Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 57

“I don’t know why the Ascension Tournament is getting so intense lately. People I’ve never even heard of are showing up.”

Black Mu grumbled, clearly dissatisfied. The girl and O Guji remained silent, but their expressions mirrored his surprise.

“Think about it. Our opponents are experts carefully cultivated by powerful families, while we’re just poor mountain cultivators with no money or magical artifacts. What chance do we even have?”

Hopyeonggo said, his tone cold.

“So, it’s practically a lie that cultivation sects are looking for disciples among ordinary cultivators now.”

Han-lip scratched his nose, lost in thought.

“Then, are we mountain cultivators really no match for the disciples of these families? How much stronger are the winners who make it through the tournament compared to us?”

Honlyeongsanin asked, sounding like he couldn’t accept it.

“I hate to admit it, but the odds of an expert emerging from among mountain cultivators are definitely low. We wanderers can’t compete with clans in terms of manpower or resources. The difference is just too vast,” Taoist Song said with a bitter tone, and Black Mu, looking dejected, relayed what he had heard.

“That’s enough. No need to get so down already! We’re all still young. If it doesn’t work out this time, there’s another chance in ten years! Who knows if the opportunity to become a sect disciple will be waiting for us in the future? For now, let’s focus on traveling together after the gathering is over.”

The Taoist changed the mood in the room.

“Needless to say, I’m going with everyone. There are so many powerful cultivators out there, I’m too scared to go alone!” O Guji said dejectedly. Taoist Song shook his head, as if he couldn’t help it, then turned his gaze to Hongryeonsanin.

“I’ll also go with the others.”

“Great! What are your plans, Brother Han?”

Hongryeonsanin answered the Taoist’s gaze, then looked at Han-lip. Han-lip was actually hesitating. For a newbie like him, joining even a small group like this was the best option. But for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, and he felt that if he decided now, he would definitely regret it.

“I’ll decide after the Taenam Gathering is over. There’s no rush anyway.”

Han-lip smiled, postponing his decision.

“Hmm?”

“Brother Han, what’s there to hesitate about? We mountain cultivators have to stick together. Besides, the Taoist recognized my fighting spirit, so I want to be with you even more. Let’s train together in the future.”

Han-lip’s lukewarm attitude was unexpected, and Taoist Song and the others were puzzled, while O Guji even expressed his dissatisfaction. The Taoist quickly stepped in to stop the boy.

“Haha! Seeing how Brother Han is being reserved, it’s likely that he won’t be joining us. He’s just saying he’ll think about it out of courtesy, right?”

Han-lip finally confessed honestly when Taoist Song understood him.

“That’s right. As the Taoist said, it seems I’ll have to travel separately. I also have my own reasons, so please understand that I need to be cautious.”

“I see. Then, never mind.”

The boy seemed a little disappointed, as if he was the only one left out. The Taoist smiled helplessly and apologized to Han-lip on his behalf.

Han-lip didn’t take the boy’s attitude to heart. Now that everything was decided, everyone slowly got up and went back to rest, and Han-lip also returned to his room.

* * *

The next day, everyone except the monk and Han-lip left the pavilion to set up their stalls.

The monk was chanting Buddhist scriptures in the main hall again, and Han-lip remained in his room, lost in thought while holding the bundle of talismans he had obtained yesterday.

‘The surface of these low-grade talismans from the lower realm has a faint glow, which is truly different from worldly items. As expected, only talismans made with special materials can contain magic.’

Originally, Han-lip had intended to immediately try using the Mind Stabilization Technique on these talismans. But after thinking about it, he realized that he shouldn’t.

To infuse a talisman with magic, he needed a brush and cinnabar, which he remembered seeing at the stalls of cultivators. Could it be that ordinary items wouldn’t work?

As these questions piled up, Han-lip couldn’t hold back any longer and went to find the monk. If he couldn’t hide the fact that he was a newbie in the cultivation world, he might as well ask directly.

“Your thoughts are correct, Benefactor. To successfully create a spirit talisman, you must first have talisman paper made from special materials, and cinnabar made from the blood of a spirit beast that contains spiritual energy. The brush also varies depending on the situation,” the venerable monk Gosang answered quietly after hearing Han-lip’s questions.

“Venerable Gosang, what do you mean by ‘depending on the situation’?”

Han-lip sat down in front of the monk and asked.

“The brushes that we cultivators use to make talismans include not only brushes made from the spiritual hair of spirit beasts, but also brushes made from heavenly materials, which increase the success rate of talisman creation and also enhance their power. However, if it’s a spell without any special conditions, it’s possible to use an ordinary brush used in the secular world, but the success rate of talisman creation will be very low.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Master! Then, I’ll go out and see if there’s anything I need to make talismans.”

“Be careful, Benefactor.”

As Han-lip got up, the monk accepted his greeting and closed his eyes again to begin meditation. If he remembered correctly, brushes and cinnabar weren’t that expensive, priced around six or seven silver coins. Would he have to sell the flying talisman he got yesterday?

As he worried about this, Han-lip left the pavilion and walked towards the plaza.

* * *

“Look over there! It’s a huge bird!” a man shouted. Immediately, a huge black shadow covered the path that Han-lip and the others were walking on. Han-lip was also surprised and looked up. A monstrous bird with two heads, as big as a young calf, was passing over their heads.

The bird resembled a hawk but had gray feathers. Its wings were incredibly long, and its claws were like sickles. And on its neck were two bald heads, which looked ferocious, with four eyes emitting green light. It was truly a hideous demonic bird.

“Ugh, it looks so grotesque.”

“It would be perfect to capture and use as a mount.”

The cultivators who had stopped below each raised their voices, and some even desperately wanted to capture the bird.

“Don’t you value your lives? That’s the Double-Headed Hawk, the spirit beast of the Yan family of Gouusan, known as the number one cultivation sect. There must be someone from the Yan family riding on it. Do you want to die that badly?”

A cold voice echoed, and the others also snapped back to their senses.

“The Yan family? Isn’t that the only cultivation family besides the cultivation sects that has a cultivator who has reached the Core Formation stage [a high level of cultivation]!”

“I’ve seen the Double-Headed Hawk once before. It seems the Yan family is sending both siblings to the Ascension Tournament this time!”

“No way! The Yan family is sending people? They didn’t send anyone last time, and now two people!”

“That’s right! If you encounter someone from the Yan family in the tournament, it’s like being struck by lightning out of the blue!”

The cultivators shared information with each other, and their faces darkened. Some even sighed. Han-lip looked at the monstrous bird as it flew away and thought that it must be the strange hawk that Seok Cheol-woo had mentioned. Those immortal men and women were the Yan family siblings.

The people who had stopped because of the monstrous bird began to hurry on their way again. The plaza was quite crowded. Han-lip stroked the pills in his pocket and decided to see if there were any items that could be traded for them.

So, this time he started looking around from the other end of the plaza. As he walked, he took in the various materials and talismans on the stalls, as well as strange magical artifacts. Suddenly, Han-lip’s steps stopped in front of a stall. He couldn’t take his eyes off a book. In front of the book, it was written, ‘Basic Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique, Price: Two Low-Grade Spirit Stones.’

“I want this book,” Han-lip slowly bent down, scanned the book once, and then called out softly to the owner of the stall.

“Two spirit stones!” a woman’s voice rang out clearly. Only then did Han-lip realize that the owner of the stall was a pleasant-looking girl.

“Are there any missing chapters in this book?”

“No. Not a single phrase is missing from the Changchun Art’s cultivation methods from chapters 1 to 13,” the girl answered coolly when Han-lip came to his senses and asked. Han-lip nodded, scanned the book once more, and then closed it.

“Do you accept pills as well?”

“Pills? I’d have to see what kind they are. If they’re pills that treat injuries or cure diseases, I can’t give them much value.”

Hearing the girl’s words, Han-lip thought that this trade was likely to succeed, so he took out a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills.

“They are pills for enhancing magical power, of the type that replenishes vital energy.”

“For enhancing magical power?” The girl, who had been calm until now, jumped up and took the bottle that Han-lip had offered. She took out a pill and lowered her head to examine its properties.

“It really is a pill for enhancing magical power!” The girl confirmed the scent of the pill and seemed to be in a good mood.

“Do you have more of these pills? If you do, I’ll trade for them as much as you want. Anything in this shop is fine, and if not, I have spirit stones too.” After speaking, the girl held the bottle tightly and looked up at Han-lip without blinking, as if afraid that he would say no. He was about to laugh at how the usually calm girl was acting, but on the other hand, he thought that he had underestimated the value of the pills and acted rashly.

“Miss, don’t rush, how about we finish this trade first and then talk again?”

“I’m so sorry. I was a bit of a mess, wasn’t I?” The girl’s face flushed as she realized that her attitude was rude.

“This book will be two pills,” the girl said, regaining her composure and stating the price. Han-lip thought it was reasonable, so he immediately agreed to the trade and turned his gaze to the other items on the stall.

“What is this?” A shabby gray pouch caught Han-lip’s attention. The small pouch was tightly wrapped with red thread at the opening, and it was quite bulging with something inside.

“They are the seeds of the Seven-Star Grass. Seven-Star Grass grown for more than 10 years is the best material for making talismans,” the girl explained. Without hesitation, Han-lip pulled the pouch towards himself.

“It seems I don’t need anything else.”

“Really, nothing else? This Ice Binding Talisman is really good, and this Rejuvenation Talisman is good for restoring stamina…” The girl, hearing Han-lip mutter, tried to recommend various items. Han-lip couldn’t help but laugh at her behavior.

“Why are you laughing?” The girl’s face flushed again.

“Actually, I’m looking for cinnabar and a brush for drawing talismans. Unfortunately, you don’t have them among your items.”

“Cinnabar and a brush for talismans?” When Han-lip finally revealed his true intentions, the girl frowned and hesitated slightly. She lowered her head for a moment to calculate, and then, as if she had made up her mind, she raised her head again to face Han-lip.

“I don’t have cinnabar, but I have a really good brush made from the neck hair of a Golden-Eyed Ape. However, it’s expensive, so I don’t know if you have enough pills.”

“If the item is good, I think I have enough pills to satisfy you, Miss!” At Han-lip’s words, the girl seemed relieved. She took out a talisman, drew a stroke on it with her hand, and then threw it into the air. The talisman turned into a streak of light and disappeared.

# 59