Chapter 232 – When the Wind Blows, the Era Moves (1)

"Whew!"

Jong Ri-yeon slowly opened her eyes.

Before her was a fairly large brazier. Blue flames were rising, with a small cauldron placed on top, inside which numerous medicinal and poisonous herbs were boiling and blending in an ideal ratio.

Jong Ri-yeon understood the cauldron's state just by its smell.

'The flames need to be a bit stronger.'

She added more wood to the brazier and fanned the flames. The flames rose even more intensely.

Sweat droplets formed on Jong Ri-yeon's forehead from the intense heat. Her shoulders ached as if they might fall off, but she never stopped fanning.

She had been sitting in front of the cauldron for two days now. Her eyes were tired and painful, but she didn't blink even once.

Her concentration was at its peak.

Her eyes were fixed on the brazier's flames, and her ears didn't miss even the slightest sounds from inside the cauldron. Her nose was sensitively responding to the smallest odors emanating from the pot.

At the moment when the flames, smell, and sound formed a trinity, Jong Ri-yeon's eyes sparkled.

"Now!"

She opened the cauldron lid. A sticky, melted liquid was visible. The medicinal and poisonous herbs had melted and mixed together.

Jong Ri-yeon poured the liquid into a pre-prepared tray. The liquid slowly solidified, finally reaching the viscosity she desired.

She placed the somewhat solidified liquid in her palm and rolled it gently. The liquid became a round pill in her hand. In total, two pills were created.

"Phew!"

Only then did Jong Ri-yeon exhale the breath she had been holding. A subtle smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

She wrapped each pill in prepared hanji paper.

***

"Master."

At his disciple's call, Sage Hyeon-so raised his head. Dam Ho, wearing a black wind robe, stood right in front of him. Dressed entirely in black with shadows draped around him, his face was barely distinguishable.

"Ho-ya."

"I need to go out for a while."

Sage Hyeon-so was not surprised by Dam Ho's words.

"As expected."

"Did you know?"

"I just thought it might turn out this way."

Sage Hyeon-so looked at Dam Ho with kind eyes. A deep profound energy flickered in his eyes.

It was a gaze that made one's heart feel refreshed just by looking at it.

"Master."

"Don't worry about me. Go and come back with peace of mind."

"Thank you."

Dam Ho bowed his head.

He had barely met his master after more than a decade. Leaving such a master was not an easy decision for Dam Ho. But now was the time to descend the mountain.

Since that day, there had been no news about Cho Yeon-woon.

He couldn't even tell if he was alive or dead. Only ominous rumors were circulating.

Cho Yeon-woon had remained in Shouzhou to protect his beliefs.

That was Cho Yeon-woon's battlefield. Although he had retreated because it wasn't his battlefield, that didn't mean their personal friendship had disappeared.

Cho Yeon-woon was his only friend.

He had an obligation to find out what had happened. And there was one more reason.

‘Demonic Cult.'

It was like a thorn stuck in his throat. If left unchecked, it would not only harm his neck but attack his chest and heart.

A subtle killing intent flickered in Dam Ho's eyes.

Sage Hyeon-so sighed slightly while looking at Dam Ho. But only for a moment, soon revealing a subtle smile.

'Everything will flow according to its natural course…'

All things in the world had a reason for existence. Dam Ho would surely have such a reason too. Sage Hyeon-so believed in Dam Ho.

"When will you go?"

"I'm going down now."

"So quickly? No. There must be a reason. Are you going alone?"

"I'll go with Il-gwang."

"If it's that child, I can trust him. You thought well. Since you've already decided, I won't stop you. But promise me one thing. Take care of yourself."

"I will."

"And… no, never mind."

Sage Hyeon-so seemed about to say something but then hesitated.

"Please speak."

"Well…"

"Master, it's okay."

"Whew! Your words give me courage. Please find out what happened to the Mount Hua disciples who escaped from Shouzhou. Senior Brother Hyeon-geom probably already took care of it, but I can't help worrying."

"Understood."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. Because you are… my master."

At Dam Ho's blunt response, Sage Hyeon-so smiled softly.

Having such an excellent disciple sometimes made him forget that he was Dam Ho's master.

"I want to follow you too, but I might just be a burden now. Go quickly."

"Then…"

Dam Ho bowed to Sage Hyeon-so, stood up, paid his respects once more, and went outside.

Left alone, Sage Hyeon-so closed his eyes.

‘Amitāyus Buddha!'

The first person Dam Ho met outside was unexpectedly Jong Ri-yeon. When Dam Ho looked at her, she smiled softly.

"I knew you would leave now."

"…"

"Here."

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon extended her hand. In her small hand were two small wooden boxes.

"What's this?"

"Take it. My hand hurts."

Jong Ri-yeon forcefully placed the wooden boxes in Dam Ho's hand.

Opening the boxes revealed pills wrapped in hanji paper. A subtle fragrance that could purify one's mind and body emanated from the pills.

"It's Poison Neutralizing Elixir."

"A poison pill?"

"Yes."

Jong Ri-yeon nodded with a bright expression.

Dam Ho looked at her with questioning eyes.

"Poison Neutralizing Elixir is indeed a poison pill. But poison, when used correctly, can become a miraculous medicine. It has little effect on ordinary wounds, but when life hangs in the balance, it might be worth trying. The poison in Poison Neutralizing Elixir will stimulate the original energy, temporarily boosting vitality, and the herbal energy will protect the meridians."

"So, it's a life-saving medicine."

"Exactly."

"Thank you."

"Didn't I say I'd save you as long as you're breathing? This is proof of that. So go ahead… really go all out."

"I will."

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon hugged Dam Ho tightly. A warm temperature filled the embrace.

"I'll be waiting."

With a small whisper, she quickly pulled away. Her face was as red as a persimmon.

Embarrassed, she quickly turned and ran away. Dam Ho watched her disappear, holding the Poison Neutralizing Elixir.

At the stable, Muk Il-gwang was already prepared, and unexpectedly, another person was with him.

"Jinbo?"

"Brother!"

The boy carrying a turtle shell-like backpack filled with various supplies was Bang Jinbo.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm coming too."

"…"

"I won't be a burden to you. I promise."

Bang Jinbo wore a determined expression. Muk Il-gwang added from beside him.

"I'll take full responsibility for Jinbo, brother."

Muk Il-gwang's face was tense with determination.

"Brother! Please!"

"It will be a difficult journey."

"I know. But we can't just sit still when Yeon-woon is missing."

Bang Jinbo was biting his lips hard enough to draw blood.

Cho Yeon-woon was Dam Ho's only friend, but to Bang Jinbo, he was like an older brother. Though they seemed to fight constantly, no one had cared for Jinbo as meticulously as Cho Yeon-woon. Therefore, Jinbo's feelings for her were especially deep.

Dam Ho stared intently at Bang Jinbo's face.

It was still a young and innocent face. But his eyes had changed. They now contained a determination and resolve that was previously unseen.

Dam Ho nodded.

"Alright! Let's go together."

"Wow! Thank you, brother."

Bang Jinbo clenched his fist. Seeing this, Muk Il-gwang exhaled a relieved sigh.

It was Muk Il-gwang who had told Bang Jinbo about Cho Yeon-woon's disappearance while injured. He had been blaming himself for possibly saying unnecessary things.

"Let's go!"

Dam Ho mounted the black horse. Muk Il-gwang and Bang Jinbo quickly mounted their own horses.

The three became one with their horses and rushed down the mountain slope.

In the distance, two people watched them.

Hwang Gyeong-mun, the owner of Overlord Stronghold and the king of the Green Forest, and his daughter Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"He's leaving."

"Yes!"

"Aren't you sad?"

"About what?"

"He's your biological brother. Aren't you anxious about letting him go like this?"

"He's my brother, but also a martial artist. He's more suited to the rivers and lakes than this remote mountain village."

"You brat! So this is a remote mountain village?"

"Isn't it?"

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled softly.

"You're probably the only one who would call Overlord Stronghold, the headquarters of the Green Forest, a remote mountain village."

"Because it's true."

"Ugh!"

Hwang Gyeong-mun let out a groan.

"Stop pretending to be hurt."

"Was it obvious?"

"Very much."

Hwang Hye-ryeong rolled her eyes. Hwang Gyeong-mun burst into laughter.

"Hehe!"

"Father seems to be getting more mischievous as time goes on. Like a child."

"To survive in chaotic times, you must be like this. We can't sit passively like old men forever. Now, we must move with the passion of a child."

"Well…"

"A blood wind is blowing in the rivers and lakes. Right now, it's limited to the murim, but this wind will eventually swallow the entire world. And this place won't be free from its influence."

Hwang Gyeong-mun's gaze deepened.

The Green Forest had already suffered once due to the Demonic Cult. The mountain factions that had been lured into rebellion had suffered near-devastating damage, and Overlord Stronghold had also suffered significant losses.

While they were desperately trying to rebuild their strength, they were still far from their previous power. If exposed to the blood wind of the rivers and lakes, the Green Forest would be completely destroyed.

"Your brother stands at the center of the rivers and lakes. Whether good or bad, when he moves, a typhoon will blow in the murim."

"…"

"The strong wind he creates will be no less than the blood wind of the Demon Cult. Though it might sound cold, now, when all eyes are on him, is our best opportunity to recover our strength."

Hwang Hye-ryeong was not swayed by Hwang Gyeong-mun's seemingly cold words. She knew this was the best strategy for the Green Forest.

Above all, she believed in Dam Ho.

'Brother.'

An absolute belief that no blood wind could defeat Dam Ho. This allowed her to remain calm in any situation.

"Let's go. We have a lot to do from now on."

"Yes!"

The two walked side by side towards the mountain faction.

A wind was blowing where they had been standing.

The teaching came to an end only after a long time had passed.

It wasn’t that the game was decided. The Go board still had empty spaces here and there, and many spots remained where stones could be placed.

However, Venerable Woo-am’s teaching seemed to have reached its conclusion.

Venerable Woo-am instructed Jin Ja-gang to place a stone in one final position, then stopped speaking for quite a while and quietly gazed at the Go board.

Eyes that were looking at the Go board, yet not looking at the Go board.

“Remember this well. This is the final move.”

Venerable Woo-am carved a stone with more care than ever before. It was different from his previous stones.

Red agate.

A beautiful precious jade with bright red stripes flowing like waves.

Venerable Woo-am concentrated for a full watch period on carving the red agate. The Go stone created by his hands shone with beautiful luster.

Venerable Woo-am’s hand trembled as he lifted the Go stone.

Click.

Even after placing the stone, Venerable Woo-am’s hand did not easily withdraw.

Jin Ja-gang waited silently.

Until Venerable Woo-am’s emotions had sufficiently subsided.

Seeing Venerable Woo-am’s expression stained with regret, no one could have rushed him.

Only after quite a while did Venerable Woo-am open his mouth. Still not removing his hand from the Go stone.

“Since I was young, after accidentally encountering the Toad Technique, I continued to have doubts. Why does such a cunning martial art remain in the Taoist sect? It’s dangerous to learn and destructively powerful, so it doesn’t suit the Taoist sect at all.”

Jin Ja-gang only listened quietly.

“So I speculated. Perhaps this Toad Technique is incomplete. Perhaps it was passed down in an incomplete state. Then where did the original source come from? After pondering for days, I happened to meet a person from Zoroastrianism and began debating this issue with him.”

Zoroastrianism – wasn’t that the Western Tibet Demon Cult!

“I know. Associating with a Zoroastrian figure is extremely dangerous. But I was young and he was young too. Once… no, let’s not go into such stories. Anyway, we eventually reached the same conclusion.”

Venerable Woo-am paused briefly before speaking.

“The Toad Technique remaining at Qingcheng lacked mantras, and the Five Thunder Perforation Heaven Technique remaining in Zoroastrianism lacked incantations.”

Though Venerable Woo-am couldn’t see, he laughed seeing Jin Ja-gang’s lack of reaction.

“You don’t understand. If you had understood, this would have been a very surprising story.”

“My knowledge is shallow, so I have nothing to say. Is it possible to learn martial arts even without incantations?”

“Some sects in Western Tibet use mantras when utilizing internal energy. They believe that by repeatedly chanting special mantras, the power contained in words guides internal energy. In the martial world, we generally use breathing methods and incantations that guide mental intention.”

“It might not have existed originally, so is there a need to distinguish it?”

“If it hadn’t existed originally, I wouldn’t have reached that conclusion either. In the martial world, there’s a tendency to regard mantra-based spell cultivation methods as heretical techniques. The Toad Technique was also originally a complete martial art with both mantras and incantations, but parts may have been lost according to later cultivation patterns.”

Jin Ja-gang understood and nodded. The martial world’s hostility toward the Demon Cult exceeds imagination. If something even slightly resembles something from the Demon Cult, suspicious glances pour from all directions and it gets ostracized.

Even if the Toad Technique had cultivation methods similar to the Demon Cult’s mantra techniques, it would have been difficult to easily practice them.

“What follows is just such a story. Wanting to completely restore the Toad Technique, I accepted the Zoroastrian Five Thunder Perforation Heaven Technique and that friend learned the Toad Technique. Thus the Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Technique was created.”

Venerable Woo-am finally removed his hand from the red agate Go stone he had placed last.

“Unfortunately, my Go ends here.”

Venerable Woo-am sighed regretfully.

“Take that stone. Then what I can teach you ends here. Is there anything more you want to ask?”

“That friend… is he still alive?”

Venerable Woo-am stood up.

“According to recent news, he’s imprisoned in the Guizhou branch of the Martial Alliance.”

“I’ll ask one more thing.”

Jin Ja-gang thought briefly before asking.

“Have you completed the Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Technique, Venerable?”

Venerable Woo-am smiled.

“Sharp as always. If the restoration had been complete, I wouldn’t have called it the Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Technique. I would have just called it the Toad Technique.”

“Then…”

“The Toad Technique is a supreme internal energy method, but it was still too dangerous to rely on while incomplete. However, the Qingcheng sect has many mental methods that are safer and more excellent than the Toad Technique. I became sect leader and the martial world’s situation was turbulent. I didn’t have the leisure to pursue the Toad Technique further. But that friend probably saw it through to the end. The last contact I received was exactly about that.”

“I understand.”

Jin Ja-gang stood up and politely cupped his fists.

“I sincerely thank you.”

“You don’t ask why I taught you the Go game pattern to the very end.”

Jin Ja-gang had known all along. The situation on this Go board was a high-level confrontation that a beginner like Jin Ja-gang couldn’t understand.

The story of someone who had played Go for forty years. That was Venerable Woo-am’s own story.

This Go board was a trace of the friendship through Go that he and the Zoroastrian person had shared.

“It’s too early now, but I think someday I’ll be able to understand the deep friendship contained in this game pattern.”

“Your knowledge of martial learning is shallow, but your intuition is really sharp. You’ll probably survive much longer than I think.”

Venerable Woo-am said.

“This is return payment for the Muscle Strengthening Heart Liquid. It wouldn’t have been very useful before climbing this peak, but now it will be quite helpful. Before taking it, chant Huazhi, Chiyan, Ganxue, Xuanbaifeibu, Sanwushenshui and bow to the Supreme Elderly Lord, then take it.”

Venerable Woo-am casually threw Jin Ja-gang a pill wrapped in paper.

“A fellow with many martial art ambitions who didn’t eat the Muscle Strengthening Heart Liquid himself but gave it to others. How admirable.”

Jin Ja-gang opened the paper.

‘Since he told me to bow to the Supreme Elderly Lord, this must be!’

A pill the size of a fingernail was visible. It had an extraordinary fragrance and three golden dots embedded in it.

The Qingcheng sect’s treasure, the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill!

How could Jin Ja-gang, who had been a member of the Medicine Sect, not know the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill!

To give such a precious spiritual medicine to Jin Ja-gang?

Jin Ja-gang looked at Venerable Woo-am with surprised eyes.

“Your surprised expression is clear to see. I can tell without looking. You’re only now realizing you’re from the Medicine Sect.”

“May I receive this?”

“You keep forgetting. I told you I’m the sect leader.”

Venerable Woo-am chuckled, then with those words as his last, waved his hand and went down.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill in his hand for a moment, then knelt and bowed reverently.

“Huazhi, Chiyan, Ganxue, Xuanbaifeibu, Sanwushenshui, I receive the Supreme Elderly Lord’s Supreme Clarity Divine Pill.”

Jin Ja-gang slowly put the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill in his mouth. It instantly dissolved in his saliva and permeated under his tongue.

Soon, along with a fragrant aroma, his body gradually warmed.

Jin Ja-gang circulated internal energy according to the principle of Water Ascending, Fire Descending. He widened the path of internal energy with three dikes and increased the amount that could be contained to accept the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy to the maximum.

The tremendous energy boiling in his stomach wasn’t easily absorbed no matter how much he circulated internal energy. It was comparable to Kunlun Sulfur Oil.

Jin Ja-gang’s right half sweated profusely. The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s medicinal effect embraced Jin Ja-gang’s injured and ruptured qi and blood, chasing the dirty waste matter from his right half to the opposite side. The expelled waste matter seeped and was absorbed into his left half.

Jin Ja-gang frantically continued circulating in a state of selfless absorption, melting the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy into his right half. The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill naturally headed toward Jin Ja-gang’s lower dantian, but his dantian was filled with turbid energy and hardened like solidified lava. In that desolate dantian, nothing could be absorbed except poison energy.

The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s medicinal effect forcibly struck the dantian. But as the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy increased, the blocked dantian became even more solid. Not just the dantian, but the turbid energies of his left half also became more agitated. A sensation like his left half was being squeezed came over him.

The entire qi and blood of his left half was drawing in all the body’s turbid energy to resist the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill. This was the method for internal energy and turbid energy to achieve equilibrium within Jin Ja-gang’s body.

A groan was about to escape but he held it back. If he opened his mouth, all this medicinal effect would fly away.

The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill pressed the dantian harder. The more it did so, the harder the dantian became. The pain as if his dantian was breaking made it unbearable for Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang continued circulating the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy through his right half. The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy, having nowhere to go, was divided toward the three dikes Jin Ja-gang had created, and the rest spread and accumulated in his three meridians. The three meridians had come to serve the role of the dantian.

As the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy accumulated in his right half, his left half accepted natural energy drawn through breathing and Baihui as turbid energy and accumulated it.

Internal energy on the right side and turbid energy on the left side were being accumulated simultaneously. Of course, the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s massive medicinal effect wasn’t at a level where equilibrium could be achieved with turbid energy drawn in hastily.

Mutual Waxing and Waning of Yin and Yang.

If equilibrium couldn’t be achieved, the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy could be extinguished. It would extinguish itself to achieve balance with the left half’s turbid energy.

‘No!’

What a waste. He couldn’t lose the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill that even ordinary people, let alone Qingcheng sect disciples, would find difficult to see once in a lifetime!

The Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s efficacy was equivalent to nearly twenty years of internal energy cultivation. Losing that energy would be too wasteful.

Jin Ja-gang thought with his head throbbing from the heat throughout his body.

A method to absorb all of the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill.

‘Poison energy!’

Poison energy adheres to and mingles with turbid energy. Having properties opposite to vital energy, it attaches to turbid energy and becomes turbid energy.

Jin Ja-gang stood up without even finishing his circulation. Though his head was confused from the massive medicinal effect, he moved frantically. He searched for things that could be made into turbid energy. His entire body’s senses were maximally activated through continuous circulation.

Jin Ja-gang smelled, maintained energy perception, and found grasses and trees full of poison energy to stuff in his mouth. He also crushed minerals to powder or inhaled anything that could be inhaled, chewing and eating indiscriminately.

How much time passed? His whole body became a fireball and he could barely see ahead.

‘Ugh!’

Thanks to the side effects of the Clarity Pill, not fainting even at this time was something to thank Mang Ryo for. Jin Ja-gang moved to the maximum extent his body could move, inhaling poison energy. He didn’t distinguish between day and night, or between types.

When he finally came to his senses, Jin Ja-gang was in a nearby valley full of yin energy. The surroundings were a complete mess. He had scraped and eaten the humus and rotten leaves under trees in shady areas, leaving holes everywhere.

“Hah.”

Jin Ja-gang lay spread-eagle and took deep breaths.

Naturally, equilibrium couldn’t be achieved with the hastily supplemented turbid energy and the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy.

So at the final moment, Jin Ja-gang converted the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s remaining power into turbid energy and moved it to his left half.

He realized that Mutual Transformation meant not only changing turbid energy into internal energy, but also changing internal energy into turbid energy was possible.

So anyway, he had succeeded in accumulating all the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s energy in his body without major loss. Separate from the fact that he couldn’t immediately draw out and use that energy.

Jin Ja-gang sat up. Because the Supreme Clarity Divine Pill’s remaining energy had changed to turbid energy and occupied his qi and blood, his left half felt numb. Though his body wasn’t damaged anywhere, the different feelings on left and right made it uncomfortable.

“It’ll take time to get used to.”

However, the turbid energy occupying his left half would all become his power someday. It was enough to think of it as temporarily entrusted.

He could become stronger and live much longer.

For that, he had to meet him who was imprisoned in the Martial Alliance!