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Episode 147: Did You Say You Saw Something Strange?
At noon.
When it was time for lunch, people took out their provisions and began to eat. Yeon Jeokha's group also gathered and shared their rations.
Just as they were finishing their meal, the ship's captain approached them cautiously.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I apologize that you have to eat in such a place. I ask for your patience a little longer. Tonight, you will be able to dine on solid ground. We plan to make a stop at Janghojin this afternoon."
Yoo Geunsik stopped chewing his jerky and asked, "What time approximately will that be?"
"At the latest, we'll arrive in Janghojin around five or seven in the evening."
"So, we'll be spending the night in Janghojin, correct?"
"Yes, it's not easy to sail at night. We usually spend the night in Janghojin."
"I see."
Yoo Geunsik nodded, understanding the situation. Since no one else had any objections, the captain bowed and left.
Seol Chasu's group, who seemed tired, went into their cabins to rest. Namgung Cheon and Old Shim from the Nine Heavens also decided to rest in the shade.
Thus, only Yeon Jeokha and Namgung Yeon, the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower, remained on deck.
Some time passed.
Yeon Jeokha approached Namgung Yeon, who was gazing at the scenery from the edge of the ship.
"Sister, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure, what's the matter?"
Namgung Yeon smiled and nodded. Humans are truly curious beings. In the morning, they had fought against Demon Warriors, but now, with him by her side, it seemed like a relaxing stroll.
"I have something I need to discuss."
"What is it?"
"My martial technique includes something called a spiritual meridian, in addition to the eight extraordinary meridians."
"A spiritual meridian?"
"Yes, this is where the spiritual meridian is located."
Yeon Jeokha pointed to the area between his eyebrows with his finger.
Namgung Yeon's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"And?"
"Every time a Demon Warrior dies, I feel a burning sensation in this spot and see something strange."
"Did you say you see something strange?"
"Yes. It’s like a dark place, similar to an abyss. There, I see creatures identical to the Demon Warriors I killed. But when they die, they also die in that place. And then I wake up as if I had been dreaming."
"But you didn’t fall asleep while fighting the Demon Warriors, did you?"
"No, it happens in an instant, so others don’t notice. Every time a Demon Warrior dies, I experience this without exception."
"So, you're saying that in the brief moment the Demon Warrior dies, you see something?"
Yeon Jeokha scratched his head.
"It's not just that I see it, but I feel as if I'm there. I’ve heard that with deep breathing, one can have out-of-body experiences. It’s like I’m seeing everything up close."
"Hmm. And then?"
"According to what Baek San said, that place is the underworld. And from what I see, it seems like the underworld. Before, when I only had these visions as dreams, I used to wake up. But since I've been carrying the Sacred Artifact, it’s changed."
"It’s changed?"
"Yes, when the Demon Dragon died, I was dragged into the underworld. There were many creatures like the Demon Dragon there. But hundreds of them looked directly at me, as if they recognized me."
"Wasn’t that a coincidence?"
"It’s not just that. Before, I couldn’t hear anything in the underworld. But when the Human-Headed Snake died, I heard its scream in the underworld."
"Did you say you heard a sound?"
"Yes, I clearly heard the scream of the Human-Headed Snake. I even heard other creatures in the underworld laughing while looking at me. I feel like I’m getting closer to the underworld, and it scares me. Is it possible for a living person to go to the underworld?"
Namgung Yeon looked at Yeon Jeokha with a puzzled expression. Everything about the spiritual meridian and the underworld was new to her.
After a while, Namgung Yeon exclaimed as if she had remembered something.
"Ah! That’s right. The spiritual meridian is connected to the pineal gland. It’s called 'the third eye.' It’s the mind’s eye. Maybe your mind’s eye has opened, and that’s why you see the underworld."
"The mind’s eye?"
"Yes. A long time ago, I read in a book that monks from the East practice to open their mind’s eye."
"I see. But how is it that those creatures see me? This didn’t happen before I started carrying the Sacred Artifact."
Namgung Yeon replied with an apologetic expression.
"I don’t know. Maybe it was a mistake to carry the Sacred Artifact. Should we get rid of it?"
"No, as you said, the Sacred Artifact seems to be related to the technique I learned. I’ll keep it with me."
"Really? I’m glad to hear that."
Namgung Yeon’s expression brightened.
Yeon Jeokha felt that he didn’t want to leave her with a task she didn’t want to do.
The two remained silent for a moment.
Yeon Jeokha, looking at the river beside her, asked, "Do you really believe what Baek San said?"
"That the leader of the Yoomyung Cult wants to summon the King Yama in this world?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. It’s likely that the leader of the Yoomyung Cult is trying to summon something. I don’t know if it’s really King Yama or some other entity."
"King Yama is the same as the King of the Underworld, right? The one who rules over hell."
"Yes."
"Why would someone do something so foolish?"
"Humans can be very foolish."
Namgung Yeon looked melancholically at the other side of the river.
She thought about the tragedy that had befallen her family due to the foolishness of others.
In Nanjing, south of Heifei.
In Sohore, south of Heifei, was the Musansocho.
The Martial Mountain Maiden, Lee Maehwa, slammed the table with a loud bang.
Since she had joined the Yoomyung Cult, she had never been so furious.
"What? Did you say that Icho-ryang and Baek San died? How can you say that now? Are you telling me that two Demon Warriors were killed by a mere Nokrim Inspector and not by the Great Chaeju?"
Hofung, who had guided Icho-ryang and Baek San, spoke cautiously.
"They found the young man’s cart at the Jiujiang dock, and both followed it hastily. When I arrived, the fight was already over..."
Hofung hesitated, unsure if he should mention what he had heard by the river.
Lee Maehwa shouted impatiently, "What? Can’t you speak clearly? Do you want me to cut out your tongue?"
"It’s just that it’s so strange that I’m embarrassed to say it."
"Speak up already!"
"Yes, yes. There were many people on the riverbank who witnessed the fight. They said that two old men crossed the water to board the ship and a fight broke out..."
Hofung swallowed nervously. Just as Lee Maehwa was about to yell at him again, he hurriedly continued.
"They said that when the old man who used the sword died, he turned into a Demon Dragon."
"A Demon Dragon? You’re crazy. Did you send the guides to drink liquor?"
"How could I dare? All the witnesses said the same thing. The old man who used the sword turned into a Demon Dragon, and the old man who used the saber turned into a Thunder God."
Lee Maehwa’s eyes gleamed with anger.
'The one who used the saber was Icho-ryang, and the one who used the sword was Baek San. But what is this about a Demon Dragon and a Thunder God?'
Though she mocked Hofung for drinking, she didn’t actually believe it.
Lee Maehwa’s tone softened a bit.
"Describe the Demon Dragon and the Thunder God to me in detail."
"They said the Demon Dragon had the head of a lizard and a body as big as an elephant, with bat-like wings on its back. They also said it flew with those wings until a young man killed it with a sword..."
"The young man is Yeon Jeokha?"
"Yes, it seems to have been him."
"And the Thunder God?"
"They said he had a human head and the body of a snake. His body had a diameter of about five feet and a length of about fifteen meters. He spewed poisonous clouds and was also killed by the young man."
"And then?"
"Both disappeared like ghosts the moment they died."
"Disappeared like ghosts?"
"Yes, that’s what they said. They vanished in an instant."
"So, after Icho-ryang and Baek San died, they turned into a Demon Dragon and a Thunder God, and when Yeon Jeokha killed them, they disappeared like ghosts. Ha."
Lee Maehwa laughed in disbelief.
'Is it possible that Demon Warriors have two lives?'
Compared to that, the summoning ceremony seemed trivial.
"Is it possible that the witnesses were lying?"
"I took them to a secluded place and tortured them, but they insisted it was the truth until the moment of their death."
"Did they tell the truth until their death?"
"Yes."
"I see. And where did they say Yeon Jeokha was headed?"
"I couldn’t find out, but the ship was headed towards Jiujiang."
"Jiujiang?"
"Yes, they said the ship was heading towards Jiujiang."
"Jiujiang, huh. What’s in Jiujiang?"
Suddenly, Lee Maehwa’s eyes lit up.
'Wait a moment. If he killed Gong Geoin, is he now going to Jiujiang?'
Gong Geoin was the boss of a mountain camp, while Jiujiang is the camp of the Yangtze River.
Coincidentally, both camps are led by Demon Warriors.
'It seems he’s cleaning up the camps led by Demon Warriors.'
Once she had that thought, no other possibility seemed plausible.
"Hmph! It seems that the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord is opposing our Cult."
"The Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord?!"
Hofung was shocked to hear the name of the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord suddenly.
"Yes. It seems that Yeon Jeokha is seeking out the boss of the Yangtze River camp. If it weren’t for the orders of the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, why would he be attacking the mountain camps?"
At that moment, the All-Poison Protector, Yang Soran, who had been silently listening, spoke.
"Should we inform the Viper of the River Yangtze?"
"What good would that do? Who are the protectors we have at Musansocho now?"
"Blood Sword and Jade Buddha are here."
"Hmm..."
Lee Maehwa murmured, indecisive.
Two Demon Warriors had already been defeated, so she didn’t feel confident sending just two more.
Then, Yang Soran spoke.
"Madam, may I go to the Yangtze River camp with Blood Sword and Jade Buddha?"
"You want to go?"
Lee Maehwa looked at Yang Soran in surprise. It was rare for her, who seldom left the Cult, to want to go to the Yangtze River camp.
"I want to avenge Baek San."
"Did you have a close relationship with him?"
"His life was as tumultuous as mine. I couldn’t help but feel connected to him, so we often got together."
"I’m glad you want to go."
Although Lee Maehwa didn’t like the idea, she decided not to think about it any further.
Yang Soran, Blood Sword, and Jade Buddha were the core of Musansocho. With them and the Viper of the River Yangtze, even if it were the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, there would be nothing to worry about.