Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
I returned to Jinrang Valley with Mangnyang. As we arrived and saw the still-captive humans in the Barn, Mangnyang gazed curiously at me.
“Is it true that entering that Barn alters the flow of time?”
“It seems to almost stop.”
“That’s interesting. Then let’s talk it over and decide.”
Mangnyang settled himself on a bench in front of the thatched hut, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
Then he asked,
“Baek Woong, having received Xiang Yu‘s blessing, haven’t you noticed any changes?”
“Not really…”
I responded while feeling a bit uneasy.
Receiving Xiang Yu‘s blessing didn’t seem like a very pleasant thing.
Xiang Yu!
He was the mightiest general and ruler in history, a mass murderer. The only time he ever faced defeat in direct combat was when the entire country was collapsing, and his armies were practically undefeated. Not to mention the Battle of Pengcheng, where he vanquished an enemy force many times larger with only 30,000 troops! As a Martial Artist, strategist, and battlefield commander, he could genuinely be called the strongest entity in history.
Yet at the same time, he was an unparalleled butcher. He had committed mass slaughters that even ordinary generals would hesitate to undertake, and locally, people were buried alive or fried to death! He was a terrifying monster who, just for the purpose of venting his anger and setting an example, executed by the hundreds of thousands. History has judged him as someone almost entirely devoid of humanity and compassion!
The worst Killing Machine who had lost all sense of humanity!
That was the current scholarly evaluation of Xiang Yu. Knowing this, there was no way I could simply accept his blessing with a good feeling. Mangnyang watched my expression and remarked,
“We ought to monitor the situation. If you can’t handle the blessing, the only option would be to send it back with an Offering Ceremony.”
“Offering Ceremony?”
“Xiang Yu is currently blessing you in exchange for the offerings made at the Offering Ceremony. It’s a sort of contractual agreement. Until you have thoroughly enjoyed Xiang Yu’s blessing and he is satisfied, you cannot be released. Therefore, you’ll need to hold another Offering Ceremony equal to the one previously conducted to ask him to withdraw his blessing.”
“Couldn’t I simply insist that he take back the blessing himself?”
At that, Mangnyang let out a sigh.
“Any other deity would likely accept that proposal, but this is Xiang Yu we’re talking about. He might take offense or change his mind and end up cursing you instead. It’s better to negotiate peacefully and avoid such risks.”
“……”
It was entirely new for me to feel this uneasy even while being blessed by a god. As my expression soured, Mangnyang shifted the subject.
“By the way, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“If what you said is true about it progressing up until the thirteenth reincarnation, then it means there was no Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams in the Imperial Palace, right?”
“Eh?”
He pointed out something I had not considered at all. My eyes widened in surprise as Mangnyang calmly continued,
“If what you said is true, then the Super Superior Being can conquer the world once completed. However, at this point in time, the Super Superior Being is only in its preliminary stages, and it may take years to finalize. If the Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams, which was stolen from the Balhae Empire, existed in the Imperial Palace, the Alchemists or Zhuge Liang would have instantly completed the Super Superior Being.”
“Hmmm… Couldn’t the Eight Trigrams possibly have no such power?”
“Not a chance. The Eight Trigrams handed down by Fuxi is a massive symbol of power, unmatched even by the Philosopher’s Stone.”
Mangnyang fixed his gaze on me.
“How much do you know about the Eight Trigrams?”
“Hmmm… I’ve only studied its basics with the Book of Changes and the Taiji Classic.”
“Then let’s delve a bit deeper into the power of the Eight Trigrams.”
Mangnyang seemed ready to expound. He went to fill a gourd with water and took a big swig.
“The Book of Changes is a text that every practitioner of magic studies as a basic. It fundamentally explains the 64 hexagrams, and among them, through the interplay of the yang (阳) and yin (阴) lines, one can discern the patterns of all things.”
“Mm.”
“Why do practitioners study the Book of Changes and the Eight Trigrams?”
I pondered Mangnyang‘s question for a moment, then replied.
“Because of Transformation (变易), Immutability (不易), and Simplicity (簡易). They can help discover what should be done, what should not be done, and how to navigate the present, past, and future.”
This seemed to impress Mangnyang.
“You’ve indeed studied quite a bit of magic. It’s rare for someone to respond so well…”
“I just recited what was written in the books.”
“Now, do you know the Eight Trigram Symbolic Verse?”
“Hmm… I can’t recall it well, but I believe it went something like this:
The ☰ (Heaven) Trigram has three unbroken lines,
The ☷ (Earth) Trigram is six broken lines,
The ☵ (Water) Trigram is a vessel facing up,
The ☶ (Mountain) Trigram is an overturned vessel,
The ☲ (Fire) Trigram is empty in the center,
The ☳ (Thunder) Trigram is full in the center,
The ☷ (Wind) Trigram lacks at the top,
The ☰ (Lake) Trigram has a break at the bottom.”
Mangnyang nodded.
“That’s the fundamental principle for studying the Eight Trigrams. It all revolves around the principles of Gains and Losses.”
“Hmm.”
“The Eight Trigrams is constructed based on precise principles, embodying the foundation of philosophy. It contains both the Yin Yang numbers and Constant Numbers, and the terms ‘image’ (象) and ‘number’ (數) are inseparable. There’s a reason we call it the Study of Image and Number.”
Having explained that much, Mangnyang dropped a shocking statement.
“Those who grasp the ‘image’ of the Book of Changes can dominate space, and those who grasp the ‘number’ can dominate time.”
“……!!”
“It’s not something you will find in simple folk’s divination books, but it is indeed true. Masters of the Eight Trigrams commonly gain abilities related to either ‘time’ or ‘space’.”
Mangnyang took another swig of water.
“The Eight Trigrams hold an overwhelming amount of [pure power], which often captivates practitioners. The principles and powers of the Eight Trigrams tie into every realm of magic: illusion spells, puppet techniques, longevity methods, ritual arts, transformations, conjurations… it encompasses all endeavors and can be considered the essence of all sorcery.”
“That sounded quite excessive…”
“Funny enough, even among those who claim to be high-ranked or top-tier sorcerers today, very few have genuinely grasped the Eight Trigrams. The Eight Trigrams bear incredible power but are also exceptionally complicated and difficult; most can study for decades without even brushing the surface.”
He wiped his mouth and continued with sharp eyes.
“Moreover, the power of the Eight Trigrams does not originally belong to humanity.”
“What?!”
“Long ago, Fuxi from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors imparted the principles of the Eight Trigrams to humans. As you know, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were divine beings who shaped human history. Given that Fuxi is on par with the creation gods like Pangu or Nüwa, it’s clear that the Eight Trigrams were originally divine powers.”
“……!!”
“And furthermore, the Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams is the first divine treasure that Fuxi presented in antiquity by inscribing the true essence of the Eight Trigrams. Do you understand what it means when I say the power in it is as great as the Philosopher’s Stone?”
“Indeed…!!”
I began to understand Mangnyang’s explanation, letting out a low sound of amazement.
It seemed the Eight Trigrams was the ultimate principle and philosophy, the embodiment of [pure power]!
The principles which humanity has struggled for thousands of years to comprehend throughout history were bestowed upon them by Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!
The Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams, which exists at the crest of these principles, must indeed be a mass of pure power.
I stroked my chin in thought and spoke.
“The absence of the Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams in the Imperial Palace means that the Demon Subduing Hall likely took it away.”
“Considering that the existence of the Alchemist is merely a subordinate to the Demon Subduing Hall, that’s likely.”
“What should we do then?”
“We need to capture the Alchemist to gather more information. Only then can we trace the whereabouts of the Seven Luminaries Eight Trigrams.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Mangnyang said,
“Oh, and it seems you have something to tell me?”
“True. I have a place I need to visit for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“There’s a peculiar statue with strange Oracle Bone Script inscribed on it in the Ruins of Demand.”
“Sounds intriguing. Let’s go check it out.”
I used Boiling to hastily reach the cave at the very heart of the Ruins of Demand and took Mangnyang out of the Barn to show him the peculiar statue inside. Mangnyang carefully studied the Oracle Bone Script and said,
“It looks like a statue of Zhen Wu, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.”
“Zhen Wu?”
“I can’t be certain without referring to texts, but there are symbols alongside the Oracle Bone Script that represent Zhen Wu.”
I made a confused face.
“Why is a statue of a Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors here in the Ruins of Demand?”
“I’m not sure myself.”
“……”
Zhen Wu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!
He was one of the five emperors responsible for the North and the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. If this statue does symbolize Zhen Wu, it would indeed be strange for it to exist in the Ruins of Demand connected to the Seven Luminaries.
Mangnyang stated,
“Let’s take this statue with us. I’ll research it further.”
“Thank you.”
I returned to Jinrang Valley with Mangnyang. He declared,
“First, let’s handle anything left to do.”
Following his words, I first freed the hostages held at Dae Regular Jade in Jinrang Valley. The group, including Hwang Yeon, looked astonished at the sudden change of venue. Mangnyang, as before, helped them settle and find accommodations.
Afterward, I immediately headed to Shandong, exchanged for some Gold Bars, and liberated the pirate captives from the Central Plains. Among those were women who hadn’t fared so well.
An One-Eyed Old Man approached me.
“Sir… I want to repay this kindness…”
“……”
“…If there’s just one existence… I can kill…”
I was well aware he was from the Otherworldly Race, a tribal slave race that served the Ancient Ruler in Dark Sky Village. I knew his true identity too. So I listened to his tale and accepted the black Token, then said,
“Let’s hear it.”
“Do you have something to ask…?”
I had him sit down and ordered some food. He blinked uncertainly, and while waiting for the noodles, I rested my chin on my hand and remarked,
“I already know you’re a Hound Man.”
“……!!”
His complexion turned pale at my words. As he opened his mouth, I let out a low hiss of intent and threatened,
“Are you seriously suggesting your friend should get killed for your lame, selfish reason? Is that what you call humanity?”
“Ah… aaah…”
The One-Eyed Old Man lowered his head, teary-eyed.
“You know everything…”
“Well, let’s put aside the details. But why doesn’t your race live in Dark Sky Village?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Since you’re already an Otherworldly Race, why endure the hardships of living among humans? You could live comfortably over there, hidden away, since you’re already loyal to Ancient Ruler. No one would dare touch you.”
For a moment, the One-Eyed Old Man seemed at a loss for words. Finally, he sighed, responding,
“Ahh… Sir, I don’t know how you know about our Seven Kill Village’s secrets, but that’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Dark Sky Village is a faraway place… even deities can’t reach it… We have no choice but to mingle with humans.”
“Must be quite vexing…”
I pondered for a moment, then said,
“Anyway, I thank you for the token. I’ll come around if I need something later.”
“……”
The One-Eyed Old Man gave me a strange look and departed without another word.
To a regular human, receiving a key that would lead to their demise would be incomprehensible, but I felt that even if I were to meet the Ancient Ruler again, I’d unlikely face death.
Soon, I shifted using Boiling to near the Shadowless Gate. I brought along the women who would start new lives in the Shadowless Gate and visited with Seomun Hye. Upon entering the Shadowless Gate, the Black Demon greeted me as before.
After Seomun Hye explained the situation, the Black Demon nodded.
“I see…”
I quickly added,
“I have work to do, so no weddings, please.”
“……”
The Black Demon looked momentarily flustered; he likely hadn’t expected me to say that. But soon regained his composure and cleared his throat.
“Uhmm. Is there a request I can help with?”
I had something planned and told him,
“Do you happen to know Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Celestial Monster?”
To my surprise, the Black Demon appeared astonished.
“I know him, why do you ask?”
“I’m looking to find him, so I want to know what kind of person Dongbang Mu-gyeol is.”
“Dongbang Mu-gyeol… Hmmm…”
The Black Demon leaned pensive. After a moment he suddenly said,
“Don’t look for him! He is too dangerous.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s like a walking bomb. There’s nothing good to gain by involving with him.”
“So I’d like more details.”
“All I know is that Dongbang Mu-gyeol is a madman.”
By now, both Hwa Seong-myeong and the Black Demon, two renowned figures in the martial world, referred to him as a [madman].
What sort of person could warrant such dread?
Lost in thought, Black Demon said,
“This is just a friendly warning because he is a benefactor to my daughter. You could end up dissected by Dongbang Mu-gyeol if you are not careful.”
“……”
After a bit more trivial chatter with the Black Demon, I returned to Jinrang Valley. Upon arriving at Jinrang Valley, Mangnyang asked,
“Have you taken care of everything?”
“I think I’ve managed everything I needed. Now I should rescue General Hwang Yeon’s family.”
“Oh, hold off a bit on that. We need to wait for the situation to calm down.”
I observed Mangnyang for a moment before saying,
“Then I’m off to Sichuan for a bit.”
“Why Sichuan?”
I explained to Mangnyang the course of my search for Dongbang Mu-gyeol and my reasons. After hearing me, Mangnyang organized the information.
“I see… You’re curious about the nature of the plague affecting the head of the White Lotus sect, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I feel like through that, we might uncover an important clue for the future.”
No matter how I thought about it, the plague felt suspicious.
While the White Lotus sect could heal with Black and White Lotus, the ordinary healing couldn’t touch it.
Furthermore, there had been testimonies that the nature of the alchemist’s plague was nearly identical to that of the sect leader’s.
Additionally, whereas Han Jin-seong had managed to restrain the plague with suffering, average humans could not.
‘I must uncover this.’
I had a strong hunch that I wouldn’t be able to progress without revealing the true nature of this plague.
“If you intuit it like that, then it sounds correct.”
“Oh, so you believe me?”
“You’ve lived through 13 lives and accumulated countless experiences, so your intuition must stem from that accumulation. I also think the White Lotus sect isn’t unrelated to the Imperial Palace, which makes your choice sound right.”
With a smile, Mangnyang encouraged,
“Then go and explore. I wish you luck.”
Thus began my journey to Sichuan seeking Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Celestial Monster.
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