WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Cultivating Underground ◈
Chapter 60
──────
Half a month later.
An enormous flying boat sailed beneath the clouds.
Twelve cultivators were aboard. They were all Foundation Establishment cultivators drawn from several peaks of the Inner Alchemy Court, including Yi Hyeon and Bang Je-un. Some were skilled in appraising and transplanting spirit plants, while others mainly worked with old pill formulas and medicinal ingredients.
After dividing up and reviewing the list from Cheongha Valley, the elders had each assigned disciples to the task.
The delegation was led by Heo Jin-ak, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator with considerable experience in outside trade and escort duties.
Yi Hyeon sat on one side of the deck, reading the jade slip again.
「Tier 2 Poison-Warding Pill formula and detoxification annotations.
Tier 2 Spirit-Calming Pill formula.
Fragments concerning the harvesting and drying of yin-aspected spirit plants...」
Spirit-Calming Pills.
The name had caught his attention when he first read the list before their departure.
Long ago, Senior Brother No Baek-san had told him that Yin Soul Grass was the main ingredient in Spirit-Calming Pills. They were used to calm the mind and control inner demons and qi deviation, and they could also strengthen the primordial spirit and spiritual sense.
But he had not found the formula in the Danso Sect’s Pill Formula Pavilion.
‘So Cheongha Valley still had it.’
Yi Hyeon recalled a report Gray Mountain Goat had given at the Two Heavens Society seventy-odd years ago.
- Purple Poison Orchid is indeed one of the main ingredients in Poison-Warding Pills. The nearest place that refines Poison-Warding Pills is Cheongha Valley in the Daeyeon Kingdom. However, we found no information suggesting that Cheongha Valley uses Bone-Rotting Flowers or Yin Soul Grass.
At the time, he had wondered whether Cheongha Valley had lost some of its pill formulas over the years.
‘Do they have the formula but no longer refine the pills? Or was the investigation wrong back then...?’
Either way, he would find out once he arrived.
When Yi Hyeon withdrew his spiritual sense from the jade slip, Bang Je-un, who had been sorting documents beside him, held out a sheet of paper.
“These are your assignments.”
Inspection items were written beside the names of medicinal ingredients and inheritances.
Most were yin-aspected spirit plants or highly toxic medicinal ingredients. The Spirit-Calming Pill formula was also included near the bottom.
Whatever else he was assigned, he had asked to inspect that formula himself. Fortunately, his request had been accepted.
The fact that he already knew the Poison-Warding Pill formula and could compare methods for processing toxic ingredients seemed to have helped.
“I’ll need to read the inheritances to inspect them. How will the contribution points work?”
“For inheritances our sect already has, we’ve assigned people who’ve formally obtained access to them. For those we’re considering buying for the first time, the assigned inspectors will read them.”
Bang Je-un pointed to a small seal at the bottom of the paper.
“Even after an inheritance you’ve inspected is registered, you won’t be charged separate contribution points to read it. That’s one of the rewards for this mission. But you mustn’t pass around the ones assigned to other people.”
“Understood.”
“And don’t overlook flaws just because you like an inheritance. If we buy something useless, its inspector will have to explain why.”
Yi Hyeon nodded, folded the paper, and put it in his storage pouch.
He could read new pill formulas and receive a mission reward as well. This trip was turning out better than he had expected.
He pressed the jade slip to his forehead again.
...
A little over ten days later.
The flying boat entered a mountain range in the southwestern Daeyeon Kingdom.
Steep mountains and deep valleys stretched endlessly below. Scattered villages and terraced fields appeared between the clouds hanging around the mountainsides.
Yi Hyeon approached the edge of the deck.
In the distance, two peaks stood as though leaning toward each other, with a thin stream flowing between them.
He remembered that landscape.
As the flying boat passed between the peaks, a broad valley came into view.
It was Cheongha Valley.
‘It’s been a long time...’
The peaks lining the valley were much as he remembered. But trees and weeds now filled many of the spirit fields that had once covered the mountainsides.
Only the layers of stone walls showed that the land had once been farmed.
Bang Je-un came over to his side.
“It looks as though they once used even those outer peaks as spirit fields.”
As the flying boat approached Cheongha Valley’s main grounds, two streaks of spiritual light rose from the sect gate and came toward them. They carried the spiritual pressure of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“Are you fellow cultivators from the Danso Sect?”
Heo Jin-ak stepped forward.
“I’m Heo Jin-ak of the Inner Alchemy Court. We’ve come in response to the letter sent by the master of Cheongha Valley.”
Heo Jin-ak held out an identity token and a sealed letter. After checking the seal, the Cheongha Valley cultivator clasped both hands.
“Thank you for making the long journey. The valley master is waiting for you.”
...
The flying boat landed on a stone platform inside the sect gate.
Several people were waiting in front of it, including a white-haired elderly cultivator.
The elderly cultivator, whose back was straight and whose eyes were clear, clasped both hands first.
“I’m Wi Cheong-san, master of Cheongha Valley. Thank you for coming so far.”
An aura at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment could be felt.
Heo Jin-ak and the other Danso Sect cultivators returned the greeting.
While the greetings continued, Yi Hyeon studied the people standing behind Wi Cheong-san.
They appeared to be Cheongha Valley’s elders. Few looked young, and many had white hair and beards.
Wi Cheong-san smiled.
“Please, come inside.”
...
Old juniper trees lined the path as the delegation followed Wi Cheong-san. When a lecture hall with blue roof tiles appeared beyond them, Yi Hyeon’s steps slowed for a moment.
It was where newly admitted disciples gathered to practice drawing qi into the body.
Through the open door, he could see several children around ten years old sitting inside. A middle-aged cultivator standing before them conjured a small cloud at their fingertips, and all the children looked up.
A few drops of rain fell from the cloud.
Without thinking, Yi Hyeon glanced to his right.
That path had once led to the outer sect residences, but a stone wall now blocked it.
As he turned back, the Cheongha Valley cultivator walking ahead gestured to the left.
“This way.”
...
Teacups and spirit fruit had already been set out in the guest hall.
Cheongha Valley disciples showed them to their seats and poured tea. Once all the visiting cultivators were seated, Wi Cheong-san sat opposite them.
The tea had a faint grassy scent.
Yi Hyeon took a sip and set down his cup.
He had never entered this hall before. As an outer sect disciple, he would never have had any reason to come here.
Wi Cheong-san spoke.
“Would you like to see the goods first? Or would you prefer to rest today and begin tomorrow...?”
“We’ll hear a brief explanation of your circumstances first. If there’s time afterward, we’ll look around the medicinal storehouse.”
Heo Jin-ak took out the letter.
“This is the list our sect received. Has anything changed since then?”
“A few things have been added.”
Wi Cheong-san looked at the elder seated nearby, who handed over a new list.
Heo Jin-ak unfolded the two lists side by side, reading through them quickly at first before pausing over an entry.
“You intend to sell these mother plants as well?”
“Yes.”
“Even the reserves in your seed storehouse...”
Heo Jin-ak looked up.
“If you offer all of these, won’t it be difficult to prepare for your next harvest?”
Wi Cheong-san did not answer immediately. One of the Cheongha Valley elders seated nearby fiddled with a teacup.
After a pause, Wi Cheong-san spoke.
“That is why we have one more request to make of you. We don’t intend to receive the entire payment in spirit stones.”
Heo Jin-ak took both hands off the lists.
“What do you want, then?”
Wi Cheong-san’s gaze slowly passed over the Danso Sect cultivators.
“Could you also take in our cultivators?”
“...”
The sound of someone setting down a teacup seemed unusually loud.
Wi Cheong-san continued.
“We currently have over five hundred disciples. Including myself, seventeen of us are at Foundation Establishment. Many work in spirit plant cultivation, but some are also familiar with alchemy and preparing medicinal ingredients.”
Wi Cheong-san pointed to the new list.
“We will hand over our medicinal ingredients, mother plants, seeds, and remaining inheritances. In exchange, we hope the Danso Sect will provide places where these people can work and cultivate.”
Heo Jin-ak looked at Wi Cheong-san for a long while.
“Valley Master Wi. There was nothing about this in your letter.”
“I know.”
“We came to appraise and purchase goods. We don’t have the authority to admit your cultivators into our sect...”
Wi Cheong-san nodded.
“I’m not asking you to agree here and now. First, please examine what we have left. Then I hope you’ll convey our wishes to your elders.”
After a brief pause, Wi Cheong-san added, “It was my fault for not making this clear from the start.”
Heo Jin-ak’s expression grew serious.
“If our sect refuses your request, do you intend to refuse to sell the goods as well? Surely you don’t think we have nothing better to do than travel back and forth?”
“Please don’t worry. We can discuss the sale separately. I simply... thought it was worth asking at least once.”
One of the accompanying Danso Sect cultivators asked, “Are your circumstances truly that difficult?”
Wi Cheong-san looked out the window for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
“It has been a long time since our valley produced a Golden Core cultivator. Our young disciples keep leaving, and now even demonic beasts from the distant seas are pushing into coastal waters. I’ve sensed that our valley’s fortune is nearing its end. But that needn’t mean the path to immortality must end for everyone here as well, must it? We have many talented children.”
The guest hall fell silent. Yi Hyeon gazed at a small leaf floating in his teacup.
Heo Jin-ak spoke again.
“I understand your wishes, Valley Master Wi. But there’s no guarantee that all your cultivators will become formal disciples of our sect.”
Wi Cheong-san nodded.
“We don’t expect equal treatment from the start. We would be willing to be assigned to a separate outer sect herb garden. We only hope there will be a way to study inheritances and receive alchemical pills once we’ve earned contributions and proven our skills.”
Heo Jin-ak considered this for a moment.
“I’ll pass along those conditions as well. But whatever we tell our elders when we return, we must inspect the goods first.”
Wi Cheong-san’s tense expression relaxed a little.
“Of course.”
Heo Jin-ak folded the new list.
“Then we’ll begin with the medicinal storehouse. The appraisal and examination of inheritances will proceed as agreed in the letters.”
“Certainly.”
Wi Cheong-san rose.
...
The Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding Cheongha Valley’s medicinal storehouse bowed to Wi Cheong-san.
Wi Cheong-san nodded.
“Elder No. Open the storehouse for our fellow cultivators.”
“My name is No Gyeong-su. I’ll guide you through the medicinal ingredients and living mother plants.”
No Gyeong-su looked a little over fifty. Yi Hyeon’s gaze lingered briefly on that face.
‘No?’
It was not just the surname. The face was remarkably familiar.
‘The power of genes is impressive... To think a distant descendant of Senior Brother No Baek-san really would still be here!’
Yi Hyeon studied No Gyeong-su’s face once more. He found it fascinating that such a similar face could exist after so much time had passed. He instinctively felt that No Gyeong-su carried Senior Brother No Baek-san’s blood in one way or another.
No Gyeong-su inserted an identity token into a slot beside the stone door.
Hummm.
The seal released, and the stone door opened.
Jade boxes and medicine bottles sat on every stone shelf inside, each with a wooden tag hanging in front of it.
The Danso Sect cultivators began comparing the ledger with the goods and checking the quality of the stored spirit plants.
As Yi Hyeon examined the spirit plants and the list, he learned that Cheongha Valley no longer grew Bone-Rotting Flowers or Yin Soul Grass.
...
The following day.
In a small stone room beside the medicinal storehouse, a jade slip and a thin book lay on a table.
They contained the Tier 2 Spirit-Calming Pill formula and its annotations.
Yi Hyeon picked up the jade slip and sent his spiritual sense into it. The formula’s contents flowed into his mind.
An explanation of the pill’s effects and instructions for taking it were followed by a list of the principal and supporting medicinal ingredients.
At the top was Yin Soul Grass with a medicinal age of over two hundred years.
Yi Hyeon read the formula and annotations in turn, committing them to memory. Whenever a passage was unclear, he asked the Cheongha Valley cultivator beside him.
About half a shichen had passed when a commotion arose outside.
Having memorized the entire formula, Yi Hyeon went out with the Cheongha Valley cultivator.
‘What’s going on?’
...
A flying boat with blue clouds painted on its white sails had landed on the stone platform in front of Cheongha Valley’s guest hall.
‘That’s...’
He had seen that design while living as a woodcutter in Baengmok Village. Much later, he had also seen it inside the torn robe of a cultivator who had attacked him.
‘The Cheongun Sect?’
The Cheongun Sect was a major sect in the Hyeon Kingdom, which lay beyond the Daeyeon Kingdom to the northeast.
From the Gon Kingdom, the Hyeon Kingdom lay to the northwest and was a large cultivation kingdom. Here, however, the Daeyeon Kingdom lay on the southern frontier of its sphere of influence.
When Yi Hyeon entered the guest hall, thirteen Cheongun Sect cultivators were seated inside.
The middle-aged cultivator farthest inside rose and greeted Heo Jin-ak. Like Wi Cheong-san, this cultivator had an aura at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.
“I’m Seok Jin-hyeong of the Cheongun Sect’s External Affairs Hall.”
“Heo Jin-ak of the Danso Sect’s Inner Alchemy Court.”
“You’ve come a long way.”
Seok Jin-hyeong waited for the Danso Sect cultivators to take their seats.
Yi Hyeon sat beside Bang Je-un.
Wi Cheong-san lifted the teapot, but Seok Jin-hyeong raised a hand to decline.
“We came because something seemed to be happening at Cheongha Valley. But our fellow cultivators from the Danso Sect had already arrived.”
“We received a letter and came to perform an appraisal.”
“I hear they’re not just selling medicinal ingredients, but disposing of mother plants and seeds as well? And that the spirit plant growers are going to the Gon Kingdom with them.”
Wi Cheong-san’s hand stopped with the teapot still raised.
Heo Jin-ak’s expression did not change.
“Valley Master Wi has merely made that request of us. Our sect hasn’t decided anything yet.”
“Then that’s good. We can discuss it before anything is decided.”
Seok Jin-hyeong looked at Wi Cheong-san.
“Valley Master Wi. If a sect in the Daeyeon Kingdom has fallen on hard times, shouldn’t it first consult the fellow cultivators of the Hyeon Kingdom?”
“It isn’t as though we haven’t.”
Wi Cheong-san’s voice hardened slightly.
“Under the terms your sect offered, our cultivators would find it difficult to continue practicing their skills and cultivating.”
The guest hall fell silent.
Wi Cheong-san looked straight at Seok Jin-hyeong.
“Our valley has worked in spirit plant cultivation and alchemy. We’re looking for somewhere we can continue learning those arts. There is no place better suited to us than the Danso Sect.”
“And to open that path, you intend to hand the Hyeon Kingdom’s spirit plant growers and mother plants over to the Gon Kingdom?”
Wi Cheong-san answered.
“It is true that our valley is in the Daeyeon Kingdom. But the Daeyeon Kingdom is merely a division of the mortal world. This is a harsh, remote region where the Hyeon Kingdom’s cultivation world has never extended its reach. In practice, our Cheongha Valley has little connection to the Hyeon Kingdom, does it?”
One of the cultivators seated behind Seok Jin-hyeong set down a teacup.
Clack.
The brief sound echoed through the guest hall.
Heo Jin-ak glanced that way before speaking.
“Fellow Cultivator Seok. Our sect is inspecting goods at Cheongha Valley’s request. We haven’t even settled the terms of purchase yet. If you have something else to say on behalf of the Cheongun Sect, please make it clear.”
“Very well. Then I’ll speak plainly.”
Seok Jin-hyeong’s gaze moved to the transport cases lined up beneath the eaves.
“If this were merely a few crates of medicinal ingredients changing hands, we wouldn’t trouble ourselves to intervene. But if mother plants, seeds, and the people who grew them all leave at once, that’s a different matter.”
“Who decides where that line is drawn?”
“This is happening in the Daeyeon Kingdom, so the circumstances of the Hyeon Kingdom’s cultivation world must also be considered. I’m suggesting we find a way to avoid an unpleasant dispute.”
Silence settled over the guest hall for a moment.
One of the Cheongun Sect cultivators leaned forward slightly.
“Your sect doesn’t seem to have decided what to take yet. We’ll examine the goods as well. Shouldn’t we first find out whether we want the same things?”
Heo Jin-ak looked at Wi Cheong-san.
The goods belonged to Cheongha Valley.
After thinking for a moment, Wi Cheong-san nodded.
“You’re welcome to look. However, sealed items must be opened in the presence of the person responsible for them.”
Seok Jin-hyeong called to one of the Cheongun Sect cultivators.
“Steward Mun. Take a few people and check the items marked on the list. Examine the scattered records as well.”
“Understood.”
The man, a middle Foundation Establishment cultivator, bowed and left the guest hall with two other Cheongun Sect cultivators.
Bang Je-un sent Yi Hyeon a voice transmission.
[Go back and continue your work. If they try to move anything, let me know.]
Yi Hyeon nodded and rose.
...
When he reached the medicinal storehouse, No Gyeong-su stood up from a crouch in front of a mother plant.
Yi Hyeon asked, “May I continue the inspection?”
“Of course.”
No Gyeong-su’s gaze briefly turned toward the guest hall.
“What did the Cheongun Sect demand?”
“They’re still discussing it. For now, they said they wanted to examine the goods as well.”
“I see...”
No Gyeong-su’s expression darkened a little.
“Are you also thinking of going to the Danso Sect, Fellow Cultivator No?”
“I’d like to, if they’ll take me.”
After answering quickly, No Gyeong-su scratched their head with a slightly embarrassed look.
...
A little later.
Raised voices came from outside.
“We said you could examine the goods, not take them away!”
It was No Gyeong-su’s voice. A dull impact followed.
Thud!
Yi Hyeon sent a Voice Transmission Talisman flying toward Bang Je-un as he stepped outside.
One of the Cheongun Sect cultivators was using a spell to float two wooden boxes toward the flying boat.
In front of the medicinal storehouse, two Danso Sect cultivators blocked the way, with No Gyeong-su behind them. While one caught Steward Mun’s palm strikes on a shield, the other used a flying sword to knock aside a female Cheongun Sect cultivator’s silver needles.
Clang! Clang-clang!
Every time Steward Mun’s sleeve moved, ripples spread across the shield’s surface.
“We’re merely taking them to our flying boat for appraisal. We’ll return them once we’re done, so move aside.”
“Not even a dog would fall for that.”
The Danso Sect cultivator holding the shield answered.
“If your sect puts a price on them and then declares you’re taking them, how are we supposed to get them back?”
Steward Mun did not yield.
“Keep moving them.”
The Cheongun Sect cultivator moved his fingers, and the wooden boxes passed over the steps.
At that instant, Yi Hyeon reached out and seized the corner of the box in front.
Humm.
The box stopped dead, as though fixed in midair.
The Cheongun Sect cultivator, who was releasing the spiritual pressure of the third layer of Foundation Establishment, twitched an eyebrow. He was a man with sharp eyes and thin lips.
“Let go.”
Instead of answering, Yi Hyeon pushed the box down. The instant it settled on the ground, a blue flying sword shot from the man’s sleeve like a flash of light, aiming to sever the wrist of the hand gripping the box.
“Watch out!”
As a fellow disciple shouted, two points of silver light curved in from the right. They were the silver needles of the female cultivator, who had been seeking an opening past the shield.
Rather than dodge, Yi Hyeon drove his right fist forward.
Clang!
Wrapped in spiritual light, his fist struck the flat of the approaching flying sword at an angle. The sword spun half a turn as it bounced away, knocking aside the two incoming silver needles.
Clang! Crash!
Yi Hyeon shot through the sparks in the air like lightning.
Startled, the man began forming hand seals, but Yi Hyeon had already closed in on him.
The man hastily thrust his left palm at Yi Hyeon’s chest. Spiritual light gathered in his palm, condensing into a dazzling glow.
Shing.
Yi Hyeon drew the Dark Palace-Gate Sword and knocked the man’s wrist outward with his left hand. At the same time, he brought the spine of his sword down on the inside of the man’s elbow.
Crack!
The deflected palm force shattered the stone floor beside their feet.
Yi Hyeon immediately bent the man’s arm and pulled him forward. As the man tried to brace himself, Yi Hyeon kicked his leading knee to break his balance and drove the end of the sword’s hilt into his solar plexus.
Thud!
The man’s Protective Spiritlight shattered with a sharp crack. His body lifted into the air, and he spat blood as he tumbled five or six paces across the stone floor.
He struggled but could not get up at once. His blue flying sword also dimmed weakly in the air.
Clatter!
The dulled sword rolled to Yi Hyeon’s feet.
Watching the series of attacks flow without a moment’s hesitation, No Gyeong-su involuntarily drew in a breath.
“How dare you!”
The instant Steward Mun’s attention shifted to his fallen fellow disciple, the Danso Sect cultivator drove the shield forward.
Thud!
Steward Mun was pushed a couple of steps down the stairs.
The fellow disciple holding the shield looked at Yi Hyeon.
“Nicely done, Junior Brother Yi!”
Just then, more than ten streaks of spiritual light rose from the direction of the guest hall. Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Danso Sect and Cheongun Sect flew toward them, unleashing their spiritual pressure.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
