Chapter 12: Who Moved My Elixir?

“Wh-What are you doing? Right now… Ah, you’re doing this to me and… h-huh.”

Dang Soyeong, after receiving a sharp smack, began to praise.

Was it very painful?

That was the intention.

It feels refreshing inside.

“Heh… you bastard, do you think you’ll get away with this? I… I…”

“This is the male student dormitory. Leave immediately!”

It wasn’t just a random slap.

As expected, the instructor was doing his rounds.

“But…!”

“I won’t accept excuses. If you don’t leave right now, I’ll report you to the disciplinary committee.”

Under the firm words of the instructor, Dang Soyeong had no choice but to agree.

“Okay, Instructor.”

‘Finally, she’s leaving.’

I could feel Dang Soyeong’s presence fading away.

I wasn’t free enough to listen to her complaints.

If she wanted to do something, she should have done it earlier.

Taking a moment to think things over before acting isn’t sincerity.

Gulp-

I closed my eyes and sat down, placing an elixir in my mouth.

I needed to prepare the minimum internal energy to protect myself.

Though the elixir was something I took from wandering outsiders, it was better than nothing.

“Jin Sojin… you’ll regret this!! I’ll make sure of it…!!”

“Shut up. Get out now!!”

Listening to Dang Soyeong’s shout, filled with rage, I gathered the energy of the elixir, slowly and steadily.

I did this for a long while.

Once again, I put the elixir in my mouth.

The energy of the elixir spread throughout my body.

I replayed the brief skirmish I had with Namgungjin earlier.

Namgungjin’s remarkable internal energy was hard to believe, considering he was at the peak level of cultivation.

Currently, he had reached the first stage of the Yinyang Divine Art of the Sun and Moon, but in simple terms, he had just begun.

I probably could have subdued someone like Namgungjin, but if I fought a seasoned swordsman with the same internal energy, I would likely lose.

It was a regrettable thought, but in Zhongyuan, being careless or arrogant is like poison.

Only objective judgment can save your life.

At least once I reach the Tenth Flower, I’ll be able to use various techniques and secret arts, so it’s better to be cautious until then…

‘But who’s going to wait for that?’

I continued to gather energy throughout my body, focusing on my pulse, but the road ahead was still long.

Cheon Sojin’s body was trash, truly trash.

I’m not particularly skilled in martial arts either…

For now, I’m covering up with experience, but if I meet a real master, I’ll be mercilessly killed.

“Tch.”

Clicking my tongue, I finished the Qi cultivation session.

Back in the martial world I came from, it was hard to find something that could rival the Sun and Moon Divine Art, which was a top-tier martial art, but it had a fatal flaw.

‘The speed of advancement is slower than a snail’s pace.’

After absorbing all the elixir, I refined it, scattering most of the internal energy.

It might be hard to understand why I would discard energy I worked so hard to gather.

Pure Sun and Moon energy is the most important.

It’s not that there’s no way.

If my internal energy is lacking, then I can just create more.

I’ll overwhelm them with sheer force.

While it may not be on the level of the Yin-Yang Sect, there were still elixirs stored within the Martial Arts Hall.

On a night lit by the moon,

The students, who had been training late into the night, were gradually heading back to their dormitories one by one.

However, there were two people who did not leave until the very end…

“This bastard! How dare you call me out? Are you crazy?”

“Miya. Long time no see. How’s your body holding up?”

I waved my hand and greeted him warmly.

A pig with a cross-shaped scratch on his forehead, glaring at me as he walked over with a strong stride.

It was the all-too-familiar face of Jin Lin Mu.

“Jin Sojin, you bastard. You cowardly ambush me? Just because you won once by chance, are you looking down on me? Arrogant bastard…”

Crack-

Jin Lin Mu ground his teeth in anger.

If I had knocked him out after belittling him, it was understandable that he would be mad.

“I figured you’d be dissatisfied with the results, so I called you.”

“What? Hahaha! You idiot, digging your own grave. A third-rate bastard like you getting arrogant… You’re as good as dead. I’ll make sure of it!”

Jin Lin Mu laughed loudly and bounced around in place.

I didn’t expect him to be so happy about getting hit.

Looks like I’ll have to do it more often if he likes it so much.

He raised the stakes of the fight and assumed a stance.

His energy felt sharper than I had anticipated.

“Heh… Even if you say it’s from the Chen family, your mother didn’t come from a great family, did she? That’s why you’re like this. Hahaha!!”

It seemed like he was really angry about getting knocked out.

He clapped his hands and laughed wildly by himself.

But mentioning parents?

Although they weren’t my parents, the intention to insult was clear.

Looks like he’s about to regret this.

“Idiot.”

“What… What did you say?”

“Didn’t you hear me? You’re an idiot. According to you, a third-rate bastard getting knocked out and fainting—what else could you be? A fool?”

“You bastard!!”

It wasn’t easy to provoke someone this much with just a few words, but Jin Lin Mu immediately charged at me in rage.

One of the most important aspects of a fight is calmness.

If you get too angry, you lose your composure, and when you lose your composure, you can’t assess the situation.

Of course, even if this bastard stays calm, he’ll still get beaten.

Creak-

Someone opened the door and walked in.

“Isn’t that Jin Sojin? Hehe! Long time no see, how have you been?”

“Yes, Master. I apologize for visiting so late, I hope you’ve been well.”

“No worries. I heard the false charges were cleared up, that’s good. So, what brings you here? Is something wrong with your body?”

“Apologies. I tripped and fell again…”

When I rolled up my sleeves to reveal my arms, a dark, bluish bruise appeared.

The owner of the Medical Hall, Bai Yougang (白流剛), sighed and shook his head.

“What are you talking about? If there’s someone in pain, it’s the duty of the head of the Medical Hall to take care of them. Don’t worry about it. These worthless children… doing things like this again.”

“It’s nothing. I was just… sparring. Master… thank you for your concern.”

With a weak voice, Bai Yougang looked at me with a compassionate gaze.

“Sigh… If that’s what you mean, I won’t say more. Sojin, even though your martial arts may be a bit weak for now, if you continue to put in the effort, you will see results. I know pride is as precious as gold for a martial artist, but if it becomes too difficult to bear, come to me. Martial arts isn’t the only path.”

“I will remember, Master.”

“Good, you’re a smart one, so I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”

I soon took some simple herbs and lay down on a bed inside the Medical Hall.

“Ahem…”

I heard a cough.

Although I knew the reason, I pretended not to understand and asked Bai Yougang.

“What’s the matter, Master?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Master, it’s almost time for you to leave. The other masters are waiting for you.”

Just as Bai Yougang tried to deny it, his former disciple entered to deliver the news.

It was a great situation for me,

Naturally, I had timed it to coincide with the monthly gathering of the masters.

“…Ahem.”

“How could I, as a disciple, disturb Master’s rest? I will rest here, so please don’t worry and go.”

“Ha! Have you ever seen the head of the Medical Hall leave a patient? I don’t mind.”

“It seems I’m a hindrance, Master. Since I feel uneasy, I will return to my room.”

As I made my intentions clear and got up from the bed, Bai Yougang immediately began coughing again and laid me back down.

“Hmm, no. Rest here. Sojin, if you insist, I’ll go, even though I don’t feel like it.”

“I will lie here quietly.”

Of course, it wasn’t just because of that; he also knew my usual behavior.

Bai Yougang nodded and called another disciple.

“Akchim! Come here and take the key.”

“Master, did you call for me?”

“Akchim, when Sojin wakes up tomorrow morning, give him a Long Brain Pill to eat.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Go ahead, Master.”

“I’ll be back. Sojin, rest well.”

Creak—

Boom.

Not long after Bai Yougang left,

The sound of his disciple Akchim’s snoring filled the Medical Hall.

You must be tired; you should sleep.

Sleep well.

Pffft!

Crack!

“Ugh… What the…?!”

I opened my eyes as the pain throughout my body hit me.

“You, you wretched animal!!”

I… I definitely… Ugh, I can’t remember.

Master Yu Gang, whose face was flushed red with anger, glared down at me with a frown.

Behind him, several disciples were holding ropes or clubs in their hands.

“Ugh, ugh…”

With each movement, the pain seeped deep into my bones, indicating that my body was not in a normal state.

“You must be crazy! How dare you think of stealing from the Medical Hall!!”

“Eh? Wh-What are you talking about…?”

Jin Lin Mu stood up and turned his head.

There were piles of items and herbs scattered all over the large storage room.

And the place where I had been lying was…

“What, what is this… Why am I here?”

The medicine storage case was empty, right in front of me.

“Master… I… I didn’t do it!”

“You little bastard!!”

Smack!

With a crisp sound, sharp pain spread across my face.

“Master!! I’m innocent! I didn’t do it!!!”

“This brat is shamelessly denying it. Is there no other place to steal from, so you target the Medical Hall’s medicine storage? You revealed your own crime!!”

“I didn’t do it!! I swear I didn’t!”

The more I pleaded my innocence, the more Bai Yougang’s expression hardened.

The surrounding gazes also grew colder and colder.

“To think someone who will be a part of the righteous faction would lie until the very end!! Keep your mouth shut and talk!!”

“Eh? What do you mean…?”

At Bai Yougang’s comment, I hastily wiped my mouth, only to find it covered in medicine crumbs.

It wasn’t just one or two kinds of crumbs.

“When… when did I…?”

“You fool… I knew you had a strong craving for food, but greed is what got you caught. The Dreamwalking Pill does help strengthen martial arts, but didn’t you know that if you consume too much, you’ll fall asleep right where you are?”

“Ah…”

Cold stares from all around felt like daggers piercing my chest.

Did I really do that?

“Th-this is unfair! How could I have even gotten in here in the first place?”

“You… how dare you mock me? Look at your hands!!”

Bai Yougang, who had been speaking calmly, finally raised his voice in anger.

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, Jin Lin Mu was holding the key to the medicine storage case.