"Spirit Medicine Body."
In my heart, I gave Old Man Gong's constitution such a name.
Inside Old Man Gong's body, a massive amount of turbid energy had accumulated, and to suppress it, an equally strong medicinal energy had to be balanced.
However, due to the special technique of the Life and Death Divine Doctor, the turbid energy and medicinal energy coexisted for a long time in Old Man Gong's body, sticking together as if they were one.
That was why, when I extracted the turbid energy from Old Man Gong's body using the Reversal Heaven Divine Art, the medicinal energy came along with it.
"For ordinary martial artists, this would just be poison..."
But for me, who had mastered the Reversal Heaven Divine Art, it was akin to an ancient spirit medicine.
The reason I started private tutoring was to earn money to buy the spirit medicine needed to enhance the Reversal Heaven Divine Art.
Yet, the spirit medicine had come to me on its own.
"It seems Old Man Gong isn't the only one blessed by fortune."
After a while, having absorbed the turbid and medicinal energies into my body, I slowly opened my eyes.
"Whooo..."
As I exhaled deeply, a foul smell escaped from my mouth.
The newly accumulated turbid energy inside my body was old and pungent.
"Heh..."
Old Man Gong also opened his eyes.
He looked up at the ceiling with a dazed expression.
Heiying rushed over to check various parts of Old Man Gong's body.
"Sir! Are you alright?"
"... Heh heh."
"Sir?"
"Heh heh heh heh."
"He's lost his mind...! You fool, do you know who this person is?"
As Heiying drew her sword and approached me, a low sigh came from behind her.
"I'm fine, so stop making a fuss. How much more embarrassed do you want to make me?"
"Sir? Are you really alright?"
"Can't you see?"
Old Man Gong sat up on the bed.
It was clear at a glance that his complexion had improved compared to before.
"My body feels light. It's true. Heh heh. You extracted the turbid energy... But are you alright?"
"... Pardon? Oh, I'm fine."
I only realized why Old Man Gong asked such a question when I looked in the mirror.
My face reflected in the mirror was as pale as a corpse.
"I haven't even absorbed half of it yet, and it's already like this..."
The turbid and medicinal energies that entered my body hadn't been fully absorbed yet.
Proper energy circulation was needed for that.
Since I couldn't explain everything, I gave a vague explanation to the two of them.
"It's a side effect of extracting the turbid energy. With time... whew. I'll be fine."
I was short of breath.
The intense turbid energy, which I hadn't felt in a long time, made my vision a bit dizzy.
But my mood was as light as a feather.
Despite the cold sweat, I forced a smile and spoke.
"I'll extract the turbid energy a few more times like today. But then, the medicinal energy inside your body will also be drawn out. Ultimately, it's a better method for you, sir... Are you alright with that?"
"Of course. But... are you really alright?"
"Haha. I'm fine. In a little while... Oh?"
I staggered without realizing it.
As I struggled to regain my balance, someone reached out to support me.
It was Heiying.
She was looking at me with trembling eyes.
"Are you... alright?"
"Oh, yes. Well, I'm a bit dizzy."
I nodded as I barely managed to steady myself.
Sweat was trickling down my forehead.
It seemed I had taken in too much concentrated turbid and medicinal energy, causing a fever.
Thinking about absorbing all of it soon, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
"... Why are you smiling like that?"
"Pardon? What?"
"Right now, your body is in a critical... Never mind. It's your choice. I won't interfere."
What is she talking about? As I stared at her, she avoided my gaze.
"Thank... you."
"Oh. You can say things like that. I thought you'd get all worked up."
I said it half-jokingly, but contrary to my expectations, she bowed her head deeply.
"Why is she acting like this? Making the atmosphere awkward..."
Clearing my throat, I turned to look at Old Man Gong.
But Old Man Gong was also looking at me with a complicated expression, no less than Heiying.
"You..."
"Yes?"
"Your nose is bleeding."
"Huh?"
When I wiped my nose with the back of my hand, bright red blood stained it.
I awkwardly laughed in embarrassment.
"I didn't even realize my nose was bleeding."
"... I don't know what to say."
Just say something.
Why is this happening? I couldn't understand the suddenly serious atmosphere between the two of them.
Moreover, I was extremely tired.
My mind wasn't working as well as usual.
"... Anyway, you two should rest now. The real lessons will start tomorrow. I need to circulate my energy and wash up."
"... Alright."
"... Yes."
Ignoring the uneasy expressions of the two, I turned and left the room.
"Heh heh heh."
I was already excited at the thought of absorbing the turbid and medicinal energies that had entered my body.
"If I can absorb all the turbid and medicinal energies accumulated in Old Man Gong's body..."
The achievement of the Reversal Heaven Divine Art would surely improve by leaps and bounds.
Then, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
"Should I quit being an instructor and become a doctor? The income might be quite lucrative."
For a brief moment, such a thought crossed my mind.
After Baek Suryong left the room.
"Even after experiencing it, I can't believe it. A body that even the Life and Death Divine Doctor couldn't handle..."
Gongsun Soo looked down at his own body with an expression of disbelief.
How long had it been since he felt this light? Five years, no, ten years.
Over a decade ago, Gongsun Soo had collapsed from overwork and hovered between life and death.
Fortunately, the Life and Death Divine Doctor took care of his body, and he was able to wake up after receiving a special technique.
However, even the Life and Death Divine Doctor couldn't completely cure him.
It wasn't a disease that had caused him to collapse.
"Master Gongsun, if you continue living like this, you'll have at most five more years. If you want to live longer, you need to step down and recuperate."
The Life and Death Divine Doctor had seriously advised him, but at the time, Gongsun Soo had laughed it off.
"Just prescribe the medicine well."
After that, he consumed all sorts of spirit medicines and tonics that were said to be good for the body, and even started practicing martial arts, which he had forgotten since childhood, to keep moving.
And a few years passed.
The Emperor ordered Gongsun Soo to return to his hometown to recuperate.
It wasn't an exile or demotion, but a measure taken out of genuine care for Gongsun Soo.
"I thought I would just enjoy the scenery of my hometown for a few years and then close my eyes..."
The sudden decision to take martial arts lessons.
The reckless decision to take the entrance exam for the Azure Dragon Academy at this age.
It was all started as a pastime to relieve the boredom of the little time he had left.
He never truly believed it was possible.
"But..."
The young man who just left the room said it was possible.
It wasn't just words.
He had extracted some of the turbid energy that had accumulated in his body for decades.
Just that made his body feel as light as a feather.
Perhaps... learning martial arts might be possible?
"Heh heh... Am I dreaming right now?"
"Sir."
Heiying knelt before him.
As far as Gongsun Soo knew, she was an exceptional martial artist.
Her understanding of martial arts was much deeper than his, so Gongsun Soo asked her what he was curious about.
"What Baek Suryong did to me. Is it something any highly skilled martial artist can do?"
"It's impossible."
Heiying shook her head firmly.
It's not a matter of the level of martial arts.
What Baek Suryong did was, from the start, impossible.
"Martial arts fundamentally involve absorbing the energy of nature and expelling turbid energy. I've never heard of doing the opposite."
"... Isn't there something called the Absorbing Star Technique in the martial world?"
"The Absorbing Star Technique is a method of stealing someone else's internal energy and making it one's own. Over time, the mixed internal energies cause side effects, leading to ruptured blood vessels, so it's classified as a demonic art."
Then, did Baek Suryong learn a demonic art? In Heiying's view, it wasn't the case.
Although his speech was arrogant and his actions mischievous, his eyes were full of vitality.
"Even if it were the Absorbing Star Technique... absorbing turbid energy is tantamount to suicide."
Even a master of the Absorbing Star Technique wouldn't do the insane act of absorbing turbid energy into their body.
It would ruin their body.
While poison could at least be detoxified, turbid energy could only be expelled slowly over a long period.
At least, that's what Heiying knew.
"Even if he learned a special technique to mitigate the side effects..."
It's still a deadly poison.
Baek Suryong is probably now focusing all his energy on expelling the turbid energy. ...
Heiying couldn't even imagine.
Right now, Baek Suryong was happily absorbing the turbid energy he took from Gongsun Soo's body with the Reversal Heaven Divine Art.
With a darkened expression, she spoke.
"Perhaps... he might have lost quite a bit of his lifespan today."
"!!"
Gongsun Soo's eyes widened in shock.
Did Teacher Baek lose his lifespan because of him? Why?
"Just for ten thousand silver coins?"
It's a large sum that commoners might never touch in their lifetime, but he didn't seem that desperate for money.
"It's a side effect of extracting the turbid energy. With time... whew. I'll be fine."
The image of Baek Suryong speaking with a bitter smile came to mind.
The sight of him sweating all over, staggering as he struggled to maintain his balance.
The eyes that had lost their sharpness and were now dull.
The way he awkwardly wiped the flowing nosebleed with the back of his hand and smiled sheepishly.
"Why on earth would he do this for me..."
"I think... it's out of responsibility."
"Responsibility?"
Gongsun Soo looked puzzled at Heiying's words.
Why was the word responsibility coming up here? Heiying calmly shared her thoughts.
"Teacher Baek said he would definitely get you into the Azure Dragon Academy. After that, he must have realized your physical condition and understood that it would be difficult to even take the entrance exam in that state."
"So?"
"Then there's only one way. To somehow make your body healthy. In that process..."
Heiying let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Even if it means losing some of his lifespan."
"That can't be...!"
Heiying had lived a life where she had to obey orders and complete them, even at the cost of her life.
Because of that, she had the prejudice that others would have a similar mindset.
The problem was that Gongsun Soo was a similar type of person.
Gongsun Soo, who immediately understood Heiying's words, looked as if he had been struck by a hammer.
"I've been wrong about people all this time...!"
"I feel the same way."
Both of them had overestimated Baek Suryong by their own standards.
Especially Heiying, who was so embarrassed that she couldn't lift her head.
She had pointed her sword at Baek Suryong several times and even threatened him multiple times, saying she wouldn't let him off if he harmed the master.
"I thought he was a con artist relying on his good looks..."
Learning that Baek Suryong, whom she thought was like that, actually gave up his lifespan to keep his promise (which was already a given in her mind), she felt a great sense of shame.
"Heh... I've received a favor from him that's too heavy to bear..."
"Yes..."
Thus, the misunderstanding about Baek Suryong between the two deepened even further.
Of course, it was not a bad thing for the person involved.