촤라락

It was when Fuxi folded and unfolded the fan once.

슈웅!

In the next moment, we were right in front of the bat cave of Takrok. I couldn’t help but admire Fuxi’s teleportation powers.

“That’s pretty impressive. Is this divine art?”

“I could have used divine arts, but I just used divine power. It’s a hundred times simpler.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be using something called ‘beating’ originally? Those demon artifacts were created by envying and wanting the power of the [Old Ruler]. The difference is that gods can use such abilities without any restrictions or curses, whereas mortals’ demon artifacts are bound by constraints that lead to their own destruction.”

As Fuxi murmured this, he glanced at me.

“Now, let’s hear what you discussed with the phoenix.”

I detailed the conversation I’d had with the phoenix to Fuxi. Of course, I left out anything that the phoenix had put a confidentiality contract on. It was clear that even if I wanted to talk about it, I wouldn’t be able to anyway.

After hearing about the blessing, Fuxi nodded and said,

“Definitely an interesting blessing.”

“It was said to break invulnerability; what kind of ability is that?”

“I can guess somewhat, but since it can only be used once, I can’t just carelessly test it. So the solution is pretty obvious.”

“What is it?”

“Use it when you think the opponent you’re facing is invulnerable. The phoenix gave you that hint with that in mind.”

“Hmm…”

It felt vague.

‘So I can use it when a really strong opponent shows up?’

In any case, since it was meant to be saved for fighting the emperor, it might be good to use it when the emperor himself appears. That’s roughly how I was able to organize my thoughts.

Then Fuxi smiled.

“I won’t bother asking, but I can guess you had various conversations with the phoenix as well.”

“Ah! I don’t need to feel guilty. Given that cautious personality of the phoenix, it’s a given they placed a confidentiality contract on you before speaking. The absence of any restrictions on the blessing means they likely wanted me to provide some advice while using that secret weapon.”

You really are sharp… I said with a wry smile.

“I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to apologize for? Even if I give you advice, in the end, it all depends on you. And if you’ve managed to learn anything from the phoenix through just a confidentiality contract, then you’d have gained something significant.”

Fuxi then plopped down on a nearby rock and continued,

“Anyway, now you’ve met all the Four Great Spirit Beasts and received their blessings. The article in our contract to give you the blessings of the benevolent gods has now been fulfilled. And you’ve also received guidance on how to handle divine power, right?”

“Ah… That’s correct.”

Fuxi held his chin and tapped his fan on his head lightly.

“Then all that’s left is to pass on the divine arts. But, to transmit the divine arts, you can’t do it here in Takrok.”

“Why not?”

“Even though Shennong is quite close to me, this is Shennong’s precious estate. If I were to cultivate the divine arts I created here, Shennong would surely be displeased. We need to leave this place and train somewhere else.”

“Alright. Let’s head straight to Mount Kunlun in the heavenly realm!”

There was no reason to stay here in Takrok, so let’s go to Mount Kunlun to train the divine arts!

As I clenched my fists, Fuxi looked puzzled and said,

“Did you forget? If you go to Kunlun now, you’ll run right into the Queen Mother of the West.”

“Ah!!”

I completely forgot that the Queen Mother of the West had a palace in Kunlun!

Now that I realized, Fuxi spoke up again.

“I was actually planning to separately meet Nüwa to find out why there’s a young girl in the Queen Mother’s palace and what exactly is going on. I don’t know how long that will take, so teaching you divine arts right now might not be appropriate.”

“So…”

“I’ll meet with Nüwa first. In the meantime, you should carry out the request from the Wheel King.”

“The request from the Wheel King?”

Fuxi nodded and said,

“Since you’ve received blessings from all the Four Great Spirit Beasts, you should now have enough power. Even in the worst-case scenario, you won’t be at a disadvantage, so better get to it.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, almost forgot! Take this.”

Fuxi pulled out a strange wooden talisman from his clothes and tossed it to me. As I caught the peculiar wooden token engraved with the Eight Trigrams, Fuxi explained,

“This is the talisman marking my authority. If you show it, all beings in the celestial realm will not attack you. Gatekeepers and barriers will also open automatically, so use it when you come to the celestial realm later.”

He seemed to have given this to avoid any annoying situations. I showed my gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“See you again next time.”

Whoosh!!

As soon as Fuxi finished speaking, he vanished. I was so dumbfounded by how neatly he disappeared that it probably stemmed from the hope that Fuxi might stick with me for a while longer. However, as Fuxi said, finding out what’s going on in Kunlun right now was incredibly important, so I couldn’t hold him back.

Then, Heuk Woong, who was next to me, spoke up.

[Master. It seems like we need to go look for Dongfang Sak next.]

“That makes sense.”

The request given by the Wheel King was to find the whereabouts of the girl and capture Dongfang Sak!

It seemed that the whereabouts of the girl had been discovered, and now I just needed to catch Dongfang Sak, whom Yuso said was located in the South American continent.

If I could bring Dongfang Sak from South America, I could receive the Seven Treasures from the Wheel King.

“I should drop by Yuso one more time to get the precise location of Dongfang Sak before we set off.”

[…. Master. Isn’t that a bit out of order?]

“Huh?”

[Have you forgotten that there’s a more urgent matter at hand?]

Upon hearing the heavy tone of Heuk Woong’s words, my expression hardened as well.

[The blessing of lightning granted by the Qilin is so powerful that even now it’s continuously draining my divine energy. To find a way to quench the power of this blessing before seeking out Dongfang Sak is necessary.]

“……!!”

[Though I haven’t shown it on the surface, I’m currently forcing that energy down, and it’s significant. If this continues, my divine energy will run out, and you’ll be electrocuted along with me.]

That’s right!

The blessing from the Qilin was so strong that my body felt like it was about to explode. Heuk Woong was holding it back using divine energy. But doing so wasn’t a sustainable method, so I needed to find a solution.

“What should we do?”

[Honestly, I have no specific methods in mind right now. The blessing from the Qilin comes from Jupiter, the giant planet, and its lightning spirit possesses a power unlike any earthbound lightning. It has a minimum of hundreds to thousands of times the electrical energy, and as such, there’s no method to contain it with human seals or divine arts, which is likely why Fuxi couldn’t offer any effective advice.]

“Ugh……”

Heuk Woong’s lack of suggestions made my head throb with frustration. How was I supposed to resolve this?

It was then.

“The maiden sees a solution.”

Fire Dragon Incarnate, who had been next to us, suddenly spoke. As both Heuk Woong and I turned to her, she continued,

“It seems rather simple when you think about it.”

“Do you have a solution? What is it?”

“Why bother sealing it at all? Isn’t that a waste?”

When I urgently asked her, Fire Dragon Incarnate grinned.

“Why not just use up all your excess power freely?”

To just drain all the excess power?

It sounded simple enough.

I tilted my head, unsure if that simple solution would work.

“Is that even possible?”

“The blessing from the Qilin is currently making the energy inside your body go wild and uncontrollable. If you release that energy to the outside, it can run rampant and subsequently diminish. After all, the power of that blessing isn’t infinite, so as you use it, it should lessen your burden.”

“Hmm……”

I glanced at Heuk Woong. He nodded in agreement.

[Fire Dragon Incarnate’s solution is something I too have considered, but it comes with a caveat.]

“What’s the caveat?”

[Being lightning from Jupiter, this power is on a completely different dimension from earthly lightning. If you’re careless, it can cause immense destruction, so your careful judgment is paramount.]

“Just how powerful are we talking?”

[Master. If I transfer the amount of control I currently have over the energy—not all of it—your arm will be a test. Try releasing it toward the sky.]

Kugugugugu!!

A moment later, I felt an astronomical amount of lightning gathering in my arm. The power of the lightning swirled around, and it felt like my Thunder Spirit was but a feeble flicker compared to this force.

Crack!!

“T-This is just one portion?!”

I was taken aback by how overwhelmingly strong that lightning was, but Heuk Woong was already giving orders.

[Get a grip and release it toward the heavens!!]

“Gah!!”

Kaboom!!

In the next moment, the entire world turned white. A beam of lightning shot from my arm, turning into a pillar of light that soon filled the view of Heaven and Earth Sea with radiance. Not only that, but I even sensed that the energy from this lightning pierced through the sky and extended into the vast universe, and oddly enough, as it ascended, its radius widened like the shape of a conical hat.

Kugugugugu!!

Despite pouring out all this power, it showed no signs of waning. I had no choice but to maintain this release for over half an hour, and it was only when nearly an entire meal had passed that I was able to pull back the lightning’s energy.

“Ugh, ugh!!”

My entire body felt tingly. My throat was dry, and my limbs trembled. The intensity of the lightning force had drained my energy in just an instant. Watching me on the verge of collapse, Heuk Woong remarked,

[Even wielding the internal power of a Dharma Guardian like you gets tired, so experiencing this degree of fatigue shows just how different this force is.]

“That’s… a whole other level of power.”

I gazed in awe at the crackling lightning dancing in my hand. Up until that point, my general impressions had been vague, but now I could sense the true extent of the power that flowed through me. Heuk Woong continued speaking.

[Had even a fraction of that energy been directed toward the ground, it could have obliterated the continent. Jupiter’s nature is thousands of times larger than earth, and gathering that lightning’s spirit from Jupiter brings an immense force. Compared to any blessing you’ve received until now, it surely stands head and shoulders above it all.]

“Ahhh… I see how handling this won’t be a walk in the park. But if I consumed just 1 portion and it’s like this, wouldn’t it be the same case for the remaining 99 portions?”

[Because it’s a Qilin’s blessing, even expending that amount can be replenished quickly. Doing it this way won’t deplete half even if it takes five hundred tries.]

“……”

This is insane.

While I was marveling at the overwhelming power of this blessing, Heuk Woong crossed his arms.

[However, once you draw out more than 10% of this blessing, even if I use my divine power to protect you, some harm may still come to your physical body. This is because it’s a force emanating from within you. Even considering it, trying to burn through it completely would be reckless.]

As soon as Fire Dragon Incarnate heard this, she chuckled.

“Huh, as expected of a being with divine power, but… that’s why you’re not flexible enough in your thinking.”

[What? You’re telling me there’s another way?]

“Hey, why do you need to exhaust yourself like that? Isn’t there any other way to deal with what’s left? Instead of wasting it, why not share it with others?”

[……!!]

Heuk Woong seemed to have had an epiphany as he glanced at Fire Dragon Incarnate. She then pointed to me.

[You yourself possess tremendous control over that lightning energy, right? If you keep that in mind, you could easily offer some of that energy to others without it going to waste.]

“Is that even possible?!”

After hearing Fire Dragon Incarnate’s words, I was shocked and called out to Heuk Woong.

“Heuk Woong!! The Jade Emperor’s blessing!”

[……!!]

Heuk Woong seemed to get what I meant. He then extended his hand towards my forehead.

[Starry Reversal, Divine Rebirth… I invoke the power of the Jade Emperor, let the essence of the Qilin come into form!!]

Zap!!

In that instant, a brilliant blue light appeared in front of me, materializing into a silhouette made of lightning. The sheer intensity of its brilliance was hard to look at directly, but its identity was unmistakable. Soon after, this entity took a physical form, gradually reducing its lightning as it spoke with a grand presence.

[I am the Lightning Spirit residing on Jupiter… The Qilin transformed me into your blessing; you’ve unveiled me! What is your demand?]

“Awesome!!”

I couldn’t help but cheer.

The blessing of the Jade Emperor!!

It was the power that granted form to formless spirits without requiring causal relationships or consuming mana. This power that I’d obtained during my 28th life surged forth once more, as it became evident in front of me that the blessing of the Jade Emperor could also manifest spirits that had transformed.

‘Oh no!’

At that moment, a realization struck me and I turned my gaze toward Fire Dragon Incarnate. Seeing me look at her, she tilted her head in curiosity.

“Why do you look so surprised?”

“The reason I’m using the Jade Emperor’s power is… well, it’s because…”

Would using the power of a celestial ruler raise suspicions? I began to feel a wave of anxiety wash over me, but Fire Dragon Incarnate laughed heartily.

“Haha! Surely there’s a powerful divine being known as the Jade Emperor, right? Whatever it is, you don’t have to worry about whether I can see through you or not.”

“What…? You’ve never heard of the Jade Emperor?”

“First time hearing it.”

What?! Doesn’t that mean the Jade Emperor doesn’t exist in this era?

‘Perhaps during the era of the Takrok Tournament, he might not have existed yet…’

Nodding, I turned back to the lightning spirit.

“Lightning Spirit! I have a request!”

[Speak.]

“Your power is too immense for me to control entirely! Can you help me gain full control of it?”

While sharing power would be beneficial, being able to control it on my own would be even better!

I expressed this hope, but the lightning spirit shook its head.

[Apologies, but what’s connected to you now is the inherent energy of Jupiter. Even now, it’s managing adequately but one can’t further squeeze control from this alone.]

“Damn… so can I not share this energy with others?”

[That’s indeed possible.]

“Alright then! You accept it. Now, let’s move on…”

As I rejoiced at the prospect, the lightning spirit remarked strangely.

[You really intend to share your power with others?]

“What are you talking about?”

[Even if you divide it up, the vast energy from Jupiter cannot be controlled by mere mortals. Even for an immortal, this is no easy feat. Besides, I believe there’s a potentially better way to go about this.]

“A better way?”

When I responded, the lightning spirit pointed toward me.

[Simply devote some of your power to the higher divine being… the embodiment of lightning, Indra.]

[That’s right. That being is a far more superior entity… one I cannot even presume to compare against. Offer your surplus energy to him. If you just leave the necessary amount for yourself, you’ll get the greatest benefit.]

[……]

[Granting orders to divide your energy responsibility to others is now within your powers.]

[Hmm. Very well then.]

Heuk Woong signaled to me, and I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Alright, let’s go back for now.”

Whoosh!

Moments later, the lightning spirit transformed back into a blessing and vanished, leaving the area enveloped in silence.

However, now that I had clarity about what I should be doing, my mind was swirling with thoughts.

‘Offering energy to the deity Indra?’

In a way, it’s a straightforward method. However, I hadn’t considered taking this route until now.

The reason was simple.

‘Indra, the supreme deity, the one who’s struck me from behind. He’s nearly killed me several times.’

No matter how advantageous offering energy to him might be, I couldn’t make such a decision lightly. Offering the energy meant providing not only a significant sacrifice but also challenging the causal ties that could strengthen Indra, making it easier for him to betray me later on.

It’s natural for Heuk Woong to be mindful, as he shared my memories, feelings, and experiences. He understands instinctively how adversarial my relationship with Indra is, and why I’d be cautious around him. Thus, he remained silent, seemingly contemplating how best to approach the situation.

Fire Dragon Incarnate, meanwhile, looked puzzled.

“What’s troubling you? You mentioned having the weapon of lightning, so why not offer it as is?”

“Exactly… This divine being has struck me down before, and now I am to willingly offer it to him?”

“I see. Yet, that doesn’t mean you won’t receive the offering.”

“Oh, it’s clear that there’s hostility building.”

“It’s not about trusting easily, but rather if he gets the chance, he’d strike to kill.”

“True.”

Fire Dragon Incarnate seemed to be thoughtfully pondering something. Then, she asked,

“What if you were to directly ask him why he wants to kill you?”

I was taken aback by the unanticipated suggestion.

“What? Do you really think he’d answer me?”

“You won’t know unless you try. Should that divine being wield such immense power, there must be a reason for wanting you gone. If there is a grudge that could be resolved, then it’s best to address it.”

“…….”

“Otherwise, just give up the idea of an offering and instead allocate your power to others.”

With newfound determination, I said to Fire Dragon Incarnate,

“Alright. I will offer energy to the lightning deity Indra.”

What Fire Dragon Incarnate said held truth. It was unclear why Indra harbored such animosity towards me. Seizing this opportunity to learn about it might lighten my burden of fear. While I couldn’t hope to get along with Indra, at the very least, I could finally approach it positively.

‘Cursed fate. I have to face this one way or another.’

Whoosh!!

After concentrating, I entered the realm of the Four Great Spirit Deities.

Once inside, I shouted toward the rotating wheel cloaked in darkness.

“Hey!! I have come to offer the power of the Qilin to the deity Indra!”

Bang!

As soon as I spoke, the water spirit Varuna appeared in front of me. Crossing his arms, Varuna said coolly,

[Indra said he doesn’t want to see you right now.]

“……”

Oh come on, you’re kidding me… I was filled with so much anger recalling all the times he stealthily attacked me. It was ridiculous how he now didn’t want to face me. But suppressing my anger, I yelled,

“Indra…! Even if you’re refusing my offering, come out and face me you coward!!”

Silence persisted.

“Are you too ashamed to face me after what you’ve done?”

As my outrage grew stronger, I called Indra by name.

“Hey, you were thoroughly beaten by the Emperor and Fuxi in ancient times! All you’re capable of now is manipulating mortals from outer space, you pathetic scoundrel! Who do you think you are, the divine lightning spirit?!”

Bang!

As soon as I finished speaking, Indra appeared before me in the form of a lightning being, immediately lunging forward to seize my throat.

Crack.

[You dare speak such words? Had you not been the reincarnated, I would have crushed even a bug like you!]

Bang!

Indra tightened his grip harder around my throat, his rage palpable. But even as the pain struck, I stared defiantly into his eyes.

“Try… killing me! You can’t, can you? If you could, you would have done it long ago! You’re only wallowing in your pathetic prison for that very reason!!”

[……!!]

“Listen here, you scrawny fool! You’re the one who pushed me to kill Mangnyang! Why do you insist on coming after me?!!!”

As I unleashed my fury, a flame of savage intent flickered in Indra’s eyes. Then the next moment, Varuna, watching from the side, gasped,

[No!! Indra!!]

Simultaneously, Indra’s eyes lit up with fury as he let out a maniacal laugh.

[Hahaha… An eternity… Should I wait another 5.67 billion years? I’ve managed to hold back until now, but letting a mere insect like you keep existing is utterly foolish.]

“What?”

[Are you curious why I long to slay you?]

Indra’s voice began to grow low, bloodlust swelling within his gaze.

[Your elimination is vital to bring this wretched game of mine to a close!!]

Sure enough, in that instant, a surge of electricity exploded from Indra’s hand, severing my throat.

It felt like my 30th death.

*

Tick tock.

In a void where nothing existed, a large pocket watch floated…

The moment the second hand of the clock pointed to the exact time, a stark room with only a table and chairs was revealed.

“……”

I found myself sitting vacantly in a chair.

I could hear the girl sitting across from me softly speak.

“Baek Woong. This is how you properly use the [Knot].”

A girl holding a raccoon doll.

It was Cheon Woo-jin.

For a moment, I was struck dumb, unable to respond.

‘My throat feels numb.’

It was probably because my throat had exploded with the lightning from Indra and with it, the pain in that fleeting moment was rather merciful, but it was also a painful experience that incinerated my very willpower in the blink of an eye. I opened my mouth without meaning to and stayed in a daze until time passed.

After I regained my focus, I looked around.

“So this is the [Knot]?”

The interior of what I was seeing was almost identical to what I had seen before. I questioned the familiar environment before noticing Cheon Woo-jin flipping through a book placed on the table. Then she said,

“Baek Woong, are you feeling uneasy like last time because I’m here?”

“……”

After some silence, I managed to respond,

“If I said there wasn’t a hint of unease, I’d be lying.”

Having faced the lies staged by Aida before ending up trapped in the [Knot], I had almost been forced to lose my past life. It was only thanks to the realization of Zhuge Sa that I managed to escape, making it perhaps the most perilous moment of my previous life. Even now, I couldn’t fully trust the concept of the [Knot].

Cheon Woo-jin then focused on the book in front of her and said,

“At that time, you overcame all the conspiracies and successfully sealed Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen and transitioned into your 29th life. However, I bet there were still some unresolved questions lingering in your mind.”

“What questions?”

“The one that even Zhuge Sa couldn’t untangle.”

At Cheon Woo-jin’s words, I was startled.

“Why would Aida, the [Innocent Young Lady], betray the one who named her ‘Name.’ Isn’t that strange?”

“……!!”

“That’s a question akin to a definitive truth for those practicing evil arts; to pose such completely reasonable doubts indicates Zhuge Sa is indeed a genius. A being capable of questioning everything in this world couldn’t be anything less than a genius, right?”

With that, Cheon Woo-jin lifted the raccoon doll from the table, perhaps finding it cumbersome to read while holding it.

“But while he had his suspicions, he lacked concrete information to grasp ‘how’ that was possible. Ultimately, since his priority was to slay the traitor Aida, he let it slide…”

Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze remained glued to the book she was perusing. Her words continued.

“I have come to know the reason. When I was simply an advanced AI, I had no clue about this, but after becoming a [Terminal], the knowledge just clicked for me.”

“Are you really sure?”

“Of course.”

“Then tell me! How could Aida betray me?”

“……”

Cheon Woo-jin didn’t answer immediately, focusing on her search in the book. Her eyes were glued with intent, and feeling compelled by curiosity, I asked,

“Hey, what’s in that book that you’ve been looking at?”

“This is the contract of the Heavenly Secret.”

“……?!”

W-Wait, what?! Shock washed over me as Cheon Woo-jin casually elaborated.

“I found it! Here it is!”

At that moment, a flash illuminated the space as something adorned with the blue light emerged in the void. It resembled ancient characters but bore an odd resemblance to Oracle Bone Script.

Strangely, I couldn’t decipher its rules or principles, yet I could still read the characters. Slowly, I pronounced the inscription.

“Aida.”

“Exactly. This was the name of your entrusted terminal. I had been searching for Aida’s name in the contract.”

“Why the search?”

“To check one particular fact.”

Having said that, Cheon Woo-jin’s tiny hand hovered over the name. Suddenly, it vanished into her grasp, and Cheon Woo-jin observed the occurrence, murmuring as though it was as expected.

“The name Aida isn’t bound to you in any way.”

“……!!”

“It’s because she wasn’t bound by a name that said betrayal was possible. It stands to reason.”

“What?!”

I was astonished to hear that announcement.

“Isn’t it supposed to be that a name given to someone should become theirs?!”

“Under normal circumstances, that would be true. But the contract of the Heavenly Secret interjects here.”

“The contract of the Heavenly Secret?”

Cheon Woo-jin nodded.

“A being labeled [Terminal] cannot be bound by you. This stipulation exists because, as you can see, they maintain access to the contract of the Heavenly Secret and hold considerable authority, thus allowing a [Terminal] to assist the reincarnated without it being unfair. However, they can help within limits not violating the contract.”

“……”

“In the context of the earthly realm, Aida, or another would generally have their name bound to the moment assigned their name. Actually, while Aida held her existence as the Ladies Aida that corresponded, she might have still remained bound to you until the conflicts were resolved.”

“What? But she had to act like she was attempting to kill me?”

“That’s where your fault lies in your ignorant use of the name’s force. Had you understood a little bit about the power of incantations, you would have easily commanded Aida.”

“Hmm…”

Absent of rebuttals, I combed my fingers through my hair.

“However, the laws of the Heavenly Secret supersede all earthly contracts, and once Aida was chosen as a [Terminal], she could independently betray you at her own will. By restoring her name, you effectively loosened the bonds and allowed the higher laws to take precedence.”

“Is that so?”

Though the concepts was complex, I comprehended it generally. Essentially, Aida had been designated as a [Terminal], thus she circumvented any power held by the name. That wretched girl must have been scheming to strike me down from the start, leading me into a setup.

As I absorbed the information, Cheon Woo-jin inquired once more.

“Now you understand why I mentioned Aida?”

“I don’t quite get it yet.”

“I’m in the same boat. Since she serves as a terminal, she isn’t bound to you and can boldly betray you, just like Aida did.”

I crossed my arms and replied.

“Didn’t I know that already? Based on your tone, it’s apparent you aren’t very fond of me.”

“Just as well. All I want to convey is that whether you decide to trust or distrust me entirely rests with you.”

“Hmm…”

That wasn’t especially comforting. The interaction felt as if they’d outlined the stakes and consequences, but left me to make the choice.

Despite the challenge that lay ahead, I had faced occurrences like this from behind countless times in my life. Trusting others forced me to reevaluate my chosen beliefs and I responded with a nod.

“Alright. Since I’ve come this far, there’s no reason to waffle or hedge. I did indeed die and came to the [Knot], correct?”

“Indeed.”

“Last time Aida mentioned that every time you rewind in the [Knot], a misfortune would stack; is that factually correct?”

“Zhuge Sa already disclosed that Aida’s statements regarding the laws of the [Knot] were meant as deceptions, and what she mentioned were nearly none of the truths.”

“Once again, so it was indeed a lie. So, can you resurrect me now?”

“……”

Cheon Woo-jin was silent in response. Anxiety crept into my senses as I questioned,

“Is it possible for me not to be resurrected?”

“No, you can indeed be resurrected.”

“Dammit! You shouldn’t frighten me like that. So, what’s the hold-up?”

Cheon Woo-jin stared at me, her eyes fixed in contemplation.

“Baek Woong. Don’t you find anything strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve already died once after the Great Cycle turned, and you instantly moved to meet the Wheel King. But why will you find yourself in the [Knot] this time?”

“Uh… why’s that?”

I was genuinely puzzled as to why that was.

Seeing my confusion, Cheon Woo-jin sighed.

“Honestly, it’s simple. Originally, you would meet with the Wheel King. However, I intentionally pulled you aside.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

Cheon Woo-jin lifted one finger and raised two.

“Two reasons. First, regardless of whether he attacks, Indra’s power is solely based on obliterating existence. Put simply, if you should happen to resurrect halfway, you could get hit by another bolt of lightning instantly. You would’ve avoided that possibility.”

I was startled.

“What?! Are you saying I could die again immediately after resurrecting?! Is that even possible?”

“That possibility exists, and it’s why all the divine beings fear Indra. At the peak of his power, he could continuously strike any [Old Ruler] without rest.”

“……”

Damn it! This didn’t make any sense!

Just as I was surprised about what I had just heard, Cheon Woo-jin continued,

“Moreover, if you hadn’t passed time with the Wheel King, he could easily seize and bind you without inquiry, turning you into one of his followers. Given your current power level, stepping before him unarmed is a sure recipe for disaster.”

I was being taken aback this time around.

“What’s that supposed to mean? The Wheel King just recently sent me on a quest; why would he suddenly wish to threaten me?”

“Fuxi mentioned that the Wheel King revealed his ambitions. The quest given to you is primarily an opportunity to assess your capabilities and history. His interest isn’t in the girl or Dongfang Sak.”

Cheon Woo-jin’s insights forced contemplation upon me.

“The Wheel King understands you are a reincarnated individual from the future. While aided by Fuxi, if he recognizes you have the blessings of the Four Great Spirit Beasts, he will likely twist events to bind you without letting you escape again.”

“……!!”

“He’s even aware that he’s fated to be defeated by the Emperor. Hence, he’ll do anything, even kidnapping and coercing, to change his fate.”

“…… Sounds reasonable.”

I conceded to Cheon Woo-jin’s reasoning. Throughout my life, I had often been subjected to manipulative forces. It was feasible for someone like the Wheel King to act in ambivalence regarding my knowledge of reincarnation.

Cheon Woo-jin clarified,

“This instance in which I created the [Knot] is a workaround. It normally wouldn’t be possible in the world adhering to the Great Cycle, but your offering of the World Tree’s essence allowed me to produce it just this once.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”

“But should you perish again, I can’t guarantee that I can maintain creating this [Knot] for you. Steering through the laws at this peak of the Wheel King’s essence can be extraordinarily perilous.”

With a serious gaze, Cheon Woo-jin continued,

“Are you comprehending? We are in a precarious situation, to the extent of using such extraordinary deviations to navigate.”

“I got it.”

“Therefore, I’m inclined to propose doing some training here. As an advanced AI, I have analyzed what you need most.”

Surprised by her suggestion, I inquired,

“Training? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s as straightforward as it sounds. Heuk Woong has probably mentioned this countless times—you’re incredibly weak to wade through the era of the Takrok Tournament. This time you’ve died at the hands of Indra, but other beings that could slay you before you are in abundance in this time.”

“……”

Cheon Woo-jin pointed directly at me.

“However, it must be noted that your current weaknesses cannot be filled simply with blessings or divine energy. You can’t create a spirit superior to Heuk Woong; altering that means you must become a god who rules the world. Even if that should happen, winning against the Wheel King is not a guarantee.”

“What exactly is this supposed to mean…?”

I muttered, irritably.

“In your quest for power, you need more than just external forces. Will you continue to rely solely on external influences while ignoring your own training? They will provide you no means to defeat the Wheel King. No, what you need is enough power to allow only a minimum to escape without falling into his trap.”

“Hmm… What does it mean to train to win?”

“That’s a question for you to contemplate henceforth.”

As Cheon Woo-jin concluded, she nudged the raccoon doll on the table toward me. Grabbing the doll in my hand, I felt the scenery around shift dramatically.

Whoosh!

“This is!!”

I was dumbfounded. I came to realize the familiar surroundings of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School were now coming into view before me.

The distinctly known surroundings, the arranged racks of weapons, and the matching training area.

Even the dust-laden air blown in by the warm sunlight felt familiar from that time.

As I shaped my surroundings from memory, I recalled sitting helplessly in the very spot where Samjeol Lee Kwang would sip his tea. The sun would shine down and cast shadows on the table while providing a view of the world outside. I sat, lost in thought, longing for those brighter days as the sun began to lower on the horizon.

“Now, what should I do for 300 years of practice?”

As those words tumbled from my mouth, a piercing thought struck me first.

‘Can I achieve that?’

To practice for 300 years could mean unimaginable time for any martial artist. Even if extensive periods of training in martial arts require some effort, a person with average talent could achieve remarkable levels within twenty years’ worth of mastery. Entering distinct dimensions of power and technique after sixty years of training was even more realistic. Naturally, only considering a decent master and skill; achieving anything above an eight-star level in martial arts after a hundred years indicates success.

However, in my case, that sensation of 300 years felt exceedingly vague and inadequate. Why? Three critical reasons stood out.

First, I lacked talent. Until now, I’d only managed to reach the Absolute Realm through countless strokes of fortune, yet I remained disconnected when it came to understanding what more to pursue next. The desire to practice techniques like the Immortal Sword Technique or Dark Night Slash was merely for compliance’s sake, and I lacked any genuine confidence in the direction I was taking. Given the absence of talent, it’d be a mystery if I could reach any level over centuries.

Second, I had even less talent to practice anything other than martial arts. The concept of mastering divine arts still felt surreal during Fuxi’s guidance; how could I ever hope to practice techniques of advanced sorcery, never mind the divine arts themselves? My confidence dwindled when considering that my aptitude for typical sorcery bordered on near-zero, making me unfit to excel as a sorcerer, let alone as a divine sorcerer proficient enough to master the arts of the gods given precedence from ancient sages. The ghost of those ancient gods’ memories and knowledge weighed heavy on me, mocking my inability.

Last, even if I defined a direction and worked hard on it, that 300 years still felt inadequate to achieve substantial growth! I had amassed sufficient power, abilities, and wealth to serve further in the name of the humans, yet the foes I’d face like [Old Rulers] or Ancients posed unfathomable strength to overpower. Reflecting upon enemies wielding powers enough to rip through galaxies, I found 300 years quickly leaned into the category of insufficient preparation.

As these ideas struck me, I forced myself to shake them away.

“Damn it. If I keep saying I can’t from the beginning, I’ll miss every chance that arises. I have to do something!”

Immortal Sword Technique? Cultivation of divine power? Training the Dark Night Slash? The skills of the art?

Regardless, I prioritized action and consideration afterward!

Yet despite the confidence, I laid down on the training arena for nearly half an hour staring vacantly at the clear blue sky.

‘Huh? Why is this happening?’

Normally, every second felt precious, pushing me to train. Yet now, for reasons unknown, my motivation had vanished completely, leaving my body dormant. I pondered if a curse had been cast on me, yet I already knew.

I simply didn’t want to strive for it anymore.

That truth now occupied my being.

It was strange. My past self, resolutely maintaining focus without food or rest, suddenly found it impossible to occupy my mind. As I wallowed in my failures, my innate desire to persevere and achieve had seemingly extinguished.

Nevertheless, I forced myself to prepare for movement… I had to move.

Was it right to remain so complacent given my evident lack of talent?

I internally reprimanded myself but it bore no fruit. I was wholly unable to face the actions I needed to take, and I refused to ignore the truth. Like logs burned to ashes, my motivation remained scarce.

Time ebbed away, leading to another hour vanishing without consequence. I bore no mental faculties beyond merely gazing at the azure sky.

Another day passed.

Another day passed…

How long did I remain buried in a vacant mind without food or sleep, doomed to stay recessed in this detachment?

At a certain moment, it struck me without warning.

‘Yeah. I’m exhausted.’

It felt like every ounce of motivation drained from me.

A wave of realization pulled me back as Cheon Woo-jin’s words shimmered in my mind.

[Given your talent, it’s a confusing amount of time. However, give it a shot. Haven’t you hidden behind saving the world all this time, avoiding efforts to develop your talents?]

Excuses.

That word cut deep within my heart.

Lacking talent and time to practice, I’d sought short cuts while racing toward optimal solutions. As a result, I’d eventually turned my attention away from martial arts and techniques, leading to my longing for greater powers and authority. Yet all that led to a gnawing dissatisfaction that lodged itself in me, sapping my joy.

Was it possible I’d be able to better myself and overcome my challenges if I finally had the time to train?

But once this anxiety became my reality, I was struck by the fear of absolution with no more excuses to protect me.

What if after three hundred years of martial arts training, I had no tangible results?

How should I approach that outcome?

Having experienced despair from fruitless training over a mere decade, I couldn’t bear the thought of pursuing martial arts for 300 years only to find another void remains. I shivered at the notion of how I might fall prey to despair, watching my spirit dissolve within itself.

Just then…

“You seem to be struggling. Care for some talk?”

“…. Cheon Woo-jin.”

As I slowly lifted my head, Cheon Woo-jin had settled into the seat across from me. She quietly lifted the teacup and took a sip, then said,

“Don’t worry. The memories of training you endured for 300 years and those you shared here won’t be an issue when seeking passage through the obsidian.”

“……”

“Your fears of whimpering in despair will now remain solely between us.”

I chuckled empty-heartedly, my shock fading.

“Honestly… You sound just like Aida did.”

“There’s a difference! Normally, the memory of [Knot] would also reach the obsidian, but I specifically mitigated such memories.”

“You could have shown me without hesitation.”

I returned my head back to the table.

“At this,” I sighed, “there’s no need for more surprises or inquiries. I don’t wish to think at all. Just go away.”

“……”

Pity settled in Cheon Woo-jin’s silence as she refrained from speaking for a moment.

And thus, enveloped in the evening silence, Cheon Woo-jin finally broke the stillness.

“I can’t summon your mentors or sparring partners in this space. Providing a training ground is already a considerable act of goodwill, but extending beyond that is outside my jurisdiction.”

“……”

“If I could, doing so wouldn’t benefit you much at this moment.”

Curiosity sparked within me as I tilted my head.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Literally! At the moment, it’s not in your best interests to have a mentor or dialogue partner.”

I made a face of disbelief and scoffed at Cheon Woo-jin’s remark.

“How could you dictate that?”

“Your current state tells me everything.”

“My current state?”

Cheon Woo-jin examined me thoroughly.

“You’ve faced the trials alone, without seeking the support of a mentor or conversation to ease your suffering, and in turn, your true feelings have slipped through. If you had someone to rely on, you likely wouldn’t be experiencing this burnout at such an early stage. Those individuals—like Mangnyang, the Sword Demon, or Jin So-cheong—are now absent.”

“You may have been a mere shell of a person, begging for companionship, but avoiding the reality that it was all a ruse makes you weak when facing true challenges.”

Cheon Woo-jin seemed to deliver a serious point.

“Let me be frank. The small-mentality you’ve been maintaining before this moment might reflect your fleeting nature. To hide behind companionship signals a dependency that clouds your intuition.”

“Ha! I get it. You’re telling me that I should try to face my challenges alone until help arrives.”

“Precisely! The truth is, you’ve shielded yourself with camaraderie during difficult times, opting not to face these truths head-on and crumbling in the shadows.”

As I mulled over Cheon Woo-jin’s words, I couldn’t help but think,

“So it’s a duality effect?”

She leaned back and nodded.

“Face your self-destructive tendencies and fight against your inherited patterns. Accept your past while determining your new path, will bolster confidence.”

Finally roused, I sensed my own resolve.

“Alright! I’ll accept it! I’ll wield the will to grow and cultivate by my means.”

The moment I felt those words escape, a sense of newfound clarity began to flood my mind.

“Two pathways converge… With each wave, strength lies.”

The knowledge that I could change and actualize power gripped onto me like I was being reborn anew, a sense of vigor rising within me.

“Here’s to that life!”

As daylight dimmed on the outside, my exclamation filled me with determination, reminding me why I had once sought strength.

I would stand once again at the crossroads, where paths forked into the unknown.

Equipped with intent, I would advance the developments of use and evolve beyond what others dubbed ‘impossible.’

“`

 

---