Chapter 15: Qi and Mana (4)

Rumors spread faster than feet.

The rumor that started in Lawrence had completely spread to Dmitri in just one day.

“Did you hear the rumor?”

“The rumor that Young Master Roman exterminated the Blood Fang gang? Is that even possible? Young Master Roman can't even wield a sword properly; he's just a half-penny.”

“...That's true, but the testimonies of those who saw it firsthand are too vivid.”

“Rumors are like that. Even if someone like Young Master Roman went hunting and killed a wild boar, the rumor would inflate it to say he killed a legendary dragon. I heard that Young Master Roman showed something to the people of Lawrence. Perhaps the Dmitri Knights orchestrated it. They rushed out of the castle that day, after all.”

“Is that so? Well, how could that idiot from Dmitri do something like that?”

Most people didn’t believe it.

Just as people didn’t believe the shepherd boy, Roman’s image in Dmitri was far from trustworthy.

An absurd rumor.

People dismissed it as such.

Even when merchants from Lawrence spoke with enthusiasm, their reactions were only ridicule.

While the men were gossiping,

a boy who was packing his belongings perked up his ears.

‘...Young Master Roman exterminated the Blood Fang gang?’

Thud.

His heart sank.

The boy’s name was Kevin.

He had received help from Roman and had been making a living by doing odd jobs that Hans had found for him.

He couldn’t forget the day he met Roman.

When his life was plummeting into despair after being beaten by the Blood Fang gang, Roman appeared like an angel and delivered judgment on the evil group.

The screams of the Blood Fang gang.

The sight of Roman shoving a dagger into their mouths and cutting out their tongues was, to Kevin, incredibly cool.

It was from that moment on.

Kevin had a dream.

‘I want to become a strong man like Young Master Roman. A strong person who can protect his people from any danger. In this harsh world where no one can be trusted, that’s the only way for my family to survive.’

He gritted his teeth.

He didn’t know when or where the Blood Fang gang might return, but he had to muster his strength since his father couldn’t fulfill his role as the head of the family.

Then, the rumor he heard.

While the people of Dmitri dismissed it as a false rumor, Kevin was certain it was true.

Thump, thump.

His heart raced.

Roman Dmitri, who had fought off villains with a tree branch.

For him, exterminating the Blood Fang gang alone was no problem.

His hero, who had promised to solve the usury problem, had turned a miracle into reality in just a few days.

‘Ah, Young Master.’

He felt a lump in his throat.

He didn’t know if Young Master Roman had really done such a dangerous thing for him, but the fact that he hadn’t forgotten his promise to a mere commoner like himself was overwhelming.

He wiped away his tears.

He needed to work, but he couldn’t focus with the emotions welling up inside him.

When would he see Young Master Roman again? If such a day ever came, Kevin wanted to express his gratitude without forgetting his current feelings.

He spent the day busily.

Just as he was about to finish his last task,

Thud.

“Y-Young Master...?!”

“It’s been a while.”

At the sight of Roman Dmitri, who had come to find him, Kevin involuntarily dropped his belongings to the ground.

He was momentarily dazed.

Doubting if this was reality, Kevin suddenly jumped and bowed.

“Thank you, Young Master! Thanks to you, my family can survive. Really, really thank you!”

He sobbed.

With a flushed face, Kevin spoke from the heart.

Roman said,

“Kevin, how have you been?”

“Ah...!”

He was speechless.

Roman remembered his name.

While others might consider it a minor detail, Kevin couldn’t take it lightly.

It was overwhelming.

With tears welling up in his throat, Kevin said in a choked voice,

“Thanks to you, I’ve been doing well. The Blood Fang gang no longer oppresses us, and thanks to the job Mr. Hans found for me, we’ve solved our urgent living problems. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

“Gratitude. I have a proposal for you now.”

“...What do you mean?”

“From now on, your family won’t have to worry about their living. You’ll live in a warm house that blocks the cold wind, eat delicious meals three times a day, and enjoy hobbies instead of just working hard every day. The way to live like that is simple. I will make it happen.”

Kevin felt a chill.

He didn’t know what Roman was going to say, but instinctively, he knew a significant opportunity had come his way.

“Therefore, live for me. If you swear loyalty to me, I will give you a new life.”

Roman’s words.

It felt like a bolt of lightning struck his head.

Kevin had never dreamed of following someone as great as Young Master Roman.

But Roman had proposed it first.

To become his person.

He felt a sense of unreality, but Kevin knew he couldn’t miss this opportunity.

It was instinct.

Kevin, still prostrate, forcefully pressed his forehead to the ground.

Thud!

“I will live for Young Master Roman. If you tell me to die, I will die, and if you tell me to kill someone, I will kill them. The promise to take care of my family is enough for me.”

He raised his head.

Blood dripped from his forehead.

The blood drops fell to the ground and even ran down his face, but Kevin didn’t blink as he looked up at Roman.

He was a foolish boy.

To show loyalty with blood.

‘Even his foolishness resembles a demon.’

The demon was like that.

When Roman ordered him to hold his position, he did so even against hundreds of righteous people.

At that time, he was just an unknown person, but he earned the nickname “demon.”

His body was covered in wounds from attacks from all sides, and the blood that flowed from his body formed a river, yet the demon didn’t even groan as he held his position.

A loyal servant of the Heavenly Demon.

When the demon was first taken in, he pledged his loyalty by banging his head on the ground at Roman’s command.

“My life is now yours, Young Master.”

Kevin’s voice.

It was more than just a resemblance.

Kevin was even more extreme than the demon.

He chuckled.

Another child with unique charm.

In his new life, Roman was ready to accept new connections.

“From now on, you belong to me.”

In a time when no one had yet noticed Roman,

Roman gained a person.

* * *

Roman brought Kevin with him.

He asked Hans to help Kevin adapt for a while and then headed to a place Hans had found.

A shabby workshop in the inner city.

It was a place once used by Lord Romero.

Therefore, entry by outsiders was strictly prohibited, and it was well isolated from the outside, making it suitable for training.

“I will spend a week in the workshop. During this time, I won’t need any food or anything else, so don’t let anyone in. Remember, unless my people are in danger and I’m needed immediately, don’t come looking for me.”

He warned them repeatedly.

Then he went inside.

Inside the workshop.

There was nothing.

A cold wind blew, and the floor was covered with straw, which Hans had prepared in advance.

It was a thoughtful detail, but it wasn’t necessary for the current Roman.

Roman cleared the straw to one side and sat in a lotus position to receive the earth’s energy.

The Heavenly Demon Technique.

He circulated his qi.

Roman quickly immersed himself in his own world and slowly moved the mana stored in his dantian.

‘Heavenly Demon Technique, Stage 1.’

Currently.

Roman’s body had yet to take even the first step in the Heavenly Demon Technique.

He needed to lay a foundation for his weak body and, to enter the first stage, the Human stage, he had been content with accumulating mana.

And now, Roman had gathered the minimum amount of mana.

To perfectly use the martial arts derived from the Heavenly Demon Technique, he needed to enter the Human stage.

‘The Human stage begins with removing the turbid qi from the body.’

Whoosh.

The mana moved.

The mana, which had been moving heavily through his blood vessels, soon hit a massive wall.

Thud.

It was turbid qi.

Roman, who had never lived a productive life until his mid-20s, had more turbid qi in his body than people of similar age. His face turned red as he was blocked by the turbid qi from the start.

However, he didn’t lose his composure.

It was a situation he had anticipated, and that’s why he had planned to gather the minimum amount of mana and enter the Human stage.

For his future life.

Roman needed to become stronger.

To protect the new connections he had made and achieve his goals, he needed strength.

The Human stage.

That was the beginning.

Preparing himself.

Roman calmly observed his inner self.

‘Remove all the turbid qi at once.’

Thud.

Rumble.

The mana reacted.

Chunma Baek Jung Hyuk.

Having dedicated his life to martial arts, Roman’s strong will caused the turbid qi to start melting.

The power of mana changes with will. While those who don’t understand mana can only exert 10% of their 100% potential, Roman could exceed his limits and exert 150%.

The mana surged strongly at Roman’s will, and the powerful shock caused blood to start flowing from his nose.

Drip.

It was a hopeful sign.

It wasn’t a case of going mad with qi, but rather the turbid qi being expelled from his body, resulting in dark, black blood.

Time passed.

One day.

Two days.

...And four days.

Roman was completely immersed in the technique.

His face was drenched in sweat, and the blood that had been flowing from his nose now seeped out through all his pores.

Calmly, step by step.

Roman expelled the turbid qi.

To enter the Human stage.

And to regain the power of the Heavenly Demon once more.

In a state of no-self.

Roman spent his time in the isolated space.

* * *

Hans.

He hurriedly moved somewhere.

Originally, he planned to go out to meet someone in the evening, but the situation didn’t allow for leisure.

“Has Young Master come out?”

A week ago.

As soon as Roman entered seclusion, Lawrence announced its intention to visit Dmitri.

The annulment of the engagement.

It was a problem that needed to