0050 : Demon Subduing Hall
Is this a dream?
I muttered to myself while looking around. This place was undoubtedly the village I had been staying in, yet I knew that this was not reality. After all, my last memory of sleep was still vivid. In the hazy, dreamlike atmosphere, I felt even more convinced of the unreality of this place.
At that moment, a voice came from across the road.
[Hello, Uninvited Guest. I am Master Mangnyang.]
A small black cat walked right down the middle of a narrow path. The cat, claiming to be Master Mangnyang, gazed at me with an adorable face. I was taken aback, but simultaneously, knowing this place was a dream allowed me to come to terms with it.
“Master Mangnyang? Why have you appeared in my dream?”
The black cat opened its mouth.
[It’s far too dangerous for me to appear before you without borrowing the form of a lucid dream.]
“What do you mean?”
[Two months ago, Minor Evil feared Major Evil to the point of breaking out of time and space. If I get swept up in your karma, I would meet the same fate.]
What is he talking about?
As it continued to speak in incomprehensible terms, the self-proclaimed Master Mangnyang moved its small body onto a nearby warm rock and curled up, gazing at me.
[To put it simply, I have no intention of meeting you. I haven’t up until now, and I won’t in the future, as my entire strength is devoted to restraining the darkness from the Outside World.]
In that instant, I felt deflated. I had come this far seeking the assistance of Master Mangnyang, only to discover that he had no intention of meeting or helping me! Frustrated, I protested,
“What reason do you have for that? You’ve been spouting nonsense since earlier!”
[Do you have the confidence to explain to a mere beast what you are doing?]
The black cat, Master Mangnyang, twirled its tail.
[It’s the same. This matter has already exceeded human cognitive abilities. However, due to the terrifying secrets of the world, explaining it to you is impossible.]
“……”
[Take a good look.]
Wuuuuuuuu
In that moment, I felt the entire dream closing in darkness. It seemed as if my body and even my very soul were being sucked somewhere. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing in the center of a sparkling galaxy filled with stars.
It was an overwhelmingly magnificent sight.
Stars scattered across the endless dark sky!
Tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of starlights!
As I stood there, mesmerized by the view, Master Mangnyang spoke.
[Have you ever seen this universe in your lifetime? Do you have the confidence to describe this scenery to others?]
“……”
[The brain is merely a mirror. With a limited perspective and angles, nothing can be seen.]
Only then did I come to a realization.
‘This being… feels different! It emanates something transcendent…’
The entity known as Master Mangnyang could not be understood or explained from the perspective of martial artists. Beyond merely being the greatest sorcerer, he existed as a semi-divine being or one who had already transcended something.
Unlike with Cheon U-jin, there was no point in comparing him to martial artists. Each word he spoke felt like an intuitive understanding that surpassed the human realm.
Perhaps this black cat was not merely a human in form but an incarnation. I had to acknowledge the fact that I was in the presence of something more transcendent than anything I had ever witnessed. While I stood rigidly, the black cat spoke.
[However, I do not wish for humanity to become a mere plaything of the divine. Thus, I intend to give you, the most dangerous being in the world, a bit of assistance.]
“……?”
Suu
The black cat’s front paw suddenly pointed at me. Suddenly, I felt a sensation of emptiness in my head, and the pressure weighing down on me was lifted, leaving me refreshed. Something unpleasant and bothersome had vanished.
[I have dispelled the Dark Qi from the Otherworld. For the time being, you will not go insane or be contaminated.]
“Contaminated?”
[The sorcerer you faced is not a being of this world. A member of the Otherworld who accidentally drifted in. Merely encountering his sorcery or knowledge leads ordinary beings to become contaminated, corrupted, and worship despair. What I do is prevent such wanderers from reaching this world, but it seems luck was not on my side this time.]
I stood dazed for a moment before realizing something, then asked,
“One moment, you said ‘for the time being’? Does that mean there’s another such being?”
[There likely will be.]
“How do I purify the Dark Qi from the Otherworld?”
[You can seal away the Evil Qi or knowledge, or possess a strong enough mental fortitude to endure it.]
“Hmm…”
As I contemplated, the black cat slowly walked and dipped its feet into the cold stream. Enjoying the temperature of the water, it began to walk beyond the narrow path.
[Then I shall take my leave, as it’s troublesome.]
It looked poised to exit just like that.
Is it just leaving me with breadcrumbs of information and just walking away?! Realizing that the character of the so-called Master Mangnyang was no different from that of his disciple, I was flabbergasted. So, I quickly ran in front of the black cat, blocking its path.
“Wait! Just a moment!”
[Do you have more to say?]
“I know you’ll only say what you want and won’t bother solving my queries, and that you’ll just leave without explanation!”
Master Mangnyang replied, seemingly impressed.
[Hmm… You know me quite well.]
“Still, please answer just a few questions!”
[I won’t answer what I cannot.]
I nodded and asked,
“Do you happen to know what Cheonam Biseo is?”
[What is that?]
“Then what’s the reason for appearing only two months later?”
[That’s my prerogative.]
“What do you mean by saying I’m the most dangerous being in the world?”
[You just look that way. Your face isn’t even handsome.]
“……”
[What? Why? What?]
Seeing Master Mangnyang twisting in a quirky manner, I realized that he truly was Mangnyang’s master. I intuitively sensed that asking him further questions would yield no answers, so I started posing different inquiries.
“Master Mangnyang, I need to eliminate the Golden Eagle Guards. Can you provide any assistance? Even your disciple Cheon U-jin could be a great help.”
The black cat yawned.
[That’s bothersome, and it’s not my concern. I don’t force my disciples into my affairs. If Mangnyang chooses to accompany you, that’s his decision. Similarly, if you want to recruit Cheon U-jin as a companion, that’s entirely up to you.]
“You took back the Treasure Ohwa Chilgeum, didn’t you?”
[Using the Treasure itself was permitted by me to Mangnyang. However, given his nature, he might just use it up in an attempt to assist you. I won’t stand idly by and watch his lifespan dwindle due to that.]
“……”
Come to think of it, Mangnyang had mentioned that using the Treasure would shorten his lifespan every time, especially since he lacked talent. Did Master Mangnyang take the Treasure back for that reason? The black cat flickered its sharp gaze and continued speaking.
[My disciple’s intelligence is unmatched on the continent. In turbulent times, he could have been a figure like Zhuge Liang or Xiao He. Though I sent him away due to his lack of sorcery talent, I still cherish his abilities. That alone suffices without the Treasure.]
“But practical power is necessary to confront the Golden Eagle Guards.”
[Figure it out for yourself. I do not intervene in worldly matters.]
It was as if our conversation was going nowhere. He clearly had an attitude of wanting to watch from the other side of the river. I felt compelled to ask my next question.
“If I could bring a certain book, would you be able to interpret it?”
[If you’re talking about the Nameless Ritual Book, that’s impossible. Only beings from the Otherworld can interpret it.]
“Mangnyang said he could interpret a similar book.”
[That’s my disciple’s misconception. It’s not constructed according to conventional language rules. No matter how intelligent one is, it remains infeasible.]
“……”
Only beings from the Otherworld can interpret it.
That meant if Cheonam Biseo was also a being from the Otherworld, they might be able to read it. I had already confirmed this fact by showing that book to the sorcerer. Despite the endless chatter, I hadn’t paid it much heed since I couldn’t understand it. After a brief moment of contemplation, I spoke.
“If that’s the case, then accept me as your disciple! I want to learn sorcery…”
[That’s impossible. You lack martial arts talent, and your sorcery talent is even more nonexistent. Just give up.]
What a frustrating being he was. I snapped.
“What the hell! How can you be so certain?”
[Because it’s evident at a glance. It’s even more cruel to instill false hope in you by saying there’s a possibility when there’s none. I actually consider myself quite kind for telling you this.]
“You’re truly an infuriating fellow.”
[That’s a common remark I hear…]
Yawning, Master Mangnyang continued,
[If you truly want power, it would be best to seek the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars. With that, even an ignorant fool like you might grasp sorcery to some extent.]
“The Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars?”
[Similar to the Treasure, it’s a relic left by the Immortals in this world. Unlike the Treasure, however, there exists a Guardian to protect it. Additionally, even someone who hasn’t mastered sorcery can utilize it.]
My ears perked up. Such a remarkable item exists! Knowing that Master Mangnyang would have no reason to lie in this regard, I became somewhat excited and asked,
“Oh… Where can I acquire that?”
[I don’t know.]
“Wait, what?!”
[If I knew that, I would have gathered it all myself. Why would I teach it to a fool like you?]
“What kind of mindset is that when you just casually mention it without knowing?!”
[A foolish question. Do you really need me to explain everything for you to understand?]
The black cat jumped up onto the roof. After strolling leisurely for a bit, it remarked,
[I don’t know where the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars is. However, it is protected by a Guardian. In other words, you simply need to discover the ruins where the Guardian exists. The Guardian itself is also a relic left by the Immortals.]
“Oh…”
[I believe I’ve given enough advice. The rest is for you to investigate personally.]
With that, the black cat was already walking down the narrow path. This time, there was no indication it would stop even if I tried to block its way.
[Well then, goodbye.]
“Wait, just a moment!”
Master Mangnyang glanced back, leaving one last comment.
[I won’t meet with you again until you lift that curse, you fool.]
“……”
Lucid Dream – Awakening from that vividly realistic dream, I immediately sought out Mangnyang. Unexpectedly, visiting him in the middle of the night caused him to rub his eyes and sit up.
“What’s going on?”
I recounted to Mangnyang what I had experienced. After hearing everything, he sighed as if he had anticipated this.
“It seems our master doesn’t intend to help us.”
“What should we do?”
Mangnyang scratched his head.
“What else can we do… Let’s just stay in the village and focus on gaining strength.”
That was an unexpected remark. Shouldn’t we be moving right away to find the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars? As doubt arose in my mind, Mangnyang provided further explanation.
“This village is currently the safest place in the world. Not only is it protected by our master’s powers, but Cheon U-jin can drive out all external threats with his barrier. I believe there is no safer option than accumulating strength here.”
“And the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars?”
“I know what the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars is. It’s a relic imbued with the powers of the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the Sun. Unlike Treasures, it can indeed be wielded by those who lack sorcery knowledge.”
As Mangnyang spoke, he shook his head.
“However, the Guardians protecting those Seven Stars are incredibly powerful beings. Defeating them to obtain the treasure is merely a fantasy. It would be far better to face the Golden Eagle Guards instead.”
“What? You’re saying those Guardians, being relics left by the Immortals, are that strong?”
“In an era where the powers of sorcery have regressed, the beings created to protect the treasures possess strengths from a mythological age that one could hardly imagine. If we can’t even handle the Golden Eagle Guards, embarking on a treasure hunt like that would be impossible. Even finding the ruins of the Seven Stars would take a considerable amount of time.”
“……”
Mangnyang continued,
“Since some time ago, haven’t you been honing your abilities through real battles, currently increasing your martial prowess? If you cultivate your formidable inner strength and refine your martial arts further, you’ll have a fighting chance against the Golden Eagle Guards. Let’s take our time to build our skills.”
He spoke truthfully. Engaging in life-and-death battles against the Golden Eagle Guards while harnessing the Thunder Spirit Technique had evidently elevated my abilities. Furthermore, I felt like I was increasingly mastering the techniques of the Thunder God School, melding my inner energy fluidly. Despite lacking talent, through extensive training, I had likely reached a critical threshold.
However, impatience surged within me, shaking my head.
“How can I wait for the Golden Eagle Guards to strike? I want to settle this before they gain more strength.”
“As long as Cheon U-jin is here, this place is safe from even a hundred thousand troops.”
Declaring this with certainty, Mangnyang continued,
“Besides, Golden Eagle Guard members can be replenished at any time from the Imperial Palace if desired. Do you think it would be hard to recruit top martial artists with a simple recruitment exam? What’s truly important are the Commander and Vice Commander at the core of the Golden Eagle Guard’s power. Don’t sweat the small stuff; build the strength to take them down.”
He was right.
‘But… I’ve left Cheonam Biseo outside for too long. I’m anxious.’
If the enemy were to invade and breach the barrier, I would die without the chance of reincarnation. The fear of death enveloped me, making me more anxious.
I needed to possess Cheonam Biseo to feel secure.
Moreover, I felt a sense of stubbornness rising. While Mangnyang’s words were entirely correct, it chafed me to endure this. Especially after being treated like a fool by Master Mangnyang, an impulse to prove myself surged within me. So, I replied brusquely.
“… I can’t do that. Achieving the realm of no martial prowess isn’t something that comes easily, and I can’t simply tolerate being idle here for years on end.”
“Hmm… The illusions of the master were just playful antics. Taking them seriously…”
“I want to gain power as soon as possible. I’ll seek out the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars and move on my own.”
With that, Mangnyang sighed.
“I can’t help it… Though it’s earlier than expected, I’ll accompany you.”
“Stay here. I can’t afford to protect you too.”
“You think you can search the world recklessly for the ruins of the Seven Stars without my help? That’s like looking for a needle in a desert.”
“I see it as martial training.”
“You’re being too hasty… Please think calmly and rationally.”
Despite his grumbling, Mangnyang ultimately set out with me from the village. I immediately sought after Cheonam Biseo and took it back into my possession. Perhaps it was my anxiety over not having it that urged me further.
It was nighttime now.
Although it had gotten somewhat chilly, I felt emboldened with Cheonam Biseo in hand.
‘Alright, now to find the Secret Treasure of the Seven Stars and act…’
And just as Mangnyang and I were about to decide our first destination,
“Oh, it seems the one who claims to be a Guardian Dharma Warrior of the White Lotus Sect is here.”
A chilling voice echoed through the darkness of the night. As I gathered my senses at the sound of the voice, I saw a figure wearing a white mask standing there. To either side of him stood members of the Golden Eagle Guards, having lit torches unexpectedly. I recognized who he was.
“The Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards!”
“Haha… To recognize my identity upon sight, you must indeed be an impressive one.”
The chief commander of the Golden Eagle Guards and the strongest in the Imperial Palace chuckled heartily.
Startled and surrounded unexpectedly, I was bewildered, but upon reconsidering, I realized that they must have been encircling this area from the start. Otherwise, the number of Golden Eagle Guards suddenly appearing from the pine forest couldn’t exceed dozens.
The Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards spoke leisurely.
“After learning of the appearance and characteristics of the perpetrator who massacred the Golden Eagle Six Troops, we traced back and concluded that you arrived in this village a month ago. However, despite wanting to mount a full-scale attack or infiltrate with agents, we were held back by the mysterious mist. Yet here you are, having come out of the stronghold by yourself.”
“……”
“I find this investigation increasingly interesting. To impersonate the Guardian Dharma Warrior of the White Lotus Sect? Hahaha.”
I deeply regretted it.
‘Mangnyang was right.’
I had thought the absence of any pursuit over the past two months indicated peace, but that wasn’t the case. They had discovered my trace a month ago but had remained idle due to Cheon U-jin’s barrier. Moreover, this village, being nearly self-sufficient, would have made it impossible to use the residents for information.
If only I had developed the Thunder Spirit Technique further, achieving the stage where I could perfectly refine it into an ethereal sword energy, I wouldn’t have been as fearful. However, due to my inability to tame my impatience, I had brought this upon myself.
I gritted my teeth.
“Mangnyang, I’m sorry.”
Mangnyang, looking as though he had already given up, managed a weak smile.
“It’s alright. There’s no need to worry about spilled water. You should escape.”
“……”
In this situation, there was no way I could protect Mangnyang while breaking through the encirclement of the nine factions of the Golden Eagle Guards. My own life was in jeopardy as it was. I decided to buy some time by speaking to the Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards.
“Haha, impersonating! How can you know whether I am truly a Guardian Dharma Warrior of the White Lotus Sect or not?”
“You seem to know nothing. One among the three Guardian Dharma Warriors of the White Lotus Sect has allied with us. We possess considerable intelligence regarding your sect. Judging from your appearance, you resemble none of the Guardians.”
“……!!”
One of the Guardian Dharma Warriors of the White Lotus Sect has allied with the Golden Eagle Guards!
Surprised by the unexpected information, I realized at the same time that they had the means to track my intricate traces. The Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards spoke leisurely.
“It is unfortunate that the sorcerer is dead and cannot perform the ritual, but it doesn’t matter. Since the Nameless Ritual Book has been interpreted, we just need to find someone with that level of sorcery.”
“Damn it… What are you thinking, committing such brutal acts? Is summoning demon creatures through human sacrifice worth it? What do you think will happen to the White Lotus Sect with a demon creature?”
Whether the Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards had made up his mind to kill us in this moment, he calmly shared his information.
“Of course not. Even with a hundred demon creatures, they wouldn’t be able to touch the leader of the White Lotus Sect. The demon creatures are merely offerings for the secondary ritual. It will be at the conclusion of that secondary ritual that we will annihilate the White Lotus Sect and achieve the Emperor’s eternal glory.”
“Secondary ritual?”
“Hahaha… The rest of your curiosities will be unraveled slowly during the torture. You have much to hear.”
Swoosh.
Simultaneously, the masters of the Golden Eagle Guards surrounding us moved in unison, forming a formidable formation, as dozens of elite martial artists consolidated their ranks as if moving in sync. With my current abilities, breaking through their encirclement was impossible.
At that moment, Mangnyang, standing beside me, spoke.
“… I have a request.”
“……”
“Please kill me. I do not wish to endure torture.”
At Mangnyang’s calm words, I felt a pang in my heart.
What is happening?
Every word he had spoken had saved me from death multiple times, and now, just because I couldn’t endure a moment of impatience, it had come to this! I still owed him so many debts of gratitude, yet now I had to take his life to ease his suffering!
I felt so foolish and miserable that tears almost spilled from my eyes.
I forced myself to hold back the tears and said, “Go on ahead. I’ll follow.”
Mangnyang let out a faint smile, a smile I would never forget in my lifetime.
“Heh… It has been enjoyable.”
Swish!
“Not this!”
The Commander of the Golden Eagle Guards frowned. My sword had fluidly completed a circle, neatly severing Mangnyang’s head from his body. I had exerted myself to cut as swiftly as possible, and with the Thunder Spirit Technique surrounding it, Mangnyang likely felt little to no pain.
I loathed myself to such a degree that I could barely endure it. My lips bled from how hard I bit down on them. I then declared,
“Commander! If you are the strongest in the Imperial Palace, let’s duel one-on-one! If I lose, I’ll tell you anything you want to know!!”
Murmurs spread among the Golden Eagle Guards. They never expected the person trapped in the encirclement to challenge their Commander to a duel. The Commander readily accepted.
“Very well. I’ve been curious about your abilities, claiming to be a Guardian Dharma Warrior of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Shut up!”
“Your energy is disrupted. I’ll allow you to have a few steps’ lead.”
Swoosh.
Before I knew it, I had summoned the Thunder Spirit Technique. Simultaneously, the vast inner energy within me transitioned into the Thunder Spirit, and in an instant, my body was enveloped in the aura of lightning, surging forth. As if lightning had struck in the night, the energy crackling around me startled the surrounding Golden Eagle Guards.
“I’ve heard that when inner energy that possesses the properties of the five elements reaches its limit, such phenomena occur, but what enormous inner energy indeed.”
Pah!
I charged at the Commander, calmly assessing me. After all, there was no point in trickery against an absolute master like him; I intended to deliver my strongest blow. Besides, having mentioned giving me a few steps’ lead, I aimed to crush his skull without hesitation.
Zing—
The lightning glimmered, illuminating the void. My sword path, infused with the Thunder Spirit Technique, accelerated at an incredible speed, slicing through the Commander’s body ten times over. Originally, this strike was swift enough to end a Golden Eagle Guard with a single blow.
“One.”
Yet, the Commander’s voice came from an entirely different location. I felt a chill when I saw his figure standing merely three steps away, leisurely turning his back. Though I had sliced through his afterimages, the speed was akin to the use of a shadow clone technique.
Squeak!
“Two.”
Once again, I attacked, but once more it was the same outcome. Lastly, I charged straight at the Commander, unleashing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique in a way that even Jin So-cheong could not block, the Thunder Shadow Breaking the Heavens.
“Three.”
Clang!
“……!!”
The Commander flicked his finger, and my sword shattered into two pieces. The sword, filled with Thunder Spirit, held comparable strength to iron, yet it broke so easily. As I stood there in shock, the Commander calmly remarked,
“Your speed and strength are impressive, but your martial arts level is shallow. Claiming to be a Guardian Dharma Warrior… You are still far from those monsters. Even I am not confident I can defeat those beasts one-on-one; yet you only possess martial arts level equivalent to a sect elder, hindering our work.”
“……”
“That’s a significant problem because the leader of the White Lotus Sect cannot defeat those three Guardian Dharma Warriors even if they all attacked simultaneously, heh heh heh.”
There was no longer any time to hesitate.
Gulp!
“Not this!!”
The Commander seemed startled when he noticed blood gushing out of my mouth like a torrent. He had relaxed, thinking I appeared determined to live. Seizing the brief moment of his negligence, I successfully severed my own heart meridian.
It was my first time committing such an act, yet it felt truly vile.
Thud.
It felt as though all the blood vessels in my body had burst, and my insides shattered. Blood surged ceaselessly from my throat. I collapsed, enduring extreme pain until consciousness slipped away. My eyes caught a glimpse of Mangnyang’s head lying on the ground.
‘Mangnyang, I’m sorry.’
I will never repeat such a mistake again.
Though there’s no guarantee of coming back, if I do, I will surely avenge today’s grievance.
And with that, my consciousness faded away.
This was my sixth death.
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
I’ve made slight modifications.
