The Ghost King’s Fiery Glow (5)
‘Hmm… What is this?’
Clearly it was Oh Hye-seo.
Yet she felt oddly uncanny.
I walked toward the entrance without a trace of emotion.
She was definitely Oh Hye-seo.
But if she were human, I should have felt the basic heartbeat, the flow of life, the pulse of consciousness.
None of it registered.
‘I see. A projection.’
I focused my awareness on the surrounding companions.
Not a single one reacted to her presence.
She had been popular back at the company; even after so long apart they should have at least greeted her.
But the silence…
‘It’s only visible to me. Ah, I get it.’
Only then did I realize the source of the unease.
Same perception as Kim Young-hoon!
That was why I alone could see her.
Originally she had no intention of showing herself to us, but here her very intention to act created a projection.
‘Chilling.’
If I hadn’t possessed that sense, I would have walked right past her without a second thought.
I pretended not to notice her and walked into Black Ghost Valley, fully suppressing my reactions.
Whoosh—
Clap—
Oh Hye-seo smiled sweetly and clapped her hands together.
[Spirit Beast]. Glass Peacock.
Bright light erupted, and a hazy glow swirled around the eyes of my companions.
I pulled the Ten Thousand Phenomena Affinity Diagram into my body.
Perhaps because I faced the Imperial Immortals and recognized the beings erased in this loop.
As I manipulated the diagram, I resisted the Glass Peacock’s light.
Still, I feigned the same dazed expression to watch what she planned to do.
[Spirit, Dark Ghost Xuanwu].
Simultaneously, my Underworld Sense pierced the outer boundaries of the Underworld.
Those boundaries flickered and began to twist.
‘Oh Hye-seo…’
I realized what she intended and debated whether to unleash the All-Heaven Sword right then.
She was twisting the outer boundaries of the Underworld with the power of Dark Ghost Xuanwu.
The outer boundaries lay in a special realm overlapping this world, though not identical; they influenced each other.
As the boundaries twisted, reality warped.
Through the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation I felt countless ghosts screaming as they suffered sudden calamity.
Most ghosts anchored their true bodies in the outer boundaries; what appeared in reality was merely a projection.
Even if they were not at Ghost King rank, most still didn’t realize their true forms existed in the outer boundaries.
Yet every miracle they performed—passing through objects and such—rested on the principle that their true bodies resided in a different realm.
Therefore, only powers that displaced the outer boundaries or leaped across realms could truly harm ghosts.
But Oh Hye-seo had touched the outer boundaries themselves, laying a formation across the entire Black Ghost Valley.
At the same time, the Glass Peacock’s light she released turned everyone, including the ghosts of Black Ghost Valley, into fools.
The once-melancholic valley fell silent; only dazed ghosts muttered “Uwoo…”
‘Humans inside Black Ghost Valley must be fools too.’
I smirked inwardly.
‘Crude.’
It was not a genuine ghost dao technique but a crude display borrowed from the spirit beast’s power.
It looked crude to me.
I wondered how to dismantle the formation she laid, how to untwist the boundaries she had corrupted, and how to reverse her actions so I could capture her.
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind like fire.
‘It would be too easy to twist the outer boundaries with the Great Desert Dead Sea Formation.’
A sensation I had never felt while cultivating martial arts or dao techniques.
It was as if a bright path lay before me.
Perhaps because Seo Lip’s talent had been the origin of my demonic arts.
‘Unbelievable. It looks this easy…’
I suppressed a laugh and said nothing.
Oh Hye-seo had allowed us to enter Black Ghost Valley and I had let her be.
She seemed to be plotting something, but I believed I could turn her schemes against her and punish her when the time came.
“Hmm… What’s going on? It feels strange…”
Kim Yeon, with her vast awareness, was the first to sense the unease.
She tilted her head, sensing her own mind had momentarily clouded.
Jeon Myeong-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok showed no reaction, and I had deliberately not told them, so they only tilted their heads.
After a while.
We encountered a gatekeeper guarding the path to Black Ghost Valley’s Seopmyeong Ship dock.
“The Martial Brother Seo Eun-hyun has come to meet his sect disciple Gang Min-hee of Black Ghost Valley.”
The gatekeeper, Gang-si, jolted, summoned a ghost from his sleeve, and sent it toward the ship.
Oh Hyun-seok and Jeon Myeong-hoon frowned slightly, while Kim Yeon merely looked resigned, having seen too many puppets before.
“Yes, sir. I have sent a soul message to Myeong Valley. An answer should arrive soon!”
After a moment, two figures flew from the ship—familiar Heoak and Heol-yeong.
Heol-yeong bowed respectfully, but Heoak stared at me with an unreadable expression.
“Has something been smeared on my face?”
“Ah, no! My apologies!”
Heoak looked confused but bit his lip and lowered his head.
“Now that I look again, you have been concealing your realm since then. I was too inexperienced back then to be rude to my senior.”
Heoak apparently thought I was some kind of monster who had hidden his realm, so he bowed in apology for what had happened at the Non-Selected Group back then.
‘If I truly told him I was only at Nascent Soul rank then, he wouldn’t believe it, would he?’
Moreover, he would think I was mocking him, so I simply nodded casually.
“Alright. That aside, as you know, I have come to meet Gang Min-hee, a disciple of Black Ghost Valley.”
Heol-yeong answered awkwardly.
“Ahaha, Senior. My apologies, but Disciple Gang Min-hee is currently in closed-door cultivation in Black Ghost Valley’s main hall. If there is some reason you wish to meet her…”
“It’s nothing. I simply wish to meet an old acquaintance. Hmm… How is her current realm?”
“She has entered the Heavenly Person realm.”
“Hmm…”
I glanced at Heol-yeong and Heoak.
‘Lying.’
Was he worried I might steal her current realm?
“Bring her here. Heavenly Person is at least the realm to create a clone, right? Even if she’s in closed cultivation and can’t move, she can still send a clone.”
“Yes, yes! I will bring her real self, not a clone!”
Heol-yeong signaled Heoak with his eyes; Heoak immediately rushed off to find Gang Min-hee.
While he was gone, Heol-yeong led us to the flower garden at the summit of the highest mountain in Black Ghost Valley, beyond the ship.
Tsutsuch—
The moment we arrived, every kind of spiritual herb and treasure spread before us, yet not a single ghost or yin qi could be seen despite searching with Underworld Sense.
‘The perfect spot to entertain guests.’
Following Heol-yeong’s guidance, we entered the pavilion at the center of the flower garden and sat.
Clap clap—
When Heol-yeong clapped, beautiful ghosts pulled tea carts.
“First, welcome to Black Ghost Valley, Martial Brother Seo Eun-hyun. I heard you have recently become a true sect leader.”
“That’s right.”
“You are truly magnificent. Our In Clan’s future has grown even brighter.”
Heol-yeong flattered me while making small talk.
Then, after a moment, he casually brought up the main topic.
“If I may ask… have you come to Black Ghost Valley to establish a sect under your control?”
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t really the case, but the way my movements were being explained made it seem so.
“I will explain everything after I meet Gang Min-hee.”
“Ah, yes. Of course!”
After a while.
Heoak flew toward us from afar, accompanied by a Heavenly Person-level disciple.
It was Gang Min-hee.
I frowned slightly at the sight.
‘A clone.’
She had said she would bring her true self, yet she had brought a Heavenly Person-level clone.
‘Well, showing a fellow who reached Four Pillars after a hundred years to a suspicious sect leader wouldn’t help anything. I can see that.’
After a while Gang Min-hee entered the pavilion.
She bit her lip slightly upon seeing my face, then greeted me formally from across the table.
“Hello, Martial Brother Seo Eun-hyun. It has been a long time.”
I felt a trace of bitterness and shook my head.
“Etiquette is unnecessary. And…”
I looked at her and asked,
“You would have noticed, wouldn’t you? There seems to be a mole in your sect. What do you plan to do about it?”
Gang Min-hee’s lips curled into a sinister smile.
“Mole, you say? More like a wasp. And as a wasp, I enjoy crushing them myself…”
She had clearly noticed Oh Hye-seo’s mischief and her eyes sparkled.
Even if Oh Hye-seo had released the Glass Peacock’s light, Gang Min-hee before me was merely a clone; the true body was merely controlling it, so no effect would reach her.
Heoak and Heol-yeong looked baffled by our conversation.
I questioned Gang Min-hee.
“For a wasp you’re quite large… How do you intend to catch it at Heavenly Person level? You need to be at least capable of controlling clones, right?”
Gang Min-hee’s eyes gleamed.
Heoak and Heol-yeong, who had read the hidden spike in my words, shivered.
“My apologies, Senior!”
“We were far too arrogant. Please punish us!”
They were ancient monsters who had lived for thousands of years; they dropped to their knees instantly.
But they had not yet fully grasped that I had hidden Gang Min-hee’s true body, so they simply sought forgiveness in a crafty manner.
‘Unforgivable monsters.’
I clicked my tongue and asked,
“It seems something has gone wrong in your sect. I suspect only you and Gang-si here have noticed. If you are wary of a newcomer like me using my power, I will give you a chance. What will you do?”
The two men exchanged glances and looked at Gang Min-hee.
She sent them a soul message, and after a while both their faces turned pale with shock.
“W-what?”
“We had no idea…”
They were sweating profusely.
“…If only the two of us can sense it, there is no choice… I will open the door for a moment. Come out, Min-hee.”
Gang Min-hee nodded.
The two bowed deeply to me in apology.
“We have overstepped. We beg forgiveness for hiding our disciple’s realm from Senior.”
“You said she was an old acquaintance from your hometown. I already knew of her talent. She was exceptional from the start.”
“…”
Gang Min-hee seemed about to speak, but after a glance at Heoak and Heol-yeong she closed her mouth.
“Then I will open the door!”
Ku gu gu gu gu—
Heol-yeong and Heoak instantly drew some kind of formation on the spot and began spewing yin qi.
Ku gu gu gu gu—
‘I thought only on days of strong yin qi would this be possible, but apparently even the Four Pillars elders can do it normally.’
After a while, a spatial crack appeared in the center of the pavilion and a massive yang qi gushed out.
Chuaaa—
The yang qi spread in a circle, and in the darkness a woman’s figure slowly emerged.
Sreureuk—
She wrapped the darkness around her body and changed it into black robes; her eyes, glowing with faint blue ghost flames, turned toward me.
It was Gang Min-hee.
Tsutsuch—
Her Heavenly Person clone had been fully absorbed the moment she entered Gwanghan Realm, and I felt the nearby outer boundaries of the Underworld surging.
I smiled faintly at Gang Min-hee’s true body.
“It has been a long time, Gang-sa.”
“Ah… It really has, Martial Brother Seo Eun-hyun. But since this is a public place, I hope you will draw a clear line between public and private matters.”
Gang Min-hee deliberately made a show of discomfort and forced a smile; Jeon Myeong-hoon and Oh Hyun-seok looked resigned, while Kim Yeon fidgeted slightly.
“Well, first let’s crush the wasp.”
I smiled and lifted my yin qi.
“That is indeed the priority.”
Gang Min-hee poured out her ghost flames and looked down toward the ship below.
“Then we must first clean up the twisted boundaries. Please handle that, you two elders…”
And as Gang Min-hee reached out toward the twisted outer boundaries of the Underworld…
[My, my dear development department meeting. How can you all have fun without me?]
A melodious voice suddenly rang out from somewhere.
Kim Yeon, Gang Min-hee, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and Oh Hyun-seok all turned pale.
Even I was so startled I almost jumped.
[Ahaha, let me join too~]
Flutter, flutter!
“!”
My shadow suddenly writhed, and from within it a woman in pure white robes smiled gently and spread her arms.
How! I hadn’t sensed anything at all!?
That feeling was not Oh Hye-seo’s.
I suddenly realized something.
‘This is not Oh Hye-seo’s authority. This is… Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven!?’
Instantly I combined my past experiences and facts to form a conclusion.
‘Seo Hyoel! That bastard placed Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven on my shadow and used Oh Hye-seo’s authority through Seo Hyoel’s Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven to appear here with her own power!’
A chill ran down my spine.
It was already unbelievable that Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven could act on an abstract concept like a shadow, yet it had combined with Oh Hye-seo’s authority—my neck grew cold.
Seo Hyoel could have sniped at me from any distance with just a thought, could he not?
The projection of Oh Hye-seo who had appeared using Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven’s power at that location laughed brightly and murmured,
[Spirit Beast Glass Peacock, Dark Ghost Xuanwu, Destroying Heaven, Black Dragon, Taikho, Blue Phoenix, White Yik Cheonma].
Whooooo—
A taiji pattern formed beneath her feet, and from below it the forms of mysterious spirit beasts rose.
“Wait, you…!”
Gang Min-hee lunged at Oh Hye-seo in fury, and I raised the All-Heaven Sword to strike the sudden intruder.
But the next moment.
“Hehe, hehehe…”
“Hehehehe…”
Heol-yeong and Heoak suddenly smiled as if they had just remembered a dream and clasped their hands simultaneously.
Oh Hye-seo and Seo Hyoel had activated their powers at the same time.
[Blood Yin Ghost Valley Maze].
[Ten Thousand Spirits Earthly Immortal Form].
Spatial reality twisted.
Instantly the surroundings inverted into pure white space.
I looked around; my companions had vanished.
I had been caught in a combined trap by Oh Hye-seo and Seo Hyoel.
* * *
“Hehe, thank you, Hye-seo. Thanks to you I was able to capture that monster.”
In the pure white space, Seo Hyoel’s projection in a blue long robe and Oh Hye-seo’s projection body in white robes were conversing.
“I suppose there was no need to reveal the secret technique I hid and appear like this. It was a secret I could have kept hidden in the shadow.”
[My, why thank you. It was fun, wasn’t it?]
[Fun… Hehe.]
Seo Hyoel smiled at Oh Hye-seo.
That look as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Oh Hye-seo’s face was smiling, but her brain was spinning at lightning speed as she watched him.
‘What is this guy thinking?’
‘Does he know my plan?’
‘Unlikely. But since Seo Hyoel’s techniques might read thoughts, I must be careful.’
‘Scatter useless thoughts on the surface and keep important ones inside.’
‘Well, it’s fine. Soon Seo Hyoel will leave this space he created by twisting the outer boundaries of the Underworld. That’s the gap I need to secretly contact Seo Eun-hyun.’
Oh Hye-seo’s mind raced furiously.
And Seo Hyoel stood up.
“I cannot stay in this space long, so I will step out first to prepare to completely capture them. Hye-seo, please maintain this space for a moment.”
[Leave it to me.]
Oh Hye-seo rose to see him off and turned her back as Seo Hyoel left the white space.
At that moment.
Kuwoong—
A heavy rumble came from somewhere.
Seo Hyoel turned around and chuckled.
“Oh? I thought as much.”
“Eh?”
Oh Hye-seo was momentarily confused and looked toward the sound’s source.
“What…?”
And.
Kwajarang!
A crack split the white space; a hand emerged and grabbed Oh Hye-seo’s ankle.
“No, what is this again!!!”
Oh Hye-seo’s pupils trembled.
Seo Hyoel hurriedly used his power to open a door in the white space.
“No, wait! Great Sect Leader, Seo Hyoel! Come with me!”
Oh Hye-seo shouted urgently, but Seo Hyoel simply laughed and stepped through the door, closing it without hesitation.
Kwoaang!
Tsutsutsuch—
The white door shone brightly before dissolving into white space.
Oh Hye-seo gulped and bit her lip at the thirty-eight eyes staring at her from behind and the voice coming from ahead.
[Hehe, Hye-seo. I hope you return safely to reality. I will protect your flesh well.]
“Seo Hyoel…! You…!”
Kyaaaa—
Kyaaaa—
Huaaa—
The white space began to corrupt and transformed into a garden of filthy flowers.
Kwak!
A hand as terrifying as something from a nightmare landed on Oh Hye-seo’s shoulder.
[It has been a while, Oh-sa.]