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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Bobt
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The place he arrived at was indeed the underwater cave in his memory.
The first thing he noticed was the moss, glowing with a faint green light, covering the entire cavity to an extent.
Next was, as expected, the overwhelmingly magnificent giant tree.
The countless branches that stretched out were long and complicated, filling the ceiling and walls along with the moss.
Unlike the leaves outside, the leaves here had a distinct bluish color.
The tree trunk boasted a tremendous thickness, appearing to be at least a thousand years old. Finally, the roots supporting the tree also covered the entire floor like the branches.
Water Tree!
As the name implies, it was a tree that could grow even in water. What was even more amazing was that it could grow well without sunlight.
By the way, the Water Tree was one of the extremely rare plants, with only a few existing throughout the entire Central Plains.
However, Joo Seo-cheon was not surprised to see the Water Tree.
Nor had he failed to find the Water Spirit Divine Fruit.
As the wanderer had excitedly talked about twenty years later, blue-colored fruits could be seen rolling on the ground.
However, there was one thing different.
Something existed that he didn’t know about even before the regression.
“What the hell is that!”
It was a snake.
Although its body was not large enough to fill the entire cavity like the Water Tree, it was still a snake that exceeded the normal size range.
First of all, its length was clearly extraordinary. Although not exact, it appeared to be about five zhang (approximately 16.5 meters) long.
Not only its length but also its girth was remarkable. Roughly estimating, it was about three chi (approximately 1 meter) in circumference.
“A spiritual creature!”
Animals or plants that possessed spiritual energy and abilities were referred to as spiritual creatures. The Water Tree was also classified as a spiritual creature.
In the case of plants, they were not that dangerous. Plants were usually dangerous when they were classified as poisonous plants containing toxicity.
However, for animals, the danger was serious.
Despite being animals, they were as intelligent as humans, and above all, the strength they possessed was considerable, enough to threaten even masters.
“With that size…”
Joo Seo-cheon had read a lot of books as he had a lot of time alone in his previous life.
Among them, there were also books about spiritual creatures, and thanks to that knowledge, he was relatively well-informed.
“Damn it, it’s a spiritual creature that has lived for at least a few hundred years.”
Especially snakes were classified as dangerous as beasts. When snakes became spiritual creatures, not only their speed and strength but also their scales became hard, to the point where they could even deflect sword energy in severe cases.
Above all, the most terrifying thing was the venom hidden in their fangs.
“It seems to be sleeping now, but…”
Until just a moment ago, he had cursed winter hundreds of times. But now it was different.
He was grateful that it was winter.
Whether they were spiritual creatures or not, snakes went into hibernation when winter came. Thanks to that, he was able to stay alive without being noticed.
“If I fight it… No, if I wake it up, I’m dead.”
If it was a spiritual creature of that level, it would require the combined strength of several peak and transcendent masters to barely win.
Unless it was a weapon with more absolute cutting power than any famous sword, or the Sword Qi, the symbol of the Awakening Realm, it would be difficult.
In other words, unless he possessed the martial arts from before the regression, charging at that snake was a suicidal act.
“If something like that existed twenty years later… There’s no way I would have heard about it. Because it probably didn’t exist then.”
If it were that loose-lipped wanderer, he would have definitely bragged about surviving such a snake.
But the fact that he hadn’t heard about it meant that the snake didn’t exist twenty years later.
The reason was unknown.
Perhaps it had been hunted by other spiritual creatures or reclusive masters, or it might have become a spirit weapon.
But not now. In the past twenty years later, that snake was hibernating in this underwater cave.
His luck was terribly bad.
“Should I run away?”
Spiritual creatures were not called spiritual creatures for nothing.
If he got close, it might sense his presence and wake up from its slumber.
Then he would really die.
“But it would be a waste to turn back after coming all the way here.”
He slightly raised his head and glanced at the Water Tree. Under the overwhelmingly huge tree, he saw fruits.
Fruits stained with a bluish color. They were definitely the Water Spirit Divine Fruits.
He looked at the branches, roots, and other parts, but the only things that seemed to be Water Spirit Divine Fruits were the ones rolling on the ground.
“That’s definitely it.”
He knew the Water Spirit Divine Fruits well thanks to the wanderer who had excitedly talked about them.
“But…”
Right next to it was the head of the giant snake, with its eyes closed, in a deep slumber. He couldn’t muster the courage to approach it.
“…”
Joo Seo-cheon’s eyes rolled as he was lost in thought.
Should he retreat here?
Or should he advance?
The contemplation didn’t last long.
Joo Seo-cheon lowered his body and concealed his presence as much as possible. Then he slowly moved forward like a turtle.
“Master!”
There might be another chance next year, but there was no guarantee that the snake wouldn’t be there then either.
If it continued to use this place as its den until he was fourteen years old, it would be the end. Yu Jeong-mok would die as history dictated.
That anxiety and fear gave Joo Seo-cheon courage.
Joo Seo-cheon carefully approached the Water Spirit Divine Fruit, forgetting to even breathe.
Thump! Thump!
It was the sound of his heartbeat that he usually didn’t pay attention to. Now, it sounded unusually loud like a thunderbolt.
Joo Seo-cheon moved while keeping an eye on the snake, muffling his footsteps.
“I don’t want to regret later.”
He had already regretted many times in the past.
He still couldn’t forget that frustration and resentment.
“Huh?”
As he approached, the Water Spirit Divine Fruit became relatively visible. It was a fruit that could fit perfectly in the palm of his hand.
However, there was a difference from when he saw it from a distance.
“Not one, but two?”
There was a slope right behind, so he couldn’t see it before. But as he got closer, he saw another Water Spirit Divine Fruit.
“What a windfall!”
He was so happy that he almost burst out laughing.
Twenty years later, the wanderer revealed that he had only consumed one Water Spirit Divine Fruit.
If he had to guess, perhaps the remaining fruit had been damaged when the snake in front of him left in the future.
“Alright, stay calm. Stay calm.”
He bent his waist and reached out his hand. He grabbed it so that it wouldn’t make a sound or roll away and held it in his arms.
He successfully retrieved one Water Spirit Divine Fruit.
And he carefully put the remaining one in his arms as well, making sure it didn’t make a sound.
“Done!”
He suppressed his laughter and joy and straightened his waist.
The snake that had been sleeping next to him still didn’t move.
Joo Seo-cheon cheered inwardly and turned his back.
And at that moment, Joo Seo-cheon froze.
Hsss
Through the half-open eyes, golden eyes were visible. Joo Seo-cheon’s dumbfounded appearance was reflected in the vertically slit pupils.
“…”
He even forgot to breathe. No, his mind stopped.
The snake slightly opened its eyes and stared blankly at Joo Seo-cheon. There was no killing intent or the will to search for prey.
As if there was no emotion at all, it was as cold as the river water flowing from the cavity to the surface.
Drip
Something fell on his head. It was water.
At least it wasn’t water that the snake had swallowed.
It was a water droplet falling from the ceiling.
He made eye contact with the snake.
The one looking into those eyes was a nine-year-old child.
And there was a sense of fullness and laziness.
The snake blinked its not-fully-open eyes a few times, then turned its head to the side as if it had lost interest.
Thud
As it turned its head to the side and laid down, the entire cavity shook slightly, as if the weight of its head was considerable. That was it.
It was unknown whether the snake had fallen asleep again or was trying to fall asleep. Its face was not visible.
Joo Seo-cheon, who had been frozen like ice, stayed still for a while and then walked again. He didn’t know how much time had passed.
His mind was blank.
Thoughts didn’t even connect.
He was holding the Water Spirit Divine Fruits in his hands without letting go.
Joo Seo-cheon retraced his steps.
He didn’t run or walk quickly.
He walked slowly at a steady pace as if taking a stroll and slowly submerged his body under the water surface.
Splash
His head emerged above the water surface.
It was a young child.
The child, Joo Seo-cheon, came out.
Earlier, when he had dived, the sun was high in the sky.
But now the sun was setting, dyeing the sky red, and he thought that color was very beautiful.
Unlike before, Joo Seo-cheon quietly emerged on the ground and muttered with a sorrowful face.
“Whew…”
* * *
Joo Seo-cheon safely retrieved the Water Spirit Divine Fruits and returned to the Mount Hua Sect before lunchtime.
It was exactly the third day.
Yu Jeong-mok returned from the meeting around dinner time.
And a few days later, Joo Seo-cheon was in a dilemma.
“How do I give this to Master?”
There were no fruits like the Water Spirit Divine Fruits in the Mount Hua Sect.
First of all, the appearance itself was extraordinary.
The size was that of an ordinary fruit, but its color had a bluish tint.
At a glance, one could tell that it was not ordinary.
“Phew. It’s too dangerous not to hint that it’s a spiritual medicine in the first place.”
It wasn’t over just by consuming a spiritual medicine like the Water Spirit Divine Fruits.
For spiritual medicines with strong and vast energy like the Water Spirit Divine Fruits, special care was needed when consuming them.
If one consumed them without any preparation, they would be startled by the energy suddenly entering their body.
That surprise could lead to a loss of control, and in the worst case, the internal energy might run wild, leading to Qi deviation.
“Sigh…”
No matter what he said, he couldn’t avoid suspicion.
To buy a spiritual medicine of this level with money, it would cost at least a thousand gold, and it wouldn’t make sense to say he picked it up on the street.
Moreover, as a disciple of an orthodox sect, he couldn’t say he had stolen it from someone. In the first place, he didn’t have that kind of skill.
Joo Seo-cheon groaned and sighed deeply, unable to do anything.
“Is something troubling you?”
It didn’t take long for Yu Jeong-mok to notice his disciple’s troubles.
“M-Master!”
“These past few days, your face has been filled with worries and troubles. If you’ve been pondering alone and still can’t solve it, sometimes it’s not bad to seek help from others.”
As always, Yu Jeong-mok patted Joo Seo-cheon’s head.
“Mm.”
Although Joo Seo-cheon had the appearance of a child, his mind was that of an old man.
In terms of age, experience, and enlightenment in martial arts, he was several levels above Yu Jeong-mok.
However, strangely enough, whether he had regressed or not, whenever he stood in front of Yu Jeong-mok, he felt like he had truly become a child.
Moreover, it had always been difficult to hide anything from Yu Jeong-mok.
In front of other people, he had shamelessly lied to avoid unnecessary suspicion and not stand out after the regression.
His acting skills were quite high-level, so everyone was easily deceived.
Except for the one person in front of him, Yu Jeong-mok.
“Even if I get suspected and interrogated, I have no choice.”
Joo Seo-cheon swallowed hard as if he had made up his mind.
“If it’s to save Master…”
What if the period for consuming the spiritual medicine had been until today?
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
Of course, it might be an excessive thought. Even Joo Seo-cheon thought that he might be worrying too much.
But that “what if” bothered him greatly.
Joo Seo-cheon mustered up his courage and took out the Water Spirit Divine Fruits from his bosom.
“Master, would you please consume this?”
“What is that?”
“It’s a spiritual medicine.”
Joo Seo-cheon answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Ha.”
Inwardly, he couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
A child who was only nine years old had been groaning for days as if he had to go to the bathroom, and then suddenly took out a spiritual medicine.
Then he bluntly told him to consume it.
Anyone would be dumbfounded.
“Hmm…”
Yu Jeong-mok inhaled deeply. His upright gaze was directed at the bluish fruit in Joo Seo-cheon’s hand, the Water Spirit Divine Fruit.
A moment of silence.
And the one who broke the silence was Yu Jeong-mok.
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