Crisis
"Betray the Unkak Sect and join Owolbang?">
"Owolbang is a collective of scattered hermits across the entire Seosan Continent. They live as recluses normally, but when the group calls or like-minded members gather, they handle various tasks. It's free, without being tied down anywhere."
"……."
"Time's short. Decide quickly."
"I refuse."
The moment to use the Hyunjeonggeum that Jeong Simhyeon had given me had arrived. I hoped it would work against demonic cultivators as she said.
I pulled out the Hyunjeonggeum, Flame Pearl, and Monster Bear Sword from my storage pouch all at once, then poured spiritual power rapidly into the Hyunjeonggeum. In one go, about seventy percent of my spiritual power was sucked into it.
The Hyunjeonggeum, which hadn't budged at first, began to tremble and play on its own once the seventy percent filled it. Divine light burst from the Hyunjeonggeum, pushing back the surrounding evil spirits, and a mystical golden sound focused straight on the black-robed man.
Mystical tones pierce the soul, repelling demons and shattering demonic control.
Ding-a-ling-ring! The black-robed man clutched his ears with both hands and let out a guttural scream.
"Graaaah!"
Blood streamed from the black-robed man's ears under the Hyunjeonggeum's melody, and the surrounding evil spirits broke free of his control and fled.
"You bastard!"
Grimacing in pain, the black-robed man began forming hand seals.
Consumes massive consciousness to ensnare souls in ecstatic illusion.
It consumed an enormous amount of consciousness, but it briefly halted the black-robed man's hand seals. In that gap, I poured my remaining spiritual power into the Flame Pearl to summon a fire dragon and hurled it at him, while swinging the Monster Bear Sword to unleash a white sword qi.
Boom!
Without looking back, I ignited my essence blood to accelerate my escape technique and fled. I covered a hundred li in one breath, dug a hole in a suitable spot, camouflaged it, and cast a concealment technique.
I'd never planned to defeat a Core Formation late-stage opponent from the start.
Furious roars echoed nearby then faded repeatedly. My heart pounded wildly at the thought of instant death if caught.
I took out spirit stones from my storage pouch, absorbed their spiritual energy, and maintained the concealment.
After half a shichen, the surroundings fell deathly silent, filled only with the chirp of insects. I considered moving but decided to wait longer.
After a full shichen of holding my breath in the hole under concealment, I cautiously emerged. I crawled low, hugging the ground.
Flying into the sky would expose me instantly to the enemies' eyes.
I inched toward the Unkak Sect, holding a spirit stone in one hand to absorb spiritual energy.
The Gaun Mountains were unusually quiet tonight, bathed in bright moonlight. The silence was so profound I even muffled my breathing as I moved.
"Aaaargh!"
A distant scream froze my heart. The death cry of someone on the brink made my body stiffen, cold sweat trickling down my back. I'd never imagined a midnight scream in the mountains could be so terrifying.
Senior Brother I Dongbeon. Did you make it back to the Unkak Sect safely? I'm still... not there.
I lay motionless on the ground for a shichen under concealment, one with the earth. I ignored even insects crawling past.
After the screams ended and a long wait, I darted between trees using my escape technique.
I had to warn the Unkak Sect that Owolbang disciples had invaded the spirit stone mine in Unbyeok Village.
I flew through dense foliage, avoiding flight over the treetops.
Mid-flight, slicing through the wind, I sensed faint killing intent. My crisis instinct automatically activated the Iron Skin Art. Golden light enveloped my body.
Clang!
A transparent wire struck my neck, sending me plummeting. If I hadn't sensed it, my head would've been severed.
"Junior Brother Yuseong, farewell."
Ban Un appeared before me, extending his demonic qi-tainted right hand. I quickly adjusted my stance and blocked his fist.
Thud!
The demonic qi from Ban Un's hand transferred to mine, gnawing at my golden body. I circulated the Yin-Yang Art and Iron Skin Art simultaneously to expel it, then pulled the turtle puppet from my storage pouch.
A violet light beam shot from the turtle puppet's mouth, attacking Ban Un.
"Puppet technique?!"
Ban Un drew a defensive spirit shield to block the beam.
Bang!
I ordered the turtle puppet to keep attacking Ban Un, then swung the Monster Bear Sword to strike his shield with white sword qi.
Clang!
Ban Un, overwhelmed by the turtle puppet and me, scrambled to flee.
I had to kill him before reinforcements arrived. Trusting my golden body, I closed in.
Clang clang!
I blocked his flying daggers with my body and shattered his shield in one strike at close range.
As the shield broke, Ban Un swiftly formed seals and opened his mouth. Foul demonic qi surged—I sensed something emerging from within.
I shoved the Flame Pearl into his gaping mouth and cast the incantation.
Whoosh!
"Gahk."
In an instant, Ban Un melted away without a trace. My storage pouch and essence soul were consumed by the flames too.
"Dead by my hand—you were the weak one after all."
I'd wanted to kill Ban Un even if fleeing, so this felt refreshing. Senior Sister Seon Yeong. I've avenged you in your stead. Rest easy and reincarnate for your next life.
I stored the turtle puppet back and quickly erased traces.
Leaving fast was priority, so I only cleared the obvious ones.
"Skilled handiwork—you've done this before."
An icy voice came from behind. The worst possible opponent in this situation.
A woman at Core Formation late-stage, wearing a crow mask, stood with hands behind her back. Her cold gaze piercing the mask chilled my chest.
Should I beg to join Owolbang to live? That seemed my only path.
"……."
"Why so silent?"
The Core Formation late-stage woman approached slowly.
What now? My consciousness was depleted, spiritual power scant. Drag time with the turtle puppet, blow up all my treasures, and flee?
As she slowly removed her crow mask, she said, "Consider the debt you owe me repaid with this."
"Y-You!! Why are you in Owolbang...?"
The woman unmasked was Nae Simryeo, Nae Cheonha's younger sister! She'd been Core Formation mid-stage before, but now stood at late-stage.
"Owolbang suits a hermit's activities."
Then she must've been the one who first followed I Dongbeon when breaking the encirclement. What happened to him?
"...Senior Nae, what happened to the one who blew up his spirit tool to break the encirclement—I Dongbeon?"
"Dead by my hand, naturally."
Senior Brother I Dongbeon dead? By Nae Simryeo?
Rage boiled in my chest, fueling killing intent.
"……."
"Kidding. He ditched his spirit stone-filled storage pouch, burned essence blood, and fled with some fancy escape art."
"Can I believe you?"
"I saved you to repay a favor—you must trust me."
"What's the real reason you joined Owolbang?"
"I'll answer that next time we meet. Escape now."
She was right. No time for chit-chat—enemies could appear anytime.
"Next time—are we enemies?"
"If you see me as one, we are. If not, we're not."
"Understood."
I flew swiftly toward the Unkak Sect with escape art, absorbing spiritual energy from spirit stones to replenish power.
As I flew, I pondered why Nae Simryeo joined Owolbang. It didn't sit right. Owolbang was a hermit group, but close to demonic paths.
Was it really just convenient for a hermit, as she claimed? As a survivor of the North Wind Palace massacre, she'd want power for revenge—against the superclans that destroyed it.
But could she gain enough in Owolbang to challenge them? Those superclans had Spirit Severing old monsters backing them. She'd need at least Nascent Soul late-stage or Spirit Severing to attempt revenge.
I flew nonstop on a flight tool and arrived at the Unkak Sect. Heading straight to the Martial Affairs Hall to report, I explained the Unbyeok Village events to Hall Lord Park Eung.
"Junior Brother Yuseong, you did well. Before you arrived, Senior Brother I Dongbeon returned in tatters and reported. The Hall Lord led a pursuit squad to the spirit stone mine upon hearing—go rest at your quarters."
"Glad Senior Brother I made it. But besides us two, no one else survived?"
Park Eung trailed off. "So far, just you and him. But some might be too injured to return yet..."
Unbyeok Village was a day's travel at my speed. If not back by now, they were likely dead. Everyone except me and I Dongbeon—slaughtered by Owolbang disciples!
Bitterness and futility washed over me at this cultivation world's perils.
Park Eung patted my shoulder. "Still, you're back safe—that's a relief. Rest up. Rewards via errand boy."
"Got it."
At least I Dongbeon survived. Back at my quarters, I sat cross-legged and circulated qi immediately. Exhausted from fighting and flying all day without sleep, body and mind weary.
Replenishing consciousness and spiritual power, I swapped spirit stones in the turtle puppet.
This battle proved the turtle puppet's support invaluable. Without its relentless attacks on Ban Un, I couldn't have killed him so fast with depleted resources. And it could never betray me.
I stroked the turtle puppet's head. "Good work. Your reward: spirit stones."
I checked the Hyunjeonggeum from my storage pouch—no damage. I'd expected effect against demons as Jeong Simhyeon said, but not this potent. It required insane spiritual power, but I'd use it more as my realm advanced.
At first, I thought it inferior to low- or mid-grade tools, but its power marked it at least high-grade—specialized against treasures and demonic cultivators.
Jeong Simhyeon casually giving me something so precious—she was remarkable.
Senior Sister Jeong Simhyeon. Thanks to you, I survived. If we meet again, I'll repay this grace.