Episode 12


    “There is no separate steam room.”


    I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve and stared at the boiling pot for a long time.


    I picked up theder with the herbs.


    “Whoop!” hook!”


    After dropping the herbs sequentially, I broke my arm and stirred the wooden spat.


    The inner cavity that was poured out through the spat soaked into the thick liquid.


    ‘Slowly adding the juice of crushed Cheonhwagu leaves…’


    The production of Yeongdan was a high-level task that requiredplex processes and careful attention over a long period of time.


    In addition to the basic required ingredients of about 20, there were also eight tools used forbination.


    I became a poor person because I poured all my carefully saved sry into preparations.


    ‘It reminds me of the old days.’


    Even in my past life, I made my own elixir and consumed it like this.


    I, who was unable to receive the elixir from the Demon Seondang due to the checks of the people around me, decided to show my superiority and went to the Demon Seon (魔仙) to propose a bet.


    I even seeded in making an elixir using the recipe book I obtained.


    When I think about it, I think it was around that time that the leader began to watch me with interest.


    “Now all we have to do is let it cool down, shape it, and harden it.”


    After finishing all the work, I washed my hands with the water I had previously collected in the basin, then wet a towel and wiped away the sweat.


    I felt dizzy due to excessive consumption of internal energy.


    To shake off the feeling of helplessness that made me feel like I was going to copse at any moment, I shook my head vigorously and put on gloves on both hands.


    “Whoa.”


    About this angle flows.


    After I finished all the work, there were six round pills lying in front of me.


    All you had to do was take one pill every 15 days, so it was a total of three months’ supply.


    Without hesitation, I picked one of them up and put it in my mouth.


    ‘It’s so fucking tasteless.’


    I suddenly frowned.


    When people in the world think of an elixir, they think of a mysterious precious substance that melts and flows down the throat the moment they put it in their mouth, but in reality, this is not the case.


    Many people misunderstand this because of the luxury people who like to inte rumors, but the main ingredients of elixirs are herbs.


    It’s even weirder if it tastes good.


    It’s bitter and crumbly and has a strong medicinal smell that lingers in your mouth for a long time.


    If it wasn’t an item that helped improve internal energy, I wouldn’t have eaten it even if it was given to me for free.


    ‘It’s just right.’


    Because I had wasted all my energy in the process of making the elixir, my Danjeon was empty.


    It was the time when elixir absorption efficiency could be maximized.


    I immediately sat cross-legged and closed my eyes.


    ‘There is no need to rush. ‘Slowly, step by step, carefully, so as not to waste even a handful of medicinal properties.’


    I turned my consciousness inward and repeated to myself.


    I knew it well because I had experienced it in a past life.


    Impatience is actually poisonous.


    What was needed was persistence and consistency.


    ‘Twenty years of experience. I don’t want anything more than that. ‘If you can umte twenty years of inner strength before you reach the age of fifteen, that is enough.’


    I can guarantee that if my fully-grown body has only twenty years of inner strength, there will be no one within Manjangse who can do anything to me.


    Even Chocheongun, which had a reputation for having no enemies in the area, was no exception.


    ‘There is plenty of time.’


    Three years until Jihak.


    It was more than enough time to build up twenty years of experience.


    ‘The problem is what to do when the timees when you can no longer see the effects of the elixir… I’ll just think about it at that time.’


    The empty danjeon greedily generated suction power as it thirsted for water to fill the bowl.


    What followed was selflessness.


    I fell into the clouds, forgetting not only the passage of time but also my own existence.


    The energy that permeated through the pores of the entire body traveled through the blood vessels ording to the form of the Samjaesimbeop, absorbing medicinal effects and increasing the size of the body.


    “Fuuuu.”


    Exhaled breath mixed with turbid air dispersed in the air.


    A slight feeling of heat passed through the tip of my nose.


    Pleasant sensation.


    It was then.


    Tutuk tuk.


    Vessels throughout the body, where energy cirction was not yet free, showed a subtle response.


    “…!”


    I was so shocked that I almost lost my concentration for a moment.


    I’ve often heard that the younger you are, the easier it is to straighten your muscles and open blocked blood vessels, but experiencing it myself feltpletely different.


    Of course, in my previous life, I was learning martial arts at this age, but it was a time when I was focused on survival rather than systematic training.


    Elixir?


    I never dreamed of such a thing.


    ‘under.’


    Augh escaped me.


    I was able to realize once again how inefficient Jamma-dong’s education system is.


    ‘Well, even if I had trained in a standard way, I doubt whether I would have been able to show the truth so ignorantly and quickly.’


    This is also possible because I have memories of my past life.


    Anyway, it was a pleasant miscalction.


    I felt an indescribable joy.


    In addition to the long-term goal, one short-term goal was added.


    ‘I’ll dig it all out soon.’


    * * *


    Time passed like flowing water.


    Three years passed in the blink of an eye.


    In the meantime, there have been many changes in Manjangse.


    First of all, the Grand Duke officially ascended to the throne of Little Household.


    I also yed a part in the process, but that part isn’t important, so I’ll leave it aside.


    Cho Yeon-hee lost thepetition to be the head of the family and was sold off to a famous shaman in Sichuan to be married off.


    Yu So-hwa expressed his intention to follow Cho Yeon-hee, but was unable to achieve his goal and left the Manjang family and disappeared.


    Because her destination was not revealed, no one in the family knew where she had gone.


    The ending was exactly as expected.


    ‘If I had to point out something that was unexpected, it would be that Yu So-hwa left Sega voluntarily, not because of someone else’s will.’


    I don’t know if she will ept my rmendation and apply to the Murim Alliance.


    But I had a feeling that I would see her again one way or another.


    Meanwhile, after the Grand Duke was appointed as the head of Soga, Sega entered an emergency system.


    This was because the rtionship with the Cheonhyang family, which had been unstable before, eventuallypletely soured.


    ‘Did you say that at the 60th birthday banquet for the head of the family, the elders of both families raised their voices and ended up in a sword fight?’


    It wasmon for the martial arts people to end up in a sword fight after an argument, but the location and timing were the issues.


    Since a fight broke out within the Cheonhyangse family while the 60th birthday party was in full swing, it was natural for the problem to escte.


    Naturally, protests came in at the family level.


    However, the person who caused the ident, that is, the elder who participated in the 60th birthday party on behalf of the Manjang family, said that it was unfair.


    [This is not a fight I wanted to fight. It was the other side that started the fight first, and the other side that persisted and persisted. I tried to avoid conflict as much as possible.]


    [So, what you’re saying is that Cheonhyangse’s side used you to make a justification?] [


    I think so.]


    Of course, Cheonhyangse’s side made the opposite argument.


    I don’t know which side is right.


    Honestly, I’m not interested.


    I could only guess that the current situation was rted to the fact that the Cheonhyang family’s direct blood rtives were included in the group ofte Jisoos who were annihted by the warriors of the Demon Cult’s outer circle five years ago.


    The wife of Cheonhyang Segou, who lost herte-born son to a demonic cult, and the daughter of Manjang Segou, who luckily escaped disaster.


    Isn’t this a perfect structure for conflict to arise?


    Considering the time when the Cheonhyang family began to take a hostile attitude towards the Manjang family, it would be safe to say that it was almost certain.


    ‘Well, it has nothing to do with me. The time hase to leave Sega…’


    I am also fifteen this year.


    Now that I had gained the strength to protect myself and had saved up enough money to pay for room and board for a while, there was no reason to stay at Manjangse any longer.


    I doubt that Commander-in-Chief Wang Chun-sheng will easily let me go, but if I say I will go, what excuse can he have to stop me?


    * * *


    “Can not be done.”


    “My resolve is firm. “It’s no use trying to stop it.”


    “What are you dissatisfied with? “Is there anything I couldn’t do for you?”


    “I’m not leaving because I’m dissatisfied with how I’m being treated.”


    “I’m only saying this now, but I was thinking of you as my sessor.”


    “I know.”


    “Think again. If you be Sega’s sessor after me, you can live in luxury for the rest of your life. “I don’t know what you want to do after leaving Sega, but there’s no reason to turn down a stable future.”


    “sorry.”


    “…a heartless bastard.”


    “Thank you so much.”


    Wang Chun-seong, the general of the Manchang Dynasty, sighed as if the earth was sinking.


    He stared at me with squinted eyes for a long time and eventually lowered his head as if resigned.


    “Then, if possible, dy your departure.”


    “I told them to remove the ox horn as soon as possible.”


    “I’m not saying this for me. “Rather, it’s advice for you.”


    “What does it mean.”


    “You know that the rtionship between the Manjang family and the Cheonhyang family is heading towards the worst, right?”


    “Are you worried that they will harm me for leaving the family?”


    “okay. The other servants might not know, but haven’t you been working as an assistant to the general manager for the past few years? “I think there is a good chance that they will be targeted.”


    “I think I’m overly worried.”


    “It’s not excessive. Let me tell you, I have no intention of giving up on this much. At least leave after the rtionship between the Manjang family and the Cheonhyang family is restored or the dispute is resolved.”


    Is it okay for someone to give in as they please?


    ‘I thought no one would know the dark truth behind it.’


    Since he couldn’t change my mind right away, he seemed to be trying to persuade me over time, but it was an improbable story.


    There is no way the dispute between the Manjang family and the Cheonhyang family can be resolved overnight.


    It may take as little as a few months or as long as several years.


    But until then, suck your finger and wait?


    “I will leave right away.”


    “Didn’t you hear what I just said? “Your life may be in danger.”


    “Thank you for your concern, but we still have to leave.”


    “Why on earth is this so urgent? Anyway, no. “If you reject my dissuasion and try to force yourself to leave the world, I will also do whatever it takes to stop you.”


    “…….”


    “Don’t look at me like that. “I’m just saying this because I’m worried about you.”


    It seemed like he had made a firm decision.


    Anyway, I didn’t know they would push it in such a coercive way.


    ‘I’m a bit angry at this point.’


    Should I just m it in and throw it away?


    The time to worry about what others think is already past.


    There was no longer anyone within Manjangse who could be my opponent.


    Nevertheless, the reason why he had kept his state hidden until now was because he was conscious of the gaze of his servant, Wang Il-sang.


    He is a Haomundo with a township level position.


    It would be revealed at some point anyway, but my honest thought was that I wanted to dy that date as much as possible.


    ‘how will we do it.’


    After thinking for a while, I quickly came to a conclusion.


    I don’t want to be held back and I don’t want to reveal my level.


    It would be enough to kill two birds with one stone.


    “Commander General. “Then make a bet with me.”


    “bet?”


    “yes. I understand very well that the Commander-in-Chief is worried about me. So let me show you.”


    “what?”


    “Even after something like this, I have the ability to keep my body intact.”


    “This is something I can’t understand…”


    “The terms of the bet are as follows. Commander-in-Chief, please find someone to work with me. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. “If I lose, I will calmly ept themander-in-chief’s advice.”


    “Are you sure?”


    Wang Chun-seong’s eyes became swollen.


    It was as if he had never dreamed that a bet would be proposed under these conditions.


    “However, I would like the dance to be held informally in a ce where others are not watching. Of course, you should also choose someone who speaks loudly.”


    “I’m just asking to confirm, but does it really matter who the other person is?”


    “yes.”


    “Huh.”


    Wang Chun-seong slightly curled the corners of his mouth.


    From his perspective, it must have seemed absurd and absurd.


    You may think that the conditions are overwhelmingly advantageous to you.


    “good night. Instead, I would like to add one condition.”


    “You said it was a condition…”


    “If the deadline is not clearly set, you can break your promise at will. “Three years. If you lose the bet, let’s say you stay at Manjangsega for at least three years.”


    “I will.”


    I nodded without hesitation.


    Perhaps because he answered too calmly, Wang Chun-seong’s expression became bizarre.


    Isn’t this guy someone you can ept so easily? It was a face that seemed to say.


    ‘You must have been nning to set an absurd deadline and then coordinate opinions through negotiation, right?’


    I feel sorry for Wang Chun-seong, but no matter who he brings, there is no way he will lose.


    “Instead, if I win the bet, please give me one year’s sry as money.”


    “This one year’s worth?”


    “If you’re going to bet, wouldn’t it be better to have a bigger stake?”


    In the first ce, there is nothing free in this world.


    Isn’t it thew of the world that the bigger and sweeter the fruit you are trying to get, the greater the risk you have to take?


    “……”


    Wang Chun-seong’s pupils, which had been shaking unsteadily, soon calmed down.


    He cleared his throat loudly, looked at me with harsh eyes, and said.


    “good night.”


    A big fish took the bait.


    I smiled whitely, showing my teeth.


    I willpletely rip off your soul.