Chapter 23: Consuming the Elixir (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Consuming the Elixir (1)
Upon entering the pavilion where the Lord resided, I found an old man and a middle-aged man engaged in a pleasant conversation.
One was the middle-aged man who had lent me his staff, and the other was an elderly man who bore a striking resemblance to Mok Yi-gun.
Seeing the resemblance, I realized this must be Mok Gal-jin, a man I had only heard of in rumors.
Mok Gal-jin was the former Lord of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.
Though said to be over eighty, he maintained a sturdy physique that belied his age.
He was the man who had built the foundation of the current Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress. Having mastered the Mok family’s secret Heaven-Revering Sword to its ultimate peak, he was regarded as the greatest master in the family's history.
While he might fall slightly short compared to the transcendental masters of the Qingcheng or Emei Sects, no martial artist in the world would dare look down on him.
During his younger days of roaming the lands, he had slain so many masters of the Unorthodox Faction that he earned the honorific title "Demon Subjugating Sword Hero."
Recognizing me at a glance, he let out a laugh.
"Oh! Is this young hero the one they call Young Hero Eo?"
His voice, too, was similar to Mok Yi-gun’s.
I politely performed a cupped-fist salute and spoke.
"Eo Ja-seo, a humble junior of the Murim, offers his greetings."
"I finally get to see your face. I knew you were my granddaughter’s savior, but I’ve been living in seclusion and couldn't greet you sooner. I hope you understand. The Lord will make sure you are well looked after in my stead."
I smiled thinly at Mok Gal-jin’s words.
Since I had already decided to take whatever I could get from Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, I was fully prepared to accept any rewards without hesitation.
"Not at all. How could I have done it expecting a reward? Any martial artist would have done the same, so please do not trouble yourself. I hold the fortress’s kindness deep in my heart."
When I said that, he let out a boisterous laugh.
"Hahaha! I heard that your internal energy is currently sealed because of the White Horse Ten Canes. I cannot help but be impressed by how you maintain such composure. You truly are a rare man of chivalry."
Mok Gal-jin, who had been praising me with kind words, pointed to the middle-aged man standing beside him.
"By the way, it seems you’ve already met this gentleman."
I turned and offered a cupped-fist salute to the middle-aged man.
"We meet again."
As I gave my brief greeting, Mok Gal-jin looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Do you not know who this gentleman is, Young Hero Eo?"
I blinked blankly and asked, "Who might he be?"
Seeing even Mok Gal-jin treat him with such extreme courtesy, I became genuinely curious about this middle-aged man.
"It seems he hasn't noticed at all."
The middle-aged man was still looking at me with those cool, piercing eyes.
"This is the Phoenix King, Yeop Seung. He may look young, but he is the same age as I am. He only appears this way because he possesses such profound internal energy."
Startled by those words, I hurriedly performed another cupped-fist salute, flustered.
"This humble junior greets the Great Senior, the Phoenix King! Please forgive me for not recognizing you."
I was so shocked that my heart practically skipped a beat.
In my agitation, the sphincter I had been unconsciously tensing suddenly relaxed.
Booooong!
Mok Gal-jin burst into a fit of laughter at the sound of my fart.
"Hahaha! It seems Young Hero Eo has quite the sense of humor. To call the Phoenix King’s name with your buttocks!"
It could have been seen as a grave insult, but both Mok Gal-jin and the Phoenix King laughed together.
"I am truly sorry. My deepest apologies."
As I bowed my head repeatedly in shame, the Phoenix King spoke.
"Do not apologize so excessively for something you cannot help. I am not a man who gets angry over unintentional mistakes, so do not let it weigh on you. If anything, I should thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good laugh."
As expected, a master who earned the title of 'King' was cut from a different cloth.
One does not become a master overnight; it requires decades of consistent cultivation. Naturally, their mental discipline reaches a high level as well.
I had seen countless "masters" who had attained power by locking themselves in a room for decades to learn techniques and internal energy, but because they lacked mental discipline, they never became Great Heroes. Instead, they pursued only personal gain and eventually fell into the Demonic Path.
The discipline required to become a true master shapes one's character and personality, which is why warriors from prestigious Orthodox sects cannot act like low-life thugs. It is also why the sons and disciples of such sects become the pillars of the Murim.
From my research into masters thus far, while a true master might be narrow-minded, stubborn, or prideful, they were rarely "small-frys" in terms of their humanity.
His words allowed me to calm down.
"I am overwhelmed by your kindness."
Just having a conversation with the Phoenix King was like a miracle in my life.
For a third-rate hack, meeting a super-peak master is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but meeting and talking to a transcendent master was something one couldn't even dream of. It was about as likely as a stray dog running into a tiger.
The Phoenix King stared at me intently before speaking.
"From what I can see, your physical condition is quite peculiar. I don't have the time to examine you properly right now, but if you ever come to the Alliance, be sure to visit me. I’m not too worried since I hear a child of the Chong family is looking after you, though."
The Phoenix King spoke to me with a benevolent smile.
He was clearly pleased that I had called him my idol earlier.
However, if he actually examined my body, he would discover my true identity, so I resolved never to meet him again.
"Thank you for your concern."
"It’s just that I’m in a very good mood because it feels like a promising junior has appeared after a long time."
It was a relief, actually. If the Phoenix King had decided to investigate my "strange" body right then and there, the golden tower of lies I had built would have crumbled into a pile of sand.
"I apologize to you, but I have something to say to Young Hero Eo. Could you give us a moment?"
Hearing this, Mok Gal-jin looked at me and smiled.
"It seems today is your lucky day, Young Hero Eo."
I looked at the Phoenix King with a face that asked what he meant.
Once Mok Gal-jin stepped away for a moment, the Phoenix King scanned the surroundings and pulled something from his robes.
"It is nothing grand. However, it feels as though you are following a path similar to the one I took in my youth, so I am giving this to you out of a sense of kinship."
I watched closely as the Phoenix King produced a thin booklet and held it out to me.
"It isn't a secret manual, but rather a treatise on the general principles of martial arts. It contains insights you won't find just anywhere. It doesn't hold any profound secrets, per se. However, I managed to recover my lost internal energy through this, so while it might be a secret manual to some, it is useless to others. It is a martial text that will only help someone in a situation like mine—or yours."
If the book that helped the Phoenix King recover his lost energy wasn't a secret manual, then what was?
I felt a deep internal conflict about whether I should just brazenly accept it. Accepting anything and everything was what a "small-fry" would do.
"How could I possibly inherit the Phoenix King’s legacy?"
If I inherited his martial arts, wouldn't I be no different from his disciple?
Internally, I was thinking, 'This is a great deal,' but I felt the need to decline at least once.
"As expected. I heard you have little greed for wealth, and it seems you have just as little greed for martial arts. This cannot exactly be called 'my' martial art. So, please, accept it without burden."
The Phoenix King seemed quite impressed by that single statement.
After all, who could calmly refuse a martial text from the Phoenix King? Only a "small-fry" like me could pull that off.
"It’s not a guarantee that you will gain enlightenment just by reading it. I am simply giving it to you because I feel pity seeing you walk the same path I did."
"What if... what if I lose it?"
"Do not worry about that. In truth, it wouldn't matter if you lost it. It is simply an interpretation of the basics of martial arts from a different perspective, and I merely gained enlightenment from it. I cannot give that enlightenment to you. Your situation will be different from mine, after all. You must find your own realization through it."
"This junior will keep your kindness deep within his heart."
When I said that, the Phoenix King grinned.
Then, without another word, he called Mok Gal-jin back.
It was the first time in my life I had encountered someone with the true aura of a Great Man like the Phoenix King. Seeing someone genuinely worry for me made my heart feel warm for a moment, and tears welled in my eyes.
I couldn't even remember the last time I had felt such an emotion.
After exchanging a few words with Mok Gal-jin, the Phoenix King vanished literally like the wind.
"The Phoenix King had urgent business, so he had to leave in a hurry. Do not feel too disappointed," Mok Gal-jin said as I stared at the spot where the Phoenix King had disappeared with a lingering gaze.
"I also have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave. I believe the Lord has a wonderful gift for you, Young Hero Eo. You should look forward to it."
I secretly hoped that gift would be a chest full of money.
"I’m leaving because of an urgent matter as well. But we shall see each other again soon. I am somewhat connected to that gift, you see."
Mok Gal-jin also hurried away as if he were pressed for time.
It was only then, seeing the Phoenix King appear and even the secluded Mok Gal-jin show his face, that I instinctively realized something big had happened.
I met with the Lord, anticipating the promised gift.
However, the gift betrayed my expectations.
"Look at this. Do you know what this is?"
Mok Yi-gun held out a small chest with a triumphant look on his face.
'I hope there's gold in there.'
Whether he saw the yearning in my eyes or not, Mok Yi-gun smirked and slowly opened the chest.
A thick, potent fragrance wafted out.
"Look. It is what I promised during the incident with the Seven Heroes. It is the Solar Golden Pill of the Solar Palace—a precious elixir that can eliminate any trace of yin energy and is said to be no less effective than the rarest of spiritual medicines."
The Solar Palace, along with the Ice Palace, was known as one of the Two Palaces of the Murim, a place of mystery to all martial artists.
The greatest elixir of the Solar Palace was the Solar Divine Pill, which was counted among the Five Great Elixirs of the Murim, alongside the Shaolin Sect’s Great Enlightenment Pill, the Beggar Sect’s Drunken Enlightenment Pill, the Moyong Clan’s Taiyi Divine Pill, and the Mount Hua Sect’s Violet Mist Pill.
Even if its effects were lesser than the Solar Divine Pill, an elixir like the Solar Golden Pill was not something that could be easily bought with money.
Seeing that they had obtained such a thing in such a short time, it was highly likely that Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress was indeed the martial arm of the "Ten Thousand Coins Fortress," as rumors suggested.
That was why I felt hesitant.
I could tell that this wasn't just medicine; it was a shackle intended to bind me completely to Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.
Even so, I hadn't expected them to go this far for me.
I was grateful, but a creeping fear began to set in.
Looking at the pill, all sorts of complicated thoughts raced through my mind.
If they treated me this well only to find out I was actually a "small-fry," I might be disposed of one night without anyone ever knowing.
Right now, my name was known throughout Sichuan, and the reputation of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress was rising along with it, but there was no telling when or how my true colors would be revealed.
A certain lesson suddenly came to mind, waking me up.
'A warrior who cannot leave when it is time to leave shall leave only in death.'
It was a martial proverb passed down among those who lived by the blade.
I worried that I might be missing my window to depart.
'To hell with it! They say even a ghost who died well-fed looks better. Let's just enjoy this for now. I'll worry about problems when they actually happen. Since when did I start worrying about tomorrow today?'
Since my life was one where tomorrow was never guaranteed, I had always lived by postponing my worries. In a life where I had to eat as much as I could today, worrying was a luxury I couldn't afford.
"If you consume this Solar Golden Pill, the yin energy from the White Horse Ten Canes will be cured in no time."
Looking at the glint in Mok Yi-gun’s eyes, I felt something was off.
"However, once you recover your martial arts after taking this, I have one request."
I knew it! There was no way he’d give me something this precious for free.
Fine, just tell me what the request is.
If I take this and sell it, I could probably make enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life, so it’s not a bad deal.
With that thought, I put on a smile.
"I do not know what your request is, Lord, but how could I possibly refuse? You have shown such concern for someone as insignificant as me; there is nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. I was a bit uncomfortable, worrying that I might be disturbing your peace of mind with a mere elixir, but now I can shed some of that burden."
Mok Yi-gun seemed to think the matter was settled now that I had given my consent.
He relaxed his posture, glanced at me, and spoke.
"Recently, a Demon Subjugation Order from the Murim Alliance arrived for the sects of Sichuan."
A Demon Subjugation Order from the Murim Alliance?
This... this man, what does he take me for?
A Demon Subjugation Order was a type of mobilization command from the Murim Alliance. Since it took time for the Alliance to dispatch its own warriors to eliminate public enemies or demonic masters, they would urge the local sects in the affected region to send out their own warriors instead.
As my face hardened, Mok Yi-gun cleared his throat a couple of times to hide his embarrassment.
"As you know, our fortress is currently in the middle of a reorganization, so we aren't in a position to dispatch a large-scale combat unit. The existing factions in Sichuan already view us as an eyesore and are looking for any weakness, so we cannot afford to leave our elite forces vacant for even a moment. Sigh."
The old snake was finally showing his true colors.
I’d suspected this since he told me to take the Seven Heroes as my subordinates a few days ago. Now I see—he created a squad for me because he was afraid no one would volunteer once the Demon Subjugation Group was formed.
He knew that if I were part of the group, my subordinates would naturally follow.
And to prepare for any emergencies, he was planning to keep his own elites and send a group composed of newly hired warriors instead.
When I didn't respond, Mok Yi-gun slapped his palm against the floor.
He spoke in a tone as if he were doing me a great favor.
"Let's do this. If you are dispatched as part of the Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress Demon Subjugation Group, I will pay all the members fifty silver taels as soon as they return."
Fifty silver taels?
As my eyes widened, Mok Yi-gun seized the moment.
"And for the leader of the group, it will be ten silver taels."
As I looked down, Mok Yi-gun’s voice grew smaller.
He seemed to think I was disappointed because the amount was too small.
In truth, I had lowered my head to hide the fact that my jaw had dropped at the mention of ten silver taels.
Three silver taels was enough for a family to eat well for an entire month.
That meant thirty silver taels was enough to feed a family for a year, so ronin and warriors would naturally volunteer just for the money.
And the leader gets ten silver taels?
Since ten silver taels was worth one gold tael, it was more money than I had earned in my entire life.
This is why the world is so damn unfair.
When I was a "small-fry," it was so hard to earn even a single copper coin, but now that I was acting like a master, opportunities to earn gold came so easily.