1256——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Besides the treasure from Xuyou, I stopped by the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and took some treasures from there as well. There were more exploration sites worth visiting, but I decided it was time to head back to the village.

‘Well, this should be enough.’

Just what I gained from the ruins of Xuyou was overflowing. Digging any further would only complicate matters and lead to an overwhelming excess. What I aimed to do was not save the world but to manage a village, after all. For the village chief, more treasures would be rather pointless.

After arriving at the village, I called for Gum Cheon-jae, Kim Manje, and Yeon Jong-hwi for an impromptu meeting.

“As you all know, there are hundreds of prisoners rescued from the Great Thunder Valley. I intend to accept them as villagers and let them live in Soeul Village.”

Normally, I would have relied on the Shadowless Gate or sought help from Goryeo. However, borrowing from the former would mean an excessive debt, especially since I had not shared the Obsidian. The latter would risk my whereabouts being reported to the Twelve Joules, which could turn into a hassle, so I opted to avoid that as well.

At my words, Gum Cheon-jae looked distressed.

“Uh, Chief… Did you not mention before that among them, there are high-ranking individuals and even General Hwang Yeon? Bringing them into this village could appear as an act of rebellion against the Imperial Palace…”

“Rebellion? I could just storm into the palace and kill the Emperor and all that. I don’t care. I’ve done it before.”

“Eeep.”

Everyone looked shocked, but I was serious. At this point, fearing the implications of the palace was absurd considering the ultra-powerful beings I had already faced. Besides, after nearly wiping out the Golden Eagle Guard, what immediate backlash could I possibly fear now?

“Forget the worries and let’s hear opinions on what they will need to settle in this village.”

“……”

After some thought, Kim Manje was the first to speak up.

“If we are to treat them properly, we can’t just let them stay in a shabby barn. We need to prepare adequate housing. I believe there are only about one hundred and so of them, so if we allocate one house for every six people, we’d need at least thirty additional houses, and they should be built in such a way that they can defend themselves or escape during emergencies.”

“Hmmm. That’s a reasonable suggestion. So, we’re planning to build about thirty houses?”

At that, Gum Cheon-jae’s face turned pale.

“Oh, that won’t work. As I mentioned before, this village is in a basin, and there isn’t as much livable land as you might think. Aside from a few areas, all of it is arable land. Even if we build more houses, it’ll only be up to ten at the maximum; thirty is absolutely impossible! If we force extra buildings, they’ll just turn into chicken coops.”

“Come on, how much profit are we even making from the farming? The real revenue comes from the plum blossom escort agency visitors passing through this village anyway.”

“Y-Yes, but if we conduct this business too forcibly, it won’t be good, will it? If we forcibly take and damage the land belonging to the original villagers, and they hold grudges and leak the internal issues of the village…”

“Hmmm.”

That was a valid point. Normally, one might think of just massacring the villagers in such a situation, but I wasn’t keen on going that far; it would be better to integrate the current villagers smoothly. I opened my mouth.

“Then, we have no choice but to expand the village. I’ll remove the mountains on either side of the narrow path leading from here to Gongnyeong Village.”

“The mountains?!”

“With the mountains gone, there’ll be space for people to live.”

“That sounds sufficient, but…”

Gum Cheon-jae hesitated before speaking up.

“B-But we still need people. Both for construction workers and other various tasks…”

“Sounds like you have something on your mind.”

“Why don’t we get some help from the Huashan Sect? They have considerable influence and could easily introduce skilled carpenters for us.”

“True, that sounds good.”

I decided to take Gum Cheon-jae’s suggestion and headed straight for the nearby hills. Given the basin shape of the village, the only way to reach other villages involved narrow paths or climbing over mountains, with two mountains lying in between Gongnyeong village. I had resolved to cut down one of those mountains.

Kooooo

Focusing my internal power and spirit, I unleashed a massive force.

“Thunder Spirit Seal!!”

Kawkwakwang

After blasting the Thunder Spirit Seal a couple of times, more than half of the massive mountain disappeared. I could’ve taken it out all in one attack, but I didn’t want my excess force to penetrate other villages, so I had to control my strength. Upon creating about two hundred empty plots, I thought this should be sufficient.

Upon returning, Yeon Jong-hwi approached me.

“While you were gone, I discussed it with the members at the Huashan Sect, and I think we need to borrow food through the plum blossom escort agency for the time being.”

“Food?”

“Yes. With all those extra mouths added from the entire village’s population, we’ll obviously need a lot more food… We need to ensure the supply carts never stop arriving. Plus, we’ll need to pay a good amount to the escort agency as well.”

“Alright. I’ll go to the plum blossom escort agency for a bit.”

“Can I handle that task?”

“You plan to go yourself, Yeon Jong-hwi?”

At my question, Yeon Jong-hwi nodded.

“If you use your divine powers for such mundane tasks, it’ll definitely draw the attention of the Martial World forces and experts. Please let your subordinates handle trivial matters.”

“That’s reasonable… then take this gold bar with you.”

I handed Yeon Jong-hwi the gold bar needed for negotiations, and he slung a large bag over his back, filling it with the gold. As Yeon Jong-hwi set off, I glanced at Gum Cheon-jae and Kim Manje and said,

“While Yeon Jong-hwi is away, I’ll teach you all some basic martial arts breathing techniques. Make sure to learn it as a form of self-defense.”

I intended to teach them the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique, the cultivation secret of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

“Ugh.”

“Long live!”

At that, Gum Cheon-jae looked like he was about to pass out, while Kim Manje looked overjoyed.

“You’re actually keeping your promise.”

“…Yeah, if you learn hard, I’ll teach you more. But why does Gum Cheon-jae look like he’s about to die?”

“N-No… it’s just… um…”

“Spit it out already.”

“Well, if you’re going to teach us the fundamentals of martial arts… it seems that will lead us to dangerous situations in the future…”

“……”

Gum Cheon-jae seems to have wisdom due to age and experience. He seems suspicious of my intentions! Meanwhile, Kim Manje was clearly unable to hide his excitement, revealing his childish nature despite pretending to be mature. I responded bluntly.

“You’re smart. So you’ll just have to train hard to avoid dying, right?”

“Y-Yes….”

I spent about three days teaching Gum Cheon-jae and Kim Manje, along with Yeon Jong-hwi, the basics of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique and the preliminary forms. When I finished teaching the most basic fundamentals, Yeon Jong-hwi returned to the village.

“I’ve spoken with the head of the plum blossom escort agency. They will soon find carpenters for us, and help from the Huashan Sect is guaranteed, so we don’t need to worry about food supplies.”

“Good job, Yeon Jong-hwi.”

“So what’s next on your agenda… it’ll take at least three to four days for the carpenters and food to arrive.”

“Since I have nothing else to do at the moment, I’ll teach you all a few more martial arts lines.”

“……!! Thank you.”

For several days, I taught Gum Cheon-jae, Kim Manje, and Yeon Jong-hwi everything I knew about martial arts to the best of my abilities. Of course, the former two were novices, so most of their training revolved around the breathing techniques, while Yeon Jong-hwi was talented enough to have reached the peak expert stage, so I decided to introduce him to the Black and White Lotus technique instead.

“What is this?”

“If you consume both the black and white lotus plants at the same time, you will greatly enhance your internal power.”

Kuuuu!!

As he followed my instructions and consumed the black and white lotus, his internal power dramatically increased, and he appeared astonished. He was trembling as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Wow. So all those dozens of lotus flowers I picked from the valley were spiritual pills?”

“Yup. Not too bad, right?”

“…….”

“Now your internal power will vastly surpass even the elders of the Great Sect. With a bit of insight and martial arts, you could compete with the top experts in the Martial World.”

“Who exactly are you, Chief? Even the Lord of the White Lotus Sect doesn’t seem as strong as you.”

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect, huh…”

I muttered while staring into the air, reminiscent of the past.

“I think I’ve had the Master of the White Lotus Sect as a subordinate at one point…”

“…….”

“Seriously, why do you look at me like that?”

No one seems to believe these exaggerations!

“Umm… Yes, Chief.”

“It’s true.”

I grumbled while continuing to teach Yeon Jong-hwi martial arts. I smoothly taught him the Heavenly Contraction Sword while methodically showcasing forms of the Eight Immortals Divine Art, seeing if there was something he could blend into his archery skills. I also made sure to give a black and white lotus to Gum Cheon-jae and Kim Manje to help them enhance their internal power.

About five days later, a massive caravan began rolling into the village, led by two individuals.

“Chief of Soeul Village! I am Jiseol-hwan, the leader of the carpenters from the Huashan Sect. We’ve arrived with a team of sixteen carpenters commissioned by the plum blossom escort agency.”

“Chief of Soeul Village! I’m the deputy master of the plum blossom escort agency. From today onwards, I will be transporting food and materials continuously.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Thud thud

The carpenters began constructing the houses using a variety of woods and materials transported from the plum blossom escort agency. I watched from the side and asked Jiseol-hwan.

“How long until they’re all finished?”

“At the latest, about fifteen days… building houses properly usually takes around ten.”

As Jiseol-hwan said, it indeed took about twelve days to complete all the houses, revealing a staggering fifty-plus newly constructed homes. Once all the houses were built, I sent the carpenters and escort agency staff away and brought out the prisoners from the Wooden Armor.

“Huh?”

“W-Where is this…?”

Approaching one of them, General Hwang Yeon, I extended my arm.

“General Hwang Yeon, please stay here for a while.”

“Hmmm… who exactly are you?”

“I am Baek Woong, the village chief of Soeul.”

“……”

With a blank expression, General Hwang Yeon broke into an open grin.

“Haha! You are like a divine dragon enjoying a playful outing in the human world. Regardless, I am grateful to accept such goodwill.”

I sent people to wash the prisoners and assign them to their respective new homes. Since I had constructively built fifty houses, they seemed to transition into living there without any major complaints.

‘After all, the Jianghu people in the Great Thunder Valley have no martial arts left and nowhere else to go…’

However, as they were being assigned, I noticed Kim Manje staring with his mouth agape, fixated on something, leaving me perplexed as I turned to see what had caught his attention.

‘Is that the Virtuous Flower Goddess from the Ami Sect?’

She seemed untouched by the Golden Eagle Guard due to the timing of her rescue and boasted a renowned beauty among the Jianghu. It appeared Kim Manje was quite taken by her looks. I smacked the back of Kim Manje’s head and scolded him.

“You brat! If you touch the prisoners, I will seriously rip you apart!”

Kim Manje visibly flinched and stammered.

“W-Who said I would?! But she would naturally fall for me.”

“…….”

Wow… this guy is ignoring the situation with the Virtuous Flower Goddess?

He was just like this from the start, wasn’t he?

Recognizing his nature anew, I couldn’t help but shake my head.

This guy is definitely not the one…

Once the situation of the prisoners had been settled, I approached General Hwang Yeon for a one-on-one secret conversation.

“General Hwang Yeon, I apologize, but I have no intentions of fighting against the Imperial Palace or starting a rebellion. I saved you from the Great Thunder Valley, but I cannot assist you further.”

“Haha… that’s difficult to understand. Your power is already enough to single-handedly eliminate the Zhuge Clan and the Great Army, yet you’re content with being a village chief in this countryside?”

“I’m just not a fan of emperors.”

“I beg you. The palace is currently tainted by dark forces. If we do not stop them, countless common folk in the Great Ming Empire will suffer.”

“I will manage that myself.”

“W-What?”

“The darkness in the palace and the world’s peace are things I will pledge to achieve. In return, I hope General Hwang Yeon can quietly spend the rest of his days here.”

“……”

“I assure you, their treatment will be more than satisfactory.”

Hwang Yeon’s expression of disbelief was a sight to behold. Moments later, he burst into hearty laughter.

“Ahaha… I thought you were joking, but you’re most sincere! Are you truly a god?”

“I do plan to eradicate gods at some point.”

“Haha… if someone like you makes a promise, you’ll surely keep it. I will trust that promise. I will become a villager of Soeul…”

“Thank you.”

After convincing Hwang Yeon, I clenched my fist.

“Alright. If it’s something I have to get through, I’d rather get it over with quickly!”

It would be troublesome if my life as a village chief were to be disrupted!

To keep the little things secure, I have to give it my all!

Determined by my conversation with Hwang Yeon, I decided to take action.

“Yeon Jong-hwi, if any outsiders invade the village, chase them off.”

“Yes.”

I instructed Yeon Jong-hwi to maintain the village’s defenses and swiftly took off running. After a while, I dashed into the woods, burying the Heavenly Secret before entering the village. As I stepped inside, I immediately recognized a familiar voice.

“Who are you?”

“Cheon Woo-jin.”

“Do you know me?”

I saw the illusion of Cheon Woo-jin appear inside the barrier that the Master Mangnyang had cast. I had come to the village of Master Mangnyang, and I addressed Cheon Woo-jin.

“I came to see Master Mangnyang. Umm…”

Before I could finish, I felt an overwhelming sense of sleepiness starting to creep in. Recognizing it as a sign of Master Mangnyang’s call, I instinctively yielded to the drowsiness, though a tinge of fear lingered within me.

Could I still not resist the Master’s sleep with my current power?

A path through a dream unfolded before me.

I saw the black cat, Master Mangnyang, approaching from the opposite side of the path and said:

“Master Mangnyang, I am the Reborn Person Baek Woong.”

[…….]

“I have come to make a request.”

[What sort of request have you come to make?]

“Well, that is…”

Just as I was about to state my ‘request,’ Master Mangnyang sat quietly and seemed to blink. After a moment of thought, he responded.

[You seem to have weathered quite a storm as a reborn person. Certainly, if things go as you think, avoiding a mundane life swept away by the waves of destiny might be possible; however, turning your eyes away from the larger possibilities could lead to difficulties.]

“…….”

[As a reborn person, you could say it would be a disadvantage.]

Master Mangnyang gazed at me with his expressionless eyes.

[If you put in more effort, you might achieve results greater than anything achieved previously. Are you truly satisfied with this?]

His words pierced the heart of what I had been struggling with.

Is this truly the right approach?

But I boldly responded.

“I will make my move before I get swept away by the waves of destiny! That resolution has not changed!”

[Hooh….]

“Regardless, trying to catch the waves of fate without substantial power will only lead to me being used! I’m fed up with that, and I just want to live comfortably this life!”

As I raised my voice, Master Mangnyang fell silent. He then spoke slowly.

[Alright…. I have confirmed your determination. In exchange for your request, I shall receive offerings from Xuyou.]

“Offering Xuyou is cheap.”

Wuuuuu

Xuyou enveloped in light vanished behind Master Mangnyang.

Then, shortly after, the figure of Master Mangnyang began to slowly dissipate, and from behind him, something colossal began to emerge from the horizon, like a clear cluster of stars.

Goooogogo

It was a giant being that seemed a fusion of a human and the Eight-Scaled Fish, a terrifying entity that could drive a human mad just by looking at it. The ultimate manifestation of terror: the strongest absolute evil being emerged from the horizon.

‘Here it comes.’

In that majestic, intimidating scene, I felt a surge of courage as my resolve strengthened.

After a moment, that gigantic presence began to address me.

[Why have you summoned me so annoyingly, despite rejecting my invitation, reborn one?]

I clenched my fists and shouted back at that entity.

“Because I didn’t want to discuss your invitation at your lair! And I absolutely refuse to present myself before you in that manner in the future!”

[…is that so…. Heh heh….]

“Listen carefully from here on!”

I pointed at the entity while shouting.

“Even if I die in this life, I won’t be moving according to your wishes! So just give up on this life! I’ve resolved to rest in peace this time!”

[…….]

I gritted my teeth hard enough for veins to pop.

“I’m sick of your dark schemes and the world-ending events! If something like that happens, I will hold you entirely responsible! Isn’t that the reality? I called you here to say that!”

[…Hooh…. You’re bold…. You really think I would do that?]

“I’m betting on it.”

Thus began my confrontation.

I believed that this persuasion contained the fate of my entire peaceful existence as I clenched my jaw.

“The Evil God!”