Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Returned Divine Spirit (1)
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Yuyeon stared at the spot where the soul had departed. There lay the tattered clothes, shed like a snake's skin.
Ever since beginning her journey, Yuyeon had moved according to the guidance of her Dao Heart.
She didn't know the clear reason why she had to do so, but she vaguely felt it was right, so she never resisted.
In truth, after condensing her Dao Heart, it had rarely sent her any special signals.
Thus, Yuyeon neither tried to understand it deeply nor went against it. Her desires and her Dao Heart's always aligned.
Yuyeon had formed her Dao Heart well, and it had fulfilled its role perfectly up until now.
But this time was different.
Yuyeon wished her Dao Heart would stir toward something, but it remained silent.
However, just because her Dao Heart didn't stir didn't mean she had no options. Yuyeon had two paths before her.
One was to proceed with the original plan now that the obstacle was cleared.
In other words, to seclude herself and build her foundation.
Yuyeon was only eight years old—a mere child at the Entrance Stage, too embarrassing to even call an Immortal Cultivator.
She had survived solely on her innate talent and luck, without proper techniques or spells.
What if a Qi Condensation cultivator flying through the skies had spotted her by chance and coveted her exceptional gifts?
This was the wise path. The most beneficial, safe, and unhindered—the natural order.
The other was to go against the flow. To defy the natural choice and backtrack the path she had come from. To shatter the intricate scheme laid by another.
Yuyeon had stumbled upon him by chance and felt rage. Deep down, she was a child with a fiery temper.
Venting her anger. What a satisfying prospect.
The opponent's cultivation wasn't all that impressive.
He had spent days meticulously devouring a single ordinary village.
If Yuyeon willed it, she could return to the village in less than an hour and slaughter its people in mere minutes.
In short, the foe was either utterly insignificant or crippled by some fatal constraint. Either way, there was an opening and a chance for victory.
With an escape route assured, there was nothing to fear. Yuyeon possessed a top-grade rank-1 Concealing Form Formation. As long as she didn't blunder directly into a Qi Condensation cultivator's Divine Sense, she could flee anytime.
So, no matter who the enemy was, she could escape. She could vent freely and harass them to her heart's content.
But this was a wasteful path. It would squander time, spiritual energy, and mental effort.
Its sole benefit—as mentioned—was emotional satisfaction.
If her Dao Heart had pointed her somewhere, Yuyeon would have followed gladly.
Yet it stayed silent. In that quiet, Yuyeon realized something.
'This is a truly important choice.'
The Dao Heart desires something because it enhances and protects the value of one's path.
Conversely, it rejects what hinders the Dao journey.
But neither applied here.
'My Dao Heart is waiting for my choice.'
In other words, this was a choice with pros and cons—a new path laid entirely before Yuyeon.
Her innate talent had revealed this much to her.
Thanks to it, she had grasped the basics of the Dao Heart without ever peeking into cultivation manuals.
Yet Yuyeon was a being beyond the norms of Immortal Cultivators.
She knew she shouldn't, but she began pondering the reasons for each option, simply to choose the one that appealed more.
Instead of just following her heart, she labored through arduous, dangerous reasoning.
Seeking to understand why this dilemma lay before her and why she hesitated.
This was the perilous act of inviting the Insight Heart Tribulation through enlightenment—something Immortal Cultivators must never do.
But consider this.
Do all Immortal Cultivators merely gape like fledglings, waiting for enlightenment to drop from the heavens?
No. That is mere passive seeking of the Dao.
To truly cultivate humanity and the mountains, one cannot just wait.
One must seek it oneself.
'Even if it defies the heavens.'
Yes, acting against heaven. True Immortal Cultivation lies in defying reason.
Enlightenment arrives with conclusion first, cause following.
Immortal Cultivation is the process of enlightenment.
Immortal Cultivation brings result first. It delves into reasons.
Is that truly so?
'Yes, it is.'
Then, Immortal Cultivation itself can defy heaven.
Defy natural order with reverse reason, then defy heaven once more.
Not just swallowing pills, slaying people, depleting the world, and awaiting enlightenment—but forging it oneself.
Creating result from cause.
Making reverse reason into natural order.
Yet this was distant for Yuyeon. Far too distant.
As the saying goes, a puppy knows no fear of tigers. Yuyeon, ignorant of the Dao's terror, dared to probe why she must act.
'All situations unfold as if arranged.'
I always pursued the greatest gain within them. Leaving home, training, battle. But those were obvious choices anyone could make.
If another Immortal Cultivator were in my place, what would they do?
Would they choose differently on this journey? Produce different outcomes with that Corpse Ghost?
'Perhaps.'
But if so, it would be their own choice, not the optimal one—unique judgment carving their singular path.
'How enviable.'
If Immortal Cultivators possessed thought, they would call this choosing one's Dao. Too grand for the Great Dao, but enlightenment at least.
Yuyeon stood on the path of Immortal Cultivation. She sought no grand Great Dao, but wished to walk her own.
And a path leads somewhere.
Yuyeon recalled dignity as her destination. To her, dignity held no lofty ideals.
'I love myself.'
This was the most intense, fundamental emotion and principle she had held since birth.
And Yuyeon had concluded long ago that this was dignity. Though she forgot when or why.
Thus, ultimately, Yuyeon deeply contemplated dignity anew. Precisely, her own version.
I love my value, my existence, everything that makes me me.
Thus, I wish the 'me' I love to remain unharmed.
Isn't the me who stands tall and asserts will, more lovable than the cringing fugitive seeking safety? Even if shattered in clash.
Then, how much had she respected herself on this journey?
Surprisingly, Yuyeon respected herself most at Namgung Manor.
There, she treated herself without restraint, following her whims.
No Dao Heart existed then, yet she never strayed.
Now, Yuyeon reflected on after leaving.
From the journey's start, she soothed herself, claiming wiser choices, though her heart disagreed.
Calling herself a guest, claiming no roots here.
Writing a letter to deceive herself, leaving it brazenly as if for others.
Next, posing as a false deity in the village, receiving offerings and bows.
'I didn't hate those moments. I quite liked them.'
The villagers truly respected, honored, and revered Yuyeon.
She liked the village. Truthfully, wanted to help it.
Yet she had to make the wiser choice.
'They respected me, yet I betrayed their faith, fleeing under pretext of safety.'
Is that respecting myself?
The fleeing Yuyeon is servile; the returning one foolish, yet proud.
Truly foolish, proud, and lovable.
Yuyeon felt the blocked meridian of thought unblock.
Yin and yang are relative. High and low the same, virtue and action too.
All divided into heaven and earth are thus.
Thus, Yuyeon had not respected herself. The villagers had.
'Even if the logic is forced self-justification, it doesn't matter. I return by the Dao I choose.'
With that, Yuyeon naturally recalled the blocked third question.
You must see it through since you've started.
She couldn't fully ponder the arrangement. But at least, as she answered.
Yes.
She would see this matter to its end.
In that moment, Yuyeon believed she chose her Dao for the right reasons.
And they were utterly wrong.
Yet the girl was profoundly clever, with aptitude touching the Great Dao.
She forged conclusion from reason. Made reverse into natural.
This was distant for the current girl. She should content herself with what's in hand, choosing from given options.
But at least she wasn't wrong.
The reason was flawed, but the choice correct.
This would surely place a new stone on her Dao Heart.
For the first time since departing, Yuyeon turned back—and felt her Dao Heart follow.
'You stubborn thing.'
Thus, Yuyeon cleared the shed skin and departed.
Yuyeon had trudged steadfastly in one direction, so her return was the same.
The difference: going, she always stayed alert for threats; now, she bounded back like flying.
Her chest felt clear.
True to her prediction, after about an hour, the village—two full hours distant—appeared at her spiritual vision's edge.
Worry not. Yuyeon wouldn't slaughter the villagers in minutes. She wasn't some vile Immortal Cultivator.
Soon, she leaped lightly across rooftops.
She released the Concealing Form Formation.
Yuyeon extended her Divine Sense fully, scanning the village.
She realized the villagers were preparing to flee.
Each home readied bundles, baskets, carts—by tomorrow dawn, they would scatter.
If they all escaped safely, perfect. But Yuyeon understood why Corpse Ghosts lurked on surrounding hills: watching.
Prey fleeing the hunting ground is troublesome. Time to make it harder.
Since leaving the shrine, Yuyeon hadn't slept a day.
From then past midnight to now, eight days. Sleeping now meant first rest in seven. She anticipated refreshment.
Yuyeon decided her first task. Then sought sleep.
Fortune or misfortune, no Corpse Ghost attacked that night.
Dawn broke, sun rose; Yuyeon woke at her planned time.
Activating Pure White Body's divine ability, she tidied her appearance. Then headed straight to Jang Jina's home.
True to a sensitive shaman maiden, Jang Jina had sensed Yuyeon's presence. She knelt before the small shrine, praying.
Habitual routine: bathed in clean water since morning.
Makeup removed, cold water rinse brought rosy glow—more beautiful than yesterday.
Shrine servants' first morning task was ritual bathing.
Methods varied by deity, but dawn cold-water wash was common.
'No benevolent deity likes followers scalding with hot water.'
Ascending to godhood surely bred eccentricity. No wonder Divine Dao Cultivation lacked popularity.
In that vein, Yuyeon—neither god nor cultivator—had grown eccentric too. She itched to prank this innocent shrine maiden who troubled her.
"Divine Spirit, please let our villagers depart safely and reach their destinations. Once there, it's their own affair—they won't ask more. Nor will I. I'll just hold gratitude."
Hearing the prayer from the roof, Yuyeon thought, 'Will you really ask no more?'
But she'd grant this modest wish. Their goals aligned, coincidentally.
Sensing subtle pressure from above, Jang Jina firmly believed the true Divine Spirit had descended to hear her prayer.
With Yuyeon atop the roof leaking presence, Jang Jina surely believed it.
Yuyeon's Divine Sense swept the room. A brush and paper for show caught her eye.
Perfect, she thought, using Object Manipulation to write on white talisman paper.
Not grand spellcraft. Just petty revenge—and collecting aid in advance.
Yuyeon placed the white talisman on the table where Jang Jina prayed.
'When do you eat breakfast? Prepare some for me too.'
-Divine Spirit-
As expected, Jang Jina panicked wildly—then rejoiced.
Watching that rabbit-like face, Yuyeon giggled.
Today's breakfast would taste especially good.