The City Lord
It might be a bit late to realize this, but I've really grown. Looking at Kang Baek-jin's back as he trudged ahead of me, that thought bloomed in my mind. It felt like only yesterday when simply looking at him was overwhelming. Even when I thought I had grown a bit and faced him again, his presence was so colossal that I constantly fretted over when I would ever catch up.
"Come. Sit, my son."
Just like that. Seeing him show me courtesy first made me feel the sheer passage of time. I had finally risen to a position where I deserved respect and courtesy from a man like him. It was something I already knew in my head, but seeing and experiencing it firsthand made me feel a mix of pride and immense pressure.
"It seems both of us have much to say. This might turn into quite a long conversation."
The somewhat quiet, gentle attitude he showed me wasn't the gentleness one showed to an inferior. It was a kindness disguised as soft grass, hiding fangs sharpened to a point, ready to bite at any moment. Since I hadn't yet grown enough to fully handle him, I treated Kang Baek-jin with as much respect as possible without appearing subservient.
The father and son sat facing each other across a round table. A sudden thought crossed my mind. Though both Kang Baek-jin and I called each other father and son, it was likely nothing more than a title. Since I myself had never truly accepted him as my father, I had no intention of whining about it. However, whether he viewed me as a son, or even a nephew, was a crucial matter. There was a world of difference between being able to appeal to someone's affection and not.
Slurp.
"I recall it hasn't been all that long since I took you in, yet you have grown wonderfully. Personally, I find it remarkable and feel proud. It proves that my eye for talent was not mistaken."
"Indeed. I am still grateful for that."
So, I'll take responsibility for your daughters and make them happy. As for you, taking responsibility for you would be far too heavy, and it's not like you'd want that anyway.
"There is no need to be so grateful. You have shown results far exceeding my support. Even without me, you would have reached the Three Pinnacles."
Kang Baek-jin's pitch-black pupils locked onto me. Since our realms weren't vastly different anymore, it didn't exert a physical pressure like before, but it was still incredibly oppressive. Setting aside the fact that his realm was that of a warrior who had reached the absolute limit of the Three Pinnacles, his gaze carried an indescribable weight—the product of hundreds of years spent ruling as the head of a massive clan. Perhaps the sheer weight of time and experience made it impossible for me to face him as an equal just yet. Acknowledging that I was still below this man, I prepared myself.
'You ready?'
I meant preparing myself to beat the crap out of Kang Baek-jin. It would be best if he played nice, but if he acted like a bad adult, then Ryeo-ah—an even older adult—would have to step in. She had been killing a lot of people lately, so I wondered how she'd fare. No matter how strong my "father" was, he would have no choice but to take a dog-like beating until her stored power ran out.
"As the elder here and your father, I shall get straight to the point. What are you hiding?"
At this point, I just smiled nonchalantly and began to spin my web.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Besides, doesn't everyone who has reached the Three Pinnacles have a secret or two?"
I kept my words deliberately vague. I made it seem like I was hiding something, yet gave no clear answer, forcing the listener to interpret and imagine whatever they wanted.
"Son."
"Yes?"
"Stop beating around the bush before I fetch the switch. Do you want to get beaten like a dog?"
But of course, he was my father. He certainly didn't mince words. Naturally, I knew his threat was mostly a bluff. Even if I seemed suspicious, there was virtually zero chance of me being a spy, and the line between ally and enemy was still blurry. We were in the middle of a war; executing a renowned general of the Three Pinnacles? Even if they spread propaganda claiming I was a spy, morale would inevitably plummet. Furthermore, the Kang family would be throwing away a powerhouse of the Three Pinnacles over an unconfirmed suspicion, and if luck was bad, Kang Baek-jin might even sustain injuries himself mid-war. That was why I thought I could afford to be a bit more stubborn, but...
"Father, I'm glad you paid a sudden visit, but coming at me like this right off the bat is a bit difficult. I just exhausted myself breaking through to the Second Pinnacle, so today I should really rest..."
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Do I look like I'm joking, you brat?"
"No, sir."
Looking into his eyes, I realized I needed to behave. A tangible aura began to rise from Kang Baek-jin's body. It was a wave of destructive, powerful, and domineering energy.
Creak— Merely unleashing his presence caused the sturdy hardwood table to develop small cracks. Even if it was just wood, for it to split so easily... Is this the power of the Three Pinnacles? Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Reaching the absolute limit in every domain a living being could touch was truly nothing short of marvelous. I was looking up at Kang Baek-jin from the step of mastering only a single aspect, Essence, and the gap between us was vast. When I went from the First Pinnacle to the Second, I definitely felt a massive surge in strength. That was because two domains that had reached their limits complemented and maximized each other. Then what would the Three Pinnacles be like?
"The threshold of a living being."
"Hmm? You use peculiar phrasing. Is that also one of your secrets?"
If the First and Second Pinnacles felt like addition plus a little extra, the Three Pinnacles was multiplication. The compatibility and harmony between them were absurdly high. Was this what it was like for everyone who surpassed the Second Pinnacle to reach the Third? I could see the flows of Essence, Qi, and Spirit splitting and dividing as if they had originally been one. Were they achieving harmony? I was briefly dazed by that mesmerizing, vague sensation, but I quickly tensed my body. I didn't even know how things would play out yet; I had let my guard down too much.
"I see. It means you didn't just obtain the Second Pinnacle for free."
"Pardon?"
I had spaced out for a second, only to receive compliments from both sides.
"Thank you, I guess?"
"Still, I do not understand. You are definitely hiding something, and as one of the supreme commanders of this war, I came to get an answer."
Well, what should I do? At that moment, a thought occurred to me. If I could trust this man just a little bit more, there was a story I might be able to share.
"..."
"I know it is difficult to answer. However, I heard that a bizarre power was felt during the recent battle with the Human Alliance. The power of an anomalous existence that surpasses the Three Pinnacles."
Ah, how on earth did he find out about that? Of course, since we had unleashed a strike on the level of the Johwa realm, it would have been hard not to notice. Still, I thought Ryeo-ah had been careful to avoid detection.
"Was it the work of our friends in the Yaksha Squad?"
"Do not blame them. They were merely faithful to my orders."
Those bastards in the Yaksha Squad. I had left them alone because they wagged their tails and hunted well like obedient dogs, but I guess I can't let this slide. After all the Dharma treasures and spirit stones I fed them, they shouldn't have stabbed me in the back so openly. The Yaksha Squad's name was officially added to my mental hit list.
"Give me an answer. It could only have been you."
"..."
If he was going to maintain that attitude, it wouldn't hurt for me to throw a question back at him. Half-baked lies would eventually be exposed by a hundreds-of-years-old fox who might as well be called an old monster.
"Before that, if you answer my question, I will speak."
"Oh? A trade of questions? However, since I asked first, is it not only proper that you resolve my doubts before asking yours?"
"Yielding to one's child is a virtue only a parent can display."
"..."
"..."
After a brief, awkward silence, it was Kang Baek-jin who spoke first, looking troubled.
"Sigh... I can't even beat this brat, which makes this incredibly frustrating. This is why I've been busting my ass trying to reach the Johwa realm, but I don't see any sign of progress."
Right now, Kang Baek-jin had revealed a glimpse of his inner thoughts. A lament. Even for him, who looked down on me from the height of a hill—if not a mountain—there remained a primal thirst and regret regarding power. And he was irritated that he couldn't act according to his usual temperament because of my status and strength. Indeed, even for him, the power I possessed and the current situation made it too risky to treat me carelessly.
"Ask first. However, if you just run away after hearing my answer, or if you give me some half-assed response, I don't care if you're a clan head, an alliance leader, or my damn son—I will crack your skull open."
'I know.'
The sheer murderous intent radiating from him made it clear that he really would kill me if I lied. It was truly a shame that the bond we forged through blowjobs was cracking like this.
"Where on earth did the memories of that night go, when I fucked your wife and taught you how to give a blowjob?!"
"..."
"Just a joke to lighten the mood."
"...Why does that feel like a confession rather than a joke? Is my brain broken?"
Click, click. Kang Baek-jin tapped the earring hanging from his ear with his fingernail. At the same time, both the man and the woman looked at me as if I were a complete lunatic.
"Crazy bastard."
"Why is everyone ganging up on me?"
I felt so sad I could cry. In any case, Kang Baek-jin pressed his forehead with both hands.
"Just ask already."
"Yes. First, what do you plan to do once this war ends? Or more precisely, what will you do if the old monster of the Johwa realm on the human side breaks their silence?"
I felt as though Kang Baek-jin's pupils trembled slightly. It didn't actually happen physically, but was this one of the sensory abilities that came with reaching the pinnacle?
"Naturally, we would withdraw our forces and wait until the City Lord's command..."
"Dad. If you lie or beat around the bush, I'll have no choice but to answer you the same way."
"..."
Honestly, even if you don't have proof, you must have a gut feeling, right?
"Sigh. The City Lord is the master of Yagwi City, possessing immense authority, and the guardian deity of the Night Goblins."
"Indeed."
"But I do not know what would happen if the City Lord were to leave Yagwi City. May I ask what you think of the City Lord?"
Honestly, by this point, both Kang Baek-jin and I had realized it. We both thought, He knows something I don't. I couldn't back down here.
"The City Lord is an existence of the Johwa realm. Because of him, our right to survive has been guaranteed against the surrounding races, including the humans."
"Correct."
"So, I will speak frankly as well. We need to run. Because the City Lord doesn't have much time left to live."
A long silence ensued. In the uncomfortably heavy air, I casually sipped my lukewarm tea while observing him. At the same time, I harbored a certain expectation. If he prioritized his 'clan' over his 'race,' this argument would definitely work. I didn't have much faith in the racial solidarity of anyone in this world. Racial solidarity, my ass. If that kind of thing actually mattered, Earth—where humanity is the only intelligent species—would have achieved world peace long ago. Earth, with all its self-inflicted tragedies, had shown all too well how futile racial solidarity was. However, people who sacrificed themselves and dedicated their lives to their nation or organization were surprisingly common.
"Tell me more."
Whoosh— High in the sky, where clouds drifted precariously above. I shivered from the flesh-tearing wind and bitter cold. You might ask how someone who had reached the physical limit could make such a fuss just below the clouds. Well, try standing here yourself. The great nature of this world was dozens, if not hundreds of times harsher than Earth's. And among all things, the sky was particularly special. There were records of even cultivators of the Three Pinnacles losing their lives to lightning bolts falling from the heavens, and by some strange phenomenon, the closer one got to the sky...
Swoosh!
"Ugh."
Just like this, an even sharper gust of wind would occasionally slice through my skin, despite having reached the physical limit.
'What happens if we go above the clouds?'
The fact that her words were neither a metaphor nor a figure of speech made me feel quite depressed. I was heading toward the main camp of the Three Great Forces Alliance, bringing my women along. Although the war was still in full swing, the information I had shared with him was worth far more than that. If my words were proven true, the war would become a secondary concern. It seemed Kang Baek-jin possessed some unique method to verify my claim, even without physical evidence. Or perhaps Kang Baek-jin himself already knew something for certain, lacking only the proof.
"The warnings sent by the heavens are particularly harsh today."
"Dad?"
"Cut the creepy talk. We are going to meet with the leaders of the Three Great Forces and settle this once and for all. If this matter is true, even those stubborn bastards will have no choice but to cooperate."
Of course. The presence or absence of a Johwa realm cultivator determined the rise and fall of an entire race. That was why we were traveling along this rather dangerous sky path, which I hadn't even known existed. It was a relief that I had tucked my girls safely inside a protective Dharma treasure. Perhaps because this artifact was designed for sky travel, its speed was incredibly fast.
"We should be arriving soon."
"Already?"
"There is a reason why the sky path is famous. Though it is dangerous and painful, it is absurdly fast. Ah, we are descending now. That place is the headquarters of our Three Great Forces Alliance... Hmm."
He placed his foot on the railing of the small sky vessel and frowned.
"We're fucked."
It was exactly as he said. At the temporary headquarters of the Three Great Forces established for the war—the place where the leaders and main forces of each faction resided—the ground had been scooped out in an ominously perfect square, as if carved out by something colossal. Soon after, the words Ryeo-ah spoke to me were more than enough to give me a massive headache.
The old monster of the Johwa realm from the human side had made their move.