Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Mortal Yuyeon (2)
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Yuyeon regained her senses in this world—or rather, let's recount it from her perspective at that time, when she was still "he."
He was bewildered by his inability to open his eyes. Sounds were muffled, and his sensations felt utterly alien.
But soon, an inexplicable sensation spread from his core, allowing him to perceive his surroundings in intricate detail.
Though startled by this novel feeling, he instinctively recognized it as "Divine Sense," a concept from the book he had read before.
Divine Sense was the sixth sense awakened by those walking the path of Immortal Cultivation. It not only enabled three-dimensional awareness of the surroundings but also perception and control of intangible elements like qi or souls.
Furthermore, within its range, it could facilitate Object Manipulation and boasted numerous other functions.
Thus, when Yuyeon scanned her surroundings with Divine Sense, she immediately grasped her situation.
He had become a fetus inside his mother's womb.
That explained why he couldn't open his eyes, why sounds were dull, and why his sensations differed so profoundly.
Involuntarily, he tried to scream. Tragically, a fetus lacked air and had underdeveloped respiratory muscles, reducing it to a silent wail.
Eventually, with his mind sharper than usual, he pieced together the circumstances. The cause was clear.
'The survey. And that cult book!'
Nothing else could explain it. He had even learned of Divine Sense from that book.
'If this is reincarnation, it should save some pitiful soul. Why drag a perfectly fine guy like me into this...!'
As he inwardly vented his frustration, two presences approached, detected by his Divine Sense.
One was a relatively young man in his thirties, the other an elderly figure with a white beard, dressed like a true Daoist.
However, upon closer observation, he realized the elder was no ordinary person.
When his Divine Sense probed the elder's body, it met resistance. In that instant, the elder's expression changed, and their eyes seemed to meet. No, it wasn't an illusion—it must have happened.
Yuyeon pieced together the scant information and intuitively realized the elder was an Immortal Cultivator, a frequent figure in the book she had read.
'But he lacks Divine Sense. Likely at the Qi Refining Stage.'
A small mercy, perhaps. The Qi Refining Stage was the second-lowest realm in Immortal Cultivation—or arguably the first true one—still relatively low.
For reference, the absolute lowest was called the Entrance Stage.
Cultivators at that level had barely shed their mortal shell. Some viewed them as no different from mortals and didn't count them as true cultivators.
In that light, the elder might even be at the Entrance Stage, though that was just a hunch.
'But whether Qi Refining or Entrance Stage—what does it matter? He's clearly stronger than me right now.'
Learning the elder was a Qi Refining cultivator shocked Yuyeon to her core for a simple reason.
From the book, cultivators followed a straightforward behavioral pattern:
1) Can it be used for cultivation?
Yes → Gladly "consume" it.
No → Proceed to question 2.
2) Can it be refined into a good material?
Yes → Gladly turn it into material.
No → Proceed to question 3.
And so on.
Moreover, he was undoubtedly a special baby, reincarnated after bizarre events.
'It'll definitely snag on 1 or 2!'
Being only a dozen weeks or so into gestation, trapped in the womb without escape, felt like a curse.
To be turned into someone's material right after birth—how could he not curse the heavens?
As these thoughts raced, the elder cultivator reached Yuyeon.
He muttered incomprehensible words, then unleashed some kind of energy.
She could feel it approaching, but resistance was impossible.
Even though he clearly sensed the elder's actions—like reading them from his palm—the helplessness intensified.
To him, the spell felt like draping a curtain or mosquito net around himself.
He intuited it was a Formation. As it completed, the energy enveloped both his mother and him.
The ailing mother inhaled it through nose and mouth, spreading it through her body, transforming her into something corpse-like.
Shivering in terror, he checked with Divine Sense: she breathed faintly, her pulse weak, but she wasn't dead. A relief.
For him, it induced slight daze. Whether due to Divine Sense or another ability, he resisted the Formation's effects.
But as he pushed back, the elder's lips twitched subtly.
'This wicked old cultivator reveals his greed.'
Yet an even more hellish event unfolded, beyond his worst fears.
The Formation shifted form, resonating with some energy within his body.
Resigned to his fate, he vowed solemnly.
'If this life doesn't end here, if I get another chance. I'll eradicate every last one of these baby-eating lunatics without mercy.'
But a more horrific harmony occurred. His underdeveloped male pride began regressing, as if time rewound.
Astonishingly, the male organ had evolved from the female form.
Fetal development mirrored evolution: female form first, then differentiating into male or maturing female.
If you've followed, you can guess.
His incomplete fetal organ reversed along evolution's branch to its primordial female form.
In the womb, this horrified him more than realizing his reincarnation moments ago. He shuddered violently.
But a not-yet-26-week fetus could only kick the womb walls.
Soon, the previously resisted spell infiltrated, clouding his mind.
The expansive Formation contracted, feeling like a prison. Losing composure, terror engulfed him.
'Please...!'
With that final thought, Yuyeon fell asleep.
She recalled the terror of being dominated by the cultivator. The humiliation of confinement in the womb.
"Sis, whatcha doing?"
As Yuyeon meditated, unwittingly lost in past memories, a little kid approached and spoke.
The boy was about five, but his features were sharp—destined to be handsome.
Yuyeon was the same.
At eight, her slender face, straight nose, pale skin, and clear features already took shape.
Even shrouded in baby fat, a beauty's form shone through.
Her softly closed eyes and long lashes perfected it, like the finishing dragon touch.
The two were siblings—no, brothers.
The Namgung Manor Lord had failed to sire a son from Yuyeon. But at thirty, in his prime, as a martial artist who stayed youthful through arts, wealthy with multiple wives...
A son was inevitable eventually.
That fruit was this kid: Namgung Minsu.
Precious to the Manor Lord, but not to his eldest, Yuyeon.
Her beautiful lashes trembled; her expression soured slightly.
"I told you to call me 'big brother,' not sis."
Her words soft, but her hand shot like lightning, gripping his crown.
Seated, with a two-year gap in a world where kids grew fast, height difference meant no contest.
Yuyeon added slight pressure, channeling internal energy.
Her brother shuddered like stung by a bee.
Pain easing, he stomped, twisted shoulders, struggled desperately.
But a child's weight couldn't escape an internal energy grip.
Resistance grew; Yuyeon relented first.
'Can't have the Namgung heir's skull caved in.'
Her remaining conscience.
Thus, his crown detached from her grip.
Minsu rubbed his scalp with tiny hands, eyes teary.
"So mean! Bullying your little brother like this. The other kids have to see this to shatter their illusions about you..."
At her words, Yuyeon cracked open closed eyes. The boy gasped, correcting himself.
"Big brother... Sis canceled."
Between half-lidded eyes gleamed silver irises, hazy yet metallic—like erased ink brush strokes.
Anyone could see it was a cursed deformity. Meeting those eyes, the brother cowered preemptively.
Smart kid; he backed out cautiously, fleeing the room.
Forgetting his snack quest.
Unlike her fixed portions, her desk always overflowed with treats.
Yuyeon, disturbed by resurfaced trauma during meditation.
'Went too hard today.'
Brief reflection. Only brief—the offense was his, not hers.
Gaze drifted to desk treats.
Guilt stirred excuses and pettiness.
'Yes, a profoundly merciful punishment.'
What if she smacked her little brother's crown?
Overforce might burst his head—aside from that. Folklore said head hits dulled wits; couldn't risk it.
'I'm the big brother, but alas, unfit to inherit. Educating the heir is my remaining duty.'
Thus, a sharp pinch-like energy drain to scold.
How noble. Minsu should bow in thanks a hundred times upon maturity.
Inner turmoil settled; Yuyeon took the snack bowl.
Opened the door, set it gently outside.
'If he's sharp enough to return, it's his.'
But servants often snatched her leavings—no one scolded; house custom.
If they got it first, his loss for defying her. She had offered.
Alone again, Yuyeon exhaled, refocused. Sat straight, hands on knees.
To contemplate her inner self.
Truthfully, with keen focus and Divine Sense, no need for posture.
But signaling it made intruders cautious of mistakes. The clueless tyke was too young.
Reason for second meditation post-first: channeling energy had disrupted the inner Formation.
Yuyeon inspected within, repairing it while scrutinizing structure.
Implanted in childhood by that Daoist.
Initially ignorant of effects, haunted by cultivator's schemes, she tried erasing it.
At five, she wielded accumulated Yin Energy slightly.
Awareness dawned; she attempted dismantling.
Dismantling was easy—like bursting a water pouch, contents spilled, Formation crumbled.
Half-gone, she learned its function: sealed her Yin Energy inside, concealed her aura.
Why the Daoist did it? Many guesses, no certainty; she tabled it.
Undeniably useful, profound—much to learn.
She rebuilt, dismantled repeatedly, studying.
After a year of sporadic research, realized it was "Concealing Form Formation," aura-hiding.
How she knew the exact name puzzled, but it fit perfectly.
Also understood why minimal energy use disrupted it.
Concealing Form Formation harmonized to hide energy stealthily—like camouflage tent.
Exposing energy shattered harmony, crumbling the Formation.
Insights piled: she realized something unforeseen.
'Did that cultivator design it to contain Yin Energy even he couldn't control?'
If so, clever multitasking. Admirable.
Without it, leaking Yin Energy would disrupt life.
Attract other beings, cultivators, or martial artists sensing it.
Her constitution would spread far and wide.
Bad for cultivator and her.
She knew myriad ways refined extreme Yin boosted cultivation—from gleaned knowledge.
'Like wuxia novels, xianxia, or tavern rumors.'
Shaky sources, but where there's smoke...
Thus, cultivators or martial artists coveted it. Concealing Form Formation essential.
Post-internal energy control, periodic repairs needed—like now, as use collapsed harmony.
Another repair succeeded, with deepened insight bonus.
Yuyeon lifted her spirit. Divine Sense naturally spanned about a zhang around her.
As infant, over ten zhang; now reduced to one zhang by Formation side-effect.
Normally no such drawback, but internalized, unavoidable.
It harmonized to contain emissions; Divine Sense included.
Yet grateful for even one zhang.
'Lose eyes too? Unthinkable.'
She halted grim fancy.
Footsteps approached outside.
Beyond one zhang to door, no Divine Sense peek, but gait identified.
"Walk time already?"
"Yes, Young Master."
Though lost manhood to vile cultivator,
Never denying her gender, Yuyeon still deemed herself born male, living male.
No—proclaimed it. Few accepted, Wet Nurse included.
"Good."
Yuyeon agreed readily; Wet Nurse entered, prepared her for the stroll.