Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111
Yeon Liang regarded me with an amused smirk, clearly relishing the predicament.
“Well, well. I don’t think this is quite the picture our sister had in mind. What do we do now?”
“Wait. Just a moment. Let me think about this.”
Think, think… Blast it, what is there to think about?
How had Namgoong Hui managed to find a cave with Public Blue Oil here of all places? The man’s luck was beyond enviable—it was positively infuriating.
As I wrestled with the problem, I reached for my secret weapon.
“That’s it, Ju Ryeong! You find it!”
“Krrrgh.”
“You’re a Spirit Beast, aren’t you? Haven’t you ever seen Public Blue Oil before? Can’t you catch a whiff of something similar somewhere? Don’t you sense anything?”
“Krugh!”
Ju Ryeong flicked his tail indignantly, as if to say I was talking nonsense. The gesture clearly meant: I entrusted the Spiritual Medicine to you.
“Our little furry friend here doesn’t know how to do such things. He only knows how to eat meat.”
Yeon Liang chuckled as he scooped up the protesting creature, kneading the beast’s belly as he spoke.
“Let’s just give up and go. Sister. We won’t find it.”
“No, please. Let’s just search for half a day more. We might get lucky.”
“Public Blue Oil is a Spiritual Medicine that forms only in caves where the Harmony of Yin and Yang is perfectly achieved. Even across hundreds of years, with all the essence of heaven and earth condensed within, a single drop might form—if that. How are we supposed to find one drop in a place this vast?”
“That’s exactly why we need it. Since it’s a Spiritual Medicine born from perfect Harmony of Yin and Yang, it won’t impose any adverse effects on you while restoring your True Energy.”
And yet Namgoong Hui had found it and drunk it like water, cave after cave. It had to be somewhere here.
“If that’s what you want.”
Yeon Liang waved his hand dismissively, his face betraying no real expectation.
Carefully avoiding any encounter with Namgoong Clan martial artists, we searched through the depths of the cave for some time, but the Public Blue Oil was nowhere to be found.
In my frustration, I stomped my feet—then my eyes flew open.
Wait. It only forms in caves where the Harmony of Yin and Yang is perfectly achieved?
“Sohye, where are you going? You can’t wander carelessly on Cheonju Mountain.”
“Do you remember that cave we passed earlier with a lake deeper inside?”
“The one where sunlight poured through the ceiling and trees grew?”
“Yes, yes! That one! The place that looked like a Mountain Spirit might emerge! I have a feeling something’s there. It just feels right. The air flows well, there’s water, there’s vegetation—everything in harmony. Isn’t that a cave where Yin and Yang are in perfect balance?”
“I suppose… though it sounds like a stretch.”
Yeon Liang scratched his head, tilting it doubtfully as he began to follow me.
I retraced our steps through the labyrinthine tunnels, searching for the lake once more.
And then I found it.
“There! Look there!”
Sunlight reflecting off the lake’s surface shimmered across the tip of an enormous stalactite, where a milky-white liquid dripped steadily downward.
A shout of triumph burst from my lips.
“Found it! I found it!”
Yeon Liang’s eyes narrowed as he confirmed what I was pointing to. His face was one of utter astonishment.
“What? You’re serious? We found the Public Blue Oil so easily? How bewildering…”
“We don’t have time to be bewildered. We need to drink it and cultivate our Internal Power. Hurry and collect it.”
I grinned and gave Yeon Liang a push toward the stalactite.
* * *
“See? What did I tell you? I said it would be here.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Well done. Our sister is the best.”
Yeon Liang patted his belly contentedly, clearly in high spirits.
There was good reason for it. During his cultivation, he had achieved gains so substantial that his very body had lifted off the ground—a cause for genuine elation.
The marked improvement in his bearing was enough to make me feel proud.
“But Sohye, why didn’t you drink any? Even a drop would increase your Internal Power significantly.”
“I’m saving it.”
“Just drink it now. I’ll stand guard for you.”
“I’ll ask you later. Not now.”
Yeon Liang’s face showed puzzlement, but since I insisted, he pressed no further.
As if I wouldn’t covet such precious medicine. I, too, yearned to expand my Internal Power immediately.
The reason I refrained was simple precaution.
My body rejected medicine, so when I suffered wounds, I needed Spiritual Medicine capable of absorbing spiritual energy. Otherwise I risked lasting damage.
I had no intention of repeating what happened before—thoughtlessly ingesting whatever Spiritual Medicine I found and falling into Demonization.
With Public Blue Oil, at least, my Vital Energy would not become tangled, reducing the danger considerably.
It felt awkward to explain such reasoning to Yeon Liang, so instead I simply fingered the vial containing the Public Blue Oil.
This was my lifeline—my very lifeline.
Once we had obtained the Public Blue Oil and restored Yeon Liang’s vitality, we set out immediately for Yugan.
The small village we stopped at on the road to Yugan was peaceful.
The harvest was in full swing, with the sound of rice kernels bursting forth from all directions, and the village children were gathered beneath the persimmon trees, plucking fruit.
Women with their heads wrapped in scarves threshed without pause.
From somewhere came the rich aroma of steaming rice cakes.
We wandered leisurely through the pastoral landscape.
“Well, it’s peaceful here.”
“That it is. A place like this wouldn’t see a sword drawn in a hundred years.”
“Don’t say that—a blade shouldn’t fall here. That’s frightening talk. You sound like a ronin already.”
Yeon Liang let out a slight chuckle as if to say: what nonsense.
Then a conversation I couldn’t ignore caught my ear.
“Say, there’s supposed to be a strange cave by the lake.”
“Wasn’t it a pit, not a cave?”
“A pit, was it? My memory’s fuzzy.”
“Jo saw it himself. He said when the full moon rose and the water receded, a deep pit appeared, and they heard the Ghostly Sound echoing from below.”
I spun around in surprise and spotted farmers by the riverbank tilting cups of rice wine.
A cave whose entrance reveals itself when the full moon rises? Could it be Gwisushinui’s Secret Cave?
When I stopped short, Yeon Liang turned to look at me as if to ask what was wrong.
“What is it?”
“Shh. Listen.”
I brought a finger to my lips and strained to hear the farmers’ conversation.
“You mean the lake to the east? That lake has an ill reputation—everyone avoids it. Didn’t someone throw themselves in there?”
“Jo didn’t venture down?”
“His legs went weak. He ran right back. The pit is terribly deep, they say—far too high for a person to climb back out.”
“We should steer clear of that area. Keep the children away from it too. If one of them fell, it would be a disaster.”
I approached cautiously and offered a coin. “Excuse me, elders. Could you tell me more about that?”

* * *
We bought provisions in the village and camped near the lake until the full moon.
There was no inn, and the villagers were curious about outsiders, so we had no choice.
Had we stayed in the village, all the children would have followed us around.
When the full moon finally came, we circled the lake waiting for it to rise.
The entrance to the Secret Cave was supposed to be on the western shore of the lake—but why couldn’t I see it?
“Brother, do you see anything?”
“Not much. Only water.”
“That’s strange. There should be somewhere the water drains from.”
I strained my eyes and surveyed the surroundings, but the lake remained perfectly still. Yeon Liang, following behind me, tapped a nearby rock with the tip of his foot.
“Sohye. This rock is odd.”
“What do you mean, odd?”
“Cut it and you’ll see.”
He drew his sword and brought it down on the rock. The solid stone cleaved neatly in half like tofu.
When he kicked the split piece away, a hole appeared—large enough for three or four people to enter.
“It’s incredibly deep.”
“It certainly looks that way.”
Judging by the sharp wind echoing from below, it seemed to be at least three zhang deep. I pushed a small stone fragment into the hole.
“… No sound.”
“Hmm. Wait a bit longer.”
“Still nothing.”
… Tap.
After what felt like an eternity, the stone finally struck bottom.
“Wow. It really is deep…”
I let out a low whistle. By all accounts, this was the entrance, but I lacked the courage to descend.
If it were only one or two zhang, I might manage it with my Falling Technique, but this depth was beyond reason.
I wondered if tying a rope around my waist would help.
As I pondered how to enter the cave, Yeon Liang nudged me.
“Let’s just jump.”
“Jump? Down here?”
“Yes. Once the full moon passes, water will fill the entrance, won’t it? Places like this—you can’t afford to waste time. We might get trapped inside if we’re not careful.”
“But it’s too deep. We’ll break our legs jumping from here.”
“Don’t worry. We won’t.”
Yeon Liang grinned and seized my arm, yanking me forward before leaping into the hole.
What?
Huh?
A scream tore from my throat as I plummeted over the cliff.
“Kyuuuuuuu!”
“Aaaaah! You lunatic, Yeon Liang!”
“Watch your tongue with your brother!”
Yeon Liang chuckled and drove his blade into the cliff face.
Screeeech!
Sparks erupted from the stone wall where the sword bit deep, accompanied by a bone-chilling shriek.
I clung to Yeon Liang’s shoulder, shrieking uncontrollably.
“You’re insane! Who jumps from this height!”
“Exhilarating, isn’t it?”
“How much further are we dropping! Aaaaah!”
Fragments of stone sheared away by Yeon Liang’s blade cascaded down in a rumbling torrent.
A cloud of dust rose up and swallowed the world.
Just as panic seized me—certain we’d plummet to our deaths—the descent slowed and my feet touched solid ground.
I pulled away from Yeon Liang and pressed a hand to my heaving chest.
“Huff… do you have nine lives? Ju Ryeong, are you all right?”
“Kyiiiii…”
“The blade? It’s not damaged?”
“It’s forged from spirit-iron. This is nothing for it to withstand.”
Yeon Liang brushed dust from his sword and sheathed it with practiced ease.
While I stood there spent and trembling, he brimmed with energy.
He surveyed the cavern with keen interest, his lips curving upward.
Along the ceiling of the pit-connected cave, dozens of Night Pearls—each the size of a child’s fist—glowed faintly in their sockets.
“Impressive… this is no ordinary Secret Cave.”
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Yeon Liang strode toward the direction of the Night Pearls. I followed close behind, whispering nervously.
“Should we even be going in? I’m not comfortable with this.”
We’d come this far drawn by the promise of a Secret Cave, but the oppressive atmosphere had unnerved me.
Namgoong Hui had entered after the Mountain Spirit had died, but we were different.
If the Mountain Spirit were somehow still alive and watching, and we were discovered wandering freely—what then?
“We’re already here. Might as well see what the Secret Cave of one of the Ten Greatest Masters of Martial Arts looks like.”
“You were cautious enough on Cheonju Mountain.”
“The Namgoong clan is many, but the Mountain Spirit is one. The Secret Cave probably isn’t visited often—what’s the chance we’d run into her?”
Yeon Liang laced his fingers behind his head and spoke with casual confidence, as though he were certain we wouldn’t encounter the Mountain Spirit at all.
Just then, Ju Ryeong bounded from my arms and scampered off into the darkness with urgent little patters.
“Where are you going, Ju Ryeong?”
“Kyii!”
The creature turned back to look at me, its voice sharp and clear.
“It looks like it wants us to follow?”
“So you do understand the spirit beast after all?”
“Obviously it wants us to come. Let’s go.”
Yeon Liang grinned and pushed gently at my back. Together we followed Ju Ryeong deeper into the cavern.
Our guide led us to the very heart of the cave, where it stopped before a massive stone door.
An otherworldly aura seeped through the crack of the open doorway.
“Sohye, there’s a Magic Technique woven over this place.”
“You’re right. Something valuable must be inside.”
The moment I raised my hand to the stone door, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“…Hwayeon?”
I lifted my head, my mouth falling open in shock.
Grandfather?
Before me stood Dang Jung—not as he was now, but as he had been in his youth.

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