The Time for the Tiger to Grow, 2 Years (2)
Excluding the Herbal Medicine Compendium, Ilhyang had been studying the other books that Singui had given her, but for the first time in ages, she was sorting medicinal ingredients by type.
After her family was massacred by a group of black-clad assailants in the past, she had thought she'd never make hwandan pills again. Yet here she was, over a decade later, sitting in front of a decoction pot once more. Human affairs are truly unpredictable, she thought.
Ilhyang placed the sorted ingredients into the decoction pot in the proper ratios. In just a little while, she'd take them out, mix in the rest, and the hwandan would be complete. But her hand, which needed to stir them thoroughly to blend properly, stayed still.
"I can do this!"
For some reason, her body trembled faintly as she stared down at the ingredients. The nightmare of that unidentified black-clad group bursting in resurfaced.
"This is the Namgung Family Estate!"
She steeled herself once more. "They can't come here!"
Ilhyang closed her eyes and pictured Namgung Daeso's warm smile. Her heart immediately calmed.
After hesitating for a long while, Ilhyang finally moved her arm. She began crafting the hwandan step by step.
"Sister, for now, start by familiarizing yourself with my work."
Ihyang nodded lightly. Ever since that day, her role had been simply to watch Namgung Je-cheon do his job. She needed to understand how things worked here to help out.
But now, Ihyang was painfully realizing just how lightly she'd taken this work.
The Namgung Je-cheon she'd seen before was just the Namgung Family's deputy strategist—a cute little brother who dropped by their hall to whine and act spoiled whenever he was bored. But the man she was looking at now filled her eyes with astonishment.
People can change this much?
The usual Namgung Je-cheon, who got thrashed by Namgung Daeso and came begging for favors, was nowhere in sight. His gaze as he reviewed documents was sharper than any warrior's.
As she had for the past ten days, Ihyang picked up a document after Namgung Je-cheon approved it. It was densely packed with writing, no gaps whatsoever. Just reading and grasping it would take considerable time.
Yet Namgung Je-cheon skimmed it with his eyes and approved it on the spot.
So fast. Does he really read and understand all of it?
As he approved documents, Namgung Je-cheon occasionally tossed questions at Ihyang.
"There's a dispute between the Jongnam Sect and Hwasan Sect's branch families in Shaanxi Province. It started as a trivial issue, but blood was eventually spilled between the two forces. Unable to stand by, the main sects intervened to mediate, but the situation has already spiraled out of control. So they've requested our Namgung Family's help. How would you resolve this?"
The question matched the content of the document Ihyang had just read. It proved Namgung Je-cheon never approved anything carelessly.
Ihyang calmly laid out her opinion. "First, we'd need to identify the root cause of the dispute. As the document says, it probably started with something minor. But now that it's escalated this far, the original issue might not even matter much."
Namgung Je-cheon continued approving documents as he replied. "Exactly. Once blood has been shed, the other side will want blood regardless of the initial reason."
That was the way of the martial world.
"Moreover, the fact that Jongnam and Hwasan asked the Namgung Family for help is their subtle way of saying they want a smooth resolution. I think they want us to act as an impartial third party and deliver a judgment."
Namgung Je-cheon looked up from the documents at Ihyang. "So, if you were in charge of this case, what would you do?"
"Hmm... I'd dispatch a sharp-minded warrior to Shaanxi who can grasp the situation flexibly and won't bend under pressure from Jongnam or Hwasan."
"More specifically?"
Ihyang pondered briefly before speaking. "The Outer Court's Jeryim Hall would be suitable. A deputy hall leader rank should suffice. They're mostly composed of people with no ties to the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families."
Namgung Je-cheon smiled in satisfaction and returned to his documents. "Not a bad solution. Then, sister, why don't you take charge of this case yourself?"
"M-Me, really?"
"Yes."
Her first real assignment since coming here. Ihyang clenched her small hands tightly. "Got it! I'll do my best."
"Take the documents I've approved to Jeryim Hall, and they'll assist you."
"Okay."
Ihyang left with a tense expression. As Namgung Je-cheon had predicted after watching her for ten days, she was exceptionally bright. Her decision just now came after a quick glance at the document.
Namgung Je-cheon murmured, "Sister just lacked the opportunity all this time."
Besides, being a woman had narrowed her options even further.
"But not everyone seizes an opportunity when it's given."
Some say, If I just had one chance, I could have succeeded too. That was clueless about the world.
Opportunities aren't special. They swirl around you constantly—you just fail to notice them. Out of a thousand, maybe one grabs it and turns it into success.
"So show me, sister. What you can do."
Namgung Je-cheon turned back to his documents.
"Then I can finally head out and have some fun!"
The desk was still piled high with documents as tall as a person.
* * *
I couldn't even remember how many days had passed. Today, like always, I woke up, washed, ate the meal prepared by the head maid, went to the courtyard, and started sparring with Daegalbak 1 through 50.
How far did I get yesterday before collapsing? Lately, passing out had become routine. Getting hit so much made me numb to it, I guess. Finishing a day without blacking out felt weird now.
Am I really going to end up messed up like this?
Still, it was taking longer and longer to reach the knockout point, so progress was happening.
"Up to 23, I think."
My last memory from yesterday was crumpling from the pain of 23's sword cracking my skull.
As I stepped out, sure enough, 24 sidled up slyly—he'd been waiting.
"I've spent the whole day wondering how best to thrash you today to vent my frustrations."
"What a coincidence. I spent my sleep dreaming up ways to smash your daegalbak."
This was when Yang-ui Simgong's usefulness shone. I could think on one side even while sleeping.
"Come at me. Today, I'll graciously limit it to exactly 100 hits."
"Sounds good! Let's have some real fun!"
I charged at Daegalbak 24 without hesitation, but as expected, none of my attacks landed. Still, there was a tiny difference from yesterday.
24's movements are getting bigger.
Proof that my attacks were starting to land. 24 didn't show it outwardly, but inwardly, he was impressed.
The Youngest Young Master's attacks are a bit sharper now. And he's pinpointing flaws in my martial arts that even I didn't know about.
Namgung Daeso was growing at an astonishing rate. But for some reason, the number of hits he took wasn't decreasing.
Damn... bastards...
The reason? His opponents were growing stronger right alongside him. In the end, after taking all 100 hits, Namgung Daeso could finally catch a brief rest.
* * *
Time flew by, and a month passed. As Namgung Daeso opened his day with sparring as usual, a special guest arrived: Singui, carrying armfuls of hwandan.
And beside him was a welcome face.
"Ilhyang sis!"
I dodged Daegalbak 48's incoming fist and ran over to Singui and Ilhyang.
The sparring halted abruptly. Daegalbak 48 stared blankly at his fist.
He dodged it...
A punch he'd never dodged in all their spars so far. Though Namgung Daeso hadn't even noticed.
Singui frowned the moment he saw Namgung Daeso's face.
"Is that even a face anymore?"
It was swollen to twice a normal person's size.
I forced open my barely mobile eyes. "Yeah, I'm used to it now."
"Tsk tsk. If you say so, I won't argue. Here, take these. One a day will invigorate you."
Singui held bundles of hwandan packages. I took them and asked, "What's this?"
The answer came from Ilhyang, who looked a bit shy—unlike her usual self.
Feels awkward after so long apart.
That stung a little.
"Th-Those are vitality pills."
I quickly guessed why she was acting off. Her hands were blistered all over.
"No way—did you make these, Ilhyang sis?"
She nodded faintly. Singui looked at her proudly.
"They're a bit rough, but the effects are genuine. She pulled three all-nighters making them just for you."
As expected—only Ilhyang sis!
I wanted to hug her tight, but my sweat-soaked body made it impossible—such a shame. Instead, I beamed at her.
"I'll eat them well. No troubles, right?"
"No."
Singui turned to leave, and Ilhyang hurried after him.
"I'll come again."
"Youngest Young Master, next time I'll bring something even better for your body."
A brief reunion compared to how long we'd been apart. They could have stayed longer... What was the rush? The head maid would be back from the market soon anyway.
"Hurry up!"
At Daegalbak 48's urging, I returned to my task. But his punches felt even fiercer than before.
Thwack!
Damn! It hurt more than usual.
* * *
Six months passed.
Thwack!
"DAEGARIII!"
That's it! This is what a good hit feels like!
"Gotta smack a daegalbak like this to savor it!"
This is life!
Now I could take on half of the Daegalbak. Confidence in my martial arts was building. The Daegalbak, who once eagerly awaited spars with me, now started dodging me.
How much effort had I poured into this day? My perpetually swollen face was normal more often, and thanks to Ilhyang sis's occasional hwandan deliveries, my body grew more vibrant by the day.
"Daegalbak 28! You're up!"
I bellowed, and 28 approached hesitantly.
Daegalbak 28 was starting to feel overwhelmed by spars with the Youngest Young Master. He could crush me with raw power anytime, but pride wouldn't allow it.
That was when it happened.
"I think you're ready to face us now."
The two old men, who had only watched until now, stood and approached me.
Finally here.
I eyed them expectantly. "Took you long enough."
"Amitabha."
"Namo Amitabha."
Ilseon Dosa and Mujikja had figured it'd take at least a year for Namgung Daeso to be ready for them. Yet he'd done it in just six months. Watching him had set their hearts racing.
"Who wants to go first?"
Mujikja stepped forward. "Namo Amitabha. I'll start."
"Great!"
Mujikja had reflected on his martial arts over the six months, occasionally observing Namgung Daeso's spars with the Daegalbak. Each time, he'd gained astonishing new insights into the Youngest Young Master's skills.
Before the spar began, Mujikja announced his technique. "I'll use Hyegeom."
"That half-baked one you learned back then?"
"Heh heh, it'll be a bit different this time."
Yeah. Maybe more than a bit. It might be an entirely new art. This would be the first time deploying it with his body rather than his head... Even he couldn't say for sure.
Mujikja aimed his weathered Songmun ancient sword at Namgung Daeso. In that instant, I gripped my sword and thrust it out swiftly.
Sail Sword Technique.
My fastest sword art at the moment. The Daegalbak watched the matchup with keen interest, like they'd been waiting for it. Among them, Daegalbak 17's palms were slick with sweat.