Chapter 404
The elders in the Celestial Realm must have seen the power I unleashed, as they didn’t even bother me and quietly sent me back to the Thunder God building. Looking at the Wind Spirit figures working in Thunder God, I couldn’t help wondering what to do with these troublesome nuisances.
‘They have no martial arts, but I have to look after them…’
And the numbers aren’t small either. While Dokgo Jun and the Sect Leader generously assigned them to me, I now felt like I had taken on a pointless burden. As irritation welled up within me, Zhuge Sa chimed in.
[How about summoning some beauties from the Wind Spirit sect to serve you? You know, two against one, or three against one…]
[Are you out of your mind? How many times do I have to say I’m not doing that?]
[Then it might be better to use them as test subjects for the Soul Exchange Technique. If not, I could teach you a few dark methods and we can offer these Wind Spirit fools up as rituals.]
As I realized that Zhuge Sa was serious, I felt my spirit wither away. This wasn’t some silly jab from Extreme Tiger but a genuine suggestion to kill and exploit humans! I knew his suggestion was the most “efficient” way to use the Wind Spirit lot, but I couldn’t bring myself to choose that path. Instead, I asked,
[Zhuge Sa, why do you regard humans as mere trash?]
[Huh?]
[I just can’t understand it. In my life, I’ve seen my fair share of depraved villains and cold-blooded murderers… but I’ve never seen anyone treat humans as just slabs of meat like you do. Normally, you’d think someone would regain their humanity after death, but not you. What kind of life have you led to think that way?]
Zhuge Sa seemed taken aback by my question, falling silent for a moment before breaking into a chuckle.
[Hehe… well said. The humans of this world are no more than cuts of meat.]
[What?]
[In a history so ancient it can’t be described, ‘Old Beings’ created the first humans as both food and pets. In ancient times, humans were no different from livestock raised by foreign beings. Then a war broke out between the ‘Old Beings’ and the Evil Gods, leading them to slumber… and the Three Sovereigns arose to grant civilization to humans.]
As Zhuge Sa explained, he seemed to shrug his shoulders.
[But that’s just the surface reason; it’s really that I see no value in humans and I’m just disappointed.]
[Value? Isn’t living enough?]
[Hmph… to practice the Soul Exchange Technique that much and yet not grasp the essence of life and death. Though, I guess it must be harder for you since you can reincarnate.]
As Zhuge Sa muttered almost bitterly, he continued.
[By the way, I should mention that the Sect Leader is even crazier than me. If you stick with the Sect Leader, interesting things will happen.]
[Gah…]
I was truly shocked.
If Zhuge Sa recognized his own madness, it wouldn’t be so surprising, but to hear him admit that the Master of the White Lotus Sect was crazier than him? For someone like me, who understood just how insane Zhuge Sa was, it was startling.
Yet from my experience, the Master of the White Lotus had passion for his goals and despite being cunning, didn’t seem “mad” in any way that could be decisively judged. He had a unique charm as a religious figure, but it wasn’t enough to label as madness.
[I can’t help but think he doesn’t seem that crazy…?]
[Hehe. He’s completely sane but terribly despairing. I felt his madness literally just before.]
[…….?]
[Anyway, your relationship with the Sect Leader will change from now on. Don’t act foolishly; follow him well.]
The meaning of the relationship changing would soon reveal itself the next day.
The Sect Leader summoned all Dharma Guardians, Elders of the Su Shin Sect, and the Fire Spirit sect in the morning and declared resolutely.
[I hereby appoint Baek Woong as the Deputy Leader of the White Lotus Sect.]
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Everyone except the Sect Leader looked stunned. The Elders seemed like they wanted to say something, but before they could, the Fire Spirit guardian, Han Baek-ryeong, stepped forward and asked,
“Sect Leader, what’s happening all of a sudden?”
[As you heard, the Thunder God Guardian Baek Woong’s position has changed to Deputy Leader as of today.]
“In a thousand years of White Lotus history, there has never been a position or existence of Deputy Leader. This is unprecedented!”
Han Baek-ryeong challenged the Sect Leader, appearing flustered, but the Sect Leader responded with
[I didn’t explain this to you, but Baek Woong and I have formed an equal alliance. Thus, I simply provided him with a fitting position.]
“An alliance, you say…?”
[Exactly. Deputy Leader Baek Woong’s authority is beneath one, above all. From today, everyone except me will respect Baek Woong and treat him as their superior.]
The uproar increased dramatically. A historic event as significant as the White Lotus Sect’s thousand-year tradition was being completely overturned.
I was as bewildered as anyone else, but Zhuge Sa’s advice snapped me back to reality.
[The Sect Leader is trying to win you over in one way or another.]
[By improving the treatment?]
[That would usually be quite effective. The position you just attained wields authority equal to that of an Emperor across the Central Plains and the White Lotus Sect.]
[…….]
That’s for sure. The Imperial Palace forces, which had formed a massive pillar alongside the White Lotus Sect, had been annihilated, leaving their power absorbed by the White Lotus Sect. As the Sect Leader said, the position of Deputy Leader was indeed one of immense authority.
Yet, I knew that declaration was meaningless. The power he proclaimed was but dust when compared to the truths of the Mythological Age and the influence of the beings behind the scenes. Feeling a surge of frustration, I attempted to step forward, but Zhuge Sa stopped me.
[Stop.]
No, I’m stepping forward.
[You plan to shout and lash out, right?]
Why did I even suggest the alliance? It was exactly to escape from being dragged along by the Sect Leader’s leash. But here we go again…
[This declaration is the answer to your alliance proposal from yesterday. If you can’t accept this line, the Sect Leader will annihilate you on the spot even if it means bearing the consequences of your reckless charge. Do you think you can challenge not just the Sect Leader but the entire White Lotus Sect here? Even the Sword Master Yeodong-bin wouldn’t win this fight.]
[But… if I go along with this, I’ll just be dragged down the path intended by the Sect Leader.]
[You’ll have to bear with it, fool. How long will you let your pride mess everything up?]
Zhuge Sa shot back at me.
[Smile right now! Smile! If you don’t, you’ll be the loser.]
He wants me to smile.
Without being swayed by emotions, I’d just be swayed by the Sect Leader, yet still, I’m supposed to smile?
Something inside me was boiling over, yet somehow, I managed to hold it down. Normally, I would have brushed off Zhuge Sa’s words and acted on my own, but I found there was something I could understand about him after spending so long around him. I sensed the authenticity hidden in his dog-like tone.
In the end, I forced a smile and took control of my mind.
Soon enough, I was able to smile brightly.
“Thank you, Sect Leader.”
[Looks like we can walk together going forward. Furthermore, there will be opportunities for mutual understanding.]
The Master of the White Lotus, who had calmly organized everything, suddenly looked at Han Baek-ryeong.
[Han Baek-ryeong. Can you not accept my decision?]
Han Baek-ryeong answered without missing a beat.
“I was just surprised that you’d break a thousand years of tradition.”
[That’s sufficient.]
Clearly, the most dissatisfied person in the room was Han Baek-ryeong. She was watching helplessly as everything swayed at the whim of the Sect Leader. But accustomed to emotional control, she didn’t show any signs of disturbance.
After the Deputy Leader appointment ceremony wrapped up, the Sect Leader spoke.
[Deputy Leader Baek Woong. Follow me.]
I followed the Sect Leader in silence. After taking me back to that place from yesterday, the Sect Leader said,
[My monitor reported back to me. They said you suddenly vanished using the Four Great Spirits. Also heard reports that you’re visiting a place connected to Sangwan Hyuk.]
crickets chirp
[Since we’re allies, trust is essential between us. So what have you been up to during that time?]
As long as the Sect Leader doesn’t forcibly intervene, our cooperative relationship would likely remain unchanged. After exchanging opinions with Zhuge Sa, I opened my mouth. I recounted how I had dealt with the Vermilion Bird and that I had received an offering request from Sangwan Hyuk.
The Sect Leader exclaimed in surprise,
[The Vermilion Bird? Is that really true?]
“Yes, I’ll bring the evidence right away.”
Moments later, when I brought Zhuge Yulong’s severed head, which I had hidden in the Thunder God building, the Sect Leader examined it carefully. Upon confirming the form of Zhuge Yulong’s substitute body, he gasped in admiration.
[If you indeed eradicated the Vermilion Bird, you’ve accomplished something tremendous. You can now concentrate on the battle against the Twelve Joules.]
And he mumbled, clearly pleased.
[Looks like you qualify to mention an alliance to me now.]
“Sect Leader, may I ask one question?”
[Ask away.]
“I believe the Old Ruler serving in the Demon Subduing Hall at the Imperial Palace views the White Lotus Sect with disfavor. You said you would pacify him; how do you intend to do that?”
This was a crucial question. If a God were to become angry and decide to annihilate the White Lotus Sect, even the current Sect Leader would have no way to contend against that. However, the Sect Leader had never provided detailed plans when subjugating the Imperial Palace. As I glared at him suspiciously, he said,
[I’ve already pacified him.]
“What?”
[I had Sangwan Hyuk offer up a Portrait Immortal, to extinguish the immediate flames, and I plan to return to the main sect and properly perform a ceremony, promising to offer the Old Ruler a tribute. For at least the next ten years, there shouldn’t be any issues.]
Reservation for offerings! Given that the Old Ruler has a violent and sinister nature, this would not be an easy task. Yet, it seemed that the Old Ruler behind the Imperial Palace had been quite lenient as he accepted the Sect Leader’s proposal without hesitation. From his perspective, as long as the offerings remained intact, he wouldn’t care how his underlings changed.
I found myself asking curiously, “What kind of offerings did you promise him?”
[Before I answer that, let me ask you something first.]
“Sure.”
[My ultimate life goal is to manifest True Martial Home in this world. I have tirelessly practiced Demon Path and martial arts since my youth for this purpose. I have a clear sense of purpose.]
The Master of the White Lotus, having set the stage, continued,
[But you, Baek Woong, seem to have little interest in life. What were you following me for?]
“……?”
What should I say?
I pondered for a moment and finally replied, “I’m curious about the world you’re trying to create.”
Indeed. While this life has twisted and turned, I felt like I was being crushed under its weight; my primary motivator now is attempting to understand the Sect Leader. The deeper I delve into the surface-level truths of the White Lotus Sect, the more I feel my journey is being significantly shortened.
[I see.]
The Sect Leader seemed satisfied with my answer, almost as if I could feel him smiling behind his mask. He then spoke.
[The offering I promised to the God is none other than the Twelve Joules and Goryeo.]
“……!!”
[Once I defeat the Twelve Joules, I won’t have any reason to concern myself with that half of the Eastern Peninsula anymore. I plan to give them all as tributes to the Old Ruler.]
“W-Wait a minute.”
[I considered offering a whole province of the Central Plains, but that would be too big a loss. Instead, I’ll hand over the barbarians beyond the Central Plains.]
My mind froze at that unexpected response. To annihilate the Twelve Joules and Goryeo!
Considering that the souls that fell into the hands of the Old Ruler would be robbed of reincarnation and would remain as his playthings indefinitely, this was no trivial matter. It meant that tens of thousands, even hundreds of millions, of people would fall into an unbelievable tragedy, all for the simple reason that they were enemies! I never expected the Master of the White Lotus to be so nonchalant while stating such things, and it left me taken aback.
‘Is he truly this wicked?’
Until now, I had thought of him as somewhat dubious, living according to his beliefs and not crossing certain lines. Even though I held discontent for his domineering attitude, I couldn’t genuinely hate or despise the Master of the White Lotus. Yet his current demeanor, dismissing lives like garbage, made me think of Zhuge Sa or Zhuge Yulong.
As I was left in shock, Zhuge Sa spoke up.
[It’s understandable. If you defeat the Twelve Joules and gain the Seven Luminaries, you would not struggle against the Old Ruler. With that power, you could seek out the Seven Luminaries eventually. There’s no need to put on a false front when your goal is so close.]
[So the Master of the White Lotus is actually a malevolent soul?]
[Haha… what criteria do you even use to distinguish good from evil?]
Zhuge Sa chuckled.
[The Master of the White Lotus doesn’t consider himself evil at all. He actually likes humans and is genuinely worried for the future of humanity. He just doesn’t care about the sacrifices made along the way. In fact, if his plan succeeds, the vast majority of humans might be saved. But who are you to judge him as evil?]
[He’s crushing others indiscriminately for his own intentions.]
Zhuge Sa responded with a surprisingly shocked tone.
[Wow, really? I know of another guy like that.]
[What?]
[His name is Baek Woong. Using his reincarnation experience, he thoroughly crushed the Vermilion Bird, even torturing his son and killing him. His entire family was annihilated and he felt no guilt. He didn’t even make a grave for them, just chopped off his head for desecration.]
“……”
What the heck?! You were in on it too, you bastard!
[Hey, it’s not bad to judge good and evil. Just don’t set standards hastily based on the humanity that Hyun instilled in you. To discern good and evil in this world tainted by Evil Gods, you need a more flexible and relative standard than what exists in human society!]
In Zhuge Sa’s final statement, I felt the weight of a decree rather than madness. It seemed like a summary of his perspective as someone who had built up a lifetime of insights about humanity. Although I didn’t agree with Zhuge Sa’s opinion, it surely broadened my perspective.
As I remained silent, the Master of the White Lotus said,
[Deputy Leader Baek Woong, continue to participate in the Seven Great Techniques research club.]
“I intend to do so.”
[I plan to settle the score with the Twelve Joules in a year. You’re still lacking a lot, so keep training until then.]
One year!
I cocked my head at his words.
“Why not fight right now? The Twelve Joules aren’t properly managing the Seven Luminaries right now, so this would be the perfect time…”
[It’s my intuition. Something makes me think that the true terror of the Twelve Joules may not lie with the Seven Luminaries, but elsewhere. Thus, I intend to wait until I find a favorable chance to engage in battle.]
“…….?”
[If only the Self-Controlled Moon Blade’s threads were intact.]
Something scarier than the Seven Luminaries?
Yet, the Sect Leader’s earnest tone indicated he wasn’t making a silly claim. When an absolute being like the Master of the White Lotus sensed something, it was worth paying attention to.
Thus, I returned to ‘normal life’ once more. Daytime was filled with studying the Seven Great Techniques, and I dedicated my nights to honing the Soul Exchange Technique.
Then, three months slipped by.
While I was training, an elder from the Council of Elders, Iro, burst in and shouted.
“Sect Leader! We’ve got a big problem!”
[What’s going on?]
From Iro’s words, I sensed a serious matter was at hand.
“A great army has risen from Taepyeongdo in Hebei and taken over nine cities. The Emperor in Luoyang has sent a letter asking for your assistance!”
