[Ah, I understand.]

I couldn’t help but answer Ji-ryeon’s declaration of war with agreement.

She had said the wedding night would only happen after I reached the Profound Realm, but that was assuming this attempt succeeded.

Since I hadn’t reached the Profound Realm this time, I couldn’t very well tell her to wait until then.

I would challenge the Eighth Poison as soon as possible, but I’d need at least a month before I could try again.

‘Well, it’s not like I’ll die from it, right? Worst case, I just die from too much pleasure.’

At my answer, Ji-ryeon smiled brightly.

[I’ll make sure to look pretty tonight.]

[Ji-ryeon, you’re always pretty.]

[My, you do know how to say things like that. Then I’ll put in some effort today too. I’ll make sure it’s a wonderful night.]

‘No, I don’t think effort is necessary for that...’

I wanted to tell her there was no need, that just lying still like a log would be fine, but with her face full of anticipation, I firmly kept my mouth shut.

After exchanging a few words about my condition and my upcoming schedule, we immediately headed to the Clan Head’s Hall.

Since the results of my attempt had come out, I had to report them to my father-in-law.

In this household, especially things like realm breakthroughs, reporting to the clan head was mandatory.

We moved to the Clan Head’s Hall.

My father-in-law, who had been handling affairs, poured me a cup of tea and then asked with a regretful expression after hearing my report.

“You failed to reach the Profound Realm?”

“Yes, Father-in-law. I’m truly sorry.”

I quickly apologized, but when I reported I hadn’t reached the Profound Realm, Father-in-law gave me a warm smile and comforted me.

“No need to apologize. Even your grandfather wasn’t certain, was he? As long as you didn’t fall into qi deviation and still raised your realm, that’s a success. Either way, you’ve worked hard.”

It seemed Father-in-law had known it wouldn’t be easy. As he said, I hadn’t reached the Profound Realm, but my realm had advanced, so it wasn’t a complete failure.

In most cases, failure in a breakthrough meant falling into qi deviation.

Since I hadn’t gotten stuck but had at least moved forward, even a short distance, it was practically a half-success.

Father-in-law continued.

“Well, I thought it might be difficult. Your grandfather also said he wasn’t sure you could reach the Profound Realm at the Seventh Poison. But since you reached the Fire Realm at the Sixth Poison, logically the Eighth Poison should be your Profound Realm.”

Yes, Grandfather Mandok Shingun had said it was possible. Since I had reached the Fire Realm at the Sixth Poison, the Eighth Poison should be the Profound Realm, and the Tenth Poison the Life-and-Death Stage.

One stage every two poisons.

I nodded, agreeing it made sense, and he continued.

“Ah, since your body is stabilizing quickly, you’ll be attempting the Eighth Poison soon. In the meantime, why don’t you also reflect on your martial arts?”

“Reflect on my martial arts, sir?”

Indeed, my body was stabilizing faster than expected.

Normally, when one’s realm advanced, the body and qi needed time to adjust to the changes.

But this time, perhaps because there hadn’t been a major shift—or because I’d reached the Fire Realm—according to Gun Hye-rin, my stability was far above average.

Enough that I could attempt the Eighth Poison within a month.

There was almost no strain on my body, unlike before. My senses and qi circulation were smooth, without any blockage or delay.

So yes, I would soon be trying the Eighth Poison, but Father-in-law advised me to reflect on my martial arts first.

Reflect on martial arts?

As I frowned, not grasping his meaning, Father-in-law explained.

“Yes. From the Fire Realm onward, it is said a certain level of internal energy must be paired with enlightenment. If enlightenment is lacking, you might not reach the Eighth Poison. That’s why I’m telling you to contemplate your martial arts.”

“I understand what you mean.”

I had heard something similar from Grandfather Mandok Shingun, and Gun Hye-rin had said the same.

So I answered that I understood, and Father-in-law nodded before asking,

“Then, once you reach the Profound Realm, will you head for the Great Moon Nation? Or go straight away?”

I would be flying there, but honestly, entering territory controlled by the Blood Cult meant it would be safer to advance my realm first.

If it were just me, I’d go alone. But since all my wives insisted on coming, it was better to be safe.

If I got hurt, that was fine. But if my wives got hurt, it would be a disaster.

If Hwa-eun was injured, the Sacheon Tang Clan would not stay silent. If Gun Hye-rin was harmed, the Heavenly Demon Cult would erupt.

And if the Princess were hurt? The Imperial Court itself would intervene.

But waiting a month for the Profound ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Realm...

That was impossible.

The Blood Cult was drinking the blood of hundreds, thousands every day. Another month meant even more victims—and greater strength for the Blood Cult.

To reduce the number of victims, and to prevent their growing power, I had to scout quickly.

The more time passed, the greater the loss for both us and the world.

“No, sir. My body is stable, but Princess said if I suddenly tried to handle too much internal energy right after a breakthrough, my body might be damaged, so she told me to rest three days first.”

“Ah, the Princess said that? I thought since she only learned swordsmanship, she might lack knowledge of internal energy or the body. But it seems her studies are deeper than I thought.”

It was Gun Hye-rin’s advice, of course. But she was disguised as just some mountain girl who had learned a bit of martial arts.

Though she looked like a Westerner, traders from the Silk Road often passed through Sichuan, so no one suspected much. Father-in-law naturally assumed the one giving me advice was the Princess.

“The Princess? Ah, yes, exactly. She’s surprisingly knowledgeable about internal energy.”

I quickly covered my awkward expression with that answer, and Father-in-law’s face lit with satisfaction.

“You truly are blessed.”

“Y-yes, indeed. I married a beauty like Hwa-eun—how could I not be blessed?”

“At first you called her nothing but a weed, and now look at you saying things like this. Hahaha.”

“Why bring that up again...”

Scratching my head, I left the Clan Head’s Hall. Outside, the children were waiting for me.

They must have heard I was out and had come to see my face.

– Tsruut. 『Dad, are you all right?』

– Shyaaa. 『Are you well, So-ryong-nim?』

– Kishishi. 『Brother, how is your body?』

I smiled and said,

“I’m fine. Come on, let’s go bask in the sun at the pavilion.”

– Tsrrr. 『Okay, Dad.』

– Kishit. 『Let’s go, Brother.』

With the children who had come to greet me, we headed to the pavilion. Gun Hye-rin, Hwa-eun, and the Princess were nowhere in sight.

I leaned half back against Yo-hwa’s spider waist.

That section of her fur was soft and warm—heaven itself to curl into.

“Ahh, this is the life.”

Resting against Yo-hwa, I mulled over Father-in-law’s words.

‘My martial arts, huh...’

My foundation was the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art, upon which I had learned the Beast-Heart Art.

On top of that, I had studied the Five Poison Martial Arts to efficiently use that qi, the Iron-Crushing Art, a secret technique of the Murim Alliance Leader, and the Beast-Eye Art from the Beast Palace.

With all of that, now I was supposed to gain “enlightenment.”

The problem was, I’d never experienced anything like enlightenment before, so I had no idea what it even felt like.

‘Doesn’t anyone here keep a genealogy book or something?’

For someone like me, seeking “enlightenment” was like trying to leap straight from a kindergarten certificate to a college diploma through self-study.

Normally, when breaking through a realm, one has some kind of insight, and that leads to advancement. But since I had never once experienced that, I couldn’t even begin to grasp what it felt like.

I was still wrestling with the idea of enlightenment when—

“Ji-ryeon, the sun hasn’t even set yet, so what are you preparing for already? Hehe.”

“That’s what I said. Anyway, has Master returned from the Clan Head’s Hall?”

From the pond entrance came the voices of my wives, led by Hwa-eun.

I turned my head and saw Gun Hye-rin and Hwa-eun walking in together, chatting quietly.

“Ah, you’re here already. Yong-rang!”

“Master!”

The two spotted me and immediately leapt toward me.

In an instant they had landed on either side of me.

『“Yo-hwa, excuse us a moment.”

“Sorry, Yo-hwa.”

– Kishit. (It’s all right.)』

After asking Yo-hwa’s permission, both of them leaned their heads against my shoulders.

“Yong-rang, you must bathe in warm water tonight.”

“Ah, understood, Hwa-eun.”

“I’ll help you dress afterward.”

“Hye-rin?”

“Yes.”

It was clear the bath was meant in preparation for the wedding night with the Princess.

I was a little concerned that Gun Hye-rin offered to help me dress, but figured I could manage myself. Just then Hwa-eun asked,

“So what were you doing?”

“Oh, I was at the Clan Head’s Hall. Father-in-law told me that if I want to attempt the Eighth Poison, I should reflect on my martial arts. He said enlightenment might be necessary.”

“Ah, that’s what I told you as well.”

“True.”

As Gun Hye-rin said, she had indeed mentioned the same thing.

I nodded, and she asked,

“It’s not something that happens overnight, but you look frustrated. Not working out?”

“What!?”

Her question startled me.

I had been thinking about martial arts just a moment ago, but when Ji-ryeon mentioned preparations, my thoughts had drifted to the wedding night. Hye-rin’s last words made me flinch.

‘Why does everything sound dirty? And somehow every other word feels like it’s being emphasized...’

“Why are you so startled?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head to clear it, then answered her question.

“Honestly, it’s embarrassing, but since I started training, I’ve never once felt anything like enlightenment. I don’t even have the faintest idea what it’s supposed to be.”

At my answer, Gun Hye-rin’s eyes widened.

She looked at Hwa-eun, who gave an awkward smile and nodded.

Of course, Hwa-eun had been with me from the very beginning, so she knew my situation best.

“You mean you’ve never once had an enlightenment? What kind of martial arts are you cultivating? No wonder you feel lost.”

“Yes.”

I nodded, and Gun Hye-rin wrapped her arms around my arm.

“But don’t worry. You have me, don’t you? I’ll help. There is a way.”

“Really?”

“Of course. In the Heavenly Demon Cult, there’s a method for those whose talent is lacking and can’t reach enlightenment, a way to still advance their realm.”

Good news, though hearing “lacking in talent” stung a bit.

It made it sound like some remedial path for the dim-witted.

But Hye-rin smiled and said,

“The method is simple. Think plainly. Reflect step by step on how you became stronger, as if retracing the stairs in your mind. And then re-enact it in practice.”

“How I became stronger?”

“Yes. Repeat that process. Bit by bit, even by the thinnest thread, as you grow stronger, you’ll eventually reach enlightenment and break through.”

‘So basically, it’s about winning through persistence?’

Following her advice, I thought back on how I had grown stronger.

‘First I learned the Five Poison Divine Art. Then I accepted Cho’s poison... After that I mastered the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art, then the Beast-Heart Art.

And I just kept registering spirit beasts, gaining their powers easily one after another...’

But all that really came to mind was the fact that I’d basically coasted my way upward.

So if I just kept thinking up ways to keep coasting, would that count as enlightenment?

At that moment, one clear way to grow stronger popped into my head.

“Ah! That’s it!”

“That? What is it? Even if it’s something simple, it doesn’t matter.”

Seeing I’d remembered something, Hye-rin pressed me to say it, so I grabbed her hand and asked,

“Hye-rin, teach me one of your martial arts! Is that all right?”

“My martial arts? Well, they’re all yours anyway, so if you ask I’ll teach. But since your internal energy foundation is different, it may not be the best idea.”

Normally, martial arts weren’t shared even between husband and wife unless they came from the same sect or family. That’s why I asked carefully.

But as the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, her outlook was on a different scale—like a company CEO saying, “It’s all under my name anyway.”

Still, she added that our different energy roots might make it a poor choice. So I explained why I asked.

“I’ve reached the Seventh Poison, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Yes, Hwa-eun. So I think I can now merge the abilities of my spirit beasts into martial arts. But when I really think about it, the beast’s ability only manifests if I have a martial art for it to express itself through. That’s why I figured I should expand my repertoire.”

Up to now, registering the Seventh Poison had given me:

In Centipede Poison Fang Claw, Cho’s poison.

In Exploding Palm, Hwayang’s flames.

In Gecko Movement, the wall-climbing powers of Cho, Bing, and Dong.

In Beast-Eye Art, infrared vision.

In Iron-Crushing Art, Cheongwol’s hardened shell.

But Swift Kick still hadn’t awakened any ability.

That was natural—none of the spirit beasts I had registered possessed leg-related abilities.

Yo-hwa’s legs were powerful, but not leg-specialized. Even Sister Jeokwol’s weren’t either.

“So then, what martial art do you need?”

At her question, I smiled.

“Disguise Art, Stealth Art, or Bone-Shrinking Technique.”

If I learned Disguise or Stealth, I could probably channel Yo-hwa’s or Sister Jeokwol’s abilities.

One allowed transformation into someone else, the other perfect invisibility.

So if I learned Disguise or Stealth, I might be able to transform like Yo-hwa, or vanish like Jeokwol.

That would make me stronger again. If I kept repeating this, eventually, just like Hye-rin said, enlightenment would come.

Once I’d coasted my way this far, I might as well keep coasting.

Of course, there was also a bit of selfishness in it.

Disguise or Stealth were for Yo-hwa and Sister Jeokwol’s powers, but Bone-Shrinking had more personal reasons.

Reversed, Bone-Shrinking became Bone-Expanding.

If stamina failed due to lack of yang energy, then the next step was a contest of size, wasn’t it?

‘Go all in with one decisive strike.’