They Took the Bait
Keeping her distance from the two investigators, Baek Cheong quietly observed their every move. She maintained just enough separation that her divine sense could still brush against them, tracking their actions without giving herself away. At first she assumed they were simply wanderers hunting for a lucky break. But the longer she watched, the more something felt distinctly off.
The direction they were heading kept drifting closer and closer to her own position. Is it just my imagination? To test the theory, she stealthily shifted her location, deliberately changing course to widen the gap. Yet before long the pair altered their path as well, following her new heading with relentless precision.
They’re actually following me…?
She changed direction again, looping far around in a wide arc. The result was identical. No matter which way she moved, the two men pursued her without fail. It was far too persistent to dismiss as coincidence.
How are they tracking me?Baek Cheong narrowed her eyes, mind racing. Their divine sense was nowhere near as powerful as hers, yet somehow they kept dogging her heels. At the same time, another oddity stood out. They didn’t seem to be locking onto her exact location. It looked less like precise targeting and more like they were groping after a faint trail. Their pace was frustratingly sluggish, too.
So they don’t actually know where I am.
There had to be another method allowing them to follow without pinpointing her position. After turning the problem over in her head, only one answer fit. She had never given them any direct reason to tail her, after all. That narrowed it down to a single conclusion.
They’re tracking the Cloud Spiritual Pearl.
Baek Cheong glanced down at the treasure resting in her palm. It seemed they possessed some special means of pursuing it. Well, of course people would be after a treasure of this caliber.
For a brief moment she considered shattering her jade token and escaping the secret realm. She toyed with the token, hesitating. But destroying it wouldn’t cleanly solve everything. If they keep chasing the pearl even after we leave, it’ll become a massive headache.
If they could follow the Cloud Spiritual Pearl’s trace outside the secret realm, escalation was all but guaranteed. That’s the last thing I want.
More than anything, it unsettled her not knowing their true intentions. She couldn’t simply turn her back on them while their identities and goals remained a mystery. Since things have come this far, I might as well peel back their motives first.
Rather than flee, Baek Cheong decided to face them. Of course, she had zero intention of confronting them directly. If I prepare properly, there won’t be any real danger.
She halted at a comfortable distance and began working her hands busily while they approached. First she retrieved every one of the Five Elements Puppets from her storage pouch. Azure Thunder, Crimson Thunder, Golden Thunder, White Thunder, and Obsidian Thunder—the full set appeared before her.
Next she produced the Five Elements Flags. Infusing them with spiritual energy made the five colored banners flutter wildly, the power of each element rippling across the fabric. There was no better catalyst for formations than these flags.
First, concealment.
Baek Cheong positioned the puppets at precise intervals. They served as perfect anchors. She took out the character talismans she had prepared in advance and affixed one to each puppet. The inscribed characters glowed, unfurling a concealment array. The puppets’ outlines melted smoothly into the surrounding white clouds.
Even divine sense would struggle to detect them unless someone stood directly in front of them. The very cloud sea that devoured the senses had become the perfect hiding place. There’s no better spot to conceal a body.
She then waved the Five Elements Flags in slow, deliberate arcs, laying down an illusion array. It was a modified version of the Cloud Mirage Formation she had obtained at the Biun Sect, adapted to her own style. The array proved quite effective at weaving the five elements together to create convincing deceptions.
Following the flags’ movement, the nearby clouds began to ripple and swirl. Creating a believable phantom would be child’s play if she wished. Finally she drew the One Star Sword from her pouch and gripped it firmly. The unsheathed blade shimmered with a bluish sword light. She poured generous amounts of spiritual energy into it, preparing the weapon to launch as a flying sword at a moment’s notice. The energy-laden blade stood ready to fly with a single gesture.
Perfect. This should be more than enough.
With the trap fully prepared, Baek Cheong felt considerably more confident. She held her breath and waited for the two men to draw near.
It didn’t take long for the pair to enter close range. Focusing her divine sense, their movements became crystal clear. She could even hear their conversation in its entirety.
“This is the area. The pearl isn’t far now,” the Qi Condensation investigator in the lead said cautiously.
At the word “pearl,” Baek Cheong flinched inwardly. There was no mistaking what they meant.
“But no matter how I look at it, something feels very strange,” the Qi Condensation investigator continued, tilting his head. “The pearl is supposed to grow in places thick with spiritual energy. Yet for some reason it’s been moving around nonstop.”
The Foundation Establishment investigator beside him gave a derisive snort. “Isn’t it obvious? Nine times out of ten, someone’s already claimed it.”
“Then…”
“They’ve probably noticed we’re chasing them by now.”
Eavesdropping from hiding, Baek Cheong felt her confusion only deepen. Anyone who stepped into the cloud sea should have their senses dulled and muffled. Yet these two were conversing with perfectly clear faculties.
How are they unaffected inside the cloud sea?
Another suspicious detail stood out. The pair radiated casual confidence. Even with a priceless opportunity right in front of them, they showed no impatience whatsoever. They behaved as though the matter were already in the palm of their hands.
What’s with that laid-back attitude? It was hardly the demeanor of ordinary investigators. Come to think of it, the uneasy feeling she had gotten from the leading Qi Condensation cultivator during the tournament grew even stronger. The calm way he had stared at her kept resurfacing in her memory.
These two are definitely not average.
Soon the pair came to a stop. They scanned their surroundings, searching for traces of the pearl. Then the Foundation Establishment investigator raised his voice and bellowed.
The thunderous shout tore through the clouds and echoed in every direction. The unexpected name made Baek Cheong blink. It took her a moment to remember who Cheon-un was. When they had first entered the secret realm, someone had moved ahead of her—the top disciple of the Foundation Establishment division who had flown off using an escape technique.
If anyone could reach the deepest part of the cloud sea and seize the pearl, it would logically be that very top disciple. They’re mistaking me for him.
Once the realization clicked, the scattered pieces fell perfectly into place. They believed the top disciple had stolen the pearl and fled, breaking their agreement. This just got interesting.
A small smile curved Baek Cheong’s lips. The misunderstanding they had cooked up on their own made the perfect bait. She didn’t need to know exactly who Cheon-un was. She simply kept her mouth shut and offered no reply.
When no answer came, the Foundation Establishment investigator’s expression twisted savagely.
“...The plan’s gone wrong.”
He raised his hand. Dense spiritual energy swirled and gathered at a single point. A second-rank spell erupted, slamming into the entire area with devastating force. It was a display worthy of the Foundation Establishment stage. Even the thick cloud sea parted left and right for a brief moment. As the white mist cleared, the previously hidden surroundings were laid completely bare.
Yet all that appeared was an empty clearing. After all, the so-called Cheon-un had never been there to begin with.
Now.
Baek Cheong didn’t miss the opening. She poured spiritual energy into the Cloud Spiritual Pearl, suppressing its ability to draw in the clouds. The moment the pearl stopped absorbing, the trail it had been emitting vanished as if it had never existed.
“The pearl’s trace has disappeared!” the Qi Condensation investigator cried out in alarm, just as she expected. The persistent trail they had followed for so long had vanished in an instant.
The Foundation Establishment investigator’s head snapped around. “That bastard must have run!”
He hurled himself forward. At that exact moment Baek Cheong flicked the Five Elements Flags, activating the illusion array. One of the puppets concealed by the hiding formation stirred within the clouds. The appearance of the Foundation Establishment division’s top disciple she had glimpsed earlier was overlaid onto it, creating the image of someone desperately fleeing while clutching a fake pearl.
The illusion filled the Foundation Establishment investigator’s vision. To him it looked exactly like the top disciple’s back as he fled deeper into the cloud sea, treasure in hand.
A devastating blast of spiritual energy slammed forward, far fiercer than the previous strike.
“Cheon-un!!!”
Face flushed crimson with rage, the Foundation Establishment investigator unleashed his spell. The fleeing illusion was struck down in a single blow, unable to offer any resistance. The man strode forward triumphantly, only to freeze when he saw what lay on the ground.
“...A puppet?”
In that instant of confusion, he finally noticed the bluish sword buried in his own abdomen. The illusion had been a puppet all along. Distracted by the reveal, he had let his guard down and taken a clean hit.
It was the result of Baek Cheong launching the One Star Sword she had pre-charged with spiritual energy. The Foundation Establishment investigator frantically grabbed the blade, trying to snap it. But the flying sword slipped through his fingers like water. There was no catching a blade controlled by another’s energy with bare hands.
The sword withdrew smoothly from his stomach and soared back into the air. Blood welled between the fingers clutching his wound. Shock spread across both investigators’ faces at the unexpected ambush.
I don’t know the full story, but they’re definitely bad guys.
They had fallen for the illusion and immediately tried to kill. That was confirmation enough. Baek Cheong swung the Five Elements Flags in a wide arc above her head. The five banners snapped violently, unleashing the full power of the five elements. The surrounding cloud sea was completely swallowed by the array’s energy. Pure white clouds turned pitch black as though ink had been poured into them.
Inside the darkness the One Star Sword circled, searching for an opening. The puppets hidden by the concealment array rose silently, ready to strike.
Well then, shall we find out exactly what kind of people you are?