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After returning to the Dark Heaven Village, Mangnyang gathered the mutated individuals separately and said, “Thunder God Line members, please wait in the hideout for now. I will look into a method to treat the mutations.”

Lee Kwang glanced at me and said, “You should go with him.”

“Got it.”

Lee Kwang seemed to know that Mangnyang and I were on friendly terms, so he probably wanted to send me along for the intel. I carried a large wooden box filled with seven mutated people and quietly climbed over the city wall again at night. The guards, already knocked out with Bloodline techniques, didn’t notice me at all. When I arrived, Mangnyang was waiting outside, looking surprised when he saw me with the box.

“Is it not heavy?”

Even though it contained seven people, the box felt as light as a feather to me, so I nodded absentmindedly. Mangnyang, once again impressed by my internal power, said, “Let’s move quickly before we draw attention.”

“Where are we going?”

“We need to see the Master.”

So, that’s what he had in mind.

I followed Mangnyang, carrying the box and headed towards the nearby village. After hiding the Heavenly Secret in the Pine Forest, I entered the village where Cheon Woo-jin lived. This was the true refuge for Master Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin.

Cheon Woo-jin must’ve set up a strong Illusion Fog barrier this time. The moment I stepped into the village, a massive fog began to swirl around. Walking through the haze was Cheon Woo-jin, gingerly asking, “You again?”

“Yeah, me again.”

“You people really know how to annoy me. Just get lost.”

Mangnyang shot back, “Master, please clear the way. This isn’t just personal; we need your opinion on a serious matter.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Cheon Woo-jin glared at me with disapproval but eventually lowered the barrier and teleported us right in front of Master Mangnyang’s shrine. Within the village, it seemed he could use god-like powers.

“Open the box.”

As I opened the box in front of the shrine, Mangnyang laid out the mutated individuals one by one. He then called out to the invisible Master Mangnyang, “Master, as you can see, these humans have been hit hard by the demon ki, turning them into the minions of a dark god. They are innocent, and this proves that the Old Beings have meddled directly in the current world. Please help us.”

There was silence for a while.

“Um…?”

Suddenly, Mangnyang staggered and collapsed. I felt an overwhelming wave of drowsiness wash over me as I wobbled and fell. I couldn’t resist the immense sleepiness that engulfed me, succumbing to unconsciousness.

Welcome to the Dream World.

I’d been to this space once before.

This time, a black cat was striding over from across the stream. It glanced at me and said, “[I am Master Mangnyang.]”

“….”

“You’re not surprised. I expected that.”

Master Mangnyang replied, jumping up onto a nearby stone wall, curling up like a ball, and continued, “[To put it bluntly, to reverse their mutations, we need to eliminate the original caster of the sorcery.]”

“You mean we have to kill the caster?”

“If not, a highly skilled sorcerer would need to build an altar to purge the dark god’s blessing for at least ten years.”

Stunned, I blurted, “Wait a second, you mean that’s a blessing? That’s a slip of the tongue, right?”

How can you call it a blessing when a human is turning into a different race with tentacles squirming around? It looked like the worst curse imaginable! Master Mangnyang yawned and flicked his tail.

“To humans, it’s a curse, but that sorcery is definitely a blessing from a dark god. Unlike other Old Beings, dark gods don’t indiscriminately increase their numbers. They may be few in number, but each is significantly powerful, unlike mere mortals. Once they completely mutate into the progeny of the dark god, their immortality is guaranteed along with extraordinary sorcery. Those different races are so eager for that blessing, they can’t stand it.”

“….”

I looked at Master Mangnyang suspiciously and asked, “So, what do we do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mangnyang said this is proof that they are meddling in the current world. Aren’t you going to take any action?”

“I just told you.”

Master Mangnyang walked slowly down the stone steps.

“You handle it. I’ve already told you all that I can.”

“You’re not going to jump in?”

“Persistent, aren’t you?”

“You have tremendous power! With just a thought, you could obliterate the Golden Eagle Guard!”

As I pressed him, Master Mangnyang fell silent for a moment. He walked to the stream to take a sip of water and then spoke.

“What difference would it make if I took out the Golden Eagle Guard and attacked the Demon Subduing Hall?”

“What?”

Master Mangnyang seemed to know about the Demon Subduing Hall. Mangnyang must have mentioned it. Continuing, Master Mangnyang said, “The Demon Subduing Hall has a very long history with the Evil God sect. They’ve existed since the Silver Age, frequently clashing with the righteous factions. Each time, the righteous defeated the monsters and demons from the Demon Subduing Hall. The sword master Yeodong-bin, who blessed you, killed countless of those different race monsters after he rose to prominence and thus acquired the Overlay Technique.”

“But this battle doesn’t end; it can’t end, and it never will. The origin of the Demon Subduing Hall is a Great Being.”

“Are you saying the Old Ruler created the Demon Subduing Hall?”

“No.”

Master Mangnyang looked up at the sky.

“A much larger being…”

“…?”

“I no longer have the power to deal with the likes of the Golden Eagle Guard. Just suppressing him takes all my strength.”

Master Mangnyang’s expression seemed weary. He sighed and rolled over in the grass, continuing, “So you guys need to take action. I’ll give you advice.”

“Understood. Then can I ask about three questions?”

Master Mangnyang shook his head.

“Nope. I won’t answer.”

“What the hell… You said you’d at least give some advice!”

“Is advice the same as questions? That’s up to me, you fool.”

“….”

After a long struggle, I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.

“I won’t take even one question. Don’t waste my time.”

“Damn it! Can you read my mind?”

“Your thoughts are obvious.”

“Then what kind of advice are you trying to give?”

Suddenly, Master Mangnyang leaped onto the roof. In an oddly adorable manner, he pranced around while singing, “[Keep it up, keep it up! Power up to the max!]”

“….”

This guy is truly a piece of work, not to mention a cat. How could someone like him spawn someone like Mangnyang? While I gnashed my teeth in frustration, Master Mangnyang said, “If you really want an advice, remember to use the Golden Eagle well.”

“What?”

Suddenly, I felt Master Mangnyang drifting away, as if my body was floating.

When I regained consciousness, Mangnyang was sleeping beside me. While I sat there dazed, Mangnyang soon woke up, muttering in disbelief. “Master has never conveyed messages through dreams before. What is this about?”

“….”

“Anyway, you and I received some advice. Let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

I set out with Mangnyang to find the Heavenly Secret. After we arrived at Luoyang, I explained the situation.

“So, the conclusion is that we need to defeat the creature in the depths of the Great Thunder Valley to return the mutated individuals to their original states?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“But it seems a bit difficult now.”

“Why is that?”

“Thanks to Lee Kwang inflicting a significant injury on the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard, their control system has been disrupted, making it easier to sneak into the Great Thunder Valley. However, it wouldn’t be strange if not just the Golden Eagle Guard, but an entire army of 10,000 were stationed nearby to protect it. Given that we’ve already intruded once, the place must be fortified like a fortress now.”

“….”

It was a dire situation.

To rescue General Hwang Yeon and the other mutated individuals, we need to go deep into the Great Thunder Valley and defeat the source of the sorcery, but now we can’t even make a frontal assault, let alone infiltrate! While it might be possible that the already penetrated area won’t be guarded, the difficulty has definitely skyrocketed.

I asked, “If we have to do it, what do we do?”

“Hmm…”

At that moment, Miho suddenly teleported next to us using Transmission Technique. She bluntly stated, “What are you even planning to do? This is as far as it goes.”

“……!!”

“I didn’t like it from the start. I can’t place Baek Woong in danger any longer.”

I hurriedly said, “Wait, Miho! It’s not over yet. We can improve the situation if we defeat the creature in the Great Thunder Valley.”

“As I feel, that creature’s power is nothing compared to mine. It must possess quite a high level of intelligence alongside its strength. If you were to get cursed while fighting it, what would you do?”

“You could just come with me!”

“Are you out of your mind? My powers focus on Enchantment and Flame, so I can’t help with that. Plus, I can’t expose you to this level of danger.”

Whirly!

Miho suddenly unfolded a Spirit Puppet paper. The spirit puppet that floated in mid-air multiplied and surrounded me and Mangnyang. As I hurriedly tried to shred the spirit puppet with Sword Flame, Miho focused her intense gaze on me.

“Ugh.”

I couldn’t move. Miho, amazed, said, “Impressive, Baek Woong. You withstood my Enchantment.”

“Don’t do this! If I go down now, the Bancheon Alliance and Thunder God Line are all toast.”

“What do I care?”

Miho stepped closer, gently caressing my jawline. Her eyes sparkled with desire and obsession.

“Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong have already lost their fighting spirit. Even if you try to force this situation, there’s no guarantee of safety. I want to save you, at least.”

“So, if we defeat the creature…”

“You keep lamenting over this creature. What exactly do you wish to gain from this hardship? Can’t you just depart from the Central Plains and live your life?”

Miho regurgitated her irritation while stroking my chest. She leaned her face against mine, whispering, “Let’s not and just live quietly for ten years in a place no one knows about. Quietly…”

“No, absolutely not.”

“If not, then I’ll make it so.”

Her fox-like eyes bore into mine.

Pa-at!

Suddenly, I felt Miho’s enchantment digging deep into my soul. My brain pounded like it was going to explode, and urges to caress her flooded my mind. An insatiable lust rose up, far stronger than anything I’d faced before, and I felt as if I might suffocate from the burning passion within my skin.

“Ugh… Heh…”

“Stop!”

Mangnyang shouted, but he also seemed trapped by the binding spell. Miho shot Mangnyang a cold glance and said, “Shut up. I won’t spare you, even if I think Baek Woong would be saddened by your death. But push me too far and you’ll die for real.”

“Ugh…”

“Then farewell. You fight it out amongst yourselves, hehehe.”

Miho’s delicate fingers glided over my torso.

I felt her soft kiss on my lips, my heart trembling. The urge to lay her down and indulge in her warmth was intense enough to make my lower body throb. Memories of the intoxicating dreams Miho had shown me flooded back.

I wanted that.

‘No… No… Not like this…’

I wanted a woman.

All this time, I had repressed my desires.

I wanted to unravel her clothes and relish her beautiful physique. I craved the ecstasy of discharging my essence into her body after indulging in an amorous feast.

That was my instinct.

‘No…!!’

I screamed and cried from within.

How had I come this far? There was still so much left to achieve. I couldn’t squander my life caught in lust. I didn’t want decades of regret!

So, I gritted my teeth and shouted my last resolve.

“Then let’s just send Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong!”

“What…?”

Miho flinched in surprise. That quiver diminished the strength of her enchantment, allowing me to regain my senses just enough. I coughed hard and spoke, “You said you were worried about my life, right? Then I won’t go! Just send Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang to tackle it and we’ll see the outcome!!”

“Oh…”

“Miho, you just don’t like this whole situation. Don’t make excuses for me!”

My voice was fierce, and Miho appeared taken aback.

Mangnyang chimed in, “If the results aren’t good, I’ll disband the Bancheon Alliance and become a recluse. If this fails, we’ll have no future.”

Miho paused, considering, then said, “… Alright, fine. If that’s what you want, let’s do it that way. But if Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong fail, that’s it. I will take Baek Woong away then.”

“Do as you please then.”

It seemed the negotiation with Miho had succeeded.

As I returned to the base, I took a deep breath of relief.

‘Phew… That was close…’

I nearly fell under Miho’s enchantment, spending my life in a daze somewhere remote. The wasted time and mental strain would have been immense. Yet, as I realized Miho’s strong attachment to me, I felt a mix of luxury and bewilderment. Her feelings couldn’t merely arise from the trials of returning to the celestial realm.

Once back at the base, I summoned the Thunder God Line and proposed a plan. Mangnyang carefully convinced Lee Kwang.

“So, if we can defeat that creature deep down in the valley, there’s a chance the General Hwang Yeon will return to normal.”

“Really?”

“Indeed. My master guaranteed it.”

“But the defense there is severe.”

Whisk!

Suddenly, Lee Kwang pointed his spear’s tip at Mangnyang’s throat. I gasped in shock, shouting, “Master!”

Lee Kwang’s expression remained unchanging.

“Bancheon Alliance Leader, are you willing to bet your life?”

“Of course.”

“Your gaze holds truth. But trust is hard to come by.”

Lee Kwang murmured this and called for the Extreme Tiger.

“Extreme Tiger!”

“Yes, Master.”

“If I and Jin So-cheong do not return exactly one day later, cut off the Bancheon Alliance Leader Mangnyang’s head.”

Clang!!

At that moment, the peak experts of the Bancheon Alliance drew their weapons in unison. A tremendous aura crushed the air. However, Mangnyang gestured to retract their weapons and said, “I accept that proposition.”

“I apologize for the rudeness, but I can’t fully trust you yet.”

“I know. That meticulousness is the nature of the Azure Dragon.”

Mangnyang spoke wryly.

“However, I wish to help, so could you take this?”

Swish!

He presented the treasure, the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line. When Lee Kwang glanced at the Seven Fires, Mangnyang quietly said, “Just having that will allow you to withstand a single attack from the creature’s sorcery.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I can’t trust you and to expect something like this?”

“You’re not the only one betting your life. We put our lives on the line too, so recognize that resolve.”

“……”

Lee Kwang was silent for a moment before accepting the Seven Fires. It seemed Mangnyang’s conviction swayed him. Lee Kwang murmured, “I don’t mind a determined person.”

“Master.”

“Follow me, Jin So-cheong. We’ll defeat that creature.”

“Yes.”

“And Baek Woong, you come too.”

I shook my head, “I don’t have the capacity for this. I’ll stay and protect here.”

“Is that so?”

Pa-at!

“Ugh…!!”

I panicked as Lee Kwang suddenly charged at me. I deployed the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, managing to ward off his attack for a whole 30 seconds with my internal power. A strange gleam flashed in Lee Kwang’s eyes, and he swiftly attacked me with a thrust.

Swish!

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my wrist as my sword flew from my hand. I managed to block it, but it was clear from the start that Lee Kwang aimed to disarm me. Though I lost my sword, I used the Thunder Shadow Step to evade and received his next strike with the Thunder Cloud Fist. Lee Kwang expressed admiration, “You’ve really improved. At this rate, you could take on three of the Golden Eagle Guard’s Heavenly Tigers!”

But the gap in our abilities was undeniable. Soon enough, the tip of Lee Kwang’s spear pressed against my throat, and I was subdued. His cold words fell like ice.

“You’re too friendly with the Bancheon Alliance Leader to trust easily.”

“Master… That’s…”

“If you wish to regain my trust, let yourself be overwhelmed for now. Until we return.”

“… All right.”

I had no choice but to watch as Lee Kwang enacted the Golden Seal Technique over my entire body. I had plenty of internal power, and I could’ve broken free if I wanted to, but that would’ve meant betraying Lee Kwang.

I had to just stay put.

While watching this unfold, a peak expert from the Bancheon Alliance burst out angrily, “This is outrageous! We’re all risking our lives too, yet you act so freely?”

Lee Kwang responded coldly, “There are enough backstabbers claiming to bet their lives.”

“….”

“Trusting a word from the Bancheon Alliance Leader is a show of my sincerity.”

Whoosh!

Then Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong set off again. Yun Guang, Lee Ji-pyeong, and Extreme Tiger leveled their weapons at Mangnyang. The surrounding Bancheon Alliance warriors couldn’t recklessly rush in as the Thunder God Line experts threatened Mangnyang’s life.

I could speak again since I was under the Golden Seal, so I shouted at Extreme Tiger, “Older Brother, don’t do anything reckless!”

“……”

Extreme Tiger turned his gaze briefly towards me before maintaining his weapon position and saying, “You see, I quite like the Bancheon Alliance folks. There’s a genuine sense of righteousness and loyalty among them. When we brought back those survivors, they sincerely cared for the Virtuous Flower Goddess.”

Extreme Tiger put even more strength into his spear.

“But that’s just my opinion. As the leader of the Thunder God Line and the only one who can take revenge on the Wind Spirit Sect, Lee Kwang’s orders are absolute. If he doesn’t come back by tomorrow, I will fulfill his command.”

One of the surrounding Bancheon Alliance warriors glared at him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Killing the Alliance Leader Mangnyang? You three will all die.”

“Sure, I don’t expect to survive.”

Extreme Tiger said fably.

“That’s the fate of those who live in this martial world. Neither I, nor Yun Guang, nor Lee Ji-pyeong can escape that flow.”

I was at a loss for words.

The loyalty and determination of those three exceeded anything I’d seen in ordinary sects. If I were to order the disciples of a prominent sect like the Nine Great Sects to do the same, many of them would likely compromise or betray. No matter how important the leader’s orders were, the fact that they were willing to unhesitatingly risk their lives for an order that might be meaningless spoke of the exceptional, powerful ties within the ranks of the Thunder God Line.

‘Is this the hidden power of the White Lotus Sect, which once held the Four Great Families?’

I pondered.

What should I do from here? Is it best to sit back and watch, or is there a different approach I could take?

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