Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Chapter 10 - Heaven
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After wrapping up my business at the Demonic Cult and slipping out like I was fleeing for my life, we turned back the way we'd come—and a few more weeks passed on the journey.
"I'm back..."
-Thump
I had finally set foot on Central Plains soil once more.
"Ahh... this long-lost earthy scent... I thought I'd never smell it again..."
"...I get it. I get it."
Her situation had been a little different from mine, but she wore an understanding expression—probably because she'd gone through something similar once.
"Face-planting into the dirt is one thing, but I spotted a bug nest there earlier..."
"Kyaaak?!"
-Hop!
"...Just kidding."
I clutched my pounding chest and shot a glare at the flustered merchant.
I was wearing a hat anyway, so she probably couldn't see my face, but she picked up on the vibe and started rambling excuses.
"It was just a little joke. I didn't think it'd rattle you that bad."
"Don't ruin our touching reunion like that...!"
"Ah, no—a guy turning into a screaming girl and jumping at the mere mention of bugs..."
"Forget the bonus I was gonna give you."
"I'm sorry, boss! I must've lost my mind for a second."
No bonuses for bad employees who poke the boss's sore spots.
-Pat pat
"Tch."
I'd heard it was a joke, but it still left a bad taste, so I brushed the dirt off my clothes and stood.
This spot I'd called Central Plains soil was technically Kunlun territory, but it was just an empty plain—no cities or villages in sight.
We couldn't stroll into the city through the main gate like regular merchants, not with our Demonic Cult dealings, and they couldn't take us all the way back to our meeting spot.
So we'd settled on getting dropped in some out-of-the-way place with hardly any foot traffic.
From here on, there weren't any real dangers anyway, and no one crazy enough to bandit in Kunlun lands.
"You sure it's okay just leaving you here?"
"The city's not far."
"Well, if the customer's fine with it, what can a humble merchant say?"
I wordlessly tossed her the pouch with the pre-sorted payment, and she caught it eagerly with both hands, eyes gleaming.
-Clink
"Thank you for your business! Come back anytime!"
"...Sad that I pretty much have to."
"You said it yourself—I'll pencil you in ahead of time! Next round, I'll stock up on more toys!"
"Do you think I'm your boyfriend or something...?"
I still had plenty of dilemmas ahead, but I'd already promised to meet the Heavenly Demon again within half a year, so I'd told the merchant we'd link up in about five months.
Her line of work meant she might get swept up by the Murim Alliance in the meantime...
'She'll handle herself.'
She'd dodged them this long, so she had to be a pro—I trusted she'd survive.
A quick peek at her heavenly secrets showed no death omens anyway.
-Glance around
"...Gone?"
Even after the merchant drove her cart out of sight, I waited a bit longer.
Then I checked for anyone nearby.
It was the kind of spot where no one should be, but I scanned thoroughly anyway, only sighing in relief once I was sure we were alone.
Then I prepped to call Yeo So-cheon.
Too noisy in crowds, and her looks drew way too much attention.
Alright, confirmed clear...
'How to summon her this time.'
I started pondering ways to call Yeo So-cheon.
The method itself was simple.
Experience said cursing heaven, earth, and the gods brought her running, so same trick oughta work.
In other words, a license to legally trash-talk heaven, earth, and the gods.
Blasphemy? Scared?
'Look what you did to me.'
Dragging me to another world willy-nilly, dooming me to meat-shield life—expecting sweet words from me would make me the soulless one.
They claimed they'd saved me from the saintess's world, but now? Meat shield here or there, six of one, half dozen of the other.
[Same then, this world's got better infrastructure at le—]
'Quiet.'
...On second thought, maybe not.
At least here they didn't force you into bed with dozens or hundreds of faceless women.
Dozens? Hundreds? That world? Could be tens of thousands.
Full of weird magic—might even force-extend your lifespan.
[Oof.]
'...Hit a nerve, huh.'
[Hey, longevity's great! Immortality's what lich-wizards chased, bones and all—no penalties here...]
'Pass.'
And she praises the infrastructure.
Doubt they'd even let you out of the temple.
[Fine, out of kindness: 30 minutes of sunlight a year.]
'Calling that kindness seals how doomed it is.'
Not easy to kill the mood every time she opens her mouth.
She looks the picture of a holy saintess—how'd her personality rot like that?
[I was exactly your image originally! You ruined me, hero!]
Least she's self-aware. Silver lining.
Still thought this world beat that one, so I cut the saintess off.
Didn't make this world perfect, mind you.
Earth >>>>>>> Murim >> Fantasy World—relative merits didn't stop me from cursing the gods.
'Alright, what to curse this time...'
"...No need. I'm already here."
"Eek?!"
A voice from behind, no warning presence—I jumped and whipped around.
"...Kinda harsh for a voice I haven't heard in ages."
"Yeo... Yeo So-cheon?"
"Yep, me. Long time no see. Classic you, plotting an insult off that 'chance'."
"Ah, you knew?"
"Your thoughts are transparent. Don't need omniscience for that."
Was it martial instinct? Woman's intuition? Both? I gave an awkward laugh at the mind-reading.
She didn't like it?
"Sigh... what to do with this mouth of yours."
-Squeeze
"Mmph."
Yeo So-cheon pinched my cheeks with both hands, squishing them.
No real force—like handling a kid.
She'd appeared without a single thunderclap, so I wondered if it was really her, but she matched my memories perfectly. Doubt gone.
No way two people like her in the Central Plains.
And no martial art could fake her build, even if body-altering techniques existed.
Girl's height and frame, but adult chest and hips? That was magic, not kung fu.
"What're you staring at? Something off?"
"Nah, just... no sound at all."
"I was nearby already—no need for clouds or thunder."
"Ah."
Mystery solved.
Her usual cloud-and-thunder show was just lightfootwork side effects for speed. Walking over? No fanfare needed.
But the warm fuzzies didn't last.
"So. Good trip? No trouble there?"
-Oof!
"...Y-yeah... pretty much."
I averted my eyes, dodging her no-trouble question.
How could I even phrase it?
I read the Heavenly Demon's fortune, and her future foe was... me.
To plan countermeasures, honesty was key—but as her betrothed, blurting it out felt awkward all around.
Still, for heavenly secrets woes, she was the best confidante...
'...Gotta tell her.'
Better her first, before the other two. I opened my mouth—
-Pat pat
"Never mind. Tell me later."
"...?"
"Sigh."
Yeo So-cheon cut me off and patted my head.
-Pat pat
"...What're you doing."
"You're just cute."
"..."
Was she always this way?
Today she was handling me like a kid, so on impulse, I reached up and patted her head too.
She didn't stop me. Soon we were two kids mutually head-patting—a bizarre scene.
'...What even is this.'
Situation too weird to speak into. I pondered how to break it—
"...Wanna go back?"
Yeo So-cheon dropped a curveball out of nowhere.
"...Huh?"
"Go back. To Earth."
"...Outta the blue?"
"Just answer."
"Um..."
Total surprise question.
No lead-in, just bam—wanna go home to Earth?
Flustered, but asked, so answer time.
Old me? Instant yes.
"...Not really."
Not anymore.
Master aside, bonds with Dang Ayoung, Sword Empress, Yeo So-cheon, and others burned too bright here.
Earth? Faded traces, memories fuzzy.
I knew it was comfy and great, sure—but that was abstract.
No concrete daily life or ties recalled.
Couldn't even remember my old name—stuck with Dan Yuseong from the name tag in my pocket at possession.
Vs. vivid memories and bonds here. Pick one world for real? Murim wins.
"You used to whine about going back every day."
"That was just griping—world too brutal, force of habit."
Saying that, if a real ticket home appeared, who knows.
The shop window was our only way back, and points were miles short anyway.
...Still, I'd probably stay.
"...Why ask outta nowhere?"
[Good.]
I looked up from my puzzled lean—and Yeo So-cheon was gone.
"...Yeo So-cheon?"
Looked around, baffled. Nothing but the empty plain I'd checked earlier.
That's when the wrongness hit me.
'Wait—how'd Yeo So-cheon know about my early whining?'
That was possession's first days.
Pre-Master alley-rat era, or even after she took me in but I wasn't healing—over ten years back.
We hadn't met. Neither knew the other existed.
So how...
-Kaboom!
"Ah! There you are! Why not head to the city—hanging out here?! Call out at least!"
While I mulled my doubts, Yeo So-cheon popped up beside me, wrapped in clouds and blue lightning.
"...Yeo So-cheon?"
"Long time no see. Good trip? No trouble there?"
Same face, same voice, same lines as before.
My head spun in confusion, but instinct clicked what just happened.
'Heaven, earth, and the gods.'
I think I just met the gods themselves.