The Grand Battle (1)
I awoke in bed.
This morning felt different from any other. The lingering, bittersweet emotions from my dream about Byeoklidan still clung to me. I now understood the truth about his death and realized there was another villain besides the Heavenly King’s army.
Years had passed since that incident, yet I remained silent. Why?
I still couldn’t determine if the man was connected to the Heavenly King’s army.
I immediately relayed everything to Galsaryang.
This revelation shocked him even more. He focused on one particular detail.
“So, there was indeed someone behind the Hyunhyeon Sect back then.”
“Your intuition was correct.”
“I’m sorry. I should have investigated more thoroughly at the time.”
“No need to apologize. I believe all of this is intertwined by the threads of fate.”
Had Galsaryang uncovered the man’s existence back then, who knows what might have happened? It could have led to even worse outcomes.
“And one more thing, he mentioned that Byeoklidan was chosen. In other words, Byeoklidan met the conditions for the great ritual they intended to perform.”
“I’ll look into that part.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and here are thirty million nyang for Cheonsoseon.”
He handed me a pouch.
“It’s untraceable money, so giving it to him won’t lead back to us.”
“Thank you.”
“But if he finds a way to go underground, will you go?”
“I must.”
“It could be a trap. You know Cheonsoseon isn’t an ordinary man.”
“I’m aware. But this time, he won’t betray us.”
Betrayal would only earn him the trust of the Heavenly King’s army.
In this situation, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to seek that.
Galsaryang looked even more worried.
“Don’t worry. I’ll always keep the possibility of his betrayal in mind. Is that enough?”
“Yes, that’s sufficient. I apologize. As I age, I find myself worrying more.”
“You’re still young. Don’t let age get to you.”
“Yes!”
Come on, Saryang. Live young.
Don’t you have someone you care about?
“Damn it! What kind of pathetic excuse is that?”
Macheolgun erupted in anger.
“I’m telling you, someone’s deliberately cutting off our funds.”
Mareongin’s response sounded like an excuse.
“Nonsense! Who would dare oppose Cheondomun in times like these?”
“Precisely because it’s times like these that they might oppose us.”
“What?”
“The leader from Cheondomun is just sitting there, taking it like a fool…”
Macheolgun lunged and grabbed Mareongin by the collar.
“I told you to watch your mouth!”
Mareongin stared back at him.
“That’s exactly why. Acting so pathetically. We deserve to be ignored right now.”
Macheolgun gritted his teeth, glaring fiercely. But it was an effort to hide the guilt rising within him.
‘Yes, this bastard is right.’
He was a mess, and he knew it. But the opponent was too powerful for him to even consider doing anything.
In this situation, Cheonsoseon was his escape. He wanted to lose himself in her beauty and run away.
Macheolgun released his grip and returned to his seat.
He knew he was acting pathetically, but the outcome didn’t change. No, it was even more desperate. He didn’t want to lose his only escape in this miserable situation.
“Sell that useless body of yours and get the money now!”
He didn’t realize he was echoing the words of the villain he despised.
When I performed the Dream Lotus Technique, I awoke in a different place. As I expected, it wasn’t Byeoklidan’s dream but my own.
But the place I awoke in was unexpected.
It was where I had my final battle with the Heavenly Demon.
[My goodness. This place?]
[Even in a dream, you wanted to kill me again.]
[Don’t misunderstand!]
[How can I not misunderstand in this situation?]
[Ah! It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.]
[Don’t try to change the subject so clumsily!]
[Hahaha. I don’t know why this place appeared either.]
If dreams are products of the subconscious, it’s likely because I’ve been thinking a lot about the Heavenly Demon lately. I’ve been worried about his fate. I’m still pondering it.
[Over there, by the tree. That’s where I died.]
[Why bring that up?]
[No need to apologize. If I hadn’t died, it would have been your resting place.]
[True. It’s better you than me. I would have died in my seat without knowing why.]
[Could it have been his doing?]
[Probably not. As you saw, the red energy took over Byeoklidan’s body, and I pushed it out, reclaiming Byeoklidan. In a way, I thwarted his plan.]
[It’s all so complicated.]
In truth, it’s not complicated.
The revealed enemies are the Heavenly King’s army and the Dark Figure. The Dark Figure is already under my control, so he’s out of the picture.
That leaves the Heavenly King’s army as the only revealed enemy.
The hidden enemy is the man from the dream.
And the other entity that placed me in Byeoklidan is ambiguous, whether friend or foe.
[Now that it’s clear there’s another enemy, we can’t delay dealing with the Heavenly King’s army any longer.]
[Yes. In some ways, the man from the dream is more dangerous than the Heavenly King’s army.]
The Heavenly Demon, having witnessed everything with me, felt the same.
It’s not because his martial arts are strong. No matter his skills or power, they can’t compare to the Heavenly King’s martial arts.
But the malevolence he exuded was on par with the Heavenly King’s. He’s someone who would do anything to get what he wants.
[Can I defeat the Heavenly King’s army if I fight them now?]
[You can win.]
[Why are you so sure?]
[Because I know you well. You won’t lose to someone like him.]
To uphold the Heavenly Demon’s faith, I must train diligently.
It had been a while since I trained. After realizing it was Byeoklidan’s dream, I hadn’t been able to train.
I replaced training with a light practice of the Soul-Chasing Demon Sword Technique and the Celestial Crane Technique.
Then I spent half the time on the Demon God’s Sword Technique and the other half on the Demon God’s Shadow Step. I had already reached the ninth level of the Demon God’s Sword Technique. But the footwork hadn’t caught up yet. I needed to balance the achievements of both.
After a round of training, the place that had been obliterated in the past great calamity vanished this time with the Blood Rain of the Demon Sword.
[It’s a shame I can’t meet you in dreams.]
[You can see me.]
[How?]
[Just use the Celestial Mind Illusion Technique here.]
[In a dream?]
It was an unexpected suggestion. The reason was simple.
[It’s dangerous.]
It involves using two advanced demonic arts simultaneously.
[Anyway…]
[Anyway what?]
At my irritated retort, the Heavenly Demon took a step back.
[Yes, it does seem dangerous.]
In truth, I didn’t mind.
After all, it’s just a dream. What harm could come from using another demonic art?
But I couldn’t guarantee the Heavenly Demon’s safety if these two arts intertwined.
Just before waking from the dream, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
[Self-love is important, but self-awareness is even more crucial.]
Hearing that, I thought of death. It’s a phrase that can be used in many contexts, but at least now, the Heavenly Demon meant this:
It’s time to let go of the attachment to life and return to the cycle of life and death.
It was clear the Heavenly Demon longed for death or perhaps oblivion.
Hey, friend. Don’t do that.
I’m not ready yet.
I met Cheonsoseon alone in the forest.
“This place is so serene. The atmosphere is perfect.”
She tried to seduce me, unable to let go of her lingering feelings.
“No one would know if someone died here.”
I doused her subtle provocation with cold water, and she pouted. She was truly beautiful. Even knowing she was a man, she captivated my gaze. It was understandable why Macheolgun was so smitten.
I handed her the pouch I brought.
“Here are thirty million nyang.”
Cheonsoseon was taken aback.
“Really, thirty million nyang?”
“Yes.”
“You’re just giving me such a large sum?”
“It’s not just a gift. It’s an investment to kill the Heavenly King’s army.”
“Can you give more?”
“Why? Does seeing the money make you greedy?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just testing how capable you are.”
“The fact that you’re here accepting my money should be answer enough.”
She clicked her tongue and reached for the pouch, but I pulled it back.
“What about the way to get underground?”
Cheonsoseon shook her head.
“There are two major problems to solve.”
“What are they?”
“The first is the mechanism to go underground. It requires entering a precise code, known only to the Heavenly King.”
I knew exactly where it was and how it worked. There was a mechanism attached where the code had to be entered.
“What’s the second obstacle?”
“The real issue is this: the Heavenly King never leaves the Leader’s Hall.”
“But surely he leaves for meals or the restroom.”
“No. He’s had a restroom built inside the Leader’s Hall, and he eats there too. He even sleeps sitting up. He guards the Leader’s Hall like a stone statue.”
One word struck me.
“Alone?”
“Yes, he’s alone. Those who guarded the Leader’s Hall couldn’t withstand the black aura he emitted and died. Since then, no one from the Fierce Tiger Squad has dared enter the Leader’s Hall.”
“So he’s alone in the Leader’s Hall?”
It was something I hadn’t considered. If he’s alone…
“Yes. But why?”
The idea that he was alone in the Leader’s Hall sparked a plan in my mind.
I asked Cheonsoseon.
“Would a collapse of the ceiling or something similar destroy the Heavenly Chaos or the Dark Celestial Weapon?”
“Of course not. Do you think something like an earthquake could destroy it? Both the Dark Celestial Weapon and the Celestial Chaos need to be deliberately destroyed. You’ll have to cut them down with a blade.”
“You could handle it on your own, couldn’t you?”
“Haven’t you been listening? I don’t know the code to access the underground, and that guy never leaves his post for even a moment.”
“I can take care of both those issues for you. But in return, you’ll have to deal with what’s down there. Even if you can’t handle all the Dark Celestial Weapons, you must destroy the Celestial Chaos.”
Cheon Soseon was taken aback.
“What?”
“But you won’t have much time to work. Maybe an hour at most? Can you do it?”
“If both problems are solved… it might be possible.”
Cheon Soseon hesitated, likely because of the Dark Celestial Weapons accompanying the Celestial Chaos. When she first told me about them, there were seven. Now, there must be over ten.
“It’s not about whether it might be possible. You have to succeed.”
Cheon Soseon looked at me for a moment.
“If I pull this off, how many steps closer to life will I be?”
She was referring to what I had told her before: find a way, and you’ll take a step toward life.
“At least three steps.”
“And how many steps away is life?”
“It could be three steps away, or it could be a hundred.”
“Damn it!”
Her expression was complicated as she looked at me. After a long pause, she nodded.
“Fine. Given the situation, I’ll do it. When’s the operation?”
“Tonight.”
Cheon Soseon was startled. She hadn’t expected things to move so quickly.
I handed her a pouch.
“Take this money. In case anyone suspects you, this should help dispel their doubts. No one would think you’d do something like this after getting your hands on such a sum.”
“Once the job is done, stay quiet. I won’t be looking for you for a while.”
As I turned to leave, she asked, “What time tonight? I need to know exactly.”
Without turning back, I kept walking and replied, “You’ll know when the time comes.”
Not just you, but the whole world will know.