What Makes a Person Live (3)
Attention focused on me.
I could feel Goe-gun, Heon-won, and even Seo Hyoel's sticky gaze from afar converging on this spot.
'They think I'm a True Immortal.'
"…There seems to be a misunderstanding, Ancestor. I am no True Immortal."
Yet she paid no heed to my words and instead pressed her forehead to the ground at my feet.
[O Great One. I beg you, release our sect at last. We are but a minor sect of the Water Realm. Even the disciples who truly believe and follow the Founder's legend are not so numerous. We have no connection whatsoever to the Founder's deeds, so even if you harbor resentment toward the Founder, please vent your anger on me alone…!]
Just as I was about to speak in the face of her fervor, as though she might lick my feet—
Flash!
The light of an escape art flared, and in that instant Heon-won rushed forward and kicked Yeon Wi's projection.
Kwaaang!
Struck in the stomach by Heon-won, Yeon Wi was sent flying and crashed into one of the Wondrous Castle's pillars.
Heon-won glared at her and growled.
"What do you think you're doing, Geum Wi…!"
[…Heon-won.]
She looked at him and her body trembled.
[Your eyes have gone blind. That once-brilliant gaze has lost all focus….]
"Ha." Yeon Wi let out a short laugh, then bit her lips bitterly.
[I expected as much from the beginning. When I plucked out your eyeballs to extract the contamination of that great existence lodged in your soul, I felt that contamination regenerate your eyes and grant them power. I always suspected that the Spirit Eye divine ability you later obtained must have been bestowed by someone.]
She gazed at Heon-won with bitter eyes, then looked up at me.
[If someone bestowed it, then that someone can reclaim it at any time. Is that not so, O God…?]
She staggered to her feet.
[The power I felt when I sealed that fool's mind. The presence I sensed while chasing the entity called Cheon-ra. And… the aura I began to feel from you at some point. They were all the same.]
Stumbling, Yeon Wi walked before me and knelt once more.
[O God. I knew. From the very day you took me, Jeon Myeong-hoon, and your followers to that familiar Salt Mountain, I had some inkling.]
Thud!
She slammed her forehead against the ground before me.
[Even so, a part of my heart believed in you. Ah, O Great One. Just as you once protected us from the master of that sinister Heavenly Thunder Banner, I prayed this time you would not bring misfortune. But perhaps the will of a god is something we mortals cannot fathom. Yes, you must have needed us, so you used us. Our Founder was such a being as well. Still, this lowly one begs you.]
Thud! Thud!
She even materialized her projection and continued to slam her head down.
I could feel it.
Though it was only a projection, it was connected to the soul enshrined in the shrine within the Water Realm, enduring all that pain.
[Please, consume me last and spare my descendants!]
Kuung!
At her words, I tried to say something but found no words and closed my mouth.
She had sensed the presence of Cheon-ra while sealing Heon-won's mind, the aura of Bongrae Island's Salt Mountain that I had taken them to, and the aura of the Dharma-Destroying True Word I had embodied—all identical—and now regarded me as something akin to the incarnation of Taesan's master.
In other words, from her perspective, I was both the cause of the madness that had shattered her heart forty thousand years ago and the source that had driven her life into misfortune.
I closed my eyes.
Perhaps this was simply how people normally saw me.
Unless they were companions who had come from Earth and rapidly accumulated power themselves, this was the normal way to look at me.
There was a way to clear up the misunderstanding that I was a True Immortal.
All I had to do was reveal my regression.
But I could not.
So what was I to do?
I stood there, mouth agape, at a loss in this bewildering situation.
And the one who rescued me from that plight was none other than Heon-won.
Crack!
He grabbed Yeon Wi by the collar and lifted her, his expression even more enraged than before.
"I asked you what you were doing, Geum Wi."
[…What does it matter to you what I do? It has nothing to do with you.]
"Why would it have nothing to do with me? Are you saying you'll offer yourself without even repaying the debt you owe me?"
[Debt? What debt. Ah, are you talking about when I gouged out your eyes? Ha! Those eyes that couldn't even tell people apart properly were too good for you, so I took them. On the contrary, eyes that have lost their light suit you far better!]
She sneered at Heon-won and shouted.
[I'll tell you again and again, you blind fool. Something like Cheon-ra never existed, and I have only ever killed one disciple of the Geumsin Cheonroemun with my own hands. Even that one wasn't the Cheon-ra you knew—it was merely my senior brother. Do you understand!]
"Don't spout nonsense! You are clearly the monster who devoured all your fellow disciples! You took everything from me! Until you repay that debt, I will never allow you to become someone else's possession!"
[…Foolish man.]
Still held by the collar, Yeon Wi looked down at Heon-won.
Strangely, her eyes held a faint longing and a distant despair.
[You can't remember the promise of that day, yet only the emotions remain, so you block me with such absurd logic… How ugly. Ugly, ugly, and ugly again, my former lover… If you wish to stop me, then first remember the promise of that day.]
Right now she was in the state of a lightning projection, so it didn't show.
But I suspected that if she had possessed a physical body, she would be crying right now.
Yeon Wi's intent was that sorrowful.
"Nonsense. I never made any promise with you other than the political marriage pact…!"
[….]
She no longer answered him and, while still in projection form, slipped through Heon-won's hand and approached me.
Yeon Wi glanced at Heon-won, then bowed at the waist without kneeling.
[Will the Great One please grant this request?]
I parted my trembling lips with difficulty.
"…I am not a True Immortal. I am simply… one person. Just like all of you…."
[….]
Yeon Wi gave no reply.
Yet I could not help but sigh at the thought that echoed from within her mind.
-Do you intend to toy with us to the very end…?
And with that thought, as though her strength had left her, Yeon Wi's projection collapsed to the ground.
Watching her, Heon-won wore an expression of displeasure.
Grind—
[I told you not to kneel. Great…!]
Kugugugu!
The power of yin-yang and the five elements began to surge around Heon-won, and just as I was about to restrain him—
Kuuung!
The body of Heon-won, who had been about to attack, was suddenly pinned beneath a single puppet.
It was [Her].
Kuguguguk!
[Her] was drawing upon the black energy emanating from the Black Marquis's body, exerting tremendous strength, and Heon-won was completely subdued beneath her.
"You're putting on quite the opera in my world. If you don't want to be remodeled, keep your mouth shut until we arrive!"
Though Goe-gun's true cultivation was merely at the mid-stage of the Four Pillars, no one present could defy his words.
Heon-won glared at Yeon Wi with an unreadable emotion and was dragged away somewhere by [Her], while Yeon Wi stared at me for a moment before lowering her eyes, dispelling her projection, and vanishing.
"You stop causing problems too. Don't provoke my temper. Remember that I'm restraining my anger with superhuman patience."
Goe-gun gave me a warning as well and hastened to steer the Wondrous Castle.
I stood there, mulling over Yeon Wi's words.
Until now, I had done my utmost to save the people I cared about.
I had always been careful with my words and cautious about the future.
Knowing that heaven was not on our side, I had done everything I could to overcome whatever calamity might befall us.
Yet even so, there were those who looked upon my actions and felt this way.
'Was I too arrogant?'
Thinking back, I had been.
I had always been concerned about those I wished to protect, but I had never considered their perspectives.
Even when I had driven the Human Race from their homeland not long ago.
There must have been those for whom territory mattered more than their own lives….
I had thought to lead everyone with overwhelming power.
But I had never once considered the feelings of those being led.
I asked Goe-gun without thinking.
"May I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"You must have had someone you wanted to protect, right?"
"…Of course."
"What would you do if the person you wanted to protect thought differently from you… In other words, if the one you wished to protect did not actually want to be protected by you?"
"…Is this about that woman from earlier?"
He glanced at me briefly, then let out a thoughtful hum.
"…A problem I've never considered."
He seemed to have found some food for thought in my question and wore an expression as though he had even forgotten his anger, lost in contemplation.
Then, suddenly, he asked me a question.
"You taught my disciple the martial arts of ordinary people, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"I was told that the level of that martial art… far surpasses even my old friend and my beloved."
Though it had been brief, he and Kim Yeon seemed to have exchanged a great deal through the Strange Star-Mind Scroll.
"There's one thing I'm curious about. I completed the Strange Star-Mind Scroll by researching martial arts and the wills of martial artists to find the place where my beloved's martial studies would be perfected. So… if you taught my disciple martial arts of that caliber, you must know."
He asked.
"Could one fight and defeat cultivators with martial arts alone? And if one could, what is the name of that martial art, and what is the name of that realm?"
I met Goe-gun's eyes and recalled the past.
'There was such a time.'
A time when I had desperately pondered whether martial artists could challenge cultivators.
The name given to that realm back then.
"Woldoipcheonmu. The name of the law by which mortals can overcome heaven. And the realm in which one can wield it is called Woldoipcheon."
"Ipcheon…."
Goe-gun rolled the name around in his mouth for a moment before asking again.
"How do I appear in the eyes of one who has reached that realm? Have I reached the Woldoipcheon you speak of? I have devoted my entire life to reaching that realm through immortal cultivation methods instead of those who entrusted their hearts to me… yet I only managed to read a little of their minds. In your eyes, how do I seem?"
I looked at him for a moment before answering.
"Half a step. You've reached exactly that far."
"…I see."
Goe-gun gave a bitter smile.
And then the answer to my question came from his lips.
"You asked what to do if the hearts of those you wished to protect differ from your own. Look. Though I devoted my heart my entire life, I never entered the Ipcheon you speak of. I failed to protect the one I wished to protect, and I obtained nothing I sought. That is life, and that is fate, is it not?"
He continued, glaring somewhere.
The place he glared at was where Seo Hyoel was watching.
"Even that sinister fellow watching from afar put in such effort, yet he too failed to obtain what he desired. In the end, nothing in this world goes according to our will. So do what you can. What others think is not something I can do anything about. Let go of what you cannot control and do your best with what you can."
Swish—
Goe-gun stroked [Her]'s hand as he spoke.
"That is… the only reason I still live in this strange and grotesque world, even while bearing pain…."
His voice somehow lacked strength, as though he were recalling something.
With those words, Goe-gun and I exchanged no further idle talk.
Three days later.
Goe-gun's Wondrous Castle arrived at Geongonjungryeok.
-Are you ready, Seo Hyoel?
I asked Seo Hyoel through a mental transmission, and he replied.
[The preparations to pull are nearly complete. However….]
-However?
[That existence seems to be ascending to the Gwanghan Realm sooner than expected.]
-What! When will it arrive!
[…It will reach us in half a day.]
I let out a sigh at his words.
-Understood. When I give the signal, prepare to pull. Goe-gun will hold it while I push.
[Yes, I underst….]
And then, at that moment—
Kwa kwa kwa kwaang!
The entire Gwanghan Realm shook, and the heavenly secrets began to flow rapidly.
I looked up at the sky in shock, and an urgent message came from Seo Hyoel's direction.
Receiving Seo Hyoel's contact, I shouted in fury.
"Seo Hyoel! What is this…."
[My apologies, Seo Do-woo. I was not aware of the connection between those entities and the Ghost Dao Sound-Flower Lineage, so I could not predict this.]
"Damn it… Fine!"
I explained the situation to Goe-gun.
Goe-gun listened to my explanation and let out a hollow laugh.
"…See? Nothing in this world ever goes the way you want."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it…!"
I ground my teeth, on the verge of losing my reason.
Contrary to Seo Hyoel's prediction, the Ghost Dao Holy Mother did not emerge from the Gongryeong-ji here.
Instead, Kang Min-hee was being summoned from the side where my companions with the Seopmyeong Ship were located.
It was clear that the Seopmyeong Ship had called her.
Right now, I had to go to my companions who were preparing to leap from the edge of the An-gye region into the Simjok territory!
'But how?'
There was no way.
Just as my mind was about to go blank—
Tzzt tzzt tzzt!
Kim Yeon, connected to me through the Strange Star-Mind Scroll, sent a mental transmission.
[Can you come right now?]
"…No. This is Geongonjungryeok. To get there immediately…."
[Hyang-hwa says she has a way.]
"What!"
I asked in shock at her words.
"What is the method?"
[For now… I'll send Hyang-hwa's consciousness over there.]
Uuuung!
At the same time, Kim Yeon's consciousness connected with Buk Hyang-hwa, and through Kim Yeon, Buk Hyang-hwa's projection appeared here.
Paaat!
Buk Hyang-hwa encountered Jo Yeon inside the Wondrous Castle.
[Greetings, Senior Jo Yeon. This distant junior, Buk, pays respects to the idol of all artificers in the Water Realm.]
At her words, Jo Yeon frowned and asked.
"And who are you?"
"…She's the artificer of the strange gate technique I mentioned earlier, the one who helped Yeon. She's close to the Two Gates now."
Yet at my explanation, Goe-gun's expression grew slightly strange.
"…You said you're of the Jo Clan's bloodline?"
[Pardon?]
"Strange… There's no way you're of the Jo Clan's bloodline… Absolutely not…."
[What do you mean….]
"Well, never mind. I'll hear the details later. So why did you come?"
At Goe-gun's question, Buk Hyang-hwa collected herself and formed a hand seal.
At the same time, a certain diagram appeared before us.
[It may be too humble to show to the pinnacle of the Water Realm's artificers, but with this, it should be sufficient to travel from Geongonjungryeok to here.]
"That's…."
Goe-gun looked at the diagram she presented with interest.
It was the diagram of the Gyemyeolcheongongjin.
Yet I asked impatiently.
"Time is of the essence right now—where would we find the time to make that! Rather, let's combine our strength and fly there aboard the Wondrous Castle!"
But at my words, Goe-gun snorted instead.
"Where would we find the time! How much time do you think it needs?"
"Pardon? What do you mean…."
Kiiing!
At Goe-gun's gesture, a humanoid puppet flew in from somewhere and stood before Buk Hyang-hwa.
"No need for words. I'll show you, so just watch. Since you don't seem to be of the Jo Clan's bloodline, I'll use you as my assistant for a while. I don't know how you obtained the strange gate technique without being of my clan, but with that technique, assisting should be more than enough!"
At Goe-gun's words, Buk Hyang-hwa possessed the puppet he had brought and answered with an enthusiastic voice.
"It is an honor! Senior Goe-gun, Jo Yeon!"
"Now then, let us show them! The power of artificers!"
Clack clack clack clack clack!
The mechanisms of the Wondrous Castle began to move.
At the same time, Goe-gun and Buk Hyang-hwa combined their strength, tore the Gongryeong-ji of Geongonjungryeok from the earth, and instantly began implanting the Gyemyeolcheongongjin inside the Wondrous Castle.
'Insane….'
I had seen Goe-gun many times before, but honestly, even after living nearly two hundred thousand years, I still couldn't get used to him.
Clack clack clack… Kuung!
With a majestic sound, a Gyemyeolcheongongjin—smaller than the one installed in the Gwang-eum Realm but far more intricate—appeared at the center of the Wondrous Castle in an instant.
"It's only temporary, but it'll do! Now then, let us depart!"
Goe-gun wiped his sweat and activated the Gyemyeolcheongongjin, and the Wondrous Castle began to leap through space.
Shwaaaarararak!
Traversing thousands upon thousands of li, we instantly found ourselves before Gwimojeon.