Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Determination - 1
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Je-gok Mountain, not far from Je-gok Castle, was infamous for its treacherous terrain.
Strange rock formations dotted the landscape, and sheer cliffs abounded, making it a place where even seasoned herbalists had to tread with utmost caution.
My footsteps climbing that mountain felt incredibly heavy. Especially compared to Yu Ye-ryeon, who bounded ahead lightly, almost playfully.
"Should we slow down a bit?"
At Yu Ye-ryeon's considerate words from up ahead, I shook my head. We were almost there.
A short distance from the summit of Je-gok Mountain lay the Thousand-Zhang Precipice. A river flowed far below the dizzying cliff, and in the distance, Je-gok Castle came into view.
It was a breathtaking sight, one that could be called magnificent in its own right. It was here that I spoke to Yu Ye-ryeon.
"I need to fall from here."
The method I proposed to her was nothing special.
In the early part of the novel, after Yu Ye-ryeon met Wi Cheonryong in Un-ga Village, she instructed him to climb up and down mountains as training.
While following those orders on Je-gok Mountain, Wi Cheonryong slipped and fell off a cliff, gaining a fateful encounter in the process.
I intended to show her that fateful encounter firsthand.
"Just as you said, there's a 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb down there."
"Yes."
Even if there wasn't, it wouldn't be a problem. It would simply prove that this world differed from the novel. That would mean the Blood God and the Blood Cult's assault might not happen either, which I could take in stride.
"Then let's go."
Yu Ye-ryeon grabbed me lightly and hurled herself off the cliff without hesitation. Even as she plummeted at high speed, she casually scanned the cliff face. Spotting something, she kicked off the air and shot toward it.
"...I had no idea there was a cave here."
"Yes. This is the place. It's here that Wi Cheonryong obtains the Snow Spirit Herb. And..."
And something else besides. This, too, could serve as proof of my words.
Instead of pressing me further, Yu Ye-ryeon silently entered the cave with me and discovered two herbs slumbering within.
"...This is."
Growing on the right was a spiritual herb emitting a faint fragrance. It was the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb, infused with spiritual energy after absorbing the earth's qi for five centuries.
A single dose could grant internal energy equivalent to about fifty years of cultivation, making it a treasure that could spark a bloodbath if word got out.
But Yu Ye-ryeon's gaze wasn't on the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb.
"Earthly Shade Herb..."
Right. What she stared at was none other than the Earthly Shade Herb, a small patch of grass.
One of the rare poisonous herbs that grew only in utterly barren soil.
In the novel, after obtaining both the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb and the Earthly Shade Herb, Wi Cheonryong presented them to Yu Ye-ryeon. In return, she taught him a special technique.
"...You knew I was searching for the Earthly Shade Herb?"
"Yes."
"You must know why I'm looking for it, then."
The disbelief in Yu Ye-ryeon's eyes had nearly vanished. Yet a faint trace remained, and naturally, it needed to be erased.
"You said it was for your sworn younger sister. Her condition is said to be Blocked Meridians, but in truth, it's the rare Yin-Yang Blocked Meridians."
"...And who told you that?"
"Yi Cheon Gi-ryunghwa."
One of the Eight Great Heavens, like her.
The renowned physician and master who had grown weary of the world and secluded herself, her whereabouts unknown to all.
While wandering in search of a disciple, Yu Ye-ryeon had chanced upon Gi-ryunghwa and asked her to diagnose her sister's condition, learning it was Yin-Yang Blocked Meridians...
"I heard that treating Yin-Yang Blocked Meridians requires rare ingredients like the Earthly Shade Herb and a few others."
She fell silent at my response. But the silence didn't last long.
"...Mind if I ask the Beggars' Sect to look into you?"
She was full of suspicions. But that wasn't bad. It showed her caution was strong.
"Go ahead."
After obtaining the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb and the Earthly Shade Herb, she requested information on Jin Hyun from the Beggars' Sect, and it arrived just a few days later.
"Jin Hyun? Nothing special about the guy. Orphan who settled in Un-ga Village and lived as a beggar. Then he scraped by doing odd jobs for Yangcheon Fortress... and recently started working as an assistant chef at Hwapyeong Inn."
Given the urgency, she'd paid a hefty sum for the investigation, so the response came quickly.
The branch chief of the Beggars' Sect Je-gok branch had handled it personally, so it was sure to be accurate.
In other words, the chances he'd met Yi Cheon were practically nil.
'So... is what he said true?'
The claim that in the near future, the Blood God would erect his Descent Tower and the Blood Cult would try to overturn the world.
He knew about the illness that only she, Yi Cheon, and her sworn sister were aware of. He even knew the Earthly Shade Herb was needed to treat it.
And he'd found it for her, something she'd searched endlessly for without success...
"In that case..."
Her eyes turned to one of the two roots she held. It was the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb, still emanating a faint fragrance despite days since being uprooted, its potency undiminished.
"...I should keep my promise first."
She rose and had her maid summon Jin Hyun to her room. When he entered shortly after, she offered him the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb.
"I've tempered its potency a bit. Taking it raw could destroy your body because it's too potent."
"Thank you."
"Did that Wi Cheonryong guy just swallow it whole?"
"Yes."
"Figures. If what you say is true, he had a dantian. The difficulty of consuming a spiritual herb depends on whether you have one or not."
"So I've heard."
"As I said before, I can't teach you my swordsmanship. It's destructive. That means it puts a huge strain on the body. You haven't trained properly, so you can't learn it. It wouldn't suit your body anyway."
"...I see."
"So I can't take you as a disciple right away. I hope you understand that."
"I do."
"But I'll teach you some martial arts. At least..."
She placed the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb in Jin Hyun's hand.
"...enough so you won't get beaten up by just anyone at the Heavenly Martial Hall."
I wasn't disappointed by Yu Ye-ryeon's words. I'd half-expected it.
Unlike Wi Cheonryong, I'd never learned any martial arts.
Could someone like me suddenly wield the domineering arts of the Sword Heaven?
No way.
She knew far more about martial arts than I did, so following her advice made sense.
Besides, all I'd wanted was enough skill to enter the Heavenly Martial Hall, where the main story truly began. I wasn't dissatisfied.
And Wi Cheonryong hadn't learned her arts right away either.
He'd become her disciple, but during the journey to her residence, he'd only done physical conditioning.
"I trust you now... but just one last question. Is that okay?"
"Of course."
"Suppose I took Wi Cheonryong as a disciple. I'd have given him a test before teaching him the sword... Do you know what that test was?"
"Hunt the Cheap Evil Serpent."
A vile, lowly serpent. Over ten feet long, with a body as thick as a massive log—a gigantic demonic beast.
Only after slaying it and consuming its spirit core could he truly learn the Sword Heaven's swordsmanship.
And on the way to hunt it, Wi Cheonryong met his first heroine.
Recalling the novel, I answered, and Yu Ye-ryeon let out a heavy sigh.
"But why did you tell me everything?"
Not everything. I'd kept the novel being an erotic martial tale a secret, for one.
"Because you're trustworthy."
"We just met, right?"
Of course. Though I'd seen her in the novel.
In that story, she'd fought for the world to the end, and I believed it.
"It feels like you've spilled everything to me."
Had she made up her mind?
The heavy atmosphere had completely lifted.
With a much lighter, more cheerful tone, she fixed her sparkling red eyes on me as she spoke leisurely. I shrugged.
"You only appear briefly at the start anyway, so I don't know what happens after. Just that you fought for the world."
Right. She only showed up early to give the protagonist his power-up and then vanished till the end.
Probably for balance reasons... but that wasn't important now.
"Alright... fine. Let's say that's true for now."
She pointed to the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb in my hand. At her signal to consume it, I popped it into my mouth and chewed.
The more I chewed, the more its delightful aroma filled my mouth. As the sweet melt seeped into my body and took root, a massive energy surged wildly, as if it might explode me from within.
"Sit in the lotus position. From now on..."
She placed her hand on my back and spoke calmly, as if it were nothing at all.
"...we'll form your dantian."
"Yes."
"A lot is about to change. You'll experience the difference between a martial artist and a regular person. Stay focused."
I was already tense.
Ever since I'd resolved to protect this world in the protagonist's stead.