Chapter 33. The Hidden Meaning of Puppetry
After getting plenty of sleep, I started the day with a session of qi circulation meditation. Once that was done, I headed to the spirit herb field to check on their growth. I was worried these unidentified spirit herbs might not adapt well to the current soil, but fortunately, none had withered or died.
I showed the spirit herb field to Moyong Wol and asked if she knew anything about them, but even she, a disciple of the Medical Hall Lord, had no idea. They couldn't be poison herbs, could they? It had been a while since I'd seen Hwang Danha anyway, so I figured I'd fly over to her shop and ask.
Riding my flying treasure, I soared toward the Mibong Shop in the sect's central district.
“Senior Sister Hwang, it's been a while. Yuseong's back.”
Hwang Danha closed the book she'd been reading with a sullen expression and replied.
“Yeah, glad you made it back alive. What brings you here?”
“Well, on this mission, I got lucky and picked up some spirit herbs, but I don't know their names, so I came to ask.”
“I do know my spirit herbs pretty well. What do they look like?”
I described in detail the appearance of the spirit herbs I'd planted in the field. Hwang Danha pondered my words for a moment, then pulled out a book from her storage ring and began scanning it rapidly with a spell.
“Sounds like you got them from the investigators' storage ring, huh?”
“That's right.”
“The first one is Azure Heart Yin Grass, which mainly grows on islands. It says consuming it raw clears the mind and spirit, and expands the size of one's consciousness.”
Expands the size of one's consciousness? That would let me control more puppets and boost the power of my Illusionary Soul Enthrallment Technique. Clearing the mind and spirit probably helps ward off heart demons too.
“So, does Azure Heart Yin Grass work against heart demons as well?”
“Not bad, you're quick on the uptake. Investigators take Azure Heart Yin Grass to prepare for heart demons before breakthroughs, but it doesn't block them completely—just helps out.”
That was more than enough. Seong Yuhyang had warned me heart demons might return, so this was exactly what I needed.
“The second is Yellow Sea Mountain Grass, which also mainly grows on islands and...”
Suddenly, Hwang Danha's ears flushed pink, and she trailed off.
“Senior Sister Hwang, what does Yellow Sea Mountain Grass do?”
“...It's good for a man's... vitality.”
Oh. I thought it was some amazing herb, but it's just an aphrodisiac... Why the hell were they carrying this around in their storage rings?
“Of course, being a spirit herb, it's not just for that—it's also a key ingredient in body refinement pills.”
My Iron Skin Art had reached the 8th stage, so pills couldn't push it further anymore, but body refinement pills would still strengthen my flesh. Yellow Sea Mountain Grass was useful to me too.
“And the last one?”
Regaining her usual poised demeanor, Hwang Danha explained.
“The last is Purple Spirit Grass, the main ingredient in Purple Spirit Pills, which are highly effective for Qi Refining 9th stage cultivators.”
Purple Spirit Pills are great for Qi Refining 9th stage? Perfect for me.
“Senior Sister Hwang, you really know your stuff. Thanks for the info.”
As I bowed politely and turned to leave, she grabbed the back of my collar and held out her hand. I glanced at it and, without thinking, took hold. It was soft and moist.
Hwang Danha yanked her hand away with an exasperated look.
“What do you think you're doing? I want spirit stones.”
Oh, spirit stones. Then just say so. Why just stick out your hand? And charging spirit stones for info like that from a junior brother? What a petty woman.
I pulled a low-grade spirit stone from my storage ring and handed it over.
“That's not worth the value of the information.”
Her eyes sharpened. I quickly fished out another low-grade spirit stone and gave it to her. Only then did she smile with her eyes.
“Come to me anytime you don't know something.”
“In that case, can I ask one more thing?”
I hadn't seen Jo Mihyeon or Kang Seolhui lately and was curious what they were up to.
“Spirit stones will get you any answer.”
“What have Senior Sisters Jo Mihyeon and Kang Seolhui been doing lately?”
“Jo Junior Sister and Kang Junior Sister? Don't tell me you're interested in junior sisters too, not just Master?”
“I've just been holed up cultivating in my cave, so I was wondering.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she poked my chest with a finger.
“You lecher. Bet you've been having dirty fantasies every day in that cave of yours.”
How'd she know? I waved my hands frantically.
“Senior Sister Hwang, I'm a pure man.”
“Pure? Forgot about how Jo Junior Sister nearly cut your wrist off when you hit on her?”
Gasp... Even Hwang Danha knew that rumor... My face burned.
Of course, if the truth got out, I'd be too embarrassed to leave my cave.
“That was... a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Then grabbing my hand earlier was a misunderstanding too?”
That one wasn't. Why'd I do that? Time for some flattery.
“Senior Sister Hwang's hand is so slender and jade-like, I couldn't help myself...”
“My hand's slender and jade-like?”
She looked at her hand, a soft smile forming. Nice! Flattery worked.
“Yes. The most beautiful hand among all the female disciples of Unkak Sect.”
“Hohoho, it is slender, long, and lovely.”
Her mood lifted, and she covered her mouth laughing heartily.
“I'm in a good mood now, so no spirit stones this time—I'll tell you how Jo Junior Sister and Kang Junior Sister are doing.”
What a simple woman. How much could I milk her for by complimenting her looks and figure in the future?
“Thank you.”
“First, Kang Junior Sister has reached the peak of Qi Refining 10th stage and is secluded, attempting Core Formation.”
Kang Seolhui was challenging Core Formation? Just wait a bit. I'll catch up soon.
That insolent woman who threatened to gouge out my eyes just for glancing at her chest. If you have big tits, you should enjoy the stares. Small ones don't even draw eyes. She ought to flaunt her blessed figure proudly.
Anyway, if we fought for our lives now, I bet I'd win. Even if she used that Hungry Ghost scroll that killed the Blood Corpse... maybe?
“Jo Junior Sister is refining pills, so she's holed up too.”
Everyone was pushing hard for breakthroughs. No slacking for me either.
“Thanks for the info. It's nothing much, but let me show you this.”
I pulled the turtle puppet from my storage ring and showed it to Hwang Danha. Truth be told, I wanted to brag about having a puppet.
Her eyes widened.
“Puppet Technique! You learned Puppet Technique?! From Pavilion Lord Yeop?!”
“Yes. As a reward for surviving the mission, Pavilion Lord Yeop taught me the basics.”
She alternated stares between the turtle puppet and me, stunned.
“Unbelievable. Pavilion Lord Yeop teaching Puppet Technique to someone else... You've basically hit the jackpot.”
“I'm always grateful to her. If Pavilion Lord Yeop asks anything of me, I'll do it without question.”
She stroked the turtle puppet's head.
“But why's this turtle puppet so ugly? Did you learn wrong from Pavilion Lord Yeop?”
“...”
I used my consciousness to make the turtle puppet shake its head side to side.
“Not ugly? Anyone can see it's ugly—blame your maker.”
So what if the puppet's ugly? Fine, I'd show it to Yeop Inyeong later for feedback. Aesthetics aside, time to tout its performance.
“This turtle puppet specializes in defense over offense, and its normal attacks match Qi Refining 10th stage.”
“Really? Pretty useful for you then. Gathering materials for puppets isn't easy—you did well. One more person in Unkak Sect knowing Puppet Technique is definitely a good thing.”
“Haha, maybe I'll become Pavilion Lord Yeop's disciple someday.”
Hwang Danha burst out laughing.
“Puhaha! You, her disciple? Impossible.”
Why was becoming Yeop Inyeong's disciple impossible? Given my growth speed, she might take a liking to me.
Her mocking pissed me off, so I straightened up.
“Senior Sister Hwang, shouldn't you explain before laughing?”
“Hoho, sorry. It happened before you were born, so of course you wouldn't know.”
She laughed for a good while before explaining.
“Pavilion Lord Yeop originally had two disciples. She was famous in Unkak Sect for generously supporting them.”
“What happened?”
“After over twenty years of teaching, it turned out those two disciples were spies sent by Daeyeon Kingdom.”
Spy from Daeyeon Kingdom! And both infiltrated as her disciples...
“What happened to those two?”
“What do you think?”
Given Yeop Inyeong's calm personality and scholarly looks, she probably told them to betray Daeyeon and become true Unkak Sect disciples.
“Hm, probably told them to fully defect to Unkak Sect?”
Hwang Danha swallowed hard.
“Not at all. Betrayed by her beloved disciples, Pavilion Lord Yeop flew into a rage and turned them into puppets. They lost their bodies, their nascent souls trapped in puppet shells, doomed to serve her forever—without even their wills.”
“...!”
Yeop Inyeong was one scary woman. Were one of those giant puppets back then housing a disciple's nascent soul? The basics she taught me didn't include using a cultivator's nascent soul for puppets—must not be beginner stuff.
“But it's amazing. After that, she swore never to take disciples again, yet she taught you the basics.”
Did that mean I'd cracked open the door to her closed heart? Learning even a bit of Puppet Technique from Yeop Inyeong suddenly felt like a huge deal.