“You must be the famous Blue-Eyed Lion. Pleased to meet you. I am Seo Yong-myeong, the Martial Alliance Leader.”
So this person is the Martial Alliance Leader.
I bowed my head and performed a fist salute toward the middle-aged man who looked somewhat like a scholar.
“I am William Marshall. Please call me Sir William.”
“William… names from the Western Regions are hard to pronounce.”
“Please call me whatever is convenient.”
“I understand. Young Master Wi. Hmm… well then, as the Martial Arena champion, I shall present you with your spoils of victory.”
The Alliance Leader took out a small box from his sleeve and handed it to me. I received the box humbly and bowed my head to him once more.
“Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me. It is the proper reward given to the Martial Arena champion.”
This small box, which seemed like it might hold a wristwatch…
It felt surreal that this contained the miraculous medicine that martial artists would go wild over.
Not that it should have any reason to be large in the first place.
“It will greatly assist in increasing your inner energy if you absorb it properly.”
“I see.”
“And you… Hmm. Have you no interest in working for the Martial Alliance?”
Upon his words, I lifted my head. The Martial Alliance Leader was looking at me with a rather friendly gaze. On closer inspection, this man was rather large in stature too.
Judging by the fact that our eye levels aligned roughly.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”
“Hmm, what do you plan to do? I doubt there’s a better way for you to settle down other than working for the Martial Alliance?”
“There is something I must do.”
“Something you must do… might I inquire what it is?”
“I plan to train.”
“Hmph.”
His gaze filled with disappointment felt rather awkward.
This person was quite famous for pushing his subordinates to their limits.
I couldn’t afford to be overworked now that I had come this far.
“Achieving great accomplishments is important. Yes, indeed, it is. If you change your mind, feel free to come find me.”
“Yes sir.”
I turned around and faced the audience. Countless eyes staring at me.
Curiosity.
Kindness.
Hostility.
Jealousy.
Anger.
An array of emotions pierced through my body with their gazes, but I gave no indication of it and approached Mok-kyeong. Mok-kyeong, still fatigued from the previous battle, was breathing slightly heavier than usual as she looked at me.
“Congratulations. Master Eun-gong.”
“You’ve worked hard too.”
“No, I simply had good luck to make it this far…”
“Don’t say that. Everything you achieved through your own efforts is entirely due to your own talent.”
Talent shouldn’t be called luck just because it wields you. You just haven’t learned how to properly control it yet. As time passes, the protagonist will quickly adapt and master his talent as he should.
“Since we’ve won quite a bit of prize money, why don’t you visit the Yunan Dan Family this time?”
“No… I plan to rest my body for now.”
“That’s not a bad choice.”
Since she has not been at the supreme level for long, it would be beneficial for Mok-kyeong to take this time to adjust and reassess herself. The difference between a first-class and supreme level is significant. Even for Mok-kyeong, some time would be needed.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“…Take care.”
I parted ways with Mok-kyeong and headed towards the outside of the Martial Prohibition Area where Hye-ryeong should be.
—————————-
“Wow… so this is the miraculous medicine?”
“Yes.”
“The box isn’t very big! It could fit in my hands!”
It’s indeed small. To think that this humble-sized box contains pills with the power of half a century of cultivated inner energy, does the world of martial arts casually ignore the laws of mass? Or is it the laws of physics?
…As a liberal arts person, I’m not sure how to phrase it.
Anyway, I slowly opened the box before a wide-eyed Hye-ryeong. As I opened it, the aura of the Taiqing Pill began to permeate the room.
“Looking at it alone makes me feel its overwhelming power.”
“It smells amazing!”
“Mint chocolate…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I carefully took out the Taiqing Pill from the box, instead of mint chocolate, this extremely precious miraculous medicine.
The pill, about the size of sweet rice cake, exuded a blessed aura just through its fragrance.
So this is the legendary pill.
A pill in martial arts fiction that often comes up, capable of copying one’s inner energy.
I think they mentioned that absorbing most of the pill’s energy was the privilege of the protagonist.
Still, the Taiqing Pill that I won as a prize is world-famous and revered by everyone, the exclusive Taiqing Pill of the Wudang Sect.
Even amongst Wudang, it’s rare to see this pill, but for some reason, Wudang donated the Taiqing Pill as the championship prize for this Martial Prohibition Contest.
They generally wouldn’t just offer their secret pill as a prize. What could their intent be?
While it’s a plot device to quickly develop the protagonist in storytelling, this is reality, there must be some reasonable cause. What is their reason, really?
…Perhaps I should visit the Wudang Sect sometime later.
Their reason for offering the rarely seen successor-level pill.
And while at it, why not take a peek at Wudang Sect as well.
“Uncle, when do you plan to start your cultivation?”
“Right now.”
“What about your meal?”
“I plan to eat after fully absorbing the Taiqing Pill. As you know, entering cultivation with too full a stomach can be disruptive.”
In normal circumstances, an overfilled belly can heighten your metabolism during meditation; if things go wrong, you may feel the urge to relieve yourself in the middle of your energy control.
While typically manageable with some adjustment, it may be difficult to control during the absorption of the Taiqing Pill.
Thus, purging the body beforehand is the priority before entering cultivation.
“I need to prepare for cultivation, so spend today with your seniors.”
“But just in case, I’m staying!”
“There’s nothing else to do…”
“At least read a book or something!”
Books, books…
“If you’re going to the bookstore, do you mind checking for an easy lightness skill manual as well?”
“Can’t I go with you?”
“As you know, I don’t have the patience to wait if there’s a miraculous drug nearby. But I’ll go with you later, so just hear me out.”
“Tch… alright.”
Hye-ryeong turned around and left my room. After watching her depart and observing the emotionally closed door, I shifted my gaze to the Taiqing Pill that lay before me.
“Can I absorb this properly?”
After all, it’s just a lump of inner energy, so simply absorbing it should do. However, can I truly absorb it adequately using Western meditation techniques?
Even though I smoothly absorbed the century-old ginseng, this is a higher tier medicinal pill.
It might be risky to rely solely on Western meditation techniques.
However, I can’t learn another cultivation method at this point. Let’s give it a try.
Even with some loss, it should significantly increase my mana core capacity, which is somewhat deficient.
I entered the cultivation room and sat cross-legged. Now, by eating the Taiqing Pill and starting meditation, I will begin the battle with this miracle drug.
Absorbing it as much as possible.
Or expelling it if I can’t digest it.
Either way, there’s no harm to me.
After taking a deep breath, I placed the Taiqing Pill in my mouth.
…It’s dissolving softly like cotton candy in my mouth.
Initially, a fresh and cooling sensation enveloped my mouth. As this cool energy slowly descended, my body began to warm up.
So it’s starting?
I closed my eyes and observed a crane freely roaming within my body.
The crane, wildly darting around my body, eventually caught sight of me observing it and locked gazes with me.
Its gaze suggested it wasn’t going to be easily absorbed. I carefully called out to the crane.
However, the crane didn’t approach but continued circling around me.
Is it wary of my energy?
I slowly drew out my mana core’s aura and extended it toward the crane.
Very slowly, very cautiously.
Given I had all the time in the world, it’s okay if it takes a long while to absorb the energy. I gently pulled the mint chocolate-like Taiqing energy.
A fist-sized aura slowly guided a tiny bit of Taiqing energy toward my mana core as the crane seemed intrigued and slowly came closer.
Seeing its curiosity, I seized the opportunity and cautiously extended my aura toward the crane in an attempt to communicate.
Fortuitously, the crane ceased guarding against my aura and came closer.
As the crane touched my energy, my aura gradually mixed with the Taiqing energy.
Perhaps because it seeks harmony, the Taiqing energy blended into my body as naturally as water blending into water.
After what seemed like an eternity…
My mana core gradually expanded.
Creating more space to gather new energy. The process of refining.
I carefully and meticulously shaped my expanding mana core like a potter crafting pottery.
“…Is it done?”
Muttering to myself, I opened my eyes.
With my mana core grown by about half its original size…
