Don't Expect Miracles
"I can see the qi distorting, sunbae."
"……."
I knew that already. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it.
But I couldn't respond. To break the Li trigram of the Bagua formation, I needed Zhuque's power. Yet in this situation, I couldn't summon him outright, so there was only one option left.
Him channeling his power through the Sealed Sword.
Which meant I had to endure tremendous pain.
"Uaaagh!"
"Kuh……."
"Sunbae, hang in there. You just have to endure it!"
I wished they'd just shut up for a bit, but I didn't even have the energy to tell them.
The barrier shield was already on cooldown from earlier use.
How much time had passed? A second that felt like a minute?
Crack!
Something distorting right in front of me made a sound like grinding teeth.
As the Li qi shattered, the balance of the remaining seven trigrams collapsed too. The formation began crumbling bit by bit.
Shiii…….
The eight invisible streams of qi floating in the air turned to smoke and vanished.
"Hah, hah……."
I immediately dropped to my knees, gasping for breath.
"……Yeah."
Though just at the entry level, I'd managed to hold out with my peak-level internal energy. If I'd still been stuck at first-rate, I'd have failed for sure.
But Zhuque said something unexpected.
"Thunder Cloud Heart Knot helps even when using your power?"
"Got it."
I took his words as simple advice. I'd need to set a proper ratio for training Blood Cycle and Thunder Cloud Heart Knot going forward.
"Whew."
"You okay, sunbae?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
I caught my breath for a moment and stood.
"But this is seriously suspicious. It's just a normal house—why would there be a formation like that here?"
"That's why we're investigating."
Lee Jun-yeol didn't know who'd set up the formation, but from the circumstances, it had to be whoever lived in that house.
As we headed toward it, Kasumi suddenly asked me.
"Kim Jeongha. Why did you bring me here? Come to think of it, I still haven't heard the reason."
I'd promised to tell her once we arrived.
I answered calmly. "Insurance."
"Insurance?"
"It might be dangerous enough to risk our lives. If you want out, you can still—"
Kasumi shook her head. "No. I've told you several times already."
Right—she'd said she'd stake her life on it. I really liked that tomboyish side of her. Honestly, given the chance, I'd keep using her as much as possible.
She glanced at the house and continued. "Besides, I'm curious about that house and its owner too."
"Then let's keep going."
With the formation broken, there was no trouble reaching the house. We went straight there.
A little later, I arrived at the house and knocked on the door.
……Or tried to.
Thud.
"……."
Something cold and heavy pressed against the back of my neck. But the end felt blunt—not a blade.
So this was…….
"You look plenty suspicious."
"……."
"What kind of fool tries to trespass into my Parachao Pavilion?"
Parachao Pavilion—that was the house's name.
"I haven't trespassed yet……."
"Shut it! If you're here for word games, you've picked the wrong opponent."
Her voice was furious. It had to be that rakshasa girl.
The threat was downright murderous.
"Why else would someone come to a house but to meet its owner?"
"Hmph. You know that's not the answer I want."
I added lightly, "Iron Fan Immortal."
"Oh?"
She sounded intrigued. Then she pressed harder against my neck.
Thump!
I was shoved forward, my face slamming into the door.
"I've never seen you before—how do you know me?"
"Well…… from Fairy Village…… I figured it out…… from the iron fan…… pressing me…… like this……."
My face was crushed, making it hard to speak.
But the Iron Fan Immortal seemed to understand perfectly.
"From the village name and my fan?"
"Yes."
"Hmph. You've got a knack for piecing things together."
Only then did she ease the pressure and ask again. "So, why do you want to see me?"
I realized I had to answer carefully here. If she got pissed, she might really rip out my heart.
She was an immortal—a shenxian—but also a rakshasa demon. Not the kind and pretty fairy from folktales.
This was a stage, after all. And every stage had a clearable path.
"I've come to offer tribute, Immortal."
This fairy—no, rakshasa demon—exploited nearby farmers every year in exchange for fanning away the summer heat. And this 15th underground floor stage had opened right around tribute time.
"You're not one of the usual ones. Why'd they send you?"
I was expecting that. I replied nonchalantly. "Fairy Village is swamped with guests right now. The villagers are too busy to come, so the chief asked me to stand in."
"What makes me believe you? If there's even a hint of a lie, I'll chew out your heart."
"Go see for yourself. My comrades in the same gear are treating villagers and helping with work."
I decided to play it bold. No backing down now.
Silence from behind. The immediate crisis seemed past.
"Fine. One last question. How did you break my Rock Lock Array?"
Curiosity tinged her voice. Breaking that formation must've tipped her off to our arrival.
I explained briefly as Zhuque had taught me—the principles of the Bagua.
But then…….
"Kuh."
The pressure from her iron fan intensified.
"Sounds plausible, but I don't buy that you pulled it off. Trying to mock me?"
Her voice burned with anger as she placed a hand on my back.
Was this it? Was she really going for my heart?
If I was gonna die, I'd at least fight back. Let's see just how strong an immortal really was!
As I reached for the Sealed Sword…….
"Hm? Mana in your middle dantian…… So you were telling the truth."
"……."
"But how…… with such weak mana?"
Seizing the moment, I spoke up. "Breaking Li isn't hard. If you can unleash powerful fire arts."
"Show me."
"First, could you ease off this iron fan……."
"Fine."
Finally, she released me. I turned—and my pupils dilated.
A peerless beauty stood there, like she'd descended from the heavens. Well, as an immortal, that was to be expected.
But I had no time to admire her. If I didn't show something, she'd rip out my heart right then.
Gripping the Sealed Sword, I shouted.
"Power of fire!"
Zhuque understood instantly and began channeling power. I gritted my teeth through the pain.
The barrier cooldown was up, but I held it back—for any emergencies.
I unleashed one form of the Black Moon Tyrant Sword, tracing a red arc. As convincingly as possible.
When I finished, the immortal nodded.
"Impressive. With a treasure like that, it's not impossible. Completely counters my own treasure."
"……You recognized its power right away."
"Of course? Every immortal has at least one treasure."
The Iron Fan Immortal knew treasures' might but showed no greed for my sword. She wasn't a swordswoman, and as she said, fire powers were nothing against her treasure—like leaves in the wind.
Of course, the Sealed Sword had more to it. But I was different.
I coveted her treasure. That's why I'd gone through all this—the Banana Leaf Fan was this 15th floor's hidden reward.
She nodded at me. "Tribute, huh? I'm intrigued. Let's see it."
"Yes."
I pulled out the hand mirror I'd prepped as a portal and piled the stored grains neatly in the yard.
I could've brought Lee Gun, but I'd have to offer these grains. The righteous guy might grill me on where they came from—obvious they were from Fairy Village.
The chief was probably raging by now over the missing stock.
Kasumi obeyed me while her wish voucher lasted. Lee Jun-yeol, ex-military, followed orders.
That's why I'd brought them.
As I kept unloading grains from the mirror, sure enough, the Iron Fan Immortal eyed it with interest.
"Oh? That's a treasure too. Where'd you get it?"
I answered cautiously. "……It's mine."
"You know the tribute's always short, right?"
I did. I waited silently for her next words.
"Pure jade glass like that is rare. And it holds so much—enough for tribute. Offer me that mirror, and I'll not only cool Fire Mountain but let you take the rest back."
I'd expected that demand and spun my prepared lie. "This is a seal treasure—once ownership imprints, no one else can use it."
"Seal treasure? You're lying. Never heard of such a thing."
"Feel free to check."
I pulled the mirror from my pocket and offered it.
"Hmmm……."
She snatched it quick, peering this way and that.
"Hmmm…… Definitely a treasure. But why no mana from the treasure itself?"
I spoke matter-of-factly. "As I said—it's a seal treasure. Won't respond unless you're the owner."
She examined it intently, fiddling, even trying to reach into the glass. Pointless—I'd locked the portal with the key when I pocketed it.
The mirror was just a tool. She'd never guess it was Cromwell's key, dead or alive.
I watched her struggle for minutes.
"Fine. Seems like a seal treasure after all."
Bored, she tossed it back. "Useless thing."
I caught it like a sacred relic and pocketed it, suppressing a grin as she continued.
"Now the tribute's way short. What now?"
"Of course I have more, Immortal."
I pulled a wooden box from my pocket—the one from the branch director.
Opening it, I offered a blue capsule.
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"What's this? Trying to poison me with suspicious pills?"
"Stamina recovery capsule…… Gongryeonghwan."
I slapped on a name she'd get.
"Gongryeonghwan?"
I nodded. "Yes. Restores qi for spells. Very useful sometimes. Check it out."
She took the
with suspicion, cupped it in her hands, and chanted some spell.
Her eyes flashed.
"It's real. How'd you get something this rare?"
"I've traveled the world a bit."
She looked at me with wonder. "You have things a mortal couldn't get in a lifetime. You sure you're human?"
"Got some lucky breaks."
I shrugged and pressed on. "Anyway, the point is, it's real—not my life story. What do you say?"
She nodded at once. "Fine. I'll take the tribute."
"One thing—change the reward a bit, Immortal."
"Change it?"
She took tribute yearly and every ten years fanned Fire Mountain nearby. It didn't even wear out, yet she took half the chief's fortune. Exploitation, plain and simple.
"Lend me your Banana Leaf Fan, Immortal. Just once."
"What?"
"If not, no deal. Give the Gongryeonghwan back."
I held out my hand.
"……."
She looked torn, weighing the capsule in her hand against lending her fan.
After a long deliberation, she spoke.
"Fine. But only for half a day. Late by a minute, and I'll make good on my threat. Got it?"
"Perfect."
The capsule's temptation won out, naturally. An immortal overflowing with power to protect herself didn't need treasures much—but without mana? Useless.
The branch director hadn't given it for nothing.
The Iron Fan Immortal parted her lips, lifted her tongue, and pulled out something leaf-like. She blew on it—whoosh—and it swelled into a fan shape.
That's why I'd argued so long. The Banana Leaf Fan required her personal breath to activate—you couldn't just take it.
She offered it indifferently. "Plenty ask to borrow it; I keep fakes ready. But for you, the real one."
"Thank you, Immortal."
I bowed, took it, and shoved it into the mirror quick.
Jackpot!
Then, yelling to the two hunters listening somewhere.
"Attaaaack!!"
What immortal? As if I'd waste my precious
on a mere hidden stage boss!