The Shattered Heart (2)
Whoosh!
Before I could even react, a radiant light exploded from her brow.
Instantly, the light transformed into a vibrant green mist. It condensed in the air, shaping itself into a colossal emerald saber.
The Venerable’s strike, sealed deep within Yu Hwa’s consciousness!
And that strike, which seemed to flash across the void, began to warp and change form.
I watched it all with wide eyes, letting out a string of astonished cries.
‘What kind of absurd principle is woven into every single change…?’
The realization that collided with Uihye Eunsan flowed through my consciousness.
The understanding gained from Dancheonggyeong demonstrated the process by which that same understanding transformed the saber into a living weapon.
Countless other principles wove and tangled around one another in ways I could barely grasp, eventually reforming the saber into the familiar shape I knew so well.
“I bow before the Venerable,”
Yu Hwa bowed deeply before him.
Gyubaek, despite her lingering irritation toward the Shimzog, also lowered her waist before Jang Ik.
“I bow before the Venerable.”
I followed their lead and bowed before Jang Ik as well.
“I bow before the Venerable.”
Whoosh!
The mist gathered, and the tiny green figure fully solidified into a humanoid form.
‘That… is the Heaven-Sinking Venerable.’
It was the second time I had seen him, even if only counting my past lives.
Before I had never been able to observe him in detail, but now I finally understood why.
The Heaven-Sinking Venerable manifested from Yu Hwa’s strike wore ragged, patched clothing and possessed the body of a green-skinned dwarf.
His ears were as large as fans, and his nose was as broad as a fist.
His teeth protruded in jagged points, and his fingernails and toenails were razor-sharp.
Without that one trait, he might have passed for slightly mischievous.
And that one trait was none other than his muscles!
Though small in stature, every inch of his frame was packed with dense, corded muscle.
With nothing but raw strength, he could probably defeat a Core Formation realm martial artist.
While I was staring at him, I suddenly felt Jang Ik’s gaze lock onto mine.
“…!”
It felt as though he had seen straight through me.
Standing before his gaze, any sudden attack from him would slice my neck clean off.
I broke out in cold sweat and endured the stare for a moment.
After he finished scrutinizing me, he stroked his chin with a hint of amusement.
[Interesting. A mortal, yet somehow you’ve already stepped onto the second plane of realization. Moreover, the aura you emit feels like Core Formation… no, perhaps even Nascent Soul. And you carry the scent of the Heavenly Tribe while also manifesting Qi techniques from the Earth Tribe. How fascinating…]
He let out a hearty laugh.
[Have you merged the three tribes of Heaven, Earth, and Heart? At least you still possess an upright heart… So I won’t need to kill you after all.]
His casual remark sent another wave of cold sweat down my spine.
Jang Ik had sensed my potential and decided that if he spotted even a trace of corrupted intention in my consciousness, he would cut me down without hesitation.
[Good. You summoned me, didn’t you?]
“Shimzog Agent 1798, Yu Hwa, greets the Venerable of the Shimzog.”
[How did a Shimzog spy sent to operate on the Gwanghan Realm mainland end up dropping into the Star Realm?]
Jang Ik regarded us with a bewildered expression.
[And this one here… is a ‘fragment,’ correct?]
His eyes slid toward Gyubaek.
[Fragments only emerge from martial artists of at least the Four Pillars stage… Indeed, while sending my consciousness into the world I briefly glimpsed a Dragon King’s corpse. Are you that Dragon King’s fragment?]
Gyubaek nodded with a dark, gloomy face.
“Yes. I am the remnant of Princess Gyuryeon of the True Dragon Alliance, the cleaning lady. I pay respects to the highest leader of the Shimzog.”
[A cleaning lady… I see.]
Although the title of Venerable clearly lowered her status in Jang Ik’s eyes, no one present dared to voice any objection.
Gyubaek nodded slowly.
[First, explain this to me. What is this complete Heaven-Earth-Shimzog entity? Why did the Shimzog spy fall here again? And why is the cleaning lady’s fragment here?]
At his question, I—who knew the situation best—began to explain our circumstances to Jang Ik in detail.
From the time the morning sun reached evening twilight, my tale continued without pause.
I recounted how I had foreseen Seo Hyul’s malice, the desperate measures I had taken to control him, how Gyuryeon had been manipulated by him, and how Yu Hwa had become entangled in it all.
Since Gyubaek had already learned of Seo Hyul’s true nature, there was no longer any reason to hide anything from her.
After I finished speaking, Jang Ik listened to Yu Hwa’s perspective as well. Finally, he turned to Gyubaek and asked her a question.
[What about you? As the fragment of Gyuryeon… Gyubaek, right? Do you have anything you wish to say?]
“Please do not address me with a title so grand that I do not deserve. I am merely the remnant left by Gyuryeon. Venerable, please call me the remnant.”
[If that is what you wish, I will oblige.]
Jang Ik chuckled and folded his arms.
After watching her stare blankly at the sky for a while, Gyubaek began to speak.
Her story lacked coherence.
Most of it concerned the emotions Gyuryeon had held toward Seo Hyul and the pain she endured when betrayed.
Then she explained how, within that resentment and agony, she had been born.
Yet Jang Ik listened to every incoherent word until the end.
Gyubaek’s tale stretched on until the dead of night, when two moons hung high in the sky.
“…That is why Seo Hyul discarded me, and finally I arrived here.”
Her voice trembled with emotion. She wiped her tears as she finished speaking.
After listening to our entire story, Jang Ik nodded.
[So that madman Seo Hyul is currently causing trouble on the Gwanghan Realm mainland, is he?]
“Well, in short, yes.”
Jang Ik sat down on a rock.
[Do you know why I listened to your stories?]
We both shook our heads.
[As I listened, the depths of your consciousness were revealed. I considered whether I should help you or not, so I heard you out.]
Jang Ik glanced at Yu Hwa.
[Yu Hwa, you pass. Your resolve to accept Baek Nyeong as a new disciple is firm, and with just a little help you will be able to uphold that resolve.]
“Thank you.”
Jang Ik looked at me next.
[Monster, you pass as well.]
“Why am I a monster?”
[Do you really need me to explain? In the depths of your consciousness I sensed an endless will to never yield. You are a truly beautiful being, and your consciousness itself feels quite wondrous. It’s almost as if there would be meaning in helping you.]
Jang Ik continued.
[You, the fragment, fail.]
“…!”
He clicked his tongue while glaring at her.
[You don’t even know what you’re asking for. Well, that’s the nature of fragments.]
“…”
Gyubaek did not argue. She simply listened in silence, her eyes dark and heavy.
Or perhaps she was simply ignoring his words.
[Until you solidify your own identity, I will offer you no assistance.]
“…Do as you please. I never asked for the help of the Shimzog Venerable.”
[How pretentious. Did you think being a fragment would let you look down on me?]
“What does it matter? I would die anyway.”
[Hah. Fine. Trying to save a ghost who cannot die won’t harm me.]
Jang Ik surveyed us and spoke.
[I can offer you three things. First, I can create a spatial rift here and now that connects to the Gwanghan Realm. Second, you can stay here and train, raising your own potential until you can return on your own. Third, I can send a distress signal to the Shimzog High Council, allowing them to come rescue you.]
He asked us to choose.
[Choose one of the three. I will fulfill whatever you desire. But!]
Jang Ik looked straight at Gyubaek.
[If you choose the first, only the two of you can enter the rift. If you choose the second, I will train only the two of you. And if you choose the third, I will only send rescue for the two of you. Those who cannot even find their own identity are not worth my help.]
Upon hearing this, I chose the second option without hesitation.
‘With the second choice, there will still be time to slowly persuade her. And if I can sway her heart, the Heaven-Sinking Venerable may even teach her a thing or two…’
Jang Ik smiled faintly at my choice.
[What a kind person you are.]
“…”
It seemed he had read my consciousness and understood why I had chosen that option.
[And you?]
Yu Hwa pondered for a moment, then said firmly, “I will also choose the second option. I want to rush off and save my disciple right now, but the monster at the Integration stage will have me in its grasp. If I go now, I will have no way to help him. So instead I will train here under the Venerable’s guidance and raise my strength until I can return to save him!”
At her words, Jang Ik nodded in satisfaction.
[Good. Given that you are about to step onto the third plane, teaching you will be quite enjoyable.]
Thus, we had obtained the opportunity to receive instruction from the Heaven-Sinking Venerable, Jang Ik.
Whoosh!
I connected the formation I had created for recovering my realm to Jang Ik’s fragment.
The previously faint fragment instantly became solid and real when linked to the formation.
[Where exactly do you two live?]
“Yes. This is where we reside.”
[Then move to a distant location and begin your training. It would be troublesome if your home were destroyed.]
“Understood.”
[Then follow me.]
Whoosh!
Jang Ik’s fragment stepped into the air and flew off somewhere. Yu Hwa transformed into a crimson river and followed right behind him.
I turned to Gyubaek and asked, “Gyubaek-nim, are you not going to watch?”
“No. What good would it do to watch the Shimzog training?”
She gave a cold laugh and turned away with empty eyes.
Yet I read her consciousness and spoke carefully.
“Even so, it is a chance to witness the Venerable’s power. Aren’t you curious?”
“Hmph! The Dragon Tribe also has a Venerable. Even though he is currently traveling, I have seen his fragment’s power in the past. It doesn’t matter.”
‘In the past…’
Was she referring to Gyubaek, or was she simply mistaken and thought of herself as Gyuryeon?
I didn’t know for certain.
But still…
“Still, please come watch just once. Perhaps it will one day help you study the Shimzog’s weaknesses.”
“…Alright. If you insist that much…”
Gyubaek sighed and stood up with a look of annoyance.
I smiled inwardly.
‘If I had kept begging, maybe she would have come along. But of course she wouldn’t understand.’
She, too, seemed secretly curious about the power of the Heaven-Sinking Venerable, the Shimzog’s Venerable.
I myself approved of her choice; the more her consciousness was awakened, the better.
I took out the flight device from Jeomuldo and carried her on my back as I chased after Jang Ik and Yu Hwa.
“Does this clothing fit you well?”
I asked Gyuryeon, who wore the thick clothes I had taken from Jeomuldo.
Even at high altitude, her Earth Tribe qi had dropped to mortal levels. She was shivering from the cold.
“It… it’s fine. The scales used to make me very warm, but…”
“It’s not the scales. Right now your Earth qi isn’t flowing at all.”
“The dragon body was truly comfortable…”
“It is impossible to find a real dragon body right now. Perhaps you should learn the Earth Tribe’s deep qi method instead?”
“I was thinking about it.”
“Very well.”
We flew through the sky while chatting for a while.
I passed over Gyuryeon’s corpse and finally reached the vast barren land where Jang Ik had arrived.
The barren land, with nothing but boulders everywhere, seemed perfectly suited as a training ground.
Whoosh!
I stepped off the paper-boat-shaped flight device and stood before Jang Ik.
Just in case Gyubaek got caught in the crossfire, I sent the flight device flying far away.
Jang Ik folded his arms and looked at me and Yu Hwa.
[First, let’s assess your true strength.]
Swish!
Pah, pah, pah, pah!
Four emerald sabers materialized and plunged into the ground around him.
He stepped into the center of the sabers and folded his arms again.
[Before training begins, if you have any questions, ask them. Once training starts, you two will be crawling on the ground like rags.]
“…”
Extraordinary confidence!
It almost felt arrogant.
Yu Hwa appeared to be organizing questions, while I asked the one question I had always wanted to ask.
“Venerable, as you know, I am officially not part of the Shimzog. I am officially an Earth Tribe martial artist. Why are you helping me so much?”
[Because you are also a Shimzog.]
A simple and direct answer.
Yet I glanced back at Gyubaek and observed her closely.
“Then, for Gyubaek-nim, who is not part of the Shimzog, will you help her once she finds her true identity?”
[Of course.]
“May I ask why?”
[Because that fragment possesses the talent to reach realization.]
“…!”
Gyubaek possessed the talent to reach realization?
I asked in surprise.
“Gyubaek-nim truly possesses that talent?”
[Yes. Well, in your consciousness I sense a misunderstanding. Let me tell you one thing: the ‘talent’ you think of and the ‘talent’ I think of are vastly different.]
“What is the talent the Venerable considers?”
And the next words Jang Ik spoke shattered my imagination.
[There is none.]
“…?”
[I believe every being in this world possesses the talent to reach realization. Therefore, the ‘talent’ I think of is essentially nothing to you.]
He smiled.
[You are reaching realization… According to your Heavenly Tribe, this is called the deep qi method. What do you call this?]
“…”
It was a difficult question.
Until now I had only sought the Dao, but I had never once contemplated what the martial arts I had mastered truly were.
[First… I don’t like the word ‘deep qi method,’ so let me use my own term. I call this Douhun.]
“Douhun…”
[What do you call Douhun?]
Suddenly I detected a tremor in his voice.
I sensed that tremor and understood I could not simply answer with something like “Woldoipcheon” or “Wol-Da-Jeon.”
‘Douhun… What is my Douhun? What should I call this?’
The collection of techniques I had mastered, the battle experience I had gained, the understanding I had reached.
This was…
After a brief moment of hesitation, I suddenly understood with a jolt.
‘Ah… I see. It was so simple.’
“Mu.”
I gave Jang Ik the name I had given to what I had mastered.
“What I have mastered is Mu.”
[Mu… What a fine name.]
Suddenly, Jang Ik seemed satisfied by my answer.
[Then let me ask again. What is Mu to you?]
“It is a part of my life.”
[Then, among those who have mastered Mu in your opinion, is there anything special about them? Did they possess a special talent, or a certain bloodline, or a special spiritual root?]
“No. While there may be differences in talent, Mu can be mastered by anyone.”
[Exactly.]
Jang Ik smiled happily.
[My Douhun, Yu Hwa’s music… it is the same. Anyone can master it. Therefore, I believe every being in this world can reach realization through Douhun. That is one of the reasons I am helping you.]
“If it is only one reason, then there must be others?”
[Of course.]
“What are those reasons?”
At his question, Jang Ik assumed a serious expression and spoke.
[Is Mu to you merely a part of your life?]
“…? Yes…”
[My Douhun is not.]
“…?”
[Only once you truly understand the meaning of the Mu you have mastered yourself will I be able to properly explain why I am helping you. So, is that the last of your questions?]
Yu Hwa and I nodded at the same time.
And in the next instant, Jang Ik assumed a new stance.
Shiver!
‘He’s going to strike!’
Instantly, I imagined my entire body being pierced by his sabers.
It was sharp.
The tension made every hair on my body stand on end. I had felt the same sensation only when I fought Kim Young-hoon, who was clearly higher in realm than me.
And at the same time, Jang Ik reached out and touched his sabers, smiling.
[Now then, come at me, you little brats. Let me see your skills.]
At his words, Yu Hwa began plucking a golden string, while I manifested the Invisible Sword.
The next moment…
Mu and Jang Ik’s Douhun collided with visible force.