury, unleashing killing intent toward Myung Cheon.
But Myung Cheon was innocent.
That wasn’t his voice.

—That wasn’t me.
—Then are you saying someone else entered your Mental World?
And then, from somewhere else, a voice responded.

—That’s right.
—Huh?
The Azure Dragon’s shadow turned.

Then it flinched.
The direction it turned—Yeon Woo Jin stood there, hands behind his back.
—H-How can another person be inside someone else’s Mental World…?

—Seeing just your shadow is annoying. Come out.
Yeon Woo Jin extended his hand and grabbed the Azure Dragon’s shadow.
The dragon thrashed, trying to escape—but it was no use.

Shrrrrk—
Like something being pulled out of water, the Azure Dragon was dragged into view.
But surprisingly, it was small and… kind of cute.

—What the? You’re tiny?
—Human! How dare you refer to me that way…
Smack!

—Guegh!
—Don’t you have another way to address me? That term annoys me.
—Referring to humans as “humans” is just—

Smack!
—Gahk!
The Azure Dragon was outraged.

What else was he supposed to call a human, if not “human”?
No, wait.
More importantly—he was feeling pain?

But this was the Mental World.
Why was he feeling pain?
And how had a third party entered this place?

No doubt about it—this wasn’t a normal human.
The Azure Dragon, growing wary, cautiously asked Yeon Woo Jin:
—Th-Then, is there a particular title you would prefer?

The Azure Dragon asked with as much courtesy as he could muster.
—Can’t you serve this man here as your master?
The Azure Dragon’s expression twisted.

—So I was right. Then serve me as your master instead.
—What? Serve… a human as my master…?
At that moment, Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes turned pitch-black.

The moment the Azure Dragon saw that gaze, he was rendered speechless.
Terror surged through him.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt fear like this.

Not even when he had faced the Heavenly Demon, King of the Demon Realm, had he felt such dread.
—You. Come here for a moment.
What was he saying now?

—I’ll be borrowing this guy for a bit.
Myung Cheon blinked in confusion, then gave a nod.
The Azure Dragon shouted in alarm.

—W-Wait! Tell him no!
He didn’t know what was about to happen, but it felt ominous.
—Follow me.

And just like that, the Azure Dragon was yanked away and vanished in an instant.
At the same time, Myung Cheon could feel it.
The Azure Dragon’s energy inside his body had vanished.

What now?
For now, Myung Cheon decided to wait.
 

—W-Where is this?
—Where do you think? You’re inside my body.
—Gasp!

The Azure Dragon, now dragged into Yeon Woo Jin’s body.
The moment he realized it, he began to feel Woo Jin’s true power.
What he had sensed before was only the tip of the iceberg.

—H-How can a h-human possess such energy?

The Azure Dragon was appalled.
No matter how hard he resisted, this was not someone he could ever defeat.

No—before Yeon Woo Jin, he wasn’t even an Azure Dragon. He was a mere worm that could only squirm when stepped on.
The Azure Dragon’s attitude naturally shifted to one of submission.
—W-Why are you doing this?

—Still don’t get it? I told you. Serve me as your master.
—Th-That’s…
—I thought so. Guess you need some education, huh?

—E-Education?
—Come here.
The Azure Dragon shook his head frantically.

But regardless of his will, his body was sucked toward Yeon Woo Jin.
Woo Jin’s eyes had once again turned black.
—If you can endure it, I’ll acknowledge you.

Endure?
Fine.
He’d endure it.

Better that than submitting to a human.
The Azure Dragon swore he would endure no matter what.
 

****
—P-Please… Master! I’ll disappear if you keep going… please stop…
The Azure Dragon was crying, groveling, and begging.

—What’s wrong? Just now, you seemed so confident you’d hold out.
He had miscalculated.
Every single strike felt like his soul was being torn apart.

The pain was beyond imagination.
After just a few blows, he wanted to give up. But he couldn’t even speak.
His mouth had been sealed.

Dammit.
With tears streaming down his face, he had no choice but to take the beating, silently praying that Woo Jin would ask him again.
Then, at some point, his mouth opened again.

Just one chance.
He cried out desperately:
He would serve him as his master.

Yeon Woo Jin’s hand stopped.
—Really?
—Yes! Master!

—You should’ve said so from the start.
Tears welled up again.
—But I can’t trust you so easily.

—I-I really don’t lie!
—Sure, that might be true right now. But later, who knows if your heart might change?
—S-So what are you going to do?

—Nothing complicated. I’m going to make sure that if you disobey me even once, you’ll be dragged right back to me.
—Wh-What?
—The moment you act against my orders, you’ll instantly return to me. And you’ll find out that what you suffered today wasn’t even the beginning.

Shudder—
The Azure Dragon trembled involuntarily.
A devil.

No, worse than a devil.
Not even the Heavenly Demon was like this.
But what choice did he have?

Crackle—
—Guuuhk!
A violent bolt of lightning exploded through the Azure Dragon’s body.

—Now you’re fully bound to me.
—Ghk… Y-Yes, Master.
—Alright. Here’s your first command. Enter Myung Cheon’s body and fully become one with him.

At Woo Jin’s order, the Azure Dragon’s face lit up.
Myung Cheon was better than this.
—Yes!

—Remember this. If you show even a hint of uncooperativeness to Taoist Myung Cheon, it’ll count as violating my command—and you’ll be dragged back immediately.
—I-I’ll cooperate absolutely!
—Good. I’ll be watching.

 
****
Myung Cheon stared, bewildered, at the Azure Dragon now returned to his body.

—Why are you suddenly like this?
—Quick! There’s no time! Sit in meditation posture! I’ll transfer my energy to you!
Myung Cheon looked at him with deep suspicion.

—I get why you’d be skeptical. But I’m telling the truth. I don’t lie, remember? So sit already and receive my power.
—Did… did he tell you to do this?
—Yeah.

Only then did Myung Cheon nod and assume the lotus position.
—Phew. Listen carefully. To receive my power, you have to circulate your energy exactly as I instruct.
—Got it.

No sooner had he answered than a vast force began pouring in from the crown of his head.
—Begin circulation from the Baihui point! Hurry!
Myung Cheon began circulating his energy just as the Azure Dragon instructed.

—Pull the energy from your lower dantian up to the middle dantian, then circulate it from left to right.
Woom woom woom—
The Azure Dragon’s energy and Myung Cheon’s met in the middle dantian and began to resonate.

Myung Cheon, as instructed, began circulating both energies from left to right.
—When I give the signal, release your energy all at once. That’s how it’ll fuse with mine.