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Next, Zhuge Sa pulled out nearly 200 gold bars, stacking them up like they were some ordinary thing. For a regular human, the sheer amount might have left them speechless, but for me, treasure held little meaning, so I was barely moved.

“This is the operational fund we’ll need going forward.”

“You got this from some other fool, didn’t you?”

“There are plenty of clueless rich folks out there!”

Zhuge Sa replied nonchalantly and continued, “And I also bought information about Chi You from that guy.”

“Hmm!”

That “guy” most likely referred to the slave trader from anotherworldly race.

‘If I have information on Chi You, I can plan our next steps.’

I focused intently on Zhuge Sa’s words, but he kept dancing around the topic without revealing anything. When he abruptly stopped talking, I couldn’t help but ask, “What’s up?”

Zhuge Sa glanced at Cheon Woo-jin before turning to me. “If we don’t establish this for sure, we can’t proceed any further.”

“Establish what…?”

“That thing, you know…”

I began to understand his intention. ‘Obsidian!’

To share the secret that I am a reborn person and everything I’ve discovered so far, I would need to show him the obsidian. Sharing this secret could even create an opportunity to bring Cheon Woo-jin to our side later.

But as I was parsing Zhuge Sa’s thoughts, his secret transmission reached me:

[I recommend against sharing the obsidian. It’s your choice, but it’d be best to get Cheon Woo-jin out of here as soon as possible.]

I was taken aback by the unexpected commentary.

[What? Didn’t you just say to use the obsidian’s techniques?]

[Well, with Hyun here, that’s what I said outwardly. But Cheon Woo-jin already knows a lot about the world’s secrets and doesn’t exactly see you in a favorable light. If you keep this up, betrayal is practically guaranteed. No, it’s entirely possible he wouldn’t even think twice about sticking a knife in your back.]

[…]

[I leave the choice to you.]

This was quite a complicated decision.

Zhuge Sa was hinting at making Cheon Woo-jin a companion using the obsidian while, deep down, he was reluctant to accept him as part of our team. Granted, his negative feelings towards Cheon Woo-jin were playing a role here, but it seemed to him that Cheon Woo-jin was overflowing with potential for betrayal.

This was difficult.

I had to approach this issue carefully. Zhuge Sa’s proposals regarding human trust had never been wrong. He maintained a pessimistic and critical view of humanity, thus allowing him to objectively see the essence of humans.

“……”

After some contemplation, I said to Cheon Woo-jin, “Could you step outside for a moment?”

“Heh… Want to have a secret discussion, do you?”

“No…”

“Then I’ll go.”

Cheon Woo-jin scoffed and swaggered right out. I was about to say something, but at that moment, Zhuge Sa cast a sound barrier around the space where Cheon Woo-jin had been. His reaction was so immediate that I turned to Zhuge Sa, and he said, “That guy doesn’t consider us as allies either. Don’t get all guilty or feel the need to explain yourself over this.”

“Hmm…”

Mangnyang, sensing the situation, said with a bitter smile, “Uncle, Cheon Woo-jin is not that kind of person. I believe he will help us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Sa shook his head. “You might believe that, but I don’t. A genius who has lived in his bubble has come to us just out of concern for your well-being. Cheon Woo-jin won’t ever betray Mangnyang, but either I or Baek Woong could turn on you in a heartbeat.”

“But…”

“Hyun, do you understand what it means to receive Baek Woong’s obsidian?”

“I do understand.”

“It’s no different from being an Apostle of the God. You’d be privy to the secrets of the world, the secrets of the Seven Luminaries, the martial arts knowledge gathered over hundreds of years, and techniques like the Peerless Divine Technique. Although the capacity of the obsidian can’t convey it all perfectly, you know it’s immense.”

“……”

“We can’t predict how Cheon Woo-jin will act after absorbing those memories. Unless he has a special bond with Baek Woong, normally, he’d likely misuse that knowledge to seize control of the world.”

Zhuge Sa’s forthrightness seemed to leave Mangnyang momentarily speechless. But undeterred, he stated with strong will, “I trust the priest. We must consider that he is different this time around. Rejecting him outright is a risk we can’t afford; we could miss all our chances.”

Mangnyang’s words held merit.

Pawning off the obsidian meant every conversation where we argued over Cheon Woo-jin would be recorded like a video tape. Of course, I could consciously leave out details, but Cheon Woo-jin would probably catch on to the discomfort. If mistrust doubles back on us, we might permanently lose the chance to bring him into our team.

“Well, what do you say, Baek Woong?”

Both Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang’s gazes fell on me. I hesitated before saying to Mangnyang, “This is not just about whether I trust Cheon Woo-jin. I sent him out not to sideline him, but because we need time to assess our situation. We had no real discussion until just now.”

Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa nodded as if that made sense.

“True.”

“And this discussion among the three of us is essential for accepting him too, right? If I had taken him in impulsively without this dialogue, that wouldn’t have ended well. After all, we’re teammates now.”

Mangnyang’s face lit up with joy.

“You’ve really matured; you’ve certainly become a different person than before.”

Zhuge Sa cleared his throat.

“Ahem. So what’s next?”

“I can’t just naively trust Cheon Woo-jin like you suggested. First, I’ll lift the sound barrier and call him in again to gauge his true intent. After I’ve made my judgment, then I’ll share the obsidian.”

Zhuge Sa replied with an irritated look, “Isn’t that way too dangerous? If a grand sorcerer like Cheon Woo-jin betrays you, you’ll never get reincarnated again. He could cast a sealing spell that lasts eternally.”

“Don’t worry.”

I answered sternly to Zhuge Sa’s concerns. “I’ll trust in Mangnyang for this one. If Mangnyang wholeheartedly believes in Cheon Woo-jin, then trust in him naturally falls on my shoulders as well.”

Even if I get betrayed this time, I wouldn’t hold any resentment.

Because I knew I wouldn’t blame Mangnyang if he betrayed me.

That is what lending trust means.

Pa-at!

“Come here.”

Once Zhuge Sa lifted the sound barrier, I called for Cheon Woo-jin. Then, with the four of us gathered, I cut straight to the chase.

“Cheon Woo-jin. You know I have a big secret. And right now, I want to share it with you.”

At my statement, Cheon Woo-jin scoffed.

“What’s your point? Who asked you to spill the beans?”

“Stop being difficult. Mangnyang wants to trust you.”

He flinched.

At the mention of Mangnyang, a subtle change crossed his face. I seized the opportunity to lead the conversation.

“The reason I’m sharing this secret is that it’s crucial to keep Mangnyang safe. We need to share secrets to ensure his safety. Besides, you’re here for Mangnyang’s sake, right? I’m trying to facilitate your goal.”

“Hah! What kind of big secret could be so serious?”

I smirked, revealing a bait as I spoke. “It’s a huge secret. You wouldn’t be able to take down the Sea God without one.”

“……”

“I want to hear your thoughts.”

Cheon Woo-jin appeared pensive. And then, looking again at Mangnyang with a noticeably cooler gaze, he said, “Brother, does this secret relate to why he’s been assisting that guy?”

Mangnyang nodded.

“Of course. It’s also a matter of the secrets behind Baek Woong’s powers.”

“…I still don’t get it. If you don’t believe it, you might as well kick me out. Why drag this out?”

Cheon Woo-jin grumbled, and Mangnyang said, “Priest, I trust you.”

“……”

A silence followed for a while. After some time, Cheon Woo-jin broke the quiet. “If you’re offering the secret, I have no reason to refuse. Let’s hear what you’ve got.”

“You can’t be like that.”

“What?”

I gazed at him, unblinking. “I need certainty. You must say with your own mouth that even after knowing this secret, you won’t betray us or leak it out.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then our bond ends here. As stated, I’ll pay you in fire spirit and you can return to your village.”

My emotionless tone prompted Cheon Woo-jin to smirk. “Heh, coming on strong, huh? Fine. I won’t leak it or betray you. Is that enough?”

“Take this obsidian.”

Swish!

Cheon Woo-jin caught the obsidian I tossed. The moment he held it, I immediately cast the obsidian’s techniques.

Vwoom!

“……!!”

Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes widened in shock as memories flooded in. For a while, he stared blankly at the sky, processing an overwhelming amount of information. Once his mind settled, he looked at me, utterly bewildered.

“I’m a reborn person?”

“Just as you saw. I’m a reborn person, and Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa are helping me.”

“This is insane…”

Cheon Woo-jin whispered with disbelief. “…But that makes sense of how a child like you amassed such power and treasure.”

Mangnyang chimed in, “Priest, what will you do next?”

“What do you mean?”

“Baek Woong has defeated the Old Ruler after nearly twenty deaths. Wouldn’t you be curious how far we could succeed if we help him?”

Cheon Woo-jin countered, “I’m telling you, my stance hasn’t changed. I think it’s a futile effort, much like fighting that damn Demon Sorcerer.”

That damn demon sorcerer? I shot a look at Zhuge Sa, but his expression was unchanged. Cheon Woo-jin continued, “Because the Sea God is a lower-tier entity among the Old Rulers. There are many beings of far greater divine status. I’ve said it before, a hundred times stronger beings could exist. That’s the true horror and despair of this world.”

“So let me ask you, priest. You saw Baek Woong’s memories from either his first or second reincarnation, right?”

“I did.”

Mangnyang held his ground, exclaiming, “Who could have imagined back then that a worthless Baek Woong could ever defeat the Sea God? Sure, he had some incredible luck on his side, but do you really think anyone in our realm could capture such a being based on luck alone? Even the exalted Great Immortals wouldn’t dare to take it on!”

Cheon Woo-jin seemed momentarily speechless.

“Uh… well…”

“We can’t possibly measure a Reborn Person’s potential as mere mortals.”

With that, Mangnyang approached and took Cheon Woo-jin’s hand. “Priest! Please help us. I’m asking you.”

“Brother…”

“I’ve been helping Reborn Baek Woong from the get-go, but I’m slowly feeling the limits of my power. While our enemies continue to grow stronger, I’m falling behind. The last adventure I took, risking my divine fever, was because I felt I might end up being killed helplessly.”

“……!!”

“Now that we’ve defeated the Sea God, the balance of the world has shifted, and a new demon may arise. The enemies will surpass our human understanding. It’s possible Apostle-level foes could pop up anywhere. If you don’t assist us, Baek Woong might drop dead before he even finds Chi You.”

Cheon Woo-jin stood there dazed, pressing his forehead.

“Give me a moment to think.”

Once Mangnyang let go of Cheon Woo-jin’s hand, he fell deep into contemplation, appearing genuinely tormented. Finally, he asked, “Are you confident you can prevent the rise of Le Rue at the end of days?”

“I can’t say I have that kind of confidence. If I did, I’d be lying.”

I continued, “I’ll do what I can. Even if I can’t prevent it, I’ll look for ways to mitigate the disaster.”

“Hmm. There’s an additional condition.”

Cheon Woo-jin raised an eyebrow, “What? What is it?”

“I don’t want to help without something in return. Pass all your martial arts techniques, including the Peaceful Divine Method, to me via obsidian. In return, I’ll help you to the best of my ability.”

“But to do that…”

Since the volume of techniques increases, a gigantic obsidian towering several times over a person would be needed. The problem is such large obsidians are quite rare; using one up now would make it harder for others to gain benefits. In fact, I had originally been saving that for Mangnyang, Zhuge Sa, the Sword Demon, or Jin So-cheong to help them reach their potential.

Suddenly, Cheon Woo-jin wore an unmistakable expression of annoyance. “If you need a giant obsidian, go find more. Damn, you got so dumb after just a few words.”

“Ugh.”

“You really are like a Bodhisattva. I can’t believe I’ve been working beside such a fool… Did you get cancer or something?”

Muttering to himself, Cheon Woo-jin declared, “Anyway, I’ll help you.”

“Thanks!”

I could tell that Cheon Woo-jin was now firmly on our side. Though I had doubted, Mangnyang had actively pushed things along for Cheon Woo-jin to come around. In other words, without Mangnyang, I could never have recruited Cheon Woo-jin, and I found myself grateful for Mangnyang’s presence.

‘Could it be, did Mangnyang get hurt to make this happen…?’

That question floated into my mind, and if Mangnyang had planned it all, well then, he was certainly a genius at handling human psychology. Of course, he wouldn’t come out and admit that to me, so all I could do was speculate.

Once everything settled, Zhuge Sa finally pulled out the information on Chi You.

“The info I got from that slave trader about Chi You was a bit unique.”

“How so?”

Zhuge Sa rested his chin in thought and continued, “Chi You has been observing this world closely and has sent many avatars to monitor from the earthly realm.”

“That much we already knew.”

Zhuge Sa made an apprehensive expression. “The issue is that there are eight avatars in total.”

“Eight?!”

I was taken aback. “Is it even possible for one being to create so many avatars?!”

Avatars!

Avatars are what powerful Great Immortals or beings above the level of Apostles create to act on their behalf when they hesitate to manifest directly. Though avatars are generally weaker than the main entity, they still represent the will of a divine being, making them nearly impossible for regular humans to challenge. I also knew that creating an avatar required significant energy even from a divine entity.

Zhuge Sa furrowed his brow in concern. “This is just not logical. Chi You may be more special than we initially thought.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s more alarming is that these avatars haven’t just been active recently; they’ve likely been around since the early history of China.”

Zhuge Sa continued, “I also tried to find out their names and identities, but the slave trader was trying to gouge me, so I couldn’t get much.”

“So, knowing that the avatars number eight is our gain?”

“Of course, that’s not all. If you want to learn more about those avatars, he said to visit Tianzhu or Thunder Sound Temple.”

Tianzhu is a huge continent to the west, and Thunder Sound Temple is a monastery on the border between Tianzhu and the Central Plains. The temple was also classified among the martial world forces since its lamas were known to have mastered martial arts at high levels.

“Tianzhu… Thunder Sound Temple… No idea what’s happening. If they’re observing the Central Plains, why do they have ties to the western regions?”

I couldn’t grasp Chi You’s intentions.

At that moment, Mangnyang, who had been listening, gathered the pieces together. “We must now act from multiple angles. Crossing Dark Heaven Village straight on and heading to the moon to find Chi You will be our last resort. For now, we have to track down and capture the avatars to understand their true intentions.”

 

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