And for about two days, Yoo Baekjun went in and out of Joo Joongwon's medicinal lab, sharing all the knowledge he had.
"Here, take a look. This is…"
"It's tilting grass. It contains a paralytic poison, so once someone ingests it, they'll collapse immediately and lose consciousness. Eventually, they'll die from asphyxiation."
"Oh, ooh, that's right."
"But if you blanch it and then dry it… Hmm, is this Vitality Herb? If I combine it with this, it could make a tonic that restores energy."
"Y-Yes, that's right. You really do know your stuff."
Yoo Baekjun explained the effects of each herb Joo Joongwon asked about in detail, one by one.
At some point, Joo Joongwon began testing Yoo Baekjun.
"Pick out the medicinal herbs and the poisonous ones from this bunch."
He made him distinguish between herbs.
"From these ingredients, pick only the necessary ones and make a wound recovery potion."
"Understood."
He had him make medicine.
"Looking at this patient's condition, think about what kind of medicine you'd prescribe."
"Yes, I'll do that."
He even had him consult real patients.
And the results of those tests, well, they were obvious.
"Truly astonishing."
Joo Joongwon looked at Yoo Baekjun with wide eyes.
'Absolutely perfect.'
He had the knowledge to accurately distinguish between medicinal herbs and poisonous ones.
On top of that, he knew how to process poisonous herbs to detoxify them and turn them into medicine.
'And that combination knowledge.'
He knew exactly which herbs to combine to make medicine.
It meant he understood the effects of each herb precisely. It was impossible not to be surprised.
"Who in the world taught you all this?"
"Well..."
As if anyone had taught him. After rolling around in the game thousands of times, this kind of knowledge got ingrained in your brain whether you liked it or not.
"I learned from books."
"Hmm, books, huh. Hard to believe."
Well, it was a game after all.
You didn't need real pharmaceutical expertise like in real life. You just had to know which herbs combined with which. That's it.
And the effects of the herbs too.
"Hmm, Young Master. Do you know why I gave you all these tests?"
"I'm not sure."
"I was personally testing whether I should pass on my knowledge to you."
"Pass on your knowledge..."
Joo Joongwon nodded.
"I said I'd teach you, but originally, I was only going to teach you the basics. But now, I've changed my mind."
"......"
"I'll teach you everything I've learned in my life. But to do that, you'll need to become my disciple. Are you willing?"
Joo Joongwon, uncharacteristically, looked urgent. He'd finally found the disciple he'd been searching for—of course he'd be desperate.
Yoo Baekjun pretended to hesitate just long enough to tease him.
"It would be an honor, Master."
"Ohhh…"
That's how he replied.
***
While receiving instruction from Joo Joongwon, Yoo Baekjun also began training his body.
"W-Working out? You, Young Master?"
"Yeah, working out. You can stay at the manor."
"Uh, yes. Uh… Young Master...?"
The most surprised person was Choi Seungmin.
He had never seen Yoo Baekjun voluntarily decide to work out while serving him.
But there was a reason.
"Ha, damn it. Quests."
It was because of the quests from the Martial God's Book.
[The First Step to Escaping Anchovyism.]
Your body is too skinny, far too skinny. At this rate, even the Heavenly Martial Physique is like a pearl necklace on a pig's snout. Exercise for at least six hours today.
–Reward: 50P, Strength Increase
Yoo Baekjun looked down at his own body.
Instead of a uniform, he wore a comfortable tracksuit. Surprisingly, even a small size was loose on him. That's how skinny he was.
"Ha, Baekjun. You damned Yoo Baekjun."
There was a reason he ended up this way. Yoo Baekjun hated exercise. But more than that, it was the massive stress he'd endured while living in this family that had worn him down.
"......"
Yoo Baekjun glanced around.
He was exercising in the outdoor training field, and there were many trainees of the family there.
They kept glancing at Yoo Baekjun.
"What the hell is he doing in the training field?"
"Maybe he just wanted to read outside? He's a bookworm, after all."
"A member of the Sword Saint Clan who abandoned the sword and became a bookworm. Should've just gone to the Magic Tower."
All he was doing was exercising, and yet he got reactions like that. The hatred the family's trainees held toward Yoo Baekjun wasn't normal.
Fortunately, no lunatics were directly picking a fight, just whispering behind his back.
'Yoo Baekjun, the youngest of the Sword Saint Clan.'
As mentioned before, Yoo Baekjun was a member of the Sword Saint Clan. The problem was that he was the castaway child.
Why? It was simple. He had a gentle and timid nature, and he had no talent for martial arts.
'It's not like he was some degenerate or anything.'
On the contrary, he was too kind, which was the problem. The type of guy who smiled and handed over anything anyone asked for—a total pushover.
"You'd have been better off just living recklessly like a real degenerate. As it is, you're not even a proper loser."
On top of having no talent, his personality naturally preferred staying home and reading rather than training with a sword.
"If only he hadn't been born in this kind of family..."
He might have just lived peacefully as a book-loving man. That's the thought that always came to mind whenever Yoo Baekjun was mentioned.
But what could he do?
He had been born into the Sword Saint Clan.
–Weak and incompetent! I can't believe someone like you is my son. Get out of my sight.
The Sword Saint Clan was like a kingdom of predators.
A place where the law of power ruled, and terms like "survival of the fittest" were tossed around casually. The strong eat, the weak get eaten.
Naturally, Yoo Baekjun belonged to the "eaten" group and was scorned even by his own family.
Even by his own father.
"From now on, things are going to be different."
Yoo Baekjun grinned.
He knew the path to becoming strong. He just had to follow it as planned. At least until Yoo Taerang showed up.
"Run, run."
Yoo Baekjun began running around the training field using his Mobility Technique. It was a way to boost both mana and stamina—a win-win.
'Clear today's quest, then clear another tomorrow. That'll give me 700P in total…'
Then he'd be able to learn the Skill he had in mind. Yoo Baekjun continued his aerobic and strength training for six hours straight.
–Quest completed!
–You've received 50P and your Strength has increased!
Just as his body was soaked in sweat and he felt like he couldn't go on any longer, the quest was completed.
Yoo Baekjun collapsed to the ground right there.
"Heuk, heeek!"
He felt like vomiting.
He opened his status window to check the results of the past six hours. His Strength had increased by five, Stamina by seven, and Agility by about six. Even his Mobility Technique had leveled up once.
'As expected of the Heavenly Martial Physique…'
The growth rate of his stats was no joke.
Yoo Baekjun caught his breath, about to resume his training again. But at that moment—
"What's that smell?"
The nearby trainees began to murmur.
And then, a familiar voice. Yoo Baekjun sighed inwardly and turned his head.
"Oh dear, I was wondering where that awful stench was coming from, and it turns out it was my precious little brother's sweat."
Standing there was a man. He had a flamboyant impression, with dyed brown hair and a muscular build.
Yoo Baekjun's older brother and the third son of the family—Yoo Kangho.
"Long time no see, older brother."
"Ah, yeah. Long time. But how could we meet when you're holed up in your room all day, huh?"
"Hahaha!"
Attendants and instructors followed behind Yoo Kangho. When he turned and sought their agreement, they burst out laughing.
'Well, I figured this would happen.'
Though they were brothers, Yoo Kangho was like the early-stage villain in Yoo Baekjun's route.
The so-called family degenerate, spending money recklessly and notoriously promiscuous. He caused incidents wherever he went.
'And he really hates Yoo Baekjun.'
So from the moment Yoo Baekjun returned to the family, he constantly picked fights.
Not that he didn't have a reason.
'There was that one time when Yoo Baekjun saved a female attendant Yoo Kangho was harassing.'
It was only briefly mentioned in the game, but something like that had happened in the past.
Yoo Kangho, feeling humiliated, began tormenting Yoo Baekjun.
"Damn, you have such a rotten personality."
"What?"
"Ah, nothing, older brother. I didn't say anything."
Yoo Kangho looked at Yoo Baekjun. His lips twisted into a sneer.
"Working out, huh? Heh, what's a pathetic loser like you going to get out of working out? Just wasting your time."
He kept picking fights.
If it were his old personality, he would've gone off right there.
But not now.
'Just a few more days.'
It wasn't time to go head-to-head with Yoo Kangho just yet. He needed a bit more time. That's why Yoo Baekjun simply smiled and let it slide.
"If you ever need help, just say the word. Your big brother will help you out, just like the good ol' days..."
Yoo Kangho laughed and left.
As Yoo Baekjun watched the attendants following behind him, he let out a small sigh.
"You're so dead later."
It felt like a cheap villain line, but he meant it.
Yoo Baekjun got up. His body had cooled off, so now he needed to go wash and rest a bit...
[Member, just one more set!]
Muscles grow by pushing past your limits through repeated training.
Don't want to? Too bad! YOU are the one exception! Come on, member, just 3 more hours of training!
–Reward: 50P, Stat Increase
"Goddamn it, give me a break!"
He wanted to rest, but he wasn't allowed to.
Yoo Baekjun swallowed his tears and started running around the training field again.
***
While continuing his personal training, Yoo Baekjun stopped by Joo Joongwon's lab to learn more knowledge.
By the fourth day—
–You have received guidance from the exceptional physician, Joo Joongwon. The Skill "Oriental Medicine Formulation" has been created.
–Thanks to the knowledge passed down from Joo Joongwon, the effects of your medicinal skills have greatly improved.
The message he'd been waiting for appeared.
[Oriental Medicine Formulation (B)]
–With professional knowledge of Oriental Medicine Formulation, you can combine ingredients to create oriental medicine.
–Medicine made using this skill has 1.5x the normal effect.
–Thanks to the superior knowledge imparted, the medicine you create will have additional effects.
Yoo Baekjun smiled with satisfaction. Now that he'd come this far, there was no reason to hesitate. Deep in the night, he snuck into the family's treasure vault.
'Normally, not even the heir could get close to it, but there's a secret passage.'
He used that route to sneak in.
Yoo Baekjun took some crucial medicinal herbs—nearly as precious as elixirs—and withdrew.
'This should be enough. Though the guy guarding the vault's probably going to get reamed for this…'
The next day, he went to the medicinal lab and laid the herbs out in front of Joo Joongwon.
"What's all this? Sun Herb, Fire Spirit Herb, and this is... Fire Ginseng!"
Joo Joongwon was shocked at the sight of the Fire Ginseng.
It wasn't aged like the Thousand-year-old Snow Ginseng. Maybe a few decades old. But still very rare.
"Where in the world did you get these—no, what are you planning to make with them?"
"I plan to make a pill that maximizes Yang energy. Master, please assist me."
"Assist you? Well, fine, but what are you going to use it for?"
Yoo Baekjun pulled something from his robe. It was the Thousand-year-old Snow Ginseng. Joo Joongwon's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Thousand-year-old Snow Ginseng!"
"I need it to properly digest this."
"Wow, to think I'd see this with my own eyes! You, you weren't attacked by monsters—you went to retrieve this, didn't you!"
"Something like that. So, will you help me?"
Yoo Baekjun grinned. He didn't know what the boy was planning, but he clearly wouldn't be stopped. Joo Joongwon clicked his tongue.
"Well, if you're asking for help, how could I refuse?"
The two of them worked together to make the pill.
Slowly and carefully, they went through dozens of formulation processes, combining the Sun Herb, Fire Spirit Herb, and Fire Ginseng into one.
–Using the Oriental Medicine Formulation Skill.
–Received help from someone with outstanding Oriental Medicine Formulation Skill. The effect of the skill has greatly increased.
–Created the Extreme Yang Pill!
And after a while—
The pill was finally completed.
[Extreme Yang Pill (A)]
–A pill imbued with extremely strong yang energy, crafted by a master pharmacist.
Unlike the Thousand-year-old Snow Ginseng, this pill contained powerful yang energy.
When taken together, the yang and yin energies would suppress each other appropriately.
"Master, may I have some time alone?"
"Can you digest it alone?"
"Yes."
"If it seems dangerous, I'll call someone immediately. Still okay with that?"
"I understand."
Joo Joongwon gladly gave his consent and vacated the room. Left alone, Yoo Baekjun pulled out the Martial God's Book.
'Feels like I'm cracking open my savings account.'
It was time to use the points he had saved up.