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0088 ———————————————-

Dark Heaven Village

After that, Miho released the barrier of Naseng Gate and sent the Subjugation Squad of the Twelve Joules out. Her laughter echoed eerily as she watched the squad from the fourth-floor pavilion.

“Ha ha ha! It would have been fun to catch them and make them roll around in here!”

I waved my hand, still bitter about being betrayed by Ji-yul Monk.

“Enough of that. What do you plan to do now?”

“Hmm… Baek Woong, where do you live?”

“I’m currently a Guardian Warrior of the Jeong Clan.”

At my answer, Miho tilted her head in confusion.

“Jeong Clan? That’s a strange place to be.”

“I got introduced and joined.”

“Oh… Sounds like you’ve had your fair share of adventures.”

“Well, something like that.”

As I mumbled my answer, Miho chuckled and said,

“Since we’ve come this far, how about checking out who Myo Cheong is?”

Myo Cheong!

The Evil Spirit of Seogyeong!

Even great demons hesitated to absorb him because of his overwhelming strength. The thought of encountering such a being made me shake my head.

“No thanks. I haven’t mastered any magic, so I wouldn’t be able to resist such an evil spirit.”

“Uh-huh. Though you seem to have learned the Dao, if a spirit like Myo Cheong tries to possess you, there’s not much you can do.”

“Why are you asking if you already know?”

“Because it’s fun!”

“……”

Miho really was a mischievous spirit. She snapped her fingers, and the Front Demon and Back Demon that I saw earlier appeared once more.

“Clear this yard. Get rid of the remains of the spirit puppets.”

Boom! Boom!

The Front Demon and Back Demon soon vanished downstairs. I was left speechless watching how the very beings I had just fought desperately against were so easily summoned again. Did that mean the Subjugation Squad had gone through hell to defeat them only for them to reappear without a hitch?

Realizing the look in my eyes, Miho spoke.

“Uh-huh. There aren’t many sorcerers stronger than me. Especially in illusion techniques; unless one can blur the line between reality and fantasy, they can’t compete with me!”

“Really?”

“Really, really?”

I reflexively questioned because Miho’s explanation perfectly matched a being I was aware of. It was a being I sought out repeatedly across my past lives. Seeing curiosity fill the face of the Nine-Tailed Fox, I felt compelled to share.

“There’s a guy named Cheon Woo-jin, a disciple of Master Mangnyang, who seems to reach that level you mentioned.”

I thought the Nine-Tailed Fox would be greatly surprised. However, upon hearing the name Master Mangnyang, she simply nodded.

“Ah, so it’s Master Mangnyang. To think a human disciple could reach the level of an Illusory God.”

“Illusory God?”

“The highest level of illusion technique. The boundary between ‘you’ and ‘me’ disappears, making it impossible for anyone to block that person’s illusions. Even this Maiden, who has lived for over seven hundred years, has not yet reached that level.”

“……”

I was taken aback, realizing just how fraudulent Cheon Woo-jin truly was. Even a great demon like the Nine-Tailed Fox had not reached his level! Considering that Master Mangnyang, his mentor, couldn’t properly utilize basic techniques, it struck me that his magic skills were indeed paramount.

‘Ah, so that’s why the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard could prevent the entire Golden Eagle Guard and the great army with just a single illusion barrier…’

Suddenly remembering that event made me feel gloomy.

Shaking my head, I said,

“Well, I get it. I would appreciate your help in finding the Sea God.”

“Uh-huh, don’t worry. I know the exact location.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“How do you know that?”

As I bombarded her with questions, a displeased expression crossed Miho’s face. She huffed and said,

“Why do you keep questioning me like an interrogator? Do you always talk to your companions like that?”

“Uh, no.”

“Hmph! I’ll be at the Baekhwa Inn in Seogyeong, so come find me.”

Whoosh!

Miho suddenly disappeared with a teleportation technique. Her personality was so unpredictable that I couldn’t grasp it at all. One thing was sure: she was incredibly finicky and whimsical. It dawned on me that I had to read her emotions as carefully as I did when I used to work as cow dung.

‘Ugh, this is a hassle… What can I do?’

Even having that great demon help me was a significant advantage. Plus, she was revealing the location of the Sea God; there was no reason to refuse. Of course, I had to keep in mind that her whims could turn her against me at any moment, but at least discovering the Sea God’s location would benefit me greatly.

I left the ruined Dongning Prefecture and stepped into the peaceful landscape of Seogyeong. Miraculously, it seemed to have changed from the deadly fight I had just endured to a calm scene. I asked a passerby for directions to the Baekhwa Inn and soon reached the three-story building.

Miho was seated at a table on the first floor, eating a vegetable dish. She looked like the young girl from before but had a fresh charm that differed from her adult form. Maybe it was because she was inherently beautiful, but even in the traditional attire of Goryeo women, she looked stunning. Despite her youthful appearance, men were glancing at her as she ate.

Taking a seat, Miho said,

“Hmph. Have you reflected on yourself?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be careful with my words from now on.”

“Good to know.”

With a bright smile, Miho asked,

“Will you order something too?”

“I’ll have a vegetable dish too.”

Miho waved her hand cheerfully, ordering,

“One vegetable dish here!”

“Sure!”

After a while, I was served my dish and found myself gazing at Miho absentmindedly. From this angle, she looked like a very ordinary human girl, in stark contrast to the powerful spirit from earlier who commanded terrifying spirit puppets. Even if I shouted that Miho was a Nine-Tailed Fox across the town, I would probably just be labeled a madman.

Once finished with her meal, Miho said,

“The Sea God is held by the Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“Master of the Twelve Joules…!!”

“That’s only natural since he is of the Dan Clan.”

I was taken aback by Miho’s information.

Master of the Twelve Joules!

That title represented the leader of the Twelve Joules of Haedong Gate. With twelve separate groups, consensus was essential, hence the need for a leader. Just like the Master of the Teng Yu Alliance led the greater sects.

However, the appearance, martial arts, and aliases of the Master of the Twelve Joules weren’t known to the public. It stood in stark contrast to the well-known reputation and appearance of the Master of the Teng Yu Alliance throughout the Central Plains Martial World. In a land as small as Goryeo, it was effective to keep the identity of the alliance’s leader concealed.

Curious about the new information that I hadn’t heard before, I asked,

“What does it mean to be of the Dan Clan?”

“As I mentioned, they are the guardians protecting Goryeo… no, the peninsula itself. They don’t come to the forefront of the world, but they protect humans from evil spirits and otherworldly races.”

“Like Master Mangnyang of the Central Plains?”

“Yes, pretty much the same. You could say it’s almost identical.”

It seemed there were countless hidden guardians in this world. As I pondered, Miho said,

“But Baek Woong, there’s something you need to tell the Maiden.”

“What is it?”

“Why you’re searching for the Sea God!”

“Um…”

Miho rested her chin on her hands, staring at me with curiosity.

“You’re a complete novice when it comes to magic, so how can you be searching for the Sea God, which is a closely-guarded secret among sorcerers? And to think you’ve come all the way to this peninsula from the Central Plains.”

After considering my options, I decided to speak honestly. It wasn’t something I needed to hide.

“Honestly, I don’t know what the Sea God is. But one of my companions said it’s highly likely the Sea God is a secret treasure of the Seven Luminaries, which is why I’m searching for it.”

“Secret treasure of the Seven Luminaries? Are you saying you’re on a quest to collect the secret treasures of the Seven Luminaries?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Miho looked utterly flabbergasted, almost overwhelmed.

“You… you’re insane! You’re saying you’d attempt something that even immortals wouldn’t dare to consider? Collecting treasures from the divine age?”

“Fortunately, thanks to the blessing of the Queen Mother of the West, my lifespan has greatly increased. I might as well try while I can.”

“The Queen Mother of the West?!”

Upon hearing my words, Miho looked stunned, as if struck by lightning. I felt a sense of satisfaction flood over me as she, who had been teasing and mocking me the whole time, was now flustered. But it seemed she didn’t have time to consider my transformation, as she started mumbling to herself.

“Is that so… I wondered why I felt a connection to this human… turns out it’s the blessing of the Queen Mother… But now I…”

Suddenly, her expression turned serious.

“How did you receive the blessing of the Queen Mother? You better answer truthfully.”

“Is that really important?”

“It is extremely important for the Maiden. Speak!”

Realizing the intensity in her expression, I understood I couldn’t joke around or say something foolish, or I might meet a tragic end. It seemed I had developed this sense from a life full of dangers and near-death experiences. So I calmly responded.

“I’ve already gathered one of the Seven Luminaries. In the process, I obtained energy which I offered to the Queen Mother, and as a result, I received her blessing. I didn’t perform a ceremony; Cheon Woo-jin helped me.”

“You… gathered one of the Seven Luminaries…!!”

At my answer, Miho seemed to completely lose her composure. She hastily moved closer and sat down beside me, leaning against me as she spoke.

“Tell me more about that! I want to hear everything.”

“Wait, wait a minute!”

I gently pushed Miho away and said,

“Miho! I’ve been the one speaking since earlier! If you’re my companion, shouldn’t you share some information too?”

Realizing her haste, Miho slightly pulled back.

“What information do you want?”

“From now on, I need to know how I can obtain the Sea God held by the Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“Hmmm…”

Miho looked thoughtful.

She ordered a cup of tea and after contemplating for a moment, replied,

“There are two methods.”

“What kind of methods?”

“The first is to take it by force from the Master of the Twelve Joules, and the second is to receive it as a gift.”

“… That sounds like something even a child might think of.”

As I poked fun, Miho turned her nose up at me.

“Hmph! Finding the Master of the Twelve Joules is your job. In other words, as long as you find the location of the Master of the Twelve Joules, the rest is just a matter of devising a plan, isn’t it?”

“So how do I find this Master of the Twelve Joules?”

“I don’t know, but if you beat up the leaders of the Twelve Joules one by one, you’ll figure it out. They must have faced the Master of the Twelve Joules at some point.”

“Got it.”

“Now, tell me about the Seven Luminaries.”

I recounted how I obtained the Water Element Divine Sword and how I offered my energy as an offering. I fabricated some details about the location of the Water Element Divine Sword.

“… After that, I had the Water Element Divine Sword consecrated at the shrine where Cheon Woo-jin serves Master Mangnyang.”

“Ugh, of course. Master Mangnyang must have it. Ugh…”

Miho seemed to gnaw on her sleeves in disappointment. I realized her desire for the Seven Luminaries was incredibly strong. I felt taken aback and asked Miho.

“Isn’t the Water Element Divine Sword not that useful in combat? Is it really such a treasured item? I mean, I know it awakens hidden talents, but is that really enough to consider it a divine treasure from the mythological age…”

“Hmph, you idiot! Don’t go around saying stuff like that.”

Miho continued sharply.

“If Master Mangnyang has it, there’s no way for you to get it. So let me tell you this; the true power of the Water Element Divine Sword is Heavenly Ice, capable of annihilating even the Great Immortal! Furthermore, if you obtain the divine ability of the Water Element Divine Sword, even a mere Earth Immortal can instantly ascend to the Celestial Realm and become a higher immortal. If the existence of the Water Element Divine Sword became known, every demon and immortal in between Heaven and Earth would risk everything to obtain it.”

“……”

Heavenly Ice that could annihilate even the Great Immortal!

I was left stunned by the revelations. I couldn’t help but ask,

“Hold on a second. Isn’t the Water Element Divine Sword a treasure from the mythological age? How do you know about its power?”

“I was once in the presence of the Queen Mother of the West in the Celestial Realm before descending to Earth. It’s common knowledge among the higher immortals and great divine beings in the Celestial Realm, so of course, I’d know.”

“Then you’ve met the Queen Mother…”

At that moment, Miho suddenly shot me a stern look, interrupting me.

“Stop! You really have a knack for prying into other people’s emotions.”

It was sarcasm.

“Um…”

“Hah, haven’t you ever learned the art of conversation? How can you try to extract only the information you want while neglecting the flow of dialogue? This is the first time I’ve encountered such frustrating conversation in my life.”

“……”

Despite Miho reprimanding me, I had no comeback. After all, after going through many reincarnations, I’d become emotionally blunt, where if I didn’t acquire desired information promptly, my life could be at stake. It was only natural for me to develop that habit. Miho shook her head as if she found it unavoidable.

“Anyway, thank you for sharing about the Seven Luminaries. Now, I’ll do my utmost to help you.”

“Are you planning to obtain the Sea God?”

“If I weren’t, it would be a lie.”

I made a suggestion to Miho.

“If you really feel that way, how about this?”

“What do you mean?”

“If the Sea God ends up being one of the Seven Luminaries and you manage to obtain it, you can use it as much as you need. I just need to know its location, and when I need it later, you can lend me the Seven Luminaries.”

Miho’s eyes widened in astonishment. My suggestion was so unexpected that she was taken aback. Then she smiled and grasped my hand.

“Let’s do that. That’s an excellent suggestion.”

With this, Miho would help me in my quest for the Sea God without any significant doubts about my actions. Since I made this proposal, it was far less suspicious, even though it might have been a bit naive.

But at this moment, it was the best I could do. After all, there was no way to physically overpower Miho, and regardless of my help, she would begin acting to secure the Sea God, which was most likely one of the Seven Luminaries.

‘All I need is to know the location and the method to acquire it.’

Once I knew that, I could later utilize my reincarnation abilities to obtain it on my own without her help.

As the alliance with Miho settled, she said,

“Yawn… But your skills are a bit lacking. At this rate, obtaining the Sea God will be a challenge.”

She had praised my skills earlier, so why was she changing her tune? Still, it made sense; different stakes called for different standards of success. I retorted gruffly,

“Isn’t it fine since you’re strong?”

“That’s not the case. The Dan Clan is made up of beings so powerful that they don’t even seem human. Even I would be sealed if I were to face them head-on.”

With that, Miho pointed at me with her finger.

“You have ten years. Get strong enough in that time to aid me properly.”

“I can’t really imagine getting stronger, though. Should I just focus on my martial arts?”

“Ha ha, I knew you would say that. I’ll help you.”

Swish.

Miho handed me a small mirror.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

“This is the Eight Trigrams Mirror, one of the three divine treasures at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya.”

The mirror, called the Eight Trigrams, emitted a strange light as it lay in my palm. Gawking at it, Miho elaborated,

“It’s a type of Shizuishi that has the power to activate the soul and life force. It will show stronger power in the hands of a sorcerer, but it should help you get stronger. Meditate in front of the mirror for an hour each morning and evening; that should yield some results.”

“Results, huh…”

“Uh-huh, if you’re still disappointing after ten years, I might just enchant you!”

Despite her playful tone, it didn’t feel light-hearted at all. This Eight Trigrams Mirror was undoubtedly a treasure from Dongyoung; there was no way she’d pass it to me without cost. I had a sense that if I didn’t make satisfactory progress in a decade, she might very well want my life.

Miho beamed at me.

“I’ll come find you when the time comes. Have good dreams tonight!”

Whoosh!

Miho vanished with a teleportation technique right there. I hurriedly looked around to see if anyone was feeling uncomfortable, but surprisingly, there was no one even curious about the sudden disappearance. It seemed she had cast a boundary to manipulate perceptions beforehand. I sighed in relief, but an unsettling feeling lingered.

‘No matter how great a demon, the power of magic is indeed formidable. Can martial arts really compete against such beings?’

But I realized how arrogant it was to make such claims when I hadn’t even fully grasped martial arts. I ended my subjugation in Seogyeong with the outcome of an alliance with the Nine-Tailed Fox and trudged back to the Jeong Clan. Regardless of the situation with the Twelve Joules, I intended to play dumb and act as if I was charmed by Miho, oblivious to the events that had transpired.

I set up camp for the night and tried to sleep.

Huff… Huff…

I found myself lost in dreamland. In that dream, I became naked, feeling the sweat of my well-trained muscular body. I was moving my lower body vigorously on fine silken sheets, feeling endless pleasure.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

I could feel a soft, full figure. I felt silky tail fur at the back of my hips. A pristine hand was reaching out to caress my utterly dazed face, with some moans filling the air.

“Aah… Ah…”

I felt like I was watching myself from a distance, seeing my body act on instinct, while my consciousness remained sealed.

I felt like I was about to explode. My body, driving wildly, suddenly released its desire, and the two entwined forms convulsed intensely.

“Aah… Ahh…”

Not being satisfied with just once, I roughly groped the beautiful figure in front of me, kissing her while giving in to pure instinct. She reciprocated with vigor, caressing my chiseled chest.

Eventually, I flipped her over into a position known as the rear-entry posture, gradually pushing into her. Once again, we engaged in intense intercourse, her moans tickling my ears. I indulged in passionate pleasure with all my might, ultimately releasing inside her.

“Ugh!!”

I awoke with a groan, realizing that my lower half was damp. I pulled at my hair in frustration, cursing,

“Damn fox…”

Was this what it meant to have good dreams?

In a moment of unexpected weakness, I experienced a wet dream after decades of suppressing it with my deep internal power.

Upon returning to the Jeong Clan, Jeong Cheol-wook called for me.

I thought I would be scolded for my absence, so I approached him nervously.

“Baek Woong Warrior, something big happened in Seogyeong.”

“Yes.”

Instead of the incident with the tiger, Jeong Cheol-wook launched straight into the subjugation of Seogyeong. It seemed that even someone with his authority caught wind of major news easily. Jeong Cheol-wook looked at me seriously and said,

“Tell me what happened.”

I omitted the details of my dealings with Miho and recounted how I lost consciousness, arriving at the Jeong Clan’s doorstep in confusion. Claiming that I had been caught in an illusion, Jeong Cheol-wook adjusted his sitting position.

Crack!

“Actually, because of that incident, we’re in quite a predicament. The rumor that the Subjugation Squad could not withstand the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox has caused unrest in Seogyeong, and various clans are feeling anxious. If we don’t resolve this promptly, my position will be in jeopardy.”

“……”

“Baek Woong Warrior, can you join the Subjugation Squad once again? Even if you were caught in the Nine-Tailed Fox’s illusion, the Twelve Joules are eager to have you back. This time, a highly skilled sorcerer and the leader of the Twelve Joules will be accompanying.”

Despite Jeong Cheol-wook’s words, I shook my head.

“I apologize. I don’t want to face that demon again. I’d rather die than meet her again.”

“Hmmm…”

“It’s just too painful. Please understand.”

Seeing my genuine distress, Jeong Cheol-wook wore a reluctant expression.

“Well, I can’t force you. In that case, I’ll grant you leave. Please rest in a separate room for the next three months. If you want, I can have a woman accompany you.”

“Thank you for your consideration, but I want to be alone.”

“Is that so? Then rest well.”

“Please also take care of yourself, clan leader.”

Creak!

As I closed the door behind me, I sighed heavily.

“Hah…”

This was just the beginning. I had to gather enough strength in the next ten years. Otherwise, I’d find myself drained of my essence by the Nine-Tailed Fox, leading to my demise. If my dreams started manifesting into reality, no matter how strong my internal power or vitality, I wouldn’t be able to withstand it. After enduring innumerable nights filled with lust, I’d end up bald and dead.

I clenched my fists.

“Survive!”

For the next decade, I had no choice but to train like my life depended on it.

—————————= Author’s Note —————————=

Please leave your recommendations for the next work~

 

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