1268——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Parvati?

It was the first time I heard that name, but it reminded me of the memories I received from the time of the Great Bear Empire.

‘…when the comrades of the Great Bear Empire went to conquer the Tianzhu continent, they encountered something on the Brahmin’s sacred mountain…’

Thinking of that memory, I couldn’t help but grimace. Then, I pressed the guys caught by the Soul Exchange Technique for answers.

“Wasn’t the Brahmin Sect Leader Krishna? What nonsense is this about Parvati?”

The abbot of the Small Thunder Temple answered with muddled eyes.

“Lord Krishna is… a Divine Being… and he handed the position of the Brahmin sect leader over to Lady Parvati….”

“Hmm. Does that mean Krishna isn’t coming out this time?”

A new troublemaker has appeared!

I muttered and asked again.

“So, what kind of being is Parvati?”

“She is the companion of the great Destroyer, Lord Shiva… a revered being… who has descended again after three thousand years….”

“…….”

Shiva… huh?

Normally, I would have tilted my head at this unfamiliar name of a celestial being, but not this time. Because I clearly remembered hearing the name Shiva at the end of my 28th life.

‘When Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen ordered the annihilation of the land, the name of that monster who came to devastate the celestial realm was Shiva!’

And if the Destroyer Shiva’s wife is Parvati, it means one thing.

The Divine Temple!

It suggests that even though Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen is sealed on his throne in the Divine Temple, his subordinates are still active! If Krishna willingly handed over the position, it implies they’re on the same side, and Krishna, Shiva, and Parvati are very likely united!

“Damn it! So, why did the Divine Being Parvati suddenly order you experts to attack the rural Soeul Village? Don’t you think that’s an absurd command?!”

“We mortals can only follow their will…. How could we oppose the command of a great god…? We are mere insects.”

“…….”

It seems the abbot of the Small Thunder Temple is knowledgeable about the hidden world and understands the gap between humans and gods.

“Anyway, tell me the reason.”

“That being sensed an unusual flow of power…. She commanded us to capture any mortals that may hinder Lady Parvati in the future.”

“Did they know that I and the Thunder God Lineage were here?”

“Not at all…. We heard nothing…. Just that if anything was breathing in Soeul Village, we must erase it without leaving a trace….”

“…and why are you working with the Master of Shadowless Sword? Was that also directed by Parvati?”

“No…. While we were heading north, he blocked our path, claiming something was suspicious… and we just teamed up once we realized we were aimed at the same enemy….”

“Hmm.”

So, it seems the Master of Shadowless Sword figured out that the suspicious forces were common targets and just teamed up like that. I pressed my temple as if to alleviate the absurdity and said.

“Is sensing an unusual flow of power a unique ability of Parvati?”

“Just a divine revelation….”

“Is Krishna also currently with the Brahmin Sect?”

“The lord handed over the position of sect leader and ascended after eliminating the avatar, so he is no longer in this world….”

“Hm….”

After deep thought, I said.

“Got it. I’ll need to keep you guys in the wooden armor.”

It’s too troublesome and resource-consuming to keep them restrained in the Soul Exchange Technique in the village. Besides, maintaining the suppression on multiple people would consume a lot of the drinker’s mental strength, so I can’t keep them suppressed for a millennium.

After finishing the interrogation, I explained the situation to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang, it seems these guys are minions of the Brahmin Sect from Tianzhu, and the sect leader Parvati sensed some unusual flow of power and sent them here.”

“The Brahmin Sect…? Why would the largest sect from Tianzhu do such a thing?”

“I don’t know either. Only that there seems to be a huge divine entity backing them.”

As I shared all the detail I could, Mangnyang pondered for a bit before speaking.

“It’s important that they didn’t know about Baek Woong, the village chief. If that’s the case, then the god Parvati likely has some ability to foresee the future and has detected anything that might disturb her. I don’t know what Soeul Village could be to her, but it’s clear she deemed it a potential disturbance.”

“What should we do? Should we bury all the attackers?”

“No. As Dokgo Seong said before, that choice would be stirring a hornet’s nest. If Parvati thinks her predictions were correct due to that, she will send even stronger minions. The key is to make it ambiguous whether Soeul Village is the target or not.”

Continuing his mumbling, Mangnyang proposed a plan.

“Chief Baek Woong, could you set the Soul Exchange Technique on them like this?”

I cast the Soul Exchange Technique on the abbot of the Small Thunder Temple and the Lord of Asuhyeol. When I let them go, I soon saw them leave the village and disappear from sight. Mangnyang, who was watching from behind me, said.

“Now you should feel relieved about this.”

“Will this really be okay?”

“Parvati didn’t send her subordinates knowing the situation in the Central Plains. Naturally, as long as it’s a divine being, they won’t realize they’ve been wiped out right away. Therefore, we can just create confusion by making it seem that they aimed to strike Soeul Village but encountered other martial arts organizations, right?”

“Hmm.”

“This is a minor issue. More importantly, we should meet with the castle lord soon.”

I blinked at the unexpected statement.

“Why the sudden interest in the castle lord?”

“Thanks to the large bribe I offered to the castle lord not long ago, I’ve been able to firmly establish connections. However, due to rumors, the castle lord seems to be getting greedier. He is now demanding ten times the amount of the bribe previously given.”

“…….”

“I can provide it, but I don’t want to waste that bribe on him. Can you use your influence a little?”

“Don’t worry. Threatening a castle lord is a piece of cake.”

“No, no…. That’s definitely true, but since this is set, we should minimize the aftermath, so let’s take a mix of firmness and softness. Let’s go find the castle lord together.”

“……? Alright.”

After tidying up the village that was attacked that day, the next morning, I gathered a diplomatic delegation to visit the castle lord. The delegation included me, Mangnyang, and some other village members, and we decided to take a cart.

‘Mangnyang said it’s time to stop soaring through the skies.’

If I show off too much of my celestial powers, I’ll attract unwanted attention. So, considering the rapid expansion of Soeul Village, it’s better to avoid actions that could draw eyes, hence I decided to use a cart, a standard human transport.

Clip-clop, clip-clop

While riding in the cart, Geum Cheon-jae, who was with us, trembled and spoke.

“U-uh… Is this really okay…?”

“What do you mean by okay?”

“Well, Chief, you’re a remarkable person, but… the castle lord is practically a king in this Seongseo region. Back in the day, village chiefs like me would gather 10-20 fellow chiefs to offer tribute to a local administrator called Gapju, and those Gapju would gather again to present to a Branch Director, the one who would kneel to a Taoist Master, and above that is the castle lord….”

“…….”

“Plus, I heard the current castle lord is a descendant of the imperial family…. If we were to use violence against him, we’d be in serious trouble….”

“Hmph. You think I’d fear a castle lord at this point? What do you think, could I be greeted as a lord?”

“Yikes.”

At that moment, Mangnyang gave a wry smile.

“Baek Woong. I know you’re a superhuman who doesn’t fear even the emperor, but please comply a little with human rules. The saying ‘a needle in a bag of rice’ doesn’t always have positive connotations.”

“Understood. That’s why I’m not flying and am riding the cart.”

“Ha, ha. And I think something amusing will happen when we reach a crowded place.”

“……?”

“You’ll find out when we arrive.”

Eventually, we entered Xi’an, the largest city in the region where the castle lord resides. Upon entering, the guards looked surprised at the golden emblem that Mangnyang presented, standing at attention.

“Please pass through!”

Seeing the guards give such respect sparked my curiosity, so I asked.

“Mangnyang, what’s that golden emblem?”

“It’s something I received during our last negotiations with the castle lord. It signifies that the castle lord should treat the holder like their own kin.”

“Oh! That sounds useful.”

Clip-clop, clip-clop

“Baek Woong, it seems you’ve been to Luoyang before. But Xi’an’s castle feels smaller than Luoyang’s.”

“That’s true. But it’s still significantly bigger than the provincial cities or Guangdong province.”

“Ha-ha! You’ve indeed traveled through the war-torn lands of the Central Plains.”

As we entered the bustling area, the cart began moving slowly. Mangnyang smiled at me.

“From here to the inner city, it’s actually faster to walk. The castle’s laws prevent carts from going too fast.”

“Hmm? I want to finish things quickly….”

“Now that we’re here, how about we take a look around the castle? We’ll wait for you at the castle gates.”

“Oh! Let’s do that.”

Mangnyang said in a strangely mischievous tone.

“Ehehe… enjoy yourself.”

I thought this could be fun and hopped off the cart, roaming around the busy streets of Xi’an. I couldn’t help but marvel.

‘There are many who are beautifully decorated. And this place has its unique character, and the food must be delicious. It’s definitely a sight to see.’

Of course, compared to what Mangnyang said about Luoyang, it might lack something. But surely if a village bumpkin came up here, they’d be overwhelmed by this kind of glamour. As I enjoyed the adventure, I suddenly felt strange gazes.

“……?”

Upon closer inspection, I noticed people nearby, both men and women, staring at me as if bewitched. Even the girls were covering their mouths, blushing slightly, glancing at me from a distance. I could hear some of the girls screaming.

“Eek!!”

“He’s so handsome.”

At first, I was bewildered by their reactions, but soon the reason became clear.

‘The peerless beauty of Fuxi! Is it because of that?’

I could even hear nearby men murmuring their admiration for my looks.

‘…how can someone this handsome exist?’

‘Unbelievable. Haha…’

‘This boy is bound to become a future beauty like Song-ok or Ban-an.’

From even further away, I could see girls of similar ages seeming to urge each other to talk to me. It felt like 9 out of 10 people on the street were focused on me, and I was quite taken aback.

‘Wait? I don’t think I got such a reaction even when I first had treatment from Hwa Seong-myeong….’

Come to think of it, back then, Hwa Seong-myeong artificially enhanced my looks, but this time it’s because of Fuxi’s extreme beauty! The nature of the reactions felt distinctly different, as my original beauty had gained attention only from women, while now even men were utterly captivated.

Murmurs and whispers

It felt as if everyone on the block was focusing solely on me! Considering I had never experienced such attention, my back felt sweaty. In a field unrelated to martial arts, I had no idea how to react to this level of interest.

‘Whoa… whoa…. Enjoying this attention…?’

Was it a suggestion to enjoy this kind of gaze? Realizing Mangnyang’s intention threw me into a state of confusion. While I wanted something like this, facing it made me feel more flustered than pleased.

At that moment.

“Hey, handsome boy over there! Stop for a moment!”

Suddenly, several muscular warriors appeared, loudly calling out. When I looked at them, a burly leader among them cleared his throat and said.

“Our master wishes to invite you, so please come with us.”

“No thanks. I have somewhere to be.”

“What did you say?!”

Just then, an elegantly delicate hand emerged from a glamorous carriage behind the warriors, and the owner of that hand seemed to say something softly. The warrior leader, hearing those words, suddenly shouted.

“If you follow us, we’ll reward you with ten golden coins!!”

Murmurs!!

The onlookers gasped in shock. Just following them would earn ten gold coins! Of course, it wasn’t an offer that would tempt me, but I was intrigued enough to ask.

“What will happen if I follow you?”

“Well… um… our master wants to have tea and chat with you.”

“…….”

As expected. I had glimpsed the stunning woman inside that luxurious carriage a moment ago, so I figured the one making the invitation was undoubtedly a lady of noble birth. She didn’t seem like someone who would harm anyone.

‘Still, I have too much to do now, so I shouldn’t deviate too far from my path.’

I held my ground, saying,

“I’m on my way to meet the castle lord, so I’m afraid I can’t. If you give me a token, I can visit you later.”

“Uh….”

The warrior leader looked flustered and glanced back at the luxurious carriage. After the master said something, he opened his mouth.

“…that would be great! Just follow us, and it will work out.”

“What? Why would I meet you when I’m supposed to meet the castle lord…?”

“Hoh!! How dare you speak so lightly about who this is!”

Suddenly, the warrior leader bellowed.

“Do not dare to refuse the invitation of the castle lord’s only daughter, who is cherished and loved like treasure, the West Heaven Princess!!”

Thud

As soon as that was said, all the passersby around dropped to their knees and paid their respects to the carriage, creating a scene to behold.

“……!!”

A princess?!

‘Ah, I remember they said the castle lord was of royal blood…!!’

If that’s true, then the one inviting me to tea inside that carriage is the castle lord’s daughter. My mind was blown as I blinked in disbelief while a melodious voice poured out from the luxurious carriage.

“My apologies for the intimidation from my warriors. But if you’re on your way to see my father, wouldn’t it be nice to have a cup of tea with me first?”

With a blunt reply, I said,

“There are many people in this world; there’s no pressing reason for me to have tea with you, is there?”

“I have my reasons.”

The West Heaven Princess said this with a slightly excited tone.

“I have seen countless handsome men, but a young lad like you is truly a first for me. Seeing you makes all the beautiful men I’ve encountered feel like mere chickens; I must invite you to my palace to pay tribute to that beauty.”

“…….”

“My father is busy with state matters, so you can meet him after having tea with me.”

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I can’t keep my companions waiting too long.”

“Ah….”

At that moment, the West Heaven Princess leaned forward, almost hanging her body out of the carriage. The warrior leader looked startled.

“Princess!!”

The West Heaven Princess was a stunning beauty in her early twenties, possessing delicate features and pale skin, blushing slightly as she spoke with a hint of urgency in her voice.

“Very well then. After meeting my father, will you come visit my palace?”

“…….”

“Please… I ask you.”

At that moment, I realized just how remarkable Fuxi was in beauty. Even a princess of a nation was so captivated by looks that she would lay down her pride and beg! And to have such a reaction at my still youthful, unrefined state made me curious about how it would be once I matured into a young man.

I smiled slyly and replied.

“I agree. I promise.”

“Ah! Young man, what is your name?”

“Baek Woong.”

“I will wait for you….”

The carriage then disappeared into the distance. The crowd parted like the sea, allowing me to wander freely down the main road, feeling every bit of their attention.

And for the first time while walking through the streets, I thought.

‘Ah…. So this is how it is.’

Being handsome sure makes life easier!!

Conversely, realizing how unfortunate the lives of the less fortunate must be made me feel a strange sensation. Perhaps I had deep-rooted rejections toward such common truths, as misfortune had long been a part of my daily life.

Eventually, I reached the spot where the cart was waiting, and Mangnyang mischievously asked.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“That was quite a reaction.”

“I knew it would be so. I’ve seen countless beauties since growing up in Luoyang, but your looks are on another level. Yours might just go down in history, haha.”

“…….”

After a while, we arrived at the meeting with the castle lord. As soon as we got there, the castle lord welcomed us, flanked by elite troops and a tense atmosphere, and spoke in a solemn voice.

“Have the chief of Soeul Village and his subordinates arrived? You prepared the tributes as promised, right?”

Mangnyang and I quickly turned to the person we brought along behind us, and I urged him to speak.

“Quickly say something, my disciple!”

“…Understood.”

Displaying a face like he had eaten something disgustingly bitter, he stepped forward, brandishing his spear and said, growling,

“It is an honor to meet you again, Seongjun Wang-ya, the castle lord, I Lee Kwang!!”

Though his words were respectful, a condescension that felt dismissive was evident in his tone.

“……!!”

Murmurs

Everyone in the hall was taken aback. The castle lord staggered for a moment, trembling in shock.

“Y-you… Lee Kwang!! How did a mad dog make it here?”