The Price of Acting Out of Character
The Supreme Elder had stepped into the late stage of Core Formation. It was a joyous occasion, a breakthrough past the minor realm boundary, but the timing was rather inconvenient. Only a few months prior, at the banquet celebrating the Family Head’s own breakthrough, three Nascent Soul cultivators had attended, and the clan’s ten-thousand-year grand plan had been publicly announced. It would have been excessive to host yet another grand banquet so soon.
In the end, it was decided that they would hold a modest gathering, inviting only the direct and branch family members who could attend. ‘Modest by the Baek family’s standards, anyway.’ Baek Cheong sat in a corner of the banquet hall, observing her surroundings. The spacious main hall of the estate was filled with dozens of relatives. From the seating arrangement to the quality of the food, it was a scale that would not lose out to any formal banquet of another clan. Even while calling it modest, the spirit tea and spirit wine flowed endlessly. The Baek family’s definition of "modest" was far removed from the sensibilities of ordinary people.
"The Supreme Elder has taken another step toward the Origin Infant stage—what a glorious occasion this is!"
"May the Supreme Elder’s health be ever robust, for the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Yeonha Baek clan shall only grow more solid!"
Toasts honoring the Supreme Elder’s path to the Origin Infant stage followed one after another. Reaching the late stage of Core Formation meant he had overcome a significant hurdle on the treacherous path toward the Origin Infant stage. It also signified that the Supreme Elder, as the pillar of the family, would remain to watch over them for a long time to come. The elders of the branch families vied to offer their congratulations, and her grandfather received their cups with the same vigor as always, nodding calmly.
She still vividly remembered how he had walked out of the Supreme Elder’s hall without a single speck of soot on his robes, even after being struck by the heavenly tribulation that had leveled half the building. ‘Grandfather is truly Grandfather.’
Her mother was watching from across the room, smiling contentedly. Her father sat beside her grandfather, concealing the aura that had deepened since his own breakthrough, and was offering him a cup of wine. With two pillars now supporting the family, the burden on their shoulders had been shared.
The banquet flowed on in such a harmonious atmosphere. With every round of drinks, the faces of the branch elders grew redder, and talk of the family’s future—now with two Core Formation cultivators—drifted about. Baek Cheong let such conversations drift past her ears as she sipped the spirit tea set before her. There was one thing noticeably different about this banquet: the way the branch elders looked at her.
"To think Cheong is already at the 7th star of Qi Refining; truly impressive."
"It’s only been two years since she started cultivating..."
"To overcome the fate of having mixed spiritual roots and reach this point—it is nothing short of astonishing."
The tone of the words the branch members tossed her way was entirely different from before. In the past, their gazes had been filled with cheap pity and mockery. As the youngest daughter of the Family Head, labeled with the "trash" five-element spiritual roots, the most she ever received was light, dismissive encouragement. But now, wonder was mixed in with their words. Only two years into her cultivation, she had transcended the fate of her spiritual roots to reach the 7th star of Qi Refining. She had even surpassed the eldest, second, and third sons of the direct line.
It was a hasty thought, but rumors were quietly circulating among the branch family that she was no different from a talent capable of becoming a Great Cultivator.
"If you're at the 7th star of Qi Refining, you're near the Great Perfection, aren't you? You’ve done so well, Cheong."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Are you aiming for Foundation Establishment next?"
‘Well, I suppose. Though it would cut into my forum-lurking time.’
Baek Cheong did not voice her inner thoughts. "Yes, I am training hard with Foundation Establishment as my goal."
Satisfied with her exemplary answer, her uncle nodded and walked away. But Baek Cheong let out a silent huff. Comparing her cultivation speed to her brothers was inherently unfair. Her brothers were all Earth Spiritual Root users. Because their talent was high, they didn't need to rush; they had reached Foundation Establishment by diligently solidifying their foundations, without consuming a single Qi-Gathering Pill or stepping into a single Qi-Gathering Formation. For an Earth Spiritual Root user, building a foundation step-by-step was the natural course, and their slow initial speed was purely due to that internal consolidation.
She, on the other hand, had mixed spiritual roots. Thanks to the family’s generous support of Qi-Gathering Pills and top-grade attribute pills—intended to at least raise her cultivation level—she had broken through the Qi Refining stage quickly. Since the internal quality of cultivation gained through external aids differed from that gained through self-cultivation, it wasn't something the branch family should be comparing so carelessly.
‘Though, the situation is a bit different now.’
Thanks to the Five-Element Pill, she had gained the quality of a Five-Element Heavenly Spiritual Root, and she was raising her cultivation level logically, albeit belatedly. Only Yakseon, her grandfather, and her father knew of the change in her spiritual roots. The branch family still perceived her as a genius who had barely managed to overcome her mixed spiritual roots. Baek Cheong had no intention of revealing the state of her roots as they were.
She was capable of self-sufficiency with pills like the Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pill and other attribute pills, but she felt no personal need to rush her cultivation. It was wiser to suppress the nutrient-draining effects of her hidden integrative roots with talisman-inscribed pills and adjust the timing of her breakthroughs herself.
‘Well, more than that...’
The problem was that the changed attitude of the branch family members was quite bothersome. In the past, no one had approached her first. They had sent looks of pity, but it was rare for them to actually seek conversation. It had been more comfortable then; now, the situation was the complete opposite.
"Cheong, is there a secret to your training?"
"Our second child is also at the Qi Refining stage, so if you have any helpful words..."
The number of people approaching her had increased tenfold. Everything was a nuisance, but since the banquet would end in a day, she had to endure it. She kept her composure, sitting in her seat and bowing her head to answer the congratulations offered by the elders. On the outside, she looked polite, but on the inside, she was waiting for the banquet to end as quickly as possible. ‘I just want to go back to my room and lurk on the forum.’
The banquet was past its midpoint. As the wine flowed and the atmosphere loosened, the branch elders began to gather in groups, blooming into conversation. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief because the attention toward her was naturally fading, she spotted her uncle’s face among the crowd. It had been a long time since her uncle, who usually resided in the Southern Capital, had shown his face at the main estate. He must have been busy expanding the Baek Clan Merchant Association ever since her father’s successful Core Formation.
Her uncle was present at the banquet, but his expression was poor. He was sitting alone in a corner of the hall, tilting his cup, his face deeply clouded with worry. He seemed lost in thought, not mingling with those around him.
‘Could it be...’
Baek Cheong guessed, and her small heart gave a prick. Had she caused a problem by making an unreasonable request? She remembered pestering him for a 2nd-tier Five Elements Puppet as a gift. Creating five 1st-tier Five Elements Puppets cost fifty premium spirit stones, and a 2nd-tier set would cost double that. She had essentially dumped a cost of nearly a hundred premium spirit stones on her uncle, so it was no wonder he was lost in worry. She felt a tiny, tiny bit of guilt.
‘Why did it have to be my uncle who looks so troubled?’
After a moment of hesitation, she stood up. She approached her uncle with cautious steps. "Uncle."
Baek Muyeong looked up and saw Baek Cheong. She noticed his face, which lacked its usual vigor. "Oh, it’s Cheong."
He gestured with his chin for her to sit in the seat beside him. Baek Cheong sat down cautiously. Up close, she saw dark shadows under his eyes, and his cheeks looked thinner than usual. The tendency he had to watch her with sharp eyes at every opportunity was nowhere to be found, and even the hand holding the wine cup lacked strength. Her guilt rose from "tiny" to "a little."
‘Let’s at least give him this.’
Baek Cheong pulled a small bundle from her storage pouch and held it out to her uncle. Inside the bundle were ten jade bottles neatly arranged. Each bottle contained three Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills, totaling thirty pills. "These are the Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills I’ve made in the meantime. Please use them to help with making the 2nd-tier Five Elements Puppets."
Since her secret of creating low-grade Five-Element Pills had been discovered and she had been taught the secret alchemy method by Yakseon, her uncle also knew she had been making them. As a result, she didn't hide it like last time and confidently handed over the pills she had made herself. Above all, Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills were not items one could find just anywhere, and each pill released a significant amount of spiritual energy. Ten bottles were a considerable resource, so it would be of some help in puppet production.
Baek Muyeong stared blankly at the bundle held out to him. ‘Why is he like this?’ He hesitated for a moment with a bewildered expression, then took the bundle. As he picked up a jade bottle to examine it, the faint, refined spiritual energy characteristic of talisman-inscribed pills seeped out of the bottle. Only after examining it for a long time did Baek Muyeong’s eyes move quickly, grasping the situation. He looked back and forth between the bundle and Baek Cheong’s face, and a subtle expression appeared at the corners of his mouth. He had realized why his niece had brought this and what she was misunderstanding.
"Cheong."
"Yes?"
"It is not the trouble you are worried about, but I shall put these Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills to good use."
Along with Baek Muyeong’s tone, which seemed to be teasing his niece, a relaxed smile slowly spread over his weary expression. ‘Eh...?’
Baek Cheong realized her misunderstanding belatedly. Her uncle’s worry had nothing to do with the cost of the 2nd-tier Five Elements Puppets. It was true that 2nd-tier puppets cost a great deal, but as the head of the Baek Clan Merchant Association, it wasn't something he couldn't handle. Since she had harbored unnecessary guilt all by herself and even offered a gift, her uncle must have found her misunderstanding amusing.
"Uncle, then please give the Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills back."
She reached out her hand to retrieve the bundle. But Baek Muyeong was already sliding the bundle into his spatial artifact. He leisurely lifted his wine cup, took a sip, and pretended not to hear her.
"Uncle!"
"Since I have already received it, it would be difficult to return it."
"But I made those!"
"However, would it be proper etiquette to ask for something back that you offered first?"
Baek Cheong was at a loss for words before her uncle, who was calmly citing propriety. Since she had clearly offered it first, asking for it back didn't make sense. It was a situation brought on by her own mistake.
"I had to go through so much trouble to brew those thirty pills..."
"Then isn't it all the more valuable?"
Faced with his airtight response, Baek Cheong couldn't think of anything else to argue. It was impossible to win against her uncle with words. ‘My ten bottles of Talisman-Inscribed Qi-Gathering Pills...’ The stockpile she had diligently brewed through puppet-assisted alchemy had passed into her uncle’s hands. As she pouted with a sense of injustice, Baek Muyeong opened his mouth as if to change the subject.
"The reason I was lost in worry is for a different cause."
"What is it?"
The sulky tone came out on its own.
"Isn't the New Year returning in a few months?"
Apart from this, Baek Muyeong’s expression darkened again. The playfulness vanished, and he returned to the worried look he had worn when he first entered the banquet hall.
"It seems I must visit the Biun Sect in time for that."
"The Biun Sect?"
"Yes."
Her uncle sighed heavily as he set down his wine cup. "Since the family’s prestige has changed externally, shouldn't we show sincerity befitting that? It wouldn't be proper to announce our ten-thousand-year grand plan and then not even pay a visit to the Biun Sect; we would lose face."
The Biun Sect was a great sect with a Transformation-stage ancestor still active. Her eldest brother was a direct disciple of the Sect Leader, and the relationship between the two sides had deepened to the point where an Inner Elder of the Biun Sect had brought the Sect Leader’s personal letter to her father’s Core Formation banquet. It was not a situation where they could be negligent in their first visit after the family’s prestige had changed.
"It is not something you need to worry about, so don't trouble yourself over it."
Baek Muyeong added that and fell back into deep thought. If it were sincerity to be shown to a great sect serving a Transformation-stage ancestor, simply obtaining items from the Manxiang Pavilion would not be enough. He had to prepare something that fit the family’s status while also being able to move the other party’s heart. His worry was bound to deepen naturally.
‘The Biun Sect.’
Meanwhile, the faces of her eldest brother Baek Gyu, Jin Wi, and Mongyo flashed through Baek Cheong’s mind in turn. She remembered Jin Wi smiling brightly and telling her he would guide her around the Biun Sect. It was a promise made on a casual remark she had tossed out, but she hadn't forgotten it.
‘Forget it, I’ll think about it later.’
Baek Cheong set aside her thoughts and put on a demure expression again. However, her thoughts regarding the Biun Sect did not vanish from her mind as easily as she had expected.