Chapter 11: Unity of Body and Soul (1)
A state of becoming one with the spirit.
The Soul Hall was cold and quiet.
Only Soul-Summoners who had reached the third level of Initial Contact could enter this place, which was a sanctuary completely isolated from the outside world.
Even among them, the third chamber.
Drrrrng!
The thick stone door shut tight.
Gugwi felt even the sound of his breath echoing. It was sealed so perfectly that no one outside would notice even if soone died inside.
“Mmm!”
The oppressive atmosphere of the third chamber of the Soul Hall.
The chill emanating from the stone walls pierced his bones.
Gugwi pulled out an old secret manual. It was the Soul-Summoning Art he would train in from this mont forward.
The coarse texture of the leather cover pressed against his palm.
“Spirit Fusion Technique…”
He sat down on the stone floor beneath the red candlelight.
The stage beyond the Soul Resonance Technique.
‘Shall I begin…’
Taang!
He closed his eyes and knocked on the Gate of the Realm of the Threshold.
A cold wind brushed past his ear in the darkness. Then, a voice rang out roughly.
“My sword is always soaked in blood… Heh heh! Why are you bringing out the martial arts of death again… Cursed martial arts…”
Gugwi’s heart pounded violently.
Who was speaking to him? This sealed stone chamber… there was no one else who could speak.
He furrowed his brows and reached out for the spirit’s presence.
“Who are you?”
The spirit remained silent.
Gugwi clenched his teeth and pulled the spirit's energy toward him. A cold wave flowed down his arm. The candle in the third chamber flickered and cast his shadow against the wall.
“Answer !”
There was no reply. Only silence.
He exhaled and opened his eyes. The red candlelight dyed his face.
‘What was that? As soon as I tried the Spirit Fusion Technique…’
Click!
At that mont, Yeon Sohye pushed open the stone door to the Soul Hall’s chamber.
She approached Gugwi and looked down at the secret manual on the floor.
“I ca to teach you, but you already started?”
Gugwi nodded.
“Did soone speak to you?”
Her gaze sharpened.
Gugwi nodded again.
Yeon Sohye narrowed her eyes.
“The owner of the tomb in the underground training hall. The Naless Martial Artist spoke to you.”
She lowered her voice.
“After performing the Spirit Fusion Technique here, we first communicate with the tomb’s owner. It’s quite different from the Illusory Na Command, right? That one is a rare privilege. But for speaking with an unnad tomb owner, our way is better.”
She observed Gugwi briefly.
“If you’ve already connected with the tomb’s owner, there’s no need for my help. Take your ti talking. I’ll go.”
Yeon Sohye turned to leave. Then she paused, as if recalling sothing, and looked back.
“If it’s too strong, it’s dangerous.”
Her voice was cold as ice.
Gugwi t her gaze, and his heart pounded.
“If the Gatekeeper’s bloodline is exposed, it’s over. Hide your power. Never reveal it. Especially not to Jin Hoon.”
Gugwi nodded.
At that mont, Jin Hoon sat atop the Soul Hall’s outer wall, watching the third chamber.
His eyes were cold, like a viper eying its prey. His grip on his sword hilt tightened.
As soon as Yeon Sohye stepped out of the stone door of the Soul Hall, Jin Hoon’s gaze pierced through her.
She noticed Jin Hoon and walked over slowly.
“What are you doing here? No matter how hard you watch, you can’t monitor what happens inside that chamber.”
“What are you hiding?”
“What?”
A smirk lifted the corner of Jin Hoon’s lips.
“Usually, the Spirit Fusion Technique… you learn it alone, don’t you? Why’d you step in? Do you like him, or is there sothing you’re hiding?”
His voice was soft, but his eyes were sharp as poison.
Yeon Sohye narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
“Don’t jump to conclusions. I just ca to tell him he’s being assigned to the Shadow Moon Unit.”
“Is that so?”
Jin Hoon shrugged and walked past her. His hand never left his sword hilt.
“Then keep wasting your effort.”
Yeon Sohye walked away. Her footsteps were so quiet, it was as if she didn’t touch the ground.
Jin Hoon narrowed his eyes.
“No… sothing’s off. This is my instinct. Gugwi, that guy reeks of sothing foul.”
He smiled cruelly.
“Heh heh! Well… if there’s a secret, it’ll reveal itself soon enough.”
Ssshh!
Gugwi closed his eyes.
The world blurred, and his mind was engulfed in mist.
A hazy trance. His consciousness swayed like a lotus leaf on water. His breath grew shallow, and his heart slowed.
The inner door was opening.
A chill brushed his cheek. It wasn’t the wind. It was the touch of an unseen being.
“Mmgh!”
Gugwi trembled slightly.
He focused his mind. The Soul Resonance Technique. The first step to opening the path to connect with another’s heart. As his heart cald, his consciousness was pulled inward.
The Soul Resonance Technique was like preparing a boat to cross a river. anwhile, the Spirit Fusion Technique was the act of boarding that boat and rowing it. As Yeon Sohye said, the Spirit Fusion Technique united one with the spirit and let its voice resound in the world.
But for Gugwi, the Spirit Fusion Technique was only necessary up to the point of the first row.
Once the boat was afloat and the Naless appeared, the Cold Wolf Sect’s Soul-Summoning Arts were no longer needed.
Everything occurred within the inner space, the Realm of the Threshold… that place, the Realm of the Threshold, was Gugwi’s world.
He already knew how to call the opponent.
If he knew the spirit’s na, he only had to summon it with the Illusory Na Command. Then, he could imdiately face it within the Realm of the Threshold.
When the na was unknown, the Cold Wolf Sect’s Soul-Summoning Arts proved useful. Through Soul Resonance, their hearts aligned, and the Spirit Fusion Technique opened the path… allowing entry into the Realm of the Threshold.
Of course, once beyond that gate, all beca the sa. Whether the spirit had a na or not, no complex secret techniques were needed inside the Realm of the Threshold. Gugwi could face any spirit by his will alone.
“Naless.”
Gugwi whispered.
The mist cleared, and light blood. A vague shape appeared. It had the outline of a person, but no face. A being of light. A soul whose body had long since perished—Naless.
“Who are you?”
The light asked. Its voice echoed like a reverberation.
“Gugwi. So we finally get to speak. What’s your na?”
Gugwi asked calmly.
The light paused for a mont. As if it was piercing through Gugwi.
“Speak.”
Gugwi demanded again, powerfully, as the Gatekeeper of the Realm of the Threshold.
“My… martial arts…”
Instead of answering with a na, the Naless Martial Artist said sothing unexpected.
“Your martial arts, the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit. You seem to have learned it decently. Of course, it probably looks like a child’s toy to you.”
Gugwi’s voice was firm.
The light trembled. An energy mixed with sorrow and rage shook the Realm of the Threshold.
“My martial arts… cursed… killed my family… cursed martial arts… must never be revealed to the world…”
Naless’s voice felt like it was tearing apart—sharp and sorrowful.
Had Gugwi not spoken with the spirit, he would never have known. Even if he had, most others would’ve ignored it. A Soul-Summoner could only connect with one being. There was no choice.
But Gugwi was different. He already had soone by his side—General Madal. Even if the Naless Martial Artist had no martial arts, he was still strong.
Gugwi nodded.
“You an not to use your martial arts, right? Alright. I won’t use them. I promise.”
His words were sincere.
The light softened.
“Thank… you… for burying my martial arts… in return… my power…”
Naless’s voice grew warm.
Then suddenly… Gugwi’s body grew hot.
Even within the Realm of the Threshold, the heat was vivid. It felt like flas were burning at his core.
Gugwi’s eyes widened.
Boom!
The light exploded. And the figure of Naless vanished.
Gugwi realized.
The heat that had scorched his entire body—this power was what had kept Naless bound within the Realm of the Threshold. Once he let go of that obsession, Naless was freed. The light faded and lted into the darkness.
The Naless Martial Artist disappeared completely from the Realm of the Threshold.
In his final mont, Gugwi saw Naless smile. Faint, but peaceful.
Paaang!
Gugwi’s consciousness returned to reality.
When he opened his eyes, the world was sharp. His body was filled with vitality. He felt light as a feather, and strength surged through his limbs.
Just yesterday, he had been ordinary. Now, it felt like each step could shake the ground. Power flowed beneath his skin, his muscles stirred. Each breath cleared his lungs.
When he clenched his fists, it felt like power would erupt.
“This is Naless’s power…”
Gugwi murmured.
He understood now. The power humans built in life vanished with death. Physical strength, inner qi—none of it could be taken to the afterlife. But emotions like obsession, regret, and anger were different. These emotions anchored spirits within the Realm of the Threshold.
The light of Naless was the proof. His rage and regrets had kept him bound here.
Now, that power—purified—flowed into Gugwi. The energy, steeped in obsession and regret, had transford into a new form within Gugwi. Inner qi… it settled into his qi center as inner energy.
Boom!
Naless had vanished in a burst.
The mont he relinquished his power, he left the Realm of the Threshold. A spirit that had let go of obsession passed into the afterlife. The destruction of power—that was one path for a spirit to ascend.
Gugwi lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Best to keep this hidden.”
He couldn’t explain the reason for his newfound strength. The world didn’t need to know his secret.
Gugwi stepped forward.
The wind followed behind him. As if Naless still walked with him.
Gugwi pushed open the chamber door and stepped outside.
The garden of the Soul Hall was serene. Moonlight scattered gently across the flower beds… and the crunching of gravel echoed softly in the quiet night.
Training in the Soul Hall resembled isolated training. But it wasn’t entirely cut off. Stepping out of the stone chamber to walk around like this was allowed. However, leaving the Soul Hall or snooping around other chambers was forbidden. Gugwi knew the rules well.
He sat down on the stone bench in the center of the garden.
He lifted his head and looked at the moon.
A full moon hung in the sky. Its cold light illuminated his face. Gugwi closed his eyes.
May the Naless Martial Artist walk the path of eternal rest, and sleep peacefully.
His heart was calm, like a still lake.
Perched on the wall, Jin Hoon’s eyes flashed like a hawk stalking prey as he looked down at the Soul Hall.
“That bastard definitely has sothing.”
Jin Hoon murmured.
A glint of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
Most Soul-Summoners held their first conversations with spirits within the Soul Hall. Naturally, they went wild. The shock and excitent of spirit contact were beyond words. So shouted, displaying the spirit’s martial arts. Others giggled and laughed uncontrollably.
But Gugwi was different. Too calm. That expression of his—it was like soone who had just woken from a pleasant dream.
Swish!
Jin Hoon’s figure moved like the wind.
In an instant, he landed in front of Gugwi.
Gugwi opened his eyes and calmly looked up at him.
“What, enjoying a moonlit stroll in the garden at this hour?”
Jin Hoon’s voice was sharp. His eyes glead, as if trying to pierce through Gugwi.
“Just getting so fresh air.”
Gugwi replied slowly. His expression was as calm as a still lake.
“Fresh air? Hahaha! Did you et a spirit in the Soul Hall?”
Jin Hoon took a step closer. His voice had an edge.
“I did. You even monitor that now?”
Gugwi shrugged. His voice remained peaceful.
“There’s definitely sothing off. You… ever since I first saw you, you’ve rubbed the wrong way. Don’t forget—I’m watching you.”
Jin Hoon furrowed his brows.
“Nothing special happened… I just had a bit of a chat with the spirit. My Soul-Summoning level is low, so I couldn’t even understand what he was saying. No reason to get excited.”
Gugwi said with a light smile. His gaze was clear.
Jin Hoon tightened his lips. Gugwi’s composure grated on him. There was sothing. He was sure of it. But Gugwi’s calm attitude made it hard to dig further.
Jin Hoon ground his teeth and stepped back.
“Hmph, we’ll see.”
He muttered under his breath and vanished like a shadow.
Gugwi let out a sigh. He wanted to avoid any more botherso conversations. He rose from his seat and returned to the stone chamber.
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