Subduing the White Serpent
To find missions where he could obtain pills or spirit herbs, Yuseong headed to the Mission Hall.
Upon arriving at the Mission Hall, Senior Brother Park Eung was peering into a ledger, scribbling something with a golden brush.
"Senior Brother Park, it's been a while."
Park Eung looked him over carefully before speaking.
"Ho, already at Qi Refining 6th stage? Your cultivation progress is swift."
Yuseong replied calmly.
"It's all thanks to the Lingyun Pill. It might not work on Core Formation cultivators like you, Senior Brother, but it's great for us Qi Refining folks."
"That makes sense for a Lingyun Pill. So, you're here for a mission?"
"Yes. I worked at the Medical Hall for a year and got some vacation time. Are there any missions suitable for a Qi Refining 6th stage with rewards like pills or spirit herbs?"
Senior Brother Park Eung glanced at his ledger and asked,
"A Rank 2 monster beast, a White Serpent, has appeared and been devouring villagers. It's in a village under our Unkak Sect's jurisdiction—perfect for you. Not far from here either. The reward is a 100-year-old Moon Yin Herb. Want it?"
A Moon Yin Herb was the main ingredient for Moon Pills—a fantastic reward. With a Moon Pill, he could shoot straight to Qi Refining 7th stage.
"I'll take it."
He handed over his jade plaque. Park Eung wrote "Yuseong" in the ledger with his golden brush and "Yunnam Village" on the jade plaque. He then handed over a map leading to Yunnam Village from the jade plaque and said,
"Just so you know, before you took this mission, a Qi Refining 5th stage disciple was assigned to it, and he still hasn't returned to the sect. So, come back alive."
What the fuck? Was that the heads-up? He should've said it sooner.
Yuseong made a twisted face as he took the jade plaque and map, then left the Mission Hall. Of course, even if he'd been warned earlier, his choice wouldn't have changed. In the cultivation world, dangers could turn into opportunities, and he couldn't pass up rewards like this.
He boarded his flying magic tool, checked the map, and headed for Yunnam Village. Leaving Unkak Sect after so long felt refreshing, yet strangely eerie. What if he weren't sheltered by Unkak Sect, but a lone wanderer drifting through the world? He'd probably be dead in a few years, body and soul scattered to the winds. It hit him anew just how great a sect's protection was.
Sure, Unkak Sect had its share of crazy bitches inside, but at least they wouldn't outright kill you. Hoping the previous disciple on this White Serpent mission was still alive, he flew toward Yunnam Village.
After three days on the flying magic tool traversing the Gaun Mountains, a vast plateau spread out midway up the peaks. Behind a ten-zhang-high wall stood row after row of buildings. For a mortal village, the walls were impressively tall. But the central section was shattered, with mortals repairing it—likely the work of the Rank 2 monster beast White Serpent.
Concealing his presence, Yuseong slipped into the fortress and sought out the village head, who represented Yunnam Village.
The village head was handling paperwork in his office when Yuseong suddenly appeared, startling him.
"Are you the cultivator from Unkak Sect?"
"That's right."
"This way, please."
The village head guided him to the seat of honor and prostrated himself on the floor.
"Did the cultivator who came before me fall to the White Serpent?"
The village head slammed his forehead against the ground.
"Forgive me. This lowly one is incompetent..."
"It's not your fault. I heard it's a Rank 2 monster beast. Any unusual traits?"
"Unusual traits... what do you mean...?"
"Like a horn on its head, or a color other than white."
"I swear, it was a standard Rank 2 monster beast. The previous cultivator said the same."
"You know where it lives, right?"
"Yes. A cave near the village."
"Good. I'll head out alone tomorrow morning, so give me a map."
"Yes, here's the map, and I'll show you your lodgings."
The village head politely escorted him to his quarters. Back at Unkak Sect, everyone bowed and scraped, but here he felt like a king.
The lodgings were spacious and luxurious. The bed alone could fit ten people.
"Then, this lowly one will take his leave. Call if you need anything."
Once the village head left, Yuseong flopped onto the bed. The plush softness lifted his spirits. Compared to his stone slab cave bed, this was worlds apart. He resolved to spruce up his quarters after this mission.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he began circulating his qi to cultivate. The flight here had drained his magic power reserves, so he needed to replenish before facing the White Serpent tomorrow.
Morning came, and with his body in peak condition, he left Yunnam Village. Following the map, he cautiously approached the White Serpent's cave. If he could land a surprise blow undetected, his odds would soar.
He used a stealth technique favored by assassins among martial artists—effective against peers, so he employed it often.
Arriving at the cave, a foul, fishy stench hit him from the entrance. The surroundings were coated in unknown mucus, with piles of skulls scattered about. The remnants of Yunnam Village mortals devoured, bones spat out.
Seeing the countless skulls stirred a burning resolve in his chest: he had to kill this White Serpent himself, no one else.
From outside the cave, he shoved nearby trees inside and set them ablaze. The wood ignited instantly, smoke billowing into the depths.
Moments later, the White Serpent emerged with a grotesque screech.
Kieeeaak!
The serpent bursting from the cave was ten zhang long, its body grotesquely thick. Yuseong hurled a prepared fireball at its unsuspecting head.
Fwooom!
The intense heat began melting the serpent's head. In agony, it thrashed wildly, smashing trees and rocks around it. Its sturdy, massive frame turned the area to rubble, dust clouds rising sky-high.
To finish it, he launched another fireball. Then, a one-zhang blue horn sprouted from the serpent's head. It generated a blue protective barrier, repelling the flames clinging to its body and blocking the fireball.
What the hell? Did it evolve in the face of death?
The now Blue-Horned White Serpent fired a blue beam from its horn. Too late to dodge, Yuseong blocked with his earth-attribute shield magic tool.
Boom!
The low-grade magic tool, bought with his saved spirit stones, shattered against the beam, which then struck the Yin-Yang Art manual at his chest. The impact hurled him five zhang back, but the manual saved his life—unscratched again.
Dodging the Blue-Horned White Serpent's blue beams, he searched for a weakness. The beams shot in straight lines from the horn, easy to evade with focus.
With his magic power halved, he considered fleeing, but abandoning the village would leave it at the mercy of the enraged beast. He couldn't.
Weaving side to side, he peppered the serpent with ice spears across its body. After dozens, one pierced its belly surprisingly easily.
The belly's the weak spot!
Closing in on the writhing Blue-Horned White Serpent, he targeted the belly relentlessly. Over a hundred ice spears later, it screamed and collapsed.
Magic power depleted, Yuseong sat and circulated his qi. After half a shichen, sufficiently recovered, he harvested the horn, fangs, hide, blood—everything valuable.
Entering the cave, he found a corpse at the end. Opening the storage pouch beside it revealed a jade plaque inscribed thus:
Unkak Sect
Yang Dosu
Yunnam Village
"Ah..."
A sigh escaped him. He closed the wide-eyed corpse's lids, praying for a happy mortal life in the next one.
The storage pouch held spirit stones and talismans, which he left untouched. He incinerated the body to spare it from beasts and returned to Yunnam Village.
Finding the village head, Yuseong showed the spoils from the Blue-Horned White Serpent. Tears streaming, the head expressed profound gratitude.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you. So many died because of that serpent..."
Yuseong patted his shoulder silently.
"I'll leave early tomorrow, so spread the word."
Leaving the prostrate, weeping village head, he returned to his quarters. Not fully recovered, he'd rest here and depart tomorrow.
Deep into the night, a woman's voice came from outside.
"Cultivator, may I enter?"
"Come in."
What's this about? The serpent's already dead...
Before he could ponder further, a beauty in her early twenties entered. Plain-featured, but a mole at her mouth stirred a subtle allure.
"Thanks to you, cultivator, our village is safe. May I serve you tonight?"
As she approached to undress him, he stepped back.
"Did the village head send you?"
"No, I came of my own will."
He had no interest in mortal women. And finding fellow sect disciple Yang Dosu dead had soured his mood.
Without a word, he gestured for her to leave. Her hesitant glance suggested the village head's involvement, but he let it slide.