Episode 3. Why did it change like that?
It was a world where martial arts did not exist.
Instead, there existed ‘magic,’ a power activated through ‘mana,’ a natural energy similar to internal energy.
Most people in this world seemed to possess mana.
However, just having mana did not mean one could use magic; one needed to refine mana and create a ‘circle’ to be able to use magic.
To create a circle, one needed an innate talent, especially influenced by lineage.
Due to this, the five major families of the continent had produced many outstanding wizards for generations.
“The Regel family is no longer producing such wizards, but…”
Recalling Sirius’s memories, he sat cross-legged on the floor.
This was a ‘research room’ prepared by the Regel family for Sirius.
“I never imagined my son-in-law would be stuck in a research room on his wedding night.”
Since it was a space prepared for Sirius, he could lock the door and use it as he pleased.
“Well then… shall we begin?”
The task at hand was to embark on Cheonlangshingong.
Cheonlangshingong was a life-saving martial art developed by Baekmu based on ancient martial arts, and all the fame Baekmu gained as Cheonlangmuje was thanks to Cheonlangshingong.
“To heal the body… first, I need to resolve the disharmony of Yin and Yang.”
He closed his eyes and focused his mind.
Upon doing so, he felt the energy flowing within his body.
If his speculation was correct, mana referred to the internal energy flowing within the body.
By cultivating this energy in the lower abdomen, it became internal energy, and by condensing it near the heart, it became the mana of the circle.
“Although I may not know how to create a circle… I do know how to form internal energy through cultivation.”
Surely, Sirius was an incompetent ‘0-circle’ individual who couldn’t create a circle.
However, if he could manipulate the energy to form internal energy according to Cheonlangshingong’s principles…
“Even if I can’t use magic, I can become a body capable of using martial arts.”
Cross-legged, he began the initiation ceremony of Cheonlangshingong while performing breathing exercises.
As expected… by morning, he would at least be able to perform some human functions.
***
How much time had passed?
Though he could feel the sunlight coming in through the window, he couldn’t determine the exact time.
“Phew…”
Sirius regulated his breathing.
Covered in sweat, yet feeling refreshed beyond measure.
The accumulated impurities in the body had all been expelled.
With the collapsed harmony of Yin and Yang restored, and the smooth communication of meridians, vitality had spread throughout the body.
Above all else… a Dantian had formed in the lower abdomen, laying the foundation for using martial arts in the future.
“As I expected, it seems possible to convert magic power into internal energy.”
Currently, pure internal energy was stored in the Dantian.
By refining Sirius’s scattered magic power into internal energy through the Celestial Technique, his body was filled with it.
However, there was one concern.
“Why did he possess energy so close to Extreme Yin?”
Sirius’s magic power was so cold that it was no exaggeration to call it Extreme Yin Qi.
With such cold energy flowing inside his body, it was inevitable that his physical condition would be unstable.
Thanks to refining it with the Celestial Technique and storing it in the Dantian, his current state was stable, but… honestly, his body was not one that wouldn’t collapse at any moment.
“What could be the cause?”
Sirius recalled his memories.
The Canisroot family is a clan from the cold northern borderlands.
In that case, did Sirius end up with this body because he absorbed a lot of cold natural energy from the cold places?
“Not all members of the Canisroot family had such bodies like Sirius, was Sirius just a peculiar case? Or did he pick up some strange thing?”
Perhaps Sirius ingested a medicinal herb with cold energy like snow ginseng when he was young.
Even if the chilling energy entered his body, since Sirius lacked magical talent, he might not have been able to control it properly.
“Fortunately, he survived, but the chill entrenched in his body must have continued to make Sirius ill.”
Of course, this was all speculation.
Even after scouring Sirius’s memories, there was no clear clue.
But if Sirius unknowingly took a cold-natured elixir when he was young, his peculiar physical condition could be explained.
“Poor guy.”
Sympathy arose in Sirius.
If he had learned the appropriate internal energy method, he could have become a master with Extreme Yin internal energy.
However, such methods like internal energy cultivation do not exist in this world.
In the end, Sirius had no choice but to live each day laboriously, trembling under the cold energy entrenched in his body.
“But… it’s strange.”
He remembered last night.
Eustia thought Sirius had passed out drunk, but that was a misunderstanding.
At that time, Sirius was at a crossroads between life and death.
He was on the verge of death with his life hanging by a thread.
Perhaps Sirius had already died then… and the soul of the White Manticore had taken over, bringing him back to life.
“Ordinary alcohol has a warming property. But Sirius was in an extremely cold state.”
His deteriorating physical condition and lowered body temperature weren’t simply due to drinking too much.
It was the additional cold energy entering his body that had ruined Sirius’s health.
“In that case, did someone at the feast feed Sirius something with cold energy?”
Thinking like this made everything fall into place.
Someone had mixed a substance with cold properties into Sirius’s drink.
Knowing Sirius’s constitution, no less.
‘There was someone who wished for Sirius’s death.’
Sirius was a frail and powerless young man.
There was someone who sought to kill such a person.
‘But, that person made a big mistake.’
The cold energy flowing through Sirius’s body was all refined into a profound internal strength.
Even the cold energy administered to kill Sirius was completely controlled and transformed into internal strength.
Hence, the attempt on his life inadvertently made Sirius stronger.
‘Thanks to that, I can cultivate the Profound Yin Internal Strength.’
Of course, gaining the Profound Yin Internal Strength was not an instant achievement.
The internal strength Sirius currently possessed was not even close to a single unit.
However, even with this much… it was not difficult to advance to the first stage of the Celestial Wolf Divine Art.
‘Furthermore, the Profound Yin Internal Strength aligns well with the first stage of the Celestial Wolf Divine Art.’
The Celestial Wolf Divine Art consists of multiple stages.
The first stage is called the Northern Vast Sea.
Originally, the Northern Vast Sea refers to the dark northern sea.
The vast and boundless sea engulfs everything.
Yet, there is no visible change as if nothing happened.
The first stage of the Celestial Wolf Divine Art allows one to wield a power akin to this northern sea.
‘And… by accumulating more internal strength, one can also enter the second stage, the White Wolf.’
So, how can one accumulate more internal strength from here?
It is still unknown what elixirs exist in this world.
But it is certain that there are elixirs that can grant the Profound Yin Internal Strength.
‘The one who tried to kill Sirius… that person is the key.’
Finding the one who fed Sirius the cold-natured medicine and dealing with them.
That was the task at hand.
‘Shall I go out for a bit then.’
He got up.
In fact, he had been feeling hungry for a while now.
As the circulation of his vital energy improved, his digestion also recovered.
Although Sirius was usually a light eater, in his current state, he could probably eat three times more than usual.
‘But where should I have breakfast?’
With that thought in mind, he stepped out of the study.
Coincidentally, there were maids passing by in the corridor.
“Hey.”
“….!?”
Approaching them and speaking, the maids were taken aback, staring at Sirius in surprise.
“S-Sirius, sir…?”
“I want to have breakfast, any suggestions?”
“B-Breakfast, sir? Haven’t you had it with Lady Eustia…?”
“….”
It seems like the two of them had already finished their meal in the bedroom.
“If you haven’t eaten yet, I can have it prepared in the kitchen for you…”
“Sure, I appreciate that. Oh, could you prepare it for two people?”
“For two people?”
“I’m quite hungry.”
The maids exchanged puzzled looks.
“I heard Sirius doesn’t eat much…”
“It seems there was a misunderstanding. From now on, I’ll make requests more leisurely than others.”
“Alright, I understand. I’ll inform the kitchen.”
“Thank you.”
As gratitude was expressed, the tense expressions of the maids softened.
One should not be rude to those preparing meals.
Harboring complaints internally could lead to poison being added to the food.
That’s why even though he was a superior, Baek Mulang had a habit of not being disrespectful.
“Even so, in the end, my wife was poisoned.”
Recalling the past life where he was poisoned without a trace, Sirius smiled bitterly.
***
“I feel uneasy. Leaving the lady alone and running out of the bedroom in the middle of the night, then bothering the maids since morning.”
“….”
Observing Sirius conversing with the maids from afar, Yustia furrowed her brow in silence.
“Shouldn’t you say something to her?”
“No, it’s not necessary.”
Although Maria, who grew up together with her since childhood, spoke in a dissatisfied tone, Yustia shook her head.
“It’s irrelevant whether the maids gossip or not.”
“Lady…”
“I’m not interested.”
They had already discussed not interfering in each other’s lives before getting married.
It didn’t matter if the maids chattered or not.
“Still, when you appear in front of others, it would be better to at least wash your face. Your hair is soaked in sweat, you look too messy!”
“I see.”
Responding dryly to Maria’s words, Yustia glanced at Sirius again.
“However…”
Originally, Sirius didn’t give off a favorable impression.
His pale skin, dull eyes, and listless expression were unpleasant to look at.
But now…
“Why are you like this?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Sirius had completely changed.
Color had returned to his skin, his eyes were sharp, and his expression was filled with confidence.
From Noble mtl dot com
Originally, his features were rather neat… but now he looked handsome enough to be called a pretty boy.
“Weird guy…”
Muttering so, Yustia got up from her seat.