Chapter 247: This Is Not It! (1)
Chapter 246 – This Is Not It!(1)
Since that day, Namgung Cheon had stayed confined to the training room, focusing only on training.
Every day, he did physical training and circulated his internal energy to strengthen his meridians.
He was so immersed that when his daily routine ended, he was often drenched in sweat and fell fast asleep without realizing it.
Because it was certain that the energy of the Demonic God Pill would be wild and fierce, his intention was to prepare his body in advance.
Must the vessel not be good to contain anything?
In particular, he focused on breathing and energy circulation based on the Jiangling Divine Art.
Since he had clearly seen the cultivation method of the Jiangling Divine Art with his own eyes at the Jinzhou Eon Clan, he understood its essence perfectly.
However, when the essence of the Azure Emerald Art, which could embrace anything, was added to this, the nature of the Jiangling Divine Art was also changing little by little according to Namgung Cheon’s intentions.
‘Certainly, the Azure Emerald Art is marvelous.’
Even when he first discovered the Azure Emerald Art in the library, he had not expected this much.
Rather, it was closer to curiosity, wanting to learn it once because the meaning was difficult and ambiguous.
Is it not the rule that the higher the martial art, the harder it is to realize, just as good medicine is bitter to the taste?
However, in the case of the Azure Emerald Art, its ultimate truth was so simple that it felt even more difficult instead.
Originally, are the truths of the world not simple?
However, it took a long time to return to that simplicity.
In the end, after fully awakening the Azure Emerald Art, had Namgung Cheon not looked at the distant mountains and muttered like this?
“In the end, mountains are mountains, and waters are waters.”
At any rate, the Azure Emerald Art had the characteristic of being able to contain the internal energy of almost any attribute.
Could it be said that its inclusiveness truly exuded the aura of a sovereign? Moreover, for Namgung Cheon, who had learned the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, the Azure Emerald Art was the icing on the cake.
At any rate, today as well, Namgung Cheon opened his eyes slowly after strengthening the meridians inside his body while circulating the Jiangling Divine Art.
Shuuuuuuu.
A haze-like energy wavered and then vanished as if being absorbed into Namgung Cheon’s entire body.
Even though the weather was quite cool, his entire body was drenched in sweat. Furthermore, as turbid qi mixed in and sweat was discharged, its color was as turbid as muddy water.
‘The smell is nasty too. I should wash quickly and sleep.’
It was just when Namgung Cheon, shaking himself off and rising, opened the door of the training room and was about to step out.
He ran into Namgung Geom, who was just about to enter the training room, and faltered.
“Huh? Patriarch, have you come?”
“Yes. Have you been circulating energy until now?”
“Yes, I thought it would be better to prepare my body in advance.”
“That is correct. However…”
Namgung Geom stopped mid-speech and twitched his nose.
To Namgung Cheon, the smell of sweat from his own body might just feel ordinary, but the smell of sweat permeated with turbid qi was truly dreadful.
Even Namgung Geom, who rarely showed any change in expression, retreated stealthily, his facial muscles twitching as if he was holding his breath.
‘Why is he doing that? Is he telling me to follow him?’
When Namgung Cheon took a step without thinking, Namgung Geom stretched out his hand involuntarily.
Tap!
“Wait, why are you doing that?”
“Stay right there. Now, the distance between you and me is just right.”
Suddenly, what was wrong with this old man?
When Namgung Cheon stopped and stared blankly, Namgung Geom slightly turned his head, took a deep breath, and spoke.
“Is there any progress?”
“Yes, as I mentioned before, I am strengthening the meridians while circulating energy based on the Jiangling Divine Art.”
“However, the Jiangling Divine Art embraced by the Azure Emerald Art must have a different texture.”
“Yes. I am in the process of tempering my body to adapt to demonic energy as much as possible.”
In a word, he was changing the nature of the garden. Since the crop would soon change, he was cultivating the environment of the garden accordingly.
The problem was the task of maintaining the existing crops while cultivating only a part of the garden into a different environment.
It was not an easy task.
Because if he was not careful, it could end up as a land that was neither one thing nor the other.
Still, for Namgung Cheon who possessed the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, the conditions were far easier than for others.
Namgung Geom also knew that fact well by now.
“Although the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes is a great talent for you, you must not take it too lightly.”
“I am keeping that in mind.”
Old man, nagging me.
At the redundant words, Namgung Cheon laughed it off inwardly.
Come to think of it, was Namgung Geom not a person far removed from nagging?
He would just watch silently and occasionally give advice or warnings.
Yet, lately, he had been frequently saying things that felt intensely like nagging.
Did it mean that much affection had grown?
‘Or does it mean he has aged?’
When he wore a wry smile while having silly thoughts, Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes and asked:
“What are you thinking about?”
“It is nothing.”
The old man is quick-witted.
When Namgung Cheon quickly played innocent, Namgung Geom did not pursue it further either and changed the subject.
“It seems you are already doing so, but I think it would be best not to reveal the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes to the outside for the time being.”
“I will do so. By the way, is the Demonic God Pill completed?”
Seeing that he had sought him out in person at this hour, it must mean there was some result.
Namgung Geom nodded and said:
“Actually, I came because I have something to tell you regarding that matter.”
“I am listening.”
“We have reached the conclusion that it is difficult to manufacture the Demonic God Pill with our clan’s resources.”
“Ah…”
“Since confidentiality is key due to the nature of the matter, we tried to resolve it within our clan as much as possible, but it seems the results are not good.”
“Then is the manufacturing currently suspended?”
“Yes. The proportions and ratios are written in detail, but there must be parts that cannot be resolved by that alone.”
Namgung Cheon nodded faintly.
In the meantime, as the Namgung Clan’s power weakened, they had cleared out places like the Medical Hall early on.
Naturally, a high-level physician could not be staying at the main estate.
Furthermore…
“As you know, to an ordinary person, the Demonic God Pill is closer to a poison pill than an elixir. Thus, I hear it is far more difficult to manufacture.”
“I see. Then we have no choice but to borrow external help.”
“Do you have a place in mind?”
At Namgung Geom’s question, Namgung Cheon fell into deep thought for a moment.
Actually, if he could just meet him, it would be easiest to ask the Thousand Poison Elder.
However, the problem was that he did not know where the Thousand Poison Elder was right now.
Besides wandering here and there, the Thousand Poison Elder was also a public enemy of the Martial World.
It would not be good if rumors spread that the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan was going around meeting a public enemy of the Martial World privately.
If so, there was only one place after all.
The Sichuan Tang Clan.
The place that was, in name and reality, discussed as the number one under heaven when it came to poison.
After a long silence, coincidentally, the two spoke at the same time:
“In my opinion, the Sichuan Tang Clan…”
“In my opinion, the Sichuan Tang Clan…”
The two looked at each other and closed their mouths.
A moment later, Namgung Geom spoke first.
“Indeed. If it is the Sichuan Tang Clan, they will certainly be able to manufacture it.”
“The problem is whether confidentiality can be maintained.”
“Even so, compared to the Murong Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan keeps a reasonable distance from the Martial Alliance.”
“I heard they have been fully occupied with manufacturing new poisons recently.”
Namgung Geom nodded.
“Correct. I hear they are scraping together all kinds of poisons and herbs from all over the Central Plains. Perhaps if you want to find the rarest herbs in the world, you should go to the Tang Clan right now.”
“That is not true. Since we have the ingredients for the Demonic God Pill.”
When Namgung Cheon spoke jokingly, a faint smile brushed past Namgung Geom’s cold face for an instant.
“That is also true.”
“At any rate, in such a situation, they might find our proposal even more tempting.”
But the Sichuan Tang Clan was, after all, a family belonging to the Martial Alliance.
Could they really hold hands with the Namgung Clan and turn their backs on the Martial Alliance?
In any case, it was something they could not know without going and clashing in person.
The important thing was to somehow manufacture and consume the Demonic God Pill.
Though it was unknown whether it would become a powerful medicine or a deadly poison, it would surely be an important key to overturn the board.
Namgung Cheon, having firmed his resolve, spoke with a stiff expression:
“I will go for a short trip.”
“To the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“Yes, whether it becomes porridge or rice, shouldn’t we at least put the pot on the stove?”
“Hmm. When do you plan to go?”
“Strike while the iron is hot. I will leave tomorrow.”
Namgung Geom, who would usually agree with Namgung Cheon’s opinions, did not give an answer easily this time either.
He put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky for a long time before speaking with difficulty.
“The Tang Clan Leader is not an easy person to handle. He seems to have a refreshing personality, but his poisonous nature is also formidable. You must well understand the characteristics of a family that deals with poisons and hidden weapons.”
“Of course.”
Namgung Cheon laughed inwardly.
Was the Sichuan Tang Clan not one of those he had clashed hands with the most in his past life?
Indeed, the martial artists he least wanted to encounter as a fugitive were none other than the Sichuan Tang Clan.
It was fine to just capture and kill those who came close to fight with blades.
However, those Sichuan Tang Clan bastards all flew hidden weapons from afar, secretly poisoned food, or even scattered poison in the air.
‘Just thinking about it makes me shudder.’
Since they were such people, appearances were not everything.
Although he had received a decent impression at the Seven Great Clans Conference last time, that too must be part of the Tang Clan Leader’s social skills.
Because he knew the Alliance Leader and the Murong Clan were close, he was even more conscious of the rising Namgung Clan.
‘He is certainly not an easy person.’
* * *
Waking up early in the morning, Namgung Cheon had Bok-seong send word to the Mount Huang Yun Clan.
He intended to meet at the hill at the entrance of the village and leave for the Sichuan Tang Clan with Yun Jong-seung.
Originally, he had planned to go alone, but upon quiet reflection, he thought it would be good to have a porter during the journey, and it wouldn’t be bad for running various errands either.
However, a variable arose.
“I hear Young Master Yun left for the Alliance first a few days ago. To return as a cadet.”
“What? Without even telling me?”
“Huh? Was he supposed to tell the Young Master?”
“Ah, well. Not really.”
“Hehe. You have certainly changed a lot, Young Master. It is so good to see you lately.”
“Nonsense.”
At any rate, for Yun Jong-seung to return to the Alliance first.
‘This fellow is using his petty brain again. He did that last time too…’
It was a pity, but what could he do?
When they met later, he would have to advise him well so that he understood.
Even so, he could not drag the Azure Eagle Squad along again. Although they had completed replenishment and reorganization because the damage from the last surprise attack was heavy, their organizational power was not yet complete.
Furthermore, no one would like it if he dragged the Azure Eagle Squad in hordes while visiting the Sichuan Tang Clan.
In the end, it was decided that the Azure Eagle Squad would remain here and focus on building their organizational power again.
Ultimately, after barely soothing Bok-seong, who insisted on following him to the entrance of the village, Namgung Cheon left the clan.
“Bok-seong. Since the Patriarch is not around, you convey it instead.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Bok-seong. Last time, you saved the Namgung Clan.”
At the quite serious tone, Bok-seong’s eyes welled with tears.
“Young Master…”
“I’m leaving then.”
“Yes! Young Master, take care of yourself!”
Bok-seong waved his hand until Namgung Cheon was out of sight, and then entered the estate.
Having reached the entrance of the village in that way, he saw Namgung Geom standing in the distance with his hands behind his back.
Namgung Cheon chuckled.
‘That dishonest old man came out to see me off again.’
“Have you come?”
Namgung Geom thrust something forward. It was quite heavy, seeming to contain various daily necessities as well as travel funds.
Namgung Cheon waved his hand.
“Hey, it is fine.”
“What do you mean fine? Take it.”
“Ehey, put it away. Put it away.”
“What are you talking about?”
When Namgung Geom asked back quite seriously, only then did Namgung Cheon tilt his head and accept the bundle in a daze.
“Thank you. I will return safely.”
“No need to say goodbye.”
“…?”
“This time, I will also go with you.”
“…”
“…”
“Whaaaat?”
When Namgung Cheon cried out in shock, Namgung Geom slightly knitted his brow.
“Is there a problem?”
“N-no… it is not that, but…”
“Then get in. And load the luggage into that carriage.”
“Ah…”
Oh my god! Traveling alone with this stiff old man?
Sitting opposite each other in that carriage which looked stifling just by looking at it?
Won’t I have turned to stone by the time we arrive in Sichuan?
Already, he felt suffocated by the awkwardness.
Ah, this isn’t right!