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0180 ———————————————-

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

A few days later, Mangnyang took me and Dongbang Mu-gyeol back to the main headquarters of the White Lotus Sect. This time, Mangnyang decided we didn’t need Jin So-cheong’s guards, so we used the Golden Lamp and Wooden Armor to go just the two of us. Dongbang Mu-gyeol was blindfolded and dragged along, and it wasn’t until we reached the main gate of the White Lotus Sect that his blindfold was removed. When he saw the sect, he was taken aback.

“What are these guys thinking?”

“We agreed to escort you to the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

At that, Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s face suddenly turned pale with fear. He stammered, “Y-you’re not going to kill me, are you?”

Mangnyang smiled and replied, “If we wanted you dead, we would have done it back at Jinrang Valley. The Master of the White Lotus Sect won’t harm you, so just relax.”

As Mangnyang tried to reassure him, Dongbang Mu-gyeol glanced warily at him and said, “What’s the catch?”

“Nothing much. We’re just going to pass along information on your behalf and take care of some tasks for you moving forward.”

“……!!”

Dongbang Mu-gyeol gritted his teeth, and fire flashed in his eyes. “You guys…!! You’ve stolen someone else’s achievement! You scoundrels!”

“Hey, can’t argue with the truth. But keep in mind, we treated you quite gentlemanly.”

“What?!”

“If we really wanted you dead, there would have been far easier ways to do it.”

“…”

His face turned pale. As Mangnyang said, he could have kept quiet with the Master of the White Lotus Sect and lived out his days in Jinrang Valley, living a life no one would suspect. The Master had no obligation to look after Dongbang Mu-gyeol.

But after a moment, Dongbang Mu-gyeol overcame his fear and growled, “To be a thief takes guts, but you scoundrels…”

Mangnyang stared at him blankly before replying, “In the end, isn’t it you who stands to lose little?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Regardless of what you were owed for your exploration, showing up before the Master of the White Lotus Sect now won’t change much. You’ll probably be able to eat and live comfortably there. It won’t be that different from before.”

Upon hearing Mangnyang’s words, Dongbang Mu-gyeol snorted in disbelief.

“Quit joking around. How do you know what I was supposed to receive?”

“I know enough. It was to become an elite in the Su Shin Sect, wasn’t it?”

“Ugh…!!”

At that moment, Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. He seemed used to hiding his emotions, but this response truly caught him off guard, causing him to lose control. It was a reply that even a seasoned old warrior would find shocking. Finally, Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s hands began shaking as he spoke.

“H-how did you know?”

“There are ways to find out everything. Anyway, I must say, you’re something else. You should at least have lived long enough to hit the big 70, but you still carry ambitions for martial arts… I suppose the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s unique skills would make it tempting.”

“Urgh.”

Indeed.

With Miho’s charms, Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s secret had been uncovered, which included the promised reward if this exploration succeeded: to be taught the vision techniques of the Su Shin Sect. Considering that the Su Shin Sect was extremely closed off, inherited only by bloodlines, the Master had offered quite an unusual deal.

Mangnyang continued to tease him.

“But seriously, how long do you plan to live? Learning the arts of the Su Shin Sect will take at least a decade, and even if you hold off aging with your internal energy, you might only get another twenty or thirty years at most… What kind of fun do you think you’ll enjoy adventuring in the South during that time?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Dongbang Mu-gyeol retorted through gritted teeth.

“Is it wrong to seek the world’s greatest martial arts? I was born into a humble background and have fought through all kinds of hardships to survive this long. Seeking to be the strongest in a world where the mighty dominate is completely natural.”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong. It’s just that you could live comfortably from here on out, so I find it impressive that you still have such passion.”

“Hmph… You’re just mocking me. Are you telling me you’ve stolen all the fruits of my endeavors?”

“Don’t be too hard on me. You might actually be the lucky one in this situation.”

“What do you mean…!!”

“The moment you begin learning the Su Shin techniques, it might bring you death and suffering.”

I thought Dongbang Mu-gyeol would unleash a furious tantrum when Mangnyang said that. His words had struck the peak of sarcasm.

“……”

But unexpectedly, Dongbang Mu-gyeol went silent as if struck by lightning, saying nothing. It wasn’t so much that he was choosing not to talk; it was more that he had found something to think about. It seemed Mangnyang’s remarks had unexpectedly touched on a sensitive subject for him.

After a moment, we encountered the youth group of the White Lotus Sect again and were introduced to the Three Elders of the Elder Council. Maybe because it was our second visit, the Elders didn’t interrogate us much but simply checked Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s face.

“Ah, so you are Dongbang Mu-gyeol, the Heavenly Doctor.”

“That’s me.”

“Weren’t you a bit late in fulfilling your promise?”

“There were unavoidable circumstances, so I ask for your understanding. If you’re suspicious, feel free to check his entire body.”

“Of course, I would.”

The Elder inspected Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s body as if dusting him off. What seemed like a simple search was actually a high-level technique to confirm he didn’t have any dubious substances or poisons. The reason they refrained from using that technique on us was likely that they were only cautious of self-destructive practitioners.

“Nothing amiss. Follow me.”

We were able to meet with the Master of the White Lotus Sect again. This time, he remained seated in a relaxed position, lying back slightly.

[ You’ve come.]

Even without instruction from the Elder, we spoke respectfully.

“We’ve brought him.”

[ Good work. Dongbang Mu-gyeol, step forward.]

Dongbang Mu-gyeol hesitantly stepped forward and said, “M-Master… I…”

[ I understand the circumstances. I’m well aware of your efforts, so don’t worry. I will ensure you get the promised reward.]

“……!!”

At that moment, Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s eyes wavered. It was a conflict that shouldn’t have existed, and it was a seed of turmoil that Mangnyang had planted. Dongbang Mu-gyeol stood there trembling, contemplating for a while before saying, “T-thank you, Master.”

He bowed deeply, as if banging his head. The Master waved his fingers from his reclined position, and it seemed that the internal power restraints on Dongbang Mu-gyeol were lifted remotely. In an instant, he regained his strength and glared at us with murderous intent, but then quickly turned his head away.

[ Dongbang Mu-gyeol, you are to withdraw to the guest quarters and rest. We will converse further later.]

“I understand.”

As Dongbang Mu-gyeol exited with the others, the Master turned to us.

[ Leader of the Bancheon Alliance, have you found any leads on the Seven Luminaries?]

“I would if the situation permitted it.”

[ What do you mean?]

“You may know this, but currently, the Thunder God Lineage has been designated as a martial arts organization, making things incredibly busy. As I mentioned before, it’s a matter of survival, so I apologize for not being able to resolve things easily.”

[ Hmmm.]

The Master of the White Lotus Sect paused in silence before speaking.

[ That matter will be dealt with today, so don’t worry.]

“Thank you.”

[ The Thunder God Lineage has a ten-year deadline, but you must find the lead on the Seven Luminaries even faster. That’s why I want to offer you some assistance.]

Mangnyang’s expression changed. He calmly maintained his composure and said, “I appreciate your offer, but if there are no further hindrances, we can find it as quickly as possible on our own.”

[ If there’s help, we can find it even faster. Surely you’re not turning down my assistance?]

“If our secret plans were leaked, the organization’s momentum would suffer.”

[ If that’s the case, I’ll trust you this time. However, if my messenger comes to visit you again and you don’t provide a satisfactory response, you’ll pay the price.]

“Good point.”

[ If you need the expertise of Sacred Lotus or our elite, just say the word. I am fully prepared to support you.]

“Thank you.”

After the conversation ended, Mangnyang and I left the White Lotus Sect. Mangnyang’s complexion was paler than ever, and he looked quite distressed, causing me to eye him with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“…Not okay at all. If you hadn’t supported my internal power, I would have died with my energy severed right there.”

I had been subtly channeling internal energy to him so he wouldn’t crumble under the intangible pressure. But even while receiving my support, each exchange with the Master seemed to drain what little energy he had left. Together, we returned to Jinrang Valley and entered a quiet house to rest.

“Ah…”

Mangnyang spent the next half a moment lying quietly, completely knocked out. Then, when he finally woke up, he spoke.

“I never want to go back there again. It felt like standing on the edge of death.”

“From our conversation, it seems the Master of the White Lotus Sect is quite insistent.”

“Considering his son’s unprecedented curse and a decades-long awaited wish, would he not be? Normally, I shouldn’t have touched such matters.”

Mangnyang spoke with a tone of regret. The implication was somewhat like a feigned helplessness as if he had no choice but to get involved. It seemed Mangnyang had chosen to take on this burden while striving to establish the Thunder God Lineage.

Mangnyang continued, “If I had asked for assistance there, an elite might have been assigned to follow me from the Elder Council… And then everything would have really come to an end. I couldn’t do anything without escaping their watch.”

That made sense. Even just two or three of them grouped together would be powerful enough to complicate things for Lee Kwang. Plus, the Thunder God Lineage and Bancheon Alliance still lacked the means to control them.

“This is quite the worst-case scenario.”

“We’ve gotten through one hurdle at least. We should find solace in the fact that the Master of the White Lotus Sect is comparatively broad-minded. But I doubt his messenger will let things slide easily next time, so we need to prepare now.”

“Absolutely.”

Mangnyang suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Ah, right. I want you to keep an eye on Dongbang Mu-gyeol’s survival, just in case.”

“What do you mean?”

“I showed him kindness today, but he ultimately chose the path of death.”

I pondered Mangnyang’s words and then snapped my knee, saying, “You’re saying I should find out if Dongbang Mu-gyeol can survive after mastering the techniques of the Su Shin Sect.”

“Exactly.”

Dongbang Mu-gyeol mastering the Su Shin techniques and surviving was crucial information. It was clear there was a significant reason why the techniques were exclusively passed down through bloodlines, and not just anyone could learn them. If Dongbang Mu-gyeol managed to survive, it would imply the techniques were merely martial skills. But if he happened to die while training, that would mean something entirely different.

‘The reasons to survive are multiplying.’

While lost in thought, Mangnyang remarked, “The Master had undoubtedly decided to postpone the Thunder God Lineage until he could return Dongbang Mu-gyeol. Now that he’s sent Dongbang Mu-gyeol back and received confirmation, a command to suspend operations will likely be sent to everyone involved with the Thunder God Lineage. There’s no need to worry about fighting them anymore.”

“That’s a relief.”

“The real issue now is negotiating with the True Heaven Alliance. Negotiating face-to-face would be unwise, so it’s time for you to take the lead.”

“Me?”

“Think carefully. You’re the only one capable of this.”

I was puzzled for a moment until it suddenly clicked, and I exclaimed, “The Wudang Sect!”

“Exactly.”

Mangnyang gazed at me intently and said, “You should be well-trained by now in both practice and real combat. Go to the Wudang Sect and prove that you’ve come to return the legendary martial skills of the Wudang Sect to the former elite masters. Then use that debt to move the Wudang Sect to your advantage in concluding negotiations with the True Heaven Alliance.”

I was impressed by Mangnyang’s scheme.

‘There’s absolutely no waste in this plan.’

At first, I had been perplexed about how this plan came about, but over time, as events unfolded, Mangnyang’s strategy proved to be devoid of waste or mistakes, naturally guiding me toward what needed to be done.

“I got it! I’ll definitely persuade those tiger-headed fools.”

“Hmm… but we should consider any possibilities…”

Mangnyang seemed to be feeling a pressure headache and staggered for a moment.

Cough!

Suddenly, he coughed up blood. Startled, I rushed over to support him and check his pulse. Although his bloodlines showed no significant issues, it was clear that he had weakened considerably in that brief moment.

“W-what’s going on? Why are you in such poor shape?!”

I asked in shock. Just months ago, Mangnyang had been full of life training in martial arts, yet now he appeared worn down and on the verge of breaking down. I hurriedly attempted my True Energy Healing Technique and pressed in acupuncture to stabilize him, and Mangnyang laughed lightly.

“Haha. I’ve just been celibate for too long… since you’re such a popular guy, introduce me to a stunning beauty.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?! Do you have any idea what kind of mood you’re in? Mangnyang, you can’t move for at least a month; you need to rest.”

I was angry as a physician. Objectively speaking, Mangnyang was currently in a patient-like condition. If he pushed himself any further, he’d risk a serious illness or complications. To avoid such situations, he had to take sufficient rest and keep his health in check.

In response, Mangnyang chuckled.

“Don’t worry. Once you take care of the Wudang Sect and wrap up the True Heaven Alliance negotiations, you’ll have time for a good rest… By then, I might just sleep all day.”

“…Understood. I’ll definitely succeed.”

I clenched my teeth, responding.

‘It’s my fault.’

When Mangnyang had just been leading the Bancheon Alliance, symptoms were barely visible. But now that he was running an organization, practicing martial arts, strategizing for the Thunder God Lineage, and constantly moving, his fatigue had peaked. The exhaustion was significant enough that even spiritual pills wouldn’t resolve it fully, and pushing harder would lead to an inevitable crisis.

All of this happened because he was working for me. Regret washed over me, and I resolved to find a way to secure some rest time for Mangnyang. Now that I couldn’t back down after coming this far, my only option was to do my best.

As Mangnyang lay back down, he said, “Go to the Wudang Sect with Jin So-cheong.”

“With Jin So-cheong?”

“Having him along will be more helpful than a thousand men; I won’t have to worry if you go with him.”

“I understand. Just rest today and don’t do anything.”

“Hahaha! If that’s the case, maybe I’ll just take a short nap…”

Without another word, Mangnyang fell into a deep sleep. Even in sleep, the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line persisted in his hands, preparing for when he would need to strategize again.

“……”

I looked at him with mixed emotions before standing up.

I had to go to the Wudang Sect with Jin So-cheong.

—————————= Author’s Note —————————=

Please leave a comment for advance ticket recommendations~~

 

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