The Storm of Illusions and the Abyss's Whisper
A dazzling green light illuminated the surroundings.
Ham-jin broke out in a cold sweat.
‘W-Warning!’
It was there. I felt it.
If this formation activated, he would surely die!
And the danger of the formation was sensed by Heukryung as well. He glared at Ham-jin with a terrifying face.
“You… What exactly did you do just now?”
“Eh? N-No! I didn’t do anything!”
Ham-jin desperately denied it while glancing at his own shadow.
‘Ah…’
Yet his shadow had transformed back into the one with nineteen heads from the monster.
Heukryung extended his hand toward Ham-jin with a vicious expression.
“It looks like I can’t have you. Damn it. Originally, if something went wrong with this body, I was going to swap it out entirely. But like this… I should have scattered its soul and refined it beforehand!”
“Wh-What?!”
Ham-jin gritted his teeth.
Heukryung Nam-ma reached out toward him.
And at that moment.
Heukryung Nam-ma, who had been reaching out to Ham-jin, suddenly froze.
Chill!
A shiver ran down his spine.
‘What the hell is this feeling?’
Somehow, it was hard to breathe.
Heukryung looked behind him with trembling eyes.
Who could it be?
Behind Heukryung sat a man in a snow-white robe with jet-black hair, observing something on the ground.
Crackle! Crackle!
Heukryung broke out in a cold sweat.
‘When did he get here? I didn’t sense any approaching presence! Is he someone who has mastered concealment arts?’
He waved his hand at Ham-jin.
He had been about to kill him, but his thoughts had changed.
He didn’t have time to deal with something like Ham-jin now.
Whoosh! Bang!
From his hand shot a trail of magic fire that became chains, wrapping around Ham-jin.
Heukryung suppressed Ham-jin in one go and asked the man in white with trembling eyes.
“Who are you?”
The man, who had been observing the floor where the dragon veins flowed, looked at Heukryung.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
Heukryung’s body was filled with chilling sensations, making it hard to breathe.
‘This… The being in front of me isn’t even at the Qi Condensation stage. He has less energy than I do! Wait… Less than a living being?’
Chill! Chill!
The more Heukryung tried to figure out the man’s identity, the more he felt like shivering.
And the man opened his mouth.
“Completely bound by the Soul Rank, yet you still sensed me… It must be because of that. That created a soul similar to the Soul’s Origin, binding it to the Rank. A magnificent artifact.”
‘As expected…!’
Just moments ago, he had thought he wasn’t recognized!
He only sensed it because of the Soul Talisman embedded in his heart!
Heukryung trembled as he asked the man.
“Who are you?”
However, the man simply glanced at the ground without paying him any mind.
“…I see. A formation. A formation spanning multiple Soul Ranks. I thought it was merely a corpse… This shape is exactly… I see. Jang Ik tried to enter the formation, and this being prevented him from approaching, only to die at Jang Ik’s hands, right?”
Heukryung couldn’t understand what the man was saying.
But he could guess.
‘This is an existence related to this artifact! Yes, it was the Guardian Spirit protecting this Soul Talisman! Thinking back, the voice that activated the formation just now wasn’t Ham-jin’s—it was this man’s!’
Heukryung looked up at the sky.
Even if he used his full power to flee, the formation would explode before he could escape back to the surface.
‘I can’t let that happen!’
Heukryung made a life-or-death decision.
‘There’s no time to run. So, the only way is to suppress this existence and command the formation to cancel!’
A decision he would never have made before.
But Heukryung was confident enough.
The power he had gained by merging with the Soul Talisman was immense.
“Immediately cancel the formation, or I will kill you!”
“Remarkable formation. But a form I’ve never seen… One that carries strong influence. What result comes from activating it through influence?”
“Shut up! Don’t ignore me!”
Kugugugugu!
Heukryung drew power.
Infinite authority began to erupt from the Soul Talisman fused with his heart.
“I am equal to the true immortal now! No, with this power, even the Heavenly Devas beyond the heavens cannot ignore it!”
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The bottom of the pit instantly filled with Heukryung’s magic fire!
And that was the moment Heukryung prepared to strike the man who was ignoring him.
Whoosh!
Pew!
“…Eh?”
Heukryung sensed something amiss within his body.
Ting! Ting! Peeew!
The next instant.
Kwa-aang!
Heukryung’s body exploded.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!”
From the explosion site, a brilliant green light poured forth.
‘Oh no! This damn thing! The Soul Talisman’s power is surging!’
He struggled desperately to control the Soul Talisman, but it was useless.
And at that moment, the man in white’s eyes sparkled.
“I see…! I wondered what strange Soul Talisman was rolling around on top of the formation, but this was the key, was it?”
The man began to approach.
Heukryung distorted his face and shouted.
“D-Don’t come any closer! You monster!”
“Who’s calling who a monster? The monster that devours disciples.”
“Hyaaa—”
Bang!
Heukryung desperately controlled the Soul Talisman while simultaneously spewing endless magic fire at the man.
Yet the man advanced through the magic fire as if unaffected.
But right then.
Tiiiiing—
A single melody rang out from the Soul Talisman inside Heukryung’s chest.
The man in white’s expression changed upon hearing it.
“Oh dear. A spatial resonance. This is a bit…”
Kugugugugu!
The surroundings heated by the dragon vein’s green light.
The man clicked his tongue in disappointment, while Heukryung stared with terrified eyes at the boiling dragon veins around him and the man himself.
Green light enveloped the world.
***
Kugugugugu!
Ham-jin opened his eyes.
‘W-Where…?’
“Kuhek!”
He jerked upright.
The surroundings were filled with dust.
However, after a moment, the dust settled.
Ham-jin looked around.
‘T-The Jigugok…!’
The Jigugok had vanished.
The area was now nothing but a pile of rubble that once was the Jigugok.
Ham-jin was bewildered as he touched his body.
“How did I survive?”
It didn’t make sense.
With the explosion’s power, Ham-jin, who had exhausted all his spiritual energy, should have been annihilated instantly.
But he hadn’t died.
How?
Just as Ham-jin was in shock.
Fwoosh!
A hand emerged from beneath the rubble.
It was the hand of his master, Heukryung Nam-ma Yeom-gok.
Ham-jin flinched.
“Kuhek! Kuhek!!”
Heukryung emerged from the rubble, panting.
And he and Ham-jin met eyes.
Ham-jin quickly thought.
‘Thanks to the dragon vein’s energy, my dantian is gradually filling with pure spiritual energy. Now, can I kill Heukryung?’
However, Ham-jin suppressed his murderous intent upon seeing the faint green light rising from Heukryung’s entire body.
‘No, it’s still dangerous. Heukryung still has the Soul Talisman’s energy. I would lose in a fight with him.’
He barely held back his murderous intent and said.
“Master, this disciple will assist you.”
‘When the dragon vein’s power fills a bit more, I’ll attack then.’
Kwaddeuk!
The rubble covering Heukryung was cleared by Ham-jin’s magic arts.
Heukryung coughed up blood and breathed heavily.
Heukryung glared at Ham-jin.
For a moment, their gazes crossed.
Heukryung glanced around as if he couldn’t trust Ham-jin, then spoke to him.
“This master is having a hard time. Raise a flying technique, Ham-jin. Next to Jigugok lies Heukryung-gok with an extra eastern part. It’s close with the flying technique; let me ride it. I’ll eat a spiritual pill there to recover my strength.”
Tremble—
Ham-jin’s expression twitched at those words.
‘Damn it, the crafty old man!’
He clenched his teeth inwardly.
Due to the nature of the Gyuto Jangseong-gyeol, which replenishes spiritual energy through dragon veins, recovery was greatly reduced if the body left the ground.
Heukryung asked Ham-jin with a sly smile.
“Why are you hesitating, disciple? You won’t move the flying technique for this old and injured master?”
Fwoosh, fwoosh!
The flickering green light around Heukryung began to turn into magic fire according to his will.
Ham-jin gritted his teeth and took out a flying technique from Jeomuldo.
All the flying techniques he possessed were slow ones.
Heukryung had given them to Ham-jin out of concern that he might flee.
Yet Ham-jin smiled inwardly.
‘Maybe…’
“I understand, Master. However, with this disciple’s spiritual energy, I cannot properly operate the flying technique. Please infuse your spiritual energy to move it.”
He had spoken to consume as much of Heukryung’s spiritual energy as possible, but Heukryung grabbed Ham-jin’s shoulder while drawing more magic fire.
“Ham-jin. Didn’t I tell you? Raise the flying technique.”
Chiiiiik—
The heat of the magic fire burned Ham-jin’s skin.
He swallowed hard.
“…Understood.”
Uuuuuung!
Ham-jin and Heukryung boarded the flying technique shaped like a carpet.
As Ham-jin infused spiritual energy, the flying technique slowly rose into the air and headed toward the direction Heukryung pointed.
Ham-jin controlled the flying technique toward the indicated place, while Heukryung placed his hand that created magic fire behind Ham-jin’s back.
It seemed he intended to burn him to ash the moment he showed any sign of betrayal.
Ham-jin flew through the sky, clenching his teeth.
‘Are my companions safe?’
With the explosion earlier, they might all have died.
‘Where did the Terminator disappear to? Wasn’t it the Terminator that activated the formation just now? Was he planning to just use me and discard me…?’
He twisted his head with a troubled heart and suddenly looked down.
The Jigugok turned into rubble.
And the flow of heaven and earth spiritual energy in the Jigugok.
And…
‘Eh?’
Suddenly, Ham-jin’s eyes sparkled.
The flow of heaven and earth spiritual energy was odd.
Amid the Jigugok’s flow, spiritual energies seemed to twitch and suddenly sprout everywhere.
And the rubble in that place began to shake, and from that spot, his companions sprang out.
“Eh, eh?”
Ham-jin, forgetting even the magic fire pressing against his back from behind, shouted joyfully.
“Mas-Master! Look! All my senior and junior brothers are alive!”
And strangely, most of his senior and junior brothers at the Qi Condensation 1st and 2nd stages were in perfect condition.
Not a scratch.
As if someone had protected them separately.
Ham-jin’s shout made Heukryung look in the direction he pointed.
Unlike the joyous Ham-jin, Heukryung’s reaction was the opposite.
“Hm?”
Ham-jin suddenly felt something strange and turned back.
Heukryung was sweating cold sweat.
“Master, Master. Why?”
Uuuuuung—
He asked while piloting the flying technique.
Kureung, kururung!
Somehow, it looked like thick clouds were gathering in the sky, but he didn’t care.
He was simply curious about Heukryung’s attitude.
“Master, worry is etched on your face.”
And Heukryung said with a deathly pale face.
Chiiii—
The sky had filled with dark clouds, darkening the surroundings.
Drip, plop, shooooow!
Rain fell, and the magic fire he was holding vanished. But Heukryung didn’t even think to create more, instead pointing his finger at where his disciples had crawled out.
“Disciples, Ham-jin. Do you not see that ghost?”
Ham-jin looked back.
It was only his senior and junior brothers crawling out where Heukryung pointed.
Heukryung’s voice trembled.
“That ghost with nineteen heads and wearing a large dark robe… Do you not see it?”
“…!”
Ham-jin looked straight ahead, feigning ignorance.
He controlled the flying technique indifferently, but he was smiling secretly so Heukryung couldn’t see.
‘As expected, he didn’t discard me! He even saved my senior and junior brothers!’
He said calmly, reassuring Heukryung.
“Master, that’s just a strand of raindrops. It’s an illusion caused by the sudden downpour.”
Kwaak!
Heukryung grabbed Ham-jin’s shoulders with both hands.
However, it wasn’t an action to threaten or intimidate him.
Rather, in a situation where he had no one else to rely on, he was trembling with fear while grabbing Ham-jin’s shoulders.
His hands were shaking.
And a large ghost’s voice echoed near his ear.
[Come to me, child. Bring me your heart. If you give me your heart, I will show you a very happy and new world. If you give me your heart, I will let you come with me. I will give you a chance to live a very fun life with me.]
Heukryung’s pupils shrank.
It was coming.
A massive dark ghost with nineteen heads and a huge body slowly followed after Heukryung and Ham-jin.
[Where do you want to go? There’s a place where beautiful eyes are embedded in the sky. There’s also pretty doll clothes to give you. I can send you to a place very fitting for your martial arts.]
Heukryung fell into panic and clung to Ham-jin.
“Disciple, disciple! Do you not hear it? The ghost is whispering to me!”
He was trembling with fear.
It was felt.
That ghost wasn’t a true immortal or a heavenly deva.
It was a higher existence!
A ghost existing above the sky, in the world after the ascension!
Ham-jin flew slowly through the sky and said soothingly to Heukryung.
“Please rest, Master. It’s just the sound of raindrops scattered by the wind.”
He turned back again.
Still, the ghost approached him.
Every step it took, its massive body grew even larger.
Its body was like the night sky, and its eyes looked like thirty-eight red pearls.
[Come to me, child. Bring me your heart. I will let you come with me. My guards are waiting for new believers.]
The ghost waved its hand, and faint illusions flickered inside its black robe.
[They will bestow blessings upon you in the sea overflowing with dimensions. They will perform a wonderful ritual for you and celebrate with you that you are one with us.]
Illusions of a red monster with six arms inside its robe, a giant with a body of starlight, a spider curled in the darkness of the abyss, and a witch controlling countless curse dolls flickered.
Heukryung, thinking the ghosts inside the robe would reach for him at any moment, clung desperately to Ham-jin.
“Disciple, disciple! Don’t you see over there? Don’t you see the ghost and his four great guardians standing?”
Ham-jin broke through the rain and laughed.
“Master, Master. I see it. It’s very clearly visible. But that’s just a handful of rubble.”
Thump, thump, thump!
Heukryung’s pupils shook in confusion.
He panted.
His heart began to ache.
The ghost had already chased them to their immediate rear.
He wanted to shout at Ham-jin to hurry faster while pushing him.
But the ghost’s appearance drained all his strength.
[Child, I need your heart. Your heart’s luster gives me hope. If you don’t give me your heart, I will have to use violence.]
Kwaak!
Finally, the massive black ghost with nineteen heads grabbed Heukryung’s shoulder.
“Disciple! Disciple! The ghost has grabbed me!”
Kwaddeuk!
Darkness dug into Heukryung’s body.
It was a curse.
All of them were terrifying and vicious curses!
Heukryung couldn’t even imagine how many billions of souls had endured such curses for this ghost to refine them.
He screamed while looking at the horrific curses.
“Disciple! The ghost is hurting me! Disciple! Hurry and control the flying technique! Disciple! Ham-jin!”
Ham-jin began to release his strength from the flying technique.
The flying technique gradually slowed.
“Hyaaaaaaaak!!! Kyaak!!! Hyaaaak! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!”
Frightening screams began to come from behind Ham-jin.
Like the screams of eunuchs being castrated alive.
Ham-jin didn’t turn back.
Since the Infinite Terminator had stuck to him, his disciples would be experimented on, but they didn’t die.
But Ham-jin clearly remembered.
His companions.
His senior and junior brothers.
How many of his countless friends had been sacrificed as experimental subjects to that ruthless ghost before he had joined the Mugeuk Ghost King.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!! Ham-jin! Ham-jin! Please, I see nothing! Please save me! Where is this! Mother! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!! Hyaaaaak!!!”
That scream was like a lament.
He even stood the flying technique in place and slowly lowered its altitude.
Kwaak!
“You bastard!!! Hurry! Hurry! Say it! Now!!!”
From behind, Heukryung, writhing in pain, choked Ham-jin’s neck.
And only then did Ham-jin turn around.
The Heukryung Nam-ma called the Demon.
Yeom-gok was dying from behind, covered in tiny curses.
“Hurry and move the flying technique!! Please, Disciple please! Pleeease!!”
Shimmering like a mirror image?
Magic fire erupted across Heukryung’s entire body.
As if trying to take him with him.
But at that moment, Ham-jin felt a twitching in his lower abdomen.
Twitch, twitch… Puwahaak!
The next instant.
A dark shadow spurted from his lower abdomen like streams, and something black emerged.
Ham-jin realized what it was.
It was his Dantian.
The wondrous organ that the Mugeuk Ghost King had placed inside his body, granting him the ability to see the flow of Tai Chi that had been missing until now!
And only now could Ham-jin understand.
Twitch, twitch…
The Dantian twitched in the air, forming someone’s shape.
It was the man in white.
“…I see. This Dantian was your clone? Infinite Terminator… No.”
He swallowed hard and corrected the title of the man in white who had crawled out from his belly.
“Ghost King of the Limit….”
Originally, the Infinite Terminator wasn’t a subordinate of the Ghost King of the Limit.
The Ghost King of the Limit himself had infused one of his soul threads into him.
Kkuduk, kudududuk!
The man in white’s appearance began to change.
‘Master must have sensed the Ghost King of the Limit chasing him. It wasn’t originally. The Ghost King of the Limit… was hiding inside me from the beginning!’
He understood why he had been fine during the dragon vein explosion.
Kudududuk!
Eighteen heads sprouted from the shoulder of the kind-looking man.
All heads were weeping bloody tears, and the tears flowed down, blooming curse flowers around them.
Heukryung shed a tear while looking at the ghost that had torn through Ham-jin’s belly.
“He, hehe, hehehehe!!”
In the end, he laughed as if he had let go of his sanity amidst fear and pain.
The nineteen-headed ghost grabbed Heukryung’s head.
And that was the end.
The laughing Heukryung melted into a handful of rotten water, and only a single Soul Talisman remained in his place.
It was the one who had kidnapped countless orphans, conducted cruel experiments, and stolen countless lives like a sacrificial offering.
The last sage of Yuk-hwa Country.
The end of the Demon Heukryung Nam-ma Yeom-gok.
Ham-jin closed his eyes while catching the falling raindrops.
‘Finally…’
He understood who the Ghost King of the Limit was.
It was the same being as the Infinite Terminator who had always protected him by his side until now.
He smiled, understanding that the Ghost King of the Limit with his chilling appearance was the trustworthy one.
“I am… free.”
The Ghost King of the Limit glanced at such Ham-jin briefly, then raised the green jade Soul Talisman.
When it was in Heukryung’s hands at the Star Shattering stage, the green jade Soul Talisman whined with rejection.
When held in the Ghost King’s hand, it stopped vibrating.
It seemed that was enough to prove he had the qualification to control it.
Whoooosh—
As he gripped the Soul Talisman, it emitted green jade light and scattered rays of light around it.
***
I supplied power to Gang-hwan’s clone while looking around.
It was invisible to Ham-jin, but due to the power of the green jade Soul Talisman, the surrounding space and Soul Ranks were distorted, forming a formation.
‘This formation…’
The formation created a barrier that enveloped the entire area like a raindrop.
Ziiiiing—
Lower realm beings probably didn’t understand, but I sensed that as the formation activated, this area had become separated from the Buhae World.
During the formation’s activation, this area was an entirely different otherworld from the Buhae World.
I looked at the sky and read the influence.
The influence of the formation intertwined in the air, drawing bizarre patterns.
I didn’t know what role this entire raindrop-shaped otherworld played, but I couldn’t figure it out.
‘I’ll probably need a bit more research.’
It was something Jang Ik tried to protect with his Star Shattering Venerable.
If I researched a bit more, I might obtain something interesting.
Whoosh—
I dispersed the influence on the Soul Talisman.
Then the Soul Talisman lost its light again, and the formation was canceled.
At the same time, the otherworld that had been separated from the Buhae World returned to its original state.
Once again, the heaven and earth spiritual energy around me felt properly harmonized and flowing with this world.
I nodded and said while looking at Ham-jin.
[The Dantian I granted you was Gang-hwan’s clone. But since I consumed all my power today, I can no longer use the ability to see heaven and earth spiritual energy. Are you alright?]
“…I am fine. On the contrary, since I obtained something even more precious, I am satisfied.”
Sssu—
I released the Ghost Kingization and stroked Ham-jin’s head.
“Freedom is a precious thing. Due to my heavenly machine guidance, heavy rain will pour in this vicinity for the next three days. Take your companions elsewhere and evacuate. And keep this well.”
I entrusted the Soul Talisman to the fellow.
“I need to research my teeth, so call me again in the future. Each time, I will assist you.”
Unfortunately, I wasn’t in Gongryeong-ji now, but in the Gamsachok, observing this world.
I couldn’t receive the Soul Talisman.
Instead, I would frequently descend to this world to research the Soul Talisman left with Ham-jin.
“I’ll take my leave for now. It seems more guests have come to the house.”
I gradually withdrew my consciousness, and Ham-jin who had received the Soul Talisman from me bowed to me.
“…Thank you, Ghost King of the Limit. No…”
Fwaaaaah!
“…Divine being.”
I withdrew my consciousness again as the final sight of Ham-jin bowing to me.
Uuuuuung!
Pasasak!
When I opened my eyes again, I was in front of Seo Ran and Siho once more.
“I’m sorry. It took me a bit longer than expected.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure there was something you had to do in the lower world?”
“There was something I had to pay attention to. More importantly… I’m a host escort. Please wait a moment.”
“Yes, understood.”
I left Seo Ran and Siho in the room and exited the Mugeuk Sect.
Outside, sea beast yokai such as shrimp, eel, and seahorse surrounded the Guangum-yeok.
“Who are you people?”
My voice echoed throughout the Guangum-yeok, and they flinched, then shouted loudly.
“We are the rulers of the Wijeong Sea Area, the palace master of Jeongryong Palace governing this sea area. Messengers sent by the Lord of Jeongryong Palace, Yuk Rin! You have committed a grave crime by kidnapping and imprisoning the palace master’s daughter from another world and threatening her life! Therefore, kneel immediately, confess your sins, and release the palace master’s daughter!”
“Hm… The lord’s name is Yuk Rin. Then is the daughter’s name perhaps Yuk Yo?”
“Yes! You must bring your daughter right now! The palace master has detected that she feels the threat to her life!”
‘A wanton sea eel who lures victims without protection is the palace master’s daughter… How absurd.’
I was somewhat taken aback, but I nodded as I pleased.
After all, I had invited them as guests, and tearing Siho apart was my mistake and rudeness.
“Hm, I am sorry about that. I will apologize and compensate. She is currently undergoing treatment, so once it’s finished, I will return her immediately, and as an apology, appropriate…”
And at that moment.
I felt a telepathic message from the shrimp yokai sent to the eel yokai who had been shouting at me.
And the eel yokai laughed and shouted.
“He’s here! Everyone, total attack! We’ll rescue Yuk Yo and take her away!”
And the sea beast yokai all poured attacks toward the guest hall where Yuk Yo was staying.
Kwa kwa kwa gwang!
The guest hall collapsed, and the bodies of the kind curse dolls working inside were seen breaking.
And from inside, Yuk Yo felt a sudden surprise while receiving treatment.
She looked at the sea beast yokai that had risen to the sky, then, startled, began to flee in the opposite direction.
“Yuk Yo-nim, where are you going?!”
Kuguguk!
The eel yokai stretched its foot toward her, and powerful influence formed, pulling Yuk Yo.
It looked like a Sachuk Four Pillars Integration.
However, I felt a strong displeasure and spat influence to neutralize their power.
“You… Do you want to die? I said I would return you after treatment ends, yet you dare destroy the main hall of this sect and harm its cultivators?”
Shut up! We didn’t invade this sea area arbitrarily and threaten the residents of Seongran-do who were living there as kind yokai and drive them all out—how can you say that’s the opposite of what was done?”
“Were we threatening? We just said we drove them out!”
Kuguguguk!
I growled with Ghost Kingization.
[You people are estimating me as Sachuk Integration and looking down on this main hall.]
“You bastard, now…”
[Shut up.]
Pwoom!
Before the fellow could even say anything, I fired the Chongcheon-geom and blew it apart.
The eel yokai at the Sachuk Integration stage exploded and died.
“…”
“…”
The sea beast yokai surrounding the Guangum-yeok turned deathly pale.
[I originally planned to apologize, but my thoughts have changed. Apologize and compensate for the palace master of Jeongryong Palace coming to this main hall and injuring its cultivators. Otherwise, you won’t be able to return either—you or even Yuk Yo, who is the palace master’s daughter.]
When I revealed a dangerous aura, they quickly exchanged glances, realizing something was wrong.
And they quickly scattered in all directions and fled.
I moved without acting directly and opened my mouth.
[Grand law enforcement! Stop touching and capture all those wicked bastards!]
I saw the soul of the eel yokai I had just killed going back through the Soul Rank to where it came from, and my eyes sparkled.
That eel yokai would revive and convey my words to the lord.
So, the rest were all hostages.
I reached out to Yuk Yo, who was still running hard in the distance.
Yuk Yo was pulled in front of me, and Jeon Myeong-hoon who had received my order flew into the sky.
Kurrurung!
He, who had reached the Integration stage, spewed red lightning, crossed his arms in the sky, and vanished with thunder.
He had gone to capture the fellows.
I looked at Yuk Yo and asked.
[This… was just to use Seo Ran’s face to scout his location and recruit a local guide…]
Yuk Yo looked up at me with a very anxious face.
[You seem to have a rather rare body. Tell me your true identity.]
“T-That is…”
[For your information, my cultivators have been injured, so my mood is a bit displeased. Lie and I will kill you.]
“He, hehe…”
Her face was filled with fear as she began to recount her background.
“I-I am actually from Jeongryong Palace governing the Wijeong Sea Area. My father is the lord of Jeongryong Palace, Yuk Rin. After my father made me a princess, to fulfill a political marriage, he sold me to a notorious Tuma pirate chief, and I ran away two hundred years ago!”
Earlier, when threatened, she kept lying, but when threatened with Ghost Kingization, her face became as if about to faint, and she only told the truth.
But I roared and spat thunder from my eyes.
[Indeed, the palace master’s daughter was so bold? Does she hide something even in her last moment, thinking she can’t possibly die?]
Her words were clearly true. However, I sensed she was trying to hide something from me.
Yuk Yo’s face turned scarlet.
There was probably a truth that was somewhat embarrassing to reveal, but because my cultivators were injured, my anger left me with no patience to be considerate.
She barely breathed under my pressure and confessed the truth.
“R-Really, I first infiltrated the Tuma pirate group employed by Jeongryong Palace, stole the secret technique the pirate chief had obtained, and when he found out, he was furious and demanded I be given to my father. My father was going to marry me off because he said such a shameful thing…”
[…]
‘At first, I thought she ran away from a political marriage because she was looking for love, but this… she was wrong in the first place.’
Perhaps if that eel hadn’t attacked first, I would have just thrown Yuk Yo away.
‘What kind of brats are there.’
I asked, taken aback.
[What secret technique did you steal?]
“A-After… the dragon form disguise technique I saw earlier. In my eyes, it wasn’t my fault; it was the pirate chief’s fault for leaving a secret technique that can turn into a real dragon when completed.”
[…]
I seriously considered just apologizing to Jeongryong Palace and handing over this weirdo eel.
***
Wijeong Sea Area.
Jeongryong Palace.
Inside, an eel who had undergone Soul Origin cultivation sprinted somewhere in a hurry.
The eel yokai who had just died and revived moments ago in response to Seo Eun-hyun.
He was at the center of the palace.
He leaped into the audience chamber to see the palace master, and reported the situation from moments ago in detail.
A while later, the palace master of Jeongryong Palace, Yuk Rin, who had heard the full story from the eel, trembled with rage.
Kugugugugu!
The eel, prostrating himself in response to the lord’s fury at the Integration stage, lowered his gaze.
[The bastard is still corroding my insides… Even if that bastard is disregarded, if the palace’s subordinates are taken hostage, the palace’s prestige will be ruined.]
He rose from his seat as if about to head toward the Mugeuk Sect in his rage.
However, Yuk Rin gave the eel an order with a cautious gaze.
[But we cannot casually confront unknown monsters from other worlds. Send out a scouting team first to gauge their strength, then the main palace master will step up. Listen, subordinates!]
Kugugugugu!
His voice echoed throughout Jeongryong Palace.
[Transmit the news to all sea areas! Now, my daughter who has been enfeoffed as the palace master of Jeongryong Palace has been captured by yokai from other worlds! Anyone who rescues my subordinates and my daughter will be rewarded by marrying the princess and inheriting Jeongryong Palace!]
Following Yuk Rin’s command, the yokai of Jeongryong Palace moved busily, transmitting his order to each sea area through telepathic magic techniques.
And within half a day, numerous envoys had gathered in front of Jeongryong Palace.
Even the lowest realm among them was at the Heavenly Person stage, and the majority were at the Sachuk stage, with some even at the beginning of Integration, up to the Venerable.
Numerous Sachuk envoys looked at Yuk Rin with expectant expressions.
“I heard the palace master’s daughter is so beautiful…”
“And how kind and innocent she is.”
“If she is so virtuous and pure, just rescuing her would make me the best bride…”
“Haha, well, even if that’s true, if I heard correctly, becoming the successor to Jeongryong Palace just by rescuing the princess—my heart is already pounding.”
Many voices full of expectations rang out, but among them were some who kept their mouths shut and remained silent.
Among them was the only Venerable at the beginning of Integration present at this place.
Jin Ma-yeol, the Venerable of the Tuma tribe and infamous pirate captain from many sea areas, met eyes with Yuk Rin in the audience chamber of Jeongryong Palace.
Jin Ma-yeol looked at Yuk Rin and said.
“Lord Yuk. I hope you keep your promise.”
A small voice, but because of the noisy voices of countless yokai, it was loud.
Yuk Rin looked at him and nodded.
After Jin Ma-yeol finished speaking, he left the audience chamber without asking for more explanation.
Yuk Rin smiled slyly and gave a simple explanation to the Sachuk envoys gathered in the place.
“I will say in advance, besides the princess, I will give positions instead of honor to those who rescue my subordinates. If you don’t rescue the princess directly but contribute to her rescue, you will receive sufficient compensation.”
“Yes!”
The Sachuk yokai all answered in unison.
“Well then, hurry and rescue my daughter and my subordinates, heroes! Quickly! So that my subordinates don’t suffer torture from otherworld beings!”
Upon that word, numerous Sachuk and Heavenly Person envoys in the audience chamber all used flight techniques and exited the audience chamber.
However, Yuk Rin frowned at the last one remaining in the audience chamber.
Surprisingly, the one remaining in the audience chamber had no aura at all.
Even if looked at carefully, it was only at the Foundation Establishment level!
‘What is this fellow?’
Yuk Rin thought of crushing and killing this foolish worm, but then realized that the one who gracefully deflected his own pressure was probably not an ordinary being.
“…Who are you. Why are you staying?”
Upon that word, an ink-black warrior in a non-mon robe and wearing a conical hat smiled wickedly.
“Hello, Lord. I came to make one suggestion to you.”
“Hm.”
‘Daring…’
Kuguguguk!
Yuk Rin compressed space to crush the worm in front of him.
But the next instant.
Boing, boing!
It was as if golden light flashed, and Yuk Rin’s power was cut away as is.
Yuk Rin glared at the being in front of him.
“I’m sorry. Because my aura was too confusing, I was trying to check if it was a worm or not, so don’t get too angry.”
“Haha, you can do that. Anyway, if we rescue the princess and the palace master’s subordinates, would it be possible to demand other compensation besides marriage to the princess or a position?”
“Hm…”
Yuk Rin frowned.
‘He was sent as a meat shield, so I had no intention of giving compensation…’
Still, the one I hoped for was Jin Ma-yeol at the beginning of Integration, so there was no big difference.
‘But this fellow in front… is dangerous. Where did such a person come from?’
He raised his tension and asked.
“What reward do you want?”
“There’s nothing special. We recently occupied one sea area, but to be recognized as the lord of that sea area, we need recognition from neighboring sea areas, you see. I hope the lord assists with the recognition.”
Upon that word, Yuk Rin’s eyes widened.
“I see. You’re not a subordinate of the Conqueror King, are you?”
“Hm… Subordinate. Let’s say ally relationship. So, will you accept?”
“…If I accept, will the Conqueror King’s undefeated fleet enter my sea area?”
“It won’t enter all at once. Only one-third of the fleet’s power is scheduled to enter.”
“Well, good. That’s enough… But can I rescue my subordinates from otherworld beings to that extent?”
“Enough.”
“….”
Yuk Rin, while hesitating, nodded.
“Good, try it.”
‘At this point, I should see the strength of the Conqueror King’s forces.’
“Thank you for the opportunity. Then I’ll take my leave…”
Step by step…
While looking at the ink-black warrior who walked normally out of the audience chamber, Yuk Rin said.
“You should hurry. If others rescue the princess after I’m late, I have no reason to keep my promise with you.”
“Aha, it’s fine.”
The one whose waist was sheathed with an old sword turned back and smiled.
A trace of golden light flickered in his eyes.
“Because I’ve come.”
As he walked out of the audience chamber, the moment Yuk Rin blinked his eyes, he had disappeared.
“!”
Yuk Rin shuddered in surprise at not having seen the moment the fellow moved.
“…Dangerous. The Conqueror King’s forces…”
Dtak!
When he snapped his fingers, the floor of the audience chamber shone, and the entire routes of the Wijeong Sea Area floated like a reflection.
On the map, events happening throughout the Wijeong Sea Area were displayed in real time.
Yuk Rin saw countless small reflections appearing in one corner of the Wijeong Sea Area.
Countless ships appeared in the sky above the Wijeong Sea Area.
---
Author’s note: I parodied Schubert’s The Demon King. Actually, I wanted to parody too much, so I created the Ham-jin episode.