Baihui (5)
‘The fairy tale collection I saw… doesn’t exist?’
I had assumed it was an ordinary children’s story.
Yet it turned out to be a tale that had never existed at all?
‘Then why… why was the book clearly present in the previous regression, yet absent now?’
It was bizarre.
Utterly, profoundly bizarre.
‘Why would something like this happen?’
My thoughts chased one another until they drifted toward the lingering remnant of fate left behind by Yang Su-jin, the Golden Divine.
‘Right. That remnant had placed an attraction of fate near Shattered Heaven Peak, and witnessing it required an absurd miracle of probability.’
Could the fairy tale be the same?
Perhaps it, too, was a story one could only encounter by being drawn into an attraction of fate set by Yang Su-jin or someone else.
To see it, one would need to enact some impossible miracle of probability.
‘That possibility exists.’
If it was left by Yang Su-jin, a being at least at the True Immortal level, then that strange fairy tale might only be visible again after passing through an absurd miracle of probability.
I mulled it over, then nodded.
“Understood. If you ever find such a book, be sure to tell me.”
I spoke while watching the little girl playing with her dolls nearby.
“You too—if you ever see a book like that or remember such a story, tell me. It’s very important to me.”
“Yes!”
The girl hugged her seven dolls and answered brightly.
“Um, but where’s your big sister?”
“Big sister? What big sister? My child is an only daughter.”
The scholar spoke to me with a faintly uncomfortable expression.
‘What?’
Once again, I felt something strangely off.
‘It feels like I’ve forgotten something…’
An inexplicable sense of dissonance lingered.
‘Ah, right. In her past life, this child said she was waiting for her parents…’
Why had I suddenly mentioned a big sister?
“Anyway, thank you.”
After offering my thanks, I decided to deal with the centipede monster as planned.
Taah!
I kicked off the ground in a single bound and crossed the ridge.
The centipede’s lair came into view.
And then—
Clang, clang, clang!
I saw martial artists swinging swords in front of the lair.
‘Ah, so those are the ones.’
They must be the martial experts the village head had hired.
They poured sword qi at the centipede monster with all their might, yet their blades left not even a scratch on its carapace.
Instead, one after another coughed up blood from the poison the creature exhaled.
“Die, die, you monster!”
One martial artist spat blood yet still charged forward.
The centipede monster opened its maw wide to greet him, ready to tear his head off in an instant.
In that split second—
I tore through the gap in time and slipped between them.
Whoosh!
A palm strike from my right hand wrapped around the martial artist and gently sent him flying outside the cave, while an Invisible Sword from my left hand slammed into the centipede monster.
Kwaaaang!
The monster tumbled backward, vomiting blood.
“W-what…?”
“What in the world…?”
I reached toward the martial artists who had collapsed, coughing blood.
Shwaaaak!
My Invisible Sword struck their vital points, then seeped into their meridians, forcibly circulating their qi.
And then—
Paat!
“Kuhk, cough!”
“Kweeeek!”
Guided by the Invisible Sword, all the centipede’s poison gathered in their bodies was expelled through their mouths.
“I’ve drawn out the basic poison, but you should still see a physician for further treatment. The toxin that has sunk too deep is beyond my ability to remove…”
After saying this, I slowly approached the centipede monster.
“Krrk, krrk!”
“You.”
I addressed it in the language of demonic beasts.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the centipede watching me warily, yet it did not flee deeper into its lair.
Looking closer, I noticed countless tiny, rice-grain-sized eggs beneath it—smaller than fingernails.
The creature was spewing poison to protect its eggs, refusing to retreat.
“…”
Witnessing that, I withdrew the Invisible Sword I had been about to cleave it with.
“…Withdraw. If you swear never to devour humans again, I will spare you.”
“Krrk, krrk…”
The centipede twitched for a moment, then spoke.
“My children… if I cannot make them… like me… how… how…”
It continued haltingly, its will filled with despair.
“How am I… supposed to live? It is… lonely. O great one… please, just kill me here and now.”
The centipede spoke with a drooping air.
“If my flesh and blood are devoured, perhaps my remaining children… can become like me… so please… kill me…”
“…”
It was a fierce maternal love.
While I hesitated over whether to kill it, the martial artist who had charged at the centipede earlier—having somewhat suppressed the poison—rushed over and dropped to his knees before me.
“I greet the honored one! This humble one has a single request!”
“…What is it?”
I turned to look at him.
“Please! Tear that thing apart and kill it! Make its death as painful as possible!”
Since the martial artist had not understood our conversation in the demonic beast tongue, he cried out with tears in his eyes.
“That monster devoured my lover! Kill it! I beg you!”
“…”
Hearing those words, I turned back to the centipede.
‘Right. What am I even hesitating for?’
Maternal love was noble, yet this creature had devoured innocent people.
Moreover—
The martial artist’s words about his lover being eaten made something inside my chest ache.
“…It seems you must die after all. Do you have any last words?”
I raised my hand toward the centipede.
It bowed its head to me.
“Please… help my children… become great beings… like you…”
Paying no heed to its own death, the centipede bowed repeatedly.
“My children… please…”
“…Very well. I will do what I can.”
I approached and placed my hand on its head.
Puhk!
The Invisible Sword passed through its entire body, severing every nerve and turning its brain to pulp in an instant.
It had likely felt no pain.
“…It is done.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you…!”
Watching the martial artist weep and offer thanks, I lifted the spot where the centipede had been.
Thousands of centipede eggs lay packed beneath it.
They seemed more like ordinary centipede eggs than those of a demonic beast.
In fact, I sensed not a single trace of spiritual energy from them.
They were simply eggs that had inherited none of the centipede’s demonic power.
I gathered all the rice-grain-sized eggs into my storage artifact.
“I do not know if it will work, but I will try.”
After glancing once more at the centipede, I passed the grateful martial artists and returned to the village.
“The centipede has been dealt with.”
“Th-thank you…! P-please, at least accept this, immortal!”
The village head offered me something.
It was a clean white robe—the garment worn when performing the Double Fan Dance in this village.
“…I will gratefully accept it.”
I took the white robe and changed into it.
Wearing it, memories of my past life suddenly surfaced.
‘…It feels good.’
I savored that memory for a moment, then spoke.
“It is the finest gift. Thank you.”
Taah!
With those words, I leapt back onto the Seopmyeong Ship.
“This is my final request, Senior.”
[You, where have you been running around so much? Fine, then… where is your next destination?]
I told him.
“Bongmyeong Castle.”
Kugugugugu!
Song Jin steered the Seopmyeong Ship into Bongmyeong Castle.
Shwaaak!
I dismantled the outer restrictions and entered.
‘Still the same.’
Inside, I searched and obtained the items I needed.
Various spiritual wines.
Especially the White Rainbow Wine.
And then…
‘Come to think of it, this is…’
I found a smoking pipe.
A long bamboo pipe.
‘Was this an artifact said to grant spirituality to ordinary beasts…?’
I examined the artifact’s description closely.
—Artifact: Demonic Immortal Bamboo.
—When lit and the smoke is blown toward a beast, the probability of that beast gaining spirituality increases by one ten-thousandth.
—After using it on one beast, the same smoke must not be used on it again for at least five years. The energy is potent and may cause death.
—Even demonic beasts are limited: Qi Condensation demonic beasts may use it at most twice a month, Core Formation demonic beasts once every seven days, and Nascent Soul demonic beasts once per day.
“…”
For a moment, I felt foolish for thinking I could use it on the centipede’s children.
‘This isn’t some radioactive waste…’
At this level, it was less an artifact for raising demonic beasts and more a poison pipe capable of killing them.
Though dumbfounded, I stored the bamboo pipe in my storage artifact just in case.
While searching the surroundings, I found one more useful item.
“Two Heaven-Sealing Talismans.”
They were talismans said to grant Heavenly Person-level defensive power.
‘Because of these talismans…’
I glanced at Won Rip’s blood avatar.
The memory of the moment I had fallen into immense despair because of this creature resurfaced.
‘I should keep them for now.’
I placed the Heaven-Sealing Talismans into my storage artifact as well.
After that, there was nothing left to obtain in Bongmyeong Castle.
“Now then, shall I obtain the Bongmyeongin…”
Kugugugugu!
I took out the red formation flags Won Rip had given me.
Kuuuung!
As Won Rip’s blood avatar formed hand seals, the artifacts glowed and began drawing in the power flowing through Bongmyeong Castle.
And then—
Kugugugugugu!
The artifacts caused the internal forces of Bongmyeong Castle to collide, collapsing its layers one by one.
I deflected all the falling debris from above the Longevity Fruit tree.
Kuuuuwuuu…
After some time, every layer of Bongmyeong Castle had collapsed, and light began to flicker in the void.
Paaaat!
‘The Bongmyeongin…’
As I gazed at it, Song Jin and Seo Ran entered Bongmyeong Castle.
Song Jin’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the seal.
[The Bongmyeongin… it has been a long time.]
He asked me.
[Why do you want the Bongmyeongin? Are you planning to ascend in the traditional way, like that Won Rip fellow?]
“Ah, I heard the Bongmyeongin attracts heavenly fortune.”
I held the seal as I spoke.
[Heavenly fortune? That is good, of course. But even if you receive its blessing, do not keep it on your person. The holder of the Bongmyeongin becomes connected to this world through its attraction of fate, making ascension difficult. You will eventually be pulled back here.]
“Haha…”
I smiled faintly.
That was exactly my intention.
‘While investigating the Ascension Gate this time, I will carry the Bongmyeongin with me.’
If I did that, even if I were caught in a spatial storm, I would eventually return to this world, would I not?
Since my goal was to investigate the Ascension Gate rather than ascend, it did not matter.
Just as I was looking at the Bongmyeongin—
Paaaat!
Light burst from the seal and scattered a brilliant radiance toward me.
My body felt strangely lighter.
[It is the blessing of the Bongmyeongin. Normally, one must touch it to receive the blessing, yet… you must possess an extraordinarily strong fate.]
“Pardon…?”
[Did you not know? The Bongmyeongin reacts to fate, responding more strongly to those with powerful destinies. The same applies to its blessing. The fact that it bestowed its blessing upon you without even being touched means your innate fate is immense.]
“I see…”
It was new information.
‘My fate…’
It was certainly somewhat strong.
Strong enough that the heavens would hurl lightning madly the moment I tried to escape the framework of fate.
Clutching the Bongmyeongin, I spoke.
“By the way, I have a request for you, Senior.”
[What is it this time?]
I handed Song Jin the structure diagram of a formation and the blueprint of a formation artifact.
“If you install this formation artifact on the first floor of Bongmyeong Castle and activate it… in five years, Longevity Fruits will grow here. Please give one to Seo Ran.”
[Huuuh…!]
Song Jin stared at me with wide eyes.
[You keep giving things away. At this rate, your favor token will never be used…]
“Haha, it will be enough if you grant this one request of mine.”
I told him.
“When the Longevity Fruits ripen, please deliver one to a man named Kim Young-hoon in the Yeon Kingdom.”
[Why not deliver it yourself?]
“There is… a reason.”
If I went to investigate the Ascension Gate, I might be caught in a spatial storm and die.
I could become lost in space.
Or I could be marked and killed by some great boundary existence observing this place from beyond the world.
Therefore, it was only right to entrust this to them.
“This is my final request. Thank you for everything until now.”
[Hmm…]
He stared at me for a moment, then asked.
[Are you perhaps planning to ascend to the upper realm at your current level?]
“…”
Song Jin seemed to have grasped my intent and asked in surprise.
[This is too sudden. Why are you moving so hastily? We cultivators have hundreds of years. The Ascension Gate has not closed yet, and there will be another chance in a thousand years.
You are clearly talented, so in a thousand years you could easily reach Heavenly Person Grand Completion and prepare for ascension…]
“A thousand years…”
I gave a bitter smile.
“Perhaps even after a thousand years, I will still be at this level.”
[…?]
Song Jin tilted his head, unable to understand, yet I knew my own talent well.
Even after a thousand years, reaching Nascent Soul through mere cultivation methods would be fortunate.
As for martial arts, even if Kim Young-hoon surpassed me by several stages—
I was not Kim Young-hoon.
‘A thousand years is too long.’
And in any case, this was a process I had to investigate at least once.
Perhaps this life, in which I had not accumulated many connections, was the most suitable time to investigate the Ascension Gate.
When I delivered the trinket to Buk Hyang-hwa, that thought had solidified.
‘I should not live a thousand years and meet her from this life again.’
If I met her from this life once more—
I felt I would not be able to hold back.
“Anyway… this is my choice. Please respect it.”
[Well, do as you please. Since my disciple has received much help from you, I will fulfill your requests. They are not difficult, after all.]
Song Jin folded his arms and nodded.
Then we left Bongmyeong Castle and headed back toward Deungsunhyang.
* * *
Whoooosh!
The pitch-black ghost ship cut across the sky.
The Seopmyeong Ship, having emerged from the void space, sailed through the heavens.
When I asked why we did not use void space for spatial travel, Song Jin explained that frequent passage through it would strain the ship.
“By the way, Senior Song Jin, do you know anything about the upper realm?”
[Of course. At the very least, the basic information that Won Rip fellow mentioned is common knowledge among the upper echelons of major powers.]
Song Jin continued while gripping the ship’s helm.
[Especially groups with deep histories like the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, Black Ghost Valley, Geho, Seongbong, and the Hailong Clan know even more. Their ancestors who ascended through the Ascension Gate occasionally contact us.]
“…Oh? If you know anything about the upper realm, may I ask?”
[I do not know the details either. Truly, contact only occurs once every few thousand years… but according to one ancestor from Black Ghost Valley who contacted us four thousand years ago, the spiritual energy of the upper realm is hundreds of times richer than that of Deungsunhyang, and there are no ordinary people among the human race there.]
“No ordinary people?”
[Correct. I could hardly believe it when I first heard it either. Due to the immense spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the upper realm, infants are influenced by it from the moment of conception and are born as Elixir Cultivation cultivators. They are cultivators from birth. Those with even a little talent are born already at the first or second layer of Qi Condensation… Does that not sound absurd?]
“…”
I gaped in disbelief.
‘The very concept of ordinary people… does not exist there…?’
Just how dense must the spiritual energy be for such a thing to be possible?
Song Jin chuckled at my expression.
[Furthermore, in the upper realm, even the slowest reach Foundation Establishment in their early twenties, and the fastest in their forties or fifties. Most who exceed two hundred years of age are Core Formation cultivators. From Nascent Soul onward, considerable enlightenment is required, so their numbers drop sharply… Is it not unfair? Some must devour people to reach Qi Condensation, while others reach it simply by breathing from birth. Khahaha…]
“Truly… unbelievable.”
I gave a bitter smile.
In such a place, clans like the Makri would not exist.
[Moreover, though I do not know the details, it seems the human race holds a ruling position in the upper realm and enjoys a considerably high status. In other words, the upper realm is a paradise. Tsk tsk… That is all the information I can share. The rest is classified under restrictions and cannot be disclosed freely.]
“…I see. Understood.”
Kuuuuwuuu!
In the distance, the barrier covering Deungsunhyang came into view.
Standing beside Song Jin, I suddenly thought of one more question.
“I have a question. Among the upper realms, there is one called the Myeonggwi Realm. The name suggests a connection to Black Ghost Valley. Is there any relation?”
It was a name that blatantly implied a connection to Black Ghost Valley.
Won Rip had claimed ignorance regarding Goryeok, Myeonggwi, and the Purple Gold Realm.
Perhaps Song Jin knew something.
Song Jin stroked his chin.
[I do know. Before the Ascension Gate existed, the realm Black Ghost Valley primarily ascended to was the Myeonggwi Realm.]
“This is purely out of curiosity, but why does Black Ghost Valley ascend to the Gwanghan Realm connected to the Ascension Gate instead of the Myeonggwi Realm?”
[Hmm, there is the fact that ascending via the Ascension Gate is far safer and more reliable, and also…]
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
[From here on, it is restricted information, so I cannot disclose it directly…]
He chuckled.
[Why do even the demonic sects ascend to the Gwanghan Realm, which is at war with the Demon Realm, rather than the Demon Realm itself? Won Rip spoke of war, but he only knows outdated information. Perhaps there is a reason everyone wants to ascend to the Gwanghan Realm?]
‘Does that mean the war between the Demon Realm and the Gwanghan Realm… favors the Gwanghan Realm?’
I nodded.
Just then, the barrier of Deungsunhyang drew near, and I brought down my Invisible Sword upon it.
Kwaaaang!
The barrier split beneath the Invisible Sword, creating a large opening for the Seopmyeong Ship to pass through.
Kuuuuwuuu!
The Seopmyeong Ship did not stop, flying straight toward the center of Deungsunhyang.
And then, a familiar sight appeared.
Kurung, kurururung…
Thunderclouds gathered.
Beneath them floated a half-split stele absorbing heavenly thunder.
Beyond the stele was a shining spatial gate the size of a human torso.
It was the Ascension Gate.
Kugugugugugu!
The Seopmyeong Ship descended before reaching the region filled with spatial rifts.
“Well then, thank you for everything until now.”
[Yes, take care of yourself.]
“…Senior, must you ascend right now?”
“Haha, do not worry about me, Seo Ran. Please deliver the Longevity Fruit to that man named Kim Young-hoon as I requested.”
Song Jin and Seo Ran.
Though their expressions differed, both radiated concern for me.
After bidding them farewell, I took out the centipede eggs from my storage artifact.
“I cannot do much for you, but if you continue to grow by absorbing the spiritual energy of Deungsunhyang, you may one day become demonic beasts as your mother wished.”
Then I lit the Demonic Immortal Bamboo and blew its smoke over the centipede eggs.
The probability of them becoming demonic beasts would rise by at least one ten-thousandth, and with the dense spiritual energy of Deungsunhyang, that probability would increase even further.
Just then—
Crack, crackle…
Whether their time had come or they had been influenced by the Demonic Immortal Bamboo and Deungsunhyang’s energy—
In an instant, a considerable number of baby centipedes hatched.
They scattered throughout Deungsunhyang.
‘Live well.’
Just as I was putting the Demonic Immortal Bamboo back into my storage artifact—
“Hm?”
One small baby centipede wriggled its way onto my foot.
“Hmm…”
I picked it up and placed it elsewhere, yet it kept returning to me and clinging.
‘What is this…’
While I was puzzled—
[Just keep it with you. You are carrying the Bongmyeongin right now, are you not? The Bongmyeongin has granted you a fitting heavenly fortune. It is an Inyeon brought by heavenly fortune, so staying together will likely be beneficial.]
“…I see.”
I looked at the centipede for a moment, then picked it up and placed it on my shoulder.
“I am about to leave this world now. Is that all right?”
The baby centipede said nothing.
After glancing at it once more, I bid farewell to Song Jin and Seo Ran, then headed toward the Ascension Gate.
“Well then…”
Kugugugu!
Approximately fifteen days into this regression.
Looking at the Ascension Gate on the verge of closing, I stepped forward with Won Rip’s blood avatar.
“Let us investigate the Ascension Gate.”
Approaching the gate, I took out the two Heaven-Sealing Talismans, activated one, and attached it to the blood avatar’s body.
“Go on. Let us see…”
Just then—
Crackle, sizzle…
“…?”
Suddenly, the stele above began emitting intense lightning.
‘What?’
At that moment—
Flash!
Kururung!
Without any warning—
A sudden bolt of lightning struck me.
“…!”
Kugugugugu!
It was not a tribulation lightning of the ascension level, yet it carried immense power.
Had I not reached the stage of enveloping my entire body with the Invisible Sword, I would surely have been reduced to roasted Seo Eun-hyun!
While I gritted my teeth and endured the lightning—
Paaaat!
“…!?”
A familiar remnant appeared before my eyes.
A shadow wreathed in crimson lightning, shedding tears of blood.
‘Yang Su-jin…!?’
I recalled the shadow I had seen at Shattered Heaven Peak and trembled.
And then—
The remnant of Yang Su-jin opened its mouth.
[Jongmyeongja, the fact that you have seen this remnant means you have heard the true words I left at Shattered Heaven Peak.
I will not speak at length. If you are considering ascending to the upper realm, do not hesitate—leave this grotesque world quickly. Especially this world, which is particularly threatening to a Jongmyeongja. There is nothing good that can come from staying here long… Hurry and depart from within this grotesque head…]
Paaaat!
The lightning ceased.
At the same time, my eyes widened.
Crack!
The Ascension Gate Yang Su-jin had created opened its maw as if alive and lunged toward me.
Uuuuung!
The Bongmyeongin in my robe howled madly, yet—
Thud!
Some powerful repulsive force ejected the Bongmyeongin from my robe, sending it flying away.
“What…!?”
And in that instant—
Kwaaaang!
I was swallowed by the Ascension Gate.
* * *
“W-what…!”
Seo Ran screamed as he witnessed the scene, while Song Jin burned with ghostly fire in alarm.
Shhh…
The Ascension Gate that had devoured Seo Eun-hyun immediately closed.
[I have never heard of such a phenomenon…]
Normally, once opened, the Ascension Gate would gradually shrink over several days until it was no larger than a speck of dust before vanishing.
Never before had anyone heard of it behaving like a living creature, devouring a person and then abruptly closing.
Thud, thud, thud…
The Bongmyeongin that had been ejected from Seo Eun-hyun’s robe rolled toward them.
Shrrrrk…
Having lost its master, the Bongmyeongin lay before them for a moment before being drawn into a nearby spatial rift.
Through its attraction of fate, the Bongmyeongin would eventually return to Bongmyeong Castle.
And within the Palace of Liberation, it would continue drifting through the void space, awaiting liberation.
Song Jin and Seo Ran stared at the Ascension Gate that had suddenly devoured Seo Eun-hyun, their mouths shut, and remained in silent contemplation for a long while.