WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 178
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“Let’s wrap this up quickly and start cultivating. We need to properly refine the energy from the spirit-sending rites too.”
Like Ise, the Azure Dragon Hall members had absorbed an enormous amount of energy during the war.
If things went well, every Hall member could advance by an entire minor realm boundary.
Their eyes had changed as well. They were no longer merely admirable, but had come to meet Ise’s standards.
They were the eyes that could only be gained by enduring fierce, desperate battles on the edge of life and death.
Satisfied, Ise added, “Return the dead’s storage pouches to their sects if they belonged to one, and to their families if they were independent cultivators. If they had no family, have Dine and Go recover them.”
The bodies and belongings of the dead would be returned where they belonged.
“Warn them that anyone who touches a dead person’s storage pouch will have their head displayed in the middle of Ilgwang Island. If anyone is caught, behead them and make an example of them.”
“...Yes.”
It was unlikely that anyone would dare disobey the orders of a Core Formation Realm great cultivator, but temptation was temptation.
There would surely be cultivators swayed by the thought that they could gain a fortune if they simply were not caught.
* * *
Preparing the spirit requiem rite alone took several days.
There had been more casualties than expected.
‘If everyone had fought willingly, the losses would have been lower than this.’
The enemy’s numbers had not strayed far from expectations.
If the damage was this severe regardless, it meant that some had turned their backs and chosen to flee.
Perhaps quite a few of them.
Across the island, those who had upheld their honor would have died, while those who fled and hid survived.
Even so, Ise chose mercy rather than punishment.
“Everyone except Seolryeong, come here.”
Watching incense rise from every corner of the island amid the tide of mourning, Ise summoned the busily moving Azure Dragon Hall members.
“Shin Hyeon. Take Doksu and Pi Garam to Buchun. Withdraw half of Dine and Go’s available funds. Use it to visit the market towns on nearby islands and buy as many Regeneration Pellets as possible.”
“Once we obtain them, what should we do?”
“Give them to those injured in battle.”
“Yes. We will.”
The island had consumed an enormous amount of war supplies.
Cultivators who could not even regrow their limbs due to a lack of resources were everywhere.
Leaving them like this would be no different from throwing the survivors to another set of predators. Ise intended to restore the island before leaving.
“You’re merciful.”
Hong Wonseo spoke.
It was not mockery. The words had simply slipped out because the decision did not seem to suit her Hall Master’s disposition.
Ise understood what she meant, but did not reverse his decision.
“Still, the sect masters of the three sects stood their ground and died fighting. I think this is a way of respecting them.”
“I heard Pan Maseong tried to run without fighting much, then got caught and killed.”
“...”
The truth made Ise frown, rendering his hard-won mercy meaningless.
He had wondered why a man who looked like a bandit had died like a proper Daoist. So there had been that sort of story behind it.
“See? I knew it. That sounds like him. This is why appearances don’t lie.”
The Abyssal Mole-Mouse was a demon optimized for killing fleeing prey.
If Pan Maseong had faced it head-on, he might have had a better chance of surviving.
“I heard Neungnyeongnyeong drove the Greater Demon into a corner, but she failed to finish off the demon she thought was dead and was killed.”
Tsk.
That was a mistake she would not have made if she had learned demon hunting properly from the beginning.
She had raised a victory toast before the feast was over. Of course she had died.
“They were all talk.”
Ise grumbled, then asked, “What about the Hanjang Sect Master?”
“That person was...”
Hong Wonseo paused, as though recalling that moment, before calmly replying.
“He was remarkable. A person worthy of emulation.”
“Good. That’s enough. Greed invites disaster. We’ve already gained enough from this island.”
A foundation for advancing his realm, countless experiences in real combat, and the life-bound treasure artifact he would soon receive.
Ise decided to think positively.
“Hong Wonseo, go collect my money.”
“Wouldn’t I be more appropriately assigned to procure medicinal pellets?”
“You’re perfectly suited for this assignment.”
Without further explanation, Ise handed her three promissory notes.
Hong Wonseo looked curious as to why she was suited to collect a debt, but did not dare ask.
She merely glared at Seolryeong, who was quietly chuckling beside her.
Shin Hyeon’s group departed for the nearby islands.
As expected, Hong Wonseo did not disappoint. Before even half a day had passed, she had cleaned them out of Spiritual Stones.
It was only natural.
A great cultivator had killed five Greater Demons that the sect masters had failed to defeat even one of, including their leader.
No sect could possibly refuse such a great cultivator’s debt collection.
Even if Ise had demanded double or triple the agreed payment, they would have had to empty their treasuries to pay him.
Yet when word spread that Ise had accepted only the originally promised compensation and demanded nothing more, astonishment swept the island in a positive sense.
Some even began spreading rumors that he was a Nascent Soul Realm old monster concealing his realm at Core Formation Realm to amuse himself.
Ise sought out Go Yubaek of the Hanjang Sect.
Go Yubaek’s deeply wrinkled face seemed even more deeply furrowed than before.
They had lost their sect’s Sect Master, their own son, an eldest son they had raised rather well. Their grief must have been considerable.
Ise lowered his head in condolence before asking, “Old Ancestor Go, are you all right?”
“I’m not all right, but what can I do? At least I avenged my son with my own hands. I suppose that must be enough.”
“You said you could not fight, but you were being awfully modest.”
“It was only because it was already dying.”
Old Ancestor Go stared silently at their own hand before continuing.
“It would have been better if I had fought alongside him from the beginning. Why was I so foolishly attached to a life that was already ending?”
Go Yubaek recalled his son’s final moments.
The spell arts his son had cast with hands that had held hammers more often than swords, and the demon mercilessly tearing his son apart.
No matter how accustomed that Greater Demon was to devouring humans, their innate strength had been comparable. There had certainly been moments when his son had forced it back.
If he had retreated briefly, even at the cost of sacrificing disciples, he might have survived.
But that stubborn fool had burned everything he had and perished as a handful of ashes.
Go Yubaek’s feelings reached Ise through his mindscape.
Not knowing how to offer comfort, Ise simply stated the truth.
“I heard from my Hall members that he remained a person worthy of emulation until the end.”
“If that is how you saw him, then I am grateful. He merely did what was required of the position he was given.”
“Many cannot even manage that. That is why such people are praised.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Entirely so.”
Go Yubaek looked at Ise with their wrinkled face, then smiled faintly.
His expression was much more at ease than when they had first met.
“I heard the Azure Dragon Hall Master worked hard as well. On behalf of the entire island, I offer my thanks.”
“Yes.”
A dry response, without either humility or arrogance.
Go Yubaek snickered and gestured toward an empty space with their chin.
“Set it down.”
Ise took the leader Abyssal Mole-Mouse’s corpse from his Cosmos Pouch.
Old Ancestor Go’s mouth fell open briefly at the sight of the corpse, far larger than the one they had faced.
“Will this be enough?”
“It is more than enough. I will use only what I need and return the rest.”
“That is not necessary. There are four more corpses. Use this to help restore your sect.”
“Then I will not refuse.”
Go Yubaek examined the corpse from every angle and let out a sigh of admiration.
“This is the first time I have handled materials this precious.”
The way he lifted each scale was like a child who had discovered something wondrous, making Ise smile.
Go Yubaek suddenly asked, “You look young. How can you be so strong? How old are you?”
“I just turned sixty.”
Go Yubaek burst into hearty laughter at Ise’s answer.
“That is an amusing joke.”
“I hear that often, but it is not a joke.”
“Enough with that.”
Ise did not answer.
Instead, as he always did when someone called it a joke, he merely gave the old man an obvious look.
“...”
Go Yubaek’s expression twisted sharply.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You are that young?”
Reaching Core Formation Realm at sixty was enough to turn heaven and earth upside down.
Yet this great cultivator was also powerful enough to kill five Core Formation Realm Greater Demons in succession.
Anyone he told would accuse him of having gone senile.
“...Senior Haeil has raised a monster.”
Go Yubaek let out a breath and stroked their beard.
Ise pretended not to hear and changed the subject.
“How do you know the Order Lord?”
“By that person’s standards, it is not a significant connection. Personally, however, I owe a great debt that I must repay even in death.”
Go Yubaek did not explain further, and Ise did not press him.
In the cultivation world, debts of gratitude and grudges were bound together in complicated ways.
Instead, he brought up the main matter.
“How much time will you need?”
“At least three years.”
“How much longer do you have to live? Shall I get you a Longevity Pellet?”
“...I cannot tell whether that is kindness or rudeness. Do not worry. I can easily last another thirty years. I cannot close my eyes before raising at least one of my grandsons or great-grandsons to Core Formation Realm.”
“Yes. Then I know you are busy, but I leave it in your hands.”
“That sounds very much like pressure to complete your commission first, no matter how busy I am.”
“I will not deny it. I have already invested a great deal of time and effort.”
At the exceedingly polite coercion, Go Yubaek waved their hand.
Ise entered the Living-Spirit Cave Abode within the estate.
Rather than assigning Bisang and Hwayeong separate duties, he had them remain by his side.
“While I cultivate in seclusion, take turns cultivating beside me and serving as my breakthrough guardian.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes, Father.”
The two retainers had little else to do, and his cultivation would benefit them as well.
Like fledglings fed by their mother, they would be able to swallow down the residual energy from his cultivation.
It was better for them to focus on advancing their realms than wander around and become a nuisance.
“You may call for me only when my life-bound treasure artifact is complete.”
“We will remember.”
Ise immediately entered secluded cultivation.
Even within the Living-Spirit Cave Abode, he surrounded the space where he stood with a barrier of primordial qi.
It was a perfect space, one that no one could enter or leave.
He sank into the depths of his mindscape.
His preparations to break through to the middle stage of Core Formation Realm were already complete.
The insight required for a Core Formation Realm minor realm boundary was not especially difficult, and he had more than enough primordial qi.
At Qi Condensation Realm, one handled spiritual energy and cultivation power. At Foundation Establishment Realm, one contemplated divine sense, the soul, and primordial qi to understand the essence of humanity.
At Core Formation Realm, one transcended human limits. At Nascent Soul Realm, one began to understand the cosmos and heavens beyond humanity, in other words, heavenly omens.
Finally, one became a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator who had attained divinity and earned the qualification to cross the cosmos separating the Lower Realm from the Upper Realm.
That was the path of cultivation for a Lower Realm cultivator.
The middle stage of Core Formation Realm was the stage of nourishing the soul within the Golden Core, giving concrete form to the abstract concept of the mindscape, and learning related spell arts.
For example, after breaking through this realm, it became possible to record and seal spell arts from one’s mindscape into bamboo slips.
It was also said to be around this stage that the power of spirit beast tamers, demon beast tamers, and combat puppet masters rapidly increased.
Ise’s internal qi, which had flowed calmly, began to surge more and more violently.
* * *
“Master, a message has arrived. Your life-bound treasure artifact has been completed.”
At Hwayeong’s voice, Ise opened his eyes and rose.
“How long has it been?”
“Three years and twelve days.”
“They were almost exactly right.”
Ise removed the barrier and woke Bisang, who had been cultivating nearby.
It seemed Bisang had been dozing rather than cultivating. Bisang wiped drool from the corner of his mouth and raised his head.
“It’s good that your Human Transformation has improved, but do you have to stay in that form?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Why? Your hands and feet are small, so it must be uncomfortable. Why not make yourself a little bigger?”
“But I like this form.”
Bisang had taken the form of a ten-year-old boy who looked exactly like Ise had in his childhood.
Hwayeong had copied Hall Master Woo Yu-hui’s appearance, while Bisang had stolen his childhood face.
Ise truly could not understand why his retainers had such personalities.
“...Do as you please.”
If it became inconvenient, Bisang would change it himself. Ise decided to think that way.
“Did you gain anything from your cultivation?”
Ise nodded. He had reached the middle stage of Core Formation Realm without much difficulty.
To test the insight he had gained, Ise placed a hand on each retainer’s head.
He intended to pass on his knowledge and the spell-manifestation formulas of his spell arts through his mindscape.
To Bisang, he gave knowledge of immortal cuisine and the Turbid-Qi Cleansing Art.
To Hwayeong, he gave the Life-Accelerating Art.
Light spread from the bodies of the two beings.
Watching his retainers’ eyes brighten, Ise asked, “How is it? Can you do it?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
The two retainers awkwardly imitated Ise’s spell arts.
They were still only at one star, but the formulas seemed to have been properly passed on.
“Practice whenever you have time. Once you become accustomed to them, I want you two to primarily manage the spirit field and supply immortal cuisine.”
“Really? Thank you, Father.”
Bisang’s face brightened. Unable to contain his joy, feathers sprouted across his body.
Ise playfully plucked one feather from Bisang’s head, then headed straight for the Hanjang Sect’s main headquarters.
“You have come?”
“Yes. I heard the news. Are you satisfied with the work?”
“You will not be disappointed.”
Go Yubaek’s face was full of pride and satisfaction.
An exquisitely precious-looking wooden case rested upon the table.
When its lid opened, a deep blue hand axe resembling obsidian revealed itself in a burst of radiance.
“This is...”
Ise could not continue his words of admiration. Go Yubaek did not ask whether he liked it.
There was no need to ask.
The moment Ise saw it, his face already looked like that of a boy completely in love.
“Hold it in your hand, fill it with primordial qi, then give it a name. I matched the shape, length, and feel of its weight to the one you used before. The weight balance was slightly off, so I corrected only that.”
“It is flawless.”
It fit his hand perfectly, as though it were part of his own body.
When he filled it with primordial qi, he felt as though his soul and the treasure artifact had become connected.
It, too, seemed unreservedly delighted.
“Could it have a will of its own?”
“Nothing like that. It may feel that way, though. Think of it as a portion of your soul. If it is damaged, you will suffer as well. Be careful.”
“I will.”
A name. A name.
Ise thought quietly before murmuring, “Yeowol (侶鉞).”
It had received a part of his soul and would share life and death, joy and hardship with him. In truth, it was no different from a Dao companion.
“From now on, your name is Yeowol.”
Footnotes:
Yeowol is written 侶鉞, meaning “companion halberd,” a play on Dao companion.
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