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“The Soul of the Four Gods”

I told Mangnyang that I was stepping out of the village for a bit to find a mentor who could help me master my martial arts. He replied.

“Hmm, that’s contradictory.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You clearly want to live a carefree life, yet you’re busting your butt running around the world more than anyone else. Sure, it’s wise to tackle problems before they arise, but it feels a bit hypocritical, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

“At this rate, how can you live comfortably?”

Ugh….

When Mangnyang pointed out what I had been vaguely sensing, I widened my eyes in surprise. After a moment, I collected my thoughts and replied.

“Actually, I feel quite precarious right now. It’s always been unavoidable that trouble arises in the world, so I’ve just been trying to suppress it as much as I could with what I know. But I wonder how long I can maintain this peace.”

“Peace in the world…?”

Mangnyang’s eyes lit up. He settled into a chair in the Great Hall and leaned forward towards me.

“You should open up a bit more. You don’t have to tell me everything… I just want to help you.”

“Um…”

“I’ve always thought about governing the world. First, tell me the most pressing issue! I could outline the order in which to tackle those problems.”

“…Fine.”

Unable to resist Mangnyang’s offer to help, I opened my mouth.

“To be honest, there are about four shaky elements right now.”

“Lay it on me.”

“First, I recently brought the Moon Sovereign from Goryeo Island and accidentally wiped out the guardian Dongyoung, who is the Creator God Izanagi no Mikoto. Now I’m worried if they’ll come looking for me from the Celestial Realm.”

“…….”

I could see Mangnyang look stunned.

“Second, it seems Zhuge Yulong from the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace is planning a celestial ascent to protect the Emperor, but in Luoyang there are ancient demon beasts of unknown identity that are clashing with the legendary Demon King, the Eight Parts of the Divine… I don’t want to get involved.”

“Zhuge Yulong? And a Demon King….”

Mangnyang’s expression morphed into one of bewilderment as he scratched his head. He looked pretty shocked and after a moment of catching his breath, he said.

“I’m afraid to ask about the other two… What else is there?”

“Third, it seems the ancient Demon King and Apostle of the God, Daji, is about to resurrect on Golden Crow Island. Miho has been affected and now knows about it. Since Daji is the Yin deity of Nüwa, I suspect the Celestial Realm might intervene as well.”

“…Slowly, I’m starting to feel overwhelmed… So what’s the last one?”

“Lastly, Susanoo mentioned that a great flood will soon engulf this world. The omen they spoke of was the Black Moon, indicating that when the black moon rises, the great flood will commence, sweeping away the earthly realm.”

“A great flood… Like the one that ravaged the ancient world?”

“Exactly.”

“Anything else?”

“Well… I recall that the Shaolin Sect seems poised to invade the Central Plains in a few years, and it looks like one of the divine statuses from the Divine Temple, Parvati, is backing them. But I feel like I’ve managed to keep that on the down-low, so I’m not worried about it now.”

“…Crazy… this is just…”

After hearing all that, Mangnyang’s face went completely pale, leaving him speechless. But he quickly regained his composure and appeared to be deep in thought before speaking again.

“Each of those disasters would leave even the greatest hero terrified, and you have four of them yet you still claim to pursue peace in the world?”

“Uh, well…”

“I never imagined such monumental problems would stack up like this.”

I scratched my head, unable to respond to Mangnyang’s comments.

‘I thought this life would be easy and smooth, but why does Mangnyang’s talk make the world seem like it’s wrapped in hardship?’

This wasn’t a delusion; I truly believed this, making the discomfort more potent. A moment later, clarity dawned on me as I realized why I had this dissonance.

I had been coasting through life without any significant hurdles until now!

Compared to my experiences fighting against Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, everything felt like a walk in the park.

Finally, Mangnyang broke the silence.

“Honestly, these issues may be beyond my ability to help with… but if I were to give objective strategic advice, I think your top priority should be the flood.”

“The flood? Why’s that?”

“Let’s break it down: the first foe is in the Celestial Realm, the second involves the Eight Parts of the Divine, Zhuge Yulong, and the Demon King, while the third is Daji from Golden Crow Island. Regardless of their strengths, they differ from the fourth— the great flood.”

“And what’s that difference?”

“The enemy is a personal being. The flood is a natural disaster.”

Mangnyang clasped his hands and continued.

“You are equipped with immense experience and power; it feels like you can take on personal enemies. From what I’ve seen, you have enough resolve to tackle those three issues, and you’re probably at ease because of that. Bottom line is, as long as the opponent is a sentient being, defeating them will resolve the problem, and you can keep living your village chief life.”

“That makes sense.”

“But the flood is different. This disaster isn’t a sentient being— it’s a natural calamity. If you let it happen, the Great Ming Empire and all of civilization will collapse. Once that happens, you’ll never get a chance to defeat your foes, and your peaceful life will come to an end. You can’t chop through the entire world’s floods with a sword.”

“……!!”

“Even if you manage to hold Soeul Village with a barrier, if civilization falls, we’ll have to start from scratch like cavemen.”

As I listened to Mangnyang, I finally sensed that the chaotic priority in my mind had sorted itself out.

“If I don’t stop the flood, solving the other three calamities will be pointless!”

“Exactly! When you go off in search of martial arts masters, you should also seek clues about the flood. First, suppress the flood proactively before tackling the other disasters. By the way, do you have an idea of how much time is left before the flood hits?”

“Uh… well…”

I racked my brain for the answer.

“The god Susanoo mentioned he will need three years to regain his strength to put a stop to the flood. So I think we have at least two years left, but I’m not sure exactly when it will strike.”

“Two years… hmm… Is there anyone else with better strategies concerning the flood besides Susanoo?”

“Regarding the flood… wait a minute.”

As I recalled, I thought of my Wu Dao and pulled it out of my wooden armor, showing it to Mangnyang.

“This Wu Dao contains the ancient emperor Gun, who is sealed within. He’s said to have controlled water, so I was thinking of asking him.”

“G-Gun?! Are you talking about the one featured in history?!”

“Exactly…”

“Why didn’t you ask sooner?”

“I was worried that if you provoked him while he was regaining strength, he might become irritable…”

“Wake him up now and ask.”

“Alright.”

I infused energy into the Wu Dao and called out to Gun.

“Come forth, Gun!!”

Whooooosh.

[Why have you called me…?]

Gun manifested from the Wu Dao, revealing his spirit form. I told him.

“Gun, it’s said a great flood will soon come to this world.”

[……]

“They say it will begin on the day the Black Moon rises. Do you have any notion of what might happen?”

Gun’s upper body, covered in scales, twisted as he suddenly chuckled, shuffling his robes.

[Heh… why are you asking me that…? You don’t mean to say… that you want to stop the flood?]

“Of course! I need to protect my village.”

[Village…? You mean to safeguard your territory?]

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”

[Hehe… I, too, once gave everything to protect my nation and people… The Three Sovereigns…]

After muttering in introspection for a moment, Gun continued.

[I have an inkling about what’s coming. However, I cannot divulge this clue freely.]

“Are you suggesting a trade?”

[Indeed… If you bring me something powerful or a divine treasure, I will share what I know. If you provide what meets my standards, then I’ll tell you what I know…]

“Hmmm…”

Not a bad proposal. I thought for a moment before replying.

“I can give you this. It should aid in your recovery.”

I presented him the Grimoire, the Nine Stars Main Capital.

[Hooh…!! A powerful Grimoire indeed.]

It appeared Gun recognized its authenticity immediately, and he looked quite agitated, chuckling in satisfaction.

[Hehe… I see you know the art of negotiation…]

I quickly interrupted him.

“But if I just give it away, I’m at a disadvantage, so we need to ensure a fair trade.”

[What do you mean?]

“I’m not even sure if your so-called ‘inkling’ is accurate; after all, it’s just a clue, right? But if you consume this, regaining your true strength shouldn’t be too tough. I’m risking a loss here, so I have an additional condition.”

[…What is it?]

“I know you possess the power of the Dragon of the Regulation. I want you to be able to wield that power at will, three times a year.”

[……!!]

Gun displayed visible unease.

[How do you know about that?]

“Does that even matter? The point is, if you refuse this offer, I can’t hand over the Grimoire.”

[……]

“Think carefully. Even without your help, I can likely uncover clues by myself.”

After hearing that, Gun thought for a moment and then nodded.

[Fine… I’ll accept that contract.]

“Contract established.”

Whoooosh!!

For a brief moment, a seal, like a fire mark, was imprinted on my palm before vanishing. I felt that the contract was now active and promptly handed over the Grimoire to him. Gun’s spirit instantly devoured it, gulping it down.

Whew…

[Hooo….]

After consuming the Grimoire, Gun seemed temporarily dazed, and after some length of time, he exuded a reinvigorated spirit energy as he spoke.

[As per our agreement, I will inform you of the significance of the Black Moon.]

“Quickly. I have other places to be.”

[As far as I know, it symbolizes the divine.]

“Divine?”

When I queried, Gun continued calmly.

[In my era, when the great flood occurred, it was instigated by the Three Sovereigns. However, the Three Sovereigns were busy suppressing numerous divine beings at that time, so they had little energy left. They feared using their strength as it would incur a backlash from the Law of Cause and Effect… In those moments, they found an appropriate proxy to carry out their bidding, who then unleashed the flood upon the world.]

“Proxy? That being was also a divine entity?”

[Indeed… Not the Three Sovereigns, but their agent, the executor of mischief, appeared just as the Black Moon rose above the sky. It was likely a natural phenomenon that responded to the divine powers of that entity.]

This was unexpected. The Black Moon was not a natural phenomenon; it was a manifestation stemming from the presence of a divine being!

Realizing this was a critical piece of information, I inquired.

“What’s that being’s name?”

[Hmm… I’m not sure. I was too busy trying to contend with the Three Sovereigns… However… I know that entity is neither male nor female.]

“Huh? Isn’t that kind of the nature of gods?”

[Being genderless is the very essence of that divine identity… And… it’s been around for a very long time. Also, it’s an extremely mysterious existence…]

“Hmmm.”

I tilted my head, intrigued.

‘A genderless god born from the Black Moon?’

This was the first time I’d heard such a thing in 30 lifetimes. Regardless, this was a significant clue, so I told Gun.

“Now that we’ve entered into a contract for the power of the Dragon of the Regulation, I can expect to see you now and then. When you wield that power, I’ll need your expertise.”

[Hehe… A being like the God of Creation… It might be fun to follow you around…]

Flickering!!

Gun returned into the Wu Dao, likely drained from their power transfer, wanting some rest so they could soon tap into the Grimoire’s power. Watching him, Mangnyang voiced his concern.

“Isn’t Gun going to grow stronger like the Demon King? What if he betrays us…?”

“It’ll be fine. Such things happen now and then.”

If Gun betrays me, I’ll just beat him up in my next life!

“Wow… You’re pretty bold.”

Mangnyang expressed his admiration.

“The way forward to prevent the flood is determined! Find out who this genderless god representing the Black Moon is, the proxy of the Three Sovereigns, and preemptively subdue them! If you pull that off, you’ll save the world.”

“Understood!”

“Let’s give ourselves about two years to figure this out. We just need to uncover the clues within that time frame, no need to rush.”

“Two years… Sounds like a long time!”

With the situation sorted out, I prepared to leave the village. I decided to take Bangil with me.

‘I’ll have to teach Bangil martial arts so he can grow to a first-class level quickly!’

Whoosh.

I exited the village, heading toward the destination I initially envisioned.

‘It doesn’t seem right to meet the absolute realm’s divine beings directly. They’re indeed powerful, but they report everything they see and hear back to the Celestial Realm.’

Not to mention, reviving Lee Cheong-un might be awkward because of the Master of the White Lotus Sect, and I don’t want to seek him out either; I need to be cautious to avoid exacerbating the events of this life. Therefore, it would make more sense to visit either Miyamoto Musashi or Asura, but I had other priorities first. Hence, I headed to Henan.

‘Well, considering my 29th life’s promise… The only person I’m looking for to achieve martial enlightenment is one individual. But I think it’s better not to meet him just yet… I need to come this way first.’

I might’ve been supposed to arrive earlier. However, I think I opted for the more entertaining village chief life, hence delaying my visit.

Whoooosh.

I swiftly passed through the Mountain Gate, and the martial monks stationed there seemed not to have noticed me at all, likely due to my swiftness. Moreover, I gently glided through the void and eventually reached the location where the top monk at the Shaolin Temple resided.

Tydaht!

I sat on a rock and observed the monk who was meditating and crossed-legged. I greeted him.

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

As the monk, garbed in robes, slowly opened his eyes, he looked at me and said.

“A being of unparalleled strength that exceeds imagination… A divine being?”

It seemed he sensed something was different about me. Even without revealing my true capabilities, he had quickly realized my level of skill. I decided to treat him with the respect he deserved and spoke.

“Recently, some goons, similar to Shaolin’s masters, invaded our village, but we managed to repel them. I wanted to know if your temple had dealt with them effectively.”

In response, the monk softly recited a prayer to Amitabha and then said.

“The abbot of the Small Thunder Temple and the sect leader of Asuhyeol came to our headquarters, kowtowing and foretelling the invasion from the Shaolin Sect… Those affairs were handled by you, Baek Woong, it seems.”

“Hmm?”

“Their spirits were profoundly disturbed… looks like you have some ties to heretical sects.”

“……”

I hadn’t meant to hide it, but he appeared to be very perceptive regarding the situation. I scratched my head and said.

“I figured that if it was Shaolin Temple, they wouldn’t kill those men, but instead, they would incarcerate them. As long as they don’t return to their base, I thought their invasion of my village would be postponed.”

“As you’ve said, they are indeed imprisoned within our Thunder Pearl.”

“That’s a relief. Not killing them is important.”

Indeed. I had intentionally quelled the abbot of the Small Thunder Temple and the sect leader of Asuhyeol, and then sent them to Shaolin Temple using the Soul Exchange Technique. I hoped to startle them into vigilance while also delaying the impending invasion from their sect. Clearly, the monk in front of me was aware of my true intentions.

“Truly a fortunate turn for the martial world… Hehe…”

The monk smiled gently.

“It appears you have more to say… I’m all ears, so go ahead.”

“Hmm. Please don’t take this the wrong way.”

As I continued, the monk’s expression shifted slightly.

“Grand Master Myung-ho, would you be able to give me the Reverse Root Water Mirror?”

 

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