"We could fight forever if this keeps up." I said, explaining the situation to the spirit king in case he didn't understand what would happen in the future.
"You're wrong. Nothing is eternal in this world. Whether in the mortal world, the spirit world, or the outer world. Something that appears eternal simply has more time and power than others to live. You will still die if the apocalypse comes tomorrow."
I neither shook my head nor nodded in agreement. But the spirit king's words made sense. Something eternal is just something that has more time and strength compared to other beings. Everything will end if the apocalypse comes tomorrow.
"So, what do you want to negotiate? I will still take my disciple from you and will not give you permission. That way, we will fight for a very long time until Shun Jin dies of old age."
The spirit king nodded slightly.
"I still want this girl to be my wife. By any means necessary."
"So the negotiation is off?"
"What if we start by getting to know each other first."
I looked at the spirit king who still had a lazy expression. I ended up putting on the same face, it seemed.
"Long Yi."
"Rei Han."
"So Rei Han. Can you give up wanting my disciple?"
"Unfortunately not. She's too beautiful to let live in the mortal world."
"So what do you want to negotiate?"
"..."
The spirit king, Rei Han, fell silent. Around us, the regretful spirits bowed surrounding us both. The moonlight sometimes shone on Shun Jin's pale face. It seemed like she had a high fever.
"I don't have much time, you know. This girl has a grudge and a promise carved in her heart. She trains to become strong to fulfill that desire."
"Childish."
"Childish."
"But that's what makes her look even more beautiful. She survived in my valley with only determination and recklessness. Even so, she refuses to back down and managed to become a little stronger than before."
"Yes, she just reached the Mortal Realm."
"Early stage cultivation?"
"Yes."
"Since when did this girl start training?"
"Three months ago. She started training after promising to avenge her father who was killed by an arrogant king."
The spirit king touched Shun Jin's cheek with interest.
"Hearing your story makes me want her even more."
"Then let's continue fighting. I will kill you even if it takes a thousand years."
I raised my sword forward. The spirit king fell silent.
"..."
"Seeing you hesitate, how about hearing my offer."
I started to take the opportunity. The spirit king raised his face.
"What can you offer?"
"Basically, you want a girl with a special and rare spirit like Shun Jin to accompany you, right?"
The spirit king nodded.
"I have an acquaintance. She's a sorceress. And I once killed her, and magically, she came back to life somehow. I don't know what her spirit would look like to you, but let me say one thing."
The spirit king, Rei Han, listened.
"The first time we trained here, the regretful spirits couldn't eat her spirit. On the contrary, that woman ate their spirits. You can ask the regretful spirits from the devil cult who once trained here during my time."
The spirit king frowned. Then he signaled the regretful spirits bowed around us to come beside him.
"What is that woman's name?"
"Rastella." I said without smirking or grinning. Though I would have loved to grin widely. It felt like selling a foreign girl to a rich person and getting the profit.
"Who among you remembers that name?" the spirit king shouted, asking the regretful spirits.
Some of the regretful spirits shivered. The spirit king immediately pointed at them and ordered them to come closer.
"Tell me, is this crazy demon's story true?"
"Y-yes... Spirit king lord... Once there was a girl... Who ate and hunted us... And that girl was this man's friend... Spirit king lord..."
A regretful spirit, representing a group of regretful spirits who knew Rastella, spoke.
The spirit king lord touched his chin.
"Alright, bring that woman to me within three months. Before that."
The spirit king lord produced something in his hand. It was a white snake ring with purple eyes. He then placed the ring on Shun Jin's right ring finger.
"If you fail to bring that woman to me within three months, this white snake ring will kill her in an instant and bind her soul to me automatically. But if you succeed in bringing her, I will let her be free with you."
"One year." I raised one finger.
"Three months."
"Two years." Two fingers.
"Four months."
"Three years." Three fingers.
"Five months."
"Four and a half years." Four fingers.
The spirit king lord snorted.
"Six months, no more offers."
I extended my hand, inviting the spirit king lord to shake as a seal of the agreement.
He accepted my handshake.
"Alright, with this, our matter is settled." I stood up carrying the weak Shun Jin. I had lost my clothes and sword sheath.
The spirit king stood up with me.
"Don't ever think of running, Long Yi. You might be strong. And your body has become a demon thanks to the demon inside that sword." The spirit king pointed at the sword I held. "That sword doesn't come from this world. It's from another world. And soon, the other world will open to us sooner or later. And when that time comes, you will realize eternity is just an ant to humans in that other world."
"..."
I didn't answer anything he said because it was quite confusing. I might forget what he said by tomorrow morning.
"Don't worry. You made a deal with a demon. Long Yi, the crazy demon always keeps his word because Ye Jing will make it happen."
"Ye Jing?" The spirit king asked spontaneously. Whether out of curiosity or because he knew that name.
"Nobody special. Just a foolish monk."
I walked casually past the regretful spirits who were bowing to the spirit king.
"See you in six months, Rei Han. You will definitely like that crazy woman. Because she used to be mine."
Waving my hand without looking back. The spirit king didn't wave back and walked in the opposite direction.
"What a troublesome girl. You have an annoying fate." I tidied the hair covering Shun Jin face. She was sleeping so soundly in my arms. Like a baby.
"Hopefully, we'll have enough time."
***