I Possessed a Cultivator Destined to Die at the Hands of the Protagonist - Chapter 3

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

03.
Yoo Yeon-seo staggered to her feet and fidgeted with the wooden sword, turning it over in her hands.
Though she had fallen, her eyes gleamed with the conviction that she could accomplish more if she tried.
After deliberating for some time, Yoo Yeon-seo set down the wooden sword and turned to look back.
“Is… is this enough?”
“It is sufficient.”
“But I fell.”
“Even so, it is enough. Do not worry. There is no one who excels from the very beginning.”
Baek Un-jin reassured Yoo Yeon-seo, telling her not to fret.
From that day forward, Yoo Yeon-seo studied under Baek Un-jin at the Seowun Pavilion in the mornings, and in the afternoons, she learned swordsmanship and cultivation techniques.
“Let us begin with the Cheongryeon Technique.”
“Yes!”
I slowly formed the hand seals of the Cheongryeon Technique before Baek Un-jin’s watchful gaze.
The Cheongryeon Technique was one of the representative ceremonial cultivation methods of the Chingwoo Immortal Sect, activating the spiritual meridians and blood vessels within the body to freely manipulate vital energy and magical power.
To employ a spell, three essential stages were required: first, activating the spiritual meridians; second, reciting an incantation; and third, forming the hand seals.
While certain steps could be omitted depending on circumstances, the more precisely each stage was executed, the greater the spell’s potency became.
As I felt the drawn spiritual energy flow through my blood vessels, I twisted my fingers to complete the seal.
Then, a shimmering azure light bloomed around me like heat haze.
Manifesting a cultivation technique into reality was the first step as a practitioner.
“Done! Haaah.”
“Do not release your energy until the end.”
“Yes.”
Being still a novice, the slightest moment of carelessness caused the spell to dissipate immediately.
Yet compared to the beginning, I had improved considerably.
After finishing the practice of maintaining the spell, I moved on to sword training.
Though Yoo Yeon-seo had initially stumbled over her own feet and fallen, unable even to assume the proper stance, as time passed, her posture steadily improved.
“How is it?”
“Your stance is still unstable. When you swing the sword, you must extend your arm more forcefully forward.”
“Yes.”
Though she acknowledged his words, Yoo Yeon-seo was the type of student who grasped ten principles from a single lesson.
True to form, she immediately grasped what was amiss with the correction he had just given and adjusted her stance on her own.
Before Baek Un-jin’s eyes, Yoo Yeon-seo moved on the balls of her feet and swung her sword through the empty air.
Following the graceful arc of her blade, the ambient spiritual energy rippled faintly.
“Ugh!”
But it was only momentary—Yoo Yeon-seo’s swordplay was far from complete, and as expected, she made a mistake and fell within moments.
“Are you hurt?”
“Ah, no, no. I’m fine. Why? I thought I did it correctly…”
Having landed hard on my backside, I took Baek Un-jin’s hand and rose to my feet.
Baek Un-jin glanced at my clothes and chuckled softly.
“Your robes have grown quite short. You have grown taller.”
“Is that so?!”
At his words, I finally looked down at the clothes I was wearing.
‘I thought the sleeves felt shorter, but it wasn’t just my imagination.’
Ever since arriving at the Chingwoo Immortal Sect, Yoo Yeon-seo had been gaining weight and growing taller by the day.
He said my fall was simply because my clothes had become too small, and there was nothing wrong with my movements.
Baek Un-jin examined my garments and muttered to himself.
“I think it would be better to have a celestial robe made for you.”
Celestial robes were the collective term for garments worn by cultivators.
Celestial robes were made from a special thread called heavenly silk, and clothing crafted from this fabric possessed properties that allowed it to regenerate when infused with spiritual power or shield against external attacks.
Since cultivators engaged in frequent combat, wearing ordinary clothes meant tearing them to shreds dozens of times a day.
However, I understood that celestial robes made from heavenly silk were quite expensive.
“I’m fine with any ordinary clothes, really. Celestial robes are expensive, after all.”
“I’ll have a suitable one made, so don’t worry.”
“….”
“Isn’t having something better than having nothing? Your expression suggests you’d like one.”
As Baek Un-jin threw out his teasing remark, my face flushed crimson and I quickly turned my head away.
Of course I wanted one!
The fabric woven from heavenly silk was said to change color depending on a cultivator’s spiritual power, which is why it was also called color-shifting fabric.
Honestly, I was curious what color would appear on mine.
Besides, wearing a celestial robe meant I wouldn’t have to bother with laundry, and the conveniences were truly numerous.
“You’ve been working hard lately, so think of this as a gift.”
Baek Un-jin said I deserved at least that much and gently patted my head.
“Tomorrow we’ll need to leave the Chingwoo Immortal Sect to have your celestial robe tailored, so let’s end today’s training here.”
“Yes!”
That night, I was so excited about the outing that I barely slept, my eyes wide open until dawn.
Since possessing Yoo Yeon-seo’s body, I had never actually left the Chingwoo Immortal Sect, so this would be my first venture outside.
When morning came and Baek Un-jin saw me rushing over, he remarked with a slight smile.
“You seem excited.”
“Of course! But where are we going? To Cheongseong?!”
Cheongseong was the region where the Chingwoo Immortal Sect was located.
Even venturing to Cheongseong felt like an enormous undertaking for me.
“We’re going to Hyeonbaek in Seongryul Province.”
“Seongryul Province? Isn’t that incredibly far from here?”
The Baekryeon Kingdom was divided into five provinces in total.
The Chingwoo Immortal Sect was located in Cheongryeon Province, and from Cheongryeon to Seongryul, we would have to cross at least one province.
Just traveling there would take a month, so a round trip would easily take two months….
I wondered if cultivators found a month of travel unremarkable.
“It won’t take that long.”
Baek Un-jin retrieved a flying artifact from his storage pouch.
It resembled a large carpet, and as Baek Un-jin infused it with his spiritual power, the carpet slowly rose into the air.
“Wow…”
A flying artifact!
I’d heard such things existed in novels, but seeing one with my own eyes was a first.
I lifted my body lightly and climbed onto the carpet.
The carpet sagged beneath my weight, supporting me.
Baek Un-jin followed behind me, stepping onto the flying artifact as well.
“You’ll want to hold on tight.”
“Oh? Waaaaaah!”
Before I could finish speaking, the carpet shot forward at tremendous speed.
If I hadn’t gripped the carpet tightly using the cultivation method Baek Un-jin taught me, I would have been thrown off instantly.
We flew so fast that the mountains and villages below blurred into streaks of color.
Thanks to the flying artifact, we covered a distance that should have taken a week in less than half a day.
The problem was.
“Ugh.”
Unable to adapt to the incredible speed, the moment my feet touched the ground, I lost my balance and stumbled forward, smashing my head against a wall.
“Ow!”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, though I’m a bit dizzy… Actually, no, I’m not okay.”
This must be what it feels like when the world spins.
Motion sickness? In any case, I realized that such side effects were possible when traveling at excessive speeds.
As I stood there with my eyes spinning, unable to regain my senses, Baek Un-jin caught my body and placed something in my mouth.
“Better now?”
“Yes! But what did you give me?”
“Motion sickness medicine.”
“Ah.”
“Novice cultivators often experience motion sickness on their first flight.”
I wasn’t the only one—suddenly, peace filled my heart.
It was clearly no ordinary remedy; the effects came immediately.
With my senses restored, I looked around Seongryul Province.
“Fresh fruit has arrived! Items that came in this morning!”
“Need medicinal herbs? We have herbs that dispel fatigue instantly!”
“Today’s price only. Tomorrow it might go up.”
“Wow.”
Baek Un-jin and I wandered through the central marketplace in Hyeonbaek, Seongryul Province.
The marketplace overflowed with vitality, lined with people and shops everywhere.
Unfamiliar goods and intriguing foods filled every corner, making it impossible to look away.
“Don’t stray too far.”
“Understood!”
“Hey there, lovely young lady—how about some sweet sugar figurines?”
I stopped in my tracks at the sound of someone’s voice and turned my head.
Sculpted sugar candies shaped like flowers were displayed on every shelf.
They were crafted with such exquisite precision that one might mistake them for real blossoms if not for knowing they were confections.
Now that I thought about it, how long had it been since I’d tasted anything sweet?
The Chingwoo Immortal Sect provided adequate meals, but there were no special treats to speak of.
“How much are they?”
“Five copper coins each.”
I reached into my pockets.
Only then did I realize I had no money on me.
I was about to withdraw with a dejected expression when—
“I’ll take one of the large flower ones.”
“That will be seven copper coins.”
“Keep the change.”
Baek Un-jin, who had approached from behind, purchased the candy in my stead.
“If you want something, you can simply ask. Why do you hesitate so much?”
“I apologize for the trouble.”
“You seem to have much to apologize for.”
I felt that by accepting me as his disciple, he had already done far more than enough for me.
So even making such a small request felt awkward.
Baek Un-jin handed me the flower-shaped candy.
“Eat freely.”
“Thank you!”
Well, a treat is a treat, regardless.
I eagerly licked the candy with my tongue as I followed closely behind Baek Un-jin.
He led me to a hidden fabric shop tucked away in the depths of the market district.
Though the building appeared dilapidated from the outside, stepping through its doors revealed a deceptively spacious interior—a vast shop displaying countless bolts of silk.
“…You’re saying you don’t have Cheonryul silk?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. It seems malevolent spirits have appeared along the route the merchant caravan usually takes, so delivery has been delayed.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————