Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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Creak... Creak...
Rumble...
"......"
When I came to, I was lying on the bunk in the cabin. It was the dead of night outside, pitch black, and the ceiling shook faintly with the ship's vibrations. As I slowly sat up, pain throbbed in my ribs and hips. When I lifted my upper body, I saw Sima Hye dozing in a chair in front of me. She must have been nursing me all this time.
'How much time has passed?'
I tried to get up, but it was no use. The intense pain wouldn't let me move as I wanted. As I grimaced, enduring it, a familiar voice spoke.
"Hahaha. Must hurt like hell, huh?"
"Miho."
With a whoosh, white light spread out, and Miho appeared. She giggled and said,
"You've been out for four days, so stay put. We'll reach the Shandong port around lunchtime tomorrow."
"Already that much time?"
I felt bewildered. I'd collapsed from complete exhaustion and internal injuries, and now four days had passed! I checked my body, but there were no traces of the internal damage. As I examined myself, Miho said,
"Don't worry. Even without treatment, your body has such concentrated spiritual energy that its natural healing is incredible. Most of your internal energy should be recovered by now."
"I see."
She was right. The internal injury was just a slight strain on my heart meridians from forcing out too much power. After resting deeply, my stamina and energy had fully returned, and my internal energy was back to its former might. Looking at Sima Hye leaning against the chair in her sleep, I said,
"Wake up."
"......"
No response. She seemed to be sleeping soundly. With the Heavenly Seal Blood Binding released, she should have sensed my energy and woken, but for a peak expert like her, this was far too careless. As I wondered about it, Miho said,
"She's under my illusion spell. She nursed you for three days and fell asleep an hour ago. She was sleeping so deeply, I put her into a sound sleep so she wouldn't wake."
"You didn't harm her, did you?"
"What do you take me for? She's just sleeping soundly."
Miho pulled a chair over to the bunk after replying. She stared at me intently and said,
"Now we can talk. Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Baek Woong."
"That's not what I mean. How do you know my situation? Did you tell the Queen Mother of the West about me? I need to know that for sure."
Miho seemed to have abandoned her human realm amusements for the Queen Mother of the West's trial and come straight to find me. She had to be curious about me.
"Hmm."
I thought for a moment.
'Should I tell Miho I'm a reincarnator?'
Out of guilt toward her, I wanted to tell her right away.
But the situation differed from with Mang Ryang. The biggest issue was whether she'd believe I was a [reincarnator].
Mang Ryang accepted it because I shared info only someone from his sect could know or stories matching his logic. Plus, his burning sense of justice, passion, and hatred for the imperial palace made him side with me easily.
Miho was different. In my past life, she was only half-interested in me out of curiosity and necessity. I didn't know her full story and was mostly dragged along. I had almost no info to make her instantly believe I was a [reincarnator].
Even if she half-believed me, it was unclear if she'd truly help. I trusted Miho, but to her, I was a complete stranger. She'd help without harming me for the Queen Mother of the West's trial, but if she pretended to help while doubting me, there was nothing I could do.
"......"
"What are you doing? Speak up."
"Just sorting my thoughts..."
"Hmm..."
Miho wagged her tail playfully. After thinking, I said,
"Miho. I'm a reincarnator."
I had to try. Even if she doubted me, not trying meant no better results in the next reincarnation. I decided to gamble.
"What?"
"We've met in a past life."
Then I calmly recounted from my first life to my tenth death. Miho looked baffled through the first to ninth lives, like 'What nonsense is this?' But she listened. When I reached our meeting, the battle with the guardian lion, and Wol Yo's whereabouts, her eyes widened. Hearing she'd sacrificed her nine lives for me and I died fighting the guardian lion left her looking faint.
"...That's how it happened."
The story lasted nearly an hour, but Miho showed no boredom—quite the opposite, fidgeting anxiously. After hesitating, she snapped sharply,
"Hmph! Me using up nine lives for a human like you? Ridiculous!"
"But it's true. Because you stepped up like that, I could tell the Queen Mother of the West about you when enshrining the Final Night Manual. I never expected you'd come find me..."
"......"
Miho bit her nails, hesitating, lost in thought. Her plump silver tail behind her twitched. After a long silence, she said to me,
"Let's say, for argument's sake, you're telling the truth. That I planned to go to the Western Capital to absorb evil spirits, used the Classic of Mountains and Seas summoning ritual, and even sought the Seven Luminaries—true. If I believe you..."
"Yeah."
Miho crossed her arms and asked fiercely,
"Then why tell me about your reincarnations? You could've glossed over it. The secret of your reincarnation is huge—aren't you afraid of being exploited?"
I replied calmly to her counterquestion.
"I know your power well, Miho. If you seriously use your seduction spell, I couldn't handle it now. Plus, I owe you my life, so even if you kill me once, I'd never resent you."
"Ugh..."
Miho furrowed her brow and said,
"You sly bastard. You know my trial from the Queen Mother of the West is to help you, so you say that knowing I can't harm you."
"Being called sly by a gumiho is an honor. That's part of it, but..."
I grinned.
"I want to trust you. So trust me too. Then we'll both achieve our goals."
"......"
Miho said,
"Fine. If you think that way, this lady will trust the human Baek Woong as much as possible. Satisfied?"
"Thanks."
"Hmm..."
From Miho's snort, I sensed she wouldn't pry into my past anymore. I could somehow read her feelings.
With the story settled, Miho brought up the main topic.
"So, Baek Woong. Your goal is dealing with the Demon Subduing Hall behind the imperial family?"
"Yeah. If they get the Seven Luminaries, it'll be a disaster."
"But isn't it unrealistic? The demon in Luoyang aside, their power dwarfs the imperial family's. Even if you block gathering the Seven Luminaries, you can't stop them."
I answered firmly.
"Doesn't matter. I've endured this far to smack the Golden Guard Commander and smash the Demon Subduing Hall. Can't stop now."
"I see... Hmm."
"Got something to say?"
"Not really. You've chosen that path, so I'll help you to the best of my ability."
Miho interlocked her fingers and crossed her legs as she replied.
"Then tomorrow, after docking in Shandong, you'll run errands for that Jang Kyung-ik guy, then train at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall once done."
"Yeah."
"Sounds annoying."
"What?"
Miho said nonchalantly.
"That Jang Kyung-ik must have some scheme. You're doing his errands to figure it out and gain trust, right?"
"Right."
Miho giggled.
"Ufufu, too annoying. No need to go the long way."
"What?"
"Wait here. This lady will make it easy for you."
Swish!!
Suddenly, Miho vanished in a white afterimage, using transformation and teleportation together—an incredible spell mastery. I heightened my energy sense to track her, but felt nothing. She was no longer on the ship.
"Hmm..."
As Miho vanished, the illusion lifted, and Sima Hye blinked awake. Seeing me up, she said in surprise,
"You're awake! Young Master Baek Woong."
"Uh, yeah..."
Sima Hye's face suddenly flushed red. She turned her head and murmured softly,
"...Um, your undergarments and clothes are in the second drawer."
"......"
Only then did I realize I was completely naked, without a stitch on. Realizing what she'd seen, my face burned. I shut my mouth and quickly dressed in underwear and clothes. As I sat on the bunk, Sima Hye said,
"You've been asleep nearly four days."
"I see."
An awkward silence fell briefly. Sima Hye stammered another question.
"Um, Young Master Baek Woong. How's your body?"
"All good now. No more stiffness."
The pain had subsided a lot, and I was fully recovered. Sima Hye gently took my hand and said,
"That's a relief. Everyone on the ship was truly worried about you."
"It wasn't a big injury, so no issue."
Glancing at me, Sima Hye asked cautiously,
"That terrifying martial art you used—what was it? It was incredible."
"It was... a power I accidentally unleashed. Not a technique I know, so I can't use it normally."
I gave a vague answer. If Sima Hye mistook the Heavenly Subtlety Sword Art for my own power, it'd cause more trouble. She listened, then said admiringly,
"Still, it was amazing. I'm even more impressed with you now, Young Master Baek Woong."
"Thanks..."
"Young Master Baek Woong. Please come to the Shadowless Sect with me. I beg you."
"As I said, I have priorities first. I'll go to the Shadowless Sect later."
"Yes."
After chatting with Sima Hye for about half an hour, I sent her back to her room. Finally alone, I sighed.
"Whew, Heavenly Subtlety Sword Art..."
I was still at a loss.
The memories and experiences of wielding it through my body remained clear. But I couldn't fathom how it worked. Yeo Dongbin had executed his ultimate art based on [my] body, but the process was so fast and complex I couldn't grasp it.
Of course, experiencing such a high sword realm firsthand had planted seeds in my mind, soft and malleable. Like after glimpsing the Incarnation Style secret techniques and my swordsmanship improving, inspiration flashed in my head now. To not lose the feeling, I grabbed a nearby sword and slowly swung it.
'Definitely... this flow... flowing again...'
In the transition from Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship to Ten Thousand Riders Sword Formula, Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin's sword flow had blended in. I tried melting it in, but it didn't work well. Merging such disparate flows required immense study. But variations and feints I hadn't understood clicked instantly, and my sword comprehension surged.
I practiced the Heavenly Subtlety Sword Art's realm all night. I hadn't learned specific forms or formulas, but [having executed it] helped greatly. I'd neglected swordsmanship for stronger spear arts, but now confidence in swords returned.
Rumble...
The next morning, I told the Great Dragon Merchant Association Head and the Western Palace Escort Agency Head that I was recovered. They said apologetically,
"You're truly our lifesaver, young hero. Trapped in that fog, I truly thought we were done for..."
"Glad you're safe."
Soon, the ship reached Shandong port. The military ship with Deputy Commander An Hyun had arrived half a day earlier and was docked. The crew bustled unloading cargo, and I headed to Deputy Commander An Hyun.
He looked quite fatigued, handling paperwork in his office. Spotting me, he said,
"Oh, Baek Woong."
"No issues?"
"Yes. But... something strange. I have no memory after entering the windless zone and the sea fog rolled in. Who knew such a freak event could happen."
The military ship crew, including An Hyun, had all blacked out. Overwhelming demonic energy made humans go mad or lose their minds to protect themselves. Soldiers weren't exempt.
"Now to escort the prisoners—heading to General Jang?"
"That seems the procedure."
"Right. It's delegated to you, so explain well to the general. Report's already sent, so no worries."
"Yes. Rest well."
"You've done great, young hero Baek Woong."
I had the prisoners wait at a nearby station, then headed to General Jang Kyung-ik's office. With Sima Hye guarding against trouble, I felt secure.
At the general's residence, guards and officers, seemingly informed, let me pass without issue. As I waited for General Jang Kyung-ik,
"Hahaha... Why stand there? Come this way."
I heard Miho's giggling voice. Looking over, General Jang Kyung-ik stood with vacant eyes, Miho beside him in peerless beauty form. I recognized her by her familiar yokai energy.
Stunned, I shouted,
"Miho! You didn't..."
"No worries. I've seduced everyone in this general's residence—no one will care if you strip naked and dance, hahaha."
"That's not the issue. Why seduce the general..."
"Ufufu. You'll thank this lady soon."
Miho ordered General Jang Kyung-ik,
"Go sit in the chair. And answer everything you know honestly to Baek Woong."
"Yes, understood."
General Jang Kyung-ik walked obediently with a blank face and sat. I looked at Miho; she covered her mouth laughing.
"Hahaha, simple and quick, right? Ask anything—he'll answer."
"......"
"After questions, I'll erase his memories. Ask freely."
"Sigh..."
I wondered if this was okay, but Miho hadn't harmed or tortured anyone. General Jang Kyung-ik was unhurt—just saving time.
I began questioning the seduced General Jang Kyung-ik. No need for honorifics since he'd forget.
"Jang Kyung-ik. What errand were you planning to give me?"
"To deliver... a letter... to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall..."
I was shocked.
"What? A letter? To the Azure Dragon Martial Hall?"
"Yes..."
"Why?"
His next answer was shocking.
"To Azure Dragon Guard Master Lee Gwang... requesting rescue of Grand General Hwang Yeon..."
============================ Author's Note ============================
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