Palgap nodded in response to my question.
“Yes, I can see it.”
“Do you see something transparent hanging from the third branch from the bottom?”
Luckily, Palgap’s eyesight wasn’t bad, and he quickly recognized its presence.
“Huh? Do you mean the transparent thing? What is that?”
“I’ll explain later. Just hurry and pick it.”
Without knowing the reason, Palgap rushed off and brought back the fruit.
“Here it is.”
I took it and said,
“This must remain absolutely secret.”
“Huh? What is it that makes it so secret?”
“An Elixir.”
Startled by my answer, Palgap asked again,
“Sorry?”
I raised my index finger to my lips, and he nodded.
Palgap could be trusted.
In the future, I gave the elderly Palgap a house, land, and money so he could live out his days in peace.
But he served me until the very end.
When we were attacked by the Baekcheon Merchant Group, he died protecting me.
Even as he lay dying, he told me to run because he was fine. How could I ever forget that moment?
If I couldn’t trust someone like Palgap even after witnessing his death firsthand, I’d be the biggest fool in the world.
So I told him silently in my heart,
‘So this time, don’t die for me.’
Soon, the escort warrior returned.
“There was nothing. It seems it was just a wild animal hiding nearby.”
“That’s a relief. Let’s head back, then.”
“Can you walk?”
“I rested a bit, so I’m fine now.”
.
.
.
We were able to return to the merchant group without being late.
After coming down the snow-covered mountain, I washed up and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
There was a separate space set aside for our family in one corner of the dining hall.
It was just as I remembered.
A round, red table.
And six chairs placed around it.
My grandfather, parents, two older brothers, and me.
Over time, the number of chairs would increase or decrease.
I came to the dining hall a bit early on purpose.
I wanted to touch each chair and table, remembering where my family used to sit.
I reached out my hand.
My fingertips trembled.
Tap.
Soon, my hand touched the chairs.
The future I had experienced and the nightmare from last night kept telling me the same thing:
To protect this happiness, I had to grow stronger.
And I would.
I was making that vow when I heard someone approach.
“You’re early.”
I turned and froze.
It was my second brother.
My second brother, alive and standing right in front of me. I was overwhelmed.
“Huh? Why do you look like someone who just saw a ghost?”
“Uh…”
It was then I realized what kind of expression I had, hearing the words of my second brother, Eun Jin-ho (銀進浩).
“Are you still feeling unwell?”
I turned toward that voice. It was my eldest brother, Eun Jeong-ho (銀鼎浩).
Their worried eyes made me swallow and calm myself before speaking.
“No, I went for a walk on the back mountain early this morning. I’m just a little tired.”
“A walk?”
“It must’ve been cold with the snow.”
“I heard hiking at dawn is good for your health.”
“Oh…”
“I see.”
Just then, Father, Mother, and Grandfather entered the dining hall.
My grandfather’s name was Eun Ji-bong (銀智峰).
Though his hair was white, his eyes were still sharp and lively.
Father was Eun Gil-sang.
And Mother, known as Lady Orchid Bloom, because of her love for orchid flowers.
“Everyone, sit.”
At Grandfather’s words, we all took our seats, and the maids began setting the food on the table.
‘It’s mung bean porridge today.’
My first family meal after returning.
Seeing it brought back a final memory.
‘They said they prepared a feast for me…’
But I never got to attend it.
And I could only imagine what happened to my family.
Clench.
My fist tightened before I realized it.
‘I’ll never, ever lose them in this life.’
.
.
.
After breakfast, I returned to my room and sat in front of the tea table.
It was time to start consuming the elixir in earnest.
From my memory, I had to practice my cultivation method for at least six shichen after taking the elixir. (TL Note: A shichen is 2 hours)
Only then could I properly digest its Qi.
Of course, full absorption would take a few more days, but with five days off, it wasn’t a problem.
That is, as long as nothing happened while I was consuming the elixir and cultivating.
That’s why I needed someone to stand guard.
If anyone disturbed me while cultivating, my Qi flow could reverse, and I could fall into Qi Deviation.
In the future, Eunpoong’s warriors would be ordered by my father would stand guard for me.
But I couldn’t expect that now.
How could I explain everything to Father? Where would I even begin?
In the end, there was only one person I could ask.
I called for Palgap.
“Palgap!”
He opened the door and came in at my call.
“Yes, Young Master. You called?”
“I’m going to lock the door and stay inside from now on.”
Palgap, sharp as ever, grasped the situation.
“Are you going to take the thing you found this morning?”
“That’s right.”
“Will you be okay? Honestly, I’m a little doubtful.”
Worried, Palgap voiced his concern, but I replied firmly.
“Yes. If I want to survive, I have to take it.”
“…”
Even faced with my firm attitude, Palgap didn’t avert his eyes.
He meant he wouldn’t accept it without an explanation.
So I gave the story I’d prepared.
“Actually, a celestial being appeared in my dream.”
“What? A celestial being?”
“Yes. He told me to take that elixir and begin cultivating. He said all my recent ailments were signs of a short life.”
I continued.
“He even told me the exact location of the elixir and what cultivation method to use after taking it.”
“Really?”
“Think about it. Would I have been able to find it so easily otherwise?”
“Now that you say that… it makes sense.”
Only then did Palgap nod.
I still couldn’t tell him I had returned from the future.
I didn’t even know why it happened, and who knew what kind of impact it might have on Palgap if he found out?
Not to mention, he probably wouldn’t believe it.
Then he asked,
“Then why didn’t you tell the Merchant Lord?”
“The celestial being strictly warned me. I must keep it secret. If even a word leaks out, there’ll be a massive bloodbath.”
“B–bloodbath?”
At the word “bloodbath,” Palgap tensed and swallowed hard.
“Because it’s such a powerful elixir, even the sects might move to obtain it.”
“Ah…”
“If Father and the family find out, the chance of the secret leaking gets too high.”
Palgap nodded.
He probably thought the sects I mentioned referred to people from the unorthodox sect, but in truth, I meant both unorthodox and orthodox sects.
It had actually happened in the future I experienced.
And the claim that it could lead to a bloodbath was both an excuse and a genuine reason.
If the existence of the Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit were revealed—if it were known that I had consumed it—the full brunt of the bloodbath would fall on the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“So that’s why you’ve been so cautious?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why tell me…”
I smiled slightly as I replied.
“Because after my family, you’re the person I trust most.”
At my words, Palgap’s eyes turned red with emotion.
“Hrk! Young Master, you had it all thought out… And a celestial being, no less! It must be the reward of the virtuous deeds the late madam performed in her lifetime.”
Come to think of it, my late grandmother was known for helping the poor and downtrodden.
“Anyway, until I open the door myself, don’t come in. Don’t let anyone else in, either.”
“Understood. Not even an ant will get past me.”
With a determined expression, Palgap left. I locked the door just in case.
Then I sat cross-legged in the center of the room.
“Hoo—”
I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes.
Then, slowly and calmly, I began channeling my cultivation method, guided by memory.
Ten Thousand Qi Grand Harmony Method (萬氣大羅心法).
A cultivation method taught to me in the future by Heukjeok Uiseon.
Just as he described it—a net that traps all Qi—it had the ability to absorb and retain every bit of incoming Qi within the body without loss.
On top of that, it didn’t conflict with other methods.
It only applied to certain types of Qi that entered the body.
‘No problem with my memory.’
I stopped the circulation and retrieved the Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit I’d hidden in the secret space beneath my bed.
It still glowed with a brilliant, transparent blue hue.
“Hoo—”
Taking another deep breath, I placed it in my mouth.
‘Huh?’
I was shocked.
Had I not known better, I would’ve thought I had just put ice in my mouth.
That’s how cold it was.
And the moment it touched my tongue, it melted instantly.
A delicate plum aroma spread through my mouth.
I straightened my back and closed my eyes again.
Then resumed the cultivation method.
“…”
Soon, I began to feel the elixir’s Qi.
More than cold—it was frigid.
‘That’s strange.’
This wasn’t how it felt the last time I consumed an elixir and cultivated.
Back then, it had been bearable.
But not now.
‘Something’s wrong. It shouldn’t be this cold.’
The chilling Qi began to constrict my heart.
It invaded every joint, causing my whole body to tremble.
The pain grew more intense, but I stayed calm, analyzing the situation.
Just as I always became calmer when agitated or angry.
‘The method isn’t the issue. That means…’
The only variable was the Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit.
That was the only difference between now and then.
In the future, the elixir I had taken was called Cold Spirit Ten Herb (冷靈十草).
It looked like a white herb.
‘Now that I think about it… the Cold Spirit Ten Herb gave ten years’ worth of internal Qi.’
And Heukjeok Uiseon said that was enough.
The Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit, on the other hand, could give sixty years’ worth of internal Qi in a single dose.
‘Damn it. I’m having problems because the elixir’s too good.’
It was absurd.
A better opportunity turning into a deadly risk.
Some of the Qi had safely been absorbed, but most of it remained unabsorbed and was running wild.
And because of the Ten Thousand Qi Grand Harmony Method, the excess Qi couldn’t escape the body.
Cold sweat soaked my back.
At this rate, I was going to die.
‘I can’t… I can’t die like this.’
I had to strike back at the Baekcheon Merchant Group that trampled my family and the Eunhae Merchant Group. I had to deliver a blow to the Murim Alliance.
If I died now, my family would be devastated. Palgap would grieve unbearably.
I didn’t even need to imagine it—I knew.
I suppressed my emotions and calmly organized my thoughts.
‘The best option is to store the remaining Qi in the dantian…’
A martial artist stores Qi in the dantian through an internal cultivation method.
But the Ten Thousand Qi Grand Harmony Method wasn’t for internal cultivation—it didn’t circulate Qi.
Its purpose was to let the body absorb the elixir’s Qi directly.
My original plan had been to strengthen my frail body with the elixir, then gradually cultivate Qi afterward.
Because with a sickly body, trying to build Qi first could be dangerous.
Back then, the Cold Spirit Ten Herb’s Qi had been fully used up, so there had been no issue.
But now, it wasn’t okay.
I recalled an internal cultivation method I knew.
‘No choice now. Let’s do this.’
It wasn’t supposed to be done this way—but I had no alternative.
Especially since my body wasn’t yet complete, my meridians were underdeveloped, and I hadn’t laid the foundation for internal Qi.
This was like trying to force a massive river through cracks blocked by rock.
I knew exactly what would happen to my body if I forced it.
But this was all I had left.
Sink or swim—I had to try.
The moment I made up my mind, something unexpected happened.
‘Huh?’
A vast Qi began to stir.
A force I hadn’t even known was inside me.
The moment it moved, I knew what it was by instinct.
‘This… this is the Black Dragon?’
I had thought Heukjeok Uiseon’s words were metaphorical—but what I was sensing now was a real Black Dragon.
The Black Dragon devoured every last bit of the Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit’s Qi.
But what happened next was even stranger.
–TL Notes–
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