Chapter 18: Explanations Can Wait Until Hell
Returning to their room at the inn, Yeop Ryeong pulled out the Heavenly Fire Warming Jade. Her face lit up with surprise as she turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"Brother, this stone is so warm! Holding it like this, the chill in my body is fading away!"
"Good! I'm glad."
Clutching the red stone, Yeop Ryeong nodded eagerly, her face beaming. Yeop Hyeon settled into a corner of the room and slowly closed his eyes.
"Heavenly Maiden? Did you see that girl just now?"
"She hails from a different dimension than you. There's no point in investigating her. Take out that ring you just bought and show it to me."
Yeop Hyeon drew out the glowing purple ring. At first glance, it looked worn and crude, nothing special at all.
"Do you know what this is?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"It's called a Formation Ring. It holds a small formation within. Though the formation's grade is low, it's crafted with exquisite precision—worth studying. That's why the girl coveted it. Keep it for self-defense."
Yeop Hyeon looked mildly surprised.
"A formation hidden inside this tiny ring?"
"As you wander the world, you'll come to understand just how vast and wondrous it truly is."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Once I reach the Control Qi Realm, I'll definitely explore the world!"
His gaze returned to the ring in his hand.
"Heavenly Maiden, how do I activate the formation?"
"First, drip a drop of your blood onto the ring. Then control it as I teach you."
Following her instructions, Yeop Hyeon let a drop of his blood fall onto the ring. It reacted strangely, and suddenly, a formation diagram appeared in his mind!
Five Thunders Formation!
Activating the Five Thunders Formation would summon Divine Thunder to strike enemies.
"Divine Thunder?"
Yeop Hyeon asked in astonishment.
"Heavenly Maiden, can this formation truly summon Divine Thunder?"
"Of course not. How could such a small formation call down heaven's true Divine Thunder? The 'Divine Thunder' I mentioned is merely an imitation crafted through the ring's artisan's special techniques. Its power pales against the real thing, but compared to your current level, it's formidable. Once activated, even a Soaring Realm expert would struggle to withstand it. However, the formation seems damaged—it can probably only be used about five times."
Yeop Hyeon's face brightened considerably. His One Sword Determines Life and Death could slay even Soaring Realm martial artists, but the cost was steep, leaving him gravely wounded each time.
His eyes suddenly flashed as a thought struck him.
"Heavenly Maiden! With your keen eye, why don't we go treasure hunting professionally from now on? If you guide me like you did today, we'll surely strike it rich..."
"You'd use me for mere treasure hunting? What bold dreams you have!"
Chastened by her scolding, Yeop Hyeon gave an awkward smile. Her stern voice continued.
"Never rely on luck in anything. Today, fortune favored you with the ring, but you can't count on it every time. For a sword cultivator, the mind is paramount. Never forget that!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded solemnly.
"Heavenly Maiden, please calm your anger. I'll keep it in mind."
The Heavenly Maiden fell silent.
Steeling his resolve, Yeop Hyeon decided to focus on cultivation rather than luck, just as she advised.
An hour later, once Yeop Ryeong had fallen asleep, he entered the Gyeok Ok Tower to train. He hadn't reached the Control Qi Realm yet, but he could practice his sword forms.
They were less forms and more instinctive reactions honed against shadows. Through shadow training, Yeop Hyeon had built his strength, speed, and reflexes. He now stood at the peak of the Qi Transformation Realm.
Until now, he'd been a frog in a well. Beyond Qingcheng lay countless masters beyond his measure. Having left the city, he had no choice but to train relentlessly for his and his sister's survival. In the Gyeok Ok Tower, Yeop Hyeon sweated through his sessions.
The next day, he sold the carriage they'd arrived in at the inn and headed to Tianshan City's docks with Yeop Ryeong. Upon arrival, the siblings gaped at the sight before them. A river stretched a thousand zhang wide, dotted with massive ships at least a hundred zhang long, countless vessels moored there. They'd never seen ships so enormous.
"Brother, the ships are huge! Are we riding one?"
"Yeah, we'll take one of these to the Imperial City!"
Yeop Ryeong eyed Yeop Hyeon curiously.
"Brother, is the Imperial City bigger than Tianshan City?"
Yeop Hyeon ruffled her hair gently.
"Of course it's much bigger! Once we get there, we'll check it out ourselves. Sound good?"
"Yeah, let's go quick!"
Yeop Ryeong grinned nonstop at the thought of the Imperial City. Yeop Hyeon watched her with a quiet smile.
Having checked the schedules the night before, the siblings bought tickets and boarded without waiting. The cloud ship had rooms of all sizes, with fares varying wildly by grade.
Two tickets cost Yeop Hyeon forty taels of gold. Only ten taels remained in his pouch.
'How are we supposed to last with this...'
Yeop Hyeon sighed softly. Leading Yeop Ryeong to the lowest deck, they entered a shabby room with just a bed, a table, and two chairs.
As he unpacked, Yeop Hyeon said warmly to Yeop Ryeong,
"The ship won't depart for another half-hour. Let's go up to the deck and watch the scenery when it sets off!"
Yeop Ryeong smiled at him, then suddenly turned to rummage through her bundle. She pulled out a pair of cloth shoes she'd sewn herself. Blushing a bit, she offered them to Yeop Hyeon.
"I made these myself. Want to try them on?"
Squatting down, Yeop Ryeong removed his old shoes. Though he didn't show it, Yeop Hyeon was touched by the unexpected gift.
"Wow!"
Yeop Ryeong pinched her nose and glared at him.
"Brother, your feet stink so bad!"
She dashed out, filled a washbasin with water, and returned. Setting it down, she soaked his feet. Yeop Hyeon, flustered, said,
"I can do it myself!"
Yeop Ryeong glanced up at him and began washing his feet slowly.
Suddenly, tears like chicken droppings welled in her eyes. Yeop Hyeon's soles were thick with calluses, his legs scarred all over—wounds from his days as the Ye family's crown prince.
"Ryeong, why are you crying?"
Wiping her tears, Yeop Ryeong replied,
"It reminds me of all the hardships you've endured... I swear, one day I'll become an absolute powerhouse! I'll earn tons of money so you can live comfortably!"
In truth, Yeop Hyeon had raised her on his back. When their mother abandoned them, he was ten, she five. At first, they survived like beggars on scraps.
Even in that harsh world, Yeop Hyeon had raised her this far. She couldn't fathom his sufferings. After he became crown prince, his body was never unscathed—returning home each evening covered in wounds.
Her warm words warmed Yeop Hyeon's heart. Stroking her head, he said,
"Your health comes first. The Imperial City has capable people everywhere—surely someone who can cure you. Once you're better, let's train together!"
Washing his feet, Yeop Ryeong replied resolutely,
"Brother, once I'm cured, I'll train hard! No matter how tough!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled to reply when the door burst open. Uninvited guests entered: a middle-aged man and two elders. Yeop Ryeong jumped up in alarm.
"Who are you?!"
The middle-aged man at the front eyed Yeop Hyeon.
"Do you still remember me?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded. They were the three who'd chased him into the mountains.
'That middle-aged one's name was... Mo Chun?'
He'd expected them to seek the spirit stone, but not follow him onto the cloud ship.
"Hand over the item willingly, and I'll spare your lives."
To Mo Chun's threat, Yeop Hyeon replied calmly,
"Fighting is forbidden on cloud ships."
Mo Chun snorted.
"Tch! After I kill you, I'll toss the bodies overboard. Who'd know?"
Yeop Hyeon seemed to ponder, then spoke.
"If I give you the item, you'll let us go?"
"Naturally, if it's the real thing."
Yeop Hyeon drew a deep breath.
"No choice, then."
He pulled a black pouch from his bosom and walked toward Mo Chun.
"Keep your promise."
Seeing the pouch, Mo Chun's eyes burned with greed.
"I will."
In a flash, Yeop Hyeon tossed it not to Mo Chun, but to the elder beside him. The startled elder caught it instinctively. At the same moment, Mo Chun lunged for the pouch in the elder's hand.
Right then, a cold sword gleam flashed through the room.
Slash—!
A sword appeared from nowhere, severing Mo Chun's head. Blood sprayed as his severed head flew to a corner of the room!
The remaining two elders panicked and tried to flee. But the sword was faster!
It pierced one elder's back. The last elder escaped, screaming for his life, turning the entire lower deck into chaos. Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword with an annoyed look.
Moments later, a woman in a long purple skirt, her face veiled in thin silk, entered with the ship's guards.
Yeop Hyeon's expression darkened. He couldn't gauge her strength.
Three guards were Soaring Realm, the other two at the Control Qi Realm pinnacle. All exuded extraordinary auras.
'Is this the power of Chwiseonru!?'
As Yeop Hyeon stayed wary, the veiled woman frowned at the corpses on the floor.
"Your doing?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded, about to explain.
"They came first..."
The veiled woman whirled away, flicking her sleeve.
"Explanations can wait until hell. Deal with those two and toss the bodies overboard!"
A sword rose from Yeop Hyeon's right hand. As she turned to leave, the woman paused, eyeing him oddly.
"A sword cultivator?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Impressive, a sword cultivator at such a young age. But cloud ship rules are above heaven itself—no exceptions for sword cultivators. Kill him!"
Yeop Hyeon narrowed his eyes, gripping his sword tightly. It hummed faintly, a sword gleam flickering along the blade.
The martial artists in the room held their breath! The woman halted again. Yeop Hyeon said to her,
"Sorry, but... I'm not just any sword cultivator. I'm a grand sword cultivator."
She neither flushed nor faltered outwardly.
But inwardly, she was greatly shaken.