"Oh my, oh my. Look at those little eyes glaring."
"Heavens… how could our young master be so adorable?"
"Well, the mistress is a beauty herself. He's the spitting image of her."
"My goodness… he must grow up just like this."
'…You've got to be kidding me.'
Wrapped snugly in silk cloth, countless eyes stared down at him as he lay flat on his back, facing the ceiling.
Most of them seemed to be the household maids, their noisy chatter disturbing his precious sleep.
After all, he was once the Sub-Leader of the greatest sect in the demonic path, the Heukcheonbang (Black Heaven Sect)—the heaven-blessed prodigy known as Cheon Mu-shin-gwi, Sa U-myeong…
'…No. That's not right.'
Indeed, he was no longer Sa U-myeong.
Now, though he only knew from the fragments he overheard while awake, he had been reborn as Cheon U-ha (天遇河), the firstborn son of the Yongmyeong Merchant Clan.
As absurd and unbelievable as it was, this was undeniable reality.
'Reincarnation…?'
And with every memory of his previous life intact.
'How long has it been since my death?'
Perhaps he was reborn right after dying… or decades might have passed.
Questions burned within him, yet trapped in the body of a newborn, all he could do was remain swaddled in silk…
"Can I touch his cheek just once?"
"Look at those feet! They're so tiny!"
"Wait, wait! Did he just look this way?"
…while becoming a spectacle for the maids.
"Oh my, he frowned!"
"That's because you're being too loud!"
"You two, hush! The young master needs his sleep!"
…Please, just leave.
All three of you are too noisy.
Since when were servant girls so chatty?
In the past, not a single one would have dared breathe too loud in his presence.
As Cheon U-ha alternated between annoyance and resignation, enduring the torment—
Clatter.
"What in the world are you all doing? It's time to feed the child his milk!"
"Ahem… l-let's go."
"We just wanted a quick look, that's all."
"Out, now."
With the sudden appearance of an old woman, the maids scrambled out of the room.
The old woman, scowling at them, approached the swaddled child to lift him up.
"My, my… the young master sleeps so soundly."
…Though his mind carried memories of a previous life, his body was that of a newborn.
Unable to fight the drowsiness washing over him, Cheon U-ha soon drifted into slumber.
Time passed…
Reborn as Cheon U-ha, son of the Yongmyeong Merchant Clan, Sa U-myeong's new life unfolded in ways entirely foreign to his past existence.
Perhaps because of his infant body, his consciousness often drifted in a hazy, half-asleep state.
At times when his awareness sharpened, he would see the woman he believed to be his mother smiling warmly at him. Resting in her embrace, feeling her warmth, sleep would quickly claim him again.
Yet more than the changes in his body, the greatest shock was the presence of something he had never experienced in his past life—parents.
"Coochie-coo. That's it, call me father. Father."
A middle-aged man with a dignified beard held him, unable to hide his broad smile.
This man was the Clan Leader of the Yongmyeong Merchant Clan, and—his father.
Unable to endure the flood of affectionate gazes, Cheon U-ha closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
"Oh dear, my U-ha must be sleepy, hm?"
"…!"
Suddenly, a rough, prickling sensation brushed against his cheek.
His eyes snapped open, only to see the bearded man rubbing his face against him.
"Aaah, my dear U-ha…"
"Master! What on earth are you doing?!"
"What, what is it, wife?"
"Your beard! Don't you realize how sensitive a baby's skin is?"
"Oh…!"
Finally realizing his mistake, the man looked down at him in alarm.
The part of his cheek grazed by the beard stung sharply, though it wasn't unbearable.
And yet…
"Waaaahhh!"
…Damn it.
It wasn't even real pain. But this infant body cried reflexively at the slightest discomfort.
It was as uncontrollable as hiccups or yawns—something his willpower could not suppress.
And so—
"U-ha!"
Tap-tap!
Gentle hands snatched him away from his father's arms.
The moment he found himself back in his mother's embrace, the cries that refused to stop slowly subsided.
Embarrassed by this strange, involuntary reaction, Cheon U-ha found himself startled.
"Oh heavens! Are you alright? Your skin's all red."
His gaze met his father's face once again.
The man's brows furrowed, but not in anger.
His eyes trembled with panic, his hands restless, carefully examining his cheek.
The emotion Cheon U-ha recognized in those eyes was unmistakable—
'…Worry?'
Something he had never once received in his past life.
Something he believed he should never receive.
An emotion he thought belonged only to the weak—yet directed at him.
Strangely enough, it didn't feel unpleasant at all.
Realizing this, Cheon U-ha pressed his lips shut, unable to name the strange emotion stirring within him.
"Master, please leave. I'll put U-ha to bed."
"…Ah, understood. I'll do so."
His wife's cold voice drove the man out, shoulders slumped.
Even as he left, he turned back several times, his gaze filled with both regret and affection.
And Cheon U-ha, caught between father and mother, could only feel confusion growing in his heart.
Time passed swiftly.
Though at first he spent most of his days asleep, gradually his waking hours grew longer.
His parents' faces became familiar, and even their affectionate gazes became easier to endure.
Yet there remained something he could never adapt to—
"Waaaahh, waaahhh."
"Is U-ha hungry? Why is he crying suddenly?"
"Oh dear, the young master must've wet himself. Let me change his diaper right away."
…The humiliations of bodily needs.
It was bad enough to cry uncontrollably whenever uncomfortable. But to rely on others for every basic need—it gnawed at his dignity.
At this rate, he feared he would lose all sense of pride. He had to gain control of his body as soon as possible.
'But how can I build strength in this body…?'
Practicing the Paggwang Heart Method (破光心法) from his past life was impossible. He couldn't even sit cross-legged, and any external disruption during practice was forbidden.
After much thought, Cheon U-ha chose a different method—Seoncheon Heart Method (仙天心法).
It was one of the most basic Taoist techniques, even known among vagabonds.
Unlike other methods that used select meridians, the Seoncheon Heart Method circulated energy through nearly all the body's meridians.
Because of this, blocked passages reduced efficiency, and the energy stored in the dantian was meager.
That was why even vagrants rarely practiced it.
But Cheon U-ha chose it precisely because it allowed training both lying down and sitting, and because it was resilient against external interference.
'If need be, I can always switch to another method later.'
As a foundational technique, it would make transitioning to other Taoist methods easier.
Of course, it meant abandoning the chance to relearn the Paggwang Heart Method, but Taoist arts had their own strengths.
Luckily, his infant body was pure, almost free of impurities. He advanced far quicker than expected.
By six months old, he could already stand and toddle about—an achievement celebrated with a small feast led by the clan leader himself.
Afterward, whenever he took steps, half the household would gather to watch, much to his irritation.
Still, amidst the fuss, he rapidly grew and gradually mastered control over his body.
By one year old, he had full bodily control. By two, he could run freely—and finally bid farewell to the dreaded diapers.
The years passed swiftly.
Most of his days were spent in training and sleep, occasionally interrupted by visitors hoping to glimpse the promising heir.
His mother refused to leave his side even in sleep, while his father would bring wooden toys to amuse him.
Servants came with sweets just to earn a glance, and workers brought sparrows or puppies to make him laugh.
It was a life utterly different from his past existence—where every day had a goal, a battle.
And so, slowly, Cheon U-ha began to understand what it meant to live within the shelter of a family.
Perhaps… an ordinary life wasn't so bad.
But just as he began to think so, an unexpected trial arrived.
When five full years had passed since his rebirth—
"Heaven (Cheon)."
"…Cheon."
"Earth (Ji)."
"…Ji."
"Mystery (Hyeon)."
"…."
An elderly man with a snow-white beard flowing down to his chest, clad in a pristine blue robe.
With thick brows and sharp eyes, his very presence screamed sternness.
Before him sat a young boy, nodding off.
Though he fought desperately to keep his eyelids open, they were like lead, dragging him into slumber.
And then—
Smack!
"…Ugh!"
A long, thin wooden rod tapped the top of his drooping head.
Clutching his stinging scalp, Cheon U-ha looked up to find the stern old man glaring down at him.
"…Why did you hit me?"
"To wake you up, boy!"
The old man—Go Seok-jeong (高析正)—thundered at him.
"In all my years, never have I seen such laziness! We've only just finished the first recitation of the Thousand Character Classic, and already you falter on the second?!"
"As you said, it's only the second time. Expecting more from a five-year-old seems unreasonable."
"You impudent brat…!"
Raising his rod again, Go Seok-jeong advanced, but Cheon U-ha instinctively shuffled back, widening the gap.
Unable to reach, the old man fumed, his brows furrowing further.
"How dare you back away when your teacher raises the rod!"
"I'm fully awake now. If I doze off again, you may strike me then."
"This insolent child…!"
Cheon U-ha's bold reply left him speechless.
'What kind of child talks like this?'
Though he was only the five-year-old heir of a merchant clan, his tone and bearing resembled that of a wily old fox.
After a moment, Go Seok-jeong composed himself.
Strictness wasn't the only way to teach.
"…Very well. No more strikes. Sit back down. If you recite three more times with focus, we'll stop for today."
"Three is too many."
"…What did you say?"
The old man doubted his ears.
"What did you just say?"
"Three is too much. I'll recite just once more today."
"You… insolent little…!"
Enraged, Go Seok-jeong's voice boomed through the room.
"Do you think mastering the Thousand Character Classic comes without effort?! Even if you write ten thousand characters a day, it takes years to make them yours!"
'…This is maddening.'
Clutching his temples at the scolding, Cheon U-ha groaned inwardly.
Though he never studied extensively in his past life, he had learned enough of the Thousand Character Classic and the Elementary Learning to read martial manuals.
He remembered well the torment of memorization—it had been the most miserable period of his former life.
And now, to suffer through it again? Pure torture.
'…Wait. Hold on.'
Suddenly, Cheon U-ha's eyes gleamed as an idea struck him.