WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Cultivating Underground ◈
Chapter 101
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A corner of the old cultivator’s mind tingled painfully.
They swallowed hard, cold sweat running down their spine.
They hoped they had sensed it wrong.
But as the tiger mask drew closer, that faint hope quickly faded.
The golden patterns on the skin glimpsed beneath the long robes gave off a savage, primal presence.
The old cultivator had faced Tier 3 demonic beasts before. But their demonic aura could not compare to that of the being before them.
What lay beneath it was even more frightening. The energy leaking out was already enough to make breathing difficult, yet there was no way to judge how much power crouched within that body.
From what they had heard, demonic beasts that took humanoid form at Tier 3 usually could not hide the features of their original species. But this being’s exposed hands and build were no different from those of the human race.
With such a powerful demonic aura and a perfectly human form... what else could this be but a fourth-tier demonic beast in humanoid form, a match for a Nascent Soul great cultivator?
‘Why is a fourth-tier greater demon here...?’
The greater demons of the Vast Verdant Forest Sea did not bother asking permission when they entered the lands of the human race. Some came to catch cultivators who coveted their territory, while others came to seize things they needed. It was said that some even came out simply because they were bored.
Which was this one?
The old cultivator looked at the tiger mask covering the being’s face.
A mask.
Only then did the masks worn by the surrounding Two Heavens Society members come to mind.
‘Don’t tell me...’
The man in reddish-brown robes beside them had also gone rigid.
[Elder, that person...]
[Shh! Keep your mouth shut and stay still!]
Before someone at the Nascent Soul level, even a conversation through spiritual sense might be overheard.
The man in reddish-brown robes hurriedly withdrew his magical power. The Golden Core cultivators’ pitiful pressure over the clearing faded as though it had never existed.
“W-we greet you, Senior.”
The Foundation Establishment cultivators and those below that realm whom they had brought along had already prostrated themselves. They did not even dare raise their heads.
Yi Hyeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘And this is with the Qi-Concealing Spell and Spirit-Hiding Spell active.’
He had merely come to rescue the Two Heavens Society members peacefully and settle the dispute on good terms. Instead, he was being treated like a man-eating greater demon that had burst out of the forest.
‘I’m a very kind person, you know...’
Yi Hyeon said.
“You dare persecute the Two Heavens Society... Is this Nammyeong’s will?”
The moment they heard him, the Nammyeong cultivators’ faces turned ashen.
In contrast, shock and joy filled the eyes of the Two Heavens Society members, including the one in the red deer mask.
‘The society leader’s message was true! The person sent to help us... is actually an esteemed fourth-tier greater demon!’
They had never even heard of a Nascent Soul cultivator working within the Two Heavens Society. Yet here was a fourth-tier greater demon, someone even harder to recruit.
How could such a terrifying figure belong to a clandestine network of independent cultivators who stole spirit veins and traded medicinal ingredients?
The old Nammyeong cultivator hurriedly cupped their hands, lips trembling.
“S-Senior! I am Hahu Hyeong, an elder of Nammyeong’s Jinyang Clan! I had no intention of displeasing you!”
Yi Hyeon had heard of the Jinyang Clan. It was not one of the twelve powers that made up the Nammyeong Twelve-Sect Alliance.
‘So the Twelve-Sect Alliance’s member sects haven’t intervened directly.’
“I hear you tried to interfere with the Two Heavens Society’s trading network.”
“I-it’s a misunderstanding! We only wanted to regulate the distribution of medicinal ingredients around the border a little...!”
“Regulate? Then I’ll have to regulate how the Jinyang Clan is run from now on.”
Sweat beaded on Hahu Hyeong’s forehead.
“We have no intention whatsoever of fighting the Two Heavens Society or the Forest Sea. It’s just that Tier 3 demonic beasts have recently vanished from several areas of the outer sea, making demonic beast materials difficult to obtain. While looking for new suppliers, we learned of this medicinal ingredient distribution network...”
“Tier 3 demonic beasts have vanished? Was that the work of your human race?”
Hahu Hyeong’s face instantly went white.
‘Damn it!’
They had brought up demonic beasts disappearing from the sea in front of a greater demon from the Vast Verdant Forest Sea!
The Forest Sea probably knew that Nammyeong’s major sects had set up camps on islands throughout the outer sea to hunt demonic beasts.
If this greater demon had entered the lands of the human race because their kin had vanished, the Nammyeong Twelve-Sect Alliance would be the first suspects here.
“Th-that wasn’t our doing! We’re still trying to find out what happened!”
Just then, Hahu Jin, the man in reddish-brown robes, quietly shifted his feet.
He had thought this would end with the matter of interfering with the trading network. Now they were about to take the blame for hunting demonic beasts as well.
If that greater demon really had come because of their kin, would they listen to anything the elder said?
Hahu Jin glanced toward the edge of the clearing.
He had no intention of defeating his opponent. He only needed to block the greater demon’s sight and hold them back long enough to escape with the elder.
Inside his sleeve, flying needles silently spread apart.
The next moment, dozens of flying needles scattered like an explosion!
Silver trails curved at different heights, striking toward Yi Hyeon’s face and upper body all at once.
“Hahu Jin!”
Hahu Hyeong shouted, but it was too late.
Just as the net of needles reached his face, Yi Hyeon raised his left hand and grabbed at the air.
Hummm!
Heavy Earth-Origin Force surged before his palm. The silver lines flying in from different directions bent toward a single point in midair, then were sucked into his hand!
Crunch.
The figure in the tiger mask closed his hand, then opened it.
In that brief moment, the flying needles had been crushed together into a lump of metal the size of a fist.
‘...’
Hahu Jin stared at the unreal sight, his mouth hanging open.
He had painstakingly refined that set of flying needles. Though they fell short of a magical treasure, they were a supreme-grade magical implement. Powered by a Golden Core cultivator’s magical power, they could pierce even the protective magical light of an early Golden Core cultivator.
And they had been crushed like soft taffy in a bare hand!
Thud.
Yi Hyeon dropped the lump of metal to the ground and took a step toward Hahu Jin.
Hahu Jin hurriedly backed away and summoned his protective magical light. A thick curtain of light wrapped around his entire body.
Tap.
Yi Hyeon was already beside him, resting a hand on the light covering his shoulder.
‘When did he...!’
As the palm pressed down on his shoulder, the thick curtain of light crumpled.
Crack!
Hahu Jin’s knees slammed into the ground, splitting the bedrock. The force pressing down on his shoulder passed through his entire body.
“Urgh...!”
Only after Hahu Jin had planted both hands on the ground did Yi Hyeon withdraw his hand.
Silence settled over the clearing.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators from Nammyeong and the Two Heavens Society did not even dare breathe aloud.
“Did you want to test my strength?”
Hahu Jin could not answer.
Hahu Hyeong hurriedly spoke.
“I apologize for my subordinate’s rudeness! He has no idea how fearsome the world can be...!”
Without waiting for the elder to finish, Yi Hyeon asked Red Deer a question.
“Have they already taken anything?”
“They intercepted our goods in transit twice. We got some back, but they said they would settle the rest after the trading terms were decided.”
“And the payment?”
“We haven’t received it yet.”
Yi Hyeon turned to Hahu Hyeong.
“Hand it over.”
The old cultivator hurriedly nodded.
“Of course. All the medicinal ingredients and payments we have yet to settle...”
“Those belong to them. I meant your storage pouch.”
“...”
The clearing fell quiet.
The old cultivator looked at the tiger mask. Cold sweat ran down their skin when their eyes met.
Slowly, they untied the storage pouch at their waist.
“Please accept this as compensation.”
Rather than taking it, Yi Hyeon looked at their other sleeve.
A moment later, a second storage pouch appeared.
The man in reddish-brown robes watched, then untied the storage pouch at his own waist. When Yi Hyeon’s gaze briefly rested on his chest, he took another small storage pouch from inside his robes.
Yi Hyeon floated the four storage pouches in the air.
“Remove the restrictions too.”
The two moved their spiritual sense, and the energy sealing the openings dispersed one after another.
Yi Hyeon examined the contents. There were spirit stones, jade cases, pill bottles, and various spirit materials. As expected of two Golden Core cultivators, they were quite wealthy.
‘Good.’
He had plenty of uses for spirit stones right now.
Yi Hyeon looked at the old cultivator.
“Take out what you’ve left in your sleeve too.”
The skin around the elder’s eyes tightened.
“Senior, that is my natal magical treasure, which I have nurtured for many years.”
“How generous of you.”
“The contents of the storage pouches should be more than enough compensation. Please...”
Yi Hyeon did not answer.
Golden demonic markings shimmered beneath the collar of his robes.
The old cultivator’s gaze fell on them, then moved away.
What would be left if they surrendered even their natal magical treasure?
They could gather the wealth in the storage pouches again. But a natal magical treasure was different. They had nurtured it with blood essence and magical power for many years, surviving countless dangers together.
If they withdrew their link to it as well, they would have no means of resistance should the other party change his mind.
The old cultivator moistened their dry lips.
“...Very well.”
A slender, curved black blade slipped out of their right sleeve.
A little over one chi long, it had no clear division between handle and blade. Its two ends curved in opposite directions.
Dark, blood-red patterns appeared along its spine.
Yi Hyeon looked down at the blade.
At that moment, the old cultivator bit the tip of their tongue.
A flash!
The black blade being offered so respectfully shot upward like lightning!
Red radiance burst from its edge, engulfing Yi Hyeon’s head and upper body all at once.
The old cultivator did not think they could kill him.
But Hahu Jin’s flying needles and their own natal magical treasure were on entirely different levels. A lightning-fast surprise attack with this blade at such close range had truly lethal power!
Even against a fourth-tier greater demon, wounding him should create a chance to flee.
But before the old cultivator’s feet could leave the ground, Yi Hyeon thrust his right hand straight into the red radiance.
Skrrrch!
A long tear opened in his sleeve.
The black blade scraped his bare arm, throwing off sparks. Instead of cutting flesh, it made a chilling sound like metal grinding against metal.
Yi Hyeon’s fingers closed around the blade’s spine.
The sensation of the magical treasure being caught passed through the spiritual sense link to the old cultivator.
‘...!’
They hurriedly changed hand seals.
The black blade spat out blood-red light and tried to spin, but it merely trembled in Yi Hyeon’s hand.
The next moment, Yi Hyeon stepped forward.
Boom!
The bedrock beneath his foot sank.
Just as the old cultivator abandoned the magical treasure and tried to flee in escape light, Yi Hyeon’s left hand caught the back of their neck.
Their body stopped dead as it was about to soar into the air.
‘No...!’
The old cultivator poured in magical power like mad. The escape light stretched out, yet their body did not move forward a single cun.
Yi Hyeon pulled his arm down.
Crash!
Dragged down, the old cultivator slammed into the clearing’s floor. Dust rose in a ring along the ground, and the forcibly summoned escape light scattered.
“Urgh...!”
The old cultivator spat blood.
Yi Hyeon’s left hand still held the back of their neck. They barely managed to turn their head and saw their natal magical treasure in his right hand.
His bare hand.
The old cultivator stared at those fingers, eyes wide.
Not a single drop of blood had formed even where they had touched the magical treasure’s edge!
‘...’
Only then did death feel truly close.
“Spare me!”
The old cultivator cried out.
“Never again... I’ll never interfere again! Take anything I have!”
Still holding the back of their neck, Yi Hyeon spoke.
“Withdraw your link to the magical treasure.”
The old cultivator did not hesitate.
Their lips trembled as they recited the spoken incantation. The blood-red patterns on the black blade darkened one after another. The blade struggling in Yi Hyeon’s hand also grew still.
The old cultivator’s face became even paler.
The energy that had soaked into the magical treasure over many years had not been completely erased. Still, its owner could no longer control it for the moment.
Yi Hyeon put the blade away and looked at the man in reddish-brown robes.
The man was already holding out a long, red iron ruler with both hands.
“Here it is.”
Before he even finished speaking, he was withdrawing the energy he had left in the magical treasure.
Yi Hyeon held out his hand, and the red iron ruler flew over.
“Anything hidden?”
“No.”
When Yi Hyeon watched him in silence, the man hurriedly took a flat jade case from inside his belt.
“Th-this is a talisman for emergencies. It slipped my mind...”
Yi Hyeon took that too.
With their head lowered, the old cultivator also took a small jade token from inside their robes and removed a bracelet from their wrist.
A little later, the two were dressed very simply indeed.
Yi Hyeon put away the things he had collected.
Watching his expression, Hahu Hyeong spoke.
“Senior, as long as we live, today’s events will...”
Yi Hyeon considered it for a moment.
He had intended to settle their interference with the Two Heavens Society’s trade by recovering the goods and making them pay compensation.
But he had no intention of letting people go after they had sent a magical implement and magical treasure at his throat.
They had already reached Golden Core. One day, they might become Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation cultivators and come seeking revenge.
As Yi Hyeon snapped the old cultivator’s neck with his left hand, he made a short swing toward Hahu Jin with his right.
The sound of breaking bones and a heavy impact rang out in quick succession.
Hahu Hyeong collapsed on the spot with a broken neck. Hahu Jin, who had instinctively tried to pull away, rolled across the ground with his chest caved in.
The presences of the two Golden Core cultivators in the clearing faded one after another.
...
The Nammyeong Foundation Establishment cultivators could not even breathe.
The two Golden Core cultivators who had led them until moments ago now lay fallen side by side. Neither magical treasures, nor the magical power they had accumulated over many years, nor their clan’s name had meant anything before that tiger mask.
Someone moved a foot to flee, and Yi Hyeon looked their way.
The man sank to the ground.
“You haven’t attacked me, so I’ll let you live.”
Only then did held breaths burst out here and there.
“Th-thank you!”
“For your kindness, Senior...!”
“Leave your storage pouches.”
The cultivators’ hands all went to their waists.
Pouches worn at the waist, hidden in sleeves, and hung inside robes. Storage pouches of every size piled up on the ground.
After confirming that they had removed the restrictions, Yi Hyeon called over the rabbit-masked member among the others. Rabbit handled communications and settlement.
“Check the stolen goods.”
Rabbit hurriedly took out a jade slip.
Comparing it with the jade cases from the Nammyeong cultivators’ storage pouches, Rabbit found most of the medicinal ingredients that had not yet been sold. The cultivators were made to pay for anything already missing or damaged with their spirit stones.
Only after the accounts were settled did Yi Hyeon gesture at the Nammyeong cultivators with his chin.
“Take those two with you. When you get back, report everything that happened today.”
The cultivators prostrated on the ground nodded repeatedly.
“And tell them that if they touch the Two Heavens Society’s goods again, I’ll visit the Jinyang Clan myself next time.”
“We won’t forget!”
After collecting the two bodies, they left the clearing without daring to look back.
...
Having lightened the load of even the Jinyang Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, Yi Hyeon moved elsewhere with the Two Heavens Society members.
Only after they reached a small clearing beyond the valley did several members slump to the ground, gasping for breath.
Red Deer bowed deeply.
“We won’t forget your help.”
The members behind them all bowed as well. Some even knelt.
“Get up. I only came because of the society leader’s message.”
Hearing this made Red Deer even more nervous.
‘A single message was enough to bring a greater demon like this?’
There were all sorts of rumors about the Two Heavens Society’s leader. But to think even a greater demon of the demon race was involved in the society’s affairs!
Yi Hyeon beckoned to Red Deer and Rabbit.
Rabbit looked at him with worried eyes.
Was he about to demand a separate reward?
He might have come at the society leader’s request, but he was still a fourth-tier greater demon. Rabbit had no idea what they could offer without displeasing him.
When the two approached, Yi Hyeon took two jade cases from his storage pouch.
“The society leader told me to put these up for sale too.”
As the lids opened, a faint medicinal fragrance drifted out.
Rabbit froze.
Two alchemical pills of slightly different colors. The pill markings around their surfaces and the pulses of medicinal strength matched what Rabbit had studied over and over in an illustrated guide.
“A-are those Gold-Condensing Pills?”
“They are. Refined using a pill formula from the Jewel Light Temple tradition. Tier 3 demonic cores were used as ingredients.”
‘...!’
The society leader had casually sent a fourth-tier demon to sell Gold-Condensing Pills made from demonic cores?
And it was not as though he had accepted the task without knowing. He was explaining the ingredients himself!
‘Just how terrifying is the society leader...?’
Red Deer leaned forward.
“May I appraise them?”
Yi Hyeon pushed the jade cases over.
A moment later, Red Deer swallowed.
“Their medicinal strength is intact. The quality is good too.”
Before core formation, Red Deer had spent a long time searching for a Gold-Condensing Pill. These seemed more cleanly refined than the one they had obtained back then.
Rabbit also examined the pill markings and medicinal fragrance, then spoke carefully.
“Judging by their medicinal strength, both are middle grade. There’s little impure qi, and they’ve been stored well... We should be able to get five thousand mid-grade spirit stones per pill.”
Red Deer hesitated briefly, then looked at Yi Hyeon.
“Would I be allowed to buy one? There’s a junior whose cultivation I’ve been helping with...”
“Anyone can buy one if they pay a fair price.”
Yi Hyeon lightly tapped an open jade case with his finger.
“But you know what a Gold-Condensing Pill made from a demonic core entails, don’t you?”
Red Deer nodded.
“Yes. I know the demonic markings left after core formation make it difficult to advance to Nascent Soul.”
They gave a bitter smile.
“For that child, a chance at core formation now is more urgent than reaching Nascent Soul.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Red Deer opened their storage pouch. They took out bags of mid-grade spirit stones and made up the shortfall with high-grade spirit stones.
After Rabbit checked the amount and passed it to Yi Hyeon, Red Deer tucked one jade case inside their robes.
Rabbit’s gaze lingered briefly on the remaining case.
As a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, Rabbit also desperately needed a Gold-Condensing Pill.
But the thought of their own spirit stones quickly dampened that hope. They did not have enough.
“I’ll look for a buyer for the remaining pill at the same price. Is there anything the society leader wants besides spirit stones?”
“The society leader said to accept spirit stones, but useful items would also be fine.”
Yi Hyeon handed over a jade slip he had prepared.
It contained requests for Tier 3 concealment and warning formations that could be installed immediately, along with a search for an artisan capable of repairing damaged supreme-grade magical implements or ritually refining magical treasures.
Rabbit read the jade slip and spoke.
“Completed Tier 3 formations don’t come up for sale often. Commissioning ones that meet your requirements might be faster.”
“Then find information on people who accept commissions too. I’ll decide after learning the required materials and price.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hyeon entrusted the remaining jade case to Rabbit.
He still had fourteen pills left. The members here did not have enough buying power for him to sell them all at this contact point. He would probably have to ask other contact points to look for buyers for the rest.
Rabbit recorded the consignment details and put away the jade slip. Yi Hyeon spoke again.
“Close this contact point as of today.”
Red Deer immediately bowed their head.
“Yes.”
“Move all the brokers elsewhere, and change the masks and contact methods too.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hyeon nodded. After hesitating briefly, Red Deer sent a voice transmission.
[I know it’s rude to ask... but is the Two Heavens Society named for two heavens because it includes both the human race and the demon race?]
‘Huh?’
Yi Hyeon thought for a moment.
[Don’t try to learn too much.]
[...]
The tiger-masked figure vanished into the darkness.
...
Before heading to another contact point, Yi Hyeon stopped somewhere quiet and checked the spoils for tracking restrictions and the like.
He checked for and erased the spiritual sense marks left on the storage pouches and items, then sealed the two natal magical treasures separately.
There were too many spoils to examine in detail now, so he put that off and visited several contact points.
One was in the mountains, away from a cultivator market. Following the grain of the bedrock inward, he reached a small secret stone chest.
First, he checked that the mark inside had not been damaged, then took out a jade slip.
This time, he wrote requests for inheritances he could study in the future rather than items he needed right away.
He listed inheritances for Tier 3 formations and implement refining, along with information on flying magical implements, flying boats, and restrictions. He stated that he would pay spirit stones for them.
Yi Hyeon was about to add an entry for puppet arts, but paused.
He already had the Tier 3 bone puppet construction methods from the Profound Yin White Bone True Scripture, along with the remains of the White Bone Flood Dragon Puppet and Six-Armed White Bone Demon.
Instead, he requested methods from various traditions for preparing bone material.
‘I just need to learn how to keep them from looking like Skull Island’s work.’
Yi Hyeon also left information about the Gold-Condensing Pills at the end of the jade slip.
He stated that they were demonic-core Gold-Condensing Pills from the Jewel Light Temple tradition, gave an approximate price, and included a warning about the demonic markings left after taking them. As purchase requests came in, he planned to confirm the quantity and quality requested, then supply them in order.
‘There should still be plenty of buyers.’
Yi Hyeon left a mark confirming his identity as the society leader and placed the jade slip inside the stone chest.
He put the pills back in his storage pouch.
‘With this demonic aura, doing it this way is easier. I can’t keep frightening the members every time I visit a contact point...’
* * *
On the way back to the Vast Verdant Forest Sea, Yi Hyeon alternated between the Metal Escape Spell and Earth Escape Spell underground. When he reached the Forest Sea’s boundary, he returned to the surface.
He passed the prohibition marker on the coast and showed Green Forest Pavilion’s identification token. Once again, the demons standing guard bowed.
...
Upon reaching Cheongseok Mountain, Yi Hyeon went straight into his cave abode’s cultivation room and sank beneath the floor.
Five li underground.
The ceiling was more than ten jang high, and the floor stretched dozens of jang in every direction. Formation inscriptions Yi Hyeon had carved glowed faintly here and there on the stone walls. Spiritual qi of heaven and earth branched off from the Tier 3 spirit vein above, flowing into this place through the passages and formation inscriptions he had prepared.
Yi Hyeon stood at the center of the cavern.
With every breath, clear energy seeped into the flesh and blood throughout his body.
“All right, come out.”
Yi Hyeon took four Bonefuzz puppets from his storage pouch and stood them on the floor. Then he opened his spirit insect pouch, and golden balls of fluff poured out, their wings buzzing.
Several Fuzzbees slipped into the Bonefuzz puppets’ skulls with practiced ease.
Rattle.
The Bonefuzz puppets rose one after another. After looking around the cavern, they scattered as though someone had given them orders and began clearing stone fragments from the floor.
The other Tier 2 Fuzzbees and the young ones cautiously circled near the unfamiliar cavern’s ceiling. But when they reached the formation inscriptions where the spiritual qi was thickest, their movements grew noticeably sluggish.
Bzzzz... Bzzz...
One young first-tier Fuzzbee wobbled and bumped its forehead into the stone wall. Instead of falling to the floor, it clung to a formation inscription, let its wings droop, and stretched.
‘...Is it drunk on spiritual qi?’
Yi Hyeon picked it up between his fingers and placed it on a rock at the edge of the cavern.
“Take your time getting used to it.”
...
Yi Hyeon cast the Soil-Turning Spell on the floor at the center of the cavern.
The spirit soil he had mixed in beforehand gently turned over, forming a deep pit. He laid a layer of soil brought from Underground Hideout No. 3 across the bottom.
Then he pointed the opening of his storage pouch toward the pit.
Hummmm...
Within the light flowing out of the storage pouch, the Heaven-Origin Divine Tree’s form slowly expanded.
Supporting the entire tree with magical power, Yi Hyeon lowered it little by little.
When the tips of its roots touched the new soil, he filled in the earth so that no gaps remained between the roots, then loosened the boundary between the old and new soil with his fingertips. Near the trunk, he made a gentle slope to keep water from pooling.
For a while, nothing happened.
Then the spiritual qi inside the cavern slowly began to flow toward the tree. Streams of spiritual qi flowing along the formation inscriptions wound around the Heaven-Origin Divine Tree’s trunk, and a faint light spread among its leaves.
Rustle...
The leaves stirred.
Yi Hyeon pressed his palm against the trunk and felt a lively energy he had never sensed at Underground Hideout No. 3. It gathered and scattered, then tried to spread outward again.
‘It likes this.’
Yi Hyeon walked around the tree, driving the Tier 2 Spirit-Concealing Formation’s flags into the ground one by one. Then he inserted mid-grade spirit stones into the formation disk and activated the formation.
Only after that did he cast the Spirit Rain Spell.
Pitter-patter.
Clear raindrops tapped the leaves and soaked into the soil.
He fixed a wooden sign to the stone wall at the cavern’s entrance.
「Underground Hideout No. 4.」
Then he took out the Nammyeong cultivators’ storage pouches he had obtained during this trip.
Thump, thump... There were some thirty storage pouches!
Just as Yi Hyeon happily began opening them to tally his spoils, the warning formation on the surface alerted him to a visitor.
...
When Yi Hyeon returned to the surface, someone was above the forest, giving off a gentle but powerful presence.
It was Master Ho.
The elderly scholar in green jade spectacles descended by the lake and immediately examined Yi Hyeon’s face. Then Master Ho looked over his hands and the repaired stone steps at the cave abode’s entrance in turn.
‘What are they checking?’
Not knowing what was going on, Yi Hyeon offered a polite greeting.
“Welcome.”
“Mm. Have you been well?”
Master Ho took something out.
《Neighborly Etiquette》, 《Three Ways to Resolve Disputes》
They were books of the human race.
“...These are?”
“They were at Green Forest Pavilion. Books written by the human race. You said you could read the human race’s writing, so I brought a few along.”
‘They must have liked how I treated my neighbors last time.’
Master Ho cleared their throat.
“More importantly, I have something to tell you. I heard those birdbrains from Blackwing Ridge were rude to you.”
Yi Hyeon nodded.
“Lord Heukgak heard what happened and felt sorry about it too. They would like to offer an apology in person.”
“Is that so?”
“As it happens, there’s a gathering near Green Forest Pavilion in fifteen days. The nearby mountain lords and greater demons will be there, and Lord Heukgak will attend as well. Would you like to come?”
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