Chapter 15

Unlike ordinary magician families, it's not easy for the head of a great family to pass their position to their own children.

The probability of powerful magic being passed down to children is only slightly higher than inheriting height or appearance, and in great families, there are dozens of relatives in the same generation.

Since they all share the same ancestors going back, it's natural that at least one of them would be stronger than the family head's own children.

"In that situation, when a child with the greatest talent among the head's children was born, they received full support from an early age."

The Arabion princess, Meisa, was the youngest daughter born between the family head and a branch noble of the Berk family.

Among the head's three children, the eldest was adopted out due to manifesting their maternal bloodline, the second was mediocre causing disappointment, and then a child with successor-worthy talent was born to a concubine.

Moreover, Meisa wasn't just born with strong magic power but also had natural talent for learning magic, mastering various combat magic including Arabion's bloodline magic in just ten years after awakening her power.

As a result of receiving all kinds of support, at just twenty-one years old her magic power was nearly equal to the family's core members.

This led to expectations that she would become one of the strongest among Arabion's historical family heads, with many hoping she might even be able to destroy Zahar when she becomes head.

"With that much magic power at that age, did they perhaps give her all the 'funerals' within the family?"

"That's right. She even got our great-grandfather's magic power. Though we shared some too."

It's a common trait of all magical creatures, not just monsters, that magic power remains after death causing various phenomena like becoming death spirits.

Naturally, dead magicians' magic power can also be absorbed, and even Turan and Asiz had absorbed the magic power of the Berk family knights while burying their bodies.

This is commonly called a 'funeral', and Arabion had concentrated the funerals of nobles who died from old age or accidents on a few talented young magicians.

This way, they could build up power sufficiently within the family without bothering with pilgrimages.

Of course, this meant other family members couldn't inherit power and had to hunt monsters diligently.

'Indeed, there's good reason why great families reign from above…'

Briefly feeling envious, Turan remembered he had received a great gift just with his given talent and snapped his fingers.

The spark born from friction heat successively transformed from fireball to arrow, spear, and sword.

Seeing this, Asiz laughed in amazement.

"Flame shape transformation? You've already added three more?"

"Yeah."

"Damn, I've already forgotten how to use that."

Even while walking and chatting, they practiced magic in various ways.

Inspired by Turan's daily practice of various magic, Asiz decided to resume combat magic training he had neglected.

Saying he didn't want to helplessly watch his people die again.

Asiz shared information about various magic he had theoretically mastered – though many overlapped with what Turan learned from Keorn – and in return, Turan taught a few types of magic he had self-learned on the hill and some of the simplest natural laws learned from the library.

Of course, he didn't even show signs of knowing tracking and stealth magic.

He didn't want to give any clues about his Zahar bloodline.

Anyway, through this exchange, Turan could grasp how fast ordinary talented magicians learn magic.

'It takes days to learn just one thing even with dedicated training. Even then it's not combat-ready and quickly forgotten without constant practice…'

While calculating this, Turan reminded himself not to become arrogant watching the struggling Asiz.

How could he dare be proud after hearing about a peer with similar talent, and even much stronger power than himself?

"By the way Turan, have you decided what magical device you want?"

"Somewhat."

Turan's first thought was a magical device with healing power.

Though his exceptional talent allowed him to practice and use most magic as desired, healing abilities were almost impossible without being born with the bloodline.

After roughly understanding the principles of wound healing at the library he could heal minor scratches, but such power couldn't be used in actual combat.

The problem was that half his bloodline was still 'locked'.

If his other half bloodline was healer-type, the magical device would be wasted.

Because of this he was considering choosing something useful unrelated to bloodline magic, but hadn't made a decision yet.

Seeing Turan lost in thought, Asiz smiled.

"Well, take your time thinking. You'll be staying and resting at our house after we arrive anyway, right?"

"I won't stay long. I'm on pilgrimage."

"Don't be in such a hurry. We have plenty of time anyway."

As he said, Turan still had hundreds of years of life remaining.

He could live long enough for the children of ordinary humans passing by on the opposite side of the road, perhaps even their children's children, to grow old and die…

At this sudden thought, Turan shook his head.

Why were there so many things in this world making him arrogant?

* * *

Since leaving Hisaril Hill, Turan often marveled at the increasingly prosperous environment as he moved inland.

From dense forests to streams and rivers flowing with clear water, to plains covered in grass that seemed to grow whatever was planted.

To a shepherd youth who grew up seeing only rocky hills and wastelands with sparse weeds, this place was like paradise.

But now, Turan realized that the 'prosperity' he had seen before was fake.

Golden wheat fields stretching beyond sight even with noble vision…

It was astounding to think this wasn't just what they had just encountered, but they had been walking for half a day already without seeing the end.

The yield from here seemed enough to feed all the people in every city and village they had passed through, with plenty left over.

"That might really be true. No wonder people quite often get lost in those fields, I hear."

Asiz shrugged while saying this in response to Turan's assessment.

This vast land was called the Dakein Plains.

It was Arabion's core territory, reached after exactly fifteen days of walking since leaving Maderi – though for ordinary people this would have been a month or two's journey.

In the middle of these plains was Morgen City, Arabion's stronghold, with several satellite cities ruled by vassal families like Berk distributed around the edges.

The population living in this region totaled in the millions, an almost unimaginable scale.

Since Asiz could find his way after entering the Dakein Plains, they could reach Zabilin, the Berk family territory, without needing to ask passing people for directions.

When they knocked on the firmly closed city gates as the sun was setting, someone shouted from above.

"Curfew time has passed! Come back tomorrow!"

"It's me, Bin!"

"Young Master Asiz?"

The knight announcing curfew while sitting on the five-meter high wall jumped down immediately upon hearing Asiz's voice.

"It really is you, young master! Have you already finished your pilgrimage? And why are the others…"

"They have all departed for the celestial palace. I'll tell that story later, but first can we go in and rest? And please inform my parents of my return."

Asiz's bright and cheerful face darkened at the question about his companions' whereabouts.

His exaggerated brightness had indeed been to bury his depressed emotions.

He would probably need a very long time to truly overcome these feelings.

Perhaps he might never overcome them completely.

Shortly after, the two arrived at the Berk family palace via the main street of Zabilin City.

Thanks to advance notice, all family members had come out to welcome Asiz, with the first to rush forward being a middle-aged lady in an elaborate dress.

With dark blonde hair and features exactly like Asiz's, anyone could guess their mother-child relationship.

"Asiz, my baby! What in the world happened!"

"Mom!"

Turan was internally shocked at the sight of a forty-three-year-old man proudly calling out "Mom!" and embracing her.

Though his outer appearance was that of a young man in his twenties… no, even considering appearances, it was quite a childish scene.

That woman must be Midela Berk, the head of the Berk family and Asiz's mother.

Behind her were a man who appeared to be her husband and a young man looking slightly older than Asiz, presumably his father and heir brother based on what he had heard before.

"Asiz, think of appearances. You should at least say 'Mother'."

"I-I'm sorry."

Flinching at his father's reprimand, Asiz bowed his head then quickly turned to indicate Turan.

"This is Turan, a friend I made in the south. He risked his life to save me when I was in mortal danger. Without him, I wouldn't have returned here alive."

"This pilgrimage route shouldn't have been that dangerous… what exactly happened?"

"We were attacked by dark elf necromancers."

Asiz reported the detailed circumstances to his mother like a child who had been hit.

From the sudden attack and death spirit army killing his subordinates, to falling unconscious in crisis and waking to find Turan had dealt with them.

Hearing this, Family Head Midela jumped in rage.

"Dark elves! Those filthy worms dare target my child? If I don't lead an army myself and tear them apart-"

"Calm yourself, Family Head. People are watching."

Even after barely calming down thanks to her husband's efforts, Midela's eyes remained bloodshot.

Asiz's father, who seemed much more composed than his wife, questioned Turan.

"So, may I ask which family our benefactor belongs to?"

"That's difficult to say."

"Difficult?"

"Yes. To be honest, it would be more accurate to say I don't know well."

As always, Turan didn't make excuses about having enemy families making it difficult to reveal.

The reason being that while there might be families with past hostilities, there weren't many currently hostile families as one might think.

Even Rug, the Baltas family head, had immediately named Arabion and Zahar as possibilities upon hearing his story.

So he had prepared an answer that was both honest and dishonest.

"I was born to a commoner mother, and don't know who my father is."

Asiz, still in his mother's embrace, showed surprise at this story that hadn't been revealed until now.

"What? You never told me that!"

"It's not something to boast about anywhere."

In truth, Turan's identity was something that might be considered somewhat offensive in houses that emphasized bloodline hierarchy.

No matter how much power is everything in the magical world, to nobles, knights were guard dogs and commoners even less than that.

But as expected, the family head couple only looked at each other somewhat awkwardly after hearing the story, without showing contempt for Turan.

Growing up under such parents must be why Asiz also had a personality that mixed freely with subordinates.

After clearing her throat several times, Family Head Midela spoke.

"So that's the circumstance. Very well, Turan who doesn't know his family. You saved our family's treasure, so as head of Berk I shall properly compensate you. However, providing a room would be difficult, so we'll arrange for you to stay at the city's finest inn rather than the main house-"

"What are you saying! Mo-Mother! Not even properly hosting the benefactor who saved me in our home?"

Seeing Asiz dare to interrupt the family head's words, his father rubbed his forehead as if tired of scolding.

Midela suppressed her thoughtless son with a stern expression and continued speaking.

"It would be fine normally, but we currently have an important guest in the house, so it's difficult to accept a guest of unknown background, even a benefactor. Please understand."

"If it's about me, you don't need to worry, Aunt. Surely someone who saved Asiz won't suddenly try to assassinate me."

At that moment, a woman of indeterminate age suddenly interjected.

Turan thought of a skull upon seeing her.

Eyes and cheeks so sunken it looked like skin had been stretched directly over bone without flesh.

Not just that, but her neck, arms, torso and legs were all so thin they seemed about to break under their own weight.

How much would a person have to starve to become that emaciated?

"Meisa? Why are you suddenly here?"

From Asiz's words, Turan realized she was the Arabion princess mentioned earlier.

However…

'She seems more fitting to be called a corpse than a princess.'

Truly, if she had been lying down with closed eyes, he wouldn't have even doubted she was alive.

While Turan was having these rude thoughts, Meisa Arabion answered the question in a casual tone as if talking about the morning sunrise.

"I almost got assassinated by those Zahar dogs recently. So I came here to take refuge.”

Chapter 15: Sometimes Unexpected Guests Arrive (3)

Sage Hyeon-so and Sage Cheong-heo left the Cloud Mist Palace together. The first to approach them was Mu-gyeong.

"Martial Uncle!"

"The Grandmaster summons you. Go in at once."

"Understood."

Mu-gyeong answered and dashed into the Cloud Mist Palace.

Sage Hyeon-so's gaze fell upon Dam Ho.

"Let us go."

"Yes, Master."

"Might we accompany you?"

At Sage Cheong-heo's sudden request, Sage Hyeon-so looked puzzled.

"What? You would not stay at the guest quarters?"

"Rather than such a formal place, I would prefer to stay at Taoist Hyeon-so's residence. Would that be permissible?"

"There is no reason it would not be…"

"Then I will presume upon your hospitality."

When the other party pressed the matter so, there was no grounds for refusal.

"If you do not mind the humble accommodations…"

"You have my thanks. So-ha, come along."

"Yes!"

Yeon So-ha followed behind Sage Cheong-heo as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Sage Cheong-heo smiled at Sage Hyeon-so.

"This is my disciple."

"I see. This one is my disciple. Pay your respects."

Sage Hyeon-so introduced Dam Ho.

Dam Ho offered a fist-and-palm salute to Sage Cheong-heo.

"I am Cheong-gyeong of the Mount Hua Sect."

"A pleasure. You resemble your Master—quite the striking young man."

"Shall we be going?"

Sage Hyeon-so took the lead. Dam Ho followed behind him as though it were the most natural thing, and Sage Cheong-heo and Yeon So-ha trailed after them.

Sage Cheong-heo looked around as he walked.

"The scenery of Mount Hua is truly magnificent. How enviable to be able to gaze upon such beauty every day."

"I have heard the scenery of Mount Wu is equally exceptional."

"Ha ha! How could it compare to Mount Hua? The mountains of Mount Hua seem to reflect the very spirit of the Mount Hua Sect. Do you not agree, So-ha?"

"Indeed."

Yeon So-ha nodded.

The scenery of Mount Wu was in no way inferior.

The seventy-two peaks were filled with spiritual energy, and the mountains were so beautiful that visitors came throughout all four seasons.

Mount Hua was different. The craggy rock formations and peaks piercing the sky like daggers exuded not so much beauty as majesty. Perhaps because of this, one sensed in them a spirit as sharp as a blade.

New scenery brought new feelings. Yeon So-ha smiled softly, moved by sensations she had never before experienced.

At that moment, her gaze suddenly fell upon Dam Ho, who walked ahead of them. She noticed he walked with a slight limp.

'He limps?'

A faint furrow appeared between her brows.

Even with a whole body, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts was harder than threading a needle. For a cripple to attain such heights was simply inconceivable.

He looked quite sturdy, but a limp was a fatal flaw. Yeon So-ha concluded that Dam Ho could never reach the highest realm.

'Perhaps it does not matter, since he is a Scholar Taoist's disciple?'

Her gaze drifted to Sage Cheong-heo. He too had noticed Dam Ho's limp, and a sympathetic look crossed his face.

'What a pity. His talent seems far from ordinary.'

He was the first disciple of Sage Hyeon-so whose company she had enjoyed since coming to Mount Hua, which made it all the more regrettable.

But unable to reveal her feelings, she instead deflected with a light remark:

"Living in such a fine place—that must be the source of your deep Daoist power."

"Daoist power? Too generous by far."

Sage Hyeon-so flushed red and waved his hand in protest. At his reaction, Sage Cheong-heo's smile deepened.

When they at last arrived at Sage Hyeon-so's dwelling, Sage Cheong-heo's exclamations reached their peak.

"Oh! This is it? What a splendid view! I, Cheong-heo, have today opened my eyes anew. Such scenery!"

The rich scent of plum blossoms and the magnificent vista naturally piqued his interest. Sage Cheong-heo laughed heartily again and again.

Seated upon the platform in the courtyard, the majestic panorama of Mount Hua was all the more striking.

"I am rewarded for imposing myself upon Taoist Hyeon-so."

Sage Cheong-heo wore a look of genuine delight. Sage Hyeon-so, in turn, smiled.

Sage Hyeon-so, who had long stood at the margins of the Mount Hua Sect by virtue of being a Scholar Taoist—until now, no one had ever come to his dwelling and shown him such a sincere smile.

"Wait just a moment. I will prepare something for you to refresh yourself."

"Do not trouble yourself, Taoist Hyeon-so. The scenery is fine, the breeze is fine—what need is there for refreshment? This alone is enough."

What Sage Cheong-heo produced from his waist was a rather large gourd flask. From the stopper, the faint fragrance of wine drifted forth.

Sage Hyeon-so's expression changed slightly.

"What is that?"

"Have a drink, Taoist Hyeon-so."

Sage Cheong-heo held the flask out to him. Sage Hyeon-so looked troubled.

"I do not drink wine…"

"This is not wine. It is drinking nature."

Sage Cheong-heo's words struck Sage Hyeon-so's heart with an inexplicable persuasiveness.

Sage Hyeon-so glanced at Dam Ho. With an impassive expression, Dam Ho said:

"I will guide Miss Yeon around Mount Hua."

"R-really?"

"Please come with me, Miss Yeon."

Yeon So-ha, perceptive enough, nodded silently.

Leaving Sage Cheong-heo and Sage Hyeon-so behind, the two stepped outside.

"Ha ha ha!"

Sage Cheong-heo's laughter echoed from behind them.

Yeon So-ha spoke:

"I am sorry. My Master has caused you trouble…"

"Not at all."

"He is fine in every other way, but he loves his drink far too much."

"You need not apologize to me. If it does not trouble my Master, it does not trouble me."

"I appreciate your understanding. The truth is, there is quite a bit of talk about him back at the sect as well."

If Sage Cheong-heo had one flaw, it was his love of wine. Because of it, he had been warned by the Grandmaster on numerous occasions and scolded by his elders, but no one had ever succeeded in breaking the old Taoist of his habit.

The two walked on in silence for a time.

Dam Ho was taciturn to an extreme. Yeon So-ha felt stifled by his silence, so she spoke first.

"When did Young Hero Cheong-gyeong join the Mount Hua Sect?"

"Six years ago."

"That is not very long?"

"That is correct."

"Then have you been with your Master ever since you joined?"

"Yes."

"Is it not lonely? Living in such a remote place—it must be quite isolating."

"I am not lonely, because my Master is with me."

"I see. You share a deep bond with your Master."

"…"

Dam Ho did not answer, but Yeon So-ha was able to glean much.

'The relationship between Young Hero Cheong-gyeong and the Mount Hua Sect is not a good one.'

She could tell from the isolated dwelling alone, and from the awkward manner in which Mu-gyeong had treated Dam Ho.

Yeon So-ha was the first female disciple the Wudang Sect had accepted in a long time. Her martial talent was correspondingly exceptional.

Her intelligence was renowned throughout the Wudang Sect. For this, she was doted upon by the senior Taoists.

Sage Cheong-heo had not brought her along on a whim. He wished for Yeon So-ha to broaden her horizons by climbing Mount Hua herself. Such were his expectations of her.

Yeon So-ha followed Dam Ho as he showed her around Mount Hua, committing every sight to her keen eyes. Her deep gaze sparkled like starlight.

Before they knew it, darkness had descended upon the summit.

"We should head back now."

"This way."

Dam Ho walked along the mountain path as dusk deepened.

The terrain of Mount Hua was dizzyingly steep. One wrong step could send one plunging down a precipice thousands of feet deep. Yet Dam Ho navigated this perilous path despite his limp.

"Young Hero Cheong-gyeong."

"Yes?"

"Does it not trouble you?"

Though the subject was omitted, Dam Ho understood what she was asking.

"I am used to it."

"Is that so? I am glad."

Sincerity was evident in Yeon So-ha's voice. But Dam Ho felt nothing from her words.

Everyone looked at his leg and wore a worried expression. He had felt the pity beneath it, the condescension, or the contempt, so many times that his emotions had grown numb.

Whether Yeon So-ha's words were sincere or merely polite, it did not matter. Such words could no longer affect him in any way.

Dam Ho led the way, and they arrived at Sage Hyeon-so's dwelling in short order.

"You're back?"

The one who greeted them was Sage Hyeon-so, his face flushed red and his tongue thoroughly tangled. It was unclear how much he had drunk, but his eyes were hazy and unfocused.

"Master."

"Heh heh! Your Master had a wee drink. Hic!"

Sage Hyeon-so, mid-hiccup, suddenly collapsed face-first onto the platform. He had passed out.

Sage Cheong-heo looked sheepish.

"I barely gave him any…"

He had drunk only three cups, yet he had gotten so drunk that he had been rambling incoherently the entire time.

The name most frequently mentioned in his rambling was Dam Ho. One could easily see just how great Sage Hyeon-so's affection for his disciple truly was.

Sage Cheong-heo wore a mildly guilty expression.

"My apologies."

"Not at all."

Dam Ho lifted the unconscious Sage Hyeon-so onto his back and bowed to Sage Cheong-heo.

"The room next door is empty. Please sleep there. There are blankets and pillows."

"There is no need. This platform is my bed. How could I sleep in a cramped room when such a view lies before my eyes?"

Sage Cheong-heo patted the platform with his palm.

Dam Ho's gaze turned to Yeon So-ha.

"Then Miss Yeon, please sleep inside."

"I will. Thank you."

"Then…"

Dam Ho offered a slight bow and withdrew into the room.

Once they were alone, Sage Cheong-heo's complexion changed entirely. The flushed look of intoxication that had moments ago seemed so genuine vanished as though blown away by the wind, and he appeared exactly as he always did.

His gaze settled upon Yeon So-ha.

"Well? What did you think?"

"He seemed ordinary."

"Ordinary?"

"He limps, but it does not appear to cause significant problems in daily life. He seems quite cold in temperament, but not threatening."

"He still has far to go."

"What do you mean?"

Yeon So-ha's gaze shifted slightly.

At her questioning look, Sage Cheong-heo turned his head toward the large boulder on the other side.

"Do you see?"

"What?"

Yeon So-ha looked puzzled, not understanding.

At about a man's height upon the boulder, a small circle had been drawn. Inside the circle was a deep indentation. And upon the ground three zhang away, footprints were embedded.

In Sage Cheong-heo's eyes, it was as if he could vividly see the scenes that had unfolded here long ago.

"That boy is not the sort of being who needs the protection of others. How can one pity one who hammers himself ten thousand times over?"

"How…"

"This is Mount Hua, after all. High and deep."

Sage Cheong-heo gazed up at the night sky of Mount Hua.

Jin Ja-gang realized that yesterday’s self and today’s self were somehow different.

His body felt lighter, and his mood was refreshed. The damage done to his body by Mang-ryo had almost completely healed, though he hadn’t noticed it because the recovery had been so gradual.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the pool, which had now almost completely dried up. He could only vaguely think that the water that had gathered there must have had some effect on his body.

The water Jin Ja-gang had been drinking was actually Stone Milk of Mount Kunlun, formed over thousands or tens of thousands of years as the essence of sulfur accumulated.

The new skin that had grown was also due to this Stone Milk of Mount Kunlun. Originally, sulfur has properties that help new skin grow, strengthen bones, and make skin smooth.

Jin Ja-gang touched his lower abdomen.

In the span of a month, it felt like a chestnut-sized stone had settled inside his stomach. However, it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable.

“This is the dantian…”

Even Hundred Flower Valley was a martial sect living in the martial world, so Jin Ja-gang wasn’t ignorant about internal energy.

But why would something resembling internal energy appear in his dantian when he hadn’t even practiced any internal energy cultivation method?

He had never properly learned any internal energy technique, and Jin Ja-gang’s energy channels were all blocked except for the ones Mang-ryo had opened.

“Still, just in case…”

Jin Ja-gang tried to move the stone-like energy in his dantian as if it were internal energy.

“Urrgh!”

The energy in the stone was like a tangled ball of thread that wouldn’t move.

He struggled for nearly an hour, but it was of no use.

“So it really doesn’t work?”

Jin Ja-gang tilted his head.

Suddenly, his dantian shook, and he could feel a slight movement of energy, albeit minuscule.

As the energy of the Stone Milk of Mount Kunlun accumulated in his dantian, it had forcibly connected the path between his dantian and stomach, creating a tiny passage in the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming.

“Huh?”

Jin Ja-gang felt hopeful. He knew that carelessly circulating internal energy could lead to qi deviation, but in this situation, he had no master to guide him.

Though he had no idea what the consequences of his actions might be, he thought it would be better than doing nothing at all.

Jin Ja-gang sat cross-legged and assumed a proper posture.

He tried to grab the end of the thread-like energy from his dantian and pull it up toward his stomach. Unlike normal internal energy, it felt as if it was being pulled and then snapped.

That rough-feeling energy rose to his stomach. The amount of energy was so small that he could barely feel it, like the tiniest speck.

Jin Ja-gang concentrated as much as possible to avoid losing the sensation. Believing this energy to be internal energy, he tried to circulate it through his body’s meridians.

But in reality, it wasn’t internal energy, and Jin Ja-gang’s meridians remained blocked. Moreover, Jin Ja-gang didn’t even know which direction to move the energy.

Eventually, the energy traveled along the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming up to his right shoulder, then through the meridians in his arm that Mang-ryo had opened, all the way to his right little finger.

The movement stopped there. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t move the energy any further.

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes.

“Phew.”

It was unexpectedly tiring.

Suddenly, his right little finger felt stiff.

When Jin Ja-gang looked at his finger, he saw that the area near the base of the fingernail was slightly swollen, as if a blister had formed.

“Hmm?”

It was the area where Mang-ryo had cut to extract the poison. Thanks to the Intelligence Decoction, he couldn’t pass out and remembered everything Mang-ryo had done.

As Jin Ja-gang observed, the stiffness continued, but the swelling showed no signs of subsiding.

‘Maybe…’

Jin Ja-gang peeled off the scab on his finger and bit hard on the swollen part with his teeth.

As soon as he bit into the flesh, a deep fragrance of sulfur wafted out. It was different from the usual acrid smell of sulfur.

Then blood slightly oozed from the wound, followed by a transparent fluid. The energy that had risen from his dantian had dissolved into his body’s fluids and emerged.

Previously, Mang-ryo had collected this fluid as if it were precious.

Jin Ja-gang stared at the transparent fluid for a while, then lightly licked it with his tongue.

It had only a faint bitter sulfur taste, with no other particular flavor.

“What is this?”

He felt like he had spent a long time doing something utterly pointless.

“Tch. So it really doesn’t work after all.”

Jin Ja-gang sighed deeply and sprawled out in the narrow space of the cave.

Since the scabs had formed on his skin, the steam and sulfur smoke that had been fumigating him no longer bothered him. Now they were just slightly irritating rather than painful.

Jin Ja-gang wasn’t uncomfortable with his current state at all.

In fact, this space felt rather cozy to him.

Still, he couldn’t stay here forever. There were still plenty of mushrooms left, but the water had run out, so he might have to leave soon.

The worry was whether the Extreme Poison Sect had given up on looking for him yet.

Although his body had become resistant to poison, Jin Ja-gang was still just a ten-year-old child, an ordinary boy who couldn’t even defeat a normal adult man in terms of strength.

‘It would be good if I could learn martial arts.’

But who would teach martial arts to a descendant of a destroyed sect?

Especially one whose sect had been annihilated by the Martial Arts Alliance and the Extreme Poison Sect.

‘Somehow, I need to gain strength.’

Of course, the “somehow” was the biggest problem.

But then…

As Jin Ja-gang was thinking about revenge, his stomach began to ache.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Had something gone wrong when he’d tried to circulate his energy?

“Oooh?”

It wasn’t just a mild pain—it was quite severe. In Jin Ja-gang’s experience, these were the symptoms that appeared when Mang-ryo had fed him deadly poison.

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t even lie down. He clutched his stomach and lay on his side.

“Ugh.”

Sweat streamed down his forehead from the pain.

“Uuugh!”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes widened.

“Gak! Gak!”

His throat burned, his intestines twisted, and his stomach felt like it was being torn apart. Jin Ja-gang quickly stuck his finger down his throat.

“Urgh! Urrrgh!”

With nothing to throw up, only stomach acid came out. Along with the stomach acid, bloody foam flowed from his mouth.

“Aaaargh!”

Jin Ja-gang thrashed about, clutching his stomach.

He could tell his body was struggling by how his vision was growing dim. Blood was also flowing from his nose.

What in the world was happening?

Due to the side effects of the special Intelligence Decoction that Mang-ryo had fed him, Jin Ja-gang couldn’t pass out no matter how painful it was. His mind kept questioning what he had done wrong and why this was happening…

‘I didn’t eat anything besides that stagnant water…’

No, that wasn’t true.

The transparent fluid at the tip of his little finger that he had licked.

Jin Ja-gang felt a chill run down his spine.

‘Could it be!’

He remembered something among the substances Mang-ryo had fed him that caused similar symptoms and pain.

It was arsenic.

The very poison used to make execution drugs.

Most of the terrain in the Mixed Spring Ground was composed of sulfur stone, with a high content of realgar.

Naturally, the Stone Milk of Mount Kunlun that Jin Ja-gang had been drinking would have the highest concentration of realgar dissolved in it…

And that realgar is the main ingredient of arsenic.

Originally, sulfur contains both beneficial and harmful energies, and through proper processing, only the beneficial energy is extracted for use. However, since Jin Ja-gang’s meridians were blocked and poison couldn’t flow through them, the beneficial energy was slowly absorbed, but the poisonous energy remained intact, accumulating in his dantian.

In the end, what Jin Ja-gang had drawn up from his dantian wasn’t internal energy but the poisonous energy of realgar. Drawing up that poisonous energy and extracting it through his finger had led to the current result.

Jin Ja-gang was writhing in pain when a strange thought occurred to him.

‘I took something out of my body through my little finger, then ingested it again, which caused this. So couldn’t I extract what I just ingested again?’

If left alone, it would subside after half a day, but the pain until then would be unbearable.

Even in his agony, Jin Ja-gang concentrated.

‘I can do it! I can do it!’

As he focused, he could sense the poisonous energy that had seeped into his stomach. It was like a rough chestnut burr.

Because most of Jin Ja-gang’s meridians were blocked, the chestnut burr-like poisonous energy in his stomach couldn’t find its way and was crashing around in all directions.

Thump, thump, thump—it felt as if a drum were being beaten inside his stomach.

Jin Ja-gang read the energy flow.

At present, there were only two paths leading from his stomach.

Either downward to the dantian or upward to the shoulder.

Jin Ja-gang opened the upward path.

The rampaging poisonous energy surged upward as if it had been waiting for this. It moved to the shoulder, then to the right arm, and finally to the little finger.

Like a lie, the pain subsided.

He hadn’t completely transferred all the poisonous energy—some was lost along the way, and some was still rampaging in his stomach—but it was much better than before.

Jin Ja-gang exhaled deeply.

Only after calming down somewhat could he finally get up.

“Ugh.”

The lingering heat and tingling in his stomach seemed to speak of the recent pain.

Jin Ja-gang raised his right hand.

At the Xiaochi acupoint near the base of his little fingernail, a transparent fluid was slightly congealed with blood.

It seemed the poisonous energy he had just transferred had emerged through the hole he’d bitten.

It was hard to believe that such a small amount of fluid, not even a drop, had caused him so much suffering.

Of course, that tiny amount of fluid was the concentrated essence of poisonous energy, containing far more potent poison than one could imagine.

Jin Ja-gang glared at the fluid as if it were his mortal enemy.

After staring at it for a long time, he wondered if it was indeed the same poison as before, if it was what had just been in his stomach, and if its effects had changed.

The curiosity was hard to resist.

Jin Ja-gang swallowed dryly.

Then he licked his finger.

Slurp.

A moment later.

The same internal shock occurred as before.

His stomach felt like it was being torn apart, and his mind went blank with pain. Jin Ja-gang clutched his stomach and trembled all over.

“Damn it!”

That was truly unnecessary.

Though he gritted his teeth while tears and mucus flowed, foam continuously spilled from his mouth.

“Aaaaargh!”

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Mang-ryo had become very emaciated.

It had been more than a month since he’d lost Jin Ja-gang.

His appearance was already unpleasant with one eye turned and a dark spot around it, and now he had become even more gaunt.

His remaining eye had grown sharper, and it seemed as if one could hear a grinding sound every time he rolled his eyeball.

He was different from his previously neat self. His hair, which had once been neatly tied up, was now completely loose and disheveled.

It wasn’t just his appearance—his personality had become even more violent. No matter how much those around him tried to dissuade him, he wouldn’t listen and only burned with vengeance toward Jin Ja-gang.

Because of this, Mang-ryo, whose interpersonal relationships had deteriorated, had recently withdrawn completely from work. He could no longer involve himself in external activities or important matters of the Extreme Poison Sect.

Mang-ryo had lost almost everything he had built up.

But there was one thing that remained with him.

His desire for revenge against Jin Ja-gang.

Mang-ryo had Gwak-o pull a cart and, along with a few warriors from the Extreme Poison Sect, climbed the mountain path.

“It’s already been a month. There’s no way he could still be alive.”

Despite the warrior’s words, Mang-ryo only sneered.

“That’s why I occasionally threw food for him to eat. Isn’t that right?”

Gwak-o was startled. He was the very person who had been taking the food waste to the Mixed Spring Ground.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The Extreme Poison Sect warriors hadn’t been sitting idle either. They had searched repeatedly during the day when the ground hardened, under Mang-ryo’s constant urging.

But of course, they found nothing. All they got were patients with acute sulfur poisoning from the search.

“Even so, not emerging for a month means…”

At the warrior’s words, Mang-ryo stared at him. Then he looked at Gwak-o beside him and asked:

“Do you also think that child is dead?”