Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
After defeating the Demon King, we returned to Jangryeong Valley. Then Cheon Woo-jin took out the Mountain River Society Chart and released Master Zhuge.
Puuung
Master Zhuge was in a deep sleep. Mangryang shook him awake, and Master Zhuge sat up groggily, looking around.
“Hmm… Looks like you took down the Demon King. How?”
Doubt laced his first words. It meant he had thought it nearly impossible for us to subjugate the Demon King. I showed him the obsidian I had prepared, and he took it, read the memories, and looked utterly bewildered.
“Are you all insane? You charged in when failure meant total ruin and victory was uncertain?”
“That’s settled. Holding out wouldn’t have guaranteed things would improve anyway.”
I continued calmly.
“Hmm.”
Master Zhuge tilted his head. Then he spoke.
“Still, taking him down without major losses is miraculous. And that Twelve Rhythm Lord bastard—we need to catch him, torture him, and make him talk.”
“Eh?”
I felt baffled by Master Zhuge’s unexpected words. Out of nowhere, torture the Twelve Rhythm Lord? He continued.
“It’s because he mentioned the [Ancient Continent]. Too suspicious.”
“It’s suspicious, but…”
“No one here besides me knows about the [Ancient Continent]?”
Silence hung in the air. The martial artists naturally had no clue, and even the sorcerers Mangryang and Cheon Woo-jin looked like it was their first time hearing it. Master Zhuge gave a wry smile.
“Well, it’s a demonic secret tied to the mysteries, so of course you wouldn’t know.”
“Stop bragging and explain.”
“[The Ancient Continent] refers to the ancient continent that existed before the current world formed—before the massive continental shift. Its civilization was far superior and more powerful than ours.”
Master Zhuge crossed his arms.
“But that civilization vanished overnight, ten thousand years ago. Considering Zhongyuan’s history barely spans five thousand years, it’s an era beyond human knowledge. Even among sorcerers, it’s a secret among secrets, passed down as the ultimate forbidden lore.”
“Hmm…”
“And for that bastard to mention it—and even a passage leading there… We can’t ignore it. I consider myself a formidable sorcerer, but I’ve never heard of a passage to the [Ancient Continent]. I thought such things were just myths in ancient texts.”
“……”
Master Zhuge’s words left our companions with heavy expressions. After all, few sorcerers in the world surpassed him, yet even he spoke gravely. No one knew what means the Twelve Rhythm Lord used, but he knew secrets from the mysterious ancient era that even sorcerers didn’t.
Cheon Woo-jin said thoughtfully.
“What exactly is the Twelve Rhythm Lord? Is he of the divine race?”
“That’s why we catch him and torture him.”
Mangryang asked with a suspicious look.
“Do you have confidence in capturing him, Uncle?”
Master Zhuge continued nonchalantly.
“Not right now. Even if Fire Dragon True Person fought him directly, the Twelve Rhythm Lord could escape her.”
“……”
“I’m just telling Baek Woong. It’s impossible with our current power, but if we get a chance to catch the Twelve Rhythm Lord next time—or the strength to do so—don’t hesitate. Torture him and extract everything. I think it would unravel countless mysteries scattered across the world.”
I nodded.
“Got it. So how do we track down the Twelve Rhythm Lord?”
“No need for everyone. You, me, Musashi, and Miho. Four of us is enough. Mangryang stays as backup brains for emergencies, Cheon Woo-jin handles defense, and the martial artists conserve energy for training. Oh, and return the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture to me.”
“Here.”
Wuuuung
When I handed the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture back to Master Zhuge, he quickly absorbed its power again, reclaiming ownership. A surge of mighty energy returned to him.
Paat
After resting a full day to recover, we headed to the New City where the Twelve Rhythm Lord was. This time, someone waited before the cloud bridge.
“Hey, greetings!”
He appeared to be an ordinary scholar youth. For some reason, he waved enthusiastically upon seeing me, drawing everyone’s gaze to him.
“Who is he?”
I’d never seen him before. A New City resident?
But his robes weren’t native to the New City—they were Zhongyuan scholar attire. His speech was Zhongyuan dialect too. Sensing his qi, he felt like a complete ordinary person with no martial arts training. I considered possibilities like Counterfeit Ghost Realm or Absolute Ground Realm, but without detectable qi, judgment was impossible. He didn’t seem a powerful sorcerer either—no spiritual energy.
I eyed him suspiciously and said.
“Who are you? Were you calling me?”
“Yeah! Haha. Finally meeting you.”
He beamed.
“First, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Wu Cheng’en, the Sayang Mountain Man, who recently decided to become a novelist. For reference, I live in Nanjing now.”
Not particularly curious, I nodded anyway.
“Hmm… I see. But what brings you, Wu Cheng’en, all the way to distant Baekdu Mountain?”
“Are you Baek Woong?”
My name sharpened my gaze.
“Not an ordinary guy after all.”
No way a plain scholar knew my name and waited at the New City entrance!
My companions seemed equally wary of Wu Cheng’en. But my instincts weren’t screaming attack yet, so I answered coolly.
“No.”
“Hmm, strange. I heard it was definitely Baek Woong… Maybe you changed your name recently due to bad fortune?”
“Don’t know, and get out of the way. We have no business with you.”
Wu Cheng’en pondered, then grinned.
“I’ll wait here. Go handle your business and come out.”
He stepped aside from the cloud bridge entrance. Suspicion lingered, but oddly, I felt no urge to attack and subdue him.
‘Why am I like this?’
Strange. A guy that suspicious should be attacked on principle. Yet no desire to fight arose—only thoughts to avoid combat filled my head. My companions signaled the same.
Tadat
We crossed the cloud bridge and reached the other side. Master Zhuge sighed.
“Big trouble. Really…”
“What’s the big trouble?”
“We’ll know once we meet the Twelve Rhythm Lord. Let’s go.”
We entered the central building where the Twelve Rhythm Lord usually waited, but no presence stirred. Thinking maybe Ha Eunchun or the Three Sages were nearby, we searched thoroughly—still nothing.
“He’s gone?”
“……”
Strange. Even at the chair where the Rhythm Lord usually sat, no sign of Ha Eunchun or the Three Sages. We searched another half hour, then left for the residents’ quarters.
And were shocked.
“They’re asleep?”
Indeed.
The New City normally housed thousands, yet all lay collapsed in homes or streets, in deep slumber. No curses or anomalies on their bodies—just sleeping. Shaking, slapping, or infusing qi failed to wake them.
Definitely abnormal. Normally, qi infusion would trigger blood vessels to rouse them, as it manipulated even involuntary muscles. Yet no reaction meant this wasn’t ordinary sleep.
Watching, Master Zhuge said.
“Baek Woong. Another moment of choice has come.”
“Master Zhuge. You have an idea about this situation?”
“…My mistake. I thought this force was enough, so leaving Cheon Woo-jin behind was wrong.”
Master Zhuge lamented, then said.
“Baek can’t be used in this New City. Use your authority to teleport us all out. That’s our only option now.”
“Wait. Explain what happened.”
Master Zhuge whirled and spat bitterly.
“That Wu Cheng’en blocking the entrance… Definitely his doing.”
“……?”
“Only a few could silence the entire New City alone. You’ve seen a similar scene once.”
His riddle-like reply urged me on.
“Hurry! I hope my hunch is wrong—let’s get out now.”
“Right. To Jangryeong Valley…”
“No! Not Jangryeong Valley. To Mangryang’s village.”
“Eh? Why there?”
“Hurry. Before he changes his mind…”
Thud
Suddenly, Master Zhuge paled dizzily and knelt. Miho clutched her throbbing head, Musashi glared wide-eyed, focusing intensely.
“Ugh…”
Overwhelming sleepiness hit me too, buckling my body. But soon, Fire Dragon True Person’s spiritual energy boiled within, expelling the sorcery, restoring me swiftly.
What the hell?
Then, a distant rumbling Thousand-Li Voice transmission reached my ears.
[Well, checked inside the New City? Now satisfied? I had eavesdropping spells set, so I knew your presence. Don’t try fleeing rashly—come out the entrance obediently.]
“……”
[If you run, I won’t let you off.]
No doubt.
This voice was that Sayang Mountain Man, Wu Cheng’en.
[Stay put if you want. You’re all dying to sleep anyway, right? If you can resist my spell for a thousand, ten thousand years, be my guest.]
No chance.
Even Fire Dragon True Person’s power barely held back the drowsiness—this spell was that potent. Master Zhuge, Miho, Musashi—top earthly powerhouses—had half their combat ability stripped instantly. Holding out would fail us all.
Master Zhuge suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed his arm.
Puk!
“Urk… Heh… A bit clearer now.”
Blood sprayed. A severe wound. He chose extremity to fight sleep.
“Master Zhuge.”
“Baek Woong… We met him at the entrance and didn’t fight—not for no reason. You and Musashi instinctively sensed his overwhelming supremacy… Miho too… And I roughly guessed his identity, so I stayed silent.”
“What are you saying?”
“Fortunately, he wants to talk to you… Use your authority well, and this could be an opportunity…”
Master Zhuge’s voice faded against sleep. Blood poured, yet he couldn’t stay conscious—proof of Wu Cheng’en’s spell’s might.
“…Listen well… His identity is…… and why not Jangryeong Valley…”
His explanation hardened my face progressively.
Of all people, him picking a fight now!
But per Master Zhuge, avoidance was impossible. He gazed faintly and said.
“Think carefully and judge… Crisis and opportunity… Get as much info from him as possible…”
Thud
Master Zhuge finally succumbed. I glanced around—Musashi’s eyes wept blood tears.
“Musashi. You okay?”
“Insane sorcery. Holding One-Mind stance, yet it’s grueling. This isn’t a spell pure mental force can withstand without it.”
He shook his head.
“…But if you fight him, I can manage one strike.”
Miho pressed her temples beside him.
“Baek Woong. My head hurts.”
“Miho, not sleepy?”
“Not sleepy, head hurts too much. Maybe his spell rebounds on me as pain.”
Her yokai rank had soared, rivaling the moon spirit, having the spell’s effect unlike on humans. Pressing her temples, she said worriedly.
“Baek Woong. Avoid fighting if possible. If he’s who Master Zhuge thinks, we can’t win now.”
“I know. I’ll do what I can.”
“If it comes to fight, I’ll protect you utmost.”
Miho’s words stung my heart.
‘Even after seeing those past life memories.’
Memories of dying with me, yet she still wanted to protect me sincerely? I felt deeply grateful and sorry to Miho. I couldn’t grow cold to her deaths in future lives. I gritted my teeth.
“…I’ll protect you all too.”
Paat
I tucked Master Zhuge into my backpack, then headed to the cloud bridge entrance with my companions. There, Sayang Mountain Man Wu Cheng’en sat on a rock nearby. He waved happily.
“Hey, Baek Woong! Out already.”
“Lift the sleep spell.”
“Can’t do that. You’d flee freely if unbound.”
Grinning, Wu Cheng’en replied.
“Anyway, long time no see, fox. How was the Saha world’s air?”
Miho snapped irritably.
“You’ve been breathing heaven’s fine air all this time. What’s to be curious about?”
“Don’t get snippy. We were close in heaven anyway.”
“Your transformation was so clever, I didn’t recognize you.”
Miho said frustratedly; Wu Cheng’en laughed heartily.
“Hahaha. Even I once ruled all Zhongyuan yokai.”
I said to the being disguised as Wu Cheng’en.
“What happened to the Twelve Rhythm Lord?”
“Hmm. Came abroad to grab and reclaim the Moon Rhythm and Wood Rhythm, but he sensed and fled with the Three Sages. Sharp guy.”
Regretfully, he eyed me.
“No biggie. Reclaim Fire Rhythm and Water Rhythm here.”
“……”
As expected.
No denying his identity now.
Still, to confirm, I asked his name.
“You’re… the Handsome Monkey King?”
He smiled thinly.
“Don’t like that name. Sick of it after thousands of years.”
“Then Fighting Victory Buddha?”
“That too—stuck on me by that damn Triptaka.”
Gruffly, his eyes shifted: scarlet whites, golden pupils.
The legendary Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils.
“Call me Great Sage Equaling Heaven.”
Indeed.
The supreme Fighting Immortal, earthly yokai king, now heaven’s top force—the great divine immortal, Handsome Monkey King Great Sage Equaling Heaven Sun Wukong—stood before me, transformed as a human.
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