Chapter 9…. Ongun
“This… this is!”
In a lavishly decorated room, an elderly man with white hair, Ongun, trembled as he lifted a small jade vial.
Inside, a pill with a faint red glow emitted a subtle fragrance.
“Elder, is something the matter?”
Nam Yeong-wol, who had been standing beyond the desk, approached cautiously and asked.
Ongun slowly raised his head.
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“Where did you get this pill?”
“P–pardon?”
“I asked you, where did you get this!”
His sudden sharp tone made Nam Yeong-wol flinch.
Seeing the grave look on his face, Yeong-wol’s heart tensed.
‘Don’t tell me… is there really something wrong with the pill?’
She wanted to believe in Cheon-yi, the boy who had made it, but Ongun’s reaction was far too unusual.
“T–to tell the truth…”
Nam Yeong-wol began explaining the situation.
That the one who had created the pill was none other than a sixteen-year-old boy, the young master of the Cheon clan—Cheon-yi.
Even as she spoke, unease gnawed at her.
Could it be that Cheon-yi had truly made something dangerous?
Ongun, listening in silence, narrowed his eyes as he stared at the pill.
An unmistakable look of astonishment flickered across his face.
“…Did you just say that boy made this?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Young Master Cheon-yi of the Cheon clan—”
Yeong-wol answered hesitantly.
But before she even finished speaking, Ongun shot up from his seat.
The jade vial struck the desk with a sharp tak.
“Impossible…! This refinement technique is at least the work of a Fifth-grade alchemist! No—perhaps even higher!”
Yeong-wol’s eyes widened.
‘Fifth grade…? Could this pill really be that incredible?’
Before she could even process it, Ongun exclaimed:
“Take me to that young master of the Cheon clan immediately—no…”
He caught his breath and corrected himself.
“Bring me to Master Cheon at once!”
“Wh–what? Master… Cheon?”
Yeong-wol couldn’t help blurting out the question.
Never in her life had she heard Ongun use such an honorific.
‘Master Cheon…? From his lips?’
Her astonishment only deepened.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Ongun barked again, firm and commanding:
“What are you standing there for? Hurry and lead me to Master Cheon!”
“Y–yes, of course!”
Flustered, Yeong-wol immediately escorted Ongun out of the room.
Soon, they arrived where Cheon-yi, Cheon San-hang, and Cheon-gil were.
Taking a breath, Yeong-wol said,
“Elder, this is the young master of the Cheon clan.”
As Cheon-yi lifted his gaze, Ongun’s eyes widened.
A youth of no more than sixteen or seventeen.
Yet his eyes were clear and profound, like someone who had been quietly burning with an eternal flame for years.
‘This boy… really created that pill?’
It was hard to believe, but the undeniable reality before him smothered all doubt.
Taking a step forward, Ongun bowed respectfully.
“I am Ongun, apothecary of the Namphung Auction House. It is an honor to meet you, Master Cheon.”
His voice carried sincerity.
“Master Cheon!?”
At that title, Cheon San-hang and Cheon-gil’s eyes went wide.
Though they didn’t know Ongun personally, the fact that even Nam Yeong-wol showed him such deference made it clear he was no ordinary man.
Yeong-wol herself held a high rank in Namphung Auction House.
If she showed this much respect, Ongun was likely a central figure of the house—or perhaps even someone directly connected to the Imperial court.
For such a man to address Cheon-yi as “Master”…
Even if Cheon-yi could refine pills, to be treated this way over a mere First-grade pill was unthinkable.
Could it be… that the pill Cheon-yi created was Second-grade or higher?
Cheon San-hang and Cheon-gil exchanged bewildered looks.
“Hm.”
Cheon-yi calmly nodded at Ongun, unperturbed.
It wasn’t surprising that Ongun had come.
The pill he had crafted was Third-grade.
The highest quality one could find in Mokgun Fortress.
Even Yeop Jeong, counted among the top alchemists of Mokgun Fortress, was still only at the Third-grade level.
“Will this pill suffice as payment for the goods?”
Cheon-yi glanced briefly at Nam Yeong-wol, then asked Ongun softly.
“Of course!”
Ongun nodded without hesitation, then turned to Yeong-wol.
“This single pill more than covers the entirety of Master Cheon’s purchases.”
“E–Elder?”
Yeong-wol looked flustered.
“Nam Yeong-wol! You still haven’t returned the promissory notes entrusted to you by Master Cheon?”
“A–ah… understood.”
Though resentment welled within her, she silently returned the gold certificates that Cheon-gil had deposited.
Cheon-yi accepted them with his usual calm composure, his unruffled demeanor making Yeong-wol feel even more uneasy.
“This is…”
Cheon San-hang and Cheon-gil stared speechlessly at the returned certificates.
A single pill had nullified one and a half million gold coins’ worth of debt.
If true, this was no mere pill, but a treasure of fortune itself.
At that moment, Ongun carefully stepped forward.
“Master Cheon, might I have a private word with you?”
“…Very well.”
Cheon-yi nodded lightly.
For him, creating the pill hadn’t just been about paying for goods.
It was also a way to establish ties with Namphung Auction House—and by extension, the Imperial faction behind it.
It was all part of the foundation for his next move.
Turning to his father, he said:
“Father, I’ll be back shortly.”
Cheon San-hang narrowed his brow, staring into his son’s eyes.
Then, he nodded.
“…Very well. Go.”
Whatever Ongun wanted to discuss, it clearly wasn’t anything harmful.
“Why are Master Cheon’s family still standing here? Escort them to the guest chambers at once!”
Unable to hide his delight, Ongun rebuked Yeong-wol again.
“…Understood, Elder.”
Though resentment clouded her face, she couldn’t disobey.
Casting one last displeased glance at Cheon-yi, she turned away.
Cheon-yi, unbothered, followed Ongun deeper into the auction house.
Not long after, the two arrived at an inner chamber reserved for the highest-ranking officials of Namphung Auction House.
A quiet room with crimson wood furnishings and a carpet embroidered with golden threads.
Though modest in appearance, the quality of each item radiated nobility.
“Master, please have a seat!”
The moment they entered, Ongun respectfully guided Cheon-yi to a seat.
As he moved to prepare tea, Cheon-yi raised a hand to stop him.
“There’s no need for tea. Let’s get straight to the point.”
“Very well.”
Ongun nodded and sat.
He had only one reason for bringing Cheon-yi here:
To confirm the boy’s abilities firsthand.
The Third-grade pill Cheon-yi had produced was of the highest quality—an “Extreme Grade” pill.
Such pills were exceedingly rare.
In Namwoon Realm, pills were classified by efficacy, which directly determined their market value.
Efficacy under 60%: low grade.
60–70%: middle grade.
70–80%: high grade.
Above 90%: extreme grade.
100%: perfection.
The pill Cheon-yi had made had surpassed 90% efficacy.
Even Fourth-grade alchemists struggled to achieve that.
And yet, a boy of sixteen had done so.
It was beyond astonishing.
As a Second-grade apothecary himself, Ongun knew all too well how difficult it was to produce such pills.
Thus, he wished to verify Cheon-yi’s abilities directly.
Could this boy truly already be at the Fourth-grade level?
Ongun sank into thought as he studied him.
That pill was not something explainable by talent alone.
Just then, Cheon-yi spoke calmly.
“Are you the one in charge of this auction house?”
The question caught Ongun off guard.
“Ah—yes. I manage the Mokgun Fortress branch.”
“Then there’s something I’d like to discuss.”
Cheon-yi nodded slightly, then continued.
“I came here today to negotiate.”
“Negotiate…?”
Ongun frowned in curiosity.
“Master, may I ask what you mean?”
Cheon-yi pointed at the jade vial in Ongun’s hand.
“A pill of this quality would be in high demand at your auction, wouldn’t it?”
“Without a doubt.”
Ongun immediately nodded firmly.
The demand for such a pill would be overwhelming.
In truth, even a single extreme-grade Third-grade pill could fetch over a million gold coins.
If auctioned at the Imperial Capital’s main house, the price could easily soar into the millions.
High-grade pills were especially prized for their minimal side effects, something highly valued by nobles.
In fact, extreme-grade pills were said to have nearly no side effects at all.
If such pills were offered in the Capital, the bidding could well exceed one and a half million gold coins.
Cheon-yi’s words had struck at the very core of Ongun’s ambition.
“I can make three more of these pills for you. But the ingredients must be supplied by the auction house. As payment…”
Cheon-yi produced a prepared list and handed it over.
“These are what I require.”
Ongun carefully unfolded the list.
But the moment he read just a few lines, his eyes flew wide.
“Blood of seven individuals with special constitutions… one hundred drops of a Rank 7 spirit beast’s blood… one thousand drops of a Rank 8 spirit beast’s blood…”
He swallowed hard and looked at Cheon-yi.
“Such conditions… would be no small matter to prepare.”
Before he could finish, Cheon-yi cut in.
“The type of Third-grade pill is entirely up to you.”
“Any Third-grade pill…?”
Ongun’s eyes gleamed.
