1154——————==

Soul of the Evil God

What’s with the Moon Palace Amphora…?

I took another look around. Sure enough, no matter how much I stared, this wasn’t a barn. But just moments ago, didn’t I clearly have my heart ripped out by Xiang Yu? Could that really not be the end? Besides, I exchanged the Heart of the Governor for the Peach Tree Club, and the Yellow Dragon Demon God was also crushed, so there’s no way I could escape the fate of death, not even in a million scenarios.

Feeling confused, I spoke to Hang-a.

“What the heck is going on? Am I dead?”

[You’re caught between life and death due to the powers of the Book.]

“Caught in the middle?”

[It’s the cycle of reincarnation.]

Hang-a, who had been talking about things I couldn’t understand, suddenly reached out to stroke my cheek. As I stood still, she gently caressed my face and said,

[Master, will you remember the past?]

“……?”

[The choice is solely yours.]

What does that even mean?

‘Ah, come to think of it.’

Once upon a time, Hang-a had asked me if I would remember time like this. It was right before I was about to make a choice at the suggestion of Eungui; I didn’t know what it meant, but I said I would remember.

I recalled that conversation and cautiously addressed Hang-a.

“From what I remember, you said that if I paid the price to the Book, I could recall the time spent in memory. Right?”

[That’s correct. You remember well.]

“Recalling it means….”

I swallowed hard and asked,

“Does that mean I could go back to that time and start over?”

Please…

Please…

Please!!

As I desperately hoped, Hang-a nodded slowly.

[Of course.]

In that moment, I clenched my fists tightly, trembling.

“……!! That’s like reversing the ‘Small Cycle.’ So then wouldn’t Nüwa, the founder of divine status, stop my resurrection?”

[It’s impossible. She cannot interfere as the Great Cycle is larger. She wouldn’t even recognize it.]

“Gah…?!”

You mean…

The ability to manipulate the [Great Cycle]?!

‘What kind of nonsense is this!!’

Until now, I thought that when I died, the Heavenly Secret would rewind me to the barn, but could it be possible to go back to a time other than the barn? I was dumbfounded and cautiously asked,

“What kind of cost is required to recall it?”

Hang-a, with a completely innocent smile, replied,

[Every time you recall, your next life becomes more unfortunate.]

“……?”

[Furthermore, misfortune accumulates.]

Huh, what the heck does that mean?

I tilted my head in confusion.

“I’ll become unfortunate? Does this mean… if I start my 29th life, I’ll be hit by bad luck?”

[Exactly. It’s the opposite of great luck.]

“…Accumulating means piling up. So if I keep repeating, my 30th or 31st life will also be unfortunate?”

[That’s correct. Moreover, misfortune tends to multiply.]

“…….”

This, this is bad….

I realized it would be a much greater price than I’d expected, leaving me in a tight spot.

‘If misfortune comes and I can only die… then the best plan would be to kill myself right from the start.’

The difficulty is already despairing, and it would be pointless to take this risk just to die.

Of course, I learned a way to commit suicide without pain through Zhuge Sa, so suicide isn’t an issue. I could easily die right after reincarnating to relieve the misfortune. But is this really such a simple matter?

‘The accumulating weight troubles me. I can’t be sure how much of the misfortune will pile up.’

For some reason, I have a gut feeling that wasting my reincarnation cycles without thought would not end well for me. In fact, this proposal feels like it’s pressuring me to waste my reincarnation cycles.

Could it be related to Zhuge Sa or the strategists trying to prevent me from wasting my reincarnation cycles?

‘Don’t make a hasty choice….’

If the Heavenly Secret personally proposed this, it wouldn’t be something to take lightly. I mulled over and over my thoughts before finally saying,

“If I accept this proposal and die again, will I return to this space? Will the same proposal repeat?”

[That should be the case.]

“If I don’t make a choice, I’ll just stay in this dark space?”

[Correct.]

“…….”

I stared at Hang-a and finally asked,

“Hang-a, what exactly are you? You’re not just some Monster King crap…”

[Moon Blade.]

Suddenly Hang-a glared at me with a bit of a fierce expression, making me flinch.

“Ah! Right, it was Moon Blade… But ever since you got that name, something changed. Are you really still Hang-a?”

[Since you personally named me, I am indeed Hang-a.]

“Something’s different. You don’t feel like the real Hang-a. How could the direct descendant of the Great Heavenly Woman, who’s lived since ancient times, have a personality like yours?”

In response to my words, Hang-a answered.

[Names provide evidence of existence. Since you gave me a name, I’ve been bound to you. Naturally, my personality has to change. And I also became a terminal that channels the will of the Book.]

“A terminal?”

[The Book wishes to communicate with you.]

“……!!”

The Heavenly Secret?

At her unexpected words, I was taken aback, and Hang-a wore a strange smile.

[It’s more like a one-sided love.]

“Ugh… What does that even mean? So this opportunity means the Heavenly Secret is showing me favor?”

[…….]

Hang-a neither confirmed nor denied that. Instead, she urged me to answer.

[I’ll be waiting for your decision. Take your time to think.]

“…Hmm….”

What should I do?

Is it really right to accept this proposal? Since earlier, I’ve had this nagging feeling that I’ve missed something, but for some reason, I can’t quite place it. I feel like there’s something I’ve overlooked in Hang-a’s proposal…

‘Hmm. So, if I don’t make a choice and end up stuck in this dark space…!!’

An unexpected thought struck!

I looked at Hang-a and confidently said,

“Hang-a! If I don’t choose and just stay here, I could practice infinitely, right?”

[That’s correct.]

“I could train for a thousand or ten thousand years and then come out stronger! Hahaha.”

Could I be a genius?!

As I burst out laughing, Hang-a gave me a look that seemed to say “What nonsense are you talking about?”

[If you could train alone for a thousand years and get better, wouldn’t it be a hundred times wiser to just go outside, Master?]

“…….”

[…….]

“…Are you messing with me?”

[No. I’m just genuinely worried you won’t waste time on this impossible endeavor.]

“Ugh, come on…”

I grumbled.

‘Well, to train in the Peerless Technique, even years of closed room training was tough. I don’t think I’ll improve alone…’

If I had that talent, I wouldn’t have been running around looking for masters in all my past lives. As I pondered, Hang-a spoke.

[Moreover, training isn’t possible in this space.]

“What does that even mean?”

[Try drawing out all your divine power and qi.]

I attempted to draw out all my latent divine power and qi as she suggested.

Nothing.

I was startled when I felt nothing. Just to be sure, I tried to summon my intent, but even that wouldn’t materialize. It felt like I had been sucked into Mephistopheles’s cerebral realm. As I stood there in shock, Hang-a continued speaking.

[This is the path of reincarnation. All powers of the mortal realm are negated, leaving only the law of cause and effect and choice in this place. You’re only free to think; everything else is restricted.]

“…How do you know that? Is it because you became the Heavenly Secret’s terminal?”

[That’s right.]

“Then will I be able to see you in my next life?”

[That would depend on your choices….]

With that, Hang-a waved her hand, and two comfortable chairs appeared nearby, with Hang-a sitting first. She continued.

[Feel free to make your choice. Time doesn’t flow here.]

“Hmm….”

What should I do?

I sat down and repeated my thoughts. I pondered so intensely that it felt like my head was on fire, and it seemed like I spent a whole two moments mulling it over.

But the conclusion was already clear, and I reluctantly said to Hang-a,

“Hang-a, I’m going to recall the past! Please turn back time for me!”

At this point, the only way to overcome this obstacle was to go all in once!

As the count of my previous lives increased, all it would mean was my suicide count would rise immediately!

[Understood. But there’s one restriction.]

“What’s that?”

[You won’t be able to share what happens in this space. That’s the will of the Book.]

What?

Woooong!!

In the next moment, I realized I had returned to the past.

“If you wish to fight me, transform into the form of the Four Divine Beasts’ Qilin and spar with me. Destiny dictates that you and I, Baek Woong, are meant to clash, so this battle will hold significance for experience.”

Eungui’s voice rang out.

I stood there blankly, piecing together the conversation and retorted.

“What if I don’t fight?”

“Then I’ll predict the fate that awaits you at the end…. That is my primary purpose.”

“…….”

I had returned.

To the day before my death!

I couldn’t contain my joy and yelled out,

“Wooooo!!”

I thought once I died, I would be stuck in the barn, with restrictions on my choices, but I could come back like this!

This is going to be incredibly beneficial!

The Four Divine Beast Eungui stood before me, looking bewildered.

“…Baek Woong, why the sudden excitement?”

“Oh no, I’m just overly happy! Thank you so much for coming!!”

“Well then, make a choice between the two….”

“Hey, just hold on a second.”

I tightened my fist and quickly pulled out the obsidian from my pocket. Next, I glanced at the Sword Demon beside me.

The Sword Demon, still in shock after not meeting Xiang Yu and consequently not dying, asked.

“Baek Woong, what’s going on?”

“Hold on, Sword Demon. I’ll show you my memories.”

I hurriedly stored my memories in the obsidian and immediately presented it to the Sword Demon.

‘If it’s the Sword Demon, I’m sure he’ll guide me on what choice to make.’

The Sword Demon’s wisdom is quite remarkable, so I expected to calmly navigate my way forward with his counsel. I waited for the Sword Demon to respond.

But after a while, the Sword Demon, looking even more perplexed, said.

“Why did you give me this again, Baek Woong?”

“Huh?”

“This doesn’t seem any different from before.”

“……?”

Huh?

Did I mess up the memories somehow? Just to be sure, I activated the obsidian again to show it to the Sword Demon. However, the Sword Demon’s response remained the same.

“Hmm… I still don’t quite understand why you keep doing this. Eungui seems to be waiting for our answer, so it would be courteous to provide a response quickly.”

“…….”

In that moment, the last thing Hang-a said came back to me.

[You won’t be able to share what happens in this space. That’s the will of the Book.]

So, could it be…?

Bam!!

I hastily turned back to Hang-a. I rushed over and grabbed her collar, shouting,

“Hey!! What kind of nonsense is this!! Why can’t we share memories?!”

Hang-a, still held by the collar, smiled gently.

[This is a temporary knot. It’s unreasonable to have full freedom as per original abilities, Master.]

“What do you mean….”

[When the obsidian gets involved, the law of cause and effect gets tangled up too much. This won’t prevent you from speaking on your own, but you’ll need to figure it out for yourself.]

“…….”

I felt my strength leave me as I gradually let go of her collar.

‘Damn it….’

Does that mean I can’t easily use obsidian to share my circumstances, no matter how many times I repeat this?

Even if that’s true, it was said that verbally explaining things could be done fine, so maybe it’s not such a big issue. But I realized another problem.

‘Explaining the situation verbally will take time… and the limit is just one day. If I’m not careful, I could waste a lot of time!’

While I might easily convey the situation to someone close to me, explaining it to someone who knows nothing will obviously take a lot of time. After all, the mention of moving cycles or knots is a ridiculous situation.

I stood there dazed and then shook my head at the Sword Demon.

“Sword Demon. I’ll quickly explain the situation. Please be patient and listen.”

“Sure. What’s going on?”

I spent a considerable time well exceeding a meal’s worth trying to explain things coherently. As the Sword Demon seemed to have grasped the situation, he wore a serious expression.

“This… is unbelievable. If the [Knot] truly exists, it could change the entire course of your reincarnation journey thus far.”

“Regardless, we have only one day left. What should we do now?”

The Sword Demon appeared to be deep in thought.

“Hmm. In past cycles… yes, let’s call it the first choice. In the first one, you accepted my advice and went for a prediction about destiny, right?”

“Correct.”

“Then it’s decided for what to do this time.”

I hesitated at the Sword Demon’s words.

“No, but there’s only a day left… There’s not enough time for a mock battle.”

“If you can’t break through Xiang Yu, you’ll die. And judging by the way things are, it seems it would be too much to wrap this up in just one attempt. You’ll have to prepare for multiple cycles.”

“…….”

“If you go for multiple cycles, naturally reducing choices one by one would make it easier to compare results. Besides, having heard the prophecy, there’s no harm in hearing it again.”

“That makes sense…”

Reluctantly, I turned my head back to Eungui and said,

“Eungui! I’m going to have a mock battle with Qilin!!”

“…….”

Eungui, who seemed to be eavesdropping on our conversation, wore an odd expression.

“Could it be, Baek Woong, have you already gone through the [Great Cycle] once…?”

Ugh, did he catch on?

I shouted back.

“I don’t have time to explain! I’ve made my choice, so please respond.”

“…Understood. Then prepare yourself.”

Eungui’s eyes lit up fiercely.

“Let’s have a battle with the Qilin, famed for its ferocity among the Four Divine Beasts!!”

Bam – !!

Wooowwwww!

The next moment, Eungui’s form twisted and morphed, and soon after, he became a gigantic divine beast.

The divine beast wasn’t extraordinarily large. It was a huge creature, but its body size was barely over One Palm, making it look smaller compared to mythical magical beasts. However, the single horn on its forehead radiated immense power, and tremendous lightning surged unceasingly from its dragon-like head and deer-like legs.

Crackle! Crackle!!

“……!!”

What immense lightning power! It reminded me of the Thunder Spirit!

If I took that kind of hit, no matter how much Protection Energy Technique I used, I’d be dead in one blow.

‘No, maybe even worse….’

With the Four Divine Beast Qilin transformation, Eungui spoke.

[The power I can exert as Qilin is only about 50% of my true form.]

With Eungui’s parting statement, the battle began.

[But be careful not to get wiped out….]