The Art of the Deal in Yangseo Lake
Second, the cultivation method practiced by the human cultivator had to align with the elemental affinity of the demon beast. Otherwise, there was a high probability of a violent backlash, or at the very least, the "medicinal efficacy" would be severely diminished.
Fortunately, the vast majority of the demon beasts living in the depths of Yangseo Lake possessed a water affinity, and most of the human cultivators in the region did as well. In a way, it was a match made in heaven.
This is a perfect opportunity to make some acquaintances in demon society.
Indeed. Jekyeong planned to sell these two Foundation Establishment cultivators—or rather, these two precious medicinal supplements—to the right demon clients. He had a feeling these two "supplements" would be highly sought after by his fellow demons.
Don't feel too resentful.
If you live by spilling the blood of others, you must be prepared to spill your own one day. Besides, this was a world where one could spend a lifetime quietly meditating in front of a wall, only to be dragged away by some random scoundrel. There was no point in feeling resentful or sad. The thunderbolt that struck someone else's head yesterday had simply fallen on theirs today.
After obtaining the restraining devices from Gwak Jeong-sin, Jekyeong kept his word and released the twin children of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Thank you."
Watching their two children depart safely, Seo Muso and Yang Yuwan seemed to have no lingering regrets. They appeared to have a vague inkling of their own fate. From the moment they were defeated and captured alive, they had likely imagined every possible horror and ultimately resigned themselves to their destiny. They asked no questions. Like candles burned down to the wick, they merely breathed.
Jekyeong tasked Cheongo with watching over them. Injured and with their Dharma power sealed, even a single early Qi Condensation cultivator could have controlled them perfectly. Though Cheongo's combat strength might have been slightly lacking compared to other spiritual beasts of the same rank, it was still a demon beast, which was more than enough to keep watch over them.
Hmm. But I should still take precautions, just in case.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Cheongo. However, these two Foundation Establishment cultivators were currently his most valuable assets, so he had to store them with the utmost care. It would be troublesome if they bit their tongues in despair.
"Leave it to me."
Han Cheongyu declared with stiff determination. It would have looked far more convincing if a large blue crow weren't perched on his head, casually preening its feathers.
"...Very well. Keep a close eye on them."
Before leaving, Jekyeong went to see Muk-su. Having been forced to flee the island when Seo Muso and Yang Yuwan invaded, Muk-su was still in a foul mood. Jekyeong wondered if taking a brief dip in the water was really something to get so angry about, but since things might be different for a wood-attribute entity, he did his best to humor the creature. After all, Muk-su was the goose that laid the golden eggs, so as the landlord, Jekyeong had to treat it with some respect.
"I'll catch a few water beasts for you, so cheer up."
Jekyeong spoke gently, but Muk-su remained unsatisfied. The creature was highly displeased that Jekyeong had released the two humans the day before, acting as if those two should have rightfully been its meal.
"Don't be so greedy."
However, Jekyeong was not Muk-su's nanny, and he had no intention of indulging all its tantrums. When Jekyeong spoke firmly, Muk-su drooped its branches as if deflated.
Heukgyodo was situated on the border between the demon and human territories of Yangseo Lake. However, even for a border, it was located at the very edge—a forgotten corner that no one paid attention to. Consequently, it was difficult to find any human factions or Great Yao in the immediate vicinity. Jekyeong had to travel without rest for several days to seek out other Great Yao. Fortunately, Hyeongu had previously given him a rough layout of the neighboring territories, allowing him to navigate directly without getting lost.
"Who goes there?!"
Not long after entering the unfamiliar territory, a powerful aura rapidly approached. Having anticipated this, Jekyeong waited calmly in place, measuring the opponent's cultivation level.
Mid-stage Great Yao. Or perhaps the peak of the early stage.
Once he had a rough grasp of the opponent's realm, Jekyeong relaxed. A moment later, a Great Yao appeared before him. It was a massive, fish-like creature with an incredibly large head. Nearly half of its body consisted of its head, and most of that head was its mouth. Even with its jaws shut, its hideous teeth were fully visible. Though Jekyeong had seen all manner of bizarre sights in this second life of his, looking at this creature made him instinctively think it was a grotesque monstrosity.
"Y-You are..."
The hideous Great Yao, which had arrived with such bluster, came to a sudden halt the moment it saw Jekyeong. It stood upright in the water, its mouth agape. Its eyes, which were tiny compared to its massive head, darted around anxiously. Jekyeong was certain the creature had made a highly favorable misunderstanding, and he began his usual nonchalant act.
"Greetings. I am Jekyeong, a Guest Elder of the Whale King Palace, residing in the Heukgyo Water Territory. I apologize for this sudden intrusion."
"Ah, well..."
He was dignified and arrogant. Even his apology carried such a haughty undertone that it practically screamed, I have apologized, so accept it and deal with it.
"I am Daeyeong."
"A pleasure, Daeyeong. I have come to propose a trade."
"A-A trade?"
Flustered, Daeyeong's eyes began to roll wildly. It seemed the giant fish head was starting to overload.
"I have in my possession two human Foundation Establishment cultivators who practice water-attribute cultivation methods. If you have anything of value, I would like to exchange them. What do you say?"
"H-Human Foundation Establishment cultivators?"
Clear emotions rippled across Daeyeong's massive face: greed, longing, confusion, and more. Jekyeong leisurely enjoyed the rapidly shifting expressions as he awaited an answer.
"W-What kind of valuable items...?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Of course, I will be the one to determine their value, not you."
"Mmm."
The conflict on Daeyeong's massive face deepened. His darting eyes occasionally stole glances at Jekyeong, but Jekyeong met those cautious, probing looks with a cold, displeased glare. At this, the big-headed Great Yao flinched as if burned, becoming even more wary.
"I believe I have given you ample time to think. If you have no intention of trading, speak up. I must seek out others."
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
When Jekyeong pressed him with irritation, Daeyeong hurriedly expressed his willingness to trade.
"B-But I do not know if I have anything you would find useful. Please... come and see for yourself."
"Naturally."
Daeyeong led Jekyeong toward his lair. His body remained stiff throughout the journey, as if he was terrified Jekyeong might launch a sudden attack.
He's so anxious, yet he still mustered the courage to trade. He hasn't laid a trap, has he?
As that thought crossed his mind, Jekyeong's relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by sudden vigilance. What if this seemingly dim-witted fish head was actually hiding a cunning scheme? Growing uneasy, Jekyeong expanded his Spiritual Consciousness while tensing his muscles to an optimal level, preparing himself to react to any sudden development.
"We are here."
However, when Daeyeong guided him to the entrance of a massive underwater cave, Jekyeong had to admit his wariness had been excessive. There was no conspiracy, no trickery. His Spiritual Consciousness detected no other presences, and his Spiritual Awareness sensed nothing out of the ordinary. This fish head was truly simple and harmless.
"Please wait a moment."
Daeyeong swam into the cave and returned a moment later, holding several items in his mouth.
"This is everything I have."
Daeyeong carefully spat out the items. Jekyeong examined them one by one. There was a pearl easily a meter in diameter, an unidentified lump that wriggled faintly as if alive, and a clump of grass resembling seaweed. Some only looked impressive on the surface, while others emitted a faint trace of spiritual energy. The sole commonality among these highly unique items was that none of them caught Jekyeong's eye.
Is this really the best he has?
To present such junk as if it were some grand treasure... Jekyeong sighed inwardly.
"None of this pleases me. While a Foundation Establishment cultivator is nothing extraordinary, they certainly cannot be traded for things like this."
"Is that so..."
Daeyeong didn't seem particularly devastated, as if he had already expected this outcome. No matter how ignorant of the world he was, he could surely tell gold from garbage. He must have known the value of his offerings fell miserably short of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even so, he had attempted the trade in hopes of striking a stroke of luck.
"Since you have nothing to trade, I shall take my leave. I hope we can interact more in the future."
Though the trade had fallen through, it wasn't a wasted trip. Making the acquaintance of a Great Yao was a small achievement in itself. Daeyeong remained frozen stiff until Jekyeong turned and swam away. Seeing this, Jekyeong thought that if he had stayed a few hours longer, the fish might have turned entirely to stone.
I'm truly reaping the benefits of my appearance in this life.
Jekyeong felt like he was getting a taste for playing the Flood Dragon. The acting, which had felt awkward and even repulsive before, now felt incredibly natural. Was this what they called method acting?
By the way, I hope the other fellows in the area aren't all paupers like him.
In truth, he didn't expect much from rogue demon beasts. Demon beasts, especially aquatic ones, tended to be foolish and heavily driven by instinct. Aquatic demons were particularly notorious for this, and even those who reached the Great Yao stage were not much different. While they grew stronger and smarter than they had been as mere beasts, they still lacked intelligence compared to other terrestrial Great Yao. The vast majority of the Great Yao in Yangseo Lake were aquatic demons of this sort. Thus, Jekyeong didn't expect them to possess any legendary treasures, and he was willing to compromise and take a slight loss if necessary.
But that doesn't mean I should act like a pushover or a charity.
Any loss had to be within reason. What he was doing was business, not almsgiving.
If all else fails, I'll have to visit the Whale King Palace.
Jekyeong planned to meet a few more Great Yao, and if he couldn't strike a deal with any of them, he would head to the Whale King Palace. After all, it was the seat of a Demon King, and the demons under its banner were all outstanding figures. Surely, some of them would be interested in human Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, visiting the Whale King Palace was a last resort. For one, the distance was formidable, and Jekyeong harbored a vague dread of the Jansu Whale King. The biggest issue was his identity. While his fake persona as a Flood Dragon was highly effective in these remote backwaters, it likely wouldn't hold up against a Demon King. The Jansu Whale King might see right through him, and even if he didn't, it was still nerve-wracking. What if the Whale King suddenly developed a curiosity about the taste of dragon blood and decided to take a bite? Such worries might seem like paranoia, but a Demon King was simply that grand and terrifying of an existence. Although the Whale King Palace supposedly struggled to control the demons of Yangseo Lake, Jekyeong believed that if the Jansu Whale King truly set his mind to it, he could unify the entire demon cultivation world of Yangseo Lake in an instant—even if doing so would reduce the number of Great Yao to a tenth of their current population.
Please, let there be at least one decent fellow to trade with.
Jekyeong spent over a month diligently traveling around, searching for a suitable trading partner.