Chapter 57: Where did This Fortuitous Encounter Come From? (4)

Translator: hwarang

Editor: Klaurem

The inside of the cave was pretty dark. I didnt rush in, but instead let my eyes adjusted to the darkness.It felt as if something was going to come out any second so I concentrated on my senses. What I was afraid of wasnt any animal or a person. Even with my eyes closed, I could still deal with them. What I was afraid of were poisonous plants, bugs or animals since I didnt have the Poison Immune Physique.

I would rather deal with a hidden trap than deal with them.

Traps such as the ceiling opening up and raining down poison on me. Maybe even the ground collapsing and dropping me down the cliff;. That was how most important buildings inside the Murim Alliance were designed. I had also seen other mechanisms that shot out thousands of needles at once or filled the room with poisonous gas.

Luckily there werent any traps inside the cave. How much longer did I have to go?

Suddenly the cave became larger and there was a wide space.

Ah! I was amazed at the sight.

The first thought that came to my mind was, How could such a place exist inside of a cave?

The thing that grabbed my attention was the pond at the center of the cave.

I slowly walked in that direction. I didnt know where it had come from but it was very clear water. There was a small hole which allowed the sunlight to come in. Tracking the light back to its source I was able to see the sky. It seems that this was a hole in one of the cliffs.

There were different plants, flowers, and trees that were growing in various parts of the cave.

It was like a paradise inside of a cave.

However the thing that grabbed my attention the most was a single flower. Just as how Song Hwa Rin made everything around her a background for her, this flower did the same thing. It was as if this whole place was created just for this flower.

I was even more surprised when I approached this flower, Ahh!

I knew what this flower was. It was red like the sun. It was the Solar Sedge.

The Solar Sedge was one of the Rarest Cultivation Medicine that you could find in the Central Plains. By using the Solar Sedge a Kang Ho-In could receive sixty years of energy by absorbing its energy.

If the Solar Sedge is here then there must also be

I jumped near it and scanned the area around it.

From what I had heard, near the Solar Sedge there was always a Poisonous King Cobra guarding it. The King Cobra was one of the deadliest snakes in all of the Central Plain, it was black from head to tail, and it was known as the guardian of the Solar Sedge. Just like how shadow was made from light it was believed that King Cobra fed on the yang energy given off by the Solar Sedge. If the Solar Sedge died, so would the King Cobra..

The poison given off by King Cobra is one of the strongest poisons known in Central Plain; you were as good as dead if you got bitten by it unless you had the Poison Immune Physique. Since it was such a rare creature there were no antidotes for it.

After looking around I finally found the King Cobra hiding in the bush.

Sensing my presence, the King Cobra flicked its tongue while showing his head to look for me. His poison was so strong that I was able to feel it from a distance.

I slowly drew my sword while suppressing my killing intent. I wanted to kill it in a quickly and swiftly using my sword-light. However, I didnt do so because I got a feeling that I shouldnt kill it.

I took a few steps back to reorganize my thought while King Cobra lowered its head again.

Then a question quickly arose in the back of my head. Why didnt the person who created the figures kill this snake and use the Solar Sedge themself? Why did he create a special mechanism inside the box and leave that note? I got a feeling that I was missing something.

I scanned the area one more time without the snake noticing my presence. Then I saw a little gap in one of the walls. It was some space away from the Solar Sedge so most people would have missed unless they were trying to look for it.

Thats it!

I must go in there first.

However, I needed to go in there without attracting the attention of the Snake King. It felt possible since it was some distance from it but the problem was whether I could arrive there without killing him.

This was a real difficult task, but I had confidence in my abilities and that was my answer.

I stayed close to the wall and slowly moved forward. I moved very carefully so that I wouldnt get the attention of the snake and I stopped when it reacted a little. I was certain he felt my movement but since it was so slow he didnt feel threatened by it.

This went on for about an hour until I finally reached the small crack in the wall. Going into the crack there was another small space. As before, the place was full of light and vegetation.

There was a skull and corpse lying in one corner and a book beside it. I carefully approached it and picked it up.

Practices of the White Crane.

These words were what was written on the cover.

After flipping the cover there were some words that were written on the second page as well.

In my last days, I discovered this place. I leave a few words for whoever would succeed me.

The content of this book was the martial arts that was shown through the figures. There were fine details on how to practice this martial art. Everything from ki flow down to the movement of the steps. This senior probably named it the Practices of the White Crane in remembrance of White Crane Peak.

These were his last word, I leave the million-antidote herb and the Snake King for whoever succeeds me. I hope that you will achieve the Poison Immune Physique. Although the Sedge might not have bloomed yet, I leave it for the next generation. If no one is able to succeed me then I believe that is my fate.

There was a million-antidote herb right next to the corpse. It was known that this herb was able to cure any type of poison in this world.

Ah!

Now I understood everything. When this senior first discovered this place the Solar Sedge hadnt bloomed yet. He left behind that snake and this million-antidote herb so that his successor could obtain the Poison Immune Physique.

If it was a normal person they would have never done this. They would have killed the snake and taken the Solar Sedge themselves. However, this senior knew that his life was about to come to an end; so he left everything behind for whoever could find his legacy.

At the end of the book there was nothing else. Nothing about who he was, no advice on living the correct path, nothing else.

Ah!

Although I was surprised many times after entering this place. This was the biggest surprise of them all.

I understood what he meant by writing nothing. He wanted his successor to empty themselves of everything related to him and live as nature will them to.

Thank you very much. I gave a bow to the corpse

.

I was curious to know who this person was. If he was someone who lived within the last hundred years, I must have known this person.

Who was it?

I got a feeling I would know who it was if I mastered these techniques. However, that is for another time. There was something more urgent that I had to take care of.

I could kill the snake and eat the Solar Sedge to raise my ki. However, I was hesitant.

Poison Immune Physique.

This was a chance that the heavens had given me to achieve this. Since I had both of the ingredients to achieve the Poison Immune Physique I could use this chance to achieve it.

After eating the poison sac I had use my Divine Protection Technique to slow down the effects of the poison and then slowly let it reach all parts of my body. Then I must eat the million-antidote herb at the right time. If I ate it prematurely I would not achieve the Poison Immune Physique whereas if I ate it too late I would die.

If I was successful in this I wouldnt have to worry about poison for the rest of my life, but if I failed then I would die.

Since I didnt know the potency of the poison of this snake could I risk it?

If I failed no one would be able to find my corpse. My father, my mother, Kwang Du, as well as everyone else in my clan would be very sad.

This was a very conflicting moment for me, but I didnt take long for me to make my decision.

I discovered the figures and the box from the Shrouded City Merchants, and with the box I found the map that led me here. This must have been a work of fate. In a time like this, I was the type to face whatever problem fate would give me head on.

Since I made my decision, I proceeded to execute my plan right away.

First I carefully extracted the million-antidote herb. Then I approached the snake with my blade drawn.

Ssshhhh. Hisssss

The snake hissed at me and quickly chased after me.

I am sorry. I am going to use you for a greater purpose.

Slash!

I cut the head of the snake and quickly extracted the poison sack from within it.

Before I ate it, I took a deep breath, Please work for me.

I then ate the sac and swallowed it.

The moment it touched my stomach the poison started spreading throughout my body. It was the worst experience I had in my life. It felt as if my whole body was eroding away from the inside. I quickly activated my Divine Protection Technique to ease the pain and to control the poison.

If I lost control of my body, I was finished.

Ahhhhhhh!

I was screaming on purpose so that I could concentrate on my voice.

My body started to turn purple. It felt as if my whole body could melt away at any second.

I must eat the million-antidote herb!

No! It wasnt time yet! If I ate it now I would fail!

My mind was in a battle with itself. I didnt know what was what.

I waited and waited.

Now, I felt that enough time had passed.

Its now! I must eat it now!

I tried to eat it but my arm didnt move.

I wasnt in control of my body anymore.

So, this is the end.

My vision started to become blurry. The flashback that I had at this last moment was my mother from my previous life.

I was eating dinner with my mother. It was when I was still young.

I remembered this moment. This was when I returned home after defeating the Fight King. As soon as I got home I told my mother what happened and my mother laughed. Now I see it, my mothers gray hair, the wrinkles in her face, and her hunched back. How could I not have seen it back then? It was because back then I only cared about myself. Then my mother picked up the food herself and fed me.

Good job son. I am proud of you. Eat well and grow stronger.

Her last words, eat well and grow stronger', were ringing in my ear. I forced myself to regain my consciousness. There were tears in my eyes.

Yes, I must eat it. I cannot die like this.

I squeezed every bit of willpower that I had. Although my body didnt move, I bit my tongue. I could not die like this. I had so many things that I had to do.

Now, my current mothers face replaced my old mother face.

You could do it, right son?

I remembered her laughing and hugging me.

Then my arm started moving bit by bit.

My shaking hand came closer to my mouth.

...mother.

I used everything that I had to place the million-antidote herb in my mouth and forcefully bit down on it. I felt it explode in my mouth and I lost consciousness.

How long had it been?

When I opened my eyes again, all the pain was gone.

I slowly raised my body. My skin which was purple regain its normal hue. I scanned my dantian nervously. If it expanded by even the slightest margin I failed at this attempt. But my dantian remained the same.

I had succeeded!

I had successfully obtained the Poison Immune Physique. From now on I didnt have to be afraid of any poison. It was because of my two mothers. I felt especially sorry for my previous mother. Dont worry mother I will fulfill the filial piety for my new parent in your stead.

Please forgive me mother. Since I am much happier than before.

After a tribulation, there were always bound to be rewards. I approached the Solar Sedge and picked it up. I washed it in the pond and ate it whole. I felt the energy given off by it. It felt warm and comfortable compared to when I ate the poison.

Sshhhhh!

The energy was flowing throughout my body. I activated my Divine Protection Technique and started absorbing everything.

After circulating the energy a few times, I scanned my dantian again. I had successfully absorbed sixty years worth of energy. Now, I had almost one hundred years worth of energy. I could finally use the forth stance of my Ashura Soul Chasing Sword Art.

By next year around this time I would have achieved one hundred and twenty years worth of energy so I will be able to execute my fifth stance. Thinking about that made me excited.

Who could have imagined, the discovery of the dolls would lead to such a fortuitous encounter.

Practices of the White Crane.

Poison Immune Physique.

One hundred Year worth of energy.

But that wasnt the only thing that I achieved. I discovered this new cave that no one knows about. I could come here whenever I wished to take a rest or to hide from the world.

After burying the corpse I prayed, I hope that you will pass on peacefully, senior.

Since he hadnt written down anything I didnt say anything more than that and left.

Hahaha

My laughter filled the cave as I left.