Chapter 7: Byeok Soseol
The morning dawned, and I flew back to the Unkak Sect.
Three days later, upon arriving at the Unkak Sect, I headed straight to the Mission Hall to meet Senior Brother Park Eung.
"Senior Brother Park, I've completed the mission."
Senior Brother Park seemed surprised that I'd returned alive. "You must have had a tough time. What happened to Junior Brother Yang?"
"He's dead." I showed him the soul tablet inscribed with Yang Dosu's name.
"Good grief, that's unfortunate. In that case, the disciple who brought back his soul tablet should deliver the news."
I asked with a puzzled look. "The news?"
"He had a fiancée from the same entry cohort as him, and she's currently within the sect grounds."
"Understood. It'd be cleaner if I wrap it up."
"The house where Junior Brother Yang's fiancée is staying is about ten li east of the Medical Hall."
I gave a respectful cupped-fist salute and set off to meet Yang Dosu's fiancée.
What should I say when I see her? 'He fought valiantly against the Blue-Eared White Hare and fell in battle.' Something like that?
The path to meet Yang Dosu's fiancée wasn't easy. But if not me, who else would deliver the news of his death? It had to be me.
Before long, her residence came into view. A modest two-story house caught my eye.
I approached without hiding my presence, so she noticed and came out of the house. A woman in her thirties with a cold demeanor spoke up.
"Who might you be?"
"Ah, I'm Yuseong, and... I just returned from a mission..."
Before I could finish, she sensed something was wrong and her face crumpled as if she might burst into tears.
"He fell in battle to the Blue-Eared White Hare." I approached her and handed over Yang Dosu's soul tablet.
The cold-faced woman stroked the soul tablet and began to sob. "Sob... sob..."
She cried so heartbreakingly that I gently patted her back. Then she threw her arms around me and wailed even louder.
I could feel the soft sensation of her breasts, nearly causing an erection, but getting hard in this situation would make me scum, so I desperately held back.
I slowly stroked her back to comfort her. After about fifteen minutes, it was time to pull away.
"J-just... hold me a little longer."
And so, I had to stand there hugging her for quite a while longer.
Once she'd somewhat composed herself, I handed her Yang Dosu's storage pouch. "This is Junior Brother Yang's storage pouch. I haven't touched the contents."
"No, you should use it, Junior Brother Yuseong. I'm satisfied just hearing the news from you."
I couldn't refuse her words and took Yang Dosu's storage pouch. Outer sect disciples of the Unkak Sect were always poor, after all.
"I'm Byeok Soseol. Thank you for delivering the news and for staying with me."
"No, no, it was nothing."
Leaving behind Byeok Soseol with tears still welling in her eyes, I headed to my cave.
Lying on the stone bed in my cave, I pictured Byeok Soseol's face as she lay there weeping. If I died, would Wol cry like that too?
I couldn't easily imagine Moyong Wol—the ever-bright, spirited, and playful girl—crying.
I'd thought about replacing the stone bed in my residence after returning from Yunnam Village, but I liked its hard, cold feel, so I left it as is.
I pulled out Yang Dosu's storage pouch and checked the contents. There were five low-grade spirit stones, one Sound Transmission Talisman, and one Earth Wall Talisman.
The Earth Wall Talisman was a basic earth-attribute defensive talisman that erected a wall of earth. My defensive magic tool had been shattered in the fight with the Blue-Eared White Hare, so it was a relief to get a talisman like this.
As expected, Yang Dosu's storage pouch was light. I understood now why he'd taken on a potentially dangerous mission. He died, and I survived. But next time, it could be me who dies.
To avoid dying like a dog, I needed to prepare.
I'd already decided what to do with the spoils from killing the Blue-Eared White Hare. The most valuable horn would be made into an offensive magic tool, and the hide into armor.
The remaining materials, fangs, and blood would be exchanged for spirit stones. With the Moon Yin Herb as my mission reward, I had the main ingredient for Moon Pills, and I'd buy the auxiliary ingredients with spirit stones.
There was plenty of hide, so after making three sets of armor, I'd give one to Moyong Wol and one to Byeok Soseol. Since Byeok Soseol was at the same Qi Refining 6th stage as me, armor from the Blue-Eared White Hare's hide would help her too.
After organizing tomorrow's tasks in my mind, I lay on the stone bed and went to sleep. Even cultivators need sleep.
The next morning, I headed to the central district of the Unkak Sect.
The central area was packed with sect-operated shops, where most transactions took place.
I went to the largest one among them. It seemed the biggest shop would have the most skilled artifact refiner.
Opening the antique door, a servant greeted me politely. I returned the greeting casually and asked, "Do you have an artifact refiner here?"
"Yes, the owner is the artifact refiner himself."
"Were you looking for me?" A muscular old man appeared without any presence.
"I'm Yuseong. Are you Senior Brother Baek, by any chance?"
"That's me. Since you've come to me, you must have hunted some demon beast, right?"
I took out the Blue-Eared White Hare's horn and hide from my storage pouch. "I'd like an offensive magic tool from the horn and three sets of armor from the hide."
Senior Brother Baek laughed heartily. "Possible, as long as you pay. But to think you took down a Blue-Eared White Hare at your level—it's practically a 3rd-grade demon beast."
"I got lucky. How should I pay?"
Senior Brother Baek smiled kindly. "The Blue-Eared White Hare is close to 3rd-grade and rare, so it's hard to come by. I'll take the remaining materials after crafting in exchange."
"Agreed."
I handed over the horn and hide to Senior Brother Baek. As one of the top artifact refiners in the Unkak Sect, I looked forward to the performance of the magic tool and armor he'd make.
While I was at it, I took out one of the Blue-Eared White Hare's fangs and asked, "Senior Brother Baek, can you make a magic tool out of this too?"
Senior Brother Baek examined the fang. "Hmm... A flying sword shape would work. Will you entrust it to me?"
"Yes, please. Oh, and one more question—what are demon beast blood used for?"
"Demon beast blood has many uses, and the higher the grade, the more versatile. It's used for talisman ink, in body refinement pills, antidotes or poison pills depending on the components, and even in blood arrays or special demonic arts."
"That many uses?"
"That's all I know. If you want more, seek someone of higher realm and greater knowledge than me."
I was impressed by Senior Brother Baek's knowledge. As expected of a Core Formation mid-stage senior and a master refiner—not just anyone could do it.
Once I reached Core Formation, I'd gain access to the second floor of the Library Pavilion, multiplying the information available compared to Qi Refining.
I decided to sell half of the Blue-Eared White Hare's blood. I'd keep the other half in case I needed it later.
"I'm looking to sell this Blue-Eared White Hare blood—how many spirit stones for this amount?" I opened the leather pouch and showed it to him.
"It's rare Blue-Eared White Hare blood, and since it's your first transaction with me, I'll give you a good price: 50 low-grade spirit stones. How's that?"
Fifty low-grade spirit stones was an enormous sum—equivalent to over four years and two months of Medical Hall work—so I nodded eagerly.
"Perfect."
"Haha, straightforward as they come. Bring me anything else you want to trade in the future. I'll pay better than anywhere else."
"Yes, Senior Brother Baek, looking forward to working with you."
I gave Senior Brother Baek a respectful cupped-fist salute and left the shop. With my pouch heavy, my steps felt lighter and my heart lighter still.
Now I needed the auxiliary ingredients for Moon Pills, so I'd ask Wol first if she had any. I boarded my flying magic tool and headed toward the Medical Hall.
Mid-flight, I spotted a familiar face approaching on a boat-shaped flying magic tool from the opposite direction—Kang Seolhui, disciple of Nae Cheonha and my entry cohort.
I stopped my flying tool and greeted her. "Greetings, Senior Sister Kang."
I was too scared not to greet her. Kang Seolhui gave a curt nod with her usual haughty expression and flew past.
After she passed, I sniffed the air to catch her scent. A cool, unique fragrance lingered.
I was at Qi Refining 6th stage now, and she was at 10th, but I could still catch up. The Core Formation bottleneck would probably take her longer. Of course, with her Nascent Soul master, she'd reach it eventually.
I wondered what face she'd make when my cultivation surpassed hers someday. Could she keep that haughty look then? Or when she was pinned beneath me—could she maintain that arrogance?
Imagining Kang Seolhui pretending to hate it but clinging to me excitedly made my flying tool wobble.
I snapped out of it, channeled magic power into the tool again, and headed to where Moyong Wol stayed. Her house was near the Medical Hall, not far at all.