Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
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I thought it over and said to Mang-ryang,
"Wouldn't it work if you went in alone and convinced him?"
"That's one way, but it doesn't sit well with me."
"Why?"
"I've come to visit my master plenty of times, but I've never seen my junior disciple block me so fiercely. Once he decides something's no good, he sticks to it. He won't let even me through unless we eliminate the source of the evil aura."
As he spoke, Mang-ryang eyed me with a strange glint of suspicion.
He continued,
"Is your internal energy perhaps demonic arts?"
"No. As you can see, it's based on the thunder qi of the five elements. You know better than anyone that thunder qi dispels evil spirits."
"Hmm... I just can't get a read on it."
Seeing Mang-ryang grumble like that made my heart skip a beat. Truth be told, the best solution right now would be to stash the Heavenly Dark Secret Book somewhere else, but that would make him suspicious right away. On the other hand, I wasn't keen on blurting out its existence to him either.
But there was no choice.
I had top-class internal energy, yet I'd fallen so easily to an illusion. That meant Cheon Woo-jin's illusions transcended internal energy in their profundity. Brute force wouldn't cut it. Reluctantly, I had to come clean with Mang-ryang.
"Mang-ryang. He's probably wary of me because of this book."
"......?"
I showed him the Heavenly Dark Secret Book tucked in my bosom and explained how I'd come by it. When he spotted the strange script, he gasped in surprise.
"These are the same characters as in the nameless sacrificial texts from the imperial palace!"
"Can you read it?"
"No idea how that shaman managed it, but not with my skills. I'd need the nameless texts to cross-reference and try translating... Well, no wonder my junior thinks it's an evil artifact."
Muttering to himself, Mang-ryang said,
"But from what you're saying, you don't want to part with this book. Does it hold some special meaning for you?"
"Not particularly. But who in their right mind would toss away a rare book that might be a treasure?"
"Fair enough."
My excuse seemed to satisfy him.
After pondering for a moment, Mang-ryang suggested,
"Then bury it somewhere only you know about. Retrieve it after we see the master."
It was a reasonable idea.
But I couldn't go along with it easily. Despite playing it down, the Heavenly Dark Secret Book was surely the source of my regressions.
If I left it somewhere and died unexpectedly, I might never regress again. And here I was, facing the master of illusions I couldn't resist even with my internal energy. Death could come on a whim, far more likely than someone stealing it.
'I could track it down if stolen, but death ends it all for good.'
I decided to push Mang-ryang a bit here.
I told him,
"I don't want to bow to him that much. I'll break his illusion somehow."
"What? Ridiculous!"
Startled, Mang-ryang explained point by point.
"Baek Woong, you breezed through my Forgetting Clouds Formation like water because it lacked divine power. Your mighty qi overwhelmed the technique. Most martial formations are like that, so martial artists tend to look down on formations and illusions.
But my junior's illusions are the true essence of formations and illusions. When infused with divine spirit, it's a different story. No matter how strong your qi, you can't counter illusions interfering with reality. You probably fell without even realizing it."
He was right; I had no comeback.
"That's why a martial artist needs intent to form resolve to break such powerful illusions... That's the pinnacle of the pinnacle in martial arts."
"Hmm."
I knew what he meant by intent and resolve. It went beyond handling qi, into the highest realms of martial theory. I lacked the talent for it, but Jin So-cheong and Lee Gwang could grasp and embody it—true geniuses. It was beyond me now, but I intuitively understood.
Simply put, could you shatter a rock with will alone? I could scrunch my face all day and never manage it. I'd have to focus qi into a punch. But those two could do it with will alone.
Even so, I couldn't part with the Heavenly Dark Secret Book for a second. I shook my head firmly.
"...In that case, I'll rely on you, Mang-ryang!"
"What... what?!"
Mang-ryang stood stunned, then his arms trembled with anger and frustration.
"You petty fool! Aid from my master is worth more than a heavenly army or demonic horde, and you're throwing it away over some book?! Get a grip! We can't beat the Golden Throne Guards in a fair fight."
"I need to be convinced first. We're hopelessly outmatched head-on anyway. How would your help change that? Can he wipe out those Golden Throne Guard elites with a spell?"
"......"
"Say what you will. I'll challenge that illusion until I'm satisfied. Maybe I can pierce his barrier."
Mang-ryang looked like he might die of frustration. But eventually, my stubbornness wore him down, and he rested his chin in thought. After mulling it over, he said,
"Your obsession with that book is beyond comprehension. Fine. If you're that set on it, I'll enter the illusion with you."
"Will it make a difference? You fell in seconds last time."
"If I'm with you, he won't kill you at least. Call it my compromise."
And so, Mang-ryang and I stepped back into the village. I felt bad for strong-arming him, but I had no choice. Leaving the Heavenly Dark Secret Book outside and dying without regressing would be the real crisis. I'd even abandon his master's help if needed.
Ssshhh...
After about twenty paces, thick mist rolled in at our feet. I glanced aside—Mang-ryang was gone. The ordinary village had turned into a sinister gorge. I surged my internal energy to shake the illusion, but nothing changed.
Step.
From the opposite side came a figure: Cheon Woo-jin, still in farmer's garb. He glared coldly and said,
"What an ignorant fool. I'll grant your internal energy is peerless, but you couldn't break my Illusion Mist dead or alive."
"Why block me so hard? Do you have the authority to turn away a guest seeking your master?"
"As I said, master's away. I'm blocking you because the evil aura on you is utterly bizarre. It's not right for a disciple to let such a risk near his master's retreat."
Feeling wronged, I protested to Cheon Woo-jin.
"Evil aura? Mang-ryang and I have been upholding justice to save the innocent! How does it make sense for you to paint us as wicked out of nowhere?"
Cheon Woo-jin replied confidently,
"That's why you're still breathing. It's not utterly vile—just unprecedented, so I'm wary. If it were inhuman devil arts, you'd be dead before three steps."
"Ha, as if that'd—"
Cough!
Blood spurted from my nose and mouth. A subtle strike rose from my guts out of nowhere. No sign of attack, yet I'd been hit. It wasn't life-threatening, but a sneaky, inexplicable blow.
"As if? In my Illusion Mist, I control time and space."
This is dangerous!
Fear surged. Cheon Woo-jin was three zhang away, unreachable no matter what. He could strike anytime, leaving me overwhelmingly disadvantaged.
I asked,
"H... How do you wield such power? You don't look that old."
Cheon Woo-jin smirked.
"You look five years younger than me. So you are a rejuvenated master, as I thought."
"......"
"Leave while I'm asking nicely. You're making Senior Brother Mang-ryang suffer too."
He didn't seem to hate Mang-ryang. Contrary to what I'd assumed from their talent gap, they seemed like normal junior and senior brothers. I asked just in case,
"What did you do to Mang-ryang?"
"He's walking an endless maze. Gave him a formations puzzle."
"Please, just let us pass. We don't have time to waste here."
"You should admit you're the stubborn one. Drop the idea I can't kill you."
Ssshhh.
His threat wasn't idle. As he finished, the surrounding mist turned to spears encircling me. No escaping those spears blanketing every direction.
'Is this it...!!'
As I gritted my teeth, ready to fight Cheon Woo-jin—
Snap!
He flicked his fingers, dispelling the mist spears. Then he said,
"I'll let you go this time. Senior solved the formations puzzle. But if you bring trouble next time, no mercy."
Solved the formations puzzle?
Dazed, the scenery shifted. We were back at the village entrance. Mang-ryang panted, half-exhausted.
"Huff... huff... Junior's skills improve daily..."
"Hey! You okay?"
I quickly checked his pulse. Just energy drain—no external or internal injuries. Mang-ryang rose, rubbing his temples like he had a headache. I asked,
"He said you solved the formations puzzle. Was that you?"
Mang-ryang nodded.
"Yeah. He really wanted to kill you, so I bet him. Winner gets us both out safely."
"......"
Scratching his head, he sighed.
"Tough one. Heart was in my throat fearing I'd fail. Might fall behind him in formations study now."
My face burned. No need to guess the loser's terms. I'd have died in the mist without resisting much, while he exhausted himself solving it. Knowing he'd saved my life filled me with shame.
'I was too selfish.'
I sensed it was time to set aside personal greed. Without Mang-ryang, this sixth life would've been a mess from the start. I'd died like flies before, but he'd set me straight and led to the cult purge's success—all thanks to him. If he saw me as a comrade, I had to compromise too.
After a long pause, I resolved,
"I'll bury the Heavenly Dark Secret Book."
"Good call."
I buried it under a distinctive pine about five li from there. My enhanced memory would make retrieval easy. Then Mang-ryang and I reentered the village.
This time, miraculously, no Illusion Mist. It was just a normal village, with people strolling leisurely. As I scanned warily, Cheon Woo-jin's voice boomed,
[You've shed the evil aura. I permit your stay.]
The voice vanished cleanly, returning us to the peaceful village. Mang-ryang beside me gave a wry smile.
"Don't take it to heart, Baek Woong. Junior's a genius who mastered immortal arts at six. Blessed with transcendent powers too. Across the continent, maybe two or three sorcerers could match him."
"That skilled?"
"How else would he inherit Master's true teachings? To face him, you'd need the White Lotus Cult Leader or his guardian warriors."
"......"
I believed Mang-ryang—no exaggeration. Cheon Woo-jin's illusions shattered martial artists' views of unorthodox sects, reaching transcendent heights. If he was that strong, what of his master?
But I grinned instead.
"Sounds fun."
Today's defeat wasn't bitter—it opened my eyes to new realms. And though distant, mastering intent and resolve could let me fight top sorcerers like him!
I took a room at the inn and immediately refined my internal energy and martial arts without rest. My half-year wasted in his illusion had taught me lessons. The path ahead was long; slacking would mean endless deaths.
Two months later, I finally met Master Mang-ryang.