Wind with Me (1)
This… could it be?
It’s unmistakable.
‘Why in the world would the Heavenly Artisan bother preparing the blessing of victory for the maggots? So he could make sure the fine corpses were eaten with even greater relish?’
The highest level of Bongmyeong Castle.
A corner of the hidden floor that appears when controlling the formation of Bongmyeong Castle.
The ancient script carved there was exactly the same writing style.
The same person had written it.
‘This is the answer to the self-question from back then.’
‘After careful consideration, I realized why that person gave those excessive gifts to the maggots. It wasn’t to help the maggots, who are beneath him. It was clearly for the purpose of releasing the Ancient Power.’
I read the lines once more and extracted several pieces of information.
First.
The writer of this text clearly harbors disgust and malice toward the Heavenly Beings.
‘The sentence that treats all Heavenly Beings as maggots and also denies the very existence of their victory.’
The tone sounded as if he were denying everyone below his own level.
‘After all, even he was once no better than a Heavenly Being of lower stage.’
He must have inherited either excellent talent from his previous life or parents of high stage.
Second.
The Heavenly Emperor had given a ‘gift’ to the Water Realm.
‘The Heavenly Artisan who created the Heavenly Emperor Seal… what exactly is he?’
The text was almost certainly referring to the Heavenly Emperor Seal.
And the one who placed Bongmyeong Castle in the Water Realm had most likely been the Heavenly Artisan who forged the original of the Seopmyeong Ship, the ghost ship that traverses space and the boundary of death.
‘Strange. I feel an inexplicable familiarity with the Heavenly Artisan.’
Had I met him before?
‘Or perhaps because of Buk Hyang-hwa.’
For some reason, an unfounded hope stirred within me that the Heavenly Artisan would be friendly toward me.
Third.
The author of these lines mentioned that the purpose of the Heavenly Emperor Seal was to release the Ancient Power.
‘Indeed, Bongmyeong Castle is also called the Realm of Liberation.’
Opinions had always been divided in the Water Realm as to why Bongmyeong Castle was called the Realm of Liberation and why it possessed the power of liberation.
Some claimed it was to release the ancient souls within the Water Realm.
Others said it was to release forgotten treasures.
And still others insisted it was to break some formation.
Of course, no one knew which was correct.
‘Even during the battle against Won Rip, Bongmyeong Castle clearly liberated him with the power of liberation.’
Bongmyeong Castle possessed the power of liberation and itself was a [treasure] that could move fate.
‘Thinking back, it’s a little unsettling.’
Had it been because I had already experienced the Heavenly Thunder Banner?
Considering that the Heavenly Emperor Seal was also a kind of treasure…
Was there a possibility that the Heavenly Emperor Seal was something ‘alive’?
Especially since, unlike Jeong-ryeo, the Heavenly Emperor Seal was [not even bound] by any seal.
Just thinking of that fact sent a chill down my spine.
It was truly frightening.
‘…I really should be careful when descending into the Water Realm.’
If the Heavenly Emperor Seal was truly alive.
It meant that the Water Realm, which had been forced to remain because even Jeong-ryeo feared and was bound, was still there of its own will.
I shook my head as if cold water had been poured over it and shifted my thoughts.
‘Thinking about those things too long would harm my health.’
‘Anyway, the writer of this text believed that Bongmyeong Castle was created to release the Ancient Power…’
Then what exactly was the Ancient Power mentioned here?
Simply put, it would be the Goryeok Realm.
But I felt there was something more hidden behind the word Ancient Power.
Ancient power.
What did it symbolize?
‘The Goryeok Realm was connected to the Taesan Yeolje Art.’
This world is related to the Salt Mountain.
‘And it is clear that even Cheongmun Ryeong, who observed the sky from the lower realm, was transformed into a salt pillar.’
The Water Realm is also related to the Salt Mountain.
Then could the Ancient Power also be related to the owner of the Salt Mountain?
I twisted my head and thought.
Of course, since I knew so little at this point, I couldn’t say anything with certainty.
These were the three pieces of information I had gleaned from the lines.
‘I will have an opportunity to investigate this later.’
After reading the lines, my gaze shifted to the mural.
‘This mural….’
It matched the characters inscribed on the Purple Jade Wall quite well.
‘Hyeol-eum, Jeungryong, Ancient Power, and below the Ten Thousand Realms. Ah… I see.’
Looking at the vague figure battling a dragon in the mural, I understood.
It was the same vague lump I had seen in the painting of the trial layer in Jeungryong Jinin’s Pocket Dimension.
In that painting, I had felt a certain ‘presence,’ and the painting itself had seemed to slowly turn the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy into demonic energy.
Only now did I understand why Hyeol-eum’s name was placed at the top of the Purple Jade Wall.
‘The Hyeol-eum Realm!’
The space that Seo Hyoel had unraveled when he opened the entrance to the Hyeol-eum Realm on the outer edge of the Underworld.
Within that space, Seo Hyoel had opened the entrance to the Hyeol-eum Realm.
The energy I felt at the entrance to that Hyeol-eum Realm was the same as what I sensed in the painting.
‘Millions of years ago, when the Gwanghan Realm was first created, there was immediately a great war afterward.’
In that great war, Jeungryong Jinin had fought some ‘existence’ from the Demon Realm, and after the battle, he had been pierced through the throat by the Heavenly Emperor Seal and killed.
And his corpse had remained until today and become the domain of the Jinlong Alliance.
In any case, after that, the name of the Gwanghan Realm had changed from Gwanghan to Gwanghan, and as far as I knew, around that time the Hyeol-eum Realm had separated from the Jinma Realm.
Also, the vague figure fighting Jeungryong Jinin in this mural had been split from some ‘existence’ in the Demon Realm, and from that split ‘crimson lump’ I sensed an energy similar to the Hyeol-eum Realm.
‘And to accumulate the Yu Ho-deok Achievement, one must go to the Hyeol-eum Realm rather than the Jinma Realm.’
Putting it all together.
I could reach one conclusion.
‘The Hyeol-eum Realm exists on its own.’
Not just existing at a level, but being like the inside of some [entity] itself.
Much more sinister and ominous than the Myeonggwi Realm that accepts the dead or the Goryeok Realm that was no different from a cemetery for corpses.
‘…It’s fortunate that I obtained the Yu Ho-deok Achievement beforehand.’
I let out a small sigh of relief and summarized the mural’s contents.
‘Some kind of living creature known as the Hyeol-eum Realm had reached out to Jeungryong Jinin’s corpse and created the [black thing].’
I immediately recalled the Black Dragon King Hyeon-eum.
‘From the very beginning, the word “Hyeon-eum Realm” was boldly displayed on the Purple Jade Wall.’
Moreover, Hyeon-eum, who had naturally merged with the body of the Hyeol-eum Realm Lord and freely manipulated the power of evil, had recorded the history of the Haeryong Clan.
‘So this mural, which is believed to have recorded the history of the Haeryong Clan….’
explained the origin of the Haeryong Clan that began in the Hyeol-eum Realm.
The first Haeryong King Ja-eum.
Without a doubt, a being born from the Black Dragon King Hyeon-eum.
That was why Seo Hyoel had continued using magic related to the Hyeol-eum Realm.
The preparations he had made to transfer the Won Rip he had infected with the Takhon Mancheon to the Hyeol-eum Realm as his victory.
And the relationship between Hyeon-eum and Seo Hyoel.
The relationship between Hyeon-eum and the Hyeol-eum.
‘The Haeryong Clan had been a race born from the Hyeol-eum.’
I recalled the word Seed Scattering inscribed on the Purple Jade Wall.
And in the mural, I saw tiny seeds falling like into a world that had stars, broad feet, little toes, and a [head].
‘Head…’
I stroked the mural.
Why was the name of the Water Realm written as Su (首) Realm?
I roughly understood.
The Water Realm was the Undersea Realm created by someone’s head.
‘Then the picture in this mural must be of the Water Realm.’
‘And the seeds scattered in this Water Realm…’
‘…Is it you?’
I glared at the picture in the mural.
For some reason, a faint ‘huh huh’ sound seemed to echo from inside the tiny dot-like figure.
‘Is this brat you?’
Of course, it was my misunderstanding, and the mural made no sound.
I stared at the mural for a moment, recorded it with the record-making spell, and turned to look at Yuk Yo.
She was coughing as if she had just regained her senses.
‘…This subject greets Lord Ecclesiastical Master.’
‘Why were you staring so intently at the mural?’
‘Ah… I was just startled because it resembled a picture I saw in the archive when I was young.’
‘When I was young, in the archive….’
‘In the Bongrae Kingdom’s archive, yes.’
At her words, I looked back at the mural.
‘This mural was inside the archive?’
‘Precisely, not the mural, but that.’
‘…?’
Yuk Yo pointed at the [black thing] at the beginning of the mural.
The [black thing] at the start of the mural was in the middle of fighting Jeungryong Jinin.
I stared at it for a moment, then asked because I didn’t understand.
‘Honestly, isn’t this just some sloppy paint on the wall? Demonic energy is seeping out, but inside the Bongrae Kingdom there’s no spiritual energy anyway, so you wouldn’t have felt it… How did you know?’
However, at my words, Yuk Yo looked at me with a puzzled expression and said.
‘Sloppy paint? Lord Ecclesiastical Master, don’t you see that magnificent figure?’
‘…?’
I widened my eyes, even pulled a little Triple Taiji power from my main body to observe, but no matter how I looked, it was just sloppy paint.
‘…I don’t know. Do you see something?’
It seemed only those born in Bongrae-do could see something.
She nodded.
‘Lord Ecclesiastical Master seems not to see it, so I will explain. First, that picture is one of the Dharma phases from the West Heaven Framed Painting in the archive inside the Bongrae Kingdom Palace.’
‘Hmm, really?’
‘Yes. To explain the West Heaven Framed Painting, it is a kind of mandala depicting fourteen Dharma Kings protecting the existence known as Chearyunje-jong.
Just as the Guigyo has thirteen Guardian Ghost Kings, Chearyunje-jong also has fourteen Dharma Kings protecting him.
And the Dharma phase drawn in this mural is very similar to the image of the Jideok Dharma King who stands to the right of Chearyunje-jong.
It is a little more… sinister-looking, but still.’
‘Who exactly is Chearyunje-jong?’
‘One of the two Great Buddha Lords worshipped in the national religion of the Bongrae Kingdom, the Axis Wheel Dao.
He is called the Cheaxje-jong and Chearyunje-jong, and among them the Bongrae Kingdom reveres Cheaxje-jong as the highest and worships him as the Guardian of the Nation.
Chearyunje-jong is also a superb Buddha Lord, but he is not as popular.
Still, there are some temples in the Bongrae Kingdom that only worship Chearyunje-jong.’
Yuk Yo, as if in deep recollection, finished her explanation while gazing at the sloppy paint wall that depicted the [black thing].
‘Hmm….’
To my eyes and even to Baek Rin’s eyes, it was just sloppy paint, but to hers it seemed something could be seen.
I pointed at the [crimson thing] that had separated from the [black thing], just in case.
It was suspected to be the Hyeol-eum Realm.
Yuk Yo stared at it for a moment, then tilted her head.
‘Um… I don’t know. It just looks like deep crimson mist to me.’
‘Is that so… Understood.’
In any case, it seemed important, and it was related to the secret history of the Haeryong Clan, so I intended to show it to Seo Ran as well.
I carefully recorded the mural, then walked the path where the mural was drawn.
At the end of the path stood something that looked like a statue of the Haeryong Clan.
‘This is….’
The moment I saw the Haeryong statue, I frowned sharply.
Thick demonic energy clung to the statue, and an unpleasant smell of blood seeped from it.
Most of all, what felt unpleasant was.
‘The magical flow is very similar to what Seo Hyoel used.’
The statue felt the same demonic energy flow as the magic spell Seo Hyoel had used, Blood Devouring Blood Ghost Returning.
I recalled the things Seo Hyoel had used with the Blood Devouring Blood Ghost Returning and tried to infer the true nature of this magic.
‘This Blood Devouring Blood Ghost Returning was probably a magic that created attraction with the Hyeol-eum Realm.’
This Haeryong statue was also most likely made by Yuk Rin to borrow the power of the Hyeol-eum Realm.
Crack!
I instantly shattered the statue to pieces.
Boom—
And when I broke the statue, the wall behind it collapsed.
There seemed to be a hidden secret passage behind it.
‘Baek Rin, is there something behind us?’
‘Forgive me, Lord Ecclesiastical Master. I sense my consciousness being repelled from that inner direction. If I force my consciousness to enter… I feel demonic energy eroding my mind…’
‘Then it’s fine. Protect your consciousness.’
That was enough information.
‘It’s a place important enough that Yuk Rin placed a careful seal on it.’
Then there was a high probability that Yuk Rin had taken the palace of Bongrae-do inside it.
In other words, the front here was Yuk Rin’s treasure warehouse.
‘Then… shall I take a look at Yuk Rin’s treasure warehouse?’
I smiled faintly and stepped inside.
No, I was about to step inside.
Whoosh!
I stopped in my tracks.
A very thin sword energy grazed my cheek from behind.
‘…I see. You were there. Thinking about it…’
There, Jin Ma-yeol sat with one arm bent in an unnatural angle, smiling wickedly.
‘What is the meaning of this, Demon Cult Lord? The Demon Sea was supposed to be explored by our Tuma Pirates, wasn’t it?’
‘I simply found the transmission formation that connects Jeongryong Palace to the Demon Sea and entered.’
‘I see. Well done. Then now that we have both you and Princess Yuk Yo, return to the mainland and head back to your own waters.’
‘Sorry, but there are still things I need to check inside.’
‘Our Tuma Pirates will investigate thoroughly and tell you what was inside. Go back.’
‘Wasn’t obtaining Princess Yuk Yo your goal this time? You were the one who said you would go back?’
‘The Demon Sea was supposed to be explored by us in advance. Honor your promise, Demon Cult Lord.’
I glared at Jin Ma-yeol, and Jin Ma-yeol glared back at me.
‘…From the beginning, was it not Princess Yuk Yo but the treasure inside the Demon Sea that was your goal?’
‘Both. So you’re dissatisfied?’
‘Not quite dissatisfied, but…’
I glanced at the mural depicting the secret history of the Haeryong Clan and said.
‘I need to investigate inside.’
‘I said I would investigate and tell you. Get out.’
‘Sorry, but I have something I must do.’
Jin Ma-yeol and I glared at each other.
And the next instant.
Flash!
In the blink of an eye, Jin Ma-yeol swung his bent arm.
The arm headed straight for Baek Rin’s head, and an area had been overlaid on his sword, allowing it to cut through Baek Rin’s Heavenly Origin field as if it were nothing.
Boom!
I kicked Yuk Yo and Baek Rin aside and hurled them toward the transmission formation.
‘Get out, Baek Rin! Yuk Rin’s split soul is sealed by me, so he won’t be able to move for a while!’
In the time it took me to speak, the bent arm moved again and aimed at me.
I flicked the arm away with Chongcheon-geom and glared at Jin Ma-yeol.
‘Are you trying to provoke me? Your Tuma is beneath me.’
At my words, Jin Ma-yeol grinned.
‘Your main body was quite intimidating, but your split souls that can only use Tuma are easy to handle. And…’
Dudu dudu!
‘Hihi hihi!’
‘Huha hah hah!’
The pirates of the Tuma Pirates surrounded Yuk Yo and Baek Rin who were trying to use the transmission formation.
I glared at them and said.
‘If you kill my subordinates, the contract written with Hyeongo Paper will punish you.’
At my words, Jin Ma-yeol laughed wickedly and said.
‘That’s correct. But isn’t something strange about this?’
‘What?’
‘According to the contract content, when I attacked you, the Hyeongo Paper contract should have immediately imposed ‘punishment’ on me. But I’m perfectly fine. Do you know what this means?’
‘….’
‘The power of Bongrae-do! Because Yuk Rin tore apart the palace of Bongrae-do, the rules of Bongrae-do are now partially applied in this Demon Sea! In other words, even though the contract is not perfectly valid inside, it is invalid to a certain degree. Shall I test how far it goes?’
At the pirate’s words, the Sachuk pirates of the pirate group giggled and crushed Baek Rin’s body with spiritual energy.
‘…Understood. I won’t go out.’
I clicked my tongue and stepped back a little.
However, Jin Ma-yeol laughed loudly at my attitude and said.
‘Why are you doing this? Weren’t you curious about what was inside?’
‘….’
‘Hmph, this is no fun. This won’t do.’
He looked at me with lust-filled eyes and licked his tongue.
‘Let’s make a bet.’
‘What?’
‘It’s good for you too. If you win the bet with me, I’ll hand over the captaincy of the Tuma Pirates to you. And all the treasures inside will also belong to you. I won’t care what you investigate inside. But if you lose, your subordinates’ lives are forfeit. Yuk Yo is mine too. The treasures inside will be mine as well. And you and your Demon Cult brats will be trapped forever in the depths of the Demon Sea in Bongrae-do. What do you say? Doesn’t the temptation make your mouth water?’
At the gesture, the scouts of the Tuma Pirates pressed threatening spells toward Baek Rin.
It was called a bet, but it was a virtual threat.
I closed my eyes and said.
‘…What kind of bet?’
‘Simple. When we go inside, there should be Yuk Rin’s salt palace. The one who first obtains that palace wins! You can use any method!’
The man’s eyes were filled with lust.
I knew.
Since the bet was made, the intention to fight me and satisfy his lust was clearly revealed.
Fighting his main body meant no chance of victory, but because of the Tuma Tribe characteristics, fighting a strong opponent was the ultimate pleasure, so he wanted to feel pleasure while fighting my split soul.
It was unbearable.
However, I glanced at Baek Rin, then looked back at him.
‘…Fine.’
‘Hahaha! As expected, so generous!’
He licked his lips.
I remained silent, quietly looking at the entrance of Yuk Rin’s treasure warehouse, and then met Jin Ma-yeol’s eyes again.
‘Let’s begin.’
‘Fine, Ecclesiastical Master!’
For a moment we glared at each other.
And the next instant.
Tadak!
Without a moment’s hesitation, both Jin Ma-yeol and I flew straight behind the statue.
Into Yuk Rin’s treasure warehouse.
The treasure hunt between Jin Ma-yeol and me, with the lives of my subordinates at stake, had begun.