The Sanctuary of Outlaws
Myeong-ha took a step back. He clasped his hands behind his back, smiling as he withdrew his energy—a power that was hard to distinguish as either dharma power or monster power. Though he appeared completely defenseless, Jekyeong found this relaxed posture somehow even more grating.
"I will give you time. Show me results that satisfy me within three months."
"Very well."
Seeing Myeong-ha's confident response, Jekyeong surmised that the man had prepared for this venture long in advance.
A moment later, once Myeong-ha had departed with a satisfied expression, Cheongo, who had been hiding at a distance, flew down and perched on Jekyeong's head.
"Are you okay? Jekyeong, are you okay?"
"Of course."
"Are we working with him? Working with that guy?"
"We'll have to see... but for now, yes."
"Hmph. You must like him! You like him?"
"Perhaps."
Did he like him? Yes and no. It was true that Jekyeong felt an indescribable, unique sensation from Myeong-ha. It wasn't just because of his sky-high presence. The feeling had absolutely nothing to do with emotion. To put it in perspective, Jekyeong felt like a stock trader staring at a blue-chip stock. The only catch was that he couldn't tell if this blue-chip stock only looked promising to his eyes, or if it truly possessed genuine value.
'Do not disappoint me.'
Jekyeong's thoughts were simple. He hoped that the stock named Myeong-ha was an undervalued blue-chip that had yet to rise, one that would eventually bring him immense wealth.
"Didn't you say he's dangerous? Dangerous?"
"Yes. He is certainly dangerous."
But that danger was only a concern when the opponent was shrouded in darkness, projecting an aura of mystery. Now that he had the opportunity to look Myeong-ha straight in the eye, the perceived threat level in Jekyeong's mind dropped several notches. He was still dangerous, yes. But it was a danger to be cautious of, not one to worry over.
The primary basis for this assessment was the other's cultivation realm. For now, Jekyeong estimated Myeong-ha to be at the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage. In terms of raw feel, he seemed comparable to Makgye, perhaps slightly weaker. This was a manageable level. Of course, this didn't mean Jekyeong could easily defeat him, but rather that he had no reason to fear him.
Myeong-ha had likely sensed that his own strength posed no real threat to Jekyeong. In fact, he might have gone a step further and harbored a slight 'misunderstanding.' Perhaps that was why he had remained so consistently humble, despite Jekyeong's blunt, bordering on arrogant, attitude.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
Myeong-ha was no fool. Jekyeong wasn't the least bit curious about what it meant to be a half-human, half-demon, or what hardships he had overcome to survive. He only knew that if Myeong-ha had been stupid, he wouldn't have survived intact for this long. That was more than enough.
Myeong-ha was a relative newcomer to Yang-seo Lake, and he needed Jekyeong's influence and established position. In a way, their relationship was akin to a landlord and a tenant. If one had to designate a dominant partner between them, Jekyeong was undoubtedly the landlord. Both of them were well aware of this fact.
If Myeong-ha's strength had overwhelmingly surpassed Jekyeong's... though it was uncertain whether his insidious methods of erasing souls worked on the beast race, Myeong-ha would surely have made a move. But since he couldn't, he had no choice but to cater to Jekyeong's whims with a smiling face.
A medium-sized vessel glided silently through the thick water mist. The cultivators aboard either sat in silent meditation with closed eyes or stared warily into the dense fog. Those displaying open vigilance were relatively young and shallow in their cultivation, while those lost in their own worlds were the seasoned veterans.
"The mist is too thick. Is it a formation?" muttered a man who had been staring into the fog for a long time. His words were half a monologue, half a quiet question directed at the companion beside him.
"Pfft." Cultivators naturally possessed sharp hearing. Moreover, the passengers on this ship were not the dime-a-dozen weaklings of the early or mid-Qi Condensation stage; they were veterans who had weathered their fair share of storms in the cultivation world.
"Of course it's a formation. If it weren't, why do you think we've been circling the exact same spot for so long?"
"Circling the same spot?" The mocked man was about to flare up, but he froze in confusion at the follow-up remark. He strained his eyes, looking left and right, but he couldn't discern a single thing through the gray shroud.
"Don't waste your energy and just sit tight, kid. Once the inspection is over, the mist will clear on its own."
The word 'kid' grated on his nerves, but the man did not lose his temper. Though he might lack experience compared to the others on this vessel, his life had been far from easy. He knew all too well that pride was usually a useless luxury that only invited disaster.
"Thank you, senior." A moment later, just as the 'senior' had predicted, the water mist began to gradually disperse. It might have been his imagination, but as his vision cleared, even breathing felt easier. Savoring the sweet air, the man gazed at the faint lights in the distance and the island slowly taking shape. That island was their destination.
"Is that Haeyeon Island?"
"Yes."
Haeyeon Island. It had been roughly two years since this nameless island had received its name, which then began to quietly circulate. At first, the rumors were met with skepticism. In the cultivation world, rumors were the most abundant commodity, followed closely by traps, so tales of Haeyeon Island were dismissed as such. However, as time passed, those with either an excess of adventurous spirit or a lack of brains began visiting the island one by one, and the rumors gradually took on a solid reality.
Initially, people thought it was merely another gathering place for shady rogue cultivators, but they soon realized it was something entirely different. Haeyeon Island was special. It welcomed everyone, but it did not tolerate just anyone. Whether one was a bandit cultivator, a demonic cultivator, or even a non-human cultivator, everyone had to abide by the rules of Haeyeon Island. Failure to do so meant facing the ruthless punishment of the island's master.
Despite such a fearsome master, rough and sinister cultivators flocked to Haeyeon Island because its rules were actually not that demanding. There was only one absolute rule: do not challenge the authority of the Island Master. As long as that single rule was observed, Haeyeon Island imposed no other constraints.
Absolute authority combined with loose regulations. Thanks to these two contrasting features, in just two short years, Haeyeon Island had transformed into an attractive resort and trading hub for bandit cultivators, demonic cultivators, and their ilk.
Wrapped in a thick shroud of mist generated by a grand formation, Haeyeon Island was nearly impossible to observe from the outside. Yet, the moment one set foot on the island, the mist vanished as if by magic. Those arriving for the first time who lacked deep knowledge of formations often found their eyes widening at this striking first impression.
This was true for Naenghwi, who was stepping onto Haeyeon Island for the very first time. Naturally, his companion, Bangseo, was no different.
"Do not cause trouble on the island. Any personal disputes must be resolved outside its borders." The guide who met them at the docks delivered the instructions in a flat, monotonous voice. It was a cliché warning heard anywhere, yet not a single soul ignored his words. They had heard far too many rumors about Haeyeon Island to act rashly. While it was impossible to know how much truth lay in those tales, caution was never a bad thing.
"Shall we secure lodging first?"
"We should."
Naenghwi and Bangseo parted ways with their fellow passengers and set off to find an inn. Fortunately, unlike other famous islands, Haeyeon Island was neatly zoned, making it easy to locate accommodations.
"Since there are six days left until the auction, let's visit the street market first."
There was no shortage of cultivators on Haeyeon Island. No matter where they looked, groups of four or five could be seen. Every single one of them exuded a fierce, dangerous aura. Yet, they refrained from acting on their violent impulses, resembling muzzled wolves—a sight that Naenghwi and Bangseo found utterly bizarre.
"It's just as we heard."
"Indeed. The authority of Haeyeon Island is truly formidable."
"To be precise, it is the authority of the Island Master."
Extremely few knew the true identity of Haeyeon Island's master. Only the ominous alias of the Ghost Spider circulated secretly among those interested in the island. According to rumors, Haeyeon Island was the Ghost Spider's lair, and his webs were spun so densely across the land that nothing could escape his eyes and ears. It was said that if anyone violated his rules, the Ghost Spider would instantly suck out their soul, leaving them a living corpse. It was an unbelievable rumor, yet no one dared to test its veracity. Over the past two years, plenty of fools who didn't value their lives had served as living sacrifices, cementing the terrifying reputation of the rumor.
"It's so quiet, it's almost eerie."
"Quiet is good. The outside world is noisy enough."
Most of those who sought out Haeyeon Island were people who had no other choice. They were individuals who couldn't even spend their spirit stones in peace elsewhere. Though they belonged to a class of people who routinely kicked down others' doors, even they desired their own doors to remain unbroken. For these outcasts, who were welcomed nowhere else, this strangely profound silence was like a sweet lullaby to a weary soul.
"That must be the place."
Although this was Naenghwi and Bangseo's first visit to Haeyeon Island, they had a decent grasp of its layout. The commercial district of Haeyeon Island was divided into three main areas: the street market, the shops, and the auction house. Since the auction house was only used on the days of the auction, it was practically non-existent on regular days. Thus, the street market and the shops made up the entirety of the island's commercial activity.
"How much for this?"
"Two low-grade spirit stones per head."
"Tsk! That's expensive."
"Expensive? This is a bargain. Don't you know that Dragon-Horned Crabs have practically gone extinct lately?"
'If they're extinct, how on earth did you manage to catch dozens of them?' Naenghwi wanted to retort, but he held his tongue to avoid causing a scene. Strictly speaking, the price was up to the seller anyway.
"They really sell demon beasts here," Bangseo murmured in low admiration as he scanned their surroundings. Naenghwi, tearing his eyes away from the Dragon-Horned Crabs, looked at him in confusion.
"What about it? You can see demon beasts anywhere."
"True, but did you forget? This is monster territory. The domain of the Black Flood Dragon."
Haeyeon Island was situated right in the middle of the Heukgyo Water Territory. This was the decisive reason why self-proclaimed orthodox cultivators hungry for fame or bounty hunters dared not come here to cause trouble. Some, wondering if the Black Flood Dragon simply didn't care about managing his territory, had gathered their courage to enter the Heukgyo Water Territory. However, the results were always the same: men died or were severely injured, and their ships were smashed to splinters, sinking into the deep waters of Yang-seo Lake. Though these incidents had occurred over a mere month, the resulting commotion was far from small, spreading the fearsome reputation of the Black Flood Dragon once more. After that, people finally realized that some sort of deal had been struck between the Master of Haeyeon Island and the Black Flood Dragon.
"I know. But Haeyeon Island didn't just appear yesterday. If there were going to be problems, they would have happened long ago."
"I suppose so."
"Don't worry too much. This is Haeyeon Island, after all." Two years was a short time for either a person or an island to make a name for itself, but Haeyeon Island had already carved out its own unique place in the world.