Chapter 26
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 26
“If you're done resting, let's get up.”
The two stood up.
Though it was already early evening, sleeping for about two shijin a day was more than enough for cultivators. Since they had set a strict time limit of one week, they needed to make the most of every passing moment.
Ise decided to search the mountains peak by peak, marking their progress on the map of the surrounding area he had urgently procured. Their first targets were the hazy shimmers of spiritual energy visible through his Spirit Eye. They would focus their search entirely on the locations where those hazes lingered.
Naturally, a Grotto-Heaven was far more likely to form in places where the flow of spiritual energy was abundant.
He had briefly considered splitting up to cover more ground, but quickly changed his mind. If a rogue cultivator they happened to encounter harbored any hostility toward them, having superior numbers would at least make the enemy hesitate before launching an attack.
* * *
Thus came the fourth day of their search.
In the mornings, they would stop by the Great Martial Dao outpost to review the information gathered by Hong Sa-deuk and catch a quick rest. After recovering their stamina with a brief nap of about two shijin, their routine consisted entirely of scouring mountains that were increasingly farther away.
It wasn't physically demanding, but the real issue was the loss of cultivation time. Being unable to cultivate properly left Ise feeling restless, and losing such precious time was driving him crazy.
Indifferent to his frustration, time relentlessly slipped by, and the fourth day ended without a single gain.
“We've come pretty far out. Going back and forth from here will just be a waste of time now. Let's camp out for the remaining few days and search more thoroughly. The spiritual energy feels generally denser around this area anyway,” Ise suggested.
They had grown accustomed to traveling together by now. While Ise prepared their sleeping space, Seol Ryeong lit a fire and readied some fasting rations for a quick bite.
“Yeah. Ugh... For some reason, I feel like we're going to suffer for a whole week and end up with absolutely nothing to show for it...”
“We'll just have to accept that as fate.”
“Oho. Look who's sounding like a proper Daoist now!”
Seol Ryeong giggled. Having spent the last few days side by side, they seemed to have grown quite close.
After taking a quick bite of the fasting rations to satisfy his hunger, Ise immediately sat cross-legged. Seol Ryeong watched him quietly.
Her impression of him over the past few days could truly be described as a cultivation fanatic. Aside from eating, sleeping, and relieving himself, he didn't waste a single breath. Whenever even a brief moment opened up, he immediately began cultivating to absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
Through Seol Ryeong's Spirit Eye, she could clearly see that his spiritual energy had increased significantly compared to before they had left the Great Martial Dao. In many ways, he was a fellow disciple worthy of learning from.
After continuing his cultivation in a State of No-Self for a while, he finally opened his eyes. Seol Ryeong spoke up.
“Ise, how do you like life at the Great Martial Dao?”
“It's been too short to really call it a life... but I'm somewhat satisfied. Though I do dislike that there's no one to properly guide us.”
“Right. That's true. 'Every man for himself' is fine, but cultivation feels a bit... like grasping at clouds.”
“If a sect takes in disciples, shouldn't they clearly distinguish master and disciple to forge those ties, and let fellow practitioners become martial brothers to build a stronger sense of belonging and camaraderie? I really don't understand why they don't.”
“They say the higher-ups force us to compete out of necessity due to resource distribution... but the system itself probably has to do with the birth of the Great Martial Dao.”
“The birth of the Great Martial Dao?” Ise tilted his head at her explanation.
“The Great Martial Dao was originally a coalition formed when the sects active in the Three Peninsular Kingdoms merged together. A kind of main sect, if you will. Sects like the Nangwol Sect, Jucheon Pavilion, Spirit Mountain Manor, and so on—where the current Hall Masters originated—gathered together. The core disciples of each sect maintain their own distinct cultures under the name of the Eleventh Inner Hall. The disciples who don't belong there are left to run wild with minimal supervision out of necessity. After all, a cornucopia of potential talent is always needed.”
“Sounds like an organization that could easily fracture and tear apart like paper if push comes to shove.”
“That's why it tends to be bound by contracts and bindings rather than real loyalty. I don't like it much either. It feels so cold.”
Seol Ryeong babbled on, continuously sharing all the knowledge she possessed.
“As expected of someone from a prestigious family, you know so much. It's nice.”
“...R-right. Thanks.”
Unprepared for such a sudden, honest compliment, Seol Ryeong stammered briefly and looked away.
“What is your clan like?” Ise asked.
“The Seol Clan, well...” Seol Ryeong wore a wistful, nostalgic look before suddenly offering a playful grin. “I'll tell you when we get closer.”
* * *
Day six of the search.
Finally, Hong Sa-deuk brought back meaningful news.
“We have testimony from an herbal medicine shop in Cheongrim Village, about fifty li northwest of Namsan Valley, saying they saw someone matching the wanted poster. It was about half a month ago. He looked similar, though the witness noted he appeared to be in his fifties, which strongly suggests he is the rogue cultivator you are searching for.”
At his words, Ise and Seol Ryeong exchanged looks.
If his appearance looked to be in his fifties, he was likely a cultivator closer to a dunce or mediocre talent, just as they had expected. Cultivators tended to look much younger than their actual age as their realm ascended, and reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage brought about Shedding the Mortal Body and Exchanging Bones.
Just as Seol Ryeong had predicted, he was probably stuck at the first Minor Realm, entirely unable to advance his cultivation.
Of course, even so, he was still a cultivator at a much higher realm than the two of them, who had only just stepped into the Cultivation World.
At least, as of right now.
However, one thing was certain. The gap between them and their unknown opponent was within reach.
* * *
Cheongrim Village was a settlement about twice the size of Namsan Valley.
When they headed straight to the herbal shop, the physician welcomed them with a bright smile.
“I heard you were coming, Daoists.”
Hong Sa-deuk set down a pouch of silver coins in front of the old physician, adding that they should feel free to ask their questions. Upon checking the weight of the pouch, the physician's smile grew noticeably brighter.
Ise repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the wholehearted assistance.
“Thank you. Please keep a record of what you've spent, and I will repay you later.”
“Haha. To the Great Martial Dao, mortal money is merely rolling stones on the ground. No matter how much I spend, the main mountain will reimburse me, so please do not worry.”
So he isn't using his own personal funds.
Relieved, Ise resolved to pay back this debt once he grew stronger, and asked the physician: “By any chance, what was that man wearing?”
The herbal physician seemed slightly reluctant to give out a patient's information, but at a sharp glare from Hong Sa-deuk, he quickly began spilling his memories without hesitation.
“There didn't seem to be anything special. He wore reasonably neat white clothes... a loose Daoist robe with plenty of room, much like you Daoists.”
Wearing loose-fitting robes was a typical characteristic of cultivators. Naturally, they needed the extra room to conceal various Dharma artifacts.
“What about the medicinal herbs he bought?”
“Let me see... They were mostly wild herbs. Fish mint, white atractylodes root, sun-draining herb...”
Though he received the list of herbs, it was difficult to figure out the man's intent. A cultivator wouldn't be trying to nourish their body with mundane health tonics, so they were likely alchemy materials, but...
The world of alchemy was vast and varied, and it was said there were many attempts to craft pills even using mundane herbs that hadn't grown into spirit herbs.
“He hasn't given up on his cultivation yet.”
“Strictly speaking, he's only lived half his lifespan. It might be expecting too much, but some people do encounter fated opportunities in their later years.”
Having experienced a fated opportunity once before, the man seemed to be holding onto hope.
“Do you happen to know which direction he went after leaving?”
“As for that, I'm afraid...”
“I see. Ah, by any chance, can we obtain Hanjung Herb from your shop?”
“Hanjung Herb? Isn't that a poisonous herb?” The physician stared at Ise with wide eyes.
“Do not question him. Simply state whether it is possible or not.”
Flinching at Hong Sa-deuk's stern intrusion, the physician nodded rapidly.
“How much do you happen to need...?”
Ise spread out ten fingers. “At least ten roots.”
“I can get some right away, but I'll need to inquire at nearby shops for the rest. Should I fetch them...?”
“Please do.”
Ise gave a light nod of agreement, and Hong Sa-deuk cut in once more.
“I will send men with you. Procure them within one shijin.”
“Yes, yes!”
He certainly overdoes things a bit. Ise nodded briefly to Hong Sa-deuk and spoke: “Could we use your brazier and cauldron for a bit?”
The physician rolled his eyes nervously, glancing at Hong Sa-deuk. Then, with an expression that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment, he nodded frantically.
“Shall we head to the tavern across the street while we wait for the items? We can grab something to eat.”
“Yes, Cultivator Ise.”
Unlike Hong Sa-deuk, who answered submissively, Seol Ryeong added with an exasperated look: “You're eating again?”
“It's not just eating; we're going to gather information. Kim Si-won might have dropped by, or even if he didn't, a tavern's doors are always open, so we might figure out the direction he went.”
Of course, he was going to eat, but Ise didn't bother saying that aloud.
As soon as they stepped outside the herbal shop, Hong Sa-deuk approached Ise and spoke up. His tone was quite cautious.
“Cultivator Ise. It is better not to show mortals too much respect. While I personally am grateful to receive such courtesy, you must uphold the dignity of the Great Martial Dao and its disciples so they do not entertain foolish thoughts.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“You will gradually get used to it. A high-ranking cultivator once said that as one's realm rises, mortals begin to look like nothing more than bugs oozing turbid qi.”
Hong Sa-deuk chuckled heartily as he stepped into the tavern across from the herbal shop.
After filling their bellies to their heart's content, they showed the rogue cultivator's wanted poster to the innkeeper. The innkeeper couldn't remember the rogue cultivator's face, but she did recall a man wearing a white Daoist robe. She said it stood out in her memory because not many people walked around dressed like that.
“Which direction did he go?”
“Well now... Was it this way? Ah, no, that way. He definitely went in that direction.”
The direction the innkeeper pointed was northwest. A few peaks rising in that direction caught their eye.
Though the terrain was rugged, if they searched starting from the depths, they would find him soon enough.
Ise thanked her, retrieved a talisman from Seol Ryeong's martial artifact pouch, and handed it over as a token of gratitude.
“This is a talisman to ward off misfortune.”
“Look at this cheeky Daoist accumulating good karma with someone else's talisman...”
She really learns useless things surprisingly fast.
Seol Ryeong grumbled.