Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Bloodflow Valley (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
With the finals drawing to a close, the long and grueling martial tournament finally came to an end.
The victor was Cheongun.
That was me.
For the first time in the history of the Tang Clan branch competition, a winner had emerged from a one-man sect.
And using a fishing rod, no less—a most unconventional weapon.
Everyone had witnessed the erratic and dangerous nature of exotic weapons with their own eyes, but it was undeniable that I had seized victory through bizarre techniques that defied the orthodox martial arts traditions.
What kind of uproar would erupt across the jianghu if word spread that the proud young elites of the righteous sects and the scholars of martial lore had been utterly crushed by a boy far younger than them?
It would be an embarrassment like no other.
But what could be done?
The matches were over, and the results were set in stone—there was no overturning them.
Cleaning up the aftermath was their problem to handle among themselves. Cheongun's sole concern now was one thing.
"We sincerely congratulate Cheongun, the winner of this Tang Clan branch competition! Along with the honor of victory, we bestow upon you the Heavenly Spirit Pill, which contains the essence of the Tang Clan. And as promised, we shall open our treasury to the champion!"
This was precisely why I had bothered to participate in the tournament.
The Heavenly Spirit Pill.
An artificial spiritual elixir with "pill" at the end of its name.
Spiritual elixirs are crafted by processing and aging natural ingredients with internal energy in precise ratios—a rarity that only high-realm martial artists sensitive to qi can produce.
A single misstep in the process turns it into poison, and even success yields varying effects based on the quality and quantity of internal energy used, making them more precious than gold.
Even in most sects, only elders can manufacture them, and since each has their own unique recipe, elixirs from different sects vary wildly in effects and properties.
Among them, the pinnacle was the Heavenly Spirit Pill from the Tang Clan.
After all, weren't they the progenitors of poison?
Most associate poison with death, but that's not the full truth.
Poison is the ultimate refinement lifeforms produce to survive extreme environments—a crystallization of the essence of survival and evolution throughout history.
Thus, poison is, in reverse, the quintessence of nourishment and vital energy.
Naturally, the elixirs handled by the Tang Clan, masters of poison, were of the highest quality.
This pill was the real reason martial artists vied for victory, more than any prestige.
"Champion Cheongun, will you absorb the Heavenly Spirit Pill now? If you wish, a Tang Clan elder will personally stand guard and assist with channeling qi."
Cheongun hesitated for a moment.
Regrettably, he had no need for a spiritual elixir.
Elixirs forcibly fill deficiencies in internal energy when a martial artist hits a wall.
But Cheongun's constitution allowed him to absorb natural qi into internal energy simply by having a demoness nearby.
No elixir, no matter how legendary, could match that.
Still, who turns down a good thing when it's offered?
Human psychology dictates taking valuables first, even if unneeded.
So Cheongun accepted it.
Why pass up something this pricey?
Even if you can't eat it, it's still premium.
Back at the inn where he'd unpacked, he felt Jeok Hwa-ryeon's intense gaze trailing him slowly inside.
"…"
From the arena to the inn, she'd been staring at the pill vial, swallowing hard repeatedly.
Cheongun casually lifted the vial high above his head.
Her gaze followed it up.
This time, he swung it to the left.
Her eyes swung left in sync.
"Ryeon-ah."
"Yes?"
"Know what this is?"
"...? The Heavenly Spirit Pill, right?"
Exactly.
The crown jewel of the pill world, the Heavenly Spirit Pill.
"Want it?"
"...!"
Jeok Hwa-ryeon glanced up at Cheongun slyly.
Her eyes sparkled like a puppy wagging its tail—an illusion, but vivid.
"Shall I give it?"
"If you do, I'll pledge lifelong loyalty to you, Sect Leader."
"Hmm, but the Heavenly Spirit Pill is awfully expensive. You don't seem that desperate right now..."
"What should I do first? Just say the word. Bark?"
"You'd bark if I said so?"
"Woof! Woof, whine!"
"……"
She actually did it.
Honestly, a bit surprising.
And her dog impression was surprisingly convincing.
Even cute.
"Ryeon-ah."
"Yes."
"You really want this that badly?"
"Why? Not enough? Should I go full dog—on all fours?"
"Oh, that could be fun."
"...Wait, shouldn't the Sect Leader stop me from that?"
"Why? It looks good."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon clicked her tongue.
"So, really doing it?"
"Why so eager? Looks like you want to do it yourself. You've always been into imitating dogs, huh?"
"What kind of nonsense... Sigh, fine. If my sky-high Sect Leader commands it, I'll obey."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon placed her hands on the floor, knelt on her knees, and prostrated herself, looking up at Cheongun with her hair half-covering her face.
Cheongun felt a strange emotion at the sight.
Was this the power of the Darkwood Sect Leader... no, the Heavenly Spirit Pill?
"Good enough?"
Ryeon's eyes sparkled.
Clearly expecting payment for her performance.
Cheongun opened the vial and took out a jade-glowing, bead-shaped pill.
Ryeon's pupils locked onto it precisely.
He dangled it on his finger, moving it this way and that.
Her gaze clung like a magnet, whipping back and forth.
When he traced a circle, her head turned in a full round.
And shortly after.
"Ryeon-ah, catch!"
Cheongun tossed the pill.
At the same moment, Ryeon kicked off powerfully, leaping into the air.
Like pouncing on prey, she stretched her body mid-air and snatched the pill.
—Gulp!
She grinned triumphantly, flashing a smug smile.
At the same time, a blue haze began to rise faintly around her.
A sign that the pill's energy had filled her narrow dantian to the brim.
"Hoo..."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon casually turned and shed her outer robe.
With shoulders and waist exposed, clad only in thin undergarments, she sat cross-legged on the floor.
To fully absorb a spiritual elixir required meditative breathing, during which sweat and impurities would pour from the body—shedding outer clothes was a wise choice.
"Sect Leader, stand guard for me."
With that, Ryeon shut her eyes tight.
Moments of total-focus meditation were when martial artists were most vulnerable.
Disturbing one in that state could reverse their qi flow, leading to qi deviation and death.
Thus, requesting a guard during meditation wasn't mere courtesy—it was a profound symbol of trust.
That she could entrust her life to him... the ultimate expression of faith between martial artists?
Her way of responding to Cheongun's gift, in her own way.
Cheongun spent several days in Sichuan Province.
Partly because absorbing the Heavenly Spirit Pill fully took time, and partly because he scoured the Tang Clan's treasury, gathering materials for the Solitary's production and shipping them to the Darkwood Sect headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Tang Clan was in utter chaos.
They had eyes and had seen the matches—Cheongun absorbing their secret poisons and converting them into internal energy was a shock beyond words.
And it didn't stop there.
Spectators, participants, officials—all had Cheongun's name seared massively into their minds.
This was because he was a boy not even in his thirties, wielding a fishing rod.
Sichuan saw countless travelers coming and going. Naturally, they buzzed about the Tang branch tournament, and Cheongun's name was on everyone's lips.
Among them, Ami Sect Leader Nun Miyueol, Seo Jeong-ah, gave her assessment of Cheongun:
'His mad speech, conduct, and behavior border on that of a wastrel, but his martial talent is peerless under heaven.'
Her words spread and morphed everywhere, soon condensed into:
'Mad bastard. But insanely strong.'
Added to that were rumors of his symbolic fishing rod, him being Sword Sovereign's disciple yet not using a sword, and heading a dark path sect.
From gossipers to those who'd met him, the name circulated endlessly, birthing a moniker:
Mad bastard.
Heaven-sent talent.
Sword Sovereign's disciple, yet no sword.
Thus, Mad Heaven Swordless!
Of course, Cheongun's opinion wasn't consulted.
Monikers are bestowed by others, not chosen.
Starting from Sichuan, rumors of a new prodigy rose, spreading Cheongun's title far and wide.
Cheongun paid it no mind.
Didn't it sound kinda cool?
Mad, heaven-sent talent, no sword?
His master Jin Mu-seong might faint upon hearing it, but Cheongun rather liked it.
Thus, he returned to the Darkwood Sect headquarters and passed the time.
And then.
"Sect Leader."
Jin Cheon-u strode forward.
Unusually, his face was covered in a thick beard. Cheongun tsked at the sight.
"Filthy mutt."
"What?"
"Wandering around looking like that is why your moniker is Black Fiend Sword. How bad is your reputation for it to be 'black fiend'?"
"Damn it! It's Black Fiend Sword, not black man!"
"Same difference."
"Totally different!"
Jin Cheon-u bellowed in frustration, then cleared his throat and continued his report.
"Anyway, Sect Leader. I have news to relay."
"What?"
"A letter delivered personally by the Filth Gate Lord."
Cheongun took the letter and tilted his head.
"Key points only. Summarize briefly."
"The Filth Gate Lord wants to meet you in person."
"And? Why?"
Jin Cheon-u hesitated, then answered.
"Wants to know if you'll join under them."
Cheongun asked at those words.
"The Filth Gate Lord came personally?"
"Yes. It was a woman."
"...A woman? You sure?"
"...? Absolutely."
Hearing the reply, Cheongun pondered briefly, then shot up from his seat, brushing past Jin Cheon-u and heading out the door.
"I'll be back."
"..."