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I gathered the treasures from Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and decided it was time to return to the village.

‘Well, this should be enough.’

Even what I’d collected from the relics was more than I could handle. The more I delved, the more complicated things became, and I didn’t want to think too much with all this treasure. What I aimed to do wasn’t to save the world, but rather to manage the village. To the Village Chief, more treasures would just be superfluous.

Upon arriving at the village, I called for Kim Cheon-jae, Kim Man-jae, and Yeon Jong-hwi to hold an emergency meeting.

“As you all know, there are hundreds of prisoners rescued from Great Thunder Valley in the wooden armor. I plan to accept them as villagers and have them live in Soeul Village.”

Originally, I would have relied on Shadowless Gate or sought help from Goryeo. But the former would mean piling too much debt on Shadowless Gate without sharing the obsidian, which felt excessive, and the latter might attract trouble if my actions became known to Twelve Joules.

At my words, Kim Cheon-jae grimaced.

“Choi, Village Chief… I’ve heard some of them are high-ranking individuals, including General Hwang Yeon. Bringing them into this village might appear as disloyalty to the Imperial Palace…”

“Disloyalty? I could storm the Imperial Palace and take out the Emperor without a second thought—that’s not a concern anymore. I’ve done it before.”

“Eek.”

They all looked taken aback, but I wasn’t boasting. After encountering so many superior beings, it was pointless to fear any repercussions from the Imperial Palace. Besides, with the Golden Eagle Guards nearly wiped out, what direct threat could there be?

“Enough worrying about that; let’s focus on what they’ll need to settle in this village.”

“……”

Kim Man-jae, who had been contemplating quietly, spoke first.

“If we treat them well, we can’t just house them in pigsty-like barns. They need decent homes. I believe there are over a hundred of them, so even if we allocate one house for every six, we’ll need to build at least thirty additional houses, and those houses should be positioned to fight against external threats or provide a place to retreat.”

“Hmmm. That’s a reasonable suggestion. So we’re talking about building roughly thirty houses?”

At that, Kim Cheon-jae’s face paled.

“Oh no. As I mentioned before, this village is in a basin terrain, and there isn’t as much livable land as you’d think. Except for a few areas, all the land is actively being used for farming. Even if we build more houses, the maximum would be ten, and thirty is impossible. Forcing it would make them look like chicken coops.”

“Come on, how much profit do we make from farming anyway? This village’s true income comes from the Plum Blossom Escort Agency passing through.”

“Well, that’s true, but if we go about this too unnaturally while proceeding, it could backfire. If we forcibly take away the land from the original villagers and they harbor resentment, they might leak details about internal matters…”

“Hmmm.”

That was a valid point. Usually, thoughts of slaughtering the villagers might arise in such situations, but I had no intention of going that far and would rather integrate the original villagers peacefully. I spoke up.

“Then we have no choice but to expand the village. I’ll remove the mountains on either side of the narrow path leading to Gongryang Village.”

“The mountains?!”

“With the mountains out of the way, there will be space for people to live.”

“That sounds feasible, but…”

Kim Cheon-jae hesitated before speaking.

“Well, we’ll need people. Laborers to build and so on…”

“You seem to have something in mind.”

“How about seeking help from the Huashan Sect? They have considerable influence and should be able to introduce competent carpenters.”

“Good idea.”

I accepted Kim Cheon-jae’s suggestion and headed to the nearby foothills. Being in a basin terrain, access to this village from another required using narrow paths through the mountains or completely crossing them, and the focal point was the two mountains situated between here and Gongryang Village. I was set on carving down one of the mountains.

Whoosh!

Channeling my internal power, I unleashed a massive force at once.

“Thunder Spirit Seal!!”

Boom!

After two or three hefty blasts of the Thunder Spirit Seal, most of the mountain crumbled away. I could have done it with a single strike, but overexerting could risk damaging the nearby villages, so some restraint was necessary. Now with about two hundred empty plots of land cleared, I felt satisfied.

As I returned, Yeon Jong-hwi came up to me.

“While you were gone, we discussed getting a supply of food from the Plum Blossom Escort Agency to sustain the increased population.”

“Food?”

“Yes. With the village population now significantly larger, we’ll definitely need more supplies. We need to ensure a steady flow of food carts. We’ll also have to pay the Plum Blossom Escort Agency accordingly.”

“Alright. Let’s head to the Plum Blossom Escort Agency.”

“Could you let me handle that?”

“You want to go, Yeon Jong-hwi?”

At my question, Yeon Jong-hwi nodded.

“If you attract too much attention with your high-level techniques, other martial world forces besides the Huashan Sect will start paying attention. Let the subordinates handle the mundane tasks.”

“That makes sense… then take this gold bar with you.”

I handed over the gold bar needed for negotiations, and Yeon Jong-hwi slung a large bag over his back to carry it. As he departed, I turned to Kim Cheon-jae and Kim Man-jae.

“I’ll teach you a simple breathing technique from martial arts while Yeon Jong-hwi is gone. Learn it as part of self-defense.”

I intended to teach them the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique from the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

“Ugh.”

“Hooray!”

At that, Kim Cheon-jae looked gloomy, while Kim Man-jae wore an expression of pure joy.

“You’re keeping your promise.”

“…Yeah. If you study hard, I’ll teach you more. But Kim Cheon-jae, why do you look like you’re about to die?”

“Well… that’s… um…”

“Spit it out.”

“The fact that you’re teaching us the fundamentals of martial arts… seems to imply we’re headed toward dangerous situations…”

“……”

Kim Cheon-jae had a point; perhaps age and experience allowed him some insight into my intentions. Meanwhile, Kim Man-jae was beaming with joy, proving he was still just a kid despite trying to act grown-up. I responded somewhat curtly.

“You understand then. So it’s best to learn vigorously to stay alive, right?”

“Ah, understood…”

I spent around three hours teaching the breathing technique and foundational martial arts skills to a reluctant Kim Cheon-jae and an excited Kim Man-jae. By the time I wrapped up the basics, Yeon Jong-hwi had returned to the village.

“I’ve spoken with the head of the Plum Blossom Escort Agency. He’ll be sourcing carpenters soon, and with help from the Huashan Sect, there’s no need to worry about food supplies.”

“Good job, Yeon Jong-hwi.”

“What’s our next move… it will take at least three to four days for the carpentry and food supplies to arrive.”

“Nothing immediate, so I’ll teach you more martial arts basics in the meantime.”

“……!! Thank you.”

For several days, I taught Kim Cheon-jae, Kim Man-jae, and Yeon Jong-hwi everything I knew about martial arts. The former two were complete novices, so most of my focus was on the breathing technique, while Yeon Jong-hwi, being a peak expert, would receive the Black and White Lotus technique.

“What’s this?”

“Taking the Black and White Lotus together will significantly enhance your internal power.”

Woohooo!!

As promised, after consuming both the Black and White Lotus, Yeon Jong-hwi was astonished by the boost to his internal power, his lips trembling in disbelief.

“Eh? You mean all those dozens of lotus flowers we collected from the valley were all spiritual pills?”

“Exactly. Tasty, right?”

“……”

“Now your internal power will surpass even a Great Sect Elder. With a bit of understanding and martial arts, you could compete with the top experts in the martial world.”

“Who exactly are you, Village Chief? Even the Lord of the White Lotus Sect can’t hold a candle to you.”

“The Lord of the White Lotus Sect…”

I gazed wistfully at the sky and murmured.

“I think I once had the Lord of the White Lotus Sect as a subordinate…”

“……”

“No, I’m serious… why do you look at me like that?”

Even so, you can’t possibly believe such a wild claim!

“Hmmm. Truly… that seems to be the case.”

“Really.”

I mumbled while proceeding to teach Yeon Jong-hwi martial arts with a few high-level techniques. I also introduced him to the Eight Immortals Divine Art, hoping he could find something that complemented his archery technique. I offered a Black and White Lotus to both Kim Cheon-jae and Kim Man-jae to help boost their internal power as well.

Fast forward about five days, a huge convoy of carts entered the village, led by two individuals who approached me.

“Village Chief of Soeul! I am Ji Seol-hwan from the carpentry village under the Huashan Sect. We’ve received the advance from the Plum Blossom Escort Agency and brought sixteen carpenters with us!”

“Village Chief of Soeul! I am the Deputy Head of the Plum Blossom Escort Agency. From today, we will continue to deliver food and other supplies.”

“Thanks for your help.”

Thud thud.

The carpenters began constructing houses in the large area cleared of the mountain, using various lumber and materials transported from the Plum Blossom Escort Agency. I watched them for a while before asking Ji Seol-hwan.

“How long will it take to finish?”

“At most, about fifteen days… usually it takes at least ten days to properly construct a house.”

Ji Seol-hwan was right. The houses were completed after just over twelve days, and a remarkable fifty homes stood newly erected. Once finished, I sent the carpenters and the Escort Agency workers back and released the prisoners held in the wooden armor.

“Huh.”

“Where am I…?”

I approached General Hwang Yeon among them and spoke with authority.

“General Hwang Yeon, please stay here for the time being.”

“Hmph… and who might you be?”

“I am Baek Woong, the Village Chief of Soeul.”

“……”

General Hwang Yeon, who had been in a daze, soon broke into hearty laughter.

“Haha! You are like a divine dragon who has come to amuse itself among mortals. Nonetheless, I graciously accept your kind favor.”

I had the prisoners wash and assigned them to their respective houses. With fifty generous homes built, they settled in without complaint.

‘Besides, those martial world people in Great Thunder Valley had lost their martial arts, so they would have nowhere else to go….’

However, during the assignment process, I noticed Kim Man-jae staring off into space with his mouth agape. I looked where he was gazing, perplexed.

‘Is that the Virtuous Flower Goddess from the Ami Sect?’

Having been rescued early on, she hadn’t been harmed by the Golden Eagle Guards and boasted a renowned beauty even in the martial world. It seemed Kim Man-jae was entranced by her looks. I was incredulous, smacking his head as I warned.

“Hey! If you lay a finger on the prisoners, I’ll seriously rip you apart.”

Kim Man-jae grimaced and replied, “Who said I would? But surely, she must be falling for me!”

“……”

Wow…. Is this guy really disregarding the Virtuous Flower Goddess?

More importantly, I just realized this was his true nature!

I shook my head, losing faith in Kim Man-jae.

He’s definitely not trustworthy…

Once the prisoners’ settlement was established, I privately approached General Hwang Yeon for a one-on-one conversation.

“General Hwang Yeon, I apologize, but I have no intention to fight the Imperial Palace or initiate a revolution. I rescued you from the inhumane conditions in Great Thunder Valley, but I cannot assist you further.”

“Haha… I find that hard to fathom. Your strength could single-handedly annihilate the Zhuge and the Great Army, yet you’re content being a mere village chief?”

“… I’m not particularly fond of emperors.”

“I ask again. The Imperial Palace is tainted by darkness. If we do not intervene, countless commoners in the Great Ming Empire will suffer.”

“I’ll take care of that myself.”

“What?!”

“The darkness of the Imperial Palace or world peace—all that I’ll promise to achieve. However, I need you to agree to spend your remaining days here in peace.”

“……”

“I will ensure you are never lacking in treatment.”

For the first time, Hwang Yeon’s expression seemed stunned. A moment later, he broke into hearty laughter.

“Ha! I thought it was a joke, but you genuinely mean it. Are you truly a deity?”

“Someday I might plan to eliminate the deities.”

“Ha. If you make a promise like that, it’s bound to be kept. I will trust in that promise and live as a villager of Soeul…”

“Thank you.”

Once I had persuaded Hwang Yeon, I clenched my fist triumphantly.

“Right. Whether it leads to success or failure, it’s better to get this over with quickly!”

I couldn’t let any eventualities affect my village chief’s life!

To safeguard the little things, I needed to act with utmost effort!

Resolving to put my determination into action, inspired by my earlier conversation with Hwang Yeon, I commanded Yeon Jong-hwi.

“When enemies invade the village, you’ll drive them away.”

“Understood.”

With that, I set Yeon Jong-hwi on alert and dashed off to a certain location. I ran for quite a while before burying the Heavenly Secret in the forest and entered the inner village. The moment I did, I heard a familiar voice.

“Who are you?”

“Cheon Woo-jin.”

“Do you know me?”

I saw the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin manifest within the illusion barrier. I had arrived at Master Mangnyang’s village and informed him.

“I came to see Master Mangnyang. Um…”

Before I could finish speaking, a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over me. Knowing this was a sign from Master Mangnyang, I chose to embrace the drowsiness, though fear encroached my heart.

Could it be that I still lacked the strength to resist Master Mangnyang’s summons?

The path of dreams unfolded before me.

I spotted the Black Cat approaching from the opposite side and said, “Master Mangnyang, I am the Reborn Person Baek Woong.”

[…….]

“I’ve come to ask you for a favor.”

[What kind of favor?]

“That is….”

As soon as I spoke the word “favor,” Master Mangnyang seemed to blink, patiently contemplating.

[It seems you’ve endured substantial trials as a Reborn Person. If indeed you following your desires could avert the trivial life being swept away by the tides of destiny, then in grander possibilities, such an avoidance warrants scrutiny.]

“……”

[From the perspective of a Reborn Person, one might say it’s a loss.]

Master Mangnyang fixed his expressionless gaze upon me and continued,

[If you exerted more effort and delved deeper, you could achieve results beyond what you’ve attained thus far. Are you truly satisfied with this?]

His words targeted the core of my usual retrospection.

Is this path I’m on the right one?

But I answered proudly and with conviction.

“Before being swept away by the tides of fate, I’m striking first! That resolve hasn’t changed!”

[Hooh….]

“Trying to ride the tide without sufficient strength will only make me a pawn! I’m done with that; I want to live peacefully in this life!”

As I shouted furiously, Master Mangnyang fell silent. Then he spoke slowly.

[Alright… I’ve confirmed your resolve. Then in exchange for this favor, I shall demand offerings of Xuyou.]

“Xuyou is a fair trade.”

Whoosh!

Xuyou vanished in a flash of light behind Master Mangnyang.

Moments later, – Master Mangnyang’s figure began to dissolve gradually, and from his ethereal frame, something colossal emerged from the horizon.

Rumble rumble rumble

It was a fearsome presence, reminiscent of a fusion between a human and an Eight-Scaled Fish—and it was the absolute demon, a creature whose very gaze could send a person to madness.

‘Here it comes.’

In the midst of that majestic yet terrifying sight, I mustered my resolve, unyielding against my fears.

Soon after, that colossal entity directed its voice towards me.

[What brings you to summon me in such a bothersome manner, having rejected my invitation, Reborn Person?]

I clenched my fists and shouted back.

“Because I didn’t want to discuss things using your invitation at your stronghold! And I’ll never approach you that way again!”

[Is that so…? Heh… I see….]

“Listen closely from now on!!”

I pointed aggressively at the great being.

“Regardless of whether I perish in this life, I will not yield to your whims! So you’re giving up your control over all of your influence on this world! For this life, I’ve made up my mind to find peace!”

[…….]

I strained, veins bulging in my neck as I screamed.

“I’m sick of dark plots and world-ending scenarios! If that ever happens, it’ll be all your fault! Truthfully, it is your doing! That’s exactly why I summoned you here!”

[…Hooh… You’re quite free-spirited, indeed. Do you think I would act in such a manner?]

“You will end up doing just that.”

Finally, it began.

I gritted my teeth, fully knowing that my life’s fate rested on these negotiations for the peaceful life I desired.

“Evil God!”