Gathering the Drifters
Hyeon-gu’s report was quite intriguing. Je-gyeong clicked his tongue upon hearing that the Ghost Region was drawing in human cultivators like a flower attracting bees and butterflies, with more than a few throwing themselves headfirst into exploring its depths.
“When a single whale dies, countless aquatic beasts can feast to their heart's content.”
Whether Myeong-ha had intended it or not, the Ghost Disaster he unleashed had begun to blow a new wind through the Human Territory.
“It seems that fellow Ju-hyeong is also completely engrossed in exploring the Ghost Region lately.”
“Hyeondobang, was it?”
“Yes. His subordinates have grown quite a bit recently, and he now sails around with three or four large ships at a time. It seems playing the pirate captain suits his temperament.”
“A pirate... Well, that is not a bad path.”
Pirates in this world were different from those in his past life. Neither the Cultivator Alliance nor the local factions went out of their way to ostracize them. Of course, low-rate rabble-rousers were frequently subjugated under some grand, righteous pretext, but those with actual strength rarely faced such a fate. In the end, they too were cultivators and a part of the cultivation world. If you were weak, you would be devoured by anyone, but if you were strong enough, no one would dare poke a sleeping tiger. The Black Flood Dragon Gang, which Je-gyeong had wiped out in the past, was a prime example. And now, Ju-hyeong's Hyeondobang seemed to be walking that very same path.
“And the Contemplation Paintings?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you deliver my message?”
“Yes. Ju-hyeong promised he would obtain them by next time, no matter what.”
Je-gyeong did not care what Ju-hyeong did in his spare time. Whether he played pirate or bandit was of no concern to him—provided he executed his assigned tasks flawlessly. He knew that Contemplation Paintings were exceedingly rare and difficult to acquire, but what of it? He had already issued the command, and he only cared about the results. Neither Han Cheong-yu nor Ju-hyeong was foolish. They understood their roles and could well guess the price they would pay if they failed to perform.
“I see.”
“Indeed. However, My Lord, if you continue to require these Contemplation Paintings in the future... would it not be better to recruit those skilled in the art of painting? Much like we did with Yeongi Island.”
“Hmm.”
Je-gyeong felt a stir of interest at Hyeon-gu's suggestion. It wasn't as if he hadn't considered the idea before, but it had been nothing more than a passing thought. Back then, he hadn't known just how effective the Contemplation Paintings would be, and finding a cultivator who had studied the Dao of painting deeply enough to produce them was no easy task. Finding them was hard enough; securing their services was even harder. But now that he had witnessed the efficacy of the paintings firsthand, and realized what a tedious chore it was to source them... greed was slowly beginning to take root.
“That sounds like a viable plan.”
A Foundation Establishment cultivator would be ideal, but even a Qi Condensation one would suffice. This was the advantage of having a long lifespan. He had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush like others did. As long as he could get the operation started, he could afford to take his time and reap the rewards later.
“Look into it, then.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Though he must have been curious, Hyeon-gu never asked why Je-gyeong was so obsessed with these Contemplation Paintings. It was this unwavering, discreet attitude that made Je-gyeong favor him so.
“Furthermore, My Lord, the number of aquatic beasts gathered around the Seongya Archipelago has increased noticeably.”
“Oh?”
The Ghost Disaster did not target the Human Territory alone. Countless aquatic beasts—including various underwater races and the Yao—had begun a massive, simultaneous migration. And the Seongya Archipelago had become one of their primary destinations.
“Is it because of the spiritual vein?”
Although Hyeon-gu had used formations to prevent the spiritual energy of the vein from leaking, it was impossible to block it completely. Even if the total spiritual energy of the vein was a hundred, and the amount leaking out was less than five, that tiny fraction was more than enough to entice the aquatic beasts. Moreover, since there were no notable spiritual lands near the Seongya Archipelago, it was only natural for the surrounding beasts to swarm around its borders.
“The ignorant ones are drawn by that, yes, but those with a bit of intelligence are different. They have come to seek shelter under your esteemed reputation, My Lord.”
The renown of the Black Flood Dragon of Yangseo had now spread across the entirety of Yangseo Lake. Although Je-gyeong had never gone out of his way to show his face and flaunt his presence, the name of a Core Formation cultivator was impossible to hide even if one tried. Furthermore, he was of the Flood Dragon lineage, often referred to as the Sacred Race, and a special entity who had received a Sealed Title as a member of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. Today, his standing was in no way inferior to that of the Jansu Whale King. In fact, those 'intelligent' ones Hyeon-gu spoke of held him in even higher regard than the Whale King. They likely possessed at least a vague understanding of what the Sacred Race and the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace truly represented.
“Bi-gu dealt with most of those who attempted to breach the archipelago, and the survivors have either settled just outside or are lingering around the perimeter.”
Bi-gu lacked other talents, but he possessed a powerful physical body rivaling that of a Vicious Beast. With his cultivation at the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm, dealing with the drifters was play.
“I understand those who have settled, but what of the ones lingering?”
“They wish to pledge their allegiance to you, My Lord.”
“Have you already spoken with them?”
“Yes. They requested an audience, but as you were in secluded cultivation, I did not inform you.”
“Hmm. You did well.”
Great Yao seeking to serve him of their own accord. Had it been the Simjeon Demon King, he might have welcomed them with open arms, but Je-gyeong had little interest. To him, Great Yao subordinates were merely nice to have, but ultimately expendable. Their intelligence rarely matched their cultivation level, and even if they possessed some wit, they were usually swayed by the innate ferocity of the Yao race. Furthermore, the vast majority of the Yao in Yangseo Lake were low-level water beasts. Though they would never admit it, it was an undeniable fact that their average intelligence was lacking compared to the rest of the Yao race. This was a conclusion drawn by human scholars who delighted in analyzing and categorizing everything under heaven, so it was highly credible. For these reasons, Je-gyeong had never been proactive in recruiting Yao subordinates. He preferred a single clever servant over dozens of useless blockheads, and since Hyeon-gu had already raised his standards so high, ordinary beasts simply failed to catch his eye. He felt no real interest in the drifters lingering outside.
“You have already met them all, I presume?”
“Yes.”
“Were there any worth keeping?”
“Two or three of them were not bad.”
“Oh?”
Je-gyeong raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
“What is your assessment?”
“My Lord, the Seongya Archipelago is vast. Managing the spiritual vein is one thing, but maintaining the outer Cloud and Mist Array is too much for Bi-gu to handle alone.”
“So you are short-handed?”
“Yes, but that is not the only reason. They are a rare breed among the Yao—ones who can actually be reasoned with.”
“Is that so? Bring them in, then.”
Hyeon-gu moved immediately. By the time Je-gyeong finished his meditation and opened his eyes, he could sense three unfamiliar presences waiting outside the Black Cult Palace.
“We pay our respects to the Lord Dragon!”
The three Great Yao who followed Hyeon-gu offered their greetings in their own distinct ways. Those who could bow did so, while those who couldn't coiled their bodies halfway. Je-gyeong scrutinized the three of them one by one. One was unmistakably an octopus. However, as befitted a Great Yao, his size was massive, and his defining feature was a large, hideous maw situated in the middle of his torso. His name was Mobaek, and he hailed from the Yangseo Demon Court. According to the advance report Hyeon-gu had provided, this fellow had pledged himself to the Demon Court as soon as it was founded, claiming to be of the same clan as the Simjeon Demon King, Mu-ara, based on their similar appearances. Of course, he hadn't boasted about it openly, but rather dropped subtle hints to let others draw their own convenient conclusions. Amusingly, after riding the Demon King's coattails, he had quickly washed his hands of the connection when the Heumwon Tribe arrived and Mu-ara was sidelined. Despite knowing this, Hyeon-gu had brought Mobaek before Je-gyeong because, although shallow and cunning, the octopus knew how to use his head and read the room. As Hyeon-gu had put it, 'Strong fools can be gathered at any time, but those who know how to scheme and read the wind are hard to find.' Je-gyeong agreed with that assessment.
“I-I pay my respects to the Lord Dragon.”
Under Je-gyeong's blatant scrutiny, Mobaek trembled violently but managed to squeeze out his greeting.
“I pay my respects to the Lord Dragon.”
Unlike Mobaek, who looked ready to faint at any moment, the shark standing beside him seemed relatively composed. Je-gyeong shifted his gaze to inspect him. Aside from being even larger than Mobaek, he was an ordinary shark with no particularly unique features. His name was Daecheong, and according to Hyeon-gu, he had drifted to the Seongya Archipelago to escape the Ghost Disaster. He was a young chieftain leading a tribe of water beasts, and he had brought his entire pack with him to the archipelago. In other words, he was a responsible leader.
‘This one is...’
The last one was highly unusual. His appearance alone was striking; he resembled a translucent jellyfish, but upon closer inspection, even his form was subtly shifting. He looked like a living mass of water. His name was Haeryang, and even Hyeon-gu only knew that he was an ancient water spirit. Hyeon-gu had recommended this spirit despite not knowing his full background for two reasons: first, Haeryang's cultivation was not particularly high, meaning he posed no threat to Je-gyeong even if he harbored ulterior motives; and second, his conduct over the past several centuries had been entirely trustworthy. Like most water spirits, Haeryang was gentle, content to spend his time quietly within his own territory. Had the Ghost Disaster not struck, he would have likely remained there forever. Of course, there was an even more critical reason Hyeon-gu had recommended him. Spirits often possessed unique innate abilities, and Haeryang was no exception. He had the power to purify water and enhance the vitality of aquatic life, which had once caused his territory to teem with diverse marine creatures. Hyeon-gu had taken note of this and gone out of his way to persuade Haeryang to come before Je-gyeong.
“You three wish to serve under me?”
“Yes, Lord Dragon.”
“Very well.”
Je-gyeong did not drag things out, nor did he test them. There was no need. Taking in three Great Yao was a trivial matter to him. Moreover, since these three had been carefully vetted and brought by Hyeon-gu, Je-gyeong had no worries about them causing trouble. If any issues arose in the future, he could simply deal with them then.
Hyeon-gu glanced at the three visibly dazed demons and spoke.
“Our Lord Dragon is different from ordinary Demon Kings. He is a dragon, a true Lord of the Waters who has been bestowed a Sealed Title by the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace. Serving him is a blessing you will not find again in this lifetime.”
All three Great Yao were natives of Yangseo Lake who had spent almost their entire lives in one place. As such, they did not truly comprehend how grand the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was, or what a Sealed Title signified. However, thanks to Hyeon-gu's prior efforts to talk it up, they had at least a vague impression that both were incredibly prestigious things.
“The Lord Dragon rarely concerns himself with the affairs of us subordinates. He has entrusted most matters to me, so you need only follow my instructions from now on.”
Hyeon-gu did not put on airs. He simply and calmly explained a few rules they had to observe in the Seongya Archipelago—or rather, the Black Bridge Archipelago.
“First, the Black Cult Palace is strictly off-limits. If you have something to report to the Lord Dragon, speak to me first. If I am away, wait outside the palace until the Lord Dragon summons you. Second, there are two cherished companions of the Lord Dragon residing here, and these two...”
Hyeon-gu did not expect the three Great Yao to remember everything he said. It was their first time laying eyes on the Lord Dragon, so it was a miracle they were even maintaining their sanity right now.
“Tsk. Never mind. It seems none of you are in any state to absorb this right now. We shall speak again once you have gathered your wits.”
He had spoken at length despite knowing this purely to break their spirits. Although they hadn't shown any disrespectful or unruly behavior so far, there was no telling how they might act in the future. As a turtle demon, Hyeon-gu had suffered countless hardships before coming under the Lord Dragon's banner, and he knew the value of establishing authority early.