Chapter 519: Give it to me just once.

In a memory from an unknown time.

A distinctly red light flowed. It was filled with damp humidity, and the body was cold enough to frost over.

My whole body was wracked with shivers, and my breath grew stiff.

Amidst those uncomfortable sensations.

-Not bad at all.

A voice could be heard.

A chilling voice, laced with an unidentifiable chuckle.

Within it, I sensed a faint, metallic tang of blood. I wanted to know what was going on, but my head, bowed low, refused to lift.

It felt as if I shouldn’t dare to look upon their face.

As I remained frozen in place, staring only at the floor.

The voice spoke again.

-Yes, you’ll do nicely. Child of Noecheon.

A hand touched my neck.

-From now on, you are my servant. Rejoice.

kkeul kkeul.

Along with the sound of that cold laughter, the consciousness I had barely clung to finally broke.

And then.

My closed eyes fluttered open.

“…!”

Beoltteok.

The gaunt old man shot upright the moment he came to his senses.

Staggering, he hastily pushed himself up and surveyed his surroundings.

“…Where is this…?”

Heumchit.

Just as he was about to panic in the unfamiliar space, a surge of pain caused him to clutch his head.

What is this?

Why does my head hurt so much?

He tried to stifle his groans, but it wasn’t easy.

“Kkeueu…”

As the old man endured the pain, those nearby finally reacted.

“Chonjeon-nim has awakened…!”

“…I’ll go report to the head of the family!”

“A physician! Fetch a physician!”

So noisy.

The old man broke out in a cold sweat, looking at the murmuring crowd around him.

Normally, the noise wouldn’t have been so loud.

But for some reason, it felt deafeningly loud.

“Hoo… hoo…”

He gasped for air.

The pain persisted.

With his head feeling like it would split open, Chonjeon had to ask himself:

Where is this place?

Why am I here?

He knew nothing.

Chonjeon gripped his head and closed his eyes.

He could feel gaps in his memory, like holes punched through it.

What could have happened?

As Chonjeon pondered this, consumed by pain.

“You’ve awakened.”

A familiar voice reached him.

Chonjeon barely managed to lift his head towards the voice, looking up.

“Making such a scene. Tsk, tsk. You look terrible.”

“…You.”

Another old man gazed down at the struggling Chonjeon with pitying eyes.

That was none other than.

Shinui-nim.

---

Right after making Naxi realize she had no choice.

Leaving her trembling, I moved on.

I wanted to feed her the jewel right then and there, but…

‘The situation isn’t ideal right now.’

I just informed her of the situation. Made sure she understood. That she had a job to do.

‘It’d be a shame to just throw her away.’

Dangdeok’s role is already set.

For now, I’m focused on keeping him close and taming him, but that guy has a role to play later on.

Compared to him, Naxi isn’t very useful.

She could be used as an informant, but with the Dangmun in its current state, there’s no real need.

So, where should I use her?

‘There’s really no need to use her.’

She’s not really needed.

Her level? Naxi’s cultivation is at the peak. Maybe perfected peak if she pushed it, but there are plenty like that in the Central Plains.

‘Not exactly plentiful… but certainly numerous.’

Using her skills as an assassin might make her more useful, but…

If I really had to find a use for her, nothing immediately comes to mind.

‘I’ve already got someone else in mind for that role.’

Since I had someone else in mind, even if it wasn’t Naxi, there was no need to keep her around.

Which means, originally…

‘I was planning to use her for a bit and then dispose of her.’

I never intended to keep Naxi alive for long in the first place.

Meaning, I planned to dispose of her the moment my business with the Dangmun concluded.

It means I had no intention of giving her a significant role, even if I didn’t kill her myself.

‘Well, this way, she actually has some use.’

The jewel still rattling in my hand.

For experimenting with this thing.

‘If it works out, great. If it fails, so be it.’

If Naxi absorbs this jewel properly with my help, and finds a use for it, that’s a good outcome.

Even if the experiment fails, it doesn’t matter.

That’s Naxi’s current situation.

‘Even if it succeeds, I need to see what happens next.’

If her cultivation increases, how high will it go?

If her body changes, how much will it change? I need to see that.

‘Thinking about it, it’s kind of a hassle.’

Having to monitor all this step-by-step is quite bothersome.

Should I just eat it myself and be done with it?

My energy would increase, leading to more work to manage it, but I could just cut back on my rest time.

As much as I’d love to do just that.

“Ah, this is really annoying.”

The fact that I couldn’t just do that was irritating.

There was a reason I was doing this.

“Why did I have to find something like this?”

Besides the jewel, there was one more bothersome item tucked away.

Another item, obtained by interrogating Elder Il using demonic interrogation methods.

Busireok.

I reached inside and pulled out a piece of paper.

It was an old letter, not particularly large or thick.

The contents within were the problem.

“…Hmm.”

‘The Cheonmu Physique Creation Plan.’ The decades spent on it, the most suitable ingredients and ratios discovered through it.

Even the usage instructions for the essence.

The secret manual detailing all of it was now in my hands.

‘[Do you intend to actually use it?]’

The old man’s voice, asking the question, held a sharp edge for some reason.

I knew what he meant.

“Are you insane…? To use this.”

The old man fears I might actually use it.

Based on what’s written here, this manual describes a method far too cruel for humans.

Gathering the materials is difficult enough as it is.

Let alone gathering toxic demonic beasts.

‘You need to gather more than a hundred humans.’

And only humans who haven’t passed the age of majority.

This manual described a method of refining it, again and again, to bring about changes in the vessel and the body.

The key ingredients are their blood and congenital vital energy.

It’s incredible they can extract that. Refining it and mixing it again with blood tainted by demonic poison?

It’s nothing short of a mad method.

I frowned, clutching the jewel in my hand.

“The so-called righteous sects, going this far just to create something like this.”

Even as I dismissed it, I thought otherwise inwardly.

A divine elixir that could turn someone into a Cheonmu Physique simply by consuming it.

This was undoubtedly an item of immense historical value.

It’s just that the production method is so far removed from human ethics.

‘…If this manual were simply spread across the world, it would be enough to cause utter chaos.’

There were plenty of people in this world who’d thrown ethics to the dogs.

Knowing that all too well, this was not something that should be easily released into the world.

‘[Is that truly the only reason?]’

‘…As if.’

I shook my head at the old man’s mocking words.

Of course, that’s not the only reason.

When have I ever possessed such chivalry that I’d care about such things?

I cared about this for one reason.

Whatever it was, if it could transform an ordinary body into the absurd Cheonmu Physique, it held immense value.

Thus.

‘If I can use it, I want to.’

Rather than giving it to someone else or destroying it, I wanted to find a way to use it myself.

‘[…You brat.]’

‘I know.’

I chuckled involuntarily at the old man’s deeply somber voice.

‘Don’t worry. I have no intention of doing what you’re worried about.’

The old man must be worried that I might use the method described in this manual.

It felt a bit strange, wondering if he saw me as that much of trash, but…

From his perspective, it was a valid concern, so I decided not to say anything more.

Truthfully…

‘I did consider it.’

I did consider making several of these, feeding them to trustworthy individuals to help them grow, and how that might aid in future wars, but…

‘This crosses the line.’

I didn’t want to go that far.

That’s an act that crosses the ‘line’ I’ve drawn. I absolutely shouldn’t go that far.

That line is the boundary that allows me to recognize that I am still, somehow, human.

‘Even if my body isn’t.’

Even if my body changes, even if circumstances change.

The line that barely allows me to consider myself human-this act crossed it.

‘So, I need to find another method.’

I can’t use the manual exactly as written.

The poison was added to the medicine solely for the Dangmun bloodline in the first place, so excluding that…

Assuming there’s something that can replace human blood and congenital vital energy…

‘…Perhaps I can use it in a slightly different way.’

Even if the divine elixir’s original power is diminished.

It might be possible to create something with a similar effect.

That’s why I was contemplating.

If I could pull it off, it would surely be helpful during the future blood tribulations.

‘[That’s a dangerous line of thinking.]’

‘Yes, I’m aware of that.’

I nodded at the old man’s warning.

I know just how dangerous this is.

Still.

‘Isn’t it worth at least trying?’

[…]

‘I think it’s better than not trying. Isn’t it better to try something until you absolutely can’t, before giving up?’

‘[Right… That conviction is both your flaw and your strength.]’

Keep trying until it’s impossible, then let go.

I couldn’t do that in my past life, so this conviction was something I vowed to uphold in this one.

‘I’m not saying I’ll try this immediately.’

Setting aside gathering humans and finding demonic beasts.

There were still a considerable number of other ingredients.

Plenty of rather expensive herbs were needed too.

Gathering all of this will inevitably take quite some time.

‘Even if I gather the herbs, let alone refining them…’

I need ingredients to replace humans and demonic beasts.

Not herbs, but figuring out if such things even exist should be the priority.

‘I don’t know if they exist.’

If I can find them, it would provide a significant advantage for future plans.

‘Because it would be far superior to the divine elixirs of Shaolin or Mount Hua.’

If I can create it, it would be superior to the Great Restoration Pill, the Purple Soot Pill, or even the Poison Heaven Pill.

As an item that fundamentally transforms the human body and expands its capacity, it would be incredible.

And furthermore.

‘…Though this is just speculation.’

I don’t know about the human blood part, but something to replace the congenital vital energy…

Something came to mind.

Though I don’t know if it will work.

‘First, I’ll deal with Naxi.’

After confirming whether this divine elixir actually works, and if so, what state it induces.

If I determine it’s usable, I plan to begin then.

‘…Before I reach adulthood, I need to decide my path.’

Time is not on my side.

There are three years until I reach adulthood.

Within that time, I must establish my future direction and solidify my plans.

This is related to that as well.

“Hoo…”

Lost in complex thoughts as I walked, I arrived at my quarters before I knew it.

Father is likely handling the Poison King’s commission right now, and the entire Dangmun is in an uproar, so…

My quarters should be relatively quiet.

‘So, what needs doing inside?’

The task for today.

‘…What to do about Noea.’

Noea, whom I’d shoved into a drawer because it was causing a ruckus.

The individual presumed to be Namgung Myung, residing within.

I haven’t finished the conversation regarding this yet.

I need to wrap that up before Father arrives.

The moment I entered my quarters with that thought.

“…Hm?”

Inside the quarters, which should have been quiet, I sensed numerous presences.

-No! You crazy bastard!

Along with it, loud noises could be heard unfiltered.

Whose sharp voice is that…?

‘Sounds like Baekryeon Geom?’

It was the voice of that Baekryeon Geom ajumma.

…Why would that ajumma be making noise in my quarters?

‘What is she up to now?’

I’m already dreading it.

Every time that ajumma visits, she makes bizarre noises, filling me with unease.

“Aish…”

After letting out a deep sigh, I entered my quarters.

And just as expected, this time too, I had to exclaim in shock at the sudden, nonsensical noise.

“…What was that?”

The problem was, the one making that sudden noise wasn’t Baekryeon Geom.

“Where are you going…?”

“…”

To my question, asked with wide eyes, the woman before me replied.

“…The Northern Sea…”

Long, silvery-white hair.

A woman with exquisitely fair skin.

My fiancée, the person who died for me in my past life.

Namgung Bi-ah looked at me and spoke again.

“…I’m going to the Northern Sea…”

She said she was going to the Northern Sea.