The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 87

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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87
Woo Geom-san’s Rise to Dominance
Ning Yunxiao went outside to get some fresh air.
Left alone, Woo Geom-san took out his medicine decoction pot and placed it on the cabin floor.
Since he had nothing else to do while traveling on the boat anyway, he intended to craft the Hongeun Bowon-dan.
They happened to be passing through an area with a gentle current, so the boat barely rocked, meaning he only needed to focus on the alchemical refining.
He threw the cabin windows wide open and placed the medicinal herbs required for the Hongeun Bowon-dan into the medicine decoction pot in precise proportions.
Under normal circumstances, he would have had to light a fire beneath a furnace to boil the medicine decoction pot.
However, lighting a fire on a wooden boat was strictly forbidden.
It was strictly prohibited because a fire could easily catch and spread to the entire vessel.
Woo Geom-san was well aware of that fact.
He had no desire to go so far as to violate the boat’s taboo just to manufacture the Hongeun Bowon-dan.
Instead of stoking a fire, he planned to attempt something new.
He placed both hands on either side of the round medicine decoction pot and activated the Choyeon Simgyeol.
Inhaling Wind, Exhaling Water.
Inhaling like the wind, exhaling like water.
The energy that filled the heaven and earth synchronized with Woo Geom-san and rushed toward him like an incoming tide.
Woo Geom-san drew in the energy from the surrounding Yangtze River.
Since he was drawing it from the Yangtze River, the water attribute was naturally dominant. However, that did not mean there was no fire Qi at all.
The balance of nature was so exquisite that while a specific type of energy might be stronger or weaker, there was no such thing as absolute entirety or absolute absence.
An energy corresponding to fire also existed within the Yangtze River.
Woo Geom-san isolated only the fire Qi from the energy that had entered his body and concentrated it into his hands.
Sssss!
As the fire Qi concentrated, the medicine decoction pot heated up to a scorching degree.
‘As I thought, it works.’
This was a method he had thought of while using a furnace to prepare the Sinmyeonggo.
It had been nothing more than a vague concept, but he had a strange feeling that it would somehow succeed. So he tried it, and it was a success on his very first attempt.
Woo Geom-san was not the only one who had ever thought of a method to manufacture a spiritual elixir by utilizing internal strength.
Given the long history of the Jianghu, many sects and experts had attempted this method. However, those who succeeded were few and far between.
To manufacture a spiritual elixir using internal strength, one had to circulate their martial cultivation force all day long, which was no easy feat even for a Transcendent Master.
Furthermore, to manufacture spiritual elixirs, one had to possess a profound knowledge of medicine. This was because every medicinal herb possessed different properties, meaning the temperature required to extract their true efficacy varied.
Lastly, one’s internal strength had to be maintained continuously throughout the entire day without breaking, and it also had to possess the characteristics of a Fiery Yang Art. Only then could the fire Qi be sustained.
Because of these demanding requirements, manufacturing spiritual elixirs using internal strength was nigh impossible.
Even in Saengsagok, which was considered the absolute pinnacle of medicine, there was no one who could manufacture spiritual elixirs using internal strength.
However, Woo Geom-san was on an entirely different level compared to other martial artists.
Since he was drawing and utilizing the energy of nature rather than his own personal energy, circulating it all day long placed no strain on him whatsoever.
Moreover, he had trained in the Nine Heavens Soul Returning Acupuncture since childhood and had thoroughly studied the Bojebang, so his knowledge regarding medicine was more than sufficient.
His concentration was also outstanding, allowing him to perceive even the slightest alteration inside the medicine decoction pot even while operating the Choyeon Simgyeol.
As the medicine decoction pot grew scorching hot, he felt the medicinal herbs melting into a soft, mushy state.
If he raised the temperature any further here, the herbs would burn instead of melting. Then, he wouldn’t be able to properly extract their efficacy.
Delicate temperature control was required to ensure the herbs did not burn.
When he felt it was getting too hot, he lowered the temperature, and when the medicine decoction pot cooled down, he raised it bit by bit.
After focusing on the medicine decoction pot for nearly half a day in that manner, all the herbs melted completely into a liquid state.
This was not the end.
He had to maintain an appropriate temperature to boil down the liquid and concentrate it into a thick extract.
Woo Geom-san precisely adjusted the heat as he boiled down the liquid.
“Mister…”
Ning Yunxiao paused as he walked into the cabin.
The sight of Woo Geom-san placing his hands on the medicine decoction pot in deep concentration felt somehow extraordinary.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Ning Yunxiao quietly locked the cabin door behind him.
Ning Yunxiao carefully sat down on the bed, making sure not to break Woo Geom-san’s concentration. Then, he watched him.
As the thick extract was formed, a fragrant aroma completely filled the cabin.
Just breathing in the scent alone felt like it was clearing his mind.
‘He is manufacturing a spiritual medicine.’
Ning Yunxiao was someone who had consumed all kinds of spiritual medicines back in the Red Cloud Sect.
Just by smelling it, he could tell that Woo Geom-san was crafting a spiritual medicine.
Even though the Sect Leader of the Red Cloud Sect, Ning Hanming, had forced Ning Yunxiao to consume all sorts of spiritual medicines, he had strictly forbidden him from learning martial arts.
This was because if Ning Yunxiao perfectly mastered the accumulated internal strength and made it his own, it would become difficult to seize it using the Energy Absorption Art.
Consequently, despite having an immense amount of energy accumulated within his body, Ning Yunxiao had never been able to properly learn martial arts. However, because he had seen and heard so much, the knowledge he had amassed was by no means shallow. Thus, he could estimate the approximate level of the spiritual elixir Woo Geom-san was currently refining.
‘I’ve never heard of manufacturing a spiritual elixir by using internal strength. Just how powerful must his internal strength be for such a thing to be possible?’
It was a misunderstanding born from his ignorance that Woo Geom-san was drawing upon the energy of nature rather than his own inherent internal strength.
Amidst a suffocating silence, Woo Geom-san’s alchemical refining continued.
After another two shijin had passed in that manner, Woo Geom-san finally took his hands off the medicine decoction pot.
“It took longer than I expected.”
Since it was his first time making it using internal strength, there were many things to look out for. However, now that he had refined it once, he felt he could reduce the time further next time.
Right then, Ning Yunxiao spoke up cautiously.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh? When did you come in?”
“A while ago.”
“You should have made a sound when you came in.”
“You looked like you were in a state of absolute self-effacement. By the way, is the spiritual medicine finished?”
“It’s not a spiritual medicine, it’s just a remedy for internal injuries. Since I’m technically a martial artist, I figured I should carry at least one decent remedy for internal injuries, so I decided to try making it.”
“Do you always manufacture a mere remedy for internal injuries with such utmost devotion?”
“As you can see, we can’t light a fire inside the boat. Still, the final product seems decent enough.”
When Woo Geom-san opened the lid of the medicine decoction pot, the well-concentrated extract revealed itself.
Once the extract cooled down a bit and was rolled into small, round pills, the Hongeun Bowon-dan would be complete.
If the contents of the Bojebang were true, it would have an excellent effect on internal injuries.
By using the Sinmyeonggo for external injuries and taking the Hongeun Bowon-dan for internal injuries, he wouldn’t have to worry about most wounds.
“I should go outside and get some fresh air while the medicine decoction pot cools down.”
“I’ll go out with you.”
Ning Yunxiao followed Woo Geom-san outside.
Stepping outside, they saw the water’s surface dyed in a crimson hue. The sun was already setting before they knew it.
“Oh! You’ve finally come outside? You stayed in there for so long that I thought you’d hidden a honey pot in the cabin.”
Zhang Wangchu, who was tidying up some ropes, spotted Woo Geom-san and smiled brightly.
“Are you sorting out the ropes yourself?”
“The other bastards are busy navigating the boat, so I have to handle chores like this.”
“Are we going to keep navigating even though the sun is setting?”
“If it were a dangerous area, we would obviously have to anchor in a safe spot. But the current here is slow and there are no hidden reefs, so it’s safe to navigate even at night.”
Zhang Wangchu had spent his entire life on the Yangtze River.
Naturally, he understood which parts were dangerous and which were safe as clearly as the lines on his own palm.
Fortunately, the river was wide here and the flow was gentle, so as long as they attached torches to the bow, they could sail through the night.
“That is impressive.”
“You try living your whole life on the water too. You’ll easily be able to do this much.”
“Navigating through the night like this will surely cut down our travel time significantly.”
“Exactly! But safe waterways like this aren’t all that common. Some places are so hazardous that you have to stay sharp even in broad daylight.”
“Does a man like you, Leader Zhang, still fear the water?”
“Of course I fear it. Even if it looks peaceful on the outside, a river is a place that is exceedingly treacherous within. Reefs lie in wait in some areas, and sand banks pile up high in others. When the rain falls and the water swells, the Yangtze River becomes more terrifying than any monster. You can’t get arrogant just because you know a little bit; you must always be careful and vigilant.”
Because he knew the river better than anyone else, Zhang Wangchu was never conceited or complacent.
He ceaselessly scanned his surroundings and read the river’s flow, striving to cope with any changes.
Thanks to that, the boats and fleets he commanded had never suffered a single sinking accident.
Woo Geom-san nodded his head.
“I see.”
“By the way, what were you doing inside the cabin before coming out? There’s a very thick scent of medicine coming off you.”
“I was handling some medicinal herbs.”
“Medicinal herbs? Are you a doctor?”
“I’m not an official doctor, but I have an interest in medicine.”
“Ha! I heard your martial arts are incredible, but to think you’ve mastered medicine as well, you really are something else.”
“It’s just a trivial trick of no consequence. I haven’t mastered it deeply either.”
“It’s hard enough to master even one skill properly, so how can it not be amazing that you’ve mastered two? No wonder that girl So-ryeong is paying so much attention to you.”
A natural smile formed around Zhang Wangchu’s lips at the mention of Im So-ryeong.
One could easily tell how exceptionally fond Zhang Wangchu was of her.
“You seem to cherish the hall leader very much.”
“Her father was like a real older brother to me. Naturally, I’ve watched her grow since she was a child.”
“What happened to him?”
“He passed away.”
“I am sorry.”
“It wasn’t like he died in a strange land; he passed away peacefully while sleeping in his own bed, so it was a blessed death. Nothing to be sorry about. At any rate, I’ve been looking after her ever since. Well, she’s all grown up now, so there’s really no need for me to watch over her anymore anyway.”
“I see.”
Woo Geom-san nodded understandingly.
Zhang Wangchu stared intently at Woo Geom-san’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re handsome.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m just jealous. If I had a face like yours, I would have seduced women to my heart’s content.”
“You are handsome as well, Leader.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean. I know my own place.”
“My apologies.”
“Anyway, is Yichang your final destination?”
“No, it isn’t.”
“As I thought, it seems it’s just a place you’re passing through. If so, where is your final destination?”
“I apologize. I don’t mind people knowing after I arrive at my destination, but if it gets leaked along the way, it might cause some troublesome issues.”
“Tsk! You really aren’t an easy nut to crack.”
Zhang Wangchu showed a look of disappointment.
If he could just find out Woo Geom-san’s final destination, it would become easier to figure out his background and make use of him. However, Woo Geom-san had already seen through Zhang Wangchu’s intentions.
In the Jianghu, information was directly linked to one’s life.
The Jianghu was a place where a single trivial piece of information could determine the rise or fall of a sect.
Therefore, Woo Geom-san intended to hide any information regarding himself as much as possible until he arrived at the Woo Family Manor.
“How long will it take to reach Yichang?”
“Five days if we’re fast, seven days if we’re slow.”
“That takes quite a while.”
“It’s only that fast because it’s me. If it were any other bastards using the exact same boat, it would take them at least two or three days longer.”
“That is reassuring.”
“By the way, you decided to deliver that boy to his mother’s family?”
Zhang Wangchu’s gaze shifted toward Ning Yunxiao, who was standing and leaning against the railing.
Ning Yunxiao was staring down at the darkening surface of the water with a deeply melancholy expression.
It was concerning enough to make one worry whether he might just throw himself into the Yangtze River to commit suicide.
“Yes, I made a promise to Yunxiao’s mother.”
“You’re making things hard on yourself too. Especially since you have no relation to him.”
“In any case, our fates crossed paths.”
“I suppose that means you cherish ties of fate that much? You’re quite sentimental.”
“I am merely fulfilling a human duty, so the word sentimental doesn’t quite fit.”
“That’s the hardest thing to do. In the past, upholding justice, duty, ties of fate, and the natural order was taken for granted. But as time passed, the world changed. The values that were once taken for granted have now become obsolete notions. The world has long since become a place that ridicules and condemns those who risk their lives for the sake of ties and loyalty as fools. People are reluctant to help unrelated strangers, thoroughly pursuing private gain while the righteousness of the Jianghu has long since vanished.”
Zhang Wangchu looked up at the dark sky with a distant expression.
The Jianghu he remembered was a place where the strong protected the weak and pursued justice rather than private profit.
Though one could never know what lay inside their hearts, on the surface, they considered it natural to uphold a minimum level of duty and righteousness.
However, the current Jianghu was different.
It thoroughly pursued utility, and if someone helped a completely unrelated person, they were bound to be ridiculed as a fool.
Particularly as the Ten Pillars became the ruling power of the Jianghu, the world grew even more cold-hearted and drifted further away from righteousness and chivalry.
Unlike the traditional Nine Great Sects, the Ten Pillars thoroughly pursued private gain. Thanks to that, the world had turned even more desolate.
In such a harsh world, extending a saving hand to a young boy with whom one had absolutely no conflict of interest was definitely something that just anyone could do.
‘A swordsman who values chivalry, is it? Most of those types don’t last long, but I wonder how he will fare…’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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