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I had a chat with Ahn Hyeon after the Blood Blade Group’s purging was done. The main topic was how to handle post-processing and how to return the captives caught by the pirates.

I deliberately avoided mentioning the brutal methods of Lingchi. No matter how steely-willed Ahn Hyeon is, I thought he wouldn’t appreciate me bringing it up.

While we were talking, Ahn Hyeon’s deputy chimed in.

“We can’t stay here for long. While we’ve dealt with the Blood Blade Group, our merchant association might still face threats from minor pirates. We need to hurry and escort them.”

“Are you planning to take the captives to Goryeo?”

By ‘captives,’ I meant everyone seized by pirates as slaves. In reality, we had wiped out almost all the pirates except for a very few. There were about 70 slaves, so how to handle them was also an important question.

Ahn Hyeon’s deputy thought for a moment before responding.

“That seems to be the plan. We should return the Goryeo people home first, and take the rest back to the Central Plains.”

“I can speak a bit of Goryeo. I think I can help.”

Ahn Hyeon’s deputy’s face lit up. “Oh, is that so?”

“Then we’ll finish preparations and leave after three shih.”

I had been looking after the details of the captives until now. The reason I brought this up was to avoid raising suspicion while getting information from them by approaching directly, as it seemed the pirates’ slaves might know things the naval forces wouldn’t.

I returned to where the pirate slaves were gathered. Upon my arrival, a few of them cried tears of joy.

“Ah… Doctor Baek!”

“You came again!”

“Let me take a look.”

I approached them to check their conditions. The emergency surgeries for the severely injured were already completed, and especially for those whose limbs were rotting, I had amputated their affected parts to prevent further deterioration.

Moreover, those with significant injuries to the spine, pelvis, and legs were now able to move, thanks to Huatuo’s Five Animals Play and acupuncture. I healed the internal organs of the women who had suffered internal injuries due to prolonged sexual exploitation with Qi techniques, ensuring that pregnant women did not suffer from postpartum poisoning.

The military doctor standing next to me, also treating the captives, expressed his admiration.

“Remarkable. This must be the distinguished medical skills of a prestigious family! You look young, how can you have such skills?”

“It’s just a skill from practice. However, some can’t be treated without medicine.”

“Haven’t you already healed those temporarily?”

“Over half of these people owe their rescue to you.”

I felt a bit embarrassed by the military doctor’s praise. After all, I had been taught for nearly ten years under Hwa Seong-myeong, the Guangming Divine Doctor, who was one of the Five Great Physicians, continuing the medical techniques of Hua Tuo. This level was only expected.

After performing Hua’s 108 Needles on the feverish people, I said, “This urgent treatment is done for now. Let’s categorize their nationalities.”

As per my request, the captives revealed their origins. Among the 70 of them, over 50 were Central Plains people, and around 20 were Goryeo people. After classifying them, I noted down their approximate names and origins, as well as brief characteristics of each individual. Once I completed this task, I looked at them and said, “We’ll drop off the Goryeo people first in Gaegyeong. The Central Plains folks will stop by Gaegyeong before heading back to the Central Plains. Also, anyone who knows secrets related to the pirates should come find me before we leave. Depending on the information, I will provide a substantial reward.”

At that moment, one of the captives raised their hand excitedly.

“I… I know something!”

“Me too!”

About 12 others joined in. The rest seemed to know nothing, despite wanting to speak.

“Good.”

Seeing the mix of men and women, I pondered for a moment and then called them all over separately. We went to a secluded building where I began questioning each individual one by one.

During the questioning, I found most of the information was useless, leaving me disappointed. It seemed many just raised their hands for urgent funds when returning home. However, five pieces of information proved to be quite useful.

“There’s a secret space beneath the pirate chief’s residence. I’ve seen him sneak in there.”

This came from a pregnant woman. She seemed to have been a beautiful lady while in the world above, but her appearance had deteriorated significantly after much torment. Even so, she still held some noble beauty and grace, likely having been brought along to the pirate chief’s escapades. I promised her a reward.

“They have gathered gunpowder in a crevice on the north side of the island.”

“I saw a high-ranking member of the Blood Blade Group showcase a famous blade in his personal space. He hid it behind the wall.”

“The place they sell slaves is in the Gyeongju area of Henan Province. You’ll encounter slave traders there.”

And the last piece of info particularly caught my attention.

“Sometimes, Central Plains people come to this island and seem to be talking to the pirates. They visit once every month or so, and they looked noble, making even the pirate leaders seem troubled.”

A Central Plains individual making the pirate chief uneasy? I had to ask.

“Were they wearing clothes embroidered with golden threads?”

“Yes? Uh, yes!”

“……”

I groaned internally. ‘The Golden Eagle Guard visited this island.’ This confirmed Mangnyang’s guess that the Sea God Clan and the Golden Eagle Guard might be in cahoots. If the pirate chief was nervous, it wasn’t just about this small pirate group; the Sea God Clan behind them was certainly involved.

It wouldn’t take long for word about our naval forces’ assault on this pirate island to reach them. In the meantime, my whereabouts would likely be leaked as well. The thought of once again entangling myself with the Golden Eagle Guard both annoyed and relieved me.

‘I must fulfill General Jang Gyeong-ik’s request.’ I still believed the Golden Eagle Guard was not yet at the point of actively hunting me. As long as I used General Jang Gyeong-ik’s influence as a shield and played dumb, I might be able to protect myself from them. To do that, it was crucial to fulfill his request and forge a connection with him.

After gathering the information, I took action. According to the first piece of info, I entered the pirate chief’s residence, accompanied by the pregnant woman, and opened the door to the secret space she indicated. Inside, there lay a dazzling pile of gold and silver treasures sculpted from stone. Since I was alone with her, I thought it unnecessary to inform others about this.

She remarked, “I’ve already been dirtied and humiliated, so it will be hard to live if I return to the Central Plains. Would you share some of this treasure with us?”

It seemed she aimed for a transaction instead of handing it over to the naval forces. After a moment of thought, I replied, “Of course, it’s not difficult to give. But gold and silver treasures can bring misfortune if one doesn’t have the ability to protect them or sell them.”

The woman continued, “So, I have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“There’s an old woman among us who seems completely dazed and helpless.”

“Ah.”

I recalled seeing one. While she may have been a stunning beauty in her youth, her eyes had turned blank and lifeless, her entire body devoid of strength. It looked like she had sunk into complete madness. The woman looked at me and continued, “No one—neither the pirate chief nor the officers—dared to touch her. She seems to have passed through here momentarily and was originally a martial artist—an exceptional one at that. If you can revive her martial arts, we can live under her protection.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Though she is mad, she has a bond with us.”

It seemed the women had already formed their own circle, building solidarity among themselves. It looked like they wanted to turn this martial artist into their ally for protection. I found it to be a reasonable idea and nodded.

“Alright then. Let’s see.”

I went to where the captives were gathered and extracted the dazed, white-haired woman. I conducted an examination on her body while sitting down in a private room.

‘Hmm. There seems to be nothing wrong with her health. There are no traces of sexual assault. And her internal energy seems sealed… So it’s true.’

While I hadn’t noticed at first, it became clear each time I filled her with Qi that she bore evidence of sealing. I looked into her eyes, which were as lifeless as a dead fish’s, and she responded childishly no matter what I said.

I inspected her meridians and dantian closely. To my surprise, her meridians were unbroken, and the dantian was intact. It seemed whoever sealed her wanted her not as a sexual slave but for some form of plan. The intent likely was to restore her martial arts and intelligence when needed.

Fortunately, the method of sealing was one I recognized. It was the Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique, a superior sealing technique that could suppress human intelligence and internal energy, but there was a counter technique transmitted within Huatuo’s teachings.

‘Well, even if her meridians were severed and her dantian shattered, with Huatuo’s methods, I could heal her.’

I thought to myself as I placed my hand on her dantian. I began the Anti-Pressure Technique by retracing the sealed acupoints. Slowly, as I started to unravel the seal marked on her dantian, the white-haired woman began to tremble.

“Aak… Ugh… Ah…”

As I released about eighty percent of the seals, a surge of profound internal energy burst forth, rippling around her body. I was startled by the unexpected intensity of the energy, which surpassed that of any expert I had encountered.

‘What? How can this be?’

Finally, as I inserted the last needle and released all the seals, she trembled all over and slumped down.

……

A long silence followed. After some time, the white-haired woman slowly lifted her head and began to stir. Sitting in her chair, she examined herself and gazed at me with an intent stare.

“Did you save me?”

Her voice was clear. I nodded, pulling out the acupuncture needle.

“Yes.”

“Where am I? Where am I?”

“You are in the lair of the Blood Blade Group in the Yellow Sea, and you’ve been living in the Underground Brain Prison as a slave for several months.”

“Ah…”

She turned her head sadly and began to weep. Overcome by sorrow, her shoulders shook as she cried. It was indeed a deep, heart-wrenching tear, and there was nothing I could do to console her silent sobbing.

After a time of intense weeping, she regained her composure and spoke.

“My name is Seo Mun-hye of the Shadowless Gate. Thank you for saving me, Young Hero.”

“……!!”

Loudly surprised, I asked, “Are you the daughter of the Shadowless Gate leader, the Sword Demon?”

She wiped away her tears and answered, “Yes.”

“Then how did you end up in such a place?”

“……”

She seemed to consider it too soon to trust me with that information. Well, that’s a normal reaction. I waited until she calmed down further before saying, “What I can share is that those who sold you after trapping you with the Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique had motives for wanting to use you. The proof is that you are still a Virgin Earth Goddess, and even the pirate chief didn’t dare to touch you.”

Upon hearing the term “Virgin Earth Goddess,” Seo Mun-hye’s face flushed bright red.

“Did you see that?”

“I’m a physician. I can tell just by reading the flow of Qi without looking.”

“Ah, I see.”

Keeping it matter-of-factly, I continued, “Do you remember anything from when you were dazed?”

“I remember the older sisters who tried to help me. The events of that time feel like a hazy dream.”

“Yes. It was these women who asked me to save you. Had they not said so, I might have left you be.”

“Ah…”

“I understand that you want to return to the Shadowless Gate as soon as possible, but those women are in dire condition. They are, in fact, the most miserable of people.”

Seo Mun-hye understood my intentions and nodded with a firm expression. “Of course. I will do everything I can to help them.”

“How do you plan to help?”

“I want to take them back to the Shadowless Gate.”

It seemed she wished to gather those who would be mistreated upon returning home and grant them a second life in the Shadowless Gate. I found it surprising and asked, “Are you sure that is okay?”

“Of course.”

I felt relieved. I stood up and said, “We defeated the pirates and will soon be setting off for Gaegyeong. After reaching Gaegyeong, you’ll return to the Central Plains, and I hope you keep your resolve as you promised.”

“W, wait a moment. What is your name, Young Hero?”

“I’m Baek Woong.”

She hesitated before asking, “Aren’t you curious as to how I ended up in this situation?”

“Of course, I am curious.”

As I gathered the acupuncture tools and bedding I had used, I continued, “However, it’s not my place to pry if you don’t wish to share.”

“……”

“Then I will be off.”

I left Seo Mun-hye in the cabin and quickly got to my necessary tasks. First, I told Ahn Hyeon’s deputy about the gunpowder I heard about, and he dispatched soldiers to move it.

Thus, the attention of the crowd was temporarily diverted from me. Then, I headed to the pirate chief’s secret space, gathering as much valuable treasure and precious metals as I could carry into a box to stash away in the ship’s most hidden area.

I then set out to find the famous blade rumored to be a treasure of the pirate officers. Pushing into the hidden space tucked between stone walls, I found… indeed, a beautifully glowing sword was lying there. The word “Murasame” was etched into its sheath. It appeared to be a legendary blade forged in Dongyoung land. It was a remarkable piece, more impressive than any weapon I had ever seen. I lamented that my expertise lay elsewhere. Of course, I could wield it decently but it would shine exponentially in the hands of a true swordsman.

After securing the blade, I returned to the ship. There, Seo Mun-hye was quietly waiting in her spot.

“Have you finished your business?”

“Indeed. We should be setting sail soon, so you should go wait.”

“About that… I want to explain why I ended up here.”

“Oh?”

It appeared to be a fortunate turn of events. Personally, had I tried to pry the information out of her earlier, she would not have willingly shared it due to her distrust of a stranger. But after handling my affairs and perhaps reflecting on her situation, it seemed she was ready to confide in me as her sole trustworthy ally.

Seo Mun-hye began, “To be honest, I once participated in a martial arts tournament in hopes of gaining recognition.”

“A martial arts tournament?”

“Yes. You may not have heard of it, but it’s called the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament.”

“……!!”

I was taken aback. Never would I have thought I’d hear that name in a place like this.

“I know it well.”

“Really?”

She looked astonished, and I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.

“A tournament where one can gain amazing spiritual pills, treasures, and secret techniques in Luoyang…”

How could I not know? I had participated and almost lost my life there. I barely survived thanks to the help of the Han Clan and it had left a heavy mark on me.

“You knew…”

“Did you perhaps participate?”

Seo Mun-hye turned her face away, visibly embarrassed.

“Yes. I lost in the fourth round. After that, I believe I was sealed and brought here…”

It really was self-inflicted consequences. But there must have been personal reasons for a noble like the daughter of the strongest Martial Path clan to participate in such a dark tournament. I fell into quiet thought, finally breaking the silence with, “I initially believed the meridians would be severed and the dantian discarded, but it seems the organizers trusted the Forbidden Heaven Seal Technique to an incredible degree and figured there might be a reason to keep your martial arts intact.”

The fact they did not dare to touch her body indicated they had a special purpose. Obviously, the party involved would be unaware, so from this point forward it would require conjecture on my part.

“Thank you once again, Young Hero.”

Suddenly, the ship rocked greatly beneath me.

“Let’s discuss the details slowly later.”

“Yes.”

As I returned to my cabin, I contemplated, ‘I’ve learned the location of the Sea God Clan’s city, so I’ll come again next time.’

The Sea God Clan was a race so mystical that even the Twelve Joules were wary of them. After all, if they resided beneath the sea, I would have to swim there, and doing so alone to confront the Sea God Clan would be utterly foolish. Furthermore, I intended to join the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in this lifetime, making it even more vital not to dive headfirst into danger.

We rejoined the merchant ship heading to Gaegyeong at a close coastal distance, just a day’s journey away. The Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association and the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency were astonished upon hearing the events that transpired as Ahn Hyeon briefed them on what occurred.

And upon seeing the pirate heads brought back, they couldn’t hide their admiration.

“Indeed, you are exceptional!”

“This makes our trade routes significantly safer.”

“Haha…”

Once their conversation had wrapped up, I approached the Lord of Seogung frowning slightly. I asked discreetly, “Lord, may I ask if you have seen a vessel that resembles this?”

“What kind of vessel?”

I pulled out a rough drawing to show him. Squinting his eyes, he shook his head.

“I don’t think I have seen one. But what is it?”

“It’s something my acquaintance from Goryeo is desperately looking for, said to be a valuable artifact from the Western Regions.”

I brushed over the details, and the Lord of Seogung nodded.

“I really don’t know. At least in our mercantile operations, we do not handle items from the Western Regions. If such a thing exists, perhaps the Lord of Great Dragon might know.”

Next, I sought out the Lord of Great Dragon. He also greeted me with a welcoming smile on his face.

“Ah! I have heard of your achievements! Why not join our association? I promise you the role of the second in command!”

“Hahaha… But before that, may I ask if you’ve seen this vessel?”

When I showed him the drawing, the Lord of Great Dragon responded with curiosity.

“That’s not a vessel but an artifact from a far-off region beyond Tianzhu. It’s called the Golden Lamp, and it’s used to light incense or brighten an area when lit. It produces clouds of smoke nicely.”

“A Golden Lamp?”

“Why do you seek it?”

“My acquaintance from Goryeo is adamant about having it.”

“It’s not a valuable item, so if you want it, I can give it to you.”

“Alright, let’s go get it.”

We walked together to the storage of goods from the merchant association. After he unlocked the storage with a key, he pulled out a box hidden in a corner, which contained over ten Golden Lamps. The Lord of Great Dragon laughed heartily.

“Take them if you want. This amount is nothing…”

“But it’s a good from the Western Regions, isn’t it?”

“Well, the merchants from the Western Regions often come to trade such items in Gaegyeong. Besides, it is not precious; simply an everyday item!”

“I see. Thank you.”

I accepted the box of Golden Lamps from the Lord of Great Dragon and returned to my room. Once inside, I laid the lamps on the floor and pondered deeply.

‘What if something the Sea God Clan desperately seeks is hidden among these?’

It felt like I had hit a brick wall. Just like the Lord of Great Dragon had said, these lamps were likely ordinary commodities. I was unsure how to differentiate any significance they might hold. As I pored over them, I noticed that one of the lamps sparkled uniquely in golden light.

“Could this be…?”

Upon a closer look, I noticed strange inscriptions etched on the side of the Golden Lamp while the others had none. Picking up the lamp, I examined it from side to side and, true to its intended use, struck a flame.

Swishhh — !!

“……!!!”

What is this?!

In that moment, an unknown vista flooded my mind.

My viewpoint shot forth at incredible speed, suddenly soaring high into the sky. Then, it dove towards an expanse beneath the ocean, crashing down into the deep blue. As I pierced the depths of the dark sea, I glimpsed a city illuminated by light. This description matched almost exactly what the pirate chief had described about the underwater city inhabited by fishmen.

As I swept my gaze inside the city, there were odd buildings standing everywhere, and fishmen wielding tridents or swords wandered about. They made bubbling sounds, occasionally flashing their bulging eyes.

As I delved deeper within, a vast, obscured emptiness appeared, revealing a colossal “something” even deeper than the underwater city—which undoubtedly took the form of a humanoid fish. The presence it exuded overwhelmed me, filling me with simultaneous awe and dread.

Could that be the Sea God?

My viewpoint drifted further, swiftly moving again. After a stretch of time, it halted somewhere unknown.

This place was another city—this time even more incomprehensible than the previous—a peculiar city that no human civilization in history could even imagine.

Submerged deep in the ocean, an eerie energy radiated from this grand underwater city, making my heart tremble just from observing it indirectly.

What was it? What on earth could this be?

There weren’t any fishmen wandering around, but the moment my vision reached the entrance and crossed it—I sensed the presence of [gigantic beings] slumbering in the heart of this city. It felt akin to the immense magical aura of Izanagi no Mikoto—at least ten overwhelming entities could be felt combining human comprehension with unfathomable power.

They were howling.

I felt the magic gods were sleeping within the abyss. I couldn’t imagine entering that city with my sanity intact.

Once again, the viewpoint shifted. After a brief silence, I found myself in a place I could not comprehend. It resembled wandering in a dream—a site where dreams and nightmares melded indistinctly.

A gigantic land mass lay ahead, with an enormous lake or sea-like expanse stretching out in the middle. The moon felt distressingly close, and around were creatures from the otherworld living their lives. There were bizarre beasts I had never seen before; giant insects, mountain goats, and humans with dog heads among them.

While observing, I began to receive indistinct whispers.

[Will you go?]

No! Not now!

I desperately refused. Then, the whisper responded again.

[Understood…]

“…….!!”

Suddenly I returned to the reality of my surroundings. My body was drenched in sweat. Having glimpsed the unexplainable underwater city and otherworld, I felt as though my mental strength was teetering on the edge. I could hardly believe such places existed in this world. Under normal circumstances, I thought I would be driven to madness, but I merely cleared my throat once.

I glanced down at the Golden Lamp and murmured, “I see. This is what it truly is.”

This item allowed glimpses into the territories of otherworldly beings or malevolent gods and may even serve as a portal to teleport there! It was an incredible demon artifact related to other realms, which was likely what the Sea God Clan sought; and now it was in my possession.

 

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