Chapter 239

Chapter 239

“……What?”

“I said I will release the Great Seal.”

As if hearing something completely unexpected, I repeated my words like driving a nail before Gonryunseon, who frowned. Then Gonryunseon stared at me intently and asked in a grave voice.

“Release the Great Seal. Do you know what that means when you say it?”

“Yes.”

“The Great Seal is the axis that supports the world. The literal only lifeline that ancient humans installed to drive out yokai and guarantee humanity’s right to survive.”

“You’re now saying you’ll plunge the entire world into chaos just to save a few hundred lives.”

I grinned at Gonryunseon, who stared at me with blazing eyes, all trace of his earlier eccentric demeanor gone. Because it wasn’t a wrong statement.

“You just need to help.”

“Don’t you know? Your blood relatives won’t die. Your disciples too, well, they still seem fine so far. Then you wouldn’t really need my help.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter?”

“Yes. Because I’ll move in a direction that saves everyone.”

I don’t know much about magic arts, but based on Gonryunseon’s story I heard here and Hwansin’s prediction I heard before coming, people would have been pulled in the direction where the ‘threads of connection’ were tied. To where their blood relatives are. Or to their hometown. They would have been transferred to such places.

Then in the case of Uicheonmun disciples, I can roughly sense where they are. Connections in the present life are deeper than ancient bloodlines from long ago, and those guys had connections with Jeokyeol, a member of Chilryun.

“My disciples are probably in Magyo.”

“I have a plan to rescue them. I don’t need Gonryunseon’s help for that. But what about the others?”

What about Namgung Yeon? What about all the other countless martial artists?

Countless martial artists got caught up in a scheme and transferred simply because they attended the Gate Opening Ceremony. I can’t say it’s the fault of Baek Risan and me who were participating in the ceremony, but it’s true we bear some responsibility.

“I don’t want innocent lives to be lost.”

“Even though you don’t know how much sacrifice you’ll have to endure?”

“I have no intention of bearing sacrifice, but even so, if it absolutely must be done, yes.”

Even if the probability is slim, bet on the side where everyone lives.

That’s how I was taught, and that’s how I’ve lived. It doesn’t suit my temperament to abandon things just because they’re unrelated to me.

Moreover, obtaining Gonryunseon’s cooperation doesn’t lower the probability of rescuing my disciples. Of course, I’ll have to suffer a bit more hardship, and there’s the minor problem of things becoming a bit more dangerous for this side, but…….

Isn’t that much bearable?

“Since you’re the Gonryunseon who revealed celestial secrets to me, you must know. How I can release the Great Seal.”

“Please help me.”

As I bowed my head and spoke, Gonryunseon, who had been staring at me as if displeased, frowned and scratched his head vigorously. A moment of silence maintained with no one opening their mouth.

And a moment later.

“……I can’t withstand threats.”

“Those words mean.”

“It means I’ll help you. You damned brat!”

Gonryunseon, who let out a deep sigh, ground his teeth.

“I already know where the survivors are. Because I read the heavens.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. When an ominous star shines so brightly, I couldn’t not read it.”

“But putting that into words is a separate matter. In this mortal realm, there’s only one person who can divulge celestial secrets and still move without much backlash. I’m not at that level.”

Divulging celestial secrets means attempting to go against heaven.

For magic practitioners, the price is clear. At the least, accumulated cultivation can be taken away, and at worst, even lifespan can be shaved off—that’s what divulging celestial secrets is.

“Once I speak the words, I’ll need to recuperate for at least a year. That means I can’t look after Central Plains affairs for a year. Do you understand what that means?”

“I’ll understand it to mean I must absolutely rescue them after hearing.”

“This is why I hate quick-witted brats. There’s no fun in teaching them.”

Tsk tsk, Gonryunseon clicked his tongue, half-closed his eyes, and continued speaking while looking up at the sky with a transparent gaze.

“There was once someone who prophesied that such a day would come to me.”

“I can only read the surface of celestial secrets, but that child seemed to read even the tiny branches flowing from celestial secrets. A person who commits acts against heaven close to taboo as a magic practitioner yet receives no damage whatsoever…….”

After pausing briefly, Gonryunseon lowered his gaze and stared directly at me. And Gonryunseon continued.

“Go to the northern part of Daemak.”

“……Are there survivors there?”

“No. But they’ll soon gather there.”

“Those words mean.”

“Soon.”

Gonryunseon, who showed an uncomfortable expression as if swallowing rising blood, waved his long sleeve.

“The brats will gather there.”

“By brats you mean.”

“Hyeolgyo.”

Originally it would have been stopped with a small sacrifice. However, if it’s to save everyone, they’re an opponent that must absolutely be defeated.

“Go and burn them all down.”

Gonryunseon, whose face had lost its color due to divulging celestial secrets, stared at me and grinned. And the words that followed.

“Because that’s what the Great Adversary must do.”

Though it’s stating the obvious, Magyo cannot be self-sufficient in food.

That’s actually natural, perhaps. Fundamentally, Magyo is located at the entrance of Daemak.

Located at the gateway toward Qinghai, farming is somehow possible, but not enough food comes in to feed all the many Magyo followers. Livestock farming isn’t very developed either.

Therefore, Magyo secretly supported and operated several smuggling merchant companies composed of Central Plains people. Mainly, transactions took place where minerals or jewels from Xinjiang were sold and food was bought. 

That trade, which the Imperial Court, Murim Alliance, and Sado Alliance knew about but tacitly overlooked, was Magyo’s lifeline, so even in this emergency situation where hundreds were transferred near Magyo, it continued uninterrupted.

Just like what Seomun Cheok was seeing right before his eyes.

“You look very uncomfortable. Yeonsam.”

“……Wasn’t there a better name?”

“Hahaha.”

A procession entering Magyo.

Jeokyeol, who laughed at Seohwa’s grumpy voice as she stood quietly in line, shook his head. And the answer that followed.

“As expected, since your Gangho experience is shallow, you don’t know how excellent the performance of rustic names is.”

“……Names have performance too?”

“Of course, do you know what Manwang’s name is right away?”

“It’s Mumyeong.”

Manwang Mumyeong.

No one knows what his original name was. In the first place, he declared ‘something like a name isn’t necessary’ and took Mumyeong as his name. A name born from the ambition to become such an overwhelming martial artist that everyone would know who he was just from his epithet.

Truly like the bearing of an arrogant emperor. To Seohwa thinking that, Jeokyeol said indifferently.

“Manwang Mumyeong’s real name is Jang Chunsik.”

“……What?”

Jang Chunsik.

Seohwa, whose reflexive question came from Manwang’s bearing shrinking in an instant, blinked. Because it was a name that absolutely didn’t match the image in her head.

“Is that true?”

“It’s a lie.”

“But you just thought it, didn’t you? That his bearing is less than expected.”

“Well…….”

“Since ancient times, rustic names have the effect of giving familiarity. Even if Manwang Mumyeong seems overwhelming and unapproachable, Manwang Chunsik seems incompetent—it’s the same principle.”

A person’s dignity isn’t determined by name alone, but that doesn’t mean a name has absolutely no influence on a person’s dignity. Just think about if Baek Riyun changed his name to Baek Ribong—doesn’t that give you the answer?

“Wangpal is a good name. Rustic and just right. Perfect for hiding somewhere. I can practically see your parents not bothering to put thought into the name.”

“……Th, thank you.”

“Right. But the name Seohwa isn’t such a good name. The name Seomun Cheok either. Your parents put too much thought into it. Seoil. Seoi. Seosam. Seomunil. Seomuni. Seomunsam would be enough.”

At the ambiguous statement that was hard to call praise but also hard to get angry about, Seohwa frowned and looked at Jeokyeol. At that sight, Jeokyeol shrugged his shoulders.

“Anyway, that’s the reason. Wangpal can go as is, but you two can’t. Seomun Cheok is Seosam. You’re Yeonsam. Got it?”

“……Got it. More than that.”

Seohwa, who had been watching the inspection taking place in the line ahead for a moment, narrowed her eyes. The sight of the inspection taking place in the distance.

“Do they normally inspect this thoroughly? The line hardly seems to be moving.”

“Mm.”

At Seohwa’s question, Jeokyeol let out a groan. Because it was an accurate observation.

“Usually they don’t do it this thoroughly.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. There aren’t really people trying to sneak into the main cult, and even if they try to sneak in, it shows. Though not as much as Daemak’s center, this place has quite a bit of demonic power too, doesn’t it?”

“If they’re not Magyo followers, they can’t help but show discomfort.”

In the case of smuggling merchant companies, it’s fine. They meet at the entrance of Qinghai and Xinjiang anyway, exchange cargo, and disappear. Strictly speaking, those here aren’t merchant companies but Magyo followers.

However, if there’s someone infiltrating while hiding their identity, they can’t help but show signs from not adapting to the demonic power. Even if not for that reason, even if they infiltrate Magyo as an ordinary follower, there’s nothing they can do, so they don’t really block it much.

But what about now?

“They’re inspecting everything from cargo to people. Something must have happened.”

“If something happened.”

“It’s probably not unrelated to your being transferred. If you weren’t the only ones transferred, the main cult would have detected an anomaly too.”

The sudden indiscriminate transference of numerous Central Plains people.

Since Jeokyeol, a member of Chilryun, doesn’t know about it, most Magyo followers probably don’t know the full story of this situation. Then wouldn’t it be natural procedure to make inspections more thorough in preparation for this abnormal situation?

“Perhaps there are already people captured and brought inside the main cult.”

“And among them, Baek Risan might be there?”

“Right. Anyway, it’s too long.”

After counting the remaining line for a moment, Jeokyeol shook his head and stepped out of line, moving forward. Then a martial artist at the main gate frowned upon discovering Jeokyeol.

“Stop. Don’t leave the line! Follow the order.”

“I don’t need to.”

“What on earth does that…….”

“Here.”

Swoosh!

As he tossed a token with his words, the martial artist who caught it received it with an expression like ‘here we go again,’ then opened his eyes wide. Simultaneously, his waist bent in half.

“Je, Jeokyeol-nim? Your face changed again so I thought you were a different person.”

“Right. You’re working hard.”

“The people behind you are…….”

“A settlement collapsed.”

“……A settlement, you say?”

“Yeah. Though it was a small settlement of about five households, it had held out quite well, but it seems to have finally collapsed. These guys are survivors from there.”

Jeokyeol, who clicked his tongue as if it was a common occurrence, continued.

“More than that, the inspection is different from usual—was there some order?”

“That’s…… It’s Ilryun-nim’s order. To strengthen inspections more than usual.”

“Ilryun gave such an order directly? Did something happen?”

“I don’t know exactly either, but.”

The martial artist paused briefly, looked around, then whispered quietly.

“Apparently Central Plains people appeared in Xinjiang.”

“Central Plains people?”

“Yes. Central Plains people appeared not only inside the main cult but throughout Xinjiang. The scale is estimated to be at least dozens to as many as hundreds…….”

“So?”

“Since Central Plains people with connections transferred here, wouldn’t other Central Plains people come to rescue them? So it seems we’re to strengthen inspections.”

“I see. All sorts of things happen.”

“Indeed.”

The world’s truly going to ruin.

Jeokyeol, who tsk tsked with his tongue, patted the martial artist’s shoulder. And receiving his token back, Jeokyeol opened his mouth.

“Well, I’ll hear more details after going inside. I’ll consider the inspection finished and go in. No problem, right?”

“Ah, that is…….”

“What, is there a problem?”

“In principle, we’re supposed to inspect everyone…….”

“Principle?”

“…….”

Is this power?

Seohwa, who confirmed the martial artist struggling at Jeokyeol’s menacing expression, newly realized the force of something called power and shook her head. And.

“I can go in, right? I don’t have time to do bothersome things like inspections.”

“Th, that is.”

Just as Jeokyeol was pressing down on the martial artist’s shoulder.

“That won’t do.”

At a strangely clear and bright voice, Jeokyeol stopped his body abruptly.

Atop the fortress wall.

“Shouldn’t you set an example too?”

“……Ilryun.”

Magyo’s strongest stood there.