Chapter 166: Variables (2)
Originally, Wi So-yeon was from a renowned martial arts family under the Heaven and Earth Society.
Heroic Spear Wi Family.
Born as the daughter of a martial arts family that specialized in spears, she was weak and sickly from birth, always having to lie in bed.
The head of the Wi Family had low innate martial talent, with his martial arts only reaching the perfected Peak Realm, so he thought his daughter Wi So-yeon was simply suffering from an ordinary Meridian Blockage syndrome, causing her to be weak.
So, he told her not to learn martial arts and to live an ordinary life.
However, having inherited the blood of a martial arts family, she wanted to learn the family's martial arts like her other siblings.
It was too difficult to simply lie in bed and watch.
Therefore, despite her illness, she secretly trained in martial arts without her father or family knowing.
But it was not easy for her, born with the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians, to willingly learn martial arts.
Eventually, the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians went out of control.
[Aaaaargh!]
Unable to control her rampaging energy, Wi Hyeon, the head of the Wi Family, took Wi So-yeon to the inner city with the token of merit he had received from his grandfather's time.
He believed that only the doctors or executives in the inner city could save her.
But then, a coincidental incident occurred.
[Society Leader, we pay our respects!]
[Ah, ah. No need for formalities.]
The Society Leader, who was receiving treatment in the inner city, had come to visit.
The Society Leader, whom even her father had never seen in person, had come to see her…
The Society Leader stared intently at her face, then stroked her head once and muttered incomprehensible words.
[As expected?]
What was as expected?
It was puzzling even in the midst of pain, but even more surprising words flowed from the Society Leader's mouth.
[Do you want to save this child?]
[Y-Yes, I do.]
[Then hand this child over to me.]
[Pardon?]
[Didn't you hear me? I said hand her over to me.]
Thus, having caught the Society Leader's eye, she was taken in as a disciple on the spot.
The Society Leader, who was interested in the strange Meridian Blockage syndrome called the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians, where true energy was endlessly generated, accepted her as a disciple and tried to cure it.
However, even he, one of the Six Heavens, considered the pinnacle of the current martial arts world, was ultimately unable to completely cure the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians.
In the end, the limit was temporarily blocking the meridian pathways and suppressing the energy that tried to rampage using a breathing technique.
This Forbidden Gate Secrets breathing technique devised by the Society Leader was highly effective.
However, due to the increasing rampage of the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians that grew stronger by the day, she had to suffer periodic pain that felt like all the blood vessels in her body would burst and she would die.
[Aaaah!]
The intervals between these bouts of pain grew shorter as the years passed.
At first, it occurred once every few months, then once every two months after two years, and once a month after another year.
Wi So-yeon was gradually realizing.
If these intervals became even shorter, her life would be in danger someday.
'Is the curse of the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians truly incurable?'
Is this how she has to accept her fate?
No, in the first place, it was said that it would be difficult to live past twenty years old.
But she had already surpassed twenty.
This was probably thanks to the Forbidden Gate Secrets created by her master.
As the intervals of the rampages became shorter, Wi So-yeon, who sensed the end approaching quickly, grew colder and even lost her smile.
It would be more accurate to say that she had lost any special motivation for life.
Then, a sudden thought occurred to her.
If she were to die like this, what would she leave behind in this world?
'…Will it be a meaningless death?'
She would be doing nothing more than prolonging her life and dying.
With this, she made a resolution.
If she only had a short time left to live anyway, she would do everything she could.
That one goal was to become the Society Leader, the pinnacle of the Heaven and Earth Society.
[Cough, cough. You want a chance too?]
[Yes.]
Wi So-yeon went to her bedridden master and made a request.
Whether it worked or not, she had decided to do everything she could, so it was a matter of no loss.
[You can't even control your own body yet, and you want to become the Society Leader?]
[…Yes.]
Was it impossible after all?
However,
[Hahaha! Cough, cough… How interesting. The one who used to have dead eyes as if the world would end at any moment suddenly wants to be the Society Leader… As expected, you resemble… Cough, cough.]
[Pardon?]
[No. It's fine. Do as you please. Anyone with the qualifications can become the Society Leader. Give it a try and challenge for the successor position.]
Thus, the Society Leader made a public announcement.
He said that all three disciples had the qualifications to be successors.
As a result, the competition between the three disciples officially began.
She was determined to stake everything and burn with passion in this competition as her last chance in life.
It was because she believed it was something she could leave behind in the world since her birth.
However,
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
A miracle occurred in the life she had given up on.
Thanks to this man in front of her eyes, the door of life, which she thought had little time left, had opened wide again.
'Why is my heart acting like this?'
As she looked at Mok Gyeong-un, her heart pounded strangely, more than the feeling of embarrassment.
And her face felt so hot that it was burning.
What kind of emotion was this?
It was completely unfamiliar.
After staring at Mok Gyeong-un's face for a long time, she unconsciously brought her hand to his cheek.
-Swish!
Thanks to that, Mok Gyeong-un, who had been looking around, turned his gaze to her.
'Ah?'
What did I just do?
For a moment, the flustered Wi So-yeon couldn't sit still.
Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at her.
When their eyes met, Wi So-yeon swallowed her dry saliva.
'Why… Why is he staring at me like that? It's too…'
Her heart beat even faster, either because she was embarrassed to be naked or because his gaze was overwhelming.
Unlike her, Mok Gyeong-un's thoughts were going in a different direction.
'What should I do?'
It had deviated from the original purpose.
I don't know why Cheong-ryeong's energy has dropped, but it's clear that the possession didn't occur.
Then, even if she returned, it would be difficult to know if it would succeed or not.
'If the possession doesn't work, it means I've done something unnecessary.'
It might have been better to just let her energy rampage and let her die.
Or perhaps he should have sought out the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, first.
The plan to unify the two forces after possessing them both had gone awry from the very first move.
Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at Wi So-yeon.
'I can't kill her either.'
If he killed her right away, the problem would grow bigger.
He couldn't make the Society Leader an enemy now because he needed to obtain clues from him.
He couldn't even face him yet.
'I need to change the plan.'
A different approach was necessary.
If possession doesn't work, should he turn Wi So-yeon into a living corpse using the Six People Spirit Summoning Technique?
But he wasn't confident if that would be possible.
After breaking through the blocked energy in her body, Wi So-yeon's unstable energy had subsided, and her martial prowess had risen much higher than before.
The Six People Spirit Summoning Technique might not work.
He needed a way to control Wi So-yeon somehow, but what should he do…?
At that moment,
Wi So-yeon, who had placed her hand on Mok Gyeong-un's cheek, gathered her courage and spoke.
"I, I can keep the promise."
'!?'
Promise?
Did they make any promises?
As he was pondering, Mok Gyeong-un traced back her words and finally recalled it.
[You want to have me? Then try to break this cursed power as well.]
'Huh?'
Is that what she's talking about now?
As he was puzzled, Wi So-yeon, with a bright red face, avoided eye contact, turned her head, and spoke shyly.
"You are my life's savior."
"Savior?"
"Y-Yes."
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at her.
As he stared too intently, Wi So-yeon, who couldn't understand his feelings, became confused.
It was already too embarrassing to say these words, so why was he just staring at her without saying anything?
He had said with his own mouth that he wanted to have her and even risked his life to help her overcome the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians.
So she said she acknowledged it, but why was he hesitating?
Or could it be that he wanted her to say something else?
Feeling restless, Wi So-yeon cleared her throat and spoke.
"Ahem. I… I don't… dislike you either."
"…"
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes became peculiar.
Mok Gyeong-un was not insensitive.
He could sense that the emotions emanating from her had clearly changed from before.
Perhaps this woman now saw him as a man.
'Emotions…'
It was still an unfamiliar territory.
However, this emotion was worth exploring.
It was a slightly different concept from loyalty bound by mere words.
The corners of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth twitched.
Then,
"If you don't dislike me, it means you like me."
"What? N-No. Rather than that…"
It was at that very moment.
Mok Gyeong-un wrapped his arm around her slender waist.
Then, he pulled her close to him.
As a result, the bare skin of the two, who were naked, completely touched.
"Eek!"
Wi So-yeon unknowingly let out a sound.
She was not only startled by Mok Gyeong-un's sudden action but also didn't know what to do.
Although she had heard about relationships between men and women in passing from those around her, including Gi Ok-ryeon, it was impossible for it to reach the ears of someone with a limited lifespan.
But those words she had brushed off suddenly came to mind.
'…I can't handle it.'
Wi So-yeon felt like her face was burning.
As she trembled like that, Mok Gyeong-un whispered in her ear.
"Then will you become my woman?"
"Your… Your woman?"
At those words, Wi So-yeon's eyes trembled.
She had never even thought about becoming someone's woman in the first place.
But not only was she feeling strange emotions towards Mok Gyeong-un, but hearing these words made her face feel so hot that it seemed like it would melt.
To her, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"…"
"If you don't answer, I'll take it as you don't want to…"
-Swish!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un tried to loosen his arm that was wrapped around her waist.
Then, Wi So-yeon hurriedly wrapped her arms around Mok Gyeong-un's neck and spoke, her shyness reaching its peak.
"W-Who said I don't want to? It's… It's just too sudden. We don't know each other yet…"
"We can get to know each other from now on."
"What?"
It was at that very moment.
"Aaah!"
A sensation she had never experienced before, starting from below, caused a moan to escape Wi So-yeon's lips.
Startled, she squirmed her waist, not knowing what to do.
'It… It went in.'
It was too sudden.
For her, who had suffered from the pain of Meridian Blockage for a long time, this did not belong to the axis of pain at all.
However, it was extremely perplexing.
It was completely different from what she had heard.
She thought she would go through a gentler process, but he had entered so roughly.
"Haa… Haa… You… Too sudden…"
"I thought you said we should get to know each other."
-Flushed!
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Wi So-yeon squirmed, not knowing what to do, and buried her face in his chest.
Why was this fellow so blunt and beastly, contrary to his appearance?
It was too embarrassing.
Although they were the only ones who were conscious around them, what kind of sudden act was this in the middle of the courtyard?
"Why are you doing this? Could it be that you're embarrassed? It's just the two of us anyway."
-Swish!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un moved his waist.
"Urgh."
Caught off guard by Mok Gyeong-un's movement, Wi So-yeon trembled and bit her lips tightly.
It was hard to hold back the sound that was about to burst out of her mouth involuntarily.
"You… You really…"
This bad guy.
She had given him permission, but why was he pushing her like this?
Wi So-yeon pleaded in a whisper.
"Please, let's go inside…"
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.
Then, he stood up from his spot, still holding Wi So-yeon in his arms, and entered the main hall.
Before long, intense cries of passion burst out from inside the main hall.
168: Chapter 167: Variables (3)
On the roof of a high tower, someone was concentrating with one hand forming a seal.
It was none other than Cho Tae-cheong.
Sensing the strong spiritual power once again, he was spreading a barrier in all directions, trying to determine the location.
'Crafty fellow.'
Cho Tae-cheong clicked his tongue.
If the level is higher than that of Blue Sprit, they don't hide themselves.
It's because they have reached a level where even the masters of the martial world or the Imaemangnyang cannot easily subdue them.
However, this soul knows how to hide itself.
Moreover, when it noticed his presence in that brief moment, it changed its location.
'It's fast enough to evade the Toru.'
Toru.
It was a Imaemangnyang-level evil spirit that Cho Tae-cheong used as his servant spirit.
This Toru, known as the Red Falling Star of Mount Kunlun, was faster than the maximum speed of a Blood-Sweating Horse, yet it couldn't catch this soul.
As Cho Tae-cheong was concentrating, the muscles on his face twitched, and his expression changed.
"The route is clearly intentional."
Speaking in a hoarse voice, Cho Tae-cheong's expression returned to normal.
In his original state, Cho Tae-cheong spoke as if having a conversation.
"I know."
This crafty being was luring his pursuit.
Otherwise, there was no way it would periodically reveal its energy like this.
As a result, Cho Tae-cheong could be certain.
"It's trying to hide something."
If it's intentionally luring, it's clearly to conceal something.
Whether it's a companion or whatever else.
However, there was something this soul didn't know.
"It's good to use your head, but is it really just one?"
***
Cheong-ryeong, holding a long pipe, was rapidly moving and constantly changing locations.
She intentionally revealed her energy to let the diviner sense her presence.
Of course, it was to move away from Mok Gyeong-un.
-Whoosh!
As a spiritual body, she could fly in the sky, and unless one was an expert at the peak of the Transcendent Realm or the Transformation Realm, it was difficult to perfectly keep up with her movements.
However, something was continuously following her.
'How annoying.'
Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue.
It seemed to be the diviner's servant spirit that had sensed her.
The demonic energy emanating from the servant spirit was no ordinary matter.
If her level hadn't risen to that of a Blue Spirit, it would have been strong enough to catch up to her.
Perhaps, based on her estimation,
'Imaemangnyang.'
Its level seemed to have reached that of an Imaemangnyang.
At a glance, she had almost been caught up once, and judging from the strange horns and sheep-like appearance, it was probably the Red Falling Star Toru of Mount Kunlun.
To think he would command an evil spirit of this level as his servant spirit, he was no ordinary fellow.
However, her current level had reached that of an Indigo Spirit.
She could sufficiently shake it off…
-Startled!
Suddenly, Cheong-ryeong's eyes sharpened.
It was because she sensed a shadow looming over her.
The shadow was making huge wing flaps.
-Ha!
Cheong-ryeong looked back in disbelief.
This was not the Toru Imaemangnyang.
She knew this being well, with the upper body of a giant bird and the lower body of a hornet.
'Heum-won[1]…'
Heum-won.
This was also an Imaemangnyang residing in Mount Kunlun, like the Toru.
'Two of them?'
This was completely unexpected.
She had thought it was troublesome enough to deal with an evil spirit of Imaemangnyang level, but to think he was controlling not one, but two Imaemangnyang.
This was already a monster belonging to the upper ranks of diviners.
'It's not just troublesome…'
And at that very moment, the giant bird with a hornet's lower body fired sharp spikes at Cheong-ryeong.
-Swish swish swish swish swish!
'Tsk.'
-Swish!
Cheong-ryeong quickly dodged it and changed direction.
But at that moment, something was recklessly charging from the front.
It was the other Imaemangnyang, the Toru.
The Toru in front, the Heum-won behind.
'This is really a bind.'
With Imaemangnyang-level evil spirits blocking the front and back, it was truly a situation of being trapped.
***
"Mmm."
Wi So-yeon, moaning passionately, panted and wrapped her legs around Mok Gyeong-un's waist.
Mok Gyeong-un originally had no desire for such relationships.
However, this relationship, which he had started to make her his own with a purpose, was bringing a certain level of interest.
'Is this what pleasure is?'
It was a strange sensation he was experiencing for the first time, but it wasn't bad.
He had thought of it as merely an act done for reproduction, regardless of the species, but Wi So-yeon, drenched in sweat, embracing him and crying out passionately, piqued his interest.
She had been so embarrassed when they first engaged in this act that she didn't know what to do.
But at some point, she too was yearning for him without hiding her excitement.
-Thud!
"Aah!"
Whenever Mok Gyeong-un moved his hips, Wi So-yeon cried out.
This sound was strangely stimulating.
He had intended to make her submit appropriately and then finish, but due to this stimulation, he was already holding Wi So-yeon for the fifth time without rest.
-Thud!
Mok Gyeong-un pushed Wi So-yeon against the wall, grabbed her thighs, lifted them, and pressed them upward.
"Haa… Haa…"
The rough breathing of Wi So-yeon, who had completely become a woman, and the way she looked at Mok Gyeong-un were extremely sensual.
Looking at her face, Mok Gyeong-un felt a strange feeling.
'…'
It was because Wi So-yeon overlapped with Cheong-ryeong.
He had perceived them as completely different beings, nothing more, nothing less, but when he learned about the sensation of pleasure from this act and received stimulation, Cheong-ryeong occasionally overlapped with her.
'Strange.'
He didn't know why this was happening.
But why was it more stimulating to think of Cheong-ryeong through Wi So-yeon?
With that, Mok Gyeong-un drove into her even more roughly.
"Aah!"
Wi So-yeon's slender waist shook violently.
Panting and gasping for breath, Wi So-yeon embraced Mok Gyeong-un and whispered in a seductive voice.
"More… More!"
She wanted to continue becoming one with Mok Gyeong-un.
This pleasure was stimulating and too addictive.
***
"Haa… Haa…"
The sweat-soaked Wi So-yeon lay in Mok Gyeong-un's arms, exhaling roughly.
It was her first time knowing a man, and she understood why Gi Ok-ryeon and those around her made such a fuss about it.
It was truly a pleasure that was hard to escape from.
Wi So-yeon glanced at Mok Gyeong-un's face as she lay there.
Although his face was flushed, unlike her, he showed no signs of fatigue at all.
'Beast…'
He was truly like a beast.
He was so aggressive that it was hard to handle at first.
Even a martial artist who had trained and cultivated martial arts would get tired after a few times and need time to recover, but this guy had none of that.
[We can do more, right?]
She lost count of how many times he had said that.
Wi So-yeon, who had been staring intently at Mok Gyeong-un, asked shyly.
"You… Is this really your first time?"
"I told you it was."
"Then why are you so…"
She couldn't seem to finish her sentence, trembling her lips, and buried her head deeper into Mok Gyeong-un's chest.
Asking this question was actually meaningless.
Because she was convinced that she was his first woman, as he had been rough at first but gradually became more delicate.
'…Woman.'
It was a truly strange feeling.
After becoming one with this guy, her heart was strangely drawn to him even more.
Should she say that her desire to rely on him had grown stronger?
Is this her as a woman?
'Strange. Really…'
When she thought she could die at any moment due to the curse of the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians, she had never felt such emotions or feelings before.
There was no one to rely on in the face of death.
But now, she felt that life or death wouldn't be so bad if she was with this man.
Does emotion shake even reason like this?
But then, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly sat up and said.
"I should get going for now."
"Going?"
"Yes."
"Stay a bit longer…"
"What?"
"No, never mind."
Wi So-yeon, who had tried to hold onto Mok Gyeong-un, stopped.
Although she was growing fonder of this man, she felt that if she revealed such emotions here, she would appear easy.
[When men are confident that they have you in their net, their attitude changes drastically. So, Young Lady, if you find a man you like, make sure to keep this in mind.]
[This?]
[Push and pull.]
[Push and pull?]
[You shouldn't appear too easy to a man.]
It was what Gi Ok-ryeon had always told her.
If she pushed and pulled appropriately, the man would have no choice but to be desperate for her.
But Gi Ok-ryeon herself couldn't follow her own advice whenever she was in front of Woo Ho-rang, the Grand Leader of Giant Watchtower Group.
"Do you have any clothes to wear?"
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un asked her.
She shook her head and replied.
"There are none here. If you want women's clothes, I can lend you mine."
"…Are you perhaps joking?"
"…"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Wi So-yeon turned her head away.
She had to be faithful to the push and pull, but it was becoming increasingly difficult with this man.
Rather, she wanted to tease him.
Does the heart naturally follow after giving one's body?
"Ahem. If you're looking for men's clothes that would fit you, there are some in the guest hall of the adjacent building."
"Thank you."
"Your way of speaking… When it's just the two of us, you can speak comfortably."
Wi So-yeon twisted her hair, feeling unnecessarily shy.
She felt it would be fine for this man to call her by her name.
At this, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and said.
"I'm afraid that might be difficult."
"What?"
"I'm more comfortable with this way of speaking for now."
"You find that comfortable?"
"Yes. If a time comes when I can speak comfortably, I'll do so then."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Wi So-yeon couldn't hide her confusion.
Why was he doing this when they could speak comfortably when it was just the two of them?
Could it be that he was drawing a line?
She was about to feel a bit disappointed when Mok Gyeong-un embraced her, pulled her close, and let her rest her head on his shoulder.
"Since you've become my woman, I can expect a lot of help from you in the future, right?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's whispered words, Wi So-yeon's face flushed red.
This guy was playing with her heart.
Even though she knew that, why did it make her feel excited?
'No. I have to push and pull.'
Wi So-yeon shook her head from side to side, gently pushed Mok Gyeong-un away, and spoke coyly.
"Of course I'll help you since you saved my life. But whether I actively help you or not will be determined by what you do."
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.
Then, he calmly told her what he had in mind.
Upon hearing it, one of Wi So-yeon's eyebrows arched upward.
"You… Do you really want me to do that?"
"Yes. I hope you can do that for me."
"…"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Wi So-yeon's expression turned dissatisfied.
It wasn't difficult to grant his request, but she wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.
So, Wi So-yeon asked.
"…Even if my subordinates agree, will Second Senior Brother be willing to accept it?"
"Don't worry about that."
"Don't worry?"
"Yes. That's a problem I'll go and solve now."
'!?'
Wi So-yeon frowned at Mok Gyeong-un's words.
His drive was really fast, but was this possible?
***
Night had fallen, and it was dark outside.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had left Wi So-yeon's residence, opened the pouch at his waist to check.
Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang's eyeball inside was safe.
Worried that the rampaging True Divine Yin Energy of the Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians might freeze not only his clothes but also this and the spare wooden puppet, he had thrown them far away, but they were unexpectedly intact.
'Shall we go then?'
Mok Gyeong-un unleashed his lightness skill and flew.
Following the main road for about fifty zhang, Mok Gyeong-un noticed a gloomy-looking ancestral shrine building located in the eastern corner of the inner city.
It was a considerably large building, and Cheong-ryeong's energy, which had disappeared, could be felt there.
Entering inside, there was an altar, and on the wall, there was a tattered scroll and a well-preserved portrait next to it.
'This is?'
Surprisingly, the figure depicted in that portrait was,
'Cheong-ryeong?'
It was a portrait of Cheong-ryeong.
However, Cheong-ryeong's attire in this portrait was different from usual.
She was wearing a red ceremonial dress that a bride would wear and was even wearing makeup.
This made Mok Gyeong-un puzzled.
Why was such a portrait hanging on the altar of this ancestral shrine?
And why was the other scroll, which seemed to be another portrait, torn to shreds, making it impossible to recognize its form?
But then, a voice was heard.
-What are you staring at so intently? Mortal.
"Cheong-ryeong?"
Cheong-ryeong was seen leaning against one side of the altar.
Holding a long pipe and exhaling smoke, her face looked haggard for some reason.
Although she was conserving her spiritual power and not revealing her energy, she looked quite exhausted.
So, Mok Gyeong-un asked.
"What happened?"
-A more troublesome matter than I thought arose.
"A troublesome matter?"
-Yes.
"…Does it have to do with you disappearing without possessing her midway?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Cheong-ryeong sighed and said.
-Well, it's not unrelated since it happened because of that. But there seems to be a diviner of at least Pavilion Master level inside the inner city.
"Of course there would be diviners…"
-Yes. But he's no ordinary fellow.
At her warning, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin and said.
"Judging from Cheong-ryeong's words, he must be truly powerful."
-He commands two Imaemangnyang-level servant spirits.
"Hmm?"
At this, Mok Gyeong-un couldn't hide his surprise.
If they were Imaemangnyang-level, they would be highly ranked evil spirits equivalent to the third grade.
However, he had heard that even diviners had difficulty controlling evil spirits above the level of monstrous beasts, so if he could command two of them as servant spirit, he must be a diviner with no ordinary curse power.
"Did you fight him?"
-If I had fought, do you think it would have simply ended?
"I suppose you're right."
With two Imaemangnyang, even Cheong-ryeong would have had difficulty facing them without properly unleashing her spiritual power.
She had desperately escaped using the minimum amount of power.
After almost an hour and a half of playing hide-and-seek, she was able to evade them.
Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue and said.
-By the way, mortal, why are you so late? You're someone who didn't take long to absorb death energy, so what's so difficult…
"I had to find another way since possession didn't work."
-What? Ah… Right. That's what happened.
Preoccupied with shaking off the diviner and the two evil spirits, she suddenly recalled the reason why the possession had failed.
She didn't know what that strange phenomenon was.
The body of that mortal wench who had tried to absorb her was too bizarre.
"Why didn't you possess her? Or was it not possible?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Cheong-ryeong replied as if she was in a difficult position.
-I don't know. Even I don't—.
"You don't know?"
-I felt like something would happen if I possessed the body of that mortal wench who resembled me.
"Something would happen?"
-It's hard to explain to you. That wench's body strongly pulled my spiritual body, and it was the first time I experienced such a phenomenon.
"…The body pulled the spiritual body?"
-Yes.
"Hmm."
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un furrowed his brows.
Even as a diviner, he had gained some knowledge, but he had never heard of the phenomenon Cheong-ryeong described.
He would probably need to consult with diviner Jo Ui-gong or examine the various books related to exorcism techniques he possessed.
Then, Cheong-ryeong spoke.
-We're in a bind. Since possession failed.
"No. That's not it."
-Not it? But to control that mortal wench according to the plan…
"I think I can control her."
-Huh? What do you mean?
Even if it was in exchange for saving her life from the rampaging Heavenly Yin Absolute Meridians, controlling her might be difficult due to her status as the Society Leader's disciple and a candidate for the successor position.
To the puzzled Cheong-ryeong, Mok Gyeong-un nonchalantly said.
"I couldn't make her a subordinate, so I made her my woman."
-What? Your woman?
What the hell was he talking about?
How did he make her his woman? It was incomprehensible… Wait a minute…
-You can't mean…?
"Yes. We had sex."
'!!!!!!'
At Mok Gyeong-un's blunt expression, Cheong-ryeong's face instantly stiffened.
She thought this guy was a stone-like fellow who had no interest in such relationships between men and women, but she never expected such words to come out of his mouth.
Although she had died and become a wandering soul, for some reason, it felt embarrassing.
But when Cheong-ryeong unconsciously imagined it, her face turned red, and her expression distorted.
'…Wait, that mortal wench resembles me.'
***
169: Chapter 168: Variables (4)
-You can't mean…?
"Yes. We had sex."
'!!!!!!'
At Mok Gyeong-un's blunt expression, Cheong-ryeong's face stiffened.
She thought this guy was a stone-like fellow who had no interest in such relationships between men and women, but she never expected such words to come out of his mouth.
Although she had become a wandering soul, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
But when she suddenly thought of it, Cheong-ryeong's face turned red, and her expression distorted.
'…Wait, that mortal wench resembles me.'
At this, Cheong-ryeong couldn't hide her perplexity.
Although their auras were different, if one only looked at their appearances, she and Wi So-yeon resembled each other so much that they could be mistaken for sisters or twins.
Yet, knowing that, he still had sex with her?
For a moment, Cheong-ryeong imagined herself in Wi So-yeon's place.
Because of that,
-You! You! You're really going off the rails.
"What?"
-That mortal wench resembles me…
Cheong-ryeong couldn't finish her sentence.
She wanted to confront him, asking if he had relations with her knowing she resembled herself, but she became too embarrassed to continue.
'This, this guy is really…'
Was he asking because he didn't know why she was acting like this?
It would have been fine if she didn't resemble her.
But seeing that mortal wench reminded her of herself, and the fact that he had relations with her made her feel not only embarrassed but also icky and strange.
Could it be that this guy was thinking of her while sleeping with that wench?
She thought to herself.
Then, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
"Hmm. I don't know what you're trying to say, but there doesn't seem to be any particular problem. If there is, it would be better to handle it beforehand."
-…
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Cheong-ryeong furrowed her brows.
Was she making a fuss all by herself?
Judging from his attitude, he seemed as cold as usual, no different from any other matter.
Did that mean he truly had no feelings or ulterior motives when he slept with that mortal wench Wi So-yeon, who resembled her?
'…Is it even stranger to expect such emotions from him in the first place?'
Come to think of it, Mok Gyeong-un rarely expressed any emotions other than the murderous obsession to find the culprit who killed his grandfather.
Even his smiling face was merely a false emotion to make others feel at ease and let their guard down.
The only time he showed a genuine smile was when he saw blood.
Considering that, he must have had relations with her for a purpose, nothing more, nothing less.
In the first place, it was questionable whether he had any desire for the opposite sex.
'Well, if that's the case, I don't need to…'
No, it still bothers me.
It keeps nagging at me.
After becoming a wandering soul, she thought all emotions except the desire to resolve her grudge had disappeared, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Rather than not knowing, it was inevitable to feel bothered and icky once she found out.
However, since he was nonchalant about it, she felt awkward bringing it up further, fearing that she would look strange if she made a fuss alone.
Then, Mok Gyeong-un approached her and pointed at something, saying,
"But what is that?"
-That?
"Yes. No matter how I look at it, the portrait painted on that scroll looks like you, Cheong-ryeong."
-…
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Cheong-ryeong closed her mouth.
She had a feeling he would ask about herself in that scroll anyway.
'I should have torn it apart.'
She had considered doing that, fearing that he would become curious.
However, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
That was the last trace of herself left in this world, and that person…
Then, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said,
"Wearing a red and elegant bridal dress with a golden crown, you look just like a blooming peony flower. Did you have a wedding ceremony or something?"
'!?'
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Cheong-ryeong's eyes trembled.
[You look like a single red peony flower.]
A voice rippling through her mind.
That voice, which had become faint as a hundred years had passed, came to mind.
She slowly looked at Mok Gyeong-un.
What a coincidence.
To think she would hear those words again through this mortal fellow.
It was so nostalgic that it felt truly distant.
'Hm?'
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes twinkled with interest.
He couldn't help but be puzzled by Cheong-ryeong's distant expression, which he had never seen before.
Could there be a story related to this scroll painting?
Seeing her make such a face, he couldn't ask any more about the portrait of her wearing a bridal dress.
But then, something caught Mok Gyeong-un's eye.
'!?'
It was the incense burner in front of the old altar.
The shrine was covered in dust and filled with cobwebs, looking like a place no one visited.
However, the only clean things inside the shrine were that scroll portrait and this incense burner.
The traces of incense sticks in the incense burner.
And only the floor in front of it was not covered in dust.
'Is someone visiting this place regularly?'
Otherwise, there was no way only that spot would be like that.
In this old shrine, there was a scroll portrait presumed to be of Cheong-ryeong, and someone was visiting it regularly…
Could they be Cheong-ryeong's blood relatives or acquaintances?
It was at that very moment.
-Startled!
Mok Gyeong-un looked in a certain direction.
Then, he quickly took out the wooden puppet from his bosom and sent a hurried telepathic message to Cheong-ryeong.
-Cheong-ryeong!
-I sensed it too.
She had sensed it almost at the same time as Mok Gyeong-un.
Although it was a very faint energy, it was almost identical to the vibration of that curse power.
That meant the owner of this curse power had come very close.
Mok Gyeong-un formed a hand seal and chanted a small incantation.
Then, Cheong-ryeong's body transformed into smoke and seeped into the wooden puppet Mok Gyeong-un was holding.
-Sizzle!
After sealing Cheong-ryeong inside the wooden puppet, Mok Gyeong-un put it back into his bosom.
Then, he hesitated as he was about to go outside.
He sensed that the faint curse power was felt outside the shrine's door.
'Fast.'
So, he tried to hide his presence by using his movement technique to fly to the ceiling.
It was at that very moment.
-Whoosh!
Suddenly, the surroundings were engulfed in dark shadows, and Mok Gyeong-un's figure, who was about to kick off the ground, froze in that state.
'!?'
What the hell was this?
It was such a strange phenomenon.
His body was frozen in this posture, trying to leap up, and wouldn't move.
His entire body felt as if it were paralyzed, and he couldn't feel any sensations at all, which was something he had never experienced before.
He had to hide his presence right away, but what was going on?
As he was puzzled,
-Creak!
The door opened, and someone entered.
Although the shrine was shrouded in darkness, Mok Gyeong-un could see clearly.
It was a man who appeared to be in his early to mid-forties, wearing a gray martial arts uniform with a yin-yang symbol.
Despite his somewhat ordinary-looking appearance, Mok Gyeong-un could tell that he was from the Primal Killing Pavilion due to the diviner attire he was wearing.
'Exorcism technique?'
Then, was his body freezing also due to an exorcism technique?
If that was the case, it was truly astonishing.
What kind of exorcism technique was this?
All five senses and sensations were completely numb, and only his consciousness was intact.
-Mortal? Mortal? What's wrong with you?
Cheong-ryeong also urgently asked about the strange phenomenon that had befallen Mok Gyeong-un.
However, even though his consciousness was intact, he couldn't move his entire body, so Mok Gyeong-un couldn't respond to her words.
Why the hell couldn't he move his body?
-Thump thump!
The sound of footsteps approached along with the diviner.
Seeing the diviner like this, Mok Gyeong-un thought that this technique, whatever it was, was more dangerous than anything he had known before.
A technique that could stop everything except consciousness, what kind of absurd technique was this?
Wasn't it a method that could kill anyone if one wanted to?
-Mortal! Mortal!
Cheong-ryeong's voice rang out loudly.
Thinking that Mok Gyeong-un's condition was dangerous, she was contemplating whether to break the wooden puppet and come out right away.
-Damn it!
As the diviner approached within ten steps, she finally decided to break the wooden puppet and come out.
At this rate, they would be caught with their eyes open.
-Crack!
As Cheong-ryeong unleashed her demonic power to break the wooden puppet, it cracked.
It was at that very moment.
-Stop!
-Huh? You?
Cheong-ryeong, who was about to break the wooden puppet and come out, stopped.
-Mortal, are you alright?
-Yes. Suddenly, all my senses have returned.
For some reason, the moment Cheong-ryeong cracked the wooden puppet to come out, all the sensations in his body returned.
But then, an even stranger thing happened.
The moment his senses returned, the approaching diviner disappeared.
It wasn't in the sense that he 'moved quickly.'
He suddenly vanished from sight as if he had never been there in the first place.
It was as if he 'became unrecognizable.'
-What?
-…What the hell is this?
He had clearly sensed the curse power beyond the shrine door.
And didn't he walk right up to him?
But he suddenly disappeared.
Since his senses had been frozen, it was difficult to even grasp the presence or absence of energy as he disappeared without a trace right in front of him.
-We need to get out of here for now.
-I agree. Hurry.
Whether it was a technique or something else, if they couldn't accurately comprehend it, there was no way to confront it.
The only answer was to unconditionally leave this place.
-Pat!
Mok Gyeong-un immediately flew out.
***
At the same time.
-Drip!
Blood flowed down the forehead of Cho Tae-cheong, who was sitting on the roof of a high tower, forming a sword finger seal.
At the same time, Cho Tae-cheong furrowed his brows with an incredulous look.
What the hell was going on?
The Time-Space All Deception Technique, an advanced forbidden technique that wouldn't be undone unless the caster released it, suddenly broke apart, despite having some limitations.
Fortunately, since he hadn't touched anything alive during the technique, the repercussions were minor.
However, this was an unexpected variable.
'That guy… What the hell is he?'
This was the first time… No, it wasn't the first time a forbidden technique had broken midway, but the situation was completely different from back then.
That monster had transcended the realm of humans, making it possible.
But the boy who was in the darkness that he had seen through the Time-Space All Deception Technique just now.
It was too dark to see clearly even from ten steps away, but at a glance, he was a young lad who hadn't even reached adulthood, around 17-18 years old.
There was no way such a young lad could have done anything.
In the first place, from the moment he was caught in the Time-Space All Deception Technique, he couldn't do anything.
Then, Cho Tae-cheong's expression distorted, and his face changed.
Then, he spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Don't be overconfident just because it's a forbidden technique. There is no perfect technique in this world."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cho Tae-cheong's face returned to normal.
Then,
"I know that much. But this technique doesn't include living beings as subjects of recognition. You know that too, don't you? Wait a minute… Could it be?"
-Crack! Crack!
Cho Tae-cheong, who distorted his expression again, spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Kehehehe. You found the answer."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cho Tae-cheong's face returned to its original state, and the corners of his mouth curled up bitterly.
"I see."
The high-level wandering soul that had been sweeping through the inner city of the Heaven and Earth Society.
The location he had predicted while estimating the path of the spiritual power that had shaken off the two servant spirit was none other than that old shrine.
He was already curious about what it was trying to hide.
But with this, it seemed he had found the answer.
***
Meanwhile, Mok Gyeong-un was heading somewhere quickly.
Cheong-ryeong asked him,
-Where are you going? For now, let's return to Shadow Clan and…
-No. We need to hurry before that.
-What do you mean? That diviner fellow who used that strange and unknown technique will be desperate to find you and me, so we should lay low until we come up with a countermeasure…
-That's why I think we need to hurry even more.
-What?
-I also saw his face, but he briefly saw my face too. It won't take him long to find me.
-You can't mean…?
-If I can kill him, I should.
Murderous intent flickered in Mok Gyeong-un's eyes as he spoke those words.
The place Mok Gyeong-un was heading to was none other than the vicinity of the high tower where the Primal Killing Pavilion's estate was located.
170: Chapter 169: Cho Tae-cheong (1)
After traveling a considerable distance using lightness skill, Mok Gyeong-un stopped.
It was none other than the vicinity of the high tower where the Primal Killing Pavilion estate was located.
The high tower, known as the tallest building in the inner city except for the main hall where the Society Leader resided, was attached to the Primal Killing Pavilion estate.
Therefore, although Mok Gyeong-un didn't completely know the layout of the inner city yet, it wasn't too difficult for him to find it.
Cheong-ryeong's voice reached Mok Gyeong-un's ears.
-Mortal. Are… Aren't you going too far?
-Too far?
-Even if you've crossed the threshold, if something like earlier happens again, you might even die instead.
Cheong-ryeong was concerned about the previous situation.
That strange technique that had immobilized even the rapidly strengthened Mok Gyeong-un.
If he were to be caught in it and have his neck slashed, it would lead to an irreversible situation.
-It's not too late yet. Let's go back.
-No. If we go back, it'll be too late.
-Sigh. What's too late?
-Someone capable of using such a strange technique, who knows what they might do.
Mok Gyeong-un was concerned about a different aspect than Cheong-ryeong.
If it was something that could be dealt with to some extent, there was no need to rush.
However, if it was a technique that was completely impossible to deal with, taking the initiative first was the answer.
Mok Gyeong-un thought they needed to handle it before the other party could do anything.
-Goodness, you really don't listen at times like this, mortal.
Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue.
Once this mortal fellow made up his mind, he never yielded.
Unless she manifested and forcibly dragged him away, there was probably no way to dissuade him.
So, Cheong-ryeong said,
-Tsk tsk. There's no other choice. Avoid a direct confrontation.
-We should.
If they went in directly, it would be equivalent to letting the other party know they had come.
To make it difficult to see with the naked eye, he had been moving through dense shadows the entire way.
Since crossing the threshold, it had become difficult for ordinary people to sense his presence.
So, the guards standing in front of the estate were chatting among themselves, unaware that he was nearby.
-Fortunately, night has fallen.
At night, there are fewer people wandering around and more places to hide.
Mok Gyeong-un opened his spiritual sense and focused on his spiritual eye.
It was to identify the most convenient route.
-Woosh!
'…Ho.'
When he opened his spiritual eye, he saw two energies at the early stage of the Transcendent Realm beyond the wall.
'To have two experts of the Transcendent Realm stationed here.'
The early stage of the Transcendent Realm was almost equivalent to the level of a Grand Master.
As Amjongju had said, it seemed to be true that the Society Leader valued the Primal Killing Pavilion and was thorough with security.
Moreover, most of the energies of the martial artists guarding the estate were at least first-rate experts or higher.
If one were to infiltrate out of mere curiosity, there was a high probability of suffering a setback.
Of course, Mok Gyeong-un didn't mind that at all now.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un's figure dispersed like mist.
It was the Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps he had stolen from Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang.
The Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps, when deliberately used, was so fast that it was difficult to detect with the naked eye, making it challenging even for experts of the Transcendent Realm to easily notice.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un instantly crossed the wall and entered.
Then, he quickly moved through the estate.
There were a total of fifteen buildings inside the estate.
Among them, the diviner who had used that bizarre technique beyond common sense on him would be present.
-Are you planning to search each one by one?
-I have to. But since that would take a lot of time, I should start with the main hall.
-Main hall?
-Yes.
A diviner with immense curse power capable of detecting even Cheong-ryeong's energy couldn't possibly be an ordinary person.
He speculated that they would be at least an executive-level figure within the Primal Killing Pavilion.
-Wouldn't it be easier to find them if you tell that Jo Ui-gong fellow about their appearance?
-Ho. That's a good idea.
Mok Gyeong-un agreed with Cheong-ryeong's suggestion.
Jo Ui-gong, who had become the Pavilion Master by overthrowing his former master and previous Primal Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok.
Then, he would immediately find out who this person was.
So, Mok Gyeong-un headed straight to the main hall building.
-Swish!
Throughout his use of the Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps, no one noticed Mok Gyeong-un's movements.
Before long, Mok Gyeong-un reached the main hall of the Primal Killing Pavilion.
Arriving in front of the main hall, Mok Gyeong-un surveyed the surroundings and sought a way to enter.
'Two at the entrance.'
Two experts at the Peak Realm were guarding it.
Since the door was closed, it was difficult to enter without them noticing.
Then, he spotted an open window on the 2nd floor of the main hall.
Although there were first-rate experts presumed to be escort warriors on the 2nd floor corridor, fortunately, there was no such person at the open window.
-Tap! Tap!
Mok Gyeong-un formed a hand seal and used the Six Yin Boundary Technique.
The Six Yin Boundary Technique was to detect curse power and prepare for any possible exorcism techniques.
A faint curse power was felt from the open window.
It seemed that an exorcism technique was set up.
'The only answer is to disable the technique simultaneously with entering.'
-Tap! Tap!
'Hariti Mudra!'
Mok Gyeong-un, who had formed a hand seal by bending his thumb and joining three fingers, chanted a technique of release and used the Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps to insert his body into the open window while running upside down under the 3rd floor roof.
At the same time, Mok Gyeong-un changed his hand seal to a sword seal.
"Urgent and speedy. Release!"
As he extended the sword seal forward, the surroundings became quiet.
Although it seemed as if nothing had happened, the nine talismans attached to the wall crumbled into ashes.
-Sizzle!
'The Nine Shadows Binding Technique?'
It was an exorcism technique where nine shadows bound the intruder and pierced holes in their limbs.
It was quite an aggressive technique.
As expected, the fact that it was set up meant that the window was intentionally left open.
However, it didn't matter.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un used the Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps again and moved through the corridor.
There were a total of six guard warriors guarding the 2nd floor corridor.
They were all at the first-rate level, but none of them were particularly a hindrance to Mok Gyeong-un.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un quickly moved while disabling the exorcism formations set up intermittently, and immediately went up the stairs to the upper floor.
Arriving at the 3rd floor corridor, Mok Gyeong-un paused for a moment.
'Hmm.'
There was a cloud bridge connecting to the high tower.
Judging from the fact that it was set up for direct movement from the 3rd floor, it seemed that the high tower was also used by the executives within the Primal Killing Pavilion.
However, it was strange.
-Why are you stopping?
At Cheong-ryeong's question, Mok Gyeong-un surveyed the surroundings and said,
-I don't sense any energy.
-You don't sense any energy?
-Yes.
The main hall building had up to 4 floors.
He knew that the Pavilion Master's room was on the 4th floor, but there was no one guarding the 3rd floor.
Mok Gyeong-un's spiritual sense had become even more sensitive since crossing the threshold.
However, on this floor, there were no traps or guards to be seen.
That made him even more wary.
Mok Gyeong-un looked up.
A single energy was felt on the upper floor.
It was very familiar, belonging to the current Pavilion Master, Jo Ui-gong.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had been carefully examining the surroundings, finally went upstairs.
After all, Pavilion Master Jo Ui-gong was superficially his master, and being bound by the Enslavement Chain, he was no different from a slave, so he had no choice but to follow Mok Gyeong-un's orders.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un stood in front of the Pavilion Master's room.
Mok Gyeong-un, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, briefly formed the Hariti Mudra with his left hand and opened the door to the Pavilion Master's room with his right hand.
-Creak!
As the door opened and Mok Gyeong-un entered, his eyes narrowed.
The reason was,
'Illusion technique.'
An illusion technique was being used before his eyes.
Ordinary illusion techniques didn't work on Mok Gyeong-un, who had opened his spiritual eye.
It was because he could see that it was a false image created by curse power.
The scene shown by the illusion technique depicted Pavilion Master Jo Ui-gong sitting at his desk in the office.
However, in reality,
'Haa…'
Inside, Jo Ui-gong was seen naked, with his limbs bound, looking dazed.
"Heheheheh."
Jo Ui-gong wriggled his body and let out a bizarre laugh.
But his expression was distorted as if in pain.
-…We've been discovered.
-It seems so.
There was no way he would be in such a miserable state otherwise.
Mok Gyeong-un formed a hand seal and lightly waved his hand while chanting a technique of release.
-Swish!
Then, the illusion technique that had been set at the entrance of the Pavilion Master's room was dispelled.
As the illusion technique was released, the overlapping scene before his eyes disappeared, and the current Pavilion Master Jo Ui-gong's appearance, with his limbs restrained, became clear.
-Wait. Don't approach him.
At Cheong-ryeong's words, Mok Gyeong-un stopped in his tracks.
Even without her warning, he would have stopped because he had discovered something.
It was because of Jo Ui-gong.
-Squirm! Rumble!
"Ugh, haha!"
Jo Ui-gong's skin bulged out, and something was moving inside.
Its shape was quite revolting, resembling a centipede.
It was crawling all over Jo Ui-gong's skin, and whenever it did, Jo Ui-gong seemed to be in pain, bleeding and suffering.
However, this wasn't just one.
There seemed to be dozens, no, hundreds of them crawling all over his body.
-How vicious.
With those things burrowing into his entire body and feeding on him, it was only natural for him to lose his mind like that.
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sharpened as he looked at the Enslavement Chain on Jo Ui-gong's arm.
The Enslavement Chain had dug into Jo Ui-gong's wrist.
-He must have fought against the restraints of the chain.
-It seems so.
The one who had reduced Jo Ui-gong to this state must have tried to find out who had placed the Enslavement Chain on him.
That's why they had committed such an act.
However, once bound by the Enslavement Chain, one could never betray.
Therefore, as the techniques clashed, it seemed to have left Jo Ui-gong in such a devastated state.
-Can you remove it?
At Cheong-ryeong's question, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.
He had never seen such a technique before.
It was rather impressive that Jo Ui-gong hadn't died despite having such a large number of bugs crawling all over his skin.
-…It seems to be that guy.
-That guy? You mean him?
-Yes.
The existence that had immediately noticed Cheong-ryeong's presence and changed course with a technique that had taken away all of Mok Gyeong-un's sensations except for his consciousness.
It seemed that existence had reduced Jo Ui-gong to this state.
'Ah.'
Mok Gyeong-un, who had been staring intently at Jo Ui-gong, drew a line with his sword finger.
-Swish!
Then, a sharp murderous intent sliced through the air of the Pavilion Master's room.
Along with it, a red line appeared on Jo Ui-gong's neck, and then,
-Slide! Thud!
His head fell to the floor.
Mok Gyeong-un let out a soft breath.
Since he no longer had any value as a pawn, the only thing he could do for him was to end his life mercifully.
If he tried to forcibly keep him alive, it would only hold him back.
Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.
'It's not as easy as I thought.'
The exorcism skills of Jo Ui-gong, who had earned the title of Moon-level, were unrivaled among the diviners he had encountered.
For someone like him to be so helplessly defeated…
Now, he had a rough idea.
The existence that had reduced Jo Ui-gong to this state and chased them to their doorstep after detecting Cheong-ryeong's spiritual power.
'…Is it the one called Cho Tae-cheong?'
The person Jo Ui-gong had been afraid of, his senior brother.
He seemed to be the most likely candidate.
[Senior Brother Cho Tae-cheong possesses curse power comparable to our master. He is an existence I cannot possibly handle.]
Those were the words Jo Ui-gong had said to him.
Since he had subdued the previous Primal Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok, Mok Gyeong-un thought Jo Ui-gong would be able to sufficiently resist if he made full preparations.
However, it seemed he had underestimated him.
He might be an even more troublesome diviner than the arrogant and elderly In Seo-ok.
Perhaps he was an even stronger diviner than Jo Ui-gong had anticipated.
'If I don't kill him now, he'll be a nuisance.'
Murderous intent flickered in Mok Gyeong-un's eyes.
It was at that very moment.
-Thump!
The sound of footsteps echoed in Mok Gyeong-un's ears.
-Thump!
The moment he heard the second footstep, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head back.
-Why are you doing that?
-…It's him.
Mok Gyeong-un's memory was beyond imagination. He could remember even the habits of the other party just by the stride and sound of their footsteps, so he could immediately identify who it was.
It was undoubtedly the same existence that had entered the old shrine.
-Is he coming?
-Yes.
-What will you do?
-…I have to kill him.
There was no need to hesitate. Even if this existence was a tremendous diviner, the key point was only one. If he killed him before he could use any techniques, that was it.
Mok Gyeong-un's actions were very swift once he made up his mind.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un's figure dispersed like mist. Along with it, Mok Gyeong-un, who had used the Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps, ran out of the Pavilion Master's room and down the corridor using high-speed movement.
-Swish!
To Mok Gyeong-un, who was using high-speed movement, the existence walking down the corridor was moving at an extremely slow pace, no different from walking.
It was that ordinary-looking diviner wearing a gray yin-yang robe. This time, unlike in the shrine, his senses weren't sealed, so the diviner's energy was clearly visible.
However,
'The energy is overlapping?'
Something was strange. As he approached the guy using high-speed movement, his energy was different from ordinary people.
After opening his spiritual eye, the energy became visible, and the guy's energy appeared to be overlapping. It was as if he wasn't a single existence but two together.
However, the overlapping energy, unlike the extraordinary curse power, was not much different from ordinary people who hadn't cultivated martial arts in terms of the energy itself.
Therefore, there wouldn't be much of a problem in killing him.
-Swish! Swish! Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un, who had instantly passed by the diviner and stood right behind him, raised his murderous intent in his sword hand.
Since he hadn't cultivated martial arts, the diviner was still walking forward at a very slow pace.
So, Mok Gyeong-un tried to behead him in one strike.
-Whoosh!
But it was at that very moment. The forehead of the slowly walking diviner suddenly split open.
-Crackle!
Then,
-Startle!
For a moment, Mok Gyeong-un furrowed his brows. The reason was that the small energy overlapping the diviner suddenly surged to an unbelievable level.
And that energy was extremely ominous and inauspicious.
However, this wouldn't stop Mok Gyeong-un. Mok Gyeong-un tried to behead the diviner.
But just as the murderous intent of his sword hand was about to touch the neck,
-Kwang!
At that moment, something pressed down on Mok Gyeong-un's shoulder. Along with it, the floor shattered, and Mok Gyeong-un's figure fell straight down.
-Crash!
Mok Gyeong-un's figure, which had fallen to the 3rd floor, didn't stop there and broke through the floor again, descending further.
Mok Gyeong-un raised his head and looked at the existence pressing down on him. It was a pair of giant hooves.
Between those hooves, he saw a pair of ferocious eyes and strange horns.
-It's the Toru!
Cheong-ryeong hurriedly said to Mok Gyeong-un. This was the evil spirit from Mount Kunlun that had been chasing her.
As befitting a Imaemangnyang-level evil spirit, its demonic power was incomparable to that of fierce beasts or monstrous beasts.
Under the pressure of its force, Mok Gyeong-un's figure instantly broke through the 2nd floor and fell to the 1st floor.
-Crash! Crash!
The beast seemed to be trying to crush him to death like this. However, the moment it stepped on the solid 1st floor, unlike the wooden corridor,
-Crackle!
As the floor cracked in all directions, Mok Gyeong-un, who had channeled the crushing force through the soles of his feet, swung his sword hand towards Toru's face.
-Slash!
At that moment, one of Toru's ferocious eyes was split in half, and purple blood spurted out.
The Toru, with one eye slashed, let out a roar of pain.
-Roar!
The roar created shock waves and shook the surroundings. The walls shattered, and it was utter chaos.
Along with it, the enraged Imaemangnyang Toru thrashed about, trying to trample Mok Gyeong-un, who had cut out its eye, with its hooves.
'What a nuisance.'
As Mok Gyeong-un dodged it and tried to counterattack, it was at that very moment.
-Clang! Clang!
The Toru's hooves were blocked by some invisible barrier. What is this? As he was wondering,
"Hey you!"
'!?'
A pretty short-haired girl in maid attire, with one hand forming a seal, urgently shouted to Mok Gyeong-un while gesturing.
"Follow me right now!"
171: Chapter 170: Cho Tae-cheong (2)
Clang! Clang!
The Toru's hooves were blocked by some invisible barrier.
'What is this?'
Curse power could be felt from the barrier.
It was at that moment.
"Hey you!"
'!?'
A pretty short-haired girl in maid attire, with one hand forming a seal, urgently said to Mok Gyeong-un while gesturing.
"Follow me right now!"
"Who are you?"
"Is this the time to ask that? Hurry up!"
At the girl's words, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes narrowed.
The curse power emanating from the girl was almost equivalent to the level of Moon-level diviner.
But why was this girl dressed like this?
As he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un looked up.
-Roar!
-Clang! Clang!
The Imaemangnyang Toru roared and tried to break through the barrier with its hooves.
Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly.
Things had already escalated, so it seemed wrong to kill the beast.
With this level of commotion, people would gather from the surroundings, and there would soon be chaos.
So, Mok Gyeong-un said to the girl,
"Alright. But where do you want me to follow you?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, the girl, while maintaining the seal with one hand, took something out from her waist with the other hand.
She put it on her finger and then rotated it in the air.
-Swish!
'Ah?'
Surprisingly, something like smoke flowed out in the air, creating a circular entrance.
"I can't maintain it for long. Hurry."
With those words, the girl entered the circular entrance first.
So, Mok Gyeong-un, puzzled, followed her inside.
-Swish!
Then, the smoke dispersed, and the entrance disappeared.
Shortly after, red haze rose mysteriously from the 1st floor, and then sand grains surged upward all at once, filling the place where Mok Gyeong-un had been.
-Boom boom boom boom boom!
***
An irritated voice flowed from the mouth of the diviner Cho Tae-cheong, who had his right hand forming a seal.
"Look at this fellow."
The voice was quite hoarse.
The diviner Cho Tae-cheong shook his head and clicked his tongue.
He had tried to make the one who dared to target him pay the price, but he had disappeared somewhere.
'…Was it a diviner?'
He had felt considerable curse power from below for a moment.
With this level, it could be seen as a skill almost reaching the level of a Moon-level diviner.
Then, could it be that this was also an exorcism technique?
-Swish!
Cho Tae-cheong touched the back of his neck.
The foreign sensation felt in his palm.
It was because the flowing blood had stained his palm.
-Crunch!
Cho Tae-cheong gritted his teeth and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"If I hadn't switched, you would have had your neck sliced and died."
At his words, Cho Tae-cheong's body trembled.
As if reacting to anger.
Cho Tae-cheong snorted and looked at the hole in the floor.
'Is it that guy?'
While struggling to protect himself, he couldn't properly see the guy's face.
Cho Tae-cheong looked at the hole in disbelief.
"Haa…"
Who the hell was this guy?
Although he had been released from the Time-Space All Deception Technique thanks to the unexpected variable of the wandering soul in the old shrine, he couldn't accurately perceive what had happened until then because all his senses and consciousness had been taken away.
But he had come here right away?
Could it be that he was conscious?
'Or… Did he notice because of that wandering soul?'
Whatever the case, one thing was certain: the guy had noticed what had happened in the old shrine and targeted him.
Then, he needed to find this guy quickly.
If he were an ordinary person, he wouldn't dare to target him recklessly, but seeing him commit such a brazen act, he was quite a nuisance.
Then, someone hurriedly ran up the stairs and appeared.
"Are you alri…"
It was a guard warrior guarding the stairs leading to the 3rd floor.
The warrior, who had been startled by the sudden roar and come up, couldn't hide his perplexity upon seeing Cho Tae-cheong's face.
"What's that on your forehead…"
"Oh my… You saw it."
"Pardon?"
It was right after those words ended.
-Stab!
"Urgh!"
Something sharp pierced through the guard warrior's chest and protruded out.
The warrior, with his chest pierced, gasped for breath with eyes wide open as if they would tear apart, and then his head drooped as if he had lost all strength.
Cho Tae-cheong, who had been coldly watching him, looked up at the sky and said,
"Find the guy. He couldn't have escaped far."
-Flap!
As the order was given, the shadows that had been covering the surroundings disappeared with the sound of giant flapping wings.
***
-Swish!
'Hmm?'
Mok Gyeong-un looked puzzled as he watched the entrance disappear like smoke.
He had learned various exorcism techniques, but this was the first time he had seen such a technique.
As he was amazed, the girl spoke from behind.
"What's your identity?"
At that question, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head.
The short-haired girl in maid attire was standing with her arms crossed, looking at him with wide eyes as if in disbelief.
So, Mok Gyeong-un looked around.
"Where is this?"
"It's the kitchen."
Even without an answer, it seemed obvious that this place was the kitchen.
With the pots hanging on the walls and the chimney, anyone could tell this was the kitchen.
"Yes, it seems so."
"Is that all you have to say? Despite experiencing the Disconnected Space Technique… No, that's not important. More importantly, I asked about your identity first… Hmm. But you're quite handsome, aren't you?"
"Pardon?"
Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head at the girl's incoherent words.
Then, the girl approached Mok Gyeong-un and stared at his face intently without hesitation.
-What's with this mortal wench?
Cheong-ryeong spoke as if she was dissatisfied.
So, Mok Gyeong-un asked in puzzlement.
"Are you going to keep staring like that?"
"It's not like your face will wear out from looking. Can't I take a look?"
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders at her assertive attitude.
Then, he focused his spiritual sense and checked for any approaching presences.
However, no presence was felt in the surroundings.
Meanwhile, the girl smacked her lips and said,
"Ahh. What a pity. What a shame. Your face shows that you won't even reach adulthood and will have a short life."
"What?"
"I said you have the fate of a short life. Your neck will either break or be cut off. If it weren't for that, you'd be the perfect husband for me."
With those words, the girl giggled as if embarrassed, covering her flushed face with both hands.
Cheong-ryeong was annoyed by her unpredictable attitude.
-I don't like this mortal wench for some reason.
-Is that so?
In Mok Gyeong-un's eyes, she just seemed like a lively girl.
Of course, calling her a girl wasn't quite accurate given her curvaceous figure.
She had a cute face and seemed to be around 17 or 18 years old at a glance.
She appeared to be around the same age as him.
Then, the girl spoke.
"Anyway, what's your identity? Judging from your attire, you're not from the Primal Killing Pavilion, and you seem like an ordinary person, so why did it target you?"
"By that, you mean?"
"That? Ah… How should I explain this? It's really bothersome to explain this to an ordinary person, and they don't easily believe it, so it's difficult."
"Just tell me, and I'll understand it in my own way."
"It'll be hard. Ordinary people usually can't accept such things."
"If I couldn't accept it, I would have had no reason to follow you through that smoke-made entrance earlier."
"Ah! Is that so? What made you trust and follow me?"
"…"
Didn't she tell him to follow her?
She seemed to have a rather inconsistent personality.
So, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Your attire is that of a maid, but considering the technique earlier, are you perhaps a diviner?"
"Oh? It seems you're not an ordinary person."
At her question, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and replied.
"I know a little."
"A little? You're just at the beginner level, yet it targeted you?"
"By that, do you mean the evil spirit from earlier?"
"…It's not just a little. You're also someone from this field, right?"
"This field?"
"Yes, this field. Seeing as it targeted you, you're not from the Primal Killing Pavilion, right?"
Although her way of speaking was difficult to understand, Mok Gyeong-un could deduce two things from this question.
"This field" seemed to refer to those who dealt with exorcism techniques.
And she didn't seem to be from the Primal Killing Pavilion.
If she were, she wouldn't have helped him in the earlier situation.
So, Mok Gyeong-un nodded and said,
"No, I'm not."
Strictly speaking, he could be considered to be from here since he was a disciple of the current Pavilion Master of the Primal Killing Pavilion, the deceased Jo Ui-gong.
However, saying so in this atmosphere would only make the girl more cautious of him.
Mok Gyeong-un's response was well-timed.
The girl let out a sigh of relief and said,
"Phew. That's a relief. I was worried that I might have gotten involved in an internal conflict at the Primal Killing Pavilion."
"Is that so? It's not like that."
"It seemed that way. Otherwise, there's no way that cursed Three-Eyed bastard would try to kill you."
"Three-Eyed?"
Mok Gyeong-un asked in response to her words.
Did she just say Three-Eyed?
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, the girl nodded and said,
"Yes, Three-Eyed. The Red Falling Star of Mount Kunlun, the evil spirit from earlier, is also a servant spirit controlled by that Three-Eyed bastard, right?"
'!?'
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes narrowed.
The diviner he had tried to kill earlier, no, Cho Tae-cheong was called Three-Eyed?
Mok Gyeong-un suddenly recalled an incident from the Corpse Blood Valley.
[So, what exactly is this Three-Eyed thing?]
-It's literally what it means. A three-eyed being. It's a malformed vessel born from a human womb. There are stories that when it's born, it brings misfortune.
[Misfortune?]
-But it's quite interesting. Even in ancient times, a Three-Eyed being would have been killed within a day of being born.
[I don't quite understand what you're saying, but are you saying that the diviner with the Taoist robe who has the Three-Eyes left you here?]
-Yes. I don't know what that bastard did, but after he visited, no one could perceive me.
That was the conversation he had with the monster raccoon dog that had been sealed in the scroll.
Then, was Cho Tae-cheong, the chief disciple of the former Primal Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok, the one responsible for trapping that monster raccoon dog with tremendous demonic power?
At that moment, Cheong-ryeong's voice echoed in his ear.
-…Mortal. If what this wench is saying is true, it seems we've messed with quite a big shot.
-A big shot?
-A spiritual beast. A diviner capable of sealing a spiritual beast is definitely not an ordinary person. With that level of skill, they would be considered a monster worthy of being called a Divine diviner, the pinnacle of diviners.
-Divine diviner?
Diviners are given titles according to their curse power and the level of their techniques.
Divine, Sun, Moon, Technique, Profound, and Conveying.
The title bestowed upon only the six at the pinnacle.
That is the title of Divine.
Diviners who received this title were limited to only six throughout the Central Plains, and they were known as the Six Divine diviners.
'Divine diviner…'
Was Cho Tae-cheong truly at the level of a Divine diviner, as Cheong-ryeong said?
As he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un asked the girl,
"Has the person you mentioned, the Three-Eyed, reached the level of a Divine diviner?"
"What are you talking about?"
Suddenly, the girl pouted her lips and said,
Why was she reacting like this?
"How can a malformed vessel no different from an evil spirit be placed on the same level as my master?"
"What?"
One of Mok Gyeong-un's eyebrows raised.
Could it be that her master was a Divine diviner?
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, the girl suddenly shrugged her shoulders and spoke with a proud expression.
"Hmph. Well, yes."
"…"
He had suspected it, but it was really true.
He had guessed that she wasn't an ordinary girl, but to think she had a Divine diviner, the pinnacle of diviners, as her master.
This was more surprising than he had thought.
Then, the girl said,
"Since you work in this field, you've probably heard of it. Have you heard of the Harmonious Immortal Pavilion[1] Master?"
"Harmonious Immortal Pavilion Master?"
Mok Gyeong-un had no way of knowing.
Although he had learned basic common sense through Moon-level diviner Jo Ui-gong, he hadn't learned about which diviner groups were famous or who the Six Divine diviners were.
Naturally, he didn't know, but when he didn't, the girl spoke in disbelief.
"What? You really don't know? Scarlet-Tailed Old Immortal[2] of the Harmonious Immortal Pavilion?"
"Scarlet-Tailed Old Immortal?"
"No way. You really don't know? Are you sure you're from this field? Which pavilion are you from that you don't even know who my master is…"
"Shh!"
"Huh!"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, the girl unconsciously held her breath and closed her mouth.
Wondering why he did that, Mok Gyeong-un looked towards the northeast.
Then, before long,
-Startle!
The girl furrowed her brows.
That was because of the very faint demonic power felt from outside the building.
This was the demonic power emitted by an evil spirit.
The girl looked at Mok Gyeong-un with surprised eyes.
'What's with this person? He noticed this demonic power even before me?'