Chapter 325: The Title of the World's Strongest (5)

What on earth did Cheol Suryeon's Baek go through inside Cheonkwon?

After regaining her full memory, she cried and begged me, saying she would do anything for me.

I had nothing to lose from that, but it was still surprising to see her so haggard.

"Please…"

I said to her, as she trembled and choked back tears:

"You wouldn't want to experience that place again, right?"

I needed to instill fear, clearly and firmly.

To that question, Cheol Suryeon frantically nodded her head.

It seems she really doesn't want to go back there.

— Well, she was trapped for quite a long time. Makes sense, said Sodamgeom with a chuckle.

Counting the time she spent inside the fuse (the spiritual ignition), her Baek had indeed been imprisoned for a long while.

She was surrounded the whole time by grudge-filled beings like the Blood Demon and Jusa Ryeon, so I can understand why she's so shaken.

— Swoosh!

As I reached out, a large cloth tucked in a corner of the cavern flew over due to telekinesis.

"What's this?"

"Cover yourself."

"After you've already seen everything, now you tell me to cover up?"

"Just cover up."

Cheol Suryeon hesitated, then wrapped herself tightly in the cloth.

Maybe because she was blind, she didn't seem to care whether she was exposed or not, but I certainly did.

Now that she was at least covered, it was much easier to look at her.

I spoke to her again.

"You did say with your own mouth that you'd do anything, right?"

"T-That's…"

When I subtly lifted my right hand, she immediately nodded wildly.

I found that odd and asked,

"So you can see now?"

I hadn't realized before, but I noticed her pupils were moving.

As far as I knew, she had gone blind due to the side effects of her soul-transfer technique, constantly stealing other bodies to find one capable of childbirth.

Didn't her eyes used to be completely white when she was old?

To my question, she replied with uncertainty:

"…I don't know. Ever since Baek got trapped inside you, I've been able to see again."

"You can see?"

"Yes."

I have no idea what's happening here.

Come to think of it, the reason I didn't immediately recognize Mujongyu at first sight was because her eyes had looked normal.

Hmm… Could this be related to the Baek that was absorbed into Cheonkwon?

I'm not sure of the exact cause, but it's clear she's been affected somehow.

Cheol Suryeon looked at me and asked,

"So, what do you want?"

I got straight to the point.

"First, answer my question."

"Question?"

"Have you already forgotten what I asked you earlier? Fine, I'll repeat it: You planted the Baek of Ja Gyeongjeong into Geobsalgeom at the request of Noejang, didn't you?"

"That…"

She hesitated.

She had said she'd do anything, but it seems her resolve changed the moment things got serious.

I then began to activate Cheonkwon and reached my hand toward her head.

But before I could even touch her—

"Aaaagh!"

She suddenly clutched her head in agony.

Veins bulged on her forehead from the pain, and then, to my surprise, something faint and ghostly began to emerge from her skull.

— What is that?

It was her Baek.

I didn't even make physical contact, but it was trying to escape her body and be absorbed by the Cheonkwon on my hand.

Ah!

Could that be what Master meant?

Now that I think of it, I remembered what my master once said:

Any Baek or strong lingering thoughts absorbed by Cheonkwon become completely bound to me.

I didn't realize this is what he meant.

— Wooooong!

"Haah… Haah…"

When I retracted Cheonkwon, her pain seemed to subside. She was drenched in cold sweat as she looked at me.

The pain of having your Baek forcibly pulled out must be unimaginable.

"Please… please… don't do that again…"

She knelt and begged.

Tears and snot were streaming down her face.

It wasn't intentional, but she looked truly pitiful.

Still, even without torture, the effect was clear.

Her tone became extremely respectful.

Looking down on her, I said in a commanding voice:

"Now you understand who holds power here, don't you?"

"I-I was a lowly wench who didn't know her place. I will serve you as my master, so please… anything but that…"

Cheol Suryeon even clutched my legs and pleaded.

I really wanted to ask what exactly happened to her inside.

For a woman once so feared and infamous to throw away her pride like this and beg to serve me—this was not normal.

— This is great. From now on, if anyone doesn't listen, just absorb them into Cheonkwon.

If only it were that easy. Wait…!

I looked down at Cheol Suryeon, still clinging to my leg and sobbing.

She knows how to transfer souls into other bodies using sorcery.

— So there is a way after all.

Exactly.

If I master that technique, it might come in handy to subdue others.

But unless it's absolutely necessary, I should probably avoid it.

— Why?

When I told my master about absorbing a living Baek, he warned me that violating the natural order always comes with consequences.

Cheol Suryeon had already defied nature countless times just to extend her life.

She stole one body after another.

— Tch, well that ruins it.

Still, it's not a loss—I managed to subdue one of the five greatest villains.

"Now, shall you answer my question?"

"Yes. As you suspected, I planted Ja Gyeongjeong's Baek into Geobsalgeom at his request."

Just like I saw in my memories.

I kept going:

"Why did you accept his request?"

"Because… I was told that by doing so, I could ruin that man's lifelong ambition."

That man—she was obviously referring to Geumsangje.

Because of him, she lost the ability to have children. I remember how deep her resentment ran.

If she was willing to sabotage even his ambitions, it would be no exaggeration to say she hated him.

But now, things were certain.

— What is?

'Noejang is definitely not loyal to Geumsangje.'

Anyone working with Ja Gyeongjeong could never be a loyal servant of Geumsangje.

That man's goal is either to control or destroy all of Murim.

Of course, there is one thing they both share.

— Revenge against you?

Exactly.

They both want me dead.

With that shared enemy, Noejang likely stayed close to Geumsangje, hiding his true intentions.

He was probably waiting to strike when all five Demonic Swords gathered.

'Could he be involved with that man?'

The being with the eyes of a snake seen in Jakyungjeong's memory.

Noejang clearly treated him like a master.

There was a strong feeling that he was somehow connected to that figure.

If only it had been Noejang's memory that was explored instead, we might've known more, but it's unfortunate that Jakyungjeong's memory is so fragmented.

"Do you know how he was said to interfere with the wish?"

"That wasn't mentioned."

"Do you know why he's collecting the Five Demon Swords?"

"...He believes it will help him overcome his weakness."

The answer was the same as before the memory loss.

It seems Noejang asked many things of her but didn't teach her much.

Ah! I should ask this.

"Do you know why Noejang tried to restore Jakyungjeong's memory?"

"He didn't say. But…"

"But?"

"He just said that only the last things Jakyungjeong experienced needed to be recalled."

"Only the last things?"

What could that mean?

Not full memory restoration, just recalling the last things experienced?

The final memory of that man was me stopping him at Dohwaseon.

What could be gained by recalling that?

As I wondered, she spoke to me.

"....Actually, while trying various experiments to restore Jakyungjeong's memory, he drew something."

"He drew something?"

"I obtained it when Noejang briefly stepped out, but it's only a part."

So she secretly took it during that moment.

But it seems it was of no use to her.

Even if her spiritual root has now belonged to me, she could've hidden it. But she's showing it to me—how telling.

"Bring it."

"Understood."

Cheol Suryun went to a corner of the chamber, opened an iron box, and brought something out.

It was a treated scroll.

When unrolled, it revealed numerous characters etched on it.

Rather than written top to bottom, the characters were arranged in a circular, pictorial pattern, and just as she said, it was cut off midway.

'What is this?'

I tried reading what was written.

But as I read it, I couldn't help but feel bewildered.

'Yeongbo Calligraphy Method?'

-Yeongbo Calligraphy Method?

Ha!

So this is the memory I was trying to recall?

I had learned part of the Yeongbo Calligraphy Method—a sacred script—from Master Jeongyang Jin-in, the greatest teacher of Dohwaseon.

Among the sacred scriptures of Dohwaseon, the Yeongbo Calligraphy Method is considered supreme along with the Heavenly Shield.

Unlike the Heavenly Shield, which is a weapon, the Yeongbo Calligraphy itself holds power, but the greatest treasure lies in the secret arts embedded within.

[Ahhh! ....O, my lord. I have longed for this day. Kyungjeong has finally recalled the incantation of the sacred script that bound you for hundreds of years….]

What was that supposed to mean?

Did Noejang use the secret technique of the Yeongbo Calligraphy to rescue someone?

The being I saw in the memory didn't seem human at all.

'Ah…'

This is quite troubling.

The best course would be to inform Master Jeongyang at Dohwaseon about this.

Surely he would know something.

But as far as I know, it will be another ten years before the gate to Dohwaseon opens again.

-You'll only find out by catching that bastard.

Right.

I need to catch Noejang.

Otherwise, I'll never know his true intent.

-How will you do that? After what you did to him, do you think he'll show himself so easily?

Of course not.

But I've found a way to lure him out.

-What is it?

By luring Geumsangje.

-Geumsangje?

Yes. To open the stone coffin in King Pyeong's tomb, all five demon swords of Guyaja are needed.

Since I have the Sarryeon Sword and the Blood Demon Sword, he'll come after me somehow.

-So he'll come on his own?

Exactly.

Once all five swords are gathered, Noejang will have no choice but to reveal his true colors.

First, I need to return to Muhanshi and set a trap to draw out Geumsangje.

-You're going back?

I must.

I can't stay here any longer.

It took a long time to get here, and I've stayed up nearly all night.

When morning comes, the clan leader selection will begin.

Before Geumsangje intervenes, I must secure that position.

-Oh, right.

There's a lot to do.

I also need to deal with Seobok, whom I've sealed in my pouch.

-What about her?

At Sodamgeom's question, I looked at Cheol Suryun.

I'd already learned what I wanted to know.

Thanks to her, I also found out that Noejang plans to betray Geumsangje.

Though I don't need her now, she likely has other information on Noejang as well.

"Cheol Suryun. You'll have to come with me."

"What?"

She raised her eyes like a cat and asked back.

Who would ever think this woman is the infamous Akshim Papa?

---

-Wooong!

The space rippled and changed around us, and we returned to my lodging within the Murim Alliance fortress.

Though I'd used it in steps, in times like this, the Art of Instant Step was incredibly convenient.

It allowed me to fold space in an instant and move to a known location.

"Ha!"

Cheol Suryun's eyes widened.

Though we crossed space several times before, being in a forest dulled the impact. But now that we were inside a room, she was truly surprised.

At that moment, I heard someone rushing from the next room.

The door burst open, and Samayeong entered, wearing an Inpimyeong mask.

"Master…..sir?"

Her eyes naturally drifted toward Cheol Suryun beside me.

Her expression, which had been bright upon my arrival, instantly turned cold.

"Who is this woman?"

I quickly tried to clear the misunderstanding.

"Yeong-ah. She's not who you think."

"What do you think I'm thinking?"

"That is...."

"Yeong-ah."

Just then, someone appeared behind her.

"Father."

It was my father-in-law, Samachak—the Wolak Sword—wearing an Inpimyeong mask.

Apparently, he had been in the room next door.

Which explains why he immediately sensed Cheol Suryun's presence when I appeared via spatial step.

Cheol Suryun immediately spoke when she saw Samachak.

"Wolak Sword."

Though he wore a mask, she instantly saw through it, causing my father-in-law to frown.

Cheol Suryun had a monstrous hearing ability, able to even discern voice vibrations.

So even if one hides their face, she can instantly identify them.

"Who is she?"

To his question, I answered on her behalf.

"She is Akshim Papa, Cheol Suryun."

"What?"

My father-in-law furrowed his brows in surprise at her unexpected identity.

It was only natural, seeing her true form for the first time.

Samayeong's eyes also widened in disbelief.

"This young, pretty woman is the infamous Akshim Papa?"

It seemed hard to believe.

However, my father-in-law, having guessed her capabilities, asked warily.

"How did you bring this woman here?"

At his sharp tone, Cheol Suryun raised an eyebrow and turned to me.

"Do I have to cater to everyone's mood?"

Of course, her nature hadn't changed.

Though she had submitted to me due to Cheonkwon, she didn't feel obligated to others.

"Do you want to go back?"

I raised my right hand slightly, and she quickly dropped to her knees and said,

"Please forgive me, Master."

'!?'

Both my father-in-law and Samayeong were left speechless by her sudden behavior.