Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Long-Awaited Elixir
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Crackle! Crackle!
The brazier inside the room blazed fiercely.
Namgung Hyeok stared blankly at the roaring flames.
A chill crept up his spine and refused to subside.
"Damn this body."
Even with two braziers going strong, the cold wouldn't let up.
The room felt like midsummer, yet his hands and feet were numb with frost.
Shiver. Shiver.
He pulled the blanket tight around him. His dislocated shoulder throbbed.
The unrelenting pain twisted his face.
"I'll fix this cursed body no matter what. I swear it!"
Gazing into the flames, he vowed to escape this shell that made daily life impossible.
At least he needed to reach a normal level to do anything worthwhile, right?
"Huuuugh. Thank goodness. At least I can get the medicine."
Namgung Hyeok grinned as he waited for Namgung Jangcheon.
Things had gone more smoothly than expected.
As expected of the Namgung family—even a single spiritual elixir was theirs for the asking.
No matter how much time passed, spiritual elixirs would always be rare treasures, so procuring one on demand was a true blessing.
Namgung Hyeok poked at the logs with the poker.
Whoosh!
The dying flames roared back to life.
With a relaxed heart, Namgung Hyeok awaited the elixir.
Four days passed like that.
Namgung Hyeok's eyes, fixed on the brazier flames, were bloodshot red.
"...Ten days left now."
Why hasn't it come?
It should be here by now, right?
No.
It's a spiritual elixir, after all. Even the Namgung family would need some time.
But why did Namgung Jangcheon's face keep popping up—the one that kept dodging his gaze?
"Stay calm and wait. It'll come. No way he'd let his son die without sending it, right?"
No need for pointless worries.
Namgung Hyeok settled back into relaxed anticipation of the elixir.
Three more days passed.
"What's wrong with him?"
Geum Cheomsang watched Namgung Hyeok flail on the bed like he'd seen something bizarre.
In just a few days, his eyes had hollowed out, his face turned ashen—it was beyond serious.
"Young master, are you alright?"
Namgung Hyeok's sunken eyes turned toward Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang flinched at the sight.
'...A walking skeleton.'
He wasn't just skin and bones; he looked like rotten fruit, ready to melt away any second.
The difference from four days ago, yesterday, and today was night and day.
His complexion had gone from pale to a sickly blue-green—like death was knocking.
"...The elixir?"
"Yes?"
"The elixir hasn't come yet?"
"Ah, not yet."
"...Haaa. Not yet, huh. Ha, haha—no way it'll be tomorrow too, right?"
Namgung Hyeok let out a self-mocking sigh and gave a bitter smile. Geum Cheomsang felt a vein throb in his temple.
'Why's he like this? He never even cared about elixirs before.'
This was nothing like the indifferent expression he'd worn when saying they were useless anyway.
This was genuine disappointment.
Why?
"Young master, are you alright?"
"...The elixir?"
"Yes? I just said..."
"Still not here?"
"...Um, how about some tea?"
"...The elixir still not here?"
"Just now..."
"Haa, he'll send it, right? I'm his son, after all. Yeah?"
Namgung Hyeok mumbled weakly, repeating himself like he'd lost his mind.
"...Young master?"
"Don't talk to me without the elixir."
"..."
"How many days left... one, two..."
Namgung Hyeok rolled his eyes, counting on his fingers, then finally rolled them back entirely.
"Ugh, we're screwed! Aaaah, uwaaaaaah!"
This time, Namgung Hyeok let out a beastly roar.
Geum Cheomsang stared at him with wide, dazed eyes.
It felt like watching a man go mad in real time.
He was so different from that first day when he'd suddenly demanded an elixir from the family head.
"Better have some soup instead of the elixir. The physician said too much elixir could harm your body..."
"What elixir harms the body?! Don't talk nonsense! You saying I won't die?"
"Y-Young master. Why would you die...?"
"Haa, this won't do. I need to go see for myself. ...No, it'll come. Right?"
Clack-clack-clack.
He surged with anger, then wilted like a faded flower.
He vented fury and anxiety with sighs.
Then his teeth chattered as he trembled. Geum Cheomsang's jaw dropped.
'He's eaten so many elixirs already—why freak out over one? The legs?'
It had to be that.
Geum Cheomsang tried to soothe him gently.
"Young master, delaying the elixir a bit won't kill you, so don't worry..."
"What?! You think you know what happens if I don't take it?"
"You won't die over it, surely?"
"Die? Diiiie...?"
Namgung Hyeok's eyes twitched.
"You're dead. The second I get out of this bed, I'll kill you myself!"
Whatever he'd triggered, Namgung Hyeok went berserk.
Geum Cheomsang watched, then slipped quietly out of the room.
That body of his wouldn't last long anyway.
'...When the hell is the elixir coming?'
* * *
Crackle! Crackle!
The logs blazed, and Namgung Hyeok—dark circles drooping to his jaw—gnawed his finger.
Clack-clack-clack!
As time dragged on, his reddened eyes shook with anxiety.
With a soul-drained pallor, Namgung Hyeok muttered.
"It'll come, right? It will. It has to."
No way he'd just ignore it like this.
No matter how useless, how much of a money sink this wretched body was, it was still his flesh and blood.
...Plenty of reasons to abandon it, though!
"No, it's blood kin. The family head wouldn't lie... Please."
Namgung Jangcheon, with his blatant nepotism, wouldn't abandon his son so easily.
No—he had to hope not.
'The Sword King kept his promises, at least. He'd wail in the underworld if he knew his descendant pulled a scam.'
Namgung Hyeok kept muttering words that were curse or prayer, he couldn't tell.
Then.
"...How much time left?"
He'd counted down to seven days.
After that, he'd half-lost his mind and lost track.
Namgung Hyeok raised fingers, tallying days and nights to count what remained.
The number dwindled.
Five, four, three...
Three...
Three days?
"Three days? Only three left?!"
A storm raged in Namgung Hyeok's eyes.
When had time slipped away like this?
The brazier's embers had died out unnoticed.
Ominous.
Like gazing at his own remaining lifespan.
Realizing death loomed so close dried his mouth.
Blood drained from his head.
'The supreme hegemon of the world dies waiting for an elixir?'
Me? Ha Hu-yeong? Without accomplishing a thing?
Does that even make sense?
The absurdity and futility were beyond words.
Waiting helplessly for death—this was unimaginable to his past self.
Veins bulged on Namgung Hyeok's forehead.
"Damn it, why hasn't it come?!"
He said it'd be quick!
Useless after I'm dead!
"This isn't about waiting anymore."
Namgung Jangcheon's unreliable face flashed in his mind.
With resolve hardening his features, Namgung Hyeok pushed himself upright.
"Shit, rotten luck."
One step revealed his broken leg hadn't healed.
Piercing pain shot deep into his brain.
But was that a big deal?
Three days from death, that's what mattered.
Namgung Hyeok dragged his awkward body off the bed.
Stagger, stagger!
Thud, thud-thud-thud!
Legs splayed, tiny steps to minimize pain, he shuffled to the door.
"Why's the room so damn big!"
Namgung Hyeok grumbled as he neared the door.
Bang!
The door flew open as Geum Cheomsang rushed in.
"Young master! The elixir! The family head sent the elixir!"
Namgung Hyeok's face lit up.
"The elixir?!"
Finally, finally here!
He'd nearly died waiting—literally.
Namgung Hyeok reached out and lurched toward Geum Cheomsang.
Joy surged in his chest, blooming across his face.
Geum Cheomsang startled at the staggering, hopping approach.
"Y-Young master! What are you doing?! Your leg!"
"Who cares! Give me the elixir. Quick, hand it over!"
"Got it, so get back to bed. You'll hurt yourself."
"I was heading back anyway."
Namgung Hyeok staggered around and hopped back.
Thud, thud-thud-thud!
Back at the bed in a flash, he thrust out his hand.
"What elixir is it? Soul Summon Pill? Azure Purity Pill? Heaven-Earth Pill wouldn't be bad either."
All famed elixirs of the Nine Great Sects.
Each a legendary treasure, granting over half a cycle's worth of internal energy.
"Not that."
"Well, those are priceless anyway. Open it quick. I'm dying to see."
"You can't just take this recklessly. You kept demanding it, so I brought it first, but the Medical Hall Head said he'd supervise..."
"What? Supervise who?"
That quack? Why him?
Namgung Hyeok jumped.
"No need for that crap!"
He snatched the wooden box from Geum Cheomsang's hand.
"I'll handle it. You, out."
"It's tricky as it's precious."
"I'll treat it like gold."
"Young master, please wait a moment. Messing this up could be disastrous."
"Already disastrous. Hurry and open it."
At Namgung Hyeok's urging, Geum Cheomsang opened the box.
'At last!'
Anticipation lit Namgung Hyeok's face.
Ten days of waiting, three days from death.
Expectations for this life-saving elixir soared.
Click!
The lid opened, releasing a clear fragrance.
"...Huh?"
Namgung Hyeok froze at the dark pill inside.
"This?"
"Yes. Mokyeong Pill."
"Ah...."
Namgung Hyeok stared blankly at the Mokyeong Pill.
'...What? All that boasting for this?'
The Mokyeong Pill offered up to fifteen years of internal energy if handled perfectly.
He'd hoped the Namgung family would send something better. That hope melted away.
'...Bullshit, when I'm dying—'better' my ass!'
Better than nothing.
The Mokyeong Pill typically yielded ten years' worth.
But he was beyond ordinary.
'I'll squeeze out more than max.'
He'd make up for its shortcomings.
With the finest energy cultivation method, years of mastery—he could do it.
Namgung Hyeok nodded firmly.
'Alright. Let's begin.'
He snatched the Mokyeong Pill without hesitation.
"Y-Young master?"
"Why're you still here?"
"Y-You're really taking it?"
"What else?"
"No! I'll fetch someone to help! Until then..."
Gulp!
Namgung Hyeok swallowed the Mokyeong Pill pointedly, eyeing Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang's eyes bulged as Namgung Hyeok smirked.
"Go fetch then."
"...!"
"Tasty."
"Eeek!"
Geum Cheomsang froze in terror.
Namgung Hyeok ignored him, savoring the pill.
It melted sweetly, sliding down his throat.
He closed his eyes.
Broken leg prevented full lotus, so he just straightened his back.
Whooooom!
Before the Mokyeong Pill's energy dissipated, Namgung Hyeok circulated the Azure Clarity Profound Heart Art.
His body heated as the pill's energy—molten iron hot—began slow circulation.
He gathered it.
'Thin and slow.'
The art drew the energy like thread.
Long and thin, slow to spare fragile meridians.
No spilling blood like last time—this elixir was hard-won.
Past experience let him perfectly gauge his body, adjusting the art.
Slowly, slowly.
Vitality stirred.
The art gained momentum.
'Even thinner.'
It tapped finer, underdeveloped meridians.
Impossible for most, but Namgung Hyeok—beyond mastery, into new realms—did it effortlessly.
The energy circled to his heart.
The Nine Yin Severed Meridians blocked like ice walls.
Impenetrable, yet cracks existed.
He sought not to shatter them, but extend life.
Building energy to pierce came later.
'Sharp.'
One of the nine had a hairline gap.
The grateful sliver keeping this body alive.
Energy slipped through the narrow fissure.
Per his will, it sharpened to an awl.
The awl pierced.
Boom!
Heart lurched; dizziness hit.
Stopping now meant failure.
'Once more.'
The awl struck again.
Thud! Splurt!
The gap widened.
Pill energy rushed in.
It vanished in an instant.
Namgung Hyeok exhaled, checking his body.
A breath drew in external energy.
It whipped through the new channel.
Behind the eight blocked points—something lurked.
'What is this?'
He paused breathing, focusing.
'No way this is...'
Unfelt before, drowned by blockages.
Vast, majestic energy hid there.
'...All internal energy?'
Every past elixir sucked into the Nine Yin Severed Meridians?
Namgung Hyeok's eyes twitched.
"Huuuugh!"
Held breath exploded out.
A glint flashed in his eyes, then faded.
He patted his chest lightly.
The Mokyeong Pill's energy was gone.
Sucked behind the meridians, more precisely.
He smacked his lips.
'Gone fast.'
A shame, but gains were made.
The thread-thin channel had widened—ant-butt wide.
"...Still, bought four months."
Quite the haul.
Better than croaking in three days.
Fifteen years' worth for four months.
'Maintenance costs a fortune.'
The sheer inefficiency drew a hollow laugh.
'Anyway, time to train.'
No plans living off elixirs forever.
Escape this curse sooner.
Live normally, elixir-free.
And this time, ascend and kick those immortals' asses.
'Create a new art.'
New wine in new wineskins.
Tailor one to this body.
Past arts too restrictive.
Immortals might nitpick again.
Needed an art to conquer Nine Yin Severed Meridians—and reach ascension.
Lucky it was the Namgung family.
Pillar of the Five Great Families and Righteous Heaven Alliance—their arts were accessible.
With past insights, knowledge, and current base, he'd craft something superior.
'Make it legendary.'
He patted his chest.
'Back to peak... no, beyond.'
Overcome the meridians, and he'd surpass his past self.
Namgung Hyeok cracked his neck.
Circulation left him refreshed.
"Y-Young master? A-Are you alright?"
Geum Cheomsang called in a dazed voice.
Namgung Hyeok wiggled his toes, then eyed him.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
"...I was going, but you took a long breath, opened your eyes..."
"Huh? That's all the time?"
"Yes. B-But really, are you okay?"
"Perfect. Refreshed."
For the first time in ages, Namgung Hyeok felt good.