Greetings, How Have You Been? (4)
The silence stretched on for a long while.
Seo Lip stood motionless for some time, lost in his own thoughts, while Gyoeom gave off the faint scent of drying blood.
“Hey… Sosa?”
At those words, Seo Lip lifted his gaze with his glowing ghost eyes toward them.
Damn it… What are you thinking?
Even though it was common for different races to have trouble reading each other’s expressions or misinterpreting gestures, any living being should at least make an effort to frown if something was wrong. It was especially true for humans—Gyoeom knew that from dealing with them regularly.
But the madman in front of him had a skull for a face, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
That was why, as Seo Lip remained silent, the two Nascent Soul cultivators relaxed and chuckled.
“Haha, it looks like you’re a human supporter from Black Ghost Valley. Do you mind telling us what you need from the Thousand Scales Fruit?”
…
Seo Lip had no answer.
Seeing this, Nogju and Baekwi-ik smiled.
“If it’s a desire you need, we can compensate from the fruits we raise in our Longwood Clan. The next-generation fruits, the Hae-ran fruit, the Sim-hae fruit, the Do-yeom fruit… With a Black Ghost Valley supporter like you, such desires would be incredibly useful, wouldn’t they?”
“If you give us the Thousand Scales Fruit, we can compensate as well. I heard rumors that the Black Ghost Valley of the noble race is trying to root itself in our clan. We intend to support it on a racial level. So don’t listen to that weird guy’s talk. Let’s team up as fellow Nascent Soul cultivators and kill that weirdo together. How does that sound?”
Then Seo Lip’s mouth opened.
[No…]
“Eum!?”
“What did you say?”
“Say it again.”
The three Nascent Soul cultivators focused their attention on Seo Lip.
And Seo Lip spoke in a slightly louder voice.
[I am… not a madman who enjoys killing.]
…
…
…
At those words, the room fell into silence.
And Nogju and Baekwi-ik forced awkward smiles.
“Ah, ahahaha!”
“T-that’s right. Yes, of course. There are people like you in our Yin Wing Clan too. They all call themselves ‘artists.’ Of course, among them, there aren’t any as… amazing as you. Who would call you a madman who enjoys killing? Your actions are… ‘artistic acts.’”
Still smiling awkwardly, especially Baekwi-ik praised Seo Lip heavily to draw him in.
And Seo Lip fell even deeper into silence.
Gyoeom watched the two awkward Nascent Soul cultivators and gave a satisfied smile.
These guys are sloppy.
They were sloppy.
They didn’t have the resolve these guys did.
They only wanted to survive the moment. They were no match for him, who had resolve.
So in this place, he would win!
“That’s right. The guy from the Yin Wing Clan is correct. Sosa is definitely an ‘artist’! Those shoulders of his are your ‘masterpieces’ too. They are undoubtedly excellent ‘artistic acts’—a splendid form. I understand those artistic acts.”
…
That was as far as Baekwi-ik had gone.
But Gyoeom, recalling what he had just said, took one step further.
“But do you think those Nascent Soul cultivators can understand the artist’s work? I doubt it! They’re only talking to buy time! I, Gyoeom, dare to say this! As someone who understands the artist’s work, I’m happy to become the artist’s ‘work’!”
…
“Please give me a chance. But those Nascent Soul cultivators lack the will to become the artist’s ‘work,’ so I can’t give it to them lightly. So first, let me join forces with you to rip out the heads of those liars, then turn me into the work!”
Gyoeom gave a lecherous yet bitter smile.
I’m going to die now.
He would become the mad human butcher’s work displayed on a shoulder.
But the two Nascent Soul cultivators who had blocked his path would die today as well.
At those words, Nogju and Baekwi-ik’s faces paled.
The three Nascent Soul cultivators’ gazes fixed on Seo Lip.
All were waiting for Seo Lip’s decision.
* * *
I was speechless and fell silent for a long time.
Damn it… Did you all look at me like that until now?
The madman who had been chased by the races screaming was me.
How could they see me as such a despicable existence?
It was especially unpleasant because it wasn’t Wonrip who had been treated that way.
Neither was I the evil soldier monster called Seojang-gun… Where exactly was I lacking!
Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up.
And for some reason, inside my mind, a feeling of being pricked continued.
I held my head and thought.
Yeah… Human aesthetics are diverse, and since we’re different races, it’s scary that our aesthetics differ so much from theirs…
The biggest problem was that they seemed to think I was ripping off the heads of Nascent Soul cultivators.
I explained to clear up the misunderstanding.
[This is… not an artistic act.]
But Nogju, Baekwi-ik, and Gyoeom all nodded madly and played along strangely.
“That’s right, Sosa. It’s not a simple artistic act.”
“We commoners like us can’t understand the grand meaning, can we?”
“Look, those Nascent Soul cultivators don’t understand! They lack the courage!”
…For now, don’t call it an artistic act. And the misunderstanding is that these heads aren’t someone else’s. These are… other versions of myself. Got it?
…
…
…
For some reason, I could see the consciousnesses of the other three Nascent Soul cultivators rotting.
I was going to go mad.
Damn it… It seems no matter how I explain, it won’t work.
Whatever they were interpreting.
I eventually gave up trying to convince these Nascent Soul cultivators, whose aesthetics were so different from humans.
Anyway, I had expected too much from different races.
[Well, regardless… Why did you ask about the Thousand Scales Fruit? I came here because I received a request from the Black Raging Tiger Gate. The Black Raging Tiger Gate apparently needs the Thousand Scales Fruit, so there’s no need to negotiate.]
At those words, Gyoeom’s face lit up with joy, while Nogju and Baekwi-ik’s faces darkened with panic.
Nogju and Baekwi-ik smiled awkwardly and said,
“Haha, the Black Raging Tiger Gate. It was definitely under the Black Dragon King Hyeon-eum’s faction, right? I’ve heard of it. But we don’t know why they need the Thousand Scales Fruit. Anyway, our Longwood Clan…”
“Yes, and our Yin Wing Clan…”
Both cultivators began explaining their situations.
But I only listened quietly, my ghost eyes burning.
After hearing their explanations, I asked Gyoeom.
[Why do you need it?]
At that, Gyoeom flinched slightly and said cautiously,
“To treat my wife, I need the Goryeondan pill. And the most important ingredient in the medicine is the Thousand Scales Fruit. Other ingredients can be replaced, but the main ingredient, the Thousand Scales Fruit, can’t be replaced by anything. That’s why I came to get it. Just three drops of the juice are enough!”
Hmm…
“Please, I beg you! Without my wife, I’m not even alive. I’m a sinner, a trash, but my wife is a kind person with no sin. Please…!”
I looked at Gyoeom begging and the Nascent Soul cultivators who had come for important missions in their races.
If I could, I would have used the Ten Thousand Scales Tree Ocean or Wonrip’s secret art to quickly grow the Thousand Scales Fruit, just like the Longevity Fruit.
But the Thousand Scales Fruit in front of me was so enormous that just looking at it felt like the Longevity Fruit.
Just the spiritual energy condensed in one small fruit was enough to turn someone into a Nascent Soul cultivator. What more was there to say?
Moreover, there was an aura of sacredness. Instinctively, I realized this Thousand Scales Fruit could not be grown by artificial means.
It’s a pity. It would be nice if there was a way for everyone to be satisfied…
Anyway, that was probably impossible.
In that case, it was already decided.
[Sorry, but from your stories, both of you seem able to replace it, but I don’t think my guy here can either.]
Gyoeom’s wife.
And the Black Raging Tiger Gate.
Each had their own purpose that required the Thousand Scales Fruit.
The Black Raging Tiger Gate had a major goal of escaping Hyeon-eum’s grasp, so they weren’t far behind in justification.
Of course, I didn’t need to explain all that. I simply looked at Gyoeom and said,
[And since your story touched my heart the most… I’ll help you.]
“T-thank you…”
[What realm is your wife in?]
“She’s the same as me, a Nascent Soul cultivator…”
[Oh, really? Then I’ll go visit you when she recovers. Love stories always make my heart swell.]
I chuckled and patted Gyoeom’s shoulder, then stepped forward.
No matter how many times I thought about it, I was weak to love stories.
My disciple Gye-hwa.
My partner Suhyeon from the Demon Realm.
Jeon Myeong-hoon and Geum So-hae.
And myself.
That was why my heart ached the most when I heard Gyoeom’s story.
Three drops… I bet the Black Raging Tiger Gate would allow it.
Somehow, Gyoeom’s consciousness felt strangely cold, but it was a good sign that it cooled when facing an enemy.
He has quite a bit of battle experience. Not bad.
Shhhheeeek—
I opened my 18 mouths and spread my arms.
[Well then. It’s unfortunate, but come at me.]
Kiiiiiiii—
Ooooooo—
The creepy ghost valley sound echoed all around.
[Defend. I’ll end it in one go.]
Chiiii—
I gathered my curses on my left hand and said,
Gyoeom, who had seen my curses, glowed with eyes and blocked in front of me.
Nogju and Baekwi-ik exchanged glances.
And Baekwi-ik formed a seal.
Paahaat!
At the same time, three pillars rose around Baekwi-ik.
Nascent Soul late stage.
The realm where the Qi Barrier could be deployed.
The three pillars connected to form a ‘barrier,’ which grew and enveloped us and them.
In an instant, the surrounding landscape changed.
We had arrived in front of a massive stone building in the Bongyang layer, above the high mountain range, with clouds floating.
Above the stone building, Baekwi-ik floated with three pairs of wings spread out.
The Yin Wing Clan was also called the Heavenly Wing Clan.
Their supernatural ability came mostly from those wings, and when the light burst from them, it was said to destroy all magic arts and unleash the power of Pasa-hyeonjeong.
Chiiiiiii—
My compatibility wasn’t good with this.
Moreover, Nogju began rooting himself around.
The surroundings began to turn into a forest.
[One side is Pasa-hyeonjeong, the other is Wood attribute…]
Wood countered Earth, and Wood attributes were the worst match for me, who had learned Yin attributes.
Yin was Kun, Kun was Earth.
Moreover, this was inside Baekwi-ik’s barrier.
Inside here, Baekwi-ik was no different from a Nascent Soul Integration stage cultivator.
Kugugugug!
Baekwi-ik’s light shone on Gyoeom, and Nogju’s summoned forest moved as if alive, restricting Gyoeom’s movements.
[Grrrrraaaaa!]
Gyoeom transformed into his main body and began to grow larger.
His main body turned into a blood-red giant shark, summoning blood-red sea water around him.
On the giant mountain range, a green mountain range and blood sea appeared, with rivers flowing down.
Nogju’s forest bound Gyoeom, and Baekwi-ik began descending toward me.
Chiiii—
Baekwi-ik at the Nascent Soul Integration stage level shone light on me.
[Pure Heavenly Qi Barrier…]
I felt the precise Five Elements power within Baekwi-ik’s body and my eyes lit up.
It was the Heavenly Qi Barrier he had properly obtained for himself, not taken from someone else’s death.
Although it was a Five Elements Heavenly Qi Barrier, its momentum was much more stable and powerful than that of ordinary outer art Heavenly Qi Barrier cultivators.
Kuguguguk!
The mountain range’s attraction pulled me in.
Gravity became much stronger, and with the light, it tried to crush me.
Since I was inside Baekwi-ik’s barrier, the attraction here was only his.
I resisted Baekwi-ik’s attraction and expelled it while completing my curses.
Baekwi-ik, enveloped in light, calmly raised his hand.
Twinkle!
A flash shot toward me.
The area of my curses that covered me shrank.
[Pasa-hyeonjeong… Nice. Then I’ll try too?]
And I reversed my curses.
Chuchuchut!
The Baekran Chukseongmun covered the surroundings.
The curse turned into a Chukseongmun glowed white and began absorbing Baekwi-ik’s light.
“Wha, what…!?”
Baekwi-ik looked startled, but soon the Baekran Chukseongmun grew large enough to cover the entire mountain range while devouring the light.
Baekwi-ik instinctively sensed danger and stopped the light, instead binding the Chukseongmun with attraction.
And the moment I felt the Pasa-hyeonjeong light disappear, I reversed my curses again.
Paahaat!
The curse that had turned black again gathered into a single point.
The dark curse bubbled and burned on my hand.
“Damn it…!”
Seeing the danger in my curse, Baekwi-ik distanced himself.
But it was useless.
Uuuung!
I floated strong vines around and absorbed them back into my body.
Buuuung—
I instantly reached in front of Baekwi-ik and extended my curses toward him.
“T-this is…! Get away!” [Absurd talk.]
I approached him while dodging the light balls he shot.
He, sensing danger, hastily spat light from his wings.
The wings didn’t spurt light like before, but in light form, they split into thousands.
The split wings became hands of light and flew toward me.
I tried to dodge, but gravity slowed my body, and I was caught by the light hands surrounding me.
“Got you, die now…!” [Hm, got me?]
But I floated my curses on my left hand and burned my ghost flames.
Kikikik—
Kikik—
Circuits began to appear all over my body.
At the same time, an enormous power swirled around my whole body.
Kug, kuguguguk!
I ignored the light hands with my power and began approaching Baekwi-ik.
Baekwi-ik shouted in surprise.
“T-this can’t be! It shouldn’t have any effect on ghosts…! Don’t come!”
Kwaddeuk!
More than the light hands, the attraction bound me tighter.
But I kept stepping closer.
Baekwi-ik looked terrified, but the distance between us gradually closed.
It was impossible to run because the light hands binding me were coming from his back.
It’s heavy.
But the closer I got, the stronger the attraction became, so my steps slowed.
And when the distance was about five steps.
Kudddeuk!
Suddenly, trees grew from the ground and bound my body.
Hoo…
Gyoeom, who had been fighting Nogju equally, gradually began to lose due to loss of stamina and was pushed back.
Nogju, finding a moment, was sending support this way.
Wood, light hands, and attraction!
I couldn’t win against the combination and eventually dropped to my knees.
Kwaaang!
In the end, I fell to the spot.
“Hah, hah hah… You were arrogant, and look at this. A human clan called the Sauru Clan….”
And I opened my mouth.
Shheeeek!
At the same time, one of the faces on my shoulder entered my body and then popped out from my mouth.
Juwooook!
The face that extended from my mouth became the Ghost King and received my curse, flying toward Baekwi-ik, and my curse hit Baekwi-ik’s body directly.
“…! Kiiiieeeek!”
Baekwi-ik screamed until his eyes rolled back, and starting to convulse after receiving my curse.
At the same time, his light hands and attraction.
And the entire Heavenly Qi Barrier began to disperse.
We had returned to the Bongyang layer, and in front of me, only Baekwi-ik remained, desperately struggling.
Baekwi-ik foamed at the mouth and thrashed.
Pain that couldn’t be easily killed by heart failure for a Nascent Soul cultivator!
In the end, Baekwi-ik couldn’t endure the pain and scattered his own Heavenly Essence to commit suicide.
I watched his soul leave through the Soul Gate, then turned to look at Gyoeom fighting Nogju.
Gyoeom was being pushed back by Nogju, but it was already a fact that I would join.
Moreover, from afar, I saw the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators trying to join.
[Now you’re coming. Help me suppress the Longwood Clan guy.]
“Sorry for being late. I had to check some things downstairs. I’ll support now.”
The support from me and the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators began, and soon Nogju began to be pushed back.
Gyoeom endured Nogju’s attacks in front, and I shot curses from behind and Ghost Dao from behind to pollute Nogju’s forest.
The Yin Qi of the Black Raging Tiger Gate devastated the forest.
And strangely, Hyeon-gwi was not there.
* * *
Hyeon-gwi was at the lake with the Mulgeul Tree.
He was looking at the Tanghwa-do hanging on the Jangseung poles around the lake.
The Tanghwa-do all boasted excellent painting styles, but occasionally there were weird ones.
For example, paper that looked like just ink because it was heavily smeared black, not a Tanghwa-do.
But Hyeon-gwi’s expression became joyful upon seeing that ink.
“Found it, the West Heaven Tanghwa-do…!”
His hand reached for the heavily smeared ink, grabbing it roughly.
At the same time, a certain wave emanated from Hyeon-gwi and the ink.
It was a wave connected to the oldest existence.
The wave spread without anyone noticing.
From the Bongyang layer to the Dogeo layer, from the Dogeo layer to the Suryu layer, from the Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension to the Sato Territory.
And from the Sato Territory to the Sap-pung Territory…
It was an extremely hidden wave that no one could sense.
* * *
Kwakwakwakuang!
My curse was embedded in Nogju’s arm. His arm began to rot.
In the end, for some reason, he hugged the Thousand Scales Fruit while running to the altar in the center of the Bongyang layer instead of fighting Gyoeom and me.
But I started accelerating.
Paahaat!
Time slowed.
At the same time, I ran toward Nogju while using the San-gun Wol-aek-bi.
Nogju gritted his teeth while looking back at me.
“C-cuck, c-cuuuuuuck!”
[Come here. You shouldn’t fight alone with your allies. Come and talk to me.]
I rushed toward him, spitting ghost flames with 18 heads, and Nogju, facing 36 eyes, closed his eyes tightly and threw the Thousand Scales Fruit far away before throwing himself onto the altar.
At the same time, Nogju’s body was enveloped in light and disappeared.
Hueeum…
I received the Thousand Scales Fruit he had thrown and looked at the altar.
Hyeon-gwi approached me and laughed.
“Haha, originally the altar in the Bongyang layer is a gate to the Chije layer, but if you don’t perform the proper procedure, instead of going to the Chije layer, it expels the target outside. Of course, it can also be used just to go outside, but since it’s not the proper gate but a rough expulsion, it puts a significant burden on the life force. Except for Nascent Soul cultivators who are incarnations of life, most go through the proper gate.”
[I see… You ran away, huh.]
“Good thing. Since you got the Thousand Scales Fruit.”
“Haha… Now all that’s left is the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do, right?”
[Is that so… Is the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do over there?]
“Yes, you can find it among those Jangseung. But all the Tanghwa-do are facing the Mulgeul Tree. This is a kind of sealing. It seals the karmic power of some existence from the Demon Realm with the Mulgeul Tree and seals the heat of the karmic fire so it doesn’t seep out with the Tanghwa-do. So you have to be careful not to break the formation to pull it out. And it will probably take some time.”
[I see. For now, I won’t give you the Thousand Scales Fruit. And I also need to find the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do, right?]
“It would be appreciated if you did.”
[Ah, and I have one request…]
“What is it?”
I pointed to Gyoeom and said,
[Since Gyoeom helped me get the Thousand Scales Fruit from the Nascent Soul cultivators, how about giving him some of the Thousand Scales Fruit juice too?]
“Understood. A glass amount should be fine, right?”
[Do that. Then how long until you find the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do?]
“About one si-kyeong should be fine. Just wait a moment.”
[I see.]
I nodded.
Hyeon-gwi approached Gyoeom, squeezed the Thousand Scales Fruit juice, and poured a glass amount into a small bottle.
* * *
Gyoeom wept as he thanked Hyeon-gwi.
He looked at the Thousand Scales Fruit juice and then looked back at Seo Eun-hyun.
Is this the time for settlement…
Since I asked for a favor from the madman, it was time to pay the price.
He approached Seo Lip hesitantly.
“…One request.”
[What?]
“Please… Before turning me into a ‘work,’ let me deliver this juice to my wife.”
…
Seo Lip was silent for a moment, then sighed as if something was unfair.
Haaaa…
Sharp breaths shot from his 18 mouths, making Gyoeom flinch.
[You will not be turned into a work.]
“Y-yes…?”
[Go to your wife. I’ll send you.]
“…Is that… really true?”
Seo Lip tried to show as warm an expression as possible and said.
Of course, since there were no expressions on the skull, Gyoeom only got chills.
[Didn’t I say? I like love stories. I hope you two married couple were as happy as possible. I’ll come visit when you recover. If you go to the Blood Ghost Clan and look for Gyoeom, that’s the place, right?]
…
[Didn’t I ask?]
…If I answer, you’ll send me…?
[What, isn’t it obvious?]
Seo Lip had become quite favorable to Gyoeom because he had obtained many treasures and karmic fortunes from Gyoeom’s kindness, and also helped when getting the Thousand Scales Fruit.
Even though his consciousness fears me a bit, after meeting him often and teaching him, we can get close… When visiting, what gift would be good…
While Seo Lip was thinking that, Gyoeom slowly nodded with a pale face.
“If you come to the Blood Ghost Clan area… I’ll contact you.”
[Good. Keep your promise.]
…Yes…
Gyoeom, whose spirit seemed drained from the fight with Nogju, bowed to Seo Lip and then slowly approached the altar as if about to collapse.
He climbed onto the altar, and pure white light enveloped him, sending Gyoeom out.
And after that, Gyoeom did not go to the Blood Ghost Clan area, and he never contacted Seo Lip again.
“Eum?”
And Seo Lip, when Gyoeom climbed onto the altar and the white light expelled him, saw something from below the altar.
* * *
I saw some characters glowing brightly for a moment below the altar.
It looked like oracle bone script.
This is…
Having learned the common language of the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Gwanghan Realm and learned some basic knowledge, I could read the oracle bone script.
There were three oracle bone scripts.
The first oracle bone script meant Water (水).
The second oracle bone script meant ‘Go’ (去).
And the last oracle bone script meant some animal, the oracle bone script read as Chi (廌) in the Gwanghan Realm now.
Hmm…
I looked at the three oracle bone scripts for a moment and recalled something.
Three oracle bone scripts.
Water (氵).
Go (去).
Chi (廌).
Combining them made the character Fa (灋).
At the same time, I realized something. The Suryu, Dogeo, and Chije layers all combined mean ‘Fa.’…
While I was thinking about the character Fa (灋) I knew, I suddenly felt like thunder struck my head.
The character Fa (灋) has 21 strokes.
And the 21 Tanghwa-do I saw at the Dogeo layer chief’s palace with dragons drawn on them.
The dragons drawn on the 21 Tanghwa-do were each performing an action.
I realized that combining all those actions would reveal the character Fa (灋).
I looked at the altar.
Just stepping on it would expel you outside.
But the altar that opens the gate to the Chije layer if you take the proper form.
Uuuung—
I released my Ghost King transformation.
And took a stance in human form.
Let me recall the memory of creating the Yonghyeongbihogo.
The Yonghyeongbihogo created by copying Hwangryu-ryeon’s movements.
I recalled the actions of the dragons in the Tanghwa-do and transformed the stance into the Yonghyeongbihogo adapted for humans.
And by revealing the strokes with each stance, combining all the stances would reveal the character Fa (灋) just like the Tanghwa-do.
It wasn’t difficult because I had done it once while creating the Yonghyeongbihogo.
I started dancing the dance the dragon of the Tanghwa-do performed in human form.
Total 21 actions.
Before climbing onto the altar and being bounced outside.
I danced a dance of 21 actions like flowing water.
At the same time, I could feel my vision splitting into two.
This, this is…?
Twuung!
With that, I felt my ‘body’ being bounced outside the altar.
But at the same time, ‘I’ was also on the altar.
“This is…”
I looked at the top of the altar.
At the same time, I looked down at the bottom of the altar.
‘I’ was on both the top and bottom of the altar.
The ‘I’ on the top of the altar was semi-transparent, and the Black Raging Tiger Gate people didn’t notice it at all.
I was startled because I had seen this semi-transparent ‘I’ before.
A dream body?
It was the ‘dream body’ that had to be made by someone who had not learned the Gwisado Gongbeop when passing through the shortcut at the edge of the Underworld.
I realized that the dream body in front of me and my body were separated.
More like the hands and feet were divided.
It felt like new hands were born.
I controlled the dream body.
And at the same time, looked around the altar through the eyes of the dream body.
“Ha…”
I couldn’t even notice with the Gwisado Gongbeop.
“Why is this here…”
I muttered, dumbfounded.
On the top of the altar.
On the top of the altar seen through the dream body, there was the entrance of the [shortcut].
It was almost the same as the Black Ghost Valley’s shortcut, and if there was no difference, it was that there was a huge beast with horns drawn on the shortcut’s gate.
I cautiously entered the shortcut through the dream body.
Here is…
It was quiet.
I instinctively realized that this shortcut was completely different from the one I entered last time.
It wasn’t just a ‘different’ shortcut.
It’s deep.
That was literal.
This was overwhelmingly ‘deep’.
It was the same ashen world, but instinctively, I realized that this shortcut was made much deeper than the Black Ghost Valley’s shortcut.
I walked the shortcut without slowing tension.
How far had I walked the shortcut?
I finally reached the end of the shortcut.
This place is… the Chije layer…
Through the dream body, I opened the opposite gate of the shortcut.
* * *
“Senior, could you help me for a moment?”
“Hm?”
I asked, looking at the Hyeon-gwi approaching me.
“Help with what?”
“I’ve pulled out the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do, so now I need to stabilize the seal. That’s because the karmic fire must not escape.”
“I see… What should I help with?”
“If you lend your attraction, that would be enough.”
“Ah, is that so.”
I stood up from my seat.
And after placing my hand on Hyeon-gwi’s shoulder, I activated my curses.
Chiiii—
The curse enveloped Hyeon-gwi.
“You seem to be lying…? Tell me honestly. What are you scheming?”
When I glared at him with my sharp eyes, Hyeon-gwi smiled.
“You’ve noticed, haven’t you. Attack!”
At the same time, the Sosa cultivators of the Black Raging Tiger Gate floated their Sisa-won-yeong behind their backs.
Kugugugug!
The power of the dark darkness attached to them, and the three Nascent Soul Integration stage cultivators of the Black Raging Tiger Gate instantly became early Nascent Soul cultivators,
and the six Yuan-yeong cultivators became mid Nascent Soul cultivators.
“You were going to betray me after all.”
“Haha, no matter how senior you are, you can’t… us all…”
Kwaaang!
I exploded Hyeon-gwi’s curse.
“Die, you damn bastard…!”
They really did betray me.
I killed Hyeon-gwi as he was the most suspicious.
Hyeon-gwi’s lower neck was completely rotted by the curse, and even his Yuan-yeong was scattered.
But I felt a strange bitterness.
Hyeon-gwi’s face was filled with shock, confusion, and fear.
But clearly, the consciousness he showed in his final moment was not shock, but ‘annoyance.’
The consciousness of annoyance, relief, and ‘it doesn’t matter’ was felt.
Who on earth could have ‘it doesn’t matter’ consciousness in the moment of death?
This kid…
It was as unsettling as when I killed Seo Hyul.
But I didn’t peel off the human skin mask like when I killed Seo Hyul, and I completely rotted and destroyed Hyeon-gwi’s remaining head.
And since Hyeon-gwi was an important figure to the Black Raging Tiger Gate people, they all became furious.
“This kid! Killing Sa-ju…!!!”
“I’ll kill you!”
“No matter how Nascent Soul bastard, it won’t be tolerated!” [Interesting. Do you think you can oppose me?]
I cast my Ghost King transformation again.
At that moment.
Wait, these guys…
Three Nascent Soul Integration stage cultivators.
Six Yuan-yeong cultivators.
Surrounding me.
Because of the Sisa-won-yeong, their actual power was one stage higher, but there were definitely 9 people.
Yuan-yeong was 7…?
I hurriedly looked around.
And I discovered a Yuan-yeong cultivator of the Black Raging Tiger Gate holding a Tanghwa-do with a huge horned beast drawn, one hand holding the Thousand Scales Fruit, the other a huge horned beast.
[What are you trying to do, you bastard!]
The Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivator smiled sinisterly and shouted while bringing the Thousand Scales Fruit in his hand to the Tanghwa-do.
“I beg Sikjoo (識罪), please judge the unjust contract, the unjust oppression, the unjust abuse that Black Dragon King Hyeon-eum has done to us. This is my plea! If you judge it as not virtuous, I beg you to cancel this contract!”
Uuuuung!
The Tanghwa-do glowed, and the ‘Sikjoo’ inside the Tanghwa-do seemed to come alive and open its mouth.
The Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivator threw the Thousand Scales Fruit into Sikjoo’s mouth.
Then Sikjoo’s eyes began to glow, and the light flowed into the bodies of the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators.
At the same time, joy filled the eyes of the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators.
“It’s done! I’ve finally escaped that bastard Hyeon-eum!!!!”
“We’re free!”
“Prepare yourself….”
Passion burned in their eyes.
“Now that Hyeon-eum’s restriction is cut, our lives are ours to decide…!”
Hwarurureuk!
I felt the atmosphere was unusual.
They were burning life.
The Nascent Soul Integration stage cultivators who had been this quickly became mid Nascent Soul cultivators one by one.
The Yuan-yeong cultivators became Nascent Soul Integration stage cultivators one by one.
They formed a formation and attacked me, and I fought them with the Ghost Army’s circuits covering my whole body.
Kwakwakwakuak!
The entire Bongyang layer shook.
At first I was a little surprised, but soon I started pushing them back.
No matter how they burned life, the overall skill was different. [It’s just annoying. Die…!]
I spewed ghost flames from my whole body and began using the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation.
The Heavenly Qi began rushing toward me.
And at that moment.
“Now!”
“Activate!” [What…?]
Cheok, cheok, cheok!
From the bottom of the Bongyang layer, thousands of chains suddenly shot out.
I realized where these chains came from.
This is… a trap?
Below the Bongyang layer.
Layer 1 Suryu layer, Layer 2 Dogeo layer.
Chains connected everywhere in Layers 1 and 2 bound me with the power of the spiritual veins there.
At the same time, powerful attraction erupted from the Mulgeul Tree lake.
[T-these bastards…! The traps they installed back then weren’t for different races…!]
The Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators’ traps installed from the Suryu layer on the paths we passed.
I had thought those traps were laid to make it harder for the pursuing different races that followed us.
But no.
From the beginning, those traps were laid to hit my back.
Only then did I understand Hyeon-gwi’s thoroughness.
They had seen my curse and sealed not ‘what I had taken,’ but ‘the trap laid in advance to hit my back.’
I looked at the decaying pieces of Hyeon-gwi’s body with a tongue-tied feeling at his meticulousness and the fact that he had died so uselessly.
What the hell is this…?
Cheok, cheok, cheok!
I couldn’t resist.
Even if the chains were one thing, the attraction from the lake was too strong.
“Since you’ve pulled the Sikjoo Tanghwa-do out of the seal, the seal will shake. You have to become another axis of this seal.”
The Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators said while glaring at me.
“Consider it payment for killing Hyeon-gwi.” [These damn Black Raging Tiger Gate bastards… Even if it wasn’t Hyeon-gwi, they only thought of hitting my back…!]
I struggled wildly, and every time, the trap chains installed by the Black Raging Tiger Gate shook wildly.
“It’s noisy. Since you’ve lost, stop struggling desperately and accept it!” [This…]
Cheombeok!
I was pulled by attraction and bound to the chains and fell into the Mulgeul Tree lake as is.
Hi, my strength…
The lake water wasn’t ordinary water, and as soon as I fell into the lake, I couldn’t use any power.
It was a feeling of completely losing power.
Fa-ryeok could be used, but physical power itself didn’t work.
But the truth was that Fa-ryeok was bound to the black chains, so I was completely sealed here.
I gnashed my teeth, but soon calmed my mind. Well, it doesn’t matter…
Anyway, they would release me again.
And that would be by my own hand.
* * *
“It’s over.”
“We caught the bastard… but the senior died.”
“The one who planned it died like this…”
“The Black Raging Tiger Gate has lost their seer. What should we do from now on…?”
…There was sacrifice, but we have become bodies of freedom. The only witness who knew we became bodies of freedom became the axis of the seal. The seal is not a problem, and secrecy is not a problem. Hyeon-eum won’t know for a while, so first, let’s report to the elders’ council. Find a new Tae-su who will become our back until Hyeon-eum knows.
…Understood.
They, even if they wanted to forget Hyeon-gwi’s death, became more enthusiastic and bright, and rose to the sky from the illusion formation outside the Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension.
After a while.
Chwaaak!
The 10 Black Raging Tiger Gate people came out through the heaven and earth under the waning moon.
“Then let’s go… Eum?”
And they flinched.
In front of the heaven and earth.
Someone was standing there.
A clean-shaven man in blue robes was wiping his hands.
Next to the man was the corpse of Gyoeom with his neck cut off and the corpse of Nogju, with blood scattered everywhere.
The kind-looking man with a gentle smile tore Gyoeom’s clothes to wipe the bloody hands on the cloth and threw the cloth away.
The clean-shaven man in blue robes with Seo Eun-hyun’s face said to the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators,
“Long time no see, Seo supporter?”
And the eyes of the Black Raging Tiger Gate cultivators rolled back, and the Ghost Army inside their bodies began to go berserk.
===
Author’s note: For the 4th day, I pushed 15,000 characters or more each time to end the tedious dungeon episode, but… since I woke up at 2 AM in the morning and repeated writing, I got a bit tired… For the protection of the author’s health, for now, I will continue with 5,000 characters each… Uu~~