#5. The Third-Rate Martial Artist Gathering Elixirs (3)
A deep furrow creased Hong Saryeon's brow, which had been smooth lately thanks to her good mood. With Gye Yeonseung kicked out and a new Busengdang Lord installed, Gye Cheolyeong—who had been lying low—had reverted to his old self, strutting around like a peacock again.
“What is the Snow Plum Pill? Even in Huashan, it's second only to the Self-Cultivation Pill for boosting internal energy, and its effects in forging the body's foundation far surpass Shaolin's Small Return Pill. It's a precious elixir that even true disciples in Huashan can barely snag one of.”
'And then he'll say my father and his Huashan uncle got it for me.' Hong Saryeon could predict his next words without even listening. He'd been repeating the exact same spiel in the exact same way for days now, like an unmemorized martial arts formula floating in her head.
“...Yeah. Impressive.”
“Right? So anyway...”
Part of her wanted to scream, 'What do you want me to do about it, you idiot!' But he was the precious son of a major sponsor. Hong Saryeon wasn't above envy toward Gye Cheolyeong. Born to the martial world, she craved elixirs as much as anyone. Still, as the sect leader's only daughter, she had too many burdens to wallow in relative deprivation.
“Senior Sister! Senior Sister! What about Senior Brother Jin?”
“Senior Sister! He's not getting expelled, right?”
“Senior Sister! If I skip two meals... will Senior Brother come back?”
Her chick-like junior brothers waited anxiously for their runaway senior, while Jin Sowoon—her baby brother figure—remained utterly MIA, even after asking the Outer Hall Lord.
'That damn guy.'
Saryeon was nearing the end of her patience with the Gye duo's antics. If Jin Sowoon hadn't stepped up, she would have. No—in truth, it should have been her from the start. She was the one destined to shoulder the future of Tae-eul Gate.
Gye Cheolyeong was just an opportunist gunning for Murim Academy. Half the young juniors would inherit family trades or luck into escort jobs at best. Even with Jin Sowoon senior brother, she wasn't shameless enough to dump Tae-eul Gate's grim future on him knowing full well what lay ahead.
Saryeon had carried that weight since childhood. That's why she'd been blaming herself for not stepping up sooner—fearing Gye Yeonseung's martial prowess and Gye Yeonseok's retaliation.
'How the hell did he win?'
Setting aside how he'd beaten Huashan's Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the fact that he'd slipped out of Tae-eul Gate daily without catching Gye Yeonseok's eye afterward was probably senior brother's consideration. Everyone knew how petty and persistent that man was. To avoid it, Jin Sowoon had deliberately left the sect.
“Senior Sister! Senior Sister! Try this!”
“Senior Sister! This meat is so good!”
Hong Saryeon forgot her brooding and stroked the heads of her puppy-like junior brothers holding out rice cakes and meat.
To celebrate the Huashan experts' visit with Gye-ryong Merchant Group, Tae-eul Gate threw a small feast. Gye Yeonseok and Gye Yeonseung were too busy entertaining the Huashan guests to drop by, so the sect members enjoyed their food in peace.
“But where the heck is Senior Brother Jin really? He loves these rice cakes.”
“Senior Sister! Can we save some meat for him?”
The junior gulped repeatedly, eyes sparkling, before mustering restraint to ask. It had been ages since he'd seen meat—yet here he was offering to share. Hong Saryeon ruffled his hair roughly, her heart aching.
“By the time he gets back, it'll all be spoiled. Eat up without holding back.”
“Then when's Senior Brother coming?”
“Soon.”
Hong Saryeon snatched bites of their meat and rice cakes, acting casual. 'Where the hell are you wandering off to, you monk-lookin' bastard.'
#
“Ten nyang of silver taels.”
I'd cursed this memory my whole previous life, but it wasn't all bad. Like now—perfect for smacking down a shameless merchant trying to gouge on fluctuating prices.
“What? These days in Zhejiang Province, tiger hides are in short supply. Starting bid there's thirty nyang.”
Zhejiang, centered on Hangzhou, influenced prices province-wide with its goods hub. But a twenty-nyang gap across one province? Bullshit.
“That's for pristine tiger hides.”
“Look here. Not a single arrow mark on this beauty. Offering just ten nyang? You'd have no defense in court.”
“Kid, are you blind? Is this pristine?”
The man spread the hide wide. “What did you do to dry it out like this? I'm giving you ten out of pity. Elsewhere, half that.”
“...”
No memory held a fix for withered hides. I took the ten nyang cheerfully. Selling the tiger hide wasn't even in the plan.
After absorbing the humanoid spirit's inner core, I faced a dire issue.
'Screw this up, and I'm demonic through and through.'
The Murim Alliance's Ten Forbidden Arts included the Absorption Great Law—one of the Four Evils, dreaded above all. Watching the Azure Dragon Ring suck in the core screamed it. Handling this was priority one.
'No way that vampire demon's relic was clean.'
Luckily—or not—it didn't absorb everything blindly. No energy from plants or rocks. But deer and rabbits? It converted their life force to true qi. Same as the vampire demon—Alliance kill-on-sight.
I'd tested it deep in the tiger's mountain, risking my neck. Result: Absorption Master Jin Sowoon. Great. Regressed just to get demonic arts.
The ring's suction was beyond imagination. The tiger charged; I couldn't control power and activated it—drying the beast crisp, moisture gone.
'Well done, Jin Sowoon. Regressed for demonic arts. Bravo.'
My life wasn't the only worry. If this leaked to the Alliance, I'd drag Father, Sect Leader Hong Moon-gi, Hall Lord Jin Taesan, and all of Tae-eul Gate into torture chambers. Their basements forced confessions for uncommitted crimes. Junior brothers wouldn't last three days before “admitting” they learned Absorption Great Law from me.
'If I die again, will there be another chance?'
No pipe dreams. Time to study the ring. It obeyed my will—no random glows drawing suspicion. To confirm, I wrapped my wrist in dark cloth from a fabric shop upon entering town.
Crucially, absorbed life force or qi turned to internal energy matching my Tae-eul Heart Technique—pure form, merging seamlessly. No separation like Absorption Great Law. Unless caught absorbing on-site, dantian checks showed no traces.
If undiscovered, it was a trump card. Or so I'd tell myself. Alliance basement? Too horrific to imagine.
“Got traps?”
“Huh? You came here knowing that, right? Best hunter supplies in Hebi.”
“Universal and bear traps, then.”
“Eh? Hunting with traps? Ruins the hide—better this withered one.”
“Not skinning.”
“Hm. Bear gallbladders fetch good prices these days. How many?”
“One... thirty.”
“Eh?”
“The prey's sly.”
#
Gye-ryong Merchant Group threw the noisiest banquet in ages. Any reason worked—Huashan experts' visit publicized ties. Banners for ten li, free booze and snacks for all.
Regular partners snubbed the usually stingy host's generosity, but local drunks flocked. Lights and music blazed till dawn.
Peak: Hebi's top courtesan Wolhyang's dance. Drunks clung to seats, then mobbed the center for a glimpse.
“Greet them. Huashan's finest warriors.”
Gye Yeonseok puffed up, hyping the experts. Wolhyang lowered her veil with a soft smile.
“Wolhyang, at your service.”
Gye Cheolyeong beside him, even the Huashan duo—few kept straight faces. Glimpses of pale thigh mid-dance drew guttural moans.
As eyes locked on her, a thief slipped between lanterns, scaling the wall unseen.
'Success!'
With this, thieving days ended. Tossed into the jianghu young, self-taught scraps—best at throwing knives, hence theft. Not his dream.
Then, Radiant Heaven Divine Palm manual. Final technique of the vanished Radiant Heaven Divine Lord.
It had palm forms but no qi method—demanded massive internal energy, useless to him.
'But now! The jianghu witnesses the Divine Lord's return.'
Snow Plum Pill and Radiant Heaven Divine Palm. Unstoppable.
“Heh heh heh.”
“Told you he'd come here.”
“Heh, actually stole it.”
Sudden voices dropped his heart. He bolted with lightness skill—but their killing intent blanketed everywhere.
“Usually it's 'Who goes there?' right?”
“Yeah, tight-lipped. Alliance material.”
Casual chat, cloud-patterned robes, single swords. Outmatched.
'Jeomchang Sect.'
Share the pill? They mentioned Alliance—no murder. Swallow and bolt?
“Look at him scheming.”
“Hey, twitch a finger, lose your head.”
Game over. 'Better next chance than die here.'
He knelt. “Blinded by greed, forgive me.”
Out came the pill box; he prostrated. Captured by Alliance post-recovery, but if they coveted it, maybe no prison.
“That the Snow Plum Pill?”
“Check contents. Can't trust thieves.”
“Right.”
Pop. Fresh scent wafted, even to his nose.
“Real deal.”
“Sure?”
“Sirs, may this one speak?”
“Hm?”
“What if I saw nothing?”
“What?”
“Gye-ryong's lord is greedy, ungrateful tyrant. Even if you return it, thanks? Take it yourselves...”
“Ha, this guy.”
“What does he take us for.”
Eye contact confirmed: escape possible.
“Then I'll...”
Legs wouldn't move.
“Think we'd leave witnesses?”
“Naive for a black path thief. How'd you get 'Chuhon Thief'?”
Curse unfinished, he collapsed.
“Clean up quick.”
“Wait. Thieves stash treasures close. Look.”
Manual pulled from bosom.
“Check later. They'll notice soon.”
Thud. Palm strike cratered ground. Kicked corpse in, buried roughly, turned to leave.
Rustle.
“Who?”
“Come out or die.”
Youth emerged, barely twenty.
“Wh-who are you?”
“You—why here last night?”
Saw something? Timing off? Glances tangled.
“Heard free booze at Gye-ryong banquet, heading there. Got lost...”
“See anything?”
“What?”
“...”
Questioner eyed partner; shake no.
“Come. I'll guide to Gye-ryong.”
“...Sorry, you look shady. Can't I just go?”
“...”
“...”
No hesitation. He saw. Simultaneous launch; blades flashed.
“Bad luck. Blame fate.”
Suddenly, youth's innocent face twisted demonic.
“You fucks are ballsy. Jeomchang teach that?”
“Hup!”
Unleashed Jeomchang swordplay for quick kill—blocked absurdly. Clash jarred joints; stumbled back.
Crack.
“Gaaah!”
Ankle teeth gnashed viciously. Stealth vital, yet Jeomchang's Ghostly Dance screamed.
“Who are you! Know who we are?”
Qi surged against trap jaws—too late, power failed.
Sinister smile on youth's lips.
“Who? Jeomchang thieves.”
“...Your identity?”
“Snow Plum Pill's new owner.”
Jin Sowoon grinned.