Tak Gunma
Following the servant, Yuseong headed to the reception room where Tak Gunma and Tak Gyeong were waiting. His heart pounded as he realized he'd have to speak up for the Self-Strengthening Pill among Nascent Soul experts, despite being only at Qi Refining 9th star.
Upon arriving at the guest hall under the servant's guidance, a middle-aged man in a blue robe sat beside Tak Gyeong. That guy! The Nascent Soul elder who had suppressed Tak Hwaryeon with sheer presence was Tak Gunma... Of all people, the mad Nascent Soul powerhouse he'd run into right after arriving at the Tak Clan turned out to be him. The moment he laid eyes on Tak Gunma, Yuseong sensed that obtaining the Self-Strengthening Pill would be incredibly difficult.
"Oh, haven't we met once before? How is Elder Yeop faring?"
"Junior Yuseong greets Senior. Master Yeop is doing well."
Tak Gunma cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Now that the junior has arrived, let's get to the point. Elder Yeop sent you because he needs a Self-Strengthening Pill, but I'm in the same boat. I need one to quickly craft a dharma treasure for my youngest disciple. Plus, I've already given a Foundation Pill to Junior Tak Gyeong as compensation for it."
His words and expression radiated an unyielding resolve—he had no intention of yielding the Self-Strengthening Pill. What could Yuseong say to sway him? As he racked his brain, Tak Gyeong mercifully spoke up first.
"Senior Tak Gunma, Elder Yeop once saved my life, so he wishes to repay that grace to some degree with this Self-Strengthening Pill. We'll return the Foundation Pill, and how about giving the next Self-Strengthening Pill to you instead?"
Tak Gunma stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before replying.
"...How many years until the next Self-Strengthening Pill?"
"Probably just about fifteen years."
Tak Gunma's face hardened, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"Fifteen years is far too long for my youngest disciple."
The blunt refusal silenced Tak Gyeong, who waited quietly. Yuseong felt the same. He couldn't tell Yeop Inyeong to wait fifteen years. How could he break through this impasse? Should he provoke the Nascent Soul elder's pride? Yeop Inyeong had said he admired courageous souls, so it might be worth a shot. As someone sent by Yeop Inyeong from the Unkak Sect, Tak Gunma wouldn't kill him outright. Besides, Yuseong refused to fail the mission his master had entrusted to him without a fight.
"Senior Tak Gunma, what is your youngest disciple's cultivation level?"
"Core Formation initial stage."
"In that case, how about we settle it with a match between me and your disciple?"
Tak Gunma burst into laughter at Yuseong's words.
"Hahaha! You're at Qi Refining 9th star, yet you want to duel a Tak Clan Core Formation initial expert? And not just any—my disciple? You seem proud of mastering both spells and body techniques, but the outcome is obvious without even watching."
"If you're so confident, why not stake the Self-Strengthening Pill on a duel between me and your disciple?"
"You insolent brat!"
Tak Gunma shot to his feet, unleashing his aura. Tak Gyeong reacted swiftly from the side.
"Senior Tak Gunma, I think deciding the Self-Strengthening Pill via their duel is fine. Yuseong is Qi Refining 9th star, and your disciple is Core Formation initial—there's no disadvantage for you."
Tak Gunma withdrew his aura and eyed Tak Gyeong and Yuseong suspiciously in turn before speaking.
"Very well. I can't refuse when the junior insists on an unfair fight—my pride won't allow it. But if my disciple wins, you'll do one task for the Tak Clan. The duel will be in three days at the Tusim Hall."
It worked. Tak Gunma had taken the bait Yuseong dangled.
"Agreed."
After Tak Gunma left, Tak Gyeong said,
"His disciple won't be an easy opponent."
"He's not easy, but I'm no pushover either. It'll be worth trying."
"I want you to win and repay Elder Yeop's grace too, so prepare well in the remaining time."
"Understood. His disciple will get complacent knowing I'm only Qi Refining 9th star."
Tak Gyeong didn't offer any specific advice. Even as Yeop Inyeong's close friend, she was a Tak Clan elder, and Yuseong was an outsider. Securing him a shot at the Self-Strengthening Pill was likely the most she could do.
With three days granted, Yuseong alternated between meditation and divine sense training in his room. His consistent divine sense practice had strengthened it beyond that of peers at his level, but he couldn't guarantee the Illusionary Soul Enthrallment Art would work on a Core Formation initial cultivator. His talismans were all used up on the expedition, so he tried crafting protective and lightning strike talismans. But having exhausted the Three-Eyed White Tiger's blood, he used blood from a low-grade 2nd rank beast instead—and failed both times due to its inferior quality.
He regretted the lack of talismans, but having fought plenty of Core Formation initial foes before, he wasn't too worried. His real concern was the heart demon striking mid-battle. If killing intent overtook him and he lost control, slaughtering Tak Gunma's disciple would mean his own head rolling right there. Worst case, an enraged Tak Gunma might spare his life but torment his nascent soul. That made the heart demon his true enemy—the eternal foe of all cultivators.
He decided against using the turtle puppet unless his life was in mortal danger. Puppet techniques were rare among cultivators, drawing unwanted attention, and someone might recognize the shell from a Water Armored Ghost—a beast common on the west coast. If word reached a beast-taming Nascent Soul cultivator that a Unkak Sect Qi Refining disciple possessed a Water Armored Ghost carapace, it could spell trouble.
On the day of the duel, Tak Gyeong personally came to escort him to Tusim Hall. As they walked, Yuseong noticed something odd: the blatant stares from surrounding cultivators. They gawked at Tak Gyeong and him, chattering via transmission. Some even gossiped openly without transmissions.
"That guy's the Unkak Sect cultivator who challenged Elder Tak Gunma's disciple at Qi Refining 9th star."
"He's lost his mind. Got some special spiritual root or powerful dharma treasure?"
"Tsk tsk... He should forfeit now."
Most looked at him like a madman. Word of the duel between him and Tak Gunma's disciple had already spread. It seemed Tak Gunma had deliberately leaked it, eager to publicize his disciple crushing a Unkak Sect cultivator.
Yuseong found Tak Gunma's petty scheme laughable. Its flaw was obvious: it assumed his disciple wouldn't lose. If the disciple fell before Tak Clan cultivators and mountain hermits, Tak Gunma's reputation would suffer, and the disciple would become a laughingstock. Worse, the shock of defeat could spawn a heart demon in the disciple. Unless he'd lived a weed-like life like Yuseong, one loss could shatter his path.
And if Yuseong lost? As a Unkak Sect disciple, they wouldn't kill him over a task for the Tak Clan, but he'd leave battered. At least he could show Yeop Inyeong he'd gone all out for the Self-Strengthening Pill. He wouldn't push this hard for anyone else—only because Yeop Inyeong saw him as special.
Entering Tusim Hall with Tak Gyeong, they found a massive circular arena in the center, surrounded by Tak Clan cultivators and hermits seated on the second and third floors. Hundreds pressed in around the arena, creating palpable pressure.
As Yuseong and Tak Gyeong entered, hundreds of eyes locked onto him. Some held goodwill, others hostility. They pointed and whispered.
"That's him!"
"He actually showed up."
"Didn't run away—came to Tusim Hall for real!"
Yuseong was surprised so many had come to watch a mere Qi Refining 9th star versus Core Formation initial duel.
In the central arena stood Tak Gunma and his disciple. The disciple had a sleazy look that repelled Yuseong; his ill-suited chin beard only made him seem more vulgar.
"Junior Yuseong greets Senior."
Despite the higher cultivation, Yuseong gave a courteous cupped-fist salute.
Tak Gunma's disciple lifted his chin arrogantly.
"I'm Tak Hopyeong of the Tak Clan. I'm curious what gives you the guts to challenge me."
"You'll find out once we clash."
Tak Hopyeong scoffed and scanned Yuseong appraisingly. Staring wouldn't reveal anything.
Tak Gunma boomed from the center,
"This duel between my disciple Tak Hopyeong and Unkak Sect's Yuseong is over Junior Tak Gyeong's Self-Strengthening Pill—it's not a life-or-death battle. Whoever leaves the arena or surrenders loses."
Only Yuseong and Tak Hopyeong remained in the central arena as a massive protective barrier activated around it. Multiple layers suggested even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't breach it easily. Installing such a grand formation just for the arena spoke to the Tak Clan's vast wealth.
Yuseong and Tak Hopyeong faced off twenty zhang apart. Duels in the Tak Clan's heart against an elder's disciple brought tension. The rowdy arena fell silent; in Yuseong's vision, only Tak Hopyeong existed.
"Begin!"
With Tak Gunma's command, the duel commenced.