Chapter 1818 – 1818. The Ascension Of Gwangmyeong
“Looks like you’ve hit a wall.”
The moment I opened my eyes, Baekran said. A surge of heat flared up momentarily, but I quietly exhaled, controlling my anger. She didn’t mean to be sarcastic. She was just annoyed that I hadn’t broken through the wall.
“I sensed demonic energy from you. It definitely wasn’t the demonic energy of the True Ghost Sword Technique. It was similar to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, yet different… What kind of demonic art did you learn?”
“Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
“Hmm. You don’t want to answer? Understood. It was a sensitive question, so I apologize.”
Even when I tell the truth, she doesn’t believe me. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art I possess is similar to, yet different from, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art she knows.
“Let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“How did you break through the wall of the Three Flowers?”
Baekran tilted her head slowly, as if she didn’t understand my words. Then, she let out a sound of realization, “Ah.”
“You’re mistaken. I haven’t broken through the wall of the Three Flowers.”
“I saw you circulating your energy. Three flowers faintly appeared above your head. Isn’t that proof of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown?”
“Didn’t you say they were faint? If I had truly reached the realm of the Three Flowers, the three flowers would have been clear. Right now, I’m… halfway over the wall, you could say.”
“So, you can cross the realm whenever you want?”
Baekran is a regressor. The setting of [Heavenly Demon’s Revenge] isn’t Xianxia, so I don’t know what realm she reached before her regression. What’s certain is that she was connected to the Underworld even before her regression… What’s certain is that she was also a Heavenly Demon, so she must have reached a realm beyond the Three Flowers.
“If my shortcomings are filled, the Three Flowers will bloom.”
“What are those shortcomings?”
“Who knows.”
Baekran smiled mysteriously. She had no intention of telling me about her weaknesses.
We approached the building that served as the medium for the barrier.
“What was that?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The black clone. It turned the hairpin into a black heart. Is it a magical artifact?”
“It’s not a magical artifact. It’s magic. It’s different from sorcery. Do you perhaps want to learn magic? I can teach you the basics.”
“No thanks. I have no talent for sorcery.”
“I said it’s not sorcery.”
“Isn’t it something other than martial arts?”
Baekran nodded.
I completely gave up on magic.
The Cheongang Star System doesn’t support sorcery. I probably wouldn’t be able to cast a single spell properly even if I trained for ten years. Magic wouldn’t be much different. It would be more beneficial to learn other martial arts during that time.
‘Unless it’s Qi cultivation.’
That seems to fall under the martial arts category.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I infused my fist with energy and swung it, causing the building to collapse helplessly. The barrier shook and then dissolved. The city lights under the dark sky in the distance came into view.
“Ah, I didn’t ask this. Where are you going and for what purpose?”
I took out a small cage from my spatial storage. Inside the small cage was a Ten Thousand Mile Rat, in a state of suspended animation due to pressure points.
I pressed down on the small red rat with my finger, releasing the pressure points. The Ten Thousand Mile Rat, awakened from its suspended state, shook its head, squeaking, and stared intently in one direction.
“A Ten Thousand Mile Rat. Was it following the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Incense?”
“I was tracking the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Incense at Cheon Yu-un’s request. It seems some audacious person broke into Cheon Yu-un’s room.”
“Hmm. I have a correction to make. It wasn’t a ‘person,’ but a ‘woman.’”
“…What? Could it be that you were the culprit? But why is the Ten Thousand Mile Rat pointing in a different direction?”
“I sent the clothes with the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Incense to the west using a hawk. It seems they were discarded in a suitable place. It was worth training them.”
“Why did you sneak into Cheon Yu-un’s room? Was it necessary to take such a risk?”
“There were two reasons. One was to find evidence that Cheon Yu-un spread the Reverse Demon Divine Art. But the room was clean. There was nothing there. The second was to meet you. Since Cheon Yu-un probably doesn’t have many trustworthy subordinates right now, I knew you would come.”
“…So you were targeting me from the start.”
“As I said before, I wanted to confirm the variable that is you.”
As expected of a regressor. She saw right through Cheon Yu-un. I didn’t feel good about it. It felt like I was being played in her hands. But I had to endure it since she was my ally.
“About the Mookjiryun, let’s leave them alone.”
“It’s best to deal with the Mookjiryun and Cheon Yu-un together.”
“…The Mookjiryun agreed to help me. I already made a contract with the Mookjiryun Lord.”
“Hmm. So the Mookjiryun Lord and Cheon Yu-un are already at odds… This could make things easier. I’ll think of it positively.”
We headed towards the Yoon family. Baekran walked confidently towards the chaotic gate of the Yoon family. The gatekeepers, on guard, shouted.
“Stop! What business do you have at this late hour?! State your name and affiliation!”
“I am Baekran. A First-Class Imperial Guard from the Imperial Family. I have come to investigate the Yoon family under the Emperor’s orders, so open the gate.”
Baekran took out a golden, shimmering cloth from her chest and showed it to the gatekeepers. The Emperor’s seal shone brilliantly in rainbow colors.
“A First-Class Imperial Guard?!”
The gatekeepers were shocked and took a step back. They were immediately blocked by the gate.
“I-I’ll inform the elders, so please wait.”
“Did you say wait? Me, who is moving under the Emperor’s orders?”
Baekran lowered her voice, as if displeased, and snapped. The gatekeepers’ faces turned pale.
“I’ve come because I know that the head of the Yoon family, Yoon Gong-seok, died while working with a traitor. Open the gate. If you hesitate even a little… I will treat you as traitors.”
Traitor.
Their faces turned pale, almost black.
I knew the reason why. The benevolent Emperor would never forgive traitors. The moment you plot treason, any family would be ruined. Moreover, there was a rumor that an entire city was wiped out because of one traitor decades ago. The rumor was strangely specific…
The gatekeepers opened the gate with trembling hands. All the buildings inside the gate were lit up. It was probably because of the dead family head. These guys probably haven’t even found the body of the family head yet.
“A First-Class Imperial Guard from the Imperial Family has arrived!!!”
The gatekeeper shouted, putting strength into his voice. The gatekeeper had informed the family of Baekran’s presence. He was quick-witted for a gatekeeper.
There was no way Baekran wouldn’t know what I had noticed. Baekran leisurely entered through the gate. Then, people rushed out. Some from the windows of the four-story building, some from the end of the first-floor windows, and some from the outhouse. They even used lightness techniques to rush to Baekran and knelt before her.
‘Yeah. You have to come out even if you’re taking a dump! Kyaa! This is power!’
I watched the power of authority from behind her. It was exhilarating.
One of them approached, showing respect. His body trembled slightly as he performed a fist-and-palm salute.
“I am Yoon Seop, the young head of the Yoon family.”
“I am Baekran, a First-Class Imperial Guard. The head of the Yoon family, Yoon Gong-seok, is suspected of treason. I heard that the Demonic Families are allied, so… did you six families plot treason?”
“Absolutely not! Absolutely not! There must be some misunderstanding!”
Yoon Seop was startled and denied it.
“It is my job to confirm that. Send carrier pigeons to the other five families and have them gather at the Yoon family within a week. You can refuse if you want. However, in that case…”
“I will send the carrier pigeons right away! B-But… the Cheon family will draw a line between us.”
“Isn’t the Cheon family a Demonic Family?”
“They call themselves a Demonic Sect Family, not a Demonic Family, and they do not associate with us.”
“The Cheon family is the Heavenly Demon Sect. I will visit them myself later… The other four families should gather quickly. I don’t like waiting.”
“They will gather within three days! Lady Baekran, it’s cold, please come inside! We will serve you!”
Baekran and I received the utmost hospitality from the Yoon family. Baekran, who was alone with me, sipped her tea and smiled.
“How is it? Things are going well, aren’t they?”
“The power of a First-Class Imperial Guard is impressive.”
“It’s all power from the Emperor. The commotion today will probably reach Cheon Yu-un’s ears by tomorrow. And that you and I are together.”
“You deliberately showed me to the Yoon family. Why? Cheon Yu-un will be wary.”
“That way, even if Cheon Yu-un and the Heavenly Demon Sect are wary of you, they won’t be able to treat you carelessly. I, and the Demonic Families, must be your backing for you to aim for the position of Little Heavenly Demon.”
“I see… But do I have to stay here?”
“Stay until tomorrow. It would be strange if you suddenly disappeared. Tomorrow, I will tell you where the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is, so go there. Give me the Ten Thousand Mile Rat.”
“Why the Ten Thousand Mile Rat?”
“I have many uses for it. I won’t take it for free. Ten Heavenly Jades. How about that? It’s a pretty good price.”
“No need. It’s a gift.”
I handed her the Ten Thousand Mile Rat. There was no one who didn’t like gifts. Baekran looked back and forth between the Ten Thousand Mile Rat and me for a moment, then smiled and accepted it.
“Thank you. Ah, come to the Heavenly Demon Sect in fifteen days. Exactly fifteen days. Not earlier, and not later. That will be the optimal time.”
Fifteen days.
Excluding travel time, it wouldn’t even be ten days. She was telling me to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art during that time.
‘Hmm. It doesn’t seem impossible.’
I had absorbed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art of [Otherworld Heavenly Demon] in an instant. Even if I can’t absorb it like that, I have the Cheongang Star System.
The next day in the afternoon. I received a map from Baekran. I unfolded the map. It was just a scribble. She didn’t seem to have any talent in this area.
“The Heavenly Demon Tomb isn’t far. If you go straight in this direction, you’ll find the Heavenly Demon Tomb. The rest you can find by looking at this map. Good luck.”
“Finally, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art will be in my hands.”
“Fifteen days. Be sure to come in fifteen days. Absolutely not later, and not earlier.”
“I understand without you repeating it.”
“Absolutely do not forget. Don’t get too absorbed in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It’s not too late to delve into the Heavenly Demon Divine Art after the matter is over.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I looked down at Baekran. My gaze went to her moist and soft-looking pink lips. I wanted to give her a farewell kiss, but a sword would probably fly at me if I did.
I exchanged a brief greeting with her and ran towards the Heavenly Demon Tomb.
