A dining table, above all, should be adorned like an ancestral shrine that houses the ancestral tablets, especially on feast days and banquet occasions.

-Joseph Joubert-

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While those eliminated from the Battle Royal garden party were tossed into a sewer disguised as a well in a corner of the garden and released into the Thames, the victors, sated on the tea and pastries in the tea tent, leisurely returned indoors.

Some held mushrooms or geckos, even rhinoceros beetles or flowering plants in their hands.

They were all animals, plants, and insects that had absorbed the energy of heaven and earth and become spirit beasts and plants.

Those with a keen eye had seized the opportunity to collect precious things growing in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, a rightful prize won under the rules.

When the royal chamberlain, who had appeared unnoticed, rang a bell, the attendants and servants brought silk wrappings and packed the spirit beings.

Even if they could not remain at the palace until the ball ended, the precious spirit beings obtained from the battle royal garden party would be delivered to the attendees’ homes.

Some, exhausted after expending all their internal energy, respectfully bowed to Her Majesty without regret and left the music chamber, likely judging they could not endure the remaining trials even if they stayed longer in the palace.

It was a reasonable decision, as it was better to leave on one’s own at an appropriate time than to suffer punishment and disgrace or be released into the Thames and have one’s face splashed across the papers.

However, Alfred Nobel, who left the royal palace as soon as he obtained the Blue Eyes White Snake, was the exception.

He handed me an elixir and then left the music chamber without looking back.

It wasn’t that he was tired or afraid of the upcoming trials.

The last I saw of him, he wore a relieved expression, as if he had gotten everything he wanted.

It meant he had no desire to waste any more time here now that his business was done.

‘Anyway, to have brought along an elixir imbued with such absurd energy must mean he had some purpose.’

To be honest, I was grateful, but uneasy.

For some time now, people’s gazes toward me had been tinged with envy.

Moreover, they watched my every move, making it difficult to converse comfortably with Watson as usual.

‘They probably don’t know exactly what this is either.’

All people knew was that this elixir gave off a terrifying energy.

In any case, those of the martial world are prone to go mad at the sight of divine weapons, energies, and elixirs.

“That elixir gives off tremendous vital energy, Holmes.”

“…And it’s weighty, too. Two pints is a considerable amount, perhaps the rich really are different.”

There was still a little time before tea time ended.

Ignoring the gazes around the table, I examined the glass vial Nobel had given me.

The vial contained a mucilaginous liquid.

Within the pitch-black liquid was something like stardust glittering as if I were gazing at the Milky Way.

“It’s beautiful…”

Watson, clutching the Snow Halation Iron dagger that had returned to her, showed interest in the vial.

“It means it’s that dangerous.”

I remembered that in nature, most strikingly beautiful spirit-beings, mushrooms, flowers, animals, and insects—usually harbor potent poisons.

Prime examples would be the blue silkworm called 천년빙잠 Ancient Ice Silkworm—which can freeze you into an ice block with a single bite—and the red poisonous toad 망고주합 Yellow Eyes Red Mango Toad, which leaves no plant growing where it has been.

The Blue Eyes White Snake, with its blue eyes and white body, is easily noticeable to predators, yet it survives thanks to the potent poison it carries.

Whether directly related or not, artificial elixirs crafted by human hands also tend to be harder to ingest the more vivid their colors are.

I opened the cap briefly, but there was no scent.

However, it was the first time in my life I’d seen a man-made elixir containing such intense Yang Qi.

“I suspect it’s an elixir that could cost lives if mishandled. It must be diluted before use.”

When he opened his bag earlier, there had been three identical bottles separated by cushioning material.

Considering he owned an armaments company and his suspected ultimate goal, I could guess the elixir’s purpose.

This was likely a sample Alfred Nobel had brought to show to those in power.

Depending on the user, it could undoubtedly become a terrifying weapon of war.

That he gave me a single bottle without offering it to others suggested that showing samples and making deals was merely a secondary objective for him.

From this, I inferred his visit to the Forbidden Palace was, as suspected, to secure the Blue Eyes White Snake.

Perhaps this was the very elixir he intended to create using the Blue Eyes White Snake’s bile.

‘This suddenly feels burdensome.’

Am I even allowed to accept something like this?

No. Accepting it itself shouldn’t be a problem.

Now that I know the Blue Eyes White Snake’s value to him, by relinquishing it to him I had become, in his eyes, almost a benefactor.

To find a clue, I opened the vial’s cap.

Still, the liquid emitted no scent.

Considering that Nobel had used internal energy gathered in the Middle Elixir Field, such as the heart, to execute his Kung-Fu, this elixir likely had some connection to his Distinct Kung-Fu.

If so—

“Watson. While I was in the garden, did Alfred Nobel’s brother say anything about this elixir?”

“Now that you mention it, I heard the name. I think he called it Millenium Nitroglycerine.”

“I thought so.”

Nitroglycerin gives off no scent at room temperature, but when it combusts it emits a sweet aroma similar to apricots.

The same scent I had smelled when Nobel unleashed his Burst Stream earlier.

In other words, as I suspected, this elixir was what Nobel used to accumulate internal energy in his Middle Elixir Field.

If Alfred Nobel and his company Dynamit Nobel’s techniques in weaponized alchemical elixir production were sufficiently advanced, this elixir could rightly be called a miracle drug.

Only those with even a modicum of Kung-Fu talent can accumulate internal energy in the Lower Elixir Field.

And no matter how talented, without proper instruction one cannot gather even a pinch of internal energy.

Many commoners living in Great Britain lack the talent or opportunity to learn Kung-Fu.

They would be the first dragged into war, cannon fodder who lose their livelihoods—the weak and sacrificial victims of the age.

Surely Nobel wanted to give strength to such people.

‘To sense the Lower Elixir Field is itself difficult for those new to the path to Kung-Fu, but the heart is different.’

Perhaps the Burst Gale Technique has a much lower barrier to entry than imagined.

It’s not easy to sense the Lower Elixir Field, the power contained within it, or the meridians through which internal energy flows.

But the heart is different.

Anyone who has ever exerted themselves has felt its presence and vigorous pulse.

It may take time to move internal energy via the bloodstream, but if this elixir aids accumulation in the Middle Elixir Field, the barrier to Kung-Fu could vanish in the near future.

‘If it can be mass-produced, everyone living in Europe could enjoy the benefits of Kung-Fu.’

If manuals for the Burst Gale Technique, easy even for the illiterate to begin, were distributed, that trend would accelerate.

I began to understand why Alfred Nobel had handed me this sample.

By gifting me the elixir, he seemed eager to let me taste the future he intended to create.

In Nobel’s eyes, perhaps my yielding of the Blue Eyes White Snake appeared as a bet on his benevolence.

“…For now, I should keep it safely at home until the analysis is complete.”

The hypothesis I formed after seeing Nobel’s Kung Fu, that nitroglycerin transformed into an elixir existed, was validated.

Nitroglycerin is used as a cardiac medicine but is an unstable liquid that can explode in response to brain-deadening devices or electricity.

Moreover, it often detonates from small shocks, so even as an elixir it could cause tragedy if mishandled.

I could not comprehend Nobel casually handing over such a thing.

A cold bead of sweat ran down my brow at the thought that, had I not used the art of the Soft Fist to catch it gently earlier and prevent the contents from being shocked, a massive explosion might have occurred in the middle of Buckingham Palace.

“Is it really safe to keep this at home? Mrs. Hudson won’t let it slide.”

“Keep it secret for now. If used properly, it could be of great help.”

Being of the same extreme yang nature, it would have a synergistic effect with the venom of the Blue Eyes White Snake I had just collected.

Through this, I could get closer to the essence of the Ulster Classic.

Additionally, the idea of using the Millenium Nitroglycerine to alleviate Watson’s meridian blockage disorder came to mind.

If I were to replicate the very process by which I condensed and detonated the Medicamentum Communionem’s energy to break through the minor meridians, only this time applying it to the nail of Yin-Qi that had obstructed Watson’s blood channel, it should not be an impossible task.

‘It would have been nice to have another Medicamentum Communionem, but I do have a substitute medicine.’

If you don’t have teeth, use your gums.

Now that I had an explosive elixir, it was worth attempting.

If I took great care not to damage Watson’s meridians, it should be fine.

“It’s sensitive to shock, so please store it carefully. I’ll come to collect it later.”

To protect the elixir and everyone from possible danger, I entrusted the Millenium Nitroglycerine to a royal attendant.

“It is time. All guests, please return to the ballroom.”

The steward’s voice rang out at that moment.

I rose from my seat and escorted Watson.

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The ball continued past midnight.

While some tired from the sword dances dropped out here and there, we, having trained and accustomed, managed our stamina precisely and faced the final trial without stumbling our steps.

It was 1:30 a.m.

Dinner time had finally arrived.

The attendees who left the ballroom offered incense and paid respects at the Black Emperor Shrine, which enshrined the Kung-Fu God, Edward the Black Prince1, then began to move in order.

“I don’t know why it’s called the Black Emperor Shrine instead of the Black Prince Shrine.”

“Because custom gives you two rank promotions in death.”

Watson’s question about the shrine’s name lasted only a moment.

Watson gripped my hand tightly and stepped into the dining hall where the final test awaited.

Awaiting us there was a feast laid out a la française2.

Luxurious dishes piled like a mountain on high standing tables without chairs.

Beside each personal plate at the table’s edge lay the final ‘gate’ that would test us.

“Remember, Watson. The important thing is not to let go of your utensil until the final moment.”

“I remember. I’ll hang on somehow.”

In place of forks and knives with multiple tines and blades were several blunt rods made from an unidentified alloy.

“Before you begin eating, one precaution, the use of edged implements is most strictly forbidden at the Forbidden Palace’s banquet.”

Once all guests had arrived in the dining hall, the royal chamberlain announced the task in a leisurely tone.

“Honored guests, I entreat you to observe with due reverence the august ordinances of the Forbidden Palace. Pray, from the hilts bestowed upon you, let each one release his Sword Qi and Sword Aura, and thus partake of the meal.”

Should you withdraw your Sword Qi even for an instant while holding the utensil, you will be immediately released into the Thames.

Whether your Sword Qi damages plates and tables, or you simply stop eating under the pretense of losing your appetite, you will be expelled.

“Show me the results of your training these past month, Watson.”

“…I’ll be back.”

While second-rate and first-rate martial artists who had been fortunate enough to stay until dinner stiffened with tension, Watson alone boldly stepped to the table and grasped the handle-only cutlery.

“What is she thinking?”

“Wasn’t Discharged Medical Maiden’s level first-rate like us?”

“I’ve heard she uses Fingertips as her main art, what on earth does she intend to do?”

Voices full of concern rose from all around.

They were reasonable remarks.

It is a skill within the capability of even first-rate martial artists to sheath Sword Qi into a blade.

But forming a blade purely from internal energy is an entirely different matter.

It was common knowledge in Murim that drawing Sword Qi beyond a certain length is impossible without reaching the Peak Realm.

Yet—

From the handle of the knife Watson held, something was clearly extending outward.

-Whish-

It was a blade of sharp qi, about the length of a finger joint.

1. TL/N: the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England ️

2. TL/N: French Style ️