"I picked it up on the way."
"…Surely you didn't stop by just to dump your trash on me the moment you got back?"
"…"
Really, even when I bring her something good, this is the reaction I get.
Glacier True Energy may be difficult to master, but there's no doubt it's a fine martial art. And for Seol Ri-hyang, who was born with a Pure Yin Constitution, even its one drawback would hardly be an issue…
"Ah."
As I grumbled inwardly at the unfairness of it all, I suddenly noticed the state of the Glacier True Energy secret manual in my hand.
Its cover looked worn at first glance. And as if reflecting the grueling life of flight that Gwiyeong Sin-tu had led, its condition didn't seem all that great.
The edges bore traces of having been wet and dried, and even the spine was slightly bent.
I'd said I picked it up half as a joke, not wanting to make a big deal of it, but for Seol Ri-hyang, who still didn't know much about martial arts, it was only natural she'd take me at my word.
I shook my head and continued.
"I'm joking. I happened to come across a fine Glacier True Energy technique this time, so I came to pass it on to you."
"This?"
"Worn as it looks, they say it's the mental cultivation method of the North Sea Ice Palace."
"Ah, um. Is it alright to just learn another school's martial art? Did you get permission?"
"I didn't get permission. It's stolen goods, after all."
"Stolen?!"
Still, it seemed the past month under the Deputy Commander of the Dark Soul Unit had taught him some basic common sense about the martial world, since he seemed to know that learning a stolen martial art could land you in serious trouble.
"P-put it back right now! I'm grateful you brought it for me, but you don't need to go that far! And the North Sea Ice Palace is a really big deal, isn't it…? I think I remember learning that."
"That's right. It's the largest force in the Outer Murim of the north. But it'll be fine to learn it. First of all, I didn't steal it, so even if a problem arises, it won't go to the worst case. And they have their own circumstances, so the chances are much higher that they won't make an issue of it in the first place."
"So… you're saying it's fine?"
"It'll be fine. And even if it isn't, I'll make it fine, so don't worry about that part."
"I'm just asking in case, but how do you plan to handle it?"
"Through a sincere apology and a bit of a deal, of course."
"What?! You're not going to start by swinging your sword?!"
"…Seol Ri-hyang, I think I'm starting to get a sense of what kind of person you take me for."
As I let out a long sigh, Seol Ri-hyang scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.
"Sorry. I was just so startled that I… Anyway, so it's fine, right?"
"Yeah. Just don't plan on learning it by yourself."
"Would I even understand what it means even if I read it?"
"Probably not. Come to think of it, giving it to you now might be a bit early."
Seol Ri-hyang glared at me as if I'd lost my mind when I tucked the Glacier True Energy back into my robe. The corner of her mouth twitched—she was a bit upset, it seemed. I'd seen that expression often enough before the regression to know.
"Who gives something and then takes it back?!"
"I'm not taking it away entirely. I meant that I was in such a hurry I got the order mixed up."
For now, I'd show the Glacier True Energy to Tang Jincheon tomorrow and talk it over with him. He was probably already searching for a decent ice art that Seol Ri-hyang could learn.
The fact that it was a martial art of the North Sea Ice Palace shouldn't be much of a problem either. Gwiyeong Sin-tu had said that the Glacier True Energy was a martial art placed in a rather unusual situation.
A clan head of the Tang Clan would know how the Glacier True Energy was regarded.
It was a proper advanced martial art with its own symbolism, but… no one had achieved anything with it for a long time, so it was a martial art that anyone who could learn it was encouraged to try.
Besides, as she herself said, even if I gave it to her now, she wouldn't understand it. Seol Ri-hyang had only recently begun her training in martial arts, after all.
"So wait a moment."
"Ugh. Fine."
Seol Ri-hyang looked sulky. I chuckled at her drooping shoulders and continued.
"Don't be too disappointed. Instead, I'll tell you what happened this time."
"Ah! Right. I heard from Master that you were in danger!"
"Hmph. That wasn't even close to dangerous. Listen. First, there's a place called Mount Daemang in Shaanxi Province…"
I sat down on the wooden floor and began to lightly recount what had happened. Of course, I had to add a bit of embellishment here and there.
Like saying that finding the cave was a coincidence, or toning down the description of how I took down the assassin.
Was it because Seol Ri-hyang had lived her whole life in a small world? Every time I told her something, her reaction was so dramatic.
Her eyes sparkled just because I mentioned Shaanxi Province, a place she'd never been, and when I said I'd been considered a genius in my youth, her expression turned subtle.
Then there was the story of how I'd chased an unusual terrain feature and found a cave, met Gwiyeong Sin-tu inside, somehow managed to take down the assassin, and then headed to the Zhongnan Sect—along with the scenery there and the things I'd experienced.
Every time the topic changed, she'd focus with a different kind of reaction.
I wasn't particularly gifted with words, but with a listener this entertained, I couldn't help but get into the swing of it.
So I squeezed out every story I had, told or untold, and laid out everything that had happened until my return, while Seol Ri-hyang stared blankly at the ceiling.
"I'm so jealous. Do you think I'll be able to go on a Murim journey someday?"
"If you train hard, there's no reason you can't."
"Really? When I reach the Age of Twenty like Sister Dang, will I be that strong?"
"Hmm. That might be a bit difficult. Tang So-wol has been training in martial arts since she was much younger. She's also consumed a considerable amount of spiritual medicine over the years."
"…Then half of that?"
"Well, you'd probably reach more than half. It's not that your talent is lacking, Seol Ri-hyang. However, I'd recommend aiming for three years from now rather than five."
"Why? Is something happening in three years?"
"…Actually, Tang So-wol and I have been forbidden from leaving for three years."
"…"
"It's fine to come and go from Chengdu right in front of us, but going any farther than that is apparently prohibited."
Seol Ri-hyang, who had been stammering for a moment at the unexpected story, slowly nodded her head.
"Now that I hear it, I understand. But why three years?"
"Because the Dragon Phoenix Gathering is in three years. It's a big event held once every five years, and it seems they didn't want to block that."
"Ah! The Dragon Phoenix Gathering! I learned about this last time too! It's the big sparring tournament the Murim Alliance holds by gathering all the rising talents of the Central Plains, right? If you get good results, they give you an alias and even spiritual medicines?"
"That's mostly right. But let me add one thing — it's not the rising talents of the entire Central Plains, but the rising talents of the Orthodox Sects."
As long as one doesn't have a particularly notorious reputation, even those on the borderline between orthodox and unorthodox are fine, but the Unorthodox Sects are not allowed to participate at all.
In other words, the very fact of being a Dragon Phoenix Gathering participant is as good as a guarantee.
That's probably why Seomun Hwa-rin wanted to use the Dragon Phoenix Gathering to wash her identity. Though she would fail and end up joining the Black Alliance.
If my memory serves me right, that would be the Dragon Phoenix Gathering three years from now.
If possible, I wanted to bring Seomun Hwa-rin into the Tang Clan rather than the Black Alliance, so I absolutely had to participate.
As I nodded to myself, Seol Ri-hyang spoke up in a somewhat uncertain voice.
"Can I go to such a big competition too?"
"Anyone can participate. It's getting good results there that's hard."
"Hmm. If I train diligently, I could probably reach the borderline of Second-Rate within three years, right? Huh?"
Seol Ri-hyang looked up at me with a restless expression. Thanks to eating and sleeping well at the Tang Clan, she had filled out considerably.
Compared to her gaunt former self, she looked much better now. At the same time, I wondered if this was what Seol Ri-hyang would look like if you rounded her out a bit before the regression.
Seol Ri-hyang seemed to lack confidence, comparing herself to me and Tang So-wol.
But in truth, Seol Ri-hyang was a genius in her own right. She had forcibly reworked a martial art that could never lead to strength and reached the Peak Realm, and she had stolen the songs courtesans sang and taught herself the foundations of the Yin Art on her own.
Give someone like that a proper environment, proper martial arts, and three years of time?
"Well…"
If she did well, she could probably aim for the threshold of first-rate.
As I watched her with a subtle expression, she began to grow anxious, perhaps because I had left the rest of my sentence unsaid.
"Hah. Three years… will it be enough? Rather than tagging along and embarrassing you and Tang unni, maybe I should just watch from the sidelines."
"You don't need to worry about that. No martial artist starts out strong. Everyone knows that they had a weak period themselves, so no one will mock you for being weak alone."
"There were plenty at Haomun?"
"…That place is part of the Unorthodox Sects. I'm talking about the Orthodox Sects. And besides, even three years from now, you'll only be eighteen at most. Reaching the first-rate level at that age is impressive. Most people linger around the second-rate and third-rate."
Prestigious martial clans like the Tang Clan produce many first-rate martial artists, and many martial artists flock to them, so the first-rate level might seem common…
But in reality, it means being a master in one's field, doesn't it? It's not a level to be taken lightly.
"So stop worrying about useless things and just focus on your training. …Alright. Since I'm here anyway, I'll help you before I leave."
"Huh? Could you go easy on me? I'm not confident yet…"
I shook my head at the sight of Seol Ri-hyang rising hesitantly.
"Forget it. The Deputy Commander of the Dark Soul Unit will be watching over you well enough. What I'm going to do is a simple meridian cleansing."
"Meridian cleansing? What's that supposed to be?"
"It's a simple massage-like technique that uses internal energy to stimulate acupoints, relieving fatigue from the body and boosting recovery."
In terms of principle, it's similar to pressing vital points or acupoints. The only difference is that the purpose isn't to incapacitate the opponent, but to benefit them.
If a physician or someone properly trained in Acupoint Sealing were to perform it, it could even be used for treatment… but I'm not at that level, so I'd call it a simple trick.
However, the story changes when it comes to Seol Ri-hyang.
Before the regression. Unlike Tang So-wol, who had kept a respectful distance while clinging on, Seol Ri-hyang would come by every other day, making all sorts of demands.
This was partly because our relationship had started as bickering rivals, and partly because Seol Ri-hyang simply didn't know how to express her shyness except through sharp words.
Given that situation, Seol Ri-hyang often made outrageous requests… and one of them was the meridian cleansing.
In her previous life, Seol Ri-hyang had walked with a limp, unlike now, and she would come by at night complaining that hobbling around all day tired her out quickly, asking for meridian cleansing before she left.
Thanks to that, if there was one thing I was confident in, it was performing meridian cleansing on Seol Ri-hyang. After all, I'd done it more times than I could count.
I let out a small laugh at the sight of Seol Ri-hyang tilting her head in confusion, then pointed at the wooden floor.
"Lie down on your stomach."
"Huh? Like this?"
Without a shred of suspicion, Seol Ri-hyang lay down in front of me. I lightly climbed on top of her.
"Hey?!"
Startled, Seol Ri-hyang tried to sit up, but I pressed down gently on her back and laid her flat again.
"Stay still."
"What?! What are you trying to do that you're telling me to stay still?!"
Seol Ri-hyang, obedient in posture if not in tone, raised only her voice. Instead of answering, I concentrated my internal energy into my fingertips. And then.
Press.
"Hieek?!"
Seol Ri-hyang's back arched like a bow.