Episode 30

The time of petty rogues can be measured by a clock, but the time of a grandmaster cannot.
–William Blake, <The Marriage of Heaven and Hell>

The treatment for alleviating the symptoms of Nine Yin-Qi Nails requires a delicate ability to control internal energy.

For this, we must tame the power contained within the elixir in the correct way and transform it into the warrior’s own power, that is, True energy.
Whether it is Yin energy or Yang energy, uncontrolled power inevitably harms the body.
What is needed here is a True energy guiding, a health-preserving technique that induces positive changes in the practitioner’s body by moving the body’s energy in the correct order.

And my master, who founded Baritsu, was unparalleled in True energy guiding method.

“From now on, I will move your True energy for you. Relax and accept the interference.”
“…I’m trying to do that right now.”

Through the hand placed on Watson’s back, I sent a small amount of my energy into her body.
This internal energy, tamed from a minute amount of the elixir’s energy into True energy, will act like a fishing hook or magnet, guiding the energy within Watson’s body in the desired direction.
With muscles relaxed and acupoints opened as much as possible, I could guide the turbulent energy of the seasoned pill so it wouldn’t harm her body.

-Whoong!

The energy I channeled into Watson’s body began to resonate with my energy center.

The small extreme Yang energy slowly moved along my intent and pierced into the middle of the seasoned pill’s energy that Watson had not yet fully absorbed.
With this, the first stage necessary to bind and move Watson and my energies together, known as Resonance, was completed.

‘So far, so good.’

Next, I tentatively drew the energy of the seasoned pill gathered in my energy center up to the Umbilicus Point.
Soon, I could feel the exact same movement occurring within Watson’s body without a single deviation.

There are several methods to completely absorb the energy of an elixir into one’s own True energy, but in the case of the seasoned pill of the Unicorn Salamander, simply performing a minor rotation slowly is sufficient.
Though that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

‘I need to concentrate.’

Interfering with the energy of an elixir consumed by another person generally carries significant risk.
Especially if the one interfering is also in the process of absorbing the elixir.

Moving the energy of two people simultaneously is akin to drawing a precise portrait with both the right and left hands simultaneously.

Logically, it would be right for me to first convert all the power of the seasoned pill into Blazing True Yang Energy before slowly moving the energy Watson absorbed.

However, having mastered the Lionheart Method, which is specialized in absorbing the energy of an elixir without restraint, I am not bound by such limitations.

-Thrum, thrum, thrum…!

As I began the True Energy Conduction, the hot energy of the seasoned pill started to flow slowly along my meridians.
The difference from the usual Breath Control practice is that on the surface of the circulating True energy and the Yang energy of the seasoned pill, unique waveforms protrude like spikes.

This is the Cogwheel Method, a secret technique unique to Baritsu, not found in the internal energy methods of other sects.

The Cogwheel Method is a supreme martial art that processes the circulating energy within the body into the form of cogs to interfere with another’s energy.
If mastered, just a touch on the opponent’s body can reverse their True energy flow, causing internal injuries or disrupting the flow of techniques.

However, I have no reason to harm Watson.

-Clack!

Not only did gears appear in the internal energy circulating within me, but also in Watson’s energy circulation.

Calling it a wheel was a stretch since the shape of the meridian was more elliptical.
The Blazing True Yang Energy that had previously penetrated Watson’s energy center was serving as a primer, moving her energy in the direction I desired.

-Clink!

In the next moment, the gears of my internal energy perfectly meshed with Watson’s back and my palm.

Engagement complete.

-Creak!

Soon, the gears began to move in opposite directions.

The Cogwheel Method is a highly versatile technique that can be used for purposes other than attacking an opponent.
And the Renewal Lionheart Method I learned is a dark art that circulates internal energy in the opposite direction of Orthodox methods.

This means that even if I circulate the Yang energy in reverse as usual, Watson’s Yang energy will naturally flow in the correct direction.

“Urgh…”

Due to the unexpected occurrence, Watson was unable to regain her senses.

With Yang energy equipped with gears circulating through her meridians, the pain must be indescribable.
Even I, who have mastered the Cogwheel Method, was gritting my teeth to endure the pain.

In fact, I could move Watson’s aura without forming gears in her Yang energy.
Nevertheless, I chose this method to accommodate Watson’s constitution.

‘It certainly is tricky. I understand why Master warned against attempting to treat Nine Qi-Yin Nails casually.’

Watson, suffering from Nine Qi-Yin Nails, has nine large nails of Yin energy embedded in her meridians.
With the Eight Extraordinary Meridians blocked by the nails, only the Twelve Principal Meridians can be utilized, resulting in decreased efficiency in the use of True energy and making Breath Control difficult.

Most importantly, her body has long been dominated by Yin energy.
If her meridians are exposed to unrefined Yang energy of the seasoned pill for too long, she will suffer severe internal injuries.

I used the Cogwheel Method with my internal energy infused into Watson’s body to solve this problem.

‘I must end this quickly without delay.’

When applying the Cogwheel Method to transfer True energy to another, creating cogs in both bodies allows energy to move much more quickly and efficiently.
By using this method, even if the meridians are narrowed by the Yin nails, Yang energy can be forced through the Twelve Principal Meridians to complete the minor circulation without slowing down.

Despite the pain, increasing the speed is the way to help Watson’s body.

‘I will understand if you resent me for this.’

I turned away from Watson’s trembling small back and closed my eyes again.
My friend was still enduring the pain caused by the cogs of internal energy, stifling her groans, but she seemed to be gradually calming her breathing as she got used to it.

‘Just a little more…’

The Yang energy rising past Watson’s back reached the Hundred Meetings point at the top of her head.

Following the proper method, Watson was holding the Yang energy in her head, preventing it from moving to the next gateway.
I felt her body temperature, which had been rising rapidly through my palm on her back, returning to normal.

Gradually, the Yang energy filling her mind was beginning to blend with Watson’s will.
Evidence that the rampant Yang energy of the seasoned pill is slowly being absorbed into Watson’s True energy.

‘Now is the time…!’

When I signaled by pressing my palm against her back, Watson opened the Yin-tang point between her eyebrows.
Simultaneously, the Yang energy, which had finished warming, cascaded down the Conception Vessel like a waterfall and was sucked into Watson’s energy center.

-Goooo!!!

The energy of the seasoned pill maintained its descending momentum and circulated through the meridians eleven more times.

“Ahh…!”

As soon as the minor rotation concluded, Watson exhaled the breath she had been holding.
Her True energy, which had been extremely skewed towards the Yin direction, began to shift towards Yang, likely altering the balance of Yin and Yang that had been dominating her body.

I also converted all the Yang energy I absorbed simultaneously with Watson into True energy and confined it in my lower energy center.

‘It’s beyond expectations!’

I could feel a significant increase in the amount of usable True energy.
If I were to enter the Mind Palace in this state, I might be able to further unleash the martial arts that had been restricted due to the regression.

However, I have no leisure to think about that now.

What must be prioritized above all else is completing the treatment for the meridian disorder.

“Is it…over now…Holmes?”
“No.”

We have only achieved half of our goal.

Though we succeeded in having Watson fully accept the Yang energy of the seasoned pill as True energy, the nails of Yin energy embedded in Watson’s meridians remain.

If we cannot dissolve these, consuming the seasoned pill would be meaningless.

It’s true that Watson must endure even more pain, but I honestly did not want to miss this opportunity when the acupoints were activated.

“Now is when it truly begins. Brace yourself to avoid fainting.”
“Holmes, I’m not quite ready—”
“Never mind that, open your mouth.”
“Mmmph!!”

Instead of answering, I twisted a handkerchief into Watson’s mouth to prevent her from biting her tongue.

A cork or a piece of wood might be better for enduring the pain, but it could interfere with the breathing exercise.

“You can handle this.”
“Mmm! Mmmph!!”

Once again, I employed the Cogwheel Method to draw the boiling hot energy from Watson’s energy center up through the Governing Vessel of her spine, where the first nail was lodged.

-Whoosh!

The warm energy, reminiscent of the sun, enveloped the thick nail of Yin energy embedded in Watson’s acupoint.

-Crack!
-Crunch!!

I began to carve away at the nail of Yin energy, requiring even more concentration than when I moved the energy within the seasoned pill.

The process of grinding down the Yin energy, precipitated in the form of a nail, was not only mentally taxing but also inflicted excruciating pain on Watson.

“Urgh…!!”

Watson couldn’t suppress a groan, but I had no time to offer her comfort.
I could only continue to grind down the Yin energy nail, using the Blazing True Yang Energy like a whetstone with the mindset of gradually making a needle from sharpening an axe.¹

However.

‘…It’s not enough. At this rate, Watson will pass out.’

The nail was wearing down much more slowly than I had anticipated.
The fragments of the worn-down nail, the cold-attribute Yin energy, were neutralizing with the Blazing True Yang Energy.

If I were to condense the Blazing True Yang Energy into Extreme True Yang Energy, it might melt the nail faster, but Watson’s meridians might not withstand it.
I needed to remove the nail as quickly as possible to relieve Watson’s pain, but I was at a stalemate.

‘I wanted to avoid this method.’

There was no other choice at this point.

Master advised against using it unless absolutely necessary, but I have no choice.

‘If I don’t succeed in one attempt, both Watson and I will be in danger.’

Concentration surging to its limit.
My vision darkened, and my senses dulled.

Preparations were complete.

Reciting the forbidden mnemonic verse silently, I gathered my internal energy in my brain.

- To see a world in a grain of sand
- And a heaven in a wildflower
- Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
- And eternity in an hour

To see the world in a grain of sand.
To see heaven in a wildflower.
At that moment hold infinity in your hand.
Eternity shall be in a moment.

The mnemonic verse recorded by William Blake, the first European to open his upper energy center, Auguries of Innocence. As I recited the first four lines in my mind.

-Splutter.

The blood droplet that fell from my bitten lip gradually slowed until it halted in mid-air.
The world captured by my widened pupils lost its sound and movement.

If time is insufficient, then hold on with all your might.

This is the world of stillness reached through the extreme of movement by concentrating internal energy in the cerebral cortex.
Thus—

—Immersion is the state of eternity—

The realm where time has stopped.