Episode 29

Nevertheless, true energy flows.
–Galileo Galilei

No sooner had I mentioned my purpose to the shopkeeper at the entrance than the owner approached and politely greeted me.

“I’m sorry, but the private training room is not open to regular customers.”

Initially, the owner politely declined, but when I presented the invitation from the Debutante Ball and the seasoned pill of the Unicorn Salamander, he nodded in understanding.

“My apologies. You’re a finalist. I will escort you to the basement.”

Indeed, bearing the halo of The Royal Combat Society doesn’t seem like a bad choice.
Perhaps, as Mrs. Hudson suggested, I should consider becoming a formal member.

“Let’s go, Watson.”

We followed the owner into the elevator leading to the basement.
I was truly relieved that Watson, with her troubled leg, didn’t have to use the stairs.

-Vrrrrm!

The elevator descended for quite some time before arriving at the training room.

The basement of the shop had an entirely different atmosphere from the cozy space where customers drank tea above ground.

The corridor, carved out of rock, was equipped with modern ventilation systems and piping. Several closed doors were visible on either side of the wide passageway.
Nameplates bearing the names of eminent figures, known to every Briton, were engraved on the doors.

“Impressive. I’d heard the rumors, but I didn’t expect it to be this grand.”
“This was originally a cave that existed underground, which has been modified. Even with the abundance of tea rooms in London, it’s rare to find one with such facilities.”

Every room in the training area was a soundproofed private party room.
The owner selected a silver key from a bunch and opened the door to ‘Newton’s Room’ at the end of the corridor.

“If you entrust me with the seasoned pill of the Unicorn Salamander, I will prepare it quickly and bring it to you.”
“I’d appreciate that.”

I handed over the glass case containing the seasoned pill and entered the private room with Watson.

Inside, the walls were adorned with expensive luminous pearls, and high-quality mirrors drew light from the ground, making the room far from dark.
The room, equipped with a splendid table, chairs, sofa, as well as a bathroom, toilet, and bed, was comparable to a hotel.
It was also stocked with enough grain pills and drinking water to last a week, indicating readiness for emergencies.

Of course, no one would come here just to eat that.

“I shall assist you with your order.”
“Two servings of the afternoon tea set, please.”
“We recommend the English Yun-Qi Breakfast Tea blend.”

English Yun-Qi Breakfast.
A blend of tea leaves from Ceylon, Assam, and Kenya mixed with elixirs like fleeceflower root. It’s the most standard choice.

“I’ll have that.”

The owner nodded and headed towards the elevator.

Meanwhile, Watson, who didn’t know much about the Debutante Ball, looked around the room in wonder at the privileges granted here.

“Amazing. To use a place like this for free.”

For the next three days, we can freely use this training hall.
We brought clothes to change into and toothbrushes because we would be staying here for a while.

I left a letter at the boarding house so Mrs. Hudson wouldn’t worry when she returned from her trip.
She would be surprised to learn that we received the top gift from the Debutante Ball.

“Well, Newens is the official sponsoring teahouse of the Debutante Ball. By the time you leave here, your meridian blockage should be somewhat improved.”
“I still can’t believe it. That I would come across such a precious elixir.”
“It’s all thanks to having a good friend.”

Watson nodded with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Holmes. Today, I feel like I can let anything you say slide.”
“That’s fortunate. Because I have something to ask you.”

With Watson’s permission, it seems I can ask questions here without hesitation.

“So, what is it that you’re curious about? Haven’t you already figured out everything about me through observation? I didn’t expect there’d still be something you want to ask.”

Watson asked with eyes brimming with curiosity, as usual.

In her eyes, I must seem like a master of observation, capable of discovering anything without needing to question anyone.
However, no matter how brilliant my intellect is, it is impossible to instantly discern all the information about a person I’ve never met in this new world I’m experiencing for the first time.

For example, clues about this world’s ‘John Watson’.

“……”
“…Why, why are you looking at me like that, Holmes.”

Jane Watson and John Watson are fraternal twins.

Two Watsons.
For someone like me, who has no friends besides Watson, this side of London is undoubtedly a dreamlike world.

Of course, it means nothing if I can’t find the Watson who left home.

But if it’s the John Watson I know. The man with an upright and strong character.
He must surely be somewhere in the world, pursuing his own path.

“Watson, this might be an uncomfortable question for you, but—”

I was ready to speak when—

-Knock knock.

Just as the afternoon tea set arrived, it interrupted my question.

“Come in.”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As the server entered the training room, a fragrant aroma began to fill the room.

A luxurious three-tiered tray was piled high with various tea delicacies.

Among them, the one that stood out the most was the sandwich made with the seasoned pill of the Unicorn Salamander.

“Oh, wow…”

Watson, seeing tea delicacies made with elixirs for the first time, couldn’t stop marveling.

The two seasoned pills were processed in different ways and placed between the bread.

One was a paste made by mixing sliced seasoned pill with goose liver, a pâté.
The other was the seasoned pill cut and grilled to medium rare, like a steak.

It looked beautiful and smelled exquisite, making it impossible not to admire the culinary skills.

The black tea served in a Portmeirion Spode Blue Italian teapot also matched my taste, accompanied by lemon, sugar, and Stone Milk for customization.

“Watson. Let me see your hand for a moment.”
“Why my wrist all of a sudden?”
“I need to check how much of the elixir’s energy your energy center can absorb.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to place a hand directly on the lower abdomen?”
“……”

Even as friends, that’s a bit much with a lady…
More importantly, for a martial artist, directly touching the energy center is as threatening as holding a knife to their throat.

“Ahem… Perhaps just checking the pulse would be better.”

Watson turned her flushed face away, clearing her throat repeatedly.

“Then, pardon me for a moment.”

I rolled up Watson’s sleeve and checked her pulse.
Slowly channeling my energy, I could feel Watson’s internal energy pushing back against the power I infused.

“Hooh.”
“Calm your mind.”

What I attempted was a technique to temporarily infuse my internal energy into another person to gauge the size of their energy center. The principle itself wasn’t much different from Succession.

“The reason Succession is prone to failure is precisely this. If the strict conditions aren’t met, the recipient’s internal energy will reject the power.”
“Impressive. To think you can use that to determine the size of the energy center.”
“The problem is that it is a method that requires delicate handling of energy, so it is not easy to replicate.”

I roughly gauged the size of Watson’s internal energy through the repulsion force emitted by her energy center.
Considering the high-grade quality of the Unicorn Salamander’s seasoned pill that we acquired this time—

“Half a piece. Don’t consume more than that.”
“That’s unfortunate. Then I suppose I can have one more piece of cake?”
“Of course.”

Watson’s energy center could withstand about half a pill at most.
I would love to give her two at once, but that might cause her energy center to erupt, leaving her crippled.

An outsider might ask why not just cut the pill into two and consume it slowly over time, but that’s impossible.

The pill is part of a living creature’s body, a distinct part of its being.

From the moment we extracted it from the Unicorn Salamander’s body, it began to oxidize.
If it were cut and stored, the Yang energy inside would dissipate in a few days.

Moreover, generally, consuming such potent elixirs multiple times does not yield significant benefits.

The exception would be for those who, like my master or me, have mastered the Lionheart Method, as it is designed with the premise of consuming large amounts of elixirs.

“Then, shall we begin?”
“Let’s eat well.”

Without any prompt, we both took a bite of our sandwiches.

A texture reminiscent of foie gras. Juices bursting forth.
Indeed, true to its name, the seasoned pill, it was adequately salted and aromatic without needing any extra seasoning.

But savoring the taste leisurely was only momentary.

Soon, the intense Yang energy contained within the pill began to slowly spread throughout my body.

-Whoosh!

It felt like my entire body was submerged in warm water.
A scorching heat started to spread through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

“My stomach feels hot, Holmes. It’s so warm I can barely stand it.”
“That’s a good sign.”

The energy of the pill still seemed to be lingering in Watson’s stomach.
It was because nine large nails formed of Yin energy were lodged in her meridians, obstructing the circulation of energy.

“Now, we’ll use that energy to unblock your obstructed meridians “
“Are there no side effects?”
“Of course. It’ll just be very painful.”
“My goodness.”

I don’t believe this attempt will completely cure the Nine Yin-Qi Nails.

But at least we should be able to remove one of the nails embedded in the meridians.

“There’s still a bit of time before we start Breath Control. In the meantime, keep your mind and body relaxed so that you can naturally absorb the energy of the pill.”
“By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to ask me something earlier? I’m getting restless with curiosity.”
“No, it’s fine to postpone it for later.”

I hesitated to bring up the topic of her twin brother because I was worried it might interfere with the absorption of the pill’s energy.

I have no choice but to set aside my curiosity and ask her slowly next time.

“It’s about time we start. Prepare yourself well, Watson.”

Having finished our elixir-infused black tea and tea delicacies, we immediately assumed the Lotus Position.

“Clear your mind and focus solely on the extreme Yang energy. The army’s standard internal energy method is versatile enough to safely harness the Yang energy within.”
“I will keep that in mind.”

Watson promptly closed her eyes and began Rotation.

Though she may have fewer techniques for close combat compared to the rising prodigies of the Debutante Ball, as a former army officer, she has built a solid foundation like no other.
Having taken the appropriate amount, no matter how intense the Yang energy of the Unicorn Salamander’s internal core, it cannot harm her meridians.

-Whooo…

Watson’s breath, like a machine, as she began the Army’s standard breath control technique.
The Yang energy extracted from the seasoned pill likely started coiling around her energy center by now.

“Ugh…”

A painful groan escaped Watson’s lips.

Her body, having contained a large amount of Yin energy, had lived a life with a disrupted balance of Yin and Yang.
With the unfamiliar Uang energy filling her energy center, it was natural for the originally settled Yin energy to react violently.

However, this was a necessary passage to avoid her demise.

“Please, endure it, Watson.”

If I cannot cure his twin sister’s Nine Yin-Qi Nails, I cannot face them as a friend.
Moreover, letting the one assisting me now die would disqualify me as a consulting detective.

I will sustain Watson and cultivate her into a formidable warrior.
That is truly the way to repay my friend Watson and simultaneously find an assistant I can trust.

“Let’s begin.”

I placed my hand on Watson’s back.

Following my intention, the energy residing in her energy center began to move gradually.