Inside the head of the turtle-shaped figure at the end of the rainbow was an elixir and a fragment of a jade plaque engraved with words. The words on the fragment, which seemed to be one of three pieces, read as follows: [I have obtained the first piece under the heavens.]
The elixir found with the jade plaque fragment was called the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure. This elixir, said to be found only once every 100 years in the desert, was famous for its detoxifying properties. It could neutralize any poison.
Moreover, if one consumed the elixir without being poisoned and cultivated a special internal method, they could learn the martial art of Poison-Resistant Qi, which could block any poison. It was a precious ingredient. Regardless of detoxification or martial arts, just consuming it could grant an immense amount of Inner Energy.
For this reason, the Tang family, who specialized in hidden weapons and poisons more than any other, valued it more highly than even the Great Rebirth Pill. Having obtained the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, the two immediately returned to the Namgung family. It was a dark night when they arrived at Namgung.
The next day. Upon hearing that Seolhwa had come out of the training grotto, Mount Hua immediately requested a meeting. After breakfast, Seolhwa and Namgung Cheongun went straight to the Cloud Guest Hall.
“Still, it’s a relief that we found an elixir comparable to the Great Rebirth Pill.”
Seolhwa quietly nodded her head.
“The Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure… It’s a bit of a waste, but it’s better than being picked on by a great sect like Mount Hua.”
Seolhwa stopped in her tracks. She looked back at Cheongun as if asking what he meant.
“Why is it a waste?”
“It’s not easy to obtain an elixir of this caliber. It’s only natural to feel it’s a waste to hand it over to Mount Hua.”
“I’m not giving it to Mount Hua.”
Why would she give something this precious to Mount Hua?
“Wasn’t this meant for Mount Hua in place of the Great Rebirth Pill?”
Seolhwa shook her head.
“No.” “Then?”
“It’s just a tool for negotiation. There’s a difference between talking with nothing in hand and talking while holding something.”
Namgung Cheongun’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Wasn’t your plan to use this to seek Mount Hua’s cooperation?”
“Do you really think Mount Hua will cooperate with the Namgung family?”
“…What?”
“Among the countless sword sects, Mount Hua can be said to hold the top position. Among all sects, it is called second only to Shaolin. What would a sect like Mount Hua lack that they would need to cooperate with Namgung?”
If we grant their wish and hand over the elixir, they might pretend to cooperate for a short while. But that would be all.
“We can’t get what we want with such superficial cooperation.”
It meant they would give up what Mount Hua wanted and get nothing in return.
“What can we gain by extending a hand to those who have no intention of cooperating in the first place?”
“Then why did you go to the trouble of getting the elixir?”
“If they have no intention of cooperating, there’s only one way.”
“One?”
“Yes.”
Seolhwa’s gaze turned cold. A faint killing intent rose from her body.
“Threats.”
Her lips curved into a smile as chillingly gentle as the rising killing intent.
Clink, clink. Drip, drip…
A silence filled with the exchange of teacups and the pouring of tea continued. Seolhwa stared for a moment at the white steam rising from the teacup placed before her. She felt a sharp gaze from the side of her face.
It was Yu Kang who had been shooting fervent glances at her since she entered the room.
‘Acknowledge me! Why aren’t you acknowledging me? We know each other! We’ve met before!’ …Those words seemed to pour out from his eyes, so Seolhwa didn’t even glance his way.
“The Namgung family has been searching for a child for so long, I was truly curious who it might be. I am pleased to meet you like this. Congratulations on your safe return.”
“For an outstanding figure from Mount Hua to come all the way to Namgung to congratulate me, I am deeply grateful.”
“Ho ho. I heard you are thirteen, but you are quite mature. The First Young Master of Namgung must be truly pleased to have found such an excellent daughter.”
“I am simply grateful to have met him again, alive.”
Heh heh.
No Mun let out a benevolent laugh.
“I hear you’ve met our Yu Kang before?”
Only then did Seolhwa turn her gaze to Yu Kang. Yu Kang was practically buzzing, as if ready to blurt out everything about that day at any moment. Seolhwa averted her gaze again and answered nonchalantly.
“We happened to cross paths while I was out for a walk. I remember it as an unremarkable meeting.”
“…!”
It was truly strange how one could picture his expression without even looking.
“Is that so.”
No Mun glanced at his disciple. He thought there might be a significant connection since he knew the nature of the Namgung child's Inner Energy. But compared to Yu Kang’s reaction, the Namgung child seemed completely uninterested.
His plan to use that as a pretext to find out about the Great Rebirth Pill had failed.
‘But, is there a need to beat around the bush?’
Even the Second Young Master of Namgung already knew the purpose of their visit. It was only a matter of time before the rumors that had spread in Shaanxi reached Anhui. Besides, they had no more time to waste at Namgung.
“There is something I wish to ask you.”
Seolhwa nodded as she lifted her teacup.
“I thought you would.”
“…?”
No Mun’s eyebrows twitched. She thought he would? Not asking what it was, but stating it as if it were obvious?
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Those who visit for the purpose of congratulations do not come empty-handed. No matter how much Mount Hua is a Daoist sect that does not covet wealth, they should know that much courtesy.”
“…!”
At Seolhwa’s incredibly sharp words, No Mun and Yu Pyo flinched.
“Namgung young lady. Are your words not an insult to the teachings of our Mount Hua?”
Yu Pyo threatened in a low, deep voice. The energy of Mount Hua was rising from his body like a haze.
“I am speaking of courtesy right now. I said I anticipated your purpose was different from the start, seeing as you didn't even observe basic etiquette. Which part of that insults the teachings of Mount Hua?”
“Yu Pyo, restrain your energy.”
“…”
At No Mun's words, Yu Pyo’s energy vanished, but the sharp glare he directed at Seolhwa remained. No Mun gave a short nod and said, “I apologize for coming empty-handed. As you said, I was in such a hurry to confirm the facts that I did not have the chance to prepare a gift.
I hope you will understand.” Seolhwa gave a short nod. Yu Pyo, thinking this was rude, flared up and was about to release his energy again, but No Mun raised a hand to stop him.
“Since it has come to this, I will ask you directly.”
It was better this way. No Mun did not expect the child to honestly reveal the whereabouts of the Great Rebirth Pill right away. She would surely deny taking it, claiming she didn’t have it.
From this point on, he would have to press her, so a friendly atmosphere was actually a hindrance.
“I heard a rumor that you have the Great Rebirth Pill. Did you not, by chance, take it from a Unorthodox Path Sect in Shaanxi?”
“That’s right.”
“There’s no use denying it… What did you say?”
“I took it. From a gang called the Black Cloud Gang.”
“…!”
No Mun’s jaw dropped. The child had readily admitted it. So brazenly, at that.
“You… took it…?”
“Yes.”
No Mun cleared his throat to regain his composure. In any case, since she had admitted it so readily, he just needed to say what came next.
“That Great Rebirth Pill originally belonged to Mount Hua. Therefore, return it.”
“Why should I do that?”
“…You seem to be young and have trouble understanding. The Great Rebirth Pill you took originally belonged to Mount Hua. In other words, you have taken something that belongs to Mount Hua. Do you understand?”
“Strictly speaking, I did not take something that belonged to Mount Hua. I took something that belonged to the Black Cloud Gang.”
“What I mean is, that originally belonged to Mount Hua…!”
“If we’re going by that logic, doesn’t the Great Rebirth Pill originally belong to Shaolin?”
“…!”
There was no one under the heavens who did not know that the Great Rebirth Pill was a secret treasure of Shaolin. If it belonged to Mount Hua just because the Black Cloud Gang had taken it from them, then the statement that it originally belonged to Shaolin was also correct. It was correct, but!
‘For a young child to talk back so pointedly to someone her grandfather’s age. The environment she grew up in at the tavern has poisoned the good character of Namgung!’
No Mun barely suppressed his rising anger.
“Mount Hua paid the price for it.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Of course…!”
No Mun’s outburst was cut short. Because, of course, he couldn't prove it.
‘The transaction between Mount Hua and Shaolin was conducted in absolute secrecy.’
‘For some reason, neither Mount Hua nor Shaolin made an issue of it.’
In her previous life, Seolhwa remembered it had been that way. When the Great Rebirth Pill fell into the hands of a Unorthodox Path Sect and eventually reached the Blood Demon in her past life, Mount Hua did not pursue it. No, it would be more accurate to say they couldn’t pursue it.
‘If they had acquired the Great Rebirth Pill for a legitimate reason, they should have searched for it relentlessly in my past life as well.’
But in her past life, they gave up as soon as it fell into the hands of the Unorthodox Path. Even though it was the Great Rebirth Pill.
‘There must be something holding them back. Either that or something that must never be revealed.’
And Seolhwa already knew what Mount Hua was trying so desperately to hide.
Anyway.
‘This is a little infuriating.’
They gave up on it in the previous life, but now that she brought the Great Rebirth Pill to Namgung in this life, they changed their attitude? Did Mount Hua think the Namgung family was a pushover?
They must have believed that since the White Path values honesty, integrity, reputation, and morality, the family would return it if they just insisted it was theirs.
‘I have no intention of doing that.’
Unfortunately for them, they were dealing with Seolhwa, who had rolled and tumbled in the Unorthodox Path for 30 years.