We should blunt our sharp points and unravel the complications of things; we should attemper our brightness and bring ourselves into an agreement with the obscurity of others.
- Dao De Jing, Chapter 4
The situation aboard the cargo boat was peaceful yet somber. In the largest unused space of the deck, Sagami Minami laid up helplessly, her entire body reddened from fever and drenched in sweat.
Hachiman sat beside her. His body was covered in healing patches. A herb bath would be better, but not only Hachiman wasn't good at mixing herb, but the situation also makes it difficult.
Hachiman knew that... whatever technique Sagami used, there would be a dangerous risk. He was expecting permanent damage or a shortened lifespan, but to a wandering cultivator... even a temporary dose of high fever can be a death sentence.
The only reason why Sagami was confident enough to use it was that she had a company that will tend to her when she fell sick.
She's a cunning one, but still... to trust her own life to someone she barely knew, and a bunch of strangers? It was a great gamble, regardless.
"Spring... pill..." She opened her eyes and asked. "Three"
"Here." Hachiman lifted her head and gently dropped a spring water concentrate pill in her mouth. These pills didn't take long to melt inside and gave her the much-needed refreshment.
Hachiman dropped two more pills right after that while making sure she didn't choke.
She drank like a horse, but Hachiman doesn't have the heart to say that outright. A cultivator falling into sickness like this was a rarity unless it was some kind of magical disease and curse.
"Is there something I can help?" Saika offered, it was a sincere concern, and honest guilt was drawn all over his pretty face.
"Give me the Spirit water vial!" Hachiman said.
Her fever dropped down quickly after she took the tenth pill and two bottles of Spirit water vial.
Perhaps this is the reason why she carried Spirit water droplet with her. Hachiman concluded. It's weird for a Yang-centered fire cultivator to know so much about the Yin element, but apparently, it was for her purpose.
She regained full consciousness in two hours flat.
"That was an exceptionally light fever." She remarked with a wry smile.
Hachiman looked at her as if she was crazy!
"What light fever? Any higher than that, and I can cook on your forehead." Hachiman told her bluntly. "You're lucky that there's someone close by."
That cares, anyway. Any other person and she might be robbed clean of her possessions, perhaps worse, someone might rob her dignity and even life.
"Luck has nothing to do with it." She said confidently. "I had been holding back for so long. Do you know how satisfying it was to go all out? That will show them."
Can't relate. Hachiman always picks the shortest possible path to his goal, after all. Daoism taught him that frugality is a treasure. Hachiman considered that wasting effort is against the Dao.
Still, there was the indisputable fact that Sagami held against a Core Formation-level Demon Beast on her own. Of course, she's prideful. An eighteen-year-old girl to accomplish that, beyond a wicked genius, she's downright Godly!
Hachiman was aware that Sagami considered him as gullible. Well, she's not wrong, per se...
She knew very well that he couldn't let a helpless woman alone and took advantage of his kindness.
Cunning wench.
Yet, Hachiman can't say he hated her. For one to survive this cruel and unjust world, one either needs to be cunning or unshakably principled.
Compared to many cultivators Hachiman met in his journey, Sagami Minami is a righteous person.
Beyond minor resentment, he could only feel amazed by her shamelessness. Hachiman thought he had seen everything, but Sagami Minami was a madness incarnate!
No wonder his Master told him. Women who walked on the path of cultivation are dangerously exciting to travel with!
However, as a natural loner, Hachiman couldn't help but get mental exhaustion just being with her, let alone getting involved with her schemes!
Getting closer to her? He'll die young!
The sooner they separate, the better. But for the moment, Hachiman thought that traveling alone was too dangerous even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Going with her, it was the right call. The region surrounding Mihama seemed to grow more dangerous every day. Perhaps this is why his Master mentioned calamity approaching the people of Yamato.
Being a lone wanderer would be a death sentence. At the very least, he can enjoy his peace once he reached home.
The Confucians came to visit and express their gratitude.
"I can't truly express our thanks to Sister Sagami."
It's damn near impossible to get a Confucian to bow so low to a woman, and yet they did.
"What's there to thank me for?"
"We owed you too much." Saika blushed.
"Oh, don't worry, there's something you can do to pay." Sagami grinned.
The Confucians already dislike where this is going.
...
"Ahhh, that's the stuff."
Sagami was sitting in a cylindrical wooden bathtub. It was tall enough that it only exposed her face as she sits inside. Meanwhile, Saika and Ranka sat cross-legged as they put their hands on the bathtub and channel their water and Yin Ki into the water, respectively.
Their faces were completely red.
Hachiman couldn't only think it was an unenviable position they have. Sagami Minami was truly merciless!
"You should try this too. It should be good for your cultivation." Minami teased him.
"Woman, your face so thick I can make fifth-grade armor of your skin!" Hachiman remarked bluntly. "Was it necessary to have such a lavish bath?"
This kind of service is pretty common in the high-level establishment around the Chiba region. Low-level civilian cultivators using their Ki as part of therapeutic massages or baths.
Hachiman tried them once but ended up leaving in shame due to a misunderstanding involving extra services. That is, he thought extravagant services were something more innocuous and not outright prostitution.
He felt like whatever left of his innocence died that day. Most men would be fine with such an offer, but not him.
"If you guys wanted me to recover to peak condition, you better do it." Sagami pointed.
However, Sagami's action this time gave Hachiman a clue.
It seemed that Hachiman began to understand what kind of technique that Sagami used. It was a technique that burns vital Yin energy inside her. Which is why she ends up with a fever and requires so much blessed water to recover.
By using her vital Yin energy, she can boost her Yang element fire beyond the limit of a Foundation Establishment, gaining strength equal to a Core Formation expert.
She turned her own body into a Human Cauldron*.
However, vital energy... there wasn't much of it available within the human body, even among high-level cultivators. That's why she can only use the technique for a short time while burning her Yin reserve.
Depleting inherent energy can be dangerous, if not downright fatal to the cultivator. That's why, in Daoism, using Human Cauldron is a grave sin, just like the creation of Blood Slave.
Even so, Sagami Minami remains righteous and pure because she made an earnest sacrifice of herself, rather than sacrificing someone else to pursue her goal.
It's hard to replenish vital energy through the use of pills or other unrefined sources, so the person-to-person transfer is the only possible method to do it efficiently.
It was about one hour later that she told the two young men to stop. They immediately left post haste, both tired and humiliated.
"Eyes away, I'm putting on my clothes!" Sagami told Hachiman. "If you peek, I cannot guarantee you have anything left to pay!"
"Where does that confidence come from?" Hachiman snorted and turned around.
"Right, you don't even have the spine to touch me when we shared a room back in Inage." Sagami squeezed her eyes. "Are you perhaps a eunuch?"
"My family jewels are attached and functional, thank you very much!" Hachiman replied with a solid deadpan.
Sagami couldn't help but feel annoyed. On the one hand, she was just teasing him, nothing more than that. On the other hand, his response made her pride as a young woman a bit hurt.
Still, at the very least, he's trustworthy.
There's no one more dependable than a man who dares to risk his own life to shield a stranger.
She couldn't ask for more. That would be too shameless even for her standard.
...
The travel itself didn't take a long time compared to walking, and after the first attack, the subsequent intrusion by Demon Beasts was minor and disorganized.
They've arrived in less than 12 hours since departure.
At the port of Konakadai, a seemingly high ranked Confucian Master approached them when they hopped off the boat. He was incredibly handsome, which attracted quite a bit of stares from the women around.
Assuming his appearance was pure and unaltered, he should be around thirty years old or younger.
"Us disciplines greets Third Brother!" They immediately kowtowed with respect.
"We managed to accomplish our mission and retrieved the artifact!" Saika reported.
"I was a little worried when I received your message, but not only the mission is a success, you all came unharmed."
"About that, Third Brother..." Saika looked at Hachiman and Sagami. "We truly owed our success to them."
"Ah." The so-called 'Third Brother' noticed. "So young, and yet so strong."
"The treasure container was leaking potent gold energy, so we were ambushed by many Demon Beast, including a juvenile Hasha. But these two drove them all." Ranka also explained.
"The container is... leaking?"
Strange, this would merit further investigation, but for now, it's time for pleasantries.
"If I may introduce myself, my name is Mishiro Ohji. My fellow brothers called me Third Brother of Konakadai School of Confucian." He introduced himself without hesitating. "May I know the name of our savior here?"
"Hikigaya Hachiman, Daoist."
"Sagami Minami, Ying-Yang School."
"On behalf of our school, I should thank you. I there's anything we can help-"
"That's fine. We'll go on our ways." Sagami cut him off. "Let's go."
It was discourteous, but Sagami made it clear that she doesn't want any association with the Confucians beyond the sheer necessity due to circumstances.
Hachiman felt no animosity toward them, so he bowed apologetically. "I appreciate the offer, but no need to humor lowly wanderers such as us."
"Brother Hikigaya being too generous!" Ohji told him. "We Confucians don't leave any debt unpaid."
As men of the Courts, Confucians have a sense of pride. Being indebted to anyone is a sin, especially immaterial debt. However, Hachiman had no intention to honor that principle of theirs.
Because he frankly doesn't give a damn.
"If you must, then please pay more attention to Brother Totsuka. His talent is immense." Hachiman grinned. "If heavens wills it, then this won't be the last time."
Too bad about it, but such is the fate of a wandering cultivator. Getting attached will only hurt you more when you separate. Hachiman trod this path of his own will.
As he looked at the red-haired Elementalist, Hachiman realized. His travel with her will come to an end soon. Whichever route they take next, they're only one small town away from Mihama.
"So, do you have any plans after this?" Sagami asked him. "Should we take a rest or keep moving?"
"You decide. I have the feeling that my choices as of late were cursed." He told her with a resigned voice. He suggested coming to this town after all, and they end up having to fend off a high-level demon beast!
She eyed him. "You say that like I'm any luckier than you. You just don't want to bear the responsibility, right?"
"Correct!" He told her shamelessly.
"Then let's get some job, I'm not short of money, but any little earnings may help in future endeavors."
Hah! To work is to lose! So far, Hachiman can survive mostly through sheer luck and looting. Occasionally he accepts people's gifts or gets work on his travel.
Though money is nice, he's no beggar. Yet, he wouldn't call himself a hard worker either.
"Pick a good one." He agreed.
* Human Cauldron is a term in Daoist internal alchemy, referring to the human body as a refining vessel. Sometimes related to Dual Cultivation (Daoist Sex practice) but not always the case.
