Chapter 135: 10-Quad. Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135: 10-Quad. Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils
The Yugok Sect was not a particularly large organization.
The martial brothers of the current Sect Leader, Jang Do-cheon—who was considered one of the greatest masters in the current Gangho—had long since passed away. Because they had never ascended to the position of Sect Leader themselves, they had not been permitted to take on disciples.
Due to the Yugok Sect’s tradition that only the Sect Leader could pass down their teachings, the sect had been unable to expand. Consequently, aside from the eight masters who followed Jang Do-cheon, the sect consisted only of the leader himself and his three disciples.
“I didn’t know such a rule existed,” Seo-un remarked, his voice low as he listened to Jin Long’s explanation.
“Don’t be too tense. Both of my senior brothers will welcome you warmly. The Eldest Disciple holds a position in the Alliance, so he isn’t at the sect right now. The Second Disciple knows nothing but training. He’s a bit blunt, but he’s a good man.”
“I see.”
I’ll have to see for myself, Seo-un thought.
Jin Long was upright and good-natured, treating Seo-un like a true brother, but there was no guarantee the others would be the same. Strictly speaking, Seo-un wasn't even an official disciple, nor had Jang Do-cheon ever formally recognized him as one.
Finally, a mountain flowing with clear, pure energy appeared in the distance. The sheer, precipitous peaks stretched above the clouds, so high their summits were hidden from view.
“To think I would actually come here,” Li Lingwei remarked with a faint, complicated expression.
Jin Long gave a bitter smile. He had never expected the granddaughter of the Master of Jindok Valley—one of the representative houses of the Unorthodox Faction—to ever set foot in the Yugok Sect.
“Whoa… it feels completely different from the mountains in our world.”
Lyle’s jaw dropped as he looked up. The mountain possessed an aura entirely different from those of his own world, which were usually nestled within vast, dense forests. This place felt ancient and sacred.
“Everyone, follow me. There are formations laid out, so you must never stray from the path,” Jin Long warned before taking the lead.
As they followed him using Lightness Skills, the surrounding scenery was soon swallowed by a thick, heavy mist. After a while, a strange phenomenon occurred: while their vision and hearing were completely blocked in every other direction, the path directly in front of them remained perfectly clear.
After following Jin Long in a single file for what felt like hours, the scenery of the mountain flowing with pure energy finally reappeared.
“From here, we can climb normally.”
At those words, the team members began to scale the mountain in earnest. Dump, Lyle, and Juriel followed behind the others, their Air Boards weaving incessantly left and right to navigate the terrain.
Swish. Swish. Shhhk! Shhhk!
After climbing for a good while, they reached a point halfway up the mountain where, strangely enough, stone stairs began. An old man was there, quietly sweeping the steps. The sound of the old man’s broom grew louder and louder until it became almost grating to the nerves.
“Merchant Master Do! It’s me.”
“Is that you, Lung?”
The old man was dressed simply, with white hair and long eyebrows that made him look like a Taoist immortal from a movie. Only then did he stop sweeping. The moment the old man took a single step down the stairs, his form blurred and stretched, appearing instantly in front of the group.
Are masters of this level common in this world?
Seo-un knew rationally that couldn't be the case, but the movement techniques of Li Lingwei’s grandfather and this old man were at a level that even he found astonishing.
“Hmm. What happened? I certainly never saw you leave.” The old man spoke with confusion, peering closely at Jin Long to make sure he wasn't an impostor.
“It’s a long story. I need to see the Master.”
Realizing there must be a significant reason for Jin Long to speak this way, the old man stepped aside without further question.
“You seem to be in a hurry. Go on up.”
The old man bowed his head as the team followed Jin Long. However, his eyes suddenly widened when he spotted Nam Sa-gwang among them. The old man, who hadn't paid much attention to the others since they were with Jin Long, suddenly tossed his broom aside and dashed to Nam Sa-gwang’s side.
“Child. Might I ask what your surname is?”
With an indifferent expression, Nam Sa-gwang didn't even look at the old man as he gave a short reply. “Nam.”
The old man didn't seem to care about the informal speech; instead, a wave of shock spread across his face. “By any chance… was there someone among your elders who used the characters ‘Sa’ and ‘Gwang’ in their name?”
Only then did Nam Sa-gwang turn to look at the old man. After staring at him as if trying to recall a distant memory, Nam Sa-gwang spoke. “Who are you? I don’t remember your face.”
The shock of those words was so great that the old man’s mouth hung open. Startled, he looked toward Jin Long, who was still ascending. Jin Long gave a small, awkward nod.
“Is… is it really true?”
“Is what true? That I don’t remember you? Or that I’ve reached Rejuvenation and look ridiculously young?”
At Nam Sa-gwang’s blunt words, the old man was lost for speech, staring at him in wonder.
“Kid. Where did you learn to stare at an elder’s face like that?”
At Nam Sa-gwang’s rebuke, the old man hurriedly averted his eyes. “I—I apologize. When I first entered the Gangho, I witnessed Great Hero Nam’s righteous deeds with my own eyes. The image of you single-handedly wiping out the Susin Stronghold when they had us in a dire situation is still vivid in my mind…”
Nam Sa-gwang thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t know. I don’t remember. Was there a place called the Susin Stronghold?”
“It was… the leader of the water stronghold that had been established on the Hoegang River for thirty years…”
When Nam Sa-gwang showed no interest despite the explanation, the old man’s voice trailed off. Then again, Nam Sa-gwang had conquered countless water and mountain strongholds and executed hundreds of villains. How could he remember every single achievement?
“I was so saddened to hear that you went into seclusion shortly after that. I had hoped to see the Great Hero just once more…”
“There are plenty of kids like you. Those brats used to swarm Mount Taeryeo and annoy me. I even had to move my seclusion spot because of them.”
The old man flinched. He was undoubtedly one of those "brats." Back then, there were clouds of masters who wanted to follow Nam Sa-gwang out of admiration, and members of the Righteous Faction who hoped to catch even a glimpse of him from afar. If he hadn't been a master of a single-successor lineage and had instead belonged to a large sect, his fame would have surely endured to this day.
After climbing the stairs for a long time, a massive clearing appeared halfway up the mountain, shrouded in clouds. Despite the small number of sect members, a large manor stood there, flanked by a bamboo forest that obscured the surroundings. The sight of a bamboo forest flourishing halfway up this high, rocky mountain was mystical.
“Is that you, Lung?”
A voice echoed through the bamboo forest, and Jin Long answered. “Second Senior! It’s urgent. I must see the Master.”
At those words, a man walked out of the bamboo forest with a massive Greatsword slung diagonally across his back. The Greatsword was impressive; even slung diagonally, it barely avoided touching the ground.
“To think you’d bring so many guests. Has some kind of disaster occurred?”
Jin Long and the old man frowned as they saw the blood on the pants of the man, who was dressed in shabby martial robes. It was a natural reaction, as there should have been no reason for him to see blood within the Yugok Sect.
“It’s about the Cloyd game I mentioned before. Is the Master still at Pyegwan Peak?”
“Are you really going to break the Master’s seclusion? Does this have something to do with those strange bastards whose corpses disappear when you kill them?”
Jin Long’s expression darkened at the words of his senior, Ga Ju-gyeong. “Did those bastards appear here as well?”
“Yeah. They suddenly fell from the sky and attacked without provocation, so I killed them all. But strangely enough, their bodies just vanished. I thought I was seeing some bizarre hallucination, but then I remembered that dream you talked about…”
“Second Senior! It wasn’t a dream, it’s what I’m experiencing…”
“Ah, right, right. Having experienced it myself this time, it certainly doesn’t seem like a dream. So, what exactly is going on?”
Jin Long briefly explained the current situation. That alone was enough to make Ga Ju-gyeong’s expression twist in anger.
“We must ring the Bulhoe Bell.”
Jin Long nodded. The team members moved quickly, following him as he led the way into the bamboo forest. Passing the manor and exiting the bamboo forest, they found another set of stairs stretching up into the clouds, its end invisible.
As they climbed, Lyle and Dump pressed themselves close to the inner wall, terrified by the dizzying drop beside the stairs. They slowed their Air Boards, falling to the back of the group. At the top of the peak, which felt like a path to heaven and was protected by a powerful formation, stood a small stone wall.
“Wait here.”
As soon as Jin Long finished speaking, he approached the stone wall and pulled a black cord with all his might. With the first pull, a fierce wind began to blow. With the second, dark clouds gathered, turning the surroundings pitch black. And with the third pull, a bolt of lightning struck inside the stone wall.
CRACK-BOOM!
As the lightning fell with a roar, a figure soared over the stone wall. Seo-un bowed his head as the figure landed in front of the group.
“Elder. It has been a long time.”
Seeing Jang Do-cheon, who looked exactly as he had when they first met, Seo-un was filled with emotion.
“You… how did you come all the way here? Looking at the guests behind you… it seems something has happened.”
Jin Long, arriving a moment later, explained the situation.
“So, you went there as well.”
“Yes, Master. After hearing from my junior that he had a connection with you, we have been playing the game together ever since.”
“The connection I left behind has reached you. But did you say a quest was issued to kill the people of this world?”
Jin Long nodded with a grave expression at Jang Do-cheon’s question. Seeing this, Jang Do-cheon turned to Ga Ju-gyeong.
“Send a Golden Hawk to the Eldest. Tell him to dispatch every martial artist within his authority to the Eight Provinces of Gangbuk. I will head to the Alliance immediately. And…”
Trailing off, Jang Do-cheon glanced at Nam Sa-gwang, tilted his head slightly, and then clasped his hands in a respectful greeting. “It has been a long time, Great Hero Nam.”
“Ah, you’ve become quite the old man. Last time, you were wandering at a crossroads, but it seems you’ve found the right path.”
Jang Do-cheon bowed his head at Nam Sa-gwang’s words. The two disciples’ eyes widened as they saw their master bow to someone for the first time.
“Thanks to the Great Hero’s advice, I achieved a good result. That was already seventy years ago.”
“Save the sentiment for later; we have to hurry. There are ten thousand of them. Ten thousand.”
As they conversed while descending the mountain, Seo-un suddenly shouted, “What did you say?!”
“I said that after killing those bastards, I heard a voice saying I had earned the qualification for that Clo… whatever it was.”
Seo-un was deeply shocked by Ga Ju-gyeong’s words about gaining participation rights for the Cloyd Survival game. It felt like a small puzzle piece was clicking into place.
“To summarize, Players get coins for killing people of this world…”
“And people of this world get the right to participate in the game if they kill a Player.”
As Li Lingwei finished Seo-un’s sentence, Jang Do-cheon narrowed his eyes. “For what possible purpose…”
“We can’t know that right now. But one thing is certain: from now on, the three worlds will change drastically because of Cloyd.”
Jang Do-cheon nodded as Seo-un finished speaking. A brief silence fell over the group. It was Jang Do-cheon who broke it.
“By the way, you’ve made remarkable progress in such a short time. Back then, you were nothing but clumsy.” Jang Do-cheon’s eyes finally began to fill with curiosity as he looked at Seo-un.
“I was lucky in many ways.”
It wasn't just modesty; he truly felt there was no other way to describe it but luck. In particular, obtaining the Mad Demon’s Insights, his connection with Nam Sa-gwang, and acquiring Yoseonsul and Museon’s Memoir in succession had transformed him into a martial artist of an entirely different caliber.
“Your Baihui is clearly closed… Is it indeed the help of items?”
Seo-un nodded as Jang Do-cheon instantly diagnosed his condition. “Yes, you are correct. If there is time, I will show you the insights I’ve gained.”
Jang Do-cheon wanted to ask to see those insights immediately, wondering what kind of knowledge could allow someone to accumulate heavenly energy, rather than human energy, in their Middle Dantian. If the current situation weren't so urgent, he might have gone back into seclusion with the insights he received from Seo-un.
“I gave up on that place too early. To think such items existed.”
“G-Gave up?”
Jang Do-cheon answered Seo-un’s question. “As you said, I had a small realization after several dangerous training sessions. But the game kept summoning me at all hours, so I failed on purpose. I did it because it was annoying me during my seclusion. It seems I acted rashly.”
Come to think of it, it had been strange that Jang Do-cheon’s name wasn't on the ranker list. Seo-un had never imagined he had failed on purpose.
He failed before even becoming a regular player.
Jang Do-cheon thought for a moment before continuing. “You said catching a Player gives participation rights? I wonder if I might gain the right to participate again.”
Seo-un’s eyes sparkled. A third of the rankers have failed, but if this is possible… it’s a chance for everyone who has been eliminated from Cloyd to be resurrected.
It was certain that 99% of those who had dropped out of Cloyd would want to participate again. With that, Seo-un was certain of one fact.
They are forcing a fight between Players and non-Players. The boundary between the two will crumble even faster.
Information about Cloyd had already spread widely among the general public on Earth. And it was certain that the current situation would also spread before long. Seo-un couldn't even predict the chaos that would ensue. No matter how dangerous it was, human curiosity had always driven humanity to the edge of the cliff.
“Hyung. This might…”
“I know. For now, let’s focus on the present. Ending the game as quickly as possible is the priority.”
He didn't need to hear Gi-chan’s worries to know what they were. But he couldn't let worry ruin their play right now. It wasn't just their own scores at stake; the lives of countless people depended on them, so they had to move fast.
Once they finished descending the mountain, their paths had to diverge from Jang Do-cheon’s.
“It would have been good to go to the Alliance together.” As Jang Do-cheon looked at Seo-un with regret, Seo-un shook his head.
“Even now, those madmen are hunting and massacring helpless people. We have to stop them as quickly as possible.”
“Right. We will move as fast as we can as well. We shall meet again once the situation settles. Be careful.”
“Yes.”
As soon as the brief reunion ended, Jang Do-cheon, Ga Ju-gyeong, and the eight old men vanished rapidly.
“Let’s move as well.”
At Jin Long’s words as he watched his master’s receding figure, Seo-un spoke. “Before that, there’s something I need to do.”
As he finished speaking, he pulled the Soul Stone of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven from his subspace. It was the first time the 400-coin item had seen the light of day since he had acquired it.
“T-That’s…” Gi-chan, recognizing the item, trailed off, puzzled by Seo-un’s intentions.
“The Soul Stone of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven.”
At his words, everyone swallowed hard and fell silent.
“Right now, we have no choice but to gamble on this item. If it’s him, he should be able to distinguish between Players and non-Players.”
Nam Sa-gwang frowned. “Are you sure you can handle that? If you mess up, it’ll just bring about a new disaster.”
“I can’t be certain, but he can only manifest because of my Immortal Qi anyway.”
Having finished speaking, Seo-un gathered his Immortal Qi and looked around. When he nodded, everyone stepped back and assumed combat stances.
[Ding! Will you consume 300 Immortal Demonic Energy to awaken the clone of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven in the Soul Stone?] O/X
The moment Seo-un pressed the O button, the Soul Stone glowed brightly, and the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven appeared from within the light.
THUD!
Like a scene from a movie, the ground shook as he appeared with one knee on the ground.
“Oh, look who it is.” The figure looked at Seo-un, who was standing a short distance away, and spoke as he took a casual step forward. “It’s been a while, hasn't it?”
“It might be for you, but not for me.”
“Well, let’s put the past aside for a moment. I called you because I have a proposal.”
Even as he listened to Seo-un, the figure continued to take step after step, looking around as he approached.
“Make your proposal. We’re practically comrades in the same boat anyway. We should cooperate.” As he finished speaking, he continued to look around in wonder, gradually closing the distance toward Seo-un.
Just as Seo-un was about to speak, when the distance between them was only seven or eight paces, the figure suddenly swung his Ruyi Staff and lunged at Seo-un.
Hum-ni-chin-ya-cha-pa-ha…
As the Headband Tightening Spell flowed from Seo-un’s mouth, the charging figure’s body came to a dead halt.
“Ggggh… After the first half of… the spell is over, you! You’re dead!”
The first half of the spell finally ended, and the second half began to flow from Seo-un’s lips.
“KRAAAAAA!”
Everyone’s eyes widened as they watched the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven clutch his head and begin to roll on the ground.
“Stop! Kuaaaa! Stop!!!”
Only after confirming that the Golden Headband was digging into the figure’s head did Seo-un stop the incantation.
“I found the second half.”
At his short remark, the Great Sage barely managed to lift his head and look up at Seo-un. “What do you want?”
“As I said, I’m not trying to exploit you. I’m proposing a deal. It won't be a bad deal for you either.”
The Great Sage glared at Seo-un, his eyes filled with suspicion. “Why are you tormenting me just to make a proposal?”
“Anyone listening would think I’m the bad guy. I plan to collect all three Soul Stones.”
At those words, the figure lay back on the ground and looked up at the sky, seemingly uninterested. “Whether you do or not, what does that have to do with me?”
“If I collect all the Soul Stones, I’ll break your seal.”
“It’s not so bad right now. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this.”
Seo-un smiled and threw out a comment to the figure, who had turned his back and was lying down to admire the scenery as if he didn't care. “I’ll help you get revenge.”
“...”
The figure sat bolt upright and glared at Seo-un. Seo-un began to speak with a smile, as if he knew everything.
“There’s someone absolute who split the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven and sealed him away, right? I can imagine. They probably proposed a deal to break the seal if you cooperated for a certain period. But the result is that your Soul Stone ended up in the hands of a mere human. If I don’t want it, you can never return to your original form.”
Only then did the figure’s nonchalant facade crumble, his face twisting fiercely to reveal his true nature. “What do you know that gives you the right to wag that tongue? You’re just a mere human!”
“I know enough. Cooperate with me. That’s the only way you can return to your original form and get revenge on the one who made you like this.”
“How can I trust your words…”
“You have nothing to lose by trusting me. There’s no other way anyway.”
At Seo-un’s words, the figure tossed the Ruyi Staff into the air. As the staff vanished into thin air like magic, the figure walked toward Seo-un. Seo-un watched silently as he approached on two legs. Standing right in front of Seo-un, the figure spoke.
Vrrrrm.
As the figure raised his palm into the air, a complex patterned effect appeared in the void with a low hum.
“This is a contract made upon our souls. If either side breaks it, their soul will be extinguished.”
Without a word, Seo-un reached out and touched the effect floating in the air.
[Ding! You are proceeding with a Soul Contract with the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven. This contract will be engraved upon your soul. It is a contract that can never be broken. Please be cautious.]
“In exchange for my help, you must not hesitate for a moment to collect my Soul Stones. You will do your best to collect my Soul Stones and help liberate me, and in return, I will not show a hint of laziness in helping you. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
Simultaneously with the answer, the split effect vanished into both of their heads. As Seo-un placed a hand to his forehead at the strange sensation, the Great Sage asked, “What help do you need?”
Seo-un briefly explained the situation.
“Tsk, those damn bastards are up to all sorts of things.”
“The Operators... No, you definitely know who created this game, don’t you?”
At that question, the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you already knew everything.”
“No. It was just a hunch.”
“You damn bastard!” The Great Sage let out a roar of fury and glared at Seo-un, but he was unable to resort to any physical violence.
“Let’s move past the trivialities. If you know something, tell me.”
“Damn it! I can’t. I’d like to, but if I utter even a single word about their identity to a human, my Soul Stone will be destroyed.”
Seo-un smiled inwardly, realizing he had gained a significant piece of information from those words.
“Then back to the main point. Can you help me distinguish the Players?”
“I can help, but with your current level of Immortal Demonic Energy, you can’t even maintain my presence for thirty minutes. You seem to have learned Yoseonsul, but if I start using my power, your energy will be depleted in a minute at most.”
Seo-un’s expression grew serious. Yoseonsul played a major role in his combat strength now, and Immortal Demonic Energy was the source that allowed him to use it.
Watching Seo-un’s troubled expression, the Great Sage gnashed his teeth with a loud grit. “Damn it! I always act too hastily and end up losing out.”
Having said that, he reached his hand toward his own eye.
Skritch!
With a gruesome sound, he plucked out one of his eyes and handed the faintly glowing orb to Seo-un.
“Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils. It is one of my eyes. There is no point in hiding it now. I was divided into eyes, bone, and flesh, then sealed within Soul Stones. I will entrust this eye to you. With it, you will be able to distinguish far more than what you are looking for.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils left his hand and, regardless of Seo-un’s will, embedded itself into his left eye socket.
“Ugh!”
With a startled groan, his left eye began to be dyed a deep, burning crimson.