Chapter 8
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8
No Baek-san remained silent, offering no reply to Lee Hyun’s question.
His expression soured as he reread the letter, scanning it from the beginning as if to confirm he hadn’t misread it.
A moment later, the letter floated through the air and came to rest before Lee Hyun.
“See for yourself.”
Lee Hyun caught the letter, and the characters at the very top immediately drew his eye.
By order of the Main Peak’s Outer Sect Administration Pavilion, Outer-Sect Disciple Lee Hyun is hereby appointed caretaker of Withered Yin Field No. 8 on Herb Field Peak…
Below that, it even noted that Lee Hyun was cultivating the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art and had reached the 2nd layer of the Qi Refining Stage.
Withered Yin Field?
It was a name he had never heard before.
Being entrusted with a new spirit field should have been a promotion. Until now, Lee Hyun had been a mere assistant to No Baek-san. Becoming the caretaker of an entire spirit field meant the contribution points he received each month would surely increase.
Yet No Baek-san’s reaction was strange. He didn’t look like someone merely annoyed at losing a junior who helped with his chores.
“What was bound to come has finally arrived.”
“Is there something wrong with the Withered Yin Field?”
No Baek-san looked at Lee Hyun with pity in his eyes.
“Do you remember when you first said you were going to learn the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art? I cursed out Steward Wang.”
“I… don’t recall that.”
“Is that so? I must have only cursed him in my head, then.”
Lee Hyun waited for No Baek-san to continue.
“The Withered Yin Field is a specialized spirit field where yin-aligned spiritual herbs and highly toxic medicinal plants are cultivated. It’s nestled in a gloomy, sunless ravine. As the spirit plants there grow, they absorb the vitality of their surroundings and exhale a turbid, toxic miasma. Working there for an extended period will gnaw away at your lifespan and shatter your body.”
Lee Hyun’s eyes widened slightly.
Gnaws at one’s lifespan?
“Don’t tell me… are only disciples who practice the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art assigned to the Withered Yin Field?”
“Mostly, yes. It’s a cruel tradition of Cheongha Valley. They take ordinary outer-sect disciples without exceptional talent and send them to the Withered Yin Field on rotation. You have Three Spiritual Roots, don’t you? It’s not a bad aptitude, but you’re older than your fellow disciples, so you were likely singled out.”
“Why does practicing the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art matter so much?”
“To work in the Withered Yin Field, you must be able to wield spells of various attributes evenly. For example, to breathe safely, you need wind-attribute spells. To purge the yin qi that seeps into your body, you need fire-attribute spells.”
No Baek-san smiled bitterly.
“The only cultivation art that allows newly inducted outer-sect disciples to cast spells of multiple attributes is the Primordial Unity One-Qi Art. There are inner-sect disciples who can wield various attributes without learning it—thanks to special physiques or exceptional magical artifacts—but such disciples are precious seeds meant to be nurtured. There is no way the sect would send them to the Withered Yin Field to shave away their lifespans.”
He patted Lee Hyun’s shoulder. “Don’t lose heart. I also worked in the Withered Yin Field when I was young.”
Lee Hyun glanced at No Baek-san’s graying hair.
“They never assign a disciple to the Withered Yin Field for more than five years. Even if you follow every prescribed rule to minimize harm to your essence, qi, and spirit, five years there will still drain roughly fifteen years from your life.”
“Fifteen years…”
“In exchange, the monthly spirit stones and contribution points are triple what an ordinary spirit plant farmer receives. You’re also given one Vitality-Nourishing Pill every season, and you can learn the necessary basic spells without spending any contribution points. In essence, you are trading your life for resources.”
Trading lifespan for resources… But I don’t age anyway, do I?
Lee Hyun had lived for nearly forty years since possessing this body, yet neither his appearance nor his bone age had changed in the slightest. The ordinary flow of time had no effect on him.
However, there was no telling whether the Withered Yin Field would truly leave him unscathed.
Is my constitution also immune to having its lifespan drained by toxic miasma?
Working just a single day there should give him some idea. If he felt something wrong with his body, he would have to find another way.
In truth, remaining completely unaffected by the toxic miasma posed its own problem. If he worked there for five years and his appearance didn’t change at all, that would be a grave issue. When other disciples lost fifteen years of their lifespan, anyone would find it suspicious if he alone didn’t age a day.
If that happened, the sect would reexamine his bone age and discover his ageless body. Once that was exposed, Lee Hyun would never be allowed to leave the sect.
Yet refusing the sect’s order was impossible. He was merely at the 2nd layer of the Qi Refining Stage; there was no telling what price he would pay for defying a direct command.
For now, I’d better accept the appointment and assess the situation. Then I can leave Cheongha Valley before the five years are up.
Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. If he received triple the spirit stones and contribution points, he could secure the necessary cultivation arts and items far more quickly.
Lee Hyun composed his expression and answered in a solemn, resolute voice.
“If such is the sect’s will… I shall obey.”
A look of guilt mixed with reluctant admiration flickered across No Baek-san’s eyes.
“Good. With triple the pay, it isn’t an entirely hopeless situation. If you’re fortunate, those rewards might even hasten your path to the Foundation Establishment Stage.”
“I am truly fine, Senior Martial Brother.”
“That’s easy for you to say now. Rest for a while.”
No Baek-san took the letter back from Lee Hyun’s hand.
After making a trip toward the Main Peak, No Baek-san returned, opened his storage pouch, and took out a bundle of booklets.
“I told you the caretaker of the Withered Yin Field receives several benefits. This is one of them.”
The covers of the booklets No Baek-san set down read: Cleansing Spell, Clear Qi Formula, Breath-Holding Formula, Fire-Kindling Spell, Spherical Qi Barrier, Detoxification Formula, Poison Analysis Technique, and Glimmer Spell.
Though each was a thin booklet, there were eight in total.
“Normally, you would have to spend contribution points to borrow these from the Scripture Pavilion. But because they are absolutely essential for working in the Withered Yin Field, they are provided free of charge.”
“Must I master all of them?”
“If you don’t, you won’t survive long.”
No Baek-san opened the book on top.
“The Cleansing Spell washes away dust or medicinal powder clinging to your body and clothing. It isn’t given to you just for convenience. If even a trace of toxic powder from the Withered Yin Field lingers on your robes, it will corrode your skin overnight.”
He picked up the second book.
“The Clear Qi Formula repels foul air and makes the atmosphere breathable for a time. The Breath-Holding Formula is a method to cease breathing altogether and sustain your body solely with spiritual power.”
“How long can one hold their breath?”
“At your cultivation realm, about half a shichen.”
The Fire-Kindling Spell produced a small ember at one’s fingertips. It lacked offensive power but was necessary to dispel damp, gloomy chill or to cook spirit rice.
The Spherical Qi Barrier was a defensive spell that erected a thin barrier around the body; disciples in the Withered Yin Field used it primarily to ward off toxic miasma.
The Detoxification Formula was an energy-circulating method that gathered poison within the body and expelled it, while the Poison Analysis Technique was a spell used to identify toxins in water, soil, or air.
“I take it the Glimmer Spell is for illumination.”
“Indeed. Barely any sunlight reaches the Withered Yin Field, even at midday. At night, it’s so dark you can’t see your own hand in front of your face.”
Lee Hyun stored the books in his storage pouch.
“Have you mastered all these spells as well, Senior Martial Brother No?”
“Of course. In fact, many cultivators outside the Withered Yin Field learn these. The Cleansing Spell, in particular, is a favorite among all cultivators.”
“Still, I can hardly master all eight in a single day.”
“Once you insert a low-grade spirit stone into the Withered Yin Field’s entry token, a Poison-Warding Formation will activate, so you should be fine for the immediate future. Practice the spells one by one in your quarters. The Breath-Holding Formula and Clear Qi Formula are simple and practical, so learn those first.”
No Baek-san led Lee Hyun over to a hanging scroll on the wall. Pulling it aside, he revealed several aged paintings behind it and selected three.
“If it is Withered Yin Field No. 8… they are likely cultivating these three varieties.”
The first painting depicted a grotesque flower with ivory petals blooming atop a jet-black stem. Hazy powder hovered around the stamen, and the roots were knobby, resembling animal joints.
“This is the Bone-Corroding Flower. Its pollen gradually dissolves bone. However, once refined to remove its toxicity, it becomes the primary ingredient for Bone-Tempering Powder. Body-refining cultivators use it to temper their bones or mend fractures.”
“A flower that damages bones is used to make bone-mending medicine?”
“I don’t know the intricate principles of alchemy. I only know that the sect’s alchemists often say poison and medicine are separated by a hair’s breadth. They must strip away the toxicity and leave only the medicinal properties.”
The second painting portrayed an orchid with long, broad leaves sprawling in all directions. The veins running through the leaves were a deep purple, like blood vessels, and a purple mist drifted from the flower buds like wisps of thread.
“The Purple Poison Orchid is the trickiest of the bunch. Most of the mist you’ll see in the Withered Yin Field is exhaled by these things. They ceaselessly spew purple miasma from their leaves and stems; if this miasma touches your body, you lose vitality, and your lifespan steadily diminishes. Yet the Purple Poison Liquid refined from this miasma is an essential ingredient for Poison-Warding Pills, which bolster resistance against poisons.”
“Do cultivators get poisoned too? I thought poison was something used only in the mortal realm.”
“Mortal poisons can be expelled with spiritual power, of course. But what rule says a cultivator cannot use poison? Though rare, there are sects and cultivation paths dedicated to the poison arts. The poisons wielded by cultivators are far more dangerous than anything found in the mortal realm.”
The final painting depicted a spiritual herb with dark-blue leaves clustered in a circular clump. The leaves were slender and long, each tip bearing a pale blue droplet of dew. Between the roots exposed above the soil flickered a faint shadow resembling a human face.
“This is Yin Soul Grass. It’s the primary ingredient for Mind-Calming Pills, which stabilize the mind. Mind-Calming Pills are precious medicines used when heart demons arise or when signs of qi deviation appear during cultivation. On top of that, it has the faint effect of tempering the primordial spirit and divine sense, making it highly sought after.”
“Can I really cultivate such incredible spiritual herbs? Just hearing about them makes them sound difficult to tend.”
“Quite the opposite.”
Lee Hyun blinked at No Baek-san’s response.
“Most spirit plants in the Withered Yin Field are easy to grow. As long as the yin qi is thick and humid, they thrive on their own. Their toxicity is so potent that most spirit insects avoid them, and they drain the vitality from surrounding weeds, so there is hardly any need for weeding.”
“Then what does a caretaker actually do?”
“Inspect the formations, water them, and harvest when the time comes. Occasionally, you relocate them so the herbs don’t rob one another of vitality. Compared to a normal spirit field, it’s so easy a child could do it.”
No Baek-san paused briefly.
“The only problem is that doing that easy work leaves a man withered and broken.”
Lee Hyun stared at the Bone-Corroding Flower in the painting.
“When must I leave?”
“Tomorrow at noon. Someone from the Outer Sect Administration Pavilion will come to guide you.”
No Baek-san hesitated a moment before adding, “Do not be greedy in the Withered Yin Field. Just because they offer triple the contribution points doesn’t mean you should work twice as hard. If your body feels the slightest bit off, rest immediately.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“And…”
No Baek-san hesitated, then sent a sound transmission:
[The spirit plants in Withered Yin Field No. 8 have the traits you were looking for. All three varieties grow more valuable with age. As long as you meet the sect’s quota, you can leave any surplus unharvested and let them continue to grow. Stash them away secretly before you leave. If you ever get the chance to visit a market far from the sect, selling them will earn you a handsome sum of spirit stones.]
“Thank you, Senior Martial Brother No!”
“Enough. Go pack your things.”
Lee Hyun didn’t have much luggage to pack. After slipping clothes, bedding, and a few small farming tools into his storage pouch, his preparations were complete.
* * *
The next day at noon, a man from the Outer Sect Administration Pavilion arrived at spirit field No. 73.
His name was Jin Gu-myeong, an outer-sect disciple at the 6th layer of Qi Refining.
“Are you Junior Martial Brother Lee Hyun?”
“I am.”
“I will guide you to the Withered Yin Field. It is a long journey, so let us set off at once.”
Lee Hyun bowed a final farewell to No Baek-san.
“Thank you for everything you’ve taught me.”
“You aren’t marching off to die. What’s with the final farewell?” No Baek-san grumbled brusquely.
Lee Hyun bowed deeply to No Baek-san once more, then followed Jin Gu-myeong down the mountain.
As they descended along an unfamiliar mountain path, the forest grew increasingly dense. At first, sunlight filtered through the branches, but as they went deeper into the ravine, the trees grew twisted and their leaves turned black. Not a single bird chirped, nor did any insect buzz.
Before long, a dark ravine where sunlight barely reached came into view.
A dense, turbid fog tinged with a faint violet hue blanketed the entire area. Just taking a breath brought a stinging sensation to his nose and a suffocating tightness to his chest.
“This is the Withered Yin Field.”
Jin Gu-myeong stopped just outside the mist, refusing to step any closer.
“The caretaker’s quarters are in there. You can get the formation entry token from your predecessor.”
“Must I go in alone?”
“I’m not the caretaker of the Withered Yin Field, am I?” Jin Gu-myeong’s face seemed to ask why he was stating the obvious.
Just then, someone stumbled out of a decrepit cabin deeper inside the ravine.
“Haa… pant… Has my… has my replacement arrived?”
Lee Hyun could hardly believe his eyes.
More than half of the man’s hair had turned gray, and deep wrinkles were etched across his face. His skin was utterly bloodless, and his lips were tinged a faint violet.
“I survived… I’m finally saved…!”
He snatched Lee Hyun’s hand in a tight, icy-cold grasp.
“Junior Martial Brother, listen to me carefully! When watering those damned Bone-Corroding Flowers, you must never inhale! If the Purple Poison Orchids turn black, do not approach—cast the Clear Qi Formula first! If you stay in the field for more than two shichen a day, you will suffer the agony of your bones rotting away!”
The man pulled a black iron token from his robes and shoved it into Lee Hyun’s hand.
“This is the entry token for the formation. The toxic miasma can’t enter the cabin, at least. When you finish your chores, you must return inside, cleanse yourself with the Cleansing Spell, and circulate the Detoxification Formula three times!”
“How many years have you worked here, Senior Martial Brother?”
“Four years and eleven months.”
Tears welled in the man’s eyes.
“They said I’d get extra contribution points if I finished out one more month, so I tried to hold out, but I just couldn’t do it! To hell with contribution points! What good are they if I’m dead?!”
The moment he finished speaking, he dashed back into the cabin and emerged carrying a bundle of his belongings.
Jin Gu-myeong spoke up. “Junior Martial Brother Mun, what about the handover…?”
“I wrote everything down in the ledger on the cabin table!”
Without looking back, the man sprinted up the mountain path. Channeling spiritual power into his legs, he fled with a desperation that was truly a harrowing sight.
Watching the retreating figure, Lee Hyun asked, “Was he an elder?”
“You mean Junior Martial Brother Mun Gang?” Jin Gu-myeong tilted his head. “He should be thirty-six this year.”
He then added, “Well, best of luck.”
With that, Jin Gu-myeong also hurried away, practically fleeing the scene.