Chapter 280 – Bonds Cannot Be Predicted (2)

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The Medicine King Hall was one of the most recently constructed buildings in Mount Hua Sect. It was also one of the most heavily guarded places.

Medicine King Hall was Jong Ri-yeon’s residence. Every day, about ten Mount Hua martial artists stood guard at her residence. Given Mount Hua Sect’s limited numbers, having so many martial artists on guard duty was quite burdensome. Nevertheless, the disciples of Mount Hua Sect volunteered for guard duty willingly. This showed how important Jong Ri-yeon was to them.

The Medicine King Hall was filled with numerous medicinal herbs. Some were gathered by Bang Jin-bo, while Jong Ri-yeon herself had collected a considerable number. Many herbs were also brought in from outside.

If the herbs in this place were converted to money, they would be enough to buy a large mansion in the market and still have plenty left over. That’s how incredibly valuable the herbs here were.

Inside the Medicine King Hall were not only Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo but also Woon Kyung and the Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters. They all watched Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo with tense gazes.

“Let me see.”

Jong Ri-yeon turned Bang Jin-bo’s basket upside down. Numerous herbs piled up on the floor.

With her delicate fingers, Jong Ri-yeon sorted through the herbs one by one. The herbs were classified by type, and finally, only the jet-black moss remained.

Jong Ri-yeon carefully picked up the black moss and examined it closely. She checked it with her eyes and smelled it with her nose.

“This is indeed Black Darkness Immortal Moss.”

“Really?”

Bang Jin-bo’s face brightened at Jong Ri-yeon’s words.

“You’ve worked hard. This is truly difficult to find.”

“Ah! Don’t even mention it. I never imagined it would be in such a gloomy place.”

“I’m sure it was. Black Darkness Immortal Moss only grows in places untouched by human feet, in remote areas where sunlight never reaches. That’s why even experienced herb gatherers might not see it once in their lifetime. You’ve done a great job.”

“So can we now make the Plum Blossom Divine Pill?”

“We’ll have to try.”

At Jong Ri-yeon’s words, Woon Kyung, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

“The fate of Mount Hua Sect rests in your hands, Miss Jong. I sincerely hope you succeed.”

Woon Kyung’s expression was more rigid than ever.

There was a good reason for this.

What Jong Ri-yeon was trying to make was the Plum Blossom Divine Pill.

It was a miraculous medicine with exceptional efficacy, comparable to Shaolin Temple’s Great Rejuvenation Pill and Wudang Sect’s Supreme Clarity Pill. It was said that consuming just one Plum Blossom Divine Pill could provide an enormous amount of internal energy. However, the manufacturing method had been lost long ago and was no longer passed down.

After settling in Mount Hua Sect, Jong Ri-yeon had been researching methods to produce the Plum Blossom Divine Pill in her spare time.

True to his background as a scholar-priest, Sage Hyeon-so remembered numerous medical classics passed down within Mount Hua Sect. Jong Ri-yeon had these medical classics dictated by Hyun-so compiled into books for her research.

She had tried countless times and failed. If she lacked perseverance, she would have given up long ago. But she persistently moved forward, one step at a time.

Without Jong Ri-yeon’s extensive medical knowledge, finding clues to produce the Plum Blossom Divine Pill from the medical classics would have been impossible.

Through numerous studies and experiments, she finally discovered the method to produce the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. The herbs filling the Medicine King Hall were gathered specifically for making the Plum Blossom Divine Pill.

“Now that we have the Black Darkness Immortal Moss, we’ll succeed this time.”

The Plum Blossom Divine Pill required numerous herbs. Many of them were toxic, and some naturally increased in toxicity during the manufacturing process.

The key was to neutralize the toxicity. However, not just any herb could be used. A neutralizing agent that wouldn’t harm the medicinal properties of the other herbs was needed. That’s why they chose Black Darkness Immortal Moss.

Black Darkness Immortal Moss only grew on Mount Hua. But it grew in such remote areas that even priests who had lived on Mount Hua their entire lives didn’t know such an herb existed.

Fortunately, Bang Jin-bo, who had been scouring Mount Hua like his own backyard for three years, had found the Black Darkness Immortal Moss.

Jong Ri-yeon looked at Woon Kyung.

“Shall we begin?”

“Let’s do it.”

With Woon Kyung’s permission, Jong Ri-yeon began her work.

She placed herbs mixed in exact proportions into a specially made large pill furnace. If there was even the slightest error in the mixture, all would be in vain, so Jong Ri-yeon couldn’t help but be tense.

Only after adding the Black Darkness Immortal Moss last did Jong Ri-yeon close the lid of the pill furnace.

The Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters waiting behind wore tense expressions.

It was a miraculous medicine with the word “Divine Pill” in its name. The manufacturing method couldn’t be ordinary.

The Plum Blossom Divine Pill couldn’t be made with an ordinary flame. A powerful flame was needed to produce it.

“You must use the Hot Yang Energy according to my instructions. Remember, there must not be even the slightest error.”

“Understood.”

The Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters answered energetically.

Jong Ri-yeon nodded and lit the furnace. A powerful flame arose. To this, the Hot Yang Energy of the Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters was added. Four of the Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters placed their palms on the pill furnace and poured out their internal energy.

The blue flame turned white.

Tremendous heat warmed the Medicine King Hall.

Beads of sweat formed on Jong Ri-yeon’s face. But she didn’t step back and focused on the pill furnace and the flame.

No one knew how much time had passed. The Hot Yang Energy of the Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters gradually diminished. It seemed their internal energy was running out.

“The flame must not weaken. Switch to the next person.”

“Yes!”

With the response, four of the waiting Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters took over. They too injected Hot Yang Energy into the pill furnace. The flame, which had seemed to weaken momentarily, rose fiercely again.

Time passed in a tense atmosphere. When the flame weakened again, different Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters took over. After several such rotations, finally, Woon Kyung stepped forward.

“It’s my turn now.”

He alone injected Hot Yang Energy. Befitting the sect leader of Mount Hua, he single-handedly managed the work of four people.

The pill furnace turned red-hot, and a fragrant medicinal scent flowed out. The scent was so intense that everyone in the Medicine King Hall felt their minds clearing.

A look of tension appeared on Jong Ri-yeon’s face.

She instinctively realized that this moment was the most critical juncture.

“Jin-bo.”

“Yes!”

“It’s your turn.”

“Got it.”

With his response, Bang Jin-bo took over from Woon Kyung.

Woon Kyung wiped the sweat pouring down his face with his sleeve and said:

“Please finish it well.”

“Don’t worry.”

Bang Jin-bo answered and placed his hands on the pill furnace, using the Five Elements Noble Art.

Jong Ri-yeon said:

“You must gradually suppress the fire energy with water energy. Remember! Never rush.”

“Yes!”

The Five Elements Gentleman Art that Bang Jin-bo had learned was a martial art that could best utilize the principles of the five elements. The key was to gradually cool the heated pill furnace using water energy, thereby preserving the medicinal properties to the maximum.

Bang Jin-bo followed Jong Ri-yeon’s teachings, circulating his internal energy and gradually cooling the red-hot pill furnace.

Woon Kyung and the disciples watched the entire process with tense gazes.

‘Please!’

‘Just a little more effort.’

Time passed amid everyone’s earnest wishes.

“Phew!”

Finally, Bang Jin-bo removed his palms from the pill furnace with a sigh.

Jong Ri-yeon patted his shoulder.

“Well done.”

“It’s nothing.”

Bang Jin-bo smiled as if it was no big deal, but his exhaustion was evident.

It couldn’t be helped. Though it seemed like not much time had passed, they had been confined in the Medicine King Hall for three full days, circulating their energy. Naturally, they were exhausted.

Jong Ri-yeon carefully opened the lid of the pill furnace. An incomparably fragrant aroma wafted out strongly.

“Ohhh!”

“It’s the scent of plum blossoms.”

The Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters exclaimed first.

When Jong Ri-yeon looked inside the pill furnace, she saw a viscous liquid solidifying. Of the herbs that had filled the pill furnace, only about a bowl’s worth remained.

Jong Ri-yeon took some of the solidifying liquid and began shaping it into round pills. Soon, one pill was formed in her hands. She continued to shape more pills. In total, five pills were made.

Five pills carrying the fragrance of plum blossoms.

For a result that took three days to produce, it might seem meager, but no one present thought so.

“The Plum Blossom Divine Pill.”

“Is that really the Plum Blossom Divine Pill?”

They instinctively recognized that the pills before them were the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Their faces lit up with emotion, but no one was as moved as Woon Kyung.

Mount Hua Sect had only two Plum Blossom Divine Pills remaining. One was consumed by Myung Kyung, and the other was recently consumed by Woon Kyung. The reason was that it was unacceptable for the sect leader of Mount Hua to have weak internal energy.

After consuming the Plum Blossom Divine Pill, Woon Kyung experienced a tremendous increase in internal energy. With this increase, he could overcome barriers that had previously blocked him.

He earnestly wished for other disciples to receive the same benefit. This was because it would make Mount Hua Sect stronger.

Having consumed the Plum Blossom Divine Pill, he could tell that the product before him was identical to the real Plum Blossom Divine Pill.

“Ah!”

An exclamation burst out involuntarily. Thick tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Sect Leader.”

“Finally! Sob!”

The Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters also shed hot tears. They too were martial artists carrying Mount Hua Sect’s aspirations in their hearts.

“Everyone has worked hard.”

Jong Ri-yeon bowed her head to everyone, expressing her gratitude with a full heart. Woon Kyung made a fist-and-palm salute and said:

“This is all thanks to Miss Jong. Thank you so much.”

“Thank you.”

The disciples raised their voices in unison.

Though they had stayed up for three full days, there was no trace of fatigue in their voices.

Jong Ri-yeon wrapped the five Plum Blossom Divine Pills in prepared Korean paper and handed them to Woon Kyung.

“Please use them as you see fit, Sect Leader.”

“Thank you.”

“You must be tired. I think it would be good for you to rest today.”

“No.”

“But…”

“I know there are still many herbs left. With that amount, we should be able to make more Plum Blossom Divine Pills.”

Woon Kyung’s eyes shone with passion.

The same was true for the other Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters.

If they could make more Plum Blossom Divine Pills, more disciples could consume them. If that happened, the disciples’ martial power would increase dramatically.

“Having made them once, the next time shouldn’t be difficult. I ask for your help, Miss Jong.”

“We ask for your help.”

Woon Kyung and the Thirty-six Plum Blossom Sword Masters chanted in unison.

Jong Ri-yeon couldn’t refuse their earnest wish.

“Alright. As they say, ‘even an ox’s horn can be pulled out in one breath.’ Let’s start right away.”

“Thank you.”

They began making the Plum Blossom Divine Pill again.

The air, which had cooled, began to heat up again.

“Phew!”

A sigh of relief burst from Myung Kyung’s lips.

He was sitting on the roof of the Medicine King Hall. While Jong Ri-yeon and the others were making the Plum Blossom Divine Pill inside the building, he was sitting here, standing guard.

Having consumed the Plum Blossom Divine Pill, Myung Kyung knew how remarkable its efficacy was.

‘If all the Plum Blossom Divine Pills are completed, our sect’s combat power will increase significantly.’

Everyone thought that Mount Hua Sect had declined.

Some genuinely worried about Mount Hua Sect, but many saw the sect’s decline as a great opportunity for their own sects to rise. He wanted to show them that Mount Hua Sect was not yet dead. For that, the Plum Blossom Divine Pill was absolutely necessary.

He heard them starting to make the Plum Blossom Divine Pill again from inside. Just as Myung Kyung was tightening his relaxed mind and becoming tense…

“…”

Suddenly, Myung Kyung’s expression hardened.

Tap!

He kicked off from the roof and flew toward the nearby forest.

Silently, his sword was drawn.

Swish!

The undergrowth was cut in a straight line.

“Ugh!”

A stifled groan emerged from the undergrowth.

Myung Kyung’s cold voice echoed through the forest.

“Who are you?”

At that moment, the wind blew… Wind blowing from all directions gathered in front of Myung Kyung, forming a faint human shape.

“Evil arts?”