Your Son Is Special
"Your son is special," Jekyeong said. "It wouldn't be wrong to call him an anomaly. There is no need to blame yourself when you look at him."
Not long ago, Bigu—who had been wheedling Muk-su as usual to sneakily eat a Spiritual Fruit—suddenly groaned for a long time as if he had an upset stomach, only to break through to the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm all at once. This event astounded Hyeongu and puzzled Jekyeong, who had sensed the change through his Divine Sense. He called Bigu over to inspect him, but aside from the fact that his body had grown even larger and his previously bloated frame had become noticeably leaner, he couldn't find anything particularly unusual. Jekyeong could only speculate that the fellow had used the 'nutrients' he had accumulated over time as fuel to make a sudden breakthrough.
After completing his breakthrough, Bigu had obtained Jekyeong's permission to go outside the Seongya Archipelago to eagerly fill his belly. He seemed to be devouring everything in sight, whether they were ordinary fish or Water Beasts.
"Forgive me, My Lord. I understand it in my head... but my heart cannot help it," Hyeongu murmured.
They say all misery stems from comparison. Looking at Bigu, Hyeongu marveled at his son's extraordinary nature while simultaneously feeling disappointed by his own mediocrity. He rejoiced as a father, but grieved as a cultivator.
Jekyeong could not understand Hyeongu's feelings, and even if he did, he had no intention of comforting him. Why would he? In his eyes, Hyeongu's emotional turmoil was a positive phenomenon. Had his zeal for cultivation not grown even stronger than before? Previously, Hyeongu had thought being a Great Yo-beast was enough, but now the situation had changed.
For Jekyeong, who had ascended to the Yao King realm and had been bestowed the Sealed Title of the Black Jiao of Yangseo by the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, a subordinate at the early stage of the Great Yao realm was lacking in many ways to keep by his side. The early stage of the Great Yao realm was insufficient, and even the mid-stage was not entirely satisfactory. However, Hyeongu was intelligent, quick-witted, and thoroughly loyal, making it difficult to find another subordinate like him. Therefore, Jekyeong hoped that Hyeongu would not fall too far behind.
It was not just Hyeongu. The same went for Cheongo and Muk-su, as well as those like Han Cheongyu. The seniors who had gone before said that the Immortal Path is a lonely one. Only when one can view everything other than oneself as mere wind can one truly be called a genuine cultivator. That is why Dao Companions and Fellow Daoists are so precious. Of course, the Dao Companions and Fellow Daoists mentioned here did not refer to the cheap terms that modern cultivators tossed around like a habit, but rather companions in the truest sense. Those who do not fall too far behind one another, who can converse as equals, and who can be companions on the road.
Jekyeong did not know if Cheongo, Muk-su, and the others could become such existences. Probably not. But even if they eventually became the wind and left him, Jekyeong hoped that moment would be in the far distant future. Holding such feelings proved that he had not yet become a true cultivator, but so what? Adults do not scold children for their childishness. A temporary childishness is a child's privilege, and they know that one must experience childhood to grow into an adult. Therefore, a child does not need to be anxious to grow up quickly. They only need to live this present moment to the fullest, a moment they will never experience again.
"Tell Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong to collect as many spiritual beasts for cultivation as possible," Jekyeong ordered. "Tell them water and wood attributes are preferred, but any attribute will do."
"Yes, My Lord," Hyeongu replied.
The spiritual beasts being gathered this time were not for Jekyeong himself. No matter how capable Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong were, it would be difficult for them to obtain spiritual beasts that could significantly benefit a Core Formation cultivator. Since that was the case, it wasn't a bad idea to invest a little in those around him instead. Especially Hyeongu, who was on the verge of a breakthrough; just a small catalyst would allow him to reach the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm.
"Snooooore—!"
Just as Jekyeong was giving the order to Hyeongu, an exceptionally loud snore echoed. While Hyeongu focused on the loud noise itself, what Jekyeong noticed was the subtle change beginning to take place amidst the racket.
'This is...'
Deep inside the great hall, atop a mountain-like pile of Spirit Stones, sat a nest made of soft leather and feathers. Inside that nest lay a fat crow, sprawled out on its back like a human, and the loud snoring was drifting from its beak and nostrils.
'This fellow. I don't know about talent, but he certainly has luck.'
Jekyeong, who had been staring at the incredibly lazy crow for a while, gestured to Hyeongu with his eyes as he thought. Since Cheongo was breaking through, the spiritual beasts originally intended for him would now go to Hyeongu, which would increase Hyeongu's chances of breaking through even more.
'It's like they're lining up.'
First it was Muk-su, then Bigu, and now Cheongo. Even if Bigu was an exception, it was clear that Cheongo had been stimulated by the successive breakthroughs of Muk-su and Bigu. Jekyeong thought this was one of the positive influences of having Fellow Daoists.
"Snooooore—!"
Perhaps that was indeed the case.
"Caw!"
Dealing with an arrogant, fat crow was no easy task. It was especially true when that fellow was in high spirits.
"Jekyeong! Jekyeong! Maybe I have an incredible bloodline! Can't you check for me?"
"No," Jekyeong replied.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know how."
A method to check another's bloodline? Setting aside whether such a method even existed, even if it did, Jekyeong had no idea how to do it.
"Don't be so arrogant, you fat bird."
"I'm not fat! I'm just blessed! Blessed!"
"If you really have an incredible bloodline, why is your cultivation progress slower than Bigu's?"
Cheongo's noisy beak shut instantly. Jekyeong smiled inwardly with satisfaction, but outwardly he shook his head.
"I admit there is something special about you," Jekyeong said. "I don't know what it is, but do not rely solely on your uniqueness and become lazy."
"I'm working hard too! Hard!"
"I know. That's why I'm telling you to keep working hard like you are now."
Turtles have long lifespans, and trees are the same. But what about crows? Of course, Cheongo was no ordinary crow, but Jekyeong was somewhat skeptical about whether his lifespan could compare to those two. That was why he urged Cheongo. This was the best he could do.
As a cultivator, when one focuses on cultivation and the problems at hand, one often forgets the passage of time. And at some point, when one temporarily steps out of that flow and looks around, one belatedly realizes that the familiar things have changed into unfamiliar ones.
Attending the regular meeting of the Mansi Assembly, Jekyeong suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity as he looked around at the dozens of Spiritual Bodies filling the space. He had habitually attended every meeting unless something special came up, and as such, these cultivators were familiar to him. Yet, the reason this place suddenly felt unfamiliar was because the Mansi Assembly he remembered was not a gathering attended by dozens of people like this.
U Do-baek. Yeo Janggyeong. Choi Ju-tang. And Jekyeong himself. The members of the small gathering that Jekyeong truly considered the Mansi Assembly were only these four. If he stretched it a bit, Yoo Gyeyoon, who had left to seek his Core Formation opportunity as soon as Jekyeong joined, Chae Yeonri, who had departed midway, and Chae Yu-hwa, who had joined later, could be added... but that was all.
The current Mansi Assembly was the Mansi Assembly in name only; in Jekyeong's heart, it was practically an entirely different gathering of cultivators. Few familiar faces remained. U Do-baek was dead, and Yeo Janggyeong and Choi Ju-tang seemed to have little time left. Especially Choi Ju-tang; whether because he had poured too much mental energy into his family's affairs or because of the hidden injuries he had sustained during his days as a Rogue Cultivator, he was facing his final limit despite putting his utmost effort into extending his lifespan, such as procuring Lifespan-Extending Pills.
Even so, the reason he attended this meeting was the same as why U Do-baek had shown his face until the very end. It was to win even a little more goodwill from as many people as possible to secure even a slight opportunity for his descendants.
Choi Ju-tang approached Jekyeong and spoke of the past. His intention was to appeal to Jekyeong's emotions and leave an impression of their bond. He did not hide his intention. Whether it was because he knew he couldn't hide it, or because he knew Jekyeong wouldn't mind, was unclear.
Jekyeong reminisced with Choi Ju-tang, talking about various past events that even he himself had forgotten. The days when he was a novice Great Yao, silently eavesdropping on his seniors' conversations like a mere ornament of the gathering.
"I have lived my whole life as a cultivator, and for the most part, I lived according to my heart, so I have no great regrets," Choi Ju-tang said. "I only have a small worry."
"As long as the Choi family does not disappoint me, I will maintain our trade," Jekyeong replied. "That is all I can promise."
"That is enough," Choi Ju-tang said.
Having interacted for no small number of years, Jekyeong and Choi Ju-tang knew each other's temperaments well. Choi Ju-tang knew he could not ask for more from Jekyeong, so he was satisfied with just this level of promise. The continuation of trade meant the continuation of their relationship, which meant that at the very least, Jekyeong would not be the first to turn against the Choi family.
"Before I depart, I will instruct the children," Choi Ju-tang murmured. "To cherish this connection and never act foolishly."
"That is for you to handle, Senior," Jekyeong said flatly.
Choi Ju-tang gave a bitter smile. This junior's razor-sharp personality truly left absolutely no room to squeeze in. But it was fine. Even this promise was a sufficiently decent result.
"Once I depart, Fellow Daoist Yeo won't be far behind," Choi Ju-tang continued. "He says he will make one last attempt, but even he doesn't seem to have much hope."
As a sect cultivator, Yeo Janggyeong's circumstances were much better than Choi Ju-tang's. However, attempting Core Formation at an age where he was facing his final limit, without a single decent Core Formation spiritual item, was practically no different from putting a period on his life and regrets.
"Once we are all gone, it seems you will be the only one left among the members of those days."
"...I suppose so," Jekyeong replied softly.
At this moment, Jekyeong felt as if he had returned to the time when he first attended a Mansi Assembly meeting. His stiff voice softened, and his tone changed. Choi Ju-tang knew that saying a few good words for his family at this moment would be effective, but he did not do so. He, too, had returned to the past at this moment.
"I have seen the wind pass by countless times, but I never thought I would become that wind as well," Choi Ju-tang sighed.
Whether it was a sigh or an exclamation of wonder, Jekyeong could not tell, nor did he care to. He simply listened in silence, absorbing every word—perhaps meaningless, perhaps not—uttered by Choi Ju-tang, who had returned to being his senior.
"Your path stretches much further than ours, so I hope you can go as far as possible," Choi Ju-tang said. "If you do... perhaps someday, we might meet again."
It was a joke, with perhaps ten percent sincerity, that only a Bulmang cultivator could make. Having already experienced one extra life, who could guarantee there wouldn't be another? Since no one called it a path until someone first set foot on it, perhaps those who departed later really would return someday.
"If that could be, it would be nice," Jekyeong murmured.
Choi Ju-tang smiled at the calm blessing. Jekyeong stared at his faintly flickering Spiritual Body for a moment before turning his gaze away.
"......"
In the darkness of the Black Cult Palace, Jekyeong slowly opened his eyes. Choi Ju-tang had departed. He would never see him again in Bulmangwon. Nor would he see him here... in the physical world. Since they had already said their farewells, what would be the point of looking at a withered face again?
'Am I the only one left?'
The words Choi Ju-tang had casually spoken weighed heavily on Jekyeong's heart. In truth, it was nothing new. Today it was Choi Ju-tang and Yeo Janggyeong, but next it would be Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong. After all, the human race had short lifespans, so it was only natural for them to depart one by one—unless they could ascend to higher realms of the Immortal Path and overcome the limits of their lifespans.
Would Han Cheongyu and the others really be able to achieve Core Formation?