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“It’s dark as a dungeon out here!”

After returning to the land with Cheon Woo-jin, I pulled Jin So-cheong out from the wooden armor. She hadn’t been out for long, so she was still in a coma.

“The Demon King said she’d wake up in a hundred days, but…”

Jin So-cheong was also vital for our forces. With the day of Cheon Gong-pyo’s arrival less than a week away, we could hardly afford to sit around. Plus, we were rushing to solve the return of Amatsukami and the rescues of Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa. So, I asked the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, “Is there any way to wake her up quickly?”

[There is a method, but if we force her body while it’s trying to revert naturally, it could cause side effects to her body or mind.]

Cheon Woo-jin chimed in, “I feel the same. It’d be better to heal her using medical techniques.”

“Medical techniques?”

“Sorcery is originally Fuxi’s power and stems from chaos. But the foundation of Jin So-cheong is Tai He, which is opposite of chaos, and Qi comes from Tai He. So, if we try to heal her with recovery techniques now, it might clash with her internal restoration and cause side effects. However, medical techniques are the best way to sync with the human body and Qi.”

“Hmm… you’ve got a point.”

“Healing her through medical techniques would be the most stable option.”

I nodded at Cheon Woo-jin’s words. I hadn’t thought much about it before, but now that the relationship between chaos and Tai He is clarified, medical techniques would hold an important position. It’s a skill capable of restoring a practitioner of Wu without relying on the power of chaos.

“Then let’s find the Five Great Physicians.”

“Who are we looking for?”

“Hmm…”

The easiest request would be Gang Jeon-gil, the top figure of the Twin Gate Sect who was once a food guest at Shadowless Gate. But he had vanished along with the other Shadowless Gate members. While I was contemplating, Seo Mun-hye piped up next to me.

“The most skilled one would be Dongbang Mu-gyeol from the Heavenly Doctor.”

“I know that, but he was following the Master of the Sect and now the White Lotus Sect is falling apart, so I have no idea where he is.”

After a moment’s thought, I said, “We should visit the Medicine King Hwangbo Yun.”

To be honest, I’d much rather find my former master, Hwa Seong-myeong, but he’s currently relying on Jeong Cheol-wook, the power wielder of Goryeo, which is within the sphere of the Twelve Joules. The Twelve Joules hasn’t completely lost its power yet, so if I recklessly seek out Hwa Seong-myeong, my movements could get caught by them.

Also, I can’t go to Sangwan Hyuk. His skills are proficient across all medical techniques, but he’s a Demon Sorcerer and the Clan Leader of Sangwan. Thus, he is closely tied to Sang Gwanwna of the Eight Parts of the Divine. The only one left is Medicine King Hwangbo Yun, as he is connected to the Fire Spirit Techniques and is allied with us.

Whoosh!

We headed to Luoyang, home of the Han Clan. When I sensed the atmosphere of Luoyang, it was indeed vastly different from five years ago. Seo Mun-hye remarked in astonishment, “What is that?”

The official road was impeccably clean, and the architectural style of the buildings had changed intriguingly. Additionally, people were riding something clattering made of steel. It was clumsy compared to a cart, but it was clear it moved without relying on horses or living creatures, purely on mechanical power.

High buildings shot up here and there. These were no pavilions; they towered like castle gates, or even more so. Pipes protruded from everywhere, and steam was billowing in a troubling way.

But that wasn’t what mattered. Our focus was on the sky over Luoyang, where an enormous device was spewing smoke. It was round, and I could see someone controlling it. The outer part of the flying vessel was emblazoned with the words ‘Long Live the Great Ming’.

I murmured unconsciously, “A flying vessel?”

“Lord Baek Woong, do you know what that is?”

“……”

I did know. That was a part of the magical knowledge I learned from Zhuge Sa and was one of the magical technologies already developed in the West. The principle of the device was to contain a gas lighter than air in a bag to achieve buoyancy, so it wasn’t a major leap in civilization. The problem was it appeared to be a full-blown flying vessel with a propulsion system and control apparatus, complete with proper navigation and a cockpit.

‘… This can’t be real.’

In the western states, such flying vessels had already been commercialized, and it was understandable that they would appear in the British Empire, given their rapid technological development. But this could not surface in the Ming Empire yet!

How could such a leap in technology happen in just five years?

They could barely handle the matchlock guns! As I was perplexed, Cheon Woo-jin crossed his arms and said, “I have a rough idea of what’s happening.”

“Cheon Woo-jin, do you understand what’s going on?”

“It might be risky to contact the Medicine King Hwangbo Yun immediately. Let’s retreat for now, and I’ll use illusion techniques to scout Luoyang.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

I readily accepted Cheon Woo-jin’s suggestion since Luoyang now felt uncomfortably akin to a hornet’s nest.

We steered away from Luoyang and headed for Master Mangnyang’s village. I expected Master Mangnyang to speak up once we entered the village, but surprisingly, he didn’t wake me up. Confused, I raised an eyebrow, and Cheon Woo-jin explained, “It seems Master wishes for you to learn more about the current Central Plains.” He instructed, “Wait until my food guest returns with information from Luoyang.”

“Got it.”

We rested comfortably for a while in the thatched cottage where Cheon Woo-jin had lived. Enjoying the tea and meal he brought, we relaxed, while Seo Mun-hye went to wash in a nearby valley. After some time in the room, Cheon Woo-jin opened the door and entered.

“The decisive battle at the Divine City seems to have changed the world far more dramatically than we expected.”

“Cheon Woo-jin, did you find something out?”

“Heh…”

Cheon Woo-jin smirked before saying, “It seems the forces controlling the Imperial Palace have vanished. In their place, mysterious existences appear to have taken their place.”

“Mysterious existences?”

“Even with food guests, I can’t pierce through the inner palace. Normally, I can deceive even the eyes of apostles, but with this level of defensive barrier…”

He trailed off before adding, “Anyway, the emperor has been absent from the public for quite a while, and the activities of the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong have also disappeared. The imperial palace itself hasn’t engaged in outside activities at all.”

“Hmm…”

“And it seems Luoyang’s science and technology have advanced significantly, now comparable to what you observed in the Western states. There are steam-powered contraptions, various internal combustion engines, and factories for mass production established across the region.”

“How is that possible?”

“Just wait and listen further. Also, the Twin Gate Sect, which dominated Luoyang martial arts, seems to still be thriving, and the Han Clan appears to be led by Han Jin-seong now.”

I listened quietly to Cheon Woo-jin’s words before asking, “What about Han Baek-ryeong?”

She’s the most important; she’s essentially in charge of the Han Clan and possesses tremendous power as the Dharma Guardian of the Fire Spirit Techniques along with the Heavenly Spirit Pill. Cheon Woo-jin answered knowingly, “I didn’t see Han Baek-ryeong anywhere in the Han Clan.”

“……”

“Something must have happened.”

“What should we do?”

I felt troubled by the unexpected turn of events. I had planned to briefly gear up in Luoyang and head to the West to find the Golden Crow, but now there was a major crisis brewing in Luoyang. Cheon Woo-jin suggested, “I think it’s best to consult your older brother once more.”

“Didn’t you mention having some inklings?”

“Your older brother is more of a strategist than a sorcerer and has a different perspective. Only he can judge the situation regarding great powers.”

“Alright. I’ll report this to Mangnyang anyway.”

As I led my companions away from Master Mangnyang’s village, I glanced back. “Master Mangnyang hasn’t said anything.”

Why is that?

It was strange. Every time I came by, he always initiated conversation! But without his wish to speak, I had no way to draw him out, so I could only withdraw.

I summoned Mangnyang using Seo Mun-hye’s black mirror next to a nearby lake. Mangnyang appeared and, upon seeing Cheon Woo-jin, said, [Priest. You are safe.]

“It seems you’re okay too.”

[It’s the last barrier of the Wheel King. Even with all the guards from the Underworld rushing in, it won’t easily break for a decade, at least until higher beings get involved…]

“I’ll fill you in on what happened.”

Cheon Woo-jin recounted the information he gathered from the moon and I shared the things I’d seen and heard in Luoyang. After listening, Mangnyang pondered and said, [It’s a painful situation in the short term, but it might ultimately be beneficial for us. Not bad.]

“Mangnyang, what do you mean?”

[Baek Woong, the return of Amatsukami might not only be a bad thing. They could be useful allies.]

“……!!”

[And Baek Woong, the scenery you witnessed in Luoyang is partially our doing as well.]

“Us? What do you mean by that?”

[Consider what you’ve done during this lifetime. You traveled to the Western Regions to acquire the latest printing press to gain the help of the Celestial Sage.]

“Ah!”

As I gasped, Mangnyang continued, [At that time, your uncle developed a social framework to enhance printing technology, spreading both magical knowledge and engineering skills throughout the Central Plains. Ignoring anything unacceptable, he poured as much technology as possible, so at the very least science and technology have advanced by a century.]

“But still, the steam engine and flying vessels couldn’t have materialized in just five years.”

[True. That’s likely a result of the imperial palace’s initiatives. They probably leveraged our laid groundwork to elevate civilization as much as possible. I’ve observed with the Mirror of Clarity that the imperial palace has been methodically revealing magical technology to the public while sometimes manifesting engineering concepts that transcend the times.]

“Hmm… but…”

I shook my head and said, “Mangnyang, I’m confused. How does artificially advancing civilization not violate the Law of Cause and Effect?”

[That’s an extremely generous application. That’s why your uncle dared to go for it without hesitation.]

“Generous, you say…”

Mangnyang nodded, [Just look at the West. The Old Ruler and the High-level Otherworldly Race blatantly spread advanced technologies, yet no one’s restrictions reached them. Why? They completely eliminated the middle management class, allowing them to make all decisions at will. A drop in the lake can create a wave of effects without anyone realizing they are being manipulated.]

“Then why hasn’t the East followed suit?”

[Because the Heavenly Realm dislikes it. The more rapidly human civilization advances, the easier it is to recognize the existence of the Old Ruler, making management more difficult.]

“So…?”

I suddenly realized something and gasped, “Are you saying the Heavenly Realm is allowing the imperial palace to artificially elevate civilization while standing idle?”

[That’s likely the case.]

“That doesn’t make sense. If the Nine Lotus Sect activates, the Heavenly Sovereign could actively defend!”

[Baek Woong, don’t you find it strange? The current priest of the imperial palace, Zhuge Yulong, is still sealed beneath the ruins of the Sacred Altar Tree and hasn’t been freed. Who would be swiftly elevating civilization in his stead?]

“……”

[Based on the pace of advancement, it’s likely you’ll be using electricity in your everyday life in about twenty years. Engineers with methodologies to harness electromagnetic forces are already emerging in Luoyang. The theories on fluids and particles are already being discussed in academia, and brilliant minds are adapting to this new knowledge. Following this, the Central Plains will undoubtedly witness a development rate rivaling that of the Western continents.]

That确实 seemed off. If Zhuge Yulong were leading the charge, I could see how Luoyang could undergo such a transformation in five years. It would imply that the Vermilion Bird had simply redirected its strategies. But Zhuge Yulong was currently sealed by Zhuge Sa’s sorcery, with half of the sealing period still to go.

Who in the world is transforming the Central Plains?

While I was drowning in confusion, Cheon Woo-jin, standing next to me, said, “Older Brother, I believe this series of events is something only a god could orchestrate.”

[That’s exactly right. We must make good use of this truth going forward.]

“W-what do you mean?”

God? Mangnyang looked toward me and said, [Baek Woong, it seems your master hasn’t told you; the current master of the imperial palace isn’t the original Old Ruler. That being has already stepped down, and another has taken their place.]

“Really?! So the Demon Subduing Hall has also backed down?”

[Not quite. It’s just that the co-governor’s position has changed. You already knew that the Yacha of the Eight Parts of the Divine were closely linked with the Demon Subduing Hall since the Offering Ceremony a thousand years ago. They could easily cede their position as they were allies.]

“… No way…”

A foreboding sensation crept over me. As I looked at Mangnyang with disbelief, he nodded.

[The current ruler of the Central Plains is History Emperor Changhil. And the Eight Parts of the Divine under him have brought about this transformation in the Central Plains.]

The fact that History Emperor Changhil was ruling the imperial palace implied that the victor of the Divine City battle five years ago wasn’t Zhu Rong but the Eight Parts of the Divine.

 

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