789 ——————————————————–

True Martial Home

Master Hyuncheon had lost all hope.

What could I possibly say to him?

“I won’t give up…”

But I swallowed those words before they could escape my mouth.

Master Hyuncheon had already seen all 24 cycles of my memories, knowing my resolve and journey.

Yet, he was crushed by an overwhelming despair, voicing his sorrows to me.

It felt different from what had happened before. Up until now, my companions had asked about the odds of victory, all while believing in a brighter future they’d help create alongside me.

Thus, concerns about their own abilities or prospects hardly mattered. The apocalypse was such an abstract concept, and proving I was someone they could rely on was what mattered most.

However, Master Hyuncheon didn’t approach the conversation from that angle.

He was expressing a pure question about what answer could possibly exist in this despairing reality where he felt utterly incapacitated. Asking me to carry on despite his hardships would be meaningless.

What good would it do to persist?

The world already felt like hell!

“……..”

This was a first for me. I had been so focused on my shortcomings that I had considered no one else’s perceptions.

At the same time, I couldn’t shake the guilt of making him feel such unnecessary despair.

In the end, I had dragged him into my troubles and caused him pain.

I had nothing to say.

No… right now, anything I could say would be pointless.

As I fell silent, Master Hyuncheon seemed to collect himself before breaking his own silence.

“I apologize. I know what you’re feeling about your past life, and yet I still lamented…”

“It’s fine. I’m the one who should apologize.”

“Baek Woong. Honestly, when I first glimpsed the memory of the obsidian, I shamefully wished to follow you. But now I realize I’m just a hindrance… Please don’t give me any more obsidian in the future…”

“Oh….”

For a moment, the memories flooded back as I thought of his request.

[Baek Woong. You know… we are friends, right?]

[In exchange for helping you, can you promise to grant me one request as a friend? If you agree to that, I’ll help you to the best of my ability.]

[From the next incarnation onward, don’t let me join as a companion. Just let me live my life as it is.]

[Baek Woong. That is my life. Hope for revenge is gone, and every day I just try to hold back my anger towards Cheon Woo-jin while working as a bar guard. That life was also mine.]

Extreme Tiger…

Extreme Tiger had said similar things. When I summoned him with the king’s power to break through Mokyo’s trials, he too refused to be a companion any longer. The resemblance between him and Master Hyuncheon was uncanny.

At that time, I accepted Extreme Tiger’s words, but deep down I felt a twinge of disappointment. It wasn’t that the spiritual pill or fortuitous event he received was wasted; it was the pure expectation that a friend would walk the same path as me that had been shattered.

Besides, I hadn’t had time then to hear an adequate explanation from Extreme Tiger, which made it feel even more regretful.

When I fell silent, Master Hyuncheon spoke again.

“If I were to become your companion, I could also inherit the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, Black and White Lotus, or some strong martial arts and become one of the ten fighters in the world. However, even the incredible Jin So-cheong couldn’t overcome the gods and was met with repeated failures… There’s no need for you to feel guilty…”

“That’s not the problem. How can you view a companion simply in terms of efficiency?”

“I suppose one could say that… But Baek Woong, do you know what has drastically changed since we fought the Nine Lotus Sect together in the fourth trial?”

“What is it?”

“Hope. Right now, hope does not exist.”

“Hmm….”

As I pondered, Master Hyuncheon continued.

“I may be the first to say something like this, but your journey now carries too deep a despair to blindly expect improvements and new information. While your iron will and your extraordinary companions might bring you enough potential to eliminate one of the Three Sovereigns, nothing will truly change…”

“There are changes. Based on that success, I can achieve even greater accomplishments in the next trial. Haven’t I progressed, even if just a little, thus far?”

“Did we worry about such things when we first fought the Nine Lotus Sect in Taekyung Village? Didn’t we think that defeating them would solve everything?”

His unexpectedly accurate question hit me like a slap to the face.

“…No, we didn’t.”

“That’s the difference. Every single one of your companions is a hero of their generation. When they receive the obsidian, they must first acknowledge their own deaths and failures. There’s no hope visible to them right now…”

“That’s….”

“Isn’t it harsh? They walk the path of Asura simply because they know the truth…”

I found myself speechless. He had pointed out what I had felt vaguely guilty about my companions precisely.

Master Hyuncheon slowly closed his eyes and continued speaking.

“Baek Woong. The strategies that the geniuses of the Zhuge clan advise you are all correct and excellent, but remember that they too are human. Because of their talents, they can abandon selfish desires unlike ordinary folk. Yet, that leads them to ignore caring for themselves. And before they know it, they become riddled with wounds.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

“In order for you to become the king of humans and save the world, you must first show them hope. No matter how talented they are, they cannot walk with you on a hopeless path indefinitely.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

I felt incredibly grateful for Master Hyuncheon’s advice.

‘I see!’

Hope!

That was something I hadn’t considered.

Up until now, I had forced my way forward with the belief that I just had to not give up, but now I needed to start looking around at those around me. Nobody had mentioned it directly, but creating hope and shining a light on it was something I had to do myself. Master Hyuncheon had just helped me realize that truth.

At the same time, I felt my mind brighten. Having regained my composure, I addressed Master Hyuncheon.

“Master Hyuncheon, do you believe it’s impossible to gather the Seven Luminaries to save the world?”

“Honestly, given your memories… it seems like a trial that has been doomed from the start. It’s so bleak that even Zhuge Sa is content to focus on the immediate fire before him, wishing to attract the Seven Luminaries…”

For a moment, life flickered back into Master Hyuncheon’s eyes as he spoke.

“However, that might mean your path has narrowed considerably…”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s because you can let go of many things now… The restrictions you didn’t even realize you were holding onto have been lifted, so that’s fortunate.”

“…..?”

“Any further explanation would not be as good as a single explanation from Mangnyang or Zhuge Sa. Ask them directly later.”

“Understood.”

As our conversation continued, I realized how immense Master Hyuncheon’s knowledge, wisdom, and insight were. Previously, I had only fought alongside him, taking down fanatics without truly sensing this brilliance. He truly was one of the martial arts world’s great elders. If he hadn’t been exceptionally talented, he wouldn’t have gained the Wudang Sect elder qualification, nor would he have established a separate Daoist Hall, making him a standout among the hundreds of candidates accepted every two years.

‘What if I had shared memories with Master Hyuncheon from the beginning and traveled together with him…’

I felt such regret, but I soon recognized it was a worthless thought. Ultimately, I’d have to find myself fighting against the gods anyway, rendering it a minuscule issue later on.

Crack!!!

“Please, take this!”

After bringing Master Hyuncheon to Taejeong Temple, I handed him the Black and White Lotus. However, he merely returned it to me, saying,

“You won’t live long according to Zhuge Sa’s plans, and this world is on the brink of collapse… Use this for your journey.”

“Hmm… understood.”

“I will take the time to do what I’ve always wanted but have been unable to do, and organize my remaining moments.”

With that final word, he vanished into the Taejeong Temple and never reappeared. From his last words, I sensed a strong determination; he seemed to have already accepted his doom was death. I felt yet another pang of regret as I bit my lip.

‘This isn’t how it was supposed to be.’

Or maybe I had thought too lightly about making companions?

At the same time, a fierce resolve ignited within me.

‘I must find hope! A true hope to challenge the gods, separate from the strategies offered by other advisors…’

Until now, I had walked solely out of stubbornness, refusing to lose to the gods, but now it was a different phase. To fulfill my dream of divine killing, I needed a clearer, more concrete ‘means.’

Having assumed the Seven Luminaries would serve that purpose, their failure left me no choice but to find an alternative.

If the Seven Luminaries wouldn’t work, what could possibly take down a god?

“……Perhaps.”

I placed my hopes on the thought that sparked in my mind. However, it was a far more challenging task than gathering the Seven Luminaries and passing through their trials, filling me with a simultaneous sense of futility.

I need to transcend the gods with martial arts!

Is that even possible?

At this point, I had just begun to step into the Absolute Realm. It was a monumental feat that was almost out of the question. I had seen many experts reach the Absolute Realm, but few could genuinely harm the divine status. Even Jin So-cheong, despite wielding the powers of the Galaxy Island, died after showcasing her techniques. Right now, I had no methods.

Still, I felt compelled to study that method more seriously. Another possibility also crossed my mind.

The Non-Birth Mother’s Dharma Technique!

It could be seen as the ultimate weapon to overturn this world through a completely different route than martial arts. As I pondered carefully, I thought,

‘That’s right… I should seek more ways.’

Ideally, I would head to the Imperial Palace first, negotiate with Zhuge Bu, and use the obsidian to make him a companion. After that, I would leverage his abilities to easily acquire the White Lotus Sect’s scroll. That was Zhuge Sa’s plan and, at this moment, the most accurate and efficient strategy. However, I resolved to act contrary to Zhuge Sa’s strategy.

Why?

Despite experiencing numerous instances where following Zhuge Sa led to blessings and straying from his advice brought misfortune, I wanted to choose this path. Perhaps it stemmed from a strange stubbornness that arose from the despair Master Hyuncheon had felt. I found myself wanting to prepare more thoroughly.

Crack!

I immediately took off on the Golden Lamp and flew somewhere.

The place I headed was a desolate mountain, the most abandoned area I had traveled during my adventures, near the boundary with the Barren Lands in the Central Plains. According to my memory, this area was practically void of people. As I arrived in this tranquil spot, I decided to confirm the essence of the Immortal Sword Technique within me.

Buzz

‘It’s still there….’

It had been severed when the Heavenly Mysterious Woman had unexpectedly gone missing in the last cycle, but it resumed when she reappeared as the Sun’s guardian. Realizing I could wield the Immortal Sword Technique, I immediately awakened Yeodong-bin’s essence.

“Come forth, Yeodong-bin!!”

Silence. He must have heard my call, but with no demons around, he ignored my summons, perhaps wary of responding to someone he had no prior acquaintance with. Anticipating this, I shouted once more.

“What you need most is the Law of Cause and Effect, right? I’ll offer you the Law, so appear immediately!!”

Ssssss

Then, Yeodong-bin’s apparition manifested before my eyes. He looked at me expressionlessly and spoke.

[Do you know what it means to offer the Law? What do you intend to do by summoning me?!]

“I need you to teach me about the gods.”

[Nonsense….]

He tried to disappear again, but I grit my teeth and shouted with desperation.

“Damn it!! Just tell me about that god! A thousand years ago, humans were butchered along with the Great Dragon, and now, with the world facing its end, aren’t you going to save the terrified people? What the hell is that endless vortex!!!!”

[……]

In that moment, Yeodong-bin’s apparition froze. A killing intent slowly flared in his eyes, and I smirked at him.

“I don’t care if the gods want nothing to do with me. If necessary, I’ll prove I deserve to meet that bastard through sparring!!”

What kind of jerk is acting so high and mighty?

I had to meet that god by any means!

[Do you mean that?]

“If it weren’t sincere, would I go this far?”

[….You’re not destined to meet the gods. And I have no authority to connect you with them.]

“Then I’ll just create one.”

[Don’t be foolish.]

At that moment, I forcefully drew forth my intent, creating the form of the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, displaying the layout of the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram.

Chiri-ling!!

The Six Harmonies rotated like a ring instantly. Not only did it deplete my mental strength temporarily, but Yeodong-bin wore a look of considerable shock.

“You can wield both the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique and Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram.”

[It’s just mimicry.]

“Even mimicry is enough. Acknowledge me.”

[…..]

After a brief moment, Yeodong-bin spoke.

[Yeon-ja, can you stake your life on this?]

“Of course!”

It was then.

Swaaa

Yeodong-bin’s expression morphed into something akin to an Evil God’s Killing Intent, leaving me startled. In reality, his expression hadn’t truly changed; it was just that the momentum he exuded transformed into raw killing intent, giving me that illusion. Even as I took my first step into the Absolute Realm, the pressure made my body stiffen. The killing intent he had once exuded carelessly was a whole different realm now.

‘Is this… the legendary Demon Mask?’

If he had walked the path of evil rather than the righteous one, I couldn’t even begin to fathom the kind of slaughter that would have unfolded. Yeodong-bin was the supreme swordsman who, gifted with both the killing intent of a sword demon and monstrous talent, rose to the Celestial Realm.

[The reckless one…. endure a duel with me for one hundred seconds. Only then will I grant your wish.]

“Sounds good.”

[As you may know, if meeting the god is the price, I can’t afford to let you off easy. There must be room for challengers at the ‘Gate.’]

Srrrn

At long last, Yeodong-bin accepted my agreement, manifesting into reality at the cost of my lifespan. Slowly drawing his sword, he bore no hint of emotion.

[It’s my first time killing someone like you.]

Those words were sincere, yet I refused to lose my spirit.

I wouldn’t hesitate anymore.

If there’s a path, I would seize it no matter what.

Because that’s how you create ‘hope’!