Chapter 92
Whoosh!
As he began earnestly drawing out the energy from the Fire Dragon Pill, a ferocious blaze erupted on an entirely different level from when he'd merely peeled off the outer layer.
Boom! Boom!
The fiery energy thrashed wildly, as if eager to shatter the barrier of rigid qi binding it.
Tian Ailang boldly extracted even more energy from the Fire Dragon Pill.
Fwoosh! Rumble!
The blaze intensified dramatically.
It looks just like a dragon.
The fire energy extracted from the Fire Dragon Pill writhed like a living thing, its form strikingly similar to a dragon's.
Tian Ailang recalled the hidden legend of the Pa-gak-sa that the South Forest Beast Tribe warriors had shared with him. They said that when the Pa-gak-sa grew nine horns, it transformed into a fire dragon and ascended to the heavens.
Behave yourself.
As Tian Ailang's crimson eyes gleamed fiercely, the rampaging blaze flinched.
But soon enough, as if offended by his command, it threw an even bigger tantrum.
I don't have time to play along at your pace.
Filled with unyielding determination to save his little brother, Tian Ailang had no intention of indulging the Fire Dragon Pill's whims.
He narrowed his eyes further, suppressing the pill's energy. Like taming a wild beast, he alternated between carrot and stick, gradually bringing it under control.
This method was something he'd learned by observing the South Forest Beast Tribe warriors. Each of them was bonded to a wild animal connected to their soul, and they had two key principles for taming them.
First, understand them. No amount of effort would succeed without grasping the habits of the beast you sought to tame.
The fire energy dwelling within Tian Ailang's body undulated in harmony with the Fire Dragon Pill's blaze.
Second, preserve the beast's wildness and freedom. This wasn't mere neglect—it was the path to earning trust. They explained that in the wild, ruled by the logic of strength, submission through power came first. But rather than constantly oppressing a subdued beast, they would release it into freedom. Repeating this cycle of domination and release countless times would eventually lead the beast to submit of its own accord. Once that happened, the soul-bonded creature would follow its master willingly, without losing its innate ferocity.
This was an ancient tradition of the South Forest Beast Tribe.
The same applied to relationships between people. The tribe rarely followed outsiders beyond their own kind, but they would occasionally pledge loyalty to one who subdued them through strength and granted them freedom. The most famous example from distant history was their ancestor Meng Huo, who followed Zhuge Liang.
Tian Ailang reminisced about his fierce comrades from the South Forest and subdued and released the Fire Dragon Pill's energy accordingly. Only when it was fully tamed did he infuse it with his qi arts.
The process took a full two weeks.
With the Fire Dragon Pill complete, Tian Ailang swallowed the special tonic Ma Chung had made for him, roughly restored his stamina, and moved on to processing the Ice White Pill.
According to Seol Eom of the North Sea Ice Palace, the Ice White Pill was sourced from nature, just like the Fire Dragon Pill. However, it came in various forms—not just from spirit beasts like the Pa-gak-sa, but also from North Sea herbs or special stones that reached this level after enduring eons.
Though all called Ice White Pills, they were graded by the quality and quantity of the ice qi they contained.
The one Seol Eom, lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, had given Tian Ailang was the finest grade, infused with a full gapja—sixty years—of ice qi.
As he handled the Ice White Pill, Tian Ailang felt the biting chill of a North Sea winter. Memories of their camaraderie and heroic spirit flooded back.
I hope they're all doing well.
They were hearty folk, full of righteousness.
Come to think of it, the Beast Tribe warriors and the Ice Palace fighters would probably get along great.
Their environments were polar opposites, but their temperaments were so similar they could become fast friends. Of course, the vast distance made it unlikely they'd ever meet in their lifetimes.
Tian Ailang thought fondly of those worthy comrades and continued working on the Ice White Pill.
* * *
A full month in total. Tian Ailang hadn't budged from his spot while processing the spirit elixirs.
He'd only replenished his strength midway with nourishing foods from Ma Chung and Sinui—it had been a grueling time when he could barely even use the bathroom properly.
"It's up to you two from here."
Tian Ailang handed over the specially crafted box. Inside lay the three spirit elixirs, each with distinct properties but all tamed by him and sharing the hue of his qi arts, awaiting the next phase.
Ma Chung, receiving the box on behalf of the others, nodded gravely.
"Got it. You've worked hard, Ailang. We'll get started right away."
"You've done enough. Rest while we merge the elixirs."
Sinui replied with equal seriousness.
Though they hadn't shown it, Ma Chung and Sinui had suffered just as much as Tian Ailang. Never knowing when his work might end or what crisis might arise, they'd stayed by his side, tending to Song Sogeol at every opportunity.
Tian Ailang knew their vigilant support had made the process smooth, but he didn't relax his tension.
"Save the cheers and celebrations until the treatment's complete."
"Fair enough."
"Naturally."
Tian Ailang spoke as if concluding the exchange.
"And call me if you need anything—don't hesitate."
Ma Chung and Sinui nodded and headed straight to the workshop. With their supreme knowledge and skills, they'd craft the elixirs into an easy-to-swallow form for the fallen Song Sogeol.
Tian Ailang entrusted everything to them with full faith and collapsed into much-needed sleep.
It was early morning, but with the tension released, slumber dragged down his eyelids like a torrent.
No matter how superhuman, sleep couldn't be defied forever.
He slept like the dead for a full day and woke only the next morning to Hwalan's visit.
"It's been a while."
Tian Ailang greeted Hwalan's shy words with a warm smile.
"Yeah, it has."
Seeing his smile, Hwalan recalled their last conversation that night. Her expression turned awkward.
As an embarrassed silence settled between them, Hwalan spoke up.
"Everything's ready. They're just waiting for you, Young Lord."
Tian Ailang snapped alert. The deep sleep and her lovely voice had lulled him into a daze.
He sprang to his feet.
"Let's go!"
Tian Ailang rushed to the building where Song Sogeol lay.
Inside, Ma Chung and Sinui awaited him in reverent postures. The space, cluttered with treatment tools and incense during Song Sogeol's care, had been meticulously tidied.
A custom-made teapot sat alone beside Song Sogeol on the central bed.
Panaceas from qi arts masters were typically formed into pills like ordinary elixirs. But for the immobile Song Sogeol, Ma Chung and Sinui had liquefied it.
"You're here."
Ma Chung welcomed him with joyful eyes.
"Yes, Grandfather. Is everything already prepared?"
"Thanks to your hard work, it was no trouble."
Tian Ailang studied the two. They looked like they'd pulled an all-nighter, yet showed no fatigue. Their eyes burned solely with anticipation and zeal for the treatment.
"Is it ready?"
Tian Ailang asked, and Ma Chung and Sinui replied with resolute expressions.
"Of course."
"Without a doubt."
Tian Ailang gazed at Song Sogeol, lying straight as death—pale skin unmoving. Yet his neatly combed hair and simple clothes made him look merely asleep.
He turned to Hwalan, who had followed him in.
"Thank you, always."
"It's nothing."
Hwalan's tone was curt, but her lips curved in a full smile.
Tian Ailang smiled back and spread his arms wide.
Swish—
His qi circulated the room's air in an instant. A refreshing energy swirled within.
Not stopping there, Tian Ailang unfurled a qi barrier throughout the building to prevent even dust from interfering with the treatment.
Confirming all was set, he nodded.
"Then let's begin."
At his words, Sinui carefully pried open Song Sogeol's mouth and adjusted his position for easy swallowing.
Ma Chung lifted the teapot gently and tilted it slowly toward Song Sogeol's lips.
Drip, drip.
A liquid of mysterious color and aroma flowed into his mouth.
As before when aiding Sinui, Tian Ailang placed hands on Song Sogeol's throat and lower dantian, guiding the medicine.
The elixir slid down the esophagus and, with his help, reached the stomach leisurely.
Its potency was so immense that the energy began spreading through his body even before arriving. As a medicine brimming with vital life force, it would heal on its own once ingested—but Tian Ailang wouldn't leave it to chance.
He meticulously controlled every strand of the panacea's energy as it absorbed into the body and permeated everywhere.
First, he directed it to the lower dantian. He felt the shattered core, leaking energy like a bottomless sieve due to the vicious San-gong Poison.
This was why, during his injury, Song Sogeol had depleted much of his innate qi, rendering treatment impossible and leaving him on the verge of death without constant elixirs or qi infusions.
A flash of rage surged toward the Demonic Cult that had done this to his precious brother, but Tian Ailang quickly composed himself. Such emotions were needless now.
Fortunately, thanks to everyone's efforts so far, the intact portions of his lower dantian remained healthy.
Tian Ailang caressed it tenderly with the panacea's energy, rubbing gently like soothing a bellyache.
The dantian gradually regained vitality, new tissue budding to mend the cracks like fresh flesh. Though the repaired sections were still fragile, once the vessel was whole, energy began filling it.
Thank goodness.
Confirming the medicine's efficacy, Tian Ailang joyfully guided the energy onward.
From the lower dantian, he formed a Small Heavenly Circuit, looping through the major acupoints.
By now, Ma Chung and Sinui had fed Song Sogeol the entire panacea. They quietly stepped back, watching without disturbing his focus.
Tian Ailang didn't stop at the Small Circuit. He led the energy to the middle and upper dantians. Where acupoints were blocked or uneven, he smoothed them like a smith honing a blade.
Finally, as per his will, the energy awakened the middle and upper dantians, completing the Great Heavenly Circuit.
Hummm—
An indescribable resonance filled the room as Song Sogeol's body floated upward.
From the Baihui acupoint atop his head, three lotus petals bloomed.
Hwalan and the two masters clamped their mouths shut to stifle gasps of awe at the miraculous sight.
Having soothed Song Sogeol's Conception and Governing Vessels and all twelve meridians, Tian Ailang drew the remaining energy to his heart—for it too had weakened from the desperate use of innate qi on the brink of death.
After a considerable time, Tian Ailang exhaled deeply and withdrew his hands.
"Hoo…"
As he opened his eyes, Hwalan and the two finally released their breaths and uncovered their mouths.
Tian Ailang turned to speak with them—but a faint voice from below froze everyone in place.
"Hyungnim…?"
Song Sogeol, still lying down, was gazing up at Tian Ailang.