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0179 ———————————————-

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

“Miho, that’s not it.”

“What do you mean it’s not? This girl is totally smitten with you.”

“……”

Miho growled.

“You’re so blinded by love that you’d accept it even if she suddenly jumped you. You’ve really fallen hard!”

I glanced at Seo Mun-hye, who seemed to be under Miho’s enchantment already. I felt a wave of anxiety, hoping Miho wouldn’t do anything bizarre to her, but she seemed harmless for the moment.

“So what do you plan to do? It looks like Sagong Lin has fancy feelings for you too, so in a few years, you might just be starting a harem.”

“Ugh, can we not? I don’t have the time for dating right now.”

I sighed exhaustively, and Miho grinned at me.

“Trying to escape by pretending it’s not important again?”

“Miho, this is seriously important, which is why I came to find you.”

When my gaze turned serious, Miho stopped her teasing. She waved Seo Mun-hye away to another spot and looked at me.

“Go on, spill it.”

“Miho… you mentioned there’s a technique called Taishan Duke Ritual that can extend life, right?”

“……”

“I want to use the Taishan Duke Ritual to save Mangnyang.”

Miho’s eyes sharpened a bit. After a moment of thought, she replied.

“It’s impossible to use the Taishan Duke Ritual on Mangnyang.”

“What do you mean? You said it was available at the shrine of Master Mangnyang.”

“True. The Taishan Duke Ritual definitely exists and it does have the effect of prolonging life. The best Yin-Yang Masters use it to live for hundreds of years.”

“Then why?”

“Because it’s not something that can be cast onto others. It requires the caster to reach the highest mastery in their techniques and gather 49 sorcerers for a hundred days of prayers. Mangnyang’s current technique levels are only mid-level, so he can’t perform such a grand ritual.”

Lack of mastery!

I mumbled, “What level exactly does one need to reach this ‘highest mastery’?”

“Well, if you consider what you mentioned before, at least someone of Zhuge Bu’s caliber or the leader of the Maoshan Sect would be needed. Only once a century might someone be able to perform the Taishan Duke Ritual even in Dongyoung.”

I let out a sigh towards Miho as I pondered.

“Miho…!! Then why did you agree when Mangnyang asked? I thought it was really possible!!”

Miho tilted her head, “Didn’t Mangnyang only ask if the Taishan Duke Ritual existed or not? Why would I need to waste time discussing the possibility of casting it?”

“……”

“Listen, Baek Woong. Your wellbeing is all that matters to me. If you ask for more than that, I simply can’t comply.”

I suddenly felt a sense of realization about Miho’s priorities. For her, it was just vital to protect me from outside threats for these ten years; she had no real ties to Mangnyang, the Bancheon Alliance, or the Thunder God Lineage. Moreover, she was ready to abandon everything if it meant protecting me. But because it was for my sake, I couldn’t complain.

I rubbed my head, then asked again, “Are there any other techniques that can prolong life aside from the Taishan Duke Ritual?”

“There are many different sects with tons of techniques in the Central Plains, so you could find something if you search a bit. However, none that I know of has the same life extension power as the Taishan Duke Ritual. Abe no Seimei used that technique to live for 500 years.”

“Ugh…”

“Why not look for techniques yourself instead of just asking me?”

At that moment, I realized I needed to learn sorcery too.

‘I need time to learn sorcery.’

Until now, I’d neglected it because it didn’t seem very helpful in combat and was inefficient. But now that I faced a surge of mystical threats, my raw power seemed utterly useless. I had a gut feeling that possessing at least a bit of useful sorcery would help me navigate future hardships.

Miho gently stroked my cheek and spoke softly, “I tried to be furious with you, but seeing you worry about your companions surrounded by the world’s beauties made me a bit softer.”

“……”

“Baek Woong… why are you so obsessed with Mangnyang?”

“I owe my life to both Mangnyang and you. That’s why I want to go through the end with both of you.”

As I poured out my honest feelings, Miho blushed with embarrassment.

“I don’t understand. Sacrificing your life for humans is something I can’t fathom.”

“But you really…”

Miho put her finger to my lips and chuckled softly, “Stop. That’s not cool.”

“……”

“Baek Woong… remember this. We believe your past story is true and we follow you, but the ‘Mangnyang’ and ‘Miho’ who you experienced in your past life are definitely different from us. Treating us only as reflections of that past is rather burdensome.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If I feel this way, then Mangnyang probably feels even more so.”

As Miho muttered softly, she continued, “Baek Woong. Make more trustworthy companions. Otherwise, you won’t be able to move to broader horizons.”

Her advice felt like it struck a chord.

‘A trustworthy companion…?’

I wondered who that could be.

Suddenly, Jin So-cheong came to mind. She even rebelled against her master for her beliefs. Although I had known her for the longest time, it felt like we hadn’t really opened up to each other that much. I hugged Miho and exclaimed, “Thank you, Miho!!”

“Ugh… let go! Aow.”

Miho squirmed. I planted a kiss on her cheek and dashed away.

Then, I went to find Jin So-cheong. She was training alone in the nearby mountains, practicing the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear.

Whoosh!

As Jin So-cheong lightly swung her spear, the atmosphere seemed to vibrate, harmonizing with her flow. While it was merely a demonstration of basic techniques, I swallowed hard at her imposing aura. I could feel the essence of nature responding to her martial prowess.

‘As expected, she’s on a different level.’

Jin So-cheong’s talent had reached an unprecedented level. Lee Kwang was also a martial genius, yet even he couldn’t match her skills. Despite having practiced martial arts for nearly a hundred years, I had never seen the depths of Jin So-cheong’s abilities. I might surpass her when I reincarnate, but such comparisons were meaningless. What terrifies me about geniuses is their potential for growth.

Jin So-cheong noticed my presence and withdrew her spear, speaking to me.

“Master, what’s up?”

“Sibling, I’ve come to ask you about recent events.”

“You mean the decisive battle against the Huashan Sect.”

“Yes.”

“What you’re probably curious about is what happened after you passed out, right?”

“Exactly.”

Honestly, that was my main concern. Until now, I hadn’t had the chance to ask, but what happened after I fainted at the Huashan Sect battle? I had only heard that the remaining disciples won, so I had no sense of being there. At least Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Guk-ho, who had participated at the time, could provide a concrete story. It seemed the Green Forest King, Gu Cheol, had not been involved in that battle and thus didn’t know.

Jin So-cheong sat on a rock and continued, “I was using the True Energy Healing Technique and headed towards the location where the master was battling. When I arrived, I found the master engaged with some monsters.”

“What?”

Monsters? What do you mean?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Jin So-cheong said bitterly, “Yong Junil was standing fine, but the Huashan Sect’s left and right Dharma Protectors had transformed into monsters when their lives were in danger. They turned into creatures that looked like a mix of dragons and humans and were fighting fiercely against the master.”

“……!!”

“They held tremendous power and speed. While their martial arts weren’t much, they caused the master to struggle against them.”

“Are you saying they were Dragon People?”

“Yeah.”

I found it hard to believe.

Dragon People!

Those are mythical creatures described only in legends. Their existence is said to be hybrids with dragon blood who possess powers that surpass humans. Sometimes the ruling emperor claims to be a Dragon Person, but that’s merely a political symbol. In reality, even the existence of dragons is denied.

Jin So-cheong shrugged.

“I don’t know if those monsters are what you call ‘otherworldly races.’ Anyway, I jumped in and ended up killing them, but by then, Yong Junil had already fled.”

“I see.”

The Huashan Sect was annihilated, but the leader Yong Junil escaped.

When I heard this from the disciples, I wondered how that could happen, but hearing Jin So-cheong’s account, everything clicked. Some sudden Dragon People appeared to stop the Thunder God Lineage while the leader, Yong Junil, managed to flee.

I cautiously asked, “What if Yong Junil had joined the fight to finish it off?”

“Hmm… Honestly, we would have won, but it wouldn’t have been without injury. He’d probably lose at least one arm.”

“……”

“Yong Junil is truly a terrifying person. Even after abandoning the Huashan Sect, he bragged about his victory. It likely means the Wind Spirit Sect behind him is even more formidable.”

I nodded.

I began to suspect that perhaps the Wind Spirit Sect, including Yong Junil, had obtained the knowledge of Dragon People through research at the Imperial Palace. If the form of a Dragon Person could wield powers that surpassed humans, it might pose a terrifying future threat indeed.

Jin So-cheong asked, “Is that all you had to talk about?”

“Of course not.”

“What else?”

“Sibling, do you all believe I’m a Reborn Person?”

Jin So-cheong had heard about my past life from the shrine of Master Mangnyang. Since she was curious, I revealed most of the details about my past life, since she had followed despite going against her master.

Jin So-cheong scratched her head.

“To be honest, there’s so much complexity and difficulty that I couldn’t grasp it all. But I do understand that you’re a special being that transcends ordinary people.”

“Do you dislike or fear me?”

“Well… I could think that way, but not right now. Regardless, it’s true that our Thunder God Lineage is flourishing because of you, and it’s clear you have a strong attachment to it.”

“……”

“So I want to tell you something.”

“Yes?”

Jin So-cheong sat on the rock, gazing at the distant sky, and said, “You might think your talent is mediocre, but I actually believe you are advancing towards a much greater path in martial arts.”

“What do you mean…”

“When I was young, a foreigner came from far away. It was when the master wasn’t around, and that foreigner told me the story of a man. This man was also someone without talent, like you, but he possessed infinite lifespan and kept striving. As a result, he reached the level of the Absolute Being and later even transcended the gods.”

I chuckled.

“That sounds like a fairy tale. To surpass the gods as a martial artist…”

“Right? It did sound like a fable to me as well. But when I asked how he could transcend the gods, he said this.”

“How?”

“[Even if I see a thousand years of spring, I won’t give up.]”

“……”

In that moment, I was stunned.

How could a human say such a thing?

No matter how infinite their lifespan is, if they are mediocre, they would end up repeatedly bumping against their limits, suffering countless times. How could they say such a thing? I was amazed at the endless tenacity that person must have had.

Jin So-cheong beamed at me.

“I don’t know if you will be a future threat to the Thunder God Lineage, but to me, you will always be you. If there’s a path where all of us can prosper together, we will do our best. You must have had things you didn’t want to give up on, which is why you’ve endured until now.”

“That’s right.”

“Ever since I heard that foreigner’s story, I’ve been training happily.”

Jin So-cheong clenched her fist.

“I believe someday I too will meet that Martial God.”

At that moment, I felt my eyes welling up with tears.

Ah – was this the difference?

That’s why I always felt the gap between us and Jin So-cheong was endlessly wide.

This person had been running toward the Martial God from the start and was a dedicated genius.

Spurred by my stubbornness, I told Jin So-cheong, “I’ll see that god first and let you know what kind of guy he is.”

“Ha ha ha! That sounds amusing.”

I decided to truly recognize Jin So-cheong as my genuine companion in my next life.

It was clear at that moment that she was someone who moved only according to her convictions, not bound by the Thunder God Lineage.

 

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