The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan

Episode 5

 

Harmony 7th Tier: Can be inconspicuous.

 

‘So, no one really knows…!’

 

It had been a constant source of puzzlement for her.

 

If a ginseng that had been maturing for about a hundred years reached a certain level, even someone with a basic understanding of spiritual techniques could recognize its extraordinary nature just by looking at it. So why did no one seem to properly recognize her spiritual energy?

 

In the past, there was some understanding. In the midst of someone collapsing, losing consciousness, and vomiting blood, who would be able to detect spiritual energy?

 

However, now, even though she was living day by day, struggling for her life, and outwardly seeking health, it seemed that no one in the SeGa noticed her spiritual energy.

 

‘It must be because of Harmony…’

 

She had been puzzled by achieving only the 7th Tier of Harmony. Perhaps it wasn’t a deliberate effort to survive, Leun speculated.

 

If people who claimed to have learned a bit of martial arts could discern her constitution just by a casual glance, wouldn’t there be a new storm of blood in the mountains to obtain this walking elixir?

 

“Oh, young miss, how can you personally do such humble tasks…”

 

“Is there anything lowly or precious in the affairs of the world? Everything is equally valuable. And these chickens are the ones laying eggs for grandfather to eat. I want to take care of them too.”

 

As the little girl complained about her nurse, the nanny fell silent. Jeon also felt a bit uneasy for some reason.

 

Moreover, the statement that everything is equally valuable pricked his heart a bit.

 

“Oh! Uh, if you just add a little bit of perilla paste…”

 

“Less than this?”

 

“Yes, yes. Feeding them more will reduce egg production.”

 

“Then just this amount?”

 

“Yes, exactly that amount…”

 

While Jeon was unsure how to handle the situation, the little girl confidently grasped a wooden ladle and diligently mixed various ingredients in a large basin.

 

With perilla paste smeared on her cheek…

 

“Is this enough?”

 

For Danmoksega’s eldest grandson, who had been bedridden since birth, everyone sympathized and pitied him. However, when he finally got up after receiving an enormous prescription, it was quite lively.

 

Until the protagonist of the situation appeared in the kitchen, it was just a topic of conversation.

 

Holding the basin of food made with the girl, Jeon headed towards the chicken coop. He pondered how things had turned out like this, but he couldn’t figure it out. Only the girl looked at him with innocent eyes.

 

“That chicken is very black.”

 

“Oh! You mean the black rooster. From its beak to its bones, it’s entirely black. It’s very delicious… I mean, it’s a healthy one.”

 

Jeon hastily changed his words.

 

“Is that so? Then I’ll call it Blackie.”

 

Blackie…

The girl’s nanny quickly added, “How about naming it ‘Heukwol (Black Moon)’? It suits a black chicken from the Moonlight Pavilion.”

 

“Heukwol? Is that better?”

 

Jeon nodded quickly at the girl’s question. It seemed less extravagant than ‘Kkamangi.’

 

“Mo-moi should be placed in the Moi container.”

 

Carving wood into a slender shape, the Moi container was clean and empty. Jeon carefully spoke as he scooped up the Moi the girl made with a ladle and put it in the Moi container.

 

“Since they were fed full in the morning, they probably won’t have much reaction. It’s not that the Moi tastes bad…”

 

He wanted to say not to be disappointed, but…

 

Food-thud!

 

Food-thud!

 

Food-thud!

 

As he carefully placed the Moi into the Moi container, the chickens in the coop, about a dozen of them, simultaneously jumped up. Was the chicken also a kind of predator?

 

At that moment, Jeon thought so.

 

The chickens fiercely rushed towards the Moi container, vigorously fighting each other. Feathers fluttered in their intense efforts to eat more, and the sounds of food-thud echoed loudly.

 

“It seems the little ones were hungry…”

 

“Well… that’s… true…”

 

The chickens, having eaten up all the Moi he added, returned to their places with a composed demeanor, scratching the sand as if nothing had happened.

 

Observing the scene for a moment, the small girl looked up at him.

 

“I heard they get fed around noon, right? I’ll take care of it from now on!”

 

Jeon nodded with a face that was hard to read, making an effort to hide his surprise.

 

‘What will my fortune bring…’

 

But the heavens and earth remained silent, offering no answers.

 

 

* * *

 

Leun became interested in the chickens from the moment she heard the chicken cries from a distance while leaving after greeting Danmokcheonki. She realized it was the sound of chickens coming from the kitchen of the Moonlight Pavilion and thought it was this.

‘And how should I deal with the Hyeolla Valley?’

 

Even if she solved everything else, if she couldn’t capture the Hyeolla Valley, she would become a person who scattered chicken Moi while looking at the burning Murim when she turned twenty.

 

As Leun contemplated this, she was about to turn her steps towards Wol Young-jae.

 

It was precisely at that moment when someone seemed to be entering through the small door connecting the chicken coop to the wall at the end.

 

Due to the morning sun rising from the east, the child’s face entering was not visible. However…

 

* Achievement Unlocked: 4th Tier of Insight (1▲) *

 

You can now see the flaws. This ability consumes additional spiritual energy.

 

The 4th Tier of Insight harmonizes with the 4th Tier of Harmony.

 

A flash of light spread in her vision, and sparkling characters appeared. Leun, now familiar with the characters, regained her composure.

 

There were times when the achievement of the 4th Tier of Insight occurred, just like when she saw her grandfather. At that time, Leun speculated that since the ability called “Insight” was the power to see something, the more powerful, immense, or magnificent the thing she observed, the faster her experience would accumulate.

 

But now, she had achieved the 4th Tier simply by seeing a boy smaller than herself.

 

‘What in the world is this…?’

 

However, she didn’t have time to dwell on such thoughts.

 

Because the 4th Tier of Insight allowed her to see flaws, and the combination with the 4th Tier of Harmony held a significance she needed to understand.

 

Leun quickly opened her sleeve and spread out her sage mirror to check the ‘Harmony’ among her abilities.

 

1st Tier: Can harmonize without being noticed.

 

2nd Tier: Can maintain balance well.

 

3rd Tier: Can embody what is seen.

 

4th Tier: Can break discord.

 

5th Tier: Can correct discord.

 

6th Tier: Can be noticeable.

 

7th Tier: Can be inconspicuous.

 

The 4th Tier of Insight was an ability to see flaws, and the 4th Tier of Harmony was the ability to break discord.

 

The revelation came to Leun as she contemplated the meaning of these two abilities working together.

Harmony 7th Tier: Can be inconspicuous.

 

‘So, no one really knows…!’

 

It had been a constant source of puzzlement for her.

 

If a ginseng that had been maturing for about a hundred years reached a certain level, even someone with a basic understanding of spiritual techniques could recognize its extraordinary nature just by looking at it. So why did no one seem to properly recognize her spiritual energy?

 

In the past, there was some understanding. In the midst of someone collapsing, losing consciousness, and vomiting blood, who would be able to detect spiritual energy?

 

However, now, even though she was living day by day, struggling for her life, and outwardly seeking health, it seemed that no one in the SeGa noticed her spiritual energy.

 

‘It must be because of Harmony…’

 

She had been puzzled by achieving only the 7th Tier of Harmony. Perhaps it wasn’t a deliberate effort to survive, Leun speculated.

 

If people who claimed to have learned a bit of martial arts could discern her constitution just by a casual glance, wouldn’t there be a new storm of blood in the mountains to obtain this walking elixir?