WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Episode 16: Chance, Fate, and Destiny (4)

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Ise suddenly appeared behind Ryu Seonghan.

Ryu Seonghan sprang up from his cross-legged position and reflexively tried to form a hand seal.

“Sit.”

At Ise's curt command, Ryu Seonghan dropped to his knees like an obedient dog.

“...?”

He looked as though he had no idea what had just happened. His trembling eyes fixed on the intruder.

Then they widened as if they might burst.

“Long time no see.”

“Y-you...”

Ise immediately corrected how Ryu Seonghan addressed him.

“You? You should call me senior, or master.”

“How did you get in here... Agh!”

Ryu Seonghan clutched his head and began rolling across the floor.

Only then did he realize the tragedy that had befallen him.

The soul-binding contract from the Dark Heaven Secret Realm.

The master of that contract had appeared before him.

With a despairing expression, Ryu Seonghan muttered into the air.

“No way... This is a dream...”

Whether Ryu Seonghan despaired or not, Ise checked the soul-binding contract again.

「Ryu Seonghan will absolutely obey Ise's commands and will not attack other cultivators within the Dark Heaven Secret Realm. This remains valid until one party to the contract dies. Should Ryu Seonghan violate the contract, his head will explode and he will die.」

“What a neatly written contract. If you're thinking of harming me right now, your head will just explode and you'll die.”

At Ise's words, Ryu Seonghan clutched his head and collapsed again.

Unbelievable.

He really had been thinking about doing something to Ise.

Ise had spared Ryu Seonghan because he had seemed promising, but he clearly was not someone Ise could trust.

“Shall we write an additional contract? Looking at it now, there are quite a few missing parts.”

“You crazy...”

Ryu Seonghan cursed as he held his throbbing head.

On a new soul-binding contract, Ise added safeguards such as “Do not reveal anything about the master,” “Do not flee or hide,” and “Do not take actions that would harm the master.”

Ryu Seonghan looked like someone whose country had fallen, but he could not refuse the order. His hands trembling, he signed it.

“I came here because I need something. You're going to help me.”

Holding his head, Ryu Seonghan stammered to Ise.

“Senior... You've already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.”

Ise checked Ryu Seonghan's realm as well.

Ninth star of the Qi Condensation Realm.

The last time he had seen Ryu Seonghan, he had been around the seventh or eighth star. Reaching this point so quickly meant his cultivation speed was quite impressive.

Using divine sense to inspect Ryu Seonghan's spiritual meridians, Ise found that Ryu Seonghan had two spiritual roots, wind and earth.

A fairly decent aptitude, including a special spiritual root.

“Someone like you must be rather favored in the Ryu Clan.”

“Believe it or not, I'm a Young Clan Head expected to become the next Clan Head.”

“Then why did someone like you enter a secret realm so recklessly?”

“Because I was confident I wouldn't die.”

“Fair enough. You certainly had plenty of ways to survive.”

Remembering the trouble Ryu Seonghan had caused him made Ise want to bury him underground again, leaving only his head exposed.

‘I’ll use Pungnyu City as my base for now and slowly adapt to the Northern Continent.’

This place, where he had an obedient party bound by contract, felt far more stable than Biryuseong, where three Foundation Establishment cultivators were constantly waiting for him to disappear.

Of course, Ise could have subdued those cultivators and controlled them with soul-binding contracts as well. The bigger problem was that he had caused a commotion there and drawn attention to himself.

It would be a long mission, so he intended to proceed calmly while cultivating.

“If other Foundation Establishment cultivators find me, vouch for me and say you brought me here.”

Ryu Seonghan clutched his head again and rolled across the floor.

Ise frowned.

“Please listen the first time. Your head is really going to explode at this rate.”

“Yes...”

Ryu Seonghan wiped away his cold sweat.

“I’ll stay here for now. It’s quiet, so it’s not bad. But the heaven-and-earth spiritual energy is weak for a cave abode. Is there a better one?”

“...The clan does have cave abodes available for rent.”

“Thanks. Get me the best one.”

“Senior. Then the cost...?”

“Give me your storage pouch.”

With trembling hands, Ryu Seonghan took out his storage pouch.

Ise snickered, looked it over, then returned it.

“You’re going to charge me Spiritual Stones in this situation?”

“...”

Watching Ryu Seonghan clutch his head again, Ise thought the fellow was truly disgusting.

He wanted to crack open Ryu Seonghan's head and see what was inside.

“Fine. Give me a discount instead. A friends-and-family discount.”

He could have squeezed Ryu Seonghan much harder, but his adoptive parents had always taught him not to cross that line.

Besides, it was common sense in the cultivation world that every matter required a price.

Greed always brought disaster.

At the mention of payment, color quickly returned to Ryu Seonghan's face. Afraid Ise would change his mind, he hurriedly spilled out the details.

“Really?! Then I’ll arrange a second-tier cave abode for you at a thirty percent discount! If you rent it long-term, I can lower it further, to around a thousand a year.”

A second-tier cave abode would be one used by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

A thousand a year was only two or three a day.

The price was cheaper than Ise had expected, so he accepted the deal.

“Oh, and can you get a Spirit-Veiling spirit artifact that makes me look like I’m at an appropriate level?”

It would be nice if he could get a spirit artifact or spell that concealed internal qi.

Such things had more uses than one might think, but lasting Spirit-Veiling spirit artifacts and arts were difficult to obtain.

He had brought plenty of Spirit-Veiling Talismans, but their duration was short. They were consumable items, so it was better to conserve them.

“A Spirit-Veiling spirit artifact... They’re uncommon, so it’ll be expensive. Can you afford it?”

Ise nodded.

“I’m jealous, senior. But isn’t Spirit-Veiling useless between Foundation Establishment cultivators anyway, because of divine sense?”

Ryu Seonghan was right.

The range of divine sense could be expanded or narrowed at will, but completely concealing the fact that one was using it required reaching the Core Formation Realm.

It was like closing one's eyes but being unable to erase them from one's face.

“I’d rather the other Qi Condensation cultivators didn’t see it. They make such a fuss.”

“Ah... That makes sense. They can’t help being wary of an unfamiliar high-level cultivator.”

After thinking for a moment, Ryu Seonghan proposed a trade. His eyes remained fixed on the spirit artifact on Ise's feet.

Ise could practically hear the gears turning.

“If you return the Ghoststep Boots... I’ll get one for you. Let’s trade.”

“Return them? You make it sound as if they belong to you. I obtained these fairly.”

“...”

Ryu Seonghan clutched his head.

This time, it seemed dangerous. A thin line of blood ran from one ear.

Still, Ise had nothing to feel guilty about.

The most Daoist-like girl he knew had told him that the winner took all, and that was the natural order.

“Please... Allow me to swear just once...”

“Why would I allow that? If your tongue slips around me, the soul-binding contract won’t be needed. An Earth Spear will take your head off.”

“...”

“Anyway, we’ll make the trade. Bring it to me, and I’ll exchange them.”

The Ghoststep Boots could not be used alongside Tailwind Step, a wind-attribute movement art, so they would soon lose their usefulness anyway.

With just a little more progress in Tailwind Step, it seemed it would be more effective than the Ghoststep Boots.

* * *

Half a day later, Ryu Seonghan returned with information on a blessed grotto and a Spirit-Veiling Ring.

While waiting, Ise had been making rice soup with Snow Boar meat he had caught on the way here.

Now that he had found a place where he could properly cultivate, he intended to maintain the spirit-gathering effect with immortal cuisine.

He had brought enough additional ingredients to last for a while.

Thankfully, the residence had suitable tableware as well.

Ise lifted the lid of the pot and gave it a light stir.

He repeatedly ladled the steaming broth over the rice cooked with spirit rice. Then he seasoned it with sea salt and Fire-Eye Herb.

Ise placed two bowls of rice soup on the table.

“Senior, I’m back... No, what is that smell?”

“Have a bowl.”

Ise left the hesitant Ryu Seonghan alone and took a spoonful first. The broth flowed down his throat, warming even his Dharma-Flower Dantian.

“Ah, that’s refreshing.”

Nothing beat rice soup in winter.

The seasoning was perfect too.

It had been a while since he had made immortal cuisine, but it seemed his skill had not dulled.

The Snow Boar was only a fourth-grade demon beast, so its spirit-gathering effect was somewhat lacking.

Monkey demon beasts tasted terrible, while Uin was a demon beast at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Ise wanted to save it until he returned to Dine and Go.

He decided this was good enough.

“Wow...”

“Tasty, right?”

“The taste is great, but what is this? It feels like heaven-and-earth spiritual energy is suddenly being drawn in.”

“Is this your first time eating immortal cuisine?”

“No. It’s my first time feeling an effect like this.”

“That makes sense. It’s one of my skills. I’ll make it for you now and then while I’m staying here. I don’t often give things away for free, so you can be grateful.”

“...Yes, senior. Thank you.”

Ryu Seonghan had become much more obedient.

As expected, handling people required both the stick and the carrot.

“But you haven’t answered the important question. How does it taste?”

“What? Oh, it tastes delicious. It’s been so long since I’ve eaten anything other than fasting pills that I’m a little overwhelmed. You’re better than the clan’s professional cooks.”

“That’s something I like hearing.”

Ise chuckled.

Rice soup truly was the best.

If he got the chance, he wanted to spread the benefits and joy of immortal cuisine to the cultivators here too.

After quickly finishing a bowl, Ise put on the Spirit-Veiling Ring Ryu Seonghan had brought and returned the Ghoststep Boots.

‘This is a Spirit-Veiling Art that makes me look like a first-star Qi Condensation cultivator. It’s lower than I expected, but it’ll do.’

At this level, no one would pay attention even if he walked through the streets.

Satisfied with Ryu Seonghan's competence, Ise continued.

“One more favor. This is the main reason I came.”

“Yes, senior.”

Ise explained why he had come to the Northern Continent.

Then he asked Ryu Seonghan to investigate Pungnyu City.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but once I find the cultivation manual, I’ll return quietly. I’ll release your soul-binding contract too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I swear on my biological parents’ names and honor.”

“If they’re your parents, why say biological parents? You’re not an orphan or something, are you?”

“...”

Sharp little bastard.

Ise clicked his tongue.

“Ah, damn it. Senior, you're such a fraud...”

“I won’t release it completely. I’ll change it to a contract that only stops you from attacking me. Somehow, I feel like you’d stab me in the back the moment I release you.”

“Me? No way.”

“Really? You won’t do anything threatening at all?”

Ise asked while using Mind-Reading Art.

Without a moment of hesitation, Ryu Seonghan replied.

“Of course. Naturally.”

The result was a lie.

Ise struck Ryu Seonghan on the head with his hatchet.

He had not infused it with spiritual energy, so Ryu Seonghan's skull did not crack.

* * *

After assigning Ryu Seonghan to search Pungnyu City, Ise headed to the blessed grotto for which he had received the key.

‘This is... a cave abode?’

Ise tried to hide his disappointment.

It was closer to a cave than a cave abode.

Someone had dug a hole into a small hill and attached a wooden door that did not even lock properly.

Without even inserting the key, Ise gave the door a push. It opened with a creak.

There was no security to speak of.

‘Did I get scammed?’

It was a reasonable suspicion.

Still, rather than seek out Ryu Seonghan for answers, Ise chose to go inside.

It was not a dangerous situation like when he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and considering Pungnyu City's weak heaven-and-earth spiritual energy, this was still relatively abundant.

Cultivation. He had not cultivated enough.

The long mission itself was not a problem, but he had not been able to focus on cultivation consistently. It made him restless and uneasy.

Only after settling into the familiar darkness did his mind begin to feel at ease.

As he focused on cultivation and sank deep into meditation, divine sense detected signs of people outside the cave abode.

Three early Qi Condensation cultivators were lingering outside.

A moment later, they used Door-Opening Art on the poorly locked door and ambushed him.

‘Wow. They’re attacking a blessed grotto managed by a faction. Something like this would be unthinkable on the Eastern Continent.’

Footnotes:

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