1234——————==

Soul of the Evil God

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

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

“…….”

“…….”

In that moment, I sensed a strange current flowing between Seo Mun-hye and Miho, and I flinched. For some reason, the two were looking at each other with quite cold eyes, trying to hide their feelings. I had an inkling about the situation.

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

Seo Mun-hye was a divine being of the Giant Race, while Miho was a great demon rooted in Nüwa. Although both belonged to the larger order, fundamentally, there might be hostility as they were from different races. Moreover, Miho could be seen as half-good and half-evil because she wasn’t entirely on the order’s side.

I realized I had overlooked that aspect and quickly spoke up.

“Alright, let’s shake hands!!”

“?!”

“Ne?!”

Regardless of their bewilderment, I quickly pulled the two of them to shake hands. Both Seo Mun-hye and Miho looked extremely flustered, but I felt this was a necessary hurdle to pass. It was obvious two newly met individuals would be anxious, so I had to make them feel comfortable and build a rapport.

With a grin, I said to both who were still holding hands, “From now on, we’re all village folks! No race discrimination here! I believe you both understand.”

“…….”

“…Yes. Got it.”

After a moment, both seemed to nod in comprehension and exchanged slight smiles, looking at each other. They didn’t seem overly anxious anymore.

‘Great! Now they can be friends!’

Since both were good people, it looked like the issue was resolved more easily than expected. After the situation settled, I turned to Seo Mun-hye.

“So, you haven’t told me what the current situation in the village is like?”

“Ah…. I did meet the strategist of the village, Mangnyang, and had a brief talk.”

“That’s good. Then let me officially introduce the village to you both.”

I took the two of them around the village for a tour. However, as we walked, I felt an uncomfortable amount of attention focused on the three of us. Especially, the gazes of the women felt like they were piercing through me, making me a bit twitchy. Noticing my discomfort, Seo Mun-hye spoke up.

“Baek Woong, are you feeling overwhelmed by the attention?”

“Hmm…. Maybe it’s because I’ve lived so long with this ugly face that I’m not quite used to it.”

“I’ve seen many handsome men, but I must say what you’re showing now is at a level I’ve never encountered before. If we go to a crowded place, it’ll only be several times worse.”

“…….”

Miho, walking beside us, jumped in.

“Baek Woong…. Although I said earlier I don’t judge by looks, I must agree with Seo Mun-hye. You’re such a pretty boy; it’s clear you’ll become a peerless handsome man in the future, and any woman would struggle to look away.”

“Is it really that much?”

“Uh-huh… My standards for handsome are quite high, yet you’ve completely blown past them. You should be proud.”

Seeing Miho blush and smile bashfully made me feel a bit strange. I had often seen her smile, but this kind seemed almost new. Moments later, I realized what her smile meant.

‘They say women sometimes smile uncontrollably at someone exceptionally handsome…!!’

Is that what that smile was?!

And at last, we arrived at the spot where the experts of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School trained. There, I spotted Kim Manje, half-dead and covered in sweat, and Lee Kwang yelling at him.

“Get up, Kim Manje!!”

“Ugh… ugh….”

“I’m thoroughly teaching you the Thunder God lineage martial arts without holding back, just as the Master said!! You can’t stay down like this!”

Kim Manje was mumbling with a tear-streaked, sweaty face.

“Ugh… I’m so sorry… sob….”

“…….”

Hmm… Looks like poking Lee Kwang would indeed get him to teach well, then.

Watching Kim Manje was quite entertaining for me!

I waved at Lee Kwang.

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

Lee Kwang, along with Jin So-cheong, Yun Guang, and Ji-pyeong, turned their gazes towards me. Their faces quickly twisted into shocked expressions, and especially Lee Kwang looked absolutely absurd. He gritted his teeth and spat out with a crumpled face.

“…Who are you, looking like a courtesan? Where did you learn to impersonate a Master?!”

“No need for chatter, just look at this.”

Crackle!!

“Huh! Master….”

As I unleashed the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique, Lee Kwang seemed to figure out who I was instantly. The world may be vast, but no one else could use a technique from the Thunder God lineage like I could. I smiled at Lee Kwang, saying, “Surprise, Lee Kwang! I’m your Master, who was once known as Lee Cheong-un’s disciple, and now I’m your Master.”

Lee Kwang seemed to realize he had made a mistake, his neck and forehead breaking out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly gathered himself and replied, “I didn’t recognize you because your appearance has changed so much. I’m sorry.”

“That’s understandable. Even I think I’ve changed quite a bit.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“But hey… you need to keep training.”

As if pretending to be generous, I decided to give Lee Kwang a new task. I held out my index finger and said, “Today, I think you should do the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms ten thousand times.”

“…….”

Lee Kwang seemed to lose his strength momentarily, but he quickly gathered his wits again.

“After teaching Kim Manje all day, I’m a bit low on stamina today….”

“Ah! Can you really afford to slack off in your training?! If it truly feels too dangerous, I’ll step in to help you, so don’t worry and practice the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms!”

“…….”

“Now get started!!”

Boom! Boom!!

A short while later, Lee Kwang gritted his teeth and began executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. Since it was double the previous training, he wouldn’t be able to finish this round without getting drenched in sweat. Seeing this, Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong gaped in astonishment, but I grinned and addressed them.

“Oh right, you two….”

“Eek.”

Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong looked terrified, fearing I would make them do the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms repetitively as well. However, I spoke in a generous tone.

“Make sure to teach Bangil the Thunder God martial arts from the beginning.”

“Yes?”

“He was just a junior military officer, so your Masters probably didn’t teach him properly. Make sure he gets attentive training so he can reach the elite realm faster.”

“Oh! Understood. Bangil, come with me.”

Yun Guang and Ji-pyeong hurriedly took Bangil away. I intended to make Bangil a high-level master someday, but I understood that given the current gap in levels between us, it wouldn’t be meaningful to teach him now. I planned to wait until the Thunder God Masters had taught him sufficiently before stepping in.

Then, I went to Jin So-cheong, who looked astonished.

“Jin So-cheong, even though I’ve prohibited training, for now, please engage in training duel with Seo Mun-hye and guide her. I will allow that much.”

“Are you suggesting a duel for leveling up?”

“Exactly. I plan to teach her the divine techniques of the Thunder God in the future, so treat her well, like one of your own disciples.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, and keep an eye on whether Lee Kwang completes his task of executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms ten thousand times.”

“…Understood.”

I turned to Seo Mun-hye.

“Jin So-cheong’s skills are exceptional. Through sparring, you will gain a lot.”

At this moment, there seemed to be a gap of more than three ranks between their skills. They were at just the right level for a teacher-student duel. Seo Mun-hye nodded with a smile as she performed a martial salute.

“Thank you, Baek Woong.”

After establishing a certain system for teaching, I went to Mangnyang. The moment Mangnyang saw my face, he was shocked.

“……?!”

“What’s with your surprise? It’s me, Baek Woong.”

“I-I can’t believe it… you underwent surgery… you truly….”

I quickly sealed Mangnyang’s bloodline to silence him. It wouldn’t be good to have Miho overhear the conversation. Realizing something amiss, Mangnyang nodded, so I released the seal and he collected himself.

“…Ah, you truly surpass imagination. Incredible.”

“Haha. I just wanted to look handsome, you know.”

I explained everything about Miho and the situation to Mangnyang. Upon hearing my tale, Mangnyang responded.

“Truly impressive. It feels like you’ve been handling only the necessary tasks.”

“Well, I don’t think there’s much left to do now…”

“Hmm… actually, there is something I need to report to you.”

“What’s that? It can’t be anything major, right?”

I asked in a slightly anxious tone, and Mangnyang grinned.

“Nothing much; I’ve succeeded in obtaining approval from the Castle Lord for village expansion.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“To be truthful, our current temporary housing can’t fully accommodate everyone. Even the people we’ve brought exceed ten, and it’s clear the population will continue to rise… Thus, we’ve decided to integrate the neighboring village into our territory and secured unlimited land reclamation and logging rights for thirty li around us.”

“Hmm…. So we can build a larger village!”

“That’s right. And to do that, we need to construct many buildings, so I’ve made arrangements to summon three carpenter squads and stone masons from the group of prisoners in Great Thunder Valley. About one hundred fifty workers will arrive, starting with widening the roads and laying the foundation for a big village.”

“Well done!!”

As expected of Mangnyang! He’s good at anything!

While I admired his diligence, Mangnyang remarked.

“Since we’re doing this, have Sagong Lin and Master Hyuncheon, along with their disciples, come out now. It would be easier to discuss everything at once.”

“Sure thing.”

I retrieved all of them from the armory, and soon Mangnyang explained our situation to the perplexed newcomers. Despite their confusion, they seemed to grasp the gist, and Master Hyuncheon stroked his beard and said.

“Ah… as long as one cultivates the Dao, the location doesn’t matter. My disciples have already cut ties with the secular world, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Thank you, Master Hyuncheon.”

Sagong Lin, who was attentively listening, spoke up.

“Baek Woong, what exactly is your aim? My Master has never mentioned having such a unique individual as a colleague.”

“Hmm…. I’ll tell you more about that after I’ve consolidated some power. Right now, you’re too weak to understand the board I’m trying to create. This is for your own sake.”

“……!!”

“I will wholeheartedly assist you in enhancing your martial arts.”

“Understood.”

Sagong Lin bit her lip, looking a bit frustrated. She seemed to have some pride in her martial skills, which triggered her. Once that discussion concluded, Mangnyang headed out to introduce the village to others and assigned accommodations.

When he returned, he settled heavily into a chair with a sigh.

“Ahh… It seems like you’ve had something to say for a while. What’s on your mind?”

As expected, Mangnyang’s intuition is sharp. I cautiously brought up the issue I wanted to consult him on.

“Mangnyang. Actually, I’ve suppressed the rebellion in the Huashan Sect. I subjugated Yong Junil and brought him under my command, and together we’ve thwarted the White Lotus Sect’s ambitions to invade the Central Plains using Master Hyuncheon’s name.”

“What? Go on, in more detail.”

As I narrated everything that had happened, Mangnyang listened silently. After finishing, I told him.

“The three elements threatening my peaceful life are the White Lotus Sect, the incidents in the Imperial Palace of Luoyang, and the impending Great Flood. However, I don’t want to break my back trying to stop those disasters, because I know that getting swept up in the actions would only lead to chaos.”

“Hmmm….”

“I wish to maintain peace without any undue incidents, but what should I do?”

Until now, I had been dealing with matters as they came, but I felt that as the complexities grew, having a clear strategy was essential for controlling the variables. That’s why I sought Mangnyang’s advice.

After pondering for a while with a complicated expression, Mangnyang spoke.

“I see you as a divine being with unprecedented strength, carrying the power of a world beyond worlds. The challenges lying ahead seem daunting enough that even your strength might struggle to tackle them. It’s a gloomy thought.”

“…….”

“But if with the Master’s assistance, the Evil God is dealt with, then the challenges left won’t be overwhelming. Given the situation, there’s a strategy that fits perfectly.”

“What is it?”

Mangnyang smiled slyly as he spoke.

“It’s the strategy of watching a fire across the river.”

“……?”

“I’m not joking. Many incidents triggered for various reasons surround you, and it’s no longer feasible for you to solve them all by yourself. Perhaps if you feel a strong sense of mission to save the world, you might push yourself to do so, but if not, it’s better to keep your distance until the flames lose their fuel.”

“Hmm!”

“Of course, I assume you’ll continue your efforts to protect the innocent during that process. To make that happen, there’s one thing you absolutely must do.”

“What is it?”

“You must obtain a powerful information network under your command.”

Mangnyang leaned in closer with an earnest expression.

“You will need a group to act as your eyes and ears, to monitor the entire Central Plains and keep you informed of the situation. Only then can you sustain the peaceful village life you desire.”

“Hmmm…!! I see. So, where might I acquire such an information network?”

“Well, the best information organizations in the martial world are Gaebang and Hahoemun. You could definitely recruit them, but of course, every martial artist knows the value of information, and countless armed organizations have tried, throughout history, to subjugate them. The reason they’ve resisted is that they operate without being solely dependent on specific leaders. No matter how strong you are, you can only trade information without being able to dominate them.”

“So is there no way?”

“Not at all. There’s a straightforward method.”

Mangnyang beamed at me with a smile.

“Find out the locations of all the Eight Demons of the Demon Path. Afterward, crush them all and make them kneel under your feet to gain access to the information network of the Eight Demons. That way, you’ll have your hands on the ears and eyes of half of the martial world within your grasp.”

“Oh…!! I understand.”

After hearing Mangnyang’s scheme, I headed directly to Lee Kwang. He had been diligently practicing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, and after a while of watching, about half a moment later, I addressed the exhausted Lee Kwang, who was panting heavily.

“Let’s take a break for now.”

As Lee Kwang staggered to a halt, I declared, “You have an urgent task at hand, so you should stop training for today.”

“…….”

“Lee Kwang, go out into Jianghu. And get in touch with the Divine Maiden Sect to find out where the leaders of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path are.”

Naturally, this kind of task could only be assigned to Lee Kwang. Even in my previous life, he had used the Divine Maiden Sect to dig up the information on the remaining Eight Demons, and I believed he could do it again.

“What on earth are you planning behind the scenes?”

“I’m aiming to get my hands on the Eight Demons of the Demon Path.”

“…Got it. Huh….”

Noticing the look of exasperation on Lee Kwang’s face, I felt the need to bolster his spirits a bit.

“If you handle this task well, I’ll let you off the hook from the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms training and share with you another means to advance your skills.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. I promise.”

“Make sure to keep that promise.”

“Today must be tiring for you, so start moving tomorrow.”

“Yes….”

“Oh, and by the way, take Kim Manje with you.”

Lee Kwang’s face twisted in annoyance.

“Why should I take that brat… I mean, that child with me?”

“Hey! Isn’t he the child destined to become the next Thunder God?! Take him along and train him hard.”

I noticed the veins popping on Lee Kwang’s forehead, clearly expressing his frustration.

“…Understood.”

Kim Manje, you just wait!

I smiled faintly as I watched Lee Kwang leave the lodging with a spring in his step.

Heh heh heh heh heh… Lee Kwang, you too…

You need to experience the frustration of being kept in the dark about important things!!

‘If left to his own devices, Lee Kwang would eventually bring back information.’

Until then, I might as well enjoy leisurely days in the village!

The next day, after Lee Kwang departed, I spent a relaxed day at the back, watching the villagers train in martial arts. Kim Manje, upon following Lee Kwang, looked pale and clung to Kim Cheon-jae’s pant leg, wailing.

“Ahhh! Save me!! Dad!! If that guy hits me more, I’ll die!!”

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

“Kim Manje, I was truly moved by your enthusiasm to lie in front of me and play dead near Soeul Village. I never thought you wanted to become an expert that badly.”

“Ah, no….”

“You have to overcome this hardship if you want to become a master. Hang in there!”

“Ahhh!!”

Thud

“Master, I’m leaving now.”

Kim Manje, having fainted from the hit on the head from Lee Kwang, was dragged away. I wished him well and then said to Mangnyang.

“I plan to head out since I still have someone to rescue.”

“Again? Who is it this time?”

“A real nasty piece of work.”

Whoosh

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

“So you’re Tang San?”

“Ugh. Who are you….”

I unexpectedly slapped Tang San to knock him out and muttered,

“I can’t forgive you for betraying the Great Bear Empire, but anyway, your current situation is quite tragic. I’ll rescue you from this living hell, but you’ll be forbidden from seeking revenge on the Four Talents Sect in this life for your betrayal.”

At one point, I considered not saving him, but his life was just too pitiful. Since I’m already in charge of Soeul Village, it makes sense to aid him.

“Who are you?!”

“What’s it to you?!”

Pushing through, I was quickly surrounded by the experts of the Four Talents Sect, but I took them all down in an instant. Then, the leader of the Four Talents Sect, One Handed Demon Tang Mugyeok, stormed out, shouting, and lunged at me.

“Rain of Flowers!!”

Swoosh—

A terrifying onslaught of evil techniques came flying at me, but looking at the speed and accuracy of those techniques, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Ha!”

Slam!

“No, no!!”

If I swung my sword, I easily deflected all the techniques. As I did so without moving an inch, Tang Mugyeok appeared pale, clearly shocked, and I taunted him.

“…Compared to Tang San’s Rain of Flowers, your power isn’t even one-tenth. I nearly died receiving that, and you dare call this your Rain of Flowers?”

“W-what are you saying…?”

“I might not specialize in secret techniques, but how about you receive this instead? A little revenge for Tang San.”

Whoosh!

I picked up a throwing dart lodged in the ground and infused it with the Thunder Spirit’s energy before casually launching it at Tang Mugyeok. Since I infused it with a significant amount of internal power, I could clearly see it accelerating in mid-air.

Thud!!

“Kyaah!”

Tang Mugyeok couldn’t dodge and was hit in the shoulder, staggering to the ground. It was definitely a serious injury, splitting open his muscle too deeply.

‘Even though that was a casual throw, the Thunder Spirit’s energy accelerated sharply due to my intent.’

But still, I never expected such a weakling who wasn’t even a basic technique-user to be defeated so easily.

I sighed, finding the once-great master of the Four Talents Sect, Tang Mugyeok, to be too weak.

“Hmph. You might as well have lost your specialization. I can’t believe you’re this pathetic.”

Am I that much stronger now?

I shook my head and left the Four Talents Sect. I came back to the village and integrated Tang San and his mother into the community.

And without any particular incident, about twenty days went by. During that time, I supported the villagers with their martial arts training and observed as the carpenters and stone masons brought by Mangnyang restructured the village.

“Master.”

Around that time, Lee Kwang returned from his outing. He brought along Kim Manje, whose face was so swollen it was unrecognizable. Lee Kwang coldly stated.

“Within three days, the Divine Maiden Sect will send a letter to inform us of where the headquarters of the Eight Demons is located and its internal layout. I’ve done as you instructed.”

“That’s great. Well done.”

“Now, about the Thunder Spirit….”

I grinned at Lee Kwang.

“Aren’t you still not comfortable with the basics? That’s why I can’t teach you the Thunder Spirit now.”

Lee Kwang’s face contorted with anger.

“You promised not to continue the Thunder Spirit repetitions…!!”

“Of course! Who would ever push you into repeating the Thunder Spirit?! I would never do such a thing.”

“Hmph.”

“Instead…”

Lee Kwang’s expression crumbled as I continued speaking.

“Let’s say we each do ‘Lan, I, Thrust’ ten thousand times starting today.”

“…….”