Chapter 60
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Mountain Where the Fire Went Out
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The mountains of the Nakdong Range, spanning Samnam Township and Sangbuk Township in Ulju County, Ulsan Metropolitan City.
That mountain's name is Sinbul Mountain.
It's named for being a place where spirits cultivate the Buddha's way, and it's dotted with an unusual number of temples.
It's the burial site of the Inferno Ghost King and the only place where one might secure the one disaster-grade anomaly possibly friendly to humans.
Just like the Dark Sea Ghost King, the Inferno Ghost King was once worshiped as a native deity of this land. If communication went well, persuasion seemed possible.
"Namu Amida Bul. Pleased to meet you. I am Monk Ho-ryeong, assigned to guide you today."
We met the monk dispatched by the Buddhist Association at the entrance to Sinbul Mountain.
Unlike the neglected heart of the Dark Sea Ghost King, the Inferno Ghost King's seal was managed by Korean Buddhism, so to awaken the Ghost King, we first had to speak with the temple overseeing this place.
"I've heard the story. Something big happened in Mujin, right?"
"Yes. We really need your help..."
"Of course. If we can help, we must."
Normally, even approaching the seal site would be impossible, but thanks to our feat conquering the Cursed Mountain Lodge, we had the backing of Woo-hyeon Monk and Hye-ryeong Monk.
Moreover, Elder Han Ju-seong of the Lunar Blossom Sect, who handled exchanges with other groups, had deep ties here, granting us permission to enter via Sinbul Mountain's hidden trail.
This permission was barely obtained through a joint request from trusted experts and organizations.
A one-time chance—if we missed it, we'd never approach the Inferno Ghost King's seal again.
Failure was not an option.
"Then let's head up. The path is long, so we must start now."
"Monk, do you know how many hours it will take?"
Monk Ho-ryeong smiled at Lee Do-gyeom's question as she shouldered her gear bag.
"We veer far off the trail midway. It'll likely take at least five hours to reach the destination."
Five hours to the goal.
By arrival, the sun would have set.
"F-Five hours!?"
Lee Do-gyeom couldn't hide her shock at having to climb with gear for five hours.
Her bag was quite large, packed for even a full ritual with an ox head included, making the hike a true trial for her.
"We'll rotate carrying it, so don't worry."
"Ah, Fixer... Thank you."
The bag looked incredibly heavy, so we agreed to take turns, then entered the mountain.
The trail start was like any hiking path, but it grew untamed higher up.
About three hours in, the path turned rugged, hard to traverse. Mountain beasts passed by, and unknown things watched us from afar.
"From here, we leave the trail entirely. Even seasoned mountain monks rarely come, so watch your step."
As the monk said, no real path remained—just wild grass and tangled trees as we pushed upward.
"Silver grass ahead. We're almost there."
Night had fallen, the starry sky spread above.
Guided by flashlights, we finally neared our goal.
"This is... the Inferno Ghost King's seal."
Accessible only via Sinbul Mountain's hidden path, the Ghost King's burial ground—a high plateau thick with silver grass.
Not a single tree on the summit plain.
The monks called this place the Flame-less Heaven.
"It means the heaven where fire is extinguished. The Inferno Ghost King's karmic flames no longer burn. They sleep quietly beneath this land."
The monk pressed his palms together toward the altar at the Flame-less Heaven's center, then turned to us.
"This is your final destination. The Inferno Ghost King lies buried beneath this altar. Awaken and take him—if you can."
The monk looked at us with pity.
His eyes held compassion and sorrow.
"Thank you for guiding us, Monk. But why aren't the other monks guarding this place... visible?"
Taoist Mun Seon-woo asked Monk Ho-ryeong, puzzled why no one guarded the Flame-less Heaven.
"We visit periodically for maintenance, but no one stays permanently."
"Is that okay? It's the Inferno Ghost King's seal. Seems too unguarded..."
No permanent guard for a disaster-grade anomaly?
This was odd. I expected rotating monks nearby.
Only we were here.
"You don't know why no other monks guard it, or why the Buddhist Association permitted your entry so readily."
Monk Ho-ryeong walked toward the altar, gazing at the night sky.
Something felt off. Telling us to awaken if we could, no guards...
No way, right?
"It's a seal, but more accurately a grave. Simply put, this is where the Inferno Ghost King 'died' and was buried."
"...Pardon?"
We were stunned, lost for words.
Died and buried? Then the Inferno Ghost King wasn't here?
"Your plan to awaken the Inferno Ghost King... will likely fail. Unfortunately."
"What do you mean? We haven't even started—don't jinx it."
Lee Do-gyeom set down her bag angrily, confronting Monk Ho-ryeong.
Why ruin the mood? Why not warn us sooner?
We faced an unforeseen crisis.
Beyond affinity issues.
No time to even check if the Ghost King was male or female.
Already dead.
"You won't believe without seeing, so stopping you was pointless. Better to show you directly for acceptance. No intent to mock."
"This can't be..."
Lee Do-gyeom looked defeated, while Taoist Mun Seon-woo desperately examined the altar for a way.
Time was short. Failure meant hunting unknown disaster-grades elsewhere.
Most sealed, isolated and protected, inaccessible like today.
Monk Ho-ryeong genuinely grieved our inability to help.
"What do we do now..."
"There must be a way. Stop moping and check the altar!"
"Yes, Taoist..."
Taoist Mun Seon-woo roused the despondent Lee Do-gyeom and inspected the altar intently, while the monk erected barriers around the Flame-less Heaven against stray threats.
I stepped away from the group and asked toward the Dark Sea's Breath.
"Haeyul. Is what the monk said true? Is the Inferno Ghost King... really dead?"
After a long silence, Haeyul finally spoke.
I don't know... I... don't know... I thought I'd sense it here... but nothing. Nothing at all...
No warmth here.
No will at all.
Yet the revelation led us precisely here.
No Inferno Ghost King after all this? Impossible.
"Wait a moment..."
I excused myself from Taoist Mun Seon-woo at the altar and examined it closely.
It was too crude for an altar.
More like a stone mound grave.
Folk Tradition Tracking
Humanities Knowledge activates
A stone tomb from the Three Kingdoms era.
No other info.
Just an ancient altar.
'There must be a clue. Surely... this isn't the end.'
I inspected the altar for two full hours. Even thrusting in the Lesser Spirit Summoning Tablet yielded nothing...
Checked the stones for inscriptions—nothing.
Hoping Ancient Text Deciphering would reveal a key insight.
Examined, re-examined.
"Fixer... Maybe try another disaster..."
"Give up... It seems truly gone..."
Taoist Mun Seon-woo looked defeated, Lee Do-gyeom teary at potential failure, shaking her head.
They might be right. Wasting time here with little left was foolish.
But I couldn't give up easily.
My instincts said to stake it here.
"The revelation... pointed here."
"But nothing's here."
"..."
Everyone said no.
Really? I recalled the revelation.
Our biggest clue and hint.
Focus on it, not elsewhere.
Something hidden for sure.
'Discussions with elders clarified verses one through three...'
Representing Mujin Mountain and the shrine maiden.
But fourth and fifth verses remained unclear.
This could be the key.
Those without precepts
Forget their names and walk into the reverse side.
The unified land
Becomes unified ash.
'We just pieced this with elders. True meaning unclear. What if it's how to awaken the Inferno Ghost King?'
Sixth and seventh verses point to me.
So fourth and fifth might hint at this situation?
"Those without precepts... Haeyul."
I'm listening. Speak.
"Perhaps 'those without precepts' means you and the Inferno Ghost King."
I pondered.
'Those without precepts forget their names and walk into the reverse side.'
Precepts are Buddhism's code of conduct and rules.
The two Ghost Kings are Three Kingdoms-era spirits.
Three Kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla ruling this land.
The Twin Ghost Kings' betrayal and sealing might coincide with Buddhism's arrival.
Thus, 'those without precepts' are the two Ghost Kings.
"Haeyul, surely... before the Black Feather Society, you were under human care?"
...Yes. Memories fuzzy, but...
The Black Feather Society occupied a monk's private temple.
Pre-society, the Dark Sea Ghost King was isolated and protected by Buddhists.
Like the Inferno Ghost King's grave managed by Korean Buddhism.
Both under Buddhist care.
'Those without precepts' are the Dark Sea and Inferno Ghost Kings.
Then...
Forgetting names and entering the reverse side fit their past.
Once Haeyul and Hongran to humans, now only I know those names.
Betrayed by worshipers, slain, then abandoned as Buddhism took hold, becoming anomalies.
That interpretation works.
"Fifth verse..."
Fourth verse identifies the Ghost Kings.
Fifth predicts this moment.
How far did the shrine maiden see?
"The unified land becomes unified ash."
This was how to awaken the Inferno Ghost King.
We thought it post-Mujin Mountain deification event.
No.
Must become ash.
To awaken the Ghost King who closed its eyes, ignoring the world.
"Fixer? What are you doing?!"
"I must become ash. A Ghost King betrayed by humans, yet chose sleep over destruction... To rouse such a being requires proper 'ritual.'"
Bush trimmer brought to clear grass, just in case.
Poured its gasoline on myself.
The only way.
Relight the extinguished ash.
But ash doesn't ignite.
So, ignite my body.
A task for me alone.
My 'self-immolation.'
"Taoist, Do-gyeom—help the monk strengthen the barrier to contain the flames."
"No! Fixer! That's not proper! Burn the ox head instead!"
I grabbed Taoist Mun Seon-woo's shoulder as he tried to stop me.
Monk Ho-ryeong and Do-gyeom worried too, but this was the sole method I found.
To awaken the Ghost King who burned all and slept—become unified ash here.
On this unified land.
"That won't suffice as atonement. Asking a god harmed by humans to aid humans demands sincerity and effort. Don't stop me. I won't die. Just ensure flames don't spread."
"You won't die...?"
"Yes. You'll see."
Pulled lighter from bag.
Prepared.
Resolve?
Settled when I fell into this world.
"Sowol, please. And sorry. Always asking favors."
No... Your path is the answer... Don't worry for me... Do it freely...
Always supportive—reassuring.
If I endure alone fails, pass damage to Sowol.
Hope Inferno Ghost King wakes quickly...
First, ignite.
Burn my body.
Awaken the disaster that forsook human hope.
Whoosh.
As my body ignited, heat surged into the fireless sky.
Yet no change.
Wrong answer?
Truly dead..?
Body burns on.
Life force plummets.
Flames rage, hope fades.
Just as I thought this too a failure...
Fool. Think that'd awaken me?
The Inferno Ghost King awakened.