In her past life, although she had awoken at this time, she had suffered so severely from the overflow of Spiritual Energy that she had no memory of properly meeting her grandfather. She simply hadn’t known.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure was a legendary item, said to be the condensed essence of the earth’s Extreme Yang energy accumulated over ten thousand years. It was an elixir so potent that consuming it raw would burn a person to death with Yang energy.
If this had been used for her Marrow Cleansing secret prescription, then surely an elixir possessing Yin energy must have been included to control it. To counter a ten-thousand-year-old elixir, the opposing ingredient would have to be equally rare and precious.
“Ryeon, when you see your grandfather, you must thank him sincerely. Understood? He gave you something truly precious.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Ryeon actually didn’t know much about her grandfather, Danmok Cheon-gi.
In the memories she had glimpsed, Danmok Cheon-gi remained secluded in the depths of the family estate before quietly passing away just a few years later.
The fact that the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure was originally intended for Danmok Cheon-gi himself weighed on her mind.
He had possessed it but hadn’t yet formulated it into medicine to take. That was likely because manufacturing a drug suitable for his condition was tricky. Needing such complex medicine implied that his condition was severe.
Ryeon solidified her resolve. After all, a safe, accident-free, disaster-free, Long and Healthy Life naturally included the well-being of her household.
The Moonless Sword (ē”ęå).
The Danmok Clan had been untouchable in Zhejiang Province when Danmok Cheon-gi stood strong as the greatest under the heavens.
However, after he suffered severe injuries in the battle against the Hyulla Valley, the clan’s influence declined rapidly.
On top of that, when the only successor, Danmok Hyeonseong, died a few years ago in a duel with the Geum Family Manor, the clan faltered significantly. When Danmok Cheon-gi passed away a few years later, the Danmok Clan reached a state where it was embarrassing to even call it a ‘Great Clan’.
If not for the history that had sustained the family until then, they would have simply become ‘Mr. Danmok’s family’.
Perhaps, a few years after she had died, that was exactly what happened.
Before, she knew nothing of why she was sick, why she hurt, or why she couldn’t accumulate Internal Energy. But now, things were different.
Wi Jicheong took a scarf made of white fur from Nanny Jang, wrapped it around Ryeon’s neck, and held her hand.
Wolyeongjae (ęå½±é½), where the Grand Patriarch Danmok Cheon-gi resided, was located in the deepest part of the estate.
*
Built from rosewood so dark it appeared black, Wolyeongjae was a building that, at first glance, stood out for its simple elegance.
Though, likely due to barely being maintained for so long, signs of wear and age were visible in every corner.
Head Steward Gang Rip, who was standing at the entrance, welcomed the two as if he had been waiting.
Gang Rip looked at Ryeon once, bowed his head in greeting, and then guided them inside.
As they pushed through the air faintly scented with medicinal herbs, the first thing to catch their eyes was a heavy bamboo curtain.
“Ryeon has come to offer her thanks, Father.”
Wi Jicheong spoke softly, wrapping her arm around Ryeon’s shoulders.
“Hmph. How is the child’s body?”
A rough, heavy voice flowed from behind the curtain. It seemed Danmok Cheon-gi had no intention of raising it.
“Thanks to your care, she has improved immensely.”
“That fellow from the Tang Clan said it was nothing short of a miracle.”
“It is a miracle that wouldn’t exist without Physician Tang and you, Father. Ryeon, you should offer your greetings.”
Wi Jicheong replied. Although the old man’s voice wasn’t particularly affectionate, he knew the details of Ryeon’s condition.
In the past, even after waking up, she had only drifted between sickbeds, so her memories of exchanging proper greetings were faint. Ryeon rolled her eyes for a moment before deciding to put her resolve into action.
“Yes! Thanks to the medicine Grandpa gave me, I’m all better. So I came to say hello to Grandpa, butā¦”
Ryeon looked up at where the curtain hung and took a step forward.
“Can I come inside to greet you?”
Ryeon continued in an innocent voice, acting as if she knew nothing.
“I want to say hello to Grandpa, but this thing is blocking the way.”
A flinch was sensed from behind the curtain. It seemed surprising that a young child, who had only just risen from a sickbed, could speak so clearly.
Soon, a rough, twisted laugh that sounded like scratching iron came from inside.
“Hmph. The little thing is cheeky. Tell her to enter.”
The moment permission fell, Ryeon quickly strode through the curtain made of small threaded bamboo beads.
“…!”
Danmok Cheon-gi sat quietly on a grand wooden armchair. Half of his wrinkled face was marred by a terrifying burn scar.
It was a scar that looked as if red mud had been messily plastered over his skin. The scar revealed on his left hand, which rested on the armrest of the chair, was much the same.
It was a familiar face to Ryeon. Before she had undergone the Marrow Cleansing, he would occasionally come to secretly watch her lying motionless before leaving.
Howeverā¦
She swallowed dryly.
This was because a flashy notification had flashed before her eyes.
[Achievement: Mind’s Eye 3-Star (1-Star ā²)]
[You can now view Aptitude and Perception stats.]
[You can now view detailed items regarding individual achievements.]
Just by facing Danmok Cheon-gi and seeing his face, her Mind’s Eye had ascended a stage.
His features were blurred, smeared by the golden radiance surrounding him. Only his eyes, flashing like a beast’s, were clearly visible within that light.
Ryeon snapped back to reality when she noticed a somewhat murky red light flowing from Danmok Cheon-gi’s waist.
Ryeon pretended to adjust her sleeves and floated the Immortal Mirror (ä»é”) above them.
[Danmok Ryeon]
[Harmony: 7-Star – May remain unnoticed.]
[Mind’s Eye: 3-Star – Able to see even more.]
[Purification: 2-Star – Can purify vitality.]
[Stamina: 5 / 100]
[Internal Energy: Unable to Acquire]
[External Arts: Unlearned]
[Spiritual Energy: 70 / 100]
A line of description she hadn’t seen before was now attached to the abilities of Harmony, Mind’s Eye, and Purification. It seemed this was because the 3-Star Mind’s Eye was an ability that allowed her to ‘see even more’.
[Danmok Cheon-gi]
[Traits: Guardian of Murim / Tendon Collector / Filled with Remorse / One-Winged Bird]
[Falling Star Twelve Swords: 11-Star (12-Star)]
[Boundless Step: 12-Star]
[Meteor Formation Arts: 10-Star]
[Aptitude and Perception: High-Mid (äø-äø)]
[Worries: Danmok Ryeon’s health and aptitude, the declining family fortune, the eradication of Hyulla Valley, the achievements of Danmok Hyeonyo and Danmok Hyeonu]
She could now see his Aptitude and Perception, which had been invisible before. It also appeared that his Falling Star Twelve Swords had originally reached the Great Completion of 12-Star, but due to his injuries, he could not fully exert that power.
Ryeon quickly organized her confusion and offered her greeting.
“Ah! Grandpaā¦ thank you for giving me the medicine.”
Danmok Cheon-gi’s eyebrows twitched at Ryeon’s greeting, and he stroked his chin as he spoke.
“I gave it to you because I wouldn’t have been able to use it even if I kept it anyway. However, that does not mean it is not a precious elixir. Do you understand? Since you have received the family’s expectations, you must devote yourself to meeting them!”
Danmok Cheon-gi’s voice boomed, resonating through the room.
Ryeon swallowed a sigh. How did a person with such a sun-like radiance end up quietly passing away in just a few years?
But now was not the time to dwell on pity.
“Yes, Grandpa! I will work hard!”
If she could resolve Danmok Cheon-gi’s injury, she might be able to extend his remaining lifespan. And it was clear that with her power, it was possible.
Elixirs or spiritual objects existing in nature often possessed extreme properties. They became that way to adapt and survive in harsh natural environments.
For instance, the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng possessed Extreme Yin properties, while the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure used in her prescription possessed Extreme Yang properties. The inner cores of the Human-Faced Spider (äŗŗé¢čč) or the Poison-Horned Monster Dragon (ęÆč§ęŖé¾) contained extreme poison, so consuming such things required something to complement their elemental affinity. Eating them raw would cause one’s blood vessels to freeze or burn to death.
Even spiritual pills created by supplementing and refining these materials could not be consumed recklessly. Power that was excessively large and miraculous became poison in itself.
The reason Danmok Cheon-gi had only held onto the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure was likely because he couldn’t mutually complement the affinities of the various elixirs needed for his prescription.
However, her power was different. It was pure Spiritual Energy itself, leaning neither toward Yin nor Yang.
It was a power that could support weak areas and supplement strong ones upon absorption, wrapping around them to blend naturally.
The reason Ryeon, the vessel containing this Spiritual Energy, couldn’t withstand it and nearly faced ‘ascension’ was that the Spiritual Energy, of which even a spoonful must be handled with care, had crashed into her like a tidal wave.
But what if she refined this Spiritual Energy and transferred it to her grandfather methodically, over a long period?
If Grandpa could enjoy his natural lifespan through thatā¦
Then she could use the Spiritual Energy before it accumulated, and she could prevent the clan from falling into chaos, paying off the debt for the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure.
