WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈
Chapter 116: A Good Deal
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It said it did not care what it was called, but Jegyeong felt the same.
Whether it was a Fire Spirit or a Fire Demon made no difference to Jegyeong.
The history of the Jimal Plain, the grudges between races? They were all someone else’s business.
‘Fine. Then why did you come looking for me?’
The moment Jegyeong asked indifferently, the surrounding Spiritual Energy stirred all at once.
At the same time, a figure appeared before them.
It was hazy yet clear, a form so strange that no other description came to mind.
Jegyeong could tell that the figure was looking at them, yet could sense no aura from it at all.
Even a disembodied spirit possessed an aura in this Cultivation World, but Jegyeong could truly sense nothing from the form before them.
“You have it backward. I did not come looking for you. You found me.”
Jegyeong slowly opened their mouth as they looked at the now-formed being.
“Did you attach yourself to me when I fought that Flame Demon?”
“You still do not understand. Let me say it again. I did notice you then, but I did not seek you out. You found me.”
The being spoke quite logically. It almost felt like speaking with a member of the Human Race.
Jegyeong could guess why.
One only improved at speaking by speaking often, and the fact that its speech was no different from that of the Human Race meant it had considerable experience conversing.
When Jegyeong considered its claim that Jegyeong had found it, the meaning was easy enough to understand.
“You were hiding within the Spiritual Energy, weren’t you?”
Fire Spirits were said to be born from fire qi. If that were true, perhaps it was not impossible for them to melt into fire qi.
“Hiding? No. Driven out would be more accurate. To escape the humans’ relentless pursuit, I dissolved my Origin and gave up myself, clinging to a single thread of life.”
A burning fury, like quietly bubbling lava, could be felt beneath its calm tone.
“So, Demon Race. I answered your question. May I ask you one in return?”
“Go ahead.”
Jegyeong nodded calmly.
It was free to ask.
But Jegyeong was also free to answer, and free to decide whether to give a proper answer.
“You are Demon Race, yet you cultivate a human cultivation method. What are you? A slave of the Human Race? In their words... a Spirit Beast?”
“You speak well, but you need to work on your provoking.”
“Oh. I’ll keep that in mind. So, your answer?”
“No. As you likely guessed.”
“Are you certain?”
“If I were a slave of the Human Race, I would be wearing a pretty collar and following my master around. I would not be wearing this uncomfortable shell to deceive human eyes.”
“That makes sense.”
With those words, Jegyeong felt its emotions ease.
Yet that only made Jegyeong vaguely realize how deep its resentment toward the Human Race was.
Fire Spirit, Fire Demon, whatever it should be called, it had dissolved itself into the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth and still retained its consciousness. That was likely only possible because of its terrible resentment and obsession toward the Human Race.
“Were the human cultivators’ demonic deviations your doing?”
“Not mine. Ours. And... yes. It was our little spite. I only regret that we can do no more.”
It let out a derisive laugh, though Jegyeong could not tell whom it was directed at.
“Even knowing we were targeting them, those human fools kept trying. Their greed knows no bounds.”
“Was that not because you encouraged them?”
“I won’t deny it. But their own greed led them on. We merely gave them a slight push.”
Its emotions, which had only just seemed to settle, began to boil again.
“The humans entered our land without warning and slaughtered us. They seized us indiscriminately, sealed us inside their tools, destroyed our Spiritual Essence with their cursed spells, and used us as ingredients for Medicinal Pills. We were butchered and hunted without ever knowing why. If they call that the victor’s right, I have nothing to say. But so long as they frolic above our corpses in this land, they will bear what remains of our resentment forever.”
The speech burned with fury, but it stirred no emotion in Jegyeong’s heart.
“Right. I wish you success.”
A resentment that had not cooled for thousands of years? It was certainly impressive.
But what was Jegyeong supposed to do about it? It was still someone else’s business.
Jegyeong felt that continuing to speak with this embodiment of resentment would lead to an unpleasant situation.
When Jegyeong openly tried to keep their distance, the being, which seemed to have nothing left but rage, showed interest instead.
“I sense pure fire within you, Demon Race. Do you have no interest in the pure fire qi of this land?”
“What do you think? I just confirmed that you are sitting within it with poison held tightly inside. What sort of interest could I possibly have?”
It laughed.
Jegyeong could not see it, but they knew.
“Our resentment is directed only at our enemies. We may even help you. Rest assured. There is no poison in it.”
“I believe there is no kindness in this world without a reason.”
“You are wise. Yes. We want your favor. We want a small favor born of that goodwill.”
Jegyeong found one merit in this embodiment of anger.
It was honest, or perhaps straightforward.
Or perhaps merely foolish.
Either way, it was certainly a merit.
“Kindness with an intention behind it cannot be called kindness. It is a deal. If you are looking for a trading partner, then you came to the right place. I am an open-minded member of the Demon Race. But I pursue fair deals. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Of course.”
Jegyeong’s feelings had not changed.
They did not want to get involved in troublesome matters.
But if they could gain satisfactory rewards even after weighing the risks, there was no reason to refuse a deal.
Jegyeong had always liked deals.
Deals brought profit, profit brought happiness, and who could dislike happiness?
Therefore, Jegyeong felt neither burden nor reluctance about making a deal with the being before them.
The only question was whether it could offer a price that would satisfy Jegyeong.
“Your fire is pure and stable. But it is neither powerful nor sturdy. That must be because it lacks a core. We can help you establish a firm and powerful core.”
Jegyeong’s eyes widened.
“You mean an Origin Flame?”
“Origin Flame? Yes. That is what humans call it.”
Seemingly pleased by Jegyeong’s reaction, it spoke in a more relaxed tone.
“We have declined, and the Sacred Flame has gone out, but its ember remains. I will give it to you as payment for the deal.”
“What is the Sacred Flame?”
“It is the treasure and cradle of us all. We were born from heaven and earth, but it was the warmth of the Sacred Flame that kindled our Spiritual Essence. It is nobler than any fire in the world, and no rain can obscure its light.”
Even after hearing words that might have been an explanation or praise, Jegyeong could not grasp what the Sacred Flame truly was.
Still, Jegyeong understood that it was valuable enough for even a Fire Spirit to revere without end.
“That is very interesting. But it makes me even more uneasy. What do you hope to gain from me in exchange for such an extraordinary flame?”
“You are a very cautious member of the Demon Race. That puts me more at ease. Worrying over the price must mean you are seriously considering this deal.”
Its voice grew gentler, but only for a moment.
“For all this time, we have done our utmost to curse the Human Race. But at most, we could stir their greed and play a few tricks when they faced hurdles in cultivation.”
“Tricks?”
Jegyeong gave a dry laugh.
“Can destroying their Dao Hearts, possessing their bodies, and making them rampage like madmen really be called mere tricks?”
“Very well. I admit we exaggerated a little. Let us call it spite instead. But whether it is a trick or spite, we cannot be satisfied. We want them to suffer more and scream in greater despair. We have a sure plan. But we have already become one with heaven and earth, so even with a plan, we cannot carry it out.”
“I will hear this plan. Do not worry. If it is too dangerous, I will refuse, but I will not tell the Human Race about it. I do not know whether you are aware, but we do not get along well with humans. Each side is desperate to devour the other.”
“I know. That is why I offered you this deal.”
For so long that it could no longer remember, it had tormented the Human Race.
Tempting them was never easy.
Fools blinded by the Immortal Path leaped into the flames themselves without needing a push, but the clever ones often sensed the fire hell wrapped in gold and hesitated.
To tempt those suspicious people, it had needed to learn the Human Race’s many methods and knowledge.
Fluent speech and a human perspective on the Cultivation World were only a tiny part of it.
From the Human Race’s warlike and greedy perspective, the Demon Race was both an enemy and a mass of living resources.
The Demon Race likely viewed the Human Race in the same way, so the two races that regarded one another as prey could never coexist.
Their struggle might pause unless one side vanished completely, but it could never end.
Its thoughts were simple.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
It was the logic of the cursed Human Race, but it could not deny that the logic itself contained a rather profound principle.
* * *
Jeon Yongseong frowned.
“They left?”
They had just received a report that the Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator they had carefully instructed others to “observe” had left Gwangyang City with their companion only three days after arriving.
It was unexpected.
Jeon Yongseong had thought the other party was plotting something, but over the past three days, all they had done was wander around Gwangyang City with their companion.
Ah, and they had supposedly bought several of Gwangyang City’s specialties as well.
In any case, it was the behavior of a typical traveler.
‘Did I misjudge them?’
Perhaps they had been too sensitive.
After all, it had been far too long since such a conspicuous outsider had appeared in Gwangyang City.
At least, Jeon Yongseong had never encountered one before.
For someone who had spent decades steeped in habit and comfort, the appearance of such a striking figure was a major event that made their heart pound.
For three days, Jeon Yongseong had never loosened their guard.
Had they not feared dealing with the consequences, they would have personally watched that outsider for all three days.
Yet, making all those worries seem foolish, the outsider had suddenly left without showing any suspicious behavior.
Jeon Yongseong was relieved.
They still suspected that the outsider who had left Gwangyang City might be plotting something, but they no longer worried about it.
What did anything that happened outside Gwangyang City have to do with them?
‘Hmm. I won’t need this.’
They burned the letter that was only half written.
By the rules, they should have finished the letter and sent it to the sect, but when had the world ever run solely by the rules?
If everything were truly done by the rules, then the steward, who had been in closed-door cultivation for two years already, should have left seclusion long ago and handled the steward’s duties.
Rather than leaving all the work to Jeon Yongseong like this.
‘Better to let things be.’
Most problems became problems only because someone defined them as problems.
Jeon Yongseong was certain that this outsider’s matter was simply one of those all-too-common “problems.”
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