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Chapter: 20
Old Monster No Cheong-u
Kiiiii—! Squeee—!
“Ah!? Have they noticed us?”
The friendly atmosphere didn’t last long.
A sharp cry rang out from above, and Eungnyeong flinched and began to move in a hurry.
“Take this.”
Eungnyeong threw a jade-colored box at Kang-hyeon.
Kang-hyeon caught it without thinking, but by then, Eungnyeong had already mounted the back of a wooden crane.
“I’ve seen your hearts, so I entrust this to you. If you go to Cheongmok Mountain, there is a place called Cheongmok Simwon. Never go near the shadow of the Mokhon Tree. Say that you are going to Cheongmok Simwon. Someone will surely come out to meet you—follow them and deliver this to the Wonju-nim.”
“Elder!”
“You will not be discovered if you stay here. From that cry, it is clearly a Flowing Flame Flying Beast. Its master is a man called Damyeol from the Yeolhwayeongsu Sect. I cannot say what will happen later. That is why I ask you to deliver this to Cheongmok Dowon. Come out one day after I leave.”
Kii-ru-ru-ru-ru!
As soon as Eungnyeong finished speaking, he urged the wooden crane and flew up into the sky.
Indeok tried to call out to him, but Kang-hyeon hurriedly stopped him.
‘Shh! If you’re careless, we’ll be discovered too.’
Indeok calmed himself and quietly looked up at the sky.
At that moment, a strange beast filled the heavens as it flew past.
Its body was that of a tiger, its head like a hawk, and its tail looked as if a falling meteor had been attached to it. Crimson patterns flowed over its skin like lava, constantly shifting and changing, giving off an eerie sense of mystery.
‘That must be the Flowing Flame Flying Beast.’
‘The fire-attribute spiritual energy is incredibly strong. I can’t even gauge its level… it must be at least at the Nascent level.’
‘Why do we keep running into things this terrifying?’
‘Still, we always survive, and the outcome is always good.’
‘…Good? We’re stranded on the Green Continent right now.’
‘Isn’t that better than being trapped inside a secret realm forever?’
‘Hey, can’t we just go back into the secret realm? Stay there for about a year and then come out cleanly.’
Indeok stared into empty space as he spoke, but there was no way a spatial rift leading back to the secret realm would be there.
‘It’s easy to get out, but hard to get back in. Even if we know a rift will open nearby, we don’t know when. And even if it opens, stabilizing it so we can enter the secret realm again is beyond my ability.’
‘You talked like it was possible.’
‘The outside situation is worse than what we saw inside. The spatial rifts aren’t clear… it’s more like they’re well hidden.’
‘Tch. What a waste. Then we have no choice but to move while hiding ourselves?’
‘Elder Eungnyeong lured Damyeol away, so we should be fine.’
‘That beast with the flame tail already went far away. Shouldn’t we move quickly too?’
While the two quietly talked, the Flowing Flame Flying Beast vanished without hesitation in the direction Elder Eungnyeong had flown.
Indeok immediately asked Kang-hyeon, as if he wanted to leave at once.
‘There must be a reason the elder told us to wait one day. Right now, this is the safest place.’
‘Ah, right. There might be Damyeol’s subordinates nearby. Haa… this is frustrating.’
Even as he nodded, Indeok vented his frustration at being unable to move freely.
Still, time passed, and a day went by quickly.
Thanks to the wooden box Elder Eungnyeong had given them, Indeok soon forgot his earlier irritation.
Because of the lightning energy flowing from the box, Indeok couldn’t open the lid. Even sealed, the lightning energy was intense—he couldn’t imagine how he would endure it if he opened it.
Knowing that, he was satisfied just absorbing the lightning energy leaking out and spent the time cultivating his Lightning Radiance Art.
“Let’s go.”
After a full day passed, Kang-hyeon opened his eyes from meditation and stood up.
“Are we good?”
Indeok asked as he put the box into his storage pouch and rose as well.
“The surroundings seem safe. There aren’t any places where spiritual energy is gathered.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Let’s move for now.”
“Should I take out my flying sword?”
“No. Let’s move normally with light movement techniques. There’s no need to draw attention by flying.”
“Okay, got it.”
Indeok put the flying sword back into his pouch and stood beside Kang-hyeon.
Kang-hyeon then collected the Yin Spirit Wood that Eungnyeong had scattered around and also retrieved the branches of the Mokhon Tree.
“What’s that?”
Indeok had seen Eungnyeong scatter the Yin Spirit Wood, but not the Mokhon Tree branches.
“They’re the core of the formation the elder set up. If we don’t retrieve them, we can’t leave.”
“Wow. How did you know how to do that? Did the elder teach you?”
“No. I couldn’t set it up again even if I tried. It’s just designed so retrieving it from the inside isn’t hard.”
“Really?”
“Still, both the Yin Spirit Wood and these branches are incredible treasures. The energy inside them is amazing.”
“So, in your terms… loot?”
“Hahaha. Yeah. Loot. And big loot at that.”
Hearing an unexpected word from his previous life come out of Indeok’s mouth, Kang-hyeon felt his stiff body and mind relax, and he burst out laughing.
Seeing Kang-hyeon laugh like that, Indeok laughed along happily.
“Seriously, even if he was in a hurry, the elder could’ve at least thrown us a map.”
Indeok grumbled as he slid through the air above the forest.
Flying beside him, Kang-hyeon completely agreed.
“Right. We don’t even know where we are—how are we supposed to find Cheongmok Mountain?”
“Exactly!”
Just as Indeok raised his voice, Kang-hyeon suddenly stopped mid-flight and stared intently in one direction.
“Huh? What is it? Did you see something?”
“There’s a place where spiritual energy is gathered. So there’s definitely something there.”
After speaking, Kang-hyeon changed direction and flew toward it.
Indeok naturally followed.
“What do you think it is?”
“I’m not sure, but it feels like a formation or a barrier. Ah… it seems to be someone’s cultivation dwelling.”
“Then isn’t it dangerous to approach like this?”
“We’re still far enough away. I’ll go close to a safe distance and try to contact the owner to ask for an exchange. If that works, we can get some information about this area.”
“Will that be okay?”
“We’ll see how it feels. If it seems like something we can’t handle, we’ll retreat. We should be able to decide before they notice us.”
Kang-hyeon trusted his sensitivity to spiritual energy.
If he got just a little closer, he would be able to identify what that concentrated energy was.
And if it really was a formation and barrier protecting someone’s dwelling, he could judge its level and decide whether to advance or retreat—so long as he stayed at a distance where he wouldn’t be detected.
“I never expected seniors to visit such a remote place. Please, come in.”
An old cultivator stood before them.
His skin was full of wrinkles, and his hair, eyebrows, and beard were dry and lifeless. If not for his sharp eyes, he would have looked like a broken man.
His robe was just as shabby, clearly neglected for a long time.
Kang-hyeon could tell that the old man was at the middle stage of Qi Condensation, sixth level.
“We were caught up in a spatial technique and thrown here, so we don’t know where this place is. I’m Kang-hyeon, and this is Indeok.”
“So that’s what happened. My name is No Cheong-u. I’m a wandering cultivator with no affiliation.”
“May we call you Cultivator No?”
“Please, feel free. I’ve already given up on advancing and am merely waiting for the end of my life. How you address me hardly matters.”
“Still, that wouldn’t be right. We’re the ones asking for help.”
“You need my help?”
No Cheong-u looked at Kang-hyeon with confusion.
Judging by their cultivation levels, it didn’t seem like he could help them at all.
“I’m not here to take anything from you. I just want a map of the surrounding area—and perhaps some advice about what we should be careful of.”
“Oh, that much I can do. Please, come inside. Even with my poor means, I should at least offer you a cup of tea.”
No Cheong-u led Kang-hyeon and Indeok into his dwelling without hesitation.
Inside the antechamber, the space was larger than expected. There were shelves against the walls, cabinets, and several paintings and scrolls that were anything but crude.
“Hm. This is quite a well-kept dwelling, despite what you said.”
“You flatter me. I only gathered these things here and there to ease the loneliness of my later years.”
“For ‘later-year comforts,’ these look rather valuable.”
“Haha. Thank you for seeing them that way. Ah, please wait just a moment. I’ll prepare something quickly. It’s been a long time since I’ve had guests, so forgive me if I’m a bit clumsy.”
Leaving them in the antechamber, No Cheong-u went through a door on one side.
Kang-hyeon and Indeok sat facing each other at a table with four chairs.
“His cultivation is only mid Qi Condensation, but this place rivals a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s dwelling.”
“He looks around sixty, but he’s actually over one hundred fifty. Compared to us, he’s lived an unimaginably long life as a cultivator. It makes sense.”
“When you put it that way, yeah.”
Indeok nodded, then activated his eyesight technique and examined the scrolls and artifacts while they waited.
Before long, No Cheong-u returned carrying a tray.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
He placed the tray on the table.
Kang-hyeon waved his hand.
“There’s no need to be so modest. You’ve shown more than enough courtesy as a host.”
“Thank you. To be honest, most of the seniors I’ve met were eccentric and greedy. I learned to always be careful and restrained.”
“…I don’t really know what to say to that.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Now, this is the one thing I can truly boast about—Clear Stream Tea. Please, try it.”
No Cheong-u poured tea into their cups.
As soon as the tea filled the cups, a refreshing fragrance spread through the room, clearing the mind.
Kang-hyeon and Indeok could tell it was extremely precious.
“Thank you for such fine tea.”
“I’ll drink it gratefully.”
They each took a sip and savored the taste.
“Mm?”
“Puh!”
Almost immediately, both frowned and spat the tea back into their cups—or into the air.
“What have you done!?”
Kang-hyeon slammed the cup down and questioned No Cheong-u.
“What do you mean, what did he do? Can’t you tell this old man tried to poison us!?”
Unlike Kang-hyeon’s calm tone, Indeok erupted in fury and tried to draw on his spiritual energy.
But it wouldn’t respond easily.
A strange medicinal force was spreading inside his body, suppressing his energy—and it was interacting with some external power as well.
“Hehehe. You advanced your cultivation too quickly at such a young age. How could your worldly experience not be shallow? That’s why you fall so easily into such a simple trap.”
“Why are you doing this? We did nothing wrong to you.”
“Why do I need a reason? You two simply looked like perfect prey.”
“Prey?”
“Yes. High cultivation, but ignorant of the world—what else could you be but easy prey?”
“So that’s how we looked. Then what’s your goal? What do you want from us?”
“Hehehe. Even if you had nothing, would it matter? Just the fact that a mere mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator hunted two at the peak of Qi Condensation is meaningful enough.”
“So… like a trophy?”
“A trophy? I don’t understand what you mean.”
“That’s fine. You wouldn’t. But you seem confident—against the two of us?”
“Hehehe. Your bluster is useless. Once my Blood Rain Crystal is inside you, there’s nothing you can do.”
“Blood Rain Crystal… what a strange name.”
“It’s a modified version of my sect’s secret art. It was originally called Clear Rain Crystal, but—”
“You bastard! Do you really think tricks like this can handle us!”
Boom! Crackle—!
Indeok roared and wrapped his body in raging lightning.
The table shattered, lightning spread in all directions, and No Cheong-u hurriedly stepped back.
“Hah… as expected of peak Qi Condensation. Even after being poisoned and with the formation restrictions activated, you still thrash about like this.”
Though he spoke in surprise, there was no urgency in his voice—only confidence.
Seeing this, Kang-hyeon chose not to rush in and instead observed No Cheong-u’s methods more carefully.
“You miserable old bastard!”
Crash! Rumble—! Crackle!
Indeok tried once more to force his power and charge at No Cheong-u.
But he couldn’t take even half a step.
His body stiffened completely, frozen in place.
“Hehehe. The Blood Rain Crystal isn’t that simple. Once you’ve fallen to it, even peak Qi Condensation cultivators can do nothing. Look—soon you won’t even be able to move a finger.”
Watching Indeok, No Cheong-u laughed with twisted delight filling his aged face.
In contrast, Indeok felt his body grow colder and stiffer by the second, his face draining of all color.
