Chapter 19
The Blood Connection
‘You’ll draw out the power I want? How?’
The moment I locked eyes with the boy, my conversation with Chaechae flashed through my mind.
“Are there monsters living in the Ten Thousand Mountains?”
“I haven’t seen one myself, but they say there are. They say there’s a monster with golden fur and golden eyes, and those who enter its territory all die as invalids with their inner energy cores shattered.”
‘Golden hair and golden eyes….’
Then, Chaechae's words about the monster echoed in my head.
“But why would anyone go into a place with such a dangerous monster? Did they not know?”
“No, everyone knew when they went in. I heard that monster is guarding a spirit object.”
“A spirit object?”
“Yeah, I think I heard it was some kind of flower.”
‘The golden lotus flower the boy had appeared from.’
The golden lotus flower disappeared when the boy appeared, but it was clearly related to him.
“Then are you the monster Chaechae was talking about?”
“A monster? I'm a divine being, you know?”
The boy with a flamboyant appearance raised a round golden fan and playfully created a breeze.
‘The fan was also engraved with a golden lotus.’
“You… by any chance, are you the golden lotus flower that bloomed from the spring water just now?”
“Yes, to be precise, it’s called a Golden Sun Lotus (Geumseon Yeonhwa).”
‘Golden Sun Lotus… Dad once told me about it.’
“There are many mysterious spirit objects in the world. Today, I’ll tell you about the Golden Sun Lotus.”
“What’s a Golden Sun Lotus?”
“It’s a golden lotus flower that shines like a star. It’s said to be a lotus flower that grew in the celestial realm for thousands of years, but a jealous god, envious of its beauty, cast it down to a remote corner of the mortal realm.”
“That god was so mean! Poor Golden Sun Lotus!”
“I know, right? How can our Byeol-i be so sweet?”
“So, has the Golden Sun Lotus been all alone ever since?”
“Since it hasn’t been found, we can’t know for sure, but probably?”
“The Golden Sun Lotus must be lonely! If I ever meet it, I'll be its friend!”
“Well, go ahead. Golden Sun Lotus is lucky to have a friend like Byeol-i!”
‘Ah… I didn’t know I would actually meet a Golden Sun Lotus back then.’
“…So, you were a Golden Sun Lotus.”
“You know about me?”
“Dad told me about you when I was young.”
“Ah, are you talking about that sick father of yours?”
“…Yes.”
Seeing my face fall at the mention of my father's illness, the Golden Sun Lotus's expression became unreadable.
‘I can't get depressed now. There's something I need to find out first.’
“I know you're way older than me, but can I just call you Yeonhwa? Is that cool?”
“Sure. Human years mean nothing to me.”
Yeonhwa shrugged and readily accepted my suggestion.
“Yeonhwa, is it true you crippled everyone who came into this cave?”
“I did take their inner energy cores.”
‘Same difference!’
“Then did you kill those people too?”
“No, I didn’t. They lost their inner energy and gave up, choosing to end their own lives. It was their decision.”
‘A martial artist without their inner energy can't live as a martial artist anymore. I'm the exception. Usually, people who come this far have spent their entire lives training. Losing all their inner energy... that's a despair I can't even imagine.’
I could kind of understand why they'd take their own lives.
“Why did you do such a thing?”
“They tried to steal my treasure without asking. I simply gave them what they deserved.”
“Treasure?”
“The seed of the Golden Sun Lotus. The only one of its kind in the world. It unlocks the body's blood energy, letting a martial artist reach the peak of their power. They came here to steal it.”
‘When you put it that way, it sounds like the people who came here were in the wrong.’
“You could've just scared them off.”
“Humans are stubborn. If you let them live, they will come back. Especially martial artists. So, I took their inner energy to make sure they'd never even think of coming back.”
‘From the Golden Sun Lotus's perspective, that was being considerate.’
I mean, at least you didn't kill them outright, right?
Wait, then are you going to take my inner energy core too?
“I just came to get some water. I thought this was a spring.”
I quickly covered my dantian with my hands, protecting it, and got ready to defend myself.
“I know. That’s why I spared you.”
I was relieved by Yeonhwa’s answer, but only for a moment.
‘I... if I'd messed up, I could've lost my inner energy and been crippled for life, right?’
Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine.
“You're not going to take my inner energy, are you?”
“Well, originally, since you know my existence, it would be right to kill you, but….”
Yeonhwa’s golden eyes, which had turned cold in an instant, reached me.
“But I spared you by my own will. I won’t kill you.”
‘You won’t kill me, is that what you mean?’
I recalled the first words Yeonhwa had said to me when he transformed into a boy.
“Want me to draw it out?”
“The power you're looking for.”
“Yeonhwa.”
At my call, Yeonhwa tilted his head instead of answering and focused on my words.
“Is that offer to draw out the power I need still good?”
“Yeah, I've been thinking about finding someone to give the seed to. I couldn't find anyone I liked, but you changed my mind.”
‘You're going to give me the seed? I thought you were just going to teach me some martial arts techniques.’
“Isn’t the seed precious to you too?”
“It is.”
“But can I ask why you suddenly thought that way?”
“That corny, simple wish to cure your father's illness—that's your reason for needing power? I like that.”
Yeonhwa let go of my wrist and frowned as if disgusted.
“All the guys who come here have the same goal: to become the greatest martial artists in the Central Plains. They only want power for themselves. But me, I like reasons that are a little corny, that come from the heart, not just a thirst for power. In that way, you're exactly my type.”
‘...So, giving the seed away was all about the Golden Sun Lotus's personal preference.’
Yeah, if people who only cared about their own fame had gotten the seed and become stronger, the Central Plains would probably be even more chaotic than it is now.
“Then can I receive that seed?”
“There are a few things you need to know first.”
Yeonhwa took out a seed from his bosom.
The seed was emitting a light as bright as the golden lotus flower.
“What’s that?”
“If you eat the seed, a power like you've never felt before will explode inside you. But it only awakens the potential you already have. It's up to you to handle that power.”
“If I can’t accept that power?”
“You’ll die.”
‘Why does everyone in the Ten Thousand Mountains talk about death so casually?’
Unlike the terrifying words, Yeonhwa’s face was very calm.
“Don't worry. It's your choice.”
Yeonhwa smiled faintly and held out the seed in front of me.
The Golden Sun Lotus's gaze sharpened.
“Now, will you eat it?”
* * *
“He's later than usual.”
Jeok-un kept glancing out the window while pretending to read the scroll.
“Waiting for Cheonseong, sir?”
Oh-haeng, seeing right through him as usual, asked with a smile.
“I'm just worried all this food I made will get cold.”
“Why don't you eat first, Young Master?”
“I don’t like eating alone.”
“Then shall I join you?”
“That meal is for Cheonseong.”
Jeok-un ruthlessly slapped away Oh-haeng’s hand, which was reaching for the meal.
“Just admit you want to eat with Cheonseong. You're not being honest with yourself.”
“Since you have so much free time to talk nonsense, you must not have enough work.”
At Jeok-un’s fierce gaze, which seemed like he would increase his workload right away, Oh-haeng quickly changed the subject.
“Perhaps Cheonseong is training. Didn't you double his water-fetching duties to give him more training time, Young Master, knowing he has a talent for making medicinal water?”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
Jeok-un’s gaze was fixed on the table where Cheonseong’s meal was prepared and wouldn’t leave it.
‘If I'd known he'd be this late, I would've made him eat before he left...’
He was lost in thought, worrying about Cheonseong without even realizing it.
* * *
‘If I can’t handle the power, I’ll die, is that it?’
I didn’t think getting power would be easy, even if I obtained a spirit object.
When I thought I might die, the first face that came to mind was Dad’s.
‘Anyway, if I don’t get stronger, it will be difficult to find a cure for Dad, and it will be hard to survive in the Murim world where only the strong survive.’
I didn't hesitate long.
“I’ll eat it.”
“Pop it in your mouth and swallow it down.”
The Golden Sun Lotus handed me the seed, looking a little surprised.
“Thank you.”
‘I have to survive! Seol Cheonseong!’
Thanking him for the spirit medicine, I popped the seed into my mouth and swallowed it without hesitation.
“Huh? Nothing's happening.”
‘I thought I'd be puking blood by now. Maybe I'm immune to Golden Sun Lotus seeds or something...’
“Kuh-hack!”
Those naive thoughts shattered like fragile flower petals.
‘My body feels like it's on fire...’
I screamed internally, my stomach churning, feeling like my blood was surging up and down.
‘I shouldn't have jinxed myself by thinking nothing would happen!’
* * *
In the quiet room where the Heavenly Demon slept.
After taking his sleeping pills and falling asleep, the Heavenly Demon's fingertip, which had been perfectly still, twitched faintly.
A name slipped from between the Heavenly Demon's dry lips.
“…Byeol-ah.”
