Chapter 44. The Journey to Shaanxi (1)
The engagement ceremony was held in an atmosphere that was neither modest nor overly extravagant.
The decorations were lavish, and Tang Sowol was dressed even more splendidly. However, the ceremony itself was brief and ended quickly.
Though many people gathered, the only outsiders present were the Hao Clan's emissaries, who had conveniently arrived to deliver the Gongjin Pill.
A modest banquet was held, and food was distributed to the nearby households of Chengdu. Yet, very few people actually knew my name.
Well… that didn't mean everything went smoothly.
"Here! Have a drink!"
"But Elder, I still have the cup I just received from Third Elder."
"Then hurry up and empty that one so you can take mine!"
Squeezing my eyes shut, I downed the liquor in one gulp.
A scorching heat burned down my throat, followed by the delayed aroma of alcohol. My vision wavered for a moment.
I didn't dislike drinking—in fact, I enjoyed it occasionally.
But this was my first time drinking in my new body since returning to the past, and I'd never been forced to drink this much all at once. Controlling the intoxication wasn't easy.
"Phaah…"
"Haha! Well done! I'll pour a little more than that stingy Third Elder, so look forward to it!"
As I let out a long breath, First Elder, who was sitting beside me, roared with laughter and filled my empty cup again.
Drip, drip.
I had just emptied it, yet my cup was already brimming with liquor once more.
The reflection on the surface revealed my face, now completely flushed red.
The engagement ceremony itself went without issue.
The problem was the banquet that followed.
Elders I had never met before gathered one by one, offering me drinks. High-ranking members of the Tang Clan joined in as well, each pouring me a cup.
From my perspective, I had already consumed dozens of drinks without pause.
Even though I was discreetly using my inner energy to purge the alcohol, my body—still not fully matured—was struggling to keep up.
Eventually, I swallowed my pride and spoke carefully.
"May I have some food before continuing?"
"Hmm? Ah, of course! Hahaha!"
At least First Elder, who had just poured me a drink, still had some consideration.
He laughed heartily instead of urging me to drink.
I stuffed a mouthful of fatty pork into my mouth.
At the very least, they wouldn't make me drink while I was eating.
As I slowly chewed, First Elder chuckled and patted my back.
"Looks like those old geezers gave you a hard time. Sorry about that. But we had our reasons."
With my mouth full, I couldn't respond, so I simply listened.
His graying hair and beard, along with his slightly worn green martial robe, gave him an aged appearance.
Yet his eyes gleamed with a sharp light—a textbook image of an old master.
The kind they warn you about in the martial world: Beware of old men and children.
Judging from his presence, First Elder was indeed a martial artist of extraordinary skill.
He smirked.
"No need to answer. Just listen."
"The clan head firmly instructed us elders—me included—to honor a past promise now that Sowol has brought home her fiancé."
"...?"
"Normally, the marriage of a direct descendant is a matter of great importance for the entire clan. But Sowol had the issue of her Poison Spirit Physique."
The Poison Spirit Physique alters the body, making it almost akin to poison itself.
If one hasn't absorbed any poison yet, it's not a problem.
But once serious poison arts training begins, toxic energy naturally seeps into the body.
The owner of the Poison Spirit Physique develops immunity to their own poison, so it isn't an issue for them—but for their offspring?
A fragile fetus wouldn't stand a chance against the toxic energy.
Once a person with the Poison Spirit Physique reaches a certain level, having children becomes nearly impossible.
"Sowol is the Tang Clan's blessing. She will undoubtedly achieve greatness and further advance our martial arts. But to do so, she had to sacrifice a part of her future."
Her talent was so immense that merely practicing poison arts practically guaranteed her success.
Yet, training in poison arts meant forfeiting certain aspects of her life.
Tang Sowol was part of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Even if it was for the good of the clan, it was unfair to force her into a one-sided sacrifice.
"So we, the elders, made a promise with the clan head. If Sowol ever chose to marry, it would be a matter of the Tang Clan, but one beyond our interference. We agreed to respect it without opposition."
I had indeed done much for the Tang Clan.
I had saved Tang Sowol's life.
I had given her the Purple Flower Poison Enhancing Grass, an invaluable herb for a poison master.
I had also provided a cultivation method that could mitigate the Poison Spirit Physique's side effects.
Still, even considering all of that, the speed and lack of opposition to our engagement had left me puzzled.
Now, I finally understood why.
"You've been living in the Tang Clan for quite some time, but you only met the elders at the engagement ceremony. That was deliberate."
"I used to think I wouldn't be like this, but as I aged, I became a stubborn old man. Rather than risk saying something unnecessary, I chose to avoid meeting you altogether."
Gulp.
I swallowed my food before speaking.
"Then… should I take it that you're sitting here with me now because no unnecessary words will be spoken?"
"You catch on quick. The other elders likely feel the same, but I, too, am grateful to you. Thanks to you, I was able to let go of one of my burdens. I feel lighter than ever. So, drink up. You've had enough time to purge the alcohol by now."
"…You knew?"
"Your inner energy control was subtle enough to impress even me, but you can't hide the scent."
Poison cultivators tend to have highly sensitive noses.
They must distinguish between various toxins by smell.
I hadn't expected them to differentiate between the natural aroma of alcohol and the unnatural scent of purged liquor.
Martial prowess aside, the experience these elders had honed over the years was a weapon in its own right.
I let out a dry laugh and raised my cup.
"In that case, I'll gladly accept another drink."
***
The next morning, I woke to the presence of Tang Sowol entering my room.
I let out a deep sigh.
"…I'm dying."
"I told you to drink in moderation. You kept accepting everything the elders offered—of course, your body couldn't handle it."
"There were… reasons."
"Yes, yes. It was your first time drinking, so you misjudged your limits? I understand. I did the same. But next time, drink with me."
Tang Sowol patted my back as if I were a reckless child who had wandered too close to the water.
I felt strangely conflicted about how things had turned out.
But I had no excuse—I really had drunk myself unconscious.
"Are you sure you want to leave today? We could rest for a day before setting out."
"I have a plan. Just watch."
I stretched to clear my head, then pulled a small wooden box from my robe.
As soon as I opened the lid, the distinct, musty scent of medicinal herbs filled the air.
"That's… Gongjin Pill, isn't it?"
"Right. The one Hao Clan sent."
The Hao Clan had been put in a desperate situation thanks to the chaos caused by Red Flower Pavilion's master.
In an attempt to smooth things over, they had hastily sent this as an apology.
It wasn't on the level of legendary elixirs like Great Restoration Pill, Purple Heaven Pill, or Hundred Poisons Pure Blood Pill, but it was still one of the best medicines available for purchase.
It was their way of showing utmost sincerity.
Tang Sowol looked at me in disbelief.
"…Cheon So-hyeob, surely you're not—?"
"Mmm. If I absorb it, my hangover should be gone."
The elixir was processed for easy absorption, but that didn't mean all of its effects would directly convert into inner energy.
Some loss was inevitable—it would either dissipate with one's breath or be absorbed into the body's meridians.
Once the energy seeped into the meridians, the body would naturally regain vitality, and minor ailments like hangovers would vanish instantly.
Unless I had suffered a severe internal injury, the elixir's effects wouldn't be significantly diminished by something as trivial as a hangover.
Even so, most martial artists preferred to consume elixirs when their bodies were in optimal condition—for the sake of focus.
In other words, as long as my concentration remained intact, there was no issue using an elixir as a hangover cure.
It wasn't some priceless ancient relic—just a Gongjin Pill. I could still extract its full potential in my current state.
Gongjin Pill was considered a high-grade elixir, but I had taken it multiple times in my past life. There was no need for concern.
Of course, Tang Sowol, who was unaware of this, was understandably alarmed and hurriedly tried to stop me.
"W-wait a moment, So-hyeob! Maybe you should take that later—"
But I was faster.
The moment the pill touched my tongue, it melted like thick honey.
A second ago, it had carried the bitter scent of medicinal herbs—now, it exuded a crisp, refreshing fragrance.
As soon as the elixir slid down my throat, I swiftly guided its energy along the Raging Wave Death-Stealing Art circulation method.
At the same time, I accelerated my inner energy circulation to the maximum, using the generated flow to forcefully refine the Gongjin Pill's energy.
The energy, which had begun to scatter, was quickly assimilated into my existing qi and rushed through my meridians.
One cycle. Two cycles. Three cycles.
With each repetition, the elixir's energy gradually merged with my own, becoming completely attuned to my inner power.
After several cycles, the entire energy of the Gongjin Pill had become mine—except for the small portion I had lost during the initial acceleration.
To finish, I ran my qi through my body two more times, allowing the newly acquired energy to settle in my dantian.
Only after fully stabilizing my qi did I slowly open my eyes.
"Huuh…"
My dantian, noticeably heavier than before, gave off a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
The hangover that had been weighing me down was completely gone, and my mind was crystal clear.
Smirking in satisfaction, I nodded.
"Not bad."
"Not bad?! What part of this is not bad?!"
Tang Sowol, who had been standing guard, sighed in exasperation and began furiously smacking my shoulder.
I took a few hits without complaint before rising to my feet.
"Enough. Just watch."
"Watch what?"
Though she grumbled, she halted her assault and observed.
In response, I drew my sword.
Then, without hesitation, I channeled my newly increased inner energy into the blade.
Wooong—
A faint resonance rang out as a crimson aura flared up along the sword.
Unlike when I fought the Demonic Sound Witch, I could now manifest sword energy without forcing it.
It wouldn't last long, but it was more than sufficient for actual combat.
Tang Sowol, still frozen in place, stared at the blazing energy coating my blade.
Her rarely-seen dumbfounded expression made me grin.
"What do you think? Seems like I absorbed it well enough."
"…Eh? Ah, ahem."
She quickly cleared her throat and regained her composure.
"I suppose I was worrying over nothing. Still, I was startled, so please at least warn me next time."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Tang Sowol, her face still faintly flushed, hastily nodded before awkwardly changing the subject.
"A-anyway, are you fully prepared for the trip?"
"I plan to finish up now. But I already got most of it ready yesterday."
A sturdy martial robe, a well-sharpened sword, and a moderately sized travel bag.
It might seem too simple for a journey to Shaanxi, but a heavy coin pouch made all the difference.
Tang Sowol seemed to have had the same thought—her attire was nearly identical to mine.
For some reason, it reminded me of when I first kidnapped her.
Noticing my gaze, Tang Sowol, whose cheeks were still faintly red, giggled and spread her arms playfully.
"You're not going to kidnap me this time, are you?"
"If you want, I could."
"Hehe. Tempting, but perhaps next time. Besides, my father and Seol Lihyang are already waiting for us outside."
"…Wait. Since when?"
"Since I walked in, most likely?"
"How long did it take for me to absorb the Gongjin Pill?"
"Hmm… In about a quarter of an hour—oh."
Only then did Tang Sowol realize what had just happened.
Her eyes widened in shock.
It was early morning.
A betrothed daughter had entered her fiancé's room.
And she was only leaving a long while later.
Meanwhile, the fiancé, who had supposedly been drinking all night, appeared perfectly fine—if not more energetic than before.
"…Hmm."
Did I just screw myself over?
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[TL]
Happy Christmas! <*~*>