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“So, are we out of Gaegyeong yet?”

About a meal’s worth of time later, Miho and I found ourselves resting in a deserted alley, having darted around at speeds that would make a rabbit jealous, thanks to her divine abilities. We covered a whopping 140 li, which definitely put us beyond the city limits. I can’t say I’ve ever zipped around like this since coming to Goryeo.

Miho chimed in, “You idiot. We can’t relax just yet. If we can, we should stick close to the water.”

“Why’s that?”

“Moving along water leaves less trace of qi. It’s a basic rule of the pursuit arts.”

“But there will be footprints left.”

“Just hop lightly over fallen leaves or rocks. Can’t you manage that?”

“I can do that.”

I started following her advice, weaving my way along the creek and riverbanks, although I was clueless about where she was headed. I decided that following her was all I could do.

After another meal’s worth of time wandering in circles, Miho called for a break. We were perched on a hillside overlooking some village. Sitting down, she said, “Now you’ve got two options: either flee overseas or just hide here in Goryeo.”

“There’s no way I can head back to the Central Plains.”

“Of course not. The White Lotus Sect has eyes everywhere in the Central Plains.”

“What about Dongyoung?”

Miho raised an eyebrow. “That’s further east in Goryeo. Lots of the short and rather suspiciously pirate-y Wei tribes live there. People say they’re inherently brutal and love a good sword fight.”

She continued, “It might not be a bad idea, but you need to understand the real problem first.”

“The real problem?” I asked.

“Think about it. Why is the White Lotus Sect chasing you? What obsession drives them? You’re the only one who can figure that out. You’ve bought yourself some time, so think on it while I’m gone.”

With a whoosh, Miho vanished using her transformation arts to head to the village below. She seemed pretty determined to cook up some scheme.

‘Hmm… Why is the White Lotus Sect after me?’

As I pondered, it hit me. They were after me because I had given the roots of the Black and White Lotus to Hwa Seong-myeong, which healed their Young Master. They were chasing me to pay back that favor. But the more I thought, the more I shook my head.

‘No way. They wouldn’t send everyone just to return a favor. What am I missing here…?’

Their goal wasn’t about repayment. What, then, could justify deploying such a massive army and risking conflict with the Twelve Joules? I reached a conclusion: they wanted to know the whereabouts of the Black and White Lotus! The only one who knew was me, alone in this vast world.

‘That Dharma Guardian probably found this out when he spoke with Hwa Seong-myeong yesterday.’

I couldn’t quite grasp why they wanted the Black and White Lotus, but I couldn’t shake the feeling it harbored a well-guarded secret. Otherwise, the Dharma Guardian, the symbol of the White Lotus Sect’s power, wouldn’t have come all this way to Goryeo with his own ship.

This meant the White Lotus Sect was determined to catch me, no matter what methods they employed or how long it took. Miho’s mention of fleeing overseas was her awareness of their obsession. Given how small Goryeo is compared to the Central Plains, I’d inevitably be caught if I allowed myself to get too comfortable.

The Dharma Guardian, who came with the Black Tiger Mask, was a different character from the silver fox-masked Dharma Guardian who had visited Hwa Seong-myeong in the past.

I mulled over this and felt something click. ‘Something’s not right.’

Everything I’d been considering was something an outsider like Miho could easily guess if she had a bit of info. When she told me to detect something only “the party involved” would recognize, it struck me that it was essential to dig deeper.

Then, an old memory suddenly flickered before me: My previous life, where I had faced off against the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guards and died.

At that moment, I remembered what he said.

“Interesting, the more you investigate, the better it gets. Pretending to be a Dharma Guardian from the Huashan Sect? Hahaha.”

“What do you mean pretending? How do you know whether I’m a Dharma Guardian from the White Lotus Sect?”

“You really don’t know, do you? One of the three Dharma Guardians has joined forces with us. It looks like we have pretty good intel on the White Lotus Sect. You look nothing like any of the Dharma Guardians.”

“……!!”

Shivers ran down my spine as the memories flooded back. It had been so long since I experienced this that I barely recalled, but it all made sense now. The Lord of the Golden Eagle Guards had possessed detailed information on the White Lotus Sect and had collaborated with one of the Dharma Guardians. This meant one of the three Guardians had betrayed the Sect and was in league with the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guards!

According to what the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guards said, that betrayal hadn’t happened overnight—it was likely a matter of years. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so confident about the White Lotus Sect’s intel at that time.

Thinking about this, my palms felt clammy. ‘Damn it… They could very well be in cahoots with the Golden Eagle Guards again in this life!’

I knew full well that the struggle wasn’t about whether the White Lotus Sect could dominate the Central Plains. Beyond the visible Golden Eagle Guards, there was also the looming threat of the Black Mask lurking behind the scenes, a real wildcard. If the Dharma Guardians were aware of this, the chances that they’d strike a deal with the Golden Eagle Guards in this life seemed pretty high.

This changed the narrative. I felt like I had a unique path set before me. I sat for a while contemplating, finally gathering my thoughts and settling in comfortably, waiting for Miho’s return.

She reappeared roughly an hour later, bounding over the treetops. “I made a hideout in that village. Let’s take a breather.”

“Miho, I’ve got to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you helping me so much? I figured you’d be mad about bringing my friend last time.”

“Hmph… You know quite a bit, don’t you?”

With a smirk, she flicked my chin with her finger, morphing into a stunning beauty before leaning in close. Her sparkling eyes fixated on me as she said, “I’m pretty magnanimous, so I can easily overlook small matters like that. The fact is, you’ve been helpful to me.”

“Helpful?”

“This isn’t the place for such conversations. Follow me.”

I trailed after Miho as we descended to the village, which was odd since mountain villages usually don’t prefer outsiders. But strangely, no one seemed to react to our presence. In fact, it felt like we were invisible! I quickly realized: ‘She must have cast an enchantment over the whole village.’

This made hiding incredibly simple. Miho strutted into a large estate and confidently ordered the servants, “Make some rice and stoke the fire.”

“Yes, my lord…”

It was hilarious how even the actual owner of that rich house was tirelessly working alongside the servants, completely under her spell. Watching this unbelievable scene, I recognized the unimaginable prowess of Miho’s enchantment. She had brainwashed the entire village in no time.

Miho plopped herself down in the master bedroom, casually picking up an expensive-looking pipe. “I didn’t help you for free, though. You owe me a favor.”

“What favor?”

“You have to join me on a trip to the Star-Observing Altar of Mount Muni and deal with the Guardian there.”

“……?”

This came out of nowhere! But something clicked when I heard the word ‘Guardian.’ “Are you telling me there’s the Seven Luminaries there?”

“That’s just my guess. If they’re not there, I’ll just head back to Dongyoung.”

“That’s crazy talk. The Seven Luminaries are at Mount Changbai.”

“……”

Miho remained silent, lighting her pipe. A nagging sensation crept in—what was she so certain about when Ha-in definitely wouldn’t be at Mount Muni?

Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I asked shakily, “You don’t mean to say there could be a different Luminary there?”

“You’re sharper than you look. Use that brain of yours a bit more.”

As she puffed on her pipe, the smoke drifted out, causing the door to open on its own. She continued, “The true version of the Three Divine Tools was lost during the Genpei War when the Taira clan was defeated at sea. I personally verified this when charming the Emperor. This means Dongyoung has been passing down counterfeit Three Divine Tools for nearly 500 years.”

“So, you’re saying the Moon Sovereign’s Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword is lost?”

“Not at all. If it had been burned away, it would be classified as a Luminary artifact. It’s merely missing and can likely be recovered not too far from here.”

I stared at Miho in disbelief. She chuckled softly at my incredulous expression. “Seems like you’re starting to catch on.”

“So you think the Moon Sovereign’s Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword is sealed at the Star-Observing Altar?”

“That’s my speculation.”

I couldn’t wrap my head around her unshakeable confidence. “Why… Why do you think so? How could a Luminary lost in the Great War end up in Goryeo?”

“Heh… that’s the fun part.”

With a click of her fingers, it seemed she almost finished with her pipe, putting it down and lounging on the bed, purposefully showing off her figure to tease me. When I feigned ignorance, she burst into a giggle.

“You’re familiar with the tales of the Phoenix appearing in the Western Capital, right?”

“That happened over a decade ago.”

“I became interested in the story later on and came to Goryeo to deal with the evil spirits in the Western Capital. There’s a twist to the tale, you see.”

“What twist?”

Miho replied, “It turns out the Sea God himself had planned to lead his kin to land at the Western Capital.”

“……!!”

This blew my mind. One of the Old Rulers, and a major demonic entity, led his kin to attack the Western Capital? I’d never heard of such a thing before.

“To fend off the Sea God’s assault, the Twelve Joules and the Guardians fought desperately, ultimately resorting to summoning the Phoenix. The Phoenix, as the guardian deity of Goryeo, managed to repel the Sea God.”

“So it wasn’t just a metaphor. The Phoenix, the ultimate spirit, was actually summoned to the real world.”

“But isn’t it strange? Summoning something like the Phoenix isn’t mere sorcery. It was recognized as a considerable feat during the Mythological Age. It’s on par with calling back Chi You. No matter how skillful the sorcerers in Goryeo are, no one can wield such immense powers. That’s something I’d never even dare attempt.”

“Is it really that extreme?”

“To accomplish that, you’d have to sacrifice dozens of lives. Considering the timeframe, borrowing the power from the Sacred Altar Tree is out of the question.”

Still lounging, she softly said, “This led me to ponder: What if the Twelve Joules banished the Sea God using the power of a different Luminary?”

I shot back, “So you’re saying the Twelve Joules hold two Luminaries?”

“That seems likely. And I suspect their location isn’t far from the Western Capital. After charming the key players within the Twelve Joules, the Star-Observing Altar on Mount Muni became suspicious.”

“Suspicious, huh…”

“But I can’t be certain. So I was going to take things slow and see what unfolds. But hey, time to get a move on.”

Just then, servants appeared bearing an elaborate feast, setting the table in her room. Miho relaxed, tearing into the meat and said, “Since we’re already on this path, let’s head to the Star-Observing Altar after checking it out. Once in Dongyoung, you can easily evade pursuit.”

“Heading to Dongyoung?”

“What’s the matter? You’ve got nowhere else to go.”

“……”

Miho’s excessive goodwill made me uneasy. Could a trickster spirit of the great chaos be this helpful? If I entered Dongyoung, she could easily manipulate me as she pleased, and I’d find no way to resist.

Yet, I couldn’t depend on the Twelve Joules either. If what Miho said was true, they knew the Moon Sovereign’s Heavenly Gathering Cloud Sword was a fake yet still just threw me a casual comment. It implied the leader was equally distrustful of me.

‘That puppet… It sounded just like Master Mangnyang.’

The leader mentioned he felt an ominous aura from me and didn’t want to show his true self. However, he had sent the sparring manual, so I had no choice but to meet him. If not for that, the chances of ever meeting him would have been slim to none.

But whether that leader would really protect me against the White Lotus Sect with such overwhelming power while clashing was questionable. I sighed heavily, feeling defeated.

“Hah – I’ve got no other options.”

“Well thought! Tomorrow we’ll stay hidden and then head to Mount Muni. If we stir up our aura, we might buy ourselves another day.”

“I’ve got one question.”

“What is it?”

I asked cautiously, “If you fought the Dharma Guardian with everything you had, what would happen?”

“Hmph… Typical male behavior. Betting everything on who’s stronger. Don’t you just hate that?”

She grimaced, took a spoonful of food, and continued, “That won’t happen. The Dharma Guardian has reached a state almost indistinguishable from a half-immortal. If we were to fight head-on, I wouldn’t escape unscathed either. While he may appear human, he’s practically a transcendent being.”

“Hmm…”

“You need to shift your mindset. When you’re outmatched, retreat and strengthen yourself is the natural way. In this situation, avoiding the Dharma Guardian is a fundamental necessity.”

“Got it.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask again why she was being so nice. It was a question best left unasked because it wouldn’t benefit me in any way. Perhaps Miho was planning to treat me as a servant-slash-summon while probing the Star-Observing Altar.

That evening, I found myself lying beside her. Miho gazed at me with an alluring look, pulling my head into her ample chest. I pushed her away, saying, “Not like this.”

“Oh ho, are you scared because you’re a virgin?”

From her words, it was clear she wanted more than just casual interactions. Being a free-spirited trickster, she had developed an interest in me. There was greed in her eyes, like a predator eyeing its prey.

I shook my head. “It’s not that.”

“Then what? Don’t tell me you don’t want to share with a yokai like me?”

Her slightly vicious words made me feel like I had to respond carefully. Clearing my throat, I sat up and asked, “I want to know if you genuinely care about me?”

“Wh-what…”

“You cling to me for the blessings of the Queen Mother of the West. Is that really beneficial for either of us? You just want to embrace her warmth through me. Is that enough for you?”

I knew embracing a nine-tailed fox wouldn’t solve my problems. I felt an inkling that her obsession would only intensify. Right now, it was merely a strong fondness, but who knows how intense it would become as time passed.

“Hmm.”

My bluntness seemed to hit home. Miho wore a look of shock, not out of hurt but chilling realization. After a moment, she responded, “I won’t brag, but this body is the epitome of beauty in Dongyoung. Any man would give a fortune to hold me, yet you refuse to pursue that?”

“That’s…?”

“If you’d spoken better, you could’ve easily charmed the gorgeous women of Gaegyeong. You could easily have a harem given your status and reputation. Are you secretly practicing the ways of a monk?”

Miho’s words landed hard. Admittedly, I wasn’t ugly, but with my fame, I feasibly could have been with countless beautiful women. In fact, Hwa Seong-myeong had even offered her lovely granddaughter to me, yet I had turned her down all this time, citing looks.

“I have important matters to attend.”

“And forming bonds with women wouldn’t help, would it? My enemies are too formidable. Any potential weakness from attachments could be catastrophic. I can’t afford distractions when I’m trying to exact revenge.”

The memories of Mangnyang’s death haunted me, alongside the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guards. Until I avenged them, I couldn’t allow my focus to waver, even for a moment. The grit I had built up over countless struggles was born out of that ingrained vendetta.

Right now, I didn’t want to lose that fire. I understood the limits of my determination, and the moment I settled into complacency, uncontrollable chaos would certainly descend upon me.

“Sigh… At your level, you could even take out the leader of the Nine Great Sects. Just who are your enemies?”

“They’re the ones pulling the strings behind the Goryeo Imperial Family…”

Miho’s eyes widened, and she sighed. “You’re insane… You want to oppose those forces?”

“You know about them?”

“Just drop it. No amount of lives is worth that risk.”

This was probably a cliché phrase, but I smirked, “A few lives doesn’t cut it.”

After all, I had already died ten times over. Miho stared at me in bewilderment. “What?”

“I’ll keep coming back until I succeed.”

“……”

Her expression shifted to one of disbelief, almost like she had been smacked, then she sank back into a couch, turning her head away and muttering, “Hmph! Idiot.”

“Sleep well.”

There was no reply.

And so, I spent a single night beside the nine-tailed fox.

 

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