Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Illuminating and Peering Heart Technique (1)
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Four days after Yuyeon began her training, her patience had completely run out.
For four straight days of chewing only Wall-Gazing Pills at home, it had been pure torment for her. Sitting in the room she'd turned into a training chamber, facing the wall in meditation—it was so unbearably itchy and restless she couldn't stand it.
'Hmm, is there any rule saying I can't go out and play—no, study?'
Scanning the cultivation manual with her divine sense, she found no such restriction. There wasn't even any mention of what she should or shouldn't do.
Yuyeon saw this as the perfect chance to add a line to the manual: "Go outside and touch some grass." With that in mind, she prepared for a stroll.
During her not-quite-seclusion at home, she'd been lounging in just her undergarments. Now, slipping into light robes and an outer jacket, her teacher could tell she was heading out.
"Any progress so far?"
Her teacher avoided anything that might disrupt her training. That's why, while she'd spent her days mostly in meditation and wall-gazing, he hadn't initiated conversation.
At his question, Yuyeon let out a small sigh.
"Well, Illuminating Heart wasn't too hard. I've had divine sense from the start, after all. Peering into my own mind felt just like closing my eyes and still picturing the room around me."
Ah, though my eyes are always closed. Yuyeon added the silly afterthought. Her teacher took it as a sign of real progress.
If there'd been none, she definitely would've thrown a petty tantrum or acted spoiled in that oddly charming way of hers.
For Yuyeon, examining her inner self was as natural as breathing.
Her divine sense, with her since birth, extended not just outward but inward at all times.
Following the manual's verses to calm her mind, a pond appeared in her inner vision. Holding a lantern up to the dark waters, she saw the murky sediment and floating leaves drifting on the surface.
The mud represented her current stifled emotions, while the leaves embodied her stray thoughts taking form.
This was Illuminating Heart: visualizing the mind as a pond and grasping its contents by making them visible.
She didn't know how it worked for other cultivators, but Yuyeon had followed the instructions to the letter, conjuring a pond and lantern just as described.
But that was as far as it went.
The shape of each leaf, the grains in the rising mud—they were crystal clear. Yet leaning in deeper to probe them turned them foggy, clouding the pond's depths.
She could see her thoughts, emotions, moods... but not their roots.
So, grasping her inner self through Illuminating Heart was actually inferior to simple introspection via divine sense.
But that very limitation became her clue.
Controlling her inner divine sense was so instinctive for Yuyeon that she'd never had occasion to examine it deeply.
She'd been overlooking the essence by relying on convenient senses.
Going through the manual made her confront it anew, giving her a chance to truly reflect on her divine sense for the first time.
"But Peering Heart feels impossible."
Progress showed in Illuminating Heart's direction, but Peering Heart—spying on others' minds—offered no foothold.
No matter how she mulled the verses, it all boiled down to a vague path: master Illuminating Heart, and Peering Heart would open naturally.
Yuyeon paused, pondering, then spoke with sudden realization, half-amused.
"Come to think of it, of course. How could I grasp Peering Heart meditating alone, with no other minds to peer into? It's like practicing chopsticks on an empty bowl. You need something to peek at first."
For reference, Yuyeon had started using chopsticks at ten months old. Even though, as a nursing infant, she had nothing to eat with them anyway.
"Good thing you've found an excuse for your walk."
Heading out had sparked a real insight.
Yuyeon marveled at her own subconscious wisdom in walking the right path—though really, her "wisdom" was just boredom and cabin fever.
She finished preparing to leave. As her hand brushed her money pouch, she remembered something crucial.
She'd forgotten amid days without outings, but the day before getting the manual, she'd spent her last coins furnishing the training room. She'd even dipped into her contribution points for the shortfall.
It had only been a little, so no issue yet—but using more points for a simple meal and fresh air felt wasteful.
Contribution points were worth more than silver; she couldn't squander them on pocket change. Fine for landscaping or wall-building, maybe.
Yuyeon hesitated, then had an odd thought: find day labor in the mortal village?
An Entrance Stage Great Circle cultivator, stooping to manual labor among mortals just for meal money? The ultimate humiliation.
Yet as owner of her own independent mancave, a true alpha, she had to pull her weight.
Like a lone male standing tall in a beast pack, Yuyeon vowed to earn her own keep, no shame to her great manhood.
Her stroll had just turned into a commute.
"What did you say? Yeon-i's doing manual labor in the mortal village?"
Heo Jeongwon, learning the ropes of his new role as Garden Elder in the Grand Vigil Hall, doubted his ears.
He'd assumed she was home, quietly mastering the mind technique, sorting inner koans, aiming for Qi Refining.
Why was she suddenly earning pennies in the mortal village these past few days? He'd thought she was just shopping and hauling goods again.
'And not even clan duty or sect work—manual labor in the mortal village, of all places.'
"Even" escaped him repeatedly; the report left him reeling.
"Did you look into why?"
The reporting attendant shook his head hastily.
Truth be told, the child brought by the newly promoted elder—now a One-Spirit-Root genius, no less—was still unfamiliar to him. Astonishing, and a shared sentiment among the Heo retainers.
So everyone kept their distance from Yuyeon, not daring casual talk yet.
"I'll go ask her now."
"No, no. I'll go myself."
Heo Jeongwon wanted a legitimate excuse to escape the hall, breathe fresh air, and enjoy an outing. Yuyeon learning the joys of wandering mirrored his own long-forgotten indulgences—he was the senior in that regard.
"Watch the hall for me. Thanks."
"Yes, Garden Elder. Safe travels."
He couldn't fathom an elder pulling rank for a break; he just sat vigil in meditation as ordered.
"Yuyeon, what are you doing out here?"
"Oh, Grandfather came out for a change of pace too? As you can see, I'm hauling the harvest."
A massive basket brimmed with produce atop her head. One hand held a parasol, the other steadied the load.
She paced just right—not so fast the crops crushed or slow they spilled—making her a huge help.
For reference, Ever-Summer State lived up to its name: no winters, just endless springs, summers, and autumns. Double cropping was standard, so Heo farmlands did the same—and harvest season had just begun.
Thanks to Yuyeon, they'd harvested before spoilage, even leaving time for a second picking. She was Entrance Stage Great Circle elite, after all.
They didn't stint on coins for her extra hands. Elite like her deserved premium pay to stick around.
Before harvest, she'd helped with logging and quarrying—coins flowed freely there too. They still missed their superhuman young master.
"No, I mean—why are you, of all people, doing this simple work in the mortal village?"
Heo Jeongwon once would've called it lowly without hesitation, but cultivation had taught him tact. Especially since Yuyeon herself was doing it—no need to label it crude.
Yuyeon smiled faintly, spilling her true intent. Her sharp mind had read his sudden visit; she'd teased his flustered look for fun.
"Mulling the manual in meditation, I grasped Illuminating Heart fully. But probing Peering Heart revealed I need others to practice on."
Heo Jeongwon nodded inwardly: not pointless busywork, then.
"So you're honing it by reading others' minds while working?"
He found the method sound. Reflecting, he'd unwittingly refined Peering Heart the same way.
"Yes. All work requires coordination, right? Even simple tasks follow that principle. Illuminating Heart to understand myself, Peering Heart for others—it aids the job and builds cultivation in harmony."
Heo Jeongwon trusted her utterly now—even if she hawked well water as elixir for spirit stones, he'd buy it.
'I thought she just came to the crowded village for Peering Heart practice... but turning chores into empirical training? Sublime.'
This child unearthed in days the insights he'd groped for years in meditation. He felt ashamed of his past.
Of course, it was an excuse she'd just cooked up. Truth: cabin fever from meditation, craving fresh air, hooked on earning and splurging daily.
Mortals worked days, slept nights; so did she—training evenings. The insight chance made it half-true.
"Hm, definitely not wasted effort. Still, ideally... something more dignified?"
Exposing her genius risked unwanted attention from other cultivators.
He wouldn't reveal her fully till she entered the Peach Garden.
But ignoring her ambition? Unworthy of an uncle.
With a senior always by her, she'd be safe. Clan eyes were inevitable anyway.
"Any progress reading mortals' minds with Peering Heart?"
"Yes, quite a bit. I couldn't guess before, but now I glimpse them faintly."
"Excellent. Next, cultivators' minds—natural progression."
Yuyeon needed a beat; the topic jumped.
Why cultivators all of a sudden?
"I have the perfect job for this training. I'll make a spot for you."
She got it: make herself more useful.
"What kind?"
"We sell surplus talismans and pills—good quality ones go to the market."
Trading leftovers to the sect for points worked, but markets paid better. Buying back doubled the loss.
"Warehouse overflow this time; selling some off. Need buyers too. Looking for escorts—want to join?"
Yuyeon admired his depth.
Syncing laborers helped Peering Heart, but reading customers? Peak practice.
Peering Heart's apex: merchant salesmanship.
"Sure. If it's okay, I'll gladly help."
She accepted instantly. Curiosity about the market ran high too.
The market: where cultivators gathered. Freewheeling, less sect oversight.
Drew independents, unaffiliateds, hill folk. Freedom bred incidents.
"This one's in Silver Mountain Sect outer territory, managed by the Market Alliance—no demonic Dao dares cause trouble. Safe enough."
Yuyeon hadn't worried, trusting his expertise.
With teacher and sky guardian, she had backups anyway. Save me if needed, sunbae-nim.
"When do we leave?"
"I'll finalize the team and notify them. Tomorrow after next at latest. Skip work from tomorrow; wait for summons at home."
"Yes, Grandfather. Got it. Take care."
Heo Jeongwon stopped her labor and aided her training—two birds, one stone.
Satisfied, he left; Yuyeon finished the day's work and got paid.
"Teacher, last day today. Stingy pay might jinx us. Anything you crave? Speak freely—going all out."
He wanted to retort she'd never scrimped, but held back. "Light fare today; greasy yesterday."
No tongue, his "taste" was reading her eating via divine sense.
Stomachless, no gluttony for him.
So he suggested what she wanted, dodging her whims.