Five Dragon Island
My head was spinning. Even if it was just the aftermath, it was an illusion powerful enough to make even those of the Creation Realm flounder. Since I had been exposed to it, I suppose this was a cheap price to pay.
"Ugh." My melted shoulder and parts of my upper body throbbed. Surprisingly, I didn't feel any excruciating pain. Had the nerves responsible for feeling pain burned away entirely? Come to think of it, my regeneration wasn't working at all. Well, if it were a problem that could be solved by simple regeneration, Ryeo-ah wouldn't have ground Kang Baek-jin to dust in the first place.
Crackle—
I turned around at the sound of something collapsing and crumbling. The jiangshi, puppets, cursed objects, spiritual artifacts, and elixirs that the Kang family had accumulated over generations were oxidizing, turning into foul-smelling ash. It certainly had been strange. I had no intention of insulting the deceased, but the power Ryeo-ah had displayed was far too immense to have been fueled by Kang Baek-jin alone. The math didn't add up with just him, so did she use all of these as sacrifices? Everything except for the absolutely essential and useful items had vanished.
"This is driving me crazy."
The surrounding area was packed with family members who had yet to regain consciousness. My women were among them. For now, staying in a safe place until everyone woke up was the best course of action. Fortunately, the place we had been teleported to was a damp, dark cave that seemed relatively empty. When I focused my hearing, I could hear the sound of waves crashing against rocks and dissolving into foam. A coastal cave, or something like that.
"Ugh, uuuugh..."
"Aaaargh!"
"Pant, pant..."
The family members were still in terrible shape. Since Ryeo-ah hadn't protected them as meticulously as she had protected me, I suppose we should consider it a miracle they hadn't been turned into mindless simpletons like Kang Baek-jin. At least my women seemed to be in better condition, likely because she had paid special attention to them.
"First things first."
I would figure out what to do once everyone regained their senses. I lightly tapped the cave floor with my foot, and bizarre rock formations sprouted from that point. They formed a dome-shaped rock shelter enclosing the scattered members of the Kang family. It didn't have any active camouflage abilities, but since we were in a pitch-black cave surrounded entirely by stone, this was practically invisible. Since they were all Dokkaebi with incredible physical capabilities, leaving just a tiny air hole would be enough. Even if someone suspected this massive boulder inside the cave, breaking it would require a considerable amount of strength. They would need at least a dharma treasure to pierce it.
I shoved the undamaged healing elixirs down my throat and smeared them over my wounds. Applying the ointment-type elixir brought a sudden, excruciating sting, but I chose to take it as a sign of recovery.
"..."
Now what? I couldn't just sleep comfortably since I was the only one available to keep watch. I gathered my women who were sprawling nearby and laid them down in a neat row.
Splash!
I killed time, focusing on the occasional sound of waves echoing through the cave.
"How could such a trial befall our Kang family?"
"Oh, ancestors, please look down upon us and save us."
As time passed, everyone from the Samgeuk-level elders to the Core Condensation disciples began to regain consciousness one by one. Some of them suffered from headaches or other abnormal symptoms, but they weren't severe, so I ignored them.
"Family Head Kang. What should we do now?"
And just like that, I became the Family Head. Fuck. I'm not even joking; some bizarre, rushed process took place, and suddenly I was the head of the family. Actually, it wasn't that strange. The position of Family Head wasn't like a sect master where you elect the most outstanding person; it was inherited through bloodline. Naturally, as the only successor who had uniquely reached the level of Igeuk, I was the only viable candidate. In the past, they babbled about how I shouldn't become the Family Head, but this was an emergency. The other candidates, who were barely at the Qi Circulation realm, didn't have the capability to control the elders. Above all...
"Um, Family Head. By any chance, is that senior..."
The elders, who might have otherwise been uncooperative, were terrified of Ryeo-ah. They were trembling with anxiety, fearing that the arrow of immense power that had dealt with the Lord of Yagwi City and the Celestial Sahabaek might be aimed at them next. At the same time, they harbored expectations.
"She used a great deal of her power earlier and has entered a state of rest. As you all can guess, she is not in perfect condition right now."
"Ah, I see. Indeed, the City Lord and that old monster Sahabaek did mention that she was not whole."
"Ahem. Given her terrifying divine might, if we serve her well and help her recuperate, wouldn't she be willing to lend us her strength in the future? It seems she doesn't have any useful subordinates at the moment..."
The Creation Realm. What a massive boon it would be if a transcendent being capable of guaranteeing the future of an entire race remained as the guardian deity of the Kang family! If this mysterious Creation Realm senior protected them, the Kang family could instantly transform from fugitives into the overlords of the region! They could seize absolute power in an instant despite having just fled, enjoying a glory even greater than when they were in Yagwi City. Their fear of Ryeo-ah and their faith in a brilliant future sustained them. Because of this, the Kang family was more polite and obedient to me than ever before. In fact, my authority felt even stronger now than when Kang Baek-jin ruled the family. While Kang Baek-jin was undoubtedly strong, he was still an equal Samgeuk-level existence. Now, with the family's survival on the line, they believed that Ryeo-ah, a Creation Realm powerhouse, was backing me up.
"Have all the Core Condensation disciples and servants regained consciousness?"
"Yes. Those with lower cultivation realms complain of pain from time to time, but it seems to be at a tolerable level, Family Head."
I was now in a position to command them. And at the orders of their newly appointed Family Head, they moved with utmost diligence without the slightest hesitation.
"Family Head. However, the numerous elixirs and resources the family brought along..."
"Ah, the senior used them."
"I see. Understood."
Calling Ryeo-ah "senior" felt incredibly awkward. I was also conflicted about how to address the elders. It would be best to mix casual and formal speech appropriately. Even with Ryeo-ah's halo, I was still a young Family Head, and our situation was dire, making the cooperation of the Samgeuk elders essential. Soon, an elder who had briefly left to assess our supplies returned, bringing an elderly woman before me.
"Who is this?"
"She is Deputy Overseer Yeom. Though she is only at the Qi Circulation realm, she was in charge of managing and supervising the family's resources."
"Deputy Overseer?"
"The Chief Overseer happened to be away from the family when that old monster Sahabaek of the Celestial Sect invaded."
Then we wouldn't be finding the Chief Overseer anytime soon.
"Are you certain the teleportation array has been erased?"
"Yes. We damaged the array connecting from this side, so it cannot be used unless we restore it. For the record, we only damaged it enough so that we can restore it whenever we wish."
"At least we don't have to worry about that old monster chasing us down."
As I breathed a sigh of relief, a few groups of people entered from the outside. It was Elder Seop, whom I had sent to scout the vicinity.
"Family Head. As you commanded, we have completed our scouting of the vicinity. As expected, this place is one of the many islands subordinate to Oryong Island. The local geography and the names of the powerful factions and sects match our records."
Oryong Island. It was a sea region connected to the array managed by Yagwi City. Legend had it that five dragons once protected this place, but now, the five factions that used to serve them reigned as its masters. Naturally, just because it was called Oryong Island didn't mean there were only five islands. In the first place, the five main islands of Oryong Island were islands in name only; they were practically continents. Back on Earth, wasn't Australia classified as a continent despite not being connected to any other landmass? Countless large and small islands clustered around Oryong Island and its surrounding waters. The island we had arrived on via the teleportation array was just one of those many subordinate islands. The only saving grace was that none of the island lords of Oryong Island had reached the Creation Realm. Still, we couldn't let our guard down. There was information that the three major factions and the Lord of Yagwi City had once raised an army to plunder this place after confirming the absence of any Creation Realm powerhouses. But we all knew what happened. The Lord of Yagwi City failed to conquer Oryong Island, and the three major factions withdrew their forces. However, since the Lord of Yagwi City had been perfectly active right up until he was defeated by Ryeo-ah, they must have reached some sort of negotiation or compromise... Though I couldn't be sure. At any rate, to sum it up:
"Oryong Island possesses enough power to negotiate with the City Lord."
However, seeing how the Lord of Yagwi City had returned in one piece, they probably weren't powerful enough to kill him. Furthermore, Oryong Island would surely remember the invasion of the Night Goblins, so we had to hide the name of the Kang family and our distinctive Dokkaebi horns. It would be ideal if we could leave Oryong Island altogether, but since there was nothing but open ocean beyond these islands... we were trapped. Taking a boat to search for another continent beyond Oryong Island, without even knowing where one might be, was far too risky.
"What shall we do, Family Head?"
"For now, we leave this island. We'll slip into a suitable island nearby and reorganize ourselves."
Ryeo-ah remained silent. She must have overexerted herself; it seemed I wouldn't be able to rely on her help for the time being.
Knock, knock.
"Hey, can I come in?"
"Come in."
Creak—
"Are you training today too?"
"There's nothing else to do."
Quite some time had passed since we holed up on this small, nameless, uninhabited island that offered absolutely no advantages. The scenery was mediocre, and with no real benefits, it was no wonder it had been left abandoned. Still, the others seemed rather bored. Sehyeon naturally sat on my lap, her slender fingers brushing against the nape of my neck.
"Another cultist died today."
"It can't be helped. They are mere mortals who haven't mastered a single cultivation technique."
"Mmh, you're right. But this time, they died of food poisoning."
Our food supply relied entirely on the marine beasts hunted by our Qi Circulation warriors who dove into the sea. To feed the voracious Dokkaebi, the fruits scattered on the island or the clams gathered from the mudflats were far from enough. However, since humans and Dokkaebi had entirely different physical constitutions, problems like this were bound to arise.
"Some foods are perfectly fine for Dokkaebi but too much for humans to handle. I was hoping we could filter those out during food distribution, keeping our differences in mind..."
"Sure, let's do that."
"Really? Thank you. The members of the New Cult are surviving today thanks to you."
Sehyeon had become much closer to me than when we first met, teasing me with a meltingly sweet tone. I suppose you could say she had fully opened her heart to me.
"How is your training going lately?"
"Hmm, since Sowol is the only one I can compare myself to, it's hard to put a name to this realm. But if I had to say, I could probably fight on equal terms with someone at the late stage of the Qi Circulation realm."
"I'll look forward to it."
I was also curious to see just how far martial arts could grow.
"Yes. Look forward to it." At the same time, Sehyeon rubbed her cheek against my collarbone, casting a suggestive gaze. After all, entertainment was extremely limited on an uninhabited island.
"Ah..." As I fondled Sehyeon's breasts to stave off the boredom, I sensed another presence outside.
Knock, knock. Who is it this time?
"It is me, Family Head."
"Come in."
It was the woman who had been promoted from Deputy Overseer to Chief Overseer. Due to her advanced age and damaged meridians, she had no hope of ascending any higher in her cultivation, but she was perfect for handling various administrative tasks. She glanced briefly at Sehyeon, who was sitting on my lap having her breasts fondled, before quickly bowing her head again.
"What's the matter?"
"Thanks to your foresight, Family Head, we have been able to settle on this island without any major issues for the past few years."
"Skip the flattery and get to the point."
"Yes. After hunting so many marine beasts in the vicinity over the past few years, they seem to have migrated. They have been completely wiped out."
"Oh, dear."
Yeah, of course. That makes sense. We had been slaughtering them day in and day out to feed the voracious Dokkaebi, so this was bound to happen. Honestly, it was a miracle we had lasted this long. I had planned to take it easy and push my mental limits until Ryeo-ah woke up, but that plan was officially ruined.
"What about migrating to another island?"
"It is possible. In fact, that is our only option. This place lacks spiritual veins, cultivation resources, and spirit stones, so the growth of our lower-tier disciples has stagnated."
Ah, right, those guys. I had ignored them because they were such insignificant extras, but looking at the bigger picture, this was a major issue. The promising youngsters who would become the future Qi Circulation and Samgeuk-level warriors were currently rotting away due to a lack of resources.
"Let's see."
A large map slid out of my sleeve. It was sparsely marked with surrounding sea charts, islands, and information on cultivators and sects—the fruit of our continuous scouting and investigation over the past few years. Resting my chin on the crown of Sehyeon's head, I scanned the map. There were a few candidate islands I had prepared for a situation like this, but none of them were particularly satisfying. Honestly, with our strength, we could easily go toe-to-toe with most major sects. Should we just expand? It was then.
"Family Head!"
"What is it, Elder Sang?"
"A ship is approaching."
"If it's just a merchant vessel like usual, tell everyone to hide until it passes by unnoticed."
"That ship is heading directly toward us."
"Does it look like something we can't just sink and write off as a disappearance?"
Elder Sang shook his head. "It's quite large. There don't seem to be any Samgeuk-level experts on board, but it's of a scale that would definitely prompt an investigation team if it went missing."
"Sigh..."
It seemed the world no longer wanted me to stay hidden.
And soon, I came face-to-face with half-human, half-fish creatures—beings that could only be described as merfolk, with the upper bodies of humans and the lower bodies of fish.
Wait, why is a mermaid riding a ship?
I stared blankly at the lower half of a certain mermaid girl, deeply questioning the mechanics of her existence.