The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 201

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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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The Declining Clan’s Limited Lifespan — Episode 201

The first reason she recognized that Ma Cheon Gyo had passed through by traces alone was that she had once stood on the front lines with them decades ago when Blood Coral Valley was in turmoil.
The second reason was that the Ma Cheon Gyo members had not hidden themselves and fired two Flash Bombs into the air.
Thanks to that, she was able to locate Ryeon and the collapsed Seon Un Sin Ui quickly.
“They seemed to be searching for a Deputy Sect Leader Candidate.”
“Ah, you did mention a time like that…… But even so, it’s surprising that they would trouble themselves to fight over Blood Coral Valley…….”
Blood Coral Valley’s method of granting strength to the weak drew people in with startling ease, and for a time they had nearly occupied half the Central Plains.
That was why Ma Cheon Gyo moved. They participated in uprooting the valley not to protect the Central Plains, but because they could not tolerate even their own Heavenly Mountain staining with blood.
Given that, it was somewhat unexpected that Ma Cheon Gyo elders, who were not directly involved in this affair, would clash with a Blood Demon from Blood Coral Valley—and one who appeared to be of Valley Master caliber, no less.
“Is the Deputy Sect Leader Candidate entangled in this trouble?”
Moyong Chwi Ryeo murmured and shook her head.
In any case, the Ma Cheon Gyo elders were surprisingly reliable partners in such matters.
Because they possessed unwavering conviction, they actually showed greater resistance to Blood Coral Valley’s seductions than Hek Cheon Ryeon or Baek Do Meng.
Particularly the elders—they tended to harbor extreme disdain for Blood Coral Valley’s method of growing strong without effort.
“By the way…… How is Ryeon?”
…….
Dan Mok Cheon Gi’s face darkened.
Dan Mok Seong and Dan Mok Hyeon U had not stopped weeping as they kept watch over the place where Ryeon lay, and she had regained consciousness once midway before falling asleep again—for three days now, she had not woken.
“……According to what Seon Un Sin Ui said, her mental strength is exhausted and she is resting. She should wake soon enough.”
Seon Un Sin Ui, upon waking, had tended to his own body first and then carefully assessed the situation around him.
Upon learning that Blood Coral Valley had erupted, he felt his chest tighten with distress, but when he heard that Bing Xue Yan had recovered completely, he was surprised and delighted beyond measure.
And he took it upon himself to care for and treat the young child of the Dan Mok Clan who had been injured, saying it was only natural since they had saved both him and his disciple.
— Chased continuously and fell from a great height…… Yet despite that, the physical wounds are not severe save for the injury to her ankle, and it appears only that her heart grew somewhat weary from exerting all her strength to face this crisis.
In time, she will naturally wake, he had said.
But how could anyone take comfort in such words when Ryeon could not open her eyes right now?
Dan Mok Hyeon U and Dan Mok Seong, their faces swollen from tears, could not leave Ryeon’s side.
“The child has an upright and strong spirit, so believe she will wake soon.”
Dan Mok Cheon Gi moved his lips and nodded. Moyong Chwi Ryeo spoke with an expression showing she understood his heart.
“Until the child rises from her bed, think of my home as your own and stay at ease.”

* * *

Ryeon opened her eyes slowly. Her throat felt parched like a dried rice field, and her eyes were stiff.
For a moment she wondered where she was, but then she gathered her thoughts carefully.
‘Chased by Blood Coral Valley blood demons, fire broke out…… I escaped the forest…… and fell…….’
Hwa Ryun had left.
Ryeon paused briefly, then breathed out slowly and pushed herself to sit up.
She remembered Hwa Ryun leaving and her family finding her. This must be Moyong Family Estate…….
“Ryeon! Ryeon, are you awake? Do you recognize your uncle’s face? Hmm?”
“Ryeon……, oh, Ryeon!”
Ryeon started in alarm, her eyes flying wide. Dan Mok Hyeon U, his face already soaked with tears, abandoned whatever he held and rushed over, wiping Ryeon’s face frantically.
In the meantime, Dan Mok Seong held back her tears and quickly sent a servant to bring word to the physician.
“U-Uncle. Yes, I know. You and Seong, and…… the rest of the family are all right?”
“We’re all fine! Do you know how worried we were that you wouldn’t wake? Falling down a cliff like that, oh my, this uncle has failed you so…….”
Dan Mok Hyeon U wept with hiccupping sobs while Dan Mok Seong pushed him aside and stood before Ryeon.
“You…… you can hit my cheek if you want.”
“What?”
Dan Mok Hyeon U was crying and Dan Mok Seong trembled as she spoke these strange words.
Ryeon looked at Dan Mok Seong with a startled expression.
“W-what are you saying!”
“I should have protected you, but I couldn’t…….”
“No, no…… no!”
At that moment Dan Mok Hyeon Yo burst in. She must have heard the commotion from nearby and run over. The moment Ryeon saw Dan Mok Hyeon Yo, she spoke urgently.
“Aunt! Aunt, please stop Uncle and Seong…… Aunt! Aunt, don’t cry! Oh, no, what is this…… no…… Grandfather…… don’t cry…… I’m sorry…… I was wrong…….”
Ryeon trailed off mid-sentence and pressed her palms to her temples. Somehow the entire family had gathered and crowded around her, weeping.
Seon Un Sin Ui, who had arrived a step behind the others, laughed heartily at the sight, patted Dan Mok Hyeon U on the back as he wept, and then gently grasped Ryeon’s wrist to perform a Pulse Diagnosis.
“Let me see… Is there anywhere that pains you?”
“No? Well… just a sensation like I want to stretch?”
“That’s from lying down so long. Your pulse is steady and your complexion is good. The wound on your ankle has healed completely. There’s a scar, but it will fade as you grow—nothing to worry about.”
“W-well, a scar is a warrior’s badge of honor!”
Dan Mok Seong’s eyes had reddened as she cried out, fighting back tears.
Seon Un Sin Ui smiled warmly at her and then herded the weeping adults outside like a flock of sheep.
“The child hasn’t even opened her eyes before you all rush in and do nothing but cry—how do you think that makes her feel? Everyone, please step outside.”
“That’s right, all of you go on. Go prepare some rice porridge for Ryeon to eat…”
“Master Seon Un Sin Ui. You as well.”
“Ah… but I’m the child’s grandfather.”
“Haha.”
In the end, young and old alike were ushered out of Ryeon’s room.
At last the room fell silent, and Ryeon stole glances at Seon Un Sin Ui’s face, which she was seeing for the first time. He was studying her just as intently.
“Now I see—we’re companions who rolled down a Cliff together.”
“I beg your pardon?”
At first Ryeon didn’t understand what he meant, but then she laughed quietly. Seon Un Sin Ui, too, had been sent tumbling over the Cliff while fighting Blood Demons.
“Isn’t that so? You and I have truly been blessed with Luck. To fall from such a height and rise without a scratch.”
Because she had indeed scraped together every last scrap of Luck available, Ryeon nodded with genuine agreement, smiling.
“Is there nowhere else that troubles you?”
“No! I feel wonderfully refreshed, like I’ve slept deeply. I’m just terribly hungry…”
“Truly nowhere else that pains you?”
“No, really—my ankle doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”
Ryeon flexed her foot back and forth, side to side, and smiled brightly.
But Seon Un Sin Ui asked once more.
“Truly, nowhere at all that causes you pain?”
“Um…”
Ryeon’s eyes only blinked.
Seon Un Sin Ui brushed back her tousled hair and, checking her pulse once more, spoke.
“Have you never felt discomfort when you go to high mountains, deep forests, clean ponds, or streams?”
Ryeon’s eyes widened.
“Haven’t you instead found your body more at ease in crowded, bustling places?”
Seeing her face stiffen, Seon Un Sin Ui quickly waved a hand in alarm.
“I’m not interrogating you or trying to extract some secret. It’s simply that I once read of something in an old text…”
“An old text?”
“Decades ago, research that leaked out when a famous medical sect was destroyed—it seemed to posit that just as beasts who survive for many years might become Spirit Beings, and some are mysteriously born with a certain mystique and become Spirit Beings from birth, might not people likewise have the potential to be born as Spirit Beings? That was the thrust of the research.”
“…!”
Ryeon fought to hide her shock, blinking her eyes deliberately. Seon Un Sin Ui, recalling the text he had read, continued.
“I never saw the section on research methodology, but the conclusion was reported to have failed. Such gifted children did exist, but most of them were sickly instead.”
Seon Un Sin Ui reflected on what he had read and clicked his tongue sadly.
To be born with power that others desperately desired, yet have no opportunity to wield it because of that very thing.
“The cases had several distinguishing traits—they could see through the essence of things, flora and fauna thrived around them, they showed aptitude for music, and they were remarkably skilled at gambling and calculation games. Though at this point it sounds like someone simply borrowed attractive ideas and patched them together.”
“Yes… or?”
“Having been born with the mystical resonance of this world, they can perceive the true nature of things. With Spiritual Energy within them, plants and animals truly flourish in their presence. It seems the person who possessed the power itself was unable to do so, but…”
Seon Un Sin Ui clicked his tongue as though lamenting.

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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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