Chapter 22. Me, I'm rich.

“I can only thank you for saying so. Haha.”

Jin Yeong-in glanced down at the empty lunchbox and let out a dry laugh.

He didn't mean for him to eat ‘that’ much to his heart's content…….

“Hmm. Did I eat too much?”

“Not at all. I have a small appetite, so this is more than enough for me.”

“Having a small appetite is a problem. You need to eat a lot to develop your muscles and bones. That's how you build strength.”

“I will take your teaching to heart.”

“So, what do you want from me?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn't you approach me because you wanted something?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why did you share your food?”

“I was just grateful for what happened earlier and wanted to share some delicious food.”

“As a way of saying thanks?”

“Yes, something like that.”

“Hmm.”

Yeom Bi tilted his head as if he didn't understand, then opened his mouth.

“Well, it is a bit meager for a bribe. Usually, they offer spiritual medicines or gold. Even if they treat me to a meal, it's greasy delicacies and expensive liquor. If it had been something like that, I would have refused.”

It seemed that since he was one of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's disciples, many people had tried to bribe Yeom Bi.

“Still, I like it. Eating delicious food for the first time in a while makes me feel alive.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“I certainly did.”

“If you’d like, I can have Young Lady Baek share the recipe with you.”

“Really?”

“It’s not a difficult task, so why not.”

“Then I’d be grateful. That way, I won’t have to live on this garbage anymore.”

Yeom Bi said, poking the beef he had been eating with his chopsticks.

It seemed he was quite taken with the body-fortifying dishes made by Baek A-rin.

Indeed, would he have insisted on eating tough, dry boiled beef because he liked it?

“By the way, what brings you here?”

“Can't you tell? I came to do body-fortifying training.”

“I thought someone like you, Fourth Young Master, would have a separate training ground for body-fortifying.”

“Ah.”

Yeom Bi nodded as if he understood what he meant.

“It's just a hobby. I like to look around and use different places.”

“I see.”

“I saw your posture earlier, and it was good. Do they also teach body-fortifying training in the Central Plains?”

Yeom Bi asked Jin Yeong-in with a curious expression.

‘He’s serious about body-fortifying training.’

Jin Yeong-in sensed the pure passion of a martial artist in Yeom Bi's question.

From the beginning, Yeom Bi's training method was vastly different from the Gym Rats who inhabited the Body-Fortifying Prescription.

He didn't simply aim to develop muscles and bones; he seemed to focus on improving the overall coordination and strength of his entire body.

This meant that Yeom Bi viewed body-fortifying training as the most fundamental of martial arts fundamentals and was focused on enhancing his physical abilities.

“Body-fortifying training methods are not common in the Central Plains. I understand that sects that value external arts, like Shaolin or the Peng Clan, do it separately.”

“Ah, is that so? That’s a shame. I wanted to compare the body-fortifying methods of the Central Plains with those of our cult.”

“Shall I teach you a little?”

“Huh?”

Yeom Bi’s eyes blinked.

“You’re not from Shaolin or the Peng Clan. You’re Grandmaster Jang’s disciple, aren't you? So how can you teach me the body-fortifying methods of Shaolin or the Peng Clan?”

“That is true, but I have witnessed the body-fortifying training of Shaolin and the Peng Clan many times.”

That was true.

While attending the Heavenly Martial Academy, Jin Yeong-in had seen the body-fortifying training of students from Shaolin and the Peng Clan more than once.

Furthermore, while imprisoned in the Demonic Prison, he had studied the martial arts of various sects belonging to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, including Shaolin and the Peng Clan.

Searching his memory, he recalled having dealt with the martial arts of not only Shaolin and the Peng Clan but also the Hwangbo Clan and the Jinju Eon Clan, who emphasized external arts training.

“I don’t know it in depth, but I think I can give you a rough, superficial overview.”

“Really? Then I’ll teach you about the real body-fortifying training of our cult.”

“Are you serious?”

Jin Yeong-in's eyes shone.

Just as Yeom Bi's had a moment ago.

“That would be fair, right? I'll teach you the training methods of our cult. You teach me the training methods of the Central Plains.”

“Excellent.”

A smile bloomed on the faces of Jin Yeong-in and Yeom Bi.

Although their backgrounds and statuses were different, they were both martial artists who had formed a bond through their pure passion for martial arts.

Strictly speaking, it was a bond forged by the lunchbox made by Baek A-rin.

* * *

As soon as they agreed, Jin Yeong-in and Yeom Bi immediately began their body-fortifying training.

“Hmm. This kind of training method would be very helpful in improving the body's balance.”

Yeom Bi astutely identified the utility and purpose of the Central Plains' body-fortifying method that Jin Yeong-in taught him.

‘He's definitely different. An outstanding insight.’

From Yeom Bi's demeanor, Jin Yeong-in realized why he could become a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

Yeom Bi was clearly born with a genius-level talent for martial arts.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to grasp the core of the training method so easily.

With this kind of talent, the students of the Heavenly Martial Academy of a similar age were not even comparable.

Of course, Jin Yeong-in's own talent was by no means inferior.

Jin Yeong-in also accurately grasped the core of the training methods Yeom Bi taught him, and went a step further to understand the overall context.

“This is certainly different from the Gym Rats' body-fortifying methods. Using my whole body as you taught, I can lift much heavier weights with ease.”

“That’s amazing.”

Yeom Bi was impressed by Jin Yeong-in's comprehension.

“That’s right. Just stimulating specific muscle groups isn’t very helpful for martial arts.”

“You are absolutely right.”

Jin Yeong-in nodded his head.

“Even if the motion is the same, the method is different, so I can clearly feel the difference in effect is like heaven and earth.”

“Isn't that too fast?”

“Pardon?”

“It took me years to realize that. But you’re doing it right now.”

“Haha.”

Jin Yeong-in replied with a bitter smile.

“Before I lost my martial arts due to qi deviation, I too had trained my body for many long years.”

Of course.

If you added the years he spent researching martial arts in the Demonic Prison in his past life, it was no exaggeration to say he had been training for nearly 40 years.

Therefore, regardless of his talent, his understanding of martial arts was bound to be exceptional.

“Ah, I see. Still, you’re a quick learner. Understanding external arts isn't everything in martial arts, but still, you have talent.”

“Your words alone are thanks enough.”

“Shall we continue?”

“I’d welcome it.”

After that, Jin Yeong-in and Yeom Bi sweated for another two hours before finishing their body-fortifying training.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. Heok, heok.”

“Didn’t you overdo it?”

Compared to the exhausted Jin Yeong-in, Yeom Bi was perfectly fine, not even his breathing was disturbed.

It was only natural, as their conditions were vastly different.

There was bound to be a difference in physical ability between someone in rehabilitation and a young martial artist who, as a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, was already running towards his prime.

“I can handle it.”

“You’ve got grit. You look like you can barely stand.”

“Heok, heok.”

“You worked hard keeping up with an unhealthy body. Let’s call it a day.”

“Yes, Fourth Young Master.”

“Shall we meet tomorrow at the beginning of the Hour of the Snake (between 9-10 AM)?”

“Pardon?”

“I thought it would be good to train together for a while.”

“It would be an honor.”

Jin Yeong-in accepted the training proposal with a smile.

His partner was a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

There was no reason to refuse the opportunity to train with a gifted prodigy.

It wasn't every day he could study body-fortifying methods and external arts in such depth, and meeting a good training partner was also a rare opportunity.

Jin Yeong-in thought that Yeom Bi had proposed the training with similar thoughts in mind.

“Ah, and.”

“Yes?”

“That lunchbox tomorrow… are you going to bring it?”

“I suppose I will, won't I?”

“That… by any chance.”

“...?”

“Hmm. So.”

After hesitating and feigning indifference, Yeom Bi cautiously asked Jin Yeong-in.

“Can you pack my share as well? I’m not asking for it for free. If you need silver, just name your price. Me, I’m rich.”

“……”

It seemed clear that the reason Yeom Bi had proposed training was because of the lunchbox made by Baek A-rin.

* * *

On the way back home.

“Young Master Jin, you are truly amazing.”

“Pardon?”

“How did you manage to win over the Fourth Young Master?”

Danmok Cheong asked Jin Yeong-in.

“I have done no such thing.”

“Pardon? Didn't you eat and train together?”

“Do you have to win someone over just to eat and train with them?”

“That's not it, but it's not easy to form a connection with someone of high status like the Fourth Young Master, is it? Moreover, the Fourth Young Master is not an easy person to get close to.”

“Pardon? Is that really true?”

“It's a famous story that more than half of the people who approached the Fourth Young Master were either beaten to a pulp or had their limbs broken.”

“Haha.”

Jin Yeong-in let out a dry laugh.

“That’s because they approached him with the intention of making a request, isn’t it?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“We just shared delicious food and martial arts as one martial artist to another. That’s all there is to it.”

“Ah, so your sincerity got through to him.”

“Yes, well. I suppose you could think of it that way. Though I think Young Lady Baek's role was actually bigger.”

“Hmm?”

“I think it was a big factor that the Fourth Young Master really liked the food Young Lady Baek made… Keuk!”

Jin Yeong-in was in the middle of speaking when he winced in pain.

Tremble, tremble!

Jin Yeong-in's two legs trembled like an aspen tree.

It wasn't just his two legs.

His entire body was screaming for mercy.

Part of it was from overexerting himself to keep up with Yeom Bi, but it was also because the training had gone exceedingly well, strongly stimulating the muscles all over his body.

“Young Master Jin, let me help you.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“But….”

“I can walk on my own.”

Jin Yeong-in stubbornly refused Danmok Cheong's attempt to support him.

‘This mere muscle soreness is nothing.’

Jin Yeong-in was a martial artist.

His pride would not allow him to accept help for something so trivial.

* * *

Yeom Bi, after parting with Jin Yeong-in, headed straight for his family home, the Demonic Armament Yeom Family.

On the way, Yeom Bi's footsteps came to a sudden halt.

Swoosh, Yeom Bi turned his head, his gaze resting on a narrow alley.

The alley was so heavily shaded that the inside was not clearly visible.

“Come out.”

Yeom Bi opened his mouth.

“I know you're there, so come out. Stop hiding so gloomily.”

Then, from within the shaded alley, two red dots flickered, and a soft voice was heard.

“Gloomy. Your words are too harsh, Senior Brother.”

“Then who told you to hide in an alley and peek?”

“Who said I was peeking? It’s broad daylight, and I simply dislike the scorching sun.”

“Hmm.”

Yeom Bi mulled over the other person's words.

“True. A fellow like you might dislike the sun.”

“It’s not that I might dislike it; I do dislike it. This is disappointing. I thought you would at least remember your junior brother's preferences.”

“……”

Yeom Bi shut his mouth as if he didn't even want to reply.

“Oh, and let me say it again, I wasn’t gloomily peeking at you, Senior Brother.”

“Then?”

“It's about Jin Yeong-in. He's a guy I've had my eye on first, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't covet him.”

“What are you talking about? Who's coveting whom?”

“Are you trying to play innocent after eating and even training with him?”

“There you go with your strange talk again.”

“If you keep this up, I might just kill that fellow named Jin Yeong-in.”

“Why would you kill him?”

“Seeing him being friendly with you, Senior Brother, is making me go crazy with jealousy.”

The two red dots in the alley emitted an even more sinister light.