The Price of a Master
I’d been tricked! A nominal disciple was just a relationship in name only. There was no need to be tethered to a master’s side, nor any requirement to spend all day sharpening a sword. “Ordinarily, even a nominal disciple must enter the sect, but since you would be away for a long time if you left here, I shall make an exception and allow you to remain with your family.”
‘...I survived.’ Baek Cheong let out a sigh of relief internally. But the relief was short-lived. The very fact that she was forming a master-disciple bond with a Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect carried no small amount of weight. Above all, she felt puzzled by the fact that he was granting her such convenience, and her body language betrayed her before she could stop it.
“The reason I am going to such lengths is that there are those who have begun to grow suspicious, and it is high time I finished my search for a disciple.” The Pacheon Sword Sovereign continued in a calm tone. At that, Baek Cheong tilted her head slightly to gauge his reaction.
‘Suspicious people?’ Baek Cheong tilted her head slightly to read the room. The Pacheon Sword Sovereign’s face remained as dry and expressionless as ever. However, his words contained something that couldn’t be brushed off lightly. A moment ago, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign had clearly stated that wandering around looking for a disciple was merely a pretext, and that he was touring the continent because there was work he needed to finish before ascending to the Transformation stage. And if suspicious eyes were beginning to follow that pretext...
‘It means the important work is either finished or nearing its end.’ There was no longer any reason to roam the continent. And the fact that he was taking on a nominal disciple meant...
‘He’s trying to use me to put an end to it.’ He had said he was touring the continent to find a disciple, so he needed a result to make the pretext complete. By visiting the Yeonha Baek clan and making her a nominal disciple, the justification for his tour would be finalized.
‘I thought only my uncle was using me.’ She had assumed her uncle had used her as bait to lure the Pacheon Sword Sovereign, but the Pacheon Sword Sovereign was also in a position where he needed a disciple to keep up appearances. Their interests had simply aligned. She dared not guess what was hidden behind it all. It was work that a great cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage valued more than ascending to the Transformation stage. Knowing the full picture would be stepping into a place from which there was no return. The closer one got to dangerous business, the more misfortune followed than fortune. So, she didn’t bother asking. Instead, she lowered her head, carefully refining her intent to refuse.
“I dare not fathom the Sword Sovereign’s intentions. However, I am already receiving teachings from Yakseon. How could I possibly serve two masters?”
She had spoken around the point, but the intent to refuse was clear. The Pacheon Sword Sovereign watched Baek Cheong quietly. A brief silence passed as he stroked his chin. Eventually, he opened his mouth in a low voice.
“According to rumors spreading outside, you display talents in many fields—wielding multiple arts, alchemy, talisman-making, and even puppetry. Yet, people dismiss it as a mere flash of brilliance from a child who has only reached the Qi Refining stage.”
Baek Cheong knew, though it was sudden, that he was talking about her. Multiple arts, alchemy, talismans, puppets. They were all things that had been revealed in official settings—her demonstrations before the Biun Sect delegation or her actions at the Golden Core banquet. They weren’t things she had intended to hide, but events that had unfolded before many eyes.
‘If it’s only that much.’ If they were dismissing it as the fleeting talent of a Qi Refining child, then she wasn’t in danger yet. But the very fact that her story was spreading outside was not something she could be happy about. Rumors only spread when they became a matter of interest to other cultivators. And being of interest to cultivators meant there was inevitably more to lose than to gain. Interest invited investigation, investigation invited discovery, and discovery invited danger. Her worries began to mount, and her complexion stiffened. She tried to manage her expression, but she couldn’t hide the furrowing of her brow.
The Pacheon Sword Sovereign watched Baek Cheong’s stiffening face and continued.
“And these are merely the things revealed on the surface. You have also mastered incredibly profound formations in a short time.”
Baek Cheong bit her lip without realizing it. No one knew she was learning formations. Yet, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign knew.
“And despite being in the Qi Refining stage, your divine sense rivals that of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.”
Her divine sense was at the 23rd level, surpassing the limits of the Qi Refining stage to rival the early Golden Core stage. It was difficult to detect in daily life, but it was a different story for someone to pinpoint it so accurately.
“And even though you are not a lightning-root user, you possess the lingering traces of lightning qi...”
The Pacheon Sword Sovereign knew she handled lightning qi. Even when she had entered the Clan Head Hall, or when he had shown her the sword fragment, he hadn’t mentioned it once. He had known from the start and simply hadn’t shown it.
“...And a strange spiritual root that even I cannot identify.”
Baek Cheong was so shocked her face turned pale. He had noticed the Integrative Hidden Root that had manifested when she realized the Five Elements Union. ‘Even I cannot identify,’ he had said, so it seemed he didn’t know exactly what it was. But she couldn’t hide her astonishment that he had noticed the Integrative Hidden Root, however vaguely.
“If the things hidden beneath the surface are revealed, not even the fences of your family will be able to protect you.” The Pacheon Sword Sovereign said, looking straight at Baek Cheong. At this, Baek Cheong lowered her head, unable to move a muscle.
‘Can someone at the peak of the Core Formation stage see through everything to this extent?’ Three Core Formation cultivators had visited the Golden Core banquet. But none of them had ever pointed out things like this. Is it only possible because he is at the peak of the Core Formation stage, not the early or middle stages?
“This is only possible because it is I.” Perhaps reading Baek Cheong’s agitation, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign spoke more softly, as if to soothe her. “Not everyone at the Core Formation stage can see through this, so set aside your useless worries.”
She was half-doubting, but when she thought about it carefully, it made sense. The three Core Formation cultivators at the banquet hadn’t noticed a thing. Since he was a Core Formation cultivator on the verge of the Transformation stage, it was only natural that his caliber was different. She felt relieved belatedly, and the tension left her stiff shoulders. But immediately after soothing her, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign added more weight to his words.
“However, it will become difficult to hide eventually. That is the nature of things as your realm rises. Even if the Heavenly Sword Sect protects you, you will not be safe.”
Baek Cheong couldn’t say a word. The Pacheon Sword Sovereign paused for a moment before continuing.
“But if you become my nominal disciple, the story changes. If my name is attached to you, there will be no one who dares to lay a hand on you easily. Not only you, but your family will also be safe, so you need not worry any longer.”
They were calm words, but the weight they carried was not light. It meant he would protect her in the name of the Pacheon Sword Sovereign himself.
“I will speak with Yakseon separately, so do not worry.”
Baek Cheong remained with her head bowed, chewing over his words. After seeing through her secrets, he had offered protection. He had said her master-disciple relationship with Yakseon would be no problem either. Looking at the story alone, there were no holes. But as soon as she heard this far, one question arose.
‘Why?’ Why was there a need to persuade her, a mere Qi Refining child, to this extent? Even if her spiritual root was strange and she had talent, was it worth this much effort for a great cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage to persuade her? Even if taking on a nominal disciple was necessary to finish his pretext, why did it have to be her?
Perhaps noticing her suspicion, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
“Just consider it the goodwill of an old man.” He said in a light tone, then immediately continued. “And externally, I will announce you as my Transmission Disciple.”
‘Transmission Disciple!?’ A scream almost rose from Baek Cheong’s throat. Not a nominal disciple, but a transmission disciple. A disciple whose name was just listed and a disciple who inherited the secret teachings were as different as heaven and earth. If the name of the Pacheon Sword Sovereign’s transmission disciple spread through the cultivation world, it would have repercussions beyond imagination. But the Pacheon Sword Sovereign, as if expecting Baek Cheong’s reaction, added immediately.
“However, since you are young, it would be cruel to make you walk the path of a Body Cultivator.”
‘Well, obviously.’ For an eleven-year-old, Body Cultivator training was nothing short of abuse. Although there were many children her age living as Body Cultivators, it was a story unrelated to her.
“So, it will be known that you are staying with your family and will be taught later when the time comes.”
‘So, in the end, it is true that I am a nominal disciple.’ Baek Cheong organized her complex thoughts. There was no need to pick up a sword right away, nor any need to jump into Body Cultivator training. If she could receive protection in the name of the Pacheon Sword Sovereign, continue her alchemy under Yakseon, and enjoy the Moomyeongbang just as she did now...
‘The conditions are too good.’ If anything, that was why her anxiety wouldn’t go away. Clearly, from what she could see, there were only conditions beneficial to her. But it was suspicious that a great cultivator at the peak of the Core Formation stage would offer such good conditions to a Qi Refining child. It was a truth that there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world.
‘I can’t even ask about this.’ She felt anxious, but she couldn’t dare show it. The Pacheon Sword Sovereign knew most of her secrets. The longer she resisted here, the worse the situation would get. She stepped back and faced the Pacheon Sword Sovereign directly. Then, she slowly bowed her waist deeply and brought her hands together neatly.
“Disciple Baek Cheong will uphold the master’s teachings.”
Baek Cheong put strength into her voice so it wouldn’t tremble. With her head bowed, her gaze was directed at the floor. Above her head, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign’s laughter could be heard faintly.
“Good.”
The Pacheon Sword Sovereign leaned back in his chair and nodded with satisfaction. Warmth had settled on his previously dry face. It was a grandfatherly expression she was seeing for the first time. Baek Cheong couldn’t tell if he was genuinely happy or satisfied that things had gone according to plan. She just couldn’t sense any malice. But, as if to ruthlessly crush such thoughts, the Pacheon Sword Sovereign stroked his chin and opened his mouth.
“Still, since you are a transmission disciple to the outside world.”
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t I have to teach you a few techniques to keep up appearances?”
Baek Cheong ruminated on the words she had just heard. ‘Wait.’ It was flowing in a strange direction. But she didn’t even have time to think.
“I will stay at the Yeonha Baek clan for a while and teach you.”
‘You said the transmission disciple was a disguise!!! You said it was a nominal disciple!!!’ She screamed internally, but she couldn’t let it out. She calmly steadied her small chest and opened her mouth.
“For a while...”
“It’s for external appearances, so it won’t take long. I have work to do as well.”
The Pacheon Sword Sovereign answered as if it were nothing. And he said it wouldn’t take long. But the time perception of a long-lived great cultivator was different. There was no telling how long he would stay and teach her.
‘I’ve been tricked!’ Baek Cheong had no choice but to close her eyes tightly and shed tears of blood inside. And, biting the bullet, she managed her expression and spat out words she didn’t mean.
“...It is an honor to receive your teachings.”