### Demon Subduing Hall
After much contemplation, I addressed Mangnyang, “Can’t you go in by yourself and persuade him?”
“That’s one approach, but I’m not particularly inclined to do that.”
“Why?”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a disciple so vehemently oppose my visit to Master. Once a disciple decides something is unacceptable, they pursue it to the end. He likely won’t let me in unless the source of the Evil Qi is eliminated.”
As he spoke, I noticed a strange suspicion in Mangnyang’s eyes directed at me.
He continued, “Is it possible that your Internal Energy is derived from the demonic path?”
“Not at all. As you can see, it’s based on the Lightning Qi of the Five Elements. You know better than anyone that Lightning Qi has the effect of dispelling evil, right?”
“Hmm… I really can’t fathom it.”
Seeing Mangnyang sulk, I felt a pang of unease in my chest. In truth, leaving Cheonam Biseo somewhere else seemed like the best solution under the current circumstances, but it would immediately raise suspicion from Mangnyang. And casually mentioning Cheonam Biseo to him also didn’t sit well with me.
However, I had no choice. Despite possessing an unparalleled level of Internal Energy, I found myself ensnared by the illusion, which made me acknowledge that Cheon U-jin’s illusion held a kind of brilliance that transcended Internal Energy. It was not a situation where brute force would suffice. I had to come clean to Mangnyang.
“Mangnyang, it’s likely that his vigilance toward me is because of this book.”
“……?”
I revealed Cheonam Biseo from my bosom. After explaining how I had obtained the book, Mangnyang was astonished when he confirmed the script, exclaiming, “This is identical to the Nameless Ritual Book of the Imperial Palace!”
“Can you interpret it?”
“I don’t know what method the sorcerer used, but it’s beyond my capabilities. I’d need the Nameless Ritual Book for comparison to attempt interpretation… Nevertheless, if it’s such an object, it would be reasonable to think that Cheon U-jin considers it a sinister artifact.”
Muttering to himself, Mangnyang remarked, “However, from what you’re saying, it seems you don’t want to part with this book. It holds significant meaning for you, doesn’t it?”
“Not particularly. But who would casually discard a precious book that might be a treasure?”
“That’s true.”
As I feigned indifference, Mangnyang appeared convinced.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Then bury the book in a place only you know. You can retrieve it after meeting with Master.”
Mangnyang’s suggestion had merit.
However, I couldn’t easily comply. Although I brushed it off as nothing, it was almost certain that Cheonam Biseo was the source of my time reversal.
If I left Cheonam Biseo somewhere else and unexpectedly died, I would likely never be able to reverse time again. Not to mention, I was facing someone whose illusions I couldn’t resist! The chances of suddenly dying due to the whims of the opponent were far greater than the possibility of it being stolen.
“While stolen items can be tracked down, death is irreversible.”
I resolved to persuade Mangnyang despite the risks.
“I don’t want to yield to him to that extent. I’m determined to break his illusion.”
“What? That’s preposterous!”
Mangnyang was taken aback and began to explain in detail.
“Baek Woong, the fact that you previously traversed my Forgetting Cloud Formation so easily was only because my Qimen Dunjia lacked its full potency. Your overwhelming Qi suppressed the technique. In the Martial Arts World, such instances are quite common; hence, martial artists often underestimate Qimen Dunjia.”
However, the disciple’s illusion is the very essence of true Qimen Dunjia. Once divine power becomes infused into a technique, the situation changes. No matter how potent your Qi is, there’s nothing you can do when an illusion interferes with reality. You’ve likely been caught up in it without even realizing it.”
There was nothing to say in response, as he was right.
“That’s why, in order for martial artists to break such a formidable illusion, they must establish intention in their thoughts… It is, after all, the pinnacle of martial arts.”
“Hmm.”
I understood what Mangnyang meant by intention and thoughts. It was a theoretical concept that surpassed mere manipulation of Qi, leading toward the highest peak of martial arts. I lacked the talent to grasp it, but figures like Jin So-cheong and Lee Gwang were true geniuses capable of understanding and realizing it. Regardless, at this point, it felt like an insurmountable realm, and I could only intuitively comprehend what Mangnyang was saying.
In simpler terms, it boiled down to whether my will alone could break a rock. No matter how hard I focused, I wouldn’t be able to do so. I could only concentrate my energy and strike the rock with my fist. The difference was that geniuses like Jin So-cheong and Lee Gwang could break the rock merely with their will.
Yet, even so, I couldn’t part with Cheonam Biseo for a moment. I shook my head vehemently.
“… In that case, I won’t rely on you, Mangnyang.”
“What… what did you say?!”
Mangnyang stood there dumbfounded, trembling in anger and frustration.
“What a petty person! If you could receive Master’s assistance, it would be worth more than a thousand troops, and yet you’re willing to let that opportunity slip away just to hold onto a book?! Please, get a grip! We could never defeat the Golden Urn Army in a fair fight.”
“I have to understand it. After all, if it’s a direct confrontation, the difference in power is disheartening. What difference could your help possibly make? Could he sweep away the officers of the Golden Urn Army with a single spell?”
“……”
“Whatever you say, I intend to challenge that illusion until I’m satisfied. Perhaps I can penetrate his barrier.”
Mangnyang looked exasperated, as if he were ready to collapse. Yet, after a moment, he rested his chin in thought and then spoke.
“Your obsession with that book is almost incomprehensible. Regardless, I understand. If you’re set on this course, I will enter the illusion with you.”
“Would that even have any meaning? You fell for it in an instant earlier.”
“If I enter alongside you, the disciple will at least not harm you. Consider it my own compromise.”
With that, Mangnyang and I strode back into the village once more. I felt guilty for pushing Mangnyang so hard, but there was no other choice. The worst-case scenario was far too grave: if I left Cheonam Biseo outside my body and died, there would be no hope of reversing time again. Hence, I was also willing to forgo Mangnyang’s help if necessary.
As we walked about twenty paces further, a thick mist began to envelop the ground beneath us. I looked to the side, and Mangnyang had already vanished. The once ordinary scenery of the rural village had transformed into a foreboding valley. I surged with Internal Energy, attempting to shake off the illusion, but nothing changed.
Then, from the opposite side, a figure approached. It was Cheon U-jin, still dressed as a farmer. He glared at me coldly and said,
“You truly are ignorant. I’ll acknowledge your Internal Energy is the best in the world, but you’ll never break through my Illusion Mist, no matter how hard you try.”
“Why are you stopping me like this? Do you have the authority to turn away a guest seeking an audience with the Master?”
“As I said, the Master is currently away. The reason I’m blocking you is that the Evil Qi emanating from you is exceedingly strange. It would be unwise to bring such a potential threat into the Master’s sanctuary.”
I protested to Cheon U-jin in frustration.
“Evil Qi? Mangnyang and I have been trying to practice righteousness to save innocent people! How can you arbitrarily label me as malevolent?”
In response, Cheon U-jin replied confidently,
“That’s why you should appreciate the fact that you’re still alive. While not the most wicked, it’s a presence I’ve never felt before, so I’m still on guard. If it were the aura of the Non-Human Path, you wouldn’t make it three steps before your breath would stop.”
“Hah, as if that would happen…”
Cough!
At that moment, I coughed up blood from my nose and mouth. Without any prior signs, an internal strike rose within me. There hadn’t even been a visible attack, yet I had been hit. Thankfully, it wasn’t life-threatening, but it was a covert assault that left me bewildered.
“It wouldn’t be unexpected at all. In my Illusion Mist, time and space are under my control.”
This is dangerous!
I felt a surge of fear rising within me. Even though Cheon U-jin was merely three paces away, it felt like there was no way to reach him. Moreover, he could attack me at any moment he desired, placing me in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation.
I asked Cheon U-jin,
“W-what on earth gives you such power? You look so young.”
Cheon U-jin smirked.
“By appearances, you look about five years younger than me. So you really are the kind of expert I thought you were.”
“……”
“I suggest you back off while I’m being amiable. You’re causing Mangnyang trouble as well.”
Cheon U-jin didn’t seem to harbor ill feelings towards Mangnyang. Given the difference in talent, I thought he would look down on him, but it seemed instead to be a standard relationship between a disciple and his elder. Curious, I asked,
“What have you done to Mangnyang?”
“He’s walking through an endless maze. I’ve presented him with a problem based on Qimen Dunjia.”
“Please just step aside. We don’t have time to waste here.”
“You might want to come to terms with the fact that you are the one being unreasonable. You should discard any thoughts that I won’t be able to kill you.”
Sssss
Cheon U-jin’s threat was no ordinary matter. As soon as he finished speaking, the fog surrounding me transformed into spears that enveloped my body. It goes without saying that I had no means to dodge the spears emerging from the fog.
‘Have I truly reached the end…!!’
Just as I gritted my teeth and prepared to fight Cheon U-jin,
Thwack!
Suddenly, Cheon U-jin snapped his fingers, dispersing the spears of fog. He then said,
“Let me release you this time. Mangnyang has solved the Qimen Dunjia problem. However, if you enter again with problems in tow, I won’t forgive you.”
Solved the Qimen Dunjia problem?
As I was left in confusion, the scene in front of me changed. Once again, Mangnyang and I found ourselves at the entrance of the village, and Mangnyang was breathing heavily, looking half-exhausted.
“Hah… hah… Your skills are improving day by day, Master…”
“Hey! Are you alright?”
I rushed to check Mangnyang’s pulse. Thankfully, it seemed he was just fatigued and had no significant injuries. Mangnyang, appearing dizzy, pressed his temples as he stood up. I asked him,
“You mentioned that you solved the problem of Qimen Dunjia; was it you who did that?”
Mangnyang nodded.
“Yes. Since the disciple really wanted to kill you, Baek Woong, I asked him to wager. If I won, he promised to let both of us out of the Illusion Mist safely.”
“……”
Scratching his head, Mangnyang sighed.
“It was truly a difficult problem. I was anxious about getting it wrong. Now I might fall behind you in studying Qimen Dunjia.”
I felt my face flush. The terms of my loss were clear even without saying them. I would have likely perished without even making a decent effort in the Illusion Mist, and Mangnyang would have suffered there until he was exhausted. The thought that Mangnyang saved my life made me feel embarrassed.
‘I was too unreasonable.’
I instinctively realized it was time to set aside my personal selfishness. In fact, if it weren’t for Mangnyang, my sixth life would have been messed up right from the start. The fact that I managed to find direction and even succeeded in the social expulsion was entirely thanks to Mangnyang. Just as he considered me a comrade, I too had to relinquish some of my desires.
After some time, I steeled myself and said,
“I will go bury Cheonam Biseo.”
“Good thinking.”
I eventually buried Cheonam Biseo beneath a unique pine tree about five li from the spot. Later, when my memory returned, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find. Then, I entered the village again with Mangnyang.
This time, strangely, no Illusion Mist unfolded. Wherever I looked, it was just an ordinary village, and passersby were leisurely wandering about. As I kept my guard up, Cheon U-jin’s voice echoed in my mind.
[You’ve entered after dispelling the Evil Qi. I will permit your stay.]
Then the voice vanished, and we were back in an endlessly peaceful village. Beside me, Mangnyang smiled wryly.
“Don’t be too disheartened, Baek Woong. The disciple was a genius, easily mastering the ways of the immortal from a young age, even attaining exceptional innate ability. It’s unlikely that there are more than two or three sorcerers on the entire continent who could rival him.”
“Is his skill really that remarkable?”
“Otherwise, how could he inherit the true teachings of the Great Master Mangnyang? To compete against him, someone of the level of the White Lotus Sect Leader or a top martial artist under the White Lotus must come.”
“……”
I suspected there was no exaggeration in Mangnyang’s words. Cheon U-jin’s illusion technique easily shattered the limits the martial artists thought they understood. If Cheon U-jin possessed that level of skill, how formidable would his master, the Great Master Mangnyang, be?
But I couldn’t help but smile.
“This is going to be interesting.”
Today’s defeat felt more like an awakening to a new realm rather than frustration or resentment. Furthermore, although it was still a long way off, I realized that if I could master intention and thought, I could potentially fight such a top-tier sorcerer!
After booking a room at the inn, I immediately began to practice my internal energy and martial arts without rest. Experiencing six months of wasted time due to Cheon U-jin’s illusions had taught me something. The road ahead was surely long, and I couldn’t afford to stand still and become complacent. If I did, death would catch up with me time and time again.
It was exactly two months later that I was able to meet the Great Master Mangnyang again.
