The Red Thread of Destiny

How to hold back Flame Breath. "What's the matter?" the woman, Celestial Maiden Hong-yeon, asked. Her voice was a beautiful melody like a nightingale's song.

"The Sovereign asked if you'd attend this banquet."

"He asked the same last time... Tell him his condition isn't great, so he can't make it."

"The Sovereign got some nourishing pills for your health, don't worry and come—"

The woman frowned and flicked her fingers. With that simple gesture, the envoy outside clutched his chest and staggered.

"Kuhk!"

"That's my answer. Can you deliver it?"

"...You'll regret this."

"Want another hit?"

Once the staggering footsteps faded away, she finally smoothed her furrowed brow.

"So persistent. I've told them a hundred times there's no fate between us."

She muttered in an annoyed tone, then lifted her head again to count the stars. Meticulously and carefully, as if she could see something there.

"Of all times, a red thread now..."

Others might not see it, but it was crystal clear in her eyes. The red thread of fate descending through the night sky.

"Time's running out, and the heavens are so cruel."

It was her lifelong-awaited Dao companion. But just when exhaustion from endless waiting had led her to let it all go, the heavens tested her once more. She wanted to sever the red thread in one stroke out of spite. But heaven's will was profound, the causal link couldn't be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cut at whim, nor could the karmic bond be forced. That's what made it fate, an inescapable destiny. Even if the other end was a lowly cultivator just stepping into the Refining Energy Realm.

"Can I... look forward to it?"

Her signature technique was Intertwined Lotus Flame. It blazed only when two shared it; alone, it withered away. A method that could only be completed when the roots intertwined.

"Forget it. Brilliant aptitude or not, reaching here is impossible."

There were countless with radiant talents. But those who ascended to the Upper Realm were but a handful.

"What a shame. I wanted to see you climb higher..."

A secret known to only a few: her lifespan had just over a thousand years left. A True Immortal's life was infinite, but imbalance was the issue.

Originally, Intertwined Lotus Flame was a righteous dual cultivation art of the immortal path, harmonizing yin and yang to advance realms. It was misunderstood as a demonic art because finding a partner was so rare. But she saw no need to correct them.

"Knowing the truth changes nothing."

The pairing condition for Intertwined Lotus Flame demanded two, man and woman, both with fire-attribute Heavenly Seedlings. And at the same realm. That's why her growth had stalled. From here on, no solo path existed. Not even burning her remaining life could reach it. Her technique was built that way. Even claiming a seat among heaven and earth's laws, like the throne of fate, wouldn't help. No wonder the old fogeys slandered Intertwined Lotus Flame as demonic.

"I wanted to join the Immortal-Demonic Great War too. What a pity."

Soon, the grand tournament between the immortal and demonic realms would begin. A pivotal clash deciding dominance for the next ten thousand years. It was amusing to see greedy cultivators desperately pulling young Heavenly Seedlings to their side, selfish to the extreme. Of course, she had lit the fuse, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but seeing lofty True Ones fret like that was a first.

"A Heavenly Seedling deserves it."

Surpassing single spiritual roots, chosen by the heavens, also called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immortal roots. But time was too tight. She acknowledged the genius who hit peak 1-star in one go. Yet a fresh sprout needed time to grow trunk and branches.

Her art straddled defying heaven and following the natural order, but there were limits. Burning all her lifespan for pure crimson flame might shorten it, but...

"No cultivator would do that."

She had been tempted once too. Pairing required a Dao companion at the same realm. But cultivators were human too. Who would burn extra life granted by the dao, let alone their original span—?

Correction: No one in any world would.

Thus, Celestial Maiden Hong-yeon, Myeolgeuk, let out a deep sigh at that moment. Meanwhile, in the Lower Realm, a dopamine fiend was recklessly burning his lifespan without a second thought.

"I'm an awakener too~ I'm an awakener~! Praised and adored by all, that's me, the awe↗ken↗er↘."

For some reason, my shoulders wouldn't stop dancing. I prided myself on my usual calm, cool rationality, but I couldn't contain the excitement.

Strictly speaking, I was a cultivator, not an awakener, but who cared.

From today, I was Awakener Choi Do-yul.

"Gonna make bank, hit up Kuugu for a sushi platter, then grab a strawberry delight yogurt blended with all the toppings at Shake Shack."

Oh right. Time to move too? Farewell, dingy studio apartment. Dobby walks only flower paths now.

"Ahem. Get a grip, Choi Do-yul."

Time to return to my ghostly lurking in the heartless gallery. I took deep breaths to calm my pounding heart.

Intertwined Lotus Flame. A fire-attribute immortal(?) technique that burned lifespan to boost realms. For my pink future, I had to learn it. Shrinking lifespan? Realms refill it, they said. Win-win, right? With this miraculous loan-now-pay-later logic established, I sat cross-legged before the manual.

Second time around, the pain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt less intense, I was proud.

But flipping through, I tilted my head.

"Something's off."

Cheongsim and the righteous crew had gritted their teeth calling it demonic, so I'd been half-scared. You know the tropes: blood sacrifices, necrophilia at midnight.

But Intertwined Lotus Flame's incantation was different from expectations. More like—

Isn't this a love song? You know, poignant poetry of longing love.

"This a demonic art?"

Does that make all romance demonic?

"Hmm... yeah, the aftermath can be brutal if you're not careful."

I had experience. Got sentimental for days after one. Now I avoid bad-end romance flicks. Turns out I have tear ducts.

Anyway.

"Fair enough, it earns the demonic label."

Myeolgeuk seemed to adapt it solo by sacrificing her own lifespan, but the incantation screamed partner-required. Real demonic? Devouring the other to grow? Nah, too tender for that.

Curiosity won; I DM'd Myeolgeuk. Public post felt wrong, it's their signature art.

Chills down my spine. Dual cultivation. Harmonizing yin-yang... together.

"Eek!"

Myeolgeuk's gotta be a girl, right? Had to be.

"What? That's scarier."

Heard some immortals were monster cultivators. What if Myeolgeuk swapped tentacles down there? Dual cultivation was wholesome unlike bedroom arts, but still...

Chat ended there.

"Damn, so ambiguous."

Scrolling comments yielded no gender clue.

"Gotta learn it? Or nah?"

Thanks to Myriad Meridian Self-Genesis, I could gauge it. Mastering Intertwined Lotus Flame shot me to peak 1-star. Bit more time, 2-star. Hard to pass up.

But it's for two cultivators exchanging energy. Suck innate essence solo? Like hugging myself instead of a girlfriend. Hands fading away. Warm at first, then arms gone, mad technique.

"No wonder it's misunderstood as demonic."

No one but a short-sighted fool like me would touch it. Front page warns:

Legendary Pokémon appearing once every ten millennia, meet in Upper Realm post-transcendence for duo, both fire-attribute. Easier said. Matching levels, factions, interests, chemistry? Tricky. Kidnapping? Nah, needs trust for energy exchange.

"Why'd Myeolgeuk learn it? Dopamine addict like me?"

Whatever. Must've had reasons to grow strong. I'm a sweet guy respecting privacy. Besides, we'd never meet.

"Transcendence? Pass."

I love Earth. Man, tentacle, whatever. Talk of interstellar wars, Lower Realm, meeting unlikely. Had to be.

So, eyes shut, dive in! Realms skyrocket!

How to resist? "Gazua!"

Cultivation done in a flash. Process like Myriad Meridian Self-Genesis, but different.

'Feels like a hot spring.'

Fire attribute confirmed. Body relaxed, mind at ease, like open-air bath. Desk candle seemed brighter, placebo?

This Intertwined Lotus Flame? Snapped to, at peak 1-star.

Wanna punch 2-star now. But bumpy meridians clogged with cholesterol, like unpaved road.

'Burst risk.'

Cheongsim wiki time.

Unfair. Who lives on grass and veggies? Korean-born, can't ditch pork stew, spicy pork.

One question popped up.

Got it.

"Time for the rest."

Three unopened manuals/spells left. Stashed the demonic one in empty storage pouch. Xianxia inventory, got two gifts. One with spirit stones, one empty. Waist bulked up unintentionally. Can't merge, house too risky. Gifts, y'know.

"Thanks, gonna use 'em well."

Heart racing, sat at desk. Crimson Blaze Sky-Mantra. Nameless cultivator's spell, name screamed it.

This was it.

"Fuck. How do I hold back Flame Breath."

Hold my beer. Time to breathe fire.