Book 1 Chapter 8

The doll-shaped snow ginseng bestowed by heaven.

By taking on a profession, my destiny was completed on a harsh, wide, and endless road of misfortune in its perfect form. It was truly a tightly woven, unfortunate destiny.

I had to wake up at dawn to train, practice, hunt, gather herbs, cook, and do laundry. In the afternoon, I had to go to the blacksmith's shop and work until sunset.

I had to spend my days handling that heavy, rough iron.

Even that alone was enough to make my body scream.

But upon returning home, exhausted, after finishing work at the blacksmith's, I was not greeted by warm and comforting hands of rest. Only a mountain of side jobs awaited my weary self. Of course, I wasn't happy about it at all. Once the allotted daily work of stringing beads one by one was finished, I had to carve wooden pieces without any rest.

Initially, the daily quota for bead necklaces was 100, but as I became more skilled, it increased more and more brutally. After three years, it finally increased to 500. The carving was the same. My carving skills improved day by day, to the point where I could carve about three simple wooden crafts a day. My skills were recognized, and the amount I received also increased. This was because my work became popular in the general store.

However, for me, all of this meant nothing more than an increase in workload. Of course, my master danced with joy at the increased income.

Why am I so unhappy? I looked up at the sky and resented it. Tears clouded my vision. This was the darkest period of my life, a time spent sleeplessly through the nights with tears, and the days were incredibly difficult. Three years passed like that.

If I hadn't had that day's luck, I would have surely died of overwork and been buried in a nameless field, with only wild grass as my companion. That day was when white clouds held the sun, emitting golden fragments, and a clear, pale blue wind swept around the mountain. And it was the one day a week the blacksmith's shop was closed.

Yet, even on that sweet day of rest, which came only once a week like honey, I couldn't rest and had to run through mountains and fields to gather herbs and hunt. The life of an unfortunate young boy caught in the grasp of evil was truly pathetic.

When I first discovered it, it was blooming gracefully under the shade of a tree. It was a flower with a mysterious, clear fragrance that soothed the mind and possessed a pure, noble dignity. In that moment, my brain sent a fierce warning.

'This will definitely make money! Absolutely guaranteed!'

A flower with such fragrance and dignity would undoubtedly sell for a high price. Look at this incredibly enchanting fragrance and elegant appearance. Doesn't it seem to possess immense value at first glance?

I carefully began to dig around the flower. I dug down, taking care not to damage even a single fine root. If the roots were damaged, its value would decrease, so I had to be as careful as if I were handling a lover. After digging carefully for a while, I was suddenly startled. Buried in the ground was a dazzling naked female body, the size of an adult's palm, with her face buried between her knees and her legs drawn up to her chest. The shining naked female body exuded a beautiful and noble aura.

"Gulp!"

The sound of my swallowing echoed loudly. I stared blankly at the naked female body as if possessed. Facing such a sudden, strange, and mysterious experience, I had no idea what to do.

As I stood there in a daze, a stream of clear fragrance wafted into my nostrils. In an instant, my mind snapped back. I doubted my state of mind and my wide-open, sparkling eyes. Reason commanded me.

'This is impossible. How can there be a woman the size of a palm? No matter how strange the world is, this is impossible. If such a woman truly exists, I'll burn my ten fingers. I must be momentarily possessed by something. Snap out of it, Bilyeon! Calm down, calm down!'

I rubbed my eyes, which I suspected were failing, so hard that my eyelids felt like they were peeling off, and then carefully looked at the naked female body I had dug out of the ground. But for some reason, I was once again surprised. The dazzling naked female body that had been so brilliant moments before was gone, and in its place was a single ginseng root.

Since it took a human form and bewitched me, I thought it was likely the doll-shaped snow ginseng (Inhyeongseolsam) from legends. My guess was probably correct! The fact that it could manipulate nature to such an extent to deceive my eyes meant it was undoubtedly an ancient and powerful entity, not merely old.

In an instant, the feeling of having struck gold dominated my mind. I even briefly considered selling it off. But I quickly revised this thought. Money doesn't come before everything. Rather, due to the hard labor, my health had deteriorated, and I desperately felt the need for bodily nourishment. Furthermore, wasn't the reason for enduring all the hardship and humiliation under this damned master to become the greatest martial artist in the world? Instead of being swayed by the momentary temptation of money, I resolutely rejected the temptation with a heart as hard as steel and decided to consume the doll-shaped snow ginseng myself.

Of course, such potent elixirs require considerable caution. Therefore, I exercised extreme caution. First, before consuming the doll-shaped snow ginseng, I carefully and thoroughly reviewed the precautions for taking elixirs taught by my master. There were many who, unlike me, ignored these precautions, took elixirs, and became disabled, foolish, or even died. Recklessly consumed elixirs could become poison.

Even if it wasn't such a worst-case scenario, there were often comical incidents where the elixir's energy didn't fully dissolve, remaining as potential within the body, or seeping into the bone marrow, granting immense potential. Or that it would lead to possessing incredible internal energy once it dissolved.

Potential is just potential. It's an unknown power that isn't very useful in the real world. Potential is merely a possibility. Possibilities offer no help in reality. Potential, an unstable power that cannot be immediately utilized when needed, is nothing more than a vain reputation. If a power cannot be unleashed at the moment it is needed, isn't it just as good as death? Hoping for potential to manifest just before death is a foolish and irresponsible attitude that relies solely on luck.

Relying on untrustworthy, uncertain power is extremely dangerous for someone living in the cruel world where the edge of a blade brushes past one's nose. To prevent such dangerous and comical situations from occurring, it is best to thoroughly understand the precautions for taking elixirs and consume them with caution. Only then can one make all the elixir's energy their own.

Precautions for Taking Elixirs (including inner elixirs of spirit beasts)

One, when taking elixirs, one must continuously practice Qi circulation until the energy is fully dissolved and integrated with one's own power. And, do not stop until complete power is obtained. Abruptly stopping Qi circulation carries a high risk of severe side effects, so be especially careful. After taking an elixir, one can survive for several days without eating, so continue practicing Qi circulation without stopping.

Two, do not casually consume elixirs or inner elixirs that have an excessive concentration of either Yin or Yang power. You might die if you take them incorrectly. In this case, it is advisable to consult an expert. You must find elixirs that are mutually reinforcing and consume them together. If you incorrectly take mutually conflicting elixirs, it is certain death! That is, you will surely die. If you are to consume mutually conflicting elixirs (or inner elixirs) together, an elixir that neutralizes the two is absolutely necessary. If you are not confident in obtaining it, it is better not to take it. Those who cherish their lives and want to live long must keep this in mind. Also, when taking mutually reinforcing elixirs, always pay attention to the ratio. If the ratio of the medicines is different, there is a very high risk of causing side effects later. Deep caution is required.

Three, elixirs in pill form, such as the Great Rejuvenation Pill, can be taken without significant issues. Of course, Qi circulation is essential. Pills are generally formulated considering all component ratios, so the more famous the elixir, the safer it is to take just one. Therefore, always be cautious of unknown elixirs, fakes, or imitation products.

Four, take it one period of time (30 minutes) after a meal. While there are no major side effects to taking it on an empty stomach, it is advisable to refrain from doing so. Also, if taken immediately after a meal, a significant portion of the medicinal effect will be digested along with the food, so be careful. Of course, taking it after overeating must be strictly avoided.

Five, always be mindful of the risk of side effects. If you notice any signs of side effects, it is best to seek advice from a nearby physician or expert immediately.

Six, take it after thoroughly understanding the precautions.

After calmly contemplating the precautions for taking elixirs taught by my master, I swallowed the doll-shaped snow ginseng in one gulp. A clear fragrance filled my mouth, and along with an ecstatic sweetness, the doll-shaped snow ginseng melted like snow and flowed down my throat into my belly. A moment later, I experienced an immense shock as if a vast, unprecedented power was swirling within my body. I was too young and insufficient to control the immense and unprecedented power I was experiencing for the first time.

The power of the doll-shaped snow ginseng engulfed me like raging waves or a giant whirlpool, as if trying to swallow me. I felt as if my soul was shedding its physical shell and being sucked into a vast golden vortex. Unconsciously, I had no choice but to desperately operate the Thunder Spirit Heart Method. If I had let my guard down even slightly, I would have been swallowed by the immense, unprecedented power and left without a trace. And eons passed.

How much time elapsed? Returning to consciousness from the unconscious state, I slowly opened my eyes. I regained my senses as waves of light washed over me. I couldn't even guess how much time had passed. I even felt a sense of reverence, like a seeker who had experienced a new world. I felt a refreshing and powerful flow of energy throughout my body, and I felt so light and agile that I could fly.

My mind was in a state like a clear and tranquil lake. All the turbid energy within my body had been expelled, and only clear and pure energy remained. I had gained power. And it was a quite strong, pure, and immense power…

Returning home with my body and spirit feeling light enough to fly, my master scolded me, asking where I had been for the past four days. My master strictly interrogated me, claiming I had been slacking off, but I remained silent with my lips tightly sealed. I didn't feel the need to explain the situation. No, I felt it had to be kept a secret no matter what.

If I had told him what happened, what kind of terrible fate would befall me for confessing the truth to my master! I didn't need to hear the words that would come from that infuriating master.

"You ungrateful brat! How dare you eat such a precious thing alone without offering it to your heaven-like master! If you had such a precious thing, you should have rushed to offer it to this old master immediately, or at least shared it! You ate it all by yourself to live a long life without illness! Even if heaven permits your long life and the doll-shaped snow ginseng helps, I will not tolerate it. You'll die by my hand today."

Or perhaps:

"Oh my, how much money would that fetch if you sold it? Why did you gobble it up! Do you intend to line your insides with silver? If you had just sold that for its proper price, you would have earned enough money to live comfortably for two hundred years. How could you throw away such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity without consulting me, oh, what a waste!"

I knew I would hear such words. I didn't have the confidence to handle the aftermath. That's why it had to be kept even more strictly secret.

Regardless, whether it was the effect of the doll-shaped snow ginseng, my Thunder Spirit Heart Method improved tremendously from that day on, and my Distant Thunder Hand also easily surpassed the 6-star level, finally reaching the stage where I could play the Thunder Zither. Furthermore, I was able to receive lessons in handling the Flying Thunder Saber, which I had only dreamed of.

Even more astonishing was the fact that I felt no fatigue after being overworked all day at the blacksmith's shop. Instead, my body was overflowing with energy to the point of being difficult to control. If I hadn't eaten the doll-shaped snow ginseng then, I might still be suffering from immense hard labor and my master's inhumane treatment, barely maintaining a life, or I might have died of overwork and already been buried in the ground. People need to consider the future with a long-term perspective rather than the immediate outcome. From this point of view, my choice then can be considered truly excellent.

"Clang! Clang!"

The sound of a blacksmith's hammer striking iron jolted Bilyeon out of his thoughts. A reflection that was long in the making and short in the telling. Waking from his thoughts, Bilyeon suddenly looked at his left hand.

"Huh, what is this? Why is a piece of scrap iron here? Where did the sword that should be here go, and why am I holding a pathetic scrap metal rod?"

The sword that Bilyeon had intended to forge by striking heated iron had completely lost its shape, and all that was left was a crumpled piece of scrap metal, like taffy, being held shamefully. To be precise, it was a scrap metal rod held in the tongs in his left hand.

According to the original plan, the iron was destined to become a shining, pure white sword, displaying its elegance. But due to whose mistake, it ended up being a blackened, taffy-like piece of scrap metal. If left like this, the old master would undoubtedly deduct the damage cost from my wages.

"Damn it, I was lost in other thoughts while making the sword! I should have focused all my attention on the sword when making it… This is all because of that damned master. Sigh, there's no choice. I have to start all over again. He's not helpful at all, not helpful."

As Bilyeon tried to quickly rectify the situation and prevent the tragic outcome of having his wages deducted, his gaze suddenly turned towards the window. The setting sun had already begun to cast its glow, painting the sky red.

"Oh, it's already getting dark! Where did the time go? Oh well. I have to stick to quitting time strictly. Working overtime without compensation goes against my principles."

Fueled by a sense of duty to strictly adhere to quitting time, Bilyeon carelessly threw the scrap metal rod, which should have been a sword, into a corner and stood up. The sun was already hanging low beyond the western mountains, about to set. With the fiery sunset behind him, Bilyeon headed home. Towards home, where the tedious and damned master awaited…

It had been about three years since I started working at the blacksmith's. My skills were recognized, and I became a sword master, which increased my pay from 3 taels of silver per month to 11 taels of silver per month. However, Bilyeon's work attitude remained the same.