What Is a Human? (8)
“Hmph…”
Geum Byeok-ho let out a dry cough as he looked at me.
“What do you think about the engagement with Hong Su-ryeong, Lord Jeon Myeong-hoon?”
“…”
I felt a bit taken aback, but I didn’t think it was a bad idea to build a relationship with her even if we didn’t end up marrying. There’s obviously a deeper emotional side to this, and I don’t know Geum Hyeon’s true intentions either. For now, it might be best to keep an eye on things.
“I see…”
Geum Byeok-ho nodded and said,
“First, consider the relationship between Lord Geum Byeok-ho and Hong Su-ryeong. And also, we don’t know Geum Hyeon’s true intentions behind this sudden proposal. Let’s politely decline the wedding for now. Today’s meeting is over.”
With that, Geum Byeok-ho waved his hand and the elders in the Geumryejeon dispersed back to their own domains using their teleportation techniques.
Now only Hong Su-ryeong, I, and Geum Byeok-ho remained in the hall.
“Does Lord Hong have anything more to discuss?”
At his question, Hong Su-ryeong nodded.
“Yes. Besides the engagement with Geum Hyeon, I would like to talk about the person called Heon-wi that I observed.
“Go ahead. Your eyes are trustworthy, Lord Hong.”
Hong Su-ryeong nodded and spoke with cold eyes.
“Heon-wi sees Geum Hyeon as nothing more than a tool. And not just Geum Hyeon, but the entire sect as well.
I nodded as well.
What Hong Su-ryeong had shown today to Heon-wi and confronted her about was far more than simple jealousy.
In my eyes that could see intentions and in hers, I saw her emotions clearly.
‘Completely treating me as a tool and a means… And…’
I recalled her inner thoughts and gave a bitter smile inside.
Not as extreme as Seo Hyoel’s, but still quite cold and calculating.
A person who hides their true nature behind a very calculating personality.
In other words, the ‘impulsive attitude’ we saw today was all an act.
‘Compared to Seo Hyoel, she’s almost cute… like a little lizard.’
With that kind of mindset, one could be betrayed at any moment.
Hong Su-ryeong told Geum Byeok-ho about her observations.
“If a relationship forms between her and the Geumsincheonroemun, you must be careful. Those with such thoughts are never to be trusted.
“Mm, I understand. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Geum Byeok-ho nodded at Hong Su-ryeong’s words.
Hong Su-ryeong looked at me and said,
“That’s enough for now. Let’s return.”
“Ah, please return first, Lord Hong. I have one more thing I need to convey to the Supreme Sect Master.
“Mm, I see. There are a few things I need to test today as well. Take care of your business with the Supreme Sect Master and then come to my domain.”
“Understood.”
Hong Su-ryeong opened a spatial rift and vanished to her own domain.
“So, what did you want to say, Lord Geum?”
“Yes, Supreme Sect Master. You know that I have attained transcendence through my own strength.
“That’s right. You certainly did.”
The Heavenly Thunder Banner had to be separated from the Geumsincheonroemun eventually.
But now I was the current successor of the Geumsincheonroemun, a genius with the talent of the fourth stage of core formation, and someone who had mastered all the techniques of the sect.
“The reason I attained transcendence was thanks to the help of our ancestor, Yang Su-jin.”
“…”
Of course, in a strict sense, the conditions for transcendence were my Invisible Sword, the blessing of the Bongmyeongin, and the help of the Yu-du.
But in any case, the reason I attained transcendence was because of the arrangements Yang Su-jin had left at the Ascension Gate. So it wasn’t wrong to say that.
But since I omitted the important part, Geum Byeok-ho trembled as if he had misunderstood.
“Do you know about the stele that the founder left at the entrance of the Ascension Gate? His arrangements were there. Thanks to that, I was able to come to the Gwanghan Realm.
“…”
“Choosing the Geumsincheonroemun was also because I received the founder’s arrangements. I thought it was only right for his descendant, the Geumsincheonroemun, to receive them.
At those words, Geum Byeok-ho trembled again and let out an exclamation.
“That’s why… I see…!”
Geum Byeok-ho nodded as if he had finally understood everything.
“When I first tested your talents, you had the five-element spiritual root. But after transcendence, you have the lightning spiritual root. I see! The founder must have granted you the lightning spiritual root!
‘O…’
Geum Byeok-ho had perfectly reconstructed the story I never expected.
“Well, you could say that in a way.
“That’s right, Geum Hyeon. So what exactly did you want to tell me?”
“That is…”
I paused for a moment.
The Heavenly Thunder Banner had to be separated, but the best way would be for the people of the Geumsincheonroemun to bring it to the Water Realm themselves.
But I hesitated for a moment.
Earlier, my colleagues and I had used our powers at the entrance to the Deungsunhyang Forest to prevent Seo Hyoel and Goe-gun from taking them.
The result had been a complete failure.
Fate had forcibly moved things, and my colleagues had been captured by the ‘predetermined’ individuals in their own ways.
I recalled Yang Su-jin’s words.
Destiny in this world is fixed.
So the fact that Jeon Myeong-hoon came to the Geumsincheonroemun was also a fixed destiny, and the fact that the Geumsincheonroemun would be destroyed by the true immortals was also a fixed destiny.
‘…Every time I try to change my predetermined destiny, fate twists and is restored by the restoration power to the predetermined result again.’
Would it be the same this time?
If Jeon Myeong-hoon’s loss of the sect to the true immortals and his descent into madness as the Heavenly Tribulation Lord was a predetermined fate, there would be no meaning in trying to change it.
‘Would there be any meaning?’
“What are you trying to say?”
Seeing me hesitate, Geum Byeok-ho asked impatiently.
I looked at him.
‘Destiny is fixed, so a being without free will… human or otherwise.’
That was Yang Su-jin’s opinion, and I had no choice but to agree with it whether I liked it or not.
It was because I had seen destiny flow and change to the predetermined result ‘in any way’ many times.
Then, would it be meaningful to explain to a non-human being?
What meaning would there be in convincing him?
I didn’t know.
But I decided to speak.
“…I saw the ‘true’ content written on that stele according to the founder’s arrangements.”
“The true content of the stele? That’s the content that’s passed down in the sect…
“That content is false.”
I shook my head.
And I explained to him the contents of the upper part of the stele I had seen in the Black Ghost Valley, saying that it was the ‘arrangements of Yang Su-jin’.
“…This is the original content of the stele.”
“…It is connected to the true immortals who come to offer tribute. So it cannot be brought up…
At my words, Geum Byeok-ho’s expression became solemn.
‘He swallowed it.’
It was completely different from before, when he was only at the core formation level.
I had a much larger consciousness than ordinary cultivators because I had reached the five qi consorting with the origin and had trained my consciousness with the Strange Star-Mind Scroll, reaching the realm of the fourth stage of core formation, and then the realm of the heavenly person after ten years.
I had succeeded in mastering all the techniques of the Geumsincheonroemun and had been appointed as the current successor.
That was me.
In short, my weight in Geum Byeok-ho’s eyes was on a completely different level from the past.
Moreover, since I was using Yang Su-jin’s arrangements to persuade him, Geum Byeok-ho couldn’t easily refuse.
“…So, in the end, your position is that we must bring the Heavenly Thunder Banner back to the Water Realm and seal it?”
“That is correct.”
“Mm…”
Shadows fell over Geum Byeok-ho’s face.
“…”
“…”
A heavy silence hung over the Geumryejeon.
And after a long silence, Geum Byeok-ho finally spoke.
“Why is it that only the ‘Geum’ family name is passed down to the sect master of this sect, not the ‘Yang’ family name of our ancestor?”
“I don’t know.”
“Your teacher Jin-hwi must have explained. All the techniques of the sect are ultimately ‘imitations of the heavenly thunder body.’ In other words, the techniques of this sect are the power of the heavenly thunder body that could be used by the heavenly thunder body, refined and reproduced as techniques. But… the heavenly thunder body is not simply a physique passed down through bloodline. It is the physique of those who receive the heavenly secrets and are born after receiving the selection of heaven. The same applies to other physiques. Your lightning spiritual root and the Hongryeong body, etc., are mostly similar.”
Geum Byeok-ho continued his explanation.
“As you know, when all the techniques of this sect are combined, the Myeonsingeopcheon that results is a kind of ritual. And there is one fact that is passed down only to the sect masters of each generation. That is that the Geumsincheonroemun itself is a kind of ‘ritual’ arranged by the founder.
“…”
“And the ‘Geum’ family name that the founder instructed to be passed down to the successive sect masters is also a kind of preparation for the ritual. I don’t know what kind of ritual it is, but since the name is associated with destiny and the ritual is carried out by changing the name, I thought it must be a ritual related to destiny.
‘Because of the ritual?’
That wasn’t a problem either.
Since Yang Su-jin himself thought the ritual had failed, I could just explain that as well.
“The important thing is that this ‘ritual’ is connected to the ‘Geum’ family name. And the founder connected the destiny to the Heavenly Thunder Banner, which he uses as the flag for the ritual.”
“…”
I felt an ominous premonition from Geum Byeok-ho’s continuing words.
“The heavenly thunder body, the lightning spiritual root, or ordinary physiques are not connected through bloodline, but through heavenly qi. Of course, there are exceptions like the Gichunbeopjae, but most extraordinary physiques are like that. But the ‘black lightning body’ that So-hae was born with is different.
Geum Byeok-ho’s words continued.
“Those who have the Geum family name have their bloodlines manifested as the black lightning body. The family name itself carries destiny and heavenly qi, so it grants a physique to the bloodline. And when the heavenly qi of the descendants weakens, the black lightning body’s physique is cut off from then on, and from the descendants who don’t receive the black lightning body, they can no longer inherit the ‘Geum’ family name. Originally, So-hae’s children probably wouldn’t have inherited the black lightning body and would have had to take another family name. Well, I don’t know what would have happened if he had children with Jeon Myeong-hoon…
He sighed.
“Anyway, the reason I’m telling you this is this one thing. Do you know where the power of destiny that grants the physique of this ‘black lightning body’ comes from?”
I read Geum Byeok-ho’s true intention and hardened my face.
“…The Heavenly Thunder Banner, right?”
“Yes. Just the Geum family members in this sect are already numerous. Because the successive sect masters continued to have descendants, and those descendants continued to have descendants. About 12 percent of the disciples of this sect have the Geum family name. In other words, if the Heavenly Thunder Banner has to be in the lower realm, it means we have to bring back all those many disciples to the lower realm again. Since most of them have cultivated based on the black lightning body, when the Heavenly Thunder Banner returns to the lower realm, the black lightning body will disappear and the accumulated cultivation itself may collapse entirely!”
“…”
“I know how many of the elders and sect masters of this sect have the Geum family name. About 10 percent overall, but among the elders and sect masters, the Geum family has more than 70-80 percent. In other words, sealing the Heavenly Thunder Banner in the lower realm means we have to send back 70-80 percent of the main power of this sect to the lower realm again.
I couldn’t hold back my words in disbelief.
Bringing the Heavenly Thunder Banner to the lower realm was possible.
But then the sect’s power would be slashed immediately.
However, I noticed something strange in Geum Byeok-ho’s words.
“Wait a moment. Then how has the Geumsincheonroemun attained transcendence so far?”
“Hmm?”
“I heard about the traitor who entered the Naeryun Gap. It was called ‘Geum-wi,’ right? If those who had the Geum family name also attained transcendence before, then wouldn’t they have lost their cultivation?”
Geum Byeok-ho sighed and shook his head.
“There is the Ancestor’s Decree in this sect.”
Whoom!
Geum Byeok-ho took out a golden jade plaque from his bosom.
On the jade plaque, the characters “Ancestor’s Decree” were engraved.
“The Ancestor’s Decree can only be used once every hundred years. It is a law treasure used to handle important matters of the sect or to declare major criminals of the sect.”
His words continued.
“Most of the heavenly person elders of our sect have received the ‘Geumryeong’ revolution, but a very small number receive the ‘Cheonryeong’ white revolution. And the ‘Cheonryeong’ revolution uses the power of the Ancestor’s Decree to borrow the power of the Heavenly Thunder Banner and create it.
“Then…”
“Yes. Those who receive the Cheonryeong revolution are selected only from those with outstanding talents who can attain transcendence. And those who receive the Cheonryeong revolution can still maintain the power of the revolution even if they are separated from the Heavenly Thunder Banner and go to another domain.
“…”
“It would take tens of thousands of years to create enough Ancestor’s Decree to give the Cheonryeong revolution to everyone.
“…”
My complexion darkened.
Geum Byeok-ho looked at my complexion and said,
“Are you afraid that the true immortals will target this sect as the founder said?”
“…”
“Don’t worry. It has been passed down since a very long time ago that the domains of Gwanghan, Jinma, Goryeok, Myeonggwi, and Jageum are closed domains that true immortals rarely come to. Only the materials I saw in the Black Ghost Valley before said that it would take a considerable amount of time for the true immortals to find this place. No matter what, there is a thousand years, so if we can nurture Jeon Myeong-hoon within that time, we can extract power from the Heavenly Thunder Banner without the Ancestor’s Decree using the power of the heavenly thunder body, and then seal the Heavenly Thunder Banner in the lower realm as you said.
“…”
Geum Byeok-ho patted my back as if to reassure me and came closer.
And I nodded and thought.
‘Is this also fate?’
The world itself felt like it was blocking my path, as if I couldn’t be forgiven for trying to defeat my predetermined destiny.
‘If it’s just that the owner of the Heavenly Tribulation will come within a hundred years…
That I wouldn’t believe.
I read Geum Byeok-ho’s intentions.
Since the moment I mentioned bringing the Heavenly Thunder Banner to the Water Realm, worries and anxieties had been dominating his mind.
It seemed like a worry that the main power of the sect could be lost in an instant.
Even though his nerves were already sensitive, if I said that even if we lost the sect’s power, the true immortals would come within a hundred years and we had no choice but to take extreme measures, he would get angry.
Moreover, based on what I had seen in the Black Ghost Valley, his worries seemed to have vanished, as if he had confidence based on a thousand years of time.
But I couldn’t say that a hundred years was meaningless just because I was an Imperial Immortal.
Just the knowledge of the existence of the Imperial Immortals had made my body melt like candle wax, and thanks to Yang Su-jin’s protection I had barely survived, but I didn’t know what would happen to Geum Byeok-ho if I told him.
‘…In the end, there’s no choice.’
I greeted Geum Byeok-ho and left the Geumryejeon.
‘…Do I have to steal the Heavenly Thunder Banner?’
Now I had two choices.
First, proceed with the original plan and bring the Heavenly Thunder Banner to the Water Realm and seal it, whether most of the sect’s power loses their cultivation or not.
Second, nurture Jeon Myeong-hoon stronger than in the original history and use the method Geum Byeok-ho mentioned using the power of the heavenly thunder body to remove the side effects and then seal it.
“First, I should go with the second option.”
I looked at Jeon Myeong-hoon’s domain.
It wasn’t just for the purpose of reaching the realm of the heavenly person.
I wanted Jeon Myeong-hoon to reach the realm of the heavenly person somehow as well.
I listened to Jeon Myeong-hoon’s domain.
My listening power, which had mastered the Yousugongbeop, could hear the sound of the twin arrows coming from Jeon Myeong-hoon’s domain.
‘If I train him in this flowing way, Jeon Myeong-hoon will still be at the core formation level right before the owner of the Heavenly Tribulation arrives.’
I needed to train him in a more coercive way.
‘From now on, I will personally train that guy with the Daichangcheongbyeokmun method.’
Until the owner of the Heavenly Tribulation arrives.
Even if I turn Jeon Myeong-hoon’s body into dust and then recombine it, I have to increase his cultivation.
I set Jeon Myeong-hoon’s cultivation improvement as my short-term goal and moved toward his domain.
“Ah, wait.”
Suddenly, I remembered that Hong Su-ryeong had called me.
‘Since there’s a test, come to my domain.’
Whoom!
I extended my hand beyond the domain and tore open a spatial rift.
And I crossed the spatial rift straight to her domain where Hong Su-ryeong was.
“Why did you call me?”
It was unusual for her to call me to her domain. Usually she would come to my domain to talk or share insights, so I was surprised.
“Ah, come in.”
Hong Su-ryeong’s voice came from inside the domain.
Crrreak!
The formation at the entrance of the domain was deactivated and a path opened for me to enter.
When I entered the inner part of the domain, the formation seal activated again from behind, blocking the inside and outside of the domain once more.
“Why did you call me…
It was when I had gone deep into Hong Su-ryeong’s domain.
“You called me for some reason.
“…”
She stood between a cross-shaped frame and a soft bed with her arms crossed, looking at the cross-shaped frame and speaking.
“I heard that you have mastered the hidden techniques of the Geumsincheonroemun and the lightning spiritual root has disappeared. I called you to test your body.”
“…”
“And there is one more thing.
She shifted her gaze from the frame to the bed.
“There is also the purpose of the twin arrows.
“…”
“Will you do the twin arrows first, or will you take the test first? Choose.”