0096 : Dark Heaven Village
It had been a month since I left the Divine Altar.
Step
After walking about thirty paces from the Divine Altar, I turned back, but there was no trace of the Divine Altar Village, nor even the majestic Divine Altar Tree in sight. The barrier protecting the Divine Altar concealed its very existence. To breach this barrier, a powerful Grand Sorcerer would be required.
The sounds of mountain birds could be heard. The profound silence peculiar to the deep forest enveloped my body.
“…….”
I turned my head, continuing my steps towards Gaegyeong while reflecting.
‘During the past month, I received teachings on the inadequacies of martial arts from the Twelfth Rat Lord and learned a few more techniques…’
The Twelfth Rat Lord had sparred with me a few times, but even in these encounters, it was one-sided, with me taking the brunt of the exchanges. He seemed to have reached a level in body techniques unrivaled by anyone else. It was so remarkable that merely observing his movements allowed me to identify flaws in the Thunder Shadow Step I had been practicing.
After the sparring sessions, when I had inquiries, he would occasionally answer my questions.
I still recalled my exchange with the Twelfth Rat Lord.
[Why didn’t I seek the Moon Luminary?]
[Yes. With your power, it should have been entirely possible.]
[Hmm…]
Throughout our encounters, the Twelfth Rat Lord never once removed his mask. I had no way of confirming the face of the legendary handsome man that Lee Ju-hee had mentioned. He kept his arms crossed, replying while still wearing the dog mask.
[If we can bring the Moon Luminary from Dongyoung, it will undoubtedly make things easier for us. But the forces of the Evil God will go rampant on Dongyoung’s land.]
[So the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword acts like the Evil God, suppressing it, does it?]
[Of course, it’s not as powerful a barrier as the Divine Altar Tree, but the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword does provide a similar kind of barrier. The reason humans can reside on Dongyoung’s land is because of that sword.]
[……]
[There’s no need to trouble myself unnecessarily with something that is doing its job well, is there?]
I concluded my recollection.
‘If what he said is true, then there’s no immediate need to acquire the Moon Luminary.’
If I carelessly moved the Moon Luminary, it might lead to the emergence of demonic forces in Dongyoung again. Perhaps it was more prudent for me to simply ascertain its whereabouts rather than seek to obtain it. Yet, I muttered a concern I hadn’t shared with the Twelfth Rat Lord.
“It’s strange… Mi-ho must have enchanted the so-called Emperor of Dongyoung, yet if the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword is truly one of the Seven Luminaries, why hasn’t she ascended?”
Mi-ho had expressed a strong desire to return to the Celestial Realm. And since the Seven Luminaries possessed such power, she had been striving tirelessly to obtain the Seven Luminaries’ grand instrument. If the Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword were indeed one of the Three Sacred Treasures, there would be no need for her to come to Goryeo and sever ties with the Dan clan. Clearly, there was some mystery regarding the whereabouts of the Moon Luminary.
To learn more about the Moon Luminary, I needed to meet Mi-ho again and ask her.
However, I was deeply troubled.
Would I be able to survive when I met Mi-ho again?
When we last parted, it seemed that Mi-ho had sensed that Mangyang had come to assist me. She might have considered it a betrayal. While she spared my life out of whim, given Mi-ho’s unpredictable nature, it was uncertain when she might decide to kill me. Living in a situation where I didn’t have to face Mi-ho seemed the most stable option.
“Ah… it should work out somehow.”
As I pondered, I began my journey of hundreds of li. Since it seemed I had nearly completed what I needed to do in Goryeo, I thought it was time to focus more earnestly on honing my medical skills.
Tydaht
It took about three days to travel from Changbai Mountain to Gaegyeong. Although on foot it would typically take at least a month, my speed exceeded that of an ordinary human by tenfold, allowing me to cover the distance in such a short time. If I had truly set my mind to it, perhaps I could have made it in just one day.
Upon entering the gates of Gaegyeong and heading towards the Hua Clan, I was taken aback.
“……!!”
I was startled to see a group of individuals dressed in white waiting in front of the Hua Clan. There were around ten of them, all appearing to be martial artists. Although the Hua Clan’s building was intact, the people around seemed to avoid eye contact, as if trying to steer clear of these figures in white.
‘What’s going on?!’
I locked eyes with the lead figure in white. He looked to be about my age, a handsome young man with a solid build. Upon assessing my appearance and demeanor, he spoke.
“Are you Baek Woong?”
This felt ominous. I answered calmly without showing any surprise.
“Yes, but who might you be?”
Upon my reply, the young man in white suddenly switched to speaking in Han-geul instead of the typical Goryeo dialect, employing a formality I hadn’t expected.
“I had a feeling you would return soon, Baek Woong. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
His demeanor was polite and courteous. I maintained my composure and responded in Han-geul.
“Are you from the Central Plains?”
“To be precise, we are White Lotus Members.”
White Lotus Members!
I let out a quiet gasp of realization. It was no wonder the prowess of that group of ten individuals exuded a feeling of overwhelming strength, as if they were peak experts. Moreover, the young white-clad individuals appeared to be mostly in their teens and twenties, indicating they were very young, leaving me with only one possibility.
The young experts of the White Lotus Sect, nurtured through the Sacred Lotus, are the White Lotus Members! It is said that they are at the forefront of the White Lotus Sect, which has consumed four-tenths of the martial world in the Central Plains, effortlessly overwhelming countless experts of the region. A number of them, honing their skills in the unique martial arts of the White Lotus Sect, can easily battle Elders of major sects.
I glanced toward the Hua Clan and asked, “Surely, you haven’t harmed anyone from the Hua Clan, have you?”
The young man chuckled. “We have not done such a thing. Everyone is safe and sound.”
“That is a relief.”
“We have come from afar in the Central Plains because we wish to have a good discussion with you, Baek Woong.”
“A good discussion, you say?”
“Oh, I should have introduced myself sooner. I am Lee Yeo-song, leader of the Wind Spirit Team of the White Lotus Sect.”
Again bowing politely, Lee Yeo-song continued, “In fact, not too long ago, the head of the Hua Clan, Guangming Divine Doctor Hua Seo-myeong, and the Dharma Protector discussed matters separately. They learned that you, Baek Woong, are aware of the whereabouts of the Black and White Sacred Lotus. That is why we have been waiting to escort you to the Dharma Protector.”
“……!!”
I clenched my teeth.
The Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect! One of the individuals possessing the most formidable martial arts in the world was present here. It crossed my mind that it could be one of the other two Dharma Protectors as well. What was certain was that the Dharma Protector wanted to speak with me, and there must be some serious conspiracy behind it.
When I remained silent, Lee Yeo-song spoke again. “Please come with us. We will escort you respectfully.”
“Wait a moment. I need to confirm with my own eyes that the Hua Clan members are indeed unharmed.”
“Then please go inside. We will patiently await your return.”
The white-clad individuals parted to clear the way. I scanned the members of the Wind Spirit Team one by one and couldn’t help but think how tremendous their internal energy was.
‘If I were to confront these guys directly, I’d have almost a ninety percent chance of dying…’
They were terrifying.
Their internal energy seemed to far surpass that of the Elders of the Chongnam Sect, and they knew how to calmly manage their own essence. It was as if peak experts had gathered at this place. Not to mention, if they were adept in group combat or had trained in coordinated attacks, I would have no chance of handling the Wind Spirit Team barehanded. Surely, those of this caliber wouldn’t be aiming to dominate the martial world otherwise.
I entered the Hua Clan compound to verify the safety of its members. Fortunately, there were no injuries or casualties; everyone was unharmed. They appeared uneasy, possibly aware of the show of force by the white-clad individuals. Upon entering deeper, I found Hua Seo-myeong’s immediate family seated together.
Hua Seo-myeong, along with his son and daughter-in-law, and his granddaughter Hua Yeong-yeong. It seemed that the collateral relatives were not present.
Under the gazes of those four, I felt a heavy pressure. Nevertheless, I approached Hua Seo-myeong, who was seated, and greeted him.
“I apologize for being late. I have returned, your disciple Baek Woong.”
“Ah… you’re here. Sit down,” he replied.
“Yes.”
As I took my seat, a heavy atmosphere filled the room. Although Hua Seo-myeong didn’t seem gravely ill, he looked haggard, perhaps due to the seriousness of the situation. He observed me and spoke.
“Baek Woong, you must be aware that White Lotus Sect members are here outside your doorstep.”
“They call themselves the Wind Spirit Team of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Moreover, just yesterday, a Dharma Protector wearing a Black Tiger mask visited me. He appeared to be different from the one who tried to take me due to that former junior leader.”
“… What on earth does the White Lotus Sect want with us now?”
I was taken aback, my frustration rising.
In this life, I truly wished to avoid entanglements with the martial world and had come straight to Goryeo through Shandong right after my reincarnation. I had no recollection of being involved with the White Lotus Sect. But suddenly, their elite force and a Dharma Protector had arrived—it made no sense.
Hua Seo-myeong continued. “It seems to be related to the Sacred Lotus you provided.”
“What?”
“The Dharma Protector explained the situation to me. I had sold the root of the Black and White Sacred Lotus in the martial world using a method only I knew after receiving it from you… Apparently, the White Lotus Sect’s commercial group has purchased it through competitive bidding. And that root must have flowed into the White Lotus Sect.”
“……”
I was speechless, my jaw dropping in disbelief.
“I heard that the junior leader of the White Lotus Sect was saved by that root. Once the junior leader regained their strength, it seems the leader of the White Lotus Sect immediately decided to venture into the Central Plains.”
“Such a thing…”
I stammered in astonishment, “Isn’t the Sacred Lotus plentiful enough within the White Lotus Sect? Why did the junior leader specifically need that one to recover?”
Hua Seo-myeong sighed. “That part was not explained to me. But the Dharma Protector said that our Hua Clan has provided significant help to the White Lotus Sect, and they wish to repay.”
“Repay?”
“Firstly, they wanted to speak with you. Following that, they have offered to assist our Hua Clan in returning to the Central Plains. They promised a century of prosperity and wealth as benefactors of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Hmm…”
At that moment, Hua Seo-myeong’s son, Hua Tae-bo, who had been listening silently, gazed at me. He was also a skilled physician, having inherited the art of Hua Sibbaekchimm and Hua Tao Geumhui. In a sincere voice, Hua Tae-bo said.
“I’ve heard from my father that our clan was saved thanks to you. Please make the right choice again and save us. The fate of the Hua Clan lies in your hands.”
“Baek Woong… I’m counting on you.”
The plea from Hua Seo-myeong’s son and daughter-in-law was earnest. Embedded within their words was a sense of urgency urging me to conduct a smooth conversation with the Dharma Protector without any nonsense. Yet, it was also true that the fate of dozens of members of the Hua Clan rested in my hands. I gazed gravely at Hua Seo-myeong and spoke.
“Master, may we have a moment alone to talk?”
“Of course.”
Hua Seo-myeong and I stepped further inside, leaving the family behind. This place was the most secret and deep chamber within the Hua Clan’s estate, serving as Hua Seo-myeong’s personal space. Shrouded in darkness, light from a single candle flickered as Hua Seo-myeong began to speak.
“I do not trust the White Lotus Sect.”
“……”
“They are not evil beings, but they do not easily acknowledge those weaker than themselves. They operate with meticulous calculations, embodying the very essence of martial forces. While the Dharma Protector’s enticing words may seem plausible, I suspect it is merely a trap.”
“A trap, you say?”
“Do you think they would send the Dharma Protector and the Wind Spirit Team, one of the four martial factions of the White Lotus Sect, just to merely speak with the Hua Clan? They are likely prepared to confront the Twelve Rat Lords in Gaegyeong if necessary.”
“… What do you mean?”
“It seems you’ve caught on. If we were to refuse their proposal, they probably intend to wipe out the Hua Clan.”
I let out a low sound of realization. Hua Seo-myeong’s words rang true.
Surely, with the power of the White Lotus Sect at that level, they would not struggle against the Twelve Rat Lords. The Wind Spirit Team was composed of beings immensely powerful, but the Dharma Protector likely possessed extraordinary skills. Wiping out the Hua Clan overnight would be trivial for them.
I said, “Then why did they leave us unharmed until my return?”
“They likely wanted to manage things as comfortably as possible. To them, it would be better to have us ensnared in a sweet bait and perish aboard a remote ship rather than unnecessarily clash with the Twelve Rat Lords. Moreover, they probably want to ascertain the kind of information you possess.”
“Looks like we’re doomed either way.”
“Indeed… My son seems to have a vague sense of this. Tae-bo is quite sharp.”
Hua Seo-myeong’s expression was filled with gloom.
Suddenly, I felt a pang of pity for him. The life of Hua Seo-myeong, who had been living peacefully in the Central Plains, had been completely turned upside down due to the White Lotus Sect. Now, for reasons unknown, he faced a threat of extermination at their hands—it was truly absurd.
After pondering for a moment, I suggested, “The most realistic approach would be to contact the Twelve Rat Lords and drive them away.”
“I had thought of that too. But without solid evidence that they would directly attack us, would the experts of the Twelve Rat Lords put their lives on the line against the White Lotus Sect, known as the strongest martial power in the Central Plains? Until there is direct aggression from them, it remains a mere illusion.”
“I’ll talk to Jeong Cheol-wook.”
“Do not act rashly. They would annihilate our entire family if they felt threatened.”
“Then what exactly are we supposed to do?”
Suddenly, Hua Seo-myeong leaned back against the wall in a dejected manner.
“I honestly don’t know… I feel like I’ve been struck in the dark. How did it come to this…”
Just as I was about to say something, a figure suddenly appeared at the door. Backlit by the light, it was Hua Seo-myeong’s granddaughter, Hua Yeong-yeong. She glared at me with a disapproving look and said, “You really are quite the fool, aren’t you?”
“Yeong-yeong, what are you doing? Quickly, get out—”
Boom!
Before I could reprimand her, Hua Seo-myeong abruptly collapsed forward. I hurried to check on him, finding no signs of injury—he had merely succumbed to a charm that had lulled him to sleep. I had never heard of Hua Yeong-yeong possessing such high-level skills.
I glared at Hua Yeong-yeong and asked, “Is that you, Mi-ho?”
In a flash!
The next moment, Hua Yeong-yeong seemed to twirl in mid-air and transformed into the appearance of an adorable girl. It was the very human form of Mi-ho that I had seen in the past. She had transformed into Hua Yeong-yeong, pretending to be a member of the Hua Clan.
“You fool! Why did you get entangled with the White Lotus Sect?”
Mi-ho scolded me, but I retorted, “How did you pull off the Yeong-yeong act?!”
“Don’t worry. She’s sleeping in the storeroom. But more importantly, what on earth is going on?”
Mi-ho continued, her irritation palpable. Even for a nine-tailed fox that had lived for centuries, this situation seemed like a calamity had struck her.
“How could the Dharma Protector of the White Lotus Sect come searching to kill you? You truly have the unluckiest fate.”
“I can agree with the idea of having a bad fate, but why were you disguised as Hua Yeong-yeong?”
When I pressed her, Mi-ho hesitated for a moment before responding.
“That’s for my own reasons. In fact, I intended to take you away for some purpose.”
“Some purpose, you say?”
“I’ll tell you about that later. For now, we need to resolve this crisis.”
With that, Mi-ho turned sharply.
“Follow me!”
“Where are we following you to?”
Mi-ho spoke bluntly.
“Of course, you have to escape. What are you waiting for? Do you want to fight the White Lotus members?”
“Are you out of your mind…!! If I run away alone, then all the Hua Clan members will be doomed!”
As I clenched my fists, Mi-ho slapped her chest in frustration.
“Oh, you naive fool! Why don’t you think for yourself instead of just listening to others? Do you really believe that the words of that incompetent Hua Clan physician are completely true? Do you really think the White Lotus Sect would resort to such desperate measures as annihilating the Hua Clan?”
“……”
“The most crucial aspect of this situation is you. It is you who drew the Black and White Sacred Lotus into the Central Plains. From the perspective of the White Lotus Sect, if they don’t capture you, they gain nothing. Am I wrong?”
“Y-You’re right.”
“That means the Hua Clan will need you as a hostage later, so even if you escape alone, you probably won’t die for the time being. However, from that old fool physician’s perspective, he cannot guarantee the safety of his clan. That’s why even though he considered this option, he hasn’t told you about it. Understand now?”
Mi-ho’s reasoning was flawless. I stood there, dazed.
Indeed, as Mi-ho said, following the Wind Spirit Team to meet the Dharma Protector right now was the worst possible option. If the Dharma Protector decided to do so, he could easily kill or torture me. I had to find a way to escape and buy time, strategizing against the White Lotus Sect’s next move. This situation was a dead end for Hua Seo-myeong, but not necessarily for me.
‘Was my judgment clouded by our teacher-student bond?…’
I followed Mi-ho around to the back of the building.
“Come out!”
Then, as Mi-ho chanted a spell, a loud bang echoed as the front and back demons appeared. Mi-ho summoned a few more spiritual puppets using her magic and said, “Let’s send these guys out to buy us some time. Follow me closely.”
“Got it.”
The front and back demons, along with the paper puppets, trotted out. Moments later, a loud explosion reverberated, followed by sounds of combat against the Wind Spirit Team. As Mi-ho leaped over the wall, I followed her closely.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Suddenly, a figure appeared before Mi-ho and me. A fierce flame clung to his sword. It was Lee Yeo-song, who had introduced himself as the leader of the Wind Spirit Team earlier. Mi-ho chuckled lightly and mocked him.
“Such a puppy barking! Shall we see you in hell?”
“Not likely… but you won’t escape any longer.”
Lee Yeo-song aimed his sword at Mi-ho and lunged forward with a cry. In response, Mi-ho coldly smiled and summoned nine strands of fox flames around her body, releasing them. Taken by surprise, Lee Yeo-song hurriedly deflected the flames with his fire but retreated hastily.
“You have some skills. But die!”
Boom!
“Ugh!”
With a swing of her hand, an immense pressure surged, knocking Lee Yeo-song back harshly. It seemed as though she had summoned a massive, formless entity to attack. He soared away after several bounces and crashed into a nearby house, no longer moving.
Mi-ho scoffed and said, “Hmph! What a pathetic fool.”
“……”
I stared at Mi-ho in awe.
Just moments ago, Lee Yeo-song’s swordsmanship seemed to rank closely with mine. If we were to compare solely in terms of swordplay, he could have easily led one of the White Lotus Sect’s martial forces, being a recently advanced expert. Mi-ho’s power, capable of dispatching such an opponent in an instant, truly justified her being called a Great Demon.
‘For now, I need to concentrate.’
I followed Mi-ho while casting the Concealment Technique. It was a technique to diminish one’s presence and aura. Mi-ho chuckled as she saw me using that skill.
“Ha ha, you’ve grown just a tiny bit. It seems the Twelve Rat Lords taught you something.”
“Yeah. But aren’t you planning to head to Changbai Mountain to target the Divine Altar?”
“Hmph… Directly invading the Divine Altar is impossible. I’ll be using a different method.”
“What method?”
Mi-ho replied, “Let’s talk about that after we get out of Gaegyeong. I can’t ignore this massive energy I’ve sensed since a while ago.”
I glanced back cautiously and spoke, “I feel the same.”
The enormous energy we both sensed—a tingle crept through me, even from several miles away. That was likely the aura of the Dharma Protector. The power within a mere human body was enough to make even a great demon like a nine-tailed fox wary.
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
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