Chapter 847: Ilcheonkyo.

Night flowed by, and dawn arrived.

I didn’t sleep. There were simply too many things to sort out in the meantime.

Since not sleeping for a few days wouldn’t strain my body anyway, I spent the night working.

Cheoljiseon must already be moving. Others would be acting the same way.

How Ilcheonggeom would react was still unknown, but since the plan was moved up, I had to keep an eye on variables.

As everyone was mobilized for that purpose, I couldn’t just stay put.

So, before the sun had fully risen, I too took a step forward.

My destination was Dangmun.

******************

“Greetings.”

“…Come in.”

The expression on Dokwang’s face as he saw me, arriving so suddenly, was subtle.

Judging by the situation, it seemed he was just having breakfast.

“Young Master-nim…?”

And with Tang Soyeol, no less. Seeing this, I chuckled. It seemed the worries I had were resolved well.

“Oh my, I apologize for intruding during your meal. It’s just that something urgent came up.”

“Hmph….”

At my words, Dokwang glanced somewhere with a displeased look. It seemed like he was looking at the gatekeepers or the warriors of Dangmun.

The reason was probably why they didn’t stop me from entering.

As much as my time with his beloved daughter was interrupted, I understood Dokwang’s displeasure.

‘What can you do about it.’

Even so, there was nothing Dokwang could do to me.

Considering how much I’d done for him and how much I’d helped, why would he stop me? Knowing this, Dokwang merely maintained his expression.

“…Yes, what is it? At such an early and busy hour?”

I let out a hollow laugh at Dokwang’s tone.

This old man is even giving me the cold shoulder?

“Yes, I apologize for the early and busy hour, but I came because it’s truly urgent.”

But I wasn’t going to let it slide. I was genuinely quite rushed as well.

“It’s rather awkward to say…”

“Then just don’t say it…”

“Since I’ve decided to just go for it, I’ll just say it.”

I said, looking at Dokwang.

“Please give me the Dokcheondan I made.”

“…”

“Ah, while it is urgent, I can wait for you to finish your meal.”

“You truly are a madman….”

“I can hear everything.”

“I said it so you could hear.”

“Ah, I see.”

I nodded.

Well, with a voice that loud, he probably did say it for me to hear. As I nodded as if acknowledging that, Dokwang let out a deep sigh and said,

“…Will one pill suffice?”

Seeing that, I replied with a grin.

“For now.”

I suspect I might need more, but one pill was enough for the moment.

******************

After waiting outside for a short while, Dokwang appeared with the same expression, having finished his meal.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Thanks to you, I didn’t.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“What?”

“It’s a joke.”

It really was a joke, but perhaps displeased, Dokwang scowled.

Seeing that, I said,

“I haven’t eaten either, so please don’t glare at me like that.”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

“Haha. You say such hurtful things. I went to the trouble of preparing the place for you, didn’t I?”

“…”

At my added words, Dokwang suddenly fell silent. Then, turning his head awkwardly, he said,

“…I appreciate that. It’s thanks to you.”

As always, Dokwang was a man who knew how to acknowledge things. Knowing that about him is why I think highly of Dokwang.

“Don’t mention it.”

I replied, turning my gaze forward. I wondered if the matter with Tang Soyeol was all resolved, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that. I was the most urgent priority.

As we walked together, we soon arrived in front of the building I had reached last time.

It was the place where I had spent hours sweating to manufacture the Dokcheondan. Entering the room, I went straight down to the basement.

A cool energy brushed against my cheeks. Although the outside was also cool since it was autumn, it felt even colder here, likely due to being underground.

‘No, it’s not just because it’s underground.’

The surrounding environment was artificially altered to store the elixirs. That would be the correct way to see it.

I don’t know how they did it.

‘I have almost no knowledge in that area.’

I know absolutely nothing about elixirs. In the first place, I never looked into elixirs in my past life either.

There was no need to in the first place.

‘With the Demonic Path Heaven Absorption Technique, what meaning do elixirs hold?’

Shaolin’s Great Return Pill. Mount Hua’s Purple Soot Pill, and so on. There might be many powerful elixirs, but they are meaningless to me.

Of course, they are helpful, but it was better to find and devour Red-grade monsters in that time.

‘But, knowing this now, maybe I should have looked into them a bit?’

Who could have known that I would end up eating elixirs like crazy, and even making them?

Even I find it strange now, so there’s no way my past self would have known.

It means it’s a pointless worry.

Using the lantern as a guide, I went down a bit further. The end was in sight.

Dokwang descended the stairs and grabbed the doorknob of the door blocking the way, opening it.

Kiiik.

The door opened, and a faint breeze blew from the gap.

‘Oh.’

Like before, the wind passed through, but this time it was different.

A fragrance permeated it. A very fragrant and deep scent at that.

It smelled like well-brewed medicinal herbs, layered with the unique freshness and earthiness of spirit herbs.

Following Dokwang, I stepped inside the door.

Only then could I understand the source of this fragrance.

The room temperature, colder than before. And the scent permeating the air.

All of it was the scent emanating from the elixirs piled up ahead. The Dokcheondan.

“Is this where you store them?”

“It’s more like aging than storage. It was said they need to age for at least four months.”

“But why specifically in a place like this…?”

“A place like this!”

Perhaps my choice of words was wrong, as Dokwang exclaimed indignantly,

“This is a sacred place for Dangmun’s bloodline. Only direct descendants can come here.”

“…You come here?”

To me, it just looked like a small, somewhat cold room.

Just then.

“Yes, it’s a space created by Dokjeolcheon-nim in the distant past.”

“Oh….”

With the explanation that followed, it looked strangely different. If it was created by a great and wonderful Tang family senior, there must surely be a noble purpose.

“…It’s an incredible place. Now that you mention it, it truly feels sacred.”

“Of course. As expected, you recognize it too.”

“That’s right. If Dokjeolcheon-nim created it, there must be a reason… But, is it alright to bring me to such a great place? You said only direct descendants come here.”

Thinking about it, it seemed strange, so I asked. Why was I dragged here just because I asked for the Dokcheondan?

Moreover, if it’s a place only direct descendants can access, even if he’s my benefactor, my presence here would be incongruous.

To my question, Dokwang replied nonchalantly.

“It’s fine.”

“What?”

“After all, if you think about it, it’s roughly similar. Won’t it be even more so later on?”

“…What do you mean ‘roughly similar’? You should be precise, not vague.”

That was a very strange statement. Why be vague about it?

What about ‘later on’?

I questioned him, dumbfounded, but Dokwang pretended not to notice and walked forward.

That guy?

“Family Head-nim-.”

“First, let me ask. What is it you need?”

“…”

He seemed to have no intention of answering. I sighed and gave up.

“…I need the one I made.”

The elixir, which was ambiguous to call Dokcheondan. It was the one imbued with my energy, infused with fiery essence.

“Conveniently, there’s just one left.”

Dokwang flipped over a cloth.

On the other side, three Dokcheondan I made last time were stored, and next to them, one was placed separately. That must be the elixir I made.

Dokwang pointed at it and said,

“Take it.”

At his casual tone, I asked in surprise.

“What? You’re just giving it to me?”

“…Why are you surprised?”

“No, but it’s still an elixir.”

“You made it, and you asked for it. And… if I refused, would you refuse to take it?”

“No. I might hesitate for a moment, but ultimately, I’d steal it to take it.”

“Then why ask…. Sigh.”

At my confident statement, Dokwang sighed this time. It seemed even he had given up.

“Fine, if you don’t want to just take it, perhaps become a live-in son-in-law to Dangmun-.”

“I gratefully accept it.”

I snatched the elixir without even hearing him out. There was no need to listen to such trivial talk.

I felt the texture in the hand holding the elixir. It was the same as last time. Yet, something was different.

“Gong Gu-nim.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll ask belatedly, but what do you intend to use it for?”

At Dokwang’s words, I realized my oversight. Thinking back, I had asked for it without explaining why.

But in this situation, Dokwang just handed it over to me?

It was strange to recall. That old man isn’t the type to just give things away so freely.

‘Perhaps he’s giving it because I made it, as he said.’

If so, the justification holds, but it felt a bit unsettling to me.

As I just mentioned, Dokwang is not an easy person. No matter how much of a benefactor he is, he wouldn’t act like this without wanting something….

‘…It’s unnerving.’

What does he want from me that makes him act like this? Suspicion flickered, but the elixir was the priority right now.

“Use it for what? It’s an elixir, so of course, I have to eat it.”

“…Hm?”

At my answer, Dokwang tilted his head.

“Didn’t you just eat one yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“And you want to eat another…?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not crazy.”

I knew why Dokwang was looking at me like that. Any martial artist would know what consuming elixirs consecutively means.

Anything consumed in excess becomes poison, and elixirs are no different.

The internal energy contained in a single elixir was immense. The amount of energy a martial artist could absorb at once is limited.

This varies depending on one’s level. If a first-rate martial artist consumed the Dokcheondan, they wouldn’t even be able to properly digest thirty percent of its energy.

Take Dokwang himself; after consuming one Dokcheondan, he couldn’t digest it all and had it circulating within his body.

He probably intended to digest the energy gradually and absorb it fully.

At that pace, it would take at least a month. Or perhaps two.

It would take that much time to obtain eighty percent of the energy.

In such a situation, what if Dokwang were to consume more Dokcheondan?

The energy would flow excessively, and instead of eighty percent, he wouldn’t even gain fifty percent.

Moreover, the immense energy could potentially strain his body, so it wasn’t strange for Dokwang to see me as a madman.

Of course.

‘That has nothing to do with me.’

Even if side effects existed, they were irrelevant to me.

No matter how much energy I consume, I digest and contain it within my body.

That was the reason I could grow so rapidly in my past life.

“I have my reasons, so you don’t need to worry.”

I said it as if to reassure Dokwang. But Dokwang’s reaction was slightly different.

“I’m not particularly worried.”

“What?”

“If Gong Gu-nim is okay with it, then you must have some plan. From what I see, you seem like someone who would never suffer a loss, no matter what. Quite pettily, too.”

“…”

It sounded like a compliment, but the latter part stuck in my ear. It’s all good, but why the word ‘petty’?

“Then why are you looking at me like that….”

“I was wondering what you were planning. But seeing you intend to eat two pills consecutively is just absurd. Eating something so precious back-to-back…. Your conscience is just….”

“…Ah, yes. I think you can stop talking now.”

If I let him continue, I felt he’d keep complaining, so I cut him off.

“Anyway…. It’s just that I have to eat some due to circumstances.”

“I understand. Eat it all up.”

“What?”

“Just kidding. Hahahahaha.”

“…”

It didn’t seem like a joke at all. Was I mistaken? No, it looked like revenge, no matter how I saw it.

Revenge for me interrupting his meal with Tang Soyeol.

Honestly, these old men are incredibly petty.

‘Tsk….’

I clicked my tongue and slowly put the elixir into my mouth. At the same time, I spoke to Dokwang.

“Tang Family Head-nim.”

“Why? Have you changed your mind? Then I’ll take it back….”

“If anything strange happens after I eat it, please don’t interfere.”

“…”

Dokwang, who was about to speak, stopped and changed his expression. His face instantly turned serious.

“I understand.”

“Thank you.”

He understood without asking why. It was a difficult choice, so I expressed my gratitude.

Seeing his reaction, I put the elixir directly into my mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

The same taste as yesterday. The same scent. And the same energy.

Gulp.

As soon as I swallowed, the energy spread out in all directions.

The deep and potent energy instantly occupied my body.

However.

‘Was I wrong?’

I didn’t feel anything particularly strange.

If my prediction was correct, I thought the elixir had some kind of mechanism, but if there was no change, it meant my prediction was wrong.

‘What a shame… Was this not it?’

Half disappointment. And half inexplicable relief.

Feeling a strange mix of emotions, I turned around.

“Tang Family Head-nim. I’m sorry, but it seems….”

And then my eyes hardened.

“Ah.”

The emotion welling up inside me changed. Just moments ago, I thought I was wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn’t.

“Oh dear”

Turning around, I saw the world had changed.

The sky, and indeed my entire field of vision, was a blackened, scorched place. It was the same place I saw last time.

The difference was….

Unlike last time, I was now inside the door, not outside.

This meant…

“…It was a bit bothersome searching for him, but this worked out well.”

It meant the guy I was looking for was right in front of me.

A throne the same black color as the world.

Cracks and broken parts were visible all over the throne, as if it were on the verge of collapse.

And upon it.

He was sitting there.

“Hey.”

When I called out to him, he slowly lifted his head and looked at me.

His whites were stained black, and his pupils were tinged with purple. And emanating from him was a deadly killing intent.

Our eyes met.

A nauseating sensation immediately washed over me. I endured it. Catching my breath,

“Nice to meet you, you fucking idiot.”

I said to him.

“Want to talk for a bit, bro?”

Kugugugugu—!!

As if in response, the earth trembled.