The Tale of the Black Ghost Heavenly King (Part Two)

p>Long ago, in a distant era when the world was young, a being named Hyeok-yo fell to this land.

p>That existence was one that could not understand human thoughts.

p>He could grasp neither the taste of food nor the joy of living.

p>Driven only by physical impulses, he ate when hungry, slept when weary, and took his pleasure when passion stirred him.

p>At those moments alone did a flicker of interest stir within him.

p>Nothing else could touch the heart of Hyeok-yo.

p>At some point, he sensed that his very soul was empty.

p>Thus he sought to fill that void.

p>He realized that the only way was to cultivate the path of immortality and raise his own essence to its limit.

p>So Hyeok-yo began the journey of cultivation.

p>He hunted animals.

p>At first he ate livestock, then wild beasts, birds, and fish.

p>Soon he devoured humans.

p>Next he ate ghosts, then spirits, then demons.

p>Finally, strengthened by mountains, forests, and the sea, he became a monster that could even devour the sun, moon, stars, and light itself.

p>And at that moment he understood.

p>No matter how strong he grew, the emptiness inside his heart would never be filled.

p>Even at the peak of cultivation, the void within him remained unfilled.

p>He finally grasped the reason.

p>Before he could mend the lack in his essence through cultivation, his very existence had grown too vast.

p>It was like a body that had been healed of its wounds yet still refused to recover.

p>The power he had consumed was greater than the heart he possessed, and it crushed what remained.

p>Hyeok-yo made his decision.

p>He would abandon every ability he had gained and return to the beginning.

p>He used the power he had brought with him when he first entered this world.

p>That power was rebirth.

p>It allowed him to be reborn freely, without the restrictions of the afterlife.

p>By rebirth he cast off every power and returned as a simple human.

p>He bound the future self that would arise through rebirth.

p>That future self would suffer.

p>He would endure hardship, awaken true heart, and gain the ultimate strength.

p>Hyeok-yo swore.

p>“I will stand on my head for the entirety of my 777 lives and chant the flawless true word.”

p>He was reborn.

p>In the next life, as soon as he entered the womb of a woman, he rendered both his legs crippled.

p>Born unable to stand on his feet, he walked the world standing on his head and forever chanted the flawless true word.

p>People called him mad.

p>They pitied him, mocked him, and some even tried to hang him for his ominous mutterings.

p>In his first rebirth he was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stoned to death by the people.

p>In the second, he again stood on his head chanting.

p>After 777 lives, Hyeok-yo had acquired a power so immense it was worthy of being called the God among Gods.

p>No one in the entire universe could oppose him.

p>Even the two gods who had created the chariot trembled before him.

p>Yet Hyeok-yo thought.

p>The emptiness in his heart remained unfilled.

p>So he sought out the two gods who did not fear him.

p>The god of the wheel and the god of the axis.

p>He asked how he could find the missing part within himself.

p>The god of the wheel said.

p>“Commit suicide before me and take long rest. Soothe your weary soul by lingering in the peace of the inner realm for eons.”

p>The god of the axis said.

p>“Bring me the most precious thing in the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds and I will tell you the method.”

p>Hyeok-yo searched the world for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that most precious thing.

p>Yet after countless days he still could not discern what it was.

p>At last he thought.

p>“My body and power have become the most terrifying and terrible poison in the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds.

p>I shall cut them off and give them to the god of the axis.

p>My lower body to the god of the axis, and I shall again walk standing on my head.”

p>He reached a small world and began cutting off his own lower body.

p>He brought a sharp blade, severed his legs, washed them clean in a river, and repeated the process.

p>At last Hyeok-yo had nearly removed his entire lower body.

p>As he was cutting the last flesh from his legs, blood and screams filled the air.

p>From the riverbank he met a girl.

p>The girl offered him a healing ointment and a bowl of milk porridge.

p>Hyeok-yo, in his delirium, drank it down.

p>Lightning struck him.

p>For the first time in 777 lives he tasted something called flavor.

p>He wept and buried his head in the porridge.

p>He licked the milk porridge greedily and begged the girl for just one more bowl.

p>The girl happily gave him another.

p>For the first time Hyeok-yo felt satisfaction.

p>And gratitude.

p>Tears streamed down his face as he swore that he would stand on his head forever, chasing after the girl, and bless her for a lifetime.

p>Everyone stared at the girl strangely as they saw the crippled monster standing on his head chasing her.

p>The girl felt shame.

p>Yet her kind heart would not abandon the monster.

p>She brought a bundle and carried the standing Hyeok-yo on her back.

p>From that day forward Hyeok-yo walked with the girl.

p>For the first time in ages he could stand upright on the ground and gaze at the world.

p>He rediscovered the countless beauties and treasures of this world with her.

p>One morning, as he woke beside her, he finally understood what the god of the axis had meant by the most precious thing in the world.

p>Nothing in the world was the most precious.

p>Because everything in this world, as long as it possessed a heart, was infinitely precious.

p>He understood why the milk porridge had tasted so good the first day.

p>It had been the pure benevolence he received the moment he entered this world.

p>He wept at that realization.

p>At the same time he realized he loved the girl.

p>After regrowing his legs, he lay with her.

p>And at last he felt his empty soul filled.

p>He now understood the meaning of his birth in this world.

p>He held his wife in joy and, to make her a god, set out for a distant world to gather the flaws he had abandoned over 777 lives.

p>The very next day.

p>When Hyeok-yo returned with the gift for his wife, she was dead, bitten by a snake.

p>“Snake?”

p>I asked Yu-o.

p>“Did the being who would come to rule the heavens and earth cause his own wife to be bitten by something snake-like?”

p>“I do not know the exact answer. Perhaps it is a metaphor for something poisonous.

p>Or perhaps… a metaphor for something dangerous among the Heavenly Kings.

p>I was not present at that place and do not know the truth precisely.

p>Hyeok-yo sealed the entire dimension so tightly that even beings like me could not approach.

p>How could I possibly know the truth of that time?”

p>“Hmph… I understand.”

p>“Then let us continue.”

p>* * *

p>Hyeok-yo looked at his dead wife and wept bitterly.

p>Only then did he realize what had been empty inside him.

p>It was longing.

p>He had endured endless sun, moon, and stars, and 777 lives of self-inflicted pain, in order to understand longing.

p>But he finally grasped the true meaning of longing.

p>He had always known he would never completely perish, whether before or after rebirth.

p>So he had never truly longed with all his heart.

p>Now he began to long with his entire being.

p>In the outer reaches of the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds.

p>He longed for his home.

p>If his wife had been from the world of the immortals, she would not have died.

p>From the moment he fell to this world, his basic physique had been close to immortality.

p>No fear or terror had ever touched him.

p>And now, at last, he truly understood death.

p>He made his decision.

p>He would burn every last thing he had never come close to death with, and leave this world.

p>No.

p>Leaving was not the end.

p>He decided to save this world.

p>He would save it and bring it to his home, the world of the immortals, and free all living beings from the terror of death.

p>Hyeok-yo activated the art of swallowing all things in the world.

p>At the same moment he searched for a place of calamity.

p>He destroyed its guardians and advanced beyond.

p>To take everything out of this world.

p>To free every living being from the names of fear, anxiety, and fate.

p>And so he disappeared beyond the ominous world.

p>* * *

p>“This is where the tale of Hyeok-yo ends.

p>The being known as the Black Ghost Heavenly King among the Seven Heavenly Kings.”

p>I let out a sigh after hearing the story of the Black Ghost Heavenly King.

p>Putting aside his terrifying deeds…

p>“Do you know nothing of what lies beyond?”

p>“I do not know.

p>His tale ends here.

p>And together with that…”

p>She smiled.

p>“The ending of every Heavenly King’s tale is remarkably similar.

p>Gwang-han Heavenly Lord and the Geumsinja were no different.

p>All of them eventually returned to the most ominous place in the Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds.

p>A place that had endured eons and kalpas without flaw… the Water Realm.”

p>“…”

p>“Now then.

p>How do you feel?”

p>She poured tea and said.

p>“This is a tale of fate.

p>Beginning: the Black Ghost who fell to this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strange world and continued cultivation.

p>Middle: meeting a beloved person and learning from his heart.

p>Turn: inevitably losing the beloved.

p>Conclusion: understanding the enlightenment that runs through his entire life, that is, understanding fate.

p>Did you enjoy the story a little?”

p>“Leaving the enjoyment aside… I found it a little unpleasant to hear.”

p>I made a slightly wry face.

p>There was a bitter taste in my mouth.

p>I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drank the black-plum tea in one gulp to wash it away and said.

p>“The term ki seung jeon gyeol makes the life of the being named Hyeok-yo feel like a single paragraph in a novel.

p>It is somewhat uncomfortable.”

p>“If ‘ki seung jeon gyeol’ feels uncomfortable, there is another way to express it.

p>How about Cheon-won?”

p>“Cheon-won?”

p>She smiled faintly.

p>“The concluding words used when ascending the Cheon-won stage.

p>Do you know the concluding words of the Cheon-won stage?”

p>“Well… I know about as much as anyone else.”

p>“The concluding words of Cheon-won include spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

p>Four realms.

p>Instead of ki seung jeon gyeol, think of chun ha chuu dong and you will find it a little less unpleasant?”

p>“…”

p>“Everyone who lives must experience the four seasons of life.

p>To acknowledge that is the end of the mortal realm, the Cheon-won stage.

p>Born in spring, grow in summer, mature in autumn, lie down in winter, and finally peacefully sleep under the heavens with gratitude for fate.

p>That is the truth everyone realizes in the mortal realm.

p>Personally, however, I prefer the expression ki seung jeon gyeol.”

p>Her words continued.

p>“Then how do you feel?

p>Pre-future Heavenly King Seo-josa.”

p>“Pre-future Heavenly King…?”

p>Her words meant that I too would inevitably face such a fate.

p>‘No, I already have.’

p>I recalled the tenth regression and smiled bitterly.

p>In truth, perhaps if I had not met Buk Hyang-hwa at the end of the tenth regression or had not properly dealt with Won Rip, I would not know what would have become of me.

p>A fate where a beloved person appears and is inevitably lost.

p>It is an extremely cruel fate.

p>I felt a bitter emotion and opened my mouth.

p>“That is the fate of the Seven Heavenly Kings, as you said.

p>Then do all the cultivators who have experienced that fate become the ‘Heavenly Kings’ you mentioned?”

p>Yu-o shook her head.

p>“There are two conditions for being called Heavenly King.”

p>“Two conditions?”

p>“Yes.

p>First, as I said, to undergo the fate of chun ha chuu dong and ki seung jeon gyeol and come to know one’s own fate.

p>Second… to reach the extreme limit of the Jinseon realm.

p>Those who fulfill both become Heavenly Kings.

p>And those who receive the title Heavenly King are actually…”

p>Yu-o glanced briefly at Seo-ran and said.

p>“They become beings among the Jinseon that stand out.”

p>“They receive treatment as Heavenly Venerable.”

p>She whispered the information about Imperial Immortal separately into my ear alone, as if worried that Seo-ran might melt like candle wax.

p>“Uhm…!”

p>I let out a sigh.

p>‘So Heavenly King is a kind of special Imperial Immortal.’

p>Spark!

p>At the same moment I recalled the beings in Tae Yeol-jeon’s tapestry and understood the feeling I had seen at that time.

p>‘That’s right.

p>The feeling that those beings in the picture were “real” was because the Heavenly Kings in the picture were beings who had reached the Imperial Immortal realm.’

p>Shiver!

p>The moment I felt that fact, a sense of crisis rose instinctively.

p>“Heuk…!”

p>I sprang to my feet in shock, but Yu-o and Seo-ran only stared at me with strange eyes.

p>Nothing happened.

p>“Hmm…

p>The tea does not seem to your liking?”

p>“Ah, no… that’s not it…”

p>I was at a loss for what to say.

p>‘When I sense Imperial Immortals I feel shock.’

p>Of course, repeated sensing builds tolerance, but if it is a completely new existence I receive shock without tolerance.

p>But sensing Imperial Immortals themselves did not cause shock.

p>For example, Yang Su-jin warned of light and the master of Mount Tae-san, each governing light and mountains.

p>Yet ordinary humans do not melt like candle wax upon seeing light or climbing a mountain.

p>Light and mountains are within the domain of Imperial Immortals, but humans cannot normally sense them that far.

p>Since their true nature is unknown, seeing light or mountains is no great problem.

p>But what if someone who knows the true nature of light or the master of Mount Tae-san sees those things?

p>‘Every time I would feel shock.’

p>If I had not calmed down after yesterday evening’s shock and had not built up tolerance from sensing Imperial Immortals many times, I would have gone mad long ago.

p>But whether mad or having built tolerance, I would still feel shock about Imperial Immortals.

p>Moreover, having heard information about the Seven Heavenly Kings, who had never built any tolerance, and recalling them would naturally bring tremendous shock and pain.

p>‘Yet… why am I fine?’

p>I pondered for a moment and asked.

p>“When I sense Jinseon I feel great shock in my mind.

p>Yet the Seven Heavenly Kings you mentioned… when I recall them I seem to be fine.”

p>She looked at her black-plum tea for a moment and said.

p>“The reason one feels shock upon sensing Jinseon is [wisdom].”

p>“Wisdom?”

p>“Exactly.

p>When an insignificant being faces an existence of such grandeur, they acquire vast [wisdom].

p>Now… even ordinary Core Formation and Qi Condensation cultivators, if they face the true body of Seo-josa, will gain the ‘wisdom that condenses stars.’

p>In the first place, the concluding words for higher realms are mostly obtained in that way.”

p>“…”

p>I sighed at that.

p>Now even I, by facing my true body, have become a being that grants knowledge.

p>“And those who are too weak cannot even accept that wisdom and explode and die.

p>For example…

p>If a slave race that does not even have an awareness domain is forced to comprehend the sensation of using awareness to identify rank and draw a hundred li of heavenly qi…”

p>“Their heads would explode.

p>Probably even Qi Condensation would be enough.”

p>Those of lower realms cannot understand the dimensions of higher realms.

p>For example, on paper.

p>If a two-dimensional black-and-white “picture” is told about a three-dimensional “apple” and apple juice is smeared on it, what happens?

p>Naturally the picture melts or becomes a mess.

p>In this way, knowledge of higher-dimensional beings is so powerful that it can melt lower-dimensional beings.

p>“You understand well.

p>Correct.

p>The reason lower-dimensional beings feel shock upon seeing higher-dimensional beings is [wisdom].

p>Upon facing Jinseon one gains [wisdom] and cannot endure it, and melts.

p>And other Jinseon feel shock upon facing them, but the Seven Heavenly Kings remain unharmed even if they know the true nature, and that is also the reason.”

p>“What is that?”

p>And at Yu-o’s next words I trembled all over.

p>“It is not permitted by the owner.”

p>“Eh?”

p>“As I said.

p>The existence of the Seven Heavenly Kings.

p>Their true nature.

p>And… the vast [wisdom] they hold.

p>The very name of the Seven Heavenly Kings is currently held by someone and firmly bound to me.

p>Therefore, even if I call the name or know the true nature, I cannot receive the [wisdom] and feel no shock at all.”

p>“…Does the ownership of the Seven Heavenly Kings’ name belong to some other [someone]?”

p>“Exactly.”

p>I quietly stared at my teacup.

p>‘Thinking about it… even if Yang Su-jin is gone, he is Jinseon.

p>Yet those who call his real name and title are not few, and even I could shout Yang Su-jin’s name many times without issue.’

p>Being safe even while calling the name of someone like Yang Su-jin.

p>That was because someone held the ownership of Yang Su-jin’s name strongly and the name had no effect.

p>And I recalled the being who had been struck by lightning.

p>‘Yang Su-jin… said “[something] is [seeking us].”’

p>The stories that had come to mind merged into one line.

p>The ominous land, the Water Realm.

p>The being seeking us.

p>The tale of Hyeok-yo.

p>The tale of Gwang-han Heavenly King.

p>Yang Su-jin’s end.

p>Beings who hold the ownership of the names of the Terminus Ones…

p>The peak of the mountain.

p>Thirty-three thousand.

p>The Audience Chamber…

p>I had heard from Baek-woon Saintess why the Water Realm is called an ominous land.

p>She said that the great beings including Gwang-han Heavenly King had reached out toward the Water Realm and died, so it was dangerous.

p>But… listening to Yu-o Saintess, even when Hyeok-yo was alive the Water Realm was already considered ominous.

p>“That would make sense.”

p>“…”

p>“Then the reason Baek-woon Saintess spoke of the Water Realm as ominous has nothing to do with it.

p>In truth the Water Realm itself has always carried an ominous nature.”

p>“Then…”

p>I swallowed my spit while recalling the ominous speculation I had just formed.

p>“That is… it is not the shape of the Water Realm or what surrounds it that is the problem.

p>It is that [something ominous exists in the Water Realm]…”

p>: : Gulp : :

p>Crack!

p>In an instant Yu-o Saintess accelerated her own awareness domain and pulled her consciousness up to the sage’s realm, then roared a lion’s roar.

p>My head rang and I vomited blood.

p>“Heuk… heuk…”

p>[Shh.]

p>Yu-o, who had arrived before me, brought a finger to her lips.

p>[Do not speak rashly.

p>Do you not know the words “it is difficult to scoop up spilled water”?]

p>“…”

p>I covered my mouth and slowly nodded.

p>‘I received Yu-o’s help.’

p>A moment ago.

p>I had not even thought of speaking about it outwardly.

p>But the moment the fact that something existed in the Water Realm rose up, my mouth moved on its own.

p>‘Thank goodness…’

p>I covered my mouth and thought.

p>But at the same time I could be certain.

p>‘The reason the Water Realm is called ominous is not only because of Gwang-han Heavenly King and his friends.

p>[Something ominous or someone is dwelling in the Water Realm].’

p>That there was a being so terrifying that the moment I inferred its existence my mouth moved on its own.

p>Yu-o briefly looked at me and said.

p>“As for why the Water Realm is ominous, once you become Jinseon you will understand more clearly.

p>There is no need to force yourself to know now.

p>After all, no matter how much you rack your brain you cannot guess now.”

p>“Thank you for the advice.”

p>“No matter.

p>By the way…”

p>Yu-o looked up at the ceiling and said.

p>“…Your colleagues seem to be doing their best to save Seo-josa.

p>They are exerting all their strength to draw Seo-josa’s consciousness back from the mortal world.”

p>“Um!”

p>I startled and looked upward.

p>Indeed.

p>From far away I could hear my colleagues’ voices.

p>“Hoo-”

p>Yu-o looked down at me a moment as if regretting, then stepped back three paces.

p>“It seems that is where it ends.

p>Originally there was a place to take Seo-josa, but a precious guest has come to my residence.

p>I must greet the guest.

p>Today I shall see you off.

p>Go back to your colleagues.”

p>Tap!

p>As Yu-o snapped her fingers, the surrounding scenery began to warp.

p>I realized she was trying to expel us back outside.

p>Whoosh!

p>At the same moment I felt spiritual energy from two places.

p>I perceived the spiritual energy from both and located the two spots.

p>One was a dark place.

p>Deep, and even deeper.

p>The Underworld.

p>And the other…

p>I sensed the spiritual energy of Hong Beom and the Seopmyeong Ship.

p>‘That side is the way to the mortal world.’

p>I rose from my seat with Seo-ran and headed toward the place where the Seopmyeong Ship’s spiritual energy was felt.

p>“Thank you for today’s hospitality.

p>I hope there will be another day to drink tea together.”

p>I bowed to her with proper etiquette.

p>And suddenly Yu-o’s eyes flashed.

p>“…I too look forward to meeting again.”

p>She showed a bright smile she had never shown before.

p>Before I was expelled from Yu-o’s palace I suddenly remembered one thing and asked her.

p>“By the way…

p>Does the Saintess know a way to remove the accumulated death qi?”

p>The death qi had concentrated until it liquefied and flowed, dragging me to the Underworld.

p>Since this matter had to be resolved, I asked her.

p>Yu-o replied with a puzzled expression.

p>“…Are you asking the Lord of the Azure Ghost Bone Palace, who guides the dead to the Underworld, to teach you an anti-heaven technique so that those who should die do not die?”

p>“Haha, I’m just thinking of building a little friendship, so please tell me.”

p>I remembered how Yu-o had told me the tale of Hyeok-yo under the pretense of building friendship and tossed out a question.

p>‘I don’t expect anything, but if it is something like the Ghost Bone Palace’s document template I have to be careful…’

p>“Then I shall give you a hint.”

p>“Huh?”

p>‘She really will give it?’

p>“Instead.

p>I am giving you something after making a great resolution.

p>Seo-josa, answer my question from earlier.

p>Who was Seo-josa’s master?

p>Where did he cultivate the technique?”

p>“Hmph… since I have given you much information, I shall tell you to whom he studied.

p>Very well.

p>Then I shall tell you immediately.

p>The concluding words for removing death qi.

p>“When the Great Ultimate merges, the Three Ultimates cycle.”

p>“If you think well about this concluding word, you will receive great help in transforming death qi into life qi.”

p>“Thank you.

p>My master’s honorable name is…”

p>I opened my mouth.

p>“Ham…”

p>The next moment.

p>Fwoosh!

p>* * *

p>“…Eh?”

p>Hong Beom was before me.

p>“Master! Are you all right!

p>I barely drew Master’s consciousness!”

p>“Ah… this is.”

p>I clicked my tongue.

p>“I couldn’t tell you the name.

p>What do I do…”

p>“Eh? What do you mean?”

p>“Um, no, Hong Beom.

p>Anyway, thank you for bringing me like this.”

p>“Heh heh, it is all thanks to Seo-ran gong.

p>I only operated the Seopmyeong Ship a little while assisting Seo-ran gong.”

p>I laughed heartily at Hong Beom’s modesty and organized my thoughts.

p>Probably tonight would be busy organizing my thoughts.

p>* * *

p>Inside the palace where Seo Eun-hyun had just left.

p>Her figure began to warp.

p>The true essence that had been talking with Seo Eun-hyun earlier revealed itself in space and the entire space shook.

p>Wherever her spiritual energy touched, the palace began to collapse.

p>She, having revealed her existence, went to the deepest part of the palace interior.

p>She sat on the jade throne where she had sat.

p>She propped her head with one hand and looked at some place inside the collapsing palace.

p>And then.

p>From somewhere, someone emerged.

p>The form of a person in neat black clothes.

p>He crossed the collapsing palace and stood before her and said.

p>“What scheme are you concocting in this world of samsara again.”

p>As her eyes twitched, the being before her retreated one step and looked down at her with a slightly contemptuous expression.

p>“Until when will you remain so at ease.

p>I have almost reached you now.

p>Prepare yourself.”

p>After saying that he turned his back and left before her.

p>She let out a small laugh as she looked at the being who had just left inside the palace.

p>The being who had just left.

p>She meant the one Seo Eun-hyun had called Hyeon-gwi.