Chapter 6

Changcheon Wushen Chapter 6 (6/730)

Crack! Crack!

The embers in the brazier inside the room burned fiercely.

Nangong He stared blankly at the raging flames.

The chill running up his spine did not easily subside.

‘Damn body.’

Even with two braziers, the cold did not easily subside.

It was as if it were mid-summer, yet he couldn’t understand why his hands and feet were so cold.

Shiver.

He pulled the blanket tightly. His dislocated shoulder throbbed.

The pain, which did not easily subside, made him frown.

“I will definitely tear this damn body apart. Definitely!”

He vowed to escape this body, which made daily life impossible, as he watched the burning embers.

Still, shouldn’t it at least be at a normal level to do anything?

“Huh, fortunately. At least I could get the medicine.”

Nangong He smiled while waiting for Nangong Zhangtian.

Things went more smoothly than he had expected.

Indeed, the Nangong family, to get a medicinal herb with just a word.

No matter how much time passed, medicinal herbs would still be precious, and being able to get one so quickly was a blessing.

Nangong He poked the firewood with a poker.

Whoosh!

The dying flames came back to life.

Nangong He waited for the medicinal herb with a calm heart.

Four days passed.

Nangong He’s eyes, which had been staring at the brazier, were bloodshot.

“...Now there are ten days left.”

Why isn’t it coming?

It should be time, right?

No.

Still, it’s a medicinal herb, so even the Nangong family would need some time, right?

But why does Nangong Zhangtian’s face, which kept avoiding his gaze, keep coming to mind?

“Let’s wait calmly. It will come. Surely, he won’t let his son die, right?”

Let’s not worry unnecessarily.

Nangong He waited for the medicinal herb with a calm heart again.

Another three days passed.

‘Why is he like this?’

Jinchangshang looked at Nangong He, who was thrashing on the bed, as if he had seen something strange.

His eyes were sunken, his face pale, and his appearance was seriously worrying.

“Master, are you alright?”

Nangong He’s bulging eyes turned to Jinchangshang.

Jinchangshang was taken aback by his appearance.

‘...It’s a skeleton.’

Not just emaciated, but as if he would melt away like a rotten fruit at any moment.

It was so different from just four days ago, yesterday, and today.

His face was not just pale but bluish, as if something really bad was about to happen.

“...The medicinal herb?”

“Pardon?”

“Is the medicinal herb here yet?”

“Ah, not yet.”

“...Haa. Not yet, huh. Haha, it won’t be tomorrow, will it?”

Nangong He let out a self-deprecating sigh and a bitter laugh, making Jinchangshang’s temples throb.

‘Why is he like this when he didn’t even look for the medicinal herb before?’

It was a stark contrast to the time when he said it would be useless and had a despondent look.

This was a truly disappointed face.

Why is he like this?

“Master, are you alright?”

“...The medicinal herb?”

“Pardon? I just said...”

“Not yet?”

“...But, would you like some tea?”

“...Will it come? After all, he’s my son, right?”

Nangong He mumbled weakly, repeating the same words as if he had lost his mind.

“...Master?”

“Don’t talk to me if there’s no medicinal herb.”

“...”

“Now, how many days are left... one, two...”

Nangong He rolled his eyes, calculating the numbers, and finally rolled his eyes back.

“Ugh, damn it! Ah, aaaaah, uaaaaaaah!”

Nangong He roared this time, letting out a scream.

Jinchangshang looked at Nangong He with a stunned expression.

It felt like watching a person go mad.

The first day when the family head suddenly asked for the medicinal herb was so different from now.

“Let’s have some soup instead of the medicinal herb. The doctor said that too much medicinal herb is bad for the body...”

“Is there such a thing as a medicinal herb that’s bad for the body?! You’re talking nonsense. You won’t die, will you?”

“M, Master. Why would you...”

“Haa, I can’t. I have to go and see for myself. ...No, it will come, right?”

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

He felt sick and then suddenly wilted like a withered flower.

He let out a sigh, revealing his anger and anxiety.

Then, Jinchangshang opened his mouth, seeing Nangong He shivering and chattering his teeth.

‘How many medicinal herbs has he taken so far? Why is he like this just because he missed one? Is it because of his leg?’

It seemed to be the case.

Jinchangshang gently consoled Nangong He.

“Master, it’s not a big deal if the medicinal herb is a bit late. Don’t worry...”

“What?! Do you know what will happen if I don’t get it?”

“Surely, you won’t die, will you?”

“Die? D...die?”

Nangong He’s eyes trembled.

“You’re dead. I’ll kill you as soon as I get out of bed, I will!”

Something he said triggered Nangong He, and he started to go mad.

Jinchangshang, watching the mad Nangong He, quietly slipped out of the room.

He wouldn’t last long with that body.

‘...When will the medicinal herb come, anyway?’

* * *

Crack! Crack!

The firewood burned fiercely, and Nangong He, with dark circles under his eyes, bit his fingers.

Tap, tap, tap!

His eyes, which had turned bloodshot over time, trembled anxiously.

Nangong He, with a pale face as if his soul had left his body, mumbled.

“It will come, right? It will come. It will, won’t it?”

Surely, they won’t just ignore me.

No matter how useless and wasteful I am, I’m still their son.

...But there are plenty of reasons to abandon me, right?!

“No, still, I’m family. The head of the Nangong family wouldn’t lie... please.”

Nangong Zhangtian, who was known for his decisiveness, wouldn’t easily abandon his child.

No, I must hope he doesn’t abandon me.

‘The Sword King kept his promise, at least. If he knew his descendant was a fraud, he’d weep in his grave.’

Nangong He kept muttering, unsure if it was a curse or a wish.

Then,

“...How much time is left?”

I counted until there were seven days left.

After that, I was half out of my mind and didn’t know how time passed.

Nangong He raised his fingers, counting the days that had passed and the days left.

The numbers were decreasing.

Five, four, three...

Three...

Four days?

“Four days? Four days left?!”

A storm of emotions surged in Nangong He’s eyes.

When did so much time pass?

The embers in the brazier had already gone out.

It was ominous.

It felt like seeing the remaining days of his life.

Thinking about the impending death, his mouth felt dry.

The blood rushed to his head.

‘Is the greatest tyrant in the world going to die waiting for a medicinal herb?’

Me, Houxu Ying? Without doing anything?

Is this even possible?

It was absurd and utterly meaningless.

Waiting helplessly for death was a sight he never imagined in the past.

The veins on Nangong He’s forehead bulged.

“Damn, why isn’t it coming?!”

He said he would send it soon!

What good will it do if it comes after I’m dead!

“This isn’t a matter of waiting or not.”

Nangong Zhangtian’s hesitant appearance came to mind.

Nangong He, with a determined look, sat up.

“Damn it.”

As soon as he took a step, he realized his broken leg hadn’t healed.

A sharp pain shot through his brain.

But does it matter?

I’m about to leave this world in four days.

Nangong He, with his aching body, got out of bed.

Thud, thud!

Thump, thump, thump!

He spread his legs and took small steps to minimize the pain, moving towards the door.

“Why did you make the room so big!”

Nangong He, venting his frustration, was heading towards the door.

Bam!

The door opened, and Jinchangshang rushed in.

“Master! The medicinal herb, the family head sent the medicinal herb!”

Nangong He’s face lit up.

“Medicinal herb?!”

Finally, finally it’s here!

I almost died waiting.

Nangong He, stretching out his hand, ran towards Jinchangshang.

The joy rising in his chest made Nangong He’s face brighten.

Jinchangshang, seeing Nangong He hobbling and thumping towards him, was startled.

“M, Master! What are you doing! You’ll hurt your leg!”

“Do you care! Just give me the medicinal herb. Quickly, quickly!”

“I understand, but please go back to the bed. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“I was about to go back anyway.”

Nangong He, hobbling, changed direction.

Thump, thump, thump!

Nangong He quickly returned to the bed and extended his hand.

“What kind of medicinal herb is it? Is it the Summoning Pill? Or the Clearing Pill? The Heaven-Earth Pill isn’t bad either.”

All of them were renowned medicinal herbs of the Nine Great Sects.

Each of them, famous in the world, could grant over half a decade of inner strength when consumed.

“It’s not any of those.”

“True, those are hard to get even with a thousand gold. Open it quickly. I’m curious.”

“You shouldn’t take this carelessly. Since Master was so insistent, I came first, but the head of the Medicine Hall will help you take it...”

“What? Who will help who?”

Why is that bumbling fool here?

Nangong He jumped up.

“I don’t need that!”

He grabbed the box from Jinchangshang’s hand.

“I’ll handle it myself, so you can leave.”

“This is a precious and delicate medicinal herb.”

“I’ll treat it carefully.”

“Master, please wait a moment. If you take it wrong, it will be a big problem.”

“It’s already a big problem. Just open it quickly.”

At Nangong He’s urging, Jinchangshang opened the box.

‘Finally!’

Nangong He’s face was filled with anticipation.

He had waited for ten days, and now he had only four days left.

Thus, his anticipation for the long-awaited medicinal herb could only increase.

Click!

The lid of the box opened, and a clear fragrance wafted out.

“...What?”

Nangong He, seeing the dark pill in the box, hesitated.

“This?”

“Yes. It’s the Dark Spirit Pill.”

“Ah...”

Nangong He stared blankly at the Dark Spirit Pill.

‘...What? After all that boasting, it’s just this?’

The Dark Spirit Pill, if used properly, could grant up to fifteen years of inner strength.

The hope that a better pill would come from the Nangong family quickly faded.

‘...Damn, with only four days left, this is all I get? ’

At least it’s something.

The effect of the Dark Spirit Pill usually lasts about ten years.

But he was not an ordinary person.

‘I’ll extract more than the maximum.’

He would make up for the shortcomings of the Dark Spirit Pill.

With his superior inner strength cultivation method, experience, and proficiency, he could do it.

Nangong He nodded.

‘Good. Let’s start.’

He picked up the Dark Spirit Pill without hesitation.

“M, Master?”

“Why are you still here?”

“R, really going to take it?”

“Why not?”

“It’s not possible. I’ll find someone to help you take it! Until then...”

Slurp!

Nangong He, showing Jinchangshang, swallowed the Dark Spirit Pill.

Jinchangshang’s eyes widened, and Nangong He twisted his lips.

“Then go find someone.”

“...!”

“It’s delicious.”

“Hiiiiiiik!”

Jinchangshang froze in shock.

Nangong He, ignoring his reaction, savored the Dark Spirit Pill.

The Dark Spirit Pill, with its sweet fragrance, melted smoothly and went down his throat.

Nangong He closed his eyes.

Unable to sit in a lotus position due to his broken leg, he straightened his back.

Whoosh!

Before the energy from the Dark Spirit Pill dissipated, Nangong He quickly began to use the Qingming Heart Cultivation Technique.

His body heated up from the energy of the Dark Spirit Pill.

The energy, like hot molten metal, began to circulate slowly through his body.

He gathered the energy.

‘Thin and slow.’

The Qingming Heart Cultivation Technique extracted the energy of the Dark Spirit Pill like a thread.

Long and thin, it was pulled slowly to avoid damaging the delicate meridians.

He couldn’t afford to bleed like last time, having learned from his previous experience.

Understanding his body’s condition perfectly, his use of the Qingming Heart Cultivation Technique had changed.

Slowly, slowly.

Vitality began to flow through his body.

The Qingming Heart Cultivation Technique gradually gained momentum.

‘A bit thinner.’

The energy struck even the smallest and underdeveloped meridians.

Ordinary people could never do this, but Nangong He, who had transcended the ordinary and opened new horizons, did it as naturally as breathing.

The energy completed one cycle through the smallest meridians and now headed towards the heart.

The Nine Yin Meridians, like an ice wall, blocked the way.

Solid and seamless, but with a tiny gap.

Nangong He’s goal was not to break the Nine Yin Meridians but to extend his life.

Building inner strength to break the Nine Yin Meridians was a task for later.

‘Sharp.’

One of the nine meridians had a thin gap.

The gap that had kept this body alive so far.

The energy moved through this narrow gap.

Following Nangong He’s will, the tip of the energy became needle-like.

The needle pierced the gap.

Boom!

The shock of the heart dropping made him dizzy.

But stopping here would be a disaster.

‘One more time.’

The needle pierced the gap again.

Thud! Thud!

The gap widened.

The energy of the Dark Spirit Pill was sucked into the widened gap