Surviving as the Heavenly Demon’s Concubine - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Chukjibeop? That… makes sense.”

Mujin looked back and forth between Jegal Lin and the other girls with an awkward expression.

Chukjibeop, the Taoist art of folding the earth to run, was a typical boast put forward by fraudulent Taoist masters who deceived the masses.

‘It does sound like nonsense though.’

Nevertheless, Mujin tried to maintain as open-minded an attitude as possible.

Having witnessed Jegal Lin change the terrain with formations right before his eyes, he couldn’t simply dismiss it outright.

‘Right. Perhaps fragments of lost arts still remain in the Central Plains.’

In Mount Shiwandai, which believed in the Demonic Sect, Daoism and Buddhism were heretical religions.

It was entirely possible that various secret arts had disappeared during the process of suppressing minority religions.

“As if such a thing exists!”

“This isn’t even the end of the Han Dynasty, so you expect us to believe such ridiculous nonsense?”

“Are you Zhuge Liang? Or are you Jegal Lin?”

“Really now. Say something that makes sense.”

On the other hand, the Orthodox Faction girls mercilessly tore into Jegal Lin.

Contrary to Mujin’s thoughts, even in the Central Plains, chukjibeop was closer to ancient superstition or legendary exaggeration rather than a real technique.

‘Is there really a need to be so harsh with their words?’

The sharp mockery was so cutting that even Mujin felt his heart breaking just listening, but Jegal Lin didn’t waver in the slightest. When Riser wasn’t around, this kind of treatment had been her daily reality.

“You guys wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.”

Jegal Lin tilted her head.

If they wouldn’t understand anyway, why were they asking so many detailed questions?

Unless they had read something from among Qimen Dunjia, I Ching, Liuren, or Taiyi Shenshu.

At the very least, regarding Yin-Yang Five Elements or Eight Trigrams formations, they had barely crammed into their heads only the parts they could immediately use in martial arts.

“You’re all stupid, so don’t strain yourselves.”

“What did you say?”

“There’s no need to say such harsh things!”

Even as the Orthodox Faction girls protested strongly, Jegal Lin just kept muttering frustrating things like “Why… why are you getting angry? Since you hate using your brains, I’m using mine for you… you should be grateful!”

“Stop it, all of you.”

Even though Mujin usually wasn’t one to break up others’ fights, he stepped forward to calm the girls down. After all, he too needed to work toward the Orthodox Faction’s victory.

“While we’re doing this, the opponents are getting ahead. Whether it’s chukjibeop or whatever, shouldn’t we try every method available?”

“That’s… true.”

As their excitement subsided, shame washed over them and the girls’ faces turned red.

It would be one thing if they were alone together, but they had quarreled too undignifiedly in front of an outsider.

Mujin looked at Jegal Lin and said,

“Let’s assume it’s possible for now. So how exactly does chukjibeop work?”

“Ah… well.”

Jegal Lin said hesitantly,

“Actually, I think Magong-ja will need to help a little…”

“…? What do you mean?”

“Could you perhaps help us locate the dragon veins?”

The chukjibeop that Jegal Lin spoke of wasn’t the commonly known method of folding the earth to run.

The great energy channels that flow along mountain ranges are called dragon veins, and specific points among them are called dragon acupoints.

Between those dragon acupoints flows energy so strong and fierce that it’s hard for people to imagine, and by using this like stepping stones, one could cross hundreds of steps in a single stride.

“But this method can only be used between dragon acupoints… Since we’ve already disturbed the earth veins with formations, if Magong-ja could fix the dragon veins so that dragon acupoints are positioned at the destination, then everyone should be able to cross between them…”

‘It sounds much more plausible than I was prepared for.’

When you think about it, the result of being able to travel long distances quickly was similar.

Still, the chukjibeop method utilizing feng shui geography felt somehow more scientific(?) than a method relying on individual supernatural powers.

“I understand. But why me?”

“Because you excel at lightness skills…”

Mujin didn’t know what significance that held, but since there was no one else to ask, he had no choice but to accept.

‘There’s no other option.’

While they were talking, the day had already grown dim.

With the moon rising in one corner, it was now complete night rather than evening.

“By the way, where is the destination?”

Then Namgung Yeonhwa and the other girls looked at each other, consulted, and pointed to one place.

“It’s probably over there.”

The place where Sword Master Yeonsoha, who had disappeared at some point, had last headed.

The hilltop clearing where suspicious red mist pooled like a pond.

Most importantly, it was a section where the mountain terrain naturally broke, so it was also near the boundary where Geomsu Jiok ended.

‘Isn’t that Umun Elder’s poison herb garden?’

Mujin was somewhat puzzled, but since everyone was saying the same thing, he had no choice but to believe them.

After all, Geomsu Jiok was just the name of a region, and since the forest didn’t have a proper entrance, anywhere could become the destination.

* * *

Umun Gwoe was harshly berating Yeonsoha.

“How do you plan to take responsibility for this mess? Your sister threw sword energy around – bang! bang! – according to her temper, recklessly collapsing cliffs! Huh? The earth veins are tangled, the dragon veins are unstable, the sky is falling, the ground is sinking, and the child who was practicing breathing techniques is about to fall into qi deviation!”

“That… that can’t be…! No!”

Yeonsoha felt very wronged.

She had only vented her anger on the cliffs a little, yet the earth veins were shaking?

‘This has never happened before!’

In reality, Yeonsoha wasn’t the culprit of this incident.

It was the result of the Jegal Clan Girl somewhere in the dense blade forest below manipulating the terrain with her genius-level formation skills.

“What do you mean no? Take responsibility! I’ll report everything to the Heavenly Emperor, so you’d better be prepared!”

But Umun Gwoe’s anger was so fierce, and it was also true that the earth veins had become unstable coincidentally right after Yeonsoha had destroyed several cliffs, so her claims had no persuasive power whatsoever.

“Oh my, what am I to do when my disciple, barely obtained in my old age, has become like this? My poor head disciple! My direct disciple who was to inherit all my progress and secret arts! The next Poison Master who should become the successor of Mandok Gate – I cannot let her go like this!”

During Umun Gwoe’s continued lamentations, Riser unknowingly achieved rapid promotion from Poison Master’s disciple → head disciple → direct disciple → Mandok Gate’s successor → next Poison Master.

The actual Riser had no memory of becoming Umun Gwoe’s disciple and still thought of him as an ‘unknown poison arts master.’

Unaware of the truth that Umun Gwoe was arbitrarily raising Riser’s disciple level, only Yeonsoha fidgeted anxiously.

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