Amazing?
'Why is there so much of it?'
I was astonished by the immense energy gathered within Elder Gong's body.
There was a massive accumulation of medicinal energy that hadn't been absorbed.
'Did he take elixirs with every meal?'
I used the Reversal Heaven Divine Art to scan through Elder Gong's Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Standard Meridians.
The medicinal energy pooled in his blood vessels twitched in response to the Reversal Heaven Divine Art.
It was beyond comprehension.
'Just by looking at the energy within his body... one might believe he's a top-tier expert.'
I already knew that Elder Gong had some understanding of both external and internal martial arts.
It was evident from his gait and the subtle aura he exuded.
But this was beyond imagination.
No, it was at a level that defied logic.
I focused my mind and carefully examined the inside of the elder's body.
'The energy accumulated within his body is overflowing... but only a small portion of it has been converted into internal energy.'
Consuming a lot of elixirs doesn't automatically convert them into internal energy.
One must guide the medicinal energy to the dantian with proper internal cultivation techniques, and circulate the internal energy through the acupoints consistently to strengthen the blood vessels, maintain health, and ensure smooth energy flow.
That's why martial artists constantly train their bodies and dedicate themselves to cultivation techniques without skipping a day.
However, Elder Gong's body was hardly trained in that regard.
'It's not entirely untrained, but it's only slightly better than someone who hasn't learned martial arts.'
In contrast, the medicinal energy accumulated within his body was excessively abundant.
This was wasteful.
An enormous waste.
'Moreover... the turbid energy accumulated within his body is also immense.'
Elder Gong's body contained not only the energy of elixirs but also turbid energy, akin to poison.
Twitch!
As the Reversal Heaven Divine Art circulated within his body, Elder Gong's body trembled.
Watching this, Heukyeong anxiously stomped her feet.
"E-Elder..."
However, since I was channeling internal energy into Elder Gong's body, she couldn't interfere or stop me recklessly.
Ignoring Heukyeong's resentful gaze, I focused again on Elder Gong.
'Something's strange.'
Ordinary martial artists would naturally expel some turbid energy while training both internal and external martial arts, but the turbid energy accumulated in Elder Gong's body was more than ten times that of an average person.
This was not normal either.
'Though not as severe as someone born with the Heavenly Yin Terminal Pulse... it's miraculous that he can walk at this age.
How is this possible?'
Poor eating habits, frequent drinking and smoking, environmental factors, and physical and psychological stress can cause turbid energy to accumulate in our bodies.
The accumulated turbid energy becomes the root of all diseases, and the more it accumulates, the more susceptible one becomes to various illnesses, leading to a weakened body.
The turbid energy in Elder Gong's body was much more than that of other elders his age.
Yet, Elder Gong maintained relatively good health.
'I see.
The medicinal energy accumulated in his body is suppressing the turbid energy.'
I observed Elder Gong's internal state once more.
The accumulated medicinal energy was suppressing the turbid energy, creating a delicate balance within his body.
Thanks to this, Elder Gong could maintain his health.
No, he could stay alive.
'Who on earth...'
This wasn't mere coincidence.
Someone with god-like medical skills must have applied a special technique to Elder Gong's body.
From my observations, I could deduce a few facts.
Elder Gong started learning internal and external martial arts very late and had been exposed to an environment where turbid energy naturally accumulated for a long time.
Moreover, someone with extraordinary medical skills had applied a special technique to prevent his body from deteriorating further.
'Who exactly is this elder?'
With my curiosity deeply buried, I slowly withdrew my internal energy and removed my hand from Elder Gong's back.
Any more, and his stamina might not hold.
"You may open your eyes now."
"Hoo..."
Elder Gong slowly opened his eyes, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He gave me a meaningful smile and asked,
"How was it, upon closer inspection?"
'This old man.
He knew everything and didn't say a word on purpose.'
Seeing the mischievous glint in Elder Gong's eyes, it was clear he was testing how much I had discovered.
In that case, I couldn't help but respond.
"I thought you had a lot of wealth, but it turns out it's a miracle you're alive. You must have met a divine doctor?"
"!!"
Elder Gong's eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter.
Even joking about his own life, he didn't seem upset at all.
"You've already figured that much out? Even renowned experts couldn't discern my body's condition in one go!"
"I'm not just any ordinary expert, you know."
"Of course, since you're getting paid ten thousand nyang, you should be. I'm starting to trust you more and more."
At my shameless reply, Elder Gong laughed heartily, and Heukyeong listened to our conversation with a look of exasperation.
Elder Gong asked in a subtle tone,
"Is there anything else you've discovered, aside from what I already know? Like how talented I am in martial arts..."
With a hopeful expression, I answered with a solemn, serious, and dignified look.
"You're not a natural martial arts genius. You're not a dullard either, just an average talent."
At my firm answer, Elder Gong's face turned sullen.
"Can't you at least say something pleasant?"
"If I only say pleasant things and you become arrogant, what then?"
"Tsk. Young people these days..."
"Elder. Let's put the jokes aside and talk seriously."
I straightened my posture and looked directly at Elder Gong.
The smile faded from his face as well.
"... Go ahead."
"When my internal energy was circulating through your body earlier, did you feel any discomfort? Are there any painful areas when you do breathing exercises? What kind of medicine do you usually take? Please tell me everything in detail. Only then can I plan the lessons."
"I will do so."
Elder Gong informed me about his physical condition in detail.
After a lengthy conversation, he smiled bitterly.
"I used to be quite healthy when I was young. My body has gradually deteriorated over the decades."
"At least you don't have any major illnesses, which is fortunate."
"The doctor said it was a stress-related illness. It's an ailment with no solution other than rest."
Thanks to that, returning to my hometown to recuperate in my old age isn't so bad, Elder Gong said with a hearty laugh.
"So, Teacher Baek. What should I do from now on?"
"As you know, there's too much turbid energy in your body, Elder."
"I know. But there's nothing I can do..."
"So, I plan to extract it all."
"... What?"
Elder Gong blinked several times, as if he had misheard.
Heukyeong, who was listening nearby, reacted similarly.
"I said I plan to extract the turbid energy."
"I'm not well-versed in this, but... is that even possible?"
"That's absurd..."
Their surprise was understandable.
The turbid energy that naturally accumulates in a person's body over their lifetime.
However, expelling turbid energy from the body is dozens of times more difficult.
Since ancient times, Taoists have used special diets and health-preserving techniques, while martial artists have prevented turbid energy accumulation and expelled it through consistent training of internal and external martial arts.
But Elder Gong was neither a highly cultivated Taoist nor a martial artist who had reached a high level.
"Extracting the turbid energy from my body... Even the divine doctor who took care of me said it was impossible."
Let alone extracting turbid energy from someone else's body, which is even more challenging.
'With the medical skills of the divine doctor, it might not have been impossible... but Elder Gong's stamina wouldn't have endured.'
I didn't voice that thought.
The important thing was that I could do what the divine doctor couldn't.
"I clearly told you yesterday."
"What...?"
An impossible task by common sense.
A task that only I, who had mastered the Reversal Heaven Divine Art with the Heavenly Yin Terminal Pulse constitution, could accomplish.
"Elder, you have met a heavenly fortune in me."
With a grin, Elder Gong let out a bewildered "Heh heh" laugh.
"Close your eyes and take deep breaths comfortably."
Lying on the bed, Elder Gong closed his eyes as instructed.
Heukyeong stood on the opposite side, glaring at me with anxious eyes, nervously biting her nails.
"If anything happens to the elder's body..."
"If I make a mistake because of the pressure, will you take responsibility?"
"What..."
"Heukyeong. You're making me nervous, so stand guard outside."
"E-Elder. Please reconsider even now. How can you trust your body to someone like this..."
"Do I have to say it twice?"
"... I'm sorry."
At Elder Gong's low words, Heukyeong turned around with slumped shoulders and left the room.
Even then, she didn't forget to glare at me once.
"Doesn't it seem like Heukyeong really dislikes me?"
"I haven't known you long, but it's true you're a cheeky fellow."
"Is it okay to entrust your body to such a cheeky fellow? The divine doctor's technique might be ruined."
At my question, Elder Gong chuckled with his eyes closed.
It was a bitter smile.
"... How many more years do I have left to live? If this is a heavenly fortune, as you say, it's a gamble worth taking."
"Have you ever considered that I might be an assassin sent by your enemies?"
"I've met many assassins in my life, but you talk too much to be one."
"... It might hurt a bit."
"Surely not..."
"It's not because I'm sulking."
I placed my hands on Elder Gong's dantian and forehead and activated the Reversal Heaven Divine Art.
'It's similar to the case with Wi Ji-cheon.
The difference is that the turbid energy hasn't seeped into the brain here.'
Wi Ji-cheon, who had suffered from qi deviation due to practicing the fake Infinite Sword Art.
I had already experienced extracting turbid energy from Wi Ji-cheon's body.
Although the situation was different, the method was similar.
Tsst, tsst, tsst.
The stream of internal energy I sent out circulated through Wi Ji-cheon's body, drawing the accumulated turbid energy into my palm.
'Having done it once, it's easier this time.'
The thick turbid energy that had accumulated in Elder Gong's body over decades.
The turbid energy that had built up over the years hindered martial arts training.
Because of that, Elder Gong had only practiced simple breathing exercises and basic martial arts.
'He started learning martial arts too late.'
To help a sixty-five-year-old student pass the Blue Dragon Martial Arts Academy, I first needed to transform him into a body suitable for learning martial arts.
And fortunately, the Reversal Heaven Divine Art I had mastered was a special martial art that could draw the accumulated turbid energy into the dantian to create an internal elixir.
"Ugh..."
Elder Gong groaned, sweating coldly.
He shivered as if he had chills.
It was a phenomenon that occurred as the turbid energy accumulated in his body slowly began to escape.
"Elder!"
Heukyeong, who had entered the room, glared at me and Elder Gong alternately with wide eyes.
However, she could only stomp her feet anxiously, unable to touch us recklessly.
'I should stop here for now.'
I intended to withdraw the internal energy of the Reversal Heaven Divine Art and remove my palm.
It was a consideration for Elder Gong's stamina.
However, at that moment, something unexpected happened.
Tsst, tsst, tsst!
'What the...
The medicinal energy is being drawn in?'
The medicinal energy that had been suppressing the turbid energy in Elder Gong's body began to be drawn in along with the turbid energy.
It wasn't my intention.
The Reversal Heaven Divine Art didn't have the ability to absorb someone else's internal energy like the Absorbing Star Great Technique.
It could only absorb turbid energy accumulated in the body.
'Well...
If you think about it, this isn't internal energy.'
The medicinal energy within Elder Gong's body wasn't internal energy.
It was condensed medicinal energy that had stayed in the body, blending with the turbid energy over a long time.
To ordinary martial artists, it would be poison, but to me, it was no different from condensed elixir.
In other words...
'This is... amazing?'