795——————==

True Martial Home

As Zhuge Mu-hu spoke, the atmosphere turned a bit chilly.

“Hmm….”

I exchanged glances with Jin So-cheong and Seo Mun-hye. I felt particularly grateful to Jin So-cheong. While I had seamlessly used the techniques from the Heavenly Secret Technique, I managed to exploit Zhuge Mu-hu’s gap and draw out his true intentions.

And to the now-closed eyes of Zhuge Mu-hu, I said.

“I’m aware of that.”

[…Are you?]

“I might know a lot more than you think.”

As I spoke decisively, he slowly opened his eyes. Observing me with the look of a wise man, he said:

[So, someone who mastered the Heavenly Secret Technique is not just an ordinary human.]

“Zhuge Mu-hu, if the despair you’re talking about refers to the world’s destruction in five hundred years, I am constantly working to prevent that. Even if I fail dozens or hundreds of times, I won’t give up.”

[……]

“My companions and I have already challenged the Seven Luminaries’ Trial. We’ve even overcome the Sun’s Trial.”

[What…?]

For a moment, Zhuge Mu-hu looked taken aback. His eyelids seemed to flutter slightly, and after a brief pause, he couldn’t contain his curiosity and opened his mouth.

[You’re mistaken. If the Seven Luminaries’ Trial was underway, this world would surely have become uninhabitable for humans. What do you hope to gain by boasting this to me?]

At that moment, I could feel it.

‘Zhuge Mu-hu knows what disaster occurs when the Seven Luminaries’ Trial opens!’

I couldn’t tell if he knew the full details or just had a general idea. But from my personal experience in the Sun’s Trial, the six Luminaries that formed Shenglong’s body were the planets themselves, and I had almost reached the point of having to destroy a planet. If one failed the trial, there was a high probability it would be reflected in reality as a destruction, so Zhuge Mu-hu’s statement held substantial truth.

If I hadn’t experienced the Sun’s Trial, I might have dismissed his words as vague conjecture. But that wasn’t the case now. I sensed that even if I had met Zhuge Mu-hu in the past through the Heavenly Secret Technique, I wouldn’t have gained anything.

I said to Zhuge Mu-hu.

“It’s neither boasting nor falsehood. However, there is one unfair point before we proceed.”

[What is it?]

“Every trivial question from my end seems to diminish your Heavenly Secret Technique, making it hard to have a proper conversation. If you want to hear the truth from me, please engage seriously in our dialogue.”

[……]

“At least during this conversation, please refrain from nitpicking to undermine the techniques.”

Zhuge Mu-hu seemed to contemplate deeply. Then he said.

[Agreed. You all appear interesting and exceptional, so I will treat you accordingly.]

“Thank you.”

At last, it seems we’ve reached a point where we can actually have a conversation. I internally sighed in relief before continuing.

“Before I share, I have to ask. Are you affiliated with the Celestial Realm or will what we discuss here be reported to the great beings of the Celestial Realm?”

[Are you at odds with the Celestial Realm?]

“Not yet. But if this conversation reaches them, it would be troublesome for us.”

To my statement, Zhuge Mu-hu waved his fan dismissively.

[I am not affiliated with the Celestial Realm. It was never possible from the start. While I once achieved greatness as the Great Immortal, I discarded that position and descended back to the mortal realm.]

“…Hmm.”

[I have no obligation to report to the Celestial Realm and this place is not under surveillance, so relax. I promise not to disclose the conversation we have here.]

So, he was saying it’s all good.

I nodded slowly and opened my mouth.

“The truth is, I’m a reborn person, and this life is my 26th…”

I began recounting my previous lives. After briefly summarizing my experiences over about half a meal’s time and discussing the Seven Luminaries’ Trial and the Sun’s acquisition, I noticed Zhuge Mu-hu’s expression becoming quite complex. Realizing certain parts of my story were glossed over, I internally complained.

‘Damn. I’ve experienced so much that I can’t explain it all.’

If I could describe it in words, it would probably be the length of a lengthy novel. Not to boast, but I had indeed gone through a tremendous amount across my 26 lives. I’d rather just hand him an obsidian to make him understand easily, but I couldn’t entirely trust Zhuge Mu-hu.

As the tale reached a close, Zhuge Mu-hu took on a serious expression and said.

“Did you say Baek Woong…?”

“Yes.”

[You, an untalented fool, seem to have the audacity to command the bright futures of my descendants as you please.]

“…”

The truth was, I had no comeback for that. As I fell silent, he continued speaking.

[However, if your words are true… as a true inheritor of the Yin Fu Classic, I have a duty to share what I’ve experienced and the knowledge about Guang Chengzi with you.]

“The Yin Fu Classic, that….”

[You must have learned of it through your martial arts training.]

“I’ve heard of the legendary reputation of the Yin Fu Classic. But the people who taught me said it was a mythical text. Did you practice the Yin Fu Classic yourself, Zhuge Mu-hu?”

[Indeed.]

The Yin Fu Classic.

Said to be a military treatise written by the Yellow Emperor, it was a legendary technique book in the Taoist canon. Consisting of 447 short passages, it was said to comprise three sections: the Immortal Embrace Technique, the Prosperous Country and Peaceful People Technique, and the Military Strength and Victory Technique.

While 447 passages might not seem like a valuable military text for extensive training, the more one read it, the deeper its content became. Even distinguished scholars were said to derive countless interpretations from the first sentence, often falling into mental traps known as Heart Demons.

However, those who overcame such Heart Demons gained profound insights and powerful techniques, which is why the true source of the Yin Fu Classic always drew the great interest of Taoists and sorcerers.

However, I couldn’t fully accept Zhuge Mu-hu’s words, so I asked again.

“I’ve been long friends with the descendants of the Zhuge family and have shared both joy and hardship with them. However, none have said they practiced or inherited the Yin Fu Classic. Surely the Yin Fu Classic is a powerful text, but is there a reason you didn’t pass it down to your descendants, Zhuge Mu-hu?”

[There is a reason. I deliberately chose not to pass it down.]

“Why so?”

[Yin Fu is divided into two major categories: the Zhou Book Yin Fu, which belongs to military strategy, and the Huang Di Yin Fu, which pertains to the Taoist path. I trained in both since my youth but only utilized the military strategy during my life. This was due to the restrictions present within the Yin Fu Classic.]

Restrictions?

As I stared at Zhuge Mu-hu, he continued.

[I became aware of the side effects of the Yin Fu Classic when I had mastered over 80% of it. I was excited about my forthcoming success in youth, but suddenly began sprouting scales all over my body, which threw me into a panic. Eventually, I decided I shouldn’t train in techniques further and followed my lord to step back into the mortal world. When one’s life is continuously involved in worldly affairs, it becomes imprudent to use techniques.]

“I see.”

[Had I used the forbidden techniques incorporated in the Yin Fu Classic during my lifetime, unifying the realm wouldn’t have been so difficult. Even when Jiangzhou was under siege, leading thousands of troops to swiftly prevent catastrophic destruction would have been achievable. However, the more I utilized the Huang Di Yin Fu, the more… restrictions began to descend upon me.]

Whoosh.

Zhuge Mu-hu revealed his bare forearm. Even in his spirit form, the vibrant and vivid scales were conspicuously visible there. Though hidden by long clothing, much of his forearm seemed engulfed in dragon scales.

[When I offer my soul to Fuxi, I will be consumed in the afterlife.]

“……!!”

[Even in my current embodiment, I am still being consumed.]

Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns!

That was someone I distinctly knew I had encountered. He was once the master of the Primordial Heaven Master and Taishang Laojun but was forcibly stripped of his mask by the mysterious demon and reverted to the chaotic dragon of the Three Sovereigns. I had almost died when I was summoned before him, but I narrowly survived by making use of the Small Cycle. I asked hesitantly.

“Are you saying Fuxi can still consume souls even after his mask has been removed and he’s returned to the chaotic dragon?”

[What do you mean by that…?]

Apparently, even Zhuge Mu-hu didn’t know the detailed circumstances. He only considered Fuxi as a member of the Three Sovereigns without knowing about the unmasking incident from ancient times. Perhaps that was a limitation of mortals. However smart a person might be, the secrets of ancient myths could only be known through direct exploration.

I shared what I knew about Fuxi, and after pondering for a moment, Zhuge Mu-hu said.

[You seem to know the secrets of this world quite well…. If what you say is true, the purpose of the Yin Fu Classic could completely change.]

“What purpose are you implying?”

[I had always thought the Yin Fu Classic was a false text created to mimic the Yellow Emperor, designed to trap souls. But if what you say is accurate, then the original author of the Yin Fu Classic is undoubtedly the Yellow Emperor. There must be a hidden agenda involved.]

“……?”

[To put it simply, the Yellow Emperor is likely trying to sustain Fuxi. In seeking to protect the chaotic dragon, he spread the Yin Fu Classic into the world as bait.]

This just kept getting more complicated. Recognizing that the information I had just gained was invaluable, I kept the Thunder Spirit Classic running in my mind to remember every single detail. Suddenly, I realized something alarming.

“Wait a second. If acquiring your blessing from Ghost Cry Mountain would allow me to naturally gain knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, then would those who receive the blessing end up like you…?”

[They will be consumed slowly by Fuxi…. The temporary techniques I learned under your father-in-law are a separate matter, so no need to worry.]

“…….”

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

‘If I had asked for a blessing right off the bat, that would have spelled disaster!!’

The Yin Fu Classic was known to instill a fear of being consumed by divine beings after death, hence the knowledge was not transmitted to descendants. If I were to learn it, I wouldn’t come out unscathed.

Upon realizing Zhuge Mu-hu had been screwing with me all along, I felt more bemusement than rage. What reason did I have to be hostile towards someone who possessed the Heavenly Secret Technique, whom I had never even met?

If I hadn’t been with Jin So-cheong, I might have been in real trouble! As I stood there in a daze, Jin So-cheong asked him.

“Let’s get to the point. While I understand the Yin Fu Classic now, you haven’t yet clarified the relationship between the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate and Guang Chengzi.”

[The relationship? It’s quite simple indeed.]

Zhuge Mu-hu closed his eyes and continued.

[The Yin Fu Classic and the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate are like siblings. While it’s said the Yellow Emperor created the Yin Fu Classic, it’s believed the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate was constructed by Zifu Shenxian. Yet both technique manuals have the same original author.]

“Could it be…?”

[Yes. Both the Yin Fu Classic and the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate were crafted by Guang Chengzi. While the Yellow Emperor is credited with the Yin Fu Classic, the author referred to as Zifu Shenxian is merely another name for Guang Chengzi.]

I had already entertained the thought that Zifu Shenxian might be a doppelganger or alias of Guang Chengzi. After all, the one who originally obtained the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate was none other than Mangnyang. However, it was quite astonishing to discover that both legendary texts of Taoism were authored by the same individual.

Suddenly feeling a sense of crisis, I shouted at him.

“Wait, could it be that the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate also leads to being consumed by Fuxi as one’s technique realization reaches its pinnacle?”

[No. There seems to be a different restriction there. It’s probably distinct from that of the Yin Fu Classic.]

Just then, Seo Mun-hye, who had been silently listening, chimed in.

“So, you were looking for a means to break the restrictions of the Yin Fu Classic and stumbled upon the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate.”

[Indeed. Yet, I realized both were traps, rendering my efforts futile in the end… Consequently, I sealed the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate on Joint Mountain and accepted my fate.]

Zhuge Mu-hu sighed a moment later.

[Though I became the greatest sorcerer of my time through the mastery of the Yin Fu Classic and, thanks to Guang Chengzi’s knowledge, comprehended the desperate future facing the world, what meaning did that truly have? Whether alive or dead, I only felt abject despair for this world, but I did my best. At least, while I lingered in the mortal realm of the Ba Shu Kingdom, I sacrificed much to create Baek Woong out of hope, to lend assistance to future generations. But alas, it all proved meaningless.]

“…….”

[All I could do was feign techniques as I languished in the Yangzhou region, postponing the inevitable of being devoured by Fuxi….]

Such a story was profoundly bleak.

Could it be true that a historical hero like Zhuge Mu-hu had such a tragic tale in his past?

[I’ve finished my tale; now let me share what I know about Guang Chengzi and the Heavenly Secret Technique. At the end of the Yin Fu Classic, the truth about the world along with the essence of the Heavenly Secret Technique are recorded.]

“Please tell me.”

Zhuge Mu-hu slowly opened his mouth.

[Just as I am being consumed by Fuxi, the Heavenly Secret Technique also similarly constitutes a trap. Those who claim to receive ‘salvation’ through a contract with the Heavenly Secret Technique are summoned to the Divine Temple the moment the technique ends and are subsequently preserved as relics. Their situation will be even more miserable than mine.]

“Excuse me? Preserved?”

His subsequent words were shocking.

[Those who respond to the Heavenly Secret Technique find their souls trapped within the golden coffin of the Divine Temple for eternity. This is the truth dictated directly by Guang Chengzi at the end of the Yin Fu Classic, so it cannot possibly be a lie.]

“…….”

[Since I was to be devoured by Fuxi whether I was to enter a golden coffin or not, I remained in this world trying to prevent as many victims of the Heavenly Secret Technique’s deceitful contracts as I could.]

Is receiving ‘salvation’ through the Heavenly Secret Technique merely a way to become a preserved relic?

I found it almost impossible to believe Zhuge Mu-hu’s words, but given the current circumstances where he fully trusted that I was a reborn person and was revealing all secrets, he couldn’t possibly be lying.

‘Being preserved…’

Can one genuinely call being trapped in a coffin until the end of the world salvation?

No, it made no sense.

Why on earth did Guang Chengzi create such techniques? If he wanted to kill, why not just kill? Why deceive people and trap their souls in coffins?

At that moment, Jin So-cheong said.

“Guang Chengzi indeed has a peculiar taste. Then what about the practitioners of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate…?”

Zhuge Mu-hu nodded.

[Just as the downsides of the Yin Fu Classic are inscribed at its end, practitioners who reach the pinnacle of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate will be able to uncover the disadvantages of the Yin Fu Classic thereafter.]

“Hmm.”

What unnerving tastes in entertainment he has.

It seemed like a structure where merely two vessel-bearers were subjected to suffering for the amusement of a higher entity.

[As for Guang Chengzi’s true identity, I’m not certain. What is certain is that he operates as the disciple of the Divine Temple, acting on all the Emperor’s orders. If you are indeed a reborn person, I would recommend unveiling Guang Chengzi’s true identity with whatever means necessary.]

“…….”

[If there are no further questions, I will end this and take my leave while granting you the blessing. I long for the silence before the calamity.]

I was taken aback and attempted to refuse.

“Ah, no, the blessing is…”

Considering all the downsides of the Yin Fu Classic, it would be madness to receive the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain. Since mastering the knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic at a deep level would cause me to be consumed by Fuxi, why would I want that blessing? Furthermore, I had resolved to focus solely on martial arts training in this life, so I didn’t particularly need Ghost Cry Mountain’s blessing.

Just then, Seo Mun-hye raised her hand suddenly.

“Please give me the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain!”

[Understood.]

Whoosh.

Light erupted and Zhuge Mu-hu’s figure vanished.

“……?!”

Seo Mun-hye?!

“What are you doing?!”

I exclaimed in shock as I turned to her, and she replied.

“If you personally gained the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain, it might backfire on you as a future karma. But according to what Zhuge Mu-hu said, the blessing contains knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, which would be invaluable information for future reference. Therefore, I figured it would be better if I learned the Yin Fu Classic.”

“What… didn’t you just hear what I said? Learning it would lead to being consumed by Fuxi!”

“But you would overlook that, right, Baek Woong?”

“…….”

Seo Mun-hye smiled.

“I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be of help to you, Baek Woong.”

“You are not a burden.”

I spoke with a trembling voice but could no longer change what had already transpired. With Seo Mun-hye acquiring the knowledge of the highly restrictive Yin Fu Classic, there was no reversing it. Then, Jin So-cheong, who had been watching, spoke.

“Baek Woong, what has happened can’t be helped. Now, we should hurry to Mangnyang and warn him about the dangers of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate.”

“Okay, got it.”

Whoosh.

We flew to Luoyang on the waves. After searching around for the house of Sima Yang-jeo, where Mangnyang was likely to visit, I knew Sima Yang-jeo’s alias, making it not too difficult to find.

Upon entering Sima Yang-jeo’s house, Mangnyang was indeed present. He was engaged in a game of Go with Sima Yang-jeo, with black and white stones arranged beautifully. Mangnyang stood up as he noticed me coming.

“Baek Woong! What is the matter?”

“It’s urgent.”

I proceeded to use the obsidian technique to summon Zhuge Mu-hu’s spirit and shared everything I had learned with Mangnyang. After receiving the memory, his expression shifted to one of surprise, but soon he became calm as if reassessing the situation.

“The side effects of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate… it’s not particularly good or bad to know.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Thanks to the truth you’ve unearthed. It doesn’t change anything, so don’t let yourself get tied up in trivial matters, and instead focus on your martial arts training.”

“Truth, you say?”

After a moment, Mangnyang leaned closer and whispered to me using the Suspicious Fishhook.

[Every human, upon death, enters the ruler’s belly anyway. There’s no difference between being devoured by Fuxi.]

“…….”

[My ancestor, Zhuge Mu-hu, merely thought it was inappropriate to pass down the curse of his lineage. Now that you comprehend the truth of this world, the drawbacks of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate and the Yin Fu Classic have lost their meaning. A silver lining amidst the desperate truth… ]

If I looked at it that way, I could see the point…

As I found myself speechless, Mangnyang continued.

“However, in that case, leave Seo Mun-hye here. If she chooses to train in techniques, she would have quicker results working with me.”

“Alright.”

Now was not the time for hesitation.

This time, I would wholeheartedly immerse myself in martial arts training!

Whoosh.

I returned to Sichuan, purchased a manor with gold bars, and set up a quiet training ground. After acquiring the food, water, and other essentials needed for closed room training, I completed my preparations and called for Jang Sam-bong.

“Grand Master Jang, please come!”

As soon as Grand Master Jang appeared, I eagerly exclaimed.

“Please guide us to the Absolute Realm!”

And thus, the training began.