The Engagement Ceremony proceeded in an atmosphere that was hard to call either modest or extravagant.
Tang So-wol was adorned with lavish decorations and dressed even more lavishly than them, but the ceremony itself was brief and ended quickly.
Many people had gathered, but the only outsiders were the Haomun members who happened to arrive bearing the Gongjin Pill.
A feast was held and food was distributed to the common households near Chengdu, but few actually knew my name.
Well, that didn't mean things went smoothly.
"Here! Have a drink!"
"…I still have the cup that Third Elder just handed me."
"So finish it quickly and take this old man's cup."
"…"
I squeezed my eyes shut and downed the cup in one go.
A heat that scorched my throat. The aroma of the liquor rising half a beat late. My vision swaying dizzily for a moment.
It wasn't that I disliked alcohol. In fact, I rather enjoyed a drink now and then.
However, this was the first time I'd drunk since my regression, and I'd never downed it this recklessly before, so keeping the intoxication at bay wasn't easy.
"Phew…"
"Hahahaha! Well done! This old man will pour you a bit more than that Third Elder fellow, so look forward to it!"
I let out the breath I'd been holding, and the First Elder sitting beside me let out a hearty laugh as he filled my empty glass.
Glug, glug.
The glass had definitely been empty, but before I knew it, it was full to the brim, sloshing gently. My face reflected on the surface had long since flushed red.
The Engagement Ceremony itself had gone without a hitch. The problem was the banquet that followed.
The elders I'd never had a chance to see before gathered one by one to offer me drinks, and those holding key positions in the Tang Clan also poured me a cup each.
From my standpoint, that meant I'd already downed dozens of cups without a break.
No matter how much I was secretly circulating my internal energy to burn off the alcohol toxin, drinking this much was bound to be rough on a body that hadn't fully matured yet.
In the end, I had no choice but to swallow hard and speak carefully.
"I'll eat some side dishes first, then drink."
"Hm? Ah, go right ahead! Hahaha!"
Still, First Elder, who had poured the drink this time, seemed to have some consideration left in him—instead of urging me, he simply laughed cheerfully.
I stuffed a mouthful of greasy pork. At least while I was eating, he wouldn't tell me to drink.
As I chewed slowly, First Elder chuckled and gave my back a light pat.
"Seems like those old bastards gave you a hard time. Sorry about that. We've got our own circumstances here."
"…"
With my mouth full of meat, I couldn't answer and just stared at him.
His hair and beard were stark white. His green martial robes were slightly worn, and though his appearance seemed aged, a sharp light gleamed in his eyes.
He was a typical veteran martial artist. The kind of old man people warned about in the martial world—the saying about being careful of the elderly and children.
The First Elder, who indeed seemed to possess a martial level reaching Transcendent Peak, curled the corner of his mouth.
"No need. Don't bother trying to answer, just listen comfortably."
"…"
"Actually, the clan head gave strict orders to this old man and the other elders. He said that So-wol has brought her prospective son-in-law, so we must keep the promise we made before."
"…?"
"Normally, a marriage of a child bearing the direct bloodline is a grave matter that the entire clan must involve itself in… but So-wol had the problem of the Poison Spirit Constitution's side effects, didn't she."
The Poison Spirit Constitution has the ability to make a person's body closer to that of a poison creature.
If one hasn't absorbed any poison at all, it might be a different story, but once one begins training in earnest in the poison art, poison energy inevitably seeps into the body.
The owner of the Poison Spirit Constitution naturally possesses a matching resistance, so there's no problem for them… but the problem lies with their children.
How could a frail fetus endure poison energy? Once a Poison Spirit Constitution owner achieves a certain level of accomplishment, having children becomes difficult.
"So-wol is a blessing to the Tang Clan. She will surely achieve great things and further develop the Tang Clan's martial arts. …However, to do so, she had to sacrifice her own life."
A talent so great that merely mastering the poison art guaranteed great achievement. But mastering the poison art meant giving up a part of one's own future.
Tang So-wol was also a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan. No matter how much it was for the sake of the family, they couldn't force a one-sided sacrifice upon her.
"Therefore, all the elders made a single promise with the clan head. If So-wol ever decided on marriage, that would be both a clan event and a matter beyond our hands, so we would simply approve without objection."
I had done quite a lot for the Tang Clan. I had saved Tang So-wol's life, fed the poison creature a priceless spiritual herb it could never have found elsewhere, and even passed on an oral formula that could alleviate the side effects of the Poison Spirit Constitution.
Even so, the fact that the engagement had proceeded so quickly and without any opposition had left me feeling dazed… Now that I knew the story behind it, it finally made sense.
"That's also why, even though you've lived with the Tang Clan for quite some time, you only met me and the other elders at the engagement ceremony. In the past, I never thought I'd become this way, but as a man ages, he turns into a stubborn old fool. So I deliberately avoided crossing paths with you, lest I blurt out something I shouldn't."
"…"
Gulp.
Only after I swallowed the food I had been chewing did I finally speak.
"Then, am I to understand that the fact you're telling me all these little details means there's no chance of you saying something you shouldn't?"
"You've got it right. I imagine the other old men feel the same, but I too am grateful to you. Thanks to you, I was able to set down one of the few burdens on my heart, and I can't tell you how much lighter I feel. So go on, drink it all down. Haven't you flushed out enough of the alcohol toxin by now?"
"So you knew all along."
"Even I was taken aback by how discreetly you circulated your internal energy, but you can't hide a scent."
Those who practice the poison art generally have keen senses of smell. That's because there are times when they need to distinguish poisons by scent.
I hadn't expected him to be able to tell the difference between the natural smell of alcohol at a drinking party and the unnatural alcohol scent that leaks out when flushing out the alcohol toxin.
His martial level is the same Transcendent Peak as mine before the regression, but the experience he has honed over a long time becomes a weapon separate from one's martial level.
I let out a hollow laugh and raised my glass.
"Then, I'll gratefully accept this drink."
***
The next morning. I sat up at the sound of Tang So-wol's footsteps approaching my room, then let out a sigh.
"…I'm dying."
"I did tell you to drink in moderation. When the elders offer you drinks and you accept every single one without hesitation, of course your body won't hold up."
"I had my reasons."
"Yes, yes. It was your first time drinking, so you couldn't gauge your limit, right? I've been there, so I understand. But next time, you have to drink with me."
"…"
Tang So-wol patted my back with a look that seemed to say she was watching a child she'd set out by the water's edge.
I was deeply troubled by how things had come to this, but it was true that I'd drunk until I was half-unconscious, so I had nothing to say.
"But are you really sure it's fine to leave today? I wouldn't mind resting for a day before we go."
"I have my reasons. Just watch for a moment."
First, I stretched and cleared my head a little, then pulled a small wooden box from my chest.
When I casually lifted the lid, the musty scent unique to medicinal herbs spread out in an instant.
"That's… the Gongjin Pill, isn't it?"
"Right. It's what I received from Haomun this time."
Haomun had been caught in a bind because of the Mistress of Honghua Pavilion—she'd caused a big incident while they were trying to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings with the Tang Clan and wipe out even small debts if possible.
What those bastards hurriedly sent as an apology was precisely this Gongjin Pill.
It's no match for the representative spiritual medicines of a faction, like the Great Return Pill, the Jasodan, or the Ten Thousand Poisons Pill… but still, among the spiritual medicines you can obtain with money, it's one of the best.
From Haomun's perspective, it was a display of the utmost sincerity.
Tang So-wol looked at the Gongjin Pill I'd taken out and asked back, as if she couldn't believe it.
"Young hero Cheon… Surely not?"
"Mm. Once you absorb it, a hangover should be blown away."
Spiritual medicines are processed to be easily absorbed, but that doesn't mean all of their efficacy becomes internal energy.
Some loss is inevitable—it scatters with each breath or dissolves into the meridians throughout the body.
When the energy dissolves into the meridians, vitality naturally flows through the body, and light ailments like a hangover are cured in an instant.
Unless one is severely injured, a hangover isn't enough to reduce the pill's efficacy, so there's no need to worry.
Still, the reason many martial artists prefer to take spiritual medicines when their bodies are in the best possible condition comes down to concentration.
In other words, as long as one's concentration isn't shaken, taking a spiritual medicine instead of a hangover cure poses no problem at all.
It's not some ancient divine medicine—a Gongjin Pill like this can still be used at maximum efficiency even in my current state.
Though the Gongjin Pill is a top-tier spiritual medicine, it's also one I've taken several times before my regression, so there's nothing to worry about.
Of course, from Tang So-wol's perspective, who doesn't know this, it's a shocking sight, and she hurriedly tried to stop me.
"W-wait a moment, young hero. It'd be better to take it later…"
But I swallowed the Gongjin Pill faster than she could finish her sentence.
The Gongjin Pill melted on my tongue like sticky honey. Just moments ago it had carried the bitter scent of medicinal herbs, but now it released a cool, refreshing fragrance.
I quickly began guiding the pill's energy down my esophagus, following the Oral Formula of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art.
At the same time, I circulated the internal energy in my Dantian as fast as possible. The resulting flow of internal energy whipped at the clumped energy of the Gongjin Pill.
In the end, the energy that had been about to scatter outward mixed with my existing internal energy and began racing through my meridians.
One cycle, two cycles, three cycles. With each repetition, the Gongjin Pill's energy began to take on the color of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art's internal energy.
After repeating this for a while, the Gongjin Pill's energy had become entirely my own.
Compared to when I first circulated my internal energy, I had succeeded in absorbing everything except for the small portion I'd missed before the acceleration kicked in.
Finally, I cycled my internal energy a couple more times, then slowly returned the rapidly swollen internal energy to my Dantian.
Only after I had withdrawn all my internal energy back into my Dantian did I slowly open my eyes.
"Hoo…"
My Dantian felt noticeably heavier than usual, which gave off a strange sense of dissonance. My body, which had been wobbling from the hangover, now felt light, and my mind was clear as well.
I smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
"Good."
"Good, my foot! Why would you waste something so precious…"
Tang So-wol, who had been standing guard as the Cultivation Guardian, pounded on my shoulder in frustration. I took a few hits before getting up from my seat.
"Enough of that. Just take a look first."
"…What do you mean?"
Tang So-wol answered sullenly, but she stopped her arm nonetheless. Right in front of her, I drew my sword with a flourish.
Then I poured the internal energy I had just replenished into the blade without reservation.
Woong—
A faint resonance rang out as a red current rose from the sword. I could now use Sword Qi without forcing it, unlike when I had faced the Gwimongmanyeo before.
Of course, I couldn't sustain it for long… but it would be more than enough to use in real combat.
Tang So-wol stared at the Sword Qi blooming above my blade, her body stiff. Seeing her rare, dazed expression, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
"How about it? Looks like I absorbed it pretty well."
"…Huh? Ah, ahem. I suppose I was worrying over nothing. But since I was startled, I was startled — do give me some warning next time."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Tang So-wol nodded quickly, her face slightly flushed, then awkwardly changed the subject.
"S-so, have you finished your preparations?"
"I was about to get to it, but I did roughly prepare yesterday."
A sturdy set of martial robes, a well-sharpened sword, and a travel bag of suitable size.
It was too sparse an outfit for a trip all the way to Shaanxi, but if the money pouch was heavy, that changed the story.
Tang So-wol seemed to have had the same thought, as she was dressed in much the same manner as myself. Somehow, it reminded me of when I first kidnapped her.
Tang So-wol noticed my gaze. With her face still flushed, she giggled and lightly spread her arms.
"Not going to kidnap me this time?"
"If you wish, I will."
"Hehe. That's a rather tempting offer, but let's put it off for another time. Father and Miss Seol are already waiting for us outside."
"…Wait. Since when?"
"Since I came in, I suppose?"
"How long did it take me to absorb the Gongjin Pill?"
"About a shichen and a half… ah."
Only then did Tang So-wol realize the situation, her eyes widening.
A daughter who went into her betrothed's room early in the morning and only came out after a long while. And a son-in-law who, for some reason, was not just fine but practically brimming with energy.
"Hmm."
Had she messed up?