NOVEL NEXT Chapter 873
Chapter 15: The True Martial Home
I decided to instruct Seo Mun-hye in martial arts. As I observed her demonstration of several techniques, I was taken aback by her skill.
‘In such a short time, her form has become impeccable…’
At this rate, I believed she would be able to utilize the Seven Great Techniques effortlessly within a few years, even without my further instruction. Realizing her incredible talent, I spoke to her.
“Seo Mun-hye, you’re really holding back your strength.”
I had a strong feeling that she could unleash more power, so I pointed it out, and Seo Mun-hye nervously replied.
“Yes, about that, I was going to mention it.”
“Hmm?”
“If I use all my strength, I can’t practice martial arts. The shock from my movements would destroy the training grounds.”
“……”
She lifted her wrist to show me, revealing a bright red symbol etched upon it.
“That’s why Zhuge Sa summoned the Blood Exchange Herb to implant in my limbs to restrain my strength. Thanks to it, I can move like a normal person.”
Normally, the Blood Exchange Herb would entirely drain the blood from a human’s body, but for Seo Mun-hye, it merely dulled her senses. It seemed that the herb couldn’t absorb her blood beyond a certain limit.
“A normal person, huh…”
Applying the standard of a ‘normal person’ to Seo Mun-hye felt entirely inappropriate; her physical capabilities had already surpassed those of ordinary humans by hundreds of times. Even with that herb, it merely slowed her down a little. I began to think that Seo Mun-hye, as she was now, ranked among the world’s most powerful, possibly even stronger than I.
“On the other hand, the half of the dark energy passed down to you is barely perceptible to me now.”
“I don’t hear any strange voices either…”
“Seo Mun-hye. Just so you know, we have decided to attack the Celestial Realm in alliance with Zhuge Yulong.”
“…….!!”
“Your role will be incredibly important. I hope you can be of assistance.”
At my request, Seo Mun-hye looked overjoyed, practically bouncing with excitement.
“Yes!”
I continued to mentor her as the time passed. There were various other tasks to attend to, but I felt the urge to strengthen her abilities even more, believing she would become our secret weapon.
“Ahahaha… it’s been a while.”
“Lü Buwei.”
On a certain day, Lü Buwei visited the training ground. He seemed to have recovered significantly from his previous worn-down state. Zhuge Sa had released him from the seal on Mount Ye just as I had instructed. Lü Buwei said,
“I haven’t found the whereabouts of the Yeo Clan, but while searching under Zhuge Sa’s command, I came across some interesting information to report.”
“Interesting information?”
“What I heard from Zhuge Sa is that Yongjeong wanted to participate in the trial of the Seven Luminaries as a Divine Portrait while simultaneously seeking immortality and wished to become the King of Humans… The question is, who provided him with such high-level information?”
I pondered this thoughtfully; it wasn’t merely a question—I was already aware of the answer.
‘… Wasn’t it likely that Changhil had helped him? If Changhil aided him, it all makes sense.’
The essence of the Divine Portrait manifested in Jin and me. To be precise, Jin had first expressed gratitude for assisting in the Offering Ceremony, and Changhil had reciprocated that regard. Given such exchanges, it was highly probable that Changhil had informed Jin about the Offering Ceremony, leaving no more questions in my mind.
As I focused on what Lü Buwei was saying, he opened his mouth.
“Zhao Gao.”
“Zhao Gao, the infamous eunuch who caused the fall of a nation?”
He was a notorious figure. After the death of Qin Shi Huang, he ruled alongside Prince Huhai and engaged in numerous purges until his eventual downfall.
“Though I was born after I ended up trapped on Mount Ye, I learned that Zhao Gao provided Yongjeong with that information. Every endeavor Yongjeong embarked on to seek the elixir of immortality in his later years started from Zhao Gao’s intel.”
“Where did you obtain this information?”
“It was, of course, through a relentless search of the sealed Yeo Clan and connecting with the exorcist clan. They didn’t know the whereabouts of the Yeo Clan but mentioned that it had ties to the descendant of Li Si. After I was reported dead, Li Si seemed to harbor some ulterior motives.”
“……”
“I’ll continue my search. If I find better information, I’ll let you know…”
Whoosh.
In an instant, Lü Buwei vanished.
‘That guy is quite the sorcerer.’
Though he was known only as a target in this world, it seemed that Lü Buwei had secretly practiced sorcery to the point of mastering impressive techniques. Zhuge Sa appeared to have entrusted him with all the mundane matters, including that Yeo Clan fiasco. After hearing Lü Buwei’s report, I contemplated.
‘Could it be that the eunuch Zhao Gao was actually one of Changhil’s subordinates, one of the Eight Divine Beings? … No, it’s pointless to think about it. Whether he transformed after being killed or infiltrated from the beginning, it’s still true that Changhil’s influence looms large.’
The critical point was that Changhil had been orchestrating schemes to sow chaos in the world since ancient times, all to prepare for an impending end. He was truly a persistent thorn in my side.
The real issue was that because of this sinister figure, I experienced annihilation every time I reincarnated, and how the Law of Cause and Effect would ripple through the world was utterly unpredictable.
Still, I was somewhat relieved that Changhil vanishing wouldn’t immediately spell disaster for the world. While I mulled over this, Seo Mun-hye spoke to me.
“Baek Woong.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve been thinking, what are your plans regarding Miho?”
“……?”
Why did she suddenly bring up Miho?
Seeing my puzzled expression, Seo Mun-hye slowly continued.
“Miho is likely a being prepared to counter any significant blows the Queen Mother of the West, or Nüwa, might suffer in this world. Therefore, the Queen Mother likely values Miho highly.”
“What are you hinting at?”
“If the confrontation with the Celestial Realm intensifies, the Queen Mother will surely seek to retrieve Miho first. She might issue her a recall order. What will you do then?”
“……!!”
“I hadn’t considered this until now, but if we are to face the Celestial Realm, we must think about it.”
I hadn’t thought of that!
“Ah, that is…”
Startled by Seo Mun-hye’s sudden identification of such a crucial point, I noticed her looking slightly sorrowful.
“If Miho is coerced back to the Celestial Realm, she will most certainly be used as a hostage in the war. The tragedy will repeat itself. Before that happens, you must take action, Baek Woong.”
That was true. Yet, I felt apprehensive due to the gravity of the situation.
“… But I lack the confidence to explain the situation to Miho and convince her to join our side.”
Miho was a formidable beast, the Great Demon Nine-Tailed Fox, but her limitations were clear. The powerful dark energy of my obsidian could easily plunge her deeper into the abyss of demonic influence. This was because demons were inherently close to evil and existed in a middle ground. Even if she could resist the obsidian, it posed its own set of problems.
‘Furthermore, Zhuge Sa explicitly stated not to increase the number of those who know about the reincarnation…’
Could I win over Miho, who harbored feelings akin to a parent towards the Queen Mother, to our side without the obsidian? Based on past experiences, it seemed an impossible task. Miho had always chosen death rather than stand against the Queen Mother. It was akin to handing a child a sword to fight their own parent.
Then Seo Mun-hye spoke up.
“Baek Woong, if persuasion is impossible, we may have no choice but to kill her.”
“What…!!”
“If Miho were to return to the Celestial Realm… even if we were to wound the Queen Mother using any means necessary, the Queen Mother would inevitably resurrect using Miho’s life as a price. In essence, Miho is the Queen Mother’s secret weapon.”
“Um…”
“That is an enormous burden. However, if you lack the confidence to persuade Miho, the conclusion is clear…”
“……”
I hesitated before replying to Seo Mun-hye’s assertion.
“No need to kill her. I’ll just overpower her and imprison her in the Wooden Armor.”
Seo Mun-hye shook her head.
“When the Queen Mother, being Nüwa herself, exerts her profound magical power to summon her avatar, a mere Wooden Armor artifact couldn’t withstand such a divine call. Ultimately, the conclusion would remain the same.”
“Ugh…”
“I’m sorry for forcing you into such a harsh choice. But realistically speaking, you must arrive at a conclusion one way or another…”
Seo Mun-hye was right. I would need to consult Zhuge Sa, but I couldn’t deny that the outcome would likely be similar, and Zhuge Sa wouldn’t care to spare Miho. Zhuge Yulong would hardly feel inclined to, either. In all this chaos, I was the only one opposed to the idea of killing Miho.
Do I have to kill her?
For the sake of breaking the Celestial Realm…I must sacrifice this life’s Miho?
‘Damn it…!!’
It seemed rational from a strategic viewpoint, but for Miho, it would be an experience of unimaginable despair. Here she was, already exiled to the Human Realm, and suddenly a reincarnator comes along and tells her she has to be killed because she’s a hindrance to attacking the Celestial Realm! Even if I didn’t love Miho, it was an outrageously selfish thought and action.
Yet, it was also true that without convincing her, denying her a life meant potential death.
No… no way.
Even without this situation, I could never bring myself to kill Miho.
That was a line I couldn’t cross.
I bit my lip as blood trickled out, disregarding the pain while mulling this over. After a moment, I finally spoke.
“… I will help Miho grow.”
This was the only path forward.
“What do you mean?”
I shared my plans with Seo Mun-hye, who expressed incredulity as she listened.
“There’s potential! However, you will need to discuss it with Zhuge Sa…”
“I intend to.”
“Thank you for sharing something so difficult to mention.”
“In comparison to the grace Baek Woong has shown me, this is nothing.”
A few days later, Zhuge Sa emerged from the lab with Zhuge Bu, revived as a new body. He tossed her to me nonchalantly.
“Here you go. Use the Golden Lamp technique to hand her over to Zhuge Yulong later.”
“……”
“What’s wrong? Why do you look like that?”
“No… wasn’t Zhuge Bu a man? But this…”
I looked down at the body of Zhuge Bu, which I had unconsciously caught. The delicate shoulders and neckline, the curvaceous body were unmistakably feminine. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties—a striking beauty.
Indeed.
Zhuge Bu had been shifted into a female body.
When I looked at Zhuge Sa in disbelief, he grinned mischievously.
“I’m partial to beautiful women.”
“… I didn’t ask.”
“I merely lowered her age slightly since she’s my niece.”
“That’s not the crucial part… ah, I don’t know.”
Waving my hand dismissively at Zhuge Sa’s remarks, I shook my head.
‘Even if the world ends, what does it matter? Whatever—let’s just move on.’
It wasn’t my place to care. This wasn’t important, so I dismissed it quickly and laid Zhuge Bu down before speaking.
“Zhuge Sa, I want to help Miho grow. Assist me in my plan.”
“Hmm…”
Though I hadn’t disclosed the plan yet, Zhuge Sa’s eyes lit up at my words.
“It’s obvious then—you intend to transfer Amaterasu’s power to Miho, and with Seimei’s help, evolve her into a Divine Being!”
“……”
I had no idea how he knew, but he was spot on.
The method to turn Miho into a Divine Being.
It was the same method Seimei had utilized in a previous life when Dongyoung faced annihilation—he artificially drew out Miho’s potential to transform her into the Guardian of Dongyoung. At that time, I vehemently opposed it, believing it would sacrifice Miho, but now, I intended to view it as a solution.
Zhuge Sa stroked his jaw as he replied.
“That does seem reasonable. It’s quite impressive to think it came from you.”
“Right?!”
“If she becomes a Divine Being, the current soul bound to Nüwa will be transformed, linking Miho’s soul and body to the land of Dongyoung. This way, she won’t have to respond to the summon from the Queen Mother, and her submissiveness will likely diminish. Furthermore, her power will increase.”
As he spoke, Zhuge Sa snapped his fingers with a pop.
“But you understand there are additional risks involved, right?”
“……”
I felt a sense of dread about what might come from Zhuge Sa’s mouth.
“First, the moment she is reborn as an artificial Guardian, there’s a high chance Miho’s original personality will almost completely fade away. Whether this newly formed personality will resemble the original Miho is something you’ll need to think about. Well, it’s better than killing her, I suppose. Plus, to transform into a Divine Being, she will require a suitable offering and ritual. You must know that obtaining a seed from the Dragon Flower Tree will be essential for transforming Miho into a Divine Being?”
“… Yes, I recall.”
“Regarding the first issue, as long as you can justify that risk, it’s not a problem at all. Seimei will definitely cooperate fully. As for the second, we must obtain our treasure.”
“I need to procure a seed from the Dragon Flower Tree?”
“That’s one option. Alternatively, we might find another means… For now, this concerns consulting Seimei.”
With a swoosh, I headed with Zhuge Sa to seek out Seimei. After sharing my thoughts with him, Seimei remarked thoughtfully.
“That’s a welcome proposal. My powers have diminished by half, so I truly need new strength to counter the darkness of Dongyoung. At this rate, the Aokigahara Life Sea will double its reach in the next thirty years… The method of establishing a Divine Being may be extreme, but I have no reason to oppose it.”
“Seimei, it would be great if you could provide a seed from the Dragon Flower Tree, but getting that is no small feat.”
“I’m aware. It could be said it’s among the toughest of tasks.”
Seimei understood the situation. The seed of the Dragon Flower Tree was buried deep within the barriers of the Flame Elemental Sword, guarded by protectors, making it incredibly difficult to retrieve. Though one might use subterfuge to obtain it, the risk of unforeseen consequences from the Law of Cause and Effect was high, and it wasn’t something we could casually attempt before our big undertaking.
Seimei continued.
“Then I’ll take care of this matter myself.”
“You want to handle it yourself? How…”
He promptly suggested a solution.
“Request assistance from the Master of the Twelve Joules.”