Red Lotus (2)
Red Lotus (2)
Jeokryeon mentally reviewed the resources she possessed.
The journey she had walked until reaching the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage, and the cultivation she had studied over several hundred years.
As the sole direct disciple of the Palace Master of the Blood Lotus Palace, Jeokryeon had inherited various secret techniques.
Furthermore, as a key component of the Grand Plan, she had also learned the techniques related to it.
Even expanding the scope beyond the Mangnyeonggye to the entire Beomingye, Jeokryeon was confident that she had no equal within the Donggyeong Region.
Then, what about those above her?
Against a powerhouse at the Perfection of the Core Formation stage, how far could Jeokryeon push herself?
Against an early stage, her win rate would be ninety percent.
Against a mid stage, it would drop to fifty percent.
Against a late stage, it would drop even lower.
Against Great Perfection—
'No, let us not calculate.'
Jeokryeon readjusted her grip on her sword and chanted an incantation.
She pushed her body refinement technique to its absolute peak to strengthen her physical body, and activated the formation arrays engraved on her robes to compensate for her lacking power.
She unleashed all the spiritual energy she had accumulated over time. Using every spiritual treasure and magical artifact received from the Palace Master, as well as all the pills she had crafted herself, she prepared to settle the match.
"I shall correct your arrogance and establish the law of the Blood Lotus Palace!"
The first to strike was Elder Gong. Wings of flame erupted from his back and beside his temples.
It was the Core Formation technique of the Blood Lotus Palace, the Flame Blood Wing True Scripture.
'Is he completely intending to kill me?!'
Originally named the Heavenly Flame Blood Wing True Scripture, it was a top-tier technique even within the Blood Lotus Palace, but after being damaged for some reason, it was an ill-fated technique that degraded into a mere Core Formation technique.
However, even degraded, its power was formidable enough to compete for the top ranks among Core Formation techniques, so it could not be ignored.
'The consumption of spiritual power must be immense, though?!'
A power that overcomes cultivation realms inevitably demands immense consumption, to the point where it is better not to use it unless absolutely necessary.
Since he cannot even advance to the Nascent Soul realm anyway, is he planning to at least win this fight?
'...How unsightly.'
Jeokryeon, who had not expected Elder Gong to go that far, lost her concentration for a moment, but soon evaluated him calmly, as if switching her mindset entirely.
'If he lacks aptitude, he should at least possess a fierce temperament. Instead, he flaunts non-existent pride and torments the weak.'
Even advancing to the Core Formation stage was an excessive waste of resources for him.
'Jeokryeon' gave a faint, sneering smile and closed her eyes.
'Since I have something to check, I shall play with you for a brief moment.'
'Jeokryeon' pulled back all the pills and tools she had taken out.
A single sword is more than enough.
As 'Jeokryeon' opened her eyes and stared directly at Gong Muyeon, his face turned pale white.
"Kkaaaaah!"
The wings on his back and temples expanded to six pairs.
At the same time, the momentum radiating from Gong Muyeon soared to a level capable of surpassing major realms.
Gong Muyeon in this state was a moth burning itself, possessing strength capable of beating to death any Core Formation cultivator in the Donggyeong Region in a single blow.
However, to 'Jeokryeon', he merely looked pathetic.
'To think the Nine Heavens Flame Wings of the Heavenly Flame Blood Wing True Scripture would fall so low. When it was once a pair of wings more beautiful and radiant than anything else.'
The full-power stance of the Heavenly Flame Blood Wing True Scripture, the Nine Heavens Flame Wings.
What should have originally been nine pairs of wings had shriveled down to six pairs.
No matter how much its rank had fallen into a Core Formation technique over the long passage of time, its origin was still a flame that brought the Mortal World to its knees.
To 'Jeokryeon', who knew the complete Heavenly Flame Blood Wing True Scripture, Gong Muyeon's technique was full of flaws and nothing more than a yoke of someone refusing to accept his own reality.
Any desire to play along cooled completely.
'The fun is ruined. Begone.'
She raised her sword and slashed downward.
Even in a physical body of the Foundation Establishment stage, that enlightenment remained within her spirit.
If this place is an illusion rather than reality, exerting a bit of power wouldn't be bad.
Seo/geok.
"Ah?"
The six pairs of wings and Gong Muyeon tilted obliquely.
Even the space behind him was slashed diagonally, revealing its void flesh.
What lay within was a faceless being.
He looked at 'Jeokryeon' and murmured.
"This is as far as it goes."
As the world collapsed, 'Jeokryeon' turned her head toward her cave abode.
Throb. A pain in her chest she was feeling for the very first time. This uncontrollable sensation bestowed a strange inspiration.
'How wonderful.'
With a bright smile, 'Jeokryeon' let her consciousness fall asleep.
At the exact moment Jeokryeon and Elder Gong were about to clash.
Someone intervened right in the middle.
He could not be perceived.
It was impossible to even tell whether they were female or male.
"Having blood rush to your head is fine, but your hand is overly harsh, Elder Gong."
Elder Gong, who backed off with a reluctant expression, and a flustered Jeokryeon prostrated themselves before him.
""We greet the Palace Master-nim!""
"Hmm."
The Palace Master of the Blood Lotus Palace suddenly appeared and put an end to everything.
I shook my head and clicked my tongue.
'Ah, no fun.'
Stepping in at a time like this.
"Palace Master-nim, just now......"
"Did something happen? I have only just arrived."
"No. My apologies."
Elder Gong smacked his lips as if feeling awkward.
Ignoring him nonchalantly, the Palace Master stared at Jeokryeon.
"Although the Blood Lotus Palace follows the law of the strong, hierarchy strictly exists... You have grown much, Ryeon-a."
"I am sorry. Please punish me."
"No. You did well. I am pleased to see that you have a new side to you."
No emotion was contained in that voice.
It was closer to being impossible to even tell if there were any.
If I had to push it, maybe slightly excited?
At least, that was how it felt to me.
"Third Elder, my disciple was immature. I am sorry for interfering with your attempt to teach her a stern lesson. As a gesture of apology, I hope you will accept this."
The Palace Master took out a jade slip the size of a fingernail from his storage pouch and handed it to Elder Gong.
"This is a restored copy of the Flame Blood Wing True Scripture. It is not complete yet, but it should be enough to supplement the Six Heavens Flame Wings."
"......! Thank you! Thank you, Palace Master-nim!"
"Do not mind it. There is no one else who has served the Blood Lotus Palace as much as you."
Bowing repeatedly and kowtowing, Elder Gong happily departed, turning into a tiny speck in the night sky.
"Seeing him so happy is a good sight. I hope he reaches the Nascent Soul realm soon. It is difficult to find an Alchemy Master like the Third Elder."
"........."
"Ryeon-a."
"Yes."
The Palace Master naturally placed his hand on Jeokryeon's shoulder.
I could see her flinching in fear.
"You are doing well. Doing very well. Just keep going like that. Run wild as your heart desires. You are the treasure of our sect."
"I will keep that in mind."
"Your outings have been long recently. You have no idea how much that mortal was worrying about you."
"........."
How the fuck does this bastard know whether I worried or not?
Is he saying that on purpose for me to hear? That he's watching?
"Cherishing him is fine, but do not remain away from the sect for too long. The Grand Plan is right around the corner. Not much time is left."
"I... understand."
"Even if you like your servant, conduct yourself properly."
After offering several words of blessing, the Palace Master glanced slightly at me, then vanished like smoke on the spot.
He was an unpleasant bastard, just as he looked. The fact that someone like that was Jeokryeon's master raised my guard even further.
Jeokryeon trudged back to the cave abode.
I placed a wet towel over her disheveled hair.
"It should be nice and warm."
"......"
Carrying the wet towel on her head like a countryside woman, she passed right by me.
Though she tried her best to maintain her composure, she couldn't hide her pale white complexion.
"Jeokryeon-a, I feel like it's about time for our relationship to deepen a bit."
"......What servant dares call their master's name so casually?"
"Are you really going to be like this?"
Before I even had time to lament, Jeokryeon pinned me down.
Her exceedingly pretty face came into view, tightly scowling.
"Let's not be like this. It doesn't seem like watching will stop it anyway."
"Shut up. What do you know!"
"You don't know anything about me either. Do you know my name? My age?"
"........."
Even you think not knowing my name crosses the line, right?
Is our relationship anywhere near normal?
"It's impossible for people to have zero secrets between them, but I feel like I'll regret it deeply if I don't know, so I'm asking."
"...You don't need to know. Don't know anything. Just stay quiet and leave when the time comes. I'll take care of you until then."
"I'd rather be your servant than live as a mountain recluse..."
"Can you just... please just shut your mouth...?"
Ttuk, ttuk, falling water droplets.
I don't want to know where they're coming from.
"Let's talk again tomorrow."
"........."
It's really not easy.
Not easy at all.
After taking care of Jeokryeon for about a week—putting her to sleep, washing her, and even feeding her meals—her emotions seemed to have calmed down significantly as she sat me down in front of her and opened her mouth.
"Forget what happened over the past few days."
"Jeokryeon, baby. Flying meat sword incoming. Syung."
Kkang!
"Yes, I've forgotten it."
"Good."
As I rubbed the bump on my head, Jeokryeon opened up after much deliberation.
"I didn't expect to tell even this truth to you, whom I brought along on a whim, but I am an existence required for a certain Grand Plan of the Blood Lotus Palace."
"What's that Grand Plan?"
"......The resurrection of the Blood Lotus Palace's First Patriarch."
"If it's the First Patriarch, from what era is he?"
"A Half-Immortal who founded the Blood Lotus Palace about ten thousand years ago, reached the Dao Attainment realm, and was eyeing ascension."
Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Dao Attainment.
A monster of the Dao Attainment realm, the highest stage in the Beomingye.
And they're summoning back a figure from ten thousand years ago?
"Is that possible?"
"It is possible. Because the person standing in front of you is that very First Patriarch."
"......?"
Jeokryeon gave a bitter smile.
"To be precise, I am Spiritual Flesh created based on the physical data of the First Patriarch. I was sculpted hundreds of years ago solely to receive him. If it is too difficult to understand, you can just think of me as the First Patriarch's daughter."
Jeokryeon was not merely a disciple of the Palace Master, but an existence crafted to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the Blood Lotus Palace.
"Now that you've heard it, you must have realized there is no proper way, right? There is no way to prevent his resurrection. My life was never mine to begin with."
"We have to look for one."
"Who knows."
Jeokryeon answered desolately.
"I wish so, too."
That was the answer of a person who had accepted her fate long ago.
「Jirak Cultivation Chronicles Gallery.」
「Title: Holy shit, cultivators help!」
「Author: Muwijayeon」
(Pic of Jeokryeon's chest sleeping soundly.)
They say my baby is getting her body stolen by a ten-thousand-year-old old monster.
How the hell do I solve this?
「Upvotes: 1152」 「Downvotes: 11」
「Comments」
Wow, boobs.
Wow, titties.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOBA!!!
Wow, look at the baby milkers!
(Author) Holy shit, stop looking at her breasts and give me an answer!
└ NaturalINLOVE: You dumbass, we need to know something first to give an answer.