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“So, about that?”

Deung Gwak talked with the scholars and the Wind Spirit Sect about how they were going to share the Imperial Palace. Deung Gwak was already covertly cleaning house among the faction aligned with the emperor, and the Wind Spirit Sect decided to suppress the martial arts of Luoyang and officially expand their influence. They mentioned that a new emperor, Jo Jae-hoo, would be crowned within ten days.

Mangnyang listened quietly before chiming in.

“Isn’t what Confucius said about not discussing strange powers contradictory to the scholars’ ideology we talked about earlier?”

“Not at all. Confucius forbade discussion of strange powers precisely because such entities exist.”

“What do you mean?”

Deung Gwak explained carefully.

“You all probably know, but beings belonging to the [Darkness] can easily approach those who are lost in vague fantasies. If we talk about strange powers too openly, the shell of reality might shatter easily, and the [Darkness] will beckon humans. The [Old Ruler] might call for disaster if he hears his name invoked.”

“I see.”

“This is extremely dangerous, which is why it’s forbidden. It’s not because strange powers don’t exist; it’s because they are real and dangerous. It’s a warning to not give them any excuse. If we don’t give them any reason, the Otherworldly Races tend to be surprisingly tame.”

Mangnyang glanced at me, clearly understanding Deung Gwak’s point through my past experiences.

In my previous life, while I was suppressing the Imperial Palace and fighting Zhuge Bu, I felt the ominous call of a malevolent deity inviting me into infinite darkness. It was such a terrifying call that I even resorted to self-harm, choosing to end my life to reject it. Perhaps Confucius’s restriction on discussing strange powers was to prevent such calls.

“There may be research or legacies left by alchemists hidden somewhere in the Imperial Palace. If an ordinary person were to encounter them, it could spell disaster, so we must recover them.”

“That’s true. I’ll make sure to mention that below.”

“Although the palace has melted down, there might be something hidden in the basement.”

Mangnyang murmured that when he suddenly asked Deung Gwak, “What if the priest hadn’t gone missing and the darkness in the palace continued to exert influence?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m asking whether the scholars remained silent about their atrocities.”

Deung Gwak sighed at Mangnyang’s question.

“Huh… they probably did.”

“Why’s that?”

“How can you ask a question like that? Our scholars are so weak that we couldn’t even drive out the wicked clans without the power of the White Lotus Sect. Even if we wielded the power of righteousness to counter the Otherworldly Races, it was merely a means of self-defense. While righteousness can suppress the names of the Otherworldly Races, it doesn’t work effectively against powerful Otherworldly beings or humans colluding with them.”

“Hmm…”

“At our core, we are mere Confucian scholars in the world. We’d be stuck playing nice until the situation became dire, at which point we would have to escape Luoyang and hope for a chance later.”

He stroked his chin and continued.

“Satisfied?”

“That was a hasty question; my apologies.”

“Not at all. It was a perfectly reasonable question.”

I knew why Mangnyang had just asked that question. In my past lives, I had upended the forces of the Imperial Palace multiple times, but it was only in the last twenty or so lives that the scholars had emerged prominently. I was curious as to why they had appeared so late.

‘Perhaps… Deung Gwak and the key figures of the scholars sensed a major disaster approaching and evacuated beforehand.’

The scholars didn’t possess the capabilities of exorcists or monks to directly combat the malevolent forces. The group led by Deung Gwak was powerful in the secular world, but they were weak in the shadowy realm. They couldn’t directly counter with martial magic or martial arts but had to maneuver human forces instead.

“By the way, how do you know Yong Junil?”

In response to Mangnyang’s question, Deung Gwak answered.

“The leader of the Huashan Sect came to visit me once in the past. We became acquainted and have kept in touch ever since.”

“What was the occasion?”

“You’re asking too many questions.”

As Deung Gwak frowned, Yong Junil, who had been standing beside him, slowly chimed in.

“In the past, I lacked the funds to establish and run the Huashan Sect, so I sought financial assistance from the elder.”

“Hey, why are you bringing that up?”

“Elder, I’d rather not raise unnecessary suspicions with them.”

Deung Gwak appeared slightly flustered, but Yong Junil quickly retorted.

“Also, I have paid back that money just a short while ago, so our debt is settled. However, the debt of the heart remains unpaid, so today I am here to express my goodwill.”

“I see.”

His answer was smooth as if he had prepared it. Yong Junil certainly seemed to be an intelligent figure.

Feeling a bit awkward, Deung Gwak cleared his throat.

“Hmm! Do you have anything else to say?”

Mangnyang spoke up.

“I’d like to meet the new emperor. Would you introduce me?”

“Of course. I wanted to suggest that myself.”

“And perhaps discuss future matters…”

“Heh.”

Deung Gwak smiled slyly.

“I’ll be reinstating the talented officials and military officers who were previously overlooked by the emperor.”

After finishing our discussions with Deung Gwak, we headed toward the carriage, holding the introduction letter to meet Jo Jae-hoo. Before getting into the carriage, I glanced back at Yong Junil, who stood outside as if to bid us farewell, and bluntly said to him.

“Are you planning to follow us?”

“Wherever I go is my choice.”

“Don’t follow us.”

Yong Junil didn’t respond.

Clatter, clatter.

As the carriage set off on the official road, Mangnyang communicated with me telepathically.

[That guy will follow.]

[I guess so.]

For reasons unknown, Yong Junil seemed to have developed a strong interest in me beyond the fact that my father had suffered at his hands. Since I was concerned that the moves in Luoyang might be sensed by him, Mangnyang made a suggestion.

[Since our meeting with Jo Jae-hoo has been uncovered by Deung Gwak’s house, let’s proceed as planned. After meeting Jo Jae-hoo, let’s leave Luoyang immediately.]

[That sounds good.]

[We’ll talk about Yong Junil later.]

As the carriage rolled along the official road, Mangnyang suddenly spoke to me.

“Baek Woong, look outside. It’s quite spacious, isn’t it?”

“You’re right.”

Clatter, clatter.

“Riding in such a lavish carriage, traveling the official road and enjoying the sights of Luoyang is an experience that ordinary people can rarely have. And the gazes from outside fulfill one’s desire for honor.”

I looked out at the scenery. Indeed, large structures were erected here and there, and there were many people; the commoners and serfs looked at this carriage with awe, their eyes wide with wonder. That made sense, considering that this carriage provided by Deung Gwak was a grand luxury carriage reserved only for high-ranking officials. It wasn’t just pulled by a couple of horses; there were more carriages surrounding us for protection.

“……”

But it didn’t entice me much. Certainly, being looked at with envy by an unspecified multitude provided a significant thrill. Mangnyang had clearly mentioned that thrill to me. Yet, for some reason, this life didn’t seem overly appealing to me. Living a life adorned with honor and wealth, revered by everyone, didn’t feel attractive at all.

‘Why is that?’

Despite being directly linked to my recent thoughts about my craving for honor and desire to be favored, it wasn’t appealing, which left me feeling perplexed. As I pondered this, Mangnyang chuckled softly.

“You’re an enigma. Just when I think I’ve got you figured out, you show another side…”

“Am I a strange person?”

“Well, you’re not an ordinary one. You’ve always had a strong obsession, haven’t you? Don’t you think so?”

Mangnyang rested his chin on his hand while gazing out at the scenery.

“But you can’t judge normalcy or strangeness by that. It’s just one standard for evaluating your character and desires. Only you can determine what kind of person you are. What matters most is whether Baek Woong is satisfied with who he is right now.”

“I see…”

I felt enlightened by Mangnyang’s words. According to him, I had been denying my strong self-display desires, and I was feeling confused. However, that side was also part of me, so there was no need to rush to judge it.

Our carriage soon arrived at Jo Jae-hoo’s mansion. As we disembarked, Jo Jae-hoo came to greet us at the entrance of the garden, and being a prince, his dwelling was resplendent to say the least.

“Zhuge Hyun! It’s been a while!”

Jo Jae-hoo exclaimed as soon as he saw Mangnyang. Mangnyang forced a smile.

“Your Highness, I go by Mangnyang now. And this is…”

“I’ve heard from Deung Gwak. The Avatar of the Dragon.”

“That’s correct.”

Jo Jae-hoo squinted and stared at me for a moment before turning back to Mangnyang with a hearty laugh.

“Ha ha! Regardless of what you are, you are a cherished friend of mine. And your friend is also my friend.”

Jo Jae-hoo beamed with a smile.

“During my tough times in the palace, you often lent me your wisdom and counsel, allowing me to survive all this time. You’re like a life benefactor to me, and I’ve always wanted to bring you back to the palace.”

“You flatter me.”

“But you’ve been all but withdrawn, remaining only in Jinrang Valley, which has left me feeling somewhat lonely. I even arranged a position of Fourth Rank for you through my recommendation…”

Jo Jae-hoo wore a sullen expression. Mangnyang simply smiled wryly, and I could guess his reasoning.

‘If he holds a position in the palace by the prince’s recommendation, he will inevitably attract the eyes of the Astrologer and the Imperial Palace forces. He wouldn’t want to live recklessly on a thorny path…’

From Mangnyang’s perspective, staying comfortably in Jinrang Valley would be more favorable.

“Anyway, come this way. Let’s discuss what we haven’t talked about yet.”

“Yes.”

We followed Jo Jae-hoo into the parlor. Just like a prince’s domain, the interior was equally lavish compared to Deung Gwak’s residence. Jo Jae-hoo chatted with Mangnyang about recent happenings for about half a meal’s time, before getting to the crux of the matter.

“You’ve probably heard from Deung Gwak, but I will soon be crowned emperor of the Great Ming.”

“Congratulations.”

“However, if it continues like this, I’ll just be another puppet controlled by Deung Gwak. His faction played a significant role in overthrowing the previous emperor, and not a single member of the Dukedom or the Golden Eagle Guard is left. I have no power whatsoever.”

Jo Jae-hoo suddenly grabbed Mangnyang’s hand tightly.

“Mangnyang! I plead with you. Help me! Only with you by my side can I be a proper emperor.”

“……”

Jo Jae-hoo’s words carried weight. Though Deung Gwak was the leader of the scholars, he was very candid about his ambitions. Regardless of his pursuit of justice, there was a considerable chance he would steer his faction to dominate politics and make the emperor a puppet.

Mangnyang hesitated before replying.

“Even if you say that, it’s difficult for me. I’m merely an ordinary scholar; how can I take on a high official like Deung Gwak?”

“If you want, I will elevate you to a position of true authority.”

“What?”

“I offer you the position of Prime Minister. Not just in name, but with true authority and total delegation.”

Mangnyang’s expression stiffened, and mine did too.

The Prime Minister.

That indicated the role of Chancellor, and given the current political system, wherein the emperor administered affairs through powers like the Dukedom and the Golden Eagle Guard, it was almost a hollow position. However, Jo Jae-hoo offering Mangnyang the position of Prime Minister meant he was essentially proposing Mangnyang take the lead in Central Politics, overshadowing all high officials. According to that statement, it implied that Mangnyang would rise to political power at such a young age, in his thirties at most.

“Your Highness, that’s…”

“I’m not saying anything outrageous. Deung Gwak had already come to negotiate with me about elevating me to emperor, and in the next negotiation, I will ensure he agrees to whatever I ask. He can’t refuse my words. If he gives up on me and elevates another prince to the throne, rebellions will break out across the land.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s widely known that the princes are too dumb to exploit effectively. If even one of them ascends to the throne, it will lead to bloodshed and chaos as the traitors flourish.”

Jo Jae-hoo spoke earnestly.

‘He’s sharp.’

Inwardly, I thought he was quite a clever individual. Typically, upon becoming an emperor, one would be excessively elated and out of touch, yet he was clear about his position and survival strategies. Undoubtedly, he had the makings of an emperor.

Mangnyang pondered for a moment before answering.

“Your Highness, I apologize, but I have greater matters to attend to. However, I can recommend a talent on par with myself for you. From now on, please discuss major and minor affairs with that individual.”

“Wh-What do you mean? Greater matters?”

Jo Jae-hoo expressed surprise.

“As the next emperor, I am saying that I shall grant you the position of Prime Minister in the Great Ming Empire! Is there anything greater than that?”

While it sounded somewhat arrogant, it was indeed a shocking offer. It was incredible because the average person would struggle to even hold a lowly position within the palace, while being offered the guarantee of the Prime Ministerate by the next emperor was incredibly powerful. Such an offer would be hard for ambitious young talents to refuse! For Mangnyang to flat-out reject it was noteworthy enough to be strange.

“It’s about saving the world.”

“Saving the world?”

“Your Highness must know about the strange beings that lurk within the Imperial Palace. I once feared those beings and chose to hide in Jinrang Valley to grow stronger. And this time, having gained the power of the dragon, I aim to exterminate those malicious beings.”

“……”

“However, I haven’t completely wiped them out. They will return at any time, and when they do, they will be even stronger and corrupt even more people. The Avatar of the Dragon and I must confront them.”

Jo Jae-hoo considered this for a long while before replying.

“… I understand. My thinking was shortsighted.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“So who is this talent?”

“Sa Ma-gyeong.”

“Sa Ma-gyeong?”

Mangnyang replied confidently.

“He is a direct descendant of the prestigious Sa family, known for his exceptional intelligence. During my studies, he helped me a lot. He’s outstanding, and you must make good use of him.”

Jo Jae-hoo nodded.

“Since you recommended him, I trust him. I will appoint him.”

“Thank you.”

I soon departed from Jo Jae-hoo’s house alongside Mangnyang. I then checked whether Yong Junil was making any moves and, upon spotting he was, slipped into a secluded area and used a spell to return to Jangryeong Valley.

Bang!

I asked Mangnyang, “Who is Sa Ma-gyeong? I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s a direct descendant of the Sa family that has existed since the Three Kingdoms period. He possesses exceptional intelligence, and I benefited greatly from his help during my studies. He’s an outstanding figure, sure to aid the new emperor well. In terms of intellect, he might even rival Zhuge Bu.”

“You appear to know a lot of outstanding individuals.”

“Luoyang, the ancient city of a thousand years, attracts many talented people, so it’s only natural. Sa Ma-gyeong is also versed in Qimen Dunjia, so with him maintaining a good relationship with me, I expect a fruitful partnership in the future.”

Seemingly unperturbed, Mangnyang suddenly paused as though to ask me.

“Baek Woong, about what happened earlier with Yong Junil, how did it go?”

I understood why Mangnyang was inquiring. So I answered solemnly.

“Yong Junil seems to have a level above the peak experts.”

“I see…”

That was my impression. Currently, I had risen to a point where I could look down on most peak experts, but since I couldn’t smoothly operate the Heart Command Technique, I was vulnerable in basic techniques. It was only natural that I was struck in a match against Yong Junil or Shadowless Sword Master. Until the Three Treasure Technique matured, these kinds of situations would occur.

And besides my lack of skill, Yong Junil’s proficiency was incredibly high. If it weren’t for the Seven Luminaries or the National Seal, it wouldn’t be strange if he even butchered me. This was a level of swordsmanship far beyond what could be debated among peak experts.

“Do you think Yong Junil is on the brink of the Absolute Realm?”

“……”

I greatly pondered Mangnyang’s question and replied.

“I’m not at the level where I can make that judgment.”

It was a cowardly response, but it was the truth. If I hadn’t reached the Absolute Realm, how could I carelessly discuss its thresholds? Perhaps the Sword Demon, who might have surpassed me by now, could gauge that level, but speculating on Yong Junil’s level while still struggling to master the Seven Great Techniques was nonsensical.

This wasn’t a matter of boasting recklessly nor letting my pride take over. For a martial artist, accurately assessing an opponent’s strength was a matter of life and death. So I had to be honest with Mangnyang despite the embarrassment.

“What I can say for sure is that Yong Junil is the strongest among the leaders of the Nine Great Sects.”

I provided further clarification at Mangnyang’s prompting.

“Moreover, he might even be the top expert of the Wind Spirit Sect.”

“Is that so?”

I spoke cautiously.

“If Yong Bi-cheon doesn’t have the Heavenly Spirit Pill, Yong Junil could very well surpass him.”

Having clashed with Yong Bi-cheon multiple times, I knew his skill in Muwak to some extent. It was clear that Yong Bi-cheon was one of the top peak experts, but my recent encounter with Yong Junil was on an entirely different plane. Rather than having the upper hand through the Heavenly Contraction Sword, we seemed to be evenly matched instead.

Mangnyang folded his arms.

“That’s peculiar. Isn’t Yong Junil’s martial arts teacher his father, Yong Bi-cheon? Yet, Yong Junil’s specialty is swordsmanship rather than anything akin to his father’s aerial arts. Even if he’s a genius, would it make sense for him to turn his back on his lineage and forge a new path in swordsmanship, approaching the brink of the Absolute Realm?”

“That… I don’t know either. But that guy’s swordsmanship is incredibly free and powerful. I think it could stand alongside the Gongsun Sword Technique or the Heavenly Contraction Sword.”

“Could it possibly be the Huashan Sect’s sword arts?”

“……”

I shook my head after pondering.

“That’s not it. I’ve clashed with the elders of the Huashan Sect and their sword techniques felt entirely different. It doesn’t seem to belong to the Wind Spirit Sect either.”

The reason I could assert this was that I was familiar with both the sword arts of the Huashan Sect and the Wind Spirit Sect. Yet, Yong Junil’s techniques didn’t belong to either.

“Baek Woong, we’ve acquired very valuable information. Up until now, in your past lives, Yong Junil has always acted cautiously, so we could only speculate about his level of martial arts. The fact that we personally crossed swords with someone who had cared little even when the Wind Spirit Sect’s special operations unit was wiped out is significant.”

Excited, Mangnyang said.

“Remember the details of that duel we just had and discuss it with the Sword Demon. If you can uncover the origins of his swordsmanship, it might yield unexpected results.”

“Understood.”

I had a single term swirl in my mind.

‘Sword Form.’

Yong Junil had mentioned that term at the moment of the Heart Command Technique. Typically used within classical sword families, I felt this particular term might be nested in the roots of Yong Junil’s renowned swordsmanship.

We headed toward Zhuge Sa. In Jangryeong Valley, the Sibi was diligently nursing him back to health, and the color in Zhuge Sa’s face had notably improved.

I checked Zhuge Sa’s pulse, confirming he had entered a recovery phase and would likely regain consciousness within a few days.

Mangnyang suggested, “Let’s stay here until Zhuge Sa wakes up.”

“That sounds good.”

I saw it as an opportunity to ask Mangnyang for martial arts guidance. After reviewing the techniques I practiced, Mangnyang pointed out several mistakes, and I dedicated my days and nights to training the Soul Exchange Technique and celestial arts.

About three days passed. Finally, Zhuge Sa opened his eyes.

“Have I been asleep for a long time?”

“Not too long, uncle.”

We recounted the events that had transpired during his comatose state. Zhuge Sa joked.

“Instead of summoning the Five Great Physicians in a fuss, you could’ve simply let me die and used the Soul Exchange Technique to transfer my soul into the Portrait Immortal.”

“I opposed that.”

Mangnyang replied solemnly.

“Your true body dying would be a grave issue. Although the Portrait Immortal may resemble a human, it is still an artificial life form, leaving it vulnerable to spiritual attacks. Moreover, once you transferred into the Portrait Immortal, the magical powers from the grimoire you’ve acquired might vanish.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Zhuge Sa turned away, murmuring in a faint voice.

“That was my blunder.”

Why did he apologize so quietly?

I cocked my head, but Zhuge Sa soon regained his composure and said, “So, Baek Woong, you lost to Yong Junil?”

“Ugh.”

As he suddenly poked the painful spot, I became tongue-tied. Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“There’s still a long way ahead~”

“I didn’t expect that guy to be so strong.”

“Indeed. What good fortune it is! If you had aimed to take down Yong Junil during your past life’s journey through reincarnation, how difficult would that have been?”

“……”

“Sometimes, there are benefits to doing things half-heartedly.”

It reminded me of how I had once acted out of rage against the Huashan Sect’s wrongdoings and aimed to toy with Yong Junil. If I had fixed my target on taking him down then, it likely would have led to a considerable struggle. Though I had experienced life twenty times over, I had never come across a force capable of contending with me like Yong Junil.

“Regardless, Yong Junil isn’t the priority now. We should start preparing for Dark Heaven Village as Luoyang loses its appeal.”

“How so?”

“We’ll plan for about five years, then train to enhance our abilities. And you should master the Twin Sword Technique while fully recovering the Fire Dragon Sword through the power of the Fire Spirit. Once we have that level of strength, we can use the Dream Stairs to enter Dark Heaven Village.”

“Why five years? Can’t we train a bit more…”

“Hey. Who knows how long it will take us to find the moon in Dark Heaven Village? I’m just estimating five years to be the maximum, and if the Fire Dragon Sword is fully restored, we can challenge right then and there. Remember, Jeon Wook’s ten-year theory is much shorter than you think.”

Waving him off, Zhuge Sa spoke to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang, do you think five years will be enough?”

Mangnyang nodded.

“That should suffice.”

“Good. Then let’s start training.”

I inquired of Zhuge Sa, “Zhuge Sa, are you alright now? Any side effects from the grimoire?”

“Don’t worry. If I don’t delve deeper, it shouldn’t worsen.”

Zhuge Sa didn’t seem eager to discuss his condition.

As we stayed together in Jangryeong Valley, training alongside Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa, I soon realized the time had come.

‘Today marks a fortnight since our promise.’

For the past few days, I had made excuses to train in the mountains to stay outdoors. As the time got late, I used the spell to head back to Luoyang.

Bang!

I arrived at the reception hall of the Han Clan. It was late at night, with not a single light visible, and the surroundings were enveloped in darkness. However, with the instincts of a martial arts expert, I accurately felt the location of nearby objects as I slowly moved forward.

Swish!

Suddenly, candles ignited from both sides, illuminating the reception hall. And soon, across the hall, Han Baek-ryeong lay sprawled out while holding her smoking pipe.

“You kept your promise, Avatar of the Dragon.”

Indeed. I had made a promise to meet with Han Baek-ryeong, a Dharma Guardian of the Wind Spirit Sect, without telling anyone for a fortnight. Perhaps it might have been better to discuss it with Mangnyang or Zhuge Sa, but for some reason, Han Baek-ryeong mentioned “trust,” so I planned to come alone and apologize to them later. It was a thought imbued with confidence that no matter what trap she had laid, I could break free with my own strength.

Han Baek-ryeong looked at me and said, “Do you have any idea why I wished to meet the Avatar of the Dragon?”

“I don’t know.”

“……”

She dropped her pipe from her hands as she stood up and said, “Avatar of the Dragon. Please defeat the Master of the White Lotus Sect. In exchange, I will offer all that the Wind Spirit Sect has.”

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