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Upon the guidance of Master Myung-ho, I entered the depths of Shaolin Temple. We weren’t heading to the areas filled with regular disciples, but instead ventured deeper into the premises of the temple.

Eventually, we arrived at a grand tower and the Great Hero Hall, where Master Myung-ho pointed to a nearby mountain and said, “The Heavenly Altar is located behind that mountain.”

I couldn’t help but think that sneaking into the Heavenly Altar was nearly impossible. The Great Hero Hall was the dwelling and meeting place for Shaolin’s leaders and top experts; it was easy to imagine how difficult it would be to access the mountain behind it. I was being led to a place where I might have to risk my life.

I asked Master Myung-ho, “What did Master Mangnyang say?”

“I’ll explain that shortly,” he replied briefly, addressing his fellow disciples, “You all stay here and wait.”

With that, Master Myung-ho and I leaped onto the mountain using the Light Body Technique. Before long, we arrived at a place known as the Heavenly Altar. Looking at its shape, I noticed it was quite similar to the one I had seen on Mount Heng, albeit with some differences in maintenance.

Master Myung-ho remarked, “This Heavenly Altar is always maintained by Shaolin disciples. Unlike the altars of other great mountains, it’s consistently attended to.”

“What do you mean?”

“Only Shaolin knows the significance of the Heavenly Altar among the five great mountains. It’s been passed down that this is the site of a mythology that twists the connection between heaven and earth…”

As he spoke, he walked slowly toward the altar, fiddling with a large stele standing in the center while he continued, “What the Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns did severed the connection between heaven and earth, rendering the altar ineffective. Since that moment, it has become hard for deities to interfere with humans, and for humans to ascend.”

“So if the altar has lost its function, why bother maintaining it?”

“Even if it lost its function, it is still an altar. It’s a pathway between the divine and the human realm created by the gods. We don’t know when it might be used again, so how could we just abandon it? Maintaining it until it can be used again is humanity’s duty.”

It dawned on me that Master Myung-ho was quite knowledgeable about these mythological passages. Perhaps he could indeed be a sorcerer. I narrowed my eyes and said, “You’re hiding something. And it seems to be connected to Master Mangnyang…”

Master Myung-ho gave an overly casual response, “Why do you say that? Master Mangnyang oversees all the visits within the continent and is the guardian deity of humanity. Mr. Bin has received his help since he was young.”

“Since he was young?”

“Not just Mr. Bin. Currently, all humans owe their existence to his efforts.”

What on earth did that mean? I wore a puzzled expression, and Master Myung-ho continued, “Master Mangnyang often bestows the Blessing of Great Creation upon wise teachers and true persons so they can grow. Those who were destined to be defeated have risen to face evil and protect the banner of justice because of him.”

“What?!”

I was taken aback. That irritating black cat had such power! As my surprise grew, Master Myung-ho added, “As you know, this world is crawling with massive evils known as ‘Old Rulers’ and their followers. It’s expected that human thoughts and culture would easily turn to evil. That humans still pursue goodness and justice is due to Master Mangnyang blocking the influence of these deities.”

“……”

“He is not someone who can be judged by the values of Buddhism or Taoism. He is more of a cosmic being.”

I had never thought about it that way.

“He even told me you would come today through a prophetic dream. That’s why I was able to speak with you.”

I contemplated this revelation. I understood that Master Mangnyang’s role was surprisingly monumental, but I still didn’t feel any respect for that cat. After all, how many times had he played with my life without providing clear help?

“Why did Master Mangnyang reveal this to you?”

Master Myung-ho smiled softly.

“Well, he wanted to show you the Heavenly Altar. Had Mr. Bin not intervened, would you have been able to see the Heavenly Altar of Songshan?”

“Um… probably not.”

I honestly acknowledged it. The top experts under Master Myung-ho were in the top tier across the whole Jianghu. There was no guarantee that I could defeat them, and if during the fight, the Shaolin summoned their 108 Arhats or the Four Great Guardians, I would surely meet my end. Even trying to sneak in using the Soul Removal Technique was doubtful.

‘This was an insane level of difficulty.’

I shivered at the thought. To see just the Heavenly Altar of Songshan, I literally had to bet my life! After Master Myung-ho offered a prayer at the altar, he said, “Master Mangnyang instructed me to help you. So, if you find yourself in battle against evil, Shaolin will aid you.”

“Thank you for your words, but…”

I was taken aback by Master Myung-ho’s sudden offer. The leading sect in the Orthodox Martial World, Shaolin, was promising to help me! And it was all thanks to one word from Master Mangnyang!

Given my past life, it would undoubtedly be immense help, but I found myself hesitating to accept it. I felt like I was being swept away by the intentions of that vague black cat. But considering my dire situation, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.

“…No, thank you.”

“So, did you visit Songshan to see the Heavenly Altar?”

“Not exactly.”

I described to him my questions about the Old Sage of Mount Tai and how I was journeying through all the great mountains to find him. I also explained the tragedy that occurred at the Huashan Sect. Master Myung-ho listened intently and then said, “The Huashan Sect originally had a formidable sorcerer, but they chose to focus solely on building their martial power by downplaying the role of the sorcerers. As a result, the sorcerers separated and left. When the Otherworldly Races attacked, there was no way to stop them…”

“That makes sense. When dealing with Otherworldly Races, sorcery is definitely more effective than martial arts.”

Master Myung-ho nodded and remarked, “The attackers of the Huashan Sect must have a mastermind behind them, and that mastermind would likely be connected to the Old Sage of Mount Tai. I will make sure to investigate further about the Old Sage of Mount Tai.”

“Thank you.”

I felt there was no need to reveal my reincarnated status to Master Myung-ho. Though I had inadvertently disclosed it to Dokgo Seong, I had no trust in Master Myung-ho at all. Suddenly, I had a thought and asked him, “I heard the Old Sage of Mount Tai came to visit the Heavenly Altar a year ago. What level is his martial arts?”

“He always wears a gray ragged cloth and conceals his appearance beneath a straw hat. As for his level of martial arts…. it’s very strong.”

“How strong are we talking?”

“Even Mr. Bin wouldn’t be confident in defeating him. In terms of martial prowess, he undoubtedly holds the status of a master and could contest for the title of the greatest expert in the world if he were not an official Dharma Guardian.”

“Hmm…”

I frowned. I couldn’t trust what his disciple Sagong Lin had said because it lacked objectivity, yet I had confirmed it through Master Myung-ho’s words. It was clear that the Old Sage of Mount Tai’s martial prowess would be incredibly daunting for me to handle even now. If I were to strictly analyze it, it appeared that apart from the Dharma Guardian, no one could bear the weight of his martial arts.

‘This is troublesome.’

Master Myung-ho continued, “The reason he was allowed to pay homage to the Heavenly Altar was that he is a hidden reclusive expert of the Taoist line, believed to be conducting a ceremony. But if, as you say, there are suspicious aspects about the Old Sage of Mount Tai, that could very likely be part of his scheme.”

“But you said the altar has already lost its function.”

He shook his head, “No. The one who severed the altar’s function could also restore it.”

“……!!”

“Of course, it cannot be done by human force, but it’s not entirely impossible.”

Master Myung-ho murmured with worry, “This could be a serious problem…”

“Do you have any more questions?”

After a moment of thought, I asked, “This might be a bit of a trivial question, but would it be alright?”

“Fire away.”

“You probably know General Jin Cheon-hwi. What is your connection with him?”

“Ha ha…”

Master Myung-ho chuckled lightly, clearly caught off guard by the question. He laughed heartily before answering, “That’s unexpected. Why do you think so?”

“I just had that feeling.”

“As a friend of Master Mangnyang, you certainly know how to keep things hidden.”

Master Myung-ho smiled bitterly, continuing, “I have a long-standing relationship with General Jin Cheon-hwi. I’ve had occasions where I’ve owed my life to his strategies.”

“Are you aware that he was actually of royal blood?”

Master Myung-ho was visibly startled this time, stiffening as he exhaled a defeated sigh.

“Don’t casually disclose such information, alright? If you weren’t a friend of Master Mangnyang, you would have landed yourself in serious trouble here.”

“Oops… my apologies.”

“That’s one of the most critical secrets in the world.”

His gaze turned skyward, and he remarked, “If, by any chance, what you’re saying is true and General Jin Cheon-hwi’s only son survived the rebellion, he would undoubtedly become the rightful heir to the throne. He would have a stronger claim than the current emperor.”

“Stronger claim?”

“The current emperor lacks legitimacy. I can only say this much due to my position.”

“Understood.”

After hearing it from Master Myung-ho, I felt confident in my realization. ‘Jin So-cheong should have been the one to ascend to the emperor’s throne from the start.’

It seemed that as Lee Kwang was expelled from the Imperial Palace, he secretly protected Jin So-cheong and took him out. Those like Hwang Yeon who knew this fact must have been protecting Jin So-cheong in the shadows as well. They likely shared a secret.

However, it appeared that there were differing views on Jin So-cheong. Master Myung-ho and General Hwang Yeon believed that Jin So-cheong should rightfully occupy the throne, while his protector, Lee Kwang, seemed intent on nurturing Jin So-cheong solely as a martial artist.

‘What could be the reason for that?’

Lee Kwang’s approach was more practical. Forcing Jin So-cheong to become emperor was not only unrealistic but also lacked any assurance that he would be happy with such a choice. Perhaps Lee Kwang believed that being involved in the martial world would bring Jin So-cheong more joy.

Yet, having watched Lee Kwang for a long time, I instinctively felt that something else was afoot. His loyalty to the country paired with his desire for revenge against the White Lotus Sect created a contradictory being in Lee Kwang.

It struck me then that I really needed to sit down and talk with Lee Kwang. Even without Dokgo Seong’s prodding, I realized I didn’t know the most crucial aspects about him.

‘Right. If we ever resolve our past grievances, it must be done thoroughly.’

With that thought, I bowed to Master Myung-ho. “Then I will take my leave now.”

“May I know your next destination?”

“You should already be expecting it.”

“Ha ha, you caught me.”

Master Myung-ho smiled shyly and said, “Let me give you a heads up. Be careful when fighting the Old Sage of Mount Tai. His sword technique is outrageously powerful.”

“You mean the Gongsun Sword Technique?”

Master Myung-ho nodded, “It’s the defining technique that elevated him to the status of one of the Three Great Masters. Be cautious, incredibly cautious.”

“Understood.”

After obtaining information from Master Myung-ho, I set off toward Mount Tai.

Pa-at!

‘The promised month hasn’t even passed, but…’

I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Old Sage of Mount Tai was likely at Mount Tai. Considering the major bloodbath that had happened at the Huashan Sect, not to mention Mount Heng and Hengshan, I sensed no sign of him lurking around. While I couldn’t know for sure, I had done enough reconnaissance. Once I checked Mount Tai again, I would need to search through the five great mountains. But for now, Mount Tai certainly seemed to be his likely hideout.

Upon arriving near Mount Tai, I pondered my next move.

“Hmm… should I stop by Seven Kills Village?”

Dokgo Seong had tasked me with assassinating the Master of the White Lotus Sect. The reasoning was that taking down the Master would eliminate most of the White Lotus Sect’s influence. However, at the moment, I was far more intrigued by the idea of becoming one of the Master’s disciples, so I should investigate more about the Master before making any attempts. If I held off on the assassination for now, visiting Seven Kills Village would be a waste of time.

There were many main gates and guard soldiers around the vicinity of Mount Tai. The number of martial sects was low, while poor peasants and bandits thrived. It felt like an excellent location to confront the harsh realities of life. Unlike other regions, there weren’t really any noteworthy sights, which made me frown.

‘I should explore Mount Tai a bit before Cheng-wol and Dokgo Seong arrive.’

I decided to roam various places around Mount Tai until my companions showed up. Eluding the watchful eyes of the guards and gathering information about the surroundings would help me save time later.

With that in mind, I began to use the Soul Removal Technique to scavenge through the area around Mount Tai.

Shush!

I spent the next three or four days tirelessly navigating Mount Tai with the Soul Removal Technique. Though it was a large mountain, I soon realized I could cover it rapidly with that technique. Although I had to be cautious of the guards and their watchful gaze, they couldn’t sense my speed. And if it looked like I might get caught, I could easily hide my presence, avoiding detection altogether.

After another full day of searching, I was hit with a puzzling realization.

The Old Sage of Mount Tai was nowhere to be found!

After combing through all this, the fact that he was absent indicated one of two possibilities.

‘He could be inside the main gate or at the peak of Mount Tai…’

I lacked the courage to enter the main gate and could only roam the mountainous areas, as being spotted by the guards wouldn’t be beneficial for me. The peak of Mount Tai was also a restricted area, guarded against civilians. I calculated my options in my head.

There were four main gates near Mount Tai. One was at the peak, and the rest were positioned in the valley. Scouring each of the four gates would be a monumental task.

Or, if the Old Sage of Mount Tai really was at a main gate, what kind of situation would that entail?

The generals and soldiers stationed at the government office harbored a strong dislike for martial experts. They perceived them as potentially disruptive forces to order. This perception likely applied even to the formidable Old Sage of Mount Tai, known as a top-tier figure among the orthodox champions. There was no reason they would allow someone of his stature to linger within the main gate.

‘Something’s off.’

Out of curiosity, I made my way to the main gate at the peak of Mount Tai to take a look. The area around the fortress was bustling with soldiers, and even a few higher-ranked officers patrolled the vicinity. They didn’t seem to possess remarkable martial prowess, likely due to their soldier status. However, I still felt hesitant to infiltrate the main gate recklessly.

There were a lot of them!

There appeared to be at least a thousand soldiers stationed at the peak main gate. The idea of a thousand troops on a mountaintop almost defied comprehension, but it was likely due to Mount Tai’s significance as a sacred site for ceremonies. I certainly didn’t have the confidence to slip past a thousand sets of eyes, so I ultimately surrendered to my defeat.

Furthermore, near the peak’s main gate, there were smaller gates and signal towers. If any insurrection were to occur, some of those soldiers would be dispatched to support, summoning no less than five thousand additional troops within half a moment. It was a veritable fortress.

Deciding to wait for Cheng-wol and Dokgo Seong, I set up camp near the entrance of Mount Tai. I figured that Cheng-wol and Dokgo Seong could sense my aura and find me easily.

Just as I released the thought, days later, Cheng-wol and Dokgo Seong, wearing their straw hats, came to the makeshift camp I had set up.

“How have you been?”

“It’s good to see you, Master.”

As I exchanged bows with Master Myung-ho, Dokgo Seong chuckled, “Ha ha ha, it’s been fun roaming the world again.”

“Where have you been?”

“Oh, just visiting that rascal Lee Kwang for a bit.”

“……!!”

I was genuinely surprised. While I was lost in thought, Cheng-wol chimed in, “I told Lee Kwang to cooperate with us on our endeavors.”

“What the…?”

At that moment, a cheerful voice rang from the entrance, “Oh! Young Hero! Long time no see!”

I turned to see a familiar face. “Jin So-cheong…!!”

“Ahem…”

And next to Jin So-cheong stood a rather sour-looking Lee Kwang. It looked like he was dragged here against his will. As I stood there in shock, Dokgo Seong said, “Alright then. You arrived earlier than expected; now share the current situation.”

“Sure.”

I recounted my observations from previous travels, detailing the tragedy at the Huashan Sect. I also mentioned that the Old Sage of Mount Tai was likely at the peak main gate. Dokgo Seong clenched his fists with a triumphant smile.

“Alright! Let’s go!”

“Go… go where?”

Dokgo Seong had a wide grin as he exclaimed, “With all of us gathered, what’s there to fear? Let’s smash through!”

With at least a thousand stationed soldiers, plus the five thousand reserves expected to rush in, he was suggesting we charge in with just five people. I was flabbergasted, but Cheng-wol’s approval caught me off guard further.

“This is going to be exciting!”

Are these people serious? We were facing thousands of soldiers!

Just then, the more rational Lee Kwang intervened to put a stop to them. “Eliminating them isn’t the issue, but first we need to determine if the Old Sage of Mount Tai is truly there.”

“Hmm, good point! Then you should go check it out, Lee Kwang. You used to hold a post, after all.”

Lee Kwang’s expression contorted briefly. It seemed he was disturbed by Dokgo Seong’s reckless attitude.

“Having retired to become a commoner, anyone seeing me there would raise suspicions.”

“What a downer… Hey! What were you even doing in your official post?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

As Dokgo Seong clicked his tongue in annoyance, Lee Kwang cautiously replied, “I’ve already discussed things with my successor and juniors. Just wait a few more days.”

Like he said, after about two days, a messenger arrived with a note from General Jang Gyeong-ik of Shandong. A few military officers accompanied the messenger, and they greeted Lee Kwang with respect.

“We come bearing orders from General Jang. Here is your pass.”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“I’ll be taking my leave!”

As the officers departed, Lee Kwang handed me the pass.

“This pass was issued by Jang Gyeong-ik. With it, locating the Old Sage of Mount Tai should be straightforward.”

“Thanks.”

Lee Kwang turned away, and then discreetly sent me a private message, [I don’t know what you’re planning, but if you try to use our Thunder God Lineage, I won’t hold back.]

It seemed that even as he was involuntarily dragged along by Dokgo Seong, he remained on guard against me. Though I couldn’t really blame him for that; I wasn’t very fond of him myself, so I shot back in response, [What’s your hidden agenda? Why foster Jin So-cheong, knowing he’s the rightful heir?]

At that moment, Lee Kwang froze in place, eyes blazing with fury as he stated, “It seems I need to settle things with you one day!”

Ka-boom! The air crackled violently.

A fierce aura surged from Lee Kwang. It was far more intense than I had perceived during our sparring sessions. I had rarely seen him lose control like this before, making me tense, and I gulped.

Was he a martial artist who was enhanced in intensity during life-and-death confrontations?

As Lee Kwang’s killing intent rose, Dokgo Seong intervened, waving his hands to diffuse the situation. The tension eased as his aura quelled Lee Kwang’s fierceness. Dokgo Seong tsked and said, “Lee Kwang. And you, Baek Woong. You seem to be overflowing with youthful enthusiasm. You must learn to temper yourselves.”

“Apologies.”

“My bad.”

Dokgo Seong continued, looking displeased, “If this happens again on our journey to Mount Tai, I won’t go easy on either of you.”

“Understood.”

And so, we began our ascent of Mount Tai.

While climbing, Jin So-cheong sent me a private message, [Baek Woong, please avoid conflict with Master. He is genuinely happy to see a formidable member of the Thunder God Lineage has appeared.]

[What are you talking about?]

[Master appreciates the emergence of talented martial artists like you. I have a feeling that things will be fine between you two, so let’s create a good atmosphere together.]

[……]

Could that even be true? I felt doubtful, but I didn’t bother replying to Jin So-cheong.

 

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