WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Episode 12: Dark Heaven Secret Realm (7)

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“Hey, brat. Leave the storage pouch behind!”

“Damn, that little bastard is fast!”

“Come back next time, and we'll take your head off!”

Cackling mockery followed from behind, but Ise did not even pretend to hear it.

Demon Hunting's Ninth Principle. Never be ashamed of fighting together or retreating.

When retreating, abandon everything and retreat.

Right now, he only had to abandon his pride. It was not difficult.

Only after leaving the gatekeepers' sight did Ise pour a Healing Pellet into his mouth and slowly restore his damaged body and organs through circulation.

He steadied his breathing.

As spirit bone filled his ribs and his organs and flesh slowly knit themselves back together, he sharpened his Dokkaebi Senses.

He was wounded prey now. No cultivators nearby would leave alone someone who had suffered injuries like these.

It would become dangerous if he did not recover quickly.

He intended to recover only enough to move, then immediately find somewhere safe.

Just as expected, the flow of spiritual energy flickering in the distance moved toward him against the wind.

Ise gripped his hatchet. In his other hand, he held a protective talisman between his index and middle fingers. It would cast a defensive spell in place of the Yellow Great Parasol, which now had a hole in it.

The face of the cultivator approaching with hostile intent came into view, and their spiritual energy transformed into cultivation power before flying at him.

Just as Ise was about to activate the defensive talisman, a swirling stream of water shot at the attacker from the opposite side.

Caught by the unexpected attack, the cultivator was flung far away.

“...So you had a companion.”

The attacker clicked their tongue, then calmly vanished.

A man landed after circling the sword floating in the air and putting it away. Ise looked at the person who had helped him.

“Ise, are you all right?”

“...”

A striking face, sun-darkened bronze skin, a height at least a handspan taller than when Ise had last seen him, and a more mature appearance.

It was Hae Unchan.

“Thank you.”

Ise thanked him first.

That had nearly become a dangerous situation.

“Focus on circulation first. I'll keep watch.”

Ise glanced at the friend standing protectively before him, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

He swallowed the greeting he had wanted to give. This was no place to ask after each other.

‘The eighth star.’

The gap between them still seemed like it would close, yet it never did. Hae Unchan was still moving forward with all his strength.

Still, this secret realm was crawling with those who had reached Great Completion in the Qi Condensation Realm.

Ise thought it was somewhat dangerous for Hae Unchan to enter the secret realm at his realm, but he did not say so.

He knew now that Hae Unchan felt rivalry and pressure because of him.

After recovering to a reasonable degree, Ise got to his feet.

Then he thanked Hae Unchan once again.

“Thank you. You saved my life.”

“It was nothing. Of course I helped.”

Only then did Ise notice Hae Unchan's condition.

His Daoist robes were torn in several places, and layers of dried blood stained his sleeves.

There was a wound torn by a blade at his side, while greasy poison stains marked his knees.

Hae Unchan had already fought countless battles in this secret realm. Fierce battles where he had placed his life on the scales.

Ise took out the Yellow Great Parasol with its hole and examined it from every angle.

‘This is troublesome.’

There was still a long way to go before the secret realm ended, yet his only shield had been pierced.

Of course, if it had not been for the artifact, that last strike might have killed him.

“If you take it to the headquarters' artifact workshop, they'll repair it. Don't be too upset.”

“Well, I suppose they will?”

“Yeah. It'll be cheaper than buying a new one.”

It was a spirit artifact that had maximized durability without any special spell mechanisms. Repairs should not be too difficult.

With an expression that said he had no other choice, Ise put the Yellow Great Parasol back into his storage pouch.

“Still, aren't those demonic cultivators strange? They're clearly in the Qi Condensation Realm, but the spirit artifacts they use are Foundation Establishment Realm artifacts. They don't look like divine artifacts. The finish is clearly that of ordinary spirit artifacts. Did Cheoryang Thunder Gate make Foundation Establishment spirit artifacts that Qi Condensation demonic cultivators can use?”

“We'll have our answer if we secure one of those artifacts and submit it to headquarters.”

“You have no intention of giving up, do you?”

Without answering, Ise looked toward the demonic cultivators.

At the very least, he had to get the cost of his broken beloved shield back.

“Didn't the other fellow disciples enter with you?”

“About fifteen of us entered together, but I've only met three. One fell to those bastards, and another Fellow Daoist gave up and went to search the Outer Zone.”

From his words, Ise realized Hae Unchan had not given up on entering the Inner Reaches either.

“Of course I have no intention of giving up. I've come this far, so I have to see the Inner Reaches.”

That was good. He could trust Hae Unchan with his back.

Three demonic cultivators at Qi Condensation Great Completion, along with a spirit artifact carrying Foundation Establishment power. He did not know if the two of them could face them, but it would still be far more manageable than fighting alone.

As if he had read Ise's thoughts, Hae Unchan brought good news.

“I gathered comrades to break through the entrance with. There are three, and if you join us, it should be enough. You're at Qi Condensation... Great Completion now, and you're strong to begin with. Ah, it's late, but congratulations on reaching Great Completion.”

“Don't flatter me.”

“Ha ha ha, I mean it.”

Ise shook his head as he watched Hae Unchan laugh as though nothing was wrong.

How could he suspect the heart demon in Hae Unchan's heart when he acted like this?

Instead of offering direct comfort, Ise only grumbled.

“I'm under so much pressure because of you. Do you know how much pressure it is, knowing you could catch up at any time?”

“What? You think that too?”

“Of course I do. Anyone would, especially when an outstanding fellow disciple like you is right on their heels. So catch up a little more slowly.”

It was encouragement and comfort disguised as a complaint.

He was just as impatient, burdened, and desperate.

He only hoped Hae Unchan would not succumb to a heart demon.

Ise encouraged him, hoping the seed of heart demon tribulation that had taken root in Hae Unchan would be carried away on a warm breeze.

“Should we deal with those lawless demonic cultivators first? Wait here a moment. I'll bring the others.”

Leaving those words behind, Hae Unchan vanished, then returned with three cultivators waiting nearby.

Two were at the ninth star of Qi Condensation, while one was at the eighth star.

That made five including the two of them. Their average realm was lower, but their numbers should let them respond to some extent.

After brief introductions, someone immediately asked, “Let's settle this first. How will we divide the spoils?”

They said it while looking at Ise. They seemed worried that he, as the strongest among them, would take all the benefits.

The three each threw out their opinions, but Ise dismissed them at once.

“Whoever takes an enemy's head last gets that enemy's storage pouch. If there's room for dispute, the people involved can reach an agreement between themselves.”

There seemed to be a few complaints, but no one voiced an objection.

They did not have the leisure to calmly divide shares at the entrance to the Inner Reaches.

The moment they displayed the resources inside their storage pouches, they would be plunged into battles with other cultivators swarming them.

“Just in case, once we break through the entrance, let's all scatter immediately without attacking each other.”

“That goes without saying.”

“I agree.”

The three cultivators reached an agreement among themselves and strengthened their resolve. Ise quietly listened.

The person who talked most about peace was always the first to stab you in the back. He did not say it aloud.

“The problem is how to break through...”

Since none of them shared the level of their cultivation arts or spirit artifacts, no real strategy could be formed.

In the end, the plan became simple.

Someone would take the lead and withstand the lightning from the spirit artifact. While it recharged, the others would close in and force a melee.

“So, who will lead the charge?”

No one answered. Their faces made it clear they wanted to push the task onto the person with the highest realm. After they spent a while watching each other and glancing at Ise, he answered.

“I will.”

“I'll go with you.”

Hae Unchan stepped in as if he could not let Ise go alone. Ise studied his face for a moment before answering.

“All right.”

* * *

“Hey, brat. Did you come to offer up your storage pouch this time?”

“You think anything will change just because you gathered a few vermin?”

The street thugs masquerading as demonic cultivators snickered at Ise and the approaching cultivators.

Clank. The cannon-type spirit artifact they had taken out in advance raised its barrel toward Ise and Hae Unchan.

After looking over the cultivators standing far behind them in tense silence, Ise quickened his pace.

Hae Unchan immediately followed while keeping his distance.

Ise poured internal qi into the Ghoststep Boots, tore a Swiftbody Talisman, then activated Dokkaebi Steps.

His movements instantly became as swift as the wind.

He kicked off the ground once, and his figure had already vanished far ahead.

“Wait, together...”

It was a speed Hae Unchan could never hope to match.

The gatekeepers were startled when Ise suddenly accelerated, but they immediately activated the spirit artifact.

At the same time, Ise changed direction and leaped to the left.

If he waited to see it and dodge, it would be too late.

Crack! Lightning burst from the muzzle a moment later.

It narrowly passed through the path he had crossed only moments before.

Hae Unchan followed from behind and activated a spell as if covering Ise.

Gale-Water Illusion Art.

Sea-Slapping Art.

The vortex extending from the tip of his sword spread like a wave, swallowing the demonic cultivators and the cannon spirit artifact whole.

Once the artifact was submerged, the lightning fire gathering at its muzzle went out. Crackling currents mixed within the barrel before fading away.

It would not break down from something like this, but it should at least buy them a little time.

Ise changed direction once more and slipped between the three demonic cultivators.

Needle-Launching Armor glowed and activated in the middle of them.

Thwip-thwip-thwip! Hundreds of large needles shot out with enough force to tear the demonic cultivators' bodies apart.

But the demonic cultivators sensed danger from Ise's charge into their midst and each avoided fatal wounds in their own way.

Fresh blood splattered in every direction.

At the same time, the blood arts and lightning arts the demonic cultivators cast flew at Ise.

Ise twisted away at once, and Hae Unchan joined him.

Several kinds of spells tangled chaotically together.

The three cultivators finally began to join the battle.

Individually, they were clearly behind the demonic cultivators in accomplishment.

The usual limit for Qi Condensation Realm cultivators was operating only one spell at a time.

While Ise faced one demonic cultivator, the others should have been able to win by pairing up two against one.

They should have.

Whoosh.

One independent cultivator running at the very back suddenly changed direction the moment the battle took shape.

Their figure passed both the demonic cultivators and their allies, then was drawn into the rainbow arch at the entrance to the Inner Reaches.

The cultivator at the eighth star of Qi Condensation had chosen to enter the Inner Reaches alone instead of fighting.

“That cowardly bastard!”

Footnotes:

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