Chapter 65
“What do you mean? Gan Jiang and Mo Ya weren’t swords from the Warring States Period?”
It was impossible to confuse them; they were that famous in mythology.
Gan Jiang and Mo Ya!
Mangnyang grinned.
“That’s right. Do you know that story?”
“Of course.”
According to Wu Yue Chunqiu and the Mo Jue Book, Gan Jiang intended to gift a famous sword by the command of King Chu. After forging Gan Jiang and Mo Ya, the blacksmith realized he would be executed by King Chu for being late, so he only presented Mo Ya, and hid Gan Jiang in a pine tree on a rock overlooking Namsan, marking a riddle referring to a pillar on a foundation stone. Later, when Mo Ya gave birth to a child, he told them to solve the riddle, and that if they found the sword, it would signal his death. And so, his son Zhe Bi swore vengeance for his father.
King Chu dreamed of this scene and out of anxiety, created a wanted poster featuring Zhe Bi’s face, placing a bounty on his head. Zhe Bi was unexpectedly targeted, unable to enter the town, and in sorrow, sang a song. Passing heroes, touched by his plight, offered to take his vengeance in exchange for the sword and Zhe Bi’s head. Agreeing, Zhe Bi stood tall even as he struck his own neck. Upon the hero swearing to keep his promise, he collapsed and died.
The hero presented Zhe Bi’s head to King Chu, explaining that because it was steeped in vengeance, it needed to be boiled for three days. King Chu followed his orders, but after three days, the head still floated in the pot, as if it could leap out at any moment. The hero suggested that the king should take a look, and when King Chu leaned over the pot, the hero swiftly decapitated him.
As King Chu’s head fell into the pot, the hero was surrounded by soldiers and realizing he wouldn’t survive, chose to cut off his own head, which also fell into the pot. The ministers hurriedly pulled out the heads of Zhe Bi, King Chu, and the hero, but they quickly boiled to the point where no one could tell which was which.
The rulers honored the bravery and righteousness of Zhe Bi, who had killed himself for vengeance, alongside the hero who kept his promise, and collectively buried the three heads, naming it the Tomb of the Three Kings.
This was a legend I had heard even during my time as a guard. I only learned more details during my studies; every person in the Central Plains had likely heard of it at least once. Thus, the claim that this Mo Ya sword was made during the Yin Dynasty sounded utterly ridiculous.
Mangnyang spoke, “But it’s the truth. To be precise, both statements are correct.”
“What do you mean?”
“The oral traditions have simply been transmitted differently. Mo Ya was made during the era of the Yin Dynasty and rediscovered during the Warring States by the couple artisans Gan Jiang and Mo Ya. In other words, this was never originally made by human hands.”
……
I looked at Mangnyang in disbelief. While it made sense logically, it was just too absurd. So, I asked him, “Do you have any evidence for that?”
“I finished the interpretation of these oracle bone scripts in one month. To verify if this hypothesis was correct, I roamed various mountains and rivers, collecting and researching ancient books. As a result, I found proof.”
“What proof?”
Mangnyang went inside and came back with what looked like a pile of books—over ten of them, all reeking of mold. He spread them out on the table.
“These books contain the legend of Gan Jiang and Mo Ya. Each is a valuable true manuscript. If you look into these legends, although they vary slightly, they have a common thread.”
“Common thread?”
“[It was hidden in a pine tree on a rock overlooking Namsan.] That’s the content.”
As Mangnyang said this, he placed the divine sword down.
“The structure of these oracle bone scripts follows a slightly different rule than what’s documented in other antiquities. It’s likely that only the royal family of the Yin Dynasty had its own grammar. And according to that grammar, rearranging the common sentence left in the legends pointed to a single character: Xun (殉).”
“Xun?”
“Yes. For some unknown reason, the creators of the Gan Jiang and Mo Ya legend hid the fact that this divine sword was actually excavated from a sacrificial tomb. Furthermore, some ancient books suggest that a similar story existed during the Yin Dynasty.”
A sacrificial tomb.
Could it be that the site where the divine sword was excavated was a place of human sacrifice?
“What that means is… the Gan Jiang and Mo Ya legend didn’t occur during the Warring States, but actually in the Yin Dynasty. Over the years, it has been retold with embellishments and fictional characters. This is definitely the divine sword from the Yin Dynasty.”
……!!
I was stunned at Mangnyang’s declaration.
If that were true, the authenticity of all scriptures in the Central Plains would be called into question! Moreover, this remark could shake the academic world for all scholars studying antiquities. The theory was so radical that I was at a loss for words.
Mangnyang continued, “Of course, I have no plan to disclose this to the world. There’s no reason to, nor would it be accepted. The important thing is the danger that the character Xun (殉) implies.”
“What do you mean by ‘Xun is dangerous’?”
“Xun means that when a ruler dies, they are buried alongside him. But who would that be? It’s just a fancy word for human sacrifice, but it’s actually a massacre and an offering.”
Mangnyang paused for a moment to catch his breath. He then scooped some cold water from the well and continued.
“Many people don’t know this, but the Yin Dynasty was a time when human sacrifice was quite active. It was a longstanding custom of reverence for the gods, and in fact, this practice continued indiscriminately even up to the era of Confucius. In Confucius’s writings, you can find anecdotes about banning superstitious rituals. During that time, they were still beheading slaves to offer to gods.”
…….
Human sacrifice.
As soon as I heard that word, a wave of disgust rose within me. I had witnessed that madness repeatedly, and understood the horrors better than anyone. It was a gruesome banquet that treated humans as less than livestock.
“Their method of sacrificing people to the heavens likely involved capturing slaves or enemies from other tribes and executing them. You know, the methods for human sacrifice in the Yin Dynasty numbered as many as twelve.”
“Twelve…!!”
“Each of those twelve actions was passed down in the Thousand Character Classic. For instance, there was Peng (烹), Min (民), Hal (割), Jak (炸), Jeung (蒸), Hun (燻), Tang (湯), causing various brutal methods such as boiling, frying, dismembering, burning, tearing apart, and drying out people alive. They spared no one, not even their own citizens, during these human sacrifice rituals.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
If that was the case, people in the Yin Dynasty behaved even worse than beasts! Frustrated, I said, “I don’t want to hear more. So, what’s the danger of this character Xun?”
“The crucial thing is the connection between that content and the oracle bone scripts. [I perform the sacrificial rites to the heavens. Cutting off the turtle’s head and limbs is offered to the heavens. The god is pleased. Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, grant us blessings. Thus, I received the water of the Seven Luminaries.]”
Here, ‘turtle’ doesn’t literally mean a turtle, but instead refers to humans. In other words, there was a brutal sacrificial rite involving tearing apart humans and offering them to the heavens, resulting in pleasing the gods. The gods referred to here are likely the beings we call the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, signifying that this divine sword symbolizes the water of the Seven Luminaries given by the gods.
……
I took a moment to digest Mangnyang’s words. Then I said, “I find it hard to believe. Even if this is true regarding the water of the Seven Luminaries, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are great beings of history in the Central Plains, right? Does it make sense that they would be pleased by a human sacrifice rites and grant treasures?”
Mangnyang chuckled softly.
“The Three Sovereigns are Fuxi, Shennong, and Nüwa, and the Five Emperors are Huangdi, Zhuanxu, and Yao, Shun, and Yu. Do you know what these figures have in common?”
“What is it?”
“In human history, they are only recorded as deities without clear accounts of their reigns. They are mythological entities. The first rulers treated as human kings appear starting with King U and King Tang.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“… the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors may not have even started as humans from the beginning.”
……
I was left speechless.
Deities who delight in human sacrifices. Additionally, monsters that transcend human bounds.
It was eerily reminiscent of – a sorcerer using villages as offerings to conjure demons in a mad frenzy!
Mangnyang took out the Classic of Mountains and Seas and said, “The precious monsters described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas might have actually existed during the Yin Dynasty. Thousands of years ago, the terrain in the Central Plains was not organized as it is now, but rather thick forest, wilderness tribes, and monsters roamed freely in a wild continent. In a setting like that, how would humans survive?
They would have had to offer sacrifices to deities like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, gaining protective power. That was the true treasure of the Seven Luminaries and the driving force behind establishing a human nation in the ancient Yin Dynasty.”
“Hmm… you seem quite convinced that this is the water of the Seven Luminaries, the Mo Ya.” I had no choice but to acknowledge this. If a genius like Mangnyang had spent years gathering evidence and was so confidently summoning me, then there had to be grounds for it. I was now willing to accept this divine sword as the Mo Ya.
Mangnyang added, “For nearly three years, I researched this Mo Ya and gained plenty of assistance. I not only learned martial arts but also awakened many techniques by receiving its divine abilities. This Mo Ya stimulates a person’s Upper Dantian, making it invaluable for sorcerers.”
“So, if I own Mo Ya, even someone without sorcerous talent can learn sorcery?”
Mangnyang nodded at my question.
“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have reached an intermediate level.”
“Hmm…!!”
Mangnyang sighed.
“My research on this Mo Ya has concluded here for now. It’s my turn to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Who on earth are you? Where did you obtain this water of the Seven Luminaries, the Mo Ya, and what are you planning to do with it?”
Mangnyang appeared genuinely curious about this. After some contemplation, I decided to be honest.
“I am… a Reborn Person.”
I had no choice but to confess now. Currently, the village of Taekyung was avoiding catastrophe, yet I had also realized that the Golden Eagle Guard was concocting something. I lacked the wisdom to find this out myself, so it was better to be honest with Mangnyang. Besides, I always felt indebted to him for causing his death in the past.
And so, I opened up about all my experiences through my eight life cycles and my interactions with Mangnyang. His expression changed multiple times as he listened, a sight I had never seen before.
“… And that’s how it all turned out.”
“……”
“Do you believe me now?”
Mangnyang stumbled as he covered his eyes. Finally, he said, “Okay, wait a minute. I need some time to sort this out.”
He seemed to daze off for quite a while as he rested on the thatched house’s floor. Then, after a while, he stood up and approached me, saying, “I suppose I have no choice but to believe your words. The only way to know about Cheon Woo-jin’s priest and my mentor’s past likewise is through you. Haha… I really have gotten myself wrapped up in something monumental.”
“I’m sorry for causing you to die back then.”
Mangnyang shrugged.
“Well… even so, it feels surreal. I don’t remember the feelings I had as the Zhe Bi who followed you. After all, wasn’t it entirely my decision to follow you that led to all this? When I died, I probably just thought I stepped in something awful.”
“……”
“Hmm… The Heavenly Secret and the Nameless Ritual Book… the otherworldly sorcerer alongside the Golden Eagle Guard… hmm…”
Mangnyang, resting his chin on his hand, pondered for a long time. Then he said, “So currently, you’re earnestly accumulating strength in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to counter the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard, yet when you reached Taekyung, those people’s claws hadn’t extended there?”
“That’s correct. I’m still mulling over why that is.”
I asked cautiously, “Could it be because of the water of the Seven Luminaries, the Mo Ya?”
“……”
Mangnyang glanced at the Mo Ya with curiosity. Then he replied, “That’s unlikely. While it is true that when you unearthed the Mo Ya from its seal, it triggered that immense rainfall, its effect already had the water of fate accumulated over thousands of years, which would lead to natural disasters.” He paused, then added, “I looked at the stars the day before the torrential rain began, and noticed something strange in the movement of the stars.”
Continuing, Mangnyang added, “However, the otherworldly sorcerer must be a great sorcerer capable of casting human sacrifice rituals with thousands of subjects at will. He wouldn’t have halted his plans simply because one of the Seven Luminaries stirred. Moreover, if the Golden Eagle Guard didn’t follow the orders of the sorcerer, then there could only be one conclusion.”
“What conclusion?”
“The great sorcerer must have escaped through the rift of time and space. If my mentor said so, it must be true.”
Escaped through time and space!
This was so far-fetched that I was left dumbfounded, prompting Mangnyang to elaborate, crossing his arms.
“This sorcerer was likely trying to amass sacrificial offerings while fulfilling his ambitions in this world. Yet upon seeing your Heavenly Secret, he must have sensed something was off. The act of self-destruction was likely a special technique aiming to expel his soul from this world by forsaking his physical self.”
“Is… that even possible?”
“That’s the only conclusion I can reach. The sorcerer might no longer be anywhere in this palace or any location. Without the sorcerer, the palace couldn’t interpret the Nameless Ritual Book, and thus any plans for human sacrifice would have been forced to cancel out.”
……!!
I felt overwhelmed by both surprise and joy.
The sorcerer could no longer insert himself into my past life!
Furthermore, even if I had to relive my past life, I wouldn’t need to worry about the village’s catastrophe anymore!
It was a good choice to reveal the Heavenly Secret to that sorcerer after all.
As I started to smile broadly, Mangnyang suddenly pointed and said, “Don’t relax just yet. Because the Golden Eagle Guard will have started moving to gather the treasures of the Seven Luminaries.”
“Hmm…? I had that thought too, but I’m not sure.”
“It’s likely that the human sacrifice was just a tactic to hasten time; from the beginning, the Golden Eagle Guard probably intended to gather the treasures of the Seven Luminaries. The means may differ, but their ultimate goal remains the same. From this perspective, you still have a lot of work to do.”
“Hmmm.”
Curiosity gripped me.
What could the ultimate goal of the Golden Eagle Guard be?
The Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard mentioned a second ritual following the human sacrifice to increase their demon count and hinted that completing it would resolve issues with sects like the White Lotus Sect. Perhaps they intend to leverage the treasures of the Seven Luminaries instead of human sacrifice to achieve that goal?
“Ah, right. Please take a look at this.”
Suddenly, I remembered and pulled out the Silver Phoenix Fragment obtained from the Hua Clan in Taekyung. Mangnyang accepted it and began inspecting it closely.
“Isn’t this a relic from Balhae? Where did you get something so precious?”
“What’s Balhae?”
“It was a nation of the Dongyi people that thrived in the east. Moreover, this appears to be a relic related to the royal family of Balhae… only royalty could use the Phoenix Fragment. And looking closer, it resembles the Three-legged Crow.”
Mangnyang scrutinized the Silver Phoenix Fragment.
“There’s a little line sealed in a crevice. It seems a certain set of incantations will release it in a specified order. Quite an intriguing artifact.”
“Can you interpret it?”
Mangnyang chuckled, seemingly amused. “Hahaha… I know you’re a Reborn Person, but can you really trust me so easily? Honestly, when I discovered that this was the Mo Ya among the Seven Luminaries, I was starting to think you were a lunatic. Here you are, placing a sword that could turn the world upside down in my hands… Did you think I’d betray you?”
“I thought you might.”
I replied nonchalantly.
“But if you did betray me, I’d consider it a good thing. I’d be alleviated from the debt of guilt I feel for having caused your death.”
Mangnyang appeared momentarily taken aback. Then he weakly said, “That’s quite the way of thinking… You’ve certainly stepped away from being an ordinary human.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Mangnyang laughed softly and responded, “Alright then. I’ll do my utmost to assist you.”
“Thank you.”
“Once I’ve completed the interpretation of this Silver Phoenix Fragment, I’ll send another drone to you. By the way, you should take the Mo Ya with you.”
I tilted my head, “Isn’t it required to expand your techniques?”
“The interpretation of the oracle bone scripts has ended. I believe I have already reaped all the learning benefits possible from the Mo Ya. Given that my techniques haven’t improved since half a year ago, I suppose that’s my limit. So now, take it with you.”
“Understood.”
According to Mangnyang, if I possessed the Mo Ya and practiced Qimen Dunjia, I could likely learn intermediate sorcery techniques. The problem would be whether that expertise would be passed down after death, but I’d deal with that later.
Bang!
Clutching the Mo Ya, I made my way down Jinrang Valley. The last words Mangnyang left me echoed in my ears.
[If possible, search for the treasure of Hwayo, Gan Jiang, first. The probability that Gan Jiang and Mo Ya were forged as a pair is quite high; possessing both divine swords would grant you immense power.]
I also recalled the words of Master Hyuncheon. ‘The treasure of Hwayo contains the power of Yan Emperor Shennong and is said to lie at the southernmost tip of the world.’
The southernmost tip of the world.
I had never even considered what that might entail before.
I knew from my previous knowledge that if I continued south across the Central Plains, I would end up among the Southern Barbarians, yet I wondered what lay beyond to the world’s edge. A thrill of excitement bubbled within me at the thought of one day venturing to the southernmost tip of the world.
Upon exiting Jinrang Valley, I set course for the Black Night Gate. All my worries had been resolved, I left the task to Mangnyang, and now I could return leisurely to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, fulfilling the task assigned by my master. It was the most uplifting moment I had felt in a while.
Bang!
But just as I had half a day’s journey remaining to the village of Jangbyeok, where I could request assistance from the Black Night Gate, I suddenly sensed a mighty energy gathering around me.
‘What is that?’
This was no ordinary force. It felt like the incredible strength of an expert I could not brush off. Realizing that moving carelessly could result in a catastrophic attack, I drew my sword and composed myself to bolster my power.
Vrum —
As I drew upon my internal power, the very mountains trembled. Perhaps sensing my rising strength, the hidden experts started stepping forward one by one.
There were a total of six of them.
As I observed them warily, the man in red at the front spoke.
“You must be Baek Woong. To think you would so easily slay the Blue Demon Four Evils alone. It’s hard to believe you’re a martial artist at that age…”
His words carried with them no small amount of admiration.
“Who are you?”
“We are the Six Great Protectors of the Blood Demon Clan, part of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path that includes the Blue Demon Four Evils you defeated.”
“……!!”
I realized I had stepped into the wrong territory with a feeling of dread. Instinctively, I sensed that each of the Six Great Protectors was on par with peak experts, overwhelming me with terror. No matter how strong the Eight Demons of the Demon Path were, I thought they were weaker than orthodox sects; how could there be six peak experts here?
“Have you come for revenge for the Blue Demon Four Evils?”
“It’s not quite as grand as revenge. We’ve merely come to discuss; now that we know you’re a disciple of the Azure Dragon, the higher-ups of the Demon Path have conferred and reached one conclusion.”
The gaze of the man in red sparkled fiercely.
“Let’s eliminate the little tiger while it’s still young.”
Swish—
“……!!”
And I noticed more experts approaching from afar. To my shock, their auras matched that of either peak or first-class experts. Realizing that over fifty of them were flocking in, I knew I had no hope of escape.
“W-What is… how many are there?”
“Many years ago, the Azure Dragon caused many blood debts among the Southern Barbarians. The might of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path was ten times stronger back then, and top peak experts were once annihilated by the Azure Dragon, with the likes of the Black Moon Demon Lord, the Spirit Sword Immortal, and the White Sword Assassin beheaded. If that hadn’t occurred, we would have already challenged the orthodox sects to try and claim the power of the Nine Great Sects.”
The man clad in red ground his teeth, releasing an intense energy.
“The power of the Azure Dragon was simply too overwhelming for us to even think of retaliating against the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, but now that you’ve slipped away, we must take action. Behead you to avenge that debt and deliver an insurmountable insult to that Azure Dragon! Hahaha!”
Woosh!
A powerful force erupted from the palms of the man in red and flew at me. It was as if the Six Great Protectors launched their attacks in synchrony, leaving me no choice but to wield my Thunder Cloud Palm defensively.
Clash!
“Aaaagh…!!”
“W-What power is this…”
Simultaneously, the Blood Demon Clan’s Six Great Protectors screamed and were sent flying. I had easily repelled them but internally sighed.
‘Thank goodness they’re all fools!’
Had they employed the intricacies of martial arts to exploit vulnerabilities, I could not have won so easily; however, they overestimated their abilities, attempting a simple power contest. But my trials were far from over.
Shick! Shick!
From all directions, concealed weapons rained upon me. I swung my sword frantically and, using Thunder Shadow Step, barely managed to evade, though there was one particular situation where I could hardly escape. The assailants that flooded up from the ground shouted as one.
“We, the天地门 of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path, will retrieve past blood debts with sixteen men!”
Clang! Clang!
Their precision indicated they were thoroughly trained assassins. As I wielded my Thunder Blade to fend off their assaults, men with dark blades emerged to attack me from all sides.
“We, the修羅門 of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path, will retrieve past blood debts with seven men!”
Clang! Clang!
Even while unleashing my Thunder Blade, I was being pushed back. While my internal energy was overwhelming, faced with numerous concealed weapons showering down, many from first to peak experts, I could barely hold my ground.
While desperately searching for a means to escape, I heard a chilling voice.
“We, the狂魔聯 of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path, will retrieve blood debts with fifteen men!”
Whoosh!
Finally, I had to abandon defending with my sword and instead gathered all my power into my Thunder Cloud Palm to unleash upon them. It was a foolish approach, but one that boasted the most destructive area power. Dozens of the demon path thugs were knocked back, yet they swarmed toward me like ants.
‘Ah no… just give me a chance to escape…’
As I retreated a few steps, I suddenly recognized a familiar voice.
“Oh dear… you really have amassed a lot of debts. How pitiful.”
“You… who are you?”
With an easy grin, a man from the Black Night Gate strode toward me, drawing his sword with a flash of sword energy. It was a face I couldn’t forget, even in my dreams.
His lips parted to speak.
“We, the assassination squad leader of the Black Night Gate, will take action with twenty assassins to settle your blood debts.”
“You bastard!!!”
Indeed, I could have survived.
No matter how overwhelming the first-class and peak experts from the Demon Path might be, I could have gained the upper hand through my formidable power. Even if they surrounded me, I would have eventually cleared a path to escape. Dealing with the ensuing chase was a separate problem altogether, but I would have survived.
However – I found myself lunging desperately at the assassin squad leader.
“Ugh.”
His sword broke, and he stumbled back, but in that instant, the waiting assassins charged forth simultaneously to stab me.
Clang!
I parried their attacks with my Thunder Blade, but despair washed over me the next moment. I had discarded a momentary chance at survival, and currents of dark-clothed assassins came rushing in from every direction.
“Oh crap…”
My vision of the assassin squad leader faded.
With multiple blades already stuck in my body, I felt dozens of concealed weapons lodged as well.
“At first, I thought it was an excessive mobilization, now it makes sense. The elite of the Demon Path have been attacking for a half-moment. So for you to die now… is rather ironic.”
“Ugh… half my men have gone down.”
The leader of the madness clan gritted his teeth.
“But to let you die so easily!”
“Stop it. That kid is a little tiger. What sins could he have committed?”
The assassin squad leader down before me crouched and replied, sword energy gathering in his hand.
“Go in peace. I’ll send your head to your master far too late.”
Swish!
That was my eighth death.
