Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
“Miho, that’s not it.”
“What do you mean it’s not? This girl is head over heels for you!”
“……”
Miho growled.
“You’d accept her even if she suddenly jumped you, huh? You’ve really hit the jackpot here!”
When I glanced at Seo Moon-hye, it seemed she was already enchanted by Miho’s charm. I nervously scanned for any signs that Miho might have done anything untoward to her, but there were none.
“So, what are you going to do about it? It seems Sagong Rin has feelings for you too; you might just end up with a harem in a few years!”
“Ugh, just stop… I don’t have time for dating right now.”
As I sighed heavily, Miho smirked.
“Are you pretending it’s important to dodge the conversation again?”
“Miho. I’m serious. I came looking for you because it is important.”
When I shot her a serious look, she stopped her banter. Then she waved her hand, sending Seo Moon-hye off to another corner as she said,
“Go on, spill it.”
“Miho… In Dongyoung, you mentioned there’s a ritual called the Taishan Duke Ritual that brings longevity, right?”
“……”
“I want to use the Taishan Duke Ritual to revive Mangnyang.”
Miho’s eyes sharpened slightly. After a moment of thought, she replied,
“It’s impossible to use the Taishan Duke Ritual on Mangnyang.”
“What do you mean? You said it existed in the shrine of Mangnyang!”
“Yes, the Taishan Duke Ritual is indeed real, and it’s true it can prolong life. The best Yin-Yang Masters can use it to live for hundreds of years.”
“But why?”
“That ritual isn’t something you do for others; it requires the practitioner themselves to reach the pinnacle of their craft first, gather a group of 49 sorcerers, and then perform it over a span of 100 days. Right now, Mangnyang is merely at an intermediate level and cannot cast a grand ritual like that.”
Lack of proficiency!
I let out a frustrated sigh and asked,
“How high is the pinnacle you’re talking about?”
“Well, based on what you mentioned before, at least someone on the level of Zhuge Fu from the Treasure of the Central Plains or the leader of the Maoshan Sect should be capable. In Dongyoung, a being who can perform the Taishan Duke Ritual might only appear once in a century.”
I lamented audibly,
“Miho…!! Then why did you concede to Mangnyang’s question back then? I thought it was genuinely possible!!”
Miho tilted her head, puzzled.
“When Mangnyang asked, didn’t he only inquire if the Taishan Duke Ritual existed? Did I need to elaborate on whether it could be performed there and persuade you all?”
“……”
“Listen, Baek Woong. For me, your well-being is the only thing that matters. I cannot do more than that.”
I suddenly felt the weight of Miho’s position. For her, protecting me from external threats for the past ten years was all that mattered; she felt no attachment to Mangnyang, Bangcheon Alliance, or the Thunder God Lineage. Moreover, she was ready to abandon everything if need be—all for my sake, and I couldn’t argue with that.
I held my head and asked again,
“Then is there no other spell besides the Taishan Duke Ritual that can prolong life?”
“There are many sorcery sects in the Central Plains, so if you dig around, you might find something. However, among what I know, there’s nothing like the Taishan Duke Ritual. Abe no Seimei lived for 500 years using that spell.”
“Hmm…”
“Instead of just asking me, why not search for sorcery techniques yourself?”
At that moment, the thought of needing to learn sorcery struck me.
‘I should find time to learn it too.’
Until now, I had neglected sorcery because it didn’t seem particularly helpful in combat, and I thought it was inefficient. However, now that threats from the realm of sorcery were looming, the martial power I possessed felt utterly useless. I had a premonition that at least having some level of sorcery would be instrumental in facing the hardships ahead.
With a sympathetic look, Miho stroked my cheek and said,
“I was about to unleash a fit of anger at you, but that feeling has faded. Even surrounded by the world’s beauties, worrying about your comrades, huh?”
“……”
“Baek Woong… why are you so obsessed with Mangnyang?”
“I owe a debt of life to both Mangnyang and you. That’s why I want to go all the way with both of you.”
As I honestly expressed my feelings, Miho appeared a bit embarrassed.
“I can’t comprehend that. Sacrificing yourself for others? That’s not something I can fathom.”
“But you truly…”
Miho placed her finger on my mouth and chuckled softly.
“That’s enough. It’s not cool.”
“……”
“Baek Woong… remember this. While we believe your past life story is true and follow along, the Mangnyang and Miho you experienced in your former life are definitely different folks from us. Only reflecting the past shadows upon us will become a burden.”
“I’m sorry.”
“If I feel this way, Mangnyang must feel even stronger.”
Muttering to herself, Miho added,
“Baek Woong. Make sure to create more trustworthy comrades. If not, you won’t be able to advance to broader horizons.”
Miho’s advice struck at the heart of the matter.
‘Trusted comrades…?’
Who could that be?
Suddenly, Jin So-cheong came to mind. He had defied his master for his principles. Although I had known him for the longest time, I had barely had a proper conversation with him. I hugged Miho and said,
“Thanks, Miho!!”
“Ugh… let go! Aww.”
Miho flailed about. I gave her cheek a kiss and left the spot.
Then I went to find Jin So-cheong. He was practicing in the nearby mountains, honing his skills with the Thunder God Spear.
Swoosh!
As Jin So-cheong gracefully twirled the spear, the atmosphere vibrated in sync with his flow. Though it was merely a demonstration of the basic stance, I gulped at the impressive aura he exuded. I could feel the nature responding to his martial prowess.
‘As expected, he’s on a different level.’
Jin So-cheong had reached an extraordinary realm of talent unseen before. Even Lee Kwang, known as a martial arts genius, was outmaneuvered by Jin So-cheong’s prowess. Although I had spent nearly a hundred years honing my martial arts, I had yet to see the depth of Jin So-cheong’s abilities. As a result, it’s possible that when I reincarnate in the future, I might surpass his early self, but such comparisons seem meaningless. What scared me about geniuses was their potential for growth.
Jin So-cheong seemed to notice my presence and put down his spear.
“Disciple, what brings you here?”
“Brother, I wanted to ask you about the recent events.”
“You mean the battle against the Huashan Sect?”
“Yes.”
“What you’re curious about is likely what happened after you passed out, right?”
“That’s correct.”
Actually, that was what I was most curious about.
I hadn’t had the opportunity to ask until now, but what had transpired after I fainted during the fight with the Huashan Sect? The remaining disciples only relayed the outcome that they had won, leaving me with no sense of the experience. Only Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Geok Ho could recount proper tales from that time. Gu Cheol, The forest king, seemed to have returned without partaking in the battle, so he was clueless.
Jin So-cheong sat on a rock casually and recounted,
“I performed the True Energy Healing Technique and headed towards the location where my master was battling. There, I discovered my master facing off against some monsters.”
“Excuse me?”
Monsters? What do you mean?
I tilted my head in confusion, prompting Jin So-cheong to respond with a grimace.
“While Yong Junil was fine, the left and right protectors of Huashan Sect seemed to have transformed into monsters when their lives were endangered. They morphed into these creatures that were like a hybrid of dragons and humans, engaging my master in fierce combat.”
“……!!”
“So they possessed significant strength and speed. Though they lacked martial arts prowess, theymade it hard for my master to defeat them easily.”
“Are you saying they’re Dragonkin?”
“Yes.”
I found it hard to accept.
Dragonkin!
Legendary beasts spoken of only in myths and legends. It was said that they were hybrids awakened by dragon blood, displaying powers surpassing humans. Occasionally, some would claim that the reigning emperor of the Central Plains was a Dragonkin, but that was merely political symbolism. In reality, the existence of Dragonkin, let alone dragons, was widely ignored.
Jin So-cheong shrugged.
“I don’t know if those monsters were the otherworldly beings you spoke of, but I jumped in to take them down, and by the time I did, Yong Junil had already escaped.”
“I see.”
The Huashan Sect had been obliterated, but Yong Junil had slipped through.
When I first heard about this from the disciples, I was astonished at how it had come to be, but now, listening to Jin So-cheong, I could understand. Out of the blue, a Dragonkin had appeared, blocking the Thunder God Lineage while its leader, Yong Junil, made a getaway.
I cautiously inquired,
“If Yong Junil intervened in the fight, what do you think would have happened?”
“Hmm… to be honest, we may have won, but we wouldn’t have come out unscathed. You’d probably have to prepare for losing at least an arm.”
“……”
“Yong Junil is really a fearsome individual. Even saying he abandoned the Huashan Sect seems like a victory for him. The forces behind him, the Feng God Lineage, likely have even more terrifying powers.”
I see.
I began to think that perhaps the Feng God Lineage, along with Yong Junil, were involved in the creation of the Dragonkin to research and advance their goals. Moreover, if the form of these Dragonkin could exert powers beyond human capabilities, they might pose a terrifying threat in the future.
Jin So-cheong then asked,
“Is that all you wanted to discuss?”
“Of course not.”
“What else then?”
“Brother, do you believe me to be the reincarnation?”
Jin So-cheong had learned of my reincarnation during my time at Mangnyang’s shrine. Curious, I had shared most of my past life with him, considering he had followed my lead even against his master.
Jin So-cheong scratched his head.
“Honestly, there’s so much complexity in your story that I can’t grasp it all. However, I do believe you’re a remarkable being that surpasses ordinary people.”
“Do you find me unpleasant or scary?”
“Well, I suppose I could think that, but not right now. After all, it’s true that thanks to you, our Thunder God Lineage is thriving, and I can see how much you care about it.”
“……”
“So, there’s something I would like to share.”
“Yes?”
Jin So-cheong gazed into the distant sky as he sat on the rock.
“I know you lament your lack of talent, but I think you’re actually on a path to something greater in martial arts.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When I was young, a foreigner once visited from a far-off place. It was when my master wasn’t around, and this foreigner told me the story of a man. This man, too, was untalented like you, but he possessed infinite lifespan, kept pushing himself, and eventually reached the realm of the absolute, surpassing even the gods.”
I chuckled lightly.
“That sounds like a fairy tale. Surpassing a god through martial arts…”
“Right? It sounded to me like a fairy tale as well. But when I asked him how he could surpass a god, he replied with this.”
“What did he say?”
“[No matter how many springs pass, I will not give up].”
“……”
At that moment, I was taken aback.
How could a human say such a thing?
No matter how infinite life span one had, if they were untalented, they would constantly struggle against their limits a thousand or even ten thousand times, suffering intensely. How could someone maintain that belief? I marveled at the boundless potential of that person.
Jin So-cheong smiled brightly.
“I don’t know if you will become a threat to our Thunder God Lineage in the future, but to me, you will always be Baek Woong. If there’s a way for all of us to succeed together, I will give it my all. You too have something you don’t want to give up on, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Because I heard that story from the foreigner, I train happily every day.”
Jin So-cheong clenched his fist.
“I think I will meet that martial god one day.”
At that moment, I felt a lump in my throat.
Ah—was this the difference?
This is why Jin So-cheong has always felt like an insurmountable distance apart from me.
This man had been sprinting towards the martial divinity right from the start and was a hardworking genius.
I became determined, feeling a surge of determination to tell Jin So-cheong.
“I’ll see that god first and let you know who they are.”
“Ha ha ha! That sounds fun.”
I resolved to recognize Jin So-cheong as a true comrade in the upcoming reincarnation.
Because right at this moment, I had confirmed that he was someone who moved according to his beliefs without being tied down by his position in the Thunder God Lineage.
