The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Only when the name of a candidate for Lesser Martial Lord was mentioned did it finally sink in.

The person before him was a scion of one of the Five Great Martial Houses of Mushincheon.
And yet, he was unexpectedly down-to-earth for someone from such a lineage.
How to put it?

He’d expected a sense of authority and pride.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What kind of look?”

“Very disrespectful eyes.”
“You misunderstood. I was just looking at you.”
“Hmph. Is this your first time meeting someone from the Five Great Martial Houses?”

“Yeah.”
“I see. What, were you expecting me to look down on you or something?”
“That, and... I mean, I’m not from any renowned family.”
“I know. I’ve looked into it. Your father’s known for his rapid promotions, isn’t he?”

“He was lucky.”
“You underestimate Mushincheon far too much. It’s not a place where you rise in rank just by luck. You need real ability to rise here.”
“You’re right. My father is strong.”

As Jang Woon changed his tune, Jang Soncheonki let out a faint smile.
“You change your words fast.”
“Well, it’s true.”

As the two continued chatting—
CRAAACK—
WHOOOM—

A violent collision occurred, and a storm of Qi surged toward Jang Woon and Jang Soncheonki.
“Looks like the battle’s been decided.”
At Jang Soncheonki’s words, Jang Woon nodded.

“We lost…”
Jang Soncheonki muttered as though in disbelief.
“I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

In his eyes, he saw Central’s top fighter slowly collapsing.
In contrast, though he was staggering, Sunwoo Baek was still on his feet, enduring.
Jang Soncheonki rose to his feet.
“Where are you going?”

“I need to check on our top fighter’s condition.”
At that, Jang Woon also stood.
“I should check on mine too.”

 
****
“Heh… heh heh…”

Hyeok Ryeonho, collapsed on the ground, laughed while shielding his eyes with his forearm.
“Huff… huff… What the hell are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing at how pathetic I am.”

“What?”
“What a disgraceful sight this is. I lost to a general High Division I used to look down on.”
“Do we still seem pathetic to you?”

“No… The pathetic one was me. I guess I struggled so hard not to look weak because I knew deep down that I was.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ugh…”

As Hyeok Ryeonho rose to his feet, Jang Soncheonki approached.
“You alright?”
“You saw it, didn’t you? I lost, clean.”
“Yeah, I saw it. I lost clean too.”

“Is that so? I didn’t see your loss.”
“You didn’t need to. It was pathetic.”
Hyeok Ryeonho turned his gaze to Jang Woon, who was approaching.

He could tell—this guy was no less a master than himself.
“This is insane. What the hell is Baekyeong? Why are monsters like you all gathered there?”
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

His cultivation level was Hwagyeong.
A realm beyond human limits, one that challenged divine power.
That’s why Hwagyeong is also called the God-Entering Realm (Ipsin Gyeongji).

Of course, within Mushincheon, there were many who had reached Hwagyeong.
But not among High Division students.
Among Mushincheon’s High Division students, those at the Hwagyeong level were all the top figures of Central.

Yet here were two figures in a general High Division, not Central, who stood on par with him.
And the cultivation levels of the other students weren’t normal either.
The students considered the elite of Central had been utterly crushed.

There was no room for excuses.
The difference in strength was overwhelming.
Even if they told others the outcome of today’s battle, no one would believe it.

That Central had been overwhelmingly defeated by a general High Division?
People would call it madness.
But it was the truth.

Not just Hyeok Ryeonho—even Jang Soncheonki had never imagined such an outcome.
“It was a lack of intel. We were too arrogant. When facing an enemy, we should’ve given it our all.”
Hyeok Ryeonho reflected as he stood up with difficulty.

Then he spoke to Sunwoo Baek.
“We’ve lost. The strongest in Mushincheon’s High Divisions… is your Baekyeong. And the top fighter of Mushincheon High Divisions… is you, Sunwoo Baek.”
At Hyeok Ryeonho’s words, Sunwoo Baek gave a faint smile.

“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I still can’t believe it. That I… would be called the top fighter of Mushincheon’s High Divisions.”
Even being referred to that way was an honor.

Sunwoo Baek attributed all that glory to his lord and friend—Yeon Woo Jin.
If not for him, would he have enjoyed this luxury?
No. He’d still be stuck at the bottom, drunk on his own vanity.

“I’ll declare Central’s defeat immediately. So for today, you can head back.”
At Hyeok Ryeonho’s words, Sunwoo Baek nodded.
“We’re of age now, right? Time for a drink?”

Understanding the meaning behind those words, Hyeok Ryeonho smiled faintly.
“I’ll bring good liquor and visit Baekyeong myself.”
“I’ll have good food ready and waiting.”

 
****
News of Central High Division’s defeat spread quickly throughout Mushincheon.

People were shocked.
What was Central?
It was the place where all the most talented people in Mushincheon gathered.

And such a place had kneeled to a general High Division—one that was once called the weakest: Baekyeong.
At first, people dismissed it as a rumor.
Because the story was absurd.

But when it was confirmed as fact, the entire world was stunned.
Especially among the High Divisions that had once chosen Central, then returned to Baekyeong—their shock was even greater.
Who would’ve thought Baekyeong would actually win?

Now, without a doubt, Baekyeong was the strongest of all Mushincheon High Divisions.
Many sighed in relief and rejoiced.
But not all.

One place, in particular, responded with fury.
The Five Great Martial Houses.
SLAM—!

“There’s no greater shame than this!”
Hyeok Ryeonpae, patriarch of the Hyeok Ryeon Clan and father of Hyeok Ryeonho, erupted in fury.
“Do you even realize you’ve disgraced the face of the Hyeok Ryeon Clan?!”

“I have no excuse.”
“Of course you don’t! How little must you have trained to lose to a brat from a general High Division?!”
“They weren’t just general High Division kids. The one I fought—Baekyeong’s top fighter—was also at the Hwagyeong level.”

“A martial artist making excuses?!”
“No! I was arrogant and took my opponent lightly. That’s why I lost. It was my fault.”
Hyeok Ryeonho bowed low and admitted fault.

“Pathetic. I thought you might be worth something just because you’d reached Hwagyeong.”
In the Hyeok Ryeon Clan, reaching Hwagyeong at Hyeok Ryeonho’s age was considered a given.
In truth, he was late in reaching it.

He had pushed himself brutally, only to earn his father’s recognition by finally achieving that level.
And perhaps because he was acknowledged, he had grown overconfident.
“Enough! I can’t stand the sight of you. Get out of my face!”

Silently, Hyeok Ryeonho stood and backed out of the room.
Once he was gone, Hyeok Ryeonpae scowled in disgust.
“Ugh! I’m so ashamed I could die!”

There was nothing to be done now.
Take it out on Sunwoo Baek or Jincheon Sect?
Nothing could be more disgraceful.

Instead, it was far more fitting for a Great Martial House to respond with dignity.
Though it stung, the best way to recover some of their damaged honor was to acknowledge their defeat with clarity.
Hyeok Ryeonpae spoke to a subordinate.

“You said the one who beat Ho was from Jincheon Sect?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Send a congratulatory letter and a gift to Jincheon Sect.”

“Yes, sir.”
“And pass along my message that I hope we get along well going forward.”
“Yes, sir.”

“Go.”
 
****

Giru Cheonhwa Pavilion.
Hyeok Ryeonho sat alone, gazing at the rippling lake as he tipped his glass.
Clatter—

At the sound of the door opening, Hyeok Ryeonho frowned in irritation.
“I told you—I want to be alone today.”
Then came a familiar voice.

“Knew you’d be sulking here alone.”
It was Jang Soncheonki.
Hyeok Ryeonho gave a dry chuckle.

“You came? Sit down.”
“At least look at a person when they come in before talking.”
Thud—

As Jang Soncheonki dropped into the seat, Hyeok Ryeonho replied,
“Come on, like that matters between us.”
“Did you get chewed out?”

“Yeah. Got my ass handed to me. You?”
“You wouldn’t be asking if you’d seen my face.”
Hyeok Ryeonho turned, confused—and saw Jang Soncheonki sitting there with a face covered in deep bruises.

“You…”
“Looks like you got off with a scolding. Me? They didn’t stop at words.”
“You alright?”

“Does this look alright to you? My face used to be flawless like white jade, and now it’s ruined.”
“White jade? Whose?”
“Mine.”

“That’s just your usual face.”
At Hyeok Ryeonho’s remark, Jang Soncheonki gave a dry chuckle.
He poured his glass full and downed it in one shot.

“They told me not to come near the house for a while, that they didn’t even want to see me.”
“They told me the same thing.”
“Wanna head to Baekyeong?”

“To Baekyeong?”
“Yeah. I’m curious what the place is like.”
“Why not? I can’t go home anyway with how they’re glaring at me.”

“Let’s go. Get some air while we’re at it.”
At Jang Soncheonki’s suggestion, Hyeok Ryeonho hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go. The Cheonhwa Liquor here tastes pretty good—let’s grab a few jars and bring it with us.”

“Good idea.”
“But for now, let’s drink.”
“Yeah.”

 
****
A few days later, Baekyeong High Division.

Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon looked stunned as they greeted Hyeok Ryeonho and Jang Soncheonki.
“What the hell happened to your face?”
At Jang Woon’s question, Jang Soncheonki chuckled and said,

“Got beat up for losing to you.”
At his words, both Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon turned their gazes to Hyeok Ryeonho.
“I didn’t get hit. Just got nagged a lot.”

Still, he looked thoroughly deflated.
Sunwoo Baek could more or less guess why the two had come here.
Probably couldn’t bear to go home under the circumstances.

Sunwoo Baek welcomed them loudly.
“Good timing! We were waiting for you.”
“You were? For ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) us?”

“Yup! We were. Now that you’re here, take it easy. We’ve got a place ready for guests to rest.”
“Then we’ll be imposing for a few days.”
“Of course! But—what’s all that?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’d bring good liquor.”
Sunwoo Baek gave a crooked smile.
“Then we’d better prepare good food.”

“We’ve got picky tastes, though. Think you can satisfy us?”
“I’ll give it my best. Come on, come on—let’s go inside.”
They hadn’t known each other long, but the four quickly grew close.

 
“So seriously, what kind of training did you go through to get that strong?”
“Yeah, I looked into it—your cultivation speed was insane. What, do you guys have some kind of spiritual herb farm behind Baekyeong?”

“Or maybe a spring gushing out Empty-Clear Stone Milk (Gongcheong Seokyu)?”
Over drinks, the topic naturally turned to the strength of Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon.
“We encountered a fateful opportunity.”

“Yup.”
“A fateful opportunity? Come on, all of Baekyeong’s kids are strong.”
“Exactly. Every single one of them had a chance encounter.”

“At the same time?”
“Yup.”
“What kind of encounter?”

“A god descended and made us strong.”
At Jang Woon’s words, Jang Soncheonki scowled.
“Are you messing with us?”

“If you didn’t want to say, just say so. Don’t joke around.”
It was the truth.
But no one believed it, even when told outright.

“By the way… are you guys seriously not going back home?”
“It’s fine. They probably wouldn’t care even if I did show up.”
“Yeah. Might even be relieved that I disappeared.”

“Still… I doubt that’s really how your parents feel.”
At Jang Woon’s words, Hyeok Ryeonho gave a bitter smile.
“I’m not the legitimate son—I’m a concubine’s son. My mother passed away… and honestly, they treat me like a burden.”

“A child’s a child, whether born from a concubine or not.”
“Not in prestigious clans. That stuff really matters.”
Jang Soncheonki added,

“You’re lucky. You may be a concubine’s son, but at least you’re the patriarch’s child, so they didn’t lay a hand on you. I’m not even the patriarch’s son—that’s why I got beat.”
He sighed and pointed at his bruised face.
“We’re in the middle of the most sensitive time, and they say I’ve brought shame to the family. They were on the verge of expelling me.”

“Same with mine. All attention is focused on my older brother, Jang Sonmugi, the Lesser Martial Lord candidate.”
“It’s understandable. If he becomes the Lesser Martial Lord, Mushincheon practically belongs to that family.”
But it was a fruitless dream.

They didn’t yet know that the next Heavenly Lord had already been unofficially chosen—not the Lesser Martial Lord.
“I don’t even know how to comfort you. Just stay as long as you want.”
“But won’t it be a problem if we don’t show up at the High Division?”

“They’ll understand if we’re gone for a few days.”
“Besides, what’s the point of going back to Central? It’s like a funeral there. Doubt classes are happening properly. We’ll stay a few days.”