0051 : Demon Subduing Hall
It’s my seventh life.
Boom!!
Without even a moment to reflect in the barn, I burst outside.
“Damn it! Shit!!”
Being resurrected now isn’t that surprising. I’ve already died and returned more than five times, and I even have the Cheonam Biseo with me. At this point, I can confidently assume that possessing the Cheonam Biseo ensures my ability to return.
However, what truly leaves me in despair is the fact that, despite going through life and death repeatedly, I haven’t fundamentally changed. I’ve stubbornly built up my martial arts and knowledge, but ultimately, at crucial moments, I’ve crumbled due to a lack of patience and wisdom.
Right now, my hatred for myself is much stronger than the disdain I have for the Golden Eagle Guards who caused my death. I want to commit suicide at this very moment.
Originally, I would have eagerly gone to gather the Cheonam Biseo or the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng as soon as I regained my senses, but not now. The extreme self-loathing has driven me to the forest to vomit.
“Cough! Cough! Hah…”
After a long time of retching, the sour smell of bile rose from the ground.
Why am I like this?
Has nothing changed?
[Heh… It was enjoyable, my friend.]
Master Mangnyang’s last laugh pierced my heart like a nail.
He ultimately died because of me.
My poor choices have led to the deaths of others.
I thought I had done enough. I believed the years spent honing my martial arts and acquiring knowledge were sufficient. Yet, in the end, I relied on Mangnyang’s wisdom to resolve most issues and lacked the calmness to think of the next steps. Eating the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng feels like a wasted effort.
I need to change.
Something within me must change.
“… And now I must admit.”
I murmur softly.
I’ve been thinking about this since last time, but now I realize that the choice to pursue an ordinary life is no longer available to me. Once you’re addicted to the process of gaining power while possessing the secret of rebirth, you cannot stop until you reach the end. Moreover, the remaining foes are far too many. Without considering [death] itself, proper growth is impossible.
What I need right now is [power].
And I must grow mentally as well!
To truly solidify my resolve, I must be prepared to die a hundred times more in the future.
‘Let’s think this through. Set aside the immediate gains and calmly consider…’
I brushed aside my self-loathing and began to turn my mind coolly. My sixth life, alongside Mangnyang, brought me many insights. Mangnyang often told me to “widen your perspective,” indicating that I tended to overthink within too narrow a range, leading me to fall into my own traps. I felt the need to think as broadly as possible and find a rational way to resolve the situation.
I concluded that I lacked sufficient power. Of course, I wasn’t completely unaware of this, but when I embarked on preventing the human sacrifice plan, I intended to confront the Golden Eagle Guards head-on with a swift resolution. If there was a miscalculation, it was that Mangnyang’s master, Master Mangnyang, or my master, Cheon Woo-jin, had the strength to dominate the world, but they had no intention of using that power against the Golden Eagle Guards.
‘Relying on the power of others was a mistake.
Even if I step forward now to thwart the Golden Eagle Guards’ initial conspiracy, I predict the same outcome. Even without impersonating the White Lotus Sect’s guardian during the Huangshan incident, the Golden Eagle Guards would eventually uncover the perpetrator due to their intelligence. In this situation, no matter how well I fight, if I don’t have the power to take down their commander, it would be for naught.
‘The commander… And I need the strength to ultimately defeat the Golden Eagle Guards.’
What level of strength would that entail?
At my current level, it’s unimaginable, but it must be at least enough to shake the entirety of this world. Obtaining such power would be difficult, even for a naturally gifted genius who acquires opportunities for decades and exerts bone-breaking effort. Yet, despite this, I must obtain that power. I do not want to witness another comrade’s death.
After a short while, I managed to settle my plan.
“This time, I won’t engage with the Golden Eagle Guards. I will train at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, even if it takes decades.”
This will be a painful and grueling life. Because even though I possess martial arts skills that could elevate me to the level of a peak expert in the martial world, I will instead be spending decades training rigorously while teaching at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
And if the timing doesn’t align – then I will commit suicide. Up until now, I’ve never included the option of dying by my own hand in my plans during my previous lives. However, due to Mangnyang’s death and the series of failures, I’ve decided to actively utilize this rebirth ability.
This time, it’s different.
I resolved myself and headed toward the cave that held the Cheonam Biseo. Although I could have stolen from the village chief’s safe, I chose to pass it by, as it would be better to have a clean past if I intended to live at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. I stepped into the cave where the Cheonam Biseo resided.
Pak!
Peeing…
“… This is now easy.”
This time, I didn’t intentionally show any objects to dodge or block; I simply caught the arrow with my hand. With my thunderous energy (雷氣) advancing, my reflexes have dramatically heightened. I can now instantly react and catch even bolts from mechanical devices. After battling with first-rate and peak experts, this level has become quite simple.
After securing the Cheonam Biseo in my arms, I immediately dashed toward Mount Huang. Along the way, I felt my movement technique had further developed, which was evidence that I was utilizing my internal energy far more efficiently than before. For instance, last time I struggled to control my speed, resulting in multiple collisions with trees and rocks; but this time, such incidents never occurred.
Thud.
When I arrived at Mount Huang, it felt like I had saved a day or two compared to the past. This time, I barely consumed any food during my run. Strangely enough, despite the intense exertion of energy and mental focus, I wasn’t hungry and didn’t feel fatigued at all. It seemed my internal energy had elevated my body to a true superhuman level.
‘First, I should borrow a pot to boil water from a nearby village.’
I calmly scouted around, being cautious not to attract the attention of the Huangshan Sect elders as before. I didn’t rush but stayed vigilant, sensing my surroundings. As expected, I spotted the elder, the Ice Heaven Sword (冷天劍) Master Gongja, wandering through the misty paths with his disciples.
‘Hide.’
I concealed my presence and heightened my hearing with internal energy. Moments later, I heard Master Gongja’s voice.
“… Every time I patrol, I realize how vast Mount Huang is. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, indeed.”
One of the disciples, carrying a lantern, replied as they walked.
“However, is it really necessary to come this far? This is quite distant…”
“With the current state of the world being so chaotic, bandits and robbers frequently roam about. If rumors spread about such ruffians running rampant in the area, it would tarnish the reputation of our sect. We must occasionally venture out to prevent these issues in advance.”
“Indeed…”
“Now that we’ve covered enough ground, let’s return and continue our training. You all have fallen behind in your practice of the Cloud Dragon Eight Swords.”
“Understood, Master.”
After a while, their presence faded into the distance. I emerged from the thicket and dusted myself off, feeling a bit complex.
‘The Huangshan Sect collects hefty tribute from the nearby residents, behaving like thugs, yet the elders and disciples seem surprisingly ordinary. Could the organization’s and the individuals’ dispositions differ?’
Moreover, as far as I knew, the sect leader of the Huangshan Sect had connections with the Wind God School (風神流) and the White Lotus Sect (白蓮教). Particularly, he had a close relationship with a guardian from the White Lotus Sect. Although not openly regarded as public enemies in the martial world, their uneasy relationship with the royal family causes them to be treated with caution, indicating something suspicious about the ties with the White Lotus Sect.
Now that I think of it, the Huangshan Sect has rapidly risen in strength in recent years, ranking among the Nine Great Sects. This surge clearly reflects the influence of either the White Lotus Sect or the Wind God School. I may discern more if I probe deeper into the origins of the Huangshan Sect’s martial arts.
‘However, that’s not something to investigate right now… I’ll look into it when I have time later.’
I pushed those thoughts aside and headed toward the location of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. Since I had been here a few times before, I was calm while passing through the cave and descending to the snowy grounds. I put the black-and-white lotus flowers I collected from a nearby house into the pot, boiled them, and consumed them along with the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
Whuu…
The pain is now gone.
As I completed the Qi Regulation Technique, I felt a renewed surge of strength. The energy that had been circulating continuously throughout my body now felt even more revitalized. However, unlike before, I noticed the rate of power increase seemed somewhat slow, which was a bit disappointing.
Still, this was due to my inability to fully utilize the internal energy I already possessed. The unspent energy had accumulated and wasn’t adequately activated. If my level were to rise, there was a high probability that my internal energy would dramatically amplify.
“Phew, that’s it.”
Now, I can enter the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, take up a teaching position, and learn the Thunder God Style (雷神流).
Even if invited by the Golden Eagle Guards, I would reject them.
That should suffice.
And as I attempted to shake off my sluggishness and dash outside, a flash caught my attention!
“……?”
I felt a faint light shine briefly from the pond where I had collected the black-and-white lotus. The light was so subtle and mysterious that it might have been overlooked if not for my enhanced senses. Intrigued, I approached the pond, where I noticed a small light emanating from the depths. It was likely something that even ordinarily trained martial artists wouldn’t notice.
‘What is that light?’
A glow emanating from beyond the darkness of the pond thick with lotus flowers. I felt compelled to discover what it was, so I submerged myself without hesitation. I was confident in my swimming skills, having no fear of drowning.
Splash!
Bubble, bubble…
The pond, adorned with lotus flowers, had roots and stems interlaced so intricately that swimming became a challenge. However, with my extreme internal energy, I could breathe through my skin, and my lung capacity was so high that I could hold my breath comfortably for over a meal’s time. Thus, I leisurely navigated through the tangle of lotus roots, diving deeper.
As I swam further in, I made a startling discovery.
“……!!”
This pond is surprisingly deep! Even after pushing aside numerous lotus roots, I had submerged a good ten or so spans and still couldn’t see the bottom. The light that had been trickling out now appeared starkly visible to the naked eye.
When I almost reached the source of the light, I noticed strange patterns carved into the stone walls, and there was a mysterious stone door present. In the exact center of this clearly artificial door was an unknown round orb emitting light. The glow I had seen was likely radiating from this orb.
‘I can’t believe there’s something like this in the black-and-white lotus pond…’
I pondered what to do, but after a moment, I decided to remove the orb. It was perfectly fitted into the center of the stone door, leading me to believe it might be holding the door in place.
Koo-goo-goo-goo!!
I was right. As soon as I applied force and pulled out the orb, the stone door curled open and revealed an underwater passage. Surprisingly, not a single drop of water seeped into the passage despite the sudden opening. As I stepped inside, I felt the air was breathable, allowing me to inhale comfortably.
“How is this possible?”
I was amazed as I looked around the passage. It was as if there was an invisible barrier preventing the pond’s water from entering. I could even breathe easily in this air; it was an inconceivable situation based on common sense.
Nonetheless, since I was already here, I decided to explore further.
Plod, plod.
The passage was a spiraling staircase that seemed to coil inward. There were torches along the walls, providing sufficient light for an ordinary person to discern their way. I remained cautious of potential traps, but they appeared absent.
“……”
After walking for a while, I uncovered a wide cavern. The cave was bright enough due to several torches planted throughout. In the center of the chamber was a strange altar. Overwhelmed by an inexplicable oddity, I hesitated, but ultimately, I resolved to investigate this cavern further.
Approaching the altar, I examined the jars and stones placed nearby one by one. The jars were completely empty, and the stones showed no unique characteristics. It was curious that in such a dark, damp place, there was no foul smell at all.
Eventually, I turned my gaze toward the altar. On it were inscriptions in an indecipherable language—a bizarre script that was impossible for me to interpret. I wondered if it resembled that of the Cheonam Biseo, but my knowledge offered no clarity on the matter.
Then it happened.
[…Blood… Draw… Awaken…]
“Uh…?”
I was startled.
For reasons unknown, it felt as though I recognized some of the meanings in the inscriptions on the stone slab before the altar! I had neither learned nor practiced something like this, so I was understandably bewildered. However, without a complete understanding, I fumbled and managed to decipher that it conveyed something about “dropping blood on the altar to provoke an occurrence.” It likely referred to blood from the wrist. I was overflowing with doubts, yet given the situation, it appeared I had no choice but to act, so I gently cut my wrist with the dagger I held.
Drip.
As blood dripped down, it slowly coursed along the designs on the altar and flowed into a hole.
Koo-goo-goo-goo-gung…
“Is it opening…?!”
To my astonishment, the formerly unremarkable stone wall unexpectedly parted, revealing a door leading to another space. Stepping through, I was suddenly enveloped in bright light.
So blinding!
“… What is that?!”
I detected something on the opposite side of the expansive cavern, radiating bright light. It seemed likely to be a treasure or a weapon, but such brilliance suggested it was extraordinary.
Whoosh!
However, the concern was that this cavern resembled an abyss, and to reach the glowing object, I would need to cross a precarious plank bridge directly in front of me. Just as I was about to take a step forward, reveling in the thought of obtaining an unexpected treasure…
[Be cautious when traversing a path that is clearly deceitful. It indicates that there will surely be traps.]
This was advice that Master Mangnyang often gave me during our travels, and at that moment, it suddenly flashed in my mind.
‘Yes, I need to be cautious.’
I hesitated and retracted my step back to the entrance. I felt that I needed to be even more careful in such situations.
And that choice ultimately proved to be the right one.
Koo-ooh…
From the depths of the abyss came a sound, as if something was bubbling up. It was a squishy, thudding noise, akin to something crawling up the walls.
Keeping my mouth shut and quiet at the entrance, a moment later, a colossal figure suddenly burst forth, smashing the middle of the narrow bridge!
Koo-kwang!
What emerged from the darkness was a spider!
A grotesquely enormous spider, multiple spans in size, with dozens of gleaming eyes, had shot out from the abyss. The spider clung to the ceiling, spinning its web, and rolled its eyes as if searching for intruders. I quickly hid myself behind the passage.
‘If I had simply crossed the narrow bridge, I would have been caught and eaten!’
Could I endure the death of being devoured only to be reborn?
One thing was certain: even if I were to be reborn, my mental state would collapse. I felt a profound gratitude for the wisdom imparted by Master Mangnyang and contemplated what to do next.
Now that the narrow bridge was out of reach, I would need to jump a full thirty spans to reach the other side. Yet, with the gigantic spider monitoring from above, avoiding its attacks while making such a jump was an impossible feat.
Squeak, squeak.
The spider seemed to be waking up, preparing to build its web while attached to the ceiling. It appeared determined to make this place its nest. If that web was completed, no matter who came, it would be impossible to breach it and claim the treasure. After all, the gigantic spider, even unarmed, would already be formidable, and the geographical advantage of its webbed lair would make it even more so.
‘… What to do?’
I briefly assessed my time and distance, then made a resolution.
“Let’s think after I’m dead!!”
Swoosh!
Before the situation could worsen, I suddenly leaped into the middle of the cavern. As I soared about fifteen spans, the spider responded by shooting its web at me. I unleashed my lightning reflexes and slashed through the spider’s silk with my dagger.
Clang!
My lightning reflexes seemed to ignore the stickiness of the web, and I felt just a slight tingling in my hand as I propelled myself to the opposite side. I landed there, scrutinizing the glowing ‘something’ that lay ahead.
A sword!
It appeared to have been forged long ago, with a shape quite worn and impractical. It looked like a primitive blade that might have been used in ancient battles hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Yet, the sword blade exuded a golden hue, radiating an intense energy. I sensed a powerful force comparable to my own internal energy.
I realized that the gigantic spider glued to the ceiling existed to protect this sword. Perhaps the inscription on the altar hinted at the trial of a sword guardian. I felt I had seen words similar to that.
‘… Guardian?’
In that moment, I recalled something from Master Mangnyang’s teachings.
‘Could this be…!!’
The Seven Treasures of the Immortals!
Could this ancient sword I held in my hand possibly be one of the artifacts of the seven sages? Just as I was taken aback by this unexpected realization.
Schwoooosh!
Suddenly, the spider began to emit silk from its entire body. The silk, at a tremendous speed, seemed to cover an area of dozens of spans. I, in my current state, had no way to breach such an overwhelming cascade of silk, to attack, or to cross back to the other side.
“Damn it… I would need a sword aura to attempt that.”
Ultimately, I chuckled bitterly, knowing I had to make the most rational decision in this dire situation.
Swish.
“Ugh…”
I immediately burst my heart’s core and resigned myself.
If there was no way to win or escape, then there was nothing to do but die.
It was far better to accept death than to be consumed alive, becoming mere prey.
This was my seventh death.
