Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 13: Initiation (2).

It was a small building.

Despite its size, the building exuded an indescribable majesty, and the atmosphere around it felt solemn and sacred.

The golden ropes and several talismans surrounding the building, along with the unknown inscriptions on the building, indicated that it was protected by a powerful barrier.

The plaque on the building read ‘Ancestor Hall’.

Gongsun Cheong produced a token from his pocket, waved it around, and entered the Ancestor Hall.

As the initiates followed the outer disciple inside, a musty smell greeted them first. The distinctive dusty smell of an old building lingered no matter how much it was swept and wiped.

Yet, the interior of the building was spotless, suggesting that it was cleaned daily.

The Ancestor Hall was nothing out of the ordinary.

It contained just a single ancestral tablet and a portrait, resembling a shrine, with an altar in front of it. On the altar were several incense sticks, emitting thin trails of smoke.

Yuk-gyeong’s gaze landed on the ancestral tablet and the portrait.

The portrait depicted an old man with a stern, wrinkled face and fierce, glaring eyes.

Gongsun Cheong clasped his hands respectfully towards the portrait, bowed deeply, and then stepped aside.

He then spoke to the initiates.

“This is Yang Woon-jin, the founder of the Dark Moon Sect. Offer nine bows and vow to uphold the honor and legacy of the Sect. Also, swear to the divine that you will not betray the Sect.”

The initiates performed nine bows, muttering as Gongsun Cheong instructed.

After the simple yet solemn initiation ceremony, Gongsun Cheong quickly left the Ancestor Hall.

The sacred atmosphere of the temple seemed uncomfortable. Or perhaps it felt like staying too long at the main gate of the Sect would get you scolded.

Next, Gongsun Cheong took the newcomers to a stone monument.

The human-sized stone had something inscribed on it in a bold script.

The outer disciple pointed at it and said,

“These are the rules of the sect. The three virtues that every disciple of the Dark Moon Sect must adhere to.”

First, do not betray the Sect.

Second, do not bring dishonor to the Sect’s reputation.

Third, do not recklessly endanger the lives of fellow disciples.

These were three concise yet strict rules.

Of course, there were more detailed regulations, and he mentioned that they were written in the Sect’s rule book. But he also said not to worry too much, as memorizing them was not required.

Most disciples said that as long as these three rules were followed, there would be no issues.

“If everyone understands, I will now guide you to your accommodations. Please follow me closely.”

Gongsun Cheong led the newcomers through the inner and outer gates to a vaguely defined area just inside the outer gate.

This ambiguous area was the most populated.

People with sun-kissed bronze skin were moving trash, cooking meals, and cleaning. There were tenacious middle-aged women, maidens, pot-bellied men, and easygoing young men here.

Unlike the inner and outer gates, this place had the scent of human life.

“This is the Servant Hall. Inside here, you’ll find your accommodations.”

With that, Gongsun Cheong crossed the Servant Hall.

As they crossed, many people in the Servant Hall greeted Gongsun Cheong, who was wearing the blue robe of the outer gate. Gongsun Cheong nodded in acknowledgment like a gentleman and continued walking.

Soon, they arrived at the lodging.

The lodging was a thatched house, which didn’t look too old. However, due to the nature of thatched houses, it inevitably appeared shabby.

Still, for a thatched house, it had several rooms, and Gongsun Cheong told them to each take a room.

Then, without another word, he left swiftly.

He just left without saying how we’re supposed to manage here.

The two children and three young adults stood around awkwardly, glancing about. Eventually, realizing their situation, they began to enter their respective rooms.

Yuk-gyeong stopped Yeong-yeong, who was about to enter a room, and asked,

“Are we supposed to stay here now? Without doing chores like the outer disciples?”

“We’ll probably have to do chores. But for today, just rest. I doubt they’ll make us do anything.”

“Are we only going to do chores now? Like the outer disciples?”

“Haha, you think we’ll only do chores like the outer disciples? No. The chores outer disciples do are important. They move herbs or heat the alchemy furnace. The real chores are handled outside the outer gate, here in the Servant Hall. They cook, take out the trash, and clean.”

The Servant Hall? So this is the place for real chores?

Why is our lodging here? Could it be…

“Then who goes to the miscellaneous work area?”

“We do! We’ve just entered, right? Since we’re not yet outer disciples, we need to help with the work in the miscellaneous work area. We’re not becoming full-time workers there, but we go through an adaptation period.”

Is there an intern period here too? A probation period?

And they’re making us work in the Servant Hall. Isn’t this too much?

I came to become an immortal, but it looks like I’ll be doing chores.

No, isn’t it already not enough to just train all the time? Do I have to do chores too? Yuk-gyeong couldn’t understand the situation at all.

Territorial behavior, yes. This must be territorial behavior.

“Is this some kind of territorial behavior? Trying to intimidate the newcomer?”

“It’s not about territorial behavior. That’s just how the structure is. When you first join, you spend a few months doing miscellaneous chores in the Servant Hall. Of course, you train as well. They don’t make you do chores all day like actual laborers. We’re here to train, after all.”

Right, we’re here to train. But do I have to train while working?

Well, honestly, for Yuk-gyeong, who was trained in all sorts of chores and farming back in his hometown, working wasn’t really a big deal. It was just surprising to be told to do chores when he came to train.

Yeong-yeong saw Yuk-gyeong’s expression, found it amusing, and continued speaking as if to console him.

“After spending a few months in the Servant Hall, you get promoted to an outer disciple, and the Sect calculates merit points based on the work you did here. It’s because you’re serving the Sect.”

“What can you do with merit points?”

“You can exchange them for techniques or artifacts within the Sect. Merit points are like money. They’re only used within the Sect.”

So it’s like local currency.

Anyway, they give us money we can use later if we do miscellaneous chores. That’s a relief. I thought it was unpaid.

Night came to the mountain earlier than elsewhere.

Due to the twilight obscured by the mountain’s shadow, darkness quickly cast its veil.

Even the Servant Hall, which was so noisy during the day, became quiet.

Around that time, Yuk-gyeong left his room and quietly gazed at the darkened mountain gate.

Being told not to do anything during the day, Yuk-gyeong had taken a good nap, making it hard for him to sleep at night.

After sleeping and feeling refreshed, it seemed like the breeze flowing inside my body had become cooler as well. Or maybe it was just the cool wind outside.

Thus, my head feels clearer, and I remember things that I couldn’t recall before.

For instance, the contents of the last xianxia novel I read in my past life.

‘I still can’t remember the title. But the story feels clearer now, even some of the details.’

Now that I’ve officially entered the cultivation world, I should be able to benefit from the novel’s content. I need to quickly grow and become an immortal in our Great Dark Moon sect.

But Dark Moon Sect… It sounds familiar. Even in the novel.

Dark Moon Sect… Why does it feel so unsettling?

Thinking about it in the dark night makes it even more unsettling.

I feel like I’m forgetting something.

Yuk-gyeong paced the yard, trying to recall what he had forgotten.

It definitely seemed like something from the novel.

What was it, what could it be…

Then suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind.

“Ah, the Dark Moon Sect!”

Yuk-gyeong slapped his forehead.

Why did I forget?

The Dark Moon Sect was the sect that was annihilated by the protagonist Yong-heon, who was growing in the neighboring country!

I definitely read it in the novel, but since it was just a sect belonging to some villain, I couldn’t remember it right away.

Moreover, hearing about how the Dark Moon Sect was a symbol of the righteous sects, I never thought it would be a sect doomed by the protagonist.

Damn it. Of all places to join, I ended up in a doomed sect.

Having been in this world for a year, I forgot some parts of the book, leading to this mess. Especially detailed parts like the sects villains belonged to were almost forgotten.

It’s understandable because to write down the contents, you would need paper, a brush, and ink, which were not items a rural bumpkin could afford.

Not only was the price an issue, but in a household that only did farming, who would allow a non-studious kid to use writing materials?

Should I have risked getting scolded or beaten to buy writing materials? Should I have tried to remember and not forget?

It’s karma, karma indeed.

Trying to avoid a beating back then by ignoring the writing materials has now led to a life-threatening situation.

How did the protagonist end up on the bad side of the Dark Moon Sect? I don’t know. I can’t remember. Probably got into a dispute with one of the members. Even if the Dark Moon Sect is a righteous sect, it doesn’t mean all its members are righteous.

After advancing in level, he went back to the Dark Moon Sect for revenge and annihilated them completely.

Wouldn’t he have spared at least one person? Absolutely not! Not a single person would survive! I think he killed them all, not leaving even an ant. That’s just how the protagonist was. He never left future threats.

It’s not called a Chinese-style retribution xianxia for nothing.

‘Would it be too late to say I want to retract my entry into the sect?’

As if.

After going through the sacred initiation ceremony, would the Sect just let it be? Especially since I possess a Single Spiritual Root?

They would probably break my legs to prevent me from leaving the Sect. Or even kill me!

Yuk-gyeong clutched his head and screamed silently.

Of all places, of all places!

The Dark Moon Sect!

If it had been the demonic sect I originally wanted to join, I could have just watched the Dark Moon Sect fall and profited! I should have just become a sex fiend!

Damn it, I’m doomed to be part of this ruined sect. I should have stuck with my first choice. Changing my answer was a mistake.

‘No, they say even if the sky falls, there is a way out.’

First, I should grow stronger with the support of the Dark Moon Sect. Since I possess a Single Spiritual Root, they should support me well.

Then, I’ll join exchanges with cultivation sects with the neighboring country, and seize the opportunity to become friends with the protagonist!

Neighboring sects often build friendships through friendly competitions, so if I have time, I can establish a relationship with the protagonist. Naturally, I must improve my skills to be part of that.

Even if the Sect falls, maybe I can survive at least?

As if that’d be possible…

In the novel, the protagonist returns with immense power, causing mountains to crumble. If I can’t keep up with that growth, I’ll likely get swept away and die.

This won’t do. I need to at least be able to escape, so I must hone my skills first.

I just hope it’s not close to the time when the protagonist destroys the Dark Moon Sect…