With the matter at the Eon clan settled, it was about time to leave.
Not for Sichuan Province, where the Tang Clan was, but for Muhan City, where the Murim Alliance was.
When I secretly handed the poison creature's Spirit Core to Seol Ri-hyang to pass along, Tang Jincheon received it with a pleased smile and spoke.
"We'll likely depart around tomorrow. The Paeng clan head and the Eon clan head will only send the Blood Essence Pills and a few who've taken them to tend to their families—they won't be moving themselves."
"That's only natural. I expected as much."
Though they'd driven out the Demonic Cult's lackeys, the Blood Essence Pills had already spread throughout Hebei Province, and there were surely quite a few martial artists in each clan who had consumed them. For a while, the two clan heads would be less frequent in their external activities as they handled the aftermath.
"Nothing you sense, son-in-law?"
"Hmph. Nothing in this world is handed to you on a silver platter. Don't hope for luck—make yourself the lantern and press forward."
"That's a fine saying, but what I mean is that this time, I'm the one who has to deal with all the troublesome business again!"
"Isn't that a good thing? The Tang Clan's contributions grow, and so does its voice in the Murim Alliance."
"The Tang Clan is strong without any of that. Besides, we don't even engage in political maneuvering—what use is a louder voice?"
That was true. The Tang Clan was, at its core, a reclusive family. They maintained only the bare minimum of contact needed to preserve their standing as one of the Five Great Families.
Because of that, there was even a saying that the Tang Clan's greatest external activity was vengeance.
The complete opposite of the Namgung Clan, who were desperate to show off.
Tang So-wol had called the Namgung Clan eccentric for that, but in truth, the Tang Clan was just as peculiar in its own way.
Given the situation, it was understandable that Tang Jincheon was grumbling. But what could be done about it now that things had already come to this?
"Either way, your son-in-law has done a good thing, hasn't he? You should be proud. Father-in-law."
"Huh?"
Tang Jincheon, looking dumbfounded, clutched his forehead.
"How did I end up in such a state…"
"Speaking of which, what was the father-in-law like in the old days? I mean, when you went on your martial arts journey at our age."
"Why do you suddenly ask that?"
"We've only ever experienced this kind of martial arts journey, but we at least know that this isn't ordinary. I'm curious what it's usually like. Also, I recall that the Sect Leader of Zhongnan once mentioned that in his youth, he traveled the martial world together with you, Father-in-law."
"How much did you hear from that kid?"
"Hmm? Just that you two traveled the martial world together, and that you met my late mother-in-law during that time."
"Hmph. That's all there is to it. I just went around beating up any bastard who looked like trouble, avenged friends I'd made along the way if they were wronged or killed, and only came back when it was time to take over the family."
"From the sound of it, that's not so different from what I'm doing now."
"The opponents were different, you reckless son-in-law. Of course, I was weaker back then than you are now, but even accounting for that, I wasn't as reckless as you."
"Reckless? I only ever jump in when I can see a path to victory. …Even if that path is a bit narrow."
"A man who throws his body into a fight with odds as thin as a rat's tail—that's what we call reckless."
Clicking his tongue, Tang Jincheon continued, his gaze looking as if he found the young man before him exasperating.
"Anyway, given the situation, it would be best to consume the Spiritual Medicine today. If needed, I can assist with True Qi circulation… what do you think?"
"I don't think I'll need it."
"I was asking Seol, not you, son-in-law."
"Me?"
Seol Ri-hyang's eyes widened, but she soon shook her head.
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll be fine."
"I know your Constitution is special, but handling such a massive amount of Qi is a different matter entirely."
"Hmm. I'm not sure how to explain it… I just have a feeling that I'll really be fine. Actually, I think it might even be easier if I do it alone."
"Then it's settled. When it comes to handling poison, my advice would only get in the way of So-wol's Poison Spirit Constitution. I imagine it's the same for you. Trust your own instincts, but make sure you secure a Cultivation Guardian in case something goes wrong."
"Yes! I'll ask Sister Seomun!"
"If it's the Seomun clan head, she's trustworthy. Though, that title of address…"
Tang Jincheon shuddered at the fact that Seomun Hwa-rin, who was around his own age, was being called "sister" — or rather, that she had asked to be called that — but in the end, he let out a short sigh.
"Anyway, if you're fine with it, I won't say more. I'll be going now — I need to have a word with the other two about this matter. I wish you both great success."
With that, Tang Jincheon waved his hand and walked off into the distance.
Seol Ri-hyang and I gave him a slight bow and returned to the room.
***
With Tang So-wol and Seomun Hwa-rin acting as my Cultivation Guardians, I decided to take the Spiritual Medicine.
The first dose is the hardest part; after that, it's just a matter of slowly absorbing it, so I could easily do it even while traveling.
"Open it quickly, Cheon Hwi. You've already seen mine."
"Considering the nature of the Heavenly Tiger Pill, it probably won't give off an energy as peculiar as the Yin Spirit Ghost Pill."
"Still, I'm curious. Right, Sister Tang? Sister Seomun?"
Seol Ri-hyang asked, seeking their agreement. At that, Tang So-wol and Seomun Hwa-rin nodded vigorously.
"I haven't had many chances to see the secret Spiritual Medicines of other families, so each one is fascinating."
"I'm not much different. I've tasted all sorts of Spiritual Medicines, but it's rare to get a proper look at one."
"If that's the case…"
She was curious, so how could I refuse? I nodded and opened the wooden box's lid together with Seol Ri-hyang.
What I felt from Seol Ri-hyang's side was the same cold energy I'd briefly experienced a moment ago. It must be a Spiritual Medicine filled with Yin Energy and gwigi to that extent.
My side, on the other hand, was rather ordinary.
A refreshing fragrance that cleared the mind with a single breath. A faint energy could be felt, and its quantity was not small, but there was no particularly striking sharpness to it.
In truth, a Spiritual Medicine that leaks its energy is hardly fit to function as one, so this was only natural.
Even in the case of the Yin Spirit Ghost Pill, the amount of energy that actually flowed out from the medicine itself would be minimal.
It was simply in the nature of Yin Energy and gwigi that merely containing such energy lowered the temperature of the surroundings.
"You've seen everything, haven't you? I'm starting to get hungry now."
"Ah! Yes! I'll be watching with Sister Hwa-rin, so please eat without worry, young hero Cheon!"
"That was the plan from the start."
I let out a hollow laugh and popped the Heavenly Tiger Pill into my mouth in one go. …And then I understood why the Heavenly Tiger Pill was considered a top-tier Spiritual Medicine even within the Paeng Clan.
The moment it touched my tongue, the Heavenly Tiger Pill melted like water. At the same time, the vast energy contained within it began to pour into me.
Rumble—!
The flow of energy was so violent that it was audible. Like a sleeping tiger awakened, it surged with a ferocious Aura, riding down my throat and making a beeline for my Dantian.
Impatient, isn't it.
I activated the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art at its extreme limit, enveloping the newly incoming energy. No, "enveloping" isn't quite the right word — it's closer to saying I'd thrown a bridle on it.
I forcibly seized the energy that was trying to rush toward my Dantian, and began Qi Circulation Meditation according to the Oral Formula of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art.
One cycle, two cycles, and then three.
By this point, the energy of the Heavenly Tiger Pill, which had initially resisted wildly and tried to force its way through my Meridians and everything else toward my Dantian, began to gradually grow docile.
Like a great tiger that, after being persistently and tenaciously attacked by a wolf, slowly has its hide stained red.
The energy of the Heavenly Tiger was diminishing little by little, while the power of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art was growing ever stronger.
I continued circulating my internal energy, cycling it over and over, dyeing the Heavenly Tiger's energy in the color of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art.
And so, until the hide of the pure white great tiger was drenched in blood-red. Until it became the same color as me.
"…Hoo."
Only then did I open my eyes, having finally gathered into my dantian the energy of the Heavenly Tiger Pill that had been refined through the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art.
I had succeeded in absorbing about eighty percent of the Heavenly Tiger Pill, but the remainder had been lost while circulating it during the early stage when the spiritual medicine's energy was at its greatest, and had instead melted into the meridians throughout my body.
If I later remain conscious of this while practicing Qi Circulation Meditation, I'll be able to absorb the rest slowly but surely, so it's fine.
What matters now is not that lost twenty percent. It's what effect the internal energy, increased by the eighty percent, has on my body.
Crack.
A sensation of something breaking within my body. However, this is not a precursor to my body being harmed and leading to internal injuries.
It was the sound of the restrictions I had placed on my body and meridians—whether consciously or unconsciously—being released.
It has been a long time. A truly long time since I have felt this fullness in my dantian, and it is transforming my body.
It spreads not only through the main meridians but also to the smallest channels at the extremities. A vast amount of internal energy fills the dry meridians, and my senses sharpen with a keen alertness.
It feels as if I am perceiving the world not with my eyes, but with my skin. No, in fact, it is probably quite similar to that.
Thanks to the internal energy that has spread even to the smallest meridians, all the meridian points in my body are connected as one, allowing me to use everything without waste.
Moreover, my Qi Sense, which perceives the world through the internal energy naturally diffused to my fingertips and toes, is still functioning.
Meridians and blood vessels are different things. Unlike blood vessels through which real blood flows, meridians are merely virtual pathways overlaid on the body, thanks to the special nature of qi, which exists yet does not truly exist.
However, just as blood flows from any spot that is pricked, what would happen if internal energy were flowing throughout every part of the body?
The two are certainly different, yet they would come to look quite similar.
Internal energy still kept its nest in the Dantian, but the center of a circulation that had become far vaster and more intricate now lay at the center of the body—that is, around the heart.
In the martial world, this is called the Middle Dantian.
A state in which Qi and Spirit among Essence, Qi, and Spirit are fully united.
Moving internal energy as if moving the body, and moving the body as if moving internal energy.
Naturally, a body suffused with internal energy would become tough and solid enough without any separate concentration of energy. As if one had become a superhuman beyond human limits.
This was given the name Transcendent Peak.
"Finally…"
Finally, he had reached the complete Transcendent Peak.
The stable balance felt instinctively. And with it, a body that felt lighter and vitality that overflowed.
Now he could draw the Sword Flame without overexerting himself, and he would no longer harm his own body by being swayed by enlightenment.
Well, it was true that he was still somewhat lacking compared to his martial level before the regression.
Back then, he had been at the very peak of Transcendent Peak, and now he had only just set foot on its threshold, so it couldn't be helped.
Nevertheless, having reached the same realm held great meaning for him.
It was just that his internal energy was insufficient and his physical strength lacking, leaving him wanting in the duration he could fight and in instantaneous power.
Wasn't it true that everything he could do back then, he could now do as well?
No, he had also learned swordsmanship after the regression, so there were even aspects where he was better off now.
This is a turning point.
Rather than merely reclaiming the martial arts from before the regression, the immediate goal had become achieving something beyond that.
"Harmony Realm."
He had to reach it in this life. At the very least, he needed that level to have any chance of doing something against the Heavenly Demon.
His moment of anticipation and resolve was brief. With his own affairs settled, his gaze fell upon Seol Ri-hyang, who sat cross-legged right before him.
Frost had settled white upon her body, and with each breath, the very air froze around her—yet her expression held a serene smile.
Though summer had not yet fully passed, she had created a small winter all on her own, and he could only swallow his silence.
…It wasn't that she would catch up to him before he even reached the Harmony Realm, was it?
It seemed she wasn't the only one thinking such thoughts, as Tang So-wol approached, sweating profusely, and whispered.
"Young hero Cheon, young hero Cheon. Give it a few years and Hyang-i will become stronger than me, won't she? At this rate, my dignity as her older sister is in danger!"
"Shall we keep it a secret from Seol Ri-hyang from today on and train together in secret?"
"Secret training…!"
Tang So-wol's eyes colored with anticipation of a different meaning.
How sly of her.