It's an unfamiliar ceiling.
Ah, what a cliché and boring sentiment.
I never thought I would have such thoughts.
My head is dizzy, and my stomach churns.
Especially, the dantian area is particularly sore.
I barely managed to raise my creaking body.
"...I'm sure I fainted in the cave."
The sudden activation of the Mado Chunsugong absorbed the energy from the snake's pearl.
I must have fainted due to the overwhelming amount of energy...
Suddenly feeling uneasy, I circulated my inner energy.
The energy was surging in, almost to the point of overflowing. If my dantian was damaged, it would be a serious problem.
I was startled by the heat radiating from my body.
It's much hotter and faster.
I thought I was circulating the usual amount of inner energy.
The amount of inner energy that flowed out unconsciously was much more than I expected.
The Gyeomunhwaronggong, which had been at the beginning of the 2nd Rank, had advanced to the 3rd Rank.
And it was almost at the end of the 3rd Rank.
The amount of inner energy in my body was a full half dan.
The amount that would take 30 years of consistent practice to achieve had been absorbed into my body.
'Compared to the energy I absorbed, it seems small...'
But considering the energy that flowed in at that time, a half dan seems small.
The inner energy is extremely pure.
Is there really such a smooth and powerful energy?
Despite absorbing so much energy, there is no trace of demonic energy.
Was the stone not a demonic stone after all? I thought the Gyeomunhwaronggong had absorbed demonic energy, but it didn't feel that way.
The energy I feel from my dantian is incredibly strong.
The reason I haven't reached the 4th Rank is that my body hasn't caught up yet.
If I consistently train my body, I should be able to reach the 4th Rank quickly.
'Nangung's son is out of reach... but Gyeolyeop should be easy.'
Objectively speaking, without using techniques, I should be on par with or even surpass Gyeolyeop.
Even if I'm familiar with Nangung's sword techniques, I still wouldn't be able to win in a real fight using inner energy.
After confirming that there was nothing wrong with my body, I looked around.
The furniture looked a bit shabby, and I could faintly smell the bitter scent of medicinal herbs.
I was still dazed and wobbling when something jumped at me.
"Master, are you okay now?"
"...First, step back a bit."
Why would you ask if I'm okay and then crush me?
I quickly pushed Wisol away.
Fortunately, seeing her so strong, it seems she wasn't hurt.
So I asked the first thing that came to mind.
"The snake? What happened to the cave?"
Wisol looked at me as if I was speaking gibberish.
What's going on? It was such a big snake, why is she reacting like this?
Feeling something was off, I asked Wisol again.
"The big snake you saw in the cave."
"When did you start not remembering... or rather, from where do you remember?"
Finding it strange, I asked in a different way.
Wisol rolled her large eyes.
I could clearly see them moving.
"From the moment I followed Master out!"
So you don't remember anything...?
Was the cave and the giant snake just an illusion?
That wouldn't explain the increased inner energy or the advanced martial arts.
Then, is the reason Wisol doesn't remember due to the snake?
"Do you really not remember anything?"
"Yes... When I woke up, I was sleeping with Master on a mountain!"
The door on the left opened, and someone came in.
It was an old man with white hair and a bent back.
The old man entered and immediately complained. The heat was probably due to me circulating my inner energy.
The old man looked at us and said,
"You've been sleeping for two days, finally came to your senses."
"Are you saying I slept for two days?"
Considering that I found the cave in one day, it means I used up all the time I had planned.
"Right, your body seems fine, but you were sleeping so much, I thought you were dead."
"...Can you tell me where I am?"
"Can't you tell? I'm a doctor, so this must be a clinic."
What makes you look like a doctor...?
The shabby clothes and bent back don't seem like a doctor's.
If I have to, the faint smell of medicinal herbs might be the only evidence.
"Are you feeling better?"
According to the old man, this is a clinic at the foot of the mountain. How did I get here?
According to Wisol, when she woke up, I was lying on a hillside with trees, not in the cave.
Did the old man find us and bring us here?
The old man quietly boiled some herbs and asked,
"Why were you sleeping on a cliff so dangerously?"
I remember the terrain changing to a flat area with a maple tree.
Did it change back to a cliff? I can't understand any of this.
First, I thanked the old man.
"...Old man, thank you. Did you save us?"
"Save? Nonsense, thank the girl next to you. She has a good face but a strong body, she carried you from there to here."
Looking at Wisol, she had her hands on her waist and a confident expression.
She carried me from that height to here?
Considering the stamina she showed chasing me from Tangmen and her innate constitution, maybe that's what it means.
I tease her for being chubby, but she's actually quite slim.
She just looks round because she's always eating something.
What kind of strength does she have in those thin arms...?
The old man felt my arm and said,
"Since your body seems fine, you should leave soon. The room is small, and I can't keep you here for long."
"...Ah, thank you, old man. Thanks to you, I woke up safely from a dangerous situation."
"Hehe, you're quite talkative for a young man..."
Even if you look young, it's not easy to let a stranger sleep for two days.
Wisol is chewing on something, probably given by the old man.
"...What are you eating?"
"Um? Grandpa Cheon gave me a snack!"
It seems Wisol has already introduced herself to the old man.
The old man answered for me,
"It's nothing, just some ineffective ginseng roots. In a small village clinic, that's all I had to give."
...Ginseng roots? Can ginseng roots be ineffective?
It's surprising that he gave them, but it's even more surprising that Wisol is eating them so casually.
I thought she only liked sweets. She seems to be more of an omnivore than I thought.
"It's fine, stop apologizing and go home. Your parents will be worried."
My parents will be worried?
Thinking of my father, I dismissed the thought.
He's definitely not the type to worry.
Probably, only Muyeon would be trembling in fear, waiting for me.
I rummaged through my clothes and said to the old man,
"I left in a hurry, so I don't have much..."
"Ah? What money do you have? I just did it out of boredom, don't worry about it..."
I managed to find some silver coins.
Fortunately, I brought this much.
The old man was speechless when he saw the silver coins I hastily took out.
It looks like about two taels.
"I don't have much... but I can give you this..."
Before I could finish, the old man grabbed my hand.
His eyes looked more serious.
After a moment of silence, the old man spoke.
"...Young man, if you want, you can stay longer. Oh, how could I not offer you some medicinal tea? Wait, I'll make you some excellent medicinal tea!"
I refused the old man's almost forced offer of medicinal tea and went outside.
It was quite embarrassing how he kept trying to give me something.
It was broad daylight, so I could leave immediately.
Thanks to my increased inner energy, my body feels much lighter than before.
If I circulate my inner energy, I might be able to reach the village I wrote about in the letter right away.
"...That might be too much."
It might be possible if I take it step by step, but I should be careful for Wisol's sake.