Chapter – 03
In her previous life, she had awakened around this time as well, but because she remained gravely ill due to her spiritual energy, she barely had any memories of properly meeting her grandfather.
So this was something she had never known.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure was a legendary spiritual medicine said to be formed from the power of the earth condensed over ten thousand years into the ultimate yang energy.
If consumed directly, a person would be burned to death by its overwhelming yang force.
If it had truly been used in the secret Beolmoseisu treatment she received, then there must have also been a yin-attributed spiritual medicine included to control its effects.
And if one needed to balance a ten-thousand-year elixir, then the accompanying ingredients must have been equally rare treasures.
No wonder they say performing Beolmoseisu once is enough to strip the beams from a family’s house…
“Ryeon, when you meet your grandfather, you must sincerely thank him. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand!”
“He gave something truly precious for your sake.”
The truth was that Mokryeon knew very little about her grandfather, Dan Mok Cheongi.
In the memories she had glimpsed, he remained secluded deep within the clan grounds and passed away quietly only a few years later.
Was he suffering from some illness after all?
The fact that the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure had originally been intended for his own medicine also troubled her.
If he possessed such a treasure and still hadn’t consumed it, it likely meant that creating a suitable prescription for his condition was extraordinarily difficult.
And if his treatment required medicine of that level, then his condition must have been serious.
I need to find out exactly what happened to Grandfather.
Mokryeon steeled her resolve.
A life free of accidents, disasters, and illness naturally included the wellbeing of her family.
And if Grandfather dies…
Back when Dan Mok Cheongi, known as the Moonless Sword, stood as the greatest martial artist under heaven, no one in Zhejiang Province had dared challenge the Danmok Clan.
But after he suffered a severe injury in battle against the Blood Luo Valley, the family’s fortunes rapidly declined.
To make matters worse, his only heir, Dan Mok Hyeonseong, died several years earlier during a martial duel with the Geumga Family.
The clan staggered from the blow.
Then, only a few years later, Dan Mok Cheongi also passed away.
By that point, calling the Danmok Clan a “great clan” was almost embarrassing.
Had it not been for the history supporting the family, they might as well have been called simply “the Danmok family.”
Perhaps by a few years after her own death, that was exactly what they had become.
I have to do something with this power!
Before, she hadn’t known why she was sick.
She hadn’t known why she couldn’t cultivate internal energy.
But now things were different.
Wi Jicheong accepted a scarf made from white fur from Nursemaid Jang and wrapped it around Mokryeon’s neck before taking her hand.
The residence of the Supreme Clan Head, Moon Shadow Pavilion, lay in the deepest part of the clan grounds.
Moon Shadow Pavilion had been built from dark red sandalwood so richly colored it almost appeared black.
At first glance, it possessed a simple yet elegant charm.
Although signs of age could be seen throughout the building, likely because it had only barely been maintained over the years.
Standing at the entrance was the chief steward, Kang Rip, who appeared to have been waiting for them.
After glancing at Mokryeon, he bowed and guided the two inside.
Passing through air faintly scented with medicinal herbs, the first thing she noticed was a heavy curtain hanging ahead.
“Father, Ryeon has come to express her gratitude.”
Wi Jicheong gently wrapped an arm around Mokryeon’s shoulders.
“Hmph. How is the child’s health?”
An old man’s rough, weighty voice emerged from behind the curtain.
It seemed Dan Mok Cheongi had no intention of drawing it aside.
“Thanks to your concern, she has improved greatly.”
“That Tang fellow claimed it was nothing short of a miracle.”
“It would have been impossible without both Physician Tang and yourself.”
Wi Jicheong answered.
“Ryeon, thank your grandfather.”
The old man’s voice wasn’t particularly warm, but he clearly knew the details of her condition.
In the past, even after awakening, she had spent most of her time bedridden, so she barely remembered speaking with him.
Mokryeon’s eyes darted around before she decided to act.
“Yes! I got better thanks to the medicine Grandfather gave me.”
Looking up toward the curtain, she took a step forward.
“So I came to thank Grandfather…”
Another step.
“May I come inside and greet you properly?”
She continued speaking in the innocent tone of a child who knew nothing.
“I want to greet Grandfather, but this thing is blocking me.”
A slight reaction came from behind the curtain.
Apparently, hearing a child who had only recently risen from her sickbed speaking so clearly surprised him.
Soon a rough, twisted chuckle echoed from within.
“Hmph. What a bold little thing.”
The old man laughed.
“Let her enter.”
The moment permission was granted, Mokryeon hurried through the curtain made of small bamboo beads.
“…!”
Half of Dan Mok Cheongi’s aged face was covered in a horrifying burn scar.
He sat quietly in an antique wooden chair.
The scar looked as though red clay had been carelessly smeared across his flesh.
The scar visible on his left hand resting upon the armrest was just as severe.
It was a familiar face.
Before her Beolmoseisu treatment, he would occasionally come to secretly watch her lying motionless before leaving again.
But…
Good heavens. I can barely see his face because of the light.
She swallowed nervously.
A loud notification flashed before her eyes.
Insight 3 Stars Achieved! (+1 Star)
- Talent and Comprehension can now be viewed.
- Detailed information about your achievements can now be examined.
Simply by standing before Dan Mok Cheongi and seeing his face, her Insight ability had advanced another level.
The golden radiance surrounding him was so dazzling that his features seemed blurred.
Only his eyes, sharp and fierce like those of a beast, remained clearly visible within the light.
Mokryeon finally snapped back to reality when she noticed a somewhat murky red glow flowing from around his waist.
Can I see that because Insight reached 3 Stars? Is that his old injury from fighting the Blood Luo Valley?
Pretending to adjust her sleeve, she quickly summoned the Immortal Mirror over it.
Dan Mokryeon
Harmony: 7 Stars
You may become less noticeable.
Insight: 3 Stars
You can now see much more.
Purification: 2 Stars
You can purify life energy.
Physical Strength: 5 / 100
Internal Energy: Impossible to Learn
External Martial Arts: Not Learned
Spiritual Energy: 70 / 100
New descriptions had appeared beneath each of her abilities.
It seemed Insight’s advancement allowed her to see more detailed information.
Dan Mok Cheongi
Traits:
- Protector of the Martial World
- Collector of Tendons
- Filled with Regret
- Paired Wing Bird
Falling Star Twelve Swords: 11 Stars (12 Stars)
Infinite Steps: 12 Stars
Meteor True Formula: 10 Stars
Talent & Comprehension: Upper-Middle Rank
Current Concerns:
- Dan Mokryeon’s health and talent
- The declining fortunes of the clan
- Eradicating the Blood Luo Valley
- The progress of Dan Mok Hyeon-yo and Dan Mok Hyeon-woo
Now she could see the previously hidden Talent and Comprehension categories.
Apparently, the Falling Star Twelve Swords had originally reached the full 12-Star level, but his injuries prevented him from displaying its complete power.
After quickly sorting through her confusion, Mokryeon bowed.
“Ah! Grandfather… thank you for the medicine.”
Dan Mok Cheongi’s eyebrows twitched.
Then he stroked his beard.
“I gave it to you because I couldn’t make use of it myself.”
His booming voice filled the room.
“But that does not mean it was an insignificant ingredient. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
“You have received the expectations of this family. Therefore, you must work diligently to live up to them.”
His voice thundered through the hall.
Mokryeon suppressed a sigh.
How could someone shining as brilliantly as the sun die quietly only a few years later?
But this was not the time for regret.
“Yes, Grandfather! I’ll work hard!”
If she could heal his injury, perhaps she could extend the years he had left.
And with her power, she was certain it was possible.
Natural spiritual medicines and mystical creatures often possessed extreme properties.
It was how they adapted and survived harsh natural environments.
For example:
- Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng possessed extreme yin energy.
- Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure possessed extreme yang energy.
- The inner cores of creatures like the Human-Faced Spider and the Poison-Horned Dragon contained overwhelming toxins.
Anyone consuming such things needed balancing substances.
Otherwise their meridians would freeze solid—or burn to ashes.
Even refined spiritual pills created through careful balancing could not be consumed recklessly.
Power that was too great and too miraculous became poison itself.
The reason Dan Mok Cheongi had merely stored the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure was likely because he had been unable to perfectly balance the numerous spiritual medicines required for his treatment.
Normally, absorbing too much spiritual energy at once is poisonous… but if it seeps in little by little…
Her power was different.
It was pure spiritual energy itself, neither yin nor yang.
If absorbed, it could support weak areas, strengthen deficiencies, and harmonize naturally with the body.
The reason Mokryeon herself had ultimately died was simple.
She was merely the vessel holding that energy.
And instead of arriving one spoonful at a time, it had crashed into her like an endless tidal wave.
But what if she slowly refined that spiritual energy over a long period and transferred it to her grandfather?
If she could help him live out his natural lifespan…
Then she could spend her excess spiritual energy before it accumulated.
She could prevent the clan from descending into chaos.
And she could repay the debt she owed for the Ten-Thousand-Year Supreme Blood Treasure.
That’s three birds with one stone!
No—three gains from a single move!
