“Jaekyung. Are we moving?”
“That’s the plan.”
Cheong-o was lazing about in the nest as usual. However, in his mouth was something like a small fruit candy, a sweet that Jaekyung had acquired through Gwak Jeong-shin. Having only eaten insects and meat dripping with blood his entire life, Cheong-o couldn't get enough of the sweet snack he was tasting for the first time.
In less than a day, he was already about to finish a whole bag.
“There’s something I need you to do.”
“Yeah. What is it?”
A short while later. Jaekyung moved with Cheong-o in the direction of Black Shark Island. Just in case, Jaekyung dove deep into the water to travel, and Cheong-o flew high enough that cultivators wouldn't be able to spot him.
‘It’s deserted.’
All sorts of creatures naturally gather where spiritual energy is dense, but even as they approached Black Shark Island, Jaekyung saw almost no spirit beasts or cultivators. This was certainly abnormal, but such a thing was not unfamiliar to Jaekyung. His first territory, the Spiritual Spring, had been just like this.
To be precise, it was the Spiritual Spring that the catfish had thoroughly controlled and ruled.
‘It seems the Black Shark Gang manages the waters around the island thoroughly.’
It made sense that they had occupied the territory for over several decades. Didn't it mean they at least had the capability to manage their own territory this cleanly?
‘I think it’s about time we arrived.’
Based on the story he heard from the turtle and the information he got from Gwak Jeong-shin, Jaekyung guessed it was about time Black Shark Island came into view.
“Caw!”
At that moment, he faintly heard Cheong-o’s cry, and Jaekyung’s eyes glinted. * They stopped at a place far from Black Shark Island.
“Got it? You can’t get too close.”
“But I can’t see well from here.”
Cheong-o, who had landed on Jaekyung’s head and was preening his feathers, grumbled. At that, Jaekyung thought he had been too harsh and corrected himself.
“Mm. Alright. Let’s get a little closer then.”
Jaekyung didn't know the range of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's divine sense, so he made a rough estimate based on his own. He suspected the old Black Shark Gang Leader’s divine sense must have weakened considerably, but he still didn’t let his guard down. Jaekyung and Cheong-o approached a little closer to Black Shark Island.
When the faint dot had become a reasonably thick dot, Jaekyung stopped again.
“How is it? Can you see now?”
“Yeah. But do I just have to watch?”
“Right. Watch the boats coming and going from the island. Where they come from, where they go, how many, and how often.”
“Got it!”
Cheong-o was brimming with energy and enthusiasm, perhaps because he was getting some fresh air after a long time, or perhaps because he had been given a proper mission. Jaekyung gave Cheong-o a few warnings so that he wouldn't get ahead of himself and make a mistake.
Cheong-o nodded his head perfunctorily as if he were barely listening, but Jaekyung believed the bird had understood him well enough. He was a smart one by nature, and since his own safety was on the line, he wouldn't do anything needlessly careless.
“Remember. You must maintain this distance. If you go any further, you might be discovered.”
“Okay!”
“Good. Let’s head back for today.”
Jaekyung had no intention of rushing things with Black Shark Island. This was another hunt, and he had never been hasty while hunting. A hunt requires preparation, and the more thorough the preparation, the better.
Of course, he shouldn't get so absorbed in preparation that he misses his chance, but this prey wouldn't run away or disappear, so there was no need for such worries. After returning to the island, Jaekyung trained until his body and mind were tattered, accumulating as much demonic power as he could for several days.
Then, after taking a proper rest, he went to find the turtle.
“Dragon Lord.”
The turtle greeted Jaekyung calmly yet politely, as if it had been waiting this time as well.
“Did you say those water bandits took out their anger on the humans of the surrounding islands?”
“Yes. It was noisy enough to be heard from afar. It got even noisier after those water bandits left.”
“Is that so…”
Jaekyung told the turtle to keep a close watch on that island from now on.
“To keep watch on the island, do you mean to observe the island’s movements? And also to check if the water bandits of the Black Shark Gang continue to visit?”
Despite the somewhat vague instructions, the turtle understood at once. Jaekyung looked at the turtle with eyes full of praise, and the turtle brought its webbed feet together more humbly.
“Exactly. If the water bandits continue to visit the island, figure out their cycle.”
“Understood.”
Before leaving, Jaekyung took a good look at the turtle, which still hadn't raised its head. The more he saw it, the more he liked the creature. It knew a lot, was quick-witted, and above all, wise.
When talking to this one, there was nothing bothersome or annoying, and he never had to say things twice.
‘If I successfully obtain Black Shark Island…’
A certain plan, still a bit premature, briefly flashed through Jaekyung’s mind. * If one wanted to know how much venom could fill a person’s eyes, they needed only to look at this boy, Han Cheong-yu. Han Cheong-yu’s eyes were full of resentment and malice, and that heart of his naturally showed even during his cultivation.
“Hah…”
Han Cheong-yu was not alone. Beside him were other children his age, and their atmosphere was similar to Han Cheong-yu’s, but their ferocity could not match his. They were resting, tired from practicing their fighting techniques, but Han Cheong-yu continued his training even while they rested.
A few, feeling competitive, tried to follow Han Cheong-yu’s lead, but in the end, they couldn't last long and had no choice but to collapse with their tongues hanging out.
“Cheong-yu. Stop and rest. They said rest is also part of training.”
Han Cheong-yu shook his head at his friend’s words.
“Thanks. But I’m fine.”
Despite the words of worry and dissuasion, Han Cheong-yu paid them no mind. His training continued even after everyone he had been training with had gone home. The training, which had continued until his vital energy was depleted and his mind was numb, finally ended when a night breeze from somewhere blew in and awakened his reason.
In that instant, the venom that filled his eyes disappeared, and Han Cheong-yu collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. When the darkened waters of the Western Twin Lake came into view, Han Cheong-yu poured out the emotions he had suppressed for so long.
“Heuk! Kkeueueu…”
Tears streamed down, blurring his vision. What saddened Han Cheong-yu was none other than his own powerlessness and cowardice. The day before, when the water bandits of the Black Shark Gang had stormed Three Frog Island, demanding to know the whereabouts of their missing members, Han Cheong-yu couldn't step forward.
He couldn't step up and resist even as they harmed and dishonored the villagers. He had comforted himself by saying his strength was lacking for now, that it wasn't the right time yet, and that he was biding his time for the future, but in truth, he knew.
He hadn't been able to step forward then, not because of some reason like biding his time for the future, but simply because he was afraid. Confronting one’s true self, different from what one thinks, often leaves deep scars.
Han Cheong-yu was so shocked by his own pathetic and cowardly self, which was nothing compared to the vengeance he harbored, that his state of mind nearly crumbled. The resentment and malice Han Cheong-yu displayed were his desperate struggles to deny and forget that cowardly image.
“…”
As he was tormenting and consoling himself, Han Cheong-yu failed to notice a turtle in the water far away, staring intently at him.
“Heup!”
About half a month had passed since the day Han Cheong-yu had faced the night breeze alone and wept pitifully. The boy, who had felt the futility of life and crumbled that day, continued his grueling training the next day as if nothing had happened.
Those who didn't know might have admired the boy's strong will, but in truth, it was less an expression of strong will and more of an escape. If he didn't do this, he couldn't overcome the guilt and self-loathing in his heart, so Han Cheong-yu was simply continuing his harsh training to survive.
Today, too, Han Cheong-yu continued to train alone after everyone else had gone home. He stopped his training for a moment to cool his throbbing head and catch his breath. Afterward, when he turned his body out of habit to look at the lake, the boy noticed a man with a pale complexion standing not far away, watching him.
“Hup!”
Han Cheong-yu’s face changed, and for some reason, he instinctively held his breath. No, it wasn't that he held it; his breath caught on its own. Moreover, his body froze as if someone had dragged a sharp ice pick across his back, and his mind went dizzy.
The man looked Han Cheong-yu up and down with an expressionless face, then uttered a single word.
“Tenacious.”
Han Cheong-yu forced his trembling body to stay still. But even though he managed to stop his body from shaking, his heart was already swaying 불안하게 like a reed in a storm.
“Who are you? There is no one like you on this island.”
“Are you sure? The island is large, and the number of people is not small. You can’t possibly know all their faces, can you?”
“No. If there was someone like you, there’s no way I wouldn't know.”
“Is that so?”
A faint smile appeared on the man’s previously expressionless face. But Han Cheong-yu’s heart did not feel at ease in the slightest.
“More importantly, what you were doing, was that self-torment or training?”
“It was training.”
“Tenacious.”
“…”
“Why? Are you trying to get revenge or something?”
Han Cheong-yu kept his mouth tightly shut, but the man, as if he knew everything, nodded slightly and slowly approached. As the distance closed, Han Cheong-yu could finally see the man more clearly. A slender build overall, with skin so pale one might wonder if he was sick.
There was none of the oppressive aura felt from a high-level cultivator. Rather, it felt as if he had never cultivated at all. But even so, Han Cheong-yu couldn't let his guard down.
This instinctive reaction told him that everything about this man was abnormal.
“Yes. Someday… Someday, with my own hands, I will wipe out all those water bandits.”
Why was he saying such things? What if this man was a member of the Black Shark Gang? He couldn't understand it himself, but Han Cheong-yu dared not speak a lie.
“Right. Revenge is good.”
The man smiled with satisfaction.
“Then let’s talk about that revenge. Who knows? Maybe I can be of help?”
As he took a few more steps closer, Han Cheong-yu realized that a strange, fragrant scent was coming from the man’s body. * The turtle poked its head above the surface of the water.
“How was he, Dragon Lord?”
“He seemed fine.”
Jaekyung stood idly by the water’s edge, feeling the cool night breeze. It was the same breeze he always felt, but feeling it in a human form gave it a different, strangely pleasant sensation. Was it because things were going well, or because of the slight intoxication from the wine that hadn't yet faded?
Of course, the intoxication wasn't about being drunk. No matter if he was in a human body, spirit wine could not make a Great Spirit Beast drunk.
“Turtle.”
“Yes, Dragon Lord.”
“Next, find some who aren't too stupid. Ones you can command.”
The pleasantly tipsy feeling from the wine began to fade little by little. Then, his black pupils gradually turned yellow, and then split into vertical slits.
“Dragon Lord.”
The turtle bowed its head respectfully.
“For me to gather and handle such ignorant ones, I must borrow the Dragon Lord’s prestige.”
“Is that so?”
Jaekyung smirked and reached out one hand, clenching it into a fist. As his nails dug deep into his flesh, a few drops of brilliant blood soon formed on his hand. Jaekyung flicked those few drops of blood towards the turtle.
The blood landed precisely on the turtle’s head and disappeared in an instant as if melting away. Then, the turtle’s body trembled as if it had been electrocuted. It looked as if it was afraid, and also as if it was filled with ecstasy.
“I will surely live up to the Dragon Lord’s faith in me!”
The turtle, shouting loudly, hurriedly disappeared into the water. Left alone, Jaekyung tried to enjoy the night breeze a little longer. But the breeze that had felt so refreshing just a moment ago now felt only unpleasant, and he clicked his tongue and walked into the water.
Soon, the pale man vanished into the water, and only a massive shadow flowed with the current into the depths of the Western Twin Lake.