Chapter 357
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“Hey, it’s been a while, my nephew!”
As soon as we arrived at Jinrang Valley, Zhuge Sa popped out of his scroll with a grin on his face. Mangnyang, seeing this, made a sour face and said, “Nice to see you.”
“You still don’t want to consider me your uncle?”
“Used to be that way, but now it’s a different story. I can’t predict where you’ll dart off to next, and it annoys me.”
Indeed, Mangnyang had fully realized that his respected father, Zhuge Yulong, was the Vermilion Bird and his worst enemy. So, while he could brush off Zhuge Sa’s antics as mere teasing, the uncertainty of where he might leap next made him dislike his role as a strategist even more. Did Zhuge Sa catch on to that vibe? He smiled faintly.
“Looks like hanging out with that weirdo changed you a bit.”
“Anyway, thanks for saving Baek Woong. So, what’s the price…?”
“Oh, that’s fine. That kid already paid up.”
When Zhuge Sa pulled out a gold bar to show, Mangnyang replied, “Well, now that we’ve exchanged greetings, what did you want to see me for?”
“I came to verify that kid claims you as his comrade. Glad to hear it’s true.”
“Huh… I don’t feel particularly thrilled about your concern.”
“What a heartless guy.” Zhuge Sa pouted. It’s been obvious for a while that he really liked Mangnyang. On the flip side, Mangnyang neither liked nor respected Zhuge Sa. After staring at Zhuge Sa for a moment, Mangnyang asked, “Zhuge Sa, let’s be honest.”
“About what?”
“You must’ve put the Soul Exchange Technique on Baek Woong.”
I was shocked. “Huh?!”
The Soul Exchange Technique?!
I already knew that only the master of the Heretical Sect was able to pass down such a technique and that Zhuge Sa was indeed an expert at it. But hearing that from Mangnyang was completely unexpected. Zhuge Sa then replied, feigning innocence, “I have no idea what you mean. Isn’t the Soul Exchange Technique part of the Heretical Scriptures?”
“You are the master of the Heretical Sect, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes, but do you have any proof that I put it on that kid?”
Mangnyang nodded.
“Given your personality, there’s no way you’d let Baek Woong, who has the Four Great Spirits, run loose. I suspect you’re using a chance to contact him to secretly monitor his spirit. Since you can share sights, you probably think you can track him wherever he goes!”
“……”
Zhuge Sa didn’t answer, but I quickly spoke up. “Are you saying I’m under the Soul Exchange Technique? I haven’t felt any symptoms…”
“That’s the feature of the Soul Exchange Technique. The person affected feels nothing. However, all your sensory information—sight, touch, smell—is probably flowing to Zhuge Sa. That’s because Zhuge Sa has already extracted your essence and is controlling it.”
“……!!”
Hearing this, Zhuge Sa bluntly said, “If you’re really under the Soul Exchange Technique, then that could be true. But there’s no evidence to support it, is there? You can’t intimidate your uncle with mere hunches and circumstantial evidence!”
Zhuge Sa pretended to be angry.
“How sad that you think you can win through incitement and fabrication, nephew.”
“In this case, actual evidence isn’t even necessary. Hunches and circumstantial evidence are enough. If you want solid proof…” Mangnyang said, letting out a chuckle.
“Baek Woong, attack Zhuge Sa.”
Sweet!
Swish!
Without hesitation, I swung my sword at Zhuge Sa’s neck as soon as Mangnyang finished speaking. Naturally, I intended to kill him with that swing, so he shouldn’t have been able to block it with his martial arts. But the next moment, I was shocked.
“?!”
It stopped.
My sword stretched right up to Zhuge Sa’s neck, but it froze there as if held back by some invisible barrier. I thought Zhuge Sa must have activated a barrier or defense, but it didn’t feel like that at all. As I broke into a cold sweat, Mangnyang said, “I’ve heard that when the Soul Exchange Technique reaches its peak, it can set an invulnerable barrier that the opponent can’t breach. Sure enough, Zhuge Sa, you can’t trust Baek Woong and you’ve already cast an attack-immune barrier on him.”
Zhuge Sa stared blankly at Mangnyang as he slowly pushed my blade back with a finger. However, power and intent didn’t properly convey through his fingers and arms, so he couldn’t do anything. Zhuge Sa said, “You really know your stuff.”
I was flabbergasted. “So, are you saying Zhuge Sa can control me?”
“That’s correct. Right now, Baek Woong, you are completely under the Soul Exchange Technique.”
Mangnyang kept his eyes on Zhuge Sa and continued, “Think about it. Just contact alone wouldn’t be enough to cast the Soul Exchange Technique. If that was possible, the Heretical Sect would have dominated the world two hundred years ago. There must have been a catalyst that put you under it.”
Catalyst? I thought hard and suddenly looked enlightened. I recalled I had indeed been wrapped in a strange scroll while receiving help from Zhuge Sa.
“The scroll…”
“That’s likely it. Zhuge Sa probably protected you with his techniques while swiftly placing the Soul Exchange Technique on you using the influence of his sacred text.”
“Ugh!”
I glared at Zhuge Sa. I never imagined he would put such a terrifying technique on me during our first meeting. I had learned that even a master couldn’t cast the Soul Exchange Technique with a mere fleeting contact, so I had let my guard down.
Then, Zhuge Sa chuckled.
“Damn… Mangnyang, this guy really is something to know about the Heretical Scriptures so well and even teach you.”
“Zhuge Sa, get rid of the Soul Exchange Technique immediately, or I won’t let this slide.”
Zhuge Sa stared blankly at Mangnyang after that remark and said, “You won’t let it slide? Are you saying you have the techniques needed to subdue me?”
“I warned you. Baek Woong is my best buddy, and attacking him is the same as attacking me.”
“Hmph…” Zhuge Sa casually tried to raise his hand when Mangnyang warned again.
“If you order Baek Woong to attack me, I will make sure to eliminate you.”
“What?”
Zhuge Sa seemed surprised by this, not incredulous, suggesting he hadn’t anticipated Mangnyang would say such a thing. It also meant he felt some level of potential from Mangnyang. After a moment of thought, he replied, “It seems you’ve changed more than I expected. I will withdraw for now.”
Wiying!
It was then that a pale white essence flowed from Zhuge Sa’s palm, forming a beam that connected to my forehead. When I looked up, startled by the beam, I felt something pour into me, and soon the beam disappeared as well. It seemed Zhuge Sa had returned the essence he had stolen.
Mangnyang approached me and activated his Spirit Eye technique, gazing intently at me. “I still find this suspicious. Until we confirm it’s fully lifted, Baek Woong, stay tense and cautious.”
“… Understood.”
Mangnyang turned to Zhuge Sa. “Since you used the Soul Exchange Technique on my comrade, our trust is completely broken. If you want to avoid death, it’s best for you to skedaddle right now.”
“I haven’t done anything after casting the Soul Exchange Technique. Aren’t you the one being a tad overly reactive?”
“Hmph!” Mangnyang scoffed.
“The Soul Exchange Technique can be used in any situation, from borrowing the sword to kill, evolutionary breakthroughs, luring into traps, or even turning tables. From the moment you’re under the Soul Exchange Technique, you become nothing more than a puppet, not truly living. I can even have you stab your parents if I wanted to; it’s a forbidden technique! And you call me overly sensitive?”
“……”
“Do you understand why I dislike you? Because you disregard the pain of others and always do as you please. You carelessly drag others into your own doom. A person like you is the absolute worst.”
Having been berated by Mangnyang, Zhuge Sa maintained a stoic expression. Then he said, “You seem to understand well.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“But what’s wrong with that?” Zhuge Sa grinned and added, “No one truly understands the suffering of others. I only feel pain when I suffer. The awareness of pain… where even is that? Even in the afterlife, it’s just as hellish for the gods, so there’s no need to rack up good deeds. Only the strong get everything and toy with souls. So why should I care for others and help them?”
“You jerk…”
I felt so furious I almost launched an attack on Zhuge Sa, but Mangnyang raised a hand to stop me. After some thought, Mangnyang said, “If you know the truth of the world, it’s not strange to think like you. But my master is striving right this moment to change that world. If people don’t forget their inner goodness, it will change eventually.”
“Hahaha…”
Zhuge Sa laughed. That laughter was laced with a chilling madness.
“Whatever. I won’t apologize for today. Until next time.”
“Get lost.”
Whoosh!
After a while, Zhuge Sa used his technique to vanish. Mangnyang looked around, making sure he was indeed gone, and then turned to me.
“Baek Woong, let’s go see the master. I need something to offer as a sacrifice.”
“Do we need to check if the Soul Exchange Technique has truly been lifted?”
“Of course. Zhuge Sa would never keep his promises…”
It was then.
Whoosh!
“Huh?!”
Before I knew it, my body dashed off somewhere, using the Soul Removal Technique against my will. I couldn’t comprehend why my body was moving on its own, and I was baffled. Mangnyang’s figure had already disappeared from view, and my body was leaping over the landscape like it was set on autopilot.
Zhuge Sa’s cackling voice echoed in my head. It seemed he was controlling my body with the Soul Exchange Technique while conveying his will.
[Looks like I’m going to have some fun with you, kiddo.]
Zhuge Sa!!
I hastily tried to ride on the Four Great Spirits, but even that wouldn’t respond, seemingly due to my human form lacking compliance. I screamed helplessly.
“Get this off!!”
[I can’t hear you well.]
“Aahhh!! Lift the Soul Exchange Technique!!”
[……]
I kept running. After running for about half an hour, Zhuge Sa, who had been training me like a mutt in silence, finally said, [What on earth are you doing?]
“Huh?!”
[You were so noisy that I was about to lose my senses and activate the Soul Exchange, but it hasn’t taken hold. You still have control of your body, but your spirit hasn’t shifted yet.]
I felt a chill run down my spine. If that’s true, it means the caster of the Soul Exchange Technique can completely silence the target’s spirit and occupy their body, right? But right now, it appeared Zhuge Sa couldn’t transfer his spirit into my body.
[This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this. No matter how much I try, the spirit just won’t follow the body. Normally, even if it’s a monster or immortal, their spirit structure isn’t that different. It should move accordingly… What’s going on?]
“Damn it! Quit messing around and lift the Soul Exchange Technique!!”
[How can this even happen…? I can’t even take your reason away.]
Zhuge Sa was confused. It seemed this situation was something he hadn’t anticipated.
Zhuge Sa halted my body and said, [I’ll need to study you slowly. Come over here.]
Whoosh!
A moment later, I forced aside the Soul Removal Technique and activated it, heading to the place where Zhuge Sa was. I bit my lip and glared at him, but no matter how much I tried to attack, my body wouldn’t move. It felt like my body wasn’t even mine anymore.
Zhuge Sa, standing three steps ahead of me, tilted his head. “How strange. You look like a regular human, but…?”
“Get this off.”
Zhuge Sa smirked. “See if you can get it off by yourself. Of course, there’s never been a case like this in the history of the Heretical Sect…”
At that moment, my blood boiled. Why the hell do I have to be controlled by this jerk? Am I doomed to suffer like a slave, neither living nor dead? At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before all the treasures stored away are stolen by him!
I attempted to summon Yeodong-bin, but since it was a human I was up against, it wouldn’t listen to me either.
As I thought desperately about what to do, a crazy idea occurred to me. ‘Got it!’
The command that the Soul Exchange Technique had engraved in me was [Attack Unavailable]. Of course, I would be unable to attack without stopping. But, even if I used the Soul Removal Technique to escape, I’d be back the moment after—which was maddening.
So, I had a plan. “Alright, I give up on this life!”
“What?”
Whoosh!
Using the Soul Removal Technique, I dashed straight toward the Master of the White Lotus Sect. The master turned his gaze toward me, but I ignored it and shouted.
“Ahhh!!!”
In the instant before Zhuge Sa could control me again, I unleashed everything I had to attack the Master of the White Lotus Sect. I had no need to think of the consequences.
Wiying!
A Mandala bloomed near the Master of the White Lotus Sect. In an instant, that Mandala obliterated my intent and formless qi and drained my strength. The Master of the White Lotus Sect easily blocked my powerful strike with a mere finger and swiftly seized my neck, hanging me in the air.
“Ugh…”
Within a second, the Master of the White Lotus Sect had subdued me, holding my neck while gazing intently before asking, [You used the Thunder God Sword Dance, so are you from the Thunder God Lineage…? How did you appear in a place with nothing…?]
Pa-at!
At that moment, as a command was issued by Zhuge Sa through the Soul Exchange, my body moved automatically to activate the Soul Removal Technique once more.
Zhuge Sa, sounding irked, said, “You can run away, but you’re still in my palm… huh?”
The next moment, Zhuge Sa and the Master of the White Lotus Sect locked eyes.
Because the Soul Removal Technique has the ability to move the connected targets together, naturally, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, who was holding my neck, was also moved alongside me. The Master of the White Lotus Sect flung me far away and strolled forward.
[Where is this? And who are you brats?]
“……”
In an instant, Zhuge Sa’s expression twisted. He had realized the entity before him was the absurdly powerful Absolute Being.
[Answer me.]
Indeed. If I was to die by the Master of the White Lotus Sect, that was fine by me, or at least I could be taken along like this. Knowing the Master of the White Lotus Sect had a habit of grabbing by the neck when subduing opponents, it was a bet I could make.
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