WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Dionysus

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◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈

Chapter 74: The Years Go By

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‘It was about time I ran into at least one lunatic.’

That was Han Yujin’s first thought.

‘It’s not as if people could have already forgotten what I’ve done...’

About ten years had passed, which was certainly a long time, but not long enough that he should have to accept a challenge from an ignorant youngster like this.

There was more room for another interpretation.

‘Maybe I give off too much of a righteous great hero vibe.’

He truly wondered whether he would have received such a challenge if his reputation had been even a little more vicious. Most lunatics were not truly crazy. They often weighed their options before doing something insane.

In short, this Taegeon fellow might have been hoping to gain fame while believing he would not be seriously hurt or killed.

At that moment, the steward standing behind him approached Han Yujin and whispered quietly.

“They are merely a promising junior, but I have heard rumors about them. Despite their young age, they provided the decisive clue for restoring the Unhae Sect’s lost supreme martial art, the Azure Cloud Dragon Art. That earned them the epithet Azure Cloud Dragon Sword.”

“Oh, really?”

His slight annoyance and contempt were replaced by a hint of interest. If that was true, Taegeon possessed the rare talent of a great master.

“Supreme Martial Extremity Venerable! Why do you hesitate before a challenge from someone as insignificant as me?!”

Yet Taegeon could not even endure that brief pause before shouting again.

They seemed to believe it made them look courageous and spirited, but did not appear to notice the many people gathered nearby, all frozen stiff as they cautiously read the room.

Looking at Taegeon again, Han Yujin thought they had only just passed twenty. At the same time, immaturity practically poured from them, the kind that came from experiencing nothing but success and admiration.

“Fine.”

So Han Yujin decided to deal with Taegeon in the way they would hate most.

“If you can endure for exactly three seconds, I’ll count you as the winner.”

The next instant.

A violet light flashed in his eyes, and Taegeon’s gaze went unfocused before they dropped to their knees.

Then they began sobbing as if they had lost the entire world, causing everyone nearby to stare at them in bafflement.

“What a funny fellow.”

Someone said so with a sneer, while another openly laughed and added further mockery. Naturally, the atmosphere quickly turned that way.

It was as though they all thought that if they did not crush the Unhae Sect’s rising star now, when would they ever get another chance?

Then Han Yujin spoke.

“If you regain your senses and realize your own shortcomings, come to Gold Lotus Manor later. There may be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your talent.”

It did not matter much whether Taegeon actually came.

Han Yujin said it lightly, climbed into the carriage, passed by Taegeon, who was still sobbing loudly, and resumed the journey.

A short while later.

Once they had put some distance between themselves and the crowd, Eun Miryeong, seated beside him, asked, “Was that the Six Paths of Samsara?”

“No.”

Han Yujin gave a small laugh as he answered.

“It was the Illusory Dream Heart-Seizing Art. Seeing the way they acted, I could roughly guess what kind of life they had lived. Instead of the honor they wanted, I gave them shame. And while I was at it, I taught them a lesson.”

“What kind of lesson?”

“I let them experience being born a poor farmer without talent or anything else.”

He had cast the spell only briefly and had no reason to put much care into it, so the illusion contained many rough parts.

Still, its basic framework remained intact, and he had added enough of the Six Paths of Samsara’ effect. To someone like Taegeon, it would have been almost as shocking as truly living such a life.

“Do you think they’ll come?”

“Who knows?”

Since it was not particularly important, they spoke of it only a little longer before moving on to other matters concerning their journey.

* * *

In truth, Han Yujin had another hidden purpose for suggesting their travels.

Visiting scenic places and making memories was certainly important, but every so often, he would search alone through nearby towering mountain ranges or deep forests.

He hoped to find a spiritual plant at least ten thousand years old, or a spirit beast that had formed an inner core.

Unfortunately, he found nothing at all. There was not even a clue, so it was difficult to simply keep pouring time into the search. He could not waste the time he currently had with Eun Miryeong in pursuit of the hope that they might have more time together in the future.

Still, they had visited countless famous sites and made many memories, so their original purpose had been fulfilled beyond measure.

The martial world was by no means small. Crossing it in a straight line might not take long, but traveling while exploring every corner would take more than a few years.

Thus, they did not try to finish the journey all at once.

They would thoroughly enjoy one region over several months, then return to Gold Lotus Manor and rest for one or two years. In that way, they made two or three trips over several years.

Naturally, many things happened in the meantime.

Han Mujeong, the Baekhwa Sword Venerable, who had once been an elder of the Sun Gate and the leader of the Righteous Alliance, and who had shared a brief connection with Han Yujin, reached the end of their natural lifespan. As someone with such broad influence, their death shook the entire martial world.

They had not been close enough that Han Yujin needed to attend, but he went to the funeral with Eun Miryeong.

The Righteous Alliance and the Sun Gate were deeply grateful, and many people could not help interpreting his actions politically.

Of course, Han Yujin had no other intention. It was simply that, among those he had met in worlds visited through his awakening ability, this was the first acquaintance who had died after living out their full lifespan. His heart had merely been moved.

Then, regrettably.

The estate steward, who had diligently handled all manner of work since being hired, suddenly died of illness.

There had been no sign of anything wrong until the day before, but while sleeping, the steward suddenly developed a heart problem.

In truth, the steward was already in the mid-sixties, an age at which death would not have been strange by this world’s standards. The steward had not learned martial arts, much less cultivated immortality.

If Han Yujin had not found the cause with his Divine Sense, no one would even have known that the steward had died of a heart problem.

‘This was what an ordinary person’s life was like...’

Even on modern Earth, it was not especially rare for someone in their sixties who seemed healthy to suddenly die from heart disease. There was even less need to mention a world at this level of civilization.

When he looked around, quite a few of the long-serving workers had also retired due to the infirmities of old age. If Eun Miryeong, the lady of the manor and an Entry Stage cultivator, had not used Healing Art whenever needed, several of them would likely have died of illness as well.

The steward’s vacancy was soon filled by a new steward, and the same went for the workers.

Yet Han Yujin still seemed to feel the absence of those who had once been there, leaving him with a strange feeling. Especially when he spent time in the garden pavilion, he would suddenly recall the steward bringing food and drink at Eun Miryeong’s request.

Whether it was fortunate or not, not all the news involved someone’s death.

Seogwang Gahu, who was actively building a great reputation throughout the martial world, fell in love with a woman named Seo Danyu, whose epithet was Silver Bell Snow Flower, and decided to marry her.

Naturally, even before that happened, he had regularly visited Gold Lotus Manor and shared stories about it. On the day of the wedding, Han Yujin and Eun Miryeong visited the Seogwang Clan and offered their heartfelt congratulations.

‘So much time has already passed.’

Realizing anew that more than ten years had passed since he married Eun Miryeong, Han Yujin felt all kinds of emotions.

After returning to Gold Lotus Manor, he naturally asked Dok Junseong whether he had any thoughts of marriage.

Dok Junseong only laughed and said he would think about it after reaching the Dharma Soul Stage. He certainly had the potential, and his lifespan would increase by at least a hundred years, so Han Yujin could only understand.

Then, around a year later.

Twins were born to Seogwang Gahu and Seo Danyu. When they remained healthy for a hundred days, a celebration was held.

This time, Han Yujin and Eun Miryeong did not attend. It was not because anything bothered them. That was simply the custom in this world.

After the celebration ended, Seogwang Gahu personally came with his wife and the babies to pay respects to his teacher.

“Why do you feel sorry?”

“No, it’s just that...”

Han Yujin smiled as he read Seogwang Gahu’s emotions with the Six Paths of Samsara divine ability, leaving Seogwang Gahu at a complete loss. Beside him, Seo Danyu also looked quite uncomfortable, having heard the story from her husband.

“Acting like that for no reason is even more disrespectful. This is an occasion that deserves celebration, so don’t worry about such matters again.”

“Yes... Master. Your disciple was ignorant.”

Around the time they celebrated Seogwang Gahu’s happy occasion together.

That lunatic whom Han Yujin had thought would never come, Taegeon, the Unhae Sect’s Azure Cloud Dragon Sword, finally visited Gold Lotus Manor with an elder.

* * *

In the reception room.

Han Yujin nearly failed to recognize Taegeon. If Eun Miryeong, who was currently elsewhere, had been present, she too would have been greatly surprised by Taegeon’s changed appearance.

Taegeon cupped their hands and bowed deeply with the utmost courtesy and humility.

“This junior offers greetings to the Supreme Martial Extremity Venerable.”

“Your entire bearing has changed. It’s almost as if your soul has been replaced.”

At Han Yujin’s half-teasing remark, Taegeon’s face reddened. The Unhae Sect elder, who must have heard about that day’s events afterward, also seemed rather embarrassed, but did not step forward on Taegeon’s behalf.

“I have not forgotten my shameful mistake that day for even a moment. And... I have not forgotten the lesson the Supreme Martial Extremity Venerable bestowed upon me that day through a wondrous method.”

“Even when people undergo the same experience, each gains something different. It is all your own ability and fortune, so there is no need to be so grateful.”

Taegeon seemed even more moved by those words and repeatedly apologized for their past mistakes.

After that conversation, which could be called idle chatter, Han Yujin brought up the main matter first.

“I didn’t tell you to come here for any other reason. I heard you once provided a clue for restoring a supreme martial art?”

“I was fortunate enough to do so.”

“It would be troublesome if it were only luck... I’m creating a new martial art based on the Origin Power Heart Method, and I thought I might borrow your help.”

At that moment.

Not only Taegeon, but even the elder beside them looked as though flames had burst from their eyes.

“Y-You mean you’ll give me such an incredible opportunity?”

“It won’t be as grand as you think. I simply need some unique ideas.”

Han Yujin then briefly discussed the martial art he had been developing in his spare time, based on the Origin Power Heart Method.

He also asked several questions, and every answer he received was satisfactory.

“Good. I like what I hear. But I somehow feel as though I’d be losing out if I let you join for free...”

As he spoke, Han Yujin looked toward the elder.

“In exchange for letting Taegeon take part in creating my martial art, I’d like to take a look at the Unhae Sect’s secret Life and Death Realm technique. Would that be possible?”

“Of course.”

Unexpectedly, the elder answered at once without even considering it.

“Who in the martial world does not know that the Supreme Martial Extremity Venerable studies all kinds of secret manuals in order to create new martial arts? If a future leading figure of our Unhae Sect can participate in such a task, then showing you our technique once is more than possible.”

“I like your straightforwardness. I won’t let it leak, so don’t worry about that.”

“There is no need to say it. We already know.”

As the conversation proceeded so smoothly, Han Yujin could not help smiling.

It seemed that the gains he would obtain in this martial world would become a little more substantial.

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