Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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The 11th life had begun.
I lay there motionless for a long while. The pain from activating the Great Thunder Annihilation Formation and dying was too intense. It felt like my entire body had been hacked apart by blades, leaving me drenched in sweat and unable to move.
"Huff... huff..."
I thought for sure I was dead for good, but I quickly cleared my mind. In that state, there was no way I could've survived anyway. If anything, landing one solid hit before dying was a stroke of luck.
Still, resentment lingered in my heart. There were just too many bastards in this world who deserved to die. I stewed in that hellish grudge for a while until the pain finally subsided, and my strength slowly returned. I sat up and checked my condition.
'Good. My internal energy is intact.'
I realized just how much I'd gained in my 10th life.
Now I could perform first-class medical techniques, having mastered the Hua Clan's Hundred and Eight Needles and Hua Tuo's Five Golden Acupressures. I'd even made a basic entry into sorcery, and years of training with the Dharma Treasure had greatly boosted my potential. Above all, learning the whereabouts of the Moon Yao and the Guardians' power, as well as the abilities of the Twelve Laws Sect Leaders and the Dharma Protector Lions, were tremendous achievements.
'...But my thoughts are still a mess.'
Instead of leaving the stable right away, I sat and pondered.
Several questions remained unresolved. I mulled them over for about half an hour's time, but some parts were still beyond me. Reluctantly, I decided I'd have to borrow Mang Ryang's power again this time.
"Oh, right."
As I rushed out of the stable toward the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, I suddenly stopped at the door.
Something felt off. Cautiously, I used the Concealment Art to approach the Village Chief's house. In the dead of night when everyone was asleep, I slipped undetected into his room.
"Hmm..."
I gazed silently at the soundly sleeping Village Chief. For some reason, no real hatred stirred. Instead, I crossed my arms and looked down at him.
'What if I kill this guy right now and leave? What would happen?'
The grudge was settled, but I could still kill him. Especially since he was such a loathsome prick—I could smash his skull in an instant. But this murderous impulse wasn't purely from hatred.
Karma!
I'd experienced how even the smallest actions could affect my fate. More than once, I'd been cruising along only to get tripped up by something from the past. So I wanted to test it now.
What effect would killing the Village Chief at this exact moment have on me?
If I knew that, I could better grasp future variables. With just a bit of internal energy in my foot, his head would burst like a melon. I lifted my foot gently and hovered it over him.
"......"
I pulled my foot back.
'Never mind.'
I could test it, but it didn't sit right. More importantly, even knowing I could revive didn't make me want to abuse this power endlessly. To preserve my humanity as much as possible, I had to avoid casually treading the path of inhuman depravity.
'No need for needless killing.'
This mindset had formed while learning the medical arts.
I resolved not to kill or harm the Village Chief or anyone in the village carelessly from now on. Instead, I administered a deeper sleep acupuncture point, then thoroughly examined his body with pulse diagnosis.
Excess fat, high blood pressure, high stroke risk.
Turtle neck, poor lungs and liver.
A textbook case of rich man's disease.
Even if left alone, he had a high chance of dying within 15 years. Ordinary folk, excluding physicians, didn't know how deadly overeating meat was. In fact, historically, the Village Chief hadn't lived longer than that before passing his fortune to Geum Manjae.
I knew there was a set of silver needles uselessly lying around in his room. I sterilized the tips with internal energy flames, then slowly manipulated them.
Hua Clan's Hundred and Eight Needles
Life-Tilting Stabilizing Needle Method
Carefully, I targeted twelve key vital points on his body, driving out stagnant qi and inserting the needles. As they pierced, the harmful energies dissipated, and his damaged organs began to heal. Once stabilized internally with acupuncture, I withdrew the needles and used Hua Tuo's Five Golden Acupressures to balance his constitution. With each press, his joints loosened and blood clots dissolved.
Moments later, the Village Chief slept soundly with a peaceful expression. Having infused him with my internal energy, I knew the Life-Tilting Stabilizing Needle Method had taken full effect. Rising, I muttered,
"This should let your booze-, meat-, and lust-ravaged body hold out five more years."
With proper self-care, he might even reach a ripe old age. The Hua Clan's Hundred and Eight Needles was the top medical art in Hebei Province, after all—this was child's play. Feeling I'd somewhat atoned for killing him in the past, I headed for the Heavenly Dark Secret Book.
Once I had it, I bolted straight for Yellow Mountain.
'Let's go!'
Clop clop clop
Upon arriving, I grabbed a spear and sword, prepared the black and white lotuses, and entered the secret realm. The Millennium Snow Ginseng turned up right away. Grabbing it was so easy that before eating it, I first dove into the pond with the black and white lotuses.
Splash
I entered the underwater ruins, hauled the golden box out, then dove back in and went to the altar. I decided to reread the inscription on the stele.
Strangely, this time I could interpret more of it. Piecing together the fragmented text, I understood nearly everything.
[...Song of darkness... the one who pairs... walk of the wind... cold white god of silence... primordial north... arriver... no trials... but one who would unseal... meet the god of silence... slash and bleed... awaken and arrive... offer to this altar... the arriver's blood...]
"Ooh..."
I felt a sense of wonder. After that strange sensation in the Moon Yao ruins, I'd apparently gained the ability to decipher monstrous script, even if just a little. I didn't know why, but it was incredibly helpful right now. I read it several times to memorize it fully, then challenged the Dark Night trial.
Rumble rumble boom
The wall opened, revealing a log bridge to the Dark Night. Moments later, as a giant spider leaped from below, I unleashed Thunderclap alongside the pre-prepared acupuncture secret art, Thunder Wind Clash. Thunder Wind Clash took time to set up in real combat, but with the needles already in place, it was no issue.
The giant spider let out a monstrous screech, but I was already charging, thrusting my spear with full force. My enhanced physical abilities far surpassed normal, so it couldn't even resist my preemptive strike.
"Lan! Na! Chal!"
Boom!!
[Kieeeeeek!!]
Just five spear thrusts, and six of its massive legs were severed. Sensing it was outmatched, the spider spewed threads from its body once more, but by then I'd closed in, shattering its vital points with spear strikes.
Splurt
Blue blood sprayed. Before it could fall, I gathered my full internal energy and hurled it into the side wall.
Crash!
It smashed into the rock face with a thunderous boom. Seeing the detestable thing embedded there lifted my spirits.
"Hmm, nice."
This was total victory. I now knew soloing the giant spider was no big deal. Leisurely crossing the bridge, I claimed the Water Yao Dark Night, then glanced at the twitching spider lodged in the wall.
"......"
Come to think of it, wasn't this thing an incredible demonic beast?
Didn't that mean it had an inner core?
Swoosh
On a whim, I drew my dagger and hurled it. It lodged between the spider's eyes, and the massive internal energy burst its head. Even mortally wounded, it twitched until finally going still. After half an incense stick's time, I leaped toward it.
Sizzle
Landing atop the corpse, I cautiously raised my sword and cracked its outer shell. Blue blood erupted. I dodged swiftly, and sure enough, the acidic blood melted the nearby stone wall visibly. With acidic fluids gushing, I grimaced and leaped back to the entrance.
"Tch. Too much hassle."
I didn't know how to harvest the core, and with its body full of acid, tampering was impossible. I decided to bring a hunter or medical expert later to study it.
After stably dispatching the spider and securing the Dark Night and golden box, I surfaced. I dug up the Millennium Snow Ginseng and black and white lotus roots, stuffing them into a large pack. The ginseng especially needed careful handling, so I wrapped it meticulously in a big sack. Unlike before, I took eight lotus roots, and as a bonus, four lotus flowers, dried lightly and added.
Taking everything I could carry.
That's right.
This time, no eating the Millennium Snow Ginseng.
It wouldn't boost my internal energy absolute value much anyway, so instead of consuming it myself, I'd find ways to utilize it. Unlike the black and white lotuses, its external value was sky-high, and smart use might easily achieve my goals.
With everything from the secret realm secured, I sat on a rock by the waterfall entrance to rest. After a nonstop march today, I needed a break. While resting, I thought.
'The Yellow Mountain Sect uses the Wind God Style.'
And their sect leader, the Isle Dragon Sword God Yong Joong-il, was likely closely tied to the Wind God Style's Dharma Protector Lion. Effectively a disciple of the bastard who killed Miho. I'd been mulling this since reviving in the stable.
I hadn't thought deeply before, but now was different.
Why was the Yellow Mountain Sect—one of the Nine Great Righteous Sects—a branch of the Wind God Style?
It couldn't be explained just by the leader being a disciple. Even the elders and disciples' arts were universally acclaimed as orthodox divine skills. There was no trace of the fierce Wind God Style I'd encountered. Plus, though a newer sect, it had existed over a century.
After pondering, I muttered,
"No, not yet. I can't act rashly and botch things."
Satisfying my curiosity by infiltrating or provoking the Yellow Mountain Sect was easy. But it would make meeting Mang Ryang harder. Better to share the intel from my 10th life first, hear his thoughts, then move. I glared at their distant headquarters.
"I'll dig up your roots for sure."
Rest over, I dashed toward Jin Rang Valley and Mang Ryang. Using not just Thunderclap but acupuncture secret arts too, I arrived even faster. My speed now outpaced even legendary thousand-li steeds.
En route, I stopped by the Hua family in Taegyeong Village to grab the phoenix fragment. No longer needed after learning of Bohai, but it might prove useful. I'd hoped for a connection to Hua Seomyeong's Hua medical clan, but it was just a coincidental surname.
Arriving at Jin Rang Valley, I headed straight for Mang Ryang's hut.
This time, I found him locked in a passionate kiss with a young village maiden by the well. He stroked her jawline with soulful eyes and whispered,
"To me, there's only you... You know that, right...?"
"How embarrassing..."
"Hehe, your smile makes you even prettier."
Caught mid-youthful flirtation, he finally noticed me and freaked out.
"...Wha!! What the—? Who are you?!"
"Oh no!!"
Mang Ryang stumbled back in shock, and the maiden screamed. I waved hurriedly.
"Don't worry. Just a passing martial artist."
Mang Ryang bellowed,
"No, you're way too suspicious! How'd you breach the Mang Un Formation!"
"Argh..."
This Mang Ryang seemed pissed at the interruption of his sweet romance, more emotional and hostile than last time. No choice—I pulled the golden box from my pack and tossed him a gold ingot.
"Take this and let's talk."
"Gasp!"
He fumbled to catch it.
"This is...?"
The startled maiden's eyes widened as she approached. Mang Ryang glanced at her, clutched the ingot tight, and pushed her hand away.
"This is mine."
Tone firm.
"...Tch."
She puffed her cheeks.
Mang Ryang suddenly grinned cheesily.
"Aigoo, young hero! What brings you? Got a job for this monk Mang Ryang?"
"......"
Tossing gold upfront led to this, huh.
I nodded, glanced at the maiden, and said,
"I'd like to speak alone."
Mang Ryang nodded.
"Got it. So-hyang! Head to the village."
"Mang Ryang..."
So-hyang called softly, her eyes fixed on the ingot in his arms.
"...Half, right?"
"......"
Mang Ryang averted his gaze and hugged the gold tighter.
"Um..."
"......"
She stared daggers, but he fanned himself with the Five Flowers Seven Golden Fan, stubbornly ignoring her. Finally giving up, she shot lingering glances at the gold and descended into Jin Rang Valley.
"Yellow-tooth."
Her parting shot was gold.
Brushing off So-hyang's words, Mang Ryang snapped open his fan with confidence.
"Breaching the Mang Un Formation—impressive internal energy! Need wisdom? You've come to the right place! I'll solve anything—just spill it."
I chuckled. A familiar fondness welled up.
Yes, this was the real Mang Ryang.
"About that..."
I reached for the Dark Night but paused, recalling what the previous Mang Ryang had said.
[How about this? From now on, when you meet me, say 'investment for the future.']
['Investment for the future'?]
[I'm a thorough materialist, see. Say that, and I'll work tirelessly equivalent to whatever gift you give. And when you face a great foe needing aid, I'll give my all in return. No needless debts of gratitude between us.]
Mang Ryang disliked indiscriminate favors. Giving that guideline meant he wanted to trust me as a comrade. It was also the shortcut to him seeing me as someone he could talk to.
I chose my words carefully.
"...Not a commission—more like an investment for the future."
"Huh? Future?"
"Listen well. It might be hard to believe."
Slowly, I told him I was a reincarnator, that I'd lived and died ten times so far, and this was my 11th life. At first, he looked at me like I was insane. When Cheon Woo-jin and Mang Ryang came up, his face hardened. By the Seven Yaos pursuit adventure, he was hooked.
Showing the actual Dark Night made him look faint; he even ran to puke under a tree. When he returned after rinsing his mouth, all doubt was gone.
After my half-hour tale, Mang Ryang fell silent for a long time.
Then he hurled the gold ingot to the ground.
Clang!
"A story worth more than all this trash gold. Thanks for sharing."
He wasn't mad. Excitement flushed his face red. My tale had ignited his ambitious spirit. Chuckling, he plopped on the bench.
"Hahaha, incredible! Me forming the Anti-Heaven Alliance and clashing with the imperial court? Awesome!"
"Of course, I don't know what happened to you in my 10th life. What I do know is the White Lotus Cult's young leader recovered thanks to the black and white lotus roots I leaked, and the cult leader invaded the Central Plains, on the verge of unification in mere years."
"Hmm... Let's think."
He tapped his head with the Five Flowers Seven Golden Fan.
After much deliberation, Mang Ryang spoke.
"I see three main points."
============================ Author's Afterword ============================
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