Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The First Cultivation
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“So it was a true blessing after all!”
Neung So-mil exclaimed after finishing his energy circulation.
He checked the level of internal energy filling his dantian several times, but he could hardly believe it.
“To catch up to my previous level of internal energy in just a month…”
Just as he was unable to hide his astonishment.
*Screeeech!*
The sound of a flute from somewhere pierced his eardrums.
Thank goodness he had finished cultivating; had he heard it midway, the jarring sound would have surely broken his concentration.
Neung So-mil, stepping out of the thatched hut, frowned as he saw Cho Ak-ryang also coming outside. Not long after, Beom Gye-wi and Han Seol-hwa also appeared.
Every one of them had a frown on their face, their expressions clearly showing their displeasure.
Only Dan Ak-seon was strolling through the valley with a calm expression.
“What in the world is all this racket?”
Dan Ak-seon smiled and answered Beom Gye-wi's question.
“The General Manager is practicing the flute.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“He said he wanted a hobby, so I recommended it to him.”
“This is completely unlistenable.”
Neung So-mil strongly agreed, nodding his head.
The melody, reminiscent of a ghost's wail, was just as violent and bizarre.
It was a wonder how such sounds could even come from a flute.
At this rate, it could rival a sonic attack.
But then, to top it all off, he began to hum a tune as well.
“Those who walk the path do not look back. To look back is to find all traces erased, and memory a labyrinth. On the boat sailing forth once more, the winds of fortune are but surging waves against its side. Therefore, you who walk the path, though you failed to conquer evil, if you have gained medicine and heart, go now to the ailing world, and ache with it.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Han Seol-hwa balled up some cotton and plugged her ears.
The flute playing was one thing, but his singing was just as atrocious.
Finally, Beom Gye-wi exploded.
“Can't you knock it off? Do you think you live here alone?”
His booming voice shook the air.
A moment later, Sa Mu-sim appeared with an awkward laugh.
“Haha, my apologies. I got a bit carried away.”
It was a classic case of not being able to stay mad at a smiling face.
Since he apologized so readily, it was Beom Gye-wi who felt awkward instead.
Just then, Cho Ak-ryang spoke.
“Was that a passage from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*?”
Sa Mu-sim nodded.
“Yes. I tried putting the last passage to music.”
“But why the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* of all things? Isn't that a geography book filled with myths?”
“I happened to find it lying around in the storeroom. It must have been included with the supplies we bought from the market last time. As you know, every single book here is a medical text.”
“True enough.”
If he had made a song from the already rigid contents of a medical text, it would have been even more bizarre.
“Anyway, keep it down.”
“I'll be more careful.”
Beom Gye-wi grumbled as he watched Sa Mu-sim walk away, humming.
“He's gotten really strange since he came back from the dead. Always grinning like an idiot, what's he so happy about?”
Neung So-mil, on the other hand, stared blankly into the air.
It was likely just a coincidence, not intentional, but the passage from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* that Sa Mu-sim had recited kept overlapping with his own current situation.
‘Those who walk the path do not look back.’
Neung So-mil repeated it to himself several times before nodding.
Isn't that what life is meant to be?
“The Maiden of Merit and the Maiden of Darkness always travel together.”
He recalled a saying from the Holy Practice chapter of the Nirvana Sutra.
The Maiden of Merit is a good fairy who brings wealth, health, and happiness, while the Maiden of Darkness is a wicked woman who brings misfortune and disaster.
But it was said that the two sisters always traveled together.
He had come to the Divine Demon Valley because of a misfortune, but now it had turned into a blessing in disguise.
Watching him from a distance, Cho Ak-ryang frowned.
“What's with him now? A side effect of the internal energy technique?”
“Don't be ridiculous.”
Beom Gye-wi, who had firmly denied it, soon tilted his head in confusion.
“Maybe this place is cursed? How come everyone gets weird as soon as they come here?”
“Weren't you and Sister Han strange to begin with?”
“I don't want to hear that from you of all people, Brother Cho.”
Seeing the two bickering as usual, Han Seol-hwa shook her head as if tired of it and turned away.
***
Two months had already passed since Neung So-mil arrived at the Divine Demon Valley.
In that time, the seasons had changed, and the weather had grown quite chilly, allowing one to enjoy the autumn scenery of mountains covered in red leaves.
The bustling atmosphere in the Divine Demon Valley from early morning made Neung So-mil quickly realize the reason.
‘Ah, was it today?’
It was the day Sa Mu-sim's new trading company was setting out on its first journey.
A short while later, Sa Mu-sim, with his luggage packed, was saying his goodbyes to the others.
“General Manager, do you really have to go yourself?”
Seeing Dan Ak-seon's disappointed expression, Sa Mu-sim offered a slight smile.
“It is the first trade journey, after all.”
A master was needed to prepare for any unforeseen dangers.
Besides, there was no one else as familiar with the prairie roads.
“According to the message, the punk I captured and handed over was the successor to the Blood Cloud Temple's leader. A tribe I'm close with took him hostage and negotiated with the Blood Cloud Temple.”
Thanks to that, they had secured the safety of some trade routes, but one could never be too sure.
The Blood Cloud Temple was known for going back on their word at any time.
“Please be careful. And make sure you take this.”
As Sa Mu-sim was embarking on a long journey, Dan Ak-seon gave him a box of pills to use as emergency medicine.
“I'll use them as sparingly as possible.”
Dan Ak-seon shook his head at Sa Mu-sim's words.
“Use them immediately whenever the situation calls for it. I can always make more pills.”
Sa Mu-sim smiled warmly and nodded.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
After saying his goodbyes to Cho Ak-ryang, Beom Gye-wi, and Han Seol-hwa in turn, Sa Mu-sim loaded his luggage onto a cart and left the Divine Demon Valley.
Neung So-mil saw him off.
“You should head back inside.”
“Brother…”
Neung So-mil looked at Sa Mu-sim with sorrowful eyes.
Just two months.
It was a short time, if one could call it that, but they had grown quite fond of each other and had become close enough to speak their minds freely.
In a way, it was natural for the two of them to grow close.
They were the only ones in the Divine Demon Valley who were of a similar age.
“Please have a safe trip.”
“Thank you. Please take good care of the Valley Lord and the three seniors while I'm gone.”
Then, as if he just remembered, Sa Mu-sim added another request.
“When you have time now and then, please stop by the village and check on the Righteous Clinic.”
“Don't worry. I'll take good care of not only them, but also the pigeons you cherish so much, Brother.”
“Haha, thank you. I'll be sure to reward you handsomely later.”
“A reward! Your safe return is all the reward I need, Brother.”
“Well then, take care.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Sa Mu-sim departed.
Neung So-mil stood there until Sa Mu-sim was out of sight before returning to the Divine Demon Valley.
But he sensed an atmosphere that was different from usual.
The three people surrounding Dan Ak-seon were looking at him with utmost seriousness.
“Starting today, we begin your martial arts training.”
Dan Ak-seon nodded at Cho Ak-ryang's words.
“Yes!”
It had been promised long ago, so Dan Ak-seon nodded without hesitation.
Cho Ak-ryang and the other two surrounded Dan Ak-seon in a triangular formation, keeping a slight distance.
It was to stand guard.
As the three watched over him, Dan Ak-seon sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused on the incantation.
Neung So-mil couldn't hide his confusion at the sight.
“Didn't you say… this was his first time cultivating internal energy?”
There was no guiding process to lead his true energy, and they didn't even mention the internal energy incantation.
Even when he himself had first learned the Dignified Fire Divine Arts, hadn't Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi taken turns helping him?
Beom Gye-wi said bluntly.
“Physician Dan is the one who created the Dignified Fire Divine Arts. We played our part, but he's the one who understands it best.”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“It's not like he doesn't understand acupoints or energy meridians. Offering advice would only create distracting thoughts.”
“...!”
Neung So-mil looked at Dan Ak-seon with surprised eyes.
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon opened his closed eyes and let out a small exclamation.
“Ah! I almost forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
Dan Ak-seon gave a sheepish smile at Cho Ak-ryang's question.
“There's something I forgot.”
Then he ran to his pavilion and brought something back.
Realizing it was a pill coated in beeswax, Cho Ak-ryang looked puzzled.
As Dan Ak-seon peeled off the beeswax and put the pill in his mouth, a sharp, fragrant scent spread through the air.
It was a familiar scent they had often encountered.
“Isn't that a health pill?”
Dan Ak-seon smiled and nodded.
“My father made it a long time ago.”
“The Divine Physician?”
“Yes. In preparation for the day I would learn martial arts.”
Surprise flickered in Cho Ak-ryang's eyes.
“He had already made arrangements.”
“Yes. That's why it's even more special to me.”
After saying that, Dan Ak-seon closed his eyes again.
And began circulating his energy according to the incantation.
A stream of clear energy awakened in his dantian and began to move through his limbs and entire body.
It was faint at first, but it soon began to absorb the pill's energy circulating through his blood vessels, gaining momentum.
As time passed, Dan Ak-seon felt himself growing more comfortable.
The true energy moving along his meridians.
The pill's energy contained within it felt warm.
Was it because he had taken the pill his father made?
Suddenly, a memory from his childhood came to mind.
—*In the future, if you ever happen to practice internal energy, make sure you take this before you start.*
To his father, who made him promise several times, he had replied.
‘But I want to be a physician like you and Mom.’
To that, his mother had said.
—*Aish, why would you want to do that? Being a physician is no way to live. It's just tiring and troublesome.*
—*Well, if he wants to, he should. Still, it would be good to have some martial arts skill. After all, you can't do this job if you don't have the stamina for it.*
His mother flared up at his words.
—*Are you out of your mind? After all the hardship you went through? I'm against it. At least our child should live like a normal person.*
—*He said he wants to do it! If he wants to, he should. Our son should live doing everything he wants! Except getting married.*
—*What? You… Is that something to say in front of a child?*
Sensing his wife's darkening mood, his father must have realized his mistake and quickly continued.
—*It's because meeting a woman like your mother is that difficult. That's why I told you to give up. This father of yours used up all his remaining luck marrying your mother.*
His mother's face, which instantly flushed red as if she had never been angry…
—*Which is why I can't expect any luck from now on.*
And his father, quietly sighing while avoiding his mother's gaze.
Faced with the nostalgic scene for the first time in a long while, Dan Ak-seon felt both happy and sad.
Cho Ak-ryang's heart sank.
It was because Dan Ak-seon, who had entered a state of no-mind long ago, was smiling faintly.
Beom Gye-wi and Han Seol-hwa felt the same.
Startled, they rushed toward Dan Ak-seon.
Cho Ak-ryang carefully examined Dan Ak-seon, then sighed with a look of relief.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any problems.
“Is he dreaming of swimming in an ocean of elixirs?”
The others thought Beom Gye-wi's words made a fair bit of sense.