Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Sweet and Delicious Great Return Pill (2)
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No matter how much I thought about it, aside from the charge of public indecency, I hadn't committed any crimes during the month of May.
The public indecency charge had essentially arisen while helping with cultivation anyway.
And the second round of cultivation could be chalked up to indirect intent, so I was free of guilt there too.
Having finished rationalizing it all to myself, I dragged my now thoroughly relaxed mind up to the fourth floor of the main academy building, step by grueling step.
Right before knocking on the door.
A newly formed habit these days.
I gave the interior a full scan with my Soul-Moon Divine Eyes first.
"...!"
The room beyond the wall didn't just have the academy head inside.
There were auras similar to the academy head's—one belonging to a bald monk, then two, three, four...
"Geum Sihyeon, if you're here, come on in!"
My plan to execute Shadowless Step in reverse and claim the top spot for crisis evasion went up in smoke.
Knock knock—
"Geum Sihyeon entering..."
Still, out of courtesy, I timidly rapped on the door twice before forcing a calm expression and stepping inside.
The gazes of about five or six kasaya-clad bald monks locked onto me all at once.
"Amitabha. No need to be so tense. We've called you here for a good reason."
"Haha..."
Perhaps noticing my stiff expression, the academy head gently reassured me.
But still.
This situation, with at least Peak Realm bald monks—impossible to tell apart by face—crowded into the not-so-spacious academy head's office, all staring me down...
How was I supposed to interpret this...
Ah!
A belated realization hit me.
"Could it be... the Mind-Image Sword Debate...?"
"Heh heh, indeed. These are the ones who came from afar bearing the Great Return Pill for you, Geum."
All the worries I'd harbored in my heart up till now vanished clean away.
Instead.
Mouth corner control, mouth corner control...!
As the Orthodox Factions' later-generation talent and a promising future genius, I made an effort not to let even a hint of greed show in my eyes, then clasped my hands and bowed deeply.
"Heh heh, so you're the Three Star Family's prodigy."
One bald monk with a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar aura greeted me casually.
Late thirties, by the look of him.
Martial prowess at early Absolute Realm.
Then...
"Ah, this poor monk is Gakwon. Embarrassingly, I earned the moniker 'Deceiver of the Masses' in the Mind-Image Sword Debate."
"Ah...!"
The one I'd beaten in the round of 16.
The clone technique bald monk who'd suddenly grabbed a staff and tried to beat me like a dog!
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
Let me recall what I'd done to him.
1. Spiked his head, leaving handprints.
2. Victory danced with the kidney bean dance and teabagging after winning.
3. Counter-charged and played dirty the moment he used his clone technique.
If I bolted out right now at top speed, hid in the family library, clung to Teacher Chicken Skirt's hem, and bawled my eyes out, could I survive?
"Amitabha. No need to feel so guilty. A match is a match—what's wrong with a strategy like faking weakness to lure the enemy?"
"Haha..."
I didn't feel particularly guilty.
But he'd forgiven me anyway—great!
"At such a young age, your understanding of martial arts is impressive, and your mental fortitude is profound too. How could this not be a blessing for the Orthodox martial world? My master—no, the Shaolin abbot—insisted I come see your face, and it's well worth the reputation! Excellent, just excellent!"
Gakwon laughed as he patted my shoulder.
And at the same time.
"Splendid work, Geum Sihyeon!"
"Seeing you dismantle the Twenty-Four Forms gave us profound insights as well. It's not just about confrontation—there's wisdom in yielding to the strong."
"The novice monks threw such tantrums wanting to learn the sword; it was a real headache. Hahaha."
"Amitabha, well done."
A barrage of wide-area praise beams rained down indiscriminately.
It felt a bit like... Shinji receiving a torrent of "congratulations," leaving me slightly bewildered.
"Amitabha."
As the academy head, who'd been watching the scene fondly, chanted the Buddha's name, the monks all switched to silent mode in unison.
"Come here."
I shuffled over awkwardly.
The academy head handed me an ornate wooden box.
"Having so many Arhats show up must have startled you. There was good reason for it. Go on, open it."
Click—
"Gasp."
Beholding the real Great Return Pill radiating its brilliant glow, I found myself breathless without realizing it.
But.
This...
Wasn't this a yawn-worthy item...?
"Originally, the promised winner's prize was a Low-Grade Great Return Pill. Unfortunately, the one stored at headquarters was in poor condition, so after discussion, we decided to deliver a Mid-Grade Great Return Pill instead. That's why so many Arhats escorted it here, in case of mishaps along the way."
"Heok..."
"No doubt, it'll be about three times as effective as a Low-Grade one."
Snap!
With the sound of the box closing.
My entranced soul snapped back into place.
"H-how could I possibly accept something so precious..."
Half of that was sincere.
It was priceless.
Hard to say winning the Mind-Image Sword Debate warranted something like this.
Perhaps sensing my undisguised agitation.
Instead of the academy head, Gakwon monk smiled softly and sent me a transmission.
: : The Shaolin abbot, Great Master Wollyun, told this poor monk that if one Great Return Pill could save the future of the martial world, it would be worth far more than one. He must see great potential in you. : :
The burden increased five hundredfold.
I'm just a simple filial son and everyman who wants to crank out thirty kids regardless of gender, raise them well, and maybe try being the Supreme Under Heaven on the side.
The future of the martial world is a bit...
"Don't want it? We'll take it back then."
As the academy head playfully reached out, I instinctively clutched the box.
"No such thing. Thank you."
My deliberations lasted under ten seconds.
"Heh heh, Amitabha."
The academy head simply wore a Buddha-like smile.
* * *
Clutching three wooden boxes in my bosom.
I returned home late in the evening.
Even on the way back, pangs of conscience tormented me nonstop.
But.
No matter how much my conscience stung.
Everyone faces moments where they must make a decisive choice.
Sacrifice a cow for the sake of the herd.
Lay aside conscience for the greater good.
I was truly sorry to the Shaolin monks who'd bestowed such great favor...
"You're back."
"Yes, Divine Doctor."
"Follow me."
In ancient primitive Central Plains.
In modern-day red primitive China.
Copyright concepts are hazy.
"Let's start with a scent test."
"Yes."
I opened the lid of the box containing the Great Return Pill.
A refined fragrance filled the apothecary room.
For a while, the Divine Doctor and I inhaled the scent, gauging its origins.
Sutras and the Tree of Life combined...
Whoops, that's a nonexistent memory.
After closing the box and savoring the lingering aroma.
"Seems like deer antler is in it."
"Correct. And Nine-Leaf Lingzhi too."
"What about musk?"
"That would make the wood energy stronger, but it doesn't. For guiding meridians and signaling, licorice root, angelica, and ligusticum are likely."
"And fleeceflower root... at least three hundred years old, I'd say."
"The pill seems sealed with beeswax. No, not beeswax. Curious. Smells a bit like bone powder too."
"Could Nine-Leaf Lingzhi alone produce the famed effects of the world's Great Return Pills?"
"Unlikely. It must include snow lotus or something similar to balance the Lingzhi's yang energy."
"Probably safflower and atractylodes too."
"If atractylodes, then astragalus as well."
We inferred the ingredients through heated discussion.
Of course, just smelling—or even tasting—would never replicate Shaolin's pill refinement arts.
But what compounding process grants it the power to heal not just internal but external wounds as well?
This was the Divine Doctor of Life and Death's interest.
And mine too.
Not for inner power enhancement.
If we could just uncover the trauma-specialized formula, that would suffice.
...Time laughing away at the academy isn't infinite.
In the game, post-graduation events like the Righteous-Demonic War were text-skipped.
Sooner or later, I'd be thrown into the martial world of blades and nocturnal wanderings.
Having fully accepted I'm Geum Sihyeon, a martial artist.
I needed to prepare as much as possible.
Not just for me.
For everyone I've forged bonds with too.
Repeating until our senses dulled, savoring the Great Return Pill's fragrance over and over.
I handed over the pill and the meds from Brother Hwi to the Divine Doctor.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Mm."
I greeted Teacher Chicken—no, Teacher Seo—who'd been waiting outside.
Just as I'd helped Sister Seol ingest her Ice Essence.
She was here specially for smooth Great Return Pill consumption.
- Geum cadet. Shall this poor monk assist?
Truth be told, the academy head helping would be most effective.
But it wouldn't serve my impure goal of analyzing the pill, so I politely declined.
Tlbunim?
- Hahaha, little bro—no, disciple! Fooled again! Show me your back!
Undoubtedly scheming to infuse demonic qi into me during circulation.
In the end, only trusty Teacher Seo Dohee was reliable.
"This way."
Not being a martial family, there was no dedicated training room, so I reluctantly allowed an outsider woman into my annex.
"...Clean up a bit."
"You know I hardly ever come home."
It was pretty dirty.
Even servants and maids were strictly forbidden entry, so nothing to be done.
"Well then—"
Snap!
My teacher lightly snatched my wrist as I boldly opened the box.
"Clothes off first."
"Ah..."
Right.
Sister Seol started with removing her top too.
...That wasn't some temptation, was it?
Now that it was my turn, it felt way too embarrassing...
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, yes."
No.
Thinking about it, Teacher Seo had already seen me naked during my Shedding the Husk.
First time's the hardest; second time's a breeze.
I comfortably returned to my natural state and sat in lotus position.
"You've not neglected training in the meantime, I see."
"Heh."
Teacher ran her hands impassively over my shoulders and back, offering praise.
"Then, if you please."
With the fragrance I'd savored earlier filling my nose again, I shakily picked up the Great Return Pill and placed it in my mouth.
The moment it touched my tongue, it melted smoothly, leaving a refreshing mint-chocolate-like zest.
Teacher Seo's voice came from behind.
"Disciple. Have you heard of Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians?"
I tried to answer, but a blaze surged from within, so I barely managed a slight nod.
"It'll hurt a bit."
What?
Wait—!
"────!"
The Great Return Pill's energy began swirling wildly inside me.
And the energy from Teacher Chicken's small hands pressed to my back tore through my acupoints like it was shredding them.
Consciousness flickered briefly.
A sensation of floating somewhere washed over me.
As awareness sharpened again.
"...?"
A bizarre black-and-white space resembling a temple unfolded before my eyes.
What.
Don't tell me.
I didn't just die from Qi Deviation, did I?