Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Wildness (3)
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Members of the Ten Great Sects were forbidden from entering the Great Forest.
This naturally raised one question.
Just how far did the definition of "Ten Great Sects member" extend?
If someone had formally joined a sect, there was no need to even debate it.
But the Great Forest was teeming with hermits who had direct or indirect ties to the Ten Great Sects.
Some were entangled through debts, others had deep friendships with sect members, and occasionally there were even blood relations.
The deeper you thought about it, the less clear the answer became.
That was why the Five Elements Treefolk didn't bother pondering it at all.
Unless someone was blatantly shouting, "I'm so-and-so from a Ten Great Sect!" they didn't care one bit.
It was the bold audacity befitting immortals.
That was also why the famous instructor Daehyung Geumdan could linger in the Great Forest while acting as a frontman for the Ten Great Sects.
It had been over a decade since his nose was pierced by debt.
He had reached a realm where he no longer felt even a shred of self-loathing.
At first, it felt like his pride was shattering into pieces.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him to have his weaknesses exploited by those filthy Ten Great Sects and end up playing errand boy.
Daehyung Geumdan chewed over his resentment toward Seoran every single day.
From Seoran's perspective, it was somewhat absurd.
Of course, it was true that Seoran's lectures had slashed Daehyung Geumdan's annual income to a third of what it once was.
But he had been the one to recklessly take out loans without cutting back on his spending.
It wasn't fair to blame others out of the blue.
But over ten years had passed since then.
High-volatility emotions like hatred and self-loathing had long since evaporated without a trace.
What remained for Daehyung Geumdan was boundless gratitude toward the Ten Great Sect master who had taken him in.
Why bother with honest labor when playing frontman brought in endless scraps from the table?
Thanks to that, Daehyung Geumdan carried out the Twin Dragon Sect's orders to recruit Seoran without a single regret.
*****
Seoran asked.
"O, so the Twin Dragon Sect wants to recruit me?"
Daehyung Geumdan affirmed enthusiastically.
"Yes, exactly! Aren't you the pride of the Great Forest hermits, Investigator Ryu? Naturally, the Ten Great Sects have had their eyes on you for a while! This is a secret, but I've been acting as the hands and feet of the Twin Dragon Sect leadership for over a decade. If you can spare just one day, I'll arrange a meeting with someone from the sect."
Seoran pondered for a moment before replying.
"Hmm, this isn't something I can decide lightly. As you know, a capital sect isn't an organization you can come and go from as you please. Once you join, you have to follow their laws, and there are all sorts of headaches. Having lived my whole life as a hermit, I'm a bit reluctant."
"Investigator Ryu, opportunities to join under such favorable terms don't come often. Even as an outsider, I think it's a real shame to pass it up. Of course, you'll have to give up some freedom—that's inevitable in sect life. Still, please consider it positively one more time."
Seoran twirled her hair idly and said.
"No, even so, joining is a bit... Honestly, I'm living comfortably enough as is. Do I really need to? With enough spirit stones, I can get most things I need right here in the Great Forest."
Daehyung Geumdan probed a few more times, but Seoran smoothly deflected with vague responses.
The conversation dragged on, but she gave no firm yes or no.
Daehyung Geumdan was convinced she was playing hard to get to drive up her price.
That meant the first plan—recruiting her without offering any treasures—had gone up in smoke.
In truth, neither the Twin Dragon Sect leadership nor Daehyung Geumdan had much hope for that plan succeeding.
The real play was the second plan: the treasure bait operation.
Daehyung Geumdan lowered his voice dramatically.
"I understand your position perfectly, Investigator Ryu. Truth be told, I can't say I wouldn't feel the same. If I were in your shoes, I'd hesitate to join a capital sect too."
Seoran brightened and replied.
"Oh, you're okay with that?"
"Of course, of course. You're absolutely right, Investigator Ryu. Let's be frank—with piles of spirit stones, where else is as convenient as the Great Forest? Few rules to follow, and you can get most anything you need. But there are treasures in this world that even the Great Forest can't provide. I'm sure you know that as well as I do."
"Well, I get what you're saying. Things like Millennium Five Elements Wood or treasures occasionally found in the depths—they all end up in the hands of the Ten Great Sects."
"Exactly. Don't rare items that no amount of spirit stones can buy pique your interest? The Twin Dragon Sect wouldn't hesitate to offer even an item of unparalleled value if it meant welcoming you. There's no need to decide right now. Why not just meet with someone from the sect first? It won't take long."
Seoran said with evident interest.
"Hmm, if it's just meeting..."
"You've made the right choice! I'll go inform them of your willingness right away! When would be the most convenient time for you?"
"I'm fine anytime. I didn't open spring lectures this year, so pick a day that works for you."
"Understood! And thank you again for so graciously hearing out my sudden proposal!"
Daehyung Geumdan left with a beaming smile.
After the loyal frontman of the Ten Great Sects departed, Seoran rang a small bell to summon her servant.
"Send in the next guest."
"Yes, Investigator Ryu."
The second frontman entered the room.
Wearing a mask or not, they all had the exact same fawning expression.
There were far too many frontmen crawling around inside the Great Forest.
Seoran had held similar conversations countless times already.
*****
Seoran made contact with all the Ten Great Sects.
And she dangled the possibility of joining without ever committing.
Thanks to that, she learned exactly who owned which treasures, just as planned.
The Ten Great Sects, learning of this late, flew into a rage.
This wasn't just two-timing—what, octopus-footing?
Even an octopus only had eight legs.
The atmosphere in the Twin Dragon Sect leadership's meeting hall was scorching.
"This is something we cannot stand by and watch!"
"We must not tolerate Ryu Seoran's recklessness!"
"To dare humiliate the Twin Dragon Sect!"
The chair asked.
"Alright, let's hear what we should do."
"We need to kill her off immediately!"
"Good suggestion. But what if Ryu Seoran never sets foot outside the Great Forest? What can we do then? Did you think before speaking?"
"W-Well..."
Someone nearby spoke up.
"We have plenty of hands and feet inside the Great Forest too. You know, the ones who force debtors to repay when they try to run off without paying. If we use those guys right, we can do anything, no?"
The chair asked.
"Do you have a concrete plan? I hope it's not an assault. It wouldn't succeed anyway, and if the target isn't an idiot, they'll trace it back to us. What then if Ryu Seoran holds a grudge and attacks the Twin Dragon Sect?"
"Uh, um..."
"Ryu Seoran can at least handle herself as a hermit, so she won't pick a direct fight. To avoid being surrounded by our Incarnation stage forces, she'll stick to the Great Forest for guerrilla ops. Incarnation stage guerrilla warfare? The thought alone is horrifying."
A few leaders imagined it anyway.
Random attacks bursting out from the long, winding Great Forest borderlands by an Incarnation cultivator.
Even if they mobilized all their Incarnation cultivators, they couldn't pursue if she just fled into the forest.
She'd be a super guerrilla.
In the end, the meeting fizzled out inconclusively.
Fortunately, the leadership's fury didn't last long.
Seoran had sent letters to all the Ten Great Sects.
The content was as follows.
'Hello, this is Ryu Seoran.
To get straight to the point, I'll have to respectfully decline your recruitment offers.
I've thought it over, and sect life just doesn't suit me, so I've made this decision.
You all made such generous proposals, and I'm truly sorry to refuse them like this.
That said, I do want to maintain friendly relations with the Ten Great Sects.
So, I'd like to make a counteroffer.
I'll deposit the same amount of spirit stones in each of the ten banks operated by the Ten Great Sects.
Not ordinary deposits, but century-long super-term savings products.
I'm confident this will foster a deep bond of friendship between me and the Ten Great Sects.
I'll await your responses.'
It was heavily summarized, but the gist was about the same.
The Ten Great Sects' leadership was satisfied.
For starters, they didn't have to hand over any precious treasures.
Recruitment had failed, but they hadn't cared much about that from the beginning.
Long ago, the Ten Great Sects had signed a treaty to curb arms races between themselves.
It limited each sect's Incarnation stage numbers and forbade possessing more than three spirit roots.
Had any sect recruited Seoran, the others would have demanded compensation accordingly.
Better for her to stay neutral.
Her power was plenty to dominate the East Continent's hermits.
That was why no Incarnation cultivators emerged on the East Continent.
Moreover, the spirit stones Seoran promised were no small sum.
Ten ways to split it—truly, elixirs made for money.
By the leadership's calculations, this would more than solve their immediate funding woes.
In the end, Seoran and the Ten Great Sects became friends.
Under the protection of the Ten Great Sects who dominated the East Continent, Seoran secured a life of ease.
The Ten Great Sects simultaneously resolved their sect maintenance costs and banking crises.
A happy ending for everyone.
Half a year later, Seoran visited the Twin Dragon Sect's bank.
It was the moment even the most suspicious person let their guard down.