Chapter 37

Elixirs—or spirit tonics.

Things that, just by swallowing, can grant a sizable amount of inner energy.

From a few months at the low end to decades at the high end.

That something you reach only after ages of training your internal art could be raised by eating... it sounds absurd, but it actually was.

That is why martial artists live mad for elixirs and lucky chances.

The problem is, you can’t buy those elixirs with money.

Not only are there barely any people who can make them, each one costs a staggering amount of money and time to produce.

‘They say there are a few you can buy with money, at least.’

But the efficiency was nothing to brag about, and in truth, it was only the magnates who could literally bathe in money that bought them for “health.”

‘The efficiency is too lousy for a martial artist to use.’

So people went hunting for proper elixirs.

Shaolin’s Grand Rejuvenation Pill, Mount Hua’s Purple Millet Pill, things like that—

The ones commonly called divine pills.

Of course.

‘If those were easy to get, they wouldn’t be called divine pills.’

They are elixirs an ordinary martial artist will never even lay eyes on in a lifetime.

From what I know, even blood relatives of the Five Great Clans don’t get to swallow them easily.

Except—

“I can eat that? Me?”

My voice leaks raw desire on its own.

Maybe because I’m excited, I can’t control it.

As expected...

“How merciful your nature is.”

I mean it, and the Yoo Cheongil behind me wrinkles his face.

[...Hearing that, I suddenly don’t want to give you any.]

“Ha ha. You joke so well.”

[Not a joke, though...?]

Cheerful, even. My respect sprouts like weeds.

[...I’ve never seen someone this brazenly crass.]

“Crass? Call it honest.”

[That... never mind.]

He looks like he was about to say something, then shakes his head as if giving up.

Right after leaving the dining hall, I returned to my quarters with Yoo Cheongil.

He’d said he’d feed me an elixir—so why the quarters? When I asked, he said:

‘Anywhere is fine. I’ve opened every path.’

That’s what he said.

I didn’t get it, and even when I asked for details he told me I’d know once we got there, so I shut up and came back.

At this point I ask, a little tentative:

“...You really are giving it to me, right?”

[You were just singing praises—now you doubt me already?]

“It’s not doubt so much as... a slight question?”

[Your words are still slick. If you want it so badly, close your mouth and step into the inner room.]

“...Yes.”

No backtalk. The inner room didn’t have much to speak of anyway.

“What are we even....”

[See that thing in the corner?]

He points. I look. It’s the dresser that’s been here since I first arrived.

[Move it to the left.]

Why should I do that? I’m about to ask when I see Yoo Cheongil’s face and clamp my mouth shut.

He’s serious. Overly so.

So I lift the dresser and move it as told.

[A little more to the side. No, not that way... oh, there.]

After a few tries, we get it into position.

[Now open the third drawer. Yes, that much.]

I grip the drawer and pull it halfway out.

By now I really don’t know what I’m doing.

“Seriously....”

[Now grab the first drawer.]

“...”

I grab the first drawer. Then—

[Before you open it, turn your internal art.]

“The internal art?”

[Yes. Grip and open it while invoking the Blue Moon Heart Art. Not the slightest tremor.]

Invoke it without a tremor.

Wuuum—! I do as told and guide my energy.

I still feel that vague instability somewhere, but separate from that, there’s no shake.

Seeing it, Yoo Cheongil smiles.

[Perfect. Grinding you paid off.]

I narrow my eyes. That line...

‘...Huh?’

Before coming to Henan, the “homework” he gave me—I’d thought it was just a means to handle the meeting with the Sect Master.

From his reaction now, it feels like that’s not all it was.

‘Did he make me do it for this?’

Invoke without a tremor. That sticks out too much.

And with good reason—it was only yesterday I finally managed it.

He popped that line out like he’d been waiting.

‘This old man....’

He looked like he didn’t have much on his mind, but he’s been waiting for the timing? I can’t see his expression while I’m moving energy.

All I catch is the occasional breathy chuckle.

And then—

‘...Why won’t this open?’

The drawer won’t budge, weirdly enough. With energy sheathing my hand it should open easier.

Did he nail it shut?

[Pull harder.]

At his words I put more strength in and yank.

I have to clamp down so my energy doesn’t wobble.

After hauling for quite a while—

Creak—!

The first drawer groans open, and in that instant—

Clack.

A sound I don’t recognize clicks from somewhere.

Clatter—!!

“Whoa... what the hell!”

The floor suddenly starts to open. Not an exaggeration—the floor actually opens.

“...What is this?”

A sight you only see in a past life. The floor just splits open out of nowhere and there’s a ladder inside.

“...Th-this... what.”

I’m so shocked I can’t even react right.

[Kek kek kek. Looks like it didn’t break, thank goodness.]

The old man laughs like a kid.

“...What—is this?”

[Neat, isn’t it? Cost a fortune to have it custom-made, so admire it all you want.]

“No, I...”

I don’t even know what to ask first; I just stand there dumbly. Admiration my ass.

“How does this even work.”

Why is this kind of thing under the floor of my quarters? That’s the real question.

Not to mention...

“You predicted I’d end up in these very quarters?”

The guest quarters floor. Which means—you knew I’d be assigned here?

How could he predict that? I ask with my doubt in the open.

[Hm? How would I know that.]

“Excuse me? Then what is all this?”

[That’s obvious.]

He grins, mean as a knife.

[I did it in every building.]

“...What?”

This... in every building?

[Cost me a small fortune to do it, but it means I can do this anywhere I go. Convenient, isn’t it?]

I just stare at him, dazed, while he brags.

No matter how I think about it, I can’t understand.

“Why...?”

[Hm?]

“Why would you put this everywhere.”

You could’ve done it in a couple of spots—why every building? I ask, and he looks back at me like I’m the one who doesn’t get it.

[Because it’s fun.]

“...”

[You need another reason?]

At that, I give up on understanding.

Confirmed.

He is definitely insane.

****

I climb down the ladder. It’s dark and awkward, but not scary.

What’s scary is what he says.

“The Tang Clan made this...?”

[Yes. Took a lot of coaxing to get that cranky old man to do it.]

The maker of this ridiculous mechanism is one of the Five Great Clans—the Tang Clan.

I knew the Tang Clan works metal well, but I didn’t know they could make things like this.

And—

“That... cranky old man... was the former Tang Clan Head.”

[Technically the head two generations back. But yes.]

“...”

Not just any Tang Clan figure—the clan head.

No wonder it felt out of the ordinary.

‘I don’t know who that was, but...’

The Tang Clan Head from two generations back—I wouldn’t know him.

I don’t even know the last clan head; how would I know the one before that.

‘Whoever he was, he wasn’t normal.’

If he took money to install this in every building, he was no ordinary gentleman.

At the bottom of the ladder, a staircase waits.

How far do we go down that? By the time I’d descended what felt like at least a First Stage’s depth—

[I see it.]

We reach the end. A rusted iron door waits there.

The handle is caked in rust; it’s gross, but I grab it anyway.

At the same time, I draw up my energy.

[Oh. I didn’t even have to tell you. How’d you know.]

“It just looked like that’s what I should do.”

It looked obvious, so I did it—and I guess I was right.

Creak—!

It’s a fight, but the door does open somehow.

I make just enough space for one person and squeeze inside.

Then—

“What is this....”

Inside is even darker than outside.

Should’ve brought a lamp?

[Focus your energy into your eyes.]

“My eyes?”

[Yes.]

“...How do I do that?”

[...]

Of course I can see the ghost even in this pitch, so I can see him looking at me with contempt just fine.

Damn it.

“Hey, I could not know. Why look at me like that?”

[Oh? That showed?]

“...How about you hide your face and talk?”

[...Tsk. Step aside.]

My body lifts. The sensation of Yoo Cheongil possessing me.

Wuum—! Energy moves. It rotates along the flow, and one branch tears off toward my eyes.

A faint heat settles in my eyes. My vision brightens in a rush.

That’s neat.

A moment ago it was oppressive darkness; now it’s bright as day.

[Got it now?]

At some point he’s already slipped back out.

“Yes.”

[Honestly, having to spoon-feed you everything is tiresome.]

...Rot. Am I supposed to apologize for lacking talent? My pride won’t allow it.

Anyway, with my sight this clear, the interior comes into sharp relief.

“...Huh.”

A breath escapes. The inside is much larger than I imagined.

How does a space like this exist underground.

“...What is this place?”

[If I’m being kind, you could call it a vault... unkindly...]

“Unkindly?”

[A snack pantry.]

“...Sorry?”

Snack pantry? That name feels violently wrong.

No—whatever. The name doesn’t matter.

“...The elixirs are here, right?”

[Yes.]

“Why are elixirs in a place like this?”

[I told you. A snack pantry. I built it to sneak down and eat when I was tired.]

“...”

So—he built this space to chow elixirs whenever he felt tired...?

The intent is unbelievable.

‘...No. Think positive.’

If it benefits me, who cares.

Thanks to this geezer’s lack of restraint, I might actually get to taste an elixir. That’s enough.

“So, where is it? My elixir?”

[...Why is it your elixir? It’s mine.]

“Where is it?”

[He’s not listening anymore, is he...]

He sighs and points left.

At the end of that line of sight sits a single box.

I hurry over.

“This is....”

The resting place of my precious elixir?

“Just looking at it, that’s an expensive, precious box.”

[Got it for a few coppers in town.]

“Looks very premium.”

[Would you just li—]

“Do I just open it?”

[...Damn it. Do as you please.]

Is he really giving it to me? I hear him mutter, but I ignore it and open the box.

This time I don’t even need the internal art; the lid lifts lightly.

As it opens, a clear herbal fragrance seems to brush my nose.

Expectation spikes.

‘Do I finally get a break in life?’

Yeah. I’ve been getting dragged around ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) all day by a vile spirit—this much payback is fair.

Heart pounding, I throw the lid all the way back.

Inside the box I finally see—

“Wow....”

[Oh ho.]

We admire together, me and Yoo Cheongil.

We can’t help it.

Because inside the box we came all the way here for—

I look at him.

“Respected elder.”

[Yes.]

“How do you explain this.”

With a trembling hand I lift the box and show him.

Inside that box—

“...Why is it empty?”

It’s clean. Empty as a drum.