The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 38

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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 Se Family’s Limited-Time Elixir, Episode 38

The mere fact that Ryun was putting in this much effort only proved that the Pure Clarity Lotus Elixir’s efficacy surpassed that of other remedies by a wide margin.
And that very fact had kindled demand for the True Clarity Lotus Elixir. The reasoning was simple: if the Pure Clarity version was this potent, what heights might the True Clarity version reach?
The True Clarity Lotus Elixir demanded even greater labor. She wove the Harmony Technique throughout the essential oils, harmonizing them more thoroughly, and poured in additional Spiritual Qi.
After expending all but the bare minimum of her Spiritual Qi, she had exhausted the estate’s remaining essential oils as well, and the moon had already risen.

Spiritual Qi: 11/100

‘Should I make another trip up the mountain?’
She’d sworn off mountain climbing just the other day, yet here she was, contemplating it again. Human resolve, she mused, was truly fickle.
“Everything that’s been packed will be sent to the Man-song Trading Company through the Yu-seong Courier Service at dawn tomorrow.”
“Our courier service is handling the transport?”
Dan-mok Hyun-u turned back in mild surprise. The selection of a transport company was ordinarily a delicate matter—not something that could be changed on a whim.
“Yes! Since the Yu-seong Courier Service is still small, we agreed to handle only the shipments from the Se Family Estate to the trading company for now. I discussed it with Wi-un as well.”
“That’s worked out wonderfully!”
“Once we receive the essential oils that will be used as materials on the return carriage, everything will fall into place perfectly.”
“So we’ll be working tomorrow as well?”
“Since we only worked this afternoon today, I’d think the same pace tomorrow should suffice.”
Ryun stretched with a satisfied sigh as she spoke. For the past few days she’d done nothing but dwell on gold-gathering, martial tournaments, and sparring matches—all of it had vanished, leaving her mind refreshingly clear.
Yet the following morning, Ryun was forced to accept that she had been somewhat too optimistic.

* * *

So much merchandise had not flowed through the Se Family Estate for a very long time. It had been stagnant for ages.
Thanks to this activity, every servant in the estate came out to watch as containers of essential oils accumulated in neat stacks.
“Wow, there’s just no end to these essential oils coming in.”
“You mean to say our medicine shop is producing all of this? What’s it called—Clarity Lotus something?”
“Supposedly it works wonders.”
“Really?”
“That young master who used it placed First in the State Examination—top score. First. Place. In. The. State. Examination!”
“Oh, that one….”
“So what on earth are you thinking about at this ungodly hour?”
“I-I’m not even taking the exam myself.”
“Ah, honestly….”
“Why are you embarrassing him like that? Are you planning to take the exam?”
“Even if I’m not taking the exam, it could still help with martial training, couldn’t it? The Clarity Lotus isn’t some potion that shows you the answers when you drink it.”
“You drink it?”
“I’m losing it.”
The servants bustled about, carrying the containers of essential oils into the medicine shop. Ryun, having risen early due to the commotion, watched from where she stood.
A man from the Man-song Trading Company, who had accompanied the Yu-seong Courier Service’s carriage, spotted Ryun and approached her promptly.
“Young lady. I am Jo Jeong-bong, a porter working under your direction.”
The middle-aged man with white-streaked hair at his temples bowed respectfully to Ryun.
“Thank you for all your effort this early in the morning.”
“Not at all, miss—it’s a pleasure. Our lady asked me to convey that she has prepared the finest-grade essential oils. We’ve brought only as much as the courier carriage can carry, so if you should need more, do send word to the trading company at any time and we’ll dispatch fresh materials. You needn’t worry about anything else—simply focus your efforts on production.”
“Making it isn’t difficult, but is there really this much demand…?”
Ryun gestured toward the containers of essential oils mounting like a small mountain.
Last night before sleep, she’d assumed today would need only half a day’s work. But watching the essential oils pile up steadily was beginning to fill her with a sense of unreality.
“We sent a week’s worth just this morning.”
“Ah, all of that will be sold out by this afternoon when the sun sets.”
“Truly?”
“Without question. These days people are seeking it from far and wide. There are even some buyers who slip in extra payment when goods arrive, requesting first notification. Of course, our lady refuses to engage in any such dealings.”
Hearing that everything she’d made yesterday afternoon would be gone by midday today sent a flutter of urgency through her. Ryun quickly assured Jo Jeong-bong that she would produce more and send it right away, then saw him off.
Jo Jeong-bong was so deeply moved by Ryun’s personal escort that he bowed several times before returning to the trading company.
In that same moment, Ryun began mentally sorting through every available person in the Se Family Estate who could be mobilized for Clarity Lotus Elixir production.
Dan-mok Hyun-u was the Medicine Shop’s proprietor and close enough to Ryun that he could be trusted with the work, but it seemed improper to rely on someone of his standing.
‘Among those remaining, someone with skilled hands, someone reliable enough not to leak the formula…….’
Once she narrowed it down that way, there were precious few people to draw upon.
Besides, the Se Family’s circumstances had been straitened for some time, and those who remained at home each had their own allotted tasks—there was no way to pull them away without consequence.
Ryun hurried back and forth across the garden before the Medicine Shop, carefully assessing what little labor she had.
“A good morning to you, Miss Ryun.”
“Oh……! Yeop-un. Did you sleep well?”
“Would it be all right if I came in?”
“Yes, yes, please do!”
Yeop-un, a small booklet in hand, stepped lightly past the Medicine Shop’s inner wall.
“I was reviewing what you taught me this morning during my walk, and something puzzled me, so I asked around and was told you were here…….”
Ryun felt a touch of embarrassment and smiled sheepishly.
“The Medicine Shop makes and sells a certain remedy, and it seems demand has suddenly increased. Since I’m the one who prepares it, I came out early this morning. But what was it that puzzled you?”
She was ready to answer whatever question he had, but Yeop-un brought up a different matter instead.
“I hear you’re short-handed. If you need help, would it be all right if I lent a hand?”
“What?”
“If it’s just assisting, I think I could contribute something…….”
Ryun’s eyes widened at first, then she pressed her lips together and considered his offer carefully. Or rather, she considered Yeop-un himself.
‘Yeop-un. The man who will become a Kunlun Sect priest……. His martial talent is exceptional, and that’s all he cares about. That he’s offering to help now…….’
Ryun saw through Yeop-un’s heart.
He wanted to keep her occupied with sparring and sword practice so he could make faster progress, but since she seemed to have urgent business, he was offering to help her finish it quickly so they could resume training.
‘The proportions of the Clarity Lotus Elixir aren’t really that critical anyway.’
Given how intense the reaction to the elixir had become, she’d already braced herself for counterfeits to emerge.
Simple arithmetic—reverse-calculating the amount of essential oil entering the Se Family Estate—would soon reveal the formula to any group with intelligence networks.
Perhaps Wi-un had taken measures to obscure it, but even those wouldn’t hold up long against people actively searching.
But there was one thing people didn’t know: the true heart of the elixir was her own power.
That was something that could never be leaked, so she had no worries on that front.
“But you’re a guest.”
“At the same time, Miss Ryun is also my teacher. Helping is only natural.”
She made a polite show of refusing, but Yeop-un dismissed her objection with a smile. Ryun’s eyes grew bright with gratitude as she seized both his hands.
“You’ll be such a tremendous help. Truly, I’m so grateful.”

* * *

Yeop-un had been the one to offer his help, but he’d expected to do little more than stack and pack bottles.
It was surprising that a direct member of the Se Family bloodline prepared medicines herself, though he’d already gathered from the family’s circumstances over this time that their fortunes weren’t particularly generous, so he accepted it readily enough.
But the moment he stepped into the Medicine Shop’s preparation room, he spotted a large sheet of paper posted on one wall.

Winter Green Oil

– 40%
Peppermint Oil

and Peppermol

mixed in a one-to-one ratio – 30%
Eucalyptus Oil

– 20%
Camphor

, Lavender

, Sandalwood Oil

, and Thyme Oil

mixed in equal proportions – 10%.

It was the very formula for the Pure Clarity Lotus Elixir, written plain as day. Yeop-un started, his composure visibly shaken.
“Lian, Miss Lian! I saw that, but…….”
Wasn’t this sort of thing normally kept as a secret of the Se Family Estate—one whose exposure would result in the extermination of nine generations?
“Oh. Well, I find it’s clearer and more accurate when I can see it while doing it. That way we won’t make mistakes by asking each other questions.”
“But that…….”
“Surely Yeop-un and I aren’t strangers to each other? You wouldn’t speak the secret of the Pure Clarity Lotus Elixir to anyone else, would you?”
“Of course not!”
“I trust you, Yeop-un.”
Yeop-un drew in a sharp breath.
Starlight glimmered and danced across the girl’s eyes as she gazed up at him, sparkling with an almost ethereal glow.
Anyone who would betray that look in her eyes deserved to be called the scum of the earth, a wretch unfit for decent company.
“I… I swear I will never betray that trust.”
Yeop-un spoke with absolute conviction. Lian broke into a radiant smile.
Watching the boy and girl murmur to each other from a distance, Dan-mok Hyun-u couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“Sister.”
“Hmm? Ryun?”
Just then, the boy who served as Dan-mok Lian’s attendant approached and addressed her.
He’d grown up alongside Dan-mok Lian like a brother and sister, though from what little he’d gathered, the boy bore none of the usual marks of a servant.
There was no trace of servility in his manner; his features were sharply defined, his bearing proud—he looked far more like the young master of some wealthy household than a servant.

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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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