## Chapter 778 – 778. The Ascent To Radiance
778. The Ascent to Radiance
I arrived at Eun Josa’s residence.
A cabin nestled in the forest. Just looking at the setting, it felt quite plausible.
“Come in. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a guest. Ten years… no, has it been twelve?”
I followed Eun Josa into the cabin. The interior was well-organized. It was spacious and even had a second floor. He went into a storage room and brought out an old table and chairs, making a place for us to sit.
“Sit.”
We sat down. His gaze swept over each of us.
“A commoner. The daughter of the Namgung Clan. A strange one. An interesting combination.”
The commoner was me, and the strange one was Shin Jong-woo.
I figured as much. Hearing such things now didn’t really anger me. If a weaker guy had said it, I would have smacked his head, but…
‘…Wait. Did he just call me a commoner?’
Something felt off. My talent was that of a commoner. No, even worse. I was a dullard. But my current skill was at a level that only a genius could reach. The eighth stage of Chulji (出志) at a young age. It was the result of the Heavenly Gang System’s support and consistent intake of elixirs, but it was enough to be called genius.
‘Could it be that he can’t even grasp my skill?’
Just as I was starting to doubt, Namgung Rin, who was sitting next to me, narrowed her eyes.
“Eun Josa-nim. I can’t understand what you’re saying. Seong Sohyeop is not a commoner.”
Her voice was tinged with a subtle anger. Eun Josa looked at Namgung Rin and chuckled.
“I know his skill. What I meant was his talent for sorcery. To be honest, it’s below that of a commoner. But since he has outstanding skill, I evaluated him as being at the level of a mediocre person.”
“Don’t evaluate people arbitrarily. And there’s no way you can discern talent just by looking at someone’s face.”
“I can tell, even if others can’t. You also have quite a bit of talent in sorcery.”
“I have no intention of learning sorcery.”
“Who told you to learn sorcery? I was just stating what I see.”
Namgung Rin glared at Eun Josa. Eun Josa didn’t try to fight with Namgung Rin. It seemed he had no intention of making the Namgung Clan an enemy. Soon, Eun Josa’s gaze turned to Shin Jong-woo.
“You are strange.”
“…What’s strange about me?”
Shin Jong-woo asked back.
“You have no talent. You have more talent than that guy, but still, you’re at the level of a commoner. But then again, when I look closely, you seem to have more talent than the daughter of the Namgung Clan. It’s hard to judge.”
“……”
Shin Jong-woo didn’t say anything.
“Before we start our conversation properly, let me serve my guests some tea.”
Eun Josa clapped his hands twice. From inside the cabin, the sound of fluttering wings could be heard. And a moment later, five pigeons came carrying teacups and a teapot. The largest pigeon held the teapot handle in its beak and poured tea into the teacups.
“These are tea leaves that I’ve carefully cultivated. Please drink.”
“……”
I picked up a teacup. The tea was a transparent green and steaming hot. But as I was about to bring it to my lips, I felt a sense of repulsion.
‘Shit. He wants me to drink tea that a pigeon brought and poured?’
Putting aside whether this kind of baseless tea would satisfy my taste, the hygiene was terrible. How dirty are pigeons?
I only pretended to drink and didn’t actually drink it. I didn’t even touch the teacup to my lips.
“Let me give you a warning.”
We looked at Eun Josa.
“Because you came, my peace has been shattered. I’ve wasted unnecessary energy, and I’ve made an enemy of the Black Dragon Star. If this conversation is more boring than I expect and doesn’t pique my interest… you won’t be able to return alive.”
The murderous intent emanating from Eun Josa was real.
“…Are you disregarding the Namgung Clan right now?”
“Do you think I’m afraid of the Namgung Clan?”
“It seems the Namgung Clan looks ridiculous in Eun Josa-nim’s eyes.”
“I can’t handle the Namgung Clan alone. That’s a fact. But what if I kill you and hide in this vast world? The Namgung Clan won’t be able to find me, so they won’t be able to take revenge. Daughter of the Namgung Clan, this is my territory. If you don’t want to die, don’t forget that fact.”
“……”
Namgung Rin closed her mouth, looking resentful.
I quietly assessed the situation. If I attacked now, could I kill him? It seemed possible, but I had almost no experience fighting sorcerers, so I wasn’t sure. Namgung Rin and Shin Jong-woo would be the same.
‘And this bastard. He’s wary of us. The fact that he’s wearing that Irin Black Armor covered in blood and brain matter proves it.’
The only reason a guy who keeps his house so clean would wear such dirty armor is that.
“I understand. Now, please tell us about the other worlds.”
“Do you know about the universe?”
“Yes. Isn’t the universe what’s above the sky?”
“The universe is everything. The world we live in. The worlds we don’t live in. The worlds that exist somewhere. It refers to all of those things.”
“…Are the worlds that exist somewhere what you mean by other worlds?”
“Heh heh. There are many worlds in this universe. I know of four worlds in total. The Celestial Realm, the Underworld, the Beast Realm, and the Material Realm. The Celestial Realm is also called the Immortal Realm, and the Hell Realm is also called the Underworld.”
“Is the Material Realm the world we live in?”
“That’s right. It’s also called the Middle Realm. Some arrogant humans call it the Human Realm. Is the world you’re talking about among the four worlds I mentioned?”
“No. The other world I’m talking about is…”
“You must be talking about a world in another universe. The universe is vast. So vast that compared to the universe, we are not even dust. And there isn’t just one such universe. The more you delve into it, the more sickeningly vast it becomes.”
Eun Josa clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“……How can we go to another world?”
“Why are you so obsessed with other worlds?”
“……”
“Answer me. Weren’t we having a conversation? If you’re just going to take knowledge from this place, I’ll kill you here.”
I felt pressure from Eun Josa. Shin Jong-woo glanced at Namgung Rin and then spoke.
“I came from another world. I want to… return to my original world.”
Namgung Rin wasn’t as surprised as I thought she would be. She had already predicted it to some extent.
Eun Josa twisted his lips and smiled. His eyes shone like a child who had heard a very interesting story.
“I knew it. You’re different. There’s no way you’d look like this otherwise. Heh heh heh.”
“Please tell me how to return to another world.”
“I don’t know.”
“…Are you joking?”
Shin Jong-woo frowned as much as he could.
“You’re mistaken. Just because I know about other worlds, does that mean I have to know how to get to those worlds? There are plenty of people who know about the Celestial Realm, so why can’t they ascend to the Celestial Realm?”
Shin Jong-woo calmed himself down, who was about to get agitated.
“…I’ve met and talked with famous sorcerers so far. But none of them even knew about the existence of other worlds. How did Eun Josa-nim come to know about other worlds?”
“I read a book a long time ago. It was just written in that book.”
“Where is that book?!”
Shin Jong-woo couldn’t hide his emotions. It must be because of the word ‘book.’ The reason he came to this world was because of the secret manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
“My master must have it.”
“Where is that master now?”
“I parted ways with him 200 years ago. Who cares.”
“……Do you really not know how to go to another world?”
“I don’t know. In the first place, even if I did know the method… do you think that I… no, that a sorcerer of this Material Realm could use a sorcery that could take you to another world?”
Shin Jong-woo tightly closed his eyes. He didn’t usually show his emotions, but his face was now contorted.
“…A clue. Please tell me even just a clue. I beg you…!”
Shin Jong-woo bowed his head deeply.
“A clue… The name of the book that contains information about other worlds was the ‘Heavenly Secret Record.’ If you want to go to another world, it would be more certain to seek help from him. Heh heh, if you can meet him, that is.”
“Who is the author of the Heavenly Secret Record?”
“Cheonseongja (天星子). An immortal born in the heavens and raised on earth.”
“Where is he, where is he?!”
“A long time ago. There’s a record that Cheonseongja ascended Kunlun. In other words, he became an immortal by ascending to the heavens. If you want to meet Cheonseongja, go to the Celestial Realm. If you can go, that is. Hahaha.”
“……”
Shin Jong-woo lowered his gaze. A moment of despair flashed in his eyes, but he soon raised his head as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you for the useful information.”
“……What is it? Have you given up on returning to your original world?”
“I haven’t given up. From now on, my goal is to ascend to the Celestial Realm and meet Cheonseongja. I know a few ways to ascend to the Celestial Realm, so you don’t need to tell me. I’ll be leaving now.”
Shin Jong-woo got up from his seat. I and Namgung Rin also stood up, following him.
“Wait. You’re going to take information without paying the price? You’re no different from thieves. The conversation was quite interesting, so I’ll acknowledge that, but pay the price for the information you heard from me.”
“We’ve already paid the price.”
Shin Jong-woo said calmly. His tone was so plain that even I was puzzled. Had we paid the price?
“Paid?”
“Didn’t we help you when we fought against the Black Dragon Star’s warriors?”
“You little…! That guy was the one who followed you into the barrier!”
“I didn’t bring them. They just entered Eun Josa-nim’s barrier on their own. And didn’t you even get the Irin Black Armor? The price has already been paid.”
“You’re talking utter nonsense. If that’s how you’re going to be, I’ll take the price myself. Heh heh. A human from another world… a very good research material has come in.”
Eun Josa stood up, emitting hostility. I and Namgung Rin simultaneously drew our swords, and Shin Jong-woo raised his energy as if he had been preparing for it.
“You. Did you know I would act like this?”
“…You didn’t ask me about the details. How I came to this world, what kind of world the other world is. You didn’t ask at all. From the beginning, you had no intention of letting me go. Isn’t that right?”
“You’re a smart one. That’s right. I was planning to capture you and then find out later. But why are you okay? I know the others didn’t drink the tea, but you drank more than half of it. Why are you unharmed? It’s a poison that would make you faint immediately.”
“I burned the poison while drinking the tea. …I realized it was poisoned when Rin Sojeo only pretended to drink.”
“…I didn’t drink it because Seong Sohyeop didn’t drink it.”
Namgung Rin shook her head and said. Everyone’s gaze turned to me.
Was the tea poisoned? I didn’t know.
“……”
In times like this, keeping quiet is half the battle. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword.
“…Huh. The one who looks the most foolish was the most perceptive. My stamina and energy have recovered to some extent… I’ll personally step in and subdue you.”
Immediately after, a large hawk fell from the ceiling, attacking Shin Jong-woo. Shin Jong-woo nimbly dodged as if he had anticipated it and stepped on the Heavenly Demon’s Forest Walk.
“Kuh! That’s no ordinary footwork!”
I and Namgung Rin rushed towards the large hawk, and Shin Jong-woo took on Eun Josa.
“Chunghyeong! I’ll attack him from behind!”
“Yes, Seong… Sohyeop!”
It seemed like they were planning to end the situation with a surprise attack, but that was a bad move. The large hawk got caught on the cabin, restricting its movements.
Namgung Rin swung her sword. The heavy yet fast sword of the Emperor’s Sword Technique sliced through the front of the hawk.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeek!”
The hawk screamed. I couldn’t just stand by while she was active.
Crackling.
I swung my sword, imbued with lightning and sword energy, at the back of the hawk’s head. The hawk tilted its head to the side, dodging my attack. The sword cut the hawk’s shoulder. The hawk screamed again and rolled on the floor, going outside the cabin. And I, who was attached to the hawk’s back, rolled along with it.
“Seong Sohyeop!”
Namgung Rin rushed over. I stabbed my sword into the hawk’s body before it could fly away. Namgung Rin also saw the situation and swung her sword, slashing the hawk.
The hawk desperately flapped its large wings. The hawk, which had flown about 5 meters, fell back to the ground and couldn’t move.
“Seong Sohyeop! Are you okay?!”
“Ah… I’m okay.”
I got up. The hawk was just big, not very strong. Probably because it didn’t have Eun Josa’s sorcery support. I turned my gaze to the cabin. Shin Jong-woo and Eun Josa were engaged in an internal energy battle.
This was a perfect situation.
I put my arm around Namgung Rin’s shoulder, who had come next to me, and grabbed her ample chest, pulling her into my embrace.
“Ugh, Seong Gaga…?”
“Listen to me carefully. Let’s kill both Eun Josa and Shin Jong-woo here. I’ll take on Eun Josa. You take on Shin Jong-woo. Shin Jong-woo trusts you more than me. He won’t be wary even if you approach him.”
“Wh, what are you… You want to kill Shin Sohyeop… Hng!”
I grabbed Namgung Rin’s head and kissed her. It was a short kiss, but it was enough to make my tongue slosh around in her mouth.
“It’s an order. Rin.”
A thin silver thread connected her and my lips. Namgung Rin’s breathing was a little ragged, and her eyes were slightly unfocused. She only looked into my eyes as she answered.
“……Yes, Gaga.”
