Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Demon and Debate (4)
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Heo Jeongwon had spent his life as an elder, so he was a master at saving face. He quickly composed himself and spoke.
"Hmm. For now, let's call that matter settled once we initiate a new disciple. Among the outer disciples, many avoid halting their cultivation, so they often recruit outer province disciples during their travels and bring them in."
"Ah, so that's how it is."
In this world, beyond the great cities, there were all sorts of small villages and settlements. Those who scoured such places for spiritual root talent were inevitably people in desperate straits like him.
In any case, after exchanging a few more words, Yuyeon and Heo Jeongwon parted ways. The two of them had long lifespans and didn't need sleep at night, so time was truly abundant for them. But the people of Namgung Manor were different.
Besides, Yuyeon needed time to think. She'd said she'd listen, not that she'd go to the head family.
She headed to her room. For the first time in ages, she met her wet nurse and shared the affection they'd missed. In other words, she got an earful of nagging. Yuyeon yielded to her once more.
"Wet Nurse, I'm not a child anymore. You should build a life of your own."
The role of wet nurse was usually taken by those with complicated circumstances. Even if they had their own families, they had no choice but to neglect them to raise the master's child.
Among them, Yuyeon's wet nurse had cared for her hands and feet since she was weaned, never leaving her side for a moment. Thanks to that, she still hadn't started her own family and was using her earnings to support her siblings in place of her parents.
Yuyeon didn't know the exact details, but she always thought it would be good if the wet nurse lived her own life.
"Young Master..."
Yuyeon said no more, simply smiling softly as she took some expensive accessories from her drawer and placed them in the nurse's hands. A fugitive couldn't sell such things, but a rightful owner surely could.
"Save one for your wedding day to adorn yourself. It would make me happy if you thought of it as from me."
After that, she joined the Namgung Clan for dinner and shared another round of heartfelt reunion. This time, it truly was heartfelt; Yuyeon had broadened her horizons, so her tales from meals became the main topic.
She spoke of the places she'd visited and the sights she'd seen. Mostly about touring the capital of Gangyang Province and the great river. She couldn't very well mention playing with spirits in a mountain village.
"Sister, rumor has it you became a peerless expert who walks on air and conquered the northern and southern martial world—is that true?"
"Oh, you child, spouting nonsense again. It must be a distorted tale of how some renowned expert helped me escape by diverting attention."
Yuyeon smiled silently, letting her quiet answer the nonsense. She had her suspicions, but she wasn't sure how much it had been twisted. Since she was about to distance herself from worldly affairs for a time, she let them chatter and enjoy themselves.
"Father, do you know anything about the monk from Borim Temple?"
The Namgung Manor Lord quietly lifted the corner of his mouth, as if savoring old memories. Soon, he answered Yuyeon plainly.
"So you met him. He truly is remarkable.
That man is the abbot of Borim Temple, the one martial artists call the Divine Monk Banso. When I wandered the rivers and lakes in my youth, our paths crossed briefly."
Yuyeon had guessed he was no ordinary man from his mystical powers and youthful thirties appearance, but she hadn't expected someone of such renown.
An abbot was the highest-ranking generation among Borim Temple's monks. In other words, he was well over fifty.
'I should visit Borim Temple someday.'
Even if the Manor Lord had ties to him, his personality wouldn't allow him to seek help first. He'd likely offered aid proactively.
After spending the day like that, Yuyeon met Heo Jeongwon again the next day.
"Have you decided?"
"Yes, it's the conclusion I've reached after much thought. To achieve my goals, heading to the head family seems the right path for now."
Yuyeon's short-term goals were twofold: learning to use divine sense to detect others' divine senses and inspirations without being caught, like her teacher, and advancing to the Qi Refining Stage.
When she subtly pressed her teacher at night, he only said the two were essentially one path and to ponder it well, refusing to elaborate.
Thus, with the iron hot, she decided to strike. Yuyeon and Heo Jeongwon wasted no more time and headed to the Heo Family Manor that very day. Only the Manor Lord came to see them off.
"This isn't a runaway this time, so no need to worry. Come back once and show your face."
"Yes, Father. I pray you remain in good health till the rivers run dry and the mountains crumble, and that Namgung Manor stays free of turmoil and at peace."
True to his nature as a born wanderer, the Manor Lord didn't drag out the farewell. He silently bowed to Heo Jeongwon, then turned sharply and walked away.
What he desired was simply the immortal's ire averted and the clan safe.
Thus, having achieved his aims, he didn't care if Yuyeon never pursued the Orthodox Dao. But if this was her path, he wouldn't stand in her way. He gladly supported his young daughter's venture.
With that, only the two of them and one living servant remained in the annex.
"You said the head family has Yeonha Mountain as its inner sect mountain. Do we walk to Yeonha Province, then?"
"No. Even walking day and night, it would take at least a month, so I have a separate flying vessel."
As he spoke, Heo Jeongwon reached into his pouch and pulled out something like smoke gathered in his hand. When he tossed it as if releasing it, the smoke spread, taking form until a ferryboat appeared on the ground.
"Is this the flying vessel?"
Yuyeon figured a Qi Refining cultivator hadn't lost his mind to summon a boat for playing on dry land, so it must be the flying vessel.
Examining it with divine sense, the material wasn't ordinary wood but infused with faint qi, and the interior bore indistinct engravings forming circuits of sorts.
"Yes, hop on. We should arrive at the manor in three days at latest."
Heo Jeongwon sat at the bow first, and Yuyeon settled comfortably on the deck. She leaned her parasol against the side. Even if it fell, it was linked to her and would fly back when called, so no worries.
Once both were seated, a power akin to but distinct from spiritual energy emanated from Heo Jeongwon, seeping into the vessel. Yuyeon instinctively knew it was spell power.
The spell power activated the pre-drawn circuits, and the ferryboat lifted into the air.
Yuyeon knew about airplanes, so flight itself didn't surprise her. But the spellwork of the flying vessel did a little.
She'd grasped its structure fully, yet the principle eluded her. Figuring it was another realm of enlightenment, she let it pass.
The boat rose to a height beyond ground touch in Yuyeon's divine sense, then accelerated in a specific direction.
Normally, the open-top boat would face winds, but some harmony ensured Yuyeon felt not a breeze as they flew.
'This world still holds countless unknowns.'
Yuyeon already thrilled at the thought of learning such things one by one.
At first, she worried it might be awkward, but no issue arose. Yuyeon was extremely introverted—independent, really—and Heo Jeongwon was much the same.
He'd lived long as a cultivator, accustomed to days of silent meditation, so they passed the three days that way.
Nothing notable happened, except the moment Yuyeon sensed crossing the border between Yeonha and Northern Sea Provinces.
She asked Heo Jeongwon about it, and he confirmed her guess.
That marked entry into the head family's outer sect territory.
What Yuyeon sensed was the massive formation the head family had spread over its outer domain. She'd never imagined such a grand formation, momentarily awed by its scale.
Flying was convenient with many advantages, but without sight, Yuyeon had nothing to visually scan with divine sense like on a boat trip, making it somewhat boring.
So she occasionally chatted telepathically with her teacher and studied the vessel's diagrams—what her teacher called spell patterns—to pass the time.
Exactly three days later, they arrived at the Heo Family Manor. As the flying vessel descended, Yuyeon sensed a boundary similar to the outer sect's but thicker.
"Is this the family formation?"
"Right, you noticed immediately. It's sealed to outsiders except family, prepared for any contingency. This formation serves that purpose."
Heo Jeongwon touched the formation boundary familiarly, and information flowed along the interface inward.
The family formation blocked physical passage but not divine sense transmission—Yuyeon perceived this clearly.
"You've announced our arrival."
"Yes. We could enter right away, but since it's been ages, following procedure avoids gossip. When introducing yourself, you know what to say, right?"
"Yes. I am Heo Yuyeon, daughter of a disciple of Great-uncle Heo during his outer travels."
Confirming their aligned story, Heo Jeongwon nodded.
He'd liked "uncle," but to naturally integrate Yuyeon as an inner Heo disciple, this was best.
While waiting, Yuyeon analyzed the formation.
Beyond it lay a faint mist.
Staring dulled the mind, but it was mild, only affecting those without spiritual sense—likely to deter lost mortals or beasts from entering family lands.
Besides, the formation efficiently incorporated various functions with minimal energy use. Analyzing it was entertaining for Yuyeon.
Especially the spatial partitioning—proper study promised fun applications.
Time flew unnoticed until figures emerged from within: a hearty old elder and a young man.
They paused upon sensing divine sense, but recognizing the rejuvenated Heo Jeongwon, they understood, attributing it to his sense, not Yuyeon's.
"Elder Jeongwon, congratulations on your advancement."
"Congratulations on your advancement."
The elder spotted Heo Jeongwon first, cupping hands in salute; the youth followed suit. He knew of Heo Jeongwon but hadn't seen his youth, so hadn't recognized him.
"Unseop, Damun, glad to see you both well. Is Elder Jin-hwi not at the manor?"
The one called Unseop, Heo Unseop, replied.
"Grand Elder Heo Jin-hwi is away on family business outside. We expect him back in about three months."
"Ah, nothing urgent. Just noting it. With my advancement, I should share the grand elder's duties, but we'll discuss later. First, let me introduce this child. Yuyeon, greet them. On the left is Heo Unseop, beside him Heo Damun."
"Pleased to meet you, elders. I am Yuyeon of the 'soft jade' generation. Though lacking, I've come to the family to cultivate with my great-uncle."
Her words startled them. They'd assumed the child Heo Jeongwon brought from travels was a new outer disciple, not inner.
Looking closely at her face and attire, she indeed seemed raised as a noble young lady: neat clothes, fine skin, unblemished hands.
Her name Yuyeon fit the 'soft jade' generation perfectly for her apparent age.
But her closed eyes nagged at them. Fearing to offend the newly advanced Heo Jeongwon, potential grand elder, they merely nodded acceptance without questioning.
"Long absent from the family, I have much to discuss and handle, but first, I'd like to show this child her quarters. Could you two go ahead, inform the others, and prepare?"
"Of course. As you wish."
They agreed, drew swords, mounted them, and flew off.
Yuyeon accepted flying boats as mounts but wondered at the sword-flying—stylish, leaving her mood oddly complex.
"Back on the boat. Our manor may not rival the head family's domain, but it's no small walk. Once you reach Qi Refining and handle spell power, I'll give you a flying vessel."
Yuyeon, who could generate spiritual energy herself, saw little issue expending it on spells or artifacts.
But by cultivation common sense, spiritual energy was precious for training; spells and artifacts usually ran on spell power.
They boarded again, ascending and advancing as before.
"Hm, I planned to explain the manor from above, but overlooked your lack of sight. Hmm, how to describe it best."
"No worry there. May I ask Teacher, then?"
'Leave it to me.'
Telepathy transmitted intent. Her teacher used it sparingly for words to conserve mind power, but with slight waste, more was possible.
As Yuyeon waited, it was as if a veil lifted from her mind—the world she'd perceived in about sixteen pages expanded sharply.
Not her direct sensing; her teacher had briefly scanned broadly, selected essentials, and telepathically relayed the info.
Having conserved mind power for days with few words, he'd spent much; Yuyeon's mind now held a vast topographic map of Heo Family Manor.
In cheap terms, a 3D map app appeared.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Normally sparing thanks to conserve his power, she voiced it this time.
He'd manage himself anyway. True to form, he didn't reply, trusting she'd conveyed gratitude without telepathy.
Though teacher relayed via divine sense, it wasn't permanent memory—just lingering mental images, fading without quick grasp.
So Yuyeon concentrated, imprinting it as her own.
The Heo Family Manor was city-sized in a vast basin.
A grand circular formation divided the land, with artificial-feeling circular mountains encircling flat central ground like natural walls.
So striking, joy already stirred in Yuyeon's heart.