Chapter 15
Six years.
It was by no means a short time.
But even after six years, Im-yi’s appearance was still the same.
Although she had grown much taller and now boasted the figure of a woman to some extent, her crescent-shaped eyes, snow-white skin, and above all, her cool gaze that calmed one’s heart just by looking at it.
So-ah was reminded of faint memories.
‘That’s how it was back then…’
The time he had survived by begging with Im-yi as orphans in Sodamgol.
The time they had been sold to Lord Nam and had cried their hearts out, clinging to each other.
And…
The time they had met the Living Buddha Grandpa, who had changed their lives completely.
So-ah’s eyes grew moist.
“You’ve been well, right?”
But So-ah spoke with a smiling face.
“Yeah. I’ve been well. And you?”
“Me too.”
“Is Grandpa well too?”
“Yeah. Grandpa is doing well too. Shall we take a short walk?”
“Sure.”
So-ah was about to leave the Yeonghwa Pavilion.
He wanted to chat with Im-yi, whom he had met after a long time.
“Gu-yang hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to get some fresh air for a bit.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Watching So-ah leave the room with the unknown girl, Gu-yang Seon inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘Wow… that So-ah kid, he even had such a beautiful friend. He’s like an onion, you keep peeling and something new comes out, haha.’
***
Flying Dragon Bridge.
It was a bridge built over the largest lake within the Martial Alliance.
The place, where the faint moonlight and the lotus flowers on the lake boasted a beautiful atmosphere, was usually bustling with people, but today it seemed quite deserted as most were busy with the matter of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi.
“It’s a pretty place, isn’t it?”
Im-yi asked So-ah as they walked on the bridge.
Im-yi’s appearance, wearing a light, fluttering dress under the moonlight, was enchantingly beautiful.
So-ah now realized that Im-yi was a girl so beautiful that she couldn’t be compared to ordinary people.
“Yeah. It’s a really pretty place.”
“The flower garden at the Samryun Peak estate was also very pretty.”
“You remember?”
“Of course, I remember.”
“Come visit sometime.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Grandpa will be happy too. He missed you a lot.”
At So-ah’s words, Im-yi wore a somewhat bitter smile.
“Okay. I’ll go sometime.”
“We have a new family member too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. His name is Huin-dung-i, he’s a tiger cub from the lord of Mount Daeak, and I somehow ended up bringing him home.”
“You’re raising a tiger?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s amazing…!”
“He’ll probably like you.”
“Isn’t he fierce?”
“Grandpa and I trained him hard since he was little, so he’s not fierce. He’s met a few outsiders before, and he was fine.”
So-ah and Im-yi chatted about this and that.
From Im-yi’s Nine Yin Severed Meridians to So-ah’s training stories.
In the midst of this, when So-ah mentioned that he had reached the Realm of Creation, Im-yi’s eyes widened.
“You really experienced the Five Qi Courting the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak?!”
“Yeah. I almost died then. It felt like my dantian was going to explode. If my concentration had wavered even a little, I might have died.”
Although she didn’t show it much, Im-yi was inwardly astonished.
She herself had thought that her martial arts had improved by leaps and bounds and that she wouldn’t fall behind any rising star in the martial world, but she had never even dreamed of something like the Realm of Transformation.
In the first place, there were only a handful of people in the entire martial world who had achieved the Realm of Transformation.
“I don’t believe it.”
“Haha, you don’t have to. Is that really important?”
“Of course it’s important! If what you’re saying is true, So-ah, you wouldn’t fall behind not only the rising stars of the martial world, but even the renowned masters of the martial world right now.”
“I don’t really know about that. I don’t have any particular thoughts about it. I just learn martial arts because I like training.”
“You’re still the same, So-ah?”
“Huh?”
“You’re still the same as before. Your cute face, your innocent actions, your pure thoughts. Hoho.”
Im-yi smiled brightly as she looked at So-ah.
So-ah’s face turned red without him even realizing it.
‘Gasp… why am I like this?’
His heart pounded.
A strange and unfamiliar feeling.
But So-ah tried to ignore that feeling.
“You seem to have changed a little, Im-yi.”
“Really? Maybe so.”
“But you’re still pretty.”
“Oh my! So-ah. You shouldn’t say things like that carelessly.”
“Why?”
So-ah’s eyes were wide and curious.
Im-yi burst out laughing again and ruffled So-ah’s hair.
“We’re fifteen now. If you say things like that carelessly, you might be misunderstood.”
‘A cute kid like you has to be especially careful!’
Im-yi let out a laugh inwardly.
Thinking that even though time had passed, So-ah was still a cute kid.
As if sensing Im-yi’s thoughts, So-ah also laughed.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Miss Im-yi. Haha.”
Just then.
Im-yi’s expression turned a little serious.
“So-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“Why didn’t you ever come to see me?”
For a moment, So-ah’s heart sank.
That’s right.
Why hadn’t he ever gone to see Im-yi until now?
He had definitely promised to visit often when he left Im-yi at the Emei Sect.
That must have been why Im-yi had accepted the parting so easily.
‘She must have been sad… and it must have been hard for her…’
So-ah’s heart ached.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“But it’s not that I forgot about you.”
“So-ah…”
“I missed you a lot, and I longed for you a lot. And I promise. I’ll visit you often from now on.”
Tears welled up in Im-yi’s eyes at So-ah’s words.
“This time…”
“…”
“Keep your promise this time, Jin So-ah.”
“Of course.”
“And So-ah.”
“Tell me.”
“My name is not Im-yi anymore. It’s Myo-seon.”
“Aha, I heard about it.”
“You have to call me Myo-seon now.”
Im-yi held out her hand.
So-ah patted the shoulder of Im-yi, who had now become Myo-seon, and took her hand.
***
A dark stone chamber.
The atmosphere of the room, filled with acrid smoke, was so gloomy that the word “somber” was not enough to describe it.
Human corpses with their bellies cut open were scattered here and there, and on the walls, the internal organs of mountain beasts and Sanskrit from India were brilliantly engraved like murals. The two figures in the stone chamber, wearing black robes and hoods, were smiling sinisterly.
“Cult Leader, this is remarkable growth. It has only been five years since we started creating the Ghost Demon Jiangshi. In just five years, we have created a Ghost Demon Jiangshi that is close to 70% of its original form. If we strive for a few more years, we will surely be able to create a perfect Ghost Demon Jiangshi.”
The one who spoke was a slender and tall man.
What was peculiar was his complexion. The old man, with his gaunt face giving him a harsh impression, had a deathly pale complexion like a dead corpse, giving him a grotesque feeling.
But the appearance of the figure smiling sinisterly in front of him was even more grotesque.
Have you ever seen a person dyed in purple?
He was a person whose entire body was dyed in purple.
As if he were not a human being to anyone who saw him.
The appearance of the man, with such a skin color, a magnificent physique, and a glinting bloody light, was reminiscent of a yaksha from hell.
“Kuhuhu, that’s right. I have staked my life on the revival of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi. I must… I must complete the Ghost Demon Jiangshi. That is the only way to revive our cult.”
“We have prepared thoroughly all this time. We will surely achieve the long-cherished desire of unifying the world.”
“But we must not be complacent. The affairs of the world are never over until they are over.”
Power was added to the purple-faced man’s voice.
He clenched his fist and spoke again.
“There must not be a single error in the plan. You know that well, right?”
“Of course. Whether the God of War or the Heavenly Demon wins, the plan will proceed without a hitch.”
“It must. Those two evil bastards must both die.”
“Kekeke. If the God of War and the Heavenly Demon die, the Cult Leader will become the greatest under heaven.”
It was then.
The purple-faced man’s face contorted.
“Watch your words.”
“C-Cult Leader…”
“Since I entered the martial world, there has never been a time when I was not the greatest under heaven. I was by no means defeated by the God of War!”
“I have misspoken…!”
“I will crush them step by step. I will skin the God of War and the Heavenly Demon, I will stain the Moyong Family with blood, and I will erase the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult from the world.”
“Cult Leader…”
“Now, I will become the master of the world.”
“Is there any doubt?”
“Three years. In the remaining three years, complete all preparations for the revival of our cult.”
“As you command.”
***
The guests arrived early in the morning.
So-ah’s group was about to enjoy breakfast at a restaurant located within the Martial Alliance when, surprisingly, the Martial Alliance Leader, Abbess Hong-ryeon, and Myo-seon came to visit.
“What are your schedules?”
The Martial Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, asked So-ah’s group.
At that, Tang Il-gi stepped forward and answered.
“Hwa-rin and I were originally planning to participate in the Young Heroes Tournament hosted by the Martial Alliance. So, we were on our way to Liaoning, the venue for this year’s tournament. In the process, Young Master Jin and Master Gu-yang joined our group as guest escorts.”
“Hmm. I see. Then I must ask you a favor.”
“Please speak.”
“The Young Heroes Tournament will proceed without a hitch. But the matter of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi is a serious one, and I judge that a detailed investigation will be needed for the next few months. Therefore, I need Master Gu-yang’s help.”
Ha Won-sang’s gaze turned to Gu-yang Seon.
“Will I be of any help?”
Gu-yang Seon asked.
At that, Ha Won-sang nodded his head.
“I heard the story about the Udo-bang from the Zhuge family head last night. They say it is the best exorcism group in the East. If you have studied at such a place, your abilities must also be outstanding. I implore you to act as an investigator for the Martial Alliance.”
“I will do so.”
In fact, Gu-yang Seon was conflicted.
He didn’t want to be separated from So-ah.
But for him, who ran a small fortune-telling shop in Sichuan and worked as a guest escort, the position of an investigator for the Martial Alliance was an offer too sweet to refuse.
‘As expected, So-ah is my life’s benefactor.’
As Gu-yang Seon was having such thoughts, this time, Abbess Hong-ryeon spoke to So-ah.
“So-ah.”
“Yes, Grandma Hong-ryeon.”
“What are you planning to do now?”
“I’m thinking of going to Liaoning. I have to run an errand for my grandpa.”
“Hoho, so you’re planning to visit the Moyong family?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. Then head to Liaoning first. I also have to take care of some business related to the Ghost Demon Jiangshi, and then I plan to go to Liaoning with Myo-seon. Let’s see each other again then.”
“Gasp, really?”
“Yes. This will be a good opportunity for you to broaden your horizons, So-ah. The Young Heroes Tournament is being held in Liaoning this year, so you should try to participate if you can.”
“What is the Young Heroes Tournament?”
Abbess Hong-ryeon smiled at So-ah’s question and looked at Myo-seon.
At that, Myo-seon said to So-ah.
“It’s a tournament where the rising stars of the martial world compete in duels to determine their martial skills and select a hero. I’ve decided to participate too.”
“A duel?”
“Yeah.”
At Myo-seon’s words, So-ah seemed to be deep in thought about something.
Just then, Abbess Hong-ryeon spoke again.
“So-ah.”
“By any chance, do you have any thoughts of becoming a hero?”
“What do you mean by that…”
“I want you to become a hero. Take this opportunity to surprise the world.”
(End of Chapter)