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Sounds of a guqin floated through the air.

The subtle yet brilliant melody, reminiscent of twilight, caressed my ears. Slowly, I opened my eyes, captivated by the grandeur and elegance of the sound. I realized I was standing before an oddly-shaped building.

“Where am I…?”

I soon recognized this place as an incredibly strange location.

The sun and the moon hung in the sky simultaneously, dividing it into halves of yin and yang. To the left, a clear blue sky basked in sunlight, while the right side showcased a full moon illuminating the night.

Moreover, the line that separated day and night was this very building where I stood. It was astonishing that this boundary of the half-and-half world was drawn right where I was. I examined this unique architecture closely and it appeared to be a massive gate.

What on earth is happening?

Where am I?

I was pretty sure I used the Great Destruction technique and perished along with the Sea God.

Just then, as I stood there dumbfounded, unable to act, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me, draped in dark robes.

[Apostle.]

Out of nowhere, a guy cloaked in darkness materialized. Upon closer inspection, he didn’t look human at all; he was composed entirely of swirling dark clouds. At first glance, he resembled Jeon Wook, but there was something off—his attire was completely different.

He seemed to hold considerable rank, so I decided to ask him directly.

[Who are you?]

Wait, what? Did my mouth just utter those words in spirit language? So, does that mean this isn’t the material world? As I raced through thoughts in my mind, the figure who called me “Apostle” bowed slightly and replied.

[I am Yeol, in charge of the Five Demon Gate.]

I was taken aback; I recognized that name from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

[So… this is the Five Demon Gate?]

The Five Demon Gate, reputed to be a result of Jeon Wook’s achievements on the Day and Moon Mountain, served as a control center for the movements of celestial bodies like the sun and moon. My astonishment stemmed from the fact that the Day and Moon Mountain and the Five Demon Gate were said to exist at the “ends of the earth,” a mythical realm about which we knew very little.

Yeol confirmed my thoughts.

[Yes, indeed. Here, the sun and moon converge.]

[Am I dead?]

I needed to clarify that first. Finding myself in a place regarded as myth by sages and Taoist masters, along with my strange speaking behavior, left me with little doubt that I had kicked the bucket. Yeol hesitated, his face twitching slightly before he replied.

[This place is unrelated to the afterlife.]

[…?]

[Please follow me. The King is waiting.]

His tone dripped with formality. Being non-human, his expression was unreadable, but it was evident he maintained a professional stance toward me. I anxiously checked my body, confirming that none of the items I usually carried, like the Heavenly Secret or the Golden Lamp, were present.

[How can I trust you and follow? How do I know you’re not just a trickster claiming to be Jeon Wook’s subordinate?]

[Do as you wish. If you can’t pass through the Five Demon Gate by your own might, you’ll wander here until the universe collapses.]

Suddenly, the thought struck me that the realm where the Three Sovereigns resided might be miles away from reality. Yeol’s words could very well be sincere.

[I’ll keep the door open. Please follow me.]

With that, Yeol turned and walked toward the Five Demon Gate, quickly vanishing through its entrance. The interior was engulfed in disorienting flashes of chaos, leaving no clue what lay beyond.

‘Looks like I have no choice but to go in.’

Reluctantly, I decided to heed Yeol’s advice. After all, standing here wouldn’t yield any changes. With a mix of apprehension and anticipation, I stepped into the gigantic Five Demon Gate. It was an immensely broad gate, but oddly enough, I felt myself getting sucked in and shrinking as I entered.

Once I emerged, I found myself inside what appeared to be a grand palace. I was surrounded by spirits, unlike any ordinary ghosts, they shimmered with an ethereal spirit energy that gave them an eerie appearance. Despite their bizarre forms, I sensed no aura of malevolence.

[This way.]

Gulp.

As I followed Yeol, I swallowed hard. The ancient spirits scattered about weren’t just run-of-the-mill ghosts; they were definitely lesser divinities, their appearance may have been shabby, but their power was undoubtedly at the Great Immortal level or beyond. Furthermore, I could feel a far more profound divine energy radiating from Yeol as he guided me, solidifying my realization that this was indeed the palace of Jeon Wook.

Welcome to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, the foundation of the Three Sovereigns from ancient times.

The spirits occasionally glanced at Yeol but soon lost interest and busied themselves with their activities. They were playing a game, which, unlike the human version, had ten rows stretching across each side. Overall, the atmosphere was one of carefree leisure.

As I trailed behind Yeol, curiosity got the better of me after passing through countless rooms.

[Yeol, how much further are we going?]

[We’re heading to the royal court where the King awaits.]

[But we’ve already passed numerous rooms and halls!]

I had wandered through the emperor’s palace but nothing compared to this sprawling complex. Following Yeol, I estimated we must have passed over forty rooms, and yet, there was still no sign of arriving.

Yeol responded to my remark.

[We’ll cross beyond ninety palatial rooms and three gates. We’re halfway there, so don’t worry.]

[…]

This place was colossal. Each room was at least the size of ten spans; it was an unreasonably vast palace. Along the way, a giant guardian appeared, towering over us. Upon seeing Yeol, the guardian nodded in respect.

‘Yeol must be of considerable rank.’

Until now, Yeol had not bowed to anyone, and every spirit greeted him with deference.

As per ancient records, it made sense. Yeol was Jeon Wook’s grandson and the highest deity’s son. He could be considered on par with the Great Immortal Peng Zuo and if he held a significant role in conjunction with Jeon Wook, that meant he was royalty of immense power. Thus, it was no surprise that he was formidable. However, I noticed something was off; unlike the descriptions in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Yeol lacked the bizarre features he was said to possess.

[You look different than what’s recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Is it wrong?]

[ … I had a different appearance back then.]

[What do you mean?]

[To the divine, looks don’t matter much.]

Yeol’s cryptic response suggested he didn’t wish to delve into that. I continued walking behind him until we finally arrived at a colossal royal court.

Thud!

The vast space must have extended for over ten miles! This wasn’t simply a room; it felt as if the entire sky and earth were being embraced by the palace. In front of me sat a massive dark giant, resting on a throne and gazing down upon me.

The dark giant donned ancient ceremonial robes much like those I had seen during the Offering Ceremony. The figure was a magnified version of the image I had seen before, and I held my breath. Flanking the throne were thousands of ancient spirits standing in formation, preserving an atmosphere of solemnity and grandeur.

Yeol stepped forward and knelt down.

[My King, I have brought the Apostle.]

[Well done, Yeol. Return to the Five Demon Gate.]

[I humbly obey.]

Swish!

The moment Yeol finished speaking, he vanished like smoke. Clearly, as a divine being, teleportation must have been second nature to him. Left standing awkwardly, I noticed the giant watching me subtly smile.

[Welcome. My Apostle.]

Unquestionably, it was Jeon Wook.

For reasons unknown, I had been summoned to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, which was said to lie beyond dimensions. I felt no ill intent from him, rather it seemed he was pleased, so I decided to ask.

[… Why am I here?]

Having accidentally followed Yeol, the gatekeeper of the Five Demon Gate, I found myself in the royal court but didn’t understand the reason for my presence. Jeon Wook answered my query.

[Because I called you.]

That was an unmistakable answer. My expectations became reality, yet I was still confused, so I inquired further.

[I thought I was on the brink of death… Is this the underworld?]

Jeon Wook laughed heartily.

[This isn’t the underworld! While the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace is filled with spirits, it is far detached from the realm of the dead.]

His laughter echoed through the vast chamber. He continued.

[My Apostle, Baek Woong.]

[Yes.]

[You have accomplished something monumental.]

[…]

I realized he was aware of my recent confrontation with the Sea God. However, standing before a sovereign, I couldn’t find the right words and hesitated until Jeon Wook spoke again.

Boom!

In an instant, a lavish feast was laid out before me, replicated for the throngs of spirits on both sides. Jeon Wook surveyed the crowd and declared,

[First, let’s eat.]

[Ohhh!]

The spirits erupted in cheers. It seemed Jeon Wook’s mood was lifted as he added,

[Enjoy your meal.]

Slurp!

Thousands of spirits began voraciously consuming the food set before them. It was perfectly acceptable for them to eat with such fervor at the Lord’s command.

[Musicians, play.]

Tingling sounds reverberated from the corner of the court, where dozens of spirit musicians began playing ancient instruments, producing a clear, melodious tone. I had wondered if this guqin sound was echoing from this very spot. While I wasn’t an expert in music, I could tell they possessed exceptional skills from the quality of the tones.

Feeling a bit more comfortable, I cautiously picked up my chopsticks and reached for a meat dish.

‘Oh? What’s this!’

A fragrant wave of flavor exploded in my mouth. I could undoubtedly proclaim it was the finest culinary masterpiece I had ever tasted. It was a dish I had never seen before, but its taste overrode any concern for its appearance.

What sort of meat was this? It didn’t seem like pork, beef, or chicken. The texture and satisfaction were unparalleled. Enchanted by the flavors, I couldn’t resist sampling more dishes, each more exquisite than the last.

As I indulged heartily, Jeon Wook spoke up.

[The Sea God’s downfall was witnessed by the majority of the Three Sovereigns.]

[Guhk!]

Just as I was pouring myself a drink, I almost choked. What on earth was he saying?

When I put my chopsticks and cup down and turned to him, Jeon Wook continued.

[Originally, we had a mutual non-aggression pact with the Old Ruler and the Seven Luminaries. Before you clashed with the Sea God, there were various discussions regarding you taking on the mantle of the Seven Luminaries’ protector, particularly from Nüwa, who even suggested killing you for that purpose.]

[…]

[Just like with Gong Gong, who opposed me.]

I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. If Nüwa truly set her mind to it, the Three Sovereigns and the Celestial Realm could easily enact her will, and I’d end up like a crippled turtle. Being locked in a state of neither life nor death, like Gong Gong, would be an unbearable fate.

[But I rejected Nüwa’s suggestion, and we contacted ‘them’ to coordinate our plans. Ultimately, we concluded that the Sea God was fair game to eliminate.]

[… Huh?]

[He had gotten too arrogant, using the time of the pact to act out. The Old Rulers also wanted to teach him a lesson. Since our interests aligned, we agreed with them to dispose of the Sea God, watching over your battle.]

[Hmm.]

The rumors that the Sea God had earned the enmity of the Old Rulers, as indicated by the Master of the Twelve Joules, seemed to be true. At the very least, it didn’t appear the Master had deceived me regarding the campaign against the Sea God.

[If you found yourself in dire straits, we intended to intervene and help you take on the risk of the Law of Cause and Effect, though it seems that was unnecessary. ]

So, does that mean eliminating the Sea God wasn’t a problem after all? As I listened to Jeon Wook, I organized my thoughts and spoke up.

[The Master of the Twelve Joules seemed intent on rapidly diminishing the Sea God’s power, possibly by targeting the nearby Fisherman City.]

[That sounds right. As a mortal, that would be his best method. However, the Sea God is, after all, an Old Ruler, and his awareness extends across the great ocean, so it wouldn’t be long before he caught wind of it.]

[Does that mean it was doomed to fail?]

[It was just bad luck. The Sea God must have been resting nearby and rushed over.]

So, running into the Sea God had been a matter of sheer luck.

Curious about the “time of the pact,” I asked him.

[What does the time of the pact refer to?]

[It’s a secret known only to the Great Gods, so I can’t tell you.]

With that, Jeon Wook was adamant, leaving me with the sense that he wouldn’t entertain any further questions. Clearly, the time of the pact was highly significant.

 

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