He rented at a different inn in an opposite location and rested until morning. Then, he went over to the harbor and began to chat with many different crew captains. Prices, travel directions etc. were discussed in lengths. He favored mortal crews for obvious reasons but never rejected when a cultivator approached him with an offer either.

His departure was scheduled for the next morning.

He had prepared himself perfectly for this travel.

As he rested in a third inn, he took out the first eyeball. The one that was a single year old. He tried to sense and absorb the elemental energies within. He could perceive himself and his will grabbing at the elemental properties. He was capable of leading them to his soul sea and his core too. After having worked so much on his will, it was obvious that he could do it.

However, he was unable to absorb them.

There seemed to be a wall?...

Right. He nearly forgot the seal that Hae-Hyuk placed on his core. A seal preventing him from growing beyond the ninth stage and foiling his plans to have him participate in the trial.

Jin cursed internally many times. He could not help himself from cursing Hae-Hyuk many times along with that guy's ancestors. Even though he owed him so much, at this very moment, he only felt anger towards him.

It dissipated quickly though as he regained his composure. Patience was a virtue he understood. And calm was required to think straight.

He could not cultivate further...Because of the seal... Then, how about breaking the seal?

He returned the eyeball to his space ring and jumped to his soul sea. He began to concentrate and, after a time, managed to see the round-shaped cage surrounding his core. Then, he proceeded to call onto his many spears shaped from his will and sent them at the seal.

Unfortunately, it did not budge.

Not even a ripple.

Jin sighed. Quite obviously, it seemed impossible for him to break a seal made by Hae-Hyuk. He left his soul sea and pondered.

In the end, he could only think of a single safe option: to ask Sarenna before she entered her future new body. Even if she could not break it herself at that time, she would be aware of it and how it could be broken.

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He sighed once more before he opted to go into further meditation.

...

Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, someone knocked on his door. He quickly got up and only had the time to take a stance with his spear before it opened.

He was ready to charge in when he noticed it was Hymin. He stopped himself mere millimeters away from impaling her... He did not retract the spear though. He was ashamed of himself for having let his guard down.

He coldly asked: "How did you find me?"

Hymin touched the tip of the spear, thinking Jin would move it aside. It did not budge. It was still right at her heart. She sighed in exasperation as she said: "A beauty visits you in the middle of the night and you point your spear at her? Well, the wrong spear at least..."

Jin was not in the mood to joke around. His cold silence made Hymin shudder as she stated: "I asked around for a weirdo wearing gloves and a scarf! Happy, now?! Can you put the spear away?"

Jin wondered if it was really that easy to find him while not moving the spear aside...

The truth was that Hymin went all over the city to find him starting from the harbor. She found someone strong and wealthy who planned to leave too, wouldn't she be an idiot to give up right away? This fat juicy tight...She had to grab onto it!

Jin remained cold as he asked: "What do you want?"

Hymin pleaded once more: "Take me away with you! I want to leave this place too! I won't disturb you or anything!"

Jin put his spear aside and motioned for her to come in. She smiled as he took a step inside the room after closing the door. As she passed by Jin, moving towards the bed while speaking, he hit her in the neck gently. Only enough to make her pass out.

Jin dropped her unconscious body on the bed and got ready to leave... As he gazed once more at her in the bed, he threw a few silvers. That way, it would make it seem like he had a good night if she was found by the inn owner.

He left for the harbor and stayed meditating on a rooftop until the first rays of light appeared.

He dropped down and made his way towards the boat he rented a spot on. It was a luxury cruise who had for destination a iconic island between Grundal and Vislorin. That island was filled with resorts dedicated to wealthy mortals.

His end goal had yet to change but he would take some detours to mislead the eventual pursuers.

As for Hymin, he wished her the best but their paths were not supposed to be the same.

And so, Jin left Berdiklom.

...

Hymin woke up refreshed. She saw an unfamiliar room and heard the sounds of coins moving about as she got up. Alone in some random inn with a few coins on the bed? Usual way to start the day for her.

But then, she recalled the previous events. She screamed curses incredibly loudly as she realized what happened... She realized it was too late but as she glanced at the coins on the bed, her thoughts changed.

She picked the coins and readied herself to go on a journey of her own. It would have been better to leave with a dependable man protecting her and paying for everything but she could do without.

...

In a distant cavern, a being made of darkness opened his multitude of eyes. Then, it closed them as it whispered to itself: "Not yet..."