Palgap nodded in response to my question.
"Yes, I can see it."
"Do you see something transparent hanging on the third branch from the bottom?"
Fortunately, Palgap's eyesight wasn't poor, and he quickly spotted it.
"Huh? You mean the transparent thing? What is that?"
"I'll explain later—just pick it quickly!"
Without knowing why, Palgap rushed over and picked the fruit.
"Here it is."
As I took it, I said,
"This must stay absolutely secret."
"Huh? What is it that it needs to be so secret?"
"A miraculous elixir."
Palgap gasped at my words.
"What?"
I raised my index finger to my lips, and he nodded.
I could trust Palgap.
In the future, I told the old Palgap to retire comfortably, giving him a house, land, and money.
But he stayed by my side until the end.
Even when we were attacked by Namgoog Kang, he died protecting me.
Even as he was dying, he told me to run and that he'd be fine. How could I ever forget that?
If I came back in time after witnessing that and still couldn't trust Palgap, I'd be the biggest fool and bastard under the heavens.
I spoke to him in my heart:
'So this time, don't die for me.'
Soon, the personal guard returned.
"There was nothing there. It seems it was just a wild animal hiding."
"That's a relief. Then let's return."
"Are you able to walk?"
"After a short rest, I'm fine now."
.
.
.
We made it back to the Merchant Group without being too late.
After traveling through snowy mountains, I cleaned myself and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
In one corner of the dining hall, there was a space prepared just for our family.
It looked exactly the same as I remembered.
A round red table.
And six chairs arranged around it.
Grandfather, parents, two older brothers, and me.
Over time, the number of chairs had increased and decreased.
I had come to the dining hall a little early on purpose.
I wanted to touch this table and those chairs where my family had once sat.
I reached out my hand.
My fingertips trembled.
Tap.
Soon, my hand touched the chairs.
The future I had lived and the nightmare I had last night kept whispering to me in the present.
To protect this happiness—I must grow stronger.
I absolutely will.
As I made that vow, I heard someone approach.
"You're here early."
When I turned around, I froze.
It was my second brother.
My second brother, Eun Jinho, was standing alive before me. I was overwhelmed.
"Huh? Why do you look like you've seen someone come back from the dead?"
"Uh…"
At Eun Jinho's words, I realized what kind of expression I must have been making.
"Are you still feeling sick?"
That voice belonged to my eldest brother, Eun Jeong-ho.
Looking into their worried eyes, I swallowed and calmed myself before speaking.
"No, I just went for a walk behind the mountain early this morning, so I'm a little tired."
"A walk?"
"It must've been cold with the snow?"
"I heard hiking early in the morning is good for your health."
"Ah…"
"I see."
Just then, my father, mother, and grandfather entered the dining hall.
Grandfather's name was Eun Chibong.
Despite his white hair, his eyes were still sharp and spirited.
My father was Eun Gil-Sang.
And my mother, who loved orchids, was often called Lady Orchid.
"Everyone, sit down."
At Grandfather's words, we all sat down, and the maids began placing food on the table.
'Mung bean porridge today.'
Our first family meal since my return.
Seeing it suddenly brought back a memory of the end.
'They said they had prepared a banquet table for me…'
But I never made it there.
And I could imagine what might've happened to my family.
Clench.
Without realizing it, my hand had formed a tight fist.
'This life, I will never—absolutely never—lose them again.'
.
.
.
After breakfast, I returned to my room and sat down in front of the tea table.
Now, it was time to begin taking the elixir in earnest.
From what I remembered, after consuming the elixir, I needed to practice my mind technique for at least six hours.
Only then could the energy of the elixir be properly digested.
Of course, to fully absorb it would take several more days, but since I had five days of vacation, it wouldn't be a problem.
That is—assuming nothing happened while I was cultivating.
That's why I needed someone to stand guard.
If anyone interfered while I was practicing mind technique, it could disrupt the flow of my qi and blood, leading to backflow—a deadly deviation of internal energy.
In the future, guards from the family, under Father's orders, stood watch over me during these moments.
But I couldn't expect that now.
How was I supposed to explain all of this to Father? Where would I even begin?
In the end, there was only one person I could ask.
I called for Palgap.
"Palgap!"
At my call, Palgap opened the door and came in.
"Yes, young master! Did you call for me?"
"I'm going to lock the door now and won't be stepping outside."
Sharp as ever, Palgap quickly grasped the reason.
"Are you going to take that thing you picked up this morning?"
"That's right."
"Will you be okay? Honestly, I'm a little concerned."
At his worried words, I replied firmly,
"Yes. If I want to live, I have to take it."
"…."
Even faced with my firm tone, Palgap didn't avert his eyes.
He wouldn't back down without an explanation.
So I brought out the story I had prepared.
"Actually, a celestial immortal came to me in a dream."
"What? An immortal?"
"Yes. He told me to take that elixir and practice cultivation. He said my recent illnesses were signs of early death."
I continued,
"He even told me where the elixir was hidden and what kind of cultivation method to use after taking it."
"Is that really true?"
"Think about it. Would I have been able to find that thing so easily otherwise?"
"Now that you mention it… you're right."
Only then did Palgap nod in understanding.
Even someone as loyal as Palgap couldn't be told that I had returned from the future.
Not only did I not fully understand the reason for my return, but who knew what kind of impact that knowledge might have on him?
Honestly, he probably wouldn't believe it anyway.
Then Palgap asked,
"Then why didn't you tell the Merchant Group Leader?"
"The immortal warned me repeatedly—this had to stay secret. If word got out, a bloodbath would follow."
"A… a bloodbath?"
Hearing that word, Palgap nervously gulped.
"It's such an extraordinary elixir that thugs and bandits would come for it."
"Ah…"
"If Father and the others found out, the chances of it leaking would only increase."
Palgap nodded.
He probably assumed I meant the dark sects when I said 'thugs,' but I was referring to both dark and orthodox sects.
Because that's what actually happened in the future I experienced.
Saying that a bloodbath would occur was partly an excuse—but also the truth.
If news of the Pure Icy Snow Plum got out—especially that I had consumed it—the full brunt of the resulting chaos would fall on the Eunhae Merchant Group.
"So that's why you were being so careful?"
"Yeah."
"Then… why are you telling me?"
I smiled gently and replied,
"Because after my family, you're the person I trust the most."
Palgap's eyes grew red with emotion.
"Hrk! You really had it all thought out, young master. And to think—a visit from an immortal! Maybe it's the reward for the good deeds of your late grandmother."
Now that he mentioned it, my late grandmother had been known for helping the poor and needy.
"In any case, until I come out and open the door myself, no matter what happens, do not come in—and don't let anyone else in either."
"Understood. Not even an ant will get through, I promise."
With a determined look, Palgap left, and I locked the door just in case.
Then I sat cross-legged in the center of the room.
Hoo—
I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Then I slowly began circulating my qi using the technique I remembered.
The Great Ten Thousand Qi Cultivation Technique.
It was a cultivation method taught to me in the future by the Black Trace Immortal Physician.
Just like its name implied—a net that captured all forms of energy—it had the ability to retain and absorb every bit of energy that entered the cultivator's body.
Moreover, it didn't conflict with other cultivation methods.
Because it only applied to specific types of energy entering the body.
No mistakes in my memory so far.
Stopping the energy flow for now, I reached under the bed to retrieve the Pure Icy Snow Plum, which I had hidden in a secret compartment.
It still shimmered with that translucent, radiant blue light.
Hoo—
I took another deep breath and placed it into my mouth.
Huh?
I was startled.
If I hadn't known better, I would've thought I had just put a piece of ice in my mouth.
That's how cold it was.
And the moment it entered my mouth, it melted away completely.
A subtle, fragrant scent of plum lingered in my mouth.
I straightened my back and closed my eyes.
Then resumed my cultivation.
"...."
Gradually, I began to feel the effects of the elixir.
Not just cold—frigid, almost chilling to the bone.
'This is… strange.'
It was completely different from the last time I had taken an elixir and practiced cultivation.
Back then, it had been bearable.
But not now.
'Something's wrong. Why is it this cold?'
The icy energy began to constrict my heart.
It burrowed into my bones, causing my entire body to tremble violently.
The pain intensified, but I calmly assessed the situation.
Just like how I always became more clear-headed whenever I was panicked or angry.
'The problem isn't with the cultivation method. In that case…'
The only variable was the Pure Icy Snow Plum.
That was the only thing different from before.
The elixir I had taken in the future was something called Ten Cold Spirit Herbs.
It looked like a white herb—simple and unassuming.
'Now that I think about it… the Ten Cold Spirit Herbs granted ten years' worth of internal energy.'
And the Black Trace Immortal Physician had said that would be sufficient.
But the Pure Icy Snow Plum granted sixty years of inner power from a single fruit.
'Damn it. I'm in trouble because the elixir's too good?'
It was absurd.
I'd received a better opportunity, and yet it was harming me instead.
A small portion of the energy was being absorbed into my body, but most of it was running rampant, unable to settle.
And because of the Great Ten Thousand Qi Cultivation Technique, none of that excess energy was being released.
Cold sweat soaked my back.
At this rate, death was inevitable.
'I… I can't die like this.'
I had to strike back at the Namgoog Kang and the Murim Alliance, who trampled on me, my family, and the Eunhae Merchant Group.
If I died now, I could imagine how heartbroken my family would be—how devastated Palgap would be.
I didn't even need to think about it—I already knew.
I calmed my emotions and sorted through my thoughts.
'The best option is to store the remaining energy of the Pure Icy Snow Plum in my dantian…'
In martial arts, practitioners use inner cultivation to accumulate qi in their dantian.
But the Great Ten Thousand Qi Cultivation Technique wasn't an inner power cultivation technique. It didn't circulate qi in a full internal cycle.
Its purpose wasn't to store qi in the dantian but to allow the body itself to absorb the elixir's energy.
The original plan had been to restore my body's health through the elixir, and then slowly build inner power afterward.
Trying to build inner power with a frail body could've caused serious problems.
And back then, with the Ten Cold Spirit Herbs, every bit of the elixir had been absorbed cleanly—so there were no issues.
But now, things are different.
I recalled an inner cultivation method I had learned before.
'If it's come to this… I have no choice. Let's try it.'
It wasn't the correct way to do it—but I had no other option.
Especially since this body hadn't even completed the opening of its energy pathways, and had no proper foundation for cultivating inner power.
It was like forcing a massive river to push its way through a crack in a stone wall.
The damage to my body would be obvious.
But this was the only path left to me.
Whether it killed me or saved me—I had to try.
Just as I resolved myself, something completely unexpected happened.
'What…?'
A massive force began to stir.
A force I hadn't even realized was inside me.
The moment it moved, I instinctively knew what it was.
'This is… the Mystic Dragon?'
I had thought the Black Trace Immortal Physician was speaking metaphorically when he'd described it—but what I was feeling now was a real Mystic Dragon.
The Mystic Dragon Star Body devoured all of the energy from the Pure Icy Snow Plum.
But then… its movements took a strange turn.