Threads of the Dead Soul
One wrong word and it was game over. 'Fuck, what the hell am I supposed to say?' This old geezer was obsessed with corpse arts and sorcery, so I couldn't flash anything that might catch his eye. My hands and feet trembled involuntarily.
"Anyway, as you said, the key to sorcery is the heart—the power of the soul. For instance, if you cast sorcery using a vengeful ghost who died full of resentment, its power would be several times stronger than a regular spirit."
"Oh..."
"This old man, who mastered both corpse arts and sorcery, had an idea one day. Why not use sorcery to grant intelligence to a mindless corpse?"
Sima's lecherous grin made the whole situation click instantly.
"Ha... Wait, did rumors spread about my doll play in the annex?"
"Heh heh heh. I knew the details because you asked me to set up the formation. The others don't know much. Even the Sovereign might not."
"Tch..."
"Now do you get my demand?"
"Yes. In summary, the body you're turning into a corpse already has more than enough post-peak realm essence transferred to it. What you really want is Namgung Hyo's ghost, full of venomous grudge from dying in the situation I set up."
My spot-on recap made Sima slap his knee with his palm.
"Heh heh. Exactly!"
I scratched my head, embarrassed that my antics with Namgung Hyo and Seol Hwarin had somehow spread. Sima smiled in satisfaction, stood, rummaged through the bookshelf in the corner, and returned with a tattered book.
"Here, take it."
Embarrassing or not, a deal was a deal. Sima handed over the corpse sword manual coolly.
"Oh..."
On the worn cover, the characters Sahonroeju glistened as if written in blood.
"I couldn't get the matching heart technique, but given your realm, you don't need an inner power method. With this alone, you can master corpse sword arts befitting your level."
"Yes. This should be enough."
I nodded, holding off the hazy message window in front of me. The deal wrapped up smoothly, and Sima smiled, pleased.
"Good. So when can I get Namgung Hyo's corpse?"
"Sigh. I'll send it via messenger the moment I return to the annex. I've preserved it perfectly, so it's fresh as the day he died—no worries."
"Oh! You never disappoint. Heh heh heh."
"Not the time. I should head back."
"Then go! Tonight's gonna be a fun one. Heh heh."
Mentioning Namgung Hyo's fresh corpse—still preserved in my inventory—lit up Sima's face with excitement. Achievements and abilities for me to boot.
'Namgung Hyo, you generous bastard. Heh heh.'
With the deal sealed perfectly, I stood and headed for the annex, leaving Sima's beaming farewell behind.
Excited about my new power, I hurried along—only to spot a burly, muscle-bound old man ahead on the path to the annex where Dokgo Hwaryeon and I lived. He grinned broadly upon seeing me.
"Oh?! There you are. Been looking for you, Vice Military Officer."
His creepy gaze licked me up and down, making my sphincter clench and tension rise unbidden.
"What brings you here, Elder Gwang-ma?"
Smacking his lips at my wariness, Gwang-ma spoke leisurely.
"Heard you killed some kid named Namgung Hyo. True?"
Ever the Demonic Cult top gay, watching my every move gave me chills. I brushed down my arms and pointed at Sima's room I'd just passed.
"Yes. I was just handing his corpse to Elder Sima for something I needed."
"Damn!"
It was still slumbering in my inventory, but since I'd handed over the trade item, ownership was Sima's now. Gwang-ma got it from my words, scowled, and turned toward Sima's direction.
"Have a good day, Vice Military Officer!"
"Y-yeah..."
He vanished in a flash of lightness skill. I shook my head with a sigh and hurried on.
It was a day when Namgung Hyo, even in death, sent shivers down my spine unwittingly.
'Sigh. Be grateful I killed you, you punk.'
Forgotten Martial Arts Manual Acquired.
Skill: Sahonroeju Obtained!
Character information has been updated.
Linking Skill (Sahonroeju) deducts 100 points.
Wishing strongly to acquire the ability as the message windows popped up, points deducted, and a familiar sensation flooded my mind with corpse sword knowledge.
"Hoo..."
Now more pleasure from the knowledge rush than pain, I exhaled and invested the points I'd saved. It must've lingered in Sima's memory, as 500 points later, the rank rose.
Even after the upgrade, ~700 points left brought a satisfied smile. I tried raising Sahonroeju again, but the 1000-point demand made me click my tongue and swipe away the windows irritably.
'Tch. That's why high-level arts are hard to learn.'
Still, messing around in the wuxia world a bit would net the missing 300 easily. Comforted, I tidied up and stood.
Any world, after getting a new power, you gotta warm up with it. The real training grounds were incomparable, but as Vice Military Officer, stretching in the spacious annex training hall was fine.
'My power's only flaw: I know it in my head, but it's not muscle memory yet. Heh heh.'
Whistling unconsciously, I headed to the annex training hall where Seol Hwarin was probably having fun.
Creak.
"Hm... Everyone's here, I see."
"..."
"..."
The monk's bright tone as he entered fell flat against the frozen expressions of the elders in varied robes.
Chuckling softly at their reaction, the monk gave up brightening the mood, sat at the head seat, and rolled his prayer beads.
"Well, with the righteous-demonic war imminent as you all wished, let's hear your thoughts."
The red plum embroidery peeked from a sleeve as an old man slammed his table.
"Alliance Leader! How can you speak so lightly? It sounds like our advance was a mistake!"
Hyeon Yeon Sunim, Murim Alliance Leader, snorted and shrugged at the Huashan Sect elder.
"Indeed. You grasp my words so well—your sect leader realm must be unparalleled."
"Alliance Leader!"
Bang!
The Huashan leader slammed again, splintering the wooden table.
"No need to shout; this monk's ears are fine. Lower your voice."
The smirking Alliance Leader made the Huashan leader tremble with rage before sighing and settling.
Whatever, he was the Alliance Leader. In these chaotic times, backing his authority beat infighting.
"Sigh... Alliance Leader, mind your words. The war's a simple clash, but we're all powder kegs ready to blow."
Fists clenched around the room at the Huashan leader's words.
"Amitabha..."
As candlelight dimmed under their glaring eyes fueled by inner power, the Leader sighed silent, deeming persuasion futile.
Judging it time to discuss next moves amid the seething silence, Hyeonheo Jin-in tapped the table, drawing eyes.
"Now you all finally get how I felt after Yongbong Assembly."
The elders swallowed retorts; he was first hit, Wudang Sect Leader, core of the war.
"Since the tragedy, I haven't rested easy. Absent great disciple Myeongdo, Demonic Cult dogs rampant in Central Plains, leaving deep scars."
Grinding teeth at the memory, Hyeonheo continued.
"Myeongdo, Namgung Hyo, Seol Hwarin, Paeng Do-gang, Tang So-so, Hong Gae, Yeo Song-baek, Gong Son-hye..."
Names called one by one: teeth gnashing, groans, sobs from deep bonds rippled.
But Hyeonheo ignored them, reading down a list of ~100 names like a broken man past his limit...