0106 : Dark Heaven Village
After the elimination of the Blood Saber Group, I had a private discussion with Ahn Hyeon. The main topics were about how to handle the aftermath and how to return the people captured by the pirates. I refrained from mentioning the brutality of Lingchi, as I thought even Ahn Hyeon, with his ironclad character, would dislike it being brought up.
During the conversation, Deputy Ahn Hyeon remarked,
“We cannot stay here for long. Although we have eradicated the Blood Saber Group, the merchant faction might still be threatened by minor pirates, so we need to hurry and escort them.”
“Are you planning to take the prisoners to Goryeo?”
Here, ‘prisoners’ referred to those enslaved by the pirates. In reality, almost all of the pirates had been wiped out, leaving around seventy among the slaves, making their handling also an important issue.
After a moment of thought, Deputy Ahn Hyeon replied,
“That seems to be the case. Since there are likely Goryeans among them, we will take them home first, then move the rest to the Central Plains.”
“I can speak a bit of Late Goryeo. I think I could help.”
“Oh, really?”
Upon hearing this, Ahn Hyeon’s face brightened.
“Then let’s finish the preparations and depart after three meals. Until then, I’d appreciate your help.”
I had been taking care of the details regarding the prisoners all this time. I brought this up to avoid raising suspicion when approaching them for information, as there was likely knowledge only the slaves knew that was unknowable from the navy’s position.
I returned to the location where the pirate slaves were gathered. As I arrived, a few of them shed tears of joy.
“Ah… Doctor Baek.”
“You’ve come again.”
“Let’s take a look.”
I approached them and checked their conditions. The emergency treatments for those with severe injuries had already been completed, especially for the ones whose limbs were rotting; we amputated the affected areas to prevent further deterioration.
Additionally, I used the Five Animals Play of Hua Tuo and acupuncture to help those with severe injuries to their spines, pelvises, and legs regain some mobility. Furthermore, I treated the inner injuries of women who had suffered from prolonged abuse using Qi healing methods and ensured that the pregnant women would not suffer from pregnancy-related toxicity.
The military doctor working alongside me marveled,
“Remarkable. Such extraordinary skills for someone so young. How are you able to demonstrate such medical expertise?”
“It’s just a minor gift. More importantly, there are some who can’t be treated without medication.”
“Yet, didn’t you temporarily heal some of them? More than half of those here owe their salvation to you.”
Feeling slightly embarrassed by the military doctor’s praise, I continued my work. Having been trained for nearly a decade under Guangming Divine Doctor Hwa Seo-myeong, one of the five great healers and a successor of Hua Tuo’s medical teachings, this level of skill was to be expected.
After administering urgent treatment to a fevered patient, I said,
“Now, urgent care is over. From here, I will classify their nationalities.”
“Yes.”
At my request, the prisoners revealed their origins. Out of the seventy, more than fifty were from the Central Plains, and twenty were Goryeans. After categorizing them, I noted their approximate names, hometowns, and briefly recorded their individual characteristics. Once that initial work was done, I addressed them.
“Goryeans will be dispatched to Gaegyeong first. The Central Plains people will return after a stop in Gaegyeong. Also, if anyone knows any secrets related to the pirates, please find me before leaving. Depending on the information, I will offer a sufficient reward.”
At that moment, one of the prisoners raised his hand eagerly.
“I… I know something!”
“So do I!”
Around twelve others also raised their hands, while the rest seemed unable to say anything despite wanting to.
“Very well.”
Noting the mix of men and women, I thought for a moment and decided to summon them all separately. We moved to a secluded building and began discussing one by one.
Most of the information turned out to be trivial, leaving me disappointed. It seemed most of them raised their hands merely out of urgency for money upon returning home. However, five pieces of information proved quite useful.
“There’s a secret space underground beneath the Pirate Chief’s residence. I have seen the Pirate Chief entering there secretly.”
This came from a pregnant woman. She had likely been a beautiful lady in her prime but had lost much of her looks due to prolonged hardship. Nevertheless, she still retained an air of elegance and beauty, suggesting she had been taken to amuse the Pirate Chief. I promised her a reward.
“They are storing gunpowder in a crevice between the rocks on the north side of the island.”
“I saw a Blood Saber Group executive showing off his Famous Blade (명도) in his personal space. It was hidden behind a wall.”
“I know that the place where they sell slaves is in the Jinggu area of Henan. You can find slave traders there.”
And the last piece of information particularly caught my ear.
“I think Central Plains men come to this island occasionally to talk to the pirates. They seem to visit about once a month, dressed in noble clothing, and even the Pirate Chiefs seem flustered around them.”
Central Plains men in noble clothing who cause the Pirate Chiefs to fluster. I asked out of curiosity,
“Did they happen to wear clothing with golden embroidery?”
“Yes? Yes, they did!”
“……”
I let out a low sound of surprise.
“The Golden Eagle Guards (금의위) have visited this island.”
With that, my speculation that the Sea God Clan and the Golden Eagle Guards might have formed an alliance was almost confirmed. The fact that even the Pirate Chiefs were flustered indicated that the Golden Eagle Guards’ reach went beyond mere pirates, clearly connected to the clan behind the Sea God.
If that’s the case, the navy’s actions against this pirate island would soon come to their ears. There was also a high chance that my involvement would be revealed to them. The fact that I was becoming entangled with the Golden Eagle Guards again irritated me, yet I also felt a sense of relief.
“I must fulfill General Jang Gyeong-ik’s request.”
I didn’t believe the Golden Eagle Guards were yet at the stage of directly targeting me. If I could use General Jang Gyeong-ik’s influence as a shield and move about pretending to know nothing, I could protect myself from them. To do this, it was essential to fulfill his request and establish a connection through him.
After gathering information, I set my plan into motion. Following the first piece of information, I took the pregnant woman with me into the Pirate Chief’s residence and opened the door to the secret location she had pointed out. Inside, I found an array of dazzling treasures piled high, carved from the rock. Since it was just the two of us, I thought there was no need to inform anyone else.
She said,
“I have already been sullied and degraded, so it’s hard for me to go back to the Central Plains. The other women are in the same situation. Would you consider sharing this treasure with us?”
It seemed she preferred to hand over the treasures to me personally rather than to the navy for trading. I pondered for a moment and replied,
“Of course, giving is not difficult. However, without the ability to protect or sell these treasures, they can become a great calamity.”
“And so, I would like to ask for one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“You must have seen a white-haired woman among the other women who seems completely dazed.”
“Ah.”
Now that she mentioned it, I had seen her. By simple appearance, she would have been a great beauty, but her eyes resembled those of a lifeless fish, and her whole body had no strength. She appeared to be completely daft. She looked at me and said,
“The Pirate Chief and his men have not dared to lay a hand on her. She seems to be just passing through here and was originally a martial artist. It’s said she was quite an extraordinary expert. If you can revive her martial arts, we can live under her protection.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Even though she appears daft, she has a relationship with us.”
It seemed the women had already formed a bond and were looking to utilize the martial expert as their protector. I thought it was not a bad idea and nodded.
“Very well. Then let’s see.”
I went to the place where the prisoners were assembled and picked out the white-haired daft woman. After some time alone with her in a room, I proceeded to check her condition thoroughly.
“Hmm. There’s no apparent health issue. There are no signs of having been raped. And, her internal energy is sealed… so it’s true.”
I hadn’t noticed this during a brief check, but when I focused and infused Qi, I could definitely see evidence that she had been subjected to a seal. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, and regardless of what I said, she could only respond like a child.
I examined her meridians and Dantian closely. Remarkably, the meridians weren’t severed, and her Dantian was intact. This suggested that whoever had sealed her had likely done so not for the sake of turning her into a sexual slave but rather as part of some grander scheme. They must have left her in wait to restore her martial skills and intelligence when needed.
Fortunately, I was already familiar with the method of the seal. The Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique was a remarkable stratagem capable of sealing human intelligence and internal energy, but the methods to break it were passed down in the Hua Tuo lineage.
“Well, even if the meridians were severed and the Dantian crushed, with Hua Tuo’s secret techniques, healing would still be possible.”
I thought to myself as I placed my hand near her Dantian. Then I began to work on the sealed points one by one. As I slowly loosened the seal engraved in her Dantian, the white-haired woman began to tremble.
“Ah… Ugh… Ah…”
As I undid about eighty percent of the seal, an unexpectedly deep internal energy burst forth, rippling around her body. It was a surprising amount of power that exceeded that of an ordinary peak expert.
“What?! This level…?”
Finally, after pushing forward with the last acupuncture needle to break the remaining seals, she collapsed, trembling all over.
……
A lengthy silence ensued. After a while, the white-haired woman slowly lifted her head and began to move. Sitting in the chair, she examined her own body and stared at me intently.
“Did you save me?”
Her voice was clear and serene. I nodded as I withdrew the acupuncture needle.
“Yes.”
“Where am I? Where is this place?”
“This is the base of the Blood Saber Group, located in the Yellow Sea. You’ve been living as a slave in the Underground Brain Prison for a few months now.”
“Ah…”
She then turned her head, seemingly crushed by sorrow, and tears streamed down her face. Unable to contain her grief, she sobbed, her shoulders shaking. It was truly a moment of profound sorrow, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop her silent weeping.
After a long bout of tears, she regained some composure and said,
“My name is Seo Mun-hye of the Shadowless Gate. Thank you for saving me, young hero.”
“……!!”
I was taken aback and responded,
“The Shadowless Gate? Isn’t that one of the Eight Great Demons of Martial Daos?”
“Yes, that is what they call it.”
Seo Mun-hye answered nonchalantly, but I couldn’t help but feel astonished.
The Shadowless Gate!
It was known as one of the peak sects among the Eight Great Demons of Martial Daos within the Central Plains, reputed for its martial prowess. The leader of the Shadowless Gate, the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, was recognized as a supreme expert and is often mentioned among the greatest in the world.
Even Yi Kwang himself had remarked that Seo Mun-dae-ryong was a master he wanted to confront if given the chance. Moreover, the sect was famous for operating with a very select number of elite members. Yet, there was no one in the Central Plains who would dare provoke a powerful figure from the Shadowless Gate, as it was infamous for pursuing its enemies to the ends of the earth for annihilation.
“Could it be that you are the daughter of the leader of the Shadowless Gate, the Sword Demon?”
Seo Mun-hye wiped her tears and replied,
“Yes.”
“But how did you end up in this situation…”
“……”
She didn’t respond. It seemed she felt I wasn’t in a position of trust yet to disclose everything; such caution was indeed the right attitude. I waited for her to calm down further before speaking.
“What I can say is that those who sealed your power with the Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique intended to use you for some purpose. The evidence is that you are still a virgin, and the Pirate Chief has not laid a hand on you.”
Upon hearing the word “virgin,” Seo Mun-hye’s face blushed bright red.
“Did you see that?”
“I am a doctor. Even without looking through the flow of your Qi, I can tell through pulse diagnosis.”
“Oh, I see.”
I continued calmly.
“Do you remember anything from your dazed state?”
“I recall the sisters who tried to help me. The events seem to come to mind like a distant dream.”
“Yes, the one who saved you was none other than those women. If they hadn’t spoken up, I might have left you to your fate.”
“Ah…”
“You must want to return to the Shadowless Gate as soon as possible, but they are the most unfortunate souls in the world. After all, you received help from them.”
Understanding my intent, Seo Mun-hye nodded with a stern expression.
“Of course. I will do my best to help them.”
“How do you plan to assist?”
“I want to take them to the Shadowless Gate.”
It seemed she intended to gather the women, who would likely face ill treatment upon returning home, and allow them to start anew at the Shadowless Gate. I was taken aback and asked,
“Are you sure that’s alright?”
“Absolutely.”
I felt relieved. Rising from my seat, I said,
“We have defeated the pirates and will soon head to Gaegyeong. You will stop by Gaegyeong before returning to the Central Plains, so I hope you do not lose your original intentions and fulfill your resolve.”
“Um, may I ask your name?”
“My name is Baek Woo.”
After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.
“Are you not curious about how I ended up in this situation?”
“Of course I am.”
As I gathered the bedding and tools nearby, I continued,
“However, unless you choose to disclose it, it is not my place to pry.”
“……”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
I left Seo Mun-hye behind in the cabin and quickly set about my tasks. First, I informed Ahn Hyeon’s Deputy about the gunpowder located to the north of the island. Ahn Hyeon’s Deputy started moving troops there to transport the gunpowder, which shifted people’s attention away from me for a moment. Afterwards, I went to the Pirate Chief’s secret space and began transferring valuable treasures and precious metals into boxes, stashing them in the most discreet part of the ship.
Next, I sought after the famous blade mentioned among the pirate officials. As I pressed into a hidden space between stone walls, there it was—a radiant sword emitting a brilliant light. The tale of the famous blade was indeed true; I found myself entranced by its impressive craftsmanship.
“This is a Wado.”
Upon examining the scabbard, I noticed it was inscribed with the name Muramasa. It seemed to be a famous sword crafted in Dongyang. It was such an incredibly fine creation that I could say it was the best weapon I had ever seen. I regretted that my specialty was not in swordsmanship. Of course, I could handle it well enough, but in the hands of a proper swordsman, its power would multiply manifold.
After collecting the famous blade, I returned to the ship. There, Seo Mun-hye was quietly seated, waiting in her spot.
“Have you completed your tasks?”
“Indeed. We will likely set sail soon, so please go and wait.”
“Um… there’s something I wish to tell you.”
“What is it?”
At my inquiry, Seo Mun-hye spoke up.
“It concerns how I ended up here.”
“Hmm.”
I thought to myself that this was good news. In truth, had I pressed her earlier, she would have never shared her story. No matter how much I had saved her, her mistrust of strangers was strong. However, during my time away handling matters, it seemed she had taken the time to organize her thoughts and now regarded me as the only trustworthy individual willing to listen.
Seo Mun-hye said,
“Actually, I once participated in a martial arts tournament to make a name for myself.”
“A martial arts tournament?”
“Yes. Though you may not be familiar, it is called the Dark Realm Martial Arts Conference.”
“……!!”
I was astonished.
I never expected to hear that name in such a place.
“I know it well.”
“Really?”
“A place where one can obtain tremendous elixirs, treasures, and secret techniques of the highest order…”
How could I not know? I had nearly lost my life participating there. I survived thanks to the help of the Han family, but the memory of it had etched itself as a daunting experience in my mind.
“So you knew…”
“Could it be that you participated?”
Feeling embarrassed, Seo Mun-hye turned her face away.
“Yes, and I lost in the fourth round. After that, I was sealed and brought here.”
One could only call it a just outcome.
Yet, as the daughter of the strongest sect among the Eight Great Demons, there must have been some personal reason for her to enter such a dark tournament. I quietly pondered this, and once my thoughts were settled, I spoke.
“I had originally thought that your meridians would be severed and your Dantian destroyed, but it seems the organizers trusted the Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique sufficiently. They likely had a reason to keep your martial arts intact.”
Given that they hadn’t harmed her physically, it was clear there was a specific purpose behind it. Of course, she had no way of knowing that, and we would have to deduce it in time.
“Thank you once again.”
Suddenly, the ship began to sway significantly.
“Let’s discuss the details slowly.”
“Yes.”
As I returned to my cabin, I pondered,
“I now know the location of the Sea God Clan’s city, so I will come again later.”
The Sea God Clan was a demonic race so formidable that even the Twelve Regulars would exercise caution around them. If it were underwater, I could only swim in by myself, and fighting against the Sea God Clan alone would be utterly reckless. Moreover, given my intention to join the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in this lifetime, I could not afford to die foolishly.
I rejoined the trading ship bound for Gaegyeong in the coastal waters a day’s distance from the capital. The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association and the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency were astounded after hearing what had transpired from Ahn Hyeon’s Deputy. Upon seeing the pirate heads I had brought back, they could hardly contain their admiration.
“Indeed, you are a renowned hero!”
“This will certainly make trade much safer.”
“Ha ha…”
After their conversation, I approached the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency and subtly asked,
“Lord, have you seen any vessels like this?”
“What kind of vessel?”
“One shaped like this…”
I drew a sketch to show the Lord. The Lord, with his drowsy eyes, shook his head.
“I don’t think I’ve seen it. But what is it?”
“It’s a precious item urgently sought after by a friend of mine in Goryeo. I wish to acquire it as it is said to come from the Western Regions.”
As I ambiguously brushed it off, the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency nodded in agreement.
“I really don’t know. At least our trade association doesn’t handle Western Region goods. If there is such a thing, the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association would know.”
I next sought out the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association. He greeted me warmly with a smile on his face.
“Oh! I’ve heard about your exploits. How about coming to our association? I promise you the treatment of a second-in-command.”
“Ha ha ha… Before that, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Have you seen a vessel like this?”
Showing him the drawing of the vessel, the Lord of Daeryong looked at it curiously and replied,
“That’s not a vessel but a product from a place far beyond the Western Regions. It’s called a Oil Lamp (비등), and it has a long mouth. It’s used to light incense or illuminate the surroundings. It emits a good deal of smoke.”
“An Oil Lamp, you say?”
“Why are you looking for it?”
“My friend in Goryeo desperately wants one.”
“Well, it’s not particularly valuable, so if you’d like, I could give you one. Let’s go take a look.”
I followed the Lord of Daeryong to the storage room where trade goods were kept. Unlocking the door with a key, he retrieved a box from a corner containing over ten oil lamps. The Lord of Daeryong chuckled.
“If you want, just take one. This is nothing…”
“It’s a product from the Western Regions, and you say it’s not valuable?”
“That’s because merchants from the Western Regions frequently visit Gaegyeong for such transactions. Moreover, it’s a regular item, not a valuable one. It’s nothing special.”
“I see. Thank you.”
I accepted the box of oil lamps from the Lord of Daeryong and returned to my room. Once there, I spread the oil lamps across the floor, deep in thought.
‘What could be among these that the Sea God Clan is desperately seeking?’
It felt like I had hit a wall. According to the Lord of Daeryong, these oil lamps were merely everyday items, but I couldn’t figure out how to discern the important one. As I stared intently, I noticed that one of the oil lamps was shimmering with a golden hue.
“Could it be…?”
Upon closer inspection, there were unfamiliar inscriptions on the side of the golden lamp that the other lamps lacked. I picked up the golden lamp and examined it closely. Then, to test its original purpose, I struck a flame to it.
Swoosh — !!
“……!!!”
What is this?!
At that moment, an unfamiliar scene flooded into my mind.
My perspective moved at incredible speed, suddenly soaring high into the azure skies. It then dashed towards some point on the ocean surface and began descending into the deep sea. As I penetrated the dark waters, I glimpsed a city illuminated by light. The description perfectly aligned with the underwater city of the merfolk that the Pirate Chief had mentioned.
My gaze began to survey the interior of the city. Strange buildings adorned the surroundings, and merfolk wielding tridents or swords wandered about, occasionally blinking their large eyes as they made gurgling sounds.
Venturing further inside, I encountered an unfathomable expanse of the abyss, where a massive ‘something’ sat deeper than the underwater city. It resembled a humanoid form, but it was clearly a merfolk. I felt overwhelmed by its presence, my senses flooded with awe and fear simultaneously.
Is that the Sea God?
My perspective moved away from there and began speeding off again. After a while, it came to a halt somewhere.
This place was also a city.
However, it was a strange city unlike any humanity or civilization could ever find in history. An ominous aura emanated from the enormous sunken city in the ocean, and even as a mere observer, my heart trembled at the unsettling energy.
What is it?
What on earth is that?
No merfolk roamed around. Yet when my gaze reached the entrance, I instinctively felt that great ‘beings’ were slumbering in the depths of this city. It was a presence like the enormous aura of magic I had felt when facing Izanagi. There were more than ten entities exuding a power that far surpassed human understanding.
They are howling.
I could feel that the Demon Gods were lying in wait deep within the abyss. I seriously doubted I could enter that city with a clear mind.
The viewpoint shifted once more. After a brief moment of silence and darkness, I found myself in an unknown place. It was an unsettling realm, akin to drifting through a dream. It felt as though dreams and nightmares intertwined within this space.
There was a vast continent, and at its center lay an immense body of water or lake. The moon felt exceptionally close. Various alien races lived here, including enormous insects, mountain goats, and human-like beings with dog heads that I had never seen before.
As I observed this, I suddenly heard an indistinct whisper.
[Will you go?]
No! Not now!
I desperately refused. Then the whisper responded.
[I understand…]
“…….!!”
I snapped back to reality. My body was drenched in sweat. The experience of witnessing that city of the deep sea and the otherworldly realm left me feeling utterly drained. I found it hard to believe such places existed in this world. Under normal circumstances, one would go mad after that, yet I merely cleared my throat and concluded.
I gazed at the golden oil lamp and murmured,
“I see. So this is what it is.”
A tool that shows the territories of alien races or evil deities through clairvoyance, perhaps even allowing instant travel to those places! It was a tremendous magical artifact related to the other world, which the Sea God Clan desperately sought and which I had now acquired.
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
Please leave a recommendation for earlier works!
