1021——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Following Su-you’s suggestion, I headed out to the streets of Luoyang for some tea. And wow, as I strolled through, I was amazed by the sprawling roads, dazzling streets, and the bustling crowd.

“This place is fancier than Kansas City… it’s massive.”

It seemed like Luoyang had expanded at least five times the size of its ancient fortress area. Even the outer city spaces of Luoyang had been absorbed into the city itself. With this size, it’s safe to say it had to be at least two hundred li across. Calling it just a city felt like an understatement.

It seemed Professor Sima Ling wasn’t lying when he said Luoyang was one of the busiest cities in the world today.

Of course, Luoyang was already a stunning city and capital 500 years ago, but the modern vibe felt completely different. Traditional buildings that looked like ancient pavilions were scattered about, but they were dwarfed by towering skyscrapers that seemed to reach dozens, even hundreds of stories tall—some larger than palaces! Standing atop a building, I took in the cityscape and said,

“Zhu Xian, I’d love to grab some tea. Any recommendations?”

Whoosh.

Zhu Xian appeared behind me, bowing as he revealed himself. He must have been following me since I stepped into the palace to meet Hwa-yo.

I didn’t mind him tagging along, so I let it be. Zhu Xian replied politely,

“There’s an imperial 8-star hotel nearby called Tian Wang. I’ll take you to the VIP room on the 45th floor.”

“A hotel? Will I get a good view of the world up there?”

“The scenery is nice, and the tea tastes good too.”

I shook my head.

“I want to people-watch. I want to feel the essence of this era firsthand.”

“If that’s the case, I know a suitable place. Would that be acceptable?”

“Well, you were sent to escort me by Sagong Lin, right? I don’t want us to be a nuisance to each other, so just come along. But give me a proper tour.”

“Understood. Then….”

Zhu Xian gave me a contemplative gaze before adding,

“You might want to change that outfit first.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong with this?”

“I provided you with martial clothes (무복) according to His Majesty’s preferences, but unfortunately, they’re not casual wear in this age. They’re specially made outfits worn by palace guards, so they’ll stand out to ordinary folks.”

“Oh, I see. Should I buy some new clothes?”

“I’ll guide you.”

I followed Zhu Xian to a big clothing store. I bought some plain clothes and put them on right there. Zhu Xian pulled out a light blue card and paid. The shopkeeper gasped, bowing quickly.

“This… This is such an honor…”

“Don’t let anyone know we were here.”

“Of course, not.”

Zhu Xian then took out another golden card and handed it to me.

“Since you like strolling around alone, this might be useful for you. Mine is a card for tactical forces agents and has a limit.”

“What’s this card?”

“It’s a yellow dragon (황룡) grade ultimate card that only the Emperor can use. Originally it was meant solely for Sagong Lin, but… I wanted to give it to His Majesty sooner, it just got delayed due to urgent matters.”

“You meant to give it to me?”

“…I forgot to pass it on when Liu Ha came.”

Zhu Xian muttered, sounding a bit resentful. It seems his arrival had another purpose aside from just tailing me.

“Oh, I learned from Professor Sima Ling that I can use this to buy stuff. How much can I spend?”

“Infinite.”

“Infinite?”

Zhu Xian nodded.

“The Great Bear Empire is yours. Even if you spend 100 trillion in a single day, the empire can cover it, so it’s practically free of limitations. Who would dare annoy the Emperor over money?”

“Hm, I see.”

“You can buy whatever you desire.”

As I gazed at the yellow dragon card in wonder, I noticed the shopkeeper turning pale as he knelt.

“Long live Your Majesty…. Hiiik.”

I glanced at the shopkeeper before telling Zhu Xian,

“Let’s head to the tea house.”

“Yes.”

Together with Zhu Xian, we went to a quiet three-story tea house in the city, ordered some tea, and gazed out at the view. Relishing the aroma, I mused,

“Zhu Xian, I have a question.”

“Please ask.”

“Are you, by any chance, a descendant of the Zhu royal family of the Great Ming Empire?”

At my question, Zhu Xian flinched and nodded.

“Yes, I am the 33rd descendant of the Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang. How did you know?”

“Just a hunch. The Zhu royal family tends to be full of exceptionally talented folks, so it crossed my mind.”

“Impressive… Truly, you are the first emperor who surpassed mere humanity and wrestled with the divine.”

I spoke cautiously.

“Don’t you hold a grudge against the one who destroyed the Great Ming Empire?”

“……?”

Zhu Xian looked dazed by my words, seemingly unsure of what to make of it, but he soon collected himself and replied.

“I-I apologize. I was just taken aback…”

“Taken aback?”

“I may be a descendant of the Zhu family, but the tales of the Ming dynasty are mere legends and medieval history. It would be insane to hold resentment over that. That’s ridiculous.”

“Ah….”

“On the contrary, our Zhu family is grateful and loyal to Your Majesty for generations. I have long admired you and have strived to be at your side since childhood.”

“Really? Grateful after the fall of the Ming Empire?”

“When a revolutionary change happens, the descendants of the previous emperor are usually annihilated as per the laws of Central Plains history. However, Sagong Lin has been continuously protecting and valuing the Zhu family, so how could I not be grateful? Especially considering the countless forces that resent and hate the previous Zhu emperors—our survival is solely owed to the grace of the Great Bear Empire’s royal family.”

“…….”

I thought I had learned plenty about this era, only to realize I still hadn’t fully adapted. While the stories of the Ming dynasty felt like they had happened just yesterday to me, for Zhu Xian, they might as well have been from the time when tigers smoked. Sighing, I said,

“Well, if you’re okay with it… And why do you call yourself of the Thunder God Lineage when you don’t seem to possess a Thunder Spirit?”

“I built my internal power primarily through the Sacred Lotus.”

“Wait…? Sacred Lotus?”

Zhu Xian nodded.

“Though I did practice the internal energy techniques of the Thunder God Lineage, my focus was more on Shaolin’s. The effectiveness of the Sacred Lotus has helped me rapidly develop my internal power, but mastering the unique realm of the Thunder God Lineage’s Thunder Spirit has become out of reach for me.”

“Oh, so that’s it.”

I realized I had misunderstood. As I scratched my head awkwardly, Zhu Xian continued.

“Of course, not mastering the Thunder Spirit and Thunderclap means I haven’t truly grasped the essence of the Thunder God Lineage. The crux of that lineage lies in the powers that come from the Thunder Spirit and Thunderclap, and while I’ve gained profound internal power, I haven’t been able to harness its advantages.”

“Why didn’t you focus solely on the Thunder God Lineage?”

“…Because I wanted to gain strength quickly. I heard that the more one pushes to extremes in the Thunder God Lineage, the stronger their martial arts become, but my desire was to serve at Sagong Lin’s side as soon as possible.”

“…….”

“And enhancing my strength with artificial treasures could somewhat resolve the slow progression of martial arts realms as well….”

I shook my head.

“That’s a mistake.”

“Pardon?”

“…Hmm.”

Listening to Zhu Xian’s explanation, it dawned on me that he had fallen into a significant misunderstanding.

‘I guess since he was born with exceptional telekinesis as a special talent, he thinks that way.’

He possesses excellent physical attributes, remarkable martial talent, and strong psychic abilities. It’s rare to have all these gifts at once, so maybe he thought he didn’t need to specialize in just one path? While Zhu Xian appeared to combine various strengths to achieve a unique power, that wasn’t how it seemed to me. If he continued this way, he would inevitably hit the wall.

If he faced absolute realm experts or grandmasters who reached the pinnacle of a single path, he would be utterly crushed without having a chance to fight back. Even with assistance from artificial treasures and psychic powers, it wouldn’t change the outcome. Zhu Xian himself would likely struggle to comprehend why he lost given all the powerful abilities he possesses.

That’s the difference between someone who has mastered one thing to its limit and those who haven’t. I had fought for decades, constantly feeling the truth of this—and honestly, it usually ended with me being the one broken, but still, experiences don’t lie.

‘Well, whatever. If he feels regret, he’ll come to me for advice.’

I debated whether to give him some advice but ultimately decided against it. If he didn’t feel any inadequacy, my advice would just come off as meddling. Besides, who am I to be giving advice anyway?

Instead, I told Zhu Xian,

“I’m feeling bored. How about we spar a few rounds when we get back?”

“……!! It’s an honor!”

“And while we’re at it, teach me about that psychic ability… the telekinesis or whatever you call it.”

“I can’t say for sure if I can teach it, but I’ll certainly try my best.”

“Sounds good. By the way, what’s the current situation like regarding the Thunder God Lineage martial artists or their disciples?”

“They are doing quite well as part of the Four Great Families. However, there are only a handful who genuinely pursue pure Thunder God Lineage practices.”

As soon as I heard Zhu Xian’s response, I understood what he meant.

“You’re saying most of those who study the Thunder God Lineage either give up on reaching high levels and instead consume the Sacred Lotus to boost their internal power?”

“…That’s right.”

“Damn. Why is everyone doing that? It’s a bit excessive. With the Thunderclap, one could burst the hearts of those one level higher.”

When I complained, Zhu Xian replied,

“Using traditional methods to refine internal arts and reach the Thunder Spirit would take at least a decade, or even 20 years. A genius might achieve it in half that time, but it still requires immense dedication. However, by consuming the Sacred Lotus, one can instantly gain decades of internal power, and prominent disciples of the White Lotus Sect can even eat a handful of Sacred Lotus at a time. It makes those who train earnestly look like fools…”

“…….”

“I acknowledge that the Thunderclap is powerful, but it’s not something just anyone can learn.”

C’mon, that’s a stretch.

I felt a surge of frustration, but to be fair, I hadn’t diligently practiced my internal arts either; I had managed to obtain the Thunder Spirit thanks to the repeated consumption of Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng in my previous life, so I couldn’t really criticize. Still, it was hard not to feel a sense of bitterness that people were opting to quicken their power gain at the cost of abandoning the Thunder God Lineage.

I muttered in question,

“Doesn’t the Black and White Lotus have no weaknesses? Why isn’t anyone growing them?”

“Black and White Lotus? What’s that?”

“……? You don’t know about the Black and White Lotus? It’s…”

I explained about the Black and White Lotus to Zhu Xian. He suddenly looked perplexed.

“I apologize, but I’ve never heard of it… I’m an executive member of the White Lotus Sect.”

“Uh… No, let’s keep talking.”

Something feels off here?

I figured questioning him further wasn’t going to lead anywhere, so I changed the subject. For some reason, it seemed the notion of the Black and White Lotus didn’t exist in this era.

“Still, I’m sure there are pure practitioners of the Thunder God Lineage. I have a master who is one.”

“Your master?”

“Yes. The direct successor of the Thunder God Lineage, Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo. He’s currently leading the Thunder God Lineage and is independently building a force that isn’t tied to the White Lotus Sect.”

“Oh? So, there’s a faction division?”

“He graciously shared the martial arts and basic techniques of the Thunder God Lineage with me. He’s a very gentle person.”

I felt curious about Zhu Xian’s words. So I said,

“Perfect timing. I want to meet him. Can you guide me?”

“Yes.”

Pop!

Zhu Xian called Liu Ha to guide me to Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo. Soon we arrived at a majestic mountain where the flora overflowed with vitality, and I suddenly recognized the landscape.

“This is Songshan, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Lee Seol-pyo resides near Shaolin Temple.”

After arriving at the modest abode of Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo, I saw an elderly man of about sixty plowing the field. The old man paused as he noticed me staring, while Zhu Xian bowed and announced,

“Lee Seol-pyo! Your disciple Mu Cheon-ryong has come to see you.”

“…….”

But Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo ignored Zhu Xian’s greeting and continued to stare at me.

I discreetly measured up Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo’s skills and was astonished.

‘An expert who reached peak expert level! His internal power might be lacking, but his level of intent is comparable to the top masters of the Thunder God Lineage. The Thunder Spirit is formidable as well.’

I never imagined there would still be such a martial artist in modern times. He reminded me of Dokgo Seong. He appeared young due to his internal power, but was probably over a hundred years old.

After a long moment of scrutinizing me, Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo spoke.

“Bearer of the Thunder God Lineage, Baek Woong! You have finally returned.”

“……!!”

Needless to say, I was stunned, and so was Zhu Xian. I never imagined he would know who I was at first glance! Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo continued staring at me and said,

“You bear the distinctive traits passed down through generations. And your peerless internal power, alongside your unmatched intent reaching the Absolute Realm—truly remarkable! Indeed, you are worthy of being a participant of the noble White Lotus Sect’s Thunder God Lineage.”

“Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo, you knew about me?”

“Of course. All true successors of the Thunder God Lineage know of you through our inherited teachings. And we have all been waiting solely for you…!!”

Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes as he momentarily wiped them away.

Zhu Xian, confused, said,

“Lee Seol-pyo! You never said a word when I was training! I only learned of the First Emperor after joining the palace…”

Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo responded sharply with a cold gaze.

“Shut up. You are not the rightful successor of the Thunder God Lineage!”

“……!!”

With a hint of disdain, he declared,

“I cannot share the secrets of the Thunder God Lineage with someone who has given up on pursuing its limits by consuming the Sacred Lotus. Despite your exceptional talent, I was disappointed that you abandoned the Thunder God Lineage and chose the Shaolin techniques.”

“B-but….”

“You are not a disciple of the main text. You are a disciple of Shaolin and merely a side branch of the Thunder God Lineage.”

Zhu Xian looked shock-struck. Clearly, their relationship wasn’t one of strained animosity; they had a close master-disciple bond, but Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo had drawn a harsh line in his heart. He then turned his gaze from Zhu Xian back to me.

“Bearer of the Thunder God Lineage, Baek Woong! The successors of our Thunder God Lineage have been solely waiting for you and spent five centuries preparing this gift for you.”

“A gift? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a technique I devised while training to complete the Soul of the Evil God. All the geniuses and masters of the Thunder God Lineage have gathered here for it. We’ve awaited the day you complete your Martial Soul…”

Suddenly, Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo took a step forward, brandishing a spear poised in my direction.

“Baek Woong! Experience the culmination of five centuries of the Thunder God Lineage, the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique!”