Chapter 100. Unable to Wake Up Forever
“This is the mutated Millennium Grass that I found.”
“Ah……!”
Sirius exclaimed without realizing it after checking the Millennium Grass that Piet showed him.
Its leaves were much larger, but its shape was similar to ginseng.
“Is this what Millennium Grass originally looks like?”
“No, regular Millennium Grass is more visually appealing.”
Saying that, Piet brought over a root of the herb.
“It’s still drying, but this is regular Millennium Grass.”
“This is……”
It seemed far more robust than the one he had just been shown.
Its form was not exactly the same, but it certainly resembled ginseng.
“What effects does the thousand-year herb have?”
“It invigorates the body. It strengthens the organs and warms the stomach. It is an excellent medicinal herb.”
It was similar in nature to the ginseng (人蔘) that Sirius knew of.
If so, then it could be used as a substitute for ginseng.
“How old is this thousand-year herb?”
“I don’t know if it is truly a thousand years old, but it must be at least several hundred years old.”
Ginseng that was several hundred years old.
This could be used as an ingredient in an elixir.
“Sir Piet, please let us have this as well.”
“What? But I intend to consume this……”
“We will pay you a sufficient price. And besides……”
Sirius said, looking at Piet’s face.
“Right now, you have consumed too many medicinal herbs that are good for the body, and your vital energy is rising upwards. It would be better if you refrained from consuming the thousand-year herb for a while.”
“What?”
“Do you not have a fever or palpitations?”
“W-well, yes, but……”
“If you overuse medicinal herbs with warm properties, that can happen.”
In fact, Sirius had noticed that Piet was in that state from the moment he first saw him.
It was not to the extent that he needed to receive treatment like Riald, but he should avoid consuming excessive amounts of medicinal herbs in the future.
“Sir Piet, I suggest you listen to what Sirius has to say.”
At that moment, Berdian spoke in a calm voice.
“Sirius may be lacking in knowledge of pharmacology, but he has considerable knowledge of medicine. He is particularly well-versed in states where the vital energy of the human body is out of balance, and he recently treated the lord of the Granz family.”
“T-the lord of the Granz family? That’s impressive.”
Piet looked convinced.
“I understand. If you pay me a sufficient sum…… I will give you this thousand-year herb as well.”
“Thank you. There are likely to be more medicinal herbs that we need, and we will inform you of them as we go along.”
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As he said this, Sirius nodded to Berdian.
This ordinary thousand-year herb would play a very important role in the elixir that Berdian would consume.
“And this golden thousand-year herb……”
Sirius looked at the golden thousand-year herb again.
Unlike ordinary thousand-year herbs, both its roots and leaves shone with a golden light.
There was no plant in nature that glowed like this.
That was why ordinary people would never think to put it in their mouths.
If Sirius had not had any prior knowledge, he would not have touched such a plant.
However, Sirius knew.
This was…… the elixir of elixirs, which had accumulated a great deal of the sun’s vital energy.
“This is truly magnificent. I will buy this golden thousand-year herb.”
The thousand-year herb has properties similar to ginseng… This golden thousand-year herb could be called a thousand-year golden ginseng.
In Sirius’s eyes, this was a much more valuable elixir than the crimson herb.
* * *
Sirius looked at the other medicinal herbs.
This was because he needed them for the elixir he was developing with Berdian.
As a result, he was able to secure several useful herbs in addition to the thousand-year herb.
“Piet, I would like you to continue sending medicinal herbs to Cheonrangpyoguk in the future.”
“Well, I… If you continue to provide generous support, anything is possible.”
Piet said with an embarrassed smile.
“Actually, there’s something more important than financial support.”
“What might that be?”
“Your knowledge, Sirius, and Berdian’s. It seems that you know many things that I do not.”
Sirius’s knowledge is the herbalogy of the Murim, and Berdian’s knowledge is the pharmacology of the Poison King.
That’s why they know many things that Piet, who has only studied the common medicinal herbs of this world, does not know.
“I understand. I will arrange for regular academic exchanges with Berdian.”
“Oh, thank you!”
Perhaps Piet could later become a member of the Seongjeg閣 that Berdian will be in charge of.
So it would be good to teach him the knowledge related to the elixir in advance.
“Then, Piet, I will contact you again.”
“Yes, and please give my regards to Justitia.”
After greeting Piet, Sirius left the Respada family behind.
Now he had to get in the carriage and move on to his next destination.
“Hey, Sirius. Where are we going now?”
“I’m thinking of going to the Black Iron Alliance.”
“Black Iron Alliance… That’s probably the right thing to do.”
To pacify the West, the Black Iron Alliance must eventually be subdued.
He had gathered enough information, and now it was time to confront the Black Iron Alliance directly.
“The Black Iron Alliance is managing many areas of the West in a stable manner. That’s why, if we try to weaken them by stirring things up here and there like we did in the South, the West will only become more chaotic.”
“Hmm, what do you think?”
“Yes, that’s why it’s right to go directly to the Black Iron Alliance headquarters.”
Of course, they wouldn’t just let Sirius and his party reach the headquarters.
If the Black Iron Alliance’s men blocked their way, they would have to use force to break through.
“Hey, Sirius. What will the Alliance bastards do then? We’ve already killed Garibaldi, and next time, the Wind King himself might show up.”
“Don’t worry about that. They’ll come after us on their own.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Velid, who had asked the question, nodded in understanding.
“If we do well… We might even be able to make the Black Iron Alliance and the Alliance fight each other?”
“Yeah, that’s possible too.”
The Black Iron Alliance and the Alliance’s Western Branch are hostile to each other.
The previous branch manager even betrayed the Alliance and joined the Black Iron Alliance.
If Sirius were to enter the Black Iron League’s territory with the Alliance’s pursuers, a fight between the Black Iron League and the Alliance could break out.
“Of course, there’s something else we need to do right now.”
“Ah, that herb… Was it an elixir? Taking that?”
“That’s right.”
Sirius turned his gaze to the mountain peak in the distance.
The mountain’s terrain seemed reasonable, so there should be a good place there.
“Verdian.”
“Yes, Sirius-nim.”
“Let’s have a lucky breakfast over there.”
Verdian’s expression tensed up at Sirius’s words.
“First, you take the elixir. I’ll watch over you.”
“……”
The ingredients for the elixir had already been acquired.
With the hundreds of years old thousand-year-old herb, Verdian would be able to gain enough internal energy.
Of course, that was only if Verdian properly absorbed the elixir’s energy.
“After that, I’ll take the golden thousand-year-old herb and have a lucky breakfast.”
“……”
“I’ll be defenseless then. So…”
Sirius turned his head and looked at Verdian, Hwanwang, and Berith in turn.
“You all have to protect me then. Please.”
* * *
After arriving at the mountain they had their eyes on, Sirius settled down on the mountain peak.
“Verdian, are you ready?”
“Yes, I am.”
Verdian was holding a small pill in his hand.
It was an elixir made by combining various medicinal herbs, including the thousand-year-old herb.
“Verdian, I’ve overcome some pretty dangerous situations up until now by taking the white ice flower and the red flame herb.”
“……”
“But I won’t experience anything like that when I take this medicine. It’s a proper elixir that combines several medicinal herbs to ensure stability.”
Of course, it doesn’t mean that it will be effective just by taking it.
One must properly utilize the internal energy method to absorb the elixir’s energy in order to gain internal energy.
“Don’t forget the mantra for the Flowing Cloud Method, Verdian.”
“Yes, Sirius-nim.”
Verdian put the pill in his mouth and swallowed it.
Then he sat on a rock and crossed his legs.
“Sirius, the meal…”
“Shhh.”
Berith peeked his face out from the campsite below and quickly ducked back down.
Sirius intended to properly watch over Verdian so that no one could disturb him.
Hwanwang was also guarding the surroundings from the foot of the mountain.
“…….”
How much time had passed?
Verdian suddenly began to sweat profusely.
Then tears started to fall.
“Verdian, don’t waver.”
Sirius spoke in a calm voice.
“You can do it. You can gain internal energy and be reborn as a new person.”
“…….”
“Forget the past. You don’t need memories of being cruelly abused under the Poison King. Forget about fighting to the death with your siblings.”
Sirius continued to speak to Verdian, who was sitting cross-legged, shedding tears.
“You’re no longer a slave to the Poison King. You’re the youngest of us, a new member of the Alliance, and the future Saint.Footnote”
“…….”
“You’ll be reborn and live in a brighter world.”
At some point, Verdian stopped shedding tears.
His expression gradually relaxed.
One could sense that a change was occurring in Verdian’s body, who had overcome the crisis of the Evil Spirit Entering the Body.
“Whew…….”
And finally, Verdian opened his eyes.
He exhaled deeply as he lowered his right hand to his dantian.
“Verdian.”
“…….”
“How do you feel?”
Verdian touched his lower abdomen without saying a word.
Then he nodded.
“This is the first time I’ve felt this sensation. But I understand.”
“…….”
“My dantian…… is filled with internal energy.”
Verdian smiled as he said that.
How long had it been since Verdian had smiled so brightly?
A smile also appeared on Sirius’s lips as he watched.
“Well done, Verdian.”
“Thank you, Lord Sirius.”
As Sirius had expected, Verdian had gained internal energy that was slightly less than half a cycle.
He didn’t have much internal energy yet, but if he gradually increased it from here, he would become very powerful.
“Practice the Flowing Cloud True Qi slowly…… and rest for now.”
“Yes, then…….”
“Now it’s my turn.”
Sirius took out the golden thousand-year-old herb that he had kept in his arms.
A miraculous medicine of the extreme yang that had absorbed a lot of the sun’s energy.
He would consume this to greatly increase his internal energy.
“If I cough up blood or sweat black, don’t touch me. It’ll be more dangerous for you.”
“Yes sir, I understand.”
“On the off chance…… that I never wake up, return to Palamia.”
Sirius said in a calm voice.
“And once you’re back in the South, seek out Andres Retiud and Shadien Strauss. They will take care of you.”
“Don’t say that.”
Berdian said with a stiff voice.
“Don’t say that.”
“……”
Sirius gave a small smile as he watched Berdian repeat himself.
“Yes, my bad for talking nonsense.”
And with that, Sirius put the golden everlasting flower in his mouth.
“Wait just a moment, Berdian.”
He swallowed the golden everlasting flower whole and immediately sat in the lotus position.
“I’ll show you the true power of martial arts.”
He began to circulate his qi according to the incantation of the Heavenly Wolf Divine Technique.
Soon, Sirius would raise his internal energy to over 40 cycles…… and enter the fourth stage of the Heavenly Wolf Divine Technique.