Chapter 18 – A Yard Was Created

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Rank 1 mid-grade spiritual vein.

In fact, Jin So-myeong also wished for this.

This was because the sooner he raised his strength to execute the plan he had drawn up, the better.

Although he inwardly wanted to enter a mid-grade cave dwelling, he did not show it.

“Certainly, if there is no deposit, it is a bit tempting. But 30 spirit stones is a bit…”

As Jin So-myeong continued to hesitate, Ju Hong grit his teeth and spoke.

“I will reduce the monthly rent to 28 stones for a year. Originally, this is absolutely not allowed. Even if I have to take a little less from my share, I will give it to you!”

“If it is 25, I will sign the contract this very day.”

“That is impossible! …27! Think about it carefully. Though there is no one to enter a mid-grade cave dwelling right now, the situation will change after just one or two years.”

The situation would change soon…

It was not difficult to understand what that meant.

“Certainly, as the time for the secret realm to open approaches, crowds will gather at the market.”

“Since you are quick to understand, it is easy to talk. After just a year, the market will be filled with countless cultivators who came aiming for the secret realm. At that time, no matter how much you want to, it will be hard to move.”

They were not wrong. One could tell just by looking at how the price of Qi Condensation Pills had risen.

All goods changed in price according to demand.

One or two years later when people gathered, one would have to pay a premium to move cave dwellings.

After pausing for about five seconds, Jin So-myeong nodded.

“Very well. Since you are showing such goodwill, Deacon, it would be impolite to refuse. I will enter at 27 spirit stones a month.”

“Indeed! You really thought well! When will you write the contract? For me, the sooner, the better.”

“Since we are talking about it, I will move in this very day. Ah! By the way, what happens to the rent and deposit of the cave dwelling I was living in?”

“…O-Of course, it must be refunded. Originally it is not allowed, but I will handle it with my discretion.”

Watching Ju Hong, who felt wronged as if something was so wasteful, Jin So-myeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

Looking at him now, he was a person with an extreme miserly temperament.

‘For such a person to even cut the monthly rent… He must have indeed been in a hurry.’

It was to the point that he even wondered how terrible the malicious tenant was.

Simultaneously with processing various procedures and signing the move-in contract,

“If you are ready, let’s go right away! I will personally lead you to the new cave dwelling. Hehe… To think I can finally kick that damn bastard out. I feel so thoroughly refreshed.”

Deacon Ju Hong, who was guiding the way, kept chuckling repeatedly.

He could not stay calm and walked almost as if running, seeming extremely excited at the thought of kicking out the malicious tenant.

How long did they walk?

On a clean, well-maintained main road, neatly arranged cave dwellings appeared.

Each cave dwelling was roughly 50 to 60 pyeong, but they were covered by formations, so the inside could not be seen.

“It is here! How is it? The location is not bad, right?”

“It is good. I like it.”

It was certainly several times wider compared to the Rank 1 low-grade stone cave. Already, a strong sense of comfort swept over him.

“The security is naturally good, and the market is not far, so it will be comfortable to live. Just wait here for a moment. I will take care of kicking out the malicious tenant myself. Hehe.”

As if indicating how much he anticipated it, Ju Hong, rubbing his palms together, strode forward.

Thump, thump, thump!

He went to the entrance of the cave dwelling’s formation and began to pound on it without hesitation.

“Baek Gwi! Come out right now! I will see this through to the end today!”

How long did he wait?

Soon, a man with a nervous impression came out.

Frowning with all kinds of grimaces, he was at the 4th layer of the Qi Condensation stage, one level higher than Jin So-myeong.

“What is all this noise! Even if you are a deacon, are you allowed to behave so impolitely!”

“Hmph! Cut the nonsense and pack your bags right now. Today is the end of the days you can live in this cave dwelling. I will not overlook this any longer.”

The man, whose mouth twitched, clicked his tongue.

“Did I not say I would definitely pay the overdue rent next month? What do you expect me to do when I do not have spirit stones!”

“Silence! Do you think I will be fooled by your nonsense again! Cut the crap and get out of the cave dwelling right now!”

“…If I leave, you will lose at least one or two months of rent. Can the frugal Deacon afford to bear that loss?”

The man behaved politely, but his tone was filled with subtle ridicule.

It seemed he had known Ju Hong’s miserly temperament long ago.

Deacon Ju Hong, who would have backed down at this point under normal circumstances, snorted.

His voice was still overflowing with strength, and his momentum was soaring.

“Hmph! That is not for you to worry about. I will give you exactly half a shichen to empty the cave dwelling. Ah, the spirit stones overdue up to today total 42.”

“…”

“I will not cut even a single penny, so do not think of running away. That is, unless you want to be chased by the Enforcement Team!”

The man’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

As if sensing something unusual in Ju Hong’s confident attitude, he looked around and soon locked eyes with Jin So-myeong.

“Who is that fellow Daoist standing behind you? By any chance, is he the tenant aiming for my cave dwelling?”

“Hehe! If so, what will you do about it?”

“…You there, fellow Daoist. Do you really intend to enter my cave dwelling? You appear to be at the 3rd layer of the Qi Condensation stage, so there will be nothing good for you if we fall out.”

To the man who had shifted his target and was now threatening Jin So-myeong, Ju Hong shouted resolutely.

“Stop! How dare you cause a disturbance in the Inner City! If you are not afraid of the Enforcement Team, keep going!”

“Tsk. I merely gave a few words of advice out of concern. Why are you overreacting so much? It is not as if you and I have only known each other for a day or two, Deacon. It is disappointing of you to act this way.”

“Disappointing my foot! You will absolutely never know how long I have waited for today!”

“Sigh. Fine. I will just pay the spirit stones, alright? Then I can continue living here, right? I do not wish to clash faces with you, Deacon, over such a trivial matter.”

“You will pay the spirit stones…? Didn’t you say you had none?”

Ju Hong’s expression momentarily became dumbfounded.

He only blinked his eyes like a person who had heard something completely unimaginable.

“Although there is a place where I really must use them urgently, since the situation is like this, there is no choice. Here are the 42 spirit stones. I will pay next month’s rent according to the due date.”

“…Uh.”

Ju Hong, who received the spirit stones with a blank face, hesitated.

He looked back and forth between the man and Jin So-myeong, then shut his mouth tight.

The fact that he was conflicted was vividly felt even by Jin So-myeong, who was watching from behind.

‘Tsk. It seems that guy’s monthly rent is still 30 stones. Will the miserly deacon hand over the cave dwelling to me even while taking a loss?’

He wondered what to do.

As human psychology naturally went, once the situation turned out like this, he did not want to give up on the mid-grade spiritual vein.

There might be mid-grade cave dwellings managed by other deacons, but entering them would not exempt him from the deposit.

Of course, it was not that there was no way.

All he had to do was pay the normal monthly rent of 30 spirit stones.

Ju Hong would naturally choose him over the malicious tenant.

‘Sigh. It cannot be helped.’

Just as Jin So-myeong was about to step forward, Deacon Ju Hong grit his teeth and shouted.

“Enough! I have already made my decision, so clear out! As I said earlier, I will give you exactly half a shichen. Furthermore, we have already signed the contract, so it cannot be undone at this point!”

“Hmm?”

Ju Hong made a decision that would surprise everyone except himself.

The snake-faced man’s face instantly turned ferocious. He shouted like a person who had suffered an injustice.

“You are kicking me out even though I paid the rent? Where in the world is there such a law! Is a deacon allowed to violate the regulations!”

“Nonsense! Do you think I, a deacon, know the regulations less than you do? According to the regulations, one who wishes to rent a cave dwelling must pay one year’s rent as a deposit. If you pay an additional 360 spirit stones, I will let you continue living here without a word.”

The snake-faced man’s eyes widened. He shrieked in desperation.

“What on earth! Do not say such absurd things! How do you expect me to suddenly obtain 360 spirit stones!”

“That is your business! I am merely acting according to the regulations. Muhahaha!”

Deacon Ju Hong’s laughter was filled with sheer gratification. He looked like a person who had lived solely for this day.

“Grr!”

“What are you still doing standing there blankly? You will have to hurry if you want to empty the cave dwelling within half a shichen. Puhaha!”

The man, whose expression hardened like stone, clenched his fists and trembled.

Unable to bring himself to charge at the deacon, he only glared at Jin So-myeong, the culprit of the situation.

It was a persistent gaze, as if trying to memorize his face.

Jin So-myeong did not particularly avoid it either. He was not afraid in the slightest of a cultivator at the 4th layer of the Qi Condensation stage.

‘He is a guy with a wicked mind.’

Rather, he hoped the fellow would come find him and deliver a gift.

This was because, if so, his impoverished pockets would improve dramatically.

“Damn it! There is not a single decent thing in the Red Yang Market!”

Spitting out curses, the man entered the cave dwelling.

After barely ten minutes, he came out again, threw down the formation nameplate, and swiftly departed.

It was without even exchanging a single word of greeting.

Ju Hong, who kept watching the extremely angry back until it completely disappeared, smacked his lips as if feeling it was a pity.

“Kehehe… He was indeed properly pissed off. I feel so thoroughly refreshed. Ah! Fellow Daoist Yeo. If that fellow Baek Gwi picks a fight by any chance, do tell me. I will speak to the Enforcement Team to teach him a harsh lesson.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it. Now, let’s enter the cave dwelling. I will verify if that fellow damaged the spiritual vein or anything.”

When he activated the nameplate that the man had thrown, the formation opened.

The moment they stepped inside the barrier, a refreshing air that he had never felt before welcomed him.

“Oh?”

As expected. A Rank 1 mid-grade spiritual vein was certainly different. The spiritual Qi infused through his breaths spread to the tips of his limbs.

Even his dantian felt as if it was growing warm.

‘I did not expect much since they said it was double, but it is more excellent than I thought.’

Furthermore, unlike the low-grade cave dwelling which was a stone cave, this place was a log cabin built of wood.

It even had a cozy yard, making it quite snug. Only now did it feel like he had come to a home where people lived.

Of course, the most important spiritual Qi concentration was also satisfactory.

It was to the extent that if a mortal lived here, they would live a long and healthy life until they were a hundred years old.

Just as he was feeling reasonably satisfied,

Deacon Ju Hong, who was inspecting here and there, spoke.

“Fortunately, there is nothing wrong. Indeed, that fellow would not have had the guts to dare damage the spiritual vein.”

Spiritual veins were the most precious asset of the Red Yang Market.

The Foundation Establishment old monsters who ruled the market did not step forward for ordinary matters, but they reacted exceptionally sensitively to incidents that damaged spiritual veins.

This was because the very foundation that allowed a power to endure for a hundred years was none other than the spiritual vein.

“Ah, I do not know if you were aware, but there is a small spiritual field in the backyard of this cave dwelling.”

“A spiritual field? You are saying there is a farm?”

“Yes. Although it is only at the level of a small garden plot, if you make time to raise spiritual rice, it will be quite helpful. If you sell well-ripened rice, you will probably earn about three spirit stones a month.”

A smile naturally emerged at the unexpected harvest.

“Then that means the practical monthly rent is 24 spirit stones.”

“That’s right. There is quite a lot of spiritual rice left behind by Baek Gwi in the spiritual field, so you can decide how to handle it yourself. For your information, I checked and there were no particular issues.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“Well, I shall be on my way now. Cultivate diligently.”

Ju Hong, who handed over the formation nameplate, left, and Jin So-myeong hurried to the backyard.

He intended to check the state of the spiritual field, which he was possessing for the first time in his life.