Chapter 83
After defeating Murong Hwang and his escorts, Jaseong returned to the safehouse.
In a room bathed by moonlight, he quietly sat cross-legged.
Saaah—
Exerting the Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula, the turbid energy that had settled within and his depleted internal strength began to gradually recover.
Golden true ki circulated from his dantian through his whole body, slowly healing the overtaxed meridians that had suffered when he used the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
'... It has certainly been a grueling day.'
Yet, it was one of the most memorable days of his life.
Jaseong recalled the moment he personally struck down Murong Hwang.
The moment when he slew one of the enemies responsible for his eldest brother and sister-in-law's deaths.
The feeling of liberation at that time still made Jaseong's spine tremble.
Of course, his revenge had only just begun.
There still remained Murong Cheolsan, head of the Murong Clan.
Peng Yun-ho, head of the Hebei Peng Clan, and his son, Peng Yun-geom.
The head of Zhongnan, Zhong Yeob, the eldest disciple Yun-hyeon, the first disciple Yun-hak, and everyone aiding them.
There were still mountains of enemies left for him to cut down.
'Step by step. Rushing could cause me to ruin everything I've planned for.'
Jaseong was calming his mind while recovering his internal strength, when—
Knock, knock, knock—
A knocking sound came from the door.
"Great hero, your meal is ready."
It was Lee Rin's voice from outside the door.
Only then did Jaseong realize his stomach was growling.
Now that he thought of it, he hadn't properly eaten anything but stale rations since the day before.
He got up to open the door.
Out in the yard, Lee Rin, Gu Janghu, and the North Sea Ice Palace's guardian Han Seol-hwa were sitting around a wooden table.
Unlike the feast in White Fragrant Pavilion, the table was set with a modest, down-to-earth meal.
There was steaming multigrain rice.
Soup boiled with napa and bok choy.
Mountain herbs roughly chopped and tossed with seasoning, and savory grilled tofu.
Simple dishes often seen on a commoner's table.
'It's been a while since I've seen a spread like this.'
Jaseong sat down at the table and picked up his chopsticks.
Perhaps it was because of the relief after slaying Murong Hwang, or just the hunger he hadn't felt in so long, but he now had a voracious appetite he rarely experienced.
"Slurp."
With his first spoonful of the napa soup, a rich flavor spread through his mouth, filling his body with warmth.
The grilled tofu was soft and savory, while the seasoned mountain herbs left a pleasant saltiness on his tongue.
"... Delicious."
Feeling even hungrier, Jaseong moved his chopsticks busier than usual, devouring the food in front of him in the blink of an eye.
When his stomach was somewhat satisfied, he asked the safehouse's informants,
"By the way, who made these dishes?"
All the informants residing in this safehouse were men.
Unless one of them was a professional cook, it would be difficult to possess culinary skills of this level.
To this, one of the informants answered,
"There are slash-and-burn folk living on the mountain behind the safehouse."
"Slash-and-burn folk?"
"Yes. We got close with those folks to gather information from Yinyang County, and we ended up asking them to prepare food for us. Naturally, we compensated them appropriately."
Slash-and-burn folk.
People who burned brush and weeds in the mountains to farm on the land afterward.
Their livelihoods were unstable, often struggling to survive under the threat of bandit raids.
Jaseong's own parents had been such slash-and-burn folk.
So, at those words, childhood memories surfaced on their own.
His father and mother toiling all day in the fields near a small thatched cottage on the mountainside.
Playing and laughing joyfully in the mountains with his eldest brother.
"Wow, these mountain women's cooking skills are amazing, munch munch. After having only fancy food at White Fragrant Pavilion, this simple fare is a real treat."
As Jaseong was lost in reminiscence, Lee Rin spoke with her cheeks stuffed full.
A naturally hearty eater, she moved her chopsticks even faster than Jaseong, emptying the dishes before her with impressive speed.
Watching her, Han Soweol nagged,
"... Young lady. Eat more slowly, or you'll get an upset stomach."
"Don't worry, nursemaid. My stomach is strong."
"... And at least swallow your food before talking. This is the Ice Palace's table etiquette. You're spraying rice everywhere...."
"Nursemaid, if you're not going to eat that grilled tofu, give it to meee."
Jaseong couldn't help but smile faintly at Han Soweol and Lee Rin's bickering.
Moments of peace like this were a rare salve for the revenge-heavy life he led.
Right then—
〈Disciple. The sixth Heaven's Mandate, 'Cause a Rift in the Martial World', has been partially accomplished.〉
Suddenly, a majestic voice rang inside Jaseong's mind.
Then—flutter, flutter—a translucent note floated before his eyes.
[The First Rift Completed]
Upon seeing this note, Jaseong was convinced.
The large-scale chaos beneath the cliff that day had caused an irreparable rift between multiple factions.
'... Good. Things are proceeding according to plan.'
Of course, what Jaseong most desired was to create a rift within the Murim Alliance that ruled the central plains.
For that, he had to embark on his next operation.
But in the very next moment, something unexpected happened.
〈Disciple, since the 'First Rift' has been completed... the Celestial Realm's restrictions have been specially lifted.〉
Jaseong's eyes gleamed.
'Specially lifted... is this like what happened with the fifth Heaven's Mandate...?'
This was not the first time he had received a special reward from the Celestial Realm.
During the fifth Heaven's Mandate, 'Eradicate Middle Evil,' when he wiped out Three Souls Hall, the worst human trafficking syndicate of the central plains, he received a special reward and learned Heaven Evading Alchemy from Immortal Physician Dongfang Hwabin.
'... The same phenomenon again. Does this mean the sixth Heaven's Mandate, "Cause a Rift in the Martial World", is just as perilous...?'
Either way, it was something that made Jaseong want to clench his fist in triumph.
Back then, he received Heaven Evading Alchemy as a special reward, and later obtained Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula as the final reward.
And like that time, he was now getting two rewards for a single Heaven's Mandate—how could he not rejoice!
Chwararak!
A translucent manual appeared before Jaseong.
It was the sword immortal's manual—Heaven Evading Way.
However, upon seeing a new chapter within it, Jaseong's eyes widened slightly.
[Chapter Eight – Cultivation Breakthrough]
* * *
Realm (境地).
A standard for measuring one's ability or accomplishment in the martial world.
Countless martial artists strive each day to surpass their current realm.
But to be given a direct means to break through?
What could it possibly mean?
Perplexed, Jaseong summoned Gu Janghu.
"Gu Janghu."
"Yes, leader?"
"I'm going to train in the backyard. Make sure no one enters."
"... Have you been struck by enlightenment again? Impressive. Understood—I'll see to it that no one disturbs you."
Hearing Gu Janghu's assurance, Jaseong headed to the rear yard.
There, he began to perform the Heaven Evading Way.
Whiiiish—
As soon as he unleashed the Heaven Evading Way, an extraordinary wind swept through the area.
At the same time, his crown of the head grew warm and the Samadhi Eyes activated on their own.
Saaa—
As he entered the Samadhi State, he saw a rift open in the air, light pouring through.
Within that light, a figure slowly began to reveal itself.
It was the previous executor of Heaven's Mandate, appearing to transmit martial arts to Jaseong.
'Last time I learned the Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula by self-study... This time, it seems there's actually a transmission master. I wonder who it'll be....'
Soon, the radiance dispersed.
But upon identifying the previous executor who appeared, Jaseong's eyes went round.
*Hic!*
A middle-aged beggar with a drunken flush staggered forward.
He held a broken wine bottle, drool running down his lips.
"Long time no see, junior."
The beggar smiled as he greeted him.
Jaseong also smiled back.
"It's been a while, Hong Gukyul."
The previous executor that appeared this time was Hong Gukyul, the Gatekeeper of the Beggar's Union who had taught Jaseong the footwork—Heaven Evading Phantom Step—some time ago.
In the time they'd spent together in the world, they'd grown fairly close.
"Phew... Thanks to you, I've escaped that wretched darkness for a bit."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"So, I was wondering..."
"?"
"Do you happen to have any booze on you?"
Jaseong chuckled quietly.
How typical of Hong Gukyul.
Well, after being trapped in the darkness of eternity and returning to the living world, wanting a drink was only natural.
Jaseong fetched a bottle from the kitchen and brought it for him.
Hong Gukyul downed the bottle in one go.
"Kyaa~ No matter how much you roll in the dung heap, being alive is better—the taste of this world's liquor is unmatched."
"How long can you remain here this time?"
When Jaseong asked, Hong Gukyul suddenly looked a little disappointed.
"Last time, I spent sixteen days and nights here with you... But this time, since it's a special reward, the transmission period is very short."
"How short for you to look so regretful?"
"Half a day."
"... Half a day? What can I possibly learn in such a short time?"
"Don't worry. That much time will be more than enough this time."
"???"
At Jaseong's puzzled face, Hong Gukyul opened another bottle, took a swig, and continued,
"I've been watching over you from the darkness of eternity all this time."
"......."
"To think you learned the most difficult of the Celestial Realm's three secret arts, the Celestial Gate Opening Art... Truly remarkable martial talent."
"......."
"Because of that, you eliminated Middle Evil just a few years after beginning the Heaven Evading Way. But tell me, without the Celestial Gate Opening Art, could you defeat such foes?"
Struck by the accuracy of the question, Jaseong couldn't reply.
Until now, Jaseong had supplemented his strength by consuming Humanoid Ginseng and Celestial Cloud Pill, raising his internal power to the level of a fully cultivated master.
But since he'd only been training martial arts for two or three years, his level of enlightenment was at the late first-class stage.
In other words, without the Celestial Gate Opening Art, it would be difficult to face peak experts.
Looking at him seriously, Hong Gukyul spoke,
"Starting now, I'll grant you the enlightenment you need to enter the peak."
"... Sorry?"
"I'm saying I'll make you into a peak expert."
"How...exactly?"
"It's simple. What you lack is 'Intent'."
"Intent...?"
"Heheh. That's an enlightenment impossible to explain by words alone."
"???"
"You have used your overwhelming talent to learn the martial skills of the Heaven Evading Way almost by absorption. But with such a short time in training, I doubt you've really grasped the 'Intent' behind these martial arts."
... Intent of martial arts?
"For some, they find 'Intent' through harmony with nature, others by looking inward, some through the law of the jungle and slaughter, and others at the threshold of life and death.
In short, there are many ways to reach the peak. At the Beggar's Union, which I led, many reached enlightenment at the very boundary of life and death."
...the boundary of life and death?
Just like when he first learned Heaven Evading Phantom Step, Hong Gukyul's explanations were so profound that they were hard to understand.
And yet... why did he keep radiating murderous intent as he explained?
"Our guild has a staff technique called Dog-Beating Staff, born from the art of beating off wild dogs. I'm going to show it to you now."
"Sorry—who's your target?"
"Who else. You, of course."
"... Me?"
"Like I said, my disciples typically reached enlightenment at the very edge of life and death thanks to the Dog-Beating Staff. Because I pounded it into them myself, literally. Hahaha."
Jaseong was speechless.
He recalled training for the Heaven Evading Phantom Step, and how Hong Gukyul had dumped him mercilessly into a swamp—he was just as reckless now.
"Starting now, I'm going to kill you at least twenty times."
"......!"
"Feel free to use the Celestial Gate Opening Art, Samadhi Eyes, anything. Though it won't do you much good."
The former Gatekeeper of the Beggar's Union, a peerless expert, Hong Gukyul, dropped his arms into stance.
Anyone else would have been terrified.
But Jaseong wore a crooked smile.
Absurd as it was, a match against a grandmaster was sure to bring great enlightenment.
'A duel with a grandmaster... this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'
And above all, Jaseong had no intention of letting Hong Gukyul kill him even once.