WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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Episode 25: Natal Spirit Artifact (6)
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The spiritual being rose and stood upright before Ise.
It had no eyes, nose, mouth, hands, or feet, yet Ise felt as though it had met their gaze.
It was an unremarkable flower.
Except that it was as tall as a person and stood on the ground with its roots as feet.
Inside the stalk that formed its body, its inner core had taken the shape of a Dharma-Flower Dantian, with traces of a Golden Core within.
Though it had lost its rank through decline, its origin remained.
The sight of a flower rising to its feet was startling enough, but what it did next was even more astonishing.
“Greetings, Master.”
Human speech flowed from the flower, and it sounded perfectly natural.
“I have a lot to ask, but I should start with this.”
“Please ask.”
“You don't have eyes, a nose, or a mouth, so how are you talking? Where is your mouth?”
No matter how Ise looked, it had no visible vocal organs, yet it spoke with complete ease.
Apparently not expecting that sort of question first, the spiritual being hesitated before answering.
“My appearance makes you uncomfortable.”
“It's not that.”
“Please wait a moment.”
All its petals curled inward at once.
Its stalk folded, its roots drew together, and a human silhouette took shape in its place.
Shoulders formed. Arms and legs separated. At last, the contours of a face emerged.
At a glance, it looked like a young woman.
Its skin was made of petals, which was rather strange, but it was unmistakably a human form, complete with a head, facial features, arms, and legs.
“You look oddly like someone.”
“I took on the features of the appearance you consider most beautiful.”
“How do you know what's in my mind?”
“I was born after consuming your spiritual essence. You could call me a kind of child. Through the spiritual essence you infused into me, I received part of your mental imagery.”
Having understood the principle, Ise immediately asked another question.
“That's the most beautiful woman I can think of?”
“Yes. Is that wrong?”
Rather than correct that misunderstanding, Ise gave another order.
“…Change into an ordinary face.”
“Yes.”
“And never take that form again.”
Not understanding why, the spiritual being immediately obeyed. Its features changed into those of an utterly ordinary woman.
Then it slowly looked around.
“What a beautiful place. It is an ideal environment for a flower to live in. Though it is a little regrettable that there is no natural sunlight.”
“Let's make one thing clear first.”
“Yes.”
“I am the enemy who killed your original body, the you who was once a Core Formation Realm demon beast. Remember that.”
“I remember it. But though we share the same roots, we are fundamentally different beings. That was an evil monster, while I am an auspicious spiritual being.”
There was a peculiar pride and satisfaction in its voice, making Ise laugh.
It seemed quite pleased to have been reborn as a spiritual being.
“What's your name?”
“When I was a demon, I called myself the Flower Demon Mother. I ask that you grant me a new name.”
A mother of flower demons.
Now that it was no longer a demon, that name would be difficult to keep using.
Without much thought, Ise gave it the name that came to mind.
“Let's call you Hwayeong.”
“Yes. I am Hwayeong.”
The naming felt somewhat careless, but Hwayeong laughed brightly, as though delighted with the new name.
'I expected this, but... this is still awfully awkward.'
First Bisang, and now Hwayeong.
Ise had already gained two dependents.
Should Ise consider them extra mouths to feed, or an increase in fighting strength?
Judging by Bisang, it was more accurate to call them another pair of hands and feet. Still, Ise did not know how much trust to place in Hwayeong.
This was the cultivation world, where one could be betrayed even by a clone made by splitting off part of one's own soul.
This one had been a seed of uncertain origin until yesterday, and before that, a demon Ise had personally killed.
“If you command me to die, Master, I can end my life here and now.”
As though reading Ise's thoughts, Hwayeong answered firmly.
“A contract-bound relationship is different, but spiritual beings and spirit beasts cannot betray the master who brought them into being. It would be a grave sin against the proper order, and they would immediately lose their spiritual essence and become tainted with demonic qi.”
Ise slowly nodded.
At least as far as Ise knew, there had never been a case of a spiritual being or spirit beast betraying its master.
And judging by Hwayeong's pride in being a spiritual being... it likely would not want to become a demon again.
“We'll figure out what role to give you over time. For now, I'll introduce you to the family.”
Ise called Bisang.
Bisang waddled over and poked its head into the Living-Spirit Cave Abode. Upon spotting Hwayeong, it opened its beak halfway and moved it as if in greeting.
“This is Bisang. This is Hwayeong. You're family now, so get along.”
The two familiars merely glanced at each other.
“That’s it? Aren’t you going to greet each other?”
“Master, that is like asking your left arm and left hand to greet each other and get along. We have been aware of each other's existence since the moment we were born.”
“That's certainly strange.”
Then again, both were beings touched by Ise's spiritual essence. It was not all that strange.
“Oh. Can you teach Bisang how to assume a human form as well?”
“Yes. Perfectly transforming into a human at the Foundation Establishment Realm is impossible, but it can imitate a human shape as I have.”
“Good. You teach Bisang how to assume a human form. Bisang, explain the customs of the Great Exorcist Order and cultivators, as well as the current situation, to Hwayeong.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Can't you just call me Hall Master?”
Ise pressed a hand to their forehead as the two familiars stood there blankly, pretending not to hear.
Who on earth had these children taken after, to be so stubborn from birth?
Their mother, probably.
Ise decided to believe that.
* * *
A month passed, just as Buchun had boasted.
During that time, Ise visited the Extreme Yin Demon Ground whenever possible. Together with Doksu, Ise climbed and descended through the mist-shrouded ground time and again, tracing the earth veins and following the source of its demonic qi.
They investigated day and night, but found nothing unusual.
There was nothing more to learn from aboveground.
As the unfeeling days passed, the Dine and Go branch on Ilgwang Island finally opened.
It was packed from the very first day.
A huge crowd filled the area before the shop entrance.
As though Buchun had anticipated it, Buchun had the employees follow an orderly service process, while the prearranged, big-spending Foundation Establishment cultivators were shown to the private rooms.
“Business is booming. How did you spread the word?”
At Ise's admiring question, Buchun only replied, “I simply put in the legwork.”
Both the daytime and nighttime business went well.
The immortal cuisine handed out as free samples to customers caused an especially great stir.
Its effects sent shockwaves through all of Ilgwang Island, beyond Haerin Market.
When a cultivator made progress in cultivation on the spot after taking a single bite, the rumors spread beyond control.
Before the first day's business had even ended, reservations for the next day were fully booked.
Ise could only smile upon checking the sales.
'They certainly made a lasting impression on the cultivators.'
Seolryeong's disposable combat spirit artifacts, Hong Wonseo's Qi-Condensing Pellets, Pi Garam's Spirit-Gathering Plates, and Eunbo's talismans.
On the opening day, Buchun boldly discounted Dine and Go's main products and sold them off as though scattering seeds.
It was not a strategy one could choose without confidence in the quality.
Try it once.
Once cultivators had used them, they would never be able to use another shop again.
That was the confidence behind it.
The capability that had made Dine and Go's main branch the Great Exorcist Order's finest general merchant house shone here as well.
From the arrangement of the displays to the employees' service, there was nowhere untouched by Buchun's hand.
It seemed Ise could entrust this side completely to Buchun.
Ise decided to focus on the Abyssal Mole-Mouse.
* * *
“My apologies, Hall Master.”
Hong Wonseo, Pi Garam, and Eunbo gathered at the estate after being summoned by Ise.
For the past month, they had run themselves ragged and traveled by boat even to the nearby islands, but had found nothing of note.
The Core Formation-level sects they had asked for cooperation also gave lukewarm responses.
“The Core Formation-level sects showed a surprising lack of interest.”
“That's strange.”
Ise's gaze turned toward Eunbo.
Under that seemingly accusatory stare, Eunbo's pupils shook.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that...?”
“I don't understand. With evidence like this, they should at least have some suspicions. Did you properly show the materials to the Core Formation sects?”
“Well, that is...”
Eunbo faltered, and Hong Wonseo answered in his place.
“His record is rather impressive.”
“What record?”
“Before they could even discuss the Abyssal Mole-Mouse hypothesis, he had already been branded as an eccentric who spread doomsday theories.”
Eunbo lowered his head sharply.
“Five years ago, he claimed that spiritual energy would soon dry up. Ten years ago, he claimed beings from the Upper Realm would descend and destroy the Human Realm. At first, even the great cultivators who recognized his talent listened to him, but now they seem to regard him as a liar given to wild claims. They told us not to waste our time.”
“Those claims all have their own basis...”
“Quiet.”
Eunbo immediately shut his mouth at Ise's curt dismissal.
“Regardless of his record, we only have circumstantial suspicions right now. We need solid physical evidence.”
The Abyssal Mole-Mouse was an oceanic demon beast whose name and appearance were known.
Yet there was very little material on it.
It only appeared when it destroyed an island, and no survivors remained in its wake.
The only records were research findings based on the corpses left on attacked islands.
“Its body can withstand the pressures of the deep sea from its larval stage, and its skin has particularly strong resistance to fire-aspect attacks.”
“Then it must possess water- and earth-aspect spiritual roots.”
“That is a reasonable inference.”
A body capable of withstanding deep-sea pressure and a hide resistant to fire.
It was certainly an odd combination.
What fire could there possibly be in the deep sea that it needed fire resistance?
Ise would have thought that.
Before hearing Eunbo's explanation.
“Enough. Let's not drag this out any longer.”
“Have you thought of something?”
“It's simple. If it came to hunt humans for food, there would be no reason to come all the way to the Inner Archipelago. If it finds this exact location regardless of the moving tectonic plates...”
Pointing at the ground, Ise spoke.
“Below.”
The three followed Ise's finger with their eyes, looking down before raising their gazes again.
“It means it has business beneath the plate.”
Dismay spread across the cultivators' faces.
“Surely you do not mean to drill through the ground all the way beneath the plate and inspect it yourself?”
“There is no other option.”
“That is too dangerous, Hall Master.”
Pi Garam immediately tried to dissuade Ise.
“If I decide it is dangerous, I'll stop and come back up. Don't worry.”
“But...”
“Just trust me. We simply see the world differently. This isn't a reckless decision.”
“…Yes.”
The decision to bore deep into the earth would be difficult to understand from the perspective of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
But Ise had a body that had endured even the spiritual pressure of the High Heavens.
Moreover, during the past month, Ise had learned spells that could protect their body from extreme heat by using Water Arts and Metal Arts.
Ise would wrap their body in layer after layer of water-aspect spells, then refine and harden those barriers with metal-aspect spells.
Ise had anticipated and prepared for this ever since hearing Eunbo's explanation and investigating the area around Ilgwang Island.
“You've worked hard. You may each return to your delayed cultivation now. Pi Garam, just take turns with the Deputy Hall Master from time to time.”
“Yes.”
“Hong Wonseo, do you remember the list of spiritual herbs in the Living-Spirit Cave Abode?”
“Yes.”
“See whether it is possible to make spirit pellets with those herbs alone. Also, ask around about the Archipelago's pill-refining methods.”
“I will.”
Lastly, Ise stopped by Dine and Go and took a recording stone.
Whatever Ise saw below, they intended to record it as though seen with their own eyes.
That would make it easier to persuade the cultivators of Ilgwang Island.
Once Ise had finished preparing, they headed for the coast where the Abyssal Mole-Mouse larva had been found.
The shore of Ilgwang Island.
There was no one on the beach that evening, after the tidal hour had passed.
As the sun sank beyond the horizon, the sea turned blue-green.
Ise hovered above the water, quietly spreading his divine sense and probing the surroundings until night had fully fallen.
The flow of demonic qi ran from the Extreme Yin Demon Ground to the place where the Abyssal Mole-Mouse had been discovered.
Ise planned to investigate the waters along this coast first.
Moonlight glittered over the rippling water at Ise's feet.
Primordial qi wrapped around Ise's hovering body, and with a Splash!, they sank beneath the surface.
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