Chapter 254: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (84)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 254: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (84)
Seo Ryeo-hwa and I headed to Dokgo Cheon's office. Jegal Mu was already there.
The office was tidy yet dignified. There were no decorations to be found anywhere, but that very simplicity seemed to represent Dokgo Cheon's upright character.
As we entered, Jegal Mu gave a slight nod. The signs of fatigue were evident on his face.
"Both of you, please sit."
Dokgo Cheon said as he took a seat first. We sat down across from him.
"The Celestial Sphere assembly… what do you think their true purpose is?"
Seo Ryeo-hwa answered first.
"I cannot be certain, but they intend to disrupt the order of the Murim. Disguising themselves as the Demonic Cult to attack the Kunlun Sect was likely a ploy to incite conflict between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions."
Dokgo Cheon nodded and looked at me.
"What are your thoughts, Young Master Jin?"
I gathered my thoughts for a moment before answering.
"The Celestial Sphere assembly's goal isn't simply to cause chaos. They must have a much larger objective. While the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Faction are fighting each other, they must be plotting something else."
Jegal Mu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you saying… they intend to seize control of the Murim?"
"It could be something even greater than that."
Dokgo Cheon nodded and glanced at Jegal Mu.
Jegal Mu promptly took a small, black wooden box from a drawer and carefully placed it on the desk.
"This is an insignia that grants the authority of an inspector within the Murim Alliance."
Inside the small box was a black jade insignia of the Murim Alliance.
"Take this with you so you won't be hindered when conducting direct investigations in the field."
I accepted the box carefully.
"Thank you, Alliance Leader."
"When do you plan to depart?"
"I was thinking of leaving in a few days."
"In that case, I will provide you with a manor. Rest comfortably without any inconvenience during your stay."
Seo Ryeo-hwa bowed her head.
"We gratefully accept your great hospitality."
There was no further conversation. We quietly left the Murim Alliance and walked along the eastern road to stay at the manor Dokgo Cheon had provided.
*
After Seo Ryeo-hwa and Jin Seo-yun left, Dokgo Cheon spoke to Jegal Mu, who was standing beside him.
"How deeply do you think they've infiltrated?"
Jegal Mu was lost in thought for a moment before speaking.
"They seem to be a power that has moved like a shadow for a very long time… We must assume they have a significant number of spies."
Dokgo Cheon turned his gaze out the window and let out a deep sigh.
"Peace has lasted for too long."
Jegal Mu nodded in agreement with Dokgo Cheon's words.
"The signs of a crisis are always hidden within times of peace."
"Indeed… While we were drunk on comfort, they have been slowly digging their way into our very heart."
Dokgo Cheon's eyes glinted sharply.
"What do you think they'll target next?"
"Since they seem to desire war and discord, they will likely try to provoke a clash between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions. Seeing as they disguised the Kunlun Sect incident as the work of the Demonic Cult, their intention seems to be to foster distrust within the Orthodox Faction and amplify hatred towards the Demonic Cult, thereby inducing an all-out war."
Dokgo Cheon clasped his hands, rested his chin on them, and fell into deep thought.
"If that's the case… what do you think their ultimate goal is? If their purpose was simply to create chaos, there would have been no need to plan things so meticulously."
"Perhaps they intend to completely overturn the power structure of the Murim? After the Orthodox and Demonic Factions have shed each other's blood, they might intend to seize the opportunity to rule the Central Plains…"
Dokgo Cheon nodded.
"A plausible guess. But I feel there's something more. Something beyond the goal of ruling the Central Plains…"
Jegal Mu hesitated before cautiously bringing up a topic.
"Alliance Leader, are you perhaps worried that something similar to the old Blood Cult might happen?"
Dokgo Cheon's eyes wavered. He had lived through countless crises over his long life, but the moment the name of the Blood Cult was mentioned, his expression hardened.
"The Blood Cult… a nightmare from decades ago."
He turned from the window and looked directly at Jegal Mu. The Blood Cult had appeared in the world long ago, back when Dokgo Cheon had not yet been called the Sword God, when he was far weaker and could do nothing.
They worshipped the power of blood and sought to stain the world with it. In just seven days, they had completely annihilated three major sects, and the Murim had been paralyzed with fear. Their goal was clear: to bring forth a being called the 'Blood God' into a world drenched in blood.
"The madness of the Blood Cult was not on the level of simple power or ambition. They sought to change this world itself."
Jegal Mu quietly nodded.
"Could the Celestial Sphere assembly have a similar goal?"
"They might, and that is what worries me. We do not know our enemy's objective…"
Dokgo Cheon gazed out the window and sighed deeply.
"For now, we need to tighten our internal security again. Take this opportunity to reinvestigate everyone we have suspected."
"Understood. But, Alliance Leader, you seem to be showing Jin Seo-yun an abundance of goodwill. Is there a reason?"
Dokgo Cheon remained silent for a moment at Jegal Mu's question. Then he turned to him and said, "He's in the Transformation Realm."
"Pardon?"
Seeing Jegal Mu's dumbfounded expression, Dokgo Cheon smiled and said, "He reached the Transformation Realm at his age."
Jegal Mu's eyes widened. A short gasp escaped his lips.
"The Transformation Realm… How is that possible? He looks to be barely twenty…"
"I found it hard to believe at first, too. But the moment I felt his internal energy, I knew."
"In that case… he must be the youngest master to reach the Transformation Realm in the history of the Murim."
"Jin Seo-yun… that child seems to be a special existence. The purity of his internal energy was astonishing, even to me, who has lived for so long. It was as if he held the very energy of heaven and earth within him…"
"For such a person to appear at this time might also be significant."
"Yes. Like a lantern that illuminates the darkness in a time of chaos."
Dokgo Cheon rose from his seat.
"Summon the White Tiger Corps. I will move myself."
"Yes, I will contact them immediately."
Dokgo Cheon took one last look at the distant mountain range from the window.
"The peace of the Murim has lasted a long time… The time has come to raise my sword again."
*
"Dammit…"
Danri Hyeong, the head of the Danri Clan, scowled as he secretly made his way to an underground chamber in the middle of the night.
In the darkness, he hurried down the stairs. The stone steps were damp, and a faint sound of water echoed with each footstep. The small lantern in his hand cast a dim light on his surroundings.
Upon reaching the entrance to the secret chamber, Danri Hyeong looked around. After confirming no one had followed him, he traced the wall as if drawing a secret symbol. When he pressed a specific spot, the stone door opened silently.
When he entered, a figure was already waiting inside the chamber.
"You're late."
The voice that came from the darkness was cold.
"A few of our spies were discovered, and the Murim Alliance has learned of the Celestial Sphere assembly's existence."
"Oh?"
The owner of the voice rose slowly from his seat without revealing his face. His body was concealed by a black robe, and his face was unrecognizable even under the dim lamplight.
Danri Hyeong spoke in a tense voice.
"We may have to move the plan forward."
"Hmm, it's a shame the spies were caught, but there's no need to move the plan forward."
"Are you saying it's fine as it is?"
"Yes. The war will happen one way or another."
"But… if we just stand by!"
The figure in the black robe raised a hand, cutting Danri Hyeong off.
"Are you afraid, Danri Hyeong?"
At those words, Danri Hyeong's face hardened.
"This isn't fear, it's facing reality. The Murim Alliance has summoned the White Tiger Corps. Dokgo Cheon has started to move himself."
The figure in the black robe let out a quiet laugh.
"Even if they make a move, what can they find? Our headquarters? Our true purpose? They are still just floundering in the dark."
"…Since you're so confident… I'll trust you for now. More importantly, what about what you promised? Don't tell me you're going to spout some nonsense about still needing more time."
"Are you that eager to see your son?"
Danri Hyeong's gaze sharpened. His fists clenched on their own.
"It's been ten years. Ten years since you promised to bring my son back to life. I've done everything you've asked of me during that time. I infiltrated the Murim Alliance as a spy to steal information and cooperated with your plans while avoiding Dokgo Cheon's eyes."
The figure in the black robe slowly approached. In his hand was a small box.
"You lack patience. Do you think reviving the dead is so easy?"
"At first, you said three years. Then five. Now how much longer do you expect me to wait?"
The figure in the black robe slowly approached. In his hand was a small jade case.
"Do you remember what I first told you? That three things are needed to fully restore a dead person's soul."
"Yes. A vessel to contain the soul, the essence of life, and the soul itself."
"Correct."
The figure in the black robe opened the jade case. Inside lay a jade tablet emitting a blue light.
"Look at this."
When Danri Hyeong approached and looked, a faint blue light was pulsing inside the jade tablet.
"This is…"
"This is the jade tablet containing your son's soul. We used our secret method to extract his soul and seal it within this tablet."
Danri Hyeong reached out to touch the tablet, but the figure in the black robe closed the case.
"Thanks to your work all this time, we have gathered enough of the essence of life and placed it in this tablet. And now, for the final step."
"What is needed…?"
"A medicine refined from the sacrifice of hundreds of souls."
"The souls I helped you gather should be more than enough!"
"That's right. Thanks to you, we've gathered plenty."
The figure in the black robe placed another object on the table. A small bottle contained a dark red liquid.
"This is the medicine refined from those souls. If you mix this with your son's soul and feed it to the vessel, your son will live again."
A light of hope flickered in Danri Hyeong's eyes. He stared at the bottle and reached out his hand.
"Then there's no need to wait any longer, is there? Right now…"
The figure in the black robe pulled the bottle back.
"The time is not yet right. I told you a vessel is needed. A body to contain your son's soul."
Danri Hyeong's face contorted with anger.
"At first, you said it was enough to just preserve my son's corpse! Now you're saying a new body is needed? What kind of trick are you trying to pull now?"
The figure in the black robe answered calmly.
"Your son's body has already decayed too much. After ten years, the body is too damaged to contain a soul."
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
"A new body is needed. One that is young, healthy, and shares your blood."
Danri Hyeong's face turned pale. His fists clenched tightly.
"Are you telling me to kill my own family?"
"Did you think you could bring back the dead without sacrificing someone else? Everything has a price, Danri Hyeong. For your son's life, someone must be sacrificed."
The figure in the black robe moved slowly and stood before him.
"However, there is no need to sacrifice your immediate family. It is fine to select a suitable person from a collateral branch of the Danri Clan."
Danri Hyeong's eyes wavered. He was silent for a moment before speaking.
"A collateral branch… someone who shares my bloodline…"
"Yes, it must be your blood relative for the soul to settle stably. But it doesn't have to be from the direct line. There should be a suitable candidate among your cousins or nephews."
Danri Hyeong bowed his head, seemingly lost in deep anguish.
"They… are innocent…"
The figure in the black robe laughed coldly.
"Innocent? We are not debating the principles of heaven and earth right now. This is simply a matter of choice. Will you sacrifice one from a collateral branch to revive your son? Or will you lose your son forever?"
Danri Hyeong's lips trembled.
"My nephew, Danri Won… He is still young, and my blood runs strong in him. He is the grandson of my father's brother, Danri Pyeong…"
"A good choice. His body will be suitable for your son."
The figure in the black robe nodded in satisfaction.
"I have heard of Danri Won. A talented child, I'm told."
Danri Hyeong looked up and asked, "He won't… feel any pain, will he?"
"Of course not. He will not feel a single moment of pain. We only need his body; we do not inflict unnecessary suffering."
At his words, Danri Hyeong nodded, slightly relieved.
"And what is the last thing needed?"
"A place for the ritual. It will be held at Honcheon Cave on Mount Taehwa. Our brothers are already preparing the location."
The figure in the black robe took a small pouch from a drawer and handed it to Danri Hyeong.
"Feed this to Danri Won. It is a medicine that will prepare his internal energy to accept the soul."
Danri Hyeong carefully accepted the pouch. His hand trembled slightly.
"And continue to monitor Dokgo Cheon's movements. You must be cautious, as he may discover our plan."
Danri Hyeong left the secret chamber. After he was gone, the figure muttered to himself.
"Foolish man… Your son's soul scattered long ago. All that remains now is your nephew's body and his blood. With that, we will complete the true 'Celestial Sphere'."
He walked into the depths, his voice lowering.
"Soon… the age of the Celestial Sphere will begin. The boundary between the living and the dead will crumble, and we will live forever."
The figure, who had been covering his face, slowly revealed it. A face with silver hair, etched with deep wrinkles, was exposed.