The Sea Guardian's Warning
It didn't take long to reach the place I desired by following the map on my smartphone. No matter how distant that island might be, it was still part of Korea. From the perspective of someone who had once traversed the hellishly vast Murim, this distance was something I could cover in just a few steps. And so I arrived at my target island during the hour when the moon still claimed the sun's grace all for itself.
From what my Qi Sense could detect, there were no humans on the island. Only various small creatures. This place would do nicely for what I had in mind.
I released the internal energy I had been storing within my body into the surroundings. The fellows who had been circulating solely inside me for so long grew excited at the rare sight of the outside world and tried to devour everything around them in a frenzy.
Those guys. I'd trained them so thoroughly, yet they refused to change.
Frowning, I brought them under control. The energies of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art churned petulantly for a moment before finally settling beneath my will.
Now then. Let us paint a picture.
As you can see, the images I hold are endless in number and far too vivid for anything to erase. Wall, could you possibly wipe them away?
The instant I tried to imprint my internal energy onto the canvas of the world, I sensed a presence approaching from afar. It was not human. Nor was it an ordinary creature. The profound energy it carried was powerful enough to remind me of Baru or Baekju.
Guessing its identity was not difficult.
Hmm. So this world has divine beasts as well.
Well, that Baekho fellow who had brought me back here originally belonged to this world, so it was hardly strange that other divine beasts existed. I erased the picture I had been about to draw and pulled my pipe from my robe. The moment I packed the tobacco leaves and lit them with Samadhi True Fire, something stirred violently beneath the water's surface. A massive dragon's head emerged, sending waves crashing in every direction.
I had already deployed a barrier of energy in advance, so the waves posed no threat to me. Still, what an inconsiderate creature. Had I not been the one standing here, I would have been no different from a drowned rat in a storm.
Frowning at the rudeness, I looked up. Beyond the writhing black whiskers, solemn eyes gazed down at me.
I wondered what it would say. I was already displeased, but if it dared to utter something beneath even a dog's bark, I would have to shatter it. I wouldn't kill it, but it needed to learn its place.
As I waited for its mouth to open, the serpent spoke.
"First, please accept my apology."
Huh?
"I am sorry. I was rushing and committed a discourtesy."
The sight of the dragon lowering its head with genuine solemnity made me raise an eyebrow. This was entirely unexpected.
Divine beasts usually possessed towering pride. No matter who stood before them, they acted superior. At least, that had been true of every one I'd encountered. Yet this fellow was lowering itself?
As I continued frowning, the dragon spoke again, choosing its words carefully.
"Greetings, esteemed high martial artist. I am the divine beast who protects the seas in this region."
"I see. Snakehead. For what reason have you come here?"
"Well... that is..."
It was rather amusing to watch a being once worshipped by countless people—and still revered in many places—carefully observe my mood.
Interesting. If the people watching my stream saw this, I wonder what they'd say. Once this was over, perhaps I should look for a dragon-shaped divine beast inside Hwaryong Muin.
"Esteemed warrior. I apologize, but may I ask one favor before we continue?"
"Speak."
"Could you withdraw your energy? It feels as though I am being devoured alive. I can barely form words."
What a timid creature. I wasn't even pressing it down with my energy, yet it feared merely the churning aura? It didn't deserve the title of divine beast.
Still. Fine. There was no point threatening someone who already understood its place and bowed its head.
I withdrew my energy as usual and stored it back within myself. The dragon let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Snakehead. I also have one command for you."
"What is it?"
"Don't you think your head is held rather high?"
A fellow who claimed to know its place thought it proper to lift its head so stiffly that it forced me to look up? I disagreed.
The moment the words left my mouth, the dragon swiftly lowered its head, resting its chin upon the rock and glancing at me with those enormous eyes.
It obeyed remarkably well. If only its appearance had been moderately cute, I might have considered keeping it as a pet. Unfortunately, it wasn't to my taste at all. It looked like it would smell of fish. What I loved were fluffy, soft friends, not rough, prickly scales. A shame.
"So why did you come here?"
"I sensed an enormous power capable of shaking the entire sea from this location..."
"And you came to confirm it?"
"Yes. That is correct."
To be precise, it had likely come to locate the source of that power and stop it. Most divine beasts that had tried to threaten me before had operated under similar logic. The exaggerated entrance was probably for the same reason. Only after facing me directly and realizing what kind of person I was did it lower its head, judging the situation beyond its ability to handle.
"So what will you do? Will you try to stop me?"
I do not refuse battle. If you wish to stand in my way, I will gladly face you. You may call for allies. You may use cowardly tricks. If you believe you can stop me, I will not discourage you from trying. What will it be?
When I asked, the dragon shook its head frantically. Water flew from its whiskers only to be blocked once more by the energy barrier I had created.
"How could I possibly challenge someone like you?"
"Is that so? Then begone. I have work to do here."
In a situation where I couldn't predict the aftermath, lingering nearby would put even a divine beast's life at risk if it got caught in the crossfire. If it lacked the confidence to endure, it was wiser to leave quietly.
Despite my words, the dragon refused to withdraw its gaze and kept sneaking glances at me.
Sigh. Are you a child terrified of showing your report card to your parents? Why did it keep stealing glances for no reason? Shouldn't a divine beast stake its life on its convictions?
"Hey."
"Yes!"
"If you have something to say, speak quickly. Or I'll force your mouth open for you."
Don't assume I've never negotiated with dragons before. I had faced many Eastern dragons in my time and possessed quite the record of securing exactly what I wanted through perfectly appropriate negotiations.
Only after my warning did the hesitant dragon finally speak, voice cautious.
"May I ask what you intend to do in this place?"
"I will perform Taoist magic."
"Using the energy you possess?"
"Correct."
"Would it not be better if you refrained?"
I frowned at the nonsense, prompting the dragon to continue in a rush.
"Someone of your exalted realm gathering such power to cast Taoist magic would undoubtedly cause a massive disturbance. There will certainly be an uproar."
"Is that a problem?"
Even if the island vanished, it would merely be an event occurring at night in an uninhabited place. Many would try to investigate the phenomenon, but none would be able to trace it back to me.
"Esteemed warrior. As you surely know, this world is not so forgiving. The humans who have conquered the infinite skies beyond have placed their eyes there. They monitor the world day and night without rest. Moreover, using the electronic device you currently hold, they can easily identify the culprit. If a major disturbance occurs on this island, they will quickly determine who caused it."
I had been ready to drive the creature away if it continued spouting useless drivel, but its words carried more weight than expected. The first part referred to artificial satellites, while the latter meant the smartphone I was using. The more I considered it, the more reasonable it sounded.
Indeed, having lived only in the Murim, I had assumed nothing would matter as long as it didn't catch the eye. But that was wrong. This world had countless substitutes for eyes spread everywhere.
"Seeing that you chose such a remote location, it appears you do not wish to attract attention. Causing a disturbance here would be unwise."
"Your words have merit. In that case, recommend another location. Is there a suitable place?"
Having lived in this world for so long, it seemed to understand modern society better than I did. If it knew so much, it could recommend a proper spot.
The dragon rolled its eyes before answering in a small voice.
"Well... that is..."
"What?"
"A disturbance large enough to erase an island like this would likely be detected no matter where you go..."
"Useless snakehead."
"I cannot help it! The scale of what the esteemed warrior intends is simply too vast to conceal!"
So as long as eyes watched from above, true secrecy would be difficult.
"I understand."
If raising winds would create too much commotion to handle, I would simply learn a different form of Taoist magic and test that instead. Not every technique was this noisy, after all. If nothing worked, I could always raise my realm inside Hwaryong Muin. There was no need to rush.
As I nodded in acceptance, the dragon sighed in visible relief.
"By the way, dragon. Are you knowledgeable about Taoist magic?"
"Yes? Yes. Despite appearances, I am a divine beast who has lived for many long years."
"Then let me ask you one thing."
Since even Baru and Baekju had failed to provide an answer, I doubted this one could either. Still, there was no harm in trying.
I manifested the mountain breeze I had drawn within Hwaryong Muin and released it into the world. Wind blew across the rocky island.
"I never submitted to nature. So how is it that I can use Taoist magic?"
"...Huh?"
Sigh. As expected. This one couldn't give a proper answer either. For a dragon to lack such wisdom.
"Never mind. I will take my leave now."
For the time being, I needed to seek further instruction from Baru inside Hwaryong Muin. Now that I could use proper Taoist magic, I should learn others as well. While I was at it, I would also investigate methods to accumulate internal energy and elevate my realm within that world.
*
"Farewell, and go in peace."
"Yeah."
The dragon watched the martial artist walk away across the empty air as though treading upon solid ground. Only after the figure had completely vanished did it finally release a long sigh of relief.
"Just where did that disaster come from?"
It had no idea where such a nightmare—one capable of destroying the world's balance with its own power—had been hiding before suddenly revealing itself. If someone like that had existed previously, rumors would surely have circulated somehow.
"I nearly died."