Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Collaborator
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Among the renowned towers of the Central Plains, it is said that none south of the Yangtze River can compare to the Yellow Crane Tower.
At its very peak, on the sixth floor, a single room was secretly situated. There were no courtesans to serve drinks, nor any entertainers to play instruments.
Only a pre-laid meal and its guest were present. Today, one man frequented this clandestine room as if it were his own home—the Soul-Stealing Immortal, Jang Ryang.
The Soul-Stealing Immortal had cast his soul-stealing technique on the owner of the Yellow Crane Tower, winning great favor and, as a result, gaining the ability to come and go as he pleased.
However, he always had a clear purpose when using this place.
To invite a guest.
No matter who he invited, no disturbance—not a single plate breaking or food falling to the ground—ever escaped that top-floor room.
They would simply use the room in silence and then depart, so the owner of the Yellow Crane Tower paid it no mind.
However.
This time was different.
A quiet commotion arose within the room. Yet, outside, not a sound or a hint of it could be perceived.
Amid the stillness and silence, a few raised voices were exchanged, and a tickling breeze swept across the sixth floor of the Yellow Crane Tower.
Hundreds of fists flew, but not a sound was heard.
The pond within the tower was calm, with lotuses and their leaves floating gently on the surface. A small frog sat resting there, and in its eyes was reflected the image of the Soul-Stealing Immortal on the sixth floor, begging for his life.
After the quiet commotion subsided, the two men began to talk.
The Soul-Stealing Immortal's internal energy was at the pinnacle level, but the power of his upper dantian was of an overwhelming caliber, second to none.
Even Mu-heun, had he not been wearing the Dream of the Butterfly rosary—a gift arranged by the Arhats—would have been overcome in the blink of an eye.
He might have wandered eternally in the immortal’s illusion, becoming his puppet for life…
However, Mu-heun had emerged victorious. Intent on either recruiting the Soul-Stealing Immortal or killing him, he told him everything that had happened and everything that was to come.
As a result, Mu-heun came to realize that the Soul-Stealing Immortal was also one of the cornerstones of humanity prepared by the Arhats.
***
Mu-heun explained the abilities of the Dream of the Butterfly in detail to the Soul-Stealing Immortal.
"As long as I have this divine object, I can instantly tell whether you are showing your true self or not."
"Ah… I see…"
"The reason your wicked art, soul-stealing, had no effect on me is all thanks to this divine object."
"Is that a divine object arranged by the Arhats of Chipyeong Temple?"
"Yes. A great deal happened there. My companions and I came face to face with the monsters."
"What…!? You mean they've begun to move themselves?"
"Indeed. The world may soon face its final chapter. We are out of time."
"You truly are the savior."
"…From what you've said, it seems you have been preparing to stop them all this time. What preparations have you made?"
"I will tell you everything."
Mu-heun recounted the events in Yuhua County to the Soul-Stealing Immortal, who in turn called Mu-heun the savior and detailed the preparations he had made against the Evil God's invasion.
"Indeed… you have been preparing for a long time."
"From now on, I will prepare to move whenever you wish, Sir Mu-heun."
"Excellent. Then, first, help me arrange a conversation with the Martial Alliance Leader."
"It shall be done."
"Ah, and one more thing…"
"Yes. Please, just say the word."
"There is one more person I would like you to control with your soul-stealing technique."
"Whoever it is, just tell me."
After laying all their truths bare.
Mu-heun and the Soul-Stealing Immortal formed a complete alliance, with the latter promising his full support.
The two began to tidy up the broken dishes and fallen food in the room. Mu-heun healed all of the Soul-Stealing Immortal's bruises and injuries, leaving him in even better condition than before.
"You truly are the Divine Doctor, Baek Jung-hyeok. Your skills are unmatched in the Central Plains."
"Haha, you flatter me. It is you, Immortal, whose mastery of esoteric arts is on another level."
"Hahahaha! I don't know what to do with myself, receiving such praise from the Divine Doctor. Though not yet at your level, you possess considerable upper dantian energy. Did you cultivate that during your time as the Divine Doctor?"
"That's right. I studied many other fields, but in the end, I focused my research on formations."
"I see. You are exceptional in medicine as well. Truly, there is nothing you cannot do."
"What meaning does any of it have? If we fail to handle what's to come, the world could be destroyed."
"...That is true. I will cooperate to the fullest extent. First, I will arrange a meeting with the Martial Alliance Leader. And after the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, there are some people I would like you to meet."
"People you'd like me to meet?"
"Yes. The first is Mu Jin-hyeon, the Taiji Sword Emperor of the Wudang Sect, who shares my cause."
"The Taiji Sword Emperor, Mu Jin-hyeon? Is he not one of the absolute masters of the Orthodox Sects?"
"He is. The three masters known as the absolute pillars of the Orthodox Sects each belong to a different faction."
"I am aware. The first is the Leader of the Martial Alliance, Du Baek, is he not?"
"Yes. He is quite… a remarkable man."
"The other two, I believe, are the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable Jin Hong of the Mount Hua Sect and the Taiji Sword Emperor Mu Jin-hyeon of the Wudang Sect. You have connections with the other two, besides the Alliance Leader?"
"I do. Those three are already somewhat aware of the impending disaster. Though not to the extent that you and I are."
"Does that mean…"
"Yes. I would like you to persuade the Martial Alliance Leader and the Taiji Sword Emperor to some degree when I introduce you. Of course, I will cooperate fully and speak to them myself, but… ultimately, you must be the one to unite them."
"I understand what you mean."
Mu-heun and the Soul-Stealing Immortal discussed their future plans, one by one.
This was the moment the Soul-Stealing Immortal became Mu-heun's new strategist.
"You said 'people' to introduce, so I assume that's not all. Who else is there?"
"I will also make an effort with the Plum Blossom Sword Venerable of the Mount Hua Sect, but… he is not a man easily persuaded. First, I will use various arrangements to soften his disposition a little. I will contact you when the time is right."
"Understood."
"The others are the leader of the Hao Clan and the chief of the Beggars' Union."
"Hah… I was just thinking I needed information and was planning to meet them…"
"From now on, I will handle all the trivial matters so you won't have to bother with them."
"I feel as if I've gained an army of thousands."
"Thank you."
"I look forward to working with you."
"As do I."
Mu-heun and the Soul-Stealing Immortal shook hands, now inseparable collaborators.
Once the room was clean again, the door opened.
Standing before it were Dang So-so, Seol Ha-ryeong, and Gu Pae-seon, their faces tense with anxiety.
Dang So-so was tense, unsure of what had transpired.
Seol Ha-ryeong hoped the conflict between the Soul-Stealing Immortal and Mu-heun had been resolved peacefully.
Gu Pae-seon worried that his friend, Mu-heun, might have been controlled by the Soul-Stealing Immortal and was no longer the friend he knew.
However, the sight of the two men emerging from the wide-open door made a mockery of their concerns.
"Hahahahahaha! If I had known we could communicate so well, I would have just talked from the start."
"My thoughts exactly. That's why I suggested we talk. Why did you needlessly prepare poison and assassins?"
"My deepest apologies. I did not foresee this outcome back then."
"By the way, I made sure the assassins on the roof can never recover… Is that all right?"
"Of course! More than all right. Those bastards are all wicked demons from the Unorthodox Sects with terrible crimes to their names. Merely taking them in is a form of rehabilitation."
"Hehe, that's a relief."
Neither man had a single injury and looked perfectly fine. Listening to them, one would think they were two old men conversing. Pae-seon was used to it, but Seol Ha-ryeong and Dang So-so had no idea what was going on.
Just then, Gu Pae-seon spoke.
"Baek Mu-heun. Are you the Baek Mu-heun I know?"
At that, Mu-heun approached Pae-seon and suggested they talk for a moment, leading him down to the fifth floor. As he descended, Mu-heun sent a telepathic message to the Soul-Stealing Immortal.
[Now is the time. Please proceed with what I told you.]
[It shall be done.]
As Mu-heun went down first with Pae-seon, Dang So-so and Seol Ha-ryeong were about to ask what had happened.
At that moment, the Soul-Stealing Immortal cast his soul-stealing technique on Dang So-so.
"Soul-Stealing Bewitching Eyes."
Meeting the Soul-Stealing Immortal's gaze, Dang So-so saw a flash of blue light in his eyes. She felt her consciousness being drawn in against her will.
*Kiiiiing!*
Her mind instantly went blank. Her surroundings turned to gray; she could see nothing, think nothing.
'What… what am I doing here? No, who was I?'
Then, Jang Ryang, the Soul-Stealing Immortal, spoke.
"From this moment on, you will forget everything about meeting me and falling under my spell."
Trapped in her subconscious, Dang So-so soon lost her sense of self. All she could hear in the gray, empty space was Jang Ryang's voice. It was like the voice of an immortal soaring through the heavens, one she felt compelled to simply listen to and obey.
And so, with a vacant expression, Dang So-so simply nodded her head and replied.
"Yes."
"Good. Furthermore, from now on, whenever you try to warn the Martial Alliance or anyone else of the danger Baek Mu-heun poses, you will forget what you were about to say and why he is dangerous, rendering you speechless. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Seol Ha-ryeong, witnessing this, was utterly astonished.
She had been worried about how Jang Ryang, who was like a godfather to her, would treat the young Mu-heun. But she had also thought that the Mu-heun she had seen so far was a decent person for a member of the Demonic Cult, and would be a necessary asset for the great cause Jang Ryang was to achieve… That was all she had vaguely surmised.
However.
She never imagined he would be this impressed.
'To think he would use his soul-stealing technique to silence Dang So-so, knowing she held different feelings for Baek Mu-heun…'
As if he wasn't finished, Jang Ryang continued speaking to Dang So-so.
"Also, from now on, you will develop a sense of liking for Baek Mu-heun. This is not a romantic affection, but one of unconditional trust. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Dang So-so replied, her face still blank.
"All of this conversation will settle into your subconscious, and when you regain your senses, you will not remember any of it."
"Yes."
"You will come to your senses in a moment. Then you may go downstairs."
"Yes."
With his words finished, Jang Ryang snapped his fingers, completing the soul-stealing technique on Dang So-so.
Then, Seol Ha-ryeong spoke to Jang Ryang.
"Godfather… what is all this?"
"Ha-ryeong… I am truly sorry to you. Follow me. I will tell you everything."
"Yes. I understand, Godfather."