Chapter 134
Chapter 134. Heavenly Demon Book
Another world refers to all realms except the human realm among the Ten Realms in Buddhism—the realms of delusion including the Hell Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, Animal Realm, Asura Realm, and Heavenly Realm, and the realms of enlightenment including the Śrāvaka Realm, Pratyekabuddha Realm, Bodhisattva Realm, and Buddha Realm.
Dong Bong-soo could immediately tell that the "another world" Seungchan spoke of didn't mean the other nine realms in Buddhism, but rather a different world entirely.
"Are you saying I'm not a person from this place?"
"You yourself would know that best."
Dong Bong-soo realized that Seungchan had seen through his true identity.
However,
'It seems he hasn't seen my essence.'
It appeared Seungchan had recognized his identity as someone from another world, but hadn't noticed his essence as a predator. If he had noticed the latter...
He would have had to compete with Seungchan right here and now.
But questions still remained.
How exactly had he seen through his true identity?
Seungchan continued speaking.
"In the past, there was a peerless master called Heavenly Demon. He suddenly appeared in the Central Plains. For a master of that caliber, there should have been rumors about a sect affiliation or at least obtaining some fateful encounter... but there was truly nothing. As if he had dropped from the sky—"
Seungchan paused briefly, then looked straight at Dong Bong-soo and continued.
"Just like the benefactor here."
Heavenly Demon.
At those words, Dong Bong-soo began calculating again.
Whether he should kill him here or not. What his chances of victory would be.
Though it wasn't confirmed whether it was true or not, if Heavenly Demon was also someone from another world like himself, and if Seungchan considered him the same as that person?
'I might have to fight.'
As far as he knew, a thousand years ago, the Shaolin Fire-Tending Monk and Heavenly Demon fought for seven days and nights. Perhaps that incident would be recreated here and now.
Dong Bong-soo quietly prepared for battle.
That's when it happened.
"Hehe. Killing intent that seems to be there yet not there, indifferent. Indeed, as I've heard, in that world of yours, death is not death. And killing is also not killing. So perhaps killing intent is also like that. Killing intent that seems to be there yet not. If it weren't for this old monk, no one would have easily noticed it."
"...!"
"That world where you revive even after death and never age—it really does exist."
"Are you saying Heavenly Demon came from such a world?"
"This old monk definitely heard it from his master."
The worlds Dong Bong-soo had experienced numbered three.
This world's Central Plains, that world's South Korea, and Murim Online.
In other words, the virtual reality world.
A world where death is not death, and killing is also not killing.
A world where you absolutely never age or die.
The world Seungchan spoke of was, of course...
***
Late at night.
Dong Bong-soo came down from Deungseon Pavilion and returned to his room at Jibin Pavilion. When he had gone up there, he had thought a battle with Seungchan was almost certain, but there was no fight.
They had merely shared a long conversation.
..... .... ... .. .
'What was the name of the world Heavenly Demon came from?'
'He said it was called Murim. When the founding Kimnara Hall Lord, Great Master Pahwan, found it strange, Heavenly Demon smiled and added this. Online.'
'Murim... Online!'
'Yes, that was the name. I'm not quite sure what the latter part, Online, means... but he said it was a place that had some similarities to here yet was completely different.'
Seungchan looked at Dong Bong-soo meaningfully, but Dong Bong-soo merely waited for Seungchan's next words.
'Heavenly Demon was truly a madman, they say. He took people's lives as if breathing, and enjoyed fighting the strong as if eating meals. Then one day, he finally came to Great Master Pahwan, who had been a hidden supreme master.'
'......'
'The world knows that after seven days and nights of fighting, the two ended in a draw, but in reality, Heavenly Demon had nearly won. Nevertheless, Heavenly Demon didn't deliver the killing blow to Great Master Pahwan. It was because he had gained enlightenment from that battle with him.'
'......'
'How futile it was to fight for the sake of killing—wasn't that what he realized in that long, long fight? He said he had been deluded by this world, and only then escaped from that delusion.'
'Delusion...?'
'This poor monk also doesn't know exactly what he meant by that. However, it's passed down by word of mouth only among the Kimnara Hall Lords that if Heavenly Demon hadn't escaped from that delusion then, the world might have been destroyed. But Heavenly Demon ultimately escaped from delusion and by covering himself in blood, brought peace to the world... it sounds ridiculous to say it that way, but... yes. By Heavenly Demon descending upon this place, the world finally found its proper place. Thus, the true role of the Kimnara Hall Lord became waiting for that Heavenly Demon's successor and guiding them to the righteous path. Because that is the top priority for truly maintaining this Central Plains righteously.'
'So that means, in the end, Heavenly Demon and the Kimnara Hall Lord were friends?'
'It's ambiguous to express it exactly as that kind of relationship, but... if you say so, it could be seen that way. Heavenly Demon even visited Great Master Pahwan before passing away.'
'Are you saying the last place Heavenly Demon appeared before dying was Shaolin Temple?'
'Yes. At that time, there's also a relic he left with Great Master Pahwan. Something he asked to be passed on if someone similar to himself appeared.'
Seungchan took out a scroll from his bosom and handed it to Dong Bong-soo. It was parchment so white and clean it was hard to believe a thousand years had passed.
'What is this?'
'It's something the Kimnara Hall Lord always carries on his person to pass on to Heavenly Demon's successor, should one appear. Heavenly Demon said that only his successor could understand and obtain it.'
'Successor...?'
'Yes, that's right. At the time, Great Master Pahwan asked Heavenly Demon jokingly if Shaolin Temple could take it if they solved it. Heavenly Demon laughed heartily and said to try if they could. If they could solve it, they could obtain everything of his... Though it started as a joke, the successive Kimnara Hall Lords have earnestly tried to solve it. This old monk is the same. Hehehehe. But as Heavenly Demon's dying instruction said, it seems people from this place cannot solve it. After all, no one who guarded Kimnara Hall for a thousand years has solved it. If you happen to obtain its secret transmission, please let this poor monk witness Heavenly Demon's ultimate technique at least once.'
Dong Bong-soo let Seungchan's words go in one ear and out the other as he unrolled the scroll.
. .. ... .... .....
Crack-
The rolled parchment unfolds on the table beside the bed, revealing its contents.
The contents were exactly as he had seen earlier at Deungseon Hall.
Dong Bong-soo once again carefully examined the front, back, and every corner of the parchment scroll. And he repeated that action over and over for a long time.
However...
Characters that weren't there don't appear just because you keep looking.
That's right. The parchment was completely empty.
At first, he had guessed that the Kimnara Hall Lords couldn't solve it because the contents were in Hangul. But that wasn't it.
This was just.
Paper with nothing on it, an empty one. A perfectly clean paper, that is.
'Why did Heavenly Demon leave such a thing? What exactly is this?'
One thing was certain...
Dong Bong-soo reached out again and placed his hand on the parchment.
[Critical ERROR occurred! Critical ERROR occurred! Critical ERROR occurred! The item the player has currently acquired is an illegal item without a serial number! The player must immediately report this item to the operator and return it. If you do not report it... zzzt! The player will... zzzzt! receive various penalties....]
Since it was an illegal item but not equipment, he wasn't threatened with forced logout like last time or penalized with his soul being pulled out.
Even so.
In any case, the fact that this was an item usable in Murim Online.
That was what mattered.
Dong Bong-soo pushed aside various thoughts and immersed himself in the Heavenly Demon Book.
***
Tap.
"...So you're saying you're leaving right now?"
Hyeoncheon Jinin set his teacup down on the table with a sound. Sitting across from him was Seungchan, who had entered Cheontong Hall late at night.
"Amitabha. This old monk has urgent business to attend to at Mount Song. Alliance Leader."
"Great Master. If you're not here, there may be no one who can handle the Extreme Yin Heavenly Calamity Energy."
"Hehehehe. It will be fine. I think now, even if I don't step forward, it won't matter much."
"...Though this poor Taoist has been preparing for the Extreme Yin Star of Heavenly Calamity for a long time, it's still quite insufficient. Great Master."
There were quite a few elites stationed at the Murim Alliance and rising stars from various sects here now. Hyeoncheon Jinin thought Seungchan was being relaxed, trusting in that.
"It will be fine. The Martial World is stronger than the Alliance Leader or this poor monk know."
"However—"
"Amitabha. It won't take very long."
Seungchan recited a Buddhist invocation to reassure him.
"Hoo... Since you say so, I cannot refuse to let you go."
"I apologize. Alliance Leader."
"May this poor Taoist ask the detailed reason? The reason why you must leave for Mount Shaoshi right now."
"...Amitabha."
Seungchan merely showed an enigmatic smile to Hyeoncheon Jinin, then recited the Buddhist invocation again and stood up from his seat. It was a silent answer that he couldn't respond, and an expression of his will to leave immediately.
"Then this poor monk will depart now."
"...Ascend to the Void Way. Then go and return. I won't see you off far."
Soon the door opened and immediately closed again. Seungchan had left, and now only Hyeoncheon Jinin remained.
Hyeoncheon Jinin quietly turned his head to the side of the table. Toward the folding screen. From the way he stared at it as if to pierce through, it seemed someone else was somewhere behind it.
"Did you say Great Master Seungchan stopped by Deungseon Hall with a young man named Dong Guang-chuan?"