Inside the turtle-shaped figure at the end of the rainbow lay a fragnt of a jade plaque, engraved with both dicinal script and mystical inscriptions.
The writing on the three-part jade plaque read:
[I have obtained the first piece under heaven.]
The elixir hidden alongside the jade fragnt was known as the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.
Said to appear only once every hundred years, and only in the heart of the desert, this elixir was fad for its detoxifying properties.
It could neutralize any poison. And if consud while not yet poisoned, and combined with a special internal technique, it could be used to master the Poison-Splitting Steel Aura, a rare martial art that could block any toxin.
Even setting aside its detoxifying or martial applications, simply consuming it could grant a trendous surge of internal energy.
Because of this, the Tang Clan, which specialized in poisons and antidotes more than any other sect, considered it even more precious than the Great Return Pill.
After obtaining the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, the two returned directly to the Namgoong Clan.
By the ti they arrived, night had fallen.
—
The next day.
As soon as news spread that Seolhwa had erged from the training cave, the Mount Hua Sect imdiately requested a eting.
After finishing breakfast, Seolhwa and Namgoong Cheongun made their way to the Celestial Guest Courtyard.
“It’s a relief that you managed to find an elixir comparable to the Great Return Pill.”
Seolhwa gave a silent nod.
“The Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure... It’s a sha to give it away, but I suppose that’s better than letting Mount Hua nitpick.”
Seolhwa stopped walking.
She turned to Cheongun as if asking what on earth he was talking about.
“Why is it a sha?”
“Well, elixirs of this level aren’t easy to co by. Of course it’s a sha to hand it over to Mount Hua.”
“I’m not handing it over to Mount Hua.”
Why would I give them sothing so precious?
“Wasn’t that the whole point—to give it to Mount Hua in place of the Great Return Pill?”
Seolhwa shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“It’s just a negotiation tool. Talking with empty hands is completely different from talking while holding sothing in your hand.”
Namgoong Cheongun furrowed his brow.
“So... you weren’t planning to use it to win Mount Hua’s cooperation?”
“Do you really think Mount Hua will ever truly cooperate with the Namgoong Clan?”
“...What?”
“Mount Hua is a sect at the pinnacle among all sword sects. Among every sect in the world, it’s said to be second only to Shaolin. What could they possibly lack that they’d need to cooperate with Namgoong?”
If we give them what they want—give them the elixir—sure, maybe they’ll pretend to cooperate for a while.
But that’s all it’ll be.
“Cooperation that only looks good on the surface won’t get us anything in the end.”
Even after handing over what they want, we’ll walk away with nothing.
“What’s the point of reaching out to people who never planned to help us to begin with?”
“Then why did you retrieve the elixir?”
“If they have no intention to cooperate, there’s only one other option.”
“One?”
“Yes.”
Seolhwa’s eyes darkened.
A cold aura of murderous intent began to rise from her body.
“Blackmail.”
Her lips curved upward with a smile that was just as chilling as her aura.
—
Clink, clink. Trickle...
The room was filled with the quiet sounds of teacups clinking and tea being poured.
Seolhwa stared for a mont at the white steam rising from the cup before her.
She could feel a hot, prickling gaze from beside her.
Ever since she had entered the room, Yu Gang had been shooting her a gaze so intense it was almost desperate.
‘Acknowledge ! Why aren’t you acknowledging ? We’ve t! We know each other!’
...was what that look practically scread, so Seolhwa didn’t even bother glancing in his direction.
“I had always wondered who the child was that the Namgoong Clan searched for so long. It’s a pleasure to et you. Congratulations on your safe return.”
“Having such a distinguished guest of Mount Hua co all the way here to offer congratulations... I’m honored.”
“Hoho. I heard you’re thirteen years old—what remarkable maturity. You’ve returned safely, and with such an exceptional daughter, Lord Namgoong must be very pleased.”
“I’m simply grateful that we could et again, alive.”
Heh heh.
Nomon let out a warm, affable laugh.
“I hear you and Yu Gang have t before?”
Only then did Seolhwa turn her gaze toward Yu Gang.
Yu Gang looked like he was about to explode with eagerness to talk about that day.
Seolhwa turned away again and replied offhandedly.
“We ran into each other by chance while I was returning from a walk. I rember it as an uneventful encounter.”
“...!”
It was almost impressive how clearly one could see soone’s expression even without looking directly at them.
“I see.”
Nomon glanced at his disciple.
He had assud there was a deeper connection, given that Yu Gang had sensed sothing unusual about the Namgoong girl’s internal energy.
But judging from her reaction, she wasn’t the least bit interested—despite Yu Gang’s obvious anticipation.
So much for the plan to use that connection as a lead-in to discuss the Great Return Pill.
Still, is there any point in being roundabout about it now?
Even Namgoong Cheongun seed fully aware of the reason behind Mount Hua’s visit.
The rumors that had spread through Shaanxi would reach Anhui soon enough—it was only a matter of ti.
Moreover, there was no ti left to waste at Namgoong.
“I have sothing I wish to ask you.”
Seolhwa nodded calmly as she lifted her teacup.
“I thought you might.”
“...?”
Nomon furrowed his brow.
You thought I might? Not even asking what it was—just stating it as if it were obvious?
“...What do you an by that?”
“People who visit purely to offer congratulations never co empty-handed. Even if Mount Hua is a righteous sect uninterested in wealth, you’re surely aware of basic decorum.”
“...!”
Nomon and Yu Pyo both flinched at the razor-sharp words.
“Lady Namgoong, are you insulting Mount Hua’s teachings with that remark?”
Yu Pyo’s voice dropped into a low, threatening register.
A ripple of Mount Hua’s energy was beginning to rise from his body like heat haze.
“I was speaking about courtesy. I'm simply stating that your lack of even the most basic etiquette made it clear to that your intentions were different from the start. What part of that insults the teachings of Mount Hua?”
“Yu Pyo. Restrain your energy.”
“....”
At Nomon’s command, Yu Pyo’s rising aura quietly subsided—though the sharp glare he shot Seolhwa remained.
Nomon gave a small nod and spoke with restraint.
“I apologize for coming empty-handed. As you said, we ca in haste, thinking we had to confirm certain matters. We did not have ti to prepare a proper gift. I hope you understand.”
Seolhwa gave a short nod.
Yu Pyo, who took the remark as an insult, looked ready to lash out again, but Nomon raised his hand and stopped him.
“In that case, I’ll get to the point.”
It was better this way.
Nomon hadn’t expected the child to readily admit to possessing the Great Return Pill.
Of course she would deny it. Of course she’d claim she didn’t have it.
From here on out, it was ti to corner her. Pleasant conversation would only get in the way.
“There’s a rumor that you have the Great Return Pill. Did you take it from the Black Cloud Branch in Shaanxi?”
“That’s right.”
“You can deny it all you— Wait, what?”
“I took it. From the group called Black Cloud Branch.”
“...!”
Nomon’s mouth dropped open.
She had admitted it—without the slightest sha.
“You... took it...?”
“Yes.”
Nomon cleared his throat hard, regaining his composure.
Whatever the case, she had admitted it. All that remained was to say what ca next.
“The Great Return Pill originally belonged to Mount Hua. So return it to us.”
“Why should I?”
“...It seems you're still young and don’t quite understand. That Great Return Pill you took belonged to Mount Hua. In ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) other words, you stole from us. Do you understand?”
“If we’re being precise, I didn’t steal from Mount Hua. I stole from the Black Cloud Branch.”
“But that was originally—!”
“By that logic, doesn’t the Great Return Pill actually belong to Shaolin?”
“...!”
There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t know the Great Return Pill is a secret treasure of Shaolin.
If Mount Hua took it from the Black Cloud Branch and called it their own, then calling it Shaolin’s would be just as valid.
Valid, yes—but still!
“This child is talking back to soone old enough to be her grandfather. Her years growing up in the outer world have poisoned Namgoong’s upright nature!”
Nomon barely suppressed his rising temper.
“Mount Hua paid the proper price for it.”
“Can you prove that?”
“Of course—!”
The words burst out of Nomon’s mouth but couldn’t reach their end.
Because, of course, he couldn’t prove it.
“The exchange between Mount Hua and Shaolin was done in utmost secrecy.”
“For so reason, neither sect ever made an issue out of it.”
That’s how it had been in Seolhwa’s previous life.
When the Great Return Pill ended up in the hands of a black path sect and was passed to the Blood Demon, Mount Hua never pursued it.
Or rather, couldn’t pursue it.
“If they had obtained the pill through proper ans, they should have done everything in their power to retrieve it in the previous life too.”
But they gave up on it the mont it fell into the hands of the underworld—even though it was the Great Return Pill.
“There’s sothing shady. Either sothing they can't reveal, or sothing that absolutely must stay hidden.”
And Seolhwa already knew exactly what Mount Hua was so desperate to keep secret.
Still—
“This is kind of insulting.”
In her past life, they gave up. But now that she had the pill and brought it to Namgoong, they suddenly changed their tune?
Do they think Namgoong is easy to deal with?
Sure, orthodox sects value honesty, integrity, reputation, and morality. So maybe Mount Hua figured that if they claid ownership, Namgoong would just hand it over.
“But I have no such intention.”
Unfortunately for them, their opponent this ti was Seolhwa—soone who had spent thirty years crawling through the underworld.
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