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“Four Gods’ Souls”

I replied to Seo Mun-hye’s words without much thought.

“This is Miho. I brought her from Dongyoung.”

“……”

“……”

At that moment, I felt a strange atmosphere flowing between Seo Mun-hye and Miho, causing me to flinch. I couldn’t pinpoint the reason, but the two were looking at each other with somewhat cold eyes, and it felt like they were trying not to show their emotions. I sensed something in that situation.

‘Oh no…!! Are they being cautious because they belong to different races?’

Seo Mun-hye was of the Giant Race, while Miho was a Great Demon with roots in Nüwa. Both belonged broadly to the Order faction, but since they were, after all, different races, there could inherently be animosity between them. Furthermore, Miho could be considered semi-evil since she was a demon rather than strictly on the side of order.

I thought I hadn’t taken that into account and quickly spoke up.

“Alright, handshake!!”

“?!”

“Excuse me?!”

Ignoring the confusion of the two, I quickly pulled their hands together to make them shake. Both Seo Mun-hye and Miho looked exceedingly flustered, but I sensed that this was a necessary hurdle to pass. It was obvious that the two newcomers would feel uneasy, so I needed to make them feel closer and more at ease.

I smiled at the two holding hands and said, “From now on, we’re all townsfolk! No such thing as racial discrimination! I trust you both understood that.”

“……”

“…Yes. I understand.”

After a moment, it seemed they somewhat grasped it and nodded, smiling slightly at each other. Their deep smiles made it look like their wariness had lessened.

‘Great! Now they might become friends!’

Since both are good people, it seems the resolution was simpler than I thought. Once the situation was settled, I turned to Seo Mun-hye.

“Then, I haven’t heard about the current situation inside the village yet, have I?”

“Ah… I did meet the strategist of the village, Lord Mangnyang, and hear a brief story.”

“That’s good! Then I’ll take you two and properly introduce the village.”

I took the two of them around as I introduced them to the village. However, while we were walking, I felt an uncomfortable sensation as many eyes were fixated on the three of us, making things a bit awkward. Especially since the women’s gazes were concentrated on me, I felt somewhat uneasy. Noticing my awkwardness, Seo Mun-hye, who was walking next to me, spoke up.

“Lord Baek Woong, are you feeling burdened by the gazes?”

“Hm… I suppose I’m just not used to it after living so long with this ugly appearance.”

“I’ve seen my fair share of handsome men, but the level of beauty you have now is something I’ve never witnessed before. When we go to a crowded place, it will be several times worse than this.”

“……”

Miho, who was walking beside us, chimed in.

“Lord Baek Woong… I said I don’t pay attention to looks, but I agree with Seo Mun-hye. You are so beautiful that it’s apparent you will become a peerless handsome man in the future; any woman would find it hard to look away.”

“Is it really that much?”

“Uhuhoho…. My standards for handsome men are quite high. However, you’ve exceeded them by a significant margin, so I have no remarks. You should feel proud.”

Seeing Miho blush and smile shyly made me feel a strange sensation. I had often seen Miho smile, but I had rarely seen that kind of smile. A little while later, I realized what Miho’s smile meant.

‘I’ve heard that sometimes women just smile when they see someone too good-looking…!!’

Is that the kind of smile?

And soon, we arrived at the training area of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, where I could see Kim Manje half-dead and covered in sweat and blood, while Lee Kwang was yelling.

“Get up, Kim Manje!!”

“Ugh… Gah…”

“I’m teaching you the Thunder God’s martial arts diligently as per the Master’s orders! Shouldn’t you be able to get up right away after that?”

Kim Manje mumbled with a face soaked in sweat while sniffling.

“Ugh… I’m sorry… Huuh…”

“……”

Hmm… It looks like provoking Lee Kwang, who’s been pushing Kim Manje hard, is making for a fun scene.

As I watched Kim Manje, I waved at Lee Kwang.

“Hey, Lee Kwang!! The Master has arrived.”

Naturally, everyone around, including Jin So-cheong and Yun Guang, turned their gaze toward me. As they recognized me, their faces changed to a look of shock, especially Lee Kwang’s face was quite the sight. Squeezing out words like they were venom, Lee Kwang said with a scrunched face,

“…Who are you calling a giggly person? Where did you get a master impersonator?”

“Don’t give me any lip, just take a look at this.”

*Whizz!*

“Ugh! Master….”

As I activated the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique and released a flash of light, it seemed Lee Kwang instantly realized my identity. Even if the world was vast, there was no one else who could use the Thunder God martial arts like me. I smirked at Lee Kwang and said,

“That’s right, Lee Kwang. I’m now the disciple of Master Lee Cheong-un and your new master, so calling me a giggly person isn’t appreciate.”

Realizing he had misunderstood, Lee Kwang began to sweat profusely from his neck and forehead. He was drenched in sweat as he tried to respond as calmly as possible.

“I-I didn’t recognize you because your appearance has changed so much. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I can understand that. I’ve changed quite a bit even in my own eyes.”

“Thank you for your forgiveness.”

“But you know… you have to keep up your training.”

I intended to let it go agreeably but decided to give Lee Kwang a new task. I held out my index finger and said,

“Today, I think you’ll have to perform the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms ten thousand times.”

“……”

Lee Kwang seemed to lose his grip for a moment, but he regained his composure.

“I’m a bit tired today since I’ve exhausted myself teaching that Kim Manje all day long…”

“Hey!! Are you going to be that negligent in your training? If it looks too dangerous, I’ll step in, so don’t worry and train the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms!”

“……”

“Now, start!!”

*Boom! Boom!!*

Shortly after, Lee Kwang began executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms with clenched teeth. Since it was double the amount of training, there was no way it would end just in a sweaty mess. Watching him, Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong looked on in shock, but I grinned at them and said,

“Oh right. You guys…”

“Ugh.”

Seeing them panic, as if I was going to make them also repeat the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, but I spoke in a generous tone.

“Please teach Bangil the Thunder God’s martial arts properly from the beginning.”

“Hmm?”

“That little guy was just an officer’s disciple, so your teachings weren’t thorough, right? You need to provide close training so he can quickly step into the elite realm.”

“Ah…!! Understood. Bangil, follow me.”

Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong hurriedly took Bangil away to a different place. I had been thinking about making Bangil a master someday, but I knew that with the current level differences, training him like Kim Manje wouldn’t yield great results. I planned to instruct Bangil only after the Thunder God masters had taught him a bit.

Then, I approached Jin So-cheong, who was standing there with a shocked expression.

“Jin So-cheong. Although I’ve prohibited training, please engage in combat practice with Seo Mun-hye for the time being. I’ll allow that much.”

“Are you referring to practice to elevate our levels?”

“That’s right. I also plan to teach the Thunder God’s divine arts later, so teach her kindly as if she were a disciple of your clan.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, keep an eye on Lee Kwang to see if he completes the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.”

“…Understood.”

As I turned to Seo Mun-hye, I said,

“Jin So-cheong’s abilities are truly remarkable. You will gain a lot from the practice.”

At the current time, their skill levels seemed to differ by three stages or more, making it just the right amount for combat practice. Seo Mun-hye nodded and lowered her head with a joyful expression, performing the martial arts etiquette.

“Thank you, Chief Baek Woong.”

Having set a somewhat structured training system like this, I headed over to Mangnyang. As soon as Mangnyang saw my face, he was taken aback.

“……?!”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s me, Baek Woong.”

“I-I really had no idea you underwent surgical techniques… this is unbelievable…”

I quickly covered Mangnyang’s mouth with a bloodline technique. It wasn’t a good idea to get into unnecessary discussions with Miho next to us. Mangnyang seemed to catch on to something and nodded, so I let go of the bloodline technique, and once Mangnyang regained his composure, he said,

“…Haah, you truly are an unimaginable being. Remarkable.”

“Haha. I always wished to be handsome at least once.”

I then told Mangnyang everything about Miho and others. After hearing the story, Mangnyang said,

“Truly impressive. It feels as if you’ve only been doing what was necessary.”

“It seems like there isn’t much left to do now…”

“Hmm… Actually, there’s something you need to report to me.”

“What is it? It’s not some big deal, is it?”

When I asked with a slightly fearful tone, Mangnyang smiled.

“It’s nothing significant; we successfully received permission from the lord of the castle to expand the village.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“In fact, the temporary houses we’ve built so far are not enough to accommodate everyone. Even the people we’ve brought number over ten, and we can expect a continuous influx of population… So, we’ve decided to integrate with the neighboring village and have obtained unlimited land reclamation and logging rights over a thirty-li area.”

“Hm… So that means we can create a larger village!”

“Correct. And to do that, we’ll have to build many structures, so I’ll be establishing connections with the financial talents among the prisoners of the Great Thunder Valley and dispatching three carpentry teams and stonemason teams. About 150 workers will come to widen the roads and lay the foundations for a large village.”

“Well done!!”

As expected of Mangnyang! He does everything well!

While I was admiring it internally, Mangnyang spoke.

“Since things have come to this, please bring out Sagong Lin, Master Hyuncheon, and their disciples now. It would be more convenient to talk to them all at once.”

“Alright.”

I took them all out from the wooden armor, and soon, Mangnyang explained the situation to the surprised group. Even amidst their confusion, they seemed to grasp the gist, and Master Hyuncheon stroked his beard as he said,

“Hmm… In the pursuit of the Dao, the place matters little. My disciples have long since severed ties with the secular world, so there will be no issues.”

“Master Hyuncheon, I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Sagong Lin, who had been listening calmly, spoke.

“Chief Baek Woong, what on earth is your goal? My master has never mentioned having such a remarkable individual as a companion.”

“Hm… I would prefer that you ask after you’ve gained a bit more strength. As you are now, you are too weak to understand the plan I wish to create. This is for your own sake.”

“……!!”

“I will wholeheartedly help you progress in your martial arts.”

“Understood.”

Sagong Lin looked somewhat aggrieved, biting his lip. Since he had pride in his martial arts, it seemed my words had struck a nerve. After this series of processes finished, Mangnyang went out to introduce the village to others and assign residences.

When Mangnyang returned, he plopped down on the chair and sighed.

“Phew… it felt like there was something you wanted to say since earlier. What is it?”

As expected, Mangnyang’s intuition is uncanny. I cautiously decided to speak of what I wanted to consult with him.

“Mangnyang. Actually, I subdued the Huashan Sect’s rebellion. I defeated Yong Junil and made him my subordinate, and along with him, I used Master Hyuncheon’s name to prevent the White Lotus Sect’s advance into the Central Plains.”

“Whoa? Can you elaborate further?”

As I recounted what happened at the Huashan Sect, Mangnyang silently listened to it all. Once I finished explaining, I said to him,

“The three elements threatening my peaceful life now are the White Lotus Sect, the matters occurring in the Imperial Palace of Luoyang, and the impending global Great Flood. However, I don’t wish to strain myself trying to prevent those disasters. I know that if I forcefully intervene, I will be swept away by a gigantic current and be embroiled in chaos.”

“Hmm…”

“I want to maintain peace without any trouble, but what should I do?”

Up until now, I had been handling things on the fly, but I felt that the situation was gradually expanding. I understood from experience that merely handling things on impulse would not be enough and I needed a clear strategy to control the variables, thus seeking Mangnyang’s advice.

Mangnyang wore a complex expression while pondering something before he finally spoke.

“In my view, you are a divine being with unprecedented power, one that possesses the strength that transcends heaven and earth. Yet, you speak of formidable challenges that may not be solvable, even with your power; this makes for a grim realization.”

“……”

“But if you suppressed that Evil God with the Master’s help, then truly, what remains wouldn’t be so severe. In that case, I have a suitable strategy.”

“What is that?”

Mangnyang grinned as he said,

“The strategy of watching the flames across the river.”

“……?”

“I’m not joking. Right now, there are countless incidents triggered for various reasons around you, and it would be reaching your limits if you continue to solve them one by one as if you were a superhuman. If you are truly driven by a sense of duty to save the world, then perhaps you could do that, but if not, it would be best to watch from afar until the embers lose their fuel.”

“Hmm!”

“Of course, I assume you still wish to engage in activities to save any innocent bystanders that may arise during that process. To ensure that, there’s one crucial thing you must do.”

“What is that?”

“You, Chief Baek Woong, need to secure a powerful information organization.”

Mangnyang leaned forward as he continued.

“You must have an organization that serves as your eyes and ears, capable of monitoring and reporting the situation across the Central Plains. Only then can you maintain your peaceful village life moving forward.”

“Hmm…!! I understand. So where should I obtain this information organization?”

“Well… it is said that the best information organization in the martial world is either the Open Gate or the Afternoon Gate. You could potentially recruit them, but… naturally, every martial artist knows the value of information, and throughout martial history, countless martial organizations have tried to subdue them. The reason they haven’t succumbed is that they don’t depend on specific leaders or hierarchies. No matter how strong you become, you can only trade information with them and it’s hard to make them become subordinates.”

“Then, is there no method?”

“Absolutely not. There’s a very simple way indeed.”

Mangnyang beamed as he said,

“Find out the locations of every one of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path. Then subdue them all and have them kneel at your feet, claiming the information network of the Eight Demons. That way, you will have the eyes and ears of half the martial world at your disposal.”

“Ah…!! That makes sense.”

After hearing Mangnyang’s strategy, I immediately went to Lee Kwang. Lee Kwang was diligently honing his Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, and after watching him for a while, I waited until about half a moment had passed, at which point he was breathing heavily and looking like a soggy mess.

“Stop for now.”

As he staggered and stopped the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, I told him,

“You’ve got urgent work to do, so let’s call it a day on your training for now.”

“……”

“Lee Kwang. Go out into the Jianghu. Make contact with the Divine Maiden Sect and find out where the heads of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path are located.”

Of course, Lee Kwang would be the right person for such tasks. In my previous life, Lee Kwang had previously gathered information on the whereabouts of the remaining Eight Demons from the Divine Maiden Sect without issue, and I expected he could do it again.

“What on earth are you planning, Master?”

“To capture the Eight Demons for myself.”

“…Understood. Huh…”

Seeing a huge scowl on Lee Kwang’s face, I felt the need to uplift his spirits a bit.

“If you accomplish this task well, I won’t make you repeat the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms anymore. I’ll teach you other ways to elevate your level.”

“…Really?!”

“Yeah. I promise.”

“Make sure you keep that promise.”

“Since you’re probably tired today, start moving from tomorrow.”

“Yes….”

“Oh, wait a moment. Take Kim Manje with you on the way.”

Lee Kwang’s face crinkled with displeasure.

“Why do I have to take that brat… No, that kid?”

“Hey! Isn’t he going to grow into your colleague within the Thunder God lineage in the future? You should take him along and ensure he trains hard.”

I could see a vein in Lee Kwang’s temple bulging angrily.

“…Understood.”

Good luck, Kim Manje!

I smiled faintly while watching Lee Kwang’s light footsteps as he headed back to the residence.

‘Hehehe, Lee Kwang…’

It’s a merry-go-round… a merry-go-round…!!

You have to feel the frustration of being kept in the dark while knowing something important is being withheld from you, Lee Kwang!!

‘If I leave him be, I guess he’ll bring back information on his own.’

Until then, I planned to enjoy a leisurely time in the village!

The next day, after Lee Kwang left, I spent a relaxed day watching the villagers train in martial arts from a distance. As Kim Manje was about to leave with Lee Kwang, his face turned pale, and he clung to Kim Cheon-jae’s pant leg, wailing.

“Waaah!! Save me!! Dad!! If I get hit more by that man, I’m dead!!”

Kim Cheon-jae’s face turned ashen, and he looked at me with desperate eyes, but I slowly shook my head.

“Kim Manje. I was touched by your passionate determination to lie down in front of me, proclaiming you wanted to become a master like this. I never thought you’d be this eager.”

“N-No, I…”

“You must overcome this hardship to become a master. Keep your chin up!”

“Waaah!!”

*Bam!*

“Master, I will be back.”

Kim Manje, who had been knocked out by Lee Kwang, was dragged away. I prayed for Kim Manje’s well-being and then spoke to Mangnyang.

“I’m planning to go save someone else.”

“Another one? Who is it this time?”

“A rather ill-tempered fellow.”

*Whoosh*

I flew to the Four Talents Sect to rescue young Tang San and his mother.

“So, you’re Tang San?”

“Cough. Who are you…?”

I accidentally knocked out the stunned Tang San with a pressure point and murmured,

“It’s hard to forgive you for betraying the Great Bear Empire, but your current state is rather pitiful. I’ll rescue you from this living hell—however, you are forbidden from seeking revenge against the Four Talents Sect for your betrayal in this life.”

I had considered not saving him, but ultimately, Tang San’s life was too miserable. Given that I was already managing Soeul Village, it would be better to save him.

“Who are you?!”

“What good is that to you?”

*Bam!*

Though the masters from the Four Talents Sect swiftly surrounded me, I easily knocked them all down. Soon, the clan leader, One-Handed Demon Tang Mugyeok, burst out, shouting and attacking me.

“Raining Flowers!!”

*Whoosh!*

With terrifying momentum, countless secret techniques soared toward me, but upon seeing their speed and accuracy, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Ha!”

*Swish!*

“No, no!!”

I brandished my sword and deflected all the techniques without moving an inch. When they were effortlessly all shut down, Tang Mugyeok looked as if he’d suffered a mental shock, with his complexion pale. I mocked him saying,

“Compared to Tang San’s Raining Flowers, this is nothing more than a tenth of the power. I nearly died taking that hit, and this is truly what you call Raining Flowers, isn’t it?”

“Wha-what….”

“I’m not very knowledgeable about secret techniques, but try this too. This is Tang San’s revenge in this life.”

*Whoosh*

I grabbed a throwing star that was stuck in the ground, loaded it with the energy of the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, and casually sent it toward Tang Mugyeok using the elasticity of my wrist. It seemed to accelerate suddenly in midair due to the intense internal power I filled it with.

*Bam!*

“Gahh.”

Tang Mugyeok couldn’t dodge in time and was hit in the shoulder, staggering back and collapsing. It must have been a serious injury, considering how deeply it penetrated, splitting his muscles.

‘It seems I threw it casually, but the energy from the Nine Chambers of Thunder really amplified it due to my intent.’

Still, to think he would be so easily overwhelmed, not even requiring the Basic Technique…

I sighed, thinking that the top-notch expert of the Four Talents Sect, Tang Mugyeok, was too weak.

“Hmph. What a shame that your achievements seem so trivial. Who would have thought you would be this weak?”

Or am I just too strong now?

I shook my head and exited the Four Talents Sect. I then incorporated the rescued Tang San and his mother into the village.

And so, about twenty days passed without any major incidents. During that time, I helped supervise the villagers as they practiced martial arts or observed the carpenters and stonemasons that Mangnyang had brought as they rebuilt the village.

“Master.”

Around that time, Lee Kwang returned from his outing. He brought back Kim Manje, who looked like he had been thoroughly beaten up; his face was so swollen it was unrecognizable. In a cold tone, Lee Kwang said,

“Within three days, the Divine Maiden Sect will send the location of the Eight Demons’ headquarters and internal blueprints to the village via carrier pigeon. I did everything as per your instructions.”

“Great. Well done.”

“Now for the Thunder Spirit….”

I grinned at Lee Kwang and said,

“Don’t you still need to get comfortable with the basics? I can’t teach you the Thunder Spirit until you do.”

Lee Kwang’s face twisted in anger.

“You promised you wouldn’t make me repeat the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms anymore…!!”

“Of course not. Who would make you repeat the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms? Absolutely not.”

“Hmm.”

“Instead….”

As I continued, Lee Kwang’s expression deteriorated further.

“Starting today, let’s each do the Thrusting Technique, One Slash, and Crab ten thousand times.”

“……”