Heavenly Realm
We heard stories about the two great sword masters of Dongyoung, Kamizumi Nobutsuna and Tsukahara Boku Ten. They seemed to have come to the Aokigahara Sea of Suffering to engage in battle against formidable foes as part of their martial prowess training.
Then Nobutsuna explained to Dokgo Seong,
“The Aokigahara Sea of Suffering is divided into four regions.”
I translated this for Dokgo Seong.
“What does that mean?”
“It was written in the journal left by that person you refer to as Cheongwol. He mentioned that he encountered the being who oversees the Sea of Suffering and learned about its sectors during that meeting.”
Nobutsuna walked outside the building and pointed towards the dense forest.
“We are currently at the entrance, called the Living Sea. If we go about ten li further in, we reach the Second Sea, known as the Dead Sea. Beyond the Dead Sea lies the Third Sea, called the Entering Sea, and after crossing that, we would reach the Annihilating Sea… which is the final area of the Sea of Suffering.”
Dokgo Seong, who was carefully listening to the explanation, remarked,
“Life and death, entering and annihilating?”
“Indeed. It’s a term from Buddhism that denotes transcending life and death, aptly named for the Sea of Suffering.”
“Sounding quite grand.”
Dokgo Seong replied bluntly,
“Still, it’s populated by monsters and spirits, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, but… the beings here are not your ordinary monsters. They are all of the Great Monster level.”
“So, you’re telling me they’re scared?”
“Of course.”
Tsukahara Boku Ten, standing next to him, sighed and added,
“Both Nobutsuna and I trained for three years honing our combined arts, yet even crossing from the Living Sea to the Dead Sea was something we couldn’t even dream of. Just moving twenty steps outside this building results in a hellish landscape.”
“……!!”
“I’ve come close to death more times than I can count.”
I couldn’t help but be astonished. Although being from Dongyoung—a place known for martial arts—might lead one to underestimate them, both Kamizumi Nobutsuna and Tsukahara Boku Ten clearly belonged to the ranks of peak experts, comparable to a clan leader from most forces. If beings capable of rocking the world trained and struggled here to master even their combined techniques, they should have easily crushed any ordinary monster.
Yet, they couldn’t even pass the entrance of the Living Sea?
Hearing this, Dokgo Seong immediately asked,
“The overseer informed Cheongwol of this? What was the purpose?”
“The details of that incident are not clearly written.”
“Then what is this overseer exactly?”
“The journal states he is the head of the Yin-Yang Masters.”
“Yin-Yang Masters?”
“That’s the term we use in Dongyoung to refer to sorcerers.”
“Hmmm… Is there no way to meet this overseer?”
Nobutsuna smiled faintly in response to Dokgo Seong’s question.
“We also tried to find such a way, but it appears that meeting him was nothing short of a miracle, according to the journal. It’s unlikely we could find him through normal means.”
“Understood.”
Dokgo Seong responded in a matter-of-fact tone,
“I’d like to see that journal myself. Is it written in Central Plains language?”
“Yes. We studied Central Plains language for its interpretation.”
Dokgo Seong and I accepted the journal from the sword masters. We then began to read the book carefully, written in the Central Plains language. After reading the journal for about half an hour, Dokgo Seong suddenly stood up and said,
“Cheongwol entered this place several decades ago. I wonder if he is still alive.”
“It seems he at least ventured beyond the Dead Sea. We didn’t see a trace of him in the Living Sea.”
“I see… I’ll need some time to think, so please wait.”
Dokgo Seong left those words and strode towards the nearby thicket. Watching his back, Nobutsuna commented,
“I heard your name is Baek Ung. You seem to be quite an extraordinary talent.”
“I’ve also heard of your martial fame, both of you.”
I offered a compliment, then asked,
“I’ve heard you have harsh opinions about Miyamoto Musashi. Is it true that he is merely an exceptionally talented loafer?”
“… It seems that the guy who cannot keep a secret has blabbed.”
“I need to know. Please.”
Nobutsuna then exchanged glances with Tsukahara Boku Ten. As Boku Ten nodded, Nobutsuna began to speak.
“Are you familiar with the battle of Ganryūjima?”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“It’s one of the most famous duels here in Dongyoung. Miyamoto Musashi defeated Sasaki Kojiro there, earning him recognition as an unparalleled swordsman.”
As he spoke, Nobutsuna’s expression grew a bit gloomy.
“Both Boku Ten and I were greatly pleased by this. For a swordsman, having a worthy opponent is like having a teacher. So when Musashi’s fame was soaring, we decided to visit him to gauge his skills.”
I could understand that. They were martial enthusiasts who had come to the Aokigahara Sea of Suffering to improve their skills through battles against monsters due to the absence of worthy opponents here in Dongyoung. That attitude was quite natural.
“How did it go?”
“Without a doubt, he possessed skills that surpassed peak experts. However, relative to his fame, his level was severely lacking. Either Boku Ten or I could easily defeat him within two hundred counts.”
“……”
Nobutsuna’s words held weight. In fact, observing their martial prowess right before my eyes, I could believe such a difference existed. These great sword masters did not exaggerate or boast in such matters. I cautiously asked,
“I understand Miyamoto Musashi is still young. Perhaps he is still developing as a martial artist, and your expectations of him were too high?”
“Hoho… That could be. Perhaps we set our expectations too high.”
Nobutsuna attempted to brush it off with a bitter smile, but Tsukahara Boku Ten interjected.
“Baek Ung, there’s a reason we are assessing him this way, so listen carefully.”
“Hey, there’s no need to say that much.”
“We owe our very existence in this building to the Thunder God Lineage. Therefore, we are obliged to share information honestly.”
“Hmm… If you put it that way.”
As Nobutsuna stepped back, Boku Ten, with a thin smile on his gaunt face, continued,
“That man has already reached his limit in growth. He was a martial artist who learned incomplete martial arts and confined himself to his own limitations.”
“Are you speaking about Miyamoto Musashi?”
“Indeed. He may have picked up a secret martial arts technique somewhere and successfully acquired it using his innate talent, but eventually, he hit the cap of his abilities. Furthermore, his arrogant temperament built upon his fame meant he never expected much from himself.”
“Hmm…”
Nobutsuna then said,
“However, that is merely the ‘fake’.” I had to do a double-take.
“I once saw the genuine Miyamoto Musashi, the one with true renown.”
“Excuse me?”
“He also used the Two-Sword Style, but his level was on a different scale. He was an extraordinary talent. But because it was so fleeting, I cannot be certain…”
Boku Ten snapped back,
“Come on. How can you talk about something you’re not certain of?”
“But I cannot explain the contradictions otherwise.”
As I listened to those words, a sudden revelation flashed through my mind.
‘The Book of Five Rings?’
In my previous life, when the Sword Demon defeated Miyamoto Musashi, the relic that came from his corpse was indeed the Book of Five Rings. I recalled the discussions about the Book of Five Rings that people mentioned.
[What is this? It looks like a military strategy book, but isn’t it a kind of secret martial technique? Seems you didn’t read it closely at all. There are hints of breathing techniques and swordsmanship scattered throughout.]
[The person who wrote this is truly, truly an extraordinary master!]
[This doesn’t seem to be a martial art from the Central Plains, but it is truly an impressive martial work. However, I doubt either you or I can learn it.]
[The martial techniques written in the Book of Five Rings pertain to the dual sword style—using two swords, and it’s not just any two swords, it’s the reverse two-sword technique. ]
[Only those with extreme talent in the sword arts are permitted to even begin learning this ultimate art that hardly anyone can master, and even then, there might be only two or three who could do it in this world.]
[This is a cold, uninviting work that only allows a genius of unparalleled stature to challenge it. The author of the Book of Five Rings was likely a revolutionary genius unmatched in the world.]
“……”
My mind went blank. Suddenly, a rush of connected truths flowed through my thoughts. Clenching my fist, I murmured,
“Is that so…?”
“Hmm? Did you figure something out?”
“No, not really.”
I mumbled, but inside, I was overjoyed. Because through the information I gathered from my past life, I had discovered another hidden truth.
The Miyamoto Musashi known to the world is a fake!
To be precise, the one who carried the Book of Five Rings around while teaching a small amount of swordsmanship is the imitation. The real Miyamoto Musashi exists separately, and while I cannot be sure if he still goes by that name, what is solidly known is that [the author of the Book of Five Rings] certainly exists.
That’s right.
The extraordinary martial genius who invented the supreme dual sword method using the reverse two-sword style!
That being is undoubtedly the true [greatest master of Dongyoung]!
Although the world does not recognize it, such an extraordinary master definitely exists.
‘Perhaps the fake Miyamoto Musashi acquired the Book of Five Rings somewhere and, utilizing his decent talent, managed to learn the reverse two-sword style. That alone could have allowed him to break through to peak expert status, gaining considerable fame in Dongyoung. But lacking in genuine talent, he could never aim for more…’
If that’s the case, my task becomes simple.
I need to locate the author of the Book of Five Rings by any means necessary!
That person is undoubtedly an extraordinary peak expert, so whether I gain their assistance or learn their martial art, it will greatly benefit me.
As I pondered this, Dokgo Seong returned.
He glanced at us and said immediately,
“I have a question.”
“Please go ahead.”
Nobutsuna and Boku Ten had been using honorifics when addressing Dokgo Seong since earlier. This was out of respect for the superior status Dokgo Seong held, whether through skill or contribution. With sharp eyes, Dokgo Seong gazed beyond the Sea of Suffering and said,
“The journal mentioned that the Round Moon Heavenly Killing Technique exists at the center of the Aokigahara Sea of Suffering, the Annihilating Sea. Why do you think the Round Moon Heavenly Killing Technique would be there?”
“Hmm…”
The two seemed to ponder. Then Nobutsuna opened his mouth.
“According to what I heard from the Master of the White Lotus Sect, the Round Moon Heavenly Killing Technique is an ultimate swift blade technique that can only be learned by the blind. Additionally, he described that martial art as [the most dangerous martial art in the world]. It’s a martial art that could pose a calamity just by existing, so I suspect someone sealed it within the Sea of Suffering.”
“……”
Finally, Dokgo Seong said,
“There’s no choice. We must first ascertain how dangerous this Living Sea really is before organizing our thoughts.”
“Be very cautious. This place is akin to hell itself.”
“I will bear that in mind.”
With that, we left the building together and began our exploration of the Aokigahara Sea of Suffering. As we moved further away from the building, the Yin Energy and Demon Energy grew dense, and after crossing more than fifty paces, a powerful Demon Energy began to spread, nearly palpable to human senses.
Sskkt…
We saw bizarre plants large enough to be several Zhang in size rapidly growing, with their small stems visible to the naked eye. The plants squirmed like living creatures, sprouting tendrils from their petals. It was a sight that could easily drive an average person mad with mere observation.
“What is that?”
“They call it the Hell Flower. It devours anything, including humans and animals, and its body is both flexible and tough.”
“Hmmm.”
Skrrr…
A moment later, like a saw blade, a sharp energy from Dokgo Seong’s hand sliced through the Hell Flower’s stem into hundreds of pieces. It was a genuinely instantaneous event.
Then, the Hell Flower fell apart, emitting a gruesome noise.
Geeeeek!!
Seeing this, Dokgo Seong frowned.
“Indeed, it’s a monster. Are these the only kinds of beings in this land?”
“Yes. They’re all annoyingly tough and strong. Eventually, we’ll come across beings that won’t be harmed unless you use true energy.”
“That’s insane. Are mere monsters this powerful?”
“This is mild. The Gatekeeper of the Living Sea is truly a terrifying creature.”
Boom boom blast!
Even as we were chatting, the four of us moved leisurely as if on a stroll, swinging our swords while crossing the deadly Sea of Suffering. Dokgo Seong may have feigned surprise at the monsters of the Sea, but in truth, his attacking power was so outstanding he was killing them all with a single strike.
After passing about fifty more paces, a gigantic sound suddenly echoed.
Grrrr….
From the earth came a growl, and as we noticed its overwhelming presence and size, we instinctively took a step back. Then, as if an earthquake had struck the vast expanse of the Sea of Suffering, something began to revealing itself.
Rumble…
Its body appeared to be dozens or even hundreds of Zhang long. Among the monsters we had encountered so far, it looked the largest, its immense size capable of altering the terrain itself, evoked enough fear to curb my thoughts. With its pure white body oozing slime, it resembled an enormous worm.
Grrrrrrrr!!!!
An absurdly powerful Demon Beast!
Not even the Moon Beast that lurked beneath the Great Dungeon could be as large or powerful as this one.
As I swallowed hard and stared at it, Nobutsuna next to me spoke, tense.
“That creature! That beast is the Gatekeeper of the Living Sea. We must defeat it to cross into the Dead Sea.”
“How strong is it?”
“How do you expect to defeat that thing?” Nobutsuna questioned back, leaving me speechless.
How was I supposed to deal with a monster the size of a small mountain?
Sure, I had faced big monsters before, but back then, I typically let the Sword Demon, Yeong Dongbin, handle the situation. And now, because of the relationship between the Heavenly Realm and the Makya, I had driven away Yeong Dongbin.
In other words, I had to deal with that gigantic worm using only the four of us here.
Dokgo Seong said,
“Don’t be afraid. Regardless of whether it’s a Great Monster or some sort of demon, we just need to capture it.”
“That’s easier said than done…”
I quickly swung my sword and sent a wave of energy toward the giant worm’s colossal form, and I could see my energy scraping across its vast body in real-time, but it had barely left a scratch.
Seeing this, Dokgo Seong remarked,
“This won’t do. Can’t we simply ignore it and head to the Dead Sea?”
“Unfortunately, we have to go through the cave behind that creature.”
“Then we have no choice.”
A glimmer flickered in Dokgo Seong’s eyes.
“Let’s take it out!”
At that moment,
Chiiing!
As Dokgo Seong shouted, a thunderous roar echoed, and his sword emanated pure white light that broke through the thunderstorm. In the brief moment, Dokgo Seong’s sword cleaved through the worm demon’s massive body.
Dokgo Seong’s white sword thunder had an immense reach. Though it only seemed like a few strikes, in the next moment, the mountain-sized body had split apart, floating into the air. It was hard to tell how many paces he had cut down in one attack.
Soon, the worm bucked and sprayed a massive amount of acidic slime.
Kaboom!!!
With the explosive sound, a tremendous quantity of acidic slime dispersed into the air. We all dodged the acidic spray or used defensive energies to protect ourselves.
A little while later, Dokgo Seong, staring down at the beast’s corpse that lay in the Sea of Suffering, commented,
“It’s not that strong, but it has formidable single-target destructive power to take out. I see why you had a hard time.”
“Goodness… you actually took that down…”
Expressions of shock etched onto Nobutsuna and Boku Ten’s faces.
Though they, too, were extraordinary swordsmen, they likely never thought it possible to take down such a creature measuring hundreds of paces. I gazed at the remains of the fallen worm monster while poking at it with my sword.
Grrr…
“Hmm…”
In that moment, I noticed the energy lingering within the worm’s body was being absorbed into my sword. Unlike when I carved out the heart of a demonic creature in the past, this didn’t produce the same oscillations, yet the fact that the energy was being stored for the user was evident.
‘This won’t be easy.’
I instinctively understood. What resided deep within the Aokigahara Sea of Suffering was not just a Great Monster.
It was pure Demon itself.
If we ventured too deep, who knows what kind of unspeakable foe we might encounter!
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