Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Glenn's back, which seemed unusually narrow today.
'Is he asking me to buy Periton Blanc white wine?'
But why me?
If Glenn wanted, he could drink not just Periton Blanc, but also the relics of the sea he had acquired with great difficulty.
He couldn't understand why Glenn, who was stricter about public and private matters than anyone else, was hinting at buying white wine.
-You idiot!
Wrath clicked his tongue in disdain.
-Do you still not understand why that old man suddenly brought up white wine?
'So, do you know?'
Raon looked down at Wrath with narrowed eyes.
-Of course! I am more human than you, so I can't help but understand!
Wrath nodded and floated above Glenn's head.
-What food pairs well with white wine?
'Usually fish dishes.'
There was no strict rule, but it was said that red wine pairs well with meat, while white wine goes well with fish dishes.
-That's right!
Wrath clapped his hands loudly as if he had figured it out.
-That old man wants to eat fish dishes!
'....'
Raon's eyes went from disdainful to pathetic.
-If you put thinly sliced onions on soft salmon and add cream sauce to it….
Wrath reminisced about the salmon dish he had in Aikar, holding his chubby cheeks and giggling.
-Bring me salmon immediately! What? Why are you picking me up? Let go!
Raon picked up the babbling Wrath and threw him into the lake before approaching Glenn.
"I will get that wine for you."
Although he still didn't understand why Glenn mentioned wine, he decided to get it since it seemed like Glenn wanted it.
"Hmm, I spoke unnecessarily."
Glenn lightly gestured as if he had already forgotten about the wine.
"Turn around."
"Yes."
Since Glenn wouldn't do anything bad, and even if he did, Raon couldn't stop him, he obediently turned around. He felt Glenn's hand touch between his shoulder blades.
"Keep your mouth shut and stay still."
As Raon tried to turn his head, he heard Glenn's voice.
"Periton's martial arts utilize all the mana circuits in the human body. In other words, one must master the human body."
With those words, Glenn's aura surged like a wave. Since it was charged with lightning, it stung as if he was burned.
"Reading books and explaining one by one is not my style, so endure it well."
"...."
Raon couldn't open his mouth due to Glenn's aura penetrating his body and could only lower his head.
Goooooo!
Glenn's lightning coursed through the main mana circuits connected to the energy center, stimulating even the underdeveloped minor mana circuits.
The movement of the aura was neither too fast nor too slow, so it wasn't difficult to follow his teachings.
"The human body is like the universe. Calling a martial artist's body a microcosm follows the same logic."
He had heard it before. There were sayings that the human body was infinite and could transcend life and death.
"The core of it is the energy center and the mana circuits."
As he said that, Glenn moved the lightning to stimulate six mana circuits extending from the energy center simultaneously.
The tingling sensation of lightning reached the fingertips and then returned to the energy center, awakening the flow of Periton's martial arts.
"Remember the path and method of operation where the lightning is flowing. If you want to surpass the Grandmaster and go beyond, the flow you feel now will be a great help."
Raon focused all his attention on feeling the movement of the lightning, unable to even say thank you.
Wooooong!
After showing him the method of simultaneously moving the six main mana circuits connected to the energy center twice, Glenn finally withdrew his lightning.
"Hoo…."
Raon collapsed to the floor, exhaling heavily. His body felt as heavy as if it had absorbed water, and sweat dripped from his entire body due to extreme concentration.
'I feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion. But I learned a lot.'
Glenn didn't just teach him the operation method of Periton's martial arts but also enabled him to understand the locations of the minor mana circuits and the movement of the energy center and the main mana circuits.
Thanks to that, he got a sense of how to connect Sylvia's damaged mana circuits and the artificial energy center.
"Thank you."
Raon stood up, holding onto his wobbly legs, and bowed to Glenn.
"I just did what I had to do."
Glenn waved his hand lightly as if it was no big deal.
"Continue to cultivate diligently and develop your entire mana circuit wider and straighter than it is now. If you can do that, you will also be able to advance to a broader place."
He reached into his robe and threw out a booklet. It was the operation method of Periton's martial arts, which he had already mastered.
"Progress well."
Glenn turned around without hesitation and disappeared into the shadows of the night.
"...."
Raon did not lift his head for a long time until Glenn had completely disappeared.
"Ugh!"
Rimmer pounded the ground as he watched Glenn return to the main building.
"Why does he act like that! If he wants a drink, he should just say so! Why make it complicated!"
He grabbed his dirt-covered head, not understanding Glenn.
"It can't be helped."
Sheryl clicked her tongue shortly while leaning against a rock.
"The head of house is still contemplating whether approaching Sylvia and Raon is the right thing to do."
"I know that too, but his progress is too slow. At this rate, I'll die first!"
Rimmer closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
"Hoo…."
Sheryl sighed, agreeing that the relationship between grandfather and grandson was not properly continuing.
"No, Raon is also strange! Why does a guy with such keen insight become blind in front of the head of the house! Why do you think he mentioned wine! Because he wants to drink it with you!"
Rimmer gritted his teeth as he looked at Raon, who had his head lowered.
"Don't blame Raon."
Sheryl hit the back of Rimmer's head and shook her head.
"To Raon, the head of the house is a lofty sky he cannot reach. Who would think that the sky is embarrassed in front of him?"
"Ah, the line. The line isn't connected. It's so frustrating I could die!"
Rimmer pounded his chest and screamed.
"Haha. You don't need to worry too much."
Roenn smiled softly as he looked at Raon's eyes slowly rising.
"It's slight, but the line seems to have touched."
A month passed.
From dawn to afternoon, Raon helped Sylvia with her physical training, and at night, he focused on mastering Periton's martial arts.
As he practiced more, he found that Periton's martial arts, which earned him the nickname "The Divine Hand," allowed him to control even the slightest movements of his aura.
It felt like he was an artist drawing on leaves with a small twig.
Sylvia's physical condition had improved, and Raon had become accustomed to Periton's martial arts, so he decided to connect her energy center and mana circuits today.
Raon approached Rimmer and the Gambling Monster, who were standing in front of the annex building, and bowed his head.
"Please take care of it."
"Don't worry."
The Gambling Monster nodded coolly, telling him to focus on the task.
"Relax your shoulders. If you're nervous, nothing will go well."
Rimmer smiled as usual and massaged his shoulders. Seeing their faces relieved him a little.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed to the Gambling Monster and Rimmer and entered the annex.
"Young Master."
"Please take care of Madam."
The maids showed calm expressions, hiding their trembling hands. They seemed to be trying not to burden him.
"Vice Division Leader! Hang in there!"
"It will go well!"
Yua raised her hand energetically, and Julius clenched his fist tightly.
"...."
Judiel remained composed, but her eyes showed tension as she bowed her head.
"I'll bring good news, so just prepare the meal."
Raon smiled at the maids and entered Sylvia's room.
Although they could have done it in a safer place, they chose this place because Sylvia felt the most at ease here.
"Raon."
Sylvia, wearing a black martial robe, turned around. Her complexion looked relaxed.
"Aren't you nervous?"
"Why would I be nervous when you're doing it?"
Sylvia smiled without a wrinkle, saying she believed in her son.
"It's okay if it doesn't go well. Don't push yourself."
"That won't happen."
Raon approached Sylvia, gripping his hands.
-Don't worry! If anything goes wrong, I will handle it all!
Wrath patted Sylvia's invisible shoulder and cleared his throat.
'Right. I'm counting on you. If this goes well, you can eat whatever you want.'
-What do you take me for! I'm not thinking about food at a time like this!
He glared, saying it was nonsense.
'Sorry. I was too harsh….'
-But you will have salmon, right?
'As expected.'
Raon let out a deflated laugh. Thanks to Wrath's nonsense, his tension eased a little.
With his hands no longer shaking, he took out the artificial energy center and the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower from the spatial pouch.
Hwaaaa!
The radiant light blooming from the artificial energy center seeped into the transparent stem of the Sea Spirit Flower, creating a serene radiance.
"What is this…?"
Sylvia tilted her head as she looked at the bluish stem of the Sea Spirit Flower.
"It's the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower. It's effective in revitalizing the energy center and mana circuits and expelling impurities."
Unlike the leaves of the Sea Spirit Flower, which could only be used once, the stem had great effects in purifying the body. This stem was the reason Raon believed he could revive Sylvia's mana circuits.
"Is it okay to use such a precious thing on me…?"
Sylvia's hands trembled as she couldn't bring herself to touch the stem.
"You just need to become someone worthy of not only the artificial energy center but also the stem."
Raon smiled broadly and placed the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower and the artificial energy center in Sylvia's hands.
"You're something else…."
"Swallow both at once. It won't be too difficult."
"Okay."
Sylvia put the artificial energy center and the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower into her mouth simultaneously. As soon as they touched her tongue, they melted and went down her throat.
The Sea Spirit Flower would flow like blood, revitalizing the hardened mana circuits, and the artificial energy center would move on its own to the position where the original energy center should be.
"Ugh…."
Sylvia frowned, feeling the mana emanating from the artificial energy center.
"I'll start right away."
Saying there was no time to waste, Raon raised his hands. Dragging it out would only increase Sylvia's pain, so he decided to start immediately.
"Okay."
Sylvia forced a smile and turned her body. She closed her eyes without saying anything, not wanting to burden him.
"Hoo…."
Raon took a deep breath, then gently shaped his aura like a thread and pushed it into Sylvia's body.
It felt hard as if digging into frozen ground. Her mana circuits were all blocked because she hadn't used aura for over 20 years.
'But I have to go through.'
Sharpening the tip of the aura like a blade, he pierced through the impurities filling the mana circuits and forcibly entered.
Sylvia trembled in pain but endured it with her lips tightly shut.
Hwaaaa!
Believing in Sylvia's patience, Raon spread his aura throughout her mana circuits.
'The energy of the Sea Spirit Flower is moving.'
The pure mana contained in the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower was revitalizing the stone-like hardened mana circuits. To connect the energy center and mana circuits, he needed to maximize that energy.
He enveloped the moving energy of the Sea Spirit Flower with his aura.
Blocking it from wasting vitality any further, he used that power to spread life throughout the hardened mana circuits.
Uuuuuuk!
Like a withered sprout reviving after drinking dew, the natural energy in the stem of the Sea Spirit Flower softened the hardened mana circuits.
'It's not just about softening. I also have to clear the impurities.'
The issues with Sylvia's mana circuits were twofold.
They were hardened and filled with impurities, both of which needed to be addressed to connect the energy center and mana circuits.
'This is something I'm confident in.'
Having pierced through all nine strands of the Curse of Frost, clearing impurities in mana circuits wasn't difficult.
Hwaaaa.
Using the heat of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, he heated the impurities inside the mana circuits and then used the sharp coldness of Glacier to clear the path.
The vitality of the Sea Spirit Flower's stem, the heat of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, and the coldness of Glacier all played their roles, expelling the accumulated impurities from Sylvia's body.
'A little slower.'
If he rushed, there would be an accident. He focused even more on clearing Sylvia's mana circuits, drawing out all his concentration.
Chiiiiing!
Just as the snow accumulated throughout winter melts under the spring sun, Sylvia's body began to emanate a clear energy.
Raon expelled the impurities through Sylvia's pores and finally exhaled the breath he had been holding.
'Hoo….'
Although it took considerable time, thanks to Sylvia's patience, he managed to clear all the impurities in the main mana circuits. Now, all that remained was connecting the energy center and the mana circuits.
'If this doesn't work, everything will be in vain.'
If he couldn't properly connect the energy center and the mana circuits, all his efforts would be for nothing. Elevating his concentration beyond a life-or-death battle, he operated Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier.
'I have to connect six mana circuits at once.'
There were six main mana circuits connected to the energy center. He had to connect all six simultaneously for the artificial energy center's mana to spread evenly throughout Sylvia's body.
Raon withdrew the heat of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and covered Sylvia's mana circuits only with Glacier.
'This should work.'
Since Kaivar was a blue dragon, his mana had a strong water attribute. The best way to utilize that mana was through Glacier.
Wooooong!
Controlling Glacier's coldness, he moved the six mana circuits simultaneously. Utilizing the aura manipulation technique he learned from Periton's martial arts, he meticulously manipulated the aura.
'I'm nervous.'
Even though he had practiced many times on his own body, doing it directly on Sylvia made his heart race uncontrollably, causing his aura manipulation to waver.
'Focus. There's no second chance.'
Raon bit his lip and gathered strength in his hands and aura. It wasn't the best method, but he had no other choice.
Feeling tension like thorns piercing his heart, he moved the six mana circuits simultaneously. The aura manipulation Glenn had taught him a month ago flashed through his mind.
The movement of aura Glenn had led with his lightning was very similar to attaching the mana circuits to the energy center.
'So that's it.'
Now I get it.
Glenn didn't suddenly come to teach him Periton's martial arts as compensation for Balder's rampage. It was advice from a father for his daughter.
'You've been watching.'
He thought Glenn had no interest in Sylvia, but he was wrong. Glenn might have been regretting the past from afar.
With Glenn's advice accompanying him, his tension eased, and the rigid movement of his aura became smooth again.
Gooooooo!
Raon smoothly moved Sylvia's mana circuits to the artificial energy center using Glacier's coldness.
Combining Glenn's advice, the knowledge gained from Periton's martial arts, and considering Sylvia's nature, he bonded the six main mana circuits to the optimal position of the artificial energy center, causing a deep cold.
Chijijijik!
Like welding iron, he used the coldness to deeply secure the path connecting Sylvia's energy center and mana circuits.
Peeeeeong!
The moment the mana circuits and the artificial energy center perfectly combined, a huge explosion occurred inside Sylvia.
The enormous mana embedded in the artificial energy center turned into a tidal wave, sweeping away the remaining impurities in the mana circuits.
Hwaaaaa!
Like the rising sun at dawn dispelling the darkness of the night, the massive yet pure mana pushed aside even the assisting coldness of Glacier, standing tall on its own.
As if breaking through hard ground to sprout, Sylvia's body emanated a profound flow.
"Hoo."
Raon lifted his eyelids as he removed his hands from Sylvia's back.
Sylvia was floating a span above the ground, breathing in the energy of nature.
Kugugugugu!
The annex trembled as massive mana gathered and dispersed repeatedly, blue mist rising above Sylvia's head and being inhaled into her nostrils.
Hoooo!
Sylvia slowly opened her eyes as she descended back to the ground. A blue radiance flickered in her eyes, something Raon had never seen before.
"Ah…."
Sylvia's body tilted back as if she had lost strength.
"Mother."
Raon caught Sylvia and smiled as he met her trembling gaze.
"Welcome back."