Elixir Donation: Never Before Tasted
Thanks to those thunderous scoldings, I managed to protect the elixir amid the chaos caused by Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i. A truly positive outcome.
In exchange, my lifelong civilian cosplay crumbled right in front of Ak Young Lady. A horrifically negative turn of events.
Damn it.
I bit my lip, watching Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i sulkily pull their heads back. I usually called Jo Wi-cheo just "Wi-cheo," but in front of Ak Young Lady, I stuck to the uncomfortable formal speech. Not because I was putting up some emotional wall against her, but because to Ak Young Lady—born in this 14th century and raised with royal education—that was simply the normal way to speak.
Ak Young Lady was gentle and merciful now, but she'd initially been wary of me. Using crude, casual speech with her would only earn more dislike, so I needed to show her my proper side. It was my way of being considerate toward Ak Young Lady and earning points with her...
"Hey, you lot ate elixirs too!"
In the end, the street bureaucrat Han Un emerged, not Crown Prince Han Un. These damn creatures. Deer aren't even in the canine family, are they?
"Gaga."
While I pondered ripping off their antlers—since they'd grow back anyway—Ak Young Lady's low voice pierced my ears.
"I'm disappointed."
Her words made me flinch. After her qi deviation, Ak Young Lady had suggested breaking off our engagement. She figured a martial artist who couldn't use her skills was only half a person, unworthy of being anyone's fiancée. And just as a powerless martial artist was grounds for annulment, a crown prince discarding his dignity was no small offense either.
Ak Wang might even grab the back of his neck and think, "As expected of that Giwang bastard's bloodline." I could see it: Han Un Z Flip, his waist bent like a bow under Ak Wang's wrath.
"You act so stiff with your fiancée, yet so gentle with these children. Must I, a mere girl, feel jealousy toward beasts that aren't even people?"
"Young Lady?"
Her words carried irritation, but not the kind I'd expected. Puzzled, I turned my head slightly and saw Ak Young Lady pouting.
"...You're not disappointed?"
Her unexpected reaction made me cautiously open my mouth.
Ak Young Lady was the eldest granddaughter of Ak Wangga, the world's top late-generation prodigy who lorded over all, and a royal trained in countless disciplines. For such a woman to not be disgusted by her fiancé's gutter talk—instead whining about why she didn't get the same treatment...
"You just said you were disappointed. I could feel you being overly polite with me, but I believed you'd eventually open your heart fully... To think you'd show it to them first, before me..."
Wiping away imaginary tears, Ak Young Lady shot me a glare.
"Say 'Sorry, I-yeon-a' right now, or I'll call Grandfather."
"Sorry, I-yeon-a."
Terror of Han Un Z Flip made my mouth move on reflex. Ak Wang charging in would be a disaster. I wasn't a Hwagyeong master like Grandfather—just a mere first-rate martial artist.
"If you hug me, I'll hold off on calling Father too."
I gently embraced the boldly outstretched arms of Ak Young Lady. It felt strangely odd. I'd thought breaking my civilian cosplay would earn her contempt, but instead, I was getting this playful sulk.
"Gaga."
"Speak, Young Lady."
"It's not Giwangga's Han Un that I love—it's Han Un as he is."
The line sounded familiar yet slightly off, making me chuckle involuntarily.
"So there's no need to force politeness from now on. Please treat this girl comfortably."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Comfortably."
"...Got it."
Ak Young Lady's giggling reached my ears. No—from now on, even in my head, it should be Ak I-yeon.
As I released the hug, I saw Ak I-yeon beaming, while Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i innocently munched grass as if they'd seen nothing. They'd already snuck elixirs from Baek Qi's tomb, and eyeing more was cheeky, but since it brought me closer to Ak I-yeon, I'd let it slide this time.
"Gaga. Speaking of which, what’s in that bottle?"
"Ah."
I handed the gourd bottle I'd momentarily forgotten to Ak I-yeon.
"An elixir from Baek Qi's tomb this time. I grabbed a few thinking of my I-yeon-i."
"I-is that so."
Her face flushed at the jump from "Young Lady" to "our I-yeon-i." Good. It distracted her from questioning such a precious gift. I'd worried her qi deviation would make her refuse, saying it wouldn't help much.
With qi deviation, she needs it even more.
The more elixirs—and the better ones—Ak I-yeon consumed, the better her health would improve. Even if her shattered dantian and meridians couldn't fully revive, she should at least move freely like a normal person.
So she needed the elixir more than me. I had no real obsession with advancing my realm anyway.
I've got plenty of peak masters at my beck and call.
With the Commandant's cooperation, I could command chojeoljeong or peak experts with a snap of my fingers. Why bother becoming one myself? The world's greatest power wasn't physical strength—it was public authority.
Besides, if I broke through to peak, Jwa Do-eosa would work me even harder. In the worst case, she'd say, "You're peak now, so no need for Jo Wi-cheo," and send me solo. Horrifying just to imagine.
Better to stay first-rate forever than face that future.
"...Gaga?"
"I've got mine already, so don't refuse. It's from Shaanxi—if you don't take it, I'll be hurt."
In truth, I had none, but I cut off Ak I-yeon's protest swiftly. Better for a peak master or my ailing fiancée to consume it than someone with no realm ambitions.
Right man for the right job, as they say.
"It's not that..."
But Ak I-yeon carefully shook the gourd, her voice trembling as she continued.
"D-do you... know what elixir this is?"
"No idea. Pojeongsa warned not to open it before he took his dose, so I haven't checked."
Ak I-yeon hurriedly shoved the gourd back at me.
"Then you keep it, Gaga! It's too grand a gift for me!"
With fierce determination she couldn't accept.
I was briefly flustered. Ak I-yeon rarely raised her voice, and to use it on refusing a gift was unexpected.
"Gaga. If I'm right, this elixir is Gongcheongseokyu."
"Gongcheongseokyu?"
"Yes. It's not for me—it's one you should take."
Ak I-yeon nodded with a stiff face. I glanced down at the gourd.
Gongcheongseokyu. Gongcheongseokyu, huh.
"Sounds valuable. Then you should have it even more, I-yeon-i."
"Y-yes?"
I handed back the Gongcheongseokyu I'd been holding. I'd heard the name before. Among all elixirs in the Central Plains, it was a legendary top-tier one.
No wonder shaking the gourd vigorously produced no sound—it must contain just a single drop.
No wonder those two went nuts over it.
Even sensitive spirit beasts like Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i had reacted intensely only to this gourd. If it was Gongcheongseokyu, that made sense.
So I felt relieved. I'd worried it might be some warped elixir trapped in the tomb too long, but it was treasure hoarded by one of the Warring States' greatest generals.
Considering the spirit beasts' frenzy and Pojeongsa's earnest warnings, it was probably genuine Gongcheongseokyu.
"Won't Gongcheongseokyu ease the aftereffects of your qi deviation a lot?"
"E-ease? It's more than that. It might even... restore... my inner energy..."
Stammering, Ak I-yeon suddenly burst into tears.
I softly embraced her, patting her back. Words wouldn't help now— this was better.
Ak Wang, who rushed over at the sound of Ak I-yeon's sobs, flipped his eyes in fury but brightened instantly upon seeing the gourd.
"It's genuine Gongcheongseokyu. And high quality at that."
"Where on earth did you get this?"
"From Baek Qi's tomb artifacts."
"I see. Indeed, they say ancient times had denser natural qi, making Gongcheongseokyu superior. Back then, they didn't upheave nature with walls or canals."
Ak Wang fell silent for a long moment after my words, then patted my shoulder.
"...Thank you."
And he was chased out. Gratitude was gratitude, rehabilitation was rehabilitation. No place for a third wheel during the once-in-a-lifetime rehab with Gongcheongseokyu and a Hwagyeong master.
- Kkiiing...
- Kkiong...
The two munching grass nearby got chased out too. But rather than sulking at being interrupted mid-meal, they seemed worried about Ak I-yeon entering rehab, which tugged at my heart.
"It'll be fine. I-yeon-i's a genius who reached peak's threshold on her own, and Ak Wang is there too."
Stroking their heads as I spoke, the two nodded as if understanding. Smart kids, as expected.
Putting off yanking Kki-ing-i's antlers could wait.
...
Where'd Jo Wi-cheo go?
Come to think of it, hadn't I given him the same kind of bottle? If so, his was probably Gongcheongseokyu too.
He must've eaten it already.
No sign of him even after scanning around—he was likely secluded in some quiet room, merging with his Gongcheongseokyu. I might see chojeoljeong Jo Wi-cheo soon.
A subordinate at chojeoljeong.
Satisfying. Hwagyeong was the martial pinnacle, but a realm chosen by heaven itself—a monster's domain. Thus, chojeoljeong was often seen as the practical ceiling.
Of course, chojeoljeong wasn't for just anyone. Peak was reachable with talent, effort, and grinding—even small local sects produced them occasionally. The ceiling where dragons rose from mud was peak.
But chojeoljeong? Never from the mud. It required talent, effort, superior arts, premium elixirs—and heaven's tacit permission, if not full blessing.
Things'll be easier from now on.
With Jo Wi-cheo at that lofty realm, my path ahead would smooth out. With a chojeoljeong subordinate, it'd be quicker to count what he couldn't do than what he could.