A Calculated Retreat
"I am Jekyeong. Are you the ones sent by Senior So-byeok?"
"Indeed. I am Muk-wa, and I serve the Winged King in Muryangae."
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong." After a brief exchange of greetings, Muk-wa spoke again. "Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, I believe the Winged King gave you word of this beforehand?"
"Of course, I remember. Then, is the gentleman over there from the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace?"
As Jekyeong turned his gaze, the man in blue, who had remained silent until then, smiled and nodded. Though not as warm as Muk-wa's, his smile carried a certain degree of goodwill.
"This is Fellow Daoist Song Gwan, the Welcoming Envoy of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace."
"Greetings, Welcoming Envoy."
Song Gwan was highly pleased. The smile currently playing on his lips was entirely genuine.
Excellent.
He was indeed worthy of being the junior cherished by So-byeok-ik-wang. To think a member of the dragon race who had only recently awakened his bloodline could be so calm and humble. Though his horn had sprouted in a rather fierce manner, his overall appearance was majestic and grand, and the subtle aura he exuded was of a remarkably high caliber.
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, have you not yet undergone the Transformation Tribulation?"
Song Gwan's question was slightly cautious. Among the Yokai, there were occasionally those who found the act of donning a human shell ridiculous, or in severe cases, utterly detestable. Since Jekyeong remained in his true form even while exchanging face-to-face greetings, Song Gwan wondered if he belonged to that category.
"It is not that. It is simply that I have not yet undergone the Transformation Tribulation, and due to certain circumstances, it is difficult for me to take human form."
"Hmm."
Song Gwan found it strange, but Jekyeong offered no further explanation and guided his guests toward the Black Cult Palace. While they were greeting each other and conversing, the Island-Protecting Grand Array had already been completely deactivated, allowing them to enter the Black Cult Palace directly.
"Please forgive me for hosting you in such a humble abode."
"Not at all, not at all. What use is extravagance in a cultivator's dwelling?"
The defining characteristic of the Black Cult Palace was the sheer grandeur born of its massive scale; as for the rest, no matter how generously one spun it, there was little else to praise. Unfortunately, however, one of the guests was from Muryangae, and the other was from the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. In their eyes, the Black Cult Palace was nothing more than a crude, rustic structure.
"What matters is not the place itself, but the master who resides within it. If an earthworm dwells there, even the most magnificent palace is but a wormhole. But if a dragon resides there, even a humble cave becomes a Dragon Palace, does it not?"
Muk-wa flaunted his dazzling eloquence. Beside him, Song Gwan silently nodded in agreement.
"You flatter me."
Jekyeong had not expected So-byeok-ik-wang to have such an eloquent silver-tongued orator among his subordinates. He suspected Muk-wa was likely a fixer under the Winged King's command. Not the muscle-bound type of fixer one usually imagined, but a diplomatic one deployed whenever silver-tongued persuasion was required.
"There is no need to drag things out with unnecessary pleasantries. After all, Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, you have already expressed your intentions to the Winged King beforehand."
"Yes."
"Excellent. Sending Fellow Daoist Song Gwan from the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace is proof enough of their willingness to accept you as one of their own, is it not? Is that not so, Fellow Daoist Song Gwan?"
"That is correct," Song Gwan nodded as if it were only natural. Perhaps because the conversation was flowing so smoothly, he seemed to be in quite a good mood.
"Fellow Daoist Song Gwan. As you can see, Yangseo Lake is a remote and desolate place, and I have only recently achieved Core Formation here. My knowledge of the cultivation world is shallow, and all I know of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace is a few brief words I heard from Senior So-byeok."
"Hmm. That is perfectly fine. It is only natural. So, what you are saying is that you wish to hear more about the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace in greater detail?"
"If it is not too much trouble, I would be deeply grateful."
Under normal circumstances, Song Gwan would have taken offense, thinking some upstart who didn't know his place was trying to size up the Dragon Palace. But right now, he was in high spirits, and his impression of Jekyeong was quite favorable. Of course, even if that weren't the case, he still had to show respect to So-byeok-ik-wang's reputation. In any case, it was not a difficult request.
"Very well. But let us speak a bit more candidly. What you are truly curious about is not the Dragon Palace itself, is it? You wish to know what kind of treatment you will receive once you enter its gates, do you not?"
"...That is correct."
Song Gwan curled the corner of his lips, as if he had expected nothing less.
"The Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace is broadly divided into the Inner Court and the Outer Court. As you might have guessed, those in the Outer Court cannot truly be considered genuine members of the Dragon Palace."
Members of the Inner Court resided within the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace to cultivate and perform their duties, whereas those of the Outer Court lived outside, offering up resources and executing missions for the palace. Despite this, they received almost no support, and the only thing they possessed was the empty, high-sounding title of being a member of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. Thus, though they were called members of the Dragon Palace in name, in reality, they were nothing more than beasts of burden driven by the palace.
"But do not worry. Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, your talent is outstanding, and with Senior So-byeok's recommendation, you will surely be able to enter the Inner Court."
With that, Song Gwan went on at length about how magnificent the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was. According to him, the Inner Court was teeming with brilliant geniuses, and the Patriarchs would occasionally deliver sermons for their benefit.
"Once you formally enter the palace, I will tell you much more."
"Thank you, your words alone are more than enough."
Listening to Song Gwan, Jekyeong gained a deeper understanding of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. And at the same time, he made his decision.
The Inner Court is out of the question.
According to Song Gwan, entering the Inner Court was akin to becoming a noble, while entering the Outer Court was like becoming a slave. However, after a cold, calculated assessment, Jekyeong concluded that the Outer Court was far more suitable for him.
First, he believed that nothing in this world came without a catch. Endless resources and teachings just by entering the Inner Court? Unless the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was run by fools, there had to be a reason for such generous backing. At the very least, they would have calculated how to squeeze out a return on their investment. Out of affection for their own kin? If so, were the countless kin being exploited in the Outer Court not considered their own? By what standard did they draw the line between who was kin and who was not?
Second, Jekyeong was perfectly satisfied with his current situation. All of his foundations were right here. He had just acquired a spiritual vein, and the issue of his demonic obsession was being handled smoothly. He believed that as long as he was given enough time, he could develop as much as he wanted. Yet he was supposed to abandon all these favorable foundations to enter the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace? Of course, one could argue that abandoning a small foundation for greater gains was the logical choice, but Jekyeong could not be certain of what awaited him at the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. Would it be a benefit, an opportunity, or a deadly hazard? Who could say? He could not afford to take such a gamble based solely on Song Gwan's flowery words.
Third, perhaps the Outer Court wasn't actually that bad. It might not suit others, but for him, the Outer Court was quite ideal. The name of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was a highly useful shield in its own right, and it would be of no small help to him when acting as a Gyoryong. While the exploitation of the Dragon Palace was a concern, he had a reliable backer in So-byeok-ik-wang. Of course, that backing was practically an illusion in reality, but as long as it appeared genuine to outsiders, it didn't matter. Since there were quite a few members in the Outer Court, as long as he held onto So-byeok-ik-wang's name like a protective talisman, they wouldn't treat him too harshly.
In a brief instant, Jekyeong weighed all the possibilities and reached his decision just as Song Gwan finished speaking.
“However, Fellow Daoist, there is one matter of concern.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
"To be frank... I suffer from a chronic affliction. A most dreadful one. To speak of this affliction, we must go back to the time before I achieved Core Formation, when I unfortunately became entangled with an Evil God..."
Letting out a heavy, dragging sigh that made even the listeners feel uneasy, Jekyeong confessed his secret with a pained expression. Mixing a few lies into the truth, Jekyeong spoke of his "problems." In particular, he spun the erosion of his demonic obsession as a sort of "curse" resulting from contact with a strand of Taotie's consciousness, explaining that he had to periodically unleash a slaughterous urge to keep his mind awake.
"The Evil God Taotie..."
Song Gwan let out a low groan. That ominous name instantly slashed his favorable impression of Jekyeong. It was only natural. Even to a Welcoming Envoy of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, an Evil God was a deeply unsettling existence. Though fundamentally of the same nature as a Yokai God, there was a reason why Evil Gods were called what they were. They were incomparably insidious and ruthless, and their horror could never be truly understood unless experienced firsthand. Fortunately, in his over two thousand years of life, Song Gwan had never crossed paths with an Evil God, let alone their crazed followers, but he had heard plenty of stories. In the countless tales he had heard, those who became entangled with an Evil God in any way never met a good end.
“Sigh. How on earth did you get entangled with such a dreadful entity?”
The warm, harmonious atmosphere of a moment ago instantly turned ice-cold. Even Muk-wa, who had served as the lubricant between Jekyeong and Song Gwan throughout the conversation, now shut his mouth with an awkward expression. Jekyeong put on a gloomy demeanor, carefully "pretending" to gauge their reactions.
"The reason I am revealing this secret is because I do not wish to cause any trouble for either Senior So-byeok, who thought highly of me, or the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace."
"Cultivators as honest and considerate as you are rare, Fellow Daoist. It is truly lamentable that such a dreadful problem has entangled someone like you."
Song Gwan sighed deeply. His gaze toward Jekyeong was filled with pity.
"Since you have confessed so honestly, I shall also speak frankly. The matter of an Evil God is by no means light. If this issue had arisen after you entered the palace, the Patriarchs of the palace would not have turned a blind eye. However, you have not yet entered, and thus you are not yet a clansman of the Dragon Palace. In my opinion... the Patriarchs will likely not wish to take on such a headache for an outsider."
This was not a matter that could be dismissed as a mere question of timing. The former would be a case of an Evil God trampling on the face of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, making it both justified and proper to rise up in response; the latter, however, was not. The latter would instead look as though the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace were proactively challenging the majesty of an Evil God. Not only could they not guarantee how things would unfold, but the risks they would have to shoulder were also far greater.
"Then, as for my entry into the palace..."
“Your entry will still be possible. However, whether you can enter the Inner Court is highly uncertain."
Song Gwan spoke euphemistically out of courtesy for Jekyeong, but his meaning was clear. Uncertainty meant impossibility. If the Inner Court was out of the question, what was left but the Outer Court?
"Haha, this has indeed become quite troublesome. But is there not always a way for everything? For instance, how about we wash away the story we just heard with a single cup of wine?"
Muk-wa's words sent a jolt of alarm through both Jekyeong and Song Gwan. Jekyeong was startled, fearing that Muk-wa might ruin his carefully laid plans, while Song Gwan was terrified, believing that Muk-wa's covert suggestion would lead to his own doom.
"Absurd! The duty of a Welcoming Envoy is placed higher than my own neck! I can never deceive myself. Regardless of my personal feelings, it is quite literally impossible!"
Seeing Song Gwan's sheer panic, Muk-wa seemed to realize something and bowed his head in polite apology, his expression stiffening.
"Seeing the junior cherished by the Winged King in such a difficult predicament, my shallow mind got the better of me. I pray the Envoy will show magnanimity and forgive me."
“Enough. How could I not understand your heart? I feel just as regretful. However, what cannot be done simply cannot be done. In my view... if Fellow Daoist Jekyeong is to enter the palace, there is no choice but to go through the Outer Court. It is a pity."
"It is fine. It would be a lie to say I am not disappointed, but when I think about it, is this not only natural? I have no intention of shifting my burdens onto the Dragon Palace."
It was true that he felt a slight pang of disappointment. Jekyeong had hoped that the name of the Evil God Taotie would serve as a sufficient deterrent to the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, but their obsession with their own kin was far greater than he had anticipated. To think they would refuse to give up on him even when entangled with an Evil God, insisting on dragging him into the Outer Court.
“Then, what happens now?"
"If you were entering the Inner Court, the procedure would require me to personally escort you to the palace. However, for the Outer Court, a simple ceremony is all that is required. Therefore..."
“Very well. Let us begin."
Song Gwan let out a short sigh and glanced sideways at Muk-wa. Understanding the hint, Muk-wa spoke up.
"It would be improper for an outsider like myself to witness the sacred ceremony of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. I shall wait outside.”
“Hmm. Do so.”
Once Muk-wa exited, Song Gwan made a light gesture. Instantly, an invisible barrier enveloped the grand hall of the Black Cult Palace where they stood. The barrier thoroughly blocked not only sound but also any detection from Spiritual Awareness or Divine Sense.
"To be honest, I do not believe there is any need to proceed in such secrecy, but those are the rules, so what can I do?"
“They are the rules of the Dragon Palace, after all. There must be a reason for them that someone like me cannot yet comprehend.”
"Sigh. It is truly a shame. How could a genius like you become entangled with such a horrific Evil God? If this is not a cruel trick of the heavens, I do not know what is."
Shaking his head, Song Gwan pulled out a stone tablet as large as his own torso. At a glance, it had no particularly unique features other than its smooth surface, but the moment one looked at it, it possessed a bizarre, captivating magic that drew the eyes.
"Then let us begin. There is nothing difficult about it. From now on, you only need to answer my questions honestly."