The Pillar (2)
“Uh… um…”
Jeon Myeong-hoon stared blankly into the air.
Fast.
Incredibly fast.
So fast that it was impossible to tell what was happening.
Shuk, shushuk, shushushuk, shuk!
He gazed vacantly toward the spot where Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon had vanished, racing off toward the Dabcheon Desert.
‘What just happened?’
He scratched his head, unable to understand.
From what he could tell, Seo Eun-hyun and Kim Young-hoon had suddenly drawn their sabers, stared into each other’s eyes, burst into mad laughter, and then charged at one another, clashing wildly.
That was all Jeon Myeong-hoon had seen.
‘Kim the manager… I always thought he was a strange guy who liked mountain climbing even back at the company… but I never imagined Seo Eun-hyun was that crazy too…’
Jeon Myeong-hoon clicked his tongue toward the direction they had disappeared.
Perhaps a minute or two passed.
Pabat!
Kim Young-hoon and Seo Eun-hyun returned.
“You’re back?”
Jeon Myeong-hoon looked at the two men.
Seo Eun-hyun had neatly restored his robes with a clothing art, but Kim Young-hoon’s clothes were tattered in several places.
“Yeah, we had fun!”
“…Well, as long as you enjoyed yourself, Manager.”
Jeon Myeong-hoon nodded as if it were only natural.
“More importantly, Manager. Let’s go now.”
“Hm? Go? Where?”
“What do you mean, where? Did you come here just to cross blades with Seo Eun-hyun?”
“That’s exactly why I came.”
“…”
Jeon Myeong-hoon gave up trying to understand Kim Young-hoon.
“…Well, anyway. Seo Eun-hyun. I had something to say to you, so the manager doesn’t matter. Follow me.”
Jeon Myeong-hoon spoke and rose into the air.
* * *
‘Something to say to me?’
What could that be?
I felt puzzled by Jeon Myeong-hoon’s words, but the moment I read his intent, my mood sank.
The joy and excitement I had felt while confirming my level of martial arts against Kim Young-hoon moments ago seemed to vanish completely.
Pajik!
Jeon Myeong-hoon became a streak of red lightning and flew westward through the sky.
I followed after him, and Kim Young-hoon chased after me as well.
Kurung, kururung!
As I pursued Jeon Myeong-hoon, I formed hand seals.
Chak, chak, chak!
Once the seals were complete, the surrounding spiritual energy stirred and the clothing art activated.
The clothing art.
Those below the Core Formation stage rarely had their robes torn thanks to the protection of their defensive qi barrier.
However, cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above often faced attacks that pierced even their defensive qi during battle, causing their clothes to tear or burn.
That was why a technique to restore clothing was necessary.
The art created by twisting one’s spiritual power into fabric.
At the Nascent Soul stage, one could only create a single set of robes.
But upon reaching the Heavenly Person stage, nearby heaven-and-earth spiritual energy gathered, allowing the creation of several different outfits.
Tsutsutsut!
My pure-white robes turned pitch-black, just like Kim Young-hoon’s.
Jeon Myeong-hoon glanced back at me and likewise changed into black robes with the clothing art.
Pababat!
Now clad in mourning clothes, we finally reached the western region.
Shattered Heaven Peak, where the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect had once again established itself.
As expected of cultivators, all the civil engineering work was already complete, and halls had risen across the peak.
At the same time, the halls suppressed the dragon veins and formed arrays, creating the sect’s grand protective formation.
The administrative system also seemed nearly restored, meaning the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect had successfully continued its lineage from the Water Realm.
When Seo Eun-hyun, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Young-hoon, and the others appeared in the sky, the lower-realm disciples poured out from every corner of the sect.
Thirty thousand from the Gwanghan Realm, thirty thousand from the present realm.
A total of sixty thousand disciples.
Among them, Qi Condensation cultivators numbered only three thousand, the vast majority were at Foundation Establishment, and there were also a thousand Core Formation cultivators.
In short, the lower-realm disciples of the current Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect alone outnumbered the combined forces of the entire Water Realm.
And among them, the disciple with the highest cultivation, at the peak of Core Formation.
Geum Hae-min, descendant of Geum Jin-chan, rose into the air and offered a salute.
“This disciple greets the Heavenly Thunder Elders.”
“Good. Tell the sect master to prepare. Since Elder Seo has awakened, it is only right that we hold a memorial service.”
Jeon Myeong-hoon’s tone was natural, as if he had already appointed Geum Hae-min as the new sect master.
“…Why didn’t you take the sect master position yourself?”
I asked him.
Jeon Myeong-hoon shook his head with a self-deprecating expression.
“I’m not qualified. If I had trusted you, my fellow countryman, even a little more, none of this would have happened.”
“…”
“I have no right to uphold the Geum name. That’s why I won’t become sect master.”
“…I see.”
“Geum Hae-min has already reached a high level in the Seven Lightning True Scripture and is on the verge of Nascent Soul. He should be fine.”
I followed Jeon Myeong-hoon in silence.
Before long, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kim Young-hoon, and I, along with Geum Hae-min, arrived at the lower slopes of Shattered Heaven Peak.
A place where countless flags had been planted.
They were not banners (幡) but ordinary flags (旗).
From now on, the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect would prohibit banner-type flag treasures.
There were no bodies inside the graves.
Of course not—none of those present that day had left behind a corpse.
Hong Su-ryeong’s remains had likewise been turned into soil by my Yin Soul Ghost Curse, so it was the same for her.
Yet Jeon Myeong-hoon walked among each of the empty cenotaphs.
He visited every single one of the tens of thousands of graves, received a bottle of liquor from Geum Hae-min, and poured it out.
I followed behind Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Kim Young-hoon, being an outsider, did not follow us. He simply offered his silent respects from afar.
Jeon Myeong-hoon and I, followed by Geum Hae-min, were soon trailed by countless disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
Pouring liquor at each of the tens of thousands of graves took an extremely long time.
It took us nearly seven days before we could pour liquor at most of the graves.
Time passed.
Only the graves of the elders remained, and I personally poured liquor at Hong Su-ryeong’s grave.
Geum Jin-chan and Geum Min’s graves received liquor from their descendant, Geum Hae-min.
When we finally reached the graves of Geum Byeok-ho and Geum So-hae, we paused for a moment.
Their graves lay at the very edge of the cemetery.
Glug, glug…
Jeon Myeong-hoon slowly poured the liquor.
After a while, when the bottle was empty, he extended his hand toward Geum Hae-min again.
Geum Hae-min, who had been diligently bringing liquor throughout the seven days and handing it over whenever Jeon Myeong-hoon ran out, looked at him with slight confusion.
Reading Jeon Myeong-hoon’s intent, I gave Geum Hae-min a meaningful glance. He quickly produced another bottle.
Jeon Myeong-hoon opened it and poured the entire contents over Geum So-hae’s grave once more.
Then he extended his hand again.
Jeon Myeong-hoon continued until he had poured twenty-one bottles of liquor solely upon Geum So-hae’s grave.
The ground grew so soaked that it turned muddy.
Glug, glug…
Finally, when Jeon Myeong-hoon’s hand stopped.
I noticed that his eyes had turned red.
“…Today.”
Wuung!
The moment he spoke, heaven-and-earth spiritual energy naturally resonated, carrying his words in every direction.
[The Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect has bid farewell to its immortal friends.]
His words continued.
[Many died at the hands of a great Thunder Immortal, victims of an ancient monster’s schemes. Remember that day. Remember the immortal friends who perished at the hands of that colossal being. Our sect’s seniors, elders, and countless comrades met their end that day. Some had been with us since the Water Realm, others we met anew in the Gwanghan Realm. Some were raising their cultivation, others had only just begun their immortal path. There were men and women, young cultivators and those whose lifespans were nearly spent. There were those who dual-cultivated in joy at its peak, those with dreams, those who strove with all their might!]
His voice was heavier than ever before.
At the same time, I observed the intent radiating from Jeon Myeong-hoon.
His rage had still not subsided.
Yet unlike his previous life, this time there were others with whom he could share that rage.
[Remember, disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. Today must be remembered as the day a new Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect was born. Today must be the day we engrave one truth into our memories.]
Pajik, pajijijik!
Red lightning began to crackle from Jeon Myeong-hoon’s body.
[Remember this fury! Understand this rage! Disciples, I swear here and now. I, Jeon Myeong-hoon, born with the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, will most certainly! Most certainly!]
He cried out toward the heavens.
[Reach the True Immortal realm and take revenge upon the colossal immortal who trampled us!!!]
Cheers erupted from every direction.
“We will help too!!!”
“Please let us join you!”
[Yes. You too… will walk with me as far as you can go!!!]
Cheers erupted once more.
“Uwaaaaaaaa!!!”
“Aaaaaaaa!”
“Aaaaaaaa!”
It resembled the war cries of warriors before battle.
Or perhaps it sounded more like screams.
The anguished screams of those who had lost their families and could no longer bear the pain.
And then Jeon Myeong-hoon himself began to scream.
[Uwaaaaaaaa!!!]
I, too, joined them and released my emotions.
“Hwaaaaaaaa!!!”
Together, we gathered and unleashed our feelings toward the sky.
Kwarurururung!
The red lightning crackling from Jeon Myeong-hoon’s body gradually grew larger until it became a crimson bolt that tore through the heavens and struck the sky.
Kurung!
[Hwaaaaaaaa!!!]
Within the pillar of light, Jeon Myeong-hoon struck down with Red Lightning Heavenly Tribulation toward the sky, weeping all the while.
Kwarung, kwarurung!
How long did we scream?
He stopped emitting lightning.
And so he took charge of the rest of the memorial service.
When the service ended, the disciples returned to Shattered Heaven Peak.
However, some disciples who had lost acquaintances, relatives, or blood kin in the recent tragedy remained before the graves for a while, swallowing their grief.
Jeon Myeong-hoon stood for a long time before the graves of Geum So-hae and Geum Byeok-ho.
I, too, stood beside him and paid my respects before Hong Su-ryeong’s grave.
And then a month passed.
Shwaaaaa—
Now only Jeon Myeong-hoon and I remained before the graves.
The other disciples lacked the strength to stand before the graves for so long, suppressing their sorrow and anger.
Suddenly, Jeon Myeong-hoon looked up into the rain.
“Seo Eun-hyun, do you know?”
“What?”
“I realized it this time.”
Cheolpeok!
Paying no heed to the flowing rainwater, he knelt before Geum So-hae’s grave and stroked the tombstone.
Dalak—
At that moment, he took out a small wooden box from his robes.
Inside the box lay a single, thoroughly fried [hand].
Judging by its size and shape, I could imagine what the hand had looked like before it was fried.
And I knew who the hand had belonged to.
‘Geum So-hae…’
Jeon Myeong-hoon took the fried hand from the box and cradled it preciously.
Drip, drip drip…
Things that might have been rainwater or tears fell from his face.
His eyes were bloodshot.
“Perhaps anger is something this world truly needs.”
Still cradling Geum So-hae’s hand, he continued.
“Anger is circulation. It clears blockages, resists what is wrong, and becomes the driving force of life. Even if one loses all will, it forces a person to move. In that sense… it is somewhat similar to heavenly tribulation.”
I looked at Jeon Myeong-hoon’s intent.
Most of it was dyed a deep crimson.
It was not as intense as in his previous life, yet I could tell that this intent was barely keeping Jeon Myeong-hoon, who wanted to die right now, from ending his life.
In other words, he was living on rage alone.
“Life… is anger.”
He spoke with a distorted face.
“That’s what I came to understand. This is So-hae’s hand. And I… am the True Immortal who brought down heavenly punishment. I will kill that being, take back the Heavenly Thunder Banner, and make it mine. Only after I have avenged the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect’s grudge upon them…”
With trembling hands, he lifted Geum So-hae’s hand.
“…will I finally bury So-hae.”
He had not gone completely mad; a single thread of reason remained.
Yet once again, his life was destined to be defined by rage.
I nodded as I looked at him.
“…I see.”
I acknowledged Jeon Myeong-hoon’s rage.
I understood his pain.
And then.
“However, Jeon Myeong-hoon.”
“…What?”
I offered him a path beyond rage and revenge.
“After you have quenched your rage, please bury Geum So-hae… here.”
“…Yes. I understand.”
And so.
The lightning cultivator driven mad by revenge became Jeon Myeong-hoon, who shared his rage with sixty thousand survivors and now looked beyond revenge.
* * *
We completed the memorial service.
Jeon Myeong-hoon declared that, as one of the few remaining elders of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, he would personally oversee all affairs alongside Sect Master Geum Hae-min.
After assisting with the basic duties, I met with Kim Young-hoon again.
“Thank you for paying your respects last time, even though you are not of our sect.”
“It’s nothing. When people die like that, it’s only right to offer condolences.”
“…Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude to Kim Young-hoon, who spoke as if it were only natural.
We left the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, crossed the great mountain range, and reached the Seongje Empire, where we settled at a nearby inn and began to talk.
“Well then, Young-hoon hyung-nim.”
“What is it?”
I asked him.
“Could you tell me what happened in the lower realms while I was gone?”
What had occurred that allowed Kim Young-hoon to reach the Four Pillars stage?
Where had the fox gone, and how far had Cheongmun Ryeong and Seo Ran advanced?
And Hyang-hwa…
I had a mountain of questions.
But the next moment, I flinched upon seeing Kim Young-hoon’s expression.
His face was rigid, and his intent fluctuated violently.
Kim Young-hoon spoke in a gloomy voice.
“…Where should I even begin… First… right. How I reached this realm. That is….”
At the words that followed, I was so shocked I nearly blew away the city where the inn stood.
“The story of how I… no, how we killed our greatest enemy, the madman Cheongmun Ryeong.”