Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: How to Build Inner Power as Easily as Eating Candy - 2
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There are three ways to increase inner power in Celestial Moon.
The first is through training, combat, or sparring to level up your own abilities.
The second is enlightenment gained through events.
I'm talking about that classic enlightenment trope you see all the time in wuxia stories.
Going through it boosts your inner power and overall stats.
And the final third method...
Consuming spiritual herbs.
Obviously, the easiest is the first one: consistent training.
Enlightenment is event-based, so it doesn't just happen on demand. Spiritual herbs that boost inner power are hard to find in the first place, and most are tucked away in secret realms or hidden spots.
Even then, you often have to trigger events to learn their locations. And after busting your ass to clear a secret realm, you might come out empty-handed more often than not.
In other words, getting spiritual herbs from secret realms is practically impossible if you don't know how or where to find them. That's just common sense.
And that means...
If you do know where and how, it's totally doable.
"Huuu..."
Sayoon slowly opened her eyes, finishing her meditation with a soft exhale. A faint flush of color had returned to her previously pale face.
"Huh? Senior Sister Yuhee...?"
"I told you to stay put, so what are you doing here...?"
One of the worried girls roughly ruffled Sayoon's hair. The affection in that gesture was plain to see, even for an outsider like me.
"No, I saw that person over there looked in danger... I'm a disciple of the righteous Crimson Star Sect, aren't I? So..."
Helping the weak and upholding justice.
She was just putting the Crimson Star Sect's teachings into practice. That's all.
Sayoon stammered her excuse with a reddened face. Yuhee, who had fallen silent for a moment, flicked her forehead with a knuckle rap.
-Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Even so, that was too reckless! Who the hell were you fighting?!"
"Cunning Wolf Kajun."
Yuhee's face twisted even more at my interjection from the sidelines. And another knuckle rap.
I could understand her feelings.
"Cunning Wolf? You mean that evil sect bastard?! Are you out of your mind...?"
"Senior Sister said that to protect justice and uphold righteousness, we must press forward even into danger..."
"The little junior... talking back?!"
-Thwack!
Another one. Sayoon clutched her head with a pitiful expression, while Yuhee huffed and launched into a full lecture about how she'd get an earful when they got back.
"She did it to help me, so please go easy on her."
"Sigh... Anyway, are you hurt anywhere?"
"Thanks to little sister Sayoon, I'm fine. Ah, I haven't introduced myself properly. I'm Yuwol. I run the inn and trading post in Island Flower Village."
"Ah... Ah?!"
Yuhee looked startled as I gave a light cupped-fist salute, but she quickly returned it with a bow of her own.
"Yuhee of the Crimson Star Sect."
The other Crimson Star Sect disciple beside her introduced herself as well. Seizing the awkward pause after our brief exchange, I took a step back.
"In any case, I owe little sister Sayoon a debt. It wouldn't feel right to just brush it off. If there's anything you need, I can provide it from the trading post. I hear the Crimson Star Sect doesn't accept payment."
"Ahaha... Yes, that's right. Our sect's teachings say that those with power bear equal responsibility. And Senior Sister mentioned it."
That she'd soon invite the Crimson Star Sect disciples to the inn for a grand feast.
I nodded as she spoke briefly.
"That's one thing, and this is another. It's lunchtime anyway—why not come in and have a meal before you go?"
"Uh... That's okay..."
-Grrrooowl...!
Who was that?
Whose stomach growled?
I looked at the three of them, and spotted the face of the girl who'd just been in the thick of the fight turn bright red.
"That answers it."
Of course, I didn't forget to handle Kajun's body first.
There were plenty of folks who'd report it to the authorities for a few coins.
A short while later, after watching the constables haul off Kajun's corpse and the groaning thugs, I finally led the trio to the inn.
The cook had arrived by the time we got there. Lunchtime hadn't hit yet, but prepping a meal was no issue.
I figured they'd just order cheap stuff like thin noodles or dumplings anyway, so I placed the order myself.
After ordering some of the inn's pricier dishes, Sayoon's face started to drain of color.
"Th-those are so expensive... I didn't help you expecting this. And um..."
"It's fine."
I cut her off firmly and sat at a nearby table.
"More importantly, you said you're the Crimson Star Sect's youngest disciple... You're pretty strong."
"Ah, well..."
Sayoon glanced at Yuhee, who nodded, and let out a small sigh.
"I've been learning a bit extra from Senior Sister lately. So..."
Extra lessons from Hongryeon?
Why?
And how far had she gotten?
But Yuhee's glare was too intense to press further. It was internal sect business anyway.
The important part was that Sayoon had progressed further in the Crimson Star Divine Art than I'd expected. Nothing bad about that for me.
If she got stronger, it would make averting the Crimson Star Sect's destruction event that much easier.
"I see."
As I nodded, the first dish arrived: an appetizer of stir-fried eggplant and assorted vegetables, seasoned to perfection.
The three girls' eyes lit up at the sight.
"Then, eat up and enjoy."
"Aren't you joining us?"
"It'd just make things awkward if I tagged along. Eat without worrying. Oh, and when you leave, take a box of candy each. Anything else you need, just say the word—no pressure."
"Huh? Candy too? I'm fine, really..."
"If not for little sister Sayoon, I'd have been in big trouble."
I smiled, and Sayoon hesitated before forcing a smile back.
With that, I returned to my room.
Ever since entering this world, the only things I'd done for Sayoon were send a letter and a pouch of silver.
Yet her martial arts had improved, meaning my actions had influenced things, diverging from the original story.
If that change was heading in a positive direction, I needed to push it further.
A bit more. Just a bit more.
I mulled it over in my room, smoking some tobacco. How much time passed? When I stepped outside, the inn was packed with customers.
The Crimson Star Sect girls were gone, replaced at their table by two burly herbalists nursing cheap red liquor over lunch.
"Innkeeper."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I heard from those Crimson Star Sect disciples earlier. You were attacked...?"
One of the inn's servants—who doubled as muscle when trouble brewed—spoke with concern. I just smiled.
"No big deal. Don't worry about it."
Yeah.
Because there were more important things.
A few days passed since the attack.
We stayed vigilant against any follow-ups, but maybe because the Crimson Star Sect got involved directly? No real issues cropped up.
So around the time the inn got busy with booze-hungry patrons, I finished my preparations and headed out.
Couldn't rule out another attack like before, but sitting idle wasn't an option.
Still, no one seemed to be tailing me...
"Huu..."
Bathed in moonlight, I arrived at Crimson Star Mountain.
The stunning sacred mountain where the Crimson Star Sect had stood for ages.
There was only one reason to climb this Thousand-Day Plum Blossom-laden peak in the dead of night.
"Hm..."
Midway up Crimson Star Mountain, past Dragon Head Rock to the west, a cliff led down to a path between boulders.
After trudging through dense underbrush and trees—impossible to spot unless you were right up on it—a massive cave came into view.
If you don't know where or how to get spiritual herbs that boost inner power, you'll never obtain them.
In Celestial Moon, it takes tons of research and events to even learn these spots.
That's why they're so hard to get.
But if you already know?
Then there's no easier way to power up.
That's why I'd come to this cave.
I'd targeted one of Crimson Star Mountain's secret realms, accessible only around the late third act.
Clear this place, and you get the herbs. So I had to conquer it.
I entered the cave and spotted a pressure-plate formation.
Normally, you'd need an event to learn how to disarm it, but I already knew.
I triggered the plates and decorations to disable it. The wall vanished in an instant.
Behind it loomed a massive stone door.
I stepped one foot forward, toward the door rippling with red energy. It blocked my entry.
- Who seeks to enter?
"The innkeeper of Island Flower Village's sole inn, owner of its only trading post, and one who wishes for the Crimson Star Sect's safety and prosperity."
- We do not know him.
I figured as much.
I hadn't planned to force my way in anyway—just confirming it was the place I knew. So I backed off.
The aggressive red energy faded completely as I retreated.
Alright. Confirmation done. Time to head back?
"Tch..."
I descended the mountain by moonlight, deep in thought.
Actually, there was an easier way to prevent the Crimson Star Sect's destruction.
Just warn them about the Iron Blood Clan and send a letter advising vigilance against future attacks.
And I already had.
The issue was how they'd take it.
-Rustle... rustle...
I recalled the letter I'd sent recently. It basically said the sect might face an attack leading to annihilation—stay alert.
Problem is, letters like that flood into the Crimson Star Sect.
It's a prestigious righteous sect with the Sword Saint as a powerful deterrent.
Few in number, but not just senior disciple Hongryeon—even Ryuhyeon and a few others have fame and respect in the martial world.
And the sect's reputation goes without saying.
So plenty try to exploit it.
Some send warnings like "danger ahead, be careful," or "a sinister force lurks—lend your strength."
A little digging showed it'd happened plenty before.
So the odds of them believing my letter were slim to none.
At best, I'd need to build some trust to move the whole sect... But even the Martial Alliance can't budge the Sword Saint. Easy? Hardly.
"Sigh. What can you do."
I knew it wouldn't be simple. For now, doing my best within my means was the play.
I trudged back to the inn, plotting my next move.
"Hm?"
Someone stood in front of the inn. A woman with striking fiery red hair.
Hongryeon, the Crimson Star Sect's senior disciple. I'd seen her once before.
"Waiting for someone?"
"Oh? Where've you been?"
"Had some business. From the way you're talking, looks like you came for me. Why wait out here instead of inside?"
"Haha... Things are a bit tight this month."
She scratched the back of her head with an awkward laugh. I shrugged.
Makes sense. The sect's operations were always strapped for cash.
Even if she waited inside, she'd have to order tea or something. Probably saving every coin.
"So? What's up?"
"Ah, well..."
Her sheepish expression shifted to something serious, right as she opened her mouth to speak.
-Screeech!!
A dagger sliced through the air from the darkness. Hongryeon twisted her head aside to dodge, then glared into the shadows.
"Tch."
"Hee hee hee... The Crimson Star Sect's senior disciple sneaking off for a midnight rendezvous with a man. How delightfully scandalous."
A high, seductive voice dripped with honey.
I ground my teeth the moment I saw her.
Not because of her looks, mind you.
The sharp upward tilt of her eyes, the tight outfit hugging every curve like spandex.
Long limbs, slim waist, voluptuous hips—anyone would be tempted.
But the reason I scowled was simple.
She was Chaejin, senior disciple of Full Moon Pavilion under Doje—the mastermind behind Sayoon's forced defeat event.
Wait, why the hell was she here now? Shouldn't she be off with the Martial Alliance at this point?
"Dodging our duel, are we...?"
Her sultry tone turned icy. Hongryeon shrugged it off.
"I had something more important."
"Ha!! Like meeting a man?!"
"No."
She let out a small sigh and spoke slowly.
"Gathering spiritual herbs for our youngest disciple."