Donation: Spirit Elixirs - Never Consumed
Ak I-yeon's rehabilitation treatment and Jo Wi-cheo's realm advancement project didn't wrap up quickly. Realms don't shoot up just from popping a spirit elixir, after all—it's only natural. Besides, spirit elixirs don't boost your inner energy and realm like some instant level-up from simply swallowing them. You have to fully absorb the energy infused within to see the effects. If they worked right away, the Emperor would've hit Hwagyeong first thing. As if any martial artist would dare hog those precious treasures instead of offering them to His Majesty.
"Seeing it take so long means it's going well."
Anyway, after getting chased out of Ak I-yeon's room, I was wandering around Akwangjeo when my prospective father-in-law grabbed me for a night of heavy drinking. And despite being a Chojeoljeong master, he was flushed red and chuckling nonstop. He'd downed an insane amount of alcohol—enough that even his realm couldn't fully suppress it.
"A truly fortunate turn of events."
I poured more into his empty cup and chimed in. Normally, if something drags on too long, it's a sign things are going wrong—a dreadful red flag you can't spin positively. But absorbing a spirit elixir, and using that energy to purge the aftereffects of qi deviation? That's a different story. Rebuilding a shattered dantian and qi meridians naturally takes time, and the fact that Ak Wang stayed quiet during it all meant the reconstruction was progressing successfully. That's why both he and I could drink so cheerfully. Just a bit more waiting, and the martial artist Ak I-yeon would be reborn.
"Son-in-law."
"Yes, speak."
"Yeon-i... she's my treasure. Not just because of her martial talent—I raised my first child, won with such difficulty, with utmost care."
He downed the drink I'd poured in one gulp, then coughed before continuing. It was strange. He was clearly smiling, yet it felt like crying; crying, yet smiling.
"Because she was so precious, I rejoiced every time she earned the world's praise and envy. I was too busy clapping whenever her realm advanced."
"It's a joyous thing for the descendant of Ak Chungmuwang to show such martial promise."
"Yes. A joyous thing. But at some point, I started seeing Yeon-i not as my daughter, but as a martial artist."
Before long, my father-in-law started chugging straight from the bottle. No, he's already drunk—keep that up and you'll pass out. Daughter revives, but father collapses?
"I should've told her to do what she wanted, not to become a great warrior. To take it slow, not to conquer walls."
But I couldn't stop him. He was venting the resentment bottled up in his heart, borrowing the power of alcohol.
"This incompetent father only came to his senses after his daughter fell."
"That was no one's fault—just a natural disaster. Please don't blame yourself too much—"
"If the daughter's failing isn't the father's responsibility, whose is it?"
His firm reply shut me up.
"After that day, my world ground to a halt. If I could go back, I'd have her hold a brush or flowers—anything but a sword."
Taking the sword from Ak Wangga's daughter. Words like that don't come lightly without deep resolve and lingering regret, so I just nodded silently.
"Of course, regrets change nothing now. I lived thinking it fortunate she kept her sanity, thanks to her father's grace..."
After a pause, my father-in-law stood and bowed deeply to me.
"Fa, Father-in-law! Please don't!"
The unexpected act had me scrambling to grab his shoulders and lift him. Impossible. A father-in-law bowing to his son-in-law, elder to youth, crown prince to mere grandson? Even if I'd brought the Public Appraisal Jade Oil, he had no reason to bow to me.
But even drunk, a Chojeoljeong is a Chojeoljeong. No mere first-rate could budge him.
"I'm doing this not as Ak Wangga's Ak Mun, but as a father with a daughter."
Faced with his resolute prostration, I eventually bowed in return. Honestly, mutual bowing still crossed lines given our status gap, but it beat receiving it alone.
"Truly... thank you. You've bestowed an immeasurable grace on your son-in-law, one I can never repay..."
"Just as I-yeon is precious to you, Father-in-law, she's my one-and-only fiancée. Family cherishing family is only natural."
At that, he let out a laugh laced with sobs. What seemed his final tears echoed long into the night.
I opened my eyes to the sun high in the sky. Even waking late, my head throbbed relentlessly. Drinking enough to intoxicate a Chojeoljeong master? If I'd come out unscathed, that would've been weird.
I've drunk a month's worth in this one go.
No booze for me anytime soon—not even the smell.
- Kki-iing!
As hangover waves crashed over me, making me groan, Kki-ing-i poked his head through the window. What? Had I left it open while sleeping? No wonder it felt chilly.
"Oh, I forgot to feed you."
Staring blankly at him, I suddenly remembered skipping breakfast and bolted up. Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i eat like clockwork—morning, noon, evening, just like people. Miss the first meal of the day, and they'd sulk all day, ramming trees with their antlers or ignoring me outright. Food's non-negotiable.
"I've already fed him, my lord."
- Kki-oong!
But as I swung out of bed, Jo Wi-cheo and Kki-ong-i appeared behind Kki-ing-i.
"All good?"
I cautiously asked, noting his palpably different aura at a glance. A secluded martial artist emerging unscathed meant success.
"Thanks to your grace, my lord, I broke through the wall."
I couldn't help but grin. Peak realm Jo Wi-cheo breaking through meant he'd finally reached Chojeoljeong.
He was at a level where it could've happened anytime.
Jo Wi-cheo had been among the upper echelons of peak even before. A quasi-Chojeoljeong, needing just a spark to ignite. No wonder he dominated fellow peak masters from Namgungsega. With the Public Appraisal Jade Oil as that spark, breakthrough came swiftly.
Now I could brag anywhere that my subordinate was Chojeoljeong.
"Congratulations. You've become a warrior blessed by heaven's permission."
If Hwagyeong is chosen by heaven, Chojeoljeong is permitted by it—a proverb among martial artists. At my words, Jo Wi-cheo cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
"Without you, my lord, how could I ascend to such a profound realm? This is all your grace—I shall engrave it in my heart forever."
"Breaking through in a day is your own merit. If you're grateful, work harder."
Jo Wi-cheo peeked up slyly.
"Two days."
"Pardon?"
"It took me two days. They said you slept the whole day yesterday, my lord."
A whole day erased by hangover—I was speechless.
"...And I-yeon?"
My sluggish brain kicked into gear. If Jo Wi-cheo took two days, what about Ak I-yeon? Still in rehab?
"Her..."
He started to speak, then clamped his mouth and stroked his chin—like debating if he should say.
"Best see for yourself."
He deferred, but his calm expression suggested she was fine. Good enough. Safe is all that matters.
I silently clenched and unclenched my fist, testing my body. I caressed my dantian, feeling the inner energy.
Inner energy.
Emotion surged, and I bit my lip. Inner energy—true inner energy. After qi deviation, it had leaked endlessly from my dantian. Now, it was pooling there again.
"Yeon-i."
"G-Grandfather."
I barely turned at his gentle voice.
"Congratulations."
Short words, heavier than any others—tears flooded out.
"You rascal. Why cry on such a joyous day?"
As Grandfather said, today was joyous. The day I, dead as a warrior, was reborn. Few survive qi deviation sane; fewer rebound as martial artists. I'd beaten those brutal odds, reclaiming my inner energy. A greedy warrior granted another chance.
"B-But... buuut..."
I couldn't hold back the tears. Emotions buried deep erupted at once.
"I thought... I'd never hold a sword again..."
Forever bedridden in a tiny world. I couldn't voice it fully, just wiped my eyes. That terror was now a past nightmare.
Grandfather embraced me softly. Two sleepless days rebuilding my dantian and meridians, yet no fatigue—just a smile.
"Yeon-i."
"Yes..."
"Your pain doesn't vanish, but the years you can smile ahead grow longer. Remember that."
"Yes. I will."
"Good."
His rough, warm hand patted my back.
"I-yeoniiii!"
Soon, Father's voice echoed from afar.
"Interrupting grandfather-granddaughter time. He takes after his grandfather—zero tact."
Grumbling unhappily, but I knew Grandfather truly thanked Father too.
"Oh, Yeon-i."
"Yes?"
"A bit regrettable, but your realm is..."
"I know. First-rate entry level, right?"
A drop from pre-deviation, inches from peak. But no matter. Better than a lifetime as a mortal. I could bear the setback—a realm to rebuild, and endless years ahead to smile.
"I-yeoniiii!"
- Kki-iiing!
- Kki-oooong!
I giggled at the approaching clamor. Father's already making me laugh.