Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Thunder Dragon's Debut
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The road to Luoyang was far from smooth.
Shwaaaaa—
It had been about ten days since I left Mount Huang. A torrential downpour had trapped me in a remote mountain village, leaving me unable to go anywhere. I'd weathered plenty of storms before, but this time, the bridges were washed out and the fords were flooded.
With my lightness skill, I might be able to leap over those vast stretches of muddy water. But even if I crossed dozens of張 of it, there were too many isolated patches of land turned into islands amid the muck. One wrong move, and I'd end up starving and weakening in the rain.
Shwaaaaa—
Rumble...
Lightning flashed.
Staring at the rain pouring madly outside from inside the building, I muttered to myself.
"Even a fortuitous encounter is useless against the forces of nature."
Even if my internal energy were double what it was now, there'd be no escaping this. Humanity is powerless before even a fraction of nature's might. I'd been swept along in this vast world for decades, yet I still couldn't help but feel awe toward its grandeur.
My travel funds were nearly depleted. In exchange for room and board in this backwater village, I was helping out with odd jobs and heavy labor. Naturally, with my strength on par with the realm's mightiest warriors, the villagers had no qualms about paying me in food and shelter.
Even in this relentless downpour, I was hauling massive logs, repairing the village walls, and clearing piles of rocks—doing the work of twenty grown men single-handedly. Without me, several houses would have collapsed, so the villagers seemed grateful.
"The girl we just ate with—she's my daughter. What do you think? Pretty good, right?"
"Haha..."
Even the village chief was slyly trying to set me up with his daughter. She was your typical plain country girl—neither stunning nor ugly. Her breasts were ample, as you'd expect from a farm lass, but that held no appeal for me. I gave the chief a wry smile and brushed off his intentions.
"I'll be leaving soon. Besides, a girl like her wouldn't suit an ugly mug like mine."
"Hmm... Who cares about looks in a man? Pretty boys like gigolos are useless anyway."
"That's true, but I've got things to do right now."
Drip.
The village chief stroked his white beard and poured me a cup of rough rice wine. I accepted it with a subtle nod and took a sip as he spoke.
"By the way, you said you're headed to Luoyang. What's the purpose?"
"There's someone there who should know all the languages and knowledge under heaven."
"Well... Luoyang probably does have folks like that..."
The chief pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if struck by a thought.
"Ah! If it's someone smart, I know just the one!"
"Who might that be?"
"About forty li west of here lives a Taoist master called the Mangliang Immortal. He's the most miraculous sage around these parts—might be able to answer your questions."
"......"
I'd never heard the name.
'A Taoist master, huh.'
Taoist masters stood at the pinnacle of folk shamanistic faith. While many orthodox sects had Taoist affiliations, they were martial Taoists pursuing enlightenment through proper cultivation methods rather than superstition. The common Taoists were sorcerers who divined fortune and misfortune through mystical spells, faith, and rituals, sometimes even performing healings.
The Mangliang Immortal was likely one such sorcerer. I didn't outright dismiss spells or shamanism, but I saw them as often deceptive scams. That's why, from my escort days to now, sorcerers had always rubbed me the wrong way.
But I quickly changed my mind.
Wasn't the Heavenly Dark Secret Book I carried everywhere—prized above my own life—a pinnacle of such mystical arts? If I was seeking worldly sages, I couldn't skip meeting one of these sorcerers.
"Is this Mangliang Immortal a martial artist by any chance?"
"No? I've visited him a few times myself, and I've never heard anything like that. But he's so miraculous that even local officials come seeking him out."
"Hmm..."
"He lives in Jinlang Valley. Just ask around—it's not hidden, so you'll find it easy enough."
And just like that, my next destination became Jinlang Valley. Fortunately—or unfortunately—the path there didn't stray much from the route to Luoyang in the west, so there was no reason to hesitate.
'Let's check it out!'
As soon as the rain let up, I set off for Jinlang Valley. The chief had sketched me a simple map of the area, so getting lost wasn't a worry. The storm had wrecked bridges everywhere, forcing me on a winding detour that was a real pain.
Jinlang Valley began with a small village at the mouth of a ridge like a gorge. The Mangliang Immortal's home was probably nearby.
I asked a passerby in the village, who pointed to the distant mountaintop.
"The Immortal lives at the peak. There are stairs—just take your time, and you'll be there in about an hour."
"Lots of people like me come seeking him?"
The young local grinned.
"Haha, yeah, you could say that. Truth is, the Mangliang Immortal is our village's pride and joy."
Half hopeful, half skeptical, I headed for the Immortal's abode. Whatever the case, the villagers trusted him, so I hoped he could unravel the Heavenly Dark Secret Book's mystery. And once I knew what it was, my life would surely become all the more enjoyable.
Whoosh...
After climbing the stairs for a good while, I reached the summit and spotted what looked like the Immortal's thatched hut. There were signs of life—shoes at the entrance confirmed someone was inside. But the closer I got, the stranger my expression became.
Strange noises were coming from within.
"......"
Creak.
Creak.
Ahh... aaahhh...
The floorboards shook, and a woman's delicate moans echoed out. Peering through the door crack, I saw a man and woman locked in embrace, clearly engaged in intercourse. They were switching positions, lost in passionate ecstasy.
The man's thrusts were ferociously intense, and the woman's eager responses ruled out any rape. This was consensual lovemaking, without a doubt.
'Is this really the Mangliang Immortal's place...?'
Annoying as it was, my surging internal energy had sharpened my hearing dramatically. I could hear every splash of fluids, every breathless moan, every slap of the man's hips driven by lust—as clear as if I were right there.
Good grief.
Screwing in broad daylight!
Not being a eunuch, my loins stirred naturally, but I quelled it with sheer willpower and sighed.
"Haa..."
At the sound, they startled inside—scrambling apart in a panic. The woman hastily dressed while the man tidied the bedding. Opening the door now would be hilarious, but I held back a laugh, crossed my arms, and waited.
Only after the woman slipped out the back and the man finished "cleaning up" did the door open. Out stepped a stern-faced Taoist.
"Ahem... What brings you here?"
"......"
The room reeks of semen and love juices...
At least wash your crotch before coming out.
'Eh, whatever.'
Tempting as it was to call him out, what was the point with a total stranger? Besides, he might hold the key to my burning questions, so I let it slide.
"I'm Baek Woong, just passing through. Are you the Mangliang Immortal?"
The man—thirties, lean face with prominent cheekbones, a faint flush on his skin—nodded. He looked far younger than I'd imagined.
"That's me."
"Found the right place, then."
"Heh heh... Have a seat on that log bench under the tree."
The Immortal quickly redirected my attention to a wooden bench beneath a locust tree, complete with a carved go board. Clearly a spot set up for leisure.
I sat on the log bench and scrutinized him across from me.
'No strong aura. Doesn't seem like a martial artist...'
Still, I couldn't let my guard down. There were tales of hidden masters who concealed their presence. And if he was a master of sorcery, dropping my defenses could spell disaster.
Curiously, for a self-proclaimed Taoist, he lacked the signature whisk. Instead, a snake spirit dangled from his belt. He fetched water from a nearby well and offered me a cup.
"Must have been tiring climbing those stairs. Have a drink."
"I'm good."
"Ah, right..."
He drank awkwardly, and I got to the point.
"Are you versed in the world's languages, Immortal?"
"Languages...?"
He mulled it over, then beamed confidently.
"You bet! Whatever you're after, looks like you came to the right place. I know Central Plains tongue, of course—North Sea dialects, southern barbarian languages south of the Yangtze, even Tianzhu script. Ask away."
"......"
No telling if it was true or bluff. Given his earlier antics, he screamed con artist, but I decided to test him. Cautiously, I drew the Heavenly Dark Secret Book from my bosom and showed it to him.
"Hm? What's this? Heavenly Dark Secret Book?"
Flip.
"Gasp..."
He flipped the first page and sucked in a breath. His eyes glazed over, then lit up like he'd downed a potion, nose buried in the book. For a good fifteen minutes, he stared silently before suddenly looking up.
"Wh-where did you get this?"
"Before I answer that, I have a question..."
I eyed him suspiciously and continued.
"Have you ever seen this strange script before? Do you know it?"
"Hmm... Give me a moment to gather my thoughts."
"Sure."
Arms crossed in his seat, he pondered deeply.
Finally, he spoke.
"No, that won't do. You first. Then I'll talk."
"You think that's fair?"
He shook his head firmly.
"Won't budge, no matter how you push. I hear your story first."
No yielding.
My usual temper would have me bullying him with force or intimidation right there. He looked like a frail scholar with no or weak martial arts.
Yet his attitude oddly inspired confidence.
A typical con wouldn't play it this way. They'd deny knowledge, berate you for shady goods, or demand a "donation" to spill. That's how the Taoists I'd dealt with operated.
But this Immortal felt like he was laying groundwork for a "deal," not a scam. My instincts, honed from years among people, told me so. Steeling myself, I spoke.
"I found it in a cave. Been carrying it ever since."
"...That's it?"
"My turn now."
"Urgh..."
He sighed heavily after a long pause.
"Fine... I've seen this script exactly once in my life."
"Where?"
He stared at me steadily.
"First... what kind of man are you? From here on, I'm risking my life—I need to know who you are."
"I told you. Baek Woong."
"No way... You're definitely a master. One with profound internal energy. No nameless nobody has that kind of power."
I tilted my head. Had he trained in martial arts without showing it? How did he spot me as a master?
"What's your proof?"
"You climbed the stairs."
"Anyone can climb stairs."
He gave a weak laugh.
"No. I'd set up the Net Cloud Formation—splitting the path into illusions midway. Whether you broke it or your deep internal energy rendered it ineffective from the start... you're a master of immense power."
"......"
A formation!
His conviction revealed him as a formation master of sorts. He must keep arrays around his home to deter casual visitors. Today, he'd brought a woman for fun, only for me to catch them in the act.
He rambled on.
"Not to brag, but my Net Cloud Formation is a one-of-a-kind marvel in the jianghu. Passing through it casually means you're at least an elder or sect leader of the Nine Great Sects—or beyond. I want to know who you are."
"What then? Plan to do something about it?"
He scowled.
"I'm staking my life on this talk—can't you give me that much?"
His repeated mentions of life and death suggested he felt at risk of me killing him. With his formation breached, he was defenseless—walking a tightrope. Despite his calm facade, sweat beaded on his forehead.
Judging him no con artist, I replied.
"I'll say it again: I'm Baek Woong. Trained at a martial hall, now traveling. No ties to the Nine Great Sects. I came solely to uncover the Heavenly Dark Secret Book's secrets."
"Swear it by heaven and earth?"
"Of course."
Only then did he relax slightly. Glancing around, he said.
"The first time I saw this bizarre script was... in the Inner Imperial Pavilion."
"What's that?"
"The archive accessible only to the emperor and astronomers."
"......!!"
I stared in shock, and he continued resignedly.
"I'm a former astronomer. Left the imperial court to live as an immortal sage."
Astronomer!!
They divined the year's fortunes, prayed for the dynasty's prosperity, and oversaw national Taoist rites. I didn't know details, but they held elite status in the court—hereditary positions, not from imperial exams. I knew this because Geum Manjae once griped about exam studies, joking he'd live easy as an astronomer.
"You can just quit a hereditary post?"
"I lacked the talent. My brother excelled, so I was ousted from the capital to wander as a ronin."
"Hmm... Lucky you didn't end up dead."
"Plenty of drama along the way."
With a bitter smile, he went on.
"Anyway... I remember seeing this script in the Inner Imperial Pavilion. If memory serves, the book was called the Nameless Ritual Book. Like the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, it was written in incomprehensible script."
"You studied as an astronomer—couldn't decipher it at all?"
"Impossible."
His next words sent chills down my spine.
"The Nameless Ritual Book and Heavenly Dark Secret Book... aren't written by human hands."
"What?"
Not written by humans?!
What did that even mean?
What being besides a human could pen such an otherworldly tome?
"I'm a jinshi and a tanhua, you know."
"What?! For real?"
"Absolutely."
Jinshi and tanhua.
No small feats.
Jinshi were the final passers of the imperial exams, challenged yearly by millions of scholars across the Central Plains. Passing the "huishi" made one a jinshi, eligible for the "zhensi"—a ranking exam before the emperor months later.
Zhensi's top three were zhuangyuan (1st), bangyan (2nd), and tanhua (3rd)—lavishly honored. Conventionally picked by the emperor, they received wine poured by his own hand at the victory banquet.
Even princes didn't get that treatment. It showed the nation's esteem for top scholars. Those three bore lifelong pride and family glory for generations. The top three of the first class (yi jia) went to the Hanlin Academy; upper second class to the Six Ministries; most third class started as local magistrates.
In short, the Mangliang Immortal before me was one of the Central Plains' foremost scholarly geniuses.
He declared.
"Kicked from the hereditary astronomer role for knowing court secrets, but I doubt there's a scholar on this continent who surpasses me.
I've mastered sixteen languages—Western Regions, Tianzhu included. Fluent in ten perfectly. Even I found no clues to the Nameless Ritual Book or Heavenly Dark Secret Book's script. It's a perfect alien tongue."
============================ Author's Note ============================
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