Chapter 314 - The Cutting Winds of Late Winter (2)

A deep, bitter scent burst out from inside the wooden box.

Ordinary... no, using the word ordinary for a spiritual pill was strange in itself, but still.

It was a scent one could not sense from a typical spiritual pill.

My gaze naturally went askew as I looked at Sama Jeong.

"Do you not like it?"

"What is this?"

"A spiritual pill only you can eat within the Taiyi Sect."

"... The smell, no, the scent is like poison."

I felt as if Tang Seo-hee had once used a poison that gave off a smell similar to this...

As I frowned, Sama Jeong nodded.

"To an ordinary warrior, it could become poison. If they ate it, their internal energy would decrease somewhat."

Huh? This man was dangerous. Did he have any idea what kind of insane crap I had gone through to gather this internal energy...?

"But in exchange, if you eat it, your bones will never break again."

"My bones won't break?"

Sama Jeong raised one eyebrow once and asked me.

"Have you heard of Vajra Honey?"

"Isn't that a weight-loss medicine?"

Vajra Honey was honey made when blue-flower bees fed on the sap of centuries-old black ebony trees.

Strangely enough, if you ate it, your weight would drop rapidly as if you had fallen ill.

However, since only your weight dropped and nothing else went wrong, it was often used by women for beauty purposes.

How wonderful was it to lose weight without eating less?

However, since one had to find a grove of centuries-old black ebony trees and then find the blue-flower bees living inside it, it was classified as one of the harder honeys to obtain.

Come to think of it, they said eating Vajra Honey made one's skin clear or something.

In any case, though it was hard to obtain and expensive, it was not a medicine a martial artist would eat.

It did not help increase internal energy, and only made one lose weight.

Would that not make one look utterly wretched?

In the Jianghu, where outward appearance counted for at least seventy percent, there would be no martial artist who would go out of their way to obtain and eat Vajra Honey.

"That is what happens when an ordinary person eats it. But do you know why they lose weight?"

Sama Jeong kept signaling at me with his eyes while I listened in silence.

What was this? Did he want an answer?

"I don't."

When I shrugged, Sama Jeong began explaining with a triumphant expression.

"When you eat Vajra Honey, it is because your bones absorb it."

At those words, my brow furrowed even more without my realizing it.

Absorbing life force... that was just poison, wasn't it?

"But do you know what happens if a martial artist eats Vajra Honey?"

Sama Jeong trailed off as if seeking a reaction from me.

But what had this man been trying to do since a while ago?

I asked back with a crooked expression.

"What happens?"

"Hehehe, do not be surprised."

Sama Jeong spread both hands wide and added.

"After absorbing only internal qi, the bones become as hard as diamond."

"..."

"They say women who ate Vajra Honey have never had their arms or feet broken in their entire lives."

Wasn't that because the ones who ate it were rich people who would never have any reason to break an arm or a foot in their entire lives?

For some reason, I felt as if I were listening to a fraudulent medicine peddler selling an elixir of immortality.

I didn't think he had felt like this when I first met him...

"What do you think? It whets your appetite, doesn't it? You want to eat it right away, don't you?"

Sama Jeong drew close to me, his eyes flashing with excitement.

What was wrong with him, seriously?

I took my hand off the wooden box and stepped back.

"I don't want to eat it."

"Hm? Why?"

"What good is it if my bones become hard? Where am I supposed to use that?"

"My friend! Think about it. Your internal energy has run dry, and you are in mortal peril. At that moment! Even if your opponent's club tries to break your hand, your hand will not break!"

"Martial artists use swords or sabers in the first place."

"Ah, yes. Mm... then perhaps your bones might not be cut through?"

This man made it sound vague at the end, didn't he?

"Might not be cut through?"

As my expression soured even further, Sama Jeong hurriedly continued.

"Then how about this? You have fallen into mortal peril. Enemies are chasing you, and you are driven to the edge of a cliff!"

"..."

"You would have to make a choice. Either be killed by the enemy, or fall from the cliff, break your bones, and die."

Sama Jeong paused for a moment, then opened the wooden box with a snap and thrust it before my eyes with a resolute expression.

"But! In truth, you have eaten a spiritual elixir made with Vajra Honey! Then even if you leap off the cliff, you will not die from broken bones! Then would you not be able to encounter a fortuitous opportunity down there, recover your body, and gain another chance at revenge?"

I had been watching to see how far he would go, and now I was hearing all sorts of insane nonsense.

No, in the first place, one should not be chased by enemies and driven to a cliff.

If you were going to run, the basics for a martial artist were to run somewhere with a path of escape.

I let out a sigh and asked quietly.

"... Tell me honestly. Are you certain about this medicine?"

The excitement in Sama Jeong's eyes settled a little.

"... The truth is, I wanted to see a martial artist eat it. The effects that appear in women are sufficient, but I was curious whether the same effects would appear in a martial artist."

"..."

Fuck, so he was saying he wanted to use me as a test subject?

Sama Jeong hastily waved both hands in front of him.

"Ah! But do not worry. Even if there is no effect, there should be no side effects. I truly am certain of that!"

As I silently stared at him, he let out a small sigh and muttered.

"Well, even losing a tiny amount of internal qi would be a great loss to a martial artist. I am sorry. Since you have such an enormous Dantian, I let my greed get the better of me..."

Then he forced a smile.

"Do not worry. I will soon make you a better spiritual pill in place of the one you yielded. But please wait until the ingredients are gathered."

Sama Jeong closed the wooden box with his shoulders drooping, then turned away.

I watched his lingering regret drip from his back for a moment, then went to his side and snatched the wooden box away.

"Hm? Could you be?"

It was already made anyway.

It would be a waste.

If it truly hardened bones, it might help the children of the Taiyi Sect too.

And above all.

"Make sure you keep your promise."

There was always the slightest chance that after falling off a cliff, I might discover a fortuitous opportunity.

... It would feel a little unfair if my bones broke then.

GULP.

The bitter spiritual pill roughly slid down my throat.

#

After eating the spiritual pill, my whole body shivered for a while as if I had caught a chill.

Along with that, I felt the internal qi that should have been firmly lodged in my Dantian disappearing bit by bit.

At first, I worried that too much was draining away, but less disappeared than I had expected.

About five years' worth?

By the standards of my past life, it was an enormous amount, but in this life, it was honestly not enough to feel like a major difference.

"And?"

"My muscles feel a little tight."

With sparkling eyes, Sama Jeong questioned me one by one about my condition.

He checked what my expression looked like, asked how I felt, and wrote down the changes in my body in detail.

"It certainly is convenient to experiment on a martial artist."

Did this man just openly call it an experiment?

"Now then, shall we try the next experiment?"

"..."

Wow, now he had no intention of hiding it at all.

Whether I was dumbfounded or not, Sama Jeong began stacking bricks he had brought from somewhere.

Each stack rose to waist height, and there was just enough space between the stacks to place one forearm on them.

"Place your arm here."

"..."

"Hm? Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, my explanation was unkind. I apologize. I am trying to experiment to see whether your bones have hardened."

... Excuse me, but I think you are apologizing for the wrong thing.

Still, I raised my arm as he said.

The current situation was annoying, but to be honest, I was curious too.

He said it hardened bones enough to require absorbing internal qi, so I wondered just how hard they would become.

... The problem was that my body was the test subject.

When I placed my arm on the stacks, Sama Jeong brought over a long club.

It was a sturdy-looking club, worn smooth by the touch of hands.

I looked up at him blankly.

"Do you even have the strength to hit me?"

"I do have some internal energy. Ah, right! Do not raise your internal qi. Then the experiment will not work."

How much internal energy could a physician possibly have?

I should have stopped when I thought that.

THWACK!

"..."

The sturdy club broke, and splinters scattered everywhere.

It hurt so much that I could not even scream properly.

'Ghh! Fuck, what the hell!!!'

He had struck so hard that two of the bricks supporting the stacks crumbled apart.

Even without looking, it was broken.

It was certain that my arm had broken without question, and the moment I opened my eyes wide—

Sama Jeong was smiling brightly.

"Look at this! As expected, it did not break!"

"..."

"This wood is actually a club made from black ebony. I heard it is stronger than most steel. Even though this shattered to pieces, your bone is fine. You see! I was right, wasn't I?"

I looked down at my arm with a dazed expression.

My skin had begun to redden from the powerful impact, but there was nothing wrong with the bone.

When I clenched my fist, strength entered it properly too.

It hurt like I was going to die, but still, it really did seem as though Vajra Honey had an effect.

While I was worrying that a deep bruise would form for some reason,

Sama Jeong looked at my arm and spoke with slightly surprised eyes.

"W-Wait a moment."

Then he scurried inside the clinic.

It seemed he did at least think he should treat it.

Well, my arm had not broken, but I was bleeding a little too.

It was not much of an injury to a martial artist, but to ordinary people, it might look rather serious.

'Tch... he is a decent man at heart.'

The problem was that he was so mad about medicine that he sometimes seemed out of his mind.

Well, could that necessarily be called a problem?

Wasn't it because he had such passion that he was able to possess such excellent skill?

While I waited like that for Sama Jeong's medicinal herbs and wound medicine,

SHING.

I turned my head at the unusual sound.

"Hup!"

Sama Jeong came out from inside carrying a long saber.

What on earth was this?

"... Didn't you go in to fetch wound medicine?"

"Hm? Wound medicine?"

"..."

Sama Jeong smiled as brightly as sunlight melting winter and chattered excitedly.

"We must continue the experiment! According to the records, even most blades cannot completely cut through the bones..."

I had been mistaken.

This was not a problem of passion.

He was simply without a doubt a madman.

TAP—

I unleashed the World-Traversing Lone Footwork at full power and left the clinic.

"W-Where are you going! My friend! Wait, can we not try it just once...?"

... The madman's voice came faintly from afar.

#

I spent most of the rest period at the Taiyi Sect.

I received training from Baek Haegwang for half a day each day, went to Jang Dowon's smithy and pestered him a little about when he would make the next divine artifact, and then...

... I spent my days avoiding Sama Jeong, who wanted to try cutting off my arm, while spending time with the children of the Taiyi Sect.

In that way, the rest period flew by like an arrow.

Time passed so slowly during difficult periods, so how could sweet rest pass this quickly?

The Sect Leader and the Hall Leaders suggested holding a small banquet for us as we returned to the Academy, but my father, who held the purse strings tight, was not pleased.

He was still sulking because of what I had done in Hwangcheon County.

In any case, since the guests of honor for the banquet included not only me, but Saryeon and the Geum-eun-dong Brothers as well, my father eventually held a small banquet for us.

Thanks to that, the disciples belonging to the Taiyi Sect, their parents, and all the people of the Taiyi Sect were invited and enjoyed the banquet.

"Good grief, it worked out well in the end, so why are you fretting so much?"

At my words, my father, who had been downing a cup of wine, glared and shouted.

"You rotten brat! Do you know how much effort I put into erasing the traces of the Underworld clinging to you!?"

Ah, so he wasn't angry because of the Jeondeung Sect?

"Every time the Daecheon Merchant Group passes through, Underworld sects stick to its side and escort it! Escort it! For. Free!"

Mm... wasn't that a good thing?

"That's good. It reduces costs and secures safety, killing two birds with one stone... urk!"

I narrowly dodged the wine cup flying toward my face.

What in the world had happened for my father of all people to throw a wine cup?

"You brat! You know as well, don't you! This world will find faults where none exist and turn them into crimes. Yet you are willingly putting on the mask of the Underworld...!"

Ah, so that was what he was worried about.

I downed my cup of wine and spoke calmly.

"No matter how flawless I am, those who will hate me will find a way to hate me."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Hm? What was this?

The atmosphere of the banquet suddenly turned cold.

Everyone who had been chatting noisily was looking this way.

Had I said something terribly wrong?

I hadn't... had I?

I roughly ignored the atmosphere around me and continued speaking.

"It has been that way from the beginning. No matter how many achievements I made and no matter how much I proved myself, those who would not believe me did not believe me, and those who would pick fights with me did pick fights with me. That will probably continue in the future as well."

I calmly spoke of the things I had felt until now.

When I entered the Academy and became the top student, I thought something would change if I proved myself.

The Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Noble Clans, and those who had ruled the Jianghu for hundreds of years.

No matter how unfair the standards they imposed were, and no matter how unequal the situations they forced upon me to suit their tastes, I thought that if I broke through them and advanced, I could receive their recognition.

'As if.'

But the more I broke through the walls they had blocked me with, and the higher I climbed the ramparts they had built,

the greater the restraint and threats I received.

It would probably continue in the future too.

"So I decided not to care. If they are people who will hate me anyway, would it not be better to distinguish enemy from ally sooner?"

I paused for a moment and emptied my cup of wine in one gulp.

"If I show myself honestly like this, those who will become enemies will quickly become enemies, and those who will become allies will become allies. Is that not so?"

No one answered me.

For the most part, they all looked somewhat bitter.

I had said we should distinguish enemy from ally, but in reality, the possibility of allies appearing was low.

They must have had the fundamental question of whether there would really be any sect willing to stand with the Taiyi Sect.

At that moment,

"Excuse me... is anyone here?"

Someone entered the Daecheon Merchant Group.

"Ah, my apologies. Today is not a business day..."

At Kang Chaeseok's words, the guest shook his head.

"I did not come to request work. I came to deliver goods."

"Goods?"

The man nodded and took a paper from his robes.

"They are said to be a gift sent by the Sect Leader of the One Pillar Sect to Young Hero Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

"..."

"..."

Everyone's gazes turned to me all at once.

Kang Chaeseok sprang to his feet and accepted the paper from the man.

"'I express my gratitude to Young Hero Jin Sowoon, who prevented in advance a dangerous incident that might have plunged the Jianghu into chaos. Jo Seonghyeop, Sect Leader of the One Pillar Sect.' ... What is this?"

While Kang Chaeseok and the people of the Taiyi Sect who heard the letter stood there bewildered,

another person entered the Daecheon Merchant Group.

Behind him, porters carrying loads followed inside.

"Is Jin Sowoon here? We have brought goods sent by the Thousand Swords Gang."

That was not the end.

"Young Hero Jin Sowoon..."

"Is Jin Sowoon here?"

"Jin So..."

Gifts endlessly entered the Daecheon Merchant Group from various places.

Everyone who had been holding the banquet was so busy receiving gifts that they all rose from their seats.

Most of the letters they sent contained praise for the recent Jeondeung Sect incident and said they looked forward to my future activities.

Before long, the inside of the banquet hall had gone quiet.

Kang Chaeseok, who had been looking over the letters, raised his head with a flushed expression.

"Are allies... truly beginning to appear?"

When Kang Chaeseok spoke in bewilderment, Hong Mungi smiled and raised his voice.

"Why is everyone so bewildered? It came true just as Sowoon said."

"..."

"Do you not... want to open the gifts?"

No sooner had Hong Mungi's words fallen than the atmosphere reversed again.

The moment permission was given, the Hall Leaders and the children began opening the gifts that had come in by the armful, and their mouths fell open every time they saw the contents.

"I have never seen silk this soft before."

"Uh... External Hall Leader, there are silver ingots here..."

"There is a sword inside this one!"

I went to my father's side as he watched the sight with a dazed expression.

"See? I was right, wasn't I?"

"..."

"Even if there is a small blemish, those who will see me properly will see me properly."

My father turned a gaze full of complicated emotions toward me.

I tapped my father's shoulder and pointed to one side with my finger.

"Over there, the Hall Leaders are trying to slip away a few silver ingots. Aren't you going to check?"

In the end, my father shook his head and let out a faint laugh.

"... That will not do."

Just as the lively banquet atmosphere was about to resume,

TAP, TAP, TAP.

A rough-looking man entered the Daecheon Merchant Group.

The man entered with a face that, at a glance, had "I am Underworld" written all over it, and the banquet atmosphere turned cold once more.

SWISH—

A few Hall Leaders were placing their hands on the swords that had come in as gifts.

The rough-looking man stood in the middle of the banquet hall and shouted.

"Is this the Daecheon Merchant Group?"

"It is."

Kang Chaeseok stepped forward and asked.

"Who are you people?"

Instead of answering Kang Chaeseok's question, the man whistled.

Then behind him, ten rough-looking men entered, each carrying a long coffin-like box.

"Where is Great Warrior Jin Sowoon?"

"... Great Warrior?"

Kang Chaeseok looked at me as if asking for an explanation, but I could not answer.

It was a face I had never seen before either.

The man followed Kang Chaeseok's gaze and looked at me, then suddenly cupped his fist.

"Stronghold Master, have you been well all this time?"

Huh? Stronghold Master?

... Was he talking to me?

"Boys, what are you doing? Set them down."

"Yes, sir!"

THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.

The ten men set the boxes down on the floor and opened the lids wide.

Inside, they were filled with everything from coins to silver coins and jewels.

The man bowed his head deeply and reported to me.

"This is last year's tribute payment from the Black Dragon Stronghold, offered to the Stronghold Master. Please forgive us, as we started late and the profits were meager."

Fuck, what kind of bullshit was this?

"B-Black Dragon Stronghold?"

"T-Tribute payment?"

The disciples of the Taiyi Sect looked at me with astonished faces.

And from behind came a low voice.

"A small... blemish, you said?"

I turned my head.

"The Black Dragon Stronghold?"

My father looked as if he would not hesitate to commit murder on the spot.

No, I truly had nothing to do with this.

I was truly, truly being wronged.