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0109 ———————————————-

Dark Heaven Village

In the standoff against Bi Gang-jang, it was Seo Mun-hye who made the first move. With sharp eyes, she glared at Bi Gang-jang and unleashed her sword qi.

Pew pew pew!

Bi Gang-jang stood still for a moment, then, hit by three beams of sword qi, spewed a splash of blue blood from its transparent body. Shocked, it let out a seagull-like screech before quickly retreating.

‘ Sword qi works well against it, after all.’

I recalled my previous encounter with Bi Gang-jang, where it had almost appeared transparent, circling around and launching surprise attacks. The problem was that it was immune to anything but pure qi and natural power. In other words, regular slashing or stabbing with swords didn’t work; it just passed through this monster.

Fortunately, Seo Mun-hye was not a martial artist who would go insane just from seeing the beast. Plus, with her ability to use sword qi, she was quite helpful. Seo Mun-hye asked,

“Little hero, do we just need to bring that monster down?”

“Exactly. By the way, that monster is called Bi Gang-jang and can only be harmed by pure qi and natural power.”

“What? So we can only defeat it with sword qi?”

“Right, but that’s not the only problem.”

Kreeeek

Wiggle wiggle…

Bi Gang-jang twisted its body and made a strange sound. I felt a chill as I guessed it was about to use its second method. I had no choice but to warn Seo Mun-hye.

“It can teleport and has incredibly high regeneration!”

Kang clang!!

In the next instant, we both swung our weapons like lightning to deflect a sneak attack. It had been a sudden, almost invisible physical strike. Bi Gang-jang had merely teleported to swing its tail-like appendage, but it held enough power to shatter a human body if we didn’t block it.

Seo Mun-hye looked bewildered.

“What, what is this? How can there be such a monster…”

The wounds inflicted by Seo Mun-hye’s sword qi on Bi Gang-jang were already half-healed. I grit my teeth as I watched smoke, a sign of its regeneration, wafting from its transparent wound.

‘ Damn… I knew this would happen…’

Back when I fought against Bi Gang-jang and its army of demon beasts, I had taken out a fair number of the lesser demons, but I could barely touch Bi Gang-jang.

It was no wonder, given that most attacks just went right through it, it could teleport, and it healed injuries at a ridiculously fast rate. It was a powerful creature that I had no chance against, and Mangnyang’s statement that confronting Bi Gang-jang head-on was suicidal was painfully true.

“To take this thing down, we need to use a technique that consumes a lot of qi for a single blow.”

“Then I…”

“But just wait a moment.”

“Why?”

“Because these guys…”

Kreeeek

Kreeeek

Kreeeek

“… might act in unison.”

Even as I answered, I felt utterly drained. Bi Gang-jangs were crawling all over the deck of this ship. Three more had appeared. The idea of those transparent murder-tentacle monsters coiling around us made it hard to breathe. Seo Mun-hye’s face went pale as she realized the gravity of the situation.

“Little hero… this is…”

I muttered as I glanced at the surrounding Bi Gang-jangs.

“At least it’s a small comfort that these things seem to want to eat human flesh alive. They could have sunk the ship by now, so it must mean they’re holding back.”

But I had somewhat expected this. I had heard long ago from Mangnyang that Bi Gang-jangs were monsters partial to human flesh. A creature like Bi Gang-jang would enjoy a “feast,” using its transparent body to devour humans one by one while they were left dazed by the foggy enchantments.

Swish!

I quickly swatted away Bi Gang-jang’s body as it lunged toward the cabin. It recoiled, spitting out acidic fluid, but I used a board to knock it away. I caught my breath, thinking,

‘ Four of them… it’s tough, but maybe we can handle it.’

Then, I felt a jolt.

“……”

A severe pain exploded in my head. I experienced a pounding headache that felt like my entire body was losing its balance. As I wondered what was happening, it felt like the strange speech of otherworldly beings was being forcefully jammed into my brain.

‘ Speech?’

Bi Gang-jang’s body wriggled. Its crimson eyes were staring at me.

For some reason, I felt that the [Bi Gang-jang] in front of me was trying to communicate something. If I was right, it meant that Bi Gang-jang was not just a mindless beast but a highly evolved creature capable of speech. Moreover, it could convey its intentions to others through language.

‘ Dammit… what’s the point of understanding it!’

I clenched my teeth and tightened my grip on the sword. Just then, Seo Mun-hye leapt at one of the Bi Gang-jangs, casting her ultimate technique.

“Haah!”

Crash!

Sword flames!

The ultimate technique, known only to a few of the peak experts, flowed through Seo Mun-hye’s blade. The blade blossomed like silver flames, finally coalescing into a singular edge in the air, while Seo Mun-hye pierced Bi Gang-jang with the momentum of unity between body and sword.

Kwaaaam!!

[Kreeeek…!!]

One Bi Gang-jang’s torso was dramatically cleaved and ripped apart. No matter how incredibly it could regenerate, it was now hobbling back in pain from the serious injury. I was momentarily stunned, realizing I had lost sight of Seo Mun-hye’s movements.

‘ Impressive skills!’

When it came to swordplay, she could easily stand alongside Master Hyuncheon. Moreover, it felt like she still had some tricks left up her sleeve, reflecting her exceptional martial prowess despite her age. There was no way she was eliminated in the fourth round of the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament by coincidence.

I couldn’t just sit back either, so I unleashed the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear. Intense thrusting techniques erupted in a series, unleashing seven strikes in a single breath. After spinning two or three times, the follow-up thrusts punched holes through the Bi Gang-jang’s body in front of me.

Kwahhh

It seemed they had no intention of being taken out one by one. When one of them faced certain death from my spear thrust, the other two rushed toward me. They charged with their acidic fluid roaring, but the momentum was so fierce that the only option left was to employ Thunder Shadow Step to evade.

Pattle!

I stood back to back with Seo Mun-hye. She looked gloomy and said,

“They’re regenerating again…”

That’s right. Seo Mun-hye had given one a significant wound, but she didn’t manage to predict its next move correctly, leaving her hesitant to charge in. The creature’s transparent body meant that it could withstand most physical attacks, and the risk of a counterattack loomed large if an attack failed. That made it hard for even a skilled fighter like Seo Mun-hye to eliminate them in one hit.

I was in a similar situation.

Shhheek

As I maintained my distance using the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear, Bi Gang-jang’s movements remained agile and unpredictable. It wasn’t using martial techniques, but its primal instinct rivaled the skills of martial artists. Given its naturally superior physical abilities, we humans had no choice but to thin the gap using our martial arts.

‘ Absolutely don’t let the Golden Eagle Guards and Seven Luminaries be acquired.’

Simultaneously, I reflected on how significant the event of the [Golden Eagle Guards acquiring the Seven Luminaries] that I had previously encountered truly was. At that time, the sheer number of Bi Gang-jangs and demon beasts I saw had been overwhelming, in the dozens or even hundreds. Struggling with just four of them was tough enough, so how would we deal with units of hundreds? Given the characteristic that they could withstand attacks other than sword qi, it was a feat even an army of normal soldiers couldn’t handle.

If it had just been me and we were on land, I would have confidently obliterated them by unleashing my qi with reckless abandon. However, being on a ship over the ocean posed a risk of sinking, and there were people to protect inside the cabin. The geographical disadvantage was too great.

“What should we do…”

Miho had yet to defeat the sorcerer. As I was lost in thought, I heard a voice.

[ Trust.]

Thump

A divine energy began to flow within me. It felt like a pathway spanning from my crown to my dantian was forming, and a gigantic refreshing sensation surged up from my throat. It was almost surprising to feel such mystical energy so closely for the first time.

I heard the voice of Yeodong-bin, the Sword Saint.

[ Cast off your distractions, and surrender your body. And believe.]

Believe (信) –

I thought I finally understood the meaning behind that. It was truly daunting and troublesome, but if this was the only way out, there was no alternative.

‘ If this goes on, I will die. I had a premonition.’

Having died over ten times, I could tell. If I didn’t make the right choice here, I would perish.

A moment later, I decided to discard my distractions and trust in the divine energy as Yeodong-bin instructed. My consciousness sank somewhere into the unconscious, and I felt as if I was gazing at my body from an external perspective. I could still feel my body, but my spirit seemed to have detached itself.

Flash!

Suddenly, a white aura swirled around my eyes. A voice, not my own, rang out with crystalline clarity from my throat.

[ The Otherworldly Race dares harm humans! The Demon Path’s minions shall never be tolerated.]

Kreeeek!!

It seemed that the Bi Gang-jangs sensed that I had become an ‘Other’ and appeared disturbed. [I] threw my spear, piercing one of the Bi Gang-jangs through. I doubted that I could muster that level of power and speed even if I exerted all my martial energy to its fullest.

Boom!

[Kreeeek!!]

It was astonishing. The spear lodged in Bi Gang-jang’s transparent body exploded, showering it with massive wounds from behind. This time, unlike the previous wounds inflicted on Bi Gang-jang, it found it difficult to regenerate and collapsed in defeat. The spear was imbued with a force that disrupted its regeneration.

And [I] gradually drew the famed sword, Chunjeong. [I] admired its sharpness and beauty for a moment before speaking.

[ This is a cursed blade, but I have no choice but to use it.]

Kiiing –

At that moment, the famed sword was naturally suffused with starlight, glowing brightly. The sight of radiant rainbows gathering made the surrounding Bi Gang-jangs retreat slowly. The force emanating from the sword was simply overwhelming. Especially Seo Mun-hye, standing right next to me, appeared mesmerized by the starlight.

Eventually, the gathered starlight solidified into one shape, turning a clear gray. The refined, razor-sharp blade matched what I had heard.

Strong qi (強氣)!

I aimed the blade, imbued with strong qi, directly at [them] and shouted in fury.

[ The era of the ancient beings is long over! I shall eradicate you by the will of the Celestial Realm!]

Indeed.

The being that had descended within my body was none other than the most powerful of the Eight Immortals, known as the Sword Immortal, Yeodong-bin! The instruction to believe was to ensure I shut my reason and created a state conducive to the spirit entering me.

Yeodong-bin’s hand moved.

Kakakakakak!!!

With a vibrant sound, an apparition of the famed sword suddenly materialized in the air. Each was infused with strong qi, creating a maelstrom in the celestial realm.

An awe-inspiring majesty!

The thunder-infused vortex soon struck down toward the ground.

Swish!

[Kreeeek!!]

In an instant, the body of one Bi Gang-jang split into hundreds of pieces. The famed sword, infused with strong qi, surged forward at a terrifying speed, unleashing explosive ki. This time, Bi Gang-jang didn’t writhe around trying to regenerate; it completely vanished without a trace due to the powerful thunder strike.

Simultaneously, the astonishing shadow of the peerless sword expanded into hundreds of threads, attacking the remaining Bi Gang-jangs. The Bi Gang-jangs seemed to leap into the sea in desperate attempts to survive, but the fierce sword energy from Yeodong-bin swiftly shrouded the skies and seas. Thousands upon thousands of sword shadows, radiating divine light, charged down like a rainstorm—truly an artistic sight.

Papapapap!

Kwahhh!

As the sea fog dissipated, the explosion erupted like a liquid cloud. Among the whirlpool of the sword blast, Yeodong-bin stood gracefully. The level of ability I demonstrated was beyond what I was capable of now—an empty void of skill.

Upon seeing the last Bi Gang-jang attempting to flee, a flick of his fingers called forth:

[ Yeongja, do you see?]

Each sword carried a will. Following Yeodong-bin’s intentions, a violet sword surged forward, leaping through the space in an instant and creating a massive light in the celestial realm, attacking Bi Gang-jang with breathtaking speed.

Kwahhh!

Bi Gang-jang let out no scream, scattering its form into pieces. Yeodong-bin, floating in the air, lowered his hand.

[ This is the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique.]

The overwhelming power that annihilated Bi Gang-jang could hardly be questioned.

The being presently residing within me was none other than the most revered sword immortal in history, Yeodong-bin. Countless immortals and sects had existed throughout history, but only Yeodong-bin achieved the title of immortal through sheer martial prowess and the extermination of demons.

Yeodong-bin suddenly furrowed his brow.

[ A massive descendant of the evil spirits is approaching. Has the age of evil grown to this extent? Have they learned nothing from the Great Destruction of the Silver Age? What a pity!]

Wughghhg…

As he said, the sea fog had mostly cleared, but something ominous and enormous was closing in on the horizon.

It was a calamity beyond description, shrouded in purple mist. Something so large and terrifying approached that it felt like an unavoidable disaster. Among the purple fog, massive tentacles writhed upward, ceaselessly spitting forth vile and terrifying curses. The Bi Gang-jangs just moments ago seemed harmless compared to the true evil approaching.

Grrr…

It was a monster that filled the world with its presence, swallowing thunderclouds. It didn’t seem as formidable as the Guardian of the Moon, but the thought of facing something like that as a human felt utterly impossible.

What is this evil spirit?

As I pondered in confusion, Yeodong-bin seemed to have read my thoughts and answered in a monologue.

[ Yeongja, there exists a being far more terrifying than sea gods in this world, a guardian beneath the waters waiting for the evil gods to arrive at the movement of the stars. That being could be called an evil spirit (凶神); the purple entity is a descendant of the evil spirit.]

So such things exist.

While I was overwhelmed with incredulity, Yeodong-bin lifted the famed sword, Chunjeong, and aimed it forward.

[ However, your inner strength is remarkable; I can fully utilize my power through you. Do not worry.]

As the descendant of the evil spirit closed in, an ominous aura surged.

When it was about fifty paces away, Yeodong-bin floated the famed sword into the air. At the same time, a massive burst of multicolored light gathered, radiating an incredible brilliance. I could even feel the depletion of the surrounding natural energies. It was as if he wielded control over nature itself.

Kwang!

[ Roar, O Fire Dragon’s Divine Sword!]

A gigantic flame emerged from the famed sword Chunjeong. Ultimately, the blade lost its material form, morphing into flames as if the essence of the fire dragon boiled within it. As the dragon’s essence enveloped my body, a surge of fierce heat erupted from within, making me feel as if I had transformed into the dragon itself.

Heavenly Escape Sword Technique

Fire Dragon Sword

Light of Destruction

[ Return to your origins, vile being!]

With the Fire Dragon Sword and my body turning into a massive orb of light, I charged forward with Yeodong-bin’s will. The speed surpassed that of my previous ultimate techniques combined, as Yeodong-bin called upon every bit of my potential to elevate his might.

Grrrowww!

The evil spirit’s descendant shot forth tentacles while launching demonic ki like a barrage, but it was utterly useless. The Fire Dragon Sword burned through all tentacles and continued onward until I breached the interior of its violet cloud-like form. Though I felt like being suffocated by the dense demonic energy emitted from the source of the demon beast, the Fire Dragon Sword burned through it and freed me.

[ Oooooo!]

I sensed the core, resembling a heart, of the evil spirit’s descendant. Its heart appeared almost alive, endowed with eyes and tentacles. Even as it chanted curses and spiritual words to defend itself, Yeodong-bin’s sword pierced directly into the center of its heart.

[Kreeeeek!]

The heart screamed. The next moment, it exploded, showering the surroundings with dark blue blood, causing the violet fog nearby to begin collapsing. Its main body was a composite entity, merging spirit and nature. Yeodong-bin dashed away using the skills of the empty void, quickly returning to the ship.

Boom!

The explosion of the evil spirit’s descendant echoed behind me as it dissolved into nothingness.

Clang!

Yeodong-bin sheathed the famed sword Chunjeong, saying,

[ Yeongja, I apologize for overusing your body. You’ve expended a great deal of qi, so rest well.]

Whoooosh…

Simultaneously, I felt the divine energy seep out of my body. My dormant consciousness gradually returned, and I regained control over my physical form. It felt like everything that had just transpired was a fever dream, but witnessing the remnants of the violet demon spirit crashing behind me reaffirmed the harsh grip of reality.

Finally, I realized.

The blessing of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique –

It was a boon from Yeodong-bin that, upon sensing demonic beings, would possess me, allowing me to fight in my stead.

“Cough, cough…?!”

Suddenly, a cough escaped me. Surprised, I looked at my hands, which were stained with fresh blood. Simultaneously, a wave of lethargy washed over me, making me feel exhausted. It was as if I had spent dozens of days without rest. I almost fainted but managed to hold on through sheer willpower until Seo Mun-hye rushed over to support me.

“Are you alright?!”

“Cough… cough… huff…”

I gasped for breath. A quick check revealed that my immense inner strength had been completely depleted, leaving me with less than a fraction of my energy remaining. Yeodong-bin had forced my body’s potential to its limits with the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, resulting in internal injuries.

It was a rare occurrence to experience such injuries, leaving me astonished. How could I have exhausted so much inner strength in so short a time in that last battle? As I strained to keep my focus, I noticed something descending from the sky above.

Whoosh!

Soaring down on a flying carpet was Miho. In one hand, she held the head of a merfolk with bulging eyes. That must have been a member of the Sea God’s kin, the sorcerer who conjured the sea fog.

“You summoned the Sword Immortal into your body; what on earth are you?”

Miho said, aghast, as she cremated the sorcerer’s head in fox flames. The flaming foxes ignited the head, producing the aroma of delicious grilled fish. As I hazily blinked up at Miho, she spoke to Seo Mun-hye beside her.

“Take care of him. The sea fog and Windless Zone have been dispelled.”

“And you?”

Without answering, Miho directed her gaze steadily toward Seo Mun-hye. In that instant, Seo Mun-hye’s body shook slightly, her eyes glazing over. In a blink, Miho cast her enchantment upon Seo Mun-hye and added,

“Do you understand? You must take care of him.”

“Yes…”

That was the last thing I remembered before being carried off to the sickroom by Seo Mun-hye.

I drifted off into a slumber, as if in a faint.

—————————= Author’s Note —————————=

Please refrain from comparing or referencing the setting of “Tale of the Dissociated Soul.” I’ll do my best to write well!

Feedback and comments are always welcome!

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