The Many Faces
Jeon Myeong-hoon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Huu..."
He felt good.
As if her touch was caressing every inch of his body, Jeon Myeong-hoon heard a lightning voice that stroked his mind in all directions. A dazed gaze drifted toward some distant point.
So-gon... So-gon... So-gon... So-gon...
The eerie voice guided him.
'Inside... inside...'
He pushed open the doors of Bongroedang with a dazed expression.
The great array guarding Bongroedang was currently away supporting the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect's protective formation.
Hong-beom's heavenly tribulation had grown so powerful that it was forcing the sect to activate the formation to prevent the golden seals from exploding throughout the entire sect.
Thanks to this, Jeon Myeong-hoon had been able to enter Bongroedang without any restriction.
Crack... snap...
He stepped into the vast inner space of Bongroedang and walked straight ahead.
Countless golden seals tried to block his path, but when Jeon Myeong-hoon waved his hand with a dazed look, most of the seals formed from thunder were absorbed by him and simply vanished.
He reached the edge of Bongroedang with a foolish expression on his face.
And Jeon Myeong-hoon gulped.
'What is this? The Grand Elder of Bongroedang...?'
It was a woman.
She was exactly the same as the illusion he had seen within Hong-beom's heavenly tribulation.
'Heu... is the Grand Elder of Bongroedang...?'
Dressed in a robe made of lightning, she had long, snow-white hair and bare white feet.
She kept her face hidden and asked Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'Boy, this is a place where one must never enter carelessly. Didn't the Grand Elders warn you?'
Only then did Jeon Myeong-hoon snap back to his senses.
'Hmm...'
'What is this? Bongroedang? How did I end up sealing the Heavenly Thunder Banner here...'
He forced an awkward smile at the woman in front of him.
'Sorry. Your unworthy disciple got lost on the way...'
'Huum... so this place looks like somewhere you can enter even if you're lost?'
'Sorry!'
His apology only made her laugh with a clear and melodious voice.
Inside the desolate Bongroedang, Jeon Myeong-hoon felt that her voice echoing in the inner space was truly mysterious.
'If you're sorry, then everything is forgiven, right? Where am I?'
'B-Bongroedang.'
'What is this place used for?'
'The place where the Heavenly Thunder Banner is sealed!'
The white-haired woman slowly stepped forward one foot at a time, barefoot, each time she asked a question.
'The disciples of South Thunder cannot enter even if they wish to. The disciples of North Thunder only come in when the Grand Elders repair the golden seals. The elders of East Thunder and Heavenly Thunder can only be entered by those who have been chosen. Yet a mere disciple of Pure Thunder has managed to enter here... you really should be punished for your crime...'
Swish...
Snow-white, silky hair the same length as her feet stroked his cheek.
'I should really punish you.'
Smooth...
Naturally, her hand began to undo the collar of his clothes.
Surprised, yet strangely natural, Jeon Myeong-hoon could not resist and soon his collar was fully undone.
'What is your name?'
'I-I am Jeon Myeong-hoon!'
At this point, Jeon Myeong-hoon should have noticed.
Even if he were a disciple secluded in a corner, calling him a Terminating One with thunder physique, it was absurd that she did not recognize him.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon felt nothing strange and could not resist.
'Yes... I see...'
The silky hair wandered over his chest.
'A-ah...'
Jeon Myeong-hoon mumbled while feeling those fingers with a dazed gaze.
'M-more... s-some more...'
At that moment.
Thud...
The silky hair stopped right there.
Jeon Myeong-hoon looked down at her.
Her face was hidden.
But somehow, Jeon Myeong-hoon felt that behind those snow-white hair, the owner of that face was smiling in an extremely eerie way.
'A-ah...'
Yet strangely, that 'smile' felt too beautiful.
The moment he recognized the 'smile,' his head burned white and pleasure swept over him.
But Jeon Myeong-hoon could not reach the peak of pleasure.
Before reaching the peak, something blocked his climax.
The white-haired woman smiled.
'Aren't you curious about my name?'
'Y-yes... c-curious...'
'Ask me.'
'Y-your name is...'
'My name is Jeong-ryeo.'
Jeong-ryeo said with an eerie laugh.
'Call my name. If you do, I'll grant you the next level of pleasure...'
At that moment.
Crackle...
A dark curse mark rose above Jeon Myeong-hoon's neck.
Chiiiieek!
'...! Kuaaaaak!'
At the same time, the curse mark wrapped around his neck, binding him as if a curse string had formed around his throat.
'Huaaak! Kuaaaak! Kuaaaak!'
Jeon Myeong-hoon clutched his neck and howled in pain.
The next instant.
Swish... swish...
The curse mark on his neck flipped white, guiding his mind.
'Heu!'
Jeon Myeong-hoon came to his senses and looked around.
'What are you doing here, Jeon Myeong-hoon.'
'...'
And from behind him came a voice as cold as ice. * * *
I looked at the awakened Jeon Myeong-hoon.
'What the hell happened?'
Following the method of the Great Heavenly Tribulation Barrier, I had trained him and kept carrying his blood drops.
As a curse master, if any part of the opponent's body was in my hand, I could use the curse to know his location and condition. This was a precaution against the risk of kidnapping.
And when I had confirmed his condition with the curse mark just now...
Jeon Myeong-hoon had been deeply brainwashed.
I turned my head to the side and looked at the Heavenly Thunder Banner sealed on the altar of Bongroedang.
Since the Myeonsin Geopcheon was ultimately a collection of the Thunder Repelling Divine Method, the Heavenly Thunder Banner was visible to me in my previous life as well.
'That's it...'
I still saw Jeon Myeong-hoon with a slightly dazed expression.
'The current flowing through his brain was clearly abnormal.'
Before he could do anything rash, I had rushed over, but it seemed he had been influenced by the Heavenly Thunder Banner and tried to do something.
Fortunately, I had arrived just in time.
'Come back to your senses, Jeon Myeong-hoon.'
I used the Baekran Chukseongmun once more to clear his mind.
'Heu!'
Only then did he stand up abruptly, as if his mind had fully returned.
'T-that person...'
'That person?'
'S-Seo Eun-hyun? When did he arrive here...? And where did the Grand Elder who protects this Bongroedang go?'
I frowned.
'There is no one. He is currently away for a short time to activate the protective formation of the main sect.'
'No, what nonsense. That person. The white-haired...'
'Enough!'
Crack!
I rushed at Jeon Myeong-hoon and covered his mouth with my hand.
'U-ueup...'
'Do not say names lightly. If you don't keep quiet, from now on, if you answer "yes," blink once; if you answer "no," blink twice.'
To make sure he wouldn't miss the situation, I deliberately released killing intent while speaking.
'...'
Jeon Myeong-hoon, receiving my killing intent, stiffened in place.
'What happened here just now?'
Blink.
'Did you meet someone?'
Blink.
'And that someone... gave you their...'
I recalled the request the Heavenly Thunder Banner had made in my previous life and asked.
'Did he tell you his name?'
Blink.
'...'
I frowned.
'Damn it...'
Cold sweat ran down my back.
I had almost slipped into the 18th cycle without realizing it.
'Listen carefully, Jeon Myeong-hoon. The Grand Elder currently guarding Bongroedang left for a moment due to Hong-beom's unexpected heavenly tribulation. And right now, no one else is in this Bongroedang except you and me. Therefore, the white-haired "Grand Elder" you saw is not a real person. Understand?'
Blink, blink, blink.
He blinked his eyes madly.
It seemed he did not understand.
'In short, what you saw was not a Grand Elder of the main sect, but some eerie existence living in Bongroedang. Understand?'
Blink.
'You were simply stunned for a moment by that eerie existence. Also...'
I gave Jeon Myeong-hoon a strong warning.
'Never, never utter that eerie existence's "name."'
He gave me the same look as if he still did not understand.
'The name that existence gave you... is nothing more than a terrifying curse that brings disaster to the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Understand?'
'...'
A look of not understanding.
'This won't do.'
The most efficient method was to kill or seal Jeon Myeong-hoon right now.
Of course, I was not Seo Hyul or Goe-gun, so there was no reason.
Then I would have to persuade him...
'There is a hidden secret in the main sect. If that secret is released, a terrifying disaster will come. The Heavenly Thunder Banner sealed in this Bongroedang is not a simple spiritual object. The existence that told you its name is probably the remnant soul dwelling in that Heavenly Thunder Banner.'
'...'
I started telling him an appropriate story that he could understand.
If I had directly mentioned the masters of heavenly tribulation, Jeong-ryeo, or Yang Su-jin, Jeon Myeong-hoon might not have been able to hold on, so I had no choice.
'The history of the main sect spans 120,000 years. During that time, countless enemies attacked the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, and the grudges and obsessions of those enemies gathered inside the Heavenly Thunder Banner. What you heard was the name of that mass of obsession.'
'!'
'If you call that name, the obsession and grudges will be released from the Heavenly Thunder Banner and turn the main sect into a wasteland. It is 120,000 years of obsession! We cannot handle it!'
A flicker of doubt appeared in Jeon Myeong-hoon's eyes.
I read his intention and explained what I meant.
'I know about that, but why don't you?'
Blink.
'If it's obvious, then it is obvious, isn't it? I am the second-in-command of the main sect.'
'...'
'Anyway, from now on, you must never call that existence's name. Understand?'
Blink.
I removed the hand holding Jeon Myeong-hoon's mouth.
'Haa... damn it. Your grip is ridiculously strong.'
Jeon Myeong-hoon touched his chin with a grumpy expression.
While he grumbled, I casually carved a curse mark on the back of his neck.
This was to prevent him from revealing the true nature of the Heavenly Thunder Banner later and to pull him out of the illusion.
'Then get out.'
I pushed Jeon Myeong-hoon's back, who was still grumbling, and pushed him out of Bongroedang.
And right before leaving Bongroedang.
I glanced back slightly.
'...'
'What the hell is this guy...'
In the previous life, the Heavenly Thunder Banner had clearly feared Jeon Myeong-hoon.
But in this life, the Heavenly Thunder Banner did not fear him at all, and was even happy.
'...'
'Well, maybe because he hasn't grown enough yet.'
But thinking about it, Jeon Myeong-hoon had been beyond the late Core Formation realm in the previous life, but now he was only at the early stage. So perhaps he had not yet reached the point where he would fear it.
I decided to increase his training intensity and closed the door of Bongroedang. * * *
Inside Bongroedang.
A woman with disheveled, snow-white hair sat on top of the altar with both hands covering her face.
'Ahahaha...'
She laughed eerily and shrugged her shoulders. [Jeon Myeong-hoon...
Jeon Myeong-hoon...
Jeon Myeong-hoon...
The Heavenly Tribulation Body has directly passed me its name... Jeon Myeong-hoon...]
She reached her hand toward the void. [An heir of the Golden One has loosened my seal a bit, and the owner of the Heavenly Tribulation Body has passed me its name, so...]
Snow-white silky hair stroked the void. [We can trade with the Heavenly Tribulation Body...]
She looked at the void and spoke.
No, it was a song and a ritual. [Heavenly Tribulation Body... I will raise your talent and grant you the power of the Golden One... you must lend me the power of the Heavenly Tribulation Body... since I have already given you pleasure, you must give me your power... pleasure has already been given and cannot be returned... I also have given you power that cannot be returned... although I cannot return the pleasure, I will kindly return what you have given me...]
Pa-ji-jik!
Kwak!
She grabbed at the void, and from the void, red lightning writhed and shot toward the direction Jeon Myeong-hoon had gone.
The next instant, something returned from the direction the red lightning had been shot. She successfully caught something transparent in her hand. [I now...]
She threw the transparent object down around herself.
Clang!
At the same time, one of the transparent chains binding her broke free. [One layer...]
Swish... swish...
At the same time, the transparent object in her hand shot swiftly toward the direction Jeon Myeong-hoon had gone.
In the darkness, the purification of the Great Heavenly Tribulation.
Jeong-ryeo smiled eerily. [I couldn't tell you my name this time because there was an intruder... but I will tell you the path of the Red Heavenly Tribulation... Heavenly Tribulation Body. But you must provide the full power to loosen the Golden Seal in return. Whether you want it or not...]
Swish...
The next instant, only the Heavenly Thunder Banner remained in Jeong-ryeo's place and lay on the altar.
Inside Bongroedang.
The Heavenly Thunder Banner smiled eerily as it locked itself away in the darkness. [Whether you want it or not... since you have received the price, you must pay interest as well...]