Episode 18: The Black Peony

The black peony slid down his throat and settled in his stomach.

It didn’t have much of a taste, but a subtle fragrance lingered in his mouth and throat.

“I never thought I’d see the day I’d consume an elixir.”

Truth be told, when he first held the black peony, the thought of selling it for a hefty sum was far more appealing than consuming it. After all, Tang Mujin’s identity as a healer was still much stronger than that of a martial artist.

But two things weighed on his mind: the atmosphere and the risk.

If he decided to keep it and sell it later, it felt like the mysterious old man might just snatch it back. Or worse, by evening, the old man might change his mind and say, “You haven’t eaten the black peony yet, have you? Just hand it back.”

“That old man could change his mind at any moment.”

Just like how unexpected money should be spent immediately, an elixir that falls into your lap should be consumed right away. Especially since there were no side effects.

Perhaps it was the rare elixir, but Tang Mujin already felt like a master. He savored the subtle aroma of the black peony and lifted his head.

That’s when he noticed something strange.

The old man, who had been so serious just moments ago, was now watching Tang Mujin with a face full of curiosity and anticipation.

”…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just so you know, I never said you had to eat it right away.”

As soon as the old man finished speaking, Tang Mujin felt something strange in his stomach.

It was as if ink had been dropped into a bowl of clear water, something began to spread like mist from within him.

There was no need to check. At the center of the mist was the black peony, and what was spreading was the energy it contained.

Every martial artist dreams of having immense internal energy.

But Tang Mujin couldn’t just be happy about it. The amount was overwhelming.

“Ugh!”

He clutched his stomach and bent over.

The line between medicine and poison is dosage.

Even a deadly poison, if taken in small amounts, won’t cause harm.

Conversely, even a beneficial medicine can become poison if taken in excess. That’s exactly the state Tang Mujin found himself in.

The energy released by the black peony was too much. It was as if he had swallowed poison instead of an elixir.

The amount of energy continued to increase, and so did the pain in his stomach.

The energy, which initially stayed in his stomach, began to spread through his body’s meridians, seeking areas with less pressure.

The situation was dire. It was like pouring the waters of a great river into a small stream where children play.

His untrained meridians were filled to the brim with energy.

It felt like his meridians were about to burst. His head throbbed with pain, and he couldn’t stop the pounding.

Tang Mujin struggled to lift his head and looked at the old man.

“Damn it… You said there were no side effects!”

“Have you ever heard that you grow as much as you suffer?”

“I’ve heard it, but why bring it up now?”

“It means pain isn’t a side effect.”

“What kind of nonsense is that…?”

“I’m not joking. There’s pain without growth, but no growth without pain.”

“I’m going to die from growing too much…!”

Tang Mujin found himself on his knees, gasping for breath with his hands on the ground.

‘He wouldn’t have given me the black peony to kill me, would he?’

He knew it was a ridiculous thought, but the pain was so intense that it crossed his mind.

“Don’t worry. You won’t die. Do you feel any of your meridians bursting? I doubt it. The black peony isn’t a rare elixir for nothing.”

Tang Mujin scanned his body’s meridians.

As the old man said, none of his meridians had burst. They were just swollen to the point of bursting. It was a precarious balance. Just a drop more of energy, and his meridians might explode.

But the fact that they hadn’t burst wasn’t much comfort.

Not dying is one thing, but pain is pain.

The old man smirked beside him.

“I didn’t expect someone who doesn’t even know a proper cultivation method and can barely circulate energy through meridians to just pop an elixir into their mouth. Why did you eat it now?”

“You gave it to me to eat!”

“Did I say to eat it immediately? I gave it to you because I thought I’d feel uneasy if I lost it.”

”…”

Tang Mujin had no retort. He felt a strange sense of defeat as he spoke.

“Anyway, do something! I’m really going to die…”

“Ugh. You seem smart, but then you do something foolish. Can you sit in a lotus position?”

The lotus position.

Tang Mujin wasn’t very flexible. Even on a good day, sitting with both legs crossed was a challenge.

Let alone now, in this excruciating pain, could he manage the lotus position?

Impossible. To be precise, he could, but he wanted to avoid it. Sitting in the lotus position might cause the meridians in his thighs to burst.

“I don’t think I can.”

“Then there’s no choice. It’s a bit out of order, but let’s skip a step and start with moving meditation. You should be able to handle it.”

“Moving meditation?”

“It’s literally circulating energy while moving.”

It was an idea far removed from Tang Mujin’s understanding. Was that even possible?

“Isn’t energy circulation supposed to start with sitting in a lotus position?”

“No. That’s seated meditation. Seated meditation is just one way to circulate energy. There are three methods for static meditation: standing, sitting, and lying down. Moving meditation is simply called dynamic meditation. It’s not used often because it’s less efficient than seated meditation.”

Even in his chaotic state, the idea of standing or lying down seemed more appealing than moving.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just stand still or lie down?

”…Can’t I do standing or lying meditation?”

“No. The method I’m going to teach you doesn’t suit standing meditation. And lying down? How dare you lie down in front of an elder to meditate…”

The reason was filled with personal feelings, but there was no time to argue.

Tang Mujin’s hands trembled as he spoke.

“Then, moving meditation it is…!”

“I was planning to teach you moving meditation anyway. Listen carefully, watch, and follow.”

He feared the old man might demonstrate some bizarre movements, but thankfully, the old man simply began to walk slowly.

“Keep your walking pace steady. From heel to big toe. Every part of your foot should touch the ground in sequence. Draw the energy up from the hidden white point on your big toe, through the three yin intersection on your shin, the sea of blood on your knee, and up to the great transverse…”

“Keep it short!”

The old man clicked his tongue. He wanted to tease Tang Mujin a bit more, but seeing the sweat beading on his forehead and the bulging veins, it seemed he was in real agony.

If he were teaching an ordinary person, he would have had to give a long, detailed explanation, but fortunately, Tang Mujin had enough knowledge of medicine and meridians. He would understand even a condensed explanation.

“First, draw the energy up along the spleen meridian of the foot while walking. Make sure your entire foot touches the ground. There’s no need to rush.”

Tang Mujin walked slowly. But even as he drew the energy up from his legs to his abdomen, the pain didn’t subside.

“Is this really working?”

“I was still explaining. Take a deep breath in, and exhale in three short breaths. Think of keeping as much of the inhaled breath inside your body as possible.”

Following the old man’s instructions, Tang Mujin felt a slight easing of the pain. The old man’s explanation continued.

“Intertwine the energy entering through your lower body with the energy entering through your lungs, creating a pillar connecting the three points: the body pillar, the spine center, and the waist yang gate. These three points are the foundation of the Black Tortoise Divine Art, the unchanging core, while everything else is changeable.”

“Black Tortoise Divine Art…? Divine Art…?”

“Don’t worry about the name. I just added a character because it felt empty without it.”

The old man answered nonchalantly.

The way he spoke made the origin and authenticity of the technique highly questionable. The problem was, there was no other option.

“Use the unchanging core as a solid axis to guide the energy from the black peony to your dantian. Be patient and go slowly.”

Tang Mujin focused on turning away from the pain, observing his inner self, and manipulating the energy. The pain was so intense that it actually helped him concentrate.

The energy from the black peony was far greater than Tang Mujin’s own internal energy. However, the black peony’s energy was surprisingly cooperative. It followed his guidance smoothly, like a kite soaring on a gentle breeze.

As time passed, the overwhelming energy calmed, and the pain subsided.

Tang Mujin was able to stop walking only after he had guided the black peony’s energy into his dantian. From his stomach to his dantian. It was only a distance of about three inches, but his entire body was drenched in sweat.

‘My dantian feels full.’

There was a satisfying pressure in his dantian. Moreover, he felt lighter than before he took the black peony.

Tang Mujin clenched and unclenched his fists several times. He felt a surge of strength.

“This is the incredible power of the black peony…!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? The energy you’ve absorbed is just a fraction of the black peony’s power. It’s like licking an apple without peeling it.”

“Well, I can still feel the difference.”

“You’ve never even licked an apple before. All you’ve done is catch a whiff of its scent.”

Even with just a fraction of the power absorbed, the strength was palpable. How formidable would I become if I absorbed all the essence of the Black Peony?

Tang Mujin’s heart swelled with anticipation. How would people look at me when I return to the capital as a true martial artist?

“It’ll take quite some time to fully harness the power. Make sure to diligently practice the Xuanwu Divine Art whenever you can.”

“Understood.”

“Take care of the bodies.”

The three of them began their descent down the mountain, dragging four corpses behind them.

By the time they returned to the village, the sun had already set. The clouds in the sky were ablaze with a fiery red.

The flames that had caught on the clouds seemed to have spread to the village. The eaves of the tiled houses and the thatched roofs were all bathed in crimson.

Unlike when they first arrived at Jueul Village, now thin wisps of smoke rose here and there. It seemed the villagers were preparing their evening meals, a sign of life slowly returning. A few people wandered about at a leisurely pace.

Those walking the streets cast curious glances toward the stream.

All eyes in Jueul Village were on Gwi and Tang Mujin, and everyone knew they had headed toward the stream.

From the direction of the western stream, figures emerged. As expected, it was Gwi and Tang Mujin, with Hong Geolgae beside them.

However, not everyone could walk. The body of Ma Jeonga was slung over Hong Geolgae’s back, while the corpses of Jayang Ssangsar and Doctor Yeom were dragged along the ground.

The villagers were initially relieved to see the two doctors had returned, but their expressions hardened upon seeing the faces of Ma Jeonga and Doctor Yeom.

The two unknown corpses were one thing, but the return of two long-time companions as lifeless bodies was a clear sign that something terrible had happened.

Only then did the villagers notice the sword hanging at Gwi’s waist. Until now, they hadn’t given much thought to it. What kind of doctor carries a sword? The outside world must be a dangerous place, they mused.

Some sharp-eyed villagers also noticed the bloodstains on Hong Geolgae’s club.

Unable to ask what had happened, the villagers followed the three and the four bodies to the well. There, Tang Mujin and Hong Geolgae laid the bodies down, raising a light cloud of dust.

The villagers hesitated, hoping someone else would ask the questions on everyone’s mind. Even the simplest question seemed difficult to voice.

Tang Mujin spoke up.

“I imagine you’re curious about what happened.”

The villagers remained silent, their attention fixed on Tang Mujin’s words.

For the first time, Tang Mujin felt the weight of so many eyes upon him.

“The plague that swept through Jueul Village will be gone. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare a medicinal decoction. Those who are still breathing should be able to get up within three days.”

This was the news they had all desperately hoped for. A single statement that seemed to resolve everything. The villagers’ faces lit up with relief.

Now, their attention turned to the four bodies.

“And all of this was orchestrated by Doctor Yeom.”

“What exactly happened?” one villager couldn’t hold back any longer and asked. Tang Mujin shook his head slightly.

“I’ll just say it was excessive greed. These two outsiders were brought in by Doctor Yeom, and Elder Ma Jeonga died fighting them. It was a sacrifice to protect the village.”

A shadow fell over the villagers’ faces.

It was a moment of great sorrow and great joy. Though they hesitated briefly, the somber mood didn’t last long.

The villagers felt the joy of knowing no more would die outweighed the sorrow of Ma Jeonga’s sacrifice. Every family had someone who was ill, making the relief all the more profound.

Some wept, but most smiled. Then someone approached and tugged at Tang Mujin’s sleeve.

“Thanks to you, we are all saved. Please, spend the night at my home. I’ll prepare a chicken for you.”

“Chicken? Nonsense! Step aside! I’ll slaughter a cow! Elders, come this way! I’ll empty my coffers to set a table that will bend under the weight of the feast!”

“May I join in for a bite?”

“Do I seem so stingy? Everyone, come along!”

Laughter erupted among the villagers. Tang Mujin and Gwi were swept away by the crowd, disappearing into the throng.

A transparent wall seemed to form around Hong Geolgae, keeping the villagers at bay.

But Tang Mujin didn’t notice. The wall of people blocked his view, and his lack of experience left him unaware.

However, Gwi, even while surrounded by people, kept his eyes on Hong Geolgae. He gave a slight nod.

Hong Geolgae bowed deeply in gratitude to Gwi and Tang Mujin.

He watched as they disappeared into the crowd, then turned and carried Ma Jeonga’s body out of the village.