Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Blood Ties Run Deep
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‘You’ll draw out the power I desire? How?’
The moment I met the boy’s golden eyes, the conversation I’d had with Chae-chae came rushing back.
“Are there monsters in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?”
“I’ve never seen one myself, but that’s what they say. A beast with golden fur and golden eyes. Anyone who enters its territory ends up with their energy core shattered, reduced to a cripple before dying.”
‘Golden hair and golden eyes...’
Then everything else Chae-chae had said about the monster flooded my mind.
“But why would anyone go into a place with such a dangerous monster? Did they not know?”
“No, they all knew and went anyway. They heard the monster guarded a spirit treasure.”
“A spirit treasure?”
“Yeah, some kind of flower, I think.”
‘That golden lotus from which the boy emerged.’
The golden lotus had vanished the moment the boy appeared, but it was clearly connected to him.
“So, you’re the monster Chae-chae mentioned?”
“Monster? Where else would you find a being as divine as me?”
The flamboyantly handsome boy lifted a golden round fan and fanned himself with a sly grin.
‘There’s a golden lotus engraved on the fan, too.’
“You... you’re that golden lotus that bloomed in the spring just now, aren’t you?”
“Exactly. They call me the Golden Immortal Lotus.”
‘Golden Immortal Lotus... Daddy told me about it once.’
“There are many mystical spirit beings in the world. Today, I’ll tell you about the Golden Immortal Lotus.”
“What’s that?”
“A golden lotus that shines like you, Star. It grew for thousands of years in the immortal realm until one jealous immortal cast it down to a remote, uninhabited place in the human world.”
“That immortal was so mean! Poor Golden Immortal Lotus!”
“Indeed. How is our Star so kind-hearted?”
“So it’s been alone ever since?”
“We can’t know for sure since no one found it, but probably.”
“I bet the Golden Immortal Lotus is lonely! If I meet it, Star will be its friend!”
“Sure, why not? The Golden Immortal Lotus is lucky to have a friend like you, Star!”
‘Ah... I had no idea I’d actually meet the Golden Immortal Lotus back then.’
“...I see. So you’re the Golden Immortal Lotus.”
“You know of me?”
“Daddy told me about you when I was little.”
“Oh, you mean that sickly father of yours?”
“...Yeah.”
As my face fell at the mention of Daddy’s illness, the Golden Immortal Lotus gave me an inscrutable look.
‘This isn’t the time to mope. There’s something more important to check first.’
“I know you’ve lived far longer than me, but can I call you Lotus for short? Is that okay?”
“Sure. I don’t fuss over human counting.”
The Golden Immortal Lotus shrugged and readily accepted my suggestion.
“Lotus, is it true you turned everyone who entered this cave into cripples?”
“I just took their energy cores.”
‘That’s the same thing!’
“Then did you kill them too?”
“No. They despaired after losing their cores and took their own lives. It was their choice.”
‘Martial artists without an energy core can’t survive in the jianghu anymore. I’m the exception—most who come this far have devoted their lives to cultivating martial arts. Losing it all would plunge them into unimaginable despair.’
I could somewhat understand the mindset of those who had ended their own lives.
“Why did you do it?”
“They tried to steal my treasure without permission. I merely punished them.”
“Treasure?”
“The seed of the Golden Immortal Lotus. The one and only spirit treasure in the world. It breaks through your body’s blockages and elevates your martial arts to the peak. That’s why they came here—to steal it.”
‘Hearing it that way, those who came here were in the wrong first.’
“You could’ve just scared them off.”
“Humans are tenacious. If I let them live, they’d come back. Especially martial artists. So I took their energy cores to ensure they’d never think of returning.”
‘From the Golden Immortal Lotus’s perspective, that was mercy.’
At least it didn’t kill them outright.
Wait. Does that mean it’ll take my energy core too?
“I came here thinking it was just a spring.”
I hurriedly clutched my dantian protectively and assumed a defensive stance.
“I know. That’s why I let you live.”
Relief washed over me at the Golden Immortal Lotus’s words, but only briefly.
‘I... I could’ve had my energy core taken and lived as a cripple forever if I’d messed up, right?’
The thought sent chills down my spine.
“You’re not going to take mine too, are you?”
“Well, normally, since you know of my existence, I should kill you...”
For a split second, the Golden Immortal Lotus’s golden eyes turned icy as they fixed on me.
“But I’ve decided to let you live. I won’t kill you.”
‘I won’t kill you.’
I recalled the first words the Golden Immortal Lotus had said to me upon transforming into a boy.
“Shall I draw it out?”
“The power you desire.”
“Lotus.”
At my call, the Golden Immortal Lotus tilted its head and focused on my words instead of replying.
“Is your offer to draw out the power I want still valid?”
“Yes. I was just thinking it was time to find an owner for the seed. No one pleased me until I saw you, and it changed my mind.”
‘It’s giving the seed to me? I thought it was going to teach me how to cultivate martial arts.’
“Isn’t the seed precious to you too?”
“It is.”
“Then why the sudden change of heart? Can I ask?”
“That corny, humble wish to cure your father’s illness—it struck me as a reason worth granting power for.”
The Golden Immortal Lotus released my wrist and grimaced as if it found the idea ridiculous.
“Everyone who came here only wanted to become the greatest martial artist in the Central Plains—for their own sake. But I like reasons that tug at the heart, even if they’re rustic. In that way, you’re exactly my type.”
‘...I see. Giving away the seed is just a matter of the Golden Immortal Lotus’s tastes.’
Still, if self-serving glory-hounds got it and grew stronger, the Central Plains might be even more chaotic than it already is.
“Then, can I take the seed?”
“First, heed these warnings.”
The Golden Immortal Lotus drew a single seed from its bosom.
It glowed with the same radiant light as the golden lotus.
“What are they?”
“When you swallow the seed, a power beyond anything you’ve felt will explode within you. It only awakens the potential already in your body—whether you fully accept it is up to you.”
“What if I can’t accept it?”
“You’ll die.”
‘Why does everyone in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains say “you’ll die” so casually?’
Despite the terrifying words, the Golden Immortal Lotus’s face was serene.
“Don’t worry. The choice is yours.”
The Golden Immortal Lotus smiled faintly and held the seed out to me.
His golden eyes sharpened as he gazed at me.
“Well? Will you eat it?”
“You’re later than usual.”
Red Cloud paused while reading a scroll and glanced out the window repeatedly.
“Waiting for Lady Cheon-seong?”
Today, as always, Ohaeng saw right through him and smiled.
“I don’t want the food I prepared to get cold.”
“Why not eat first, Young Cult Leader?”
“I don’t like eating alone.”
“Shall I join you then?”
“This meal is for Lady Cheon-seong.”
Red Cloud ruthlessly swatted away Ohaeng’s hand as it reached for the food.
“You could just say you want to eat with her. No need to be so coy.”
“You have time for nonsense? Looks like you need more work.”
Ohaeng quickly changed the subject under Red Cloud’s fierce glare, which promised an instant workload increase.
“Perhaps Lady Cheon-seong is training in her own way. You know she can make spirit spring water, so maybe you doubled her fetching duties to give her more training time?”
“That’s true, but...”
Red Cloud’s eyes remained glued to the table set for Cheon-seong’s meal.
‘If I’d known she’d be this late, I should’ve fed her before sending her off...’
Unbeknownst to himself, he was lost in worry for her.
‘If I can’t harness the power, I’ll die?’
Even for a spirit treasure, I hadn’t expected gaining power to be easy.
The first thought that came when considering death was Daddy’s face.
‘If I don’t get stronger, it’ll be hard to find a cure for Daddy or survive in this martial world where only the strong live.’
My deliberation didn’t last long.
“I’ll eat it.”
“Put it in your mouth and swallow.”
The Golden Immortal Lotus handed me the seed, looking mildly surprised.
“Thank you.”
‘Survive this, Seol Cheon-seong!’
After expressing my gratitude for the elixir, I popped the seed into my mouth and swallowed without hesitation.
“Huh? Nothing’s happening?”
‘I thought I’d cough up blood right away or something. Maybe I’m immune to Golden Immortal Lotus seeds...’
“Cough, hack!”
My naive thoughts shattered like crumbling petals.
‘My body feels like it’s on fire...’
Blood surged upward and fell back repeatedly, churning my insides as I screamed silently.
‘I shouldn’t have let my guard down!’
The Heavenly Demon’s quiet, sleeping chamber.
After taking his insomnia medicine and drifting off without a twitch, the tip of the Heavenly Demon’s finger trembled faintly.
A name slipped from his parched lips.
“...Star.”