The Importance of Backing
"Don't make me say it twice."
"Does it change anything if I do?"
I deliberately pushed back one more time.
"Ha! It might. Speak quickly."
"I'm the direct disciple of the Qingling Peak elder."
The magus cultivator's brow furrowed slightly.
"The elder's direct disciple?"
His mouth gaped open wide.
Silence fell over the cavern for a moment.
"Y-you little... No, little Daoist? Why didn't you say so sooner!"
His shrill scream carried a note of panic. At the same time, the killing intent pressing down on me eased, and my body felt lighter.
I've bought myself some time, at least.
Now the real game begins. I gripped the Black Wood Spirit Tablet tighter, trying to maintain a calm facade.
"We've gone this far—why not just go our separate ways?"
He muttered in disbelief.
"The Qingling Peak elder's direct disciple? This little thing?"
Little thing. It wasn't wrong, but it still pissed me off. Still, the initiative had shifted to me. I'd have to endure it for now.
"So, Senior Brother, how do you plan to compensate me?"
"Compensate? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes."
His dumbfounded expression was priceless.
"My life was threatened, I wasted precious Purple Soldier Beans, and my magic tool nearly got damaged. What are you going to do about all that?"
The man let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Heh. Little Daoist, are you demanding compensation from me right now?"
"You struck first, Senior Brother."
I shot back casually.
"You went out of your way to grab and stop someone who was just watching quietly."
Of course, it was nonsense. If I'd really wanted to stay out of it, I wouldn't have followed him here in the first place. But sometimes, you need a bit of sophistry.
He stared at me silently. Until moments ago, his gaze had been dismissive, looking down on me like dirt. Now, it held a measure of equality.
Good. That's enough.
"So." He opened his mouth slowly. "What exactly do you want?"
Here it comes. No need to beat around the bush.
"Just give me one vial of fourth-grade demon beast essence blood."
"Even if you are that Core Formation old monster's disciple, that's too greedy!"
He raised his voice as if he'd heard something outrageous.
"Maybe. But don't you think that's the minimum to settle this grudge between us?"
His lips twisted into a grotesque smirk.
"Settle it?"
"Exactly."
I said it with perfect composure.
"Who knows how long I'll stay at Qi Condensation? I'm already at the fifth star at my age—what do you think my level will be when I reach yours?"
It was half bluff. But also half truth. Given time, I was confident I could surpass this bastard's realm entirely.
"Everything that happened here. One vial of essence blood wipes the slate clean."
"...You've got guts, I'll give you that. I'm impressed. Truly impressed."
He'd been silent for a moment, but now he nodded slowly, lips curled in a smile that rubbed me the wrong way. He'd seemed genuinely flustered until just now, but this smile felt off—forced, somehow. Probably finished calculating his options in his head.
I tightened my grip on the magic tool a bit more.
I hope he plays along nicely.
"So, with one vial of Qingmu Serpent essence blood, you'll forget everything you saw today?"
"Yes. I think that's a fair price."
Behind his smiling lips, his eyes regained their cold edge.
"Little Daoist. So greedy, so bold."
"I came all this way. No choice now. I spent time and spirit stones."
He snorted, shook out his sleeve, and a small jade vial slipped out.
The moment the vial appeared, I tensed up further. It was genuine Foundation Establishment demon beast essence blood—the energy inside was unmistakable, even from afar.
He's really giving it?
No way. I corrected myself. Obvious trap. He'd pretend to hand it over and strike from behind. No way I'd take it directly.
"Here, take it."
The magus cultivator tossed the vial toward me. I didn't reach out—instead, I summoned a single bean soldier.
"Go get it."
At my command, the bean soldier scooped up the jade vial and returned. I kept my guard up the whole time, magic tool at the ready, eyes on him, while scanning the vial's energy just in case.
The vial pulsed with the living qi of a Qingmu Serpent at Foundation Establishment.
Real deal.
My heart raced.
Now the trick is getting out of here alive...
It had been worth the risk. Better results than raising Purple Soldier Beans on mere third-grade essence blood from late Qi Condensation beasts. Assuming I made it out, of course.
I didn't store the vial in my storage ring right away. Instead, I pulled out a wooden box, placed it carefully inside, and handed it to the bean soldier.
"You're more reasonable than I expected."
Not sincere, but whatever. In this world, you have to be extra wary of those who give what you ask for and smile casually.
Still, no need to show it on my face.
"I don't like making needless enemies."
What bullshit.
But I didn't call him out. Priority was escaping his palm unscathed.
"Then I'll forget all about it. Time for me to go."
"Get lost already. Best if we never cross paths again."
Something felt off. He'd given it thinking he could take it back, right?
I didn't fully turn my back. Keeping my body aligned with the magic tool, I retreated step by step.
He's really letting me go just like that? A guy who sacrificed his own disciple as bait?
Every nerve was on edge inside.
The cavern entrance drew closer, bit by bit.
That was the moment.
The magus cultivator's fingertip twitched ever so slightly.
But I didn't miss it.
Here it comes.
I reflexively raised the Black Wood Spirit Tablet.
Boom!
A dark crimson streak slammed into the blue barrier. The shield's energy was nearly depleted; its color faded visibly.
Whew.
Of course. No way he'd let me go that easily.
Attacks kept coming, crawling along the floor and walls.
Probably figured he could break through soon.
"Little Daoist."
His voice turned icy cold.
"Did you really think I'd let you live?"
"Never believed you for a second."
This wasn't a world where you trusted that easily.
Sweat slicked my hand gripping the magic tool.
Almost at the limit.
The blue barrier thinned noticeably.
"And you have no proof you're the elder's disciple, do you? Time to become material for me."
No sooner had he spoken than his fingertip moved again.
Dark crimson threads writhed and poured over the blue barrier.
From his perspective, it's a shame, but I've still got some left.
I pulled out a protective talisman and poured in my qi.
The fading barrier regained its vibrant blue glow.
"You still had more?"
Irritation crossed his face.
"But this works out better. No other tricks up your sleeve, huh? Let's see you block this."
As the magus cultivator formed hand seals, the threads gathered into the shape of a serpent, three or four zhang long, rearing its head in the air.
This won't do. I pulled out my last protective talisman and infused it with qi.
He gestured, and the massive serpent tail whipped toward me.
The impact dwarfed the previous ones.
But it wasn't over. He kept hammering the blue barrier.
Each tremor made my heart lurch.
"What's wrong, little Daoist? Where'd all that guts go?"
What a pain in the ass.
"Aren't you ashamed, a Foundation Establishment cultivator picking on a Qi Condensation junior?"
"Ha. Mouth still works, eh? Let's see how long you keep that attitude."
The dark crimson serpent lashed the barrier again.
Boom!
One side of the blue barrier visibly thinned. The limit for real now.
This is it.
With that thought, hesitation vanished.
I retrieved an item from my storage ring: the Life-Summoning Tablet.
Master had said to use it only when my life was truly in danger.
I'll probably get an earful from her anyway...
Perhaps recognizing it, the magus cultivator's eyes changed. The sneer vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by open wariness and anxiety.
"That...!"
He drew a sharp breath.
"It was real?"
I didn't answer. The moment he saw the tablet, he knew. No bluff—I truly had a Core Formation cultivator's protection.
I clenched the Life-Summoning Tablet in my hand.
Crack.
The tablet split, and green light spread from my palm like ink in water.
"Y-you crazy bitch, you actually...!"
His face twisted viciously.
As the serpent head lunged ferociously, a sharp axe blade shot from his sleeve.
"This is the Blood Ghost Axe. Low-grade magic treasure, but for a Qi Condensation whelp to force it out—consider it an honor."
The serpent form still battered my barrier. Above it, the axe blade rose high and slammed down.
Boom!!
But the green barrier from the Life-Summoning Tablet held firm.
"Blocked that too?"
He muttered in disbelief, then raised the Blood Ghost Axe again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dull echoes filled the cavern with each strike on the green barrier. The dark crimson serpent rammed relentlessly too.
But the barrier didn't budge.
I suppressed my trembling sigh of relief and glared at him through the shield.
If I just hold out until Master arrives...
My rigid expression eased a fraction.
Conversely, the magus cultivator's face grew more savage. He glanced desperately at the spirit plant.
"Damn it."
The axe struck again. The green barrier rippled briefly.
I glared at him from inside.
His mind must be racing now. No confidence he could break the barrier. He knew better than anyone the terror of a Core Formation cultivator.
So, his only option left: grab the spirit plant and run.
Sure enough, his eyes shifted.
"Ha. You're lucky."
With that, he withdrew the magic treasure and serpent.
His body shot toward the spirit plant.
******
As he reached it, the remaining blood-pattern energy surged toward him.
The spirit plant's bud trembled perilously, then parted slightly, as if squeezing out its last strength.
"Doesn't matter if it hasn't fully bloomed. Better than losing it all here."
The magus cultivator muttered through gritted teeth.
If I can just get my hands on that...
Just as his hand brushed the spirit plant.
The cavern shook violently.
Rumble!
"What—already here?"
His face paled dramatically. Hard to believe this was the same man who'd mocked the girl moments ago, grinding his teeth to smash her barrier.
He lunged desperately to grab the bud.
Too late.
"Damn...!"
A cyan-green vine lashed his wrist.
More tendrils climbed his ankle to his shoulder.
Dark crimson energy erupted, shredding some, but new ones sprouted in their place.
"Senior Sister! Senior Sister, wait—!"
The magus cultivator's voice burst out in panic.
From the shadows at the cavern entrance, someone emerged slowly.
Cold, immaculate cyan-green robes. An overwhelming presence, breath steady as stone.
Cheong Nan-seo.
The cyan-green vines writhed more fiercely in time with her steps.
"S-Senior Sister. A misunderstanding. I was just—"
"Misunderstanding?"
Her reply was curt, but it froze the cavern like a freezer.
The magus cultivator pressed on hurriedly.
"All a misunderstanding. I've already settled things with that little Daoist and was just leaving. So, just this once."
"Just this once? Have you ever shown such mercy?"
Her gaze swept the cavern.
The three mummified corpses. The blood patterns.
Judging the situation wasn't hard.
Cheong Nan-seo took another step.
The cyan-green vines' energy intensified.
The tendrils around his limbs twisted and tightened.
Crack.
"Gaaah!"
The magus cultivator screamed.
"S-Senior Sister! I was wrong! Please—"
"Noisy to the end. Did you think you'd touch my disciple and walk away unscathed?"
She flicked her finger lightly.
A root burst from the ground, impaling him clean through.
"Guh."
With a short death rattle, silence returned to the cavern.
At last, her gaze turned to the girl standing within the green barrier.
"Enough now. Come out."
With those words, the barrier vanished, leaving only the girl with an awkward smile.