Now, I Want It Too

Jekyeong did not deny it. Though Myeong-ha had only uttered a single sentence back then, a single word spoken before a fickle, malevolent god was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. Thus, even when Myeong-ha spoke of prices and debts in his presence, Jekyeong had no real ground to argue. As long as his true intentions did not fully offset the value of the life saved, and as long as Myeong-ha did not make unreasonable demands, Jekyeong intended to go along with his requests for the most part.

They say the heaviest debt of all is a debt of gratitude, Jekyeong thought with a cold sneer, downing a large gulp of his spirit wine.

"Indeed. The price of my life is not cheap. But keep this in mind: the value I place on it might differ quite a bit from what you have in mind."

"I shall keep that in mind." The playful smile lingering on Myeong-ha's lips faded slightly. He was taking Jekyeong's warning seriously. In truth, he also knew that a debt carried the greatest leverage when left unspoken. He had only brought it up now because Jekyeong's attitude had been so cold, leaving him with no choice but to remind him of it.

"Do not be so displeased, Fellow Daoist. Among the blessings I have received, there are quite a few useful things—some of which you might find highly desirable."

"Something I would desire? What, is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it some kind of opportunity for Core Formation?"

"Well, while it is not a direct opportunity for Core Formation, it is something very similar." At Myeong-ha's prompt reply, which seemed to have been waiting for the question, Jekyeong's eyes instantly lit up. He did not suspect Myeong-ha of lying. Though the man was undeniably calculating, he was not so cheap as to try and gloss over a situation with empty words.

"Very well." If it was an opportunity for Core Formation, then so be it, but what did he mean by "something similar"? Jekyeong was curious, but he knew he would find out soon enough. Besides, since he had to help the fellow anyway to clear his debt of gratitude, obtaining a reward along the way was a welcome bonus.

They say there is no smoke without fire, but rumors are a different beast entirely. A rumor does not sprout from concrete evidence; it is born from the depths of human desire. Once a thought takes root in someone's mind, they can fabricate a plausible rumor without any calculation or forethought. And sometimes, that rumor spreads as swiftly as a horse riding the wind, its momentum far faster and more powerful than a mere wisp of smoke.

"Every single Core Formation cultivator in Yangseo Lake fought in the decisive battle at the Starry Night Archipelago!"

"That Demon King, Senior So-byeok, belongs to a powerful Yokai lineage from Muryangae! Since he suffered a setback this time, the Yokai of Muryangae will soon invade us in droves!"

"The Geumyang Sect and the Myeongseomun Sect have already shut their mountain gates! It's because their Ancestors and Sect Masters were gravely wounded in this battle! I heard their cultivation has plummeted, and it will take them decades of recuperation just to have a hope of recovering!"

"Gravely wounded? I heard they perished!"

"Hush! Watch your tongue!"

Those who valued their lives little lit the spark, and those with feathers for brains and loose tongues fanned the flames with enthusiasm. What had begun as cautious whispers soon exploded across the region, spreading with a ferocity that terrified even the ones who had first started them. As the rumors traveled, they grew increasingly exaggerated; what had started as "the Golden Core cultivators suffered a setback" eventually morphed into "they have all been wiped out."

Naturally, the two great Golden Core sects did not sit idly by while such outrageous rumors circulated. They attempted to suppress the gossip using the sheer authority of their grand sects, but rumors, by nature, only bounce back stronger when forcibly suppressed. In truth, they could have put an end to the whispers quite easily. If the Golden Core cultivators at the center of the rumors made even a brief public appearance to prove they were alive and well, the wild speculation would have vanished in an instant. Yet, they bypassed this simple solution, choosing instead to suppress it through raw authority. Perhaps they felt it beneath the dignity of Golden Core cultivators to show themselves just to quell the vulgar gossip of the ignorant masses. However, to the eyes of those ignorant masses, this "dignified silence" took on a completely different meaning.

"Has something truly happened to the Daoist Masters?"

"Surely... it can't be, right?"

"What do you mean, 'it can't be'? If the Daoist Masters were perfectly fine, why would those arrogant sects have remained so quiet until now?!"

In the past, no one would have dared to utter such words aloud, no matter how bold they were. But the situation was different now. Had the two great Golden Core sects not remained as silent as the grave while the Demon King of Muryangae openly traversed the Human Territory? Though no one had spoken of it openly back then, everyone had harbored doubts in their hearts. Furthermore, the great battle that had occurred in the Starry Night Archipelago was impossible to hide, and by now, every cultivator knew of it. It was only natural that all sorts of daring speculations were beginning to circulate.

"What is the meaning of this? Could it be...?" This commotion within the Human Territory was immediately picked up by those who kept their eyes and ears open.

"Has something truly gone wrong with those human Daoist Masters?" Myeong-ha did not jump to conclusions, but he did not rule out the possibility either. Until now, the Golden Core cultivators had been like the very sky over Yangseo Lake—beings one could only look up to with reverence, never daring to question or challenge their authority. Yet, that sky was merely the sky of a tiny world called Yangseo Lake. Before greater entities from a larger world, they were nothing more than ordinary cultivators. The appearance of Senior So-byeok had forced every cultivator in Yangseo Lake to realize this harsh truth.

Whether it is true or not, this is not bad. The Golden Core cultivators of the two great sects had acted as the ultimate deterrent in the Human Territory. As long as they existed, no conflict could escalate beyond a certain threshold. This applied even to the brewing conflict between the sect clans and the rogue cultivators. No matter how deep the rogue cultivators' resentment ran, they had to stay within bounds, whether they liked it or not, out of fear of the Golden Core masters.

Rumors. Rumors, indeed. Excellent. Standing atop a stone pagoda, Myeong-ha cast his gaze over the calm horizon. To his eyes, Yangseo Lake was like water boiling inside a pot. The firewood piled beneath it had already caught fire, and unless someone intervened, the flames would only grow stronger. Once that happened, the water inside the pot would boil even more violently, and before long, all sorts of things would begin to spill over.

Hmm. I should inform Fellow Daoist Jekyeong as well. They might have to move soon. If so, he needed to prepare a token of his sincerity in advance. What would be good? The gifts of a malevolent god were chaotic and incredibly dangerous, meaning he had to carefully organize and refine them before he could extract anything useful. Ah, this should do. Fortunately, among the few things he had finished sorting, there was one highly practical item. This should be enough to appease his fastidious business partner.

Now, I Want It Too

Jekyeong said slowly, staring at the Lost-Soul Puppet whose lips were twitching into a smirk.

"How can you be so sure this isn't a trap?"

"How many things in this world can one truly be sure of?" Myeong-ha replied. Indeed, Jekyeong's mention of a trap was merely a passing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remark—a bit of petty contrarianism, nothing more.

"Rest assured. We do not even need to fan the flames ourselves. Human minds all run along similar tracks, so there are already plenty of people itching to make a move. All we need to do is select a few promising locations and make preparations in advance."

"Very well." In truth, Jekyeong did not strictly need to debate the plan with Myeong-ha. No matter how much they argued back and forth, things almost always ended up proceeding according to Myeong-ha's original design anyway. This was not because Myeong-ha looked down on him. Though he loathed to admit it, Myeong-ha simply possessed a broader perspective and a sharper intellect. Although nothing had ever been set in stone, their roles in this partnership had naturally solidified over time: Myeong-ha drew up the plans, and Jekyeong provided the muscle. Even so, Jekyeong never skipped reviewing the plans with Myeong-ha, nor did he fail to raise objections, even when they seemed pointless. It was his way of reminding Myeong-ha that he was not a mere pawn to be ordered around at will. Whether it actually had any effect was hard to say, but there was no harm in doing it.

"So, where are these promising locations? Since you brought it up, I assume you have already narrowed down a list of candidates."

"Haha. You know me too well, Fellow Daoist." Myeong-ha waved his hand lightly, as if he had been waiting for this. The tea pooled halfway in his cup floated smoothly into the air, reshaping itself into several place names.

"They are all located not far from the Southern Territory, and they are places where the conflict between the sect clans and the rogue cultivators is rapidly intensifying."

Jekyeong examined the names written in the air one by one, cross-referencing them with the geographical knowledge in his mind. Just as Myeong-ha had said, these places were close to the Southern Territory. Relative to Heukgyodo, they were all within a month's travel. A round trip would take two months, but if he traveled at full speed, it was not a particularly daunting distance.

"What do you think?"

"It seems decent enough."

"I am glad to hear that." The tea suspended in the air splashed back into the cup. *Snap!* Jekyeong flicked his fingers. A subtle heat warmed the cooled teacup, and steam soon began to rise from the liquid once more. Myeong-ha smiled and raised his cup.

"Thank you. How thoughtful of you."

"Now, I would like to finish the conversation we were having earlier."

"Ah! I was wondering when you would bring that up." Myeong-ha's knowing tone grated on him slightly, but Jekyeong brushed it aside, acting unbothered.

"The blessing of Docheol is a precious treasure, but at the same time, a terrible curse. He has bestowed many things upon me, but utilizing them requires an immense amount of effort on my part."

Myeong-ha gave a brief explanation of what Docheol's blessing entailed. According to him, it was akin to a lake filled with filth. Valuable treasures were undoubtedly submerged beneath the water—or rather, the muck—but diving in recklessly would inevitably lead to contamination. This corruption was so dangerous that it could warp his very soul, meaning he had to make thorough preparations before carefully attempting to retrieve the treasures hidden within the filth.

"I suspect that this blessing is actually a treasury located deep within Docheol's domain, and what was given to me is merely a key to enter and exit it."

If his hypothesis was correct, then Docheol was indeed a master who perfectly suited the title of an Evil God. It was the equivalent of presenting a magnificent gift while coating the wrapping paper in lethal poison. If it was intentional, it was terrifying; if it was unintentional, it was even more so.

"Yet, as dangerous as the gifts of an Evil God are, their value is undeniable. What I mentioned to you earlier regarding an opportunity for Core Formation was by no means an empty boast."

Myeong-ha handed over a pristine jade slip. Jekyeong took it and scanned it with his Divine Sense. Inside, a single ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ritual was recorded.

"..." Jekyeong frowned. Although the drawbacks of the Blood Wine were only briefly noted, he could not simply overlook them. If I were trying to form a Demonic Core or something similar, it wouldn't matter, but...

There were many different types of cores; strictly speaking, it was no exaggeration to say there were countless varieties. Even among Golden Cores, no two were identical, and the same applied to other types of cores. The core Jekyeong sought to form was, naturally, a Demon Core. Since most Demon Cores inherently harbored the fierce, ominous nature of the Beast Race, a slight infusion of killing intent from the Blood Wine would not pose much of a problem. However, Demon Qi was a different story. Having entered and exited Jimagwon multiple times, Jekyeong knew all too well just how foreign and hazardous Demon Qi truly was.

It is highly risky. One could not drink poison simply because they were thirsty. Had he not known how incredibly rare Core Formation spiritual items were, Jekyeong would never have even glanced at such a heterodox, demonic method.

"I know what you are thinking. You are worried about the side effects of the Blood Wine, are you not?"

"Yes. I can endure the killing intent, but Demon Qi is another matter entirely."

"Quite true. Demon Qi is indeed something to be wary of." Myeong-ha nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

"However, you need not worry too much. It is merely a hypothesis for now, but if I assist you, the Demon Qi should not pose a significant problem."

"Oh?"