Chapter 108
“The darkness of the sea has never felt so ominous.”
I woke up the next morning and stepped out onto the deck. Just before dawn, the deck was cool and carried an indescribable calmness. The scent of the sea wafted up, and I stared blankly at the water.
“They say nature and poets don’t mix.”
It’s a common belief that expressing nature in poetry is a given. Many think a great poet’s job is to describe the beautiful mountains and rivers.
But it’s not like that at all. When humans face nature, whether they are a poet or a genius, they can only feel overwhelmed; inspiration doesn’t just pop into their heads. Nature isn’t something lightweight or just to be described; it’s something to be revered.
What poetry should express is humanity. So, while a poet can enjoy nature, they can’t get lost in it. In fact, the famous poems are all about human experiences laid bare in an elegant manner.
Poetry must not transcend humanity.
That was supported by what I had read from the translated Three Hundred Tang Poems.
While I was lost in various thoughts, I suddenly saw something.
There was a figure standing in the dark middle of the deck. From the figure in white robes, I felt an unknown energy flowing into my body.
The figure spoke to me.
“Heavenly Escape means hiding oneself in the sky.”
Suddenly, a sword appeared before the figure like a mirage. Strangely, the sword was floating in the air without being held by anyone. I couldn’t help but focus on that sword, as it radiated a terrifying power.
“But that is just the surface; the deeper meaning is different. Using the hidden essence to reach forbidden places is what it truly means to escape.”
“What are you talking about?”
“As you may guess, I am the Sword Spirit of Yeodong-bin.”
Sword Spirit!
The ultimate technique that only a great immortal could use. Instead of directly appearing in the world, the immortal projects themselves like the moon reflected on water. Yeodong-bin was speaking to me indirectly through his sword spirit.
The sword spirit continued, “You are currently exposed to a great danger. Initially, I planned to slowly awaken your spirit and impart knowledge, but right now, I will teach you the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.”
“Great danger?”
“Look around you. Although dawn is approaching, dense fog is flowing endlessly over the sea. A powerful being has its eyes on you.”
Suddenly, I turned my head to glance around. Just as he said, it was much too dark to simply be dawn. The thick fog was swirling around like a cloud sea, making visibility a nightmare.
The sword spirit spoke again, “I used divine energy to slow down time slightly, but there isn’t much time left. You must learn and apply the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, or you will not survive here.”
His words made it seem like the crisis was dire. I steeled myself and nodded.
“Alright, I’ll learn. But learning the basics might take some time…”
“The Heavenly Escape Sword Technique isn’t a human martial art. Therefore, there are no basics.”
“…!!”
My mouth fell open in disbelief.
No basics to a martial art? Where have I heard that before? I heard that the greatest masters, who reach the highest levels, finally abandon the basics, but starting with no fundamentals at all? That was absurd! Realms and martial arts are entirely different.
But the sword spirit said this as if it were obvious.
“Listen carefully. In the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, there is no basic; instead, it has a core essence. You must practice this essence completely, and then you can move on to the next.”
“Core essence…?”
“The first one is trust. You must believe without a hint of doubt.”
At that moment, the sword released a blade. Like a flying sword technique, the sword burst forth, and I couldn’t block or evade it. It pierced my heart, but instead of pain, I felt a refreshing energy spreading through my mind.
What is this?
It felt like I was changing somehow, as if my perception and understanding of everything were expanding. Everything felt clearer, transforming like a fog lifting. As this feeling set in, the sword spirit’s last words echoed in my ears.
“Do not try to understand; just accept it. That is how you enter the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.”
Suddenly, the space around me felt like it was speeding up violently. My breaths turned slow as everything transformed into a whirlwind. It was as if the time that Yeodong-bin slowed down was returning to its natural pace.
As the ship was lazily gliding through the sea breeze, it gradually slowed down. The sinister fog thickened, wrapping around the ship like a dark, dreamlike shroud. It was clearly an abnormal phenomenon, causing the crew member on watch to scream in alarm.
“Something’s wrong!!”
The crew member began banging the alert bell. Moments later, the crew members, along with the guardian warriors and the Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association and the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency, burst out from below deck. It was extremely rare for them to sound the alarm this urgently.
The Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association frowned.
“What’s going on?”
The crew member seemed so surprised that he struggled to answer, hurriedly relaying something to the captain. After listening for a while, the captain nodded and turned to the Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association.
“It’s bad news. I think we’ve entered a Windless Zone.”
“What? A Windless Zone?”
“Yes… I can’t explain this fog, but the wind has completely stopped.”
The Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association was furious.
“Captain, do you think I’m an idiot? I’ve spent decades in this trade, accumulating knowledge and experience of the seas! Do you think I don’t know that Windless Zones only occur in specific areas of the vast ocean? I’ve never seen nor heard of a Windless Zone forming in the Yellow Sea! This is not a route where such a phenomenon can occur!”
The Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association was no ordinary fat pig. He was an expert in trade, possessing knowledge and experience equal to that of the captain. The captain knew this and couldn’t refute what he said.
“Y-yes, but… it absolutely shouldn’t be happening…”
The captain sighed heavily.
“There’s nothing I can say to explain it. But it’s true that the wind has completely stopped.”
“And what’s this fog?”
“It seems to be a sea fog, but it’s quite strange.”
“What do you mean strange?”
The captain hesitated before explaining.
“Sea fog occurs when warm and cold air currents meet. But for sea fog to form, it implies that sea breezes should ordinarily be blowing too. It’s puzzling because normally, you wouldn’t expect fog to form in a Windless Zone.”
The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency, who was listening beside them, muttered under his breath, realizing what the captain was hinting at.
“Hmm… That means the fog and the Windless Zone cannot coexist.”
“Yes. According to those who survived a Windless Zone, the area is clear enough that the horizon can be distinctly seen.”
“But now, we have this contradiction happening…”
Everyone in charge fell silent, struggling to find their words, completely lost in the confusion.
I understood the severity of a Windless Zone.
If there’s no wind, the ship hardly moves. This meant that it was possible we’d be stuck and could barely move a hundred chi all day! And the longer we remained isolated in the middle of the sea, the more food supplies would dwindle, leading to a horrific demise.
The captain looked like he couldn’t contain himself anymore.
“Maybe when dawn breaks, the fog will lift a bit. For now, we’ll have the crew on standby and prepare for emergencies.”
“Sure. We’ll keep an eye on the situation from the deck.”
“Yes.”
Despite it being dawn, people began busily moving in the fog of silence. I watched the scene when Seo Mun-hye, who had come near me, spoke up.
“Young Hero, what will you do?”
“What can I do… There’s not much I can do in this situation.”
Raising my internal power to unleash the Thunder Cloud Palm might shatter the fog a bit. But that would mean nothing when the ship isn’t moving!
Of course, I could generate enough force with my internal power to propel the ship forward. That might be the only way to escape the Windless Zone. However, the reason I was choosing to observe without invoking my powers was because of what the sword spirit had warned me about.
And about escaping this crisis with the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.
This Windless Zone and fog were traps aimed at me.
If I acted recklessly, it might result in disaster.
As I stared forward with a serious expression, Seo Mun-hye said, “Young Hero, I intend to protect my sisters and those who are infirm.”
“That’s a good idea. Please take care of them.”
“Yes.”
As Seo Mun-hye disappeared towards the cabin, I once again pondered over what the sword spirit had told me.
‘Believe, huh…?’
Forcing me to believe without any explanation was leaving me baffled.
So, I quietly settled myself in a lotus position on the deck, as it felt like moving inside the cabin would delay my response.
……
About an hour had passed in the fog. The sun had already risen much earlier, yet we remained enveloped in a thick darkness, the fog only deepening. Moreover, there was not even a hint of wind, enveloping us in an unsettling stillness.
This was a first for me; such eerie waters.
And judging by the expressions of the veteran crew members, they seemed just as anxious and restless. Being in tune with nature, they were especially sensitive to any abnormalities because their lives depended on it. A few of them began nervously scratching their heads, grumbling as they battled nausea.
“Morale is dropping.”
Not just the crew members, but also the captain, Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association, and Lord of Seogung Escort Agency, who had gathered together, wore looks of irritation and anxiety. I stepped closer to them and said, “If the sun doesn’t rise soon, shouldn’t we figure out a way?”
“What can we do? There’s no way to row this big ship!”
“So what do you plan to do?”
If we continued to sit idly, our food supplies would dwindle. It was customary to stock enough food for a regular voyage and add an extra week’s worth. This meant that once seven days passed, we’d be completely out of luck! There was also the potential for a mutiny on board, leading sailors to resort to cannibalism.
The Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association said, “I don’t understand… This route has always been safe, how can this happen?”
At that moment, a sound echoed from beyond the darkness, like a huge monster roaring. The sound was loud and intense enough for all on board to hear. I instinctively grabbed my spear, wondering if a demon beast had appeared, but the reactions of others were strange.
“Ugh, ugh…”
“AAAHHH!!!”
Falling to their knees, the crew members showed faces contorted in fear, mumbling nonsense, pounding the ground, or burying their heads in corners. As I glanced next to me, the captain and the other leaders were no different. Their eyes looked glazed, half out of their minds.
“Ughh, ugh, ugh…”
“Hik, no… we’re all going to die…”
“AHHH!!!”
Some began screaming, only to retch afterwards.
What on earth is going on?
In disbelief, I grabbed the Lord of the Great Dragon Merchant Association’s shoulder and shook him hard.
“Focus! What’s going on all of a sudden?!”
“Hik… Ah, no… please… my head…”
This was a man who, just moments ago, had been lucid and clear-minded. But now, as I questioned him, he seemed utterly out of it, like a drunk staggering around. His pupils were wildly shaking, and his heart raced uncontrollably; this was no state of normality.
In an instant, the ship was in a paralyzed state!
I quickly shifted my gaze to another nearby ship when a melodious voice interrupted.
“It’s useless. Ordinary humans cannot withstand this demonic energy.”
“Who are you?”
I turned around to see the girl who had appeared before me the evening prior, hurling insults and vanishing with her high-level technique. This girl stood confidently, arms crossed, pointing towards the fog.
“Look. The fog itself is a technique, one that enhances human confusion and distorts emotions. And the being that let out that roar is immensely powerful, making it strange for humans to endure.”
“… I asked who you are.”
“Hmm. But you really aren’t affected at all. Even pure demons usually can’t remain as calm as you; it’s impressive. This trial is worth something after all.”
The girl smiled brightly, as if deep in thought.
“Ahaha, I’m Miho. Nice to meet you, Baek Woong.”
“…!!”
I was taken aback.
Her form had changed completely, making her unrecognizable, but upon closer inspection, there were hints of her past appearances. And the fact that she referred to herself as Miho, a being who wielded high-level techniques, meant I only knew one such being.
“Mihooo!!!”
“Eek?!”
I rushed forward to embrace her, tears gushing forth.
“AAAHHHHH!!!”
“…?!?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Miho was taken aback, clearly flustered by my unexpected embrace and tears. It was understandable, considering most humans would have feared and been wary of her instead of rushing into her arms.
But to me, Miho was a companion from past adventures—a benefactor who saved me and had once laid down her life to protect me. I still felt anger towards myself for not being able to resolve the situation back then.
Now, here was Miho, reborn before me.
This joy was indescribable.
“You, human. Let go!”
She suddenly extricated herself with a technique, appearing a meter away. Tilting her head, she questioned.
“Are you truly insane? To run at me defenseless and cry in this situation? What’s wrong with you?”
Her cheeks seemed slightly flushed.
“I’m sorry…”
“This maiden has done nothing to warrant an apology. So, stop.”
She took on a serious expression.
I wiped my tears and said, “Are you here because of the Queen Mother of the West’s trial?”
“Hmph, seems you’ve pieced that together. So you’re aware of my true identity.”
“Right. After being with the Queen Mother, I’ve descended to the human realm and am currently enchanting the Heavenly Emperor in Dongyoung, as a Nine-Tailed Fox.”
Miho looked at me with curious eyes.
“Baek Woong. Did you tell the Queen Mother about me?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to know the full story.”
“I want to tell you too, but first, I need to confirm something. Is your trial meant to assist me?”
At my question, Miho nodded.
“That’s correct. From now on, my trial will involve protecting and assisting you for the next ten years.”
“And when that trial ends, you’ll return to the Celestial Realm.”
“Hmph… You seem to know quite a bit about my affairs.”
With a sigh, I said, “Anyway, we don’t have the best situation here. Please help me out. What should we do?”
“Well, it’s not exactly a comfortable situation.”
Miho muttered.
“I sense an aura of a sorcerer beyond the fog, and that beast that just howled is approaching. If we eliminate those two, we might just turn the situation around.”
“Two?!”
“We have no time. You must decide how to react within half a meal’s time. What will you do?”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked. To her, I must look like a rather peculiar and unique human, and she likely wanted to test me through this crisis. It was clear that this was not the typical Miho I had known—asking for my opinion was evidence enough.
After a brief moment, I spoke up, “Miho, if it’s within your abilities, you can handle the sorcerer beyond the fog, right?”
“Of course. That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
I accepted Miho’s confident response. Regardless of how monstrous the otherworldly creature may be, she wouldn’t fear it too much, as long as it wasn’t a truly exceptional being. Besides, Miho was a powerful entity capable of traversing the vast Dongyoung, so this level of confidence was expected.
“Eliminate the sorcerer. I’ll keep those on the ship safe from the beast while you do that.”
“Do you think you can?”
“Yes. Once you take care of the sorcerer, the beast’s movements will likely waver or disappear, and we just have to endure until then.”
“Understood. Be careful.”
With a swift motion, Miho performed a graceful aerial flip and conjured an unusual glider, soaring out and above the ship. It seemed like she was using that to glide through the air effortlessly. The reason she hadn’t called on that glider before was probably that she thought it would be too slow, allowing the Dharma Guardian to catch up to her back on Mount Muni.
I called for Seo Mun-hye inside the cabin. She was startled when she stepped onto the deck and saw the paralyzed state of the ship.
“Quick, we need to get everyone inside and prepare! A giant beast is about to attack!”
“A beast?”
“You need to help me!”
“Understood.”
We hurriedly moved everyone who had been sprawled across the deck into the cabin and took our stand on the deck, awaiting the inevitable encounter.
Kuuhh…
I could feel something swimming in the dark sea. ‘It’ was radiating a grotesque energy, slowly revealing its shape from within the fog.
“…!!!”
As ‘it’ emerged from the fog, I nearly dropped my sword in shock.
“Th-That beast!”
A colossal, semi-transparent monstrosity—far larger than a cow! It resembled a lizard, draped in a squishy, translucent body, with see-through wings flapping as if it was prepared to leap into the water.
“Bi Gang-jang!!”
This was the very creature I had summoned using the powers of the Golden Eagle Guard, the one that killed me in the past. Here it was again, standing before me.
Bi Gang-jang slowly lifted its slimy body onto the deck. As it noticed that I and Seo Mun-hye were alive and standing, its crimson eyes glimmered with a voracious hunger. The pressure of its wind-like tentacles circled around us. This was no natural being.
Kiiruruuk!
Bi Gang-jang let out a cry comparable to that of a seagull, and a headache began to creep up on me.
‘Damn it…’
Instinctively, I felt that this Bi Gang-jang was far stronger than the one I had faced before, meaning it could likely penetrate most of my physical forces, nullifying almost all my attacks!
