A Worthwhile Investment
The request was completed without a hitch.
The vagabonds, including Hak In-bo, returned safely.
And An Won-myeong, the original target of the rescue mission, was also back in one piece.
Aside from the minor nuisance of An Won-myeong throwing a tantrum and demanding Ilyang be handed over to him as a servant, that is.
The request had yielded results far beyond expectations.
"This is a request that would have ended in failure if not for you."
Hak In-bo and the other vagabonds were men of conscience.
Praising Ilyang for returning safely after facing the monsters of the Mansi Sect,
they readily yielded half of the reward they were supposed to receive upon completion.
On top of that, they also gave up half of the bounty posted at the Nangin Association.
Clink.
The pouch looked remarkably heavy.
It was a money pouch larger than Ilyang's own head.
"There was no need to go this far, but I shall not refuse your generosity."
Rustle.
Securing the heavy pouch inside his robes, Ilyang smiled brightly.
It might not be the case in the future,
but at this point, money was of the utmost importance.
Thus, Ilyang readily accepted the vagabonds' goodwill.
Seven hundred and fifty silver coins from a single request.
He had only just registered as a vagabond, yet he had amassed a fortune far too vast for a beginner in one fell swoop.
"You earned your fair share through your own labor, so do not feel burdened. Still, requests of this scale are rare, so consider yourself fortunate."
"Thank you."
Even among the vagabonds of Giyang County, this incident was the talk of the town.
The revelation of the Giyang County Magistrate's hidden son caused quite a stir,
but it was the mention of the Mansi Sect that truly shook them.
The sheer weight of the Mansi Sect's reputation was immense.
"By the way..."
Pretending to pack his belongings, Ilyang secretly slipped the silver coins into his Jemuldae.
And then,
anticipating the question they were about to ask, Ilyang preemptively answered.
"I do not know the identities of the people I left with the physician. Even if I did, I could not tell you."
"Mmm. I figured as much..."
The five scarred martial artists who had returned to Giyang County with Ilyang.
Their injuries were so severe that they had been rushed straight to the physician.
"However, I can guarantee they have no affiliation with the Mansi Sect."
"Well, that is enough then. The Nangin Association was rather worried."
Bringing a cup of Chimseol tea from the Unwol Pavilion to his lips,
Ilyang gazed out at the well-manicured garden visible through the window.
As he did, his mind drifted back to the moment he had returned to Giyang County.
The Namgung Clan...
Why was a master of the Namgung Clan at that specific place, at that exact hour?
Their forces seemed far too meager to have come for the purpose of subjugating the Mansi Sect.
Should I have pressed them further?
Honestly, if he had wished to,
he could have tortured the truth out of those half-dead men.
But there was no need to go that far.
There were several reasons he had let them off the hook.
The most crucial reason was that they seemed potentially useful.
The Namgung Clan is quite a prominent family in the Murim.
Though it was difficult to fully comprehend,
the Namgung Clan was essentially a local lord possessing military might equivalent to a frontier count or duke.
It is quite absurd that a single family—one without any official government rank, no less—wields that kind of power.
The Greatest Clan Under Heaven.
True to their grand reputation, the Namgung Clan possessed immense power. If he placed them in his debt,
it would likely make acquiring necessary resources much easier in the future.
Though it was rather strange how easily they complied.
In truth, this detail bothered Ilyang.
On the outside, his body was merely that of a ten-year-old child.
Yet, the men who claimed to be warriors of the Namgung Clan
from the very moment they locked eyes,
had been excessively submissive, even using formal language as they obeyed his every word.
Was it because I killed that Mansi Sect mage?
Even so, their faces had been far too pale with terror.
Ilyang stroked his soft, youthful chin and tilted his head, but soon pushed the thought aside.
That was not what mattered right now.
Regardless, I must use the funds I obtained this time to secure resources.
Upon inquiry, he had learned that spirit stones and elixirs—the equivalents of mana crystals and elixirs—existed in this world as well.
Naturally, they were traded at exorbitant prices.
The price is one thing, but there is no channel through which to purchase them.
He had initially tried to purchase them through the Nangin Association,
but they had expressed reluctance.
"We can neither purchase nor sell such high-grade items."
"Why is that?"
At the Giyang County branch of the Nangin Association,
Mak Chung, the receptionist, let out a sigh and explained.
"Because the Merchant Coalition would never allow it. The Nangin Association respects their territory."
He claimed to respect their territory, but his expression suggested otherwise.
Hmm. It seems this world has its own share of complicated internal politics.
He did introduce me to a merchant group, though.
But verification was necessary.
He would be trading highly expensive goods in the future.
It was only right to knock on a stone bridge before crossing.
Thus, Ilyang set down his teacup and asked.
"Hero Hak. Do you happen to know of the Cheonghwa Merchant Group?"
"The Cheonghwa Merchant Group? If you mean the Cheonghwa Merchant Group... are you referring to the one based in the Myeongju provincial capital? I have met their branch manager here in Giyang County a few times."
Fortunately, it seemed to be a famous establishment.
It appeared to be quite large, just as he had heard.
"Are they trustworthy?"
"Hmm... they are a decent outfit. They calculate request fees with razor-sharp precision."
The one-eared vagabond next to him, Go An-jeok, readily answered.
Looking at the expressions of the other vagabonds, their reputation was solid.
Perhaps because they were highly satisfied with the recent request,
they treated Ilyang with considerable friendliness.
Scholar Yoo.
Yoo Jeong-ui smoothed down his newly tailored blue scholar's robes and asked.
"It seems Young Hero Ilyang is in need of something."
"Yes. I am thinking of purchasing some elixirs."
Yoo Jeong-ui nodded.
Indeed, carrying a large sum of money all of a sudden would only attract unwanted flies. It was wiser to spend it quickly.
At that moment, Three Fingers, who had been silently sipping his tea, spoke.
Gyeong Hap-gi replied in his characteristically heavy, low voice.
"The Cheonghwa Merchant Group should suffice. Their prices are somewhat steep, but at least they do not play tricks with their wares."
Ilyang offered the vagabonds a gentle smile.
What a relief.
That was exactly what he had wanted to hear.
"That will be a total of six hundred and eighty silver coins."
"...Is this price correct?"
Hearing the price, Ilyang frowned before he could stop himself.
Even though he had come through a recommendation from the Nangin Association,
he wondered if they were taking advantage of his youthful appearance to rip him off.
At his reaction, the clerk of the Cheonghwa Merchant Group replied with an apologetic look.
"The price of elixirs has risen significantly of late. There is a high demand for them. To be perfectly honest, you could purchase this slightly cheaper elsewhere. If you travel to the Cheonjung provincial capital, it would be about ten percent cheaper."
The genial-looking clerk was remarkably kind.
And if he was willing to go that far, it meant this was indeed the going rate.
In the end, Ilyang let out a sigh as he stepped outside, holding a small medicine bottle in his hand.
I feel like I've been robbed in broad daylight.
A standard, low-grade elixir commonly traded in the market.
Effect:Increases internal energy by approximately five to ten years.
Grade:Lowest Grade
The Nine Cycles True Pill.
It was a lowest-grade elixir commonly traded in the market, capable of increasing one's internal energy by approximately five to ten years.
Five hundred silver coins for just one.
On top of that,
adding the supplementary herbs meant to increase the absorption rate of the elixir
instantly vaporized six hundred and eighty silver coins into thin air.
What was even more shocking was that this was the price after a personal discount.
Well, I can always earn more.
What was the point of earning money if not to spend it?
This was exactly what it was for.
Ilyang pushed aside his aching heart as he left with the elixir,
returning straight to the Manseok Inn to consume it.
The moment he placed the crimson pill in his mouth and washed it down with the supplementary herbs,
a dense stream of mana was absorbed into the circle near his heart.
Thump.
Along with a dull ache near his chest, the sharp, metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
This sensation was incredibly familiar.
Though it had been a long time, he was able to focus immediately.
I must absorb every single drop without wasting any.
Do you know how much this cost?
He had heard that even with supplementary herbs, nearly half of the internal energy would be lost during absorption,
but Ilyang had no intention of letting that happen.
I will add rotational force to my mana circuits to prevent the mana from escaping outward.
Ilyang sat cross-legged for nearly a double-hour,
ultimately absorbing every single speck of the elixir's mana without a single drop of loss.
And then,
Crack.
The muscles throughout his body subtly loosened and tightened,
and his physical mana circuits grew slightly sturdier.
At the same time, two circles began to spin around his heart.
"...Mmm."
Ilyang opened his eyes and spread his palm.
Honestly, that had been a close call.
Just as the clerk of the Cheonghwa Merchant Group had warned,
if half of the elixir's energy had been lost, reaching the 2nd Circle would have been an impossible dream.
"But I succeeded."
Two circles, overlapping and spinning around his heart.
He had reached the 2nd Circle.
The rotation speed of the circles was noticeably faster than before,
and the absolute amount of mana he could wield had doubled.
"The rate of growth is certainly fast, but..."
To Ilyang, who had already attained the 9th Circle in his past life, this rate of growth was bound to feel somewhat lacking.
"I must reach the 3rd Circle as quickly as possible."
The 4th Circle presented the first major wall, making it difficult to cross as easily as this,
but the 3rd Circle could be reached simply by increasing his mana capacity.
Ilyang's expression turned complex. He rose from the bed and brought the teacup on the table to his lips.
Taking a sip of the cheap leaf tea exclusive to the Manseok Inn, Ilyang chuckled.
Still, let us not be too hasty. I can climb up step by step.
Come to think of it, there was no need to be impatient.
Compared to his past life, he still had plenty of time.
Furthermore,
he was now firmly convinced that this world was brimming with mysteries he had yet to uncover.
I wonder if those Mansi Sect fellows will pay me another visit.
Looking back, he had always received wonderful gifts whenever he crossed paths with the Mansi Sect.
They were dangerous, but the rewards were equally grand.
Clack.
Ilyang set down his empty teacup on the table and lay back on the bed.
Closing his eyes, he pictured the scene from a few days ago in his mind.
The density of that spell was quite impressive.
He had truly witnessed something spectacular.
Though limited in space,
he had encountered a mage capable of manifesting her own 'domain.'
A field of purple thorny flowers. How romantic.
Lying on the bed, Ilyang curled the corners of his lips upward.
That little girl from the Mansi Sect.
The magic she unleashed was highly destructive, yet aesthetically beautiful.
Had the old mages of the Magic Tower witnessed it, they would have showered her with high marks for artistic merit.
It was a pity, however, that the shapes of the flowers were indistinct, and the actual scale of the effect was rather small.
Had it been me, I would have concentrated it in a single point.
The brat seemed to lack the skill to manipulate it with such flexibility.
Besides, it didn't seem to be a spell she had crafted herself.
Presumably, it was a secret magic belonging to her organization.
Visualizing the scene in his mind, Ilyang drifted into a deep sleep.
And from the following day,
Scholar Gong Chu, whom he had contacted beforehand, arrived.
Under his tutelage, Ilyang focused on his studies once more while simultaneously taking on requests.
Thus, a month passed in the blink of an eye.
"I believe there is no need for further study."
"Mmm... What a pity. A youth of your caliber is more than capable of challenging the provincial civil service examinations... Are you truly resolved not to take them?"
"I have no desire for a government post."
"A pity... Truly a pity."
Teaching Ilyang, who possessed an astonishing rate of comprehension, Scholar Gong Chu had burned with pure passion, completely disregarding the monetary compensation.
Receiving that passionate instruction, Ilyang had studied silently for a month while taking on minor requests,
and finally succeeded in forming his 3rd Circle, his initial goal.
It was an achievement far swifter than his initial projections.
Pondering the reason, a possibility crossed his mind.
It must be because this young body is far more talented than I thought.
For a brief moment, a highly irreverent thought surfaced: Had I known it would be this easy, perhaps I didn't need to buy and consume that elixir?
...But Ilyang quickly shook the thought from his head.
There was no guarantee he would have succeeded without the elixir, after all.
In any case, around the beginning of autumn,
having completely finished his studies with Gong Chu,
Ilyang resolved to move to a new base of operations.
He decided it was time to venture out into a larger city.