63. Found a Way

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

I activated Moon Sky Step while kicking off the ground hard. It was still slower than wrapping my legs in qi as I'd told Gwak Do-cheol, but that was just the start. From about the tenth step, the acceleration kicked in exponentially.

With every stride across this Parachao Mountain, five trees whipped past behind me. At this speed, I could outrun a racehorse.

"Hoo."

That's when I was covering the entire mountain from the crack of dawn.

I raised my hand, and Pingpingi fluttered over, landing lightly on my index finger.

"What'd you find?"

-There are a few more Hwasul Flowers about fifty jang to the west.

"Let's go check it out."

-This way, Master.

I followed Pingpingi right away, and sure enough, there were five Hwasul Flowers growing together.

Hwasul Flowers have petals that are entirely red, but as they absorb spiritual energy, the veins turn white—like snowflakes, hence the name. But these ones I found didn't have a speck of white. According to Nam Bi, they weren't even proper spirit herbs, just flowers. I didn't care; I yanked all five and tossed them into my basket.

"Heh."

If these had absorbed spiritual energy for a thousand years, whoever found them then would hit the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jackpot. But I'd erased even that possibility—it wasn't my problem. My left hand already held a basket full of similar spirit herb sprouts.

While practicing Moon Sky Step, I'd roamed the mountain and discovered there were surprisingly many of these.

"Is Parachao Mountain special or something?"

I hadn't been anywhere else besides Parachao Mountain and Fairy Village yet, so who knew.

Pingpingi opened its mouth with sleepy eyes.

-Master. I'm hitting my limit.

"Got it. Let's head back."

Whoosh!

It was now noon, with the sun high overhead. I could normally summon Pingpingi for about thirty minutes a day. I could extend it by burning divine power, which I couldn't have dreamed of doing until recently. Learning Thunder Cloud Heart Knot let me recover divine power—it was a luxury I could now afford.

I trained Moon Sky Step. Pingpingi scouted the mountain for spirit herbs. Talk about having my cake and eating it too, beating the bushes and catching crabs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the side.

I cheerfully stopped collecting and headed back to Parachao Pavilion, grinning ear to ear. I'd stashed the basket in the mirror beforehand. Nam Bi would surely chew me out for picking spiritless herbs.

"I wonder if our little Dreamwiggler got any bigger."

-What's a Dreamwiggler?

"That's the golden larva's name."

-Don't name a damn bug!

"What're you talking about? Dreamwigglen's adorable."

-Urp.

It was, even now. Nibbling at spirit herbs while spinning golden thread out its butt...

"Hm? Golden thread?"

I examined the golden silk Dreamwiggler had left behind, then glanced at the Baek-yang-go and Heuk-eum-go in the breeding box.

"These guys don't spin thread."

So was this golden larva a totally different species from the black-and-white yin-yang pills? It looked like a silkworm or something similar, spinning thread just like one. They looked identical except for the color.

Anyway, I watched quietly until it stopped spinning.

About thirty minutes later. Was it going to make a cocoon like a real silkworm and emerge as a moth, free as a bird? I worried about that inwardly, but it was just empty fear.

It did make something like a round golden cocoon with the thread, but it wasn't preparing to metamorphose inside. It just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠created a round golden lump about half its body volume.

Actually, not even half anymore. Dreamwiggler's body had shrunk to half size after spinning all the thread.

"What the...?"

I picked up the mysterious round golden lump.

"Artifact check."

No info appeared, as expected. That's when Zhuque spoke up.

-Hmm. It looks like a Geum Sa-go egg.

"Geum Sa-go?"

-I named it Golden Thread Gu since it spins golden thread, Master.

"That works."

But I'd still call it Dreamwiggler.

"If it's just an egg, though, that's a huge letdown."

After all that feeding with spirit herbs, was reproduction all it could do? Apparently self-fertilizing or something...

Fine. Let's see how much it breeds. With that in mind, I infused mana into the egg (presumed).

But it pushed the mana back out. The harder I forced it with thumb and forefinger, the more fiercely it resisted.

No choice—I put the thread lump back, refilled the feed, and closed the box. Maybe Dreamwiggler made it for its own needs.

Time passed as I checked on it periodically. I learned a few things.

First, Dreamwiggler ignored its own thread lump completely, like shit after eating. Actually, it didn't excrete anything except the thread.

After spinning, it didn't eat spirit herbs or anything for a while.

And the biggest change was in the thread lump—not Dreamwiggler. It wasn't thread anymore; it had hardened like a real gold nugget.

I considered asking Nam Bi what it was but dropped it. She'd ask where I got it, and it'd get annoying.

Instead, I tried another approach to my dilemma.

"Zhuque."

-What is it, Master?

"Eat this."

-Wha...? You're telling me to eat some bug's shit?

"You want me to eat it?"

-That could work too... Gah! Fine, Master. I'll eat it.

Whoosh!

I chanted the spell to summon Zhuque. I held out the thread lump, and it pecked at it, sniffing first before opening wide.

Gulp.

Swallowing a gold bead the size of its head—it looked pitiful.

-Urp.

"How is it?"

-Uuurp.

"Spit it out if it's weird."

-Uuuuuurp...

"Even if I say spit?"

Flap flap!

Zhuque flapped wildly in midair. I realized something bad was happening.

I'd tested it on Zhuque suspecting poison like the black-and-white yin-yang pills, and it seemed I'd hit the mark. A divine beast wouldn't die from it, but I worried anyway.

-Uuuugh!

"I said spit!"

-Uoooooh!

"...?"

Flap flap, flap flap!

It thrashed its wings furiously, flames erupting across its body.

-Ooooh! What is this, Master?!

Unawakened Zhuque started radiating intense heat that could turn everything to ash. From the look, whatever it ate was no ordinary spirit pill.

Only one thing to do.

"Spit it out! Spit it out, you damn bird!"

-As if! You fed it to me!

"Spit it right now!"

-Kerugh.

It's digested, Master. Thank you. Today, I'll settle the score with that unfinished Vermilion Bird business.

Dreamwiggler still wouldn't eat anything. No, it just curled up motionless. I poked it to check if it was dead—it wiggled.

-It produced a spirit pill, so it needs rest. I recommend leaving it be, Master.

"Urgh."

Seeing Zhuque strut made my stomach turn, but it was right. I nodded reluctantly. Yeah, it couldn't churn out spirit pills nonstop.

"Heh heh heh."

Still, I could barely hold back a grin. Zhuque's summon time had jumped to two hours without burning divine power. Perfect, since mine had dipped to E-rank. Definitely Dreamwiggler's pill effect.

I felt a twinge every time I saw Zhuque, knowing it'd stolen(?) it. But upsides too: easier spirit herb hunting with longer summons.

Even better, I now had a way to make spirit pills without century- or millennium-old herbs.

Dreamwiggler was still huddled but starting to twitch—it'd be active again soon. Until then, I'd follow Zhuque's advice and leave it alone.

I forgot about Dreamwiggler for a while after that.

Time flew, and on the promised fifteenth day, a Jin Clan servant arrived at Parachao Pavilion.

Not just one, either. The lead servant bowed politely and spoke.

"Are you the benefactor of our young master and lady of the Jin Clan?"

"Yes, that's me."

The servant gestured to the carriage behind.

"We'll escort you. Please, board."

I hadn't expected a carriage pickup.

"Be careful out there, Jeongha."

"Uh, yeah."

I zoned out briefly but hopped in at Nam Bi's farewell.

Damn rich folks were filthy rich.

"Hyah!"

Crack!

The coachman whipped the horses, and we rolled out of Fairy Village.

Another servant rode inside with me.

Scritch scritch.

"Care for some?"

"Thanks, I'll have some."

He tended to my comfort, peeled fruit to stave off boredom. Good company kept the trip from dragging.

The servant shared stories: the Jin Clan used to be Hu'an City's top wealthy house.

Past tense.

"So now they're like first or second?"

"Yes, sir. Three years ago, some upstarts settled in Hu'an and snatched up all the gold and power."

"But the Jin Clan's a traditional house passed down ten generations, right?"

"It was."

"And these rolling stones dislodged the boulder in just three years?"

"Tragic for the Jin Clan folk."

I nodded for more details, and he spilled eagerly.

"They call their turf Jecheon Palace..."

Jecheon Palace.

Three years ago, a group in red robes appeared out of nowhere. They bought up the entire western lands of Hu'an City, built a sprawling estate, and hung a Jecheon Palace sign.

"Palace ascending to heaven, huh. Hmm..."

I muttered low, and the servant clapped, nodding vigorously.

"Exactly, sir! Such arrogance—what if the officials nitpick? Gutsy bastards."

Not that. "Ascending to heaven" just gave me déjà vu.

I pulled back the curtain shading the carriage interior ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and peered out.

There it was. A blue barrier rising rectangular from ground to sky. Employees called it the boundary veil. It enclosed the 15th-floor stage including Fairy Village and Parachao Mountain.

This stage's natives passed through it fine—they couldn't see, touch, or feel it.

But Hunter Stock Company employees were different. We could see, feel, touch it—which meant we couldn't pass.

Normally, I couldn't reach Hu'an City. But now, I thought maybe I could.

Just as saving Nam Bi earned me her and Parachao Pavilion as inner quarters.

There had to be some arrangement or condition for crossing to Hu'an City. Probably rescuing the Jin siblings.

I felt inexplicably certain I was right.

That's when the carriage hit the boundary veil.

Shaaa...

As expected, a message popped up with a rippling sound.

Question mark floor? Never seen that.

'City Ruled by Ascetics'? First time hearing of it.

As I puzzled, more messages followed.

Made sense I didn't know it—this was another branch's stage.

...So what? I was just here for my rightful reward.

Then:

Eh? I couldn't block shareholders...

But heaven helped me. Another heaven.

"Everything alright, sir?"

"Ah."

The servant eyed me staring blankly into space.

I shook my head—nothing much.

"It's fine."

But then big news hit.

Looked like the 18th Branch shareholders pulled some strings. But I didn't care.

Anyone blocking my path—ascetic, Xian Dao practitioner, other branch employee, whatever—would get no mercy.