Chapter 7 :

Chapter 7

Act Two: Crying-Infant Dragon Steed (4)

It was a truly astonishing strike.

It far surpassed the realm Yise had imagined—though Mong Ryeon was not human in the first place.

“So this is the strength of the greatest master among the Spirit Kin.”

His teacher was far more overwhelmingly powerful than he had imagined.

The saying, “As long as Mong Ryeon protects it, no ordinary demon can approach Spirit-Guarding Temple,” no longer sounded like an exaggeration.

That made it all the more surprising that the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed had dared to hunt the Spirit Kin.

It also made the tragedy that occurred during her absence even more regrettable.

“How does your body feel?”

“Much better now, Teacher.”

“You endure remarkably well without even groaning. If you can move, get up. I have a task for you.”

Mong Ryeon handed Yise a cluster of bells with a handle split into two branches, a small brass knife decorated with paper tassels, and a rectangular piece of paper divided vertically down the middle.

“These are ritual implements used for spirit purification. They were made so ordinary mortals without spiritual energy could use them.”

“Spirit purification?”

“Yes. Killing a demon doesn’t end the hunt. Its resentment remains within its corpse for some time. If it isn’t properly purified, that resentment will wander through the Nine Heavens and eventually create an identical demon. You would have hunted only its outer shell.”

Yise examined the ritual implements.

The auspicious energy emanating from them made it clear that they were no ordinary objects.

“The resentment of the Snail-Headed Scholar you killed had already escaped. In other words, even setting aside the mastermind behind the attack, your revenge was incomplete from the beginning.”

“...I see.”

“The first section contains the Spirit-Purification Incantation. Hold the ritual bell in your right hand and the spirit tablet in your left. Keep your mind clear and reverently recite the incantation.”

Mong Ryeon smacked her lips regretfully.

“If you had awakened your spiritual root, you could have absorbed a considerable amount of spiritual energy from this hunt. What a shame.”

“Is it truly all right for me to perform it?”

“Would you have me, a Spirit Kin, perform it? Spirit purification is a ritual only the Human Race can perform. That is one reason we maintain our alliance with them.”

“I heard the Spirit-Kin Race can raise their cultivation by devouring demons. Wouldn’t it be better for you to consume it?”

“No. If I intended to devour its demonic energy, I would have needed to eat it alive. Besides, an insect-like demon in the Energy Refinement Realm wouldn’t even make a dent in my hunger. Consider this an opportunity to gain experience.”

“U-Understood.”

Yise accepted her explanation.

He calmly began reading the Spirit-Purification Incantation.

“Demons flee, their bonds undone; at the end, they dissolve and depart.”

It was a short incantation.

As the eight-part phrase concluded, the ritual bell jingled and emitted a brilliant yellow light.

The next moment, the black energy flowing from the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed’s corpse convulsed violently before entering Yise’s body.

“...?”

“Is it finished?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Don’t be disappointed that you couldn’t absorb any spiritual energy. At least the medicinal pellet you consumed will remain effective for a long time. Once you awaken your spiritual root, its power will take effect. You’ve struck it rich.”

“But something feels strange.”

“What?”

“I think the demonic energy inside the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed entered me. Can a human absorb demonic energy?”

At Yise’s words, Mong Ryeon stared intently into his body.

She thought she could faintly sense demonic energy, but it was so feeble that distinguishing it from turbid energy was difficult.

Could something as insignificant as that truly be called demonic energy?

The Crying-Infant Dragon Steed had torn several holes through his body, so it would not be strange for some of its demonic energy to linger within him temporarily.

She shrugged.

“I don’t know. I’ve never heard of such a thing. It might be possible among demonic sects that cultivate demonic arts. Fundamentally, however, humans cannot manipulate demonic energy, while demons cannot manipulate spiritual energy. The two share the same origin, but they are entirely different powers. Only those with exceptionally keen perception or those who have reached certain cultivation realms can vaguely sense both.”

Yise faintly furrowed his brow.

He could clearly sense both spiritual energy and demonic energy.

“I see. It seems I was mistaken.”

“If it continues to bother you, remember the symptoms and ask about them after you reach the Grand Martial Path. Your teacher despises theoretical matters.”

Faced with Mong Ryeon’s decisive response, Yise fell silent.

The unsettling energy still remained inside his abdomen, moving as though it were writhing, but there was no need to irritate his teacher.

He would observe it for a little longer and ask again later if necessary.

“Now perform a memorial rite for the children who died. Hold the ritual knife in your right hand. The Memorial Incantation is in the third section.”

Enemies were purified, while allies were guided to rest.

Yise engraved the distinction into his memory.

“Although they were born as demons, sincerely pray that their souls will not fall into the bottomless abyss of the Demon Realm, that they will safely pass through the Gate of Reincarnation, and that they may be born as humans in their next lives.”

Mong Ryeon and Yise gathered the bodies of the deceased Spirit Kin, laid them neatly together, and observed a moment of silence.

“May the departed spirits rest in peace and follow the radiant path.”

This time, Yise could clearly feel their souls ascending toward the heavens.

When the ritual ended, he looked at Mong Ryeon.

She wore a complicated expression.

However, she soon smiled as though bidding farewell to those departing.

“Smile. Among the Spirit-Kin Race, it is customary to show the dead a smile.”

“...Yes.”

A corner of Yise’s heart also ached.

It was the same emotion he had felt after losing his family to the Snail-Headed Scholar.

Only now did the sense of loss finally arrive.

The deaths of those he had seen every day for six years were heavier than he had expected.

“What a ridiculous expression you’re making.”

Unable either to cry or smile properly, Yise felt deeply grateful that no mirror was nearby.

***

Several days passed after the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed’s rampage.

Gong Ilchwi and Gong Woljang were sentenced to spend ten years confined within the Cave of Repentance.

A restrictive seal was also placed upon the young Spirit Kin, preventing them from leaving the territory.

Yise looked at Mong Ryeon and the Spirit Kin assembled behind her.

They had come to see him off.

Today was the day Yise would leave Spirit-Guarding Temple and travel to take the Grand Martial Path’s entrance examination.

“Tsk. Stubborn brat. I could take you there in no time.”

“As I said, I want to use this opportunity to experience the world.”

“Try not to get yourself killed by some stray demon along the way.”

Mong Ryeon casually handed him a dagger wrapped in cloth.

“This is...”

The weapon in his hand was the Meridian-Severing Dagger, the spirit treasure Yise had used during his final battle with the Crying-Infant Dragon Steed.

“May I truly accept something this valuable?”

“Take it before I change my mind.”

Yise hurriedly accepted the dagger and secured it inside his clothing.

“I can’t give you much. Everything here is precious property that my children risked their lives to obtain. Use it well, and return it once you reach a realm where you no longer need it.”

“I will.”

When Mong Ryeon stepped back, the other Spirit Kin came forward one by one and began stuffing objects from their sleeves into Yise’s bundle.

They gave him packed meals, silver coins, small jewels, an unidentified scroll, and a necklace set with a red stone.

“That is a spirit stone. Cultivators use them as currency, and they can also be ground down to make elixirs. Keep it with you for now.”

“Thank you.”

Each object was probably a precious part of its owner’s collection.

They did not know how the items should be used and had simply kept them, yet now they handed them to Yise as though giving him their carefully saved spending money.

He felt an ache deep within his heart.

Gonga, who had been hesitating until the end, handed him a beautifully wrapped, cone-shaped object.

“Um... Be careful.”

“Thank you. But what is this?”

Instead of answering, Gonga hurried back into the crowd of Spirit Kin.

Mong Ryeon chuckled and answered in her place.

“That is a juvenile horn. It falls out only once before a Spirit Kin reaches adulthood and grows their permanent horn. For humans, it would be like a baby tooth falling out before the permanent tooth grows. It’s an extremely valuable ingredient, so if you ever make an elixir, think of Gonga before grinding it up and consuming it.”

“...Gonga.”

“You might die out there. You should have sown your seed at least once before leaving. I was curious what a child of mixed human and Spirit Kin blood would be like.”

“Chief!”

Only Gonga’s shriek could be heard from where she had hidden.

The laughter of the adult Spirit Kin followed.

After Mong Ryeon’s remark—which could have been either ill wishes or a joke—the Spirit Kin exchanged farewells with Yise.

He bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

This place now felt like his hometown.

Stepping back, Yise offered Mong Ryeon nine formal bows.

“Once I enter the Grand Martial Path, I expect to be away for quite some time. Although we belong to different races, I regard you, Teacher, and everyone here as family. I will never forget the kindness of taking me in. May you all remain healthy and at peace.”

“Very well. Don’t worry about us. Focus on becoming stronger. The Grand Martial Path’s rules are more flexible than you might expect, so make time to visit occasionally.”

“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll be going.”

When he bowed once more, Gonga, the kitchen matron, and several other Spirit Kin waved and called out to him.

“Have a safe journey, Yise!”

“Make sure you eat properly!”

“We’ll miss you!”

Yise took a difficult step forward.

His destination was Azure Mountain, famous for the mystical energy flowing through it.

Subu Village.

There had been a time when he considered this place his hometown.

If the villagers had not ignored his desperate need for help during the demon’s rampage—

If someone had extended a hand after he lost his family—

Perhaps he would still have considered it his hometown.

His life in Subu Village had been the second-happiest period of his life.

Now his heart was comparatively peaceful.

Perhaps that was because he had found a new hometown.

Yise entered his former home.

Noticing that the courtyard had changed, he furrowed his brow.

“The graves...”

They were gone.

The graves he had made for his family had disappeared.

Yise rubbed both hands down his face.

Inside the walls, the property was almost completely empty, as though it had been robbed.

The thatched house resembled an abandoned building awaiting demolition.

Yise barely suppressed his rising anger.

Then he noticed the broad stone he had used as a gravestone.

A message had been written upon it in ink.

“If you see this, come and find me. —Wisaeng.”

It was undoubtedly Teacher Wisaeng’s handwriting.

Rather than sinking into gloom, Yise immediately headed toward Teacher Wisaeng’s residence.

With his family’s graves gone, he had no reason to return here again.

He intended to meet the person who had business with him and then leave immediately.

“Teacher, it’s Yise.”

“Come in.”

Wisaeng was reading in his study, looking exactly as Yise remembered him.

Even when Yise entered, he did not glance up and kept his eyes fixed upon the book.

“Were you looking for me?”

“There is a money pouch in the second compartment of the cabinet on the left. It contains the money obtained from selling the objects you left without permission, the remaining household property, and the land.”

“...But those things were legitimate payment.”

Wisaeng merely shook his head.

“One cannot call something legitimate payment when one party unilaterally concludes their business and leaves everything behind without permission. I feared it might become a beautiful but futile effort if you never returned alive, but fortunately, you did.”

“Was it necessary for you to go this far...?”

Six years earlier, Wisaeng had seemingly cared little whether Yise lived or died.

Yise was grateful for the inexplicable kindness, but it also made him uncomfortable.

“Does one need a reason to return property to its rightful owner?”

Yise could not answer Wisaeng’s response.

Wisaeng finally closed his book and met Yise’s gaze.

“I remember when you were first adopted into this village. I also remember when you frequently visited my study.”

“I’m grateful that you allowed me to beg for books and taught me how to read.”

“When you alone survived that day, there were people who wanted to help you. There were also thugs who tried to prevent them from doing so.”

“...Is that so?”

“Fear born from ignorance creates monsters. So please don’t resent them too deeply.”

“I don’t particularly resent them.”

Wisaeng smiled faintly.

Yise realized it was the first time he had ever seen the man smile.

“Inside the money pouch is a map marking the location of your family’s graves. Visit them occasionally and pay your respects. I regret moving them without your permission, but according to geomancy, placing graves within a family home violates the natural order.”

“Thank... you.”

“You may leave now.”

It was characteristic of Wisaeng to state his business plainly and then immediately dismiss his guest.

Six years ago, Yise had believed the world was filled only with people he should resent.

Now, however, he continued to encounter people deserving his gratitude—people whose kindness he would have to repay.

“Yise.”

“Yes?”

“You look well. I’m glad.”

Yise bowed deeply before slowly withdrawing.