Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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The next day, I set off with Miho. The path to Mani Mountain with her wasn't far. We'd only just gotten off the boat onto the island together when we reached the foothills of our target, Mani Mountain.
Miho spoke.
"A powerful energy emanates from there. Is it a Dharma Monk?"
At her words, I focused my inner sight on the mountain peak. Sure enough, a human figure was visible there. It felt like they had sensed us as well. That must be the "guardian" Miho had mentioned.
As we ventured deeper in, a mind voice suddenly hummed and rang out.
[Benefactors, stop there. I cannot allow you to approach the Chamseong Altar any further.]
Miho scoffed and sent back her own spiritual voice in response. She had already summoned her nine tails.
[And who are you to decide that? I must see what's sealed in the Chamseong Altar.]
[This poor monk is called Seosan of the West Mountain.]
[So?]
[I already know you are the great yokai, the Nine-Tailed Fox. However, the moment you entered this barrier, absolute superiority lies with this poor monk.]
The Dharma Monk Seosan sent another mind voice.
[If you take ten more steps forward, I will show no mercy. Leave this island now.]
Miho's face twisted in fury.
"That damned monk bastard?"
She was so enraged that her beautiful human features warped, revealing her yokai fox visage. It was the first time I'd seen her this angry, and I knew we were in trouble. But I quickly grabbed her shoulder.
"No. Let's go. This isn't good."
"Let go! I'll chew up that monk's liver and be done with it."
"Calm down. We'll die like this. I can tell."
As I held her back, Miho glanced at me.
"And what makes you so sure?"
"If this is really the seal of the Chil Yo as you say, and it's guarded by someone handpicked from the Twelve Laws or Dan's clan... how strong do you think that Seosan monk is? Plus, with this island's barrier in place, fighting in enemy territory offers no chance of victory."
"......"
Miho regained her composure, her eyes gleaming.
"You're a strange one. You seem dull and foolish, yet you sense the brink of death better than I... Well, you're right."
"Haha..."
I gave a wry smile. Having died so many times charging headlong, I could easily detect dangerous situations now.
The now-calm Miho suddenly turned to look behind us.
"Have those bastards already caught up?"
Following her gaze to the sea behind, I spotted a small boat approaching from the horizon, reduced to a dot.
But moments later, feeling the overwhelming qi emanating from that tiny boat, I let out a groan. Focusing my inner sight, I could see the figure clearly.
"Dharma Protector Lion...!!"
Indeed.
The black tiger-masked Dharma Protector Lion stood alone on the small boat, arms crossed. Beside him, a boatman rowed diligently. With no other Wind God Squad members in sight, it seemed he had come alone.
At that speed, he'd arrive in about one ke.
I hurriedly said to Miho,
"Can you let me use spiritual voice too?"
"Why?"
"I have words for that Seosan monk."
"Got it."
Miho placed her hand on my back, and a white light flowed out. She had enabled me to use spiritual voice indirectly. I sent my voice to the monk Seosan, seated atop the small mountain peak.
[The Central Plains' Dharma Protector Lion is heading to this island now. His goal is also to obtain the Chil Yo. Help us.]
Seosan fell silent for a moment at the sudden message, then replied.
[I cannot believe the benefactors' words.]
[You might block the Nine-Tailed Fox with the barrier, but do you think you alone can block the Dharma Protector Lion? I don't believe you have that level of power.]
[......]
Seosan wavered. I pleaded earnestly.
[It will be too late once he lands. Please let us in.]
[I will try to block the Dharma Protector Lion now.]
Kwaching!!
Suddenly, an invisible intangible barrier seemed to form around the island. Seosan had likely strengthened it, giving it substantial physical defensive power. He had let us in this far to warn us, it seemed. Now, he reinforced it to block the Dharma Protector Lion as well.
The black tiger-masked Dharma Protector Lion on the small boat then roared like a lion.
[Hahaha!! You think this puny thing can stop me?]
Woooooong—
He raised one hand. A massive vortex formed above it, soon turning into a storm. Effortlessly creating a whirlwind dozens of feet wide, the Dharma Protector Lion floated up from the boat.
Watching from afar, I widened my eyes.
Soaring through empty skies!!
'A monster?!'
While even heavenly ascent was said impossible for humans, the legendary realm of lightness skill unfolded before me. Soaring freely into the sky, the Dharma Protector Lion extended his other hand, creating another vortex.
His qi truly seemed boundless. Manipulating even a ladleful of nature's water required immense inner power for a human, yet freely commanding the sea to form whirlwinds was an absurd level.
That was the ultimate internal energy realm called the Heavenly Spirit Dan!
Kugugugung—!!
The two whirlwinds expanded around the arm-crossed Dharma Protector Lion at the center. He swung his arms.
Kwaaang
[Urk...!!]
The barrier shattered massively as Seosan's agonized mind voice spilled out. The Dharma Protector Lion's strike had lightly demolished it. Though shocked, Grandmaster Seosan said to us,
[En-enter...]
"Alright."
Miho and I raced up to the peak of Mani Mountain where Seosan was. He wasn't blocking us, making it possible.
'Good.'
Seeing the Dharma Protector Lion perform soaring through empty skies sent chills down my spine. He could have simply flown over the water with water-treading divine steps, but he was toying around. He clearly saw us as rats in a trap, leisurely enjoying the hunt.
Atop the mountain, we met Seosan. He appeared to be a monk in his forties, supported by a young monk in his twenties beside him.
Miho eyed Seosan coldly and said,
"Is the seal of the Chil Yo really here?"
Seosan wiped blood from his mouth with his hand and answered laboredly.
"This poor monk does not know... I merely follow the Twelve Laws' orders to guard the Chamseong Altar."
"Hmph, I don't believe you."
Though Miho spoke curtly, soon the sound of the Dharma Protector Lion striking again echoed across the island. Startled by it, Miho made a proposal.
"You damned monk, I'll lend my power to block that Dharma Protector Lion. In return, the Chil Yo in this Chamseong Altar is mine."
"...That won't do. It's no different from letting in the Dharma Protector Lion."
Miho scoffed.
"Hmph, then you shouldn't have let us in to begin with. As is, we'll all be slaughtered without doing a thing. Is that what you want?"
"......"
"No time. Tell me the barrier ritual quickly. With my spell power added, we can deploy the ultimate illusion array to block him."
"Very well."
Keeeing—
Moments later, as Seosan and Miho combined forces to deploy the barrier, the Dharma Protector Lion, who had reached the shore, hesitated. He had noticed the now even stronger barrier blocking him. He bellowed a mighty lion's roar.
[Urhaha! Think this can stop me? How amusing!]
He gathered wind qi again, seemingly to shatter the barrier. From that, I could clearly identify his school.
'Wind God Style!'
The sworn enemy of Thunder God Style and one branch of the White Lotus Cult's Dharma Protector Martial Arts! The Dharma Protector Lion was undoubtedly the Wind God Style's leader, his power transcending human limits. I'd never imagined a human wielding wind among nature's qi so effortlessly.
Miho looked at the pale-faced Seosan and said,
"Tell me where the Chil Yo is. With its power, I can repel a guy like that."
"Even if you say that... this poor monk truly does not know. This Chamseong Altar is merely an altar passed down for thousands of years... If you doubt it, search it yourself."
"Ridiculous!"
Miho dashed into the Chamseong Altar. I glanced at her, then infused inner power into Seosan's body and used needles to stabilize his condition. Seosan stopped coughing blood, sat in meditation again, and said,
"Much better. Impressive medical skill."
I could tell his qi had returned to normal. His internal injuries would have cost him at least five years of life force, but I'd restored him with the Fire Star 108 Needles. The young monk beside him clasped hands gratefully.
Feeling awkward, I asked,
"You didn't think I'd harm you?"
"You don't seem the type, benefactor. I don't know your circumstances, but traveling with such an evil yokai is unwise. Part ways."
"......"
Seosan seemed to possess insight into human nature. At a glance, he was a high monk with tremendous dharma power. Not comparable to a great yokai like Miho, but top-tier among humans.
Grandmaster Seosan turned to the young monk beside him and said,
"Yujeong. I'll release your seal. Assist the barrier."
"Understood."
Paat
The young monk extended his hand. The barrier felt a layer stronger. I was shocked by Yujeong's dharma power.
'Isn't it several times stronger than his master's?'
It was as if he embodied dharma power itself. For a human to wield such spell power was something I'd only seen in Heavenly New Divine Formation. Only then did I understand why Seosan had let us in so readily. He planned to have young monk Yujeong suppress Miho if needed.
As Seosan circulated his heart method, he said to me,
"What is your name, benefactor?"
"Baek Woong."
"...Indeed! But a renowned warrior and physician like you—why travel with such a wicked yokai?"
Seosan knew who I was. Embarrassed, I said,
"There are circumstances. But it's nothing bad, so please understand."
"Hmm... Listen well. With Yujeong's help, we can hold off that Dharma Protector Lion for exactly one sichen. But no longer. To resolve this, we must perform the sacrifice at the Chamseong Altar."
"Sacrifice?"
"Yes."
Seosan continued gravely.
"King Dan-gun circled the castle walls around the Blood Mouth sea and Mani Mountain hills, building an altar to create the Sacheon Altar. Performing the heavenly sacrifice here should repel the Dharma Protector Lion."
"How do we perform the sacrifice?"
"...That's the problem."
His following words left me reeling.
"That fox suspects us, but there's no such thing. We're just guarding the Chamseong Altar—there's no Chil Yo here. We have no idea what to offer as tribute to the heavenly sovereign..."
Was the Chil Yo really not here?
Confused, I said,
"Grandmaster Seosan, you and Yujeong possess tremendous dharma power. Why station people like you on this remote island with no Chil Yo?"
Seosan and Yujeong's dharma power rivaled the Lord of Haedong Secret Heaven. No—Yujeong surpassed even its Heavenly Lord. That's why Miho inevitably believed this was the Chil Yo seal. The stronger the guardians, the greater the treasure within.
At my question, Grandmaster Seosan grew angry.
"Don't speak nonsense. The Chamseong Altar transcends territory or national logic in our people's history—always held sacred. It's a conduit to the heavens, where Dan-gun offered sacrifices to heaven and earth. We cannot be lax here."
"Hmm."
I pondered, then said,
"What could serve as a sacrifice?"
"Anything, but it must hold sufficient value."
"Would a dharma treasure work?"
"What dharma treasure?"
"This."
I pulled out the replica Eight-Zhi Mirror I always carried. Though a copy of the original, it held true dharma treasure power. Otherwise, it couldn't enhance my spell talent. Examining the Eight-Zhi Mirror, Grandmaster Seosan said,
"It should suffice. But it won't repel that one."
"Then?"
"It can extend the barrier by about six sichen."
Not enough. Mani Mountain with the Chamseong Altar was on an island—no escape unlike on land. The Dharma Protector Lion would surely wait not just sichen, but days or months.
'Something worthy to offer...?'
I thought hard but drew a blank, continuing to worry.
Then Miho returned after circling the Chamseong Altar.
She said despondently,
"It's really not here. Damn it all!"
"Didn't this poor monk say so?"
"What now, baldy?! What the hell are we going to do?!"
"You lot dragged in that Dharma Protector Lion and now complain? Impressive temper."
"What did you say...!!"
As Miho flared up, I quickly calmed her. She seemed cold yet had a low boiling point—her moods boiled over like beans, hard to handle. Once settled, young monk Yujeong said,
"In this situation, we must sacrifice at the Chamseong Altar to strengthen the barrier. If the Nine-Tailed Fox has a dharma treasure, please help."
"Hmph, think I'd have something like that?"
"Then we'll have to use the dharma treasure that benefactor offered."
"What?"
Miho whipped around to me. I flinched and held up the replica Eight-Zhi Mirror. Realizing, Miho raged.
"Oh, you idiot! Do you know how rare that is? Even as a replica, it's one of Dongyoung's top dharma treasures. And you're using it for this crappy Chamseong Altar barrier?"
"But there's no other way. No place to run— you want to die here?"
"Grrr..."
Miho furrowed her brow, thinking, then said,
"Fine! Let's use my Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel too."
"Replica, though."
"Don't push it, or you die."
"Sorry."
Moments later, the three spellcasters including Miho ascended the Chamseong Altar. They placed the sacrificial Eight-Zhi Mirror and Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel in the altar's center, then raised their spell power and began chanting incantations. I wanted to help but could only watch, as my novice skills would hinder.
Wooong wooong
The Chamseong Altar responded to the power, gradually glowing blue. Surpassing a mere stone altar, it emanated divine energy. Watching the ritual deepen, I sensed something off.
"......!!"
I hurriedly raised my spear, alert to all directions. Then thrust toward the north.
Pyung
The mysterious intruder dodged the strike effortlessly.
The intruder chuckled.
"Haha, as rumored, you're quite the fighter. But still far off."
"Dharma Protector Lion...!!"
Despair darkened my vision. He'd pierced the barrier to reach here? Yet the three spellcasters on the altar spotted him but said nothing. It wasn't just lack of spare breath from the ritual.
Sensing something, I gripped my spear tight. Up close, he lacked overwhelming power. I said,
"A clone."
"Haha, correct. I split off 20% of my power into the barrier. It only blocks living beings—can't stop this."
"And clones dissipate easily under attack. Don't get cocky."
I growled.
It wasn't a spell clone. It was an illusion born of peak inner power, used by experts to distract or follow up strikes. The issue was freely deploying it this far, but with the real body absent, that was irrelevant.
Wary, I faced him. The Dharma Protector Lion's clone smirked.
"20% is plenty. Try blocking me, Baek Woong."
And the battle began.
============================ Author's Note ============================
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