Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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"Have we escaped Gaegyeong now?"
About one shichen later, Miho and I entered a deserted country lane and took a break. Using her divine powers for sorcery, Miho could move just as swiftly as I could, and in that time, we covered over 140 li. At this rate, it was safe to say we'd completely left Gaegyeong behind and entered another region. It wasn't an exaggeration to say this was the fastest I'd ever moved since arriving in Goryeo.
Miho spoke.
"You idiot. We can't let our guard down yet. If possible, we should travel along the water."
"Why's that?"
"Moving along the water leaves less trace of your qi. That's the basics of tracking arts."
"But we'll leave footprints."
"Travel over fallen leaves or rocks using minimal lightness skill. Can't you manage that much?"
"I can."
Just as Miho instructed, I began moving along streams and riverbanks. I was following her lead for now, but I had no idea where she was headed. With no other options, that was all I could do.
After circling around for another full shichen like that, Miho finally said we could rest. We were midway up a mountain overlooking some village. As I sat down, Miho said,
"You have two options left now. Flee completely beyond the borders, or hole up somewhere in Goryeo and hide out."
"...Going back to the Central Plains is out, right."
"The White Lotus Church's eyes and ears are everywhere in the Central Plains. Obviously."
"What about Dongyeong?"
The land further east from here in Goryeo, Dongyeong. It was said to be full of short-statured Wae folk who were innately prone to piracy. Rumors had it they were a cruel people who loved swordfights by nature. Miho replied,
"That could work, but first we need to grasp the root of the problem."
"The root of the problem?"
"Think carefully. Why the White Lotus Church is chasing you, and their obsession with it. There must be something only you, as the person involved, would know. We've bought some time, so mull it over until I return."
Whoosh!
With that shout, Miho vanished down the mountain toward the village using transformation magic. She was probably plotting something. The situation had caught even her off guard, so she wanted me to think it through.
'Hmm... Why the White Lotus Church is after me...'
I pondered deeply. First off, the reason they were chasing me was because the Black-White Twin Lotus root I gave Hwa Seomyeong had cured their Young Church Lord. They were pursuing me to repay that favor. But as I thought, I shook my head.
'No. That's not it. They wouldn't mobilize like this just to repay a favor. Think harder...'
Their goal wasn't repaying a debt. So why bring such a massive force, even clashing with the Twelve Rites? After deep thought, I reached one conclusion.
They want to know the location of the Black-White Twin Lotus that only I know!
No one else in heaven and earth would know it.
'Probably the Protector Lion overheard it yesterday while talking with Hwa Seomyeong.'
I didn't know why they wanted the Black-White Twin Lotus. But it felt like it held some incredibly important secret. Otherwise, why would the White Lotus Church's mightiest symbol, the Protector Lion, lead the Wind God Squadron all the way across the sea to Goryeo?
At the same time, it showed their resolve to catch me no matter what it took, no matter how long. That's why Miho mentioned fleeing abroad. Hiding sloppily within Goryeo would just mean they'd catch up eventually. This land of Goryeo was tiny compared to the Central Plains.
The black-tiger-masked Protector Lion who came with the Wind God Squadron.
He was a different person from the silver-fox-masked Protector Lion who had visited Hwa Seomyeong in the past.
Keeping that in mind, I thought some more.
'Something's off.'
What I'd figured out so far was something even a third party like Miho could guess from a little observation. When she told me to sense something only the person involved could know, that wasn't it. There was something deeper I could uncover with more thought.
Then, something flashed through my mind.
'That's right... yes!!'
I recalled the moment in a past reincarnation when I died facing the Brocade Guard Commander.
Even knowing I was no match, I'd fought to the end, and I remembered what the Brocade Guard Commander had said then.
[It only got more interesting the more I investigated. Posing as a White Lotus Church Protector Lion from Yellow Mountain Sect? Hahaha.]
[Haha, posing? How would you know if I'm a White Lotus Church Protector Lion or not?]
[You really know nothing. Among the White Lotus Church's three Protector Lions, one has joined hands with us. We have quite a bit of intel on the Church. Your face doesn't match any of the Protector Lions.]
"......!!"
Recalling it sent chills down my spine. It was so long ago it hadn't come to mind right away, but now it clicked. The Brocade Guard Commander had detailed knowledge of the White Lotus Church and had allied with one of the Protector Lions. Meaning one of the three was a traitor colluding with the Brocade Guards.
From what the Commander said back then, the betrayal wasn't recent—it went back years at least. Otherwise, he couldn't have claimed such intel at that point.
Realizing that, my palms grew sweaty.
'That's right... There's no guarantee the White Lotus Church Protector Lion hasn't allied with the Brocade Guards in this life either. The one chasing me might even be that traitor!!'
I knew the issue in the Central Plains wasn't whether the White Lotus Church conquered it. Unlike the visible Brocade Guards, the shadowy Subduing Demon Hall manipulating the imperial court from behind was the real obstacle. If the Protector Lion knew of them, it was likely he'd ally with the Brocade Guards even in this reincarnation where the Church had dominated the Central Plains.
That changed everything. It felt like there was a path only I could choose. After agonizing, I sorted my thoughts and calmly waited for Miho.
Miho returned about one shichen later. She hopped lightly from tree to tree and said,
"I've set up a hideout in that village. Let's rest there."
"Miho, I have a question."
"What?"
"Why are you helping me like this? I figured you'd be mad about me bringing my friend last time."
"Hmph... So you do get it."
Miho smirked and placed a finger under my chin. In an instant, she transformed into a bewitching peerless beauty and brought her face close. Staring piercingly with her clear eyes, she said,
"My lord is so magnanimous he can overlook such trifles. The important thing is that you're useful to me."
"Useful?"
"This isn't the place for such talk in the mountains. Follow me."
I followed Miho down to the village at the mountain's base. Strangely, mountain villagers are usually insular and wary of outsiders, but they showed no reaction to us. They treated us like air. Seeing that, I caught on.
'She's cast bewitchment on the whole village.'
She'd probably altered their perception and brainwashed them so they couldn't even notice us. With a method like that, setting up a hideout was child's play. Miho boldly entered a large wealthy house and commanded the servants openly.
"Cook some rice and light the kitchen fire."
"Yes, my lord..."
Ludicrously, even the man who should have been the house's master was diligently stoking the fire with the servants. The entire household was under her bewitchment. Watching this bizarre scene, I realized Miho's bewitchment was beyond human imitation. She'd brainwashed a whole village in just one shichen.
Miho entered the inner chamber and plopped down. Picking up an ornate pipe, she said,
"I didn't save you for free. You'll do one thing for me."
"What kind?"
"Go with me to the Star-Subduing Altar on Mani Mountain and deal with the guardian there."
"......?"
What nonsense was this? But catching the word "guardian," I had a hunch and replied hotly,
"You mean one of the Seven Luminaries is there?"
"It's just my guess. If it's not, we'll head to Dongyeong."
"That's ridiculous. The Moon Luminary Sea Seal is at Baekdu Mountain's ancient tomb."
"......"
Miho said nothing and lit her pipe. I intuited from her look that she was hiding a major secret. Why was she so certain when the Sea Seal couldn't possibly be at Mani Mountain?
Soon, I realized one hypothesis. With a trembling voice, I asked,
"You mean there's another of the Seven Luminaries besides the Sea Seal...?"
"You're quick on the uptake here. Use that brain for other things too."
Lightly chiding me, Miho puffed on her pipe. Smoke slowly drifted out, and she'd shifted from young girl to voluptuous peerless beauty. Seemed she preferred that form over the childlike one.
"Indeed. The Star-Subduing Altar on Mani Mountain is likely a seal for one of the Seven Luminaries. It's intel I gathered while you were spinning around Goryeo sparring with the Twelve Rites. I secretly bewitched their experts to learn it."
"The Moon Luminary Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword is in Dongyeong."
"Info from the Twelve Rites Lord? Kyahaha."
Miho cackled and said,
"If it were real, would I still be in the human realm? It's just a replica, that's why I came to Goryeo."
"A replica...!!"
"Yes. Every Three Divine Artifacts in the Dongyeong imperial family is fake, a replica. The Eightfold Arm I gave you is just a finely crafted dharma treasure, not a true divine artifact."
Miho leisurely puffed her tobacco and waved her hand. The door opened on its own, letting the smoke waft out. She continued,
"The true Three Divine Artifacts, Mikusa no Kamudakara, were lost at sea during the Genpei War when the Taira clan fell. I bewitched the emperor himself to confirm it. So Dongyeong has been passing down fakes for nearly 500 years."
"The Moon Luminary Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword burned away?"
"As if. Would it be called a Seven Luminary divine artifact if it burned up? It merely went missing, and its whereabouts can be found nearby."
I stared piercingly at Miho. She smirked.
"You've caught on."
"You're thinking the Moon Luminary Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword is sealed at Mani Mountain's Star-Subduing Altar."
"Probably."
I couldn't understand her confident tone.
"Why...? Why think that? Why would a Seven Luminary lost in Dongyeong's great war 500 years ago end up in Goryeo?"
"Hehe... That's the fun part."
Tap tap.
Miho had nearly finished her tobacco. She set the pipe aside and reclined languidly in the chamber, as if showing off her figure to tease me. I ignored it, and she chuckled.
"You know the story of the phoenix that appeared in the Western Capital."
"It's already been ten years."
"I took an interest late and came to Goryeo, thinking I'd devour the evil spirits there, but there was a backstory."
"Backstory?"
Miho said,
"Actually, the Sea God's true body led his kin to land at the Western Capital."
"......!!"
I was stunned. One of the [Ancient Rulers], a mighty demon god that Dan's clan risked their lives to stop, had personally led his kin to attack the Western Capital? I'd never heard this.
"The Twelve Rites and Dan's clan desperately blocked the Sea God's assault, and as a last resort, summoned the phoenix to repel them. The true form of the guardian deity protecting Goryeo since Dangun drove off the Sea God."
"So that's what happened."
Seeing the phoenix wasn't some metaphor. The supreme divine beast, top even among the heavens, had been directly summoned to the mortal world.
"But isn't this strange? Summoning the phoenix isn't simple sorcery—it's calling a mighty celestial deity from the mythic age to earth. Comparable to summoning Chiyou. No matter how many skilled sorcerers Goryeo has, they couldn't pull off something that immense. Even I couldn't dream of it."
"That serious?"
"It'd take sacrificing dozens of grand sorcerers' lives. Time-wise, borrowing the Sea Seal's power buried in the sacred tree was impossible too."
Miho murmured softly while lying down.
"So I thought: maybe the Twelve Rites used the power of a 'different' Seven Luminary to avert that crisis."
I countered,
"You're saying the Twelve Rites hold two Seven Luminaries?"
"Probably. And not far from the Western Capital. I bewitched their key figures and found the Star-Subduing Altar on Mani Mountain suspicious."
"Just suspicious..."
"Not certain. I planned to investigate slowly, but whatever."
Soon after, servants brought a lavish feast, and Miho spread it out in the chamber. Tearing into meat leisurely, she said,
"Since it's come to this, check out Mani Mountain's Star-Subduing Altar with me, then head to Dongyeong. You can easily evade pursuit there."
"Go to Dongyeong?"
"Why not? You have nowhere else to go."
"......"
Miho's excessive kindness made me uneasy. Would a grand yokai and celestial fox who bewitches heaven and earth treat any human this well? Once in Dongyeong, if she bewitched me, I'd have no way to resist.
But relying on the Twelve Rites in this mess wasn't viable either. If Miho was right, the Twelve Rites Lord knew the Moon Luminary Heavenly Cluster Cloud Sword in Dongyeong was fake but just tossed out the info casually. He didn't fully trust me either.
'That puppet mask... said the same as Monk Mangnyang.'
The Twelve Rites Lord said he sensed ominous energy from me and didn't want to reveal his true face. He only met me because of the challenge letter. Without it, I'd likely never have met him, just like with Monk Mangnyang.
Doubtful such a Twelve Rites Lord would protect me against the mighty White Lotus Church. After agonizing, I sighed deeply.
"Haa— no choice."
"Good thinking. Hide like the dead for tomorrow, then head to Mani Mountain. We've muddled our trail by wandering; if they follow that, we buy another day."
"Quick question."
"What?"
I asked cautiously.
"If you went all-out against the Protector Lion, what would happen?"
"Hmph... Typical men. Betting your life on who's stronger. I hate that."
Miho frowned, took a bite of rice, and answered.
"No need. That Protector Lion has reached the half-immortal realm. A head-on fight, and even I wouldn't emerge unscathed. He appears human but is essentially beyond humanity."
"Hmm..."
"Change your thinking. When power falls short, retreat and build it up—that's the natural way. Evading the Protector Lion is an absolute must here."
"Got it."
I couldn't bring myself to ask again, 'Why are you so good to me?' It'd be tactless and gain nothing. Probably, Miho planned to use me as a servant or familiar while scouting Mani Mountain's Star-Subduing Altar.
That night, I lay beside Miho. She gazed at me with seductive eyes and pulled my head to her ample bosom. I pushed her away.
"Don't."
"Ufufu, scared 'cause you're a virgin?"
Her words revealed she craved intimacy. As a free-spirited yokai with feelings for me, her seductive gaze held a predator's hunger.
I shook my head.
"Not that."
"Then what? You don't want to get close to a yokai like me?"
Her slightly venomous tone made me think carefully before answering. Clearing my throat, I sat up and said,
"Conversely, I want to ask: Do you really like me?"
"W-What..."
"Clinging to me just because of Queen Mother of the West's blessing isn't good for either of us. You just want to embrace her warmth through me. Is that truly helpful to you?"
I knew embracing the fox here wasn't the answer. I sensed her obsession would only grow stronger. It was mere strong favor now, but how intense it'd become later was unimaginable.
"Hmm."
My blunt words seemed right. Miho looked struck by lightning—not hurt, but sobered. After thinking, she said,
"Not to brag, but this body is the form of Dongyeong's supreme beauty. Any man would pay a fortune to hold me, yet you avoid intimacy. Why?"
"Well..."
"Even Hwa Yeongyeong would've fallen if you'd sweet-talked her, and any beauty in Gaegyeong with your fame. Don't tell me you've cultivated some virgin art?"
Miho hit the mark. My looks were rough, but my reputation made bedding women trivial. Even Hwa Seomyeong offering his pretty granddaughter—I'd refused, blaming my appearance.
"I have things to do. And intimacy with women helps nothing. My enemies are so vast and powerful; I can't have vulnerabilities nearby. Even if I train with death-defying resolve, I can't afford distractions."
Monk Mangnyang's death was still vivid. I remembered dying to the Brocade Guard Commander. Until I avenged that, no distractions. My tenacity, enduring ten thousand slashes, stemmed from that grudge.
I couldn't lose this grudge now. Knowing my limits, I feared embracing a woman and growing complacent would bring unbearable chaos.
"Haa... With your skill, you could kill even a Central Plains Nine Great Sects leader. What enemy is this?"
"Those who move the Central Plains imperial court..."
Miho's eyes shook wide. She sighed.
"You're insane... Opposing them."
"You know them?"
"Drop it. Ten lives wouldn't be enough."
Though idiomatic, I grinned instead.
"Ten wouldn't be too precious."
I'd already died ten times.
"What?"
"I'll remake my bones ten thousand times if needed."
"......"
Miho looked hammered, then lay on the brocade quilt, turning away curtly.
"Hmph! Idiot."
"Goodnight."
No reply came.
Thus, I spent the night with the fox.