Chapter 99
Chapter 99
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The Crimson Tower Lord's Visit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Chae-hwa, who had come to the funeral, went to the mourning hall, lit incense, bowed, and prayed for the soul of the deceased.
Shin Yu-hyun greeted her as she emerged from the mourning hall once more.
"Welcome. I didn't expect the Lord of the Crimson Tower to visit. Thank you for coming."
"It's only natural for one of the Four Great Families. On behalf of the Crimson Tower, I offer my condolences."
Lee Chae-hwa bowed her head to Shin Yu-hyun. But she hadn't come to attend Shin Cheol-jin's funeral.
"This way, please."
Shin Yu-hyun led Lee Chae-hwa to a relatively quiet spot and opened his mouth with a small smile.
"It looks like you've made some progress?"
The mana circle formed in her heart felt a bit sturdier than before.
"Yes, a little, but it was effective."
Previously, Shin Yu-hyun had met Lee Chae-hwa at an auction hosted by the Namdu Group and discussed magic with her.
One of the topics they covered was what would happen if the mana in the mana circle created in the heart was circulated through the body's meridians.
To do that required precise mana control techniques.
They concluded that it would be difficult without a talent or proficiency for mana control.
But since Lee Chae-hwa was skilled in mana control, she experimented with it tentatively and saw decent results.
It was slightly more efficient than traditional mages' mana cultivation methods.
"That's great. Keep researching it. You might develop a new, more efficient mana cultivation method that way."
"How on earth did you come up with something like this?"
"I just have a lot of interest in magic, so I thought about various things, and it came to mind. Since it's effective, my theory must have been right."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled as he answered Lee Chae-hwa, who asked with a curious expression.
The mana cultivation method for mages that Shin Yu-hyun described would emerge three years from now.
It was the cultivation technique researched and developed by Maria, the genius renowned in Europe.
"That's why I have something important to discuss with you, Yu-hyun."
"It's about your constitution, right?"
"You knew already."
"Yes."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
Lee Chae-hwa didn't ask how Shin Yu-hyun knew about her issue.
More importantly, she needed to solve her constitution problem.
"I wanted to consult you about my problem, but it looks like it'll have to wait until next time."
Lee Chae-hwa looked regretful.
The timing wasn't right now.
With trouble befalling the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan and a direct lineage member having passed away.
Moreover, the funeral hadn't ended yet, so she planned to just pay her respects today and schedule a future meeting.
"Do you have time today?"
"Today? Yes, I don't have anything particular."
"Then wait until evening. After the burial, I'll have time."
Shin Cheol-jin's funeral would end today.
It was the final day of the three-day funeral rites.
"Got it."
Lee Chae-hwa nodded.
For her, the sooner the better.
Her unique constitution was steadily corroding her mind and body.
That afternoon.
Shin Yu-hyun met Lee Chae-hwa again in the Black Tortoise Hall's office.
"How's your physical condition lately?"
"Not good."
Lee Chae-hwa gave a wry smile.
After hearing the mana cultivation method from Shin Yu-hyun last time and experimenting with it, she had seen some effect. Her mana increased a bit, and her body improved slightly.
But that was it.
It wasn't a fundamental treatment, so her condition was gradually worsening.
That's why she had come to see Shin Yu-hyun.
Clutching at straws.
"It's the Tower Lord's constitution that's the issue. The rare Pure Yin Severed Meridians for a mage."
"You knew about it."
"I can tell from the symptoms."
Shin Yu-hyun spoke nonchalantly. His knowledge of Pure Yin Severed Meridians came from the European witch Maria in his previous life.
But at this point in time, it wasn't well-known.
It was just regarded as an incurable disease of unknown cause.
In the first place, Pure Yin Severed Meridians was an incurable disease that had only appeared in a tiny number of people since superhumans emerged.
Superhumans had only existed in this world for a mere 100 years.
So information on Pure Yin Severed Meridians was scarce.
Yet he claims he can tell from the symptoms?
"The hallmark of Pure Yin Severed Meridians is that yin energy blocks the meridians throughout the body, preventing mana circulation. That's why those with this constitution have pale skin and a bluish complexion. Their hands and feet are also cold."
Indeed, Lee Chae-hwa's skin was ghostly pale, and her complexion was sallow. She covered it with makeup.
"Normally, you would have collapsed long ago. But you've held on this long thanks to cultivating fire-attribute magic."
Whether swordsman or mage, even superhumans die if their meridians are blocked.
Had Lee Chae-hwa not learned fire-attribute magic, she would have died ages ago.
Blocked meridians mean no blood circulation, and the intense yin energy would have damaged her internal organs too.
"Yes, that's right. You know it well."
It was something Lee Chae-hwa herself had realized.
Her condition improved after learning fire-attribute magic.
But even that had reached its limit.
"I wish I could improve my condition a bit more."
Lee Chae-hwa sighed.
Truthfully, she didn't have high expectations for Shin Yu-hyun.
If he could tell her a way to improve her condition even a little, she'd be grateful.
But then.
"There's a way to cure the Pure Yin Severed Meridians."
"Pardon?"
Lee Chae-hwa looked shocked as she repeated his words.
A cure for Pure Yin Severed Meridians?
What was this now?
"The problem with Pure Yin Severed Meridians is the yin energy. So just eliminate the yin energy."
"I know that. That's why I learned fire-attribute magic."
"Have you tried spiritual medicines or beast cores?"
"Of course."
Lee Chae-hwa nodded.
Mages consume spiritual medicines and beast cores to enhance mana and strengthen their heart's circles.
They're just hard to obtain and expensive.
As the Lord of the Crimson Tower, Lee Chae-hwa had consumed quite a few.
But the effects were minimal.
"To cure Pure Yin Severed Meridians, consume a spiritual medicine. Ideally, a fire-attribute one condensed with yang energy."
"I've already tried fire-attribute spiritual medicines."
Lee Chae-hwa shook her head with a disappointed expression at Shin Yu-hyun's words.
Fire-attribute spiritual medicines are extremely hard to acquire.
Even so, she had managed to obtain and consume some.
But there was no significant effect.
The symptoms improved slightly at best, only to worsen again over time.
"They weren't high-grade enough, were they?"
"Yes, naturally. Acquiring spiritual medicines is hard to begin with, and ones with attributes are even rarer."
That was true.
The fire-attribute spiritual medicines Lee Chae-hwa had consumed were at best Magic grade.
Even with money, fire-attribute ones were elusive.
"That's the problem. No matter how fire-attribute it is, if the grade is low, it can't provide a fundamental cure."
"Ha, but where would I even get something like that? They're hard to find and incredibly expensive..."
Indeed, high-grade fire-attribute spiritual medicines were rare and priced exorbitantly.
No matter that she was the Lord of the Crimson Tower, home to fire mages, it was a burden.
A magic tower was like a guild organization, and the Crimson Tower she had built was smaller than the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's Four Directions Guardian Sword Halls.
All the fire mages under Crimson Tower totaled around 30—a mid-to-small scale.
The other magic towers were similar.
There simply weren't that many mages in Korea to begin with.
"This should be sufficient, right?"
Shin Yu-hyun placed a small jewelry box on the office desk.
He opened the lid to reveal its contents.
"I-Is that...?"
Lee Chae-hwa's eyes widened in shock. Inside the small box was a red gem.
One emanating hot mana energy.
"Red Essence. An Exceptional Rare-grade fire-attribute spiritual medicine."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled as he spoke.
"H-How did you get something like this...?"
Lee Chae-hwa stared alternately at the Red Essence and Shin Yu-hyun in disbelief.
"I obtained it from the magic beast that attacked the clan last time. I got lucky."
He had planned to acquire a yang-rich spiritual medicine for later negotiations with her.
But he hadn't expected to get Red Essence from the 5-star boss, Red General Ant, that raided the clan.
"This should cure the Tower Lord's Pure Yin Severed Meridians."
Shin Yu-hyun was confident.
That Red Essence could cure Pure Yin Severed Meridians.
Because in the past, the European witch Maria had successfully treated it with a fire-attribute spiritual medicine of equivalent Exceptional Rare grade.
And not just that.
'I didn't expect Shuv to know about it too.'
Surprisingly, Shuv also knew the cure for Pure Yin Severed Meridians.
Having lived for ages, he apparently possessed vast knowledge, experience, and information.
"Shall we negotiate now?"
Click.
Shin Yu-hyun closed the jewelry box with a smile.
She was a 6-star fire mage.
Weakened now by her constitution, but in truth, she was a powerhouse who could use wide-area explosive magic, just shy of his uncle Shin Sung-hyun.
And.
'She wants the Red Essence badly.'
Indeed, Lee Chae-hwa's eyes were gleaming.
If she could obtain the Red Essence, there was hope for curing her Pure Yin Severed Meridians.
"What do you want?"
Lee Chae-hwa asked directly. She was ready to grant anything within her power.
"I want you."
"M-Me?"
Lee Chae-hwa flushed and panicked momentarily. She hadn't expected Shin Yu-hyun to be so direct about wanting her.
'W-What do I do?'
As Lee Chae-hwa pondered with a reddened face, Shin Yu-hyun pressed on.
"I want to form a personal contract with you, Tower Lord. Ideally, a partnership with the Crimson Tower as well."
"Pardon?"
Lee Chae-hwa realized in that instant.
What Shin Yu-hyun wanted was the Crimson Tower mage, Lee Chae-hwa.
"I-I see."
Lee Chae-hwa responded with a flustered expression.
Shin Yu-hyun didn't miss the opening and continued.
"How about an exclusive partner contract with us?"
"An exclusive partner contract?"
"Yes. I'd like you to dispatch mages from the Crimson Tower to the Black Tortoise Hall. Of course, it would be great if you came to the Black Tortoise Hall too."
Shin Yu-hyun planned to use the Red Essence to secure a contract with the Crimson Tower.
With their cooperation, his standing in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan would grow.
'Not just Crimson Tower—I need mages of other attributes, archers, and healers too.'
The Black Tortoise Sword Hall currently had only swordsmen.
Dungeon raids were mainly swordsmen-led, but they needed ranged damage dealers too.
Other sword halls had archers or a few mages attached.
Or personal contracts with halls.
Shin Yu-hyun intended to build his own faction centered on the Black Tortoise Hall within the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
To do that, he needed to bring in Lee Chae-hwa.
"Will you contract with us?"
Shin Yu-hyun looked at Lee Chae-hwa and posed the question.
In response, she looked back at him and spoke.
"I..."