Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Translator: Penny
Chapter 17
Back to Daily Life (2)
By the time I arrived home, news of the Yang Association Leader's actions had already spread.
"It's hard to believe," Father said, clearly shaken by the revelation that the Association Leader had hired ronin to kill him and our family. Even in his desperation to protect his child, he likely never imagined resorting to such brutal vengeance.
"He was far more malicious than we ever realized," I said. "If Blood Hound and the internal strife hadn't erupted, we would have been in grave danger."
Father silently nodded in response.
Mother, on the other hand, couldn't hide her joy. "Heaven truly helped us! We were so fortunate."
"Indeed, Mother," I replied.
Just then, Father interjected, "Still, we must repay our debt to the Yang Association."
"Understood."
I had anticipated this reaction. He likely considered the debt to be owed to the Yang Association, not to Yang Gicheol personally.
But there was no need to repay it. I had already instructed Jeong Yeo, the new Association Leader, not to accept any payment from us.
Since the Yang Association had attempted to harm us, I even provided a specific reason for refusing the money—to atone for their transgression. Being no fool, he would have found a suitable excuse to decline it regardless.
"And this—I've read it thoroughly."
I returned the Secret Manual of the White Moon Sword Technique to my father.
"How was your practice?" he asked.
"I think I made some progress," I replied.
"That's fortunate."
He probably hadn't expected much after only a few days of training, but he seemed to find significance in the fact that I had changed.
My mother smiled warmly as she looked at me.
"Son," she said.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Are you alright?"
It was a short question, but it carried immense weight. My father was clearly overjoyed by my transformation, yet also deeply concerned.
"Absolutely, Father. I'm better than ever."
"That's settled then."
"I'll take my leave now."
I turned to leave, but paused to glance back at my father.
"I hope you won't be too disheartened by this... Father."
Perhaps it was because he hadn't received comfort from his son in so long, but a fleeting expression of emotion crossed his face.
In truth, I was the one who felt truly moved.
It was the first time I had ever spoken the word "Father."
In my previous life, I had never known a father. My mother had raised me alone since childhood, so I had never had the chance to call anyone "Father."
"Go and rest now."
"Yes, Father."
Once I had said it aloud, it didn't feel so difficult anymore.
And so, I returned to my daily life.
I had two main tasks: taking care of myself and taking care of the household. I started with what I could do immediately.
The next day, I went to see Seo Jung.
Seo Jung, who was just finishing his training with the Sword Guard members, looked surprised to see me.
"What brings you here?"
His gaze was gentler than before. Recent events had likely changed his perception of me, especially my role in rescuing Gwangdu from Yang Gikang.
"Please accept this."
"What is it?"
I handed him Three Thousand Taels, a portion of the Thirty-Two Thousand Taels I had received from Yang Gicheol.
After checking the voucher, he stared at me in astonishment. "What kind of money is this?"
"It's what I've saved over the years."
"What?!"
He looked skeptical, probably doubting that a wastrel like me could possess such a sum.
"I was saving it to give to a woman I cared for," I explained.
My nonchalant tone seemed to sway Seo Jung. Given how much of the family's fortune I had squandered over the years, he might have thought I could still have some tucked away. That was precisely why I had capped the amount at Three Thousand Taels—I would have gladly given more.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"Use this money to reorganize the Sword Guard. Increase the monthly stipends you couldn't afford before, and recruit new members."
Seo Jung was even more astonished than when he had first received the money. The sum of Three Thousand Taels was staggering, but the proposed use was even more shocking.
"Do you think we stay here for the money?"
"I know that's not the case. But the families of the Sword Guard members shouldn't have to suffer because of money."
"Why are you giving this directly to me instead of the Patriarch?"
"I figured you wouldn't accept money from your father."
Seo Jung flinched. I had accurately perceived his inner thoughts.
He was deeply loyal. Even if his father offered him funds to reorganize the family, he would likely refuse, insisting on prioritizing repayment of the family's debts. He was determined to manage the Sword Guard himself, no matter what.
"Captain, you and the Sword Guard are the heart of the Main Family. If you fall, the entire Main Family will crumble with you."
"What nonsense! The Patriarch is the heart of the Main Family!"
Though his rebuke was stern, Seo Jung couldn't hide the overwhelming gratitude on his face.
Just as his parents had, Seo Jung likely never imagined he would hear such words from this reckless youth.
"Will you accept my proposal?"
After a moment's hesitation, Seo Jung nodded. "Can you promise me, as a man and a martial artist, that you will use this money solely for the Sword Guard? Promise me you won't return it to your father."
He likely suspected I might give it back to my father.
"I promise."
I bowed deeply, putting my heart into the gesture. "Thank you so much, Captain."
As I turned to leave, Seo Jung called out from behind, "Dan."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
I smiled at him. There was no need to say more, just as there hadn't been with Gwangdu. We would both witness much together in the days to come.
From the next day onward, the atmosphere within the Sword Guard became noticeably livelier. Though I wasn't a member myself, I could still feel the change.
The Sword Guard members I encountered greeted me with smiles. They had been favorably impressed by my handling of the Yang Gikang incident, and now they knew the funds they had received had come from my own pocket. Given Seo Jung's meticulous nature, he would undoubtedly have traced the exact source of the money.
As the Sword Guard's atmosphere brightened, the entire school seemed to lighten as well. Even the whispers about me changed. Initially, my transformation had been seen as a prelude to some disastrous mistake, but now there was talk that I might have truly changed.
I heard they had even posted a notice recruiting new Sword Guard members. Three Thousand Taels wouldn't allow for a large expansion, but I understood they could probably add around twenty more members for now.
More than the increased manpower, what mattered most was the boost to morale. For the first time in ages, the Byeok Clan Sword School was brimming with vitality.
When my mother heard the news, she gave me a stern lecture, demanding to know where I had gotten such a large sum of money. But in the end, she had no choice but to believe me. How could she argue when I was finally behaving in a way that pleased her?
The next day, Mother invited the wives of nearby martial families to a long-overdue banquet. She reportedly spent the entire evening catching up on bragging about her children, making up for lost time. Of course, she didn't forget to mention how she had splurged on the Sword Guard. The only difference was that she made it clear the money wasn't saved for a woman, but rather specifically for the Sword Guard.
Even while managing the household, I never neglected my physical and martial arts training.
Through relentless practice, my body gradually began to transform. The soft fat began to melt away, replaced by firm, developing muscles.
As always, the real problem remained my internal energy.
The pinnacle of the Soul-Chasing Asura Sword Art lies in its final three forms.
The problem is that the fourth form, Soul-Snatching Calamity, requires One Cycle of internal energy, the fifth form requires Two Cycles, and the sixth form requires Three Cycles.
My immediate goal was to reach One Cycle. I didn't even dare dream of Two or Three Cycles.
Even if I could only master the fourth form, Soul-Snatching Calamity, I would possess a trump card.
While ordinary martial masters could likely defeat most opponents with the first three forms alone, one never knew what might happen.
I devoted every waking moment to circulating the Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol, but the amount of internal energy I accumulated remained woefully insufficient.
The Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol was supposed to allow me to accumulate internal force three times faster than ordinary cultivation methods.
Yet, even with this advantage, reaching One Cycle of internal energy through sheer cultivation would still take twenty years.
There was only one solution left.
"I absolutely must open the Ren and Du Meridians."
Unblocking the Ren and Du Meridians would triple the rate at which my internal energy accumulates.
This would reduce the time required to reach One Cycle of internal energy from twenty years to just seven.
With my current five years' worth of internal energy, and factoring in the additional Internal Force I'd gain from consuming a spiritual elixir to aid the meridian breakthrough, I could potentially reach One Cycle of internal energy in as little as two or three years.
I needed a spiritual elixir to help me open the Ren and Du Meridians.
I'd heard tales of eras where spiritual elixirs were abundant, but in this day and age, they were precious commodities. The only reason I possessed Four Cycles of internal energy was because I had been the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, a position I had secured through a life-and-death war against the Unorthodox Factions and the Demonic Cult.
Obtaining legendary elixirs like the Great Reversion Pill or Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng would be ideal, but with this sum of money, it was utterly impossible.
Such miraculous medicines were not only exceedingly rare, but even if one were available, the seller could demand exorbitant prices—hundreds of thousands, even millions of taels. They were practically nonexistent on the open market.
Could I acquire the necessary elixir with twenty-nine thousand taels?
Perhaps it was possible, I thought. The elixir I needed only had to aid in unblocking the Ren and Du Meridians and replenish roughly ten years' worth of Internal Force.
Having always received such medicines as gifts, I had no idea of their market value.
Twenty-nine thousand taels.
Could I really afford it?
Two days later, I entered a building in Jinan.
This was the Jinan branch of the Black Market.
There's a saying in the Martial Arts World: "If it can't be found in the Black Market, it doesn't exist in the Martial Arts World."
The Black Market serves as the primary marketplace for martial arts supplies. Originally named for its dealings in stolen goods, it has since evolved into a legitimate operation, trading only items with verified origins.
Chief Strategist Gal Saryang played a pivotal role in this transformation. By monitoring the Black Market, he gathered invaluable intelligence. After all, the flow of goods often reveals far more than information gleaned from individuals.
Thanks to him, I was well-versed in the Black Market's workings—its locations and operational methods.
Shandong province housed three Black Market branches, and the Jinan branch was the largest of them all.
After telling everyone I needed a few days to clear my head, I rode here. I considered bringing Gwangdu along to stave off boredom, but given the nature of my business, it was best to leave him behind.
At the entrance, I told the guard I was here to purchase an elixir. He led me to a well-appointed guest chamber in the inner hall.
A maidservant came and served tea, but I didn't touch it.
During my time as Alliance Leader, I was often asked the same question:
"What's the secret to surviving long in the Martial Arts World?"
My answer was always the same:
"Be cautious in all things."
Caution must become second nature. I had once been tormented by relentless ambushes from assassins. The most skilled among them were those whose patience had reached its breaking point.
They waited for a single moment of carelessness—the hundredth mistake after ninety-nine successful attempts, born of complacency.
Want to live long?
Never let your guard down, not even at the very end.
An elderly man in a flamboyant brocade robe entered the room.
"You've come to purchase an elixir?"