The workers did their best. Jaekyung could feel their strangely intense enthusiasm. He wondered for a moment why they were working so hard, but soon realized.
'It's because they don't want to die.' Jaekyung thought they must have some grave misunderstanding about him. 'Well, it doesn't matter.'
If they worked hard and built his house quickly, wasn't that a good thing?
“Dragon Lord! It is complete!”
The construction, which he thought would be finished quickly, took a full day to end. It was mainly because they put an excessive amount of effort into the interior work, and though it was their best effort, it didn't particularly impress Jaekyung.
“You’ve worked hard.”
But seeing the faces of the workers, dripping with fatigue, he didn't feel like scolding them.
“Thank you!”
His light words of praise must have sounded like ‘I’ll spare your lives,’ as the workers rejoiced, their eyes welling up with tears. Han Cheong-yu was not quite to that extent, but he too looked relieved.
‘This is fine.’
After the workers left, Jaekyung looked around his new home. He did not use transformation. This new house was a house for his original form.
Built for a colossal serpent 100 meters long, the overall structure resembled a tunnel.
‘The architecture in this world is truly amazing.’
Cultivators who used techniques performed better than any construction machine from his past life. To build such a huge structure in a single day. Although it was just a simple building with no special functions… it was still amazing enough in the eyes of Jaekyung, who had memories of his past life.
'They say the human territories are full of all sorts of wondrous buildings...' Just a short while ago, he had been preoccupied with how to get his hands on Black Flood Dragon Island and how to defeat the Black Shark Gang Leader, but now that everything was well settled, his mind was at ease.
As his mind grew calm, his thoughts naturally multiplied. Expectations for his cultivation and for the future vaguely filled his mind.
“Jaekyung! Your new house is huge!”
“It is.”
Cheong-o, from the storage pouch worn around his neck like a scarf, began to take out his treasures and build a nest. The sight of him carefully carrying each piece with his beak reminded Jaekyung of the human workers who had been diligently building the house the day before.
‘So diligent in useless things.’
While Jaekyung was lost in various thoughts in his new home, and Cheong-o was engrossed in building his shining nest, Mook-soo scurried around Black Flood Dragon Island. It was looking for a suitable place to take root. Black Flood Dragon Island was vast, and there were no threats.
The only flaw was that more than half the land was covered in ash because of Jaekyung’s Fire Rain Technique, but that wasn't much of a problem for Mook-soo. After diligently roaming Black Flood Dragon Island for a few days, Mook-soo chose the highest mountain peak on the island as its new residence.
When Jaekyung came to see it, it was indeed a prime spot with a cool breeze and warm sunlight.
“Not bad. It’s the perfect place to bear spiritual fruit.”
Flinch!
Mook-soo, who had been pleasantly enjoying the breeze, suddenly trembled. As a wise tree demon, it knew that Jaekyung had taken care of it until now not just because of the affection they had shared. Jaekyung’s patience must have already been nearly exhausted from it just playing and eating all this time.
Mook-soo had a premonition that the good times were over. It was now time to work. * The spiritual energy on Black Flood Dragon Island was denser than at the spiritual spring Jaekyung had previously occupied.
He couldn't gauge it precisely since he hadn't practiced his cultivation techniques when he was at the spiritual spring, but it felt like it was slightly less than double.
'Excellent.
I can see why humans are so obsessed with spirit veins.' Jaekyung, who had only ever cultivated in a cave with faint spiritual energy, smiled in satisfaction at the rich spiritual energy of the blessed land.
When he cultivated in the cave before, his demonic power would increase by a single drop each time he trained, but now it felt like it increased by more than ten drops.
Of course, it was just a feeling, and even if it were a hundred drops instead of ten, it would still be a minuscule amount… but even so, this was a great step forward. 'Shall I stop here for today.' Jaekyung finished his cultivation and went outside.
Leaning his body against the stone bed he had made by the water, he habitually took a sip of spirit wine and enjoyed the breeze. It was a life fit for an Immortal. It might seem like he was lazing around, but for Jaekyung, this was another form of cultivation.
The cultivation of his Transformation Secret Art and his state of mind. 'I need to find a way to grow the school of Meat-Scaled Fish.' To calm the anger that was constantly coloring his mind, Jaekyung deliberately immersed himself in various thoughts.
Concerns about managing the blessed land and increasing his profits occupied most of his thoughts.
‘I also need control over the islanders.’
He had no intention of exploiting them like the Black Shark Gang, but he could not tolerate them interacting with the outside world. Although Gwak Jeong-shin had resolved the issue on the human side, Jaekyung couldn't be at ease trusting Gwak Jeong-shin alone.
‘The waters around Black Flood Dragon Island must be cut off from the human territories.’
To achieve that, Jaekyung was even willing to interact with the demon races. He had no intention of crawling under the Shattered Waters Whale King, but perhaps interacting with a few demon races to show the outside world that Black Flood Dragon Island belonged to the demon lands would be fine?
‘The problem is… the demon races are just as dangerous as the humans.’
It was funny for him, a current Great Spirit Beast, to say such a thing, but Jaekyung truly thought so. Perhaps not as much as humans, but the demon races were not opponents he could let his guard down against.
‘Still, it's worth a try.’
Jaekyung continued to sip his spirit wine for a long while, formulating various plans. That peaceful time ended a short while later when Hyeon-gu crawled out of the water.
“Greetings to the Dragon Lord.”
Hyeon-gu, having received a name from him, showed an even more subordinate-like demeanor than before. With a sense of responsibility added to his existing politeness, Jaekyung found himself unconsciously trying to act like a 'Dragon Lord' whenever he faced this fellow. He became more taciturn, and for most questions, he would just nod his head.
Hyeon-gu, inwardly admiring the always dignified appearance of the Dragon Lord, reported on the current status of the Meat-Scaled Fish school.
“The population is being maintained at a stable level. If we continue to catch them as we did last time, there should be no problems in the future. However, recently, there have been fellows coming in from outside the waters, so it seems we need to increase the number of aquatic spirit beasts guarding the school.”
“Is that so?”
Jaekyung frowned.
Fellows coming in from outside the waters. He had expected this, but for them to start snooping around so soon.
“The number of intruders will keep increasing, won't it?”
“I believe so. After all, everyone wants to live in a blessed land.”
“What are your thoughts? What would be the best course of action?”
Hyeon-gu thought for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“If the Dragon Lord only wishes to protect the Meat-Scaled Fish school, I believe there is no need to pay it much mind. The ones who drift in will only be wanderers anyway, and such fellows wouldn’t dare to even come near the school.”
The aquatic spirit beasts led by Hyeon-gu numbered in the dozens. With dozens of aquatic spirit beasts guarding the school, there was no need to worry about riffraff approaching.
“However, if you wish to manage the entire waters cleanly… using the humans might be a way.”
“Humans?”
When Jaekyung reacted with surprise, Hyeon-gu continued his explanation.
“Humans are weak and slow, but they are numerous. Moreover, there are quite a few islands they can use as bases, so if the Dragon Lord commands them, it will be much easier to manage the waters.”
“Hmm.”
Hyeon-gu’s proposal didn't sound bad. As the master of these waters, not only the aquatic spirit beasts in the water but also the humans on the water were his subjects. As the one who guaranteed their survival, receiving a certain amount of labor in return could be seen as a just exercise of his rights, couldn't it?
“Alright. I will do as you say.”
Hyeon-gu bowed his head respectfully.
“By the way, is there a way to increase the population of the Meat-Scaled Fish?”
“Um…”
Hyeon-gu looked flustered and scratched his cheek with his webbed hand.
“I am not sure about that. If you give me time, I will try to find a way.”
“Observe the Meat-Scaled Fish. Watch what they eat and how they live, and you might come up with something.”
Until he found another good source of income, the Meat-Scaled Fish business was Jaekyung’s only means of earning spirit stones. Therefore, growing the school of Meat-Scaled Fish was very important. Besides, if he could find a way to grow the school, he could also move its location to a safer place.
“I will do my best.”
Seeing the passion burning in Hyeon-gu’s eyes, Jaekyung nodded in satisfaction.
* “Kuaaaah!”
After hearing Hyeon-gu’s report, Jaekyung went around the entire waters and showed off his might. He roared ferociously, terrifying everything around him, and at times, he personally bit and killed a few aquatic spirit beasts. At his power and cruelty, not only the aquatic spirit beasts but also the humans on the nearby islands trembled in fear.
“Cheong-yu. Will it really be alright?”
The people of Three Frog Island were no exception. Their faces turned pale at the constantly churning lake water and the occasional thunderous roars.
“It’s alright. You all saw it. As long as we faithfully follow the Dragon Lord, there will be no problem.”
Even with Han Cheong-yu’s words, the islanders could not shake off their fear. Only those who had previously gone to Black Flood Dragon Island to work with him remained relatively calm.
“Besides, this is an opportunity for us too. Think about it. We are told to go out on boats and hunt the aquatic spirit beasts coming from the outer regions, but in essence, doesn't this mean we've gained freedom of passage?”
At those words, people looked at each other. Freedom of passage? Come to think of it, it could be seen that way.
Those who dealt with the aquatic spirit beasts were told they could travel freely in the waters, which meant they could also visit other islands.
“I’m going to do it. You all shouldn't hesitate either. Who knows? If we seize this opportunity, perhaps an even bigger one will follow?”
After the Black Shark Gang disappeared, Han Cheong-yu suffered from a sense of emptiness for a while. What he had thought was his life's goal had been achieved unexpectedly; he was happy, but also bewildered.
But now that some time had passed and the emptiness and confusion had cleared, he finally began to look at a future where the darkness had lifted. In other words, it was hope.
‘Three Frog Island is too small.’
He had visited a few other islands while helping the Dragon Lord before. At the time, his mind was so full of thoughts about the Black Shark Gang that he had no time for sentiment, but thinking back now, his heart belatedly began to pound.
‘If I help the Dragon Lord, I might get to visit other islands.’
He would be able to see more islands, a bigger world. Just the thought of it made Han Cheong-yu’s heart race already. * After patrolling the waters for a while, Jaekyung suddenly frowned and came to a stop.
A strong presence was slowly approaching, aimed directly at him.
‘A Great Spirit Beast. Its energy is… about the same as mine?’
He could surmise from the other party's cautious approach that there was no hostility, but Jaekyung did not let his guard down.
“Oh.”
When they were close enough to see each other with the naked eye, the other party flinched upon seeing him. No, should I say it froze completely?
“A... a flood dragon?”
Jaekyung did not react and observed his opponent. As he had guessed, it was a Great Spirit Beast, and a spirit beast at that. Its overall appearance was close to a crab, but it had two pairs of large claws instead of one.
Being a Great Spirit Beast, its body was nearly 10 meters large, which was quite big, but it looked rather shabby in front of Jaekyung.
“Who are you?”
Looking at the giant crab floundering in its own misunderstanding, Jaekyung asked in a cold voice.