That is the way of the martial world.

Like a vicious beast that seeks out and kills children who may become stronger than itself.

The more power one had, the more danger followed.

The reason the dagger uncle and my father caught the eye of the Blood Sect was because of their exceptional talent.

[If you are ready to endure all those dangers, you may eat it.]

There was no time to hesitate.

I reached out my hand towards the Azure Essence Oil.

[Start circulating your energy immediately. It will be too much for you to handle alone. I will help you.]

It was just as the dagger uncle said.

As soon as I ate the Azure Essence Oil, a hot energy surged up.

I tried to focus on the energy circulation technique, but controlling the overflowing power was not an easy task.

Cold sweat dripped down. The fierce energies began to move quickly as if demanding to be released.

I gathered my wits several times to avoid fainting. Without the dagger uncle’s guidance, I may have fallen into a state of confusion.

It felt like hot lava was boiling in my stomach.

As the dagger uncle warned, if I became stronger after consuming the Azure Essence Oil, I would face strong opposition from others.

The Blood Sect would also begin to watch me. No matter how much I tried to hide my strength, there would clearly be limits.

‘That might actually be better.’

The original story was already twisted.

I couldn’t leave everything to Ji Cheon Wu alone. Now was not the time to be mindful of others’ eyes.

The look in my father’s eyes as he watched me came to mind.

I could almost hear his voice saying that no matter what I did, he would protect me.

To protect what is precious, one must become strong.

That was why my father strived to become strong.

I, too… had the same intention.

[This is the timeline separator]

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s footsteps were heavy.

The other members of the Nam Gung Clan felt the same way. A warrior had found traces of Nam Gung Lin.

But the location where the traces were discovered was the problem.

“My god, a cliff….”

“Wasn’t Young Master Hyun also lost in a similar place?”

The sound of the warriors’ conversation could be heard. Nam Gung Jin Cheon approached the cliff. His gaze turned towards the bottom of the cliff.

A deep darkness could be seen.

It was a cliff from which survival would be difficult if one fell.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s eyes were calm.

“We found the last trace.”

At the warrior’s words, Nam Gung Jin Cheon clenched the candy that had fallen to the ground.

Ji Cheon Wu’s face distorted.

It was the candy that Nam Gung Lin had given him. The candy had fallen right on top of the cliff.

The meaning of that was clear. Nam Gung Lin had fallen off the cliff. Nam Gung So So wailed. Nam Gung Yu Cheong also staggered as if in shock. The other warriors were the same.

“My god, Lin…!”

The guilt of not being able to protect Nam Gung Lin could be seen on their faces.

People thought that Nam Gung Lin had fallen off the cliff.

It was entirely possible to get lost in the formation and fall into an unexpected place.

Seeing their reactions, Ji Cheon Wu muttered softly.

“No.”

Nam Gung Lin knew that she would be caught in the formation.

‘There’s no way she would go out like this so absurdly.’

Nam Gung Lin must not have fallen off the cliff. She had told him that she would return alive.

Ji Cheon Wu looked at Nam Gung Jin Cheon with a pale face. He remembered Nam Gung Lin’s request.

‘She wouldn’t have said those words for no reason.’

Nam Gung Lin’s words must have had a purpose.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon remained frozen, unable to move. Ji Cheon Wu approached beside Nam Gung Jin Cheon.

Ji Cheon Wu spoke to Nam Gung Jin Cheon.

“Lin said she would return.”

It was Nam Gung Hyun Jong who responded to Ji Cheon Wu’s words.

“What nonsense is that?”

“Before getting caught in the formation, she asked me to convey a message to the Patriarch. She said she would return.”

Nam Gung Hyun Jong’s face turned fierce.

He glared at Ji Cheon Wu and shouted.

A brief fear flashed across Nam Gung Hyun Jong’s face.

“You better not be telling a lie. If so, I won’t let it slide.”

Ji Cheon Wu spoke to Nam Gung Hyun Jong with a chilling face.

His words were filled with certainty.

“Lin will return.”

[This is the timeline separator] [You’ve worked hard.]

As the dagger uncle’s words ended, I opened my eyes. The first thing I felt was a musty smell.

And……

‘My body feels light.’

I could truly sense how incredible the power of the medicinal herb was. I felt that even my damaged innate energy, which I had recklessly borrowed from the dagger uncle, had become abundant.

‘How much time has passed?’

[Half a month has gone by.]

‘Half a month?’

I felt cold sweat dripping at the dagger uncle’s words.

More time had passed than I thought. I slowly got up.

Although it was clearly my body, moving itself felt extremely unfamiliar.

‘They must be worried…’

The faces of my family came to mind. Perhaps they even thought I was dead.

‘No, they must definitely think that way.’

Half a month was a long time.

Moreover, my last trace would be cut off at the cliff.

[Feel your strength.]

At the dagger uncle’s words, I regained my senses and closed my eyes once again.

Then I observed my body.

‘Is this going to be okay?’

I felt a slight worry.

‘Am I becoming stronger than Ji Cheon Wu?’

Of course, it was a truly unnecessary worry. Ji Cheon Wu would receive even more opportunities than I was gaining.

But right now, a tremendous amount of inner energy was flowing through my body.

If my body was like a trickling stream before, now it was……

‘The ocean.’

To exaggerate a bit, it was like the ocean.

[If properly absorbed, it is at least equivalent to the inner energy of someone in their twenties. Of course, you can’t fully digest it, so it’s just flowing.]

‘What?’

[Having it and being able to use it are different.]

No, that’s not what surprised me. Did you say twenties?

The efficacy of the Azure Essence Oil was truly amazing. For an ordinary person, it would take 120 years to accumulate the inner energy of someone in their twenties.

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t continue speaking.

‘There was a reason why Ji Cheon Wu became so strong.’

If Ji Cheon Wu gained opportunities like what I had obtained as often as eating meals, it was understandable why he became the strongest in the world.

[That is the power of the highest-grade medicinal herb. You still have a long way to go to fully draw out the power of the medicinal herb.]

‘Thank you, Uncle.’

[Ahem! This is not the end.]

There’s more?

I steadied my trembling legs. For a moment, the worn-out dagger in my hand seemed to look like a dagger made of sky-metal.

[There were many things to prepare to fight the Blood Sect. My disciple needed to have the most outstanding inner energy in the martial world. That’s how strong those bastards are.]

As the dagger uncle said those words, he moved my body.

Towards his own corpse.

I bowed briefly while holding the wooden box.

Although the corpse was now old and only bones remained, he was originally the dagger uncle.

The dagger uncle didn’t say a word as he watched me.

Only after some time passed and I raised my head did the dagger uncle speak.

[Open the wooden box and take a look.]

I opened the wooden box as the dagger uncle instructed. And I confirmed what was inside. The dagger uncle told me what was contained within the box.

He also explained why he had it.

[Consuming it is your choice.]

‘You already know what choice I will make, don’t you?’

Hearing his words, I placed the wooden box in my bosom. It was because I thought of the suitable owner for this item.

‘They must be worried.’

I looked outside the cave.

It was because I thought of the people who would be waiting for me.

I gripped the dagger uncle tightly and thought.

‘I’ll return soon, please wait just a little longer.’

[This is the timeline separator]

Half a month had passed since Nam Gung Lin disappeared. The atmosphere in the Nam Gung Clan was gloomy.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon couldn’t leave the place where Nam Gung Lin had vanished.

Even when he expanded his spiritual perception, he couldn’t find Nam Gung Lin’s location at all.

“Hae Jun is probably not the culprit.”

Dang Hae Jun was tied up within the Nam Gung Clan. The same went for Nam Gung Hyun Jong.

He claimed it was unjust, but Nam Gung Jin Cheon was resolute. He ordered Nam Gung Hyun Jong to reflect on his actions.

He was told not to leave his room until Nam Gung Lin was found. Nam Gung Hyun Jong had a deep frown on his face.

He couldn’t hide his unpleasant mood the entire time he was confined to his room. It was because of what Nam Gung Jin Cheon had said to him.

“Where have I done wrong? I merely had Yu Cheong run an errand.”

How did Nam Gung Jin Cheon react to his words?

Nam Gung Jin Cheon stared at Nam Gung Hyun Jong with cold eyes devoid of trust.

“Father?”

“Hyun Jong, do not test my limits.”

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s face as he said those words was hardened to the point of being frightening. Nam Gung Hyun Jong didn’t like that fact either.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon was speaking as if Nam Gung Lin was more important to him than himself.

Now, Nam Gung Jin Cheon had no sons left other than him. Of course, even a daughter could inherit the clan if she had the ability, but Nam Gung So So was someone who had no interest in such things.

‘That’s why she was able to survive until now.’

Nam Gung So So’s talent was also outstanding, but it was incomparable to Nam Gung Hyun’s.

‘That kid is bothersome even after going missing.’

Every time Nam Gung Hyun Jong thought of his younger sibling, his mood worsened.

It was because he couldn’t forget the sense of inferiority he felt when his younger sibling succeeded at the swordsmanship he had difficulty mastering in one go.

‘Why is he so obsessed with Nam Gung Lin?’

Nam Gung Jin Cheon was still doing unnecessary things even after a month had passed. He was investing all the clan’s manpower into finding Nam Gung Lin.

Mo Yong Hee comforted Nam Gung Hyun Jong, who had an unpleasant expression.

“It’s alright, everything will work out in the end anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, it’s already been half a month.”

“……”

“Half a month, that’s enough time for even a healthy person to become a corpse. And she’s just a young child. How could she survive?”