Chapter 22

"That book is…."

Raon swallowed hard as he looked at the burning book. Though it appeared as if it could crumble at any moment, the book emitted a grand golden glow that illuminated the audience chamber.

Whoosh!

The book, like the petals signaling the end of summer, fell onto his fingertips. Despite being engulfed in flames, it was not hot but warm, like body temperature.

'Manhwa Gong?'

The words on the book's cover caught his eye. As he tried to turn the cover, the pages flipped on their own, igniting a larger flame.

Sssss.

In an instant, the book reached its last page and, like a log at the end of its life, turned to ashes and scattered.

"Huh?"

Raon tried to grasp the fading book, but it was in vain. The paper turned to powder, and the flames turned to smoke.

'What is this…'

Confused by the situation, a message appeared before him.

[Manhwa Gong (萬火功): You have faced the flames of eternity.]

[Manhwa Gong is now remembered.]

As soon as the message ended, a pain like a bolt of lightning struck his mind.

'Suck!'

It felt as if someone had plunged a giant needle into his brain. The pain was even more intense than Ras's mental attacks, causing his knees to buckle.

"Huff…."

Fortunately, the pain lasted only a moment, and he did not fall.

"Master!"

Loen, who was standing right beside him, came over to support him.

"I, I'm fine."

He thanked him and tried to steady his trembling legs.

-What did you just do?

'I don't know. But…'

He remembered. The contents of the Manhwa Gong, which had turned to powder and disappeared, were now etched in his mind.

"Raon Zighardt."

He looked up at the voice, tinged with a slight tremor. Glen, with eyes as large as lanterns, was looking at him, unlike his usual self.

He seemed both angry and flustered.

"What did you just do?"

"I don't really know. But I remember the contents of the cultivation method that disappeared from my hands."

"What is the name of that book?"

"Manhwa Gong."

"……"

Upon hearing Raon's answer, Glen closed his eyes. After standing still like a statue for a while, he slowly opened his eyes, no longer showing any signs of fluster.

"You said you remember the contents?"

"Yes."

"Then it's fine."

Glen waved his hand with his usual cold expression.

"The reward for the bronze token has been fulfilled. You may leave now."

"Hmm…."

Raon glanced at Loen. He stood there with a bewildered expression before quickly putting on his usual smile.

"…Understood."

Raon nodded and took a few steps back, leaving the audience chamber. Glen and Loen did not move until he was gone.

"Huh."

I don't understand what just happened.

'Did the contents of Manhwa Gong being etched into my memory also come from the system’s ability?'

-The system can enhance your memory and thinking, but it doesn't have the ability to force information into your brain.

Ras's voice also carried a hint of doubt.

'Hmm…'

Raon walked down the corridor of the patriarch's hall, reviewing the information of Manhwa Gong etched in his mind.

Even a cursory glance revealed its depth.

Manhwa Gong was a cultivation method far more profound and intricate than the Shadow Aura Cultivation Method.

'And…'

It contained not just an aura cultivation method but also a sword technique and information from the ancient world.

If he mastered the Manhwa Gong etched in his mind, he could reach a realm far beyond his previous life.

'But why did he give it to me?'

Manhwa Gong is not a cultivation method that could be obtained with a bronze token.

It was a treasure that wouldn't be exchanged even for a silver token, let alone a gold one. He couldn't understand why it was given to him.

-You already have it, so why worry so much?

'Well, that's true.'

Someone of Glen's caliber wouldn't take back what he had given. Even if he asked for it back, it would be impossible.

'Let's go back.'

Since he only had the memory and not the actual technique, he wanted to return and practice immediately.

As soon as Raon left the patriarch's hall, he ran to the annex. His eyes were filled with anticipation as he ran at full speed.

* * *

The audience chamber, from which Raon had just left, was shrouded in a deep silence like the night.

"Lord Patriarch, the cultivation method that Young Master Raon took… could it be…."

"Yes. It belongs to him."

Glen nodded, looking at the empty space on the first shelf of the bookshelf.

'To think he would take Manhwa Gong…'

In the history of the Zighardt family, no one had ever been able to take out or read the cultivation method of the first patriarch. Manhwa Gong, which he had taken, was that very method.

He had taken out the first bookshelf to give a cultivation method of silver token level, but he never imagined that Raon would take Manhwa Gong.

Gulp.

Loen swallowed hard, looking at the fragments of the cultivation book that had turned to ashes.

"If this is known, Young Master Raon and Lady Sylvia might be in danger!"

"Don't worry. No one knows about Manhwa Gong."

Glen shook his head. Knowledge of Manhwa Gong only came after he became the patriarch. One would have to thoroughly research the family's history to know about it.

"Hmm, then how did the cultivation book just disappear…."

"That's fine too. It has been passed on to someone, hasn't it?"

Raon had said he remembered the contents of the cultivation book. Whatever caused this phenomenon, it was enough that it had been passed on.

"Still, Manhwa Gong is a cultivation method that should be passed down to the Zighardt patriarch…."

"It was a cultivation method that couldn't be used anyway. If it weren't for that child, it would have rotted away there."

He was indeed shocked.

No, he was astounded. But since Raon had produced a golden flame in the judgment ritual, it felt as if he had found its rightful owner.

"Having obtained the cultivation method of the first patriarch, Young Master Raon will surely become stronger than anyone else."

"No."

Glen slowly shook his head.

"To become strong, talent and martial arts are important, but what kind of person one is is the most important. No matter how strong the martial arts, they cannot surpass a strong person."

The reason Glen continued the judgment ritual even after breaking through the barrier was to give appropriate advice to children who had manifested their talents.

He no longer judged a child's future based solely on their talent.

"I apologize. I was so surprised that I didn't realize it."

Loen placed his hand on his chest and bowed. The new Glen had been saying that people were more important than talent.

Of course, the family members still valued only outstanding martial arts and talent.

"Something will change from now on."

Glen sank deeply into the backrest of the jade throne.

Manhwa Gong, which no one had ever been allowed to touch, and the golden flame that had appeared only once in the family's history, were both taken by Raon.

'Raon Zighardt.'

His grandson, but the changes he would bring to the family, both inside and out, were significant.

"It will be interesting to watch."

If time allowed, of course. Glen swallowed these words and closed his eyes.

* * *

As soon as Raon returned, he went into his room. He told everyone not to enter and even locked the door, just in case.

-That's quite a show.

'You know, if someone interferes while I'm cultivating aura, I could die.'

Unless one has reached a certain level, any disturbance before the cultivation is on track can cause serious problems.

That's why he didn't refine the ring of fire until he was in his own bed.

"Don't interfere."

-Hmm!

"Are you…."

-Just once.

A mischievous smile appeared among the blue flames.

"Just once?"

-I, the King, will interfere just once while you are cultivating that method or something.

"What if I become a cripple and you take over my body?"

-It doesn't matter.

A beast-like laugh came from Ras.

-You won't be able to overcome it, but I can save you even if your limbs are cut off and your dantian bursts.

The chilling tone sent shivers down his spine.

-When you become a cripple and give up everything, it will be my chance.

'This guy is still…'

He realized again.

Ras is not an ally. He is a demon from the Demon Realm, the embodiment of anger, who would devour his body and soul at any opportunity.

"Once, you said?"

-You know I don't lie. I will interfere just once until you master that cultivation method.

"There's no choice, then."

Raon rubbed his wrist. It was pointless to tell him not to do it. He had to accept it, even if he didn't want to.

-Live in constant fear. I might pierce your mind at any time.

Ras's voice carried intense excitement. He was enjoying the opportunity to toy with him for the first time.

'To think a king would get excited over such a trivial thing.'

It was ridiculous to think that someone who called himself a king, the ruler of the Demon Realm, and the King of Anger, would be excited over such a small matter.

'But…'

Even if Ras interfered just once, it was still dangerous.

Manhwa Gong is a cultivation method that absorbs natural mana and accumulates aura in the dantian. If interfered with at a critical moment, the mana circuit or dantian could be damaged, leading to disability.

Especially, with the cold energy embedded in his mana circuit, it was even more dangerous.

'But I can't back down.'

Ras is the type who pushes harder when you show weakness. He had to be strong, no matter the outcome.

"Fine. Go ahead."

Raon hid his true feelings and smiled calmly.

-Let's see how long that arrogant expression will last.

"Then I'll have to watch for a lifetime."

-…I want to shatter your mind right now.

"Go ahead. I'll just sit and absorb the stats."

-You insolent brat.

"The door to this brat is always open. Knock anytime."

-Grr!

He waved his hand and sat under the bed. Despite Ras's wild shouting, he ignored it.

'If he has any sense, he won't interfere now.'

He slowly exhaled and closed his eyes. With each breath, he absorbed natural mana, filling his body with a refreshing sensation, and then exhaled, expelling the impurities in his mana circuit.

'They overlap a bit.'

The flow of Manhwa Gong and the flow of the ring of fire had similar aspects, as their names suggested.

Thinking it was a good sign, he absorbed the mana and let it sink into his mana circuit.

The flow of Manhwa Gong started from his right wrist. The energy was as fierce as fire and as fluid as water.

Whoosh!

Hot mana raced through his body. The cold energy embedded in his mana circuit was swept away by the powerful flow.

'I can't let this go either.'

It would be a waste to discard that pure cold energy. He led it to his dantian along with the energy of Manhwa Gong.

Whoosh.

The energy of Manhwa Gong, which had rushed to his dantian in an instant, dispersed uselessly.

'Of course.'

It would be strange if he could master Manhwa Gong in one cultivation session.

Once the flow of Manhwa Gong became as natural as breathing, the energy would naturally settle in his dantian.

'Besides,'

Not only the energy of Manhwa Gong but also the cold energy in his mana circuit was being absorbed, so his cold resistance would grow rapidly.

"Huff…."

After one cycle, Raon exhaled a hot breath and opened his eyes.

-Fire attribute?

"The single attribute is a bit concerning, but the cultivation method itself is very excellent."

-You're saying something stupid.

"What?"

-Those who half-heartedly cultivate attributes are the problem. A properly cultivated single attribute is no less than a versatile one. When I was in the Demon Realm, the story of freezing a castle with cold energy is recorded in history….

"Hmm."

Raon listened to Ras's self-praise while focusing on what he had said before.

'A properly cultivated single attribute.'

He was right.

Those who half-heartedly cultivate an attribute are treated as half-measures, but those who surpass the threshold are treated as absolute beings.

Even in one cultivation session, it was clear.

Manhwa Gong was special. It was no less than the legendary ring of fire.

'I need to cultivate it properly.'

He resolved to dedicate himself to Manhwa Gong for a while and stood up.

"Before that."

-You're going to deal with it now?

"Yes. Since it comes every night, it's not a coincidence."

Raon's red eyes glinted like those of a death god.

It's been a while since I've done some fieldwork.

* * *

Judele is a new maid who entered the annex a month ago.

Thanks to her good looks, cheerful personality, and neat work, she quickly gained the trust of the people in the annex.

However, after finishing her daily tasks and heading for rest, she was hiding in a tree in the garden, spying on Raon's room.

'Is he talking to himself again?'

Judele narrowed her eyes as she saw Raon muttering to himself in the room. Though not frequent, he sometimes talked to the air.

It might be due to his poor health since childhood.

When Raon, who had been talking to the air, closed his eyes and sat down, the flow of mana around him changed dramatically.

He had often meditated like this, but this was the first time the flow of mana had been so intense.

'So he did go to the patriarch's hall to learn an aura cultivation method.'

Raon seemed to have obtained an aura cultivation method using a bronze token. The flow of mana was very intense, indicating a stronger cultivation method than expected.

'There's more to report.'

Judele only came down from the tree after Raon opened his eyes and the light in the room went out.

She went to a small lake at the end of the garden and took out a piece of paper and a pencil hidden in the ground. She wrote down everything about Raon's activities and observations since he returned to the annex.

Strangely, the paper disappeared as soon as she wrote on it, making it look as if nothing had been written from the side.

"I shouldn't have to do this."

Judele sighed. Reporting information that could be a weakness for a child to survive was suddenly making her feel empty.

"But I have to."

The emptiness was fleeting. She filled it with the excuse that she had something to protect.

Click.

Judele folded the paper to the size of a thumbnail and floated it on the lake. This paper would end up in the hands of Carun Zighardt by morning.

"Then I'll go back… Ah!"

She stopped abruptly as she stood up. The cold sensation of a blade against her neck made her heart tighten.

"Speak, and you die."

As she rolled her eyes in confusion, a cold voice came from behind.

"Move, and you die."

The voice, filled with the threat of death, made her hair stand on end.

"Look down at the lake."

Following the voice's command, she lowered her eyes to the lake.

"Ah…."

On the dark lake, reflecting the night sky, Raon Zighardt's red eyes floated.