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I hesitated as I was about to approach Mangnyang.

“Uh… this feels kind of embarrassing.”

My past life’s death was due to my hasty decision to go after the Vermilion Bird, and it all stemmed from ignoring the ominous warning from the Three Masters Yun Sa. So, this was entirely my fault. That’s why I felt strangely bashful looking directly at Mangnyang’s face.

After pondering for a moment, I thought, “Let me grab something else before heading to find Mangnyang.”

There was no guarantee he would appreciate it, but it felt like it might save my face somehow. Naturally, this plan was associated with Yeodong-bin’s Fire Dragon Sword.

Fire Dragon Sword!

It was a divine artifact used by the Sword Master Yeodong-bin when he was alive. It was said that he lost the Fire Dragon Sword on Mount Ye during his last fight against Great Evil and then ascended. So, I needed to search for his treasure on Mount Ye first.

“Is Mount Ye in Jiangxi Province?”

Jiangxi Province was located south of the Yangtze River, all the way down from Anhui. I had hardly been to Jiangxi, and it was a bit vague in my memory. So, I decided to use a divine technique to cross rivers and mountains and set off towards Jiangxi Province.

On my way to Jiangxi, I caught sight of Payang Lake. Payang Lake was immense, so wide that the horizon stretched infinitely. I briefly enjoyed the scenic view, reminiscing about the lakes I had seen in Mongolia.

I then met a fisherman who made his living catching fish near the lake and listened to his stories about Payang Lake.

“Any stories related to Payang Lake?”

The fisherman blinked his eyes and replied, “Well… it’s about the battle between Chen Youliang and the Hongwu Emperor.”

“Chen Youliang, the one who was the biggest adversary of the Hongwu Emperor, right?”

“Yeah… he led an army of 600,000 against the Hongwu Emperor, but despite being outnumbered, the Emperor triumphed.”

The fisherman was unwrapping some dried fish as he continued, “You know, there might be many sunken boats at the riverbed.”

“I can believe that.”

“Be careful, there are quite a few bandits roaming around here. If you go twenty li deeper into the mountains, it could be dangerous for a warrior like you.”

His advice sounded quite reasonable. This area seemed to be the entrance to Payang Lake and had a noticeable population. However, farther in, it appeared that bandits were causing trouble.

Of course, I had no reason to fear bandits, but a sense of unease crept over me.

“What is this… Yin Energy?”

A chilling sensation brushed my spine. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but it was not. There was certainly a gloomy and eerie energy. However, this was distinctly different from the killing intent or intimidation of martial arts experts; it felt closer to a dire omen.

As I pondered about why I felt this way, a thought suddenly struck me.

“Oh!”

Buzzing!

I quickly moved to a deserted area, gathered my qi, and activated the Heavenly Secret Technique. Suddenly, I sensed the presence of spirits, and soon my surroundings were filled with the unmistakable energy of spirits. I couldn’t help but be amazed after a moment.

“Are there really this many grudge spirits?”

Grudge spirits were visibly roaming near the riverbank, seemingly lost. Some were submerged in the river, while others peeked out from the water’s surface, and some floated lazily. One thing was for certain—their number was at least in the thousands.

The overwhelming number of these spirits explained the Yin energy I was feeling. But the situation struck me as odd.

If there were this many vengeful spirits, shouldn’t people have felt something strange by now?

Wasn’t it normal for exorcists to have issued warnings?

However, people, including the fisherman, seemed to be living just fine in the village, while I was the only one feeling this chill. Something felt off, but as I approached the spirits to touch them, I finally understood.

“I see…”

What I was witnessing was not the actual spirits. Rather, remnants of memories from the past lingered in that place, projected as if the spirits existed. Since they were merely past memories, ordinary people wouldn’t feel anything at all. I realized how this situation had come to be.

The Heavenly Secret Technique could read the residues of memories!

It seemed this ability could be obtained without the user’s conscious effort. However, I had no idea where I could possibly use this trivial ability. In other words, it was just a power to briefly skim through past memories and intuit something about them.

“It’ll come in handy someday.”

With that thought, I left Payang Lake behind. Once I properly entered Jiangxi Province, I found a large city and looked for an escort station heading to Mount Ye. After paying for information from the escort there, I learned:

“Mount Ye? It would take about three or four days by horseback from here… Just follow the official road northeast and you’ll get there. As for the details…”

The escort produced a small map he carried and pointed out the route. Truly, he was the perfect person to ask about such questions. I nodded appreciatively.

“Thank you.”

“You look like the young scion of a renowned family. You must be finding it tough traveling alone.”

“Not at all… But what does the name Yadong Escort Station mean?”

The escort took a quick glance at the signboard of the station and said, “I’m not really sure, but the Lord of the Kingdom always takes pride in that name. Apparently, it has some deep significance. Our station has a long and storied history.”

“I see! What a splendid name.”

“Haha, don’t forget about Yadong.”

After parting ways with the escort, I rushed toward Mount Ye. When I reached the entrance of Mount Ye, I decided to use the Heavenly Secret Technique to gather information.

Buzzing –

“There are… two powerful spirits nearby.”

I summoned the mighty spirits, and their forms became clear: one was a Taoist Master, and the other was a beautiful girl playing the guzheng. I asked each of them about their identities.

“Who are you?”

[I am Songpungsan-in.]

“And you?”

[I am Hye Won.]

“…”

Unlike the time I met Dian Wei and Fang Xuanling, these were unfamiliar figures. However, since they had appeared drawn by the Heavenly Secret Technique, they must have been significant figures in history while they were alive. Scratching my head, I asked them.

“I’m here searching for the Fire Dragon Sword, the treasure of Yeodong-bin. Do you know anything about it?”

Hearing my question, Songpungsan-in raised his eyebrows and replied, [If I knew, I would have it. But I’ve never seen such a thing in my 89 years of cultivating here on Mount Ye.]

“89 years?”

I felt dumbfounded. Nineteen years was an incredibly long time for a Taoist. Afterward, I turned to Hye Won. She plucked her guzheng and said, [Even during the time we built a temple with my disciples, I’ve never felt a spirit energy as powerful as a divine artifact. The Fire Dragon Sword is not on Mount Ye.]

“Building a temple? Were you a nun?”

[That was the case.]

They were likely extraordinary figures from the realms of Daoism and Buddhism. Listening to their words, I pondered.

“Hmm. If even a Taoist who has been cultivating for 89 years and a nun don’t know, then… it seems the Fire Dragon Sword really isn’t here on Mount Ye.”

It might be hidden somewhere, but it certainly wasn’t in an obvious spot.

After all, it had been nearly a thousand years since Yeodong-bin last battled evil and ascended. In a millennium, a country could change its name countless times, so even if the sword had initially been on Mount Ye, where it went afterward was entirely unknown.

Just as I was about to get disheartened and sigh, Hye Won suddenly said, [Oh, there is one fascinating place.]

“Where?”

[There are bizarre rocks on Incense Burner Peak. If you search there, you might find something.]

Following the nun Hye Won’s suggestion, I ascended Incense Burner Peak. This peak was renowned for its stunning views on Mount Ye, but the treacherous terrain meant few ventured there. I intended to head toward the area Hye Won mentioned, but the mountains were deep and finding a path was challenging.

[Let me guide you.]

Eventually, growing frustrated, Hye Won manifested her spirit onto me.

Buzzing!

With Hye Won’s guidance, I traversed deep into a hidden valley and entered a waterfall. We broke through a cave in the middle of Manjangan Cliff and found it filled with mushrooms that emitted colorful lights. Beneath the mushrooms lay the bizarre rocks that Hye Won had mentioned.

Hye Won said, [I’ve come here alone to play before. I didn’t dare search through the rocks as they seemed dangerous, but there might be something there.]

“You came here to play? This doesn’t look like a place for that…”

[When one is too bored, anything can become fun.]

“…”

My disbelief silenced me. Falling into a massive waterfall and breaking into the mushroom field is hardly typical recreational activity, but Hye Won clearly wasn’t an ordinary person. After sending the two spirits back, I approached the rocks.

As I inspected them, I felt the ground shaking, and a wind gusted from within. I focused my eyes with my kung fu to peer into the dark and saw, undoubtedly, a hole amidst a giant stone. After pondering for a moment, I decided to crawl inside the hole.

And just then, an eerie sensation washed over me.

“…?”

It was an extremely vast and deep darkness—almost reminiscent of a giant living being’s interior. No, I even got the impression that I was touching some skeleton. A dreadful premonition flashed in my mind, but I shook it off and descended further.

“It’s blocked.”

I muttered in the pitch black. I’d descended for quite some time, only to reach a dead end. I pondered if this was some kind of ordinary place but had determined it was most likely not. While I contemplated forcing my way through, I thought better of it; if the cliff collapsed, it would be a disaster, so I returned outside.

Stepping into the warm sunlight, I spoke to Yeodong-bin.

[Yeodong-bin, something curious happened just now.]

After sharing the weird tale about the cave behind the waterfall, Yeodong-bin listened silently before he spoke.

[Did you say Incense Burner Peak?]

[Yes, indeed.]

[So that’s where my sword is.]

[No… I was told it wasn’t there.]

No matter how I thought about it, the landscape seemed unsuitable for a divine sword to be hidden. As I insisted, Yeodong-bin said resolutely, [Yeon-ja! Go to the opposite side of Incense Burner Peak and observe the waterfall from afar.]

Buzz!

I did as Yeodong-bin instructed. The grand sight of the waterfall cascading down Manjangan Cliff struck me at once. Yeodong-bin seemed to share my vision as he crowded in, saying.

[Did you notice anything?]

[What am I meant to notice?]

[Take a good look at the size and length of that waterfall.]

[It’s quite long and large. But what does that mean…]

[Doesn’t it resemble a dragon?]

[……]

I stared blankly at the Manjangan Cliff.

Rumbling!

The sheer might of nature itself lay before my eyes. A waterfall wide enough to span multiple sheets of paper stood right in front of me. Normally, I would’ve admired the sight, but now was different. I viewed the waterfall and the giant cliff as one living being, and imagining the size of that creature made my heart race.

Great Dragon!

Images of a gigantic dragon formed in my mind. I said in a trembling voice.

“Could it be that the bizarre stones I just entered were…?”

[The last Great Evil I defeated was the Evil Dragon that had been sealed in ancient times. After banishing it, I pierced its heart and sealed it here on Mount Ye.]

Yeodong-bin declared firmly.

[It seems the Evil Dragon dissolved into the earth to protect itself, becoming the mountain itself.]

“So you’re saying… that cliff is the Evil Dragon?”

[Exactly. And the cave you just entered was like its throat or esophagus.]

“Ugh…”

In shock, I moaned in disbelief.

Who would have thought that the cliff of Incense Burner Peak was a nefarious, colossal Evil Dragon! Rubbing my head, I sighed.

“At least that’s a relief. If I dig deeper into that cave, I might just come across the Fire Dragon Sword.”

[Yeon-ja, that’s uncertain.]

“Huh?”

[If I’m near my divine artifact, I can sense it. But here… I feel it’s absent.]

With that, Yeodong-bin continued.

[Perhaps, over the course of a thousand years, someone discovered the Fire Dragon Sword and took it.]

“Who could have taken it?”

[I can’t say for sure…]

In that moment, I realized.

I had come up empty-handed.

 

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