A Feast Before the Storm
"So, those Hyeong-eo Gang bastards recently tried to make themselves the masters of Jaseong Island, leading to a massive clash with those who opposed them. And when their fortunes took a turn for the worse, they tried to drag in the neutrals... which is how you all got entangled in this?"
"Yes, exactly. At first, we declined politely, and the Hyeong-eo Gang seemed to accept it. But as their situation grew more desperate, they lost their composure. Their demands grew increasingly aggressive. Lately, it has been nothing short of blackmail."
"Tsk, tsk. What a bunch of lowborn scoundrels," Hyeongu sighed, scratching his chin with his webbed claw.
"So? How do you want us to help?"
"I don't want to make a scene. I'd prefer to handle this quietly, but I can't think of a suitable way."
The Hyeong-eo Gang was a faction with enough influence to boldly attempt to swallow Jaseong Island whole. Burying them all at once was impossible, and even if it were, it was not something they should do. Han Cheongyu never forgot his mission for a single moment. Not only did he have to blend naturally into the Human Territory, but he also had to remain as inconspicuous as possible. To achieve that, he had to avoid causing trouble. Thus, avoiding unnecessary commotion had always been Han Cheongyu's primary rule of conduct.
"Quietly? That's a bit difficult. Personally, I was thinking we could trigger a Water Tide to sweep those Hyeong-eo Gang bastards away. If push comes to shove, we could just wipe out Jaseong Island entirely."
"Would that even be possible?"
"It would be difficult. But if we shake things up on such a massive scale, wouldn't those Hyeong-eo Gang fools be forced to lie low for a while?"
Han Cheongyu thought it wasn't a bad idea—provided there was a guarantee that the Water Tide wouldn't attract the attention of powerful figures outside Jaseong Island.
"I don't think that will work. A Water Tide is far too conspicuous. Jaseong Island isn't the issue... it might draw the eyes of powerful cultivators from far away."
"True enough. Hmm... It seems difficult to find an immediate answer, so I will report this matter to the Lord Dragon as well."
"Then, though it is a burden, I must ask you to do so, Senior."
"What burden? We are all merely working for the Lord Dragon."
Hyeongu slipped the jade slip containing the blueprints into his storage bag.
"Ah, right! Avoid going near Seyeongdo for the time being. A vicious beast has appeared there."
"A vicious beast?" Han Cheongyu frowned.
He naturally knew what a vicious beast was. However, his perception of them differed greatly from that of other humans. To him, a vicious beast was merely a special delicacy that the Lord Dragon enjoyed hunting. Perhaps because of this, even though his mind knew they were terrifying creatures, his heart didn't quite grasp the dread.
"Yes. It seems to be quite a monstrous thing. Apparently, even the Great Demon who originally ruled that area couldn't withstand its tyranny and fled."
"Does that mean the water route through there is completely blocked?"
"You could say that. It's currently running wild quite fiercely, so avoid that area until I give you word. It probably won't take long, though."
"Will the Lord Dragon handle it personally?"
"Most likely," Hyeongu said with a sly grin. "As you know, the Lord Dragon is incredibly fond of vicious beast meat. He especially loves the ones that are bursting with vitality. Once I return and report this, he might set out immediately."
Hyeongu's prediction was spot on.
"Oh?"
Jekyeong, who had been listening intently to Han Cheongyu's situation, let his eyes gleam at the mention of the vicious beast that Hyeongu had tacked on like an afterthought.
'Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I last tasted vicious beast meat.'
Though what he truly craved was their Essence Blood rather than their flesh, the result was the same since he devoured every scrap of meat and drop of blood without leaving a trace after a hunt.
"What do you think?"
Jekyeong cast a brief glance at the blueprints for the cultivation chamber before tossing them aside. It wasn't something he could understand just by looking at it anyway. It would be better to show it to the humans building the Black Cult Palace or the Spirit Blacksmiths on Yeongi Island. Instead, Jekyeong's attention was entirely captured by the events on Jaseong Island and the rampaging vicious beast.
"He is not one to show weakness easily," Hyeongu replied. "For someone like him to express such difficulty, the situation must be quite challenging."
"Indeed."
"My original plan was to trigger a Water Tide to throw Jaseong Island into chaos... but he refused, saying it would blow things out of proportion."
Jekyeong understood both Hyeongu's reasoning and Han Cheongyu's reaction. In the end, one's perspective was bound to differ depending on where one stood, so it was only natural for their opinions to diverge. Picturing the chaotic state of Jaseong Island, Jekyeong murmured softly.
"Now that I think about it, it has been quite some time."
"Pardon?"
"Ever since Jaseong Island was annexed into the Human Territory, it has been in constant turmoil. By now, it's about time a proper master emerged."
"Ah... Your Lordship is correct."
"Yes. Perhaps the time is finally ripe."
Hyeongu tilted his head and asked, "Do you believe those Hyeong-eo Gang fellows are capable of taking over Jaseong Island?"
"Who knows? Perhaps they are."
There had been many factions like the Hyeong-eo Gang in the past. However, those groups had always ruined themselves before their names could even reach his ears. In that regard, this Hyeong-eo Gang seemed slightly more promising than their predecessors, but...
"Even so, it matters little. Jaseong Island must remain moderately chaotic."
Once a house gains a master, the first thing they do is tighten internal security. For that very reason, Jekyeong had no intention of letting anyone claim ownership of Jaseong Island, at least for the time being.
"This time, I shall intervene personally."
"What?" Hyeongu blinked blankly for a moment. When the realization finally sank in, his jaw dropped. "Do you mean you will personally intervene in the affairs of Jaseong Island?"
"Yes. Did you say the leader of the Hyeong-eo Gang is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage?"
"Yes, so I have heard... But are you truly going to step in yourself? It could be..." Hyeongu forced himself to swallow the words "highly dangerous" that had risen to the tip of his tongue.
"Do not worry. I will handle it quietly, so there won't be any issues."
Jekyeong was a cultivator who firmly believed that one must first survive to pursue cultivation and the Dao. Consequently, he always prioritized assessing risks over potential gains. Had it been anywhere else, Jekyeong would never have acted so recklessly. But Jaseong Island was different.
Thanks to Han Cheongyu's consistent reports over the past ten years, Jekyeong possessed a highly detailed understanding of Jaseong Island. He knew who the noteworthy experts were, which external powerhouses had their eyes on the island, and what potential hazards existed. Based on this intelligence, Jekyeong had made his own calculated judgment.
Even if he were to strike Jaseong Island openly, the likelihood of any major complications arising was slim. This conclusion was reached after carefully weighing both the local situation of Jaseong Island and the broader state of the Human Race.
Even now, more than a decade after the war had ended, the internal affairs of the Human Race remained highly chaotic. Unless a massive horde of the Beast Race invaded, a single Great Demon causing a brief disturbance would hardly attract the attention of any major figures.
Furthermore, objectively speaking, Jaseong Island was of little importance to the humans. In all likelihood, many of the human powerhouses didn't even know where such an island was located.
Having weighed all possibilities, Jekyeong resolved to act personally. However, as he had told Hyeongu, he intended to move as quietly as possible. While the human powerhouses might ignore a mere Great Demon, there was no telling how they would react if they heard the name 'Gyoryong.' Even if the chances were one in ten thousand, any risk that could be avoided had to be avoided.
'The matter of Jaseong Island can wait. First... I must seek out that vicious beast.'
Since it was said to be so highly active, it might possess Essence Blood. It would be perfect if he could harvest it as a quick snack along the way.
It had a thick, elongated torso resembling a well-fed caterpillar, and two massive, razor-sharp forelegs like those of a praying mantis. Its blunt snout was crowded with protruding front teeth that could only be described as hideous. In terms of appearance alone, it far exceeded the passing mark for a vicious beast.
"Grrrrr!"
Its intelligence level also perfectly matched the standard of a vicious beast. Despite the overwhelming difference in size, and even after sensing the natural, formidable pressure of a late-stage Great Yao, it charged head-on with savage fury.
Crunch!
Dealing with such a simple, brainless creature was straightforward. One only needed to crush it with sheer force.
Most of the Beast Race feared vicious beasts because of their immensely powerful bodies and raw strength. It was similar to how human Dharma Cultivators dreaded Body Cultivators. A Dharma Cultivator's Dharma Power was finite, making it difficult to pierce a heavily tempered physical body. Meanwhile, a single mistake could result in severe injury, preventing them from focusing entirely on offense and leaving them constantly on edge.
The relationship between the Beast Race and vicious beasts was much the same—in fact, it was even more severe. The methods available to the Beast Race were far less diverse than those of humans. Setting aside Great Demon Beasts, most demons, with the exception of a few rare spiritual entities, tended to rely heavily on physical strength. On average, their superior physical bodies compared to humans and other races were one of their greatest weapons.
However, because this weapon was completely useless against a vicious beast, any demon who encountered one was likely to lose their fighting spirit right from the start. It was akin to a local alleyway thug losing all courage upon crossing paths with a notorious syndicate boss who ruled the entire city.
But Jekyeong was different. To him, a vicious beast charging blindly was an even easier prey to handle than other Great Demons. Strength? Size? Physical durability? Jekyeong was second to none in every category.
Thud!
Since it charged head-on, he met it head-on. He pinned it down instantly with his overwhelming mass and power. Still, just to be safe, he kept a wary eye on its two sharp forelegs. Waiting for the creature to strike, he dodged at the perfect moment and lunged to bite off its entire head in a single motion. The vicious beast realized the danger and tried to react, but Jekyeong was far faster.
Crack! Crunch!
His razor-sharp teeth and monstrous jaw strength, capable of chewing through even Dharma treasures, easily pierced and crushed the vicious beast's skull. After twitching a couple of times, the creature's massive body went limp, and Jekyeong swallowed it whole in a single gulp.
The moment he willed it, his innate Origin Earth Fire flared within his stomach, completely melting and absorbing the massive hunk of meat without leaving a single scrap.
'There it is.' Jekyeong smiled as he felt a single drop of Essence Blood being refined and absorbed by the Origin Earth Fire. 'The quality is quite excellent, too.'
Jekyeong had absorbed a significant amount of Essence Blood over time, but the Essence Blood of this vicious beast was among the finest he had ever consumed. The moment it was absorbed, he felt a subtle, resonant vibration ripple through his massive body.
'A promising start.'
The vicious beast had appeared almost as if it had been waiting for him the moment he entered its territory. Thanks to that, he had concluded the hunt quickly and effortlessly. Having obtained a drop of high-quality Essence Blood on top of that, fortune seemed to be smiling on his first excursion in a long while.
With his belly full and his heart light after the easy hunt, Jekyeong carefully inspected the changes in his body following the absorption of the Essence Blood. Satisfied, he immediately began heading north toward Jaseong Island. Keeping his massive body pressed flat against the lake bed while pushing his Presence-Concealing Technique to its absolute limit, not a single soul noticed his passage, save for a few low-level aquatic monsters he happened to cross paths with by pure chance.
'Did something happen?'
Upon receiving a signal from his transmission plate, Ju-hyeong rushed toward the designated meeting place with a companion, his mind filled with bewilderment. Hadn't their next scheduled meeting been three months from now? Was the situation on Jaseong Island truly that pressing?
"He won't be displeased that only the two of us came to greet him, will he?"
"Of course not."