Chapter 77
Chapter 77
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Songgye Mountain in Eoyang, Hunan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Late at night. Songgye Mountain, home to the Songgye Sect.
The moment I arrived, everyone was already gathered in one spot, waiting for me.
Songgye Sect Leader Song Jongdae and six disciples of the Songgye Sect.
Blue Tiger Sect Leader Ma Wonpyeong and eight disciples of the Blue Tiger Sect.
All sixteen pairs of eyes turned toward me at my appearance.
A variety of expressions. A colorful mix of emotions emanating from them.
If I had to sum up those emotions, they boiled down to two main ones.
One was joy. The other was bewilderment.
"Blue Tiger Sect Leader. Pay your respects. This is the Ink Sword Grove Lord who saved you all."
I was about to speak first, but Song Jongdae beat me to it.
At his words, Ma Wonpyeong and his group straightened up and immediately offered me a courteous bow.
"We have received a grace as vast as the sea! I, Ma Wonpyeong, will engrave this favor from the Grove Lord into my very bones and never forget it for the rest of my life!"
"It's too early for thanks. You've got plenty more to carve into those bones, so hold off for now."
Ma Wonpyeong's eyes went wide at my response.
Of course he hadn't expected that. It wasn't your typical reply.
"You're all probably wondering why I gathered you here. Song Jongdae has some idea since I gave him a heads-up, but the rest of you must be thinking, 'What the hell is going on?' So let me explain first. Sit down, everyone. Make yourselves comfortable."
They still looked puzzled, but they sat as I instructed.
Though comfortable? Not a single one. They all sat ramrod straight, staring intently at me.
Good posture. A bit intimidating, though.
"As you might have guessed, I brought you all here because of the Crimson Thief Sect. After the Righteous-Demonic-Evil Great War, they suddenly grew their power dramatically. I've been suspicious about that. I want to uncover why."
I hadn't even mentioned this to Song Jongdae, so strong curiosity lit up everyone's faces as they listened.
"The Crimson Thief Sect. Yeah. Looking at those bastards, it wouldn't be strange if someone marched right up and lopped off Sect Leader Chae Yeomdal's head this instant. But even though we could, we don't. Because it would be pointless. It'd go against the greater good, too. Besides, revenge is your right. I can't just take that from you."
They looked at me with a hint of disbelief as I spoke of chopping off Chae Yeomdal's head like I was pulling something trivial from my pocket.
The only one without doubts was Song Jongdae. He'd seen my skills firsthand.
"I'd like you all to keep an eye on Chae Yeomdal and dig up his secrets. And after that, get your revenge however you want. That's why I helped you. Our interests align perfectly, you could say."
"Grove Lord, may I say something?"
Ma Wonpyeong spoke up, and I nodded.
"We're endlessly grateful for your rescue—we could thank you a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough. But I'm worried about what use I can be to you."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I've got everything prepared for it. Perfect timing, actually. Let's get to work first, then talk details. Night's long, but we can't stay like this forever. Blue Tiger Sect Leader? Come here."
Ma Wonpyeong grunted as he stood and approached me.
His shackles were gone, but his dantian was shattered, and years of grueling labor and abuse had left his body in ruins.
Just a weary middle-aged man now. No longer a martial artist.
"Sit there in the lotus position. Face away from me, back toward me. That's right. Good. Now! Everyone, watch closely. This is what's in store for all of you."
Words were a waste of time. Nothing beat showing them directly.
I pulled a small wooden box from my luggage.
Elixirs.
Ranked as 2nd-tier compared to 1.5-tier, but these were still priceless treasures on the open market.
I took out two of them.
Golden Essence Divine Pill and Heavenly Spirit Divine Pill.
As I opened the box, a refreshing aura and pure energy burst forth, and everyone's eyes bulged in astonishment.
Treasures any martial artist would kill for.
And not just those two—there was a whole pile stacked inside. Their reaction was only natural.
I popped the Golden Essence Divine Pill and Heavenly Spirit Divine Pill into my mouth.
Two streams of energy slid smoothly down my throat.
When I casually pulled out elixirs and ate them right then and there, their shock reached its peak.
Can you blame them? It wasn't like I was joking around.
For those secretly hoping I'd hand them out, it must've been a huge letdown.
Fortunately, no one showed that expression. Would've disappointed me if they had.
Anyway, I blended the spreading energies of the Golden Essence Divine Pill and Heavenly Spirit Divine Pill inside me.
The reason major sects' elixirs like the Shaolin Great Return Pill are so prized is their efficacy.
One pill grants massive internal energy gains—a true 'divine medicine.'
But it depends on how you use it. Absorb only a fraction of a Great Return Pill, and it's worse than nothing.
Even 2nd-tier elixirs don't fall short in value.
Of course, no amount of slightly lower-grade pills can match a Great Return Pill's potency.
Quantity can't beat quality.
Who would bother making Great Return Pills if Shaolin thought churning out dozens of lesser ones was better?
But through trial and error with all sorts of elixirs piled up like convenience store candy, I'd discovered how to create synergies between them.
Something only possible because I had that many.
If I'd told them to buy and test with their own money, they'd have refused flat-out.
The blending elixir energies complemented each other's weaknesses.
I mixed them perfectly into one unified energy, wrapped it in true qi.
"Alright. Don't open your mouth. I'm going to remake your dantian for you."
Savoring everyone's stunned gazes, I pressed my palm to Ma Wonpyeong's back and transferred the elixir energy.
I was the world's greatest dantian restorer.
Or rather than greatest, the only one? Uncharted territory?
No one else did this, after all.
After transferring the energy and recreating the dantian, I threw in a bonus: clearing all the blockages from his meridians.
If they could leave a five-star review, it'd be mandatory.
Service like this? One of a kind.
With his new dantian formed, Ma Wonpyeong instinctively circulated the energy through the Lesser Heavenly Circuit.
Like a long-dried riverbed suddenly flowing again.
And that flow filled up fast.
A veteran like Ma Wonpyeong didn't need the slow pace I'd used for Seolha or Yeonhwa.
Even if it gushed like a torrent right now, he could handle it all.
He'd prepared for this.
I pulled my hand away from his back, and the Blue Tiger disciples' gazes had shifted to ones of respect and awe.
I got it. Totally understandable.
To a martial artist, this was like bringing the dead back to life.
And they were in the same boat. So of course they looked at me that way.
"Alright, next up? Let's see. You first."
I pointed at one Blue Tiger disciple, who scrambled over and sat in lotus position beside Ma Wonpyeong.
His face beamed with overflowing joy. The others' faces shone with anticipation and hope.
Regenerating the dantians of all eight Blue Tiger members didn't take long.
New dantians restored. Internal energy flowing through their bodies again.
Ma Wonpyeong and his disciples, still midway through their Lesser Heavenly Circuits, sat in a row. The Songgye disciples watched with proud, satisfied expressions, happy for them.
So pure. I like people like this. Rare to see such genuine joy.
"Next, Songgye Sect Leader. Time to boost your internal energy some more."
"Eh? Haven't you already given me a great enlightenment, Grove Lord?"
"The more, the better. Enlightenment or not, more internal energy is always good. Sit."
"Haha... I feel like this is too much, but..."
"Take it when it's offered. I can't stand seeing you lot lose out to scum like the Crimson Thief Sect."
In the end, Song Jongdae sat in lotus position too, and I passed him the elixir cocktail mix.
Definite results. Peak performance from a 67-year veteran.
"You lot next. Everyone, sit."
At my words, the remaining Songgye disciples hurriedly took their seats.
That's right. Seize the opportunity when it comes. Grasping it is skill in itself.
By the time I'd finished with the Songgye disciples too, sixteen men sat in lotus position in this small room.
What a sight. Thrilling scene.
The moment the Crimson Thief Sect's fate was sealed. They had no chance against these guys. Never.
They cultivated through the night until dawn broke, only opening their eyes and rising one by one around cockcrow.
First to open his eyes was, predictably, Ma Wonpyeong.
New dantian restored. Internal energy reclaimed. Vitality overflowing. Sharpness gleaming in his eyes.
"You were right, Grove Lord. This is far beyond something to merely engrave in one's bones. I will follow you for life. Even if you told me to carry brushwood into a fire, I wouldn't hesitate!"
"What are you saying? Why would I ask that? Don't. You need to live long to help me."
I chuckled as I replied, and Ma Wonpyeong gazed at me with eyes brimming with emotion.
Ah. That look from a middle-aged guy is a little much. Seriously.
"You've got more to learn from me. You need to get close to the Crimson Thief Sect Leader, watch everything he does, eavesdrop on every conversation. That means you have to master hiding your presence completely. Right?"
"I will grind my bones to dust learning it. Teach me."
"No. Don't grind your bones. Live long, I said. Anyway, watch. I'll demonstrate."
With that, I taught Ma Wonpyeong a few techniques.
How to completely conceal one's presence. How to fully retract one's energy. How to spread energy thin and wide to sense surroundings.
Having a sect leader do this was pretty unreasonable.
But given the circumstances, he learned eagerly.
Amusingly, losing his internal energy entirely had helped Ma Wonpyeong.
It was an experience no ordinary martial artist could have.
Far beyond something like scattered qi poison.
In my view, once he got more comfortable, he'd be stealthier than those Shadowless Corps guys from Mount Tai last time.
His disciples probably would be too.
Better results than expected. More helpful than planned. Lucky break.