Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: It Won't Take Long (3)
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Seaside Gate lay to the east of Black Bamboo Sect.
Golden Forge Sect was to the north of Black Bamboo Sect.
And Herbwood Sect was to the northeast of Black Bamboo Sect.
The four sects were geographically very close neighbors.
The fourth participant sect in the friendly tournament, hidden within the tent, was none other than Seaside Gate.
For reference, they had handled the "one medicine" portion in "one peak, two medicines."
Originally, Seaside Gate wasn't on a level to share a table with the other three sects.
But there had happened to be one spot left open, and since they were neighboring sects, it would have felt like snubbing them to party without them—so they were included.
It was like cashing in on regional ties out of school, region, and blood connections.
Even so, for inland sects like Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Forge Sect, Seaside Gate was a precious source of maritime resources.
They usually bought salt and seafood products.
Of course, it wasn't big money.
Poor Seaside Gate had nothing but their fingers to suck on at the auction before drawing the final number.
The request was to construct a small artificial island.
They aimed to try growing spirit herbs themselves for once.
Seoran, who had been listening, asked a question.
"Why build an island just to grow spirit herbs?"
"We're planning to plant coral all around the island. The spirit herb we want grows only in coral reefs. Here's what it looks like fully grown."
The Seaside Gate cultivator showed them a drawing.
The spirit herb clung neatly to the coral reef.
Seoran asked another question.
"But isn't this just seaweed?"
"Seaweed's a plant too."
Convinced, Seoran immediately got to work.
She had already mastered the Great Mountain Terrain Art.
She didn't need to lift a finger.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she circled the sea area—and an island appeared.
"Please send the spirit stones to Black Bamboo Sect."
"Understood. We'll hand them over to Herbwood Express for priority delivery—they'll bring them right away."
With construction complete, Seoran headed for the rendezvous point.
Over the past year, she had cleared more than three hundred requests.
The artificial island she had just finished was the very last one.
When she reached the uninhabited island, Damcheong greeted her.
"You finished fast."
A cold-blooded creature, Damcheong was buried in the sand beach with only his face sticking out, enjoying a sand bath.
"It's just one island—what's the big deal."
Seoran promptly flopped down beside him.
Channeling her earth spirit power, sand enveloped her body.
No sunglasses was a shame, but Core Formation cultivators didn't get hurt just from staring down the sun anyway.
Blazing sunlight, crashing waves, a good friend.
From last summer to this one, it had been nothing but work.
Seoran and Damcheong had more than earned some playtime.
Their best friends' summer vacation was only just beginning.
Blue skies, a beautiful beach, and fish heads.
Wait—fish heads?
Sensing a jarring note she couldn't ignore, Seoran sat up.
What she saw was shocking.
Fish were waddling along the beach on two legs.
Big, round eyeballs bulged from fish heads.
No double eyelids—not even eyelids at all.
Scaly bodies from head to toe, with webbed hands and feet.
The uninvited vacation crashers were merfolk.
They didn't seem to have come on purpose, though.
Anyone could see they were flustered, frantically exchanging glances before selecting one representative to send forward.
The merfolk who approached slowly spoke up.
"Excuse me, but this island is private property of our Merfolk Church. Sorry to impose, but could you vacate immediately?"
Seoran panicked inwardly.
*Four islands? Where's my island?*
*Is this that scam?*
*Like setting up picnic tables in a valley and charging for seats?*
She absolutely couldn't back down.
"By what authority are you kicking us out?"
"It's the owner's right—the one who bought the land deed from Seaside Gate."
Seoran bellowed.
"We'll clear out right now!"
She straightened up the sandy spot where she'd been lounging.
Damcheong, eyeing her from the side, slyly rose too.
His deer antlers poked up from the sand as a result.
The merfolk spotted Damcheong's antlers and gasped in horror.
"That's—!"
"A dr-dragon!"
"It's a dragon!"
The merfolk representative hurriedly stopped the pair from leaving.
"W-wait just a second!"
Seoran and Damcheong, on the verge of departing, turned back in confusion.
The merfolk who had reflexively halted them agonized briefly.
Then, with remarkable improvisation, he cooked up an excuse.
"Oh dear, what a terrible blunder... On second thought, the private property our church purchased wasn't this island after all. I must've mixed it up. Terribly sorry for disturbing your rest."
Even a three-year-old could spot how suspicious that was.
"So it's fine if we hang out here?"
The merfolk bowed politely to Damcheong's question.
"Absolutely, absolutely. It's not our island to begin with—what right do we have to chase you off? Uninhabited islands don't belong to anyone."
"Got it."
Satisfied, Damcheong happily crawled back into his sand pit.
He gazed up at Seoran with sparkling anticipation.
As she piled sand over him, Seoran questioned the merfolk.
"Any other business?"
The wary tone made the merfolk shake his head.
"Business? None whatsoever. We'll head out now."
The merfolk plunged into the sea in a group.
They hadn't left the island, though.
Fish heads still bobbed on the surface, watching Seoran and Damcheong.
Seoran and the merfolk locked eyes for a staring contest.
Eyelidless merfolk versus a Core Formation cultivator.
The standoff that would've lasted until one keeled over from old age ended with a merfolk shout.
"Do you require compensation for disturbing your rest?!"
Seoran yelled back.
"No!"
A brief silence fell before the merfolk pivoted.
"Incidentally, cultivator—your spiritual power is earth-attributed, isn't it?"
Seoran stayed silent, so the merfolk prattled on.
"Earth attribute—what a coincidence. Our church has a building in need of repairs right now. Cracks have formed in the coral beams holding up the Dragon Palace. Isn't that right, everyone?"
The nearby merfolk chimed in unison.
"The First-Class Believer speaks true!"
"It looked ready to collapse any second!"
"We need to fix it fast!"
"Or the Dragon Palace will come down!"
Damcheong shot upright from his lounge.
"Dragon Palace?"
Dragons naturally lived in dragon palaces, of course.
Damcheong had never seen another dragon in his life.
He'd spent it all in caves and lakes.
The First-Class Believer lit up and asked.
"Interested in the Dragon Palace, perhaps?"
Damcheong agreed readily.
"Yeah, wouldn't mind paying a visit."
"Wonderful! I'll guide you!"
Worried, Seoran whispered to Damcheong.
"You're seriously going? These merfolk reek of suspicion. It's gotta be a trap. That Dragon Palace bit was cooked up on the spot."
Damcheong brushed it off.
"Lie or trap—what's it matter? What could merfolk do to a dragon anyway? If they trick us, just punish them and be done."
She had to admit, he had a point.
A dragon with an inner pellet wielded mythical might.
Which made them invincible in the mortal realm, at least.
All stronger beings had ascended long ago.
Still uneasy, Seoran spoke up.
"Then I'll come too."
"Didn't you say it was dangerous?"
"How could I send you alone to a place like that? Trap or not, two's safer than one. And if it's real, I'd love to see the Dragon Palace myself."
"Alright then—together it is."
Damcheong grinned and tugged Seoran's hand.
The eager First-Class Believer welcomed them.
"Both of you? Perfect—let's set off at once. We'll pass through the shallow sea branch on our way to the deep sea headquarters. Ah, brother—head ahead and spread the word. Get the welcome ready."
Seoran and Damcheong traded glances, then asked.
"Welcome preparations?"
"Sounds elaborate."
The First-Class Believer smirked.
"Haha, we've got plenty of gifts—look forward to it."
The merfolk's lidless eyes fixed on the pair.
*****
The herald reached church headquarters in a flash.
The Dragon Palace of stunning coral gleamed radiantly amid the deep sea's inky gloom.
The herald rushed straight to the leader's quarters upon entering.
"Leader! Urgent bulletin!"
The leader, trimming a coral bonsai, inquired.
"Believer, your discipline still needs work. Don't drift like seaweed on the currents—be firm as coral. Now, what's the news this time?"
Gills heaving from the haste, the believer cried out.
"Shallow sea guards encountered a dragon on patrol! The dragon and their companion accepted the invitation and are en route to the deep sea! We must finish welcome preparations at once, Leader!"
Stunned, the leader snipped through the trunk of his prized bonsai with claw shears.
"They accepted such a sudden invite? You didn't bully them with rude words, I hope?"
The herald gawped.
"Us? Bully a dragon?"
The leader nodded at once.
"Fair point, now that I think of it."
"The persuasion fell to Hongrin-eo, the First-Class Believer who was on site."
"Oh-ho, she pulled off another coup."
The leader marveled; the herald piled on.
"Indeed—I saw it myself. Astonishing how she won their trust in seconds with her silver tongue."
The leader reflected on the merfolk's long tribulations.
"Relief at last—the divine one hasn't forsaken our merfolk yet."
Emotion swelled in the hardship-weary herald too.
"Yes, truly."
As fish, no tears came.