778 ——————————–

Dark Heaven Village

Human sacrifice, huh?

Isn’t this just human sacrifice no matter how you spin it?

” No way.”

I glared at Zhuge Bu, but he just shrugged it off.

” I figured you’d say that, Baek Woong.”

” ……”

” What would Zhuge Sa do in this situation? He’s a demon sorcerer who looks for maximum efficiency, so he’d probably preach the uselessness of life and pressure you into the sacrifice.”

Zhuge Bu leaned against the wall, looking indifferent.

” Stop being such an idiot and listen up. I’m not here to charm you into anything nor do I have a reason to.”

” What?”

” To put it simply, I’ve already proven myself to you. My abilities are more than enough for you to likely want to recruit me in the future. So, I don’t see any reason to force you into any choices. Once we step outside of that realm, it means deviating from the path of a strategist.”

” ……”

” I always choose reality. Right now, your choice as my lord is my reality. Don’t think everyone operates solely on loyalty and ideals.”

Zhuge Bu’s words were chillingly calm and collected, striking a jarring awareness in my mind.

This was a different situation than when Zhuge Sa would scold me for my foolishness and indecisiveness.

Back then, I was too spineless and foolish to make any value judgment; now, I was being forced to assess my capabilities. Both Zhuge Bu and Mangnyang believed I had the ability to handle matters of this nature, so there was no point in pressing me further.

Chains of autonomy.

I couldn’t shift the consequences of my choices onto the strategist; I had to make all decisions myself.

I trembled. I understood what it meant to be held accountable for every outcome in this situation.

‘ This is tough.’

If this gamble pays off and I gain the Blessing of the Sky to take down the dragon, I’d get to meet the emperor right away, cutting my rebirth journey significantly. But at the same time, it would mean betraying the ideals that I hold dear.

But if I refuse the human sacrifice to uphold my ideals and choose death instead?

In this 24th life, there have been many who led me forward, even at the cost of their lives. My past companions fought with their lives against the trifold powers and Chi You, including the Sword Demon who sacrificed his life multiple times. Mangnyang faced death countless times to reach the heart of the Underworld and bestowed upon me the memories of clarity. Celestial Sage also fought the mighty Qin Shi Huang, showcasing fierce loyalty to me.

I absolutely cannot crush their intentions with a single word like “ideals.” Having felt vividly through memory transfer what kind of heart and beliefs they bore in battle, I cannot easily deny it. If I fail to overcome this hurdle, I will have to tread a grueling path once again to gather the Six Needs, which would also drag my companions into suffering.

When I stayed silent, Zhuge Bu spoke again.

” Don’t drag this out any longer; just call Zhuge Sa. You’re going to regret whatever choice you make if you don’t hear him out.”

” I got it.”

Zhuge Bu was right. I nodded and summoned Zhuge Sa and Seo Mun-hye to this place, allowing them to withstand the pressure of royal power.

Pa-at

” Where is this…?”

Seo Mun-hye looked slightly bewildered, but Zhuge Sa noticed the surroundings and seemed to figure something out.

” This seems like a significant turning point.”

” I’ll give you the memory.”

I wasted no time handing over the obsidian to Zhuge Sa, revealing everything that had transpired after his death. Zhuge Sa threw a glance at Mangnyang, who was still kneeling and praying, then turned to Zhuge Bu.

” What makes Zhuge Clan the best genius? Sure, maybe for your brother, but for you to say that is a hundred years too soon. In the end, you’re still leaving everything to an unknown ‘blessing.'”

” Hmph, if you’re going to say that, why don’t you come up with a different plan, Zhuge Sa? I’ve done all I can do.”

Zhuge Bu had a tone that didn’t treat Zhuge Sa as an uncle. Perhaps because of his grievances with the Soul Exchange Technique and how it shortened his lifespan, there was a hint of disdain in his demeanor. Those two could never be on good terms.

” Heh heh… I can’t deny the efficiency. Well, given how the situation has unfolded…”

Zhuge Sa chuckled bitterly and then turned to me.

” Baek Woong. No matter which option you choose, it can’t be the right choice. You know that, right?”

” I do.”

” But do you understand why we can’t summon evil gods or offer the Seven Luminaries to another deity in this situation? Do you know why Zhuge Bu is trying to receive the blessing of Master Mangnyang instead of relying on the others? Even though he’s expended a significant amount of power from the Philosopher’s Stone, he could at least restore the evil god’s command a time or two; why isn’t he doing that?”

” I’m not sure about that.”

Zhuge Sa nodded as if he expected that and continued.

” It’s not about the strength of power. It’s a matter of good and evil and the repercussions that follow.”

” Explain.”

” You know that the Three Sovereigns are watching this place. They have no choice but to watch intently since their fates are intertwined. Now, what do you think will happen if we offer the Seven Luminaries to one of them?”

” They would descend in full form. They can’t afford to lose this battle, and it’s a fight they must win.”

” Exactly. So you’re starting to get it.”

Zhuge Sa continued.

” The Three Sovereigns will fight with everything they have, but even they cannot emerge unscathed against the Constellation Dragon. Even if they manage to win, they’ll be severely wounded. And with Jeon Wook and Jeogok currently incapacitated and recuperating, any injuries sustained by the Three Sovereigns could have catastrophic effects on the world. They may be a great evil, but at the same time, they are pillars that protect this world.”

” ……”

” So winning would be meaningless.”

That was a point I hadn’t considered. But it quickly became clear to me that Zhuge Sa was right. Just seeing how the world’s balance had been thrown off because Jeon Wook and Jeogok had fallen showed me the consequences clearly. If another of the Three Sovereigns were to fall, a wave of despair would wash over the world, because it would create an environment where the law of cause and effect could run rampant and chaos would thrive.

” Then why can’t we summon the evil god?”

” I think the Guardian of the Sun can answer that.”

In response to my question, Zhuge Sa directed his gaze toward the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. She let out a deep sigh and spoke.

[ … Absolutely not. There’s no way we can allow any connection or offering to that one.]

” Why not?”

[ The evil god is said to be the one who unseals the presence trapped in the bottom of the river on the day of apocalypse and prophecy. They are believed to possess a power close to foreign gods which the entire Three Sovereigns are wary of. Furthermore, as a being that manipulates the cause-and-effect of the Seven Luminaries’ alignment on the day of doom, they are extremely dangerous.]

” ……”

[ If they were to interfere, the trials of the Seven Luminaries themselves would become meaningless.]

That makes sense. If we offered the Seven Luminaries to the evil god, he would surely use that power to raise the sealed being and awaken all the [Old Rulers]. To him, a human king would mean nothing, serving only to hasten the apocalypse.

Zhuge Sa said,

” So after excluding all those options, the only remaining possibility is the Blessing of Master Mangnyang.”

” … There’s one more option.”

” You mean the worst evil sealed in Luoyang? That’s also a choice worth considering, but from the beginning, that being controls lies and deceptions throughout the universe. They might seem amicable when involved, but they are absolutely not trustworthy. You can imagine what kind of hell those offered to him would go through.”

” ……”

” But you know Mangnyang isn’t like that. Even if it costs a sacrifice, he would completely dissolve and end it, suffering no additional pain. That’s why the companions here have no aversion to becoming voluntary offerings.”

I could understand Zhuge Sa’s point.

If we win this fight, I can meet the emperor and gain significant advancement. Everyone knows how critical this battle is, which is why they trusted in the ability of the reborn person and agreed to sacrifice themselves. Also, the likelihood that Master Mangnyang isn’t a being that unnecessarily inflicts pain is quite high, so their aversion would naturally be lower.

But is this really right?

No matter how voluntary this human sacrifice seems, and no matter how much we need to win, the fact remains that something must be sacrificed to gain anything. Ultimately, I would be no different from the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Fighting against a desperate world while deeming sacrifices necessary doesn’t justify the means by which I achieve it.

… And that realization came from you, Mangnyang, something you taught me in the past.

I stared silently at Mangnyang. He was the one I thought would most vehemently oppose this, yet here he was, focusing his mind and praying voluntarily to receive the blessing. I approached Mangnyang and said,

” Mangnyang. Do you also believe what we are doing is right?”

The answer came immediately.

” No. This is not right.”

” Then why are you taking the initiative without any objections?”

” ……”

I couldn’t see Mangnyang’s face. He remained prayerfully silent, still not looking at me.

” I’ve always thought about this.”

” What?”

” If it were me standing in that position instead of you…”

” ……”

” If I were the reborn person standing there, I wouldn’t need to listen to the other strategists. I would have said ‘no’ without hesitation, no matter how grueling the process of gathering the Six Needs would be; I’d be willing to bear anything to uphold my own justice.”

Mangnyang suddenly looked up at the sky.

” But I am me, and you are you. I am the strategist, and you are the lord. I am mortal, and you are reborn. Given this difference in our roles, I can only do what I can do without imposing my views on you. However, I must not become an obstacle to your future, so I will focus on doing my best as myself.”

” Mangnyang. That’s an excuse. If something is wrong, isn’t it Mangnyang’s duty to correct it?”

” … That too is a difference in our roles. There’s no guarantee that merely pushing forward my definition of right will yield a correct answer. When others intervene in matters only they can be responsible for, it’s impossible to find the true answer. And knowing how strong the hopes of your companions resting on your shoulders are…”

” ……”

” Baek Woong, this is the time for you to show what kind of king you will be as the human king. A king is someone who can choose; all choices are yours.”

I could grasp Mangnyang’s intentions.

All choices are mine.

I have lived by that belief throughout my past lives, but I have never felt its weight so heavily. What am I to choose now? I pondered deeply until a story from my past came to mind.

[ I want your answer.]

… Right.

That cat had said so.

Just before I was abruptly sent to the meeting between Chi You and Jeogok, it had thrown me an unexpected question.

Recalling that, I felt like I could see something I needed to do. So I said,

” Mangnyang! Pray for something else.”

All eyes turned to me.

” I will negotiate directly with Master Mangnyang. Also, tell him I’ll take full responsibility for the outcome.”

” Negotiate directly? There’s no way the master would accept that.”

” Normally, yes, but please just give it a shot.”

” Fine.”

The moment Mangnyang’s response ended…

Woohh

Suddenly, the surroundings began to ripple and sway violently. I felt as if my head was spinning, and moments later, I lost consciousness.

[ You want to talk to me directly?]

Master Mangnyang was sitting right in front of me.

It was a familiar small path, and Master Mangnyang sat curled up in the middle of a small road in his hut, as if absorbing the red energy of the setting sun.

I spoke to Master Mangnyang.

” Were you talking about this the last time? You asked what I would do if I could save humanity but the world perished as a result, saying I’d face a change if I didn’t make that choice.”

[ That might be the case.]

See?

The talk about the Blessing of the Sky kept nagging at my conscience as I conversed with him. And I was shaken by whether the ‘choice’ he had talked about had already passed or was yet to come as the reality drew closer.

” But isn’t this choice stuck? Even if I offer six of the liberated Seven Luminaries, you still wouldn’t grant the Blessing of the Sky; what kind of nonsense is that?”

In response, Master Mangnyang yawned before speaking.

[ Because Chi You’s rampage has weakened the battle ground significantly. Normally, I would have accommodated you given that you are my disciple and would grant your request for six liberated Seven Luminaries, but now it might risk the emergence of the one sealed inside. Therefore, the price is just a bit insufficient.]

Damn, Chi You… is messing with me all the way to the end.

I gritted my teeth internally and said to Master Mangnyang,

” Then the reasoning seems strange, doesn’t it? If you can foresee the future of making a choice, then the choice itself should still be possible. If not, doesn’t that mean the future has changed?”

[ You’re misunderstanding the concept of the future.]

Master Mangnyang said with an indifferent tone.

[ The future looks like the branches of a tree of outcomes, but the roots, the causes, are far more important. It doesn’t matter if you try to squeeze into a predetermined future; the branches are impossible to pin down, no matter how trivial the action. Therefore, whether you can make a choice is another layer of cause and effect.]

” You certainly like twisting your words, don’t you? If that’s the way fate works, then I’ll just change it.”

I clenched my teeth and declared.

” Let’s make a deal!”

[ What are you wagering?]

” My singular point!”

[ Hooh…]

Master Mangnyang showed interest. As he slowly stood up, I steeled myself and shouted.

” Make my fate’s singular point stronger! In exchange, I’ll receive the Blessing of the Sky.”

[ That’s a sufficient price… Your level of cause and effect is quite enormous, so offering a negative point as a cost would have major effects. What a foolish act it is to diminish a cause that can infinitely grow, an act even the gods would not commit, so this is an acceptable trade.]

But then, I hesitated at Master Mangnyang’s following words.

[ But… are you sure about this? I guarantee that you will definitely be unhappy. You will surely regret it.]

” ……”

Hearing him speak so sincerely is really scary.

I understand what Master Mangnyang’s assurance implies.

But I clenched my fists and shouted.

” Of course!! Just don’t take my companions’ souls.”

[ Alright… The deal is made.]

The form of the black cat began to transform into a bubble and then faded into the mist.

The fleeting light of his last trick was imprinted on my mind.

[ Reborn Person Baek Woong, I shall bestow upon you the Blessing of the Sky.]