1285——————==

Soul of the Evil God

“Eulji Mundeok? Ah….”

Now that I think about it, that was true. Seeing my confused expression, Seong Jin gave me a look that said he expected it.

“Looks like you heard about it from me in your previous life.”

“No… I heard it from Cho Mu-rin.”

Seong Jin looked taken aback.

“From Cho Mu-rin? You mean that guy who is now an Overlay Technique user?”

“Yep. I distinctly remember that Ho-wol, the Sect Master, rescued Cho Mu-rin while wandering the northern region of the Central Plains to take him as his disciple, and he met Eulji Mundeok in Gauri but was disappointed and returned.”

“Hmm….”

“I haven’t heard anything about Eulji Mundeok from you. Do you know something different?”

Seong Jin seemed lost in thought for a moment before speaking up.

“Cho Mu-rin probably has his version, but I learned a more detailed account directly from Ho-wol back then. It was quite different from the young Cho Mu-rin’s story….”

“Tell me.”

“According to my brother, Eulji Mundeok was an unparalleled genius, no, the greatest genius in Gauli’s history. He was under twenty yet had already reached an impressive level in martial arts beyond peak expertise, and he was extremely knowledgeable as well, surpassing the academic standards of Gauli. His military strategies were exceptional, making him material for a commander, and he was well-versed in poetry and other arts, reaching the level of a master. His ability to win hearts was extraordinary, and he already played a leading role among Gauli’s noble families, plus, he was as handsome as you are now.”

“……”

“Besides that, he was skilled in horsemanship, eloquence, farming methods, secret techniques, commerce, law, and so on.”

I was momentarily taken aback and exclaimed, “Does such a person really exist?!”

I could believe that a martial arts genius like Jin So-cheong could exist; however, to hear that a kid under twenty could also be a genius in academics, military strategy, poetry, and politics while being immensely good-looking sounded absurd!

A being that perfect could exist?

Seong Jin nodded calmly. “All of that wasn’t just his claim; it was an objective evaluation from my brother, who gathered information from the side. He actually concealed his talents from the world, and yet, like a jade lying in the mud, he became apparent, prompting all of Gauli’s nobles and royals to entrust the future of Gauli to him.”

“……”

“Moreover, my brother, just like you, was very skeptical. Having not one, but more than ten talents capable of exhausting one’s potential in the mortal realm was indeed a coincidental absurdity.”

“You think that skepticism led to doubts about being connected with transcendent beings?”

“Exactly…. And that suspicion became reality decades later.”

For a brief moment, Seong Jin’s gaze grew heavy as he continued. “When Eulji Mundeok matured, the Yeo Su War broke out. It was a war of invasion, instigated by Emperor Yang of the great empire, Sui, against Gauli. Given the massive power disparity between Sui and Gauli, everyone anticipated Gauli’s annihilation.”

“I’m not well-versed in that history… Did Gauli win?”

“Several hundred thousand troops of Sui were annihilated at the Sal-Su River, concluding the war with Sui’s defeat. The one leading that great victory was none other than Eulji Mundeok.”

“Hmm… Truly impressive.”

“But my brother doubted the Sal-Su victory and conducted a personal investigation, uncovering some peculiar aspects.”

“What were they?”

“Geographically, it was impossible for water manipulation at the time yet there were unexpected occurrences of water manifestations, leading to the Sui elite being perplexingly overpowered.”

“……?”

“To put it simply…. it’s like water appeared from nowhere, creating waves and floods in places where there should be none.”

Huh?

Looking bewildered, I heard Seong Jin add, “Of course, in terms of the military conditions, the Gauli forces seemed strategically capable of winning that battle; however, it’s suggested that divine power intervened to make that victory more overwhelming.”

“Divine power…!! You don’t mean….”

“Right. Whether it was Eulji Mundeok or the divine entity supporting him…. something definitely existed behind the scenes. My brother began to be wary of Gauli after he realized that a divine being wielding the power of water was undoubtedly supporting them.”

I couldn’t help but mumble, “The Dan Clan…!!”

“You know about that, too.”

“How could I not know…?”

There’s no doubt about it.

Eulji Mundeok was undoubtedly one of the Dan Clan.

I recalled the information I had heard from Jeong Do-ryeong about the world 500 years later.

“What is the Dan Clan exactly?”

“From my perspective, they are those who are reborn into different bodies. But not all Dan members have to go through that; there are special cases.”

“It’s exactly as you said. Those who want to become members of the Dan Clan must ascend the altar to perform a ceremony, during which their old body is sacrificed, and they gain a new body.”

And I remembered one of the bits of information.

“The fourth benefit is the sharing of experiences among the Dan Clan members.”

“Hmm… Do you understand the internet?”

“In modern terms, the internet has dedicated storage spaces for saving data, known as cloud computing. It’s just like that.”

“So, a member of the Dan Clan retrieves experiences from somewhere and uploads them to the common storage space, allowing other members to access those experiences and techniques.”

“Exactly. However, it’s not as convenient as the techniques of obsidian, and rather than transmitting memories, it’s closer to the acquisition of objective knowledge. It’s like receiving detailed explanations from someone who has already studied a particular book or reference guide. It’s more like basic memory transmission or skill sharing.”

This is it.

There’s no doubt.

“Seong Jin. According to what I’ve heard, the members of the Dan Clan….”

As soon as I thought of this, I recounted all that I knew about the Dan Clan to Seong Jin. He listened carefully and nodded.

“I see. If what you say is true, then Eulji Mundeok likely utilized the shared experiences and knowledge among the Dan Clan to enjoy all those talents simultaneously. He must have had awareness since infancy and gradually absorbed talents from various fields over time.”

“That’s terrifying….”

I shook my head in disbelief.

The idea that someone could strive to be a genius from such a young age is utterly mind-boggling! That’s effectively cheating! Others work for decades to gain experience in life, yet he could train for them right from childhood.

I then realized something else and shuddered.

“Wait a second. If the Dan Clan is filled with artificial geniuses like Eulji Mundeok, it suggests…”

“Most likely.”

“Eugh….”

It all makes sense now; those Dan Clan members I briefly observed in the past were all endowed with incredible martial prowess. Given they all received artificial talents and continued training while possessing benefits like immortality, the results were bound to exceed that of ordinary humans.

“However, I believe there will definitely be limits.”

“Limits?”

Seong Jin continued calmly. “Eulji Mundeok lived over a millennium ago, and many Dan Clan members must have been born since then. However, the fact that they never upended the world suggests that there are indeed individual differences and variance in capabilities among them.”

“What do you mean? Not everyone can be a genius?”

“Most likely. Of course, mastering all that meticulously refined knowledge depends on personal capacity, right? If it’s not like obsidian where memories are transmitted, then even with well-organized materials, the internalization of those materials will differ from person to person.”

“Ah.”

“It’s my belief that Eulji Mundeok possessed some remarkable talent for internalizing multiple abilities. The potential of the Dan Clan is astonishing, but I wouldn’t consider it on par with divine levels. Human civilization will eventually reach that level someday.”

“……”

“Human civilization is still at the bottom in terms of the universe…. so I wouldn’t be too surprised.”

From Seong Jin’s calm remarks, I understood that he clearly had a solid perspective on the vast difference between a godly being and a human. To say it’s not divine suggests he has enough experience to know how much overwhelming power the [Old Rulers] had. Truly, a fit disciple of the last generation’s master.

“Rather, what concerns me more isn’t the talents but the [new bodies] the Dan Clan members receive.”

“Why the bodies?”

“Other talents can be embodied through effort, but one’s appearance is a realm where effort alone doesn’t bring change. It’s either about mastering transformation techniques or undergoing skeletal shaping. Yet Eulji Mundeok was said to be an absolute beauty, which means that while sacrificing his old body at the altar, they can decide the potential or appearance of the new body.”

“Hmm.”

“But… in that case, there arises a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Where did the [old body] dedicated at the altar of the Star-Observing Altar of Mount Muni go?”

“Oh.”

Wait, what now?!

I was slightly astonished as Seong Jin continued. “If we follow your reasoning, the one performing the ceremony to receive a new body and become a member of the Dan Clan is none other than the leader of the Twelve Joules. However, haven’t we already established he’s not an [Old Ruler]?”

“…He’s definitely not an [Old Ruler]. That much is certain.”

“Then, it means while he received a human sacrifice, he’s not an [Old Ruler], suggesting that he neither directly absorbed nor took the spirit or body. The whereabouts of the old body he received remain a mystery.”

“Hmm….”

“Finding that body’s whereabouts will likely unlock the real secret of the Dan Clan.”

Seong Jin sat cross-legged on a nearby rock, intertwining his fingers.

“After hearing this, it occurred to me that Ho-wol likely had similar suspicions. Think about it; bringing Huang Wu here urgently wasn’t just to return him to the White Lotus Sect, but rather to investigate the [Dan Clan] to which he belonged.”

“…If that’s the case….”

I widened my eyes and exclaimed, “[The Dan Clan] kidnapped or killed Ho-wol, didn’t they!”

“……”

Seong Jin fell silent for a moment before speaking up. “That’s something we can’t know right now. It’s very suspicious, but I’m not sure if they have the capability to seal or kill Ho-wol. I don’t really want to brag, but Ho-wol possessed strengths that ranged somewhere between a Demon King and an [Old Ruler], so essentially, there was nobody back then who could have defeated him in this realm.”

“Hmm. I’m familiar with the might of the Great Dragon of the Reflecting Sun.”

I agreed with Seong Jin. The martial skills of Ho-wol depicted in the past conversations were indeed astounding and seemed much stronger than my current self. He was a true martial arts legend who could conquer heaven and earth all by himself.

“Using techniques, while not impossible, trying to trap Ho-wol would mean the Dan Clan should be approached with caution. That’s why I think we need to approach Eulji Mundeok.”

“Why? Isn’t Eulji Mundeok also a member of the Dan Clan? What difference does it make whether we approach him or any member of the [Dan Clan]?”

“Eulji Mundeok is said to be somewhat different,” Seong Jin replied steadily. “He was referred to as the River God of Gauli during that time. Moreover, Ho-wol once mentioned that he had a rebellious streak about him. The expectations placed on him by the king and nobility were of a different nature than national defense….”

“River God…?”

I felt like I’d heard the term before. As I tilted my head in confusion, Seong Jin elaborated.

“I’m not entirely sure, but my brother felt it would be difficult to take Eulji Mundeok as a disciple. Nonetheless, when he visited Gauli, they seemed to have formed some sort of connection. There was a sense of that in their conversation. It felt like they had formed a kind of secret alliance.”

“……”

“The reason I want to find Eulji Mundeok is precisely that. If we look for the [Dan Clan] through proper means, that mysterious clan wouldn’t easily show their tail, so instead, it would be better to ally with someone with a rebellious spirit from within their ranks.”

I totally agreed that it would be difficult to locate them through conventional methods. Thus far, the [Old Rulers] had turned the world upside down, directly infiltrating the Sacred Altar Tree, and no matter what tricks we tried, the [Dan Clan] never revealed their entire hand. In fact, the only solid information we obtained about them was due to Jeong Do-ryeong’s betrayal.

“Is that so….”

I began to understand Seong Jin’s reasoning.

It struck me that Eulji Mundeok, the ancient Gauli’s greatest genius, might be the very reverse scale of the [Dan Clan]!

This could possibly be the only clue leading to uncovering Ho-wol’s disappearance. But then, I realized something and frowned.

“Wait a second. You, Seong Jin from 500 years later, naturally would have known that and would have sought after Eulji Mundeok. But ultimately, you weren’t able to find him, were you? Is this a wild goose chase?”

Seong Jin flinched.

“Er, I can’t help it. I can’t have more wisdom or experience than you, the reborn Baek Woong! I can only give you the maximum information that I can.”

“Hmm….”

“There is a difference between now and 500 years from now, isn’t there? I’m not exactly sure what it is, but I think we should focus on that difference….”

“Difference…?”

What could be so different between then and now?

‘Hmm… Not sure… thinking hard is too tough for me.’

After pondering for a while, I felt a mental cramp coming on and sighed.

“Damn. Better take my time figuring this out. Anyway, moving forward, you’ll be my ally, so lend me a lot of your help.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, by the way, I also want to use your subordinate, Nok-wol, and the Black Moon Group from now on. That’s not a problem, right?”

“Of course not. If you take this golden badge, Nok-wol will treat you with the same loyalty he shows me.”

With that, Nok-wol and the Black Moon Group now became subordinates to Soeul Village.

After receiving the golden badge from Seong Jin, I said, “Let’s meet again.”

Woosh!

For now, I returned to the village. I shared my encounter with Seong Jin and the Twelve Joules with Mangnyang.

‘If I mention that I’m talking about something from 500 years in the future, it might give me away, so I’ll have to play it cool…’

Adapting my story to sound like an experience from another place was quite taxing, yet Mangnyang received it without any suspicion. After he listened to the tale, I asked him.

“Thus, I want to gather information from an organization called the Twelve Joules, but the Twelve Joules reach out to all martial artists and the political sphere of Goryeo. If I make even the slightest contact with them, information will be revealed immediately. I wonder if there’s a way to collect information without them noticing.”

To that, Mangnyang responded nonchalantly, as if bringing up a trivial matter.

“That was already discussed during your conversation with Seong Jin, so why worry about it?”

“Huh?”

“Use the counter-espionage strategy. Managing a vast kingdom from the shadows with a small elite sounds plausible, but the nature of the power structure renders it vulnerable.”

Mangnyang continued calmly.

“Like you mentioned, the [Dan Clan] secretly controls Goryeo, but their grip isn’t complete. The other eleven sects of the Twelve Joules under their control harbor an unconscious resentment towards the Manha Spiritual Gate, and similarly, the head of the Jeong Clan, Jeong Cheol-wook, also feels the same.”

“Hmm…. So you’re suggesting I create a spy among them, and through this spy I should receive information?”

Mangnyang, proudly unfurling his fan, smiled confidently.

“Exactly. Given what you’ve told me, the [Dan Clan] seems to be a powerful organization, yet they appear to have an excessive confidence in their own strength. This means they would likely deal with any rebellion only after it occurs, and their internal management undoubtedly has gaps since they might not even notice a few spies lurking around.”

“……”

“Indeed, there are considerable disadvantages to the power structure that small, elite teams possess!”

Spies… I realized I had yet to employ such a strategy in my previous life.

I found the idea intriguing and said, “Then who should I recruit as the spy?”

“Hmm. I’m a bit unsure on that front. What I’ve just said is simply a concoction floating around in my mind…. It would be best to entice someone close to the center of the Twelve Joules, with a rebellious streak, while also possessing sufficient skills so they won’t easily be conquered by the [Dan Clan].”

“Ultimately, you’re suggesting I look for Eulji Mundeok, aren’t you?”

“Ech… That’s not a means, but rather the outcome and the objective. He was a former rebel designated by Ho-wol, while the one you approach should be a new figure of this era.”

“Ugh, this is tough.”

Who on earth fits that description?

‘A strong, rebellious individual who’s close to the center… Did I encounter someone like that among the Twelve Joules? Ughh…’

I groaned in confusion as I shook my head.

“First things first, I think I’ll rest in the village for a few days before scouting Luoyang. Since I’ve acquired a spy tool, the Demon Artifact, I would like to take my time with it.”

“Sounds good.”

Swish!

I then picked up my spy telescope, the Rehitoog, to survey the interior of the Luoyang Imperial Palace once more. Since the Eight Parts of the Divine might notice me if I stared too long, it would be necessary to scout various happenings without approaching directly.

“Hmm. I need to redraw the map of the Inner Palace while I have the chance.”

For the next two and a half moments, I placed my writing brush, ink, and paper by my side and used the Rehitoog to observe, sketching the layout of the Inner Palace. By doing this in advance, I would find it easier to infiltrate the Imperial Palace using Stealth Techniques later on.

While I was engaged in this for quite a while, I noticed something shooting up abruptly from a corner of the Inner City.

Whoosh!

[Crack!]

A cold blade pierced the chest of the palace guard who was tossing some trash, and the guard didn’t even have time to scream before he died on the spot. Moments later, the guard slumped down, while the mysterious swordsman who killed him murmured quietly.

“How unfortunate. To wander so close to my hiding spot… If you’d gone just one step to the side, I would have spared you. Consider yourself lucky to have been sent off without pain.”

It was Dongyoung.

The mysterious swordsman scanned his surroundings, as if pondering a suitable place to bury the body, then began digging under a nearby tree, before shortly burying the guard’s body and pulling out a vial, which he sprinkled over the spot.

Whoosh!

The sound of something melting echoed as the liquid soaked into the ground. The swordsman grimaced and muttered, “As expected, Yulju’s potion dissolves the bones and flesh of the body.”

Swish, swish, swoosh!

Moments later, that swordsman vanished into thin air while cutting through empty space, disappearing instantaneously. Not even the Rehitoog, which served as my spy device, detected him. It was sheer luck that I had spotted him just moments before.

“……”

Watching this unfold, I felt something bubbling up in my mind and my mouth fell open.

The candidate for a spy to send into the Twelve Joules.

A person with a strong rebellious spirit, possessing exceptional skills, and someone close to the center.

“…Miyamoto Musashi….”

Someone with an eternal urge to duel the leader of the Twelve Joules at every turn.

A master who brushed against the Absolute Realm.

A guy with the title of a special position in the Twelve Joules.

I clenched my fist tightly.

“It’s you and only you!!”