Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
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I jolted upright.
"Urgh... Haaah!!"
I woke from the dream drenched in sweat all over my body. Or at least, that's what I thought—it was a memory that lingered with excruciating vividness. In the body of a child in the stable once more, I felt it all too keenly, and I had no choice but to accept it.
My sixth life had begun.
"......"
Rather than thinking my mind would shatter or that I'd go insane, it simply struck me how rotten my luck was. I'd sought a peaceful life by joining the Imperial Guards, only for that to be the very start and peak of the conspiracy. I'd mobilized every shred of conscience to avert the catastrophe, thrashing about desperately, but the end result was yet another reincarnation.
'Damn it. I feel like shit.'
I grimaced and placed a hand over my eyes. Fortunately, the pain had faded in an instant, so my mental fortitude was intact, but dying still sucked. For a long while, I stayed in the stable, listening to the chirping crickets in the quiet night to soothe my mind.
Amid the chaos in my head, one thought surfaced: I needed to learn how to sever pain. So far, I'd been lucky to die cleanly, but if I were butchered horrifically next time, I doubted I'd keep my sanity. I had to master pain nullification to endure torture or calamity.
With my thoughts settling, I began to think coldly and systematically.
What should I do this time?
And how should I live?
"...I have to stop the human sacrifice."
That was the sole objective I could set for this life. Sure, honing my martial prowess to live as a splendid peak expert sounded nice, but it wasn't feasible. No matter what, I'd inevitably cross paths with the Imperial Guards' vile scheme while going about my life. And turning a blind eye to the slaughter of tens of thousands was utterly unforgivable.
The good news was I could probably thwart it somehow. A plan sprang to mind readily. If I moved now, I might not only stop the shamans and Imperial Guards but reap unexpected gains.
The problem lay elsewhere.
Did I truly have the resolve to make enemies of the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Family?
If I interfered as a child, they might flounder at first, but they'd eventually uncover my appearance and identity. After that, I'd be locked in ongoing conflict with the Imperial Guards. Living a normal murim life of wealth and fame would become a struggle.
But recalling Mangnyang's words steadied my heart. Ignoring harm that didn't affect me yet would only let the fire grow. Those mere three demonic beasts at the start had ballooned to dozens, each ten zhang in size, after five years of devouring offerings. The longer it dragged on, the stronger the beasts grew, until no single person's power could handle them.
'Well, if it goes south, I can always flee to [there]...'
In my fifth life, I hadn't just messed around.
I'd gathered all the intel worth collecting.
The existence of another life's alternative made my choice easier. With my mind set, I prepared to move. Stepping slowly from the stable, I gazed at the night sky's stars, thinking how brilliantly they shone.
I glanced toward the village chief's house. And pondered how much hatred I now held for them.
I'd massacred them once before in that house. I could probably slaughter them en masse again. But having avenged myself once already, my hatred had diluted. They were just mildly disliked neighbors now. I no longer loathed them enough to kill them repeatedly.
'Whatever, I'll leave them be. But...'
This plan would require substantial funds. So, grinning, I circulated Thunder Shadow Step and slithered toward the village chief's main residence. Using peak lightness skill, I swiftly reached the roof.
I slipped down like a snake, opened the inner door, and entered. Being his private chamber, it held the key, but I used qi to unlock it from within. Stepping inside, the village chief's secret space from my past life came into view.
I placed my hand on it and applied force. Slowly, the hidden passage opened.
Rumble...
"Jackpot."
I claimed the chest brimming with silver ingots. From my past measurement, each ingot held immense value—enough to buy a grand house in Luoyang city. I'd use this money to execute my plan.
Of course, come morning, the chief would scramble day and night hunting the thief. He'd realize it was me, but so what? He wouldn't dream I possessed world's best internal energy and peak martial arts. He'd hire some run-of-the-mill fixers to track me, nothing I couldn't handle. I doubted he'd hire from the Eight Demonic Sects at great cost.
'Even their assassin leader would be a fair fight one-on-one now.'
No, I'd win handily. Now that I could wield sword qi, I wouldn't lose head-on, and my internal energy outclassed his overwhelmingly.
Confidence in my martial might.
It expanded my options.
Most crucially, I'd already resolved to defy the Imperial Family and Guards. Why fear some piddling village chief's grudge? Feeling oddly pleased, I chuckled.
Flash!
Leaving the house, I headed straight for the cave with the Heavenly Dark Secret Book. My upgraded lightness skill cut the time dramatically. I soared like a bird of prey, entering the cave.
Without hesitation, I blocked the arrow trap with the silver chest.
Clang!
"Haha, overkill much?"
The arrows ricocheted off the sturdy chest, unscathed. I opened it and retrieved the Heavenly Dark Secret Book once more.
As I tucked it away, the flute freak's dying words echoed.
[Who'd have thought such a trap... I am... the offering! My condolences to your nightmare!]
Why had he said that upon seeing the Heavenly Dark Secret Book?
Interpretation aside, he'd despaired bone-deep at the sight, unbefitting the root of all evil. He'd stayed composed even when I dragged him to the cave to beat him to death, only shattering upon confirming the book. It wasn't villainous behavior.
As if his fate sealed the instant he found it.
It wasn't some special incantation tome, so what did it mean?
'I got the book, so why his reaction? Weirdo.'
I snorted inwardly.
To know for sure, I'd need to recapture the flute freak. Prolonged captivity and torture would unravel his cryptic words. I might decode the Heavenly Dark Secret Book through him, sparing a trip to the palace for the nameless ritual text.
I set my destination: Yellow Mountain. Stopping the sacrifice mattered, but I couldn't skip the Millennium Snow Ginseng. Night travel via lightness skill left time to spare.
"Fun Yellow Mountain trip, here we go~"
Tadadak!
I raced over mountains and rivers toward Yellow Mountain, barely resting unlike before. Fatigue hit midway, but pushing through shortened the journey. Hunting wild game was second nature now, securing food easily.
What should have taken over a month on foot shrank to six days. I roasted a mole and ate while eyeing Yellow Mountain's upper reaches. Entering its fringes, nostalgic air enveloped me.
"Fourth time eating an elixir spirit medicine..."
I muttered, chuckling wryly. Who else in the world was like me? What fortune would let a normal person eat Millennium Snow Ginseng four times? One thing was certain: after this, my internal energy would reach an absolute pinnacle.
An hour later, heading to White Ring Peak after ingesting it, a roar boomed as I leaped six zhang over jagged rocks.
"Halt!"
'Huh?'
A swordsman in yellow robes and hood barred my path. I'd been flying at tremendous speed and stopped in surprise. He glared furiously. Around forty to fifty, his aura and energy refined from rigorous training.
Tense-faced, he addressed me cautiously.
"I am Gong Jae, Cold Heaven Sword, elder of Yellow Mountain Sect. Might I ask what business a senior has entering our sect's domain?"
Yellow Mountain Sect elder, Cold Heaven Sword Gong Jae!
His introduction prompted a close look. A distant memory, but I'd seen his face among peak experts thwarting the sect's tyranny. Thus, he was a peak expert, symbol of their might. Not on par with sect leader Earth Dragon Divine Sword Yong Jung-il, but a murim-shaking master.
Why was such a figure tense and battle-ready? Likely mistaking me for a rejuvenated elder. I considered revealing my youth but figured it'd complicate things. Ignoring and fleeing meant looping Yellow Mountain's seventy-two peaks, delaying my elixir hunt.
'What the...? No such guy appeared originally, so why...'
Absurd, but I realized why.
I'd arrived too soon.
Yellow Mountain elders patrolled beyond their core sometimes. I'd normally arrive on foot after such patrols, but unluckily, he was out now.
After brief deliberation, I transmitted:
[Planning to test me?]
Cold Heaven Sword Gong Jae startled, then replied.
"By no means! How could I dare clash rashly? Yellow Mountain is our domain; this junior merely wishes to know your purpose."
It worked perfectly. He firmly believed me a rejuvenated senior. Fifteen zhang away, two disciples flanked him—likely on patrol. First-class experts, perhaps.
'Hmm, this'll be annoying...'
I pondered, then transmitted again.
[I passed by for a Yellow Mountain tour. Heard Inner Mirror Peak and True Pursuit Peak have fine views among the seventy-two, planning to see them all quietly. Ignore me.]
"Is that so?"
[Yes.]
He exchanged glances with his disciples, then cupped fists.
"Then allow Yellow Mountain Sect to assist your tour. Honor us with a visit; it would be our generation's glory."
"......"
I grasped his persistence: an enigmatic master roaming uneasily; better to monitor as a guest. From an elder's view, tolerating me was tough without martial confidence, hence the coaxing.
But I had no intent or reason to visit Yellow Mountain Sect. Time was precious; what good from tangling? Chuckling, I replied:
[Sorry, but I'll travel alone. Don't interfere further.]
"Urgh... Wait!"
Whiiiing
Sword qi surged on his bluish blade. Undeniably a peak expert.
[Going to attack? If you've the guts, go ahead.]
"......"
Sweat beaded his forehead. He wavered, weighing a death match with a mysterious rejuvenated senior. I lacked confidence to beat him easily but bluffed coolly.
[But making me an enemy means Earth Dragon Divine Sword Yong Jung-il wants a bout too, right? When did Yellow Mountain Sect grow so bold?]
"S... Senior... who are you?"
Stunned yet fearful—likely from my casual name-drop of their famed super-peak sect leader. No plans to tangle post-escape, I vented irritation with a laugh and a whopper.
[I am the Dharma Protector Lion of White Lotus Cult.]
"......！！"
[Still want to fight?]
Cold Heaven Sword Gong Jae looked on the verge of fainting. Swaying, he murmured:
"No... just go... Forgive our rudeness to the Protector Lion."
"M-Master!"
"You too, withdraw..."
He spun and fled without looking back.
'Puhahaha. If they'd all rushed me, it'd be tough, but they chickened out.'
Imagining their future uproar tickled me pink; I snickered. Elixir gathering took but an hour or two, and my grudge against Yellow Mountain made toying with their elder cathartic.
Ah, refreshing.
Bluffing so boldly stemmed from dying so often—now it was all the same. Humans die eventually; why not live doing what I want? My mindset shifted with each reincarnation cycle.
Seizing their absence, I raced to White Ring Peak.
"Hello, Millennium Snow Ginseng."
Grinning at the bloom in the cave, I consumed it again.
Ruuuumble...
"Ugh..."
Unlike before, a strange barrier built inside, pressing my dantian long and hard before compressing. Half my blocked channels burst open at once.
Power surged, fifty percent stronger than before. Internal breathing done, energy gathered, I thought I could claim world's best internal energy. Not doubling each ginseng, but all fused into my eight extraordinary meridians, nearing infinity.
Preparations complete, I clapped and muttered:
"Alright, now let's catch that snake!"