Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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I returned to Jinrang Valley with Mangnyang. Upon arriving back at Jinrang Valley, I left the humans still trapped inside the wooden box for now. Mangnyang spoke up in amazement.
"Truly, time flows differently once you're inside that wooden box?"
"It feels almost completely stopped."
"That's convenient. Let's talk it over thoroughly first before deciding."
Mangnyang sat on the porch in front of the thatched hut, seemingly organizing his thoughts for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Baek Woong. Has anything changed since receiving Xiang Yu's blessing?"
"Not particularly..."
As I answered, I felt a twinge of unease.
Xiang Yu's blessing didn't sound like something positive.
Xiang Yu!
He was history's greatest general, sovereign, and mass murderer. The only times he lost in direct confrontations were when the overall war had already turned against him, and the army he led was practically undefeated. There was also the Battle of Pengcheng, where he crushed an enemy force dozens of times larger with just 30,000 troops. As a warrior, strategist, and field commander, Xiang Yu could be called the strongest figure in history.
Yet at the same time, he was an unprecedented slaughter demon. He committed massacres dozens of times over—acts that even ordinary generals would hesitate to carry out even once—and buried civilians alive or boiled them to death. He was a terrifying monster who, purely for venting rage and setting examples, buried alive tens or hundreds of thousands in his era alone. Historians have assessed that finding any trace of humanity or compassion in him is nearly impossible.
A merciless killing machine devoid of humanity!
That was the evaluation modern scholars gave of Xiang Yu. Knowing this, I couldn't simply accept his ruthless and brutal blessing with joy. Mangnyang studied my expression and said.
"We'll have to watch the situation. If you can't handle the blessing, we'll have no choice but to send it back through a sacrificial rite."
"Sacrificial rite?"
"Xiang Yu bestowed the blessing upon you in exchange for the spirit tablet from the rite. It's a contractual relationship like a mutual agreement. You can't be rid of it until you've fully enjoyed it to Xiang Yu's satisfaction. So we'll need to perform another sacrificial rite on par with the one for Demon Night and request that he revoke the blessing."
"Couldn't I just tell Xiang Yu to take the blessing back without all that?"
Mangnyang sighed at that.
"Any ordinary immortal would gladly accept such an offer. But the one in question is Xiang Yu. Out of spite or whim, he might instead unleash a massive curse upon you. Better to negotiate amicably than risk that."
"......"
It was the first time I'd ever received a god's blessing that left me feeling this uneasy. As my expression soured, Mangnyang changed the subject.
"By the way, I have one thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"If things progressed to your thirteenth regression as you said, that means there was no Seven Essentials Eight Trigrams Diagram in the imperial palace."
"Huh?"
Mangnyang had pointed out something I'd never considered. As I widened my eyes, he calmly continued.
"If what you say is true, the Supreme奇人 can pacify the world once completed. And at this point, the Supreme奇人 is merely in draft form, with years potentially needed for completion. If the Seven Essentials Eight Trigrams Diagram stolen from Balhae Empire had existed in the palace, the alchemists or Zhuge Division would have completed the Supreme奇人 immediately."
"Hmm... Isn't it possible the Eight Trigrams Diagram lacks that kind of power?"
"Impossible. The Eight Trigrams Diagram bestowed by Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors is a symbol of immense power in itself—not inferior to the Philosopher's Stone."
Mangnyang stared straight into my eyes and said.
"How much do you know about the Eight Trigrams?"
"Hmm... Just what I've studied from the foundational divination texts and Taiji classics."
"Then allow me to delve deeper into the [power] of the Eight Trigrams."
Mangnyang seemed ready to explain in earnest as he fetched water from the gourd flask and gulped it down.
"The Book of Changes is a text all sorcerers study as a foundation. You know it involves studying the sixty-four hexagrams and discerning the states of heaven and earth through the interactions of yang and yin lines."
"Yeah."
"Then why do sorcerers study the Book of Changes and the Eight Trigrams?"
I pondered Mangnyang's question before answering.
"For change, unchanging truth, and simplicity. It reveals what must be done, what must not, and how—discerning present, past, and future."
Mangnyang looked impressed.
"Indeed, you've studied sorcery deeply. Few in the world could answer at that level..."
"I just recited what was in the books."
"Now, do you know the Eight Trigrams Image Song?"
"Hmm... I don't remember it perfectly, but something like this:
Qian is three solid lines connected,
Kun is six broken segments,
Zhen is a vessel facing up,
Gen is a vessel turned over.
Li is hollow in the center,
Kan is filled in the center,
Dui is missing above,
Xun is broken below."
Mangnyang nodded.
"That's the fundamental principle for studying the Eight Trigrams: Heaven-Qian three solid unbroken, Earth-Kun three broken, Lake-Dui above filled Earth-Kun three broken, Mountain-Gen below filled Heaven-Qian three solid, Water-Kan middle hollow, Wind-Xun below filled, Fire-Li middle filled, Thunder-Zhen above filled."
"Hmm."
"The Eight Trigrams are the root of philosophy, arranged by precise principles. They encompass yin-yang numbers and images, with 'images' and 'numbers' inseparably linked. That's why it's called the study of image and number."
With that explanation, Mangnyang dropped a bombshell.
"One who comprehends the 'images' of the Book of Changes' Eight Trigrams can dominate space, while one who comprehends the 'numbers' can dominate time."
"......!!"
"It's not in folk divination texts, but it's true. Masters of the Eight Trigrams universally awaken upper dantian abilities related to 'time' or 'space.'"
Mangnyang took another sip of water.
"The Eight Trigrams contain [pure power] so fiercely potent that sorcerers are drawn to it. It underpins illusions, puppetry, longevity rites, sacrificial rites, alchemy, transformation, summoning—nothing escapes its principles and power. It's no exaggeration to call it the foundation of all sorcery."
"I had no idea it was that profound..."
"Amusingly, even among those claiming to be advanced or supreme sorcerers today, true masters of the Eight Trigrams are exceedingly rare. Its awesome power comes with such difficulty that most, after decades or centuries of study, barely touch its edges."
He wiped his mouth, his gaze sharpening.
"And that power of the Eight Trigrams wasn't originally humanity's."
"What?"
"In ancient antiquity, Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors revealed the principles of the Eight Trigrams to humans—that was the beginning. As you know, though incorporated into human history, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were divine beings. Considering Fuxi's stature rivals creation gods like Pangu or Nüwa, the Eight Trigrams were originally the power of gods."
"......!!"
"Moreover... the Seven Essentials Eight Trigrams Diagram is the first divine treasure Fuxi drew in primeval times, encapsulating the true principles of the Eight Trigrams. Now you understand why its power rivals the Philosopher's Stone?"
"I see...!!"
Having grasped Mangnyang's explanation, I let out a groan.
In truth, the Eight Trigrams were the ultimate principle, philosophy, and [pure power]!
A gift from Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to humanity—truths our species couldn't attain even after millennia of natural history.
The Seven Essentials Eight Trigrams Diagram at its pinnacle must be a mass of pure power.
Stroking my chin in thought, I said.
"The absence of the Seven Essentials Eight Trigrams Diagram in the palace means... the Fuma Army recovered it separately."
"If the alchemist is merely a low-rank member of Fuma Army as you say, that fits."
"Then what should we do?"
"One more reason to capture the alchemist alive. We need info on Fuma Army from him to track the diagram's whereabouts."
"Indeed."
Mangnyang added.
"Ah, and it seems you have something to tell me?"
"Right. I need to head somewhere briefly."
"Where?"
"There's a statue inscribed with strange oracle bone script in the Suyo Ruins."
"Intriguing. Let's go."
I placed Mangnyang in the wooden box, used Teleport to reach the deepest part of the Suyo Ruins—the bottomless pit cave—and released him to show him the bizarre statue inside. Mangnyang examined the oracle bone script closely and said.
"It seems to be a statue of Zhuanxu among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors."
"Zhuanxu?"
"I'd need to interpret the oracle bone script based on texts for certainty, but it has images and script symbolizing Zhuanxu."
I made a puzzled face.
"Why would a statue of one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors be in the Suyo Ruins?"
"I don't know either."
"......"
Zhuanxu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!
One of the Five Emperors, the god overseeing the north and grandson of the Yellow Emperor. If this statue symbolized him, it was truly odd. Why would such a thing exist in Chil-yo's ruins?
Mangnyang said.
"Let's take the statue. I'll study it."
"Please do."
I returned to Jinrang Valley with Mangnyang. He said.
"Let's handle the remaining tasks first."
As he suggested, I first released the prisoners from Daolei Prison staying in Jinrang Valley. Hwang Yeon and the others were startled by the sudden change in location. Mangnyang began organizing them and arranging lodging as before.
Then I headed straight to Shandong Province, exchanged the gold bars, and freed the Central Plains pirate prisoners. Only a few women among them remained, those in poor circumstances.
The one-eyed old man approached me.
"My lord... I wish to repay this grace somehow..."
"......"
"No matter the foe... even if just one, I can surely kill it..."
I knew he was a barbarian, a slave race serving the [Ancient Ruler] in Amcheonhyang. I even knew his true form was a dog-man. So I listened to him fully, accepted the black wooden tablet, and said.
"Listen."
"Is there something you're curious about...?"
I sat him down and ordered food. He blinked his one eye in confusion, and as I waited for the noodle soup, propping my chin, I said.
"I already know you're a dog-man."
"......!!"
The one-eyed old man's face paled. As he gaped, I growled with a hint of killing intent.
"Are you telling your benefactor to walk to his death for your sake alone? Is that the act of a person?"
"Ah... aaah..."
The one-eyed old man hung his head. Sobbing pitifully, he said.
"You know everything..."
"We'll say that's all fine. But why haven't your kind gone to live in Amcheonhyang?"
"What do you mean..."
"You're already barbarians, so why live as outcasts in the Central Plains instead of comfortably there without hiding your true forms? No one would dare touch you under the [Ancient Ruler] anyway."
The one-eyed old man looked momentarily speechless. With a sigh, he said.
"Aaah... My lord... I don't know how you learned the secret of our Seven Kills Village, but it's impossible."
"Why?"
"Amcheonhyang is too far... A place even immortals can't reach... With our power, we can only live mixed among humans."
"That must be tough..."
Pondering, I said.
"Anyway, I'll gratefully accept the tablet. Call on me if you need something later."
"......"
The one-eyed old man retreated wordlessly with a strange expression.
A normal human would find it incomprehensible to receive a key to certain death so calmly. But somehow, I felt that even if I met Amcheonhyang's Ancient Ruler again, I wouldn't die.
Soon after, I used Teleport to reach near Muyoung Gate. I brought only the women staying there to start new lives and visited with Seomun Hye. Upon entering Muyoung Gate, the Sword Demon greeted me as before.
After Seomun Hye explained the circumstances, the Sword Demon nodded.
"I see..."
I quickly interjected.
"I have things to do, so I can't marry or anything."
"......"
The Sword Demon looked flustered for a moment, his intended words preempted. But he soon regained composure with a cough.
"Ahem. Well... any requests I can grant?"
Having thought ahead, I said to the Sword Demon.
"Do you happen to know a man called Dongbang Mukeol of the Heavenly Madmen?"
The Sword Demon looked surprised.
"I know of him. Why him?"
"I need to find him and plan to head to Sichuan lands, so I want to know what kind of person Dongbang Mukeol is."
"Dongbang Mukeol... Hmm..."
The Sword Demon propped his chin, deep in thought. After a long pause, he blurted out.
"Don't seek him! He's too dangerous."
"Pardon?"
"He's like a walking bomb. Nothing good comes from getting involved."
"That's why I want detailed information."
"All I know is that Dongbang Mukeol is a madman."
Now both Hwasung Myeong and the Sword Demon—two pinnacle experts of the martial world—had called Dongbang Mukeol a [madman].
What kind of person could make them so wary?
At a loss for words, I heard the Sword Demon say.
"This is advice for my daughter's benefactor. You might end up dissected by Dongbang Mukeol if you're not careful."
"......"
After some light small talk with the Sword Demon, I returned to Jinrang Valley. Upon arrival, Mangnyang said to me.
"Have you finished your tasks?"
"I think I've handled what needed doing. Now we should rescue General Hwang Yeon's family."
"Ah, wait on that. We need to let things settle a bit."
Staring at Mangnyang, I said.
"Then I'll head to Sichuan for a while."
"Why Sichuan?"
I explained to Mangnyang the process and reasons for seeking Heavenly Madman Dongbang Mukeol. Listening, Mangnyang summarized.
"I see... You're curious about the identity of the strange plague that afflicted the White Lotus Cult's young leader."
"Yes. It feels like it'll be an important clue going forward."
No matter how I thought about it, that plague was suspicious.
It couldn't be cured by White Lotus Cult's holy medicine but could by black lotus.
Witnesses said the plague the alchemist spread was nearly identical to the young leader's.
Hanjin Fortress suppressed it painfully, but ordinary humans couldn't.
'I have to find out.'
I had a premonition that uncovering the plague's true nature was essential to proceed.
"If it's your intuition, it's probably right."
"Oh, you believe me?"
"You've regressed thirteen times, accumulating countless life experiences, so that intuition stems from them. I also suspect White Lotus Cult isn't unrelated to the palace, so I think your choice is correct."
Mangnyang grinned.
"Go then. I wish you success."
Thus began my journey to Sichuan in search of Heavenly Madman Dongbang Mukeol.