Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 105: Jaseung, Becomes Happy

What was placed on the table was a small vial.

Truly, a small vial. About the size of an adult’s fingertip.

Based on what he had seen in the previous rooms, Lee Jaseung instinctively knew that whatever was inside this vial was no ordinary thing.

He slowly opened the stopper.

A clear, elegant fragrance filled the space in an instant.

Lee Jaseung had consumed countless elixirs. He had tasted many kinds, but never had he smelled anything so pure.

When he saw the milky-white liquid inside, he gasped.

"Void Azure Stone Oil!"

Astonishingly, it was the Void Azure Stone Oil.

This elixir, formed in the deepest caves under the earth with the Qi of the land, was said to take ten years to produce a single drop.

Its effects were limitless. It could be called the greatest elixir under the heavens.

It was said that just one drop could bestow decades of inner Qi, and this vial held more than a third of its volume.

How many drops were in there?

At least dozens. No amount of gold or treasure could match its worth.

This was the one thing Ban Yeo truly never wanted to give up.

Gold, weapons, even rare collectibles could be forfeited. He could earn those again. But Void Azure Stone Oil was not something one could obtain simply with money.

Lee Jaseung's heart pounded. His inner Qi already stood at three hundred years worth of pure Yang and one hundred eighty years worth of pure Yin.

For a martial artist, more inner Qi was always a good thing.

But that did not necessarily mean they would win against someone with less inner Qi. What it did allow was for one to fully support advanced techniques and to fight for longer periods against multiple enemies.

However, if an opponent with a faster technique struck directly at the heart, no amount of inner Qi could stop it.

He would drink this corruption that Ban Yeo had gathered.

He would drink it and use the strength to make them all pay.

The inner Qi gained from Void Azure Stone Oil was so pure that it could be used to form pure Yang, pure Yin, or even neutral Qi with no attributes at all.

It was up to Lee Jaseung to decide what path to take.

Each had pros and cons.

If he added to his pure Yang Qi, it would increase his maximum potential. He could not predict how many stages it would grow.

The downside was that because he already had three hundred years worth, the effectiveness would be diminished. The more Qi one had, the harder it became to grow it further.

To put it simply, the same amount of elixir might give one hundred eighty years worth to someone with none, a hundred twenty years to someone with a hundred eighty, and only sixty years to someone with three hundred years worth.

Lee Jaseung fell into deep thought.

But it didn’t last long. Pure Yin was certainly needed too. Increasing both and achieving balance would be worth attempting.

However, it would not be easy to balance precisely with his current Yang level, and he felt that with this much Void Azure Stone Oil, he could go well beyond three hundred years worth.

In that case!

Lee Jaseung made his decision. He would add it to his pure Yang Qi. Besides, the Qi required for his physical techniques was Yang-based.

He sat down cross-legged.

For a moment, he thought about sharing a drop or two with Baek Seolyoung or his subordinates.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Treasure invites disaster. It divides and corrupts hearts.

And this was no ordinary treasure. This was Void Azure Stone Oil.

The fact that it had come to him meant it was destined for him. He resolved to accept that fate entirely.

Lee Jaseung operated his cultivation arts and controlled his Qi. He completely suppressed his pure Yin Qi and only used the pure Yang.

When his internal flow reached optimal balance, he drank the Void Azure Stone Oil.

Gulp.

He drank every last drop in the vial.

The taste was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Once inside his body, the oil began converting into inner Qi. It felt like drawing water from an endless well.

With each full circulation of Qi, his internal power grew and grew.

Lee Jaseung focused all his mental strength on his cultivation. He was pushing himself to the limit of his concentration.

Sssssss…!

A shimmering aura began to rise from the top of his head.

Normally, when one reached a deep level of cultivation, phenomena like the Five Qi Returning to the Origin or the Three Flowers Gathering on the Crown would appear above the head.

But for Lee Jaseung, who possessed pure Yang Qi, the transformation was different. The shimmering aura took form, and it was the terrifying figure of Asura.

Eyes closed and immersed in deep meditation, Lee Jaseung did not see it. Even if he had, he would not have been able to tell if it came from his Limitless techniques or from the Yama's Dagger Art.

When the session ended, Lee Jaseung’s eyes snapped open.

A red glow surged in his pupils, then slowly faded. Outwardly, nothing had changed. His gaze remained as deep as an abyss, impossible to read.

But inside, everything was different.

Wooong-

An immense Qi stirred in his Dantian.

Lee Jaseung checked it.

One stage, two stages, three... He felt his Qi continuing to increase.

…Six, seven, eight stages.

And finally, nine stages!

Lee Jaseung was astonished. He now possessed five hundred forty years worth of Yang Qi.

He had not expected this. Normally, each stage required exponentially more effort than the last.

But the Void Azure Stone Oil had brought him from five to nine stages. Its reputation as the greatest elixir had proven true.

The only regret was that this gain did not come with a complete transformation of body and bones. It remained purely an increase in Qi.

Still, Lee Jaseung was satisfied.

It is always greed that invites calamity. He had reached a level where no one in the world could rival his inner Qi. If he pushed his luck any further, the heavens would surely punish him.

"Hahahahaha!"

His delighted laughter echoed through the cave.

* * *

As soon as Lee Jaseung returned to the Black Way Alliance, the goods from the secret cave began to be transferred to his private vault.

The Alliance already had plenty of funds. Dan Woobin had suggested they store these separately in case of emergency.

Though behind that suggestion, there was a personal wish that Lee Jaseung might keep them for himself. Ever since he vowed to take the Black Way, he had never once pocketed any money for personal use.

Even the funds allocated to him as the Leader were all spent on the Alliance.

Dan Woobin at least hoped that these would remain with Lee Jaseung personally.

Perhaps Lee Jaseung sensed that sentiment.

"No need. If I had wanted money, I would’ve gathered far more than this already. What I seek is not gold, but Jianghu itself."

Dan Woobin bowed his head.

"My shallow mind could not fathom the great ambition of our Lord. Please forgive me. But let me handle these materials as I see fit."

"Do as you wish."

"Thank you."

Lee Jaseung smiled and patted Dan Woobin on the shoulder. How could he not know Dan Woobin’s heart?

Dan Woobin smiled back. Then, as if something came to mind, he said,

"By the way, in three days it will be Lord Baek’s twentieth birthday. You didn’t know, did you?"

Lee Jaseung looked genuinely surprised.

"I didn’t."

She was his wife, after all. He felt a little sorry. Would she know his birthday? Probably not. Even if she did, it would be the birthday of Seop Mu-pyeong written in the records, not his own.

"If you prepare a surprise, she will surely be pleased, right? But don’t ask Captain Ma for suggestions. He’lll suggest singing and dancing."

* * *

That afternoon, Lee Jaseung wandered the market.

He was looking for a gift for Baek Seolyoung.

But nothing stood out.

Clothes were the most eye-catching. He had a keen eye, so he knew her size and build perfectly.

But the issue was taste. He had no idea what style she liked.

Buying something similar to what she usually wore felt meaningless, while trying something new was risky. He couldn’t be sure she would like it.

Accessories and other items were the same. He had never given a gift to a woman before, so he didn’t know what to choose.

In the end, he was left with only the option he had thought of at first but tried to avoid.

An hour later, Mujin entered his room.

"You called?"

"I have something to ask."

"What is it?"

When Lee Jaseung hesitated, Mujin narrowed his eyes and asked,

"Is this about Lord Baek?"

"How did you know?"

"You’ve never hesitated when giving me orders before. Even when sending me into the jaws of death, you smiled as you did it."

"Hahaha."

Lee Jaseung laughed, clearly pleased. Mujin really was perceptive. Dan Woobin might be more brilliant, but when it came to intuition, Mujin was unmatched.

"Her birthday is in a few days. I want to give her a gift, but I don’t know what."

Mujin looked dumbfounded.

"Now I understand why you keep Dan Woobin as our chief strategist."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He once fell into a pit of despair trying to choose a gift for your wedding. If he had applied that effort elsewhere, we’d have defeated the Demonic Cult by now."

"Hahaha. It’s not that serious. Just tell me whatever comes to mind."

"You want to move her, right?"

"Of course."

"Hmm."

Mujin fell into thought.

Lee Jaseung waited silently. He trusted that Mujin would come up with something good.

Finally, Mujin spoke.

"There are two principles for a great gift. First, it must come from the heart. But I don’t need to tell you that. Second, it must be something the recipient wants. Honestly, the second is more important. It’s hard to tell if a gift is heartfelt, and no matter how sincere it is, if it’s not useful, it just ends up in the corner. But even a forced gift, if useful, stays close."

Lee Jaseung nodded in agreement, and Mujin got to the point.

"This especially applies to gifts for women. Knowing what they need, that’s what matters. It shows that you pay attention. Price doesn’t matter."

"I see. That helps a lot."

"Haha, I’m glad. Call on me anytime."

Mujin smiled and left the room.

Lee Jaseung let out a light sigh. After hearing Mujin’s advice, it only felt harder.

He had no idea what she wanted.

He decided he needed to meet her first.

Baek Seolyoung was experiencing a new world.

After opening the Ren and Du meridians and increasing her inner Qi, she felt like a new person.

A punch shattered a boulder. No, it literally did.

When she leapt off the ground, she soared to the top of a giant tree.

Looking down made her dizzy, and she slipped. In the past, that would have meant injury. But now, she landed gracefully like a cat.

The one who gave her this incredible growth had gone off somewhere.

‘Just where did he go to earn money?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out. Not that that was the only thing she didn’t know about him of course.

Ten days had passed since he left, and he still hadn’t returned.

She resumed her training. A surge of desire for something new rose in her heart.

But she held it back and stayed faithful to the basics. She focused on foundational techniques and inner arts.

After completing a round of intense training, she made a vow.

"Let’s not get greedy."

Then, a voice came from behind.

"It’s okay to be greedy."

Startled, she turned around to find Lee Jaseung standing there.

"Ah! you’re back?"

At the sight of him, a wave of joy surged in her chest.

She was surprised by her own feelings. She had not expected to be so glad to see him.

Masking her emotions, she asked teasingly,

"Did you make a lot of money?"