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“It’s time for you to grant my favor.”

As soon as Jin So-cheong woke up, I spoke to him.

Jin So-cheong looked at me with disbelief. “You, a master, have a favor to ask of me? My master wouldn’t even stand a chance against you.”

“Oh, it’s a rather big favor. And I should apologize in advance.”

I shifted my tone slightly and continued, “I’m sorry for leaving you alone all this time.”

“……?”

“Now, take this.” Whump!

After a moment, I took out a massive block of obsidian from my armor. Seeing something that was several times larger than a regular person left Jin So-cheong bewildered, but when I motioned to touch it, he became cautious.

I told him, “A man’s word is as heavy as gold. I could have killed you when you fell, but are you really thinking of breaking your promise?”

“Hmm… I understand.”

With a sigh, Jin So-cheong reached for the obsidian.

Wooooo!

In that moment, I used the obsidian’s technique to transfer my memories to him. This transfer was vastly more extensive than what I had casually shared with other comrades before, especially focusing this time on all my martial knowledge and experiences.

“……!!”

Jin So-cheong trembled as if struck by lightning, eventually stopping. He pressed his temple, seeming to deal with a throbbing headache, before he remarked, “So that’s what it was…!! Baek Woong, you’re a reborn person. And we’ve met multiple times.”

“That’s right.”

He looked slightly disappointed as he said, “But you hardly ever treated me as a comrade.”

“That’s…”

I hesitated and spoke honestly. There was no point in hiding it since Jin So-cheong had already received the obsidian’s memories.

“I’ve been somewhat jealous of your talents and felt inferior.”

“……”

“However, I promise that in this next life, it won’t happen again.”

At that, Jin So-cheong laughed refreshingly.

“Heh. Given your skills, you could acquire all the wealth and power in this world, yet you still oppose divine beings out of pure righteousness? That’s a minor thing. I’ll forget it.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Baek Woong, I’ll go greet my master before leaving.”

“Ugh, that’s…”

I made a troubled expression at Jin So-cheong’s request. Sensing my discomfort, he added, “My master worries because of me. But if I clarify where I’m going, he won’t interfere.”

It seemed Jin So-cheong planned to go to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to bid farewell to Lee Kwang. Judging by the fact that Lee Kwang didn’t come out to see him off, Jin So-cheong must have been accepted as a fervent martial artist.

As we walked out together, Jin So-cheong spoke again, “Baek Woong, how do you want the Thunder God Lineage and the White Lotus Sect to settle this?”

“Hmm…”

I muttered under my breath. It was a complex matter I’d postponed because it wasn’t immediately important. But as Jin So-cheong had said, I’d need to resolve it one day.

The complexity arose because the Thunder God Lineage had to seek revenge against the White Lotus Sect. The shame of having Dharma Guardian Lee Cheong-un murdered, the sect chased away, and countless bloodbath wouldn’t sit well with the Thunder God Lineage. But the Master of the White Lotus had their version of justice, and the current White Lotus Sect was a power the Thunder God Lineage couldn’t approach. So this issue had yet to surface.

However, if I decided to nurture Jin So-cheong in the next life, things would change. Should he grow strong enough to rival the Master of the White Lotus, the Thunder God Lineage could very well reach them. Once they started clashing, I would suffer greatly.

But it was also problematic to tell Jin So-cheong, raised on the vengeance of his forebears, not to seek retribution. He’d realized that this was going to surface as a heated topic in the future, which is why he was warning me.

I spoke honestly, “I hope the Thunder God Lineage forgets their vengeance.”

“So that’s your thought.”

“What do you want, Jin So-cheong?”

He looked into the distance and replied, “In the world of martial artists, grievances take precedence over life itself. Especially since my master, who has nurtured me this far, wishes to repay the Thunder God’s resentment, as his disciple, I must take revenge on the Thunder God Lineage.”

Jin So-cheong continued, “… But this is a single life, so seeing things from a one-dimensional perspective.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You have uncovered the secrets of the Thunder God Lineage and the White Lotus Sect during your rebirth. Much more complicated affairs are involved than what my master told me, and I now realize that the Master of the White Lotus is a being with their own beliefs. So with your memories, I can no longer see the Thunder God Lineage’s grudges as a primary revenge connection.”

“Hmm…”

“Think of the future you saw regarding Baek Woong.”

Baek Woong?

I wracked my memory.

“Oh, there is such a memory.”

“At that time, even though I achieved martial prowess equal to that of the Master of the White Lotus, I still didn’t go to settle things with him. If Baek Woong was a treasure capable of reading advanced causal relations and predicting the future, why did he make that judgment?”

“I don’t know.”

“Based on the information you’ve gathered, it means I realized that the closer I approached the Absolute Realm, killing the Master of the White Lotus becomes meaningless. The Thunder God Lineage’s grudge too…”

“……!!”

I had never thought of such a thing. Indeed, it had felt strange that Jin So-cheong had not killed the Master of the White Lotus even after achieving the Absolute Realm, but I hadn’t thought in detail back then.

Jin So-cheong continued, “The realization of that futility is rooted in the fact that this world itself is twisted.”

“Twisted, you say…”

“To ascend to the Absolute Realm and become the supreme martial artist ultimately implies confronting the [darkness of the world] you’re digging into. If left alone, the Nine Lotus Sect will rise and everyone will face destruction, so it’s unavoidable. Jin So-cheong, having reached the Absolute Realm, learned of that distortion during the process of getting stronger, calculating that he might need the Master of the White Lotus in the future.”

“……”

“To counteract that distortion, I believe he instinctively felt that one’s own strength is insufficient.”

This perspective was unfamiliar. No, could it be that only Jin So-cheong could think this way? It’s a viewpoint that can only come from someone who knows themselves best. I focused on what he was saying and asked, “So what do you want to do?”

Jin So-cheong replied decisively, “The real way for me to repay the Thunder God Lineage’s grudge is to help you. The Master of the White Lotus attacking the Thunder God Lineage was ultimately a distorted result of his desire to save the world. To fix that distortion, all matters will be resolved by changing the very world itself. The fastest way to do that is to assist you, the reborn person, in eradicating evil beings.”

“… That’s admirable.”

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

At first glance, Jin So-cheong seemed to be saying proper things, but that was truly the mindset of a great person and a hero. An average person wouldn’t think this way. Martial artists are beings who wash blood with blood, making it hard to think beyond their own grievances.

Moreover, considering that Jin So-cheong had been a core Thunder God Lineage martial artist until he embraced the obsidian, his thoughts were remarkably flexible. Usually, it would take more than a decade for someone else to resolve such contradictions and reach a conclusion like Jin So-cheong’s.

He continued, “Let’s go see Miho. You also need to apologize to her.”

Realizing what he meant, I nodded.

“Got it.”

Boom!

I used the technique alongside Jin So-cheong to rush to the Heavenly Emperor’s Palace. As expected, the Spirit Puppets known as Front Demon and Back Demon saw us as intruders and attempted to block us. But thanks to the advice of Mangnyang, I yelled loudly enough that the Heavenly Emperor Palace echoed.

[I know how you, Miho, can return to the Queen Mother of the West!!]

Suddenly, the Front Demon and Back Demon froze, their attacks halted. From the shadows, Miho stepped out, her figure transforming into that of an enchanting beauty with bright white eyes.

“Who are you?”

I delivered the prepared answer. “I am Baek Woong, and this is Jin So-cheong. As you can see, I am the master of Huayo.”

Chiriring!

I raised Huayo, infusing it with power, causing a powerful flame aura to burst forth from the sword. As the energy exploded into order, it produced a sound like a stringed instrument, startling Miho, who felt the power of Huayo more directly as a demon.

Miho, who had been drifting into deep thought, finally spoke. “You really are something… Why have someone like you come to this little country?”

“As I mentioned, I know how you can return to your rightful place in the Celestial Realm. That’s why I’ve come for negotiations.”

“Hmmm… how do you know what’s going on with me?”

I channeled the energy of Jang Sam-bong into myself, not summoning spirits but demonstrating the divine aura of the Great Immortal. I told Miho, “As you can see, I’m connected with the Great Immortal and understand much about the Celestial Realm.”

“I see. So what is this method?”

“To share this method, there’s just one condition.”

“What is it?”

I threw a large block of obsidian toward Miho. As she caught it with her tail, I explained, “This is the obsidian that transmits my memories. You have to agree to receive the transfer now.”

Miho scoffed.

“Are you kidding? What tricks are you hiding?”

As she attempted to discard the obsidian, I insisted, “The one at a loss here isn’t me, it’s you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s been hundreds of years since you descended, yet you still haven’t found a way back to the Celestial Realm, just pacing about helplessly? You’re probably even planning on rummaging through Goryeo or seeking the legendary Moon Sovereign for answers.”

“……!!”

“But I absolutely know how to return.”

“Really?”

“First, agree to the memory transfer with that obsidian. Then I will tell you.”

“……”

“As you know, I am the master of the Seven Luminaries. I wouldn’t kid you.”

Miho seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then, carefully, she extended her pristine white tail to grasp the obsidian in her hand. The moment she did, I initiated the memory transfer, and she trembled as they entered her.

Shortly afterward, Miho looked at me with a bewildered expression. Then she exclaimed, “You… you… Baek Woong…!”

Seeing that Miho had received the memories, I immediately knelt and apologized, “I’m sorry, Miho!!”

“……”

“I didn’t want to see you dead, which is why I withheld the obsidian. But now, the situation is very urgent. Please help me, this foolish self.”

“W-What…?”

Miho looked utterly flabbergasted, unable to process the suddenness in combination with the urgency after everything she had just felt.

After a significant moment of silence, she finally spoke. “Why do you like me?”

What?

I stared at her, taken aback by the unexpected question. She gazed at me with a complex expression and continued.

“You’ve met countless absolute beauties among humans. Surely some could connect better with you than me. So why do you love this demon maid like this?”

It seemed a silly question.

I stepped closer to Miho without hesitation and replied, “Isn’t it enough that I like you? If I must say, you approached me without prejudice and were straightforward. And I like that about you. It has to be you.”

“……”

“Even as I go through my many reincarnations, I will still like you.”

Suddenly, Miho’s face turned a deep shade of red. She looked around nervously, as if suppressing something, before exclaiming.

“Hmph! Is that really true?”

“Of course.”

“… I see. My mind is still quite muddled, but…”

Miho’s gentle smile revealed her agreement. “I think it might be fun to be with you.”

Yes!

“Thank you!!”

I couldn’t hide my excitement as I welcomed Miho to my party. This meant I had successfully accepted all potential comrades for this life. I asked Miho, “By the way, do you know anything about the Tsuchimikado Clan?”

“Hmm… Are you thinking of involving the Tsuchimikado Clan to confront Chi You’s incarnation?”

“Yes. It’s Mangnyang’s scheme.”

I could head into the Aokigahara Life Sea to meet the Abeno Clan, which was a possible route, but that was an uncomfortably dangerous location. Besides, I had to gather any information Miho might possess.

“Unfortunately, this maid doesn’t know much about the legendary Yin-Yang Master Clan. Besides, as their natural foes, I’ve avoided any interactions with them. However…”

“However?”

Miho paused for thought before saying, “I have heard that the Emperor and the current Shogun ruling Dongyoung share some kind of connections with them.”

“Ah, that…”

The Emperor refers to Japan’s Tennō. Currently, he has been enchanted by Miho and is preserving his self-awareness through Hong Meng’s magic. I had promised to keep his secret, but now it had been completely revealed to Miho. As I grimaced, she laughed.

“Ahaha. Don’t worry, I won’t harm the Tennō. If he can protect himself from my enchantment, he’s worth talking to.”

“I see.”

We soon made our way to the Tennō. Lost in enchantment, he didn’t seem to have a normal self at all. Even after Miho dispelled the enchantment, the Tennō remained in a dazed and dreamy state, prompting a smirk from Miho.

“Get up. I already know you’ve cast Hong Meng’s spell.”

At this, the Tennō’s expression changed abruptly, and he turned to face us, resignation apparent on his face.

“It’s over… Do as you wish, kill me or let me live.”

“Heh. There’s no need for that. You’ll serve as a watcher for the Shogun in the days to come. I promise to keep you and your clan safe.”

“R-Really?”

“But first, you must tell me everything you know about the Tsuchimikado Clan.”

“Understood.”

We were able to gather information regarding the Yin-Yang Master Tsuchimikado Clan from the Tennō. True to his position as Emperor, he had great ties to the Yin-Yang Master Clan and held significant confidential information. During our conversation, Miho suddenly became alarmed.

“Wait, are you saying… Abe no Seimei is still alive?”

“Indeed.”

The Tennō, with his deep-set eyes, replied, “He has been the head overseeing all Yin-Yang Masters since the Heian period. He is said to manage the depths of the Aokigahara Life Sea, including the dreaded depths known as the Sea of Death. However, it’s been over several hundred years since even other Yin-Yang Masters have seen him due to fear of the regions he seals off.”

Miho responded incredulously, “But from what I’ve heard, he lived to be around 500 years old before dying. And he’s still alive? How could he have survived this long?”

“He is the greatest genius in the history of the Tsuchimikado Clan, a being that far exceeds the level of human Yin-Yang Masters.”

Listening to all this, Jin So-cheong turned to me and suggested, “Baek Woong, how about bringing Abe no Seimei onto our side? A sorcerer of that caliber could stand toe-to-toe with Cheon Woo-jin.”

“Hmm!”

Having someone of that level would certainly be a significant help in battling Chi You’s incarnation. I thought it was a good plan and replied, “Alright. Let’s head to Jangryeong Valley. We need to gather strength if we want to tackle this situation.”

Boom!

First, I returned to Jangryeong Valley with Miho and Jin So-cheong. I introduced them to Mangnyang, Cheon Woo-jin, and the Sword Demon, solidifying our preparations. Mangnyang wore a satisfied expression as he said, “Jin So-cheong, you will train here in Jangryeong Valley. With the Sacred Lotus and the Black and White Lotus Baek Woong has, overcoming internal power issues will be swift. Additionally, as your training deepens, I hope you’ll improve your skills quickly by sparring with the Sword Demon.”

A two-birds-one-stone training method indeed. The Sword Demon would significantly enhance Jin So-cheong’s abilities through discussion and sparring on the Seven Great Techniques.

“Understood.”

“Miho, let’s go learn some sorcery together with Cheon Woo-jin.”

“Understood.”

As Mangnyang turned back to me, he commented, “You should go negotiate with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Their power is essential to resolving this Demon King incident.”

“I’m not confident I can easily persuade the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

I genuinely felt uncertain. The Master of the White Lotus, being the absolute master of the martial world, wielded tremendous martial prowess and had a cunning nature that made it impossible for him to show his true intentions easily. Even if I explained the situation about Chi You’s incarnation and sought his assistance, he might just dismiss it as nonsense or try to manipulate me for his gain.

“Mangnyang remarked, “If you show your strength, he’ll listen.”

“Strength? As of now, I only have my intrinsic martial arts. The Fire Dragon Incarnate is injured…”

“If you’re borrowing someone else’s strength, there’s a more direct approach available.”

Suddenly, Mangnyang spoke in Dongyoung language. “Miyamoto Musashi, come forth.”

Swish!

Without warning, Miyamoto Musashi appeared from the empty space. He glanced at me before stating, “As the master of the Twelve Joules, Baek Woong. I’ve come to aid you for the next ten years, as ordered.”

I grasped the situation. Miyamoto Musashi was bound to serve me for ten years, just as I’d previously mentioned to Ha Eun-cheon in the Twelve Joules. He was here in Jangryeong Valley now, ready to help. Although Mangnyang hadn’t sensed Musashi’s aura, he probably deduced these circumstances.

“You’re willing to assist me?”

Miyamoto Musashi nodded. “Let’s go.”

Boom!

I used my technique together with Miyamoto Musashi to arrive at the Hall of the Sect Leader where the Master of the White Lotus was located. As I entered, the plan that Mangnyang had narrated echoed in my mind.

‘I must rescue Han Baek-ryeong at all costs.’

For that, I’d have to endure a display of strength, no matter how strong I might find it.

I thought I might meet my end here, but steeling my resolve, I stepped into the inner sanctum of the Hall of the Sect Leader alongside Musashi.

“……?”

Something felt off here. By now, I’d expect some elite member from the Elder Council or the Su Shin Sect to jump us. But the Hall of the Sect Leader, usually teeming with powerful figures like the Demon Subduing Hall, was utterly silent. They could be hiding their presence, but Miyamoto Musashi showed no sign of it either, which told me that it would be impossible for them to conceal their aura from an expert at the Absolute Realm.

Miyamoto Musashi suddenly said, “It’s ominous.”

Turning to him, I asked, “What do you mean?”

Musashi replied, “There’s someone with immense power ahead. Are you still going?”

His gaze was directed towards the innermost chamber of the Hall of the Sect Leader, where the Master of the White Lotus usually stayed. A sinking feeling told me that he must have achieved an incredible martial level through some kind of opportunity. So I pondered.

‘If the Master of the White Lotus has grown stronger, can I defeat him? Or can I at least engage in a conversation?’

I had no guarantees.

No matter how strong Miyamoto Musashi might be…

Feeling like I was making a great gamble, I clenched my teeth. “We have no time. Let’s go.”

“Understood.”

Eager to hear what they discussed, I advanced another twenty steps amid thoughts of power and authority.

The innermost room of the Hall of the Sect Leader came into view. The door stood ajar, and an ominous wave of death seemed to engulf it.

Oooooooooh!

Just as we crossed the threshold, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

The Master of the White Lotus.

‘He’s… dead!’

He lay there as a cold corpse, still wearing his mask of anonymity. There were no visible wounds, yet his limbs appeared shriveled and desiccated.

Occupying his former place was a strange “something.”

This “something” gazed at me with glimmering white eyes. Its form resembled a shriveled infant but had an oddly shaped body. Not a strand of hair was found, and it was completely smooth, with not even the trace of human reproduction.

But the moment our eyes met, an overwhelming pressure made it feel like I couldn’t breathe.

What is that?

What is going on?

It felt so bizarre.

It felt like standing at the far edge of this world.

Completely different from the bizarre sensations I felt around otherworldly races. My whole body was drenched in sweat, and I felt like I might vomit from the discomfort. Before I could wrap my mind around it, Miyamoto Musashi spoke again.

“We need to run.”

I glanced at him, and Musashi, for the first time, was gritting his teeth.

“That is not human.”

“I can tell, but how strong is it?”

“It’s not about strength… It’s simply too ominous.”

Suddenly, that bizarre entity stretched out its finger and elongated its mouth into a wide grin, saying, “Baek Woong. Baek-woong. Baek Woong… yes… a name like that…”

Why is it calling my name?

And then came the chilling words that froze me in place.

“Nice to meet you… I am the Master of the White Lotus Sect… Doggo… Seol… I… am… “

That voice sounded familiar.

It had that squeaky tone, but the unique intonation was still there.

And that name — it’s the same as the one I know.

So I couldn’t believe it.

“… Young Master?”

 

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