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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Have you settled your thoughts?”
“…Yes. Thank you, Elder.”
I bowed deeply, expressing my utmost gratitude.
It was the only way I could thank him at the moment.
The True Immortal stroked his beard and nodded.
“I merely showed you the way. There’s no need for excessive gratitude.”
“No, without your guidance, I would have wandered lost for much longer…”
[T/N: He showed him deh wayyy]
The amount of aura emanating from my mana core felt significantly different. While I couldn’t quantify it precisely, I estimated it had increased by at least half.
Moreover, the surge of power coursing through my body made me realize the immense difference even a single level could make.
I could probably take on three of my former selves now. And that was considering my mastery of combination techniques designed to fight stronger opponents.
Against an ordinary peak expert, I could probably handle five.
But that was after I had acclimated to this newfound power.
Strength was meaningless without control.
I needed time to adapt to this new level and fully integrate it before it truly became my own.
Still, perhaps…
“Breaking through a barrier is a joyous occasion. Indeed. But remember, there are many walls that block a martial artist’s path.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I still had a long way to go before I could face the Heavenly Demon. That thought tempered my excitement. The True Immortal smiled warmly at my reaction and turned to leave.
“Now, it’s getting cold. Let’s go inside.”
“Yes.”
We turned and headed towards the thatched hut.
…The white tiger, which had been lying quietly behind the True Immortal, followed.
Due to its massive size, it couldn’t enter the hut, but it lay down outside the door, watching us. It yawned, and when Hye-ryeong appeared and reached out to it, it simply stared at her.
…It wouldn’t bite, would it?
Fortunately, the white tiger allowed Hye-ryeong to pet it.
“Hehe…”
It had growled at her initially, but now it seemed indifferent, almost bored. Although it looked annoyed, it didn’t avoid her touch.
Perhaps it was undergoing some kind of training with the True Immortal, as it showed no aggression.
I watched them, then turned to Mokgyeong, who had entered the hut. He sat quietly beside me, observing the white tiger.
“…Hye-ryeong seems to like the white tiger.”
“She’s probably just curious.”
“Is that so?”
“How many people would casually reach out to a creature like that?”
…That was true.
Most people would be terrified.
I sighed, watching Hye-ryeong happily petting the white tiger.
It was fortunate the tiger was docile.
If it had been more aggressive, Hye-ryeong could have been seriously injured. Perhaps it was only behaving because of the True Immortal’s presence.
I nervously watched Hye-ryeong, who had started scratching the tiger’s chin.
“Yes~”
“Haha, you’ll have your hands full.”
“…I already do.”
“Cherish this connection.”
“Yes.”
“…And the child beside you as well.”
Mokgyeong went without saying.
I had twisted his fate, so I had a responsibility towards him.
“…Yes.”
“I’m done washing up! But Mister, are you…?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations!”
“Benefactor, congratulations on your breakthrough.”
“Haha, it’s been a while since things have been this lively.”
The True Immortal looked at us with a warm smile, like a grandfather whose grandchildren had come to visit.
Come to think of it, there was no reason for anyone to visit Heavenly Pillar Peak, so he must have spent a long time alone. I swallowed a piece of fruit, a rather meager meal, and thought.
“What are your plans now?”
“I intend to return to the Martial Alliance. I must return before I can decide on my next course of action. And then I’ll see what needs to be done. The Demonic Cult is spreading its influence throughout the Murim.”
“Indeed. I’ve seen ominous signs in the heavens lately.”
Ominous signs. Just how much could he see?
“You’re right. The Haenam Sword Sect was recently attacked by the Demonic Cult. We repelled them, but…the fact that they went all the way to Hainan Island means they’re thoroughly prepared this time.”
If the Haenam Sword Sect had been destroyed as in the original story, the righteous factions would have lost a valuable asset for ambushing the Demonic Cult’s advance into the Central Plains.
Even a small force could inflict significant damage by attacking the enemy’s rear.
In that sense, my arrival in Hainan Island was a stroke of luck.
A perfect starting point.
“The river of grudges runs deep. It seems the Central Plains will once again be stained with blood…”
“A war is inevitable. All we can do is minimize the casualties.”
I wasn’t sure how much I could achieve, but by thwarting the Demonic Cult’s schemes, I could prevent the Martial Alliance from being crippled before the war even began, as in the original story.
…Though I had a mountain of tasks ahead of me, my breakthrough would make things easier.
I would need to carefully plan my movements to ensure Mokgyeong had opportunities to grow stronger.
“Do your best.”
“If the Wudang Sect faces danger…”
“The Wudang can handle its own affairs.”
“But aren’t you part of the Wudang Sect?”
“The Wudang is not so weak as to rely on me. And it’s not appropriate for an old hermit like me to interfere in worldly matters.”
…True.
It wouldn’t be wise for someone who could read the heavens and see fate to meddle in such affairs. He had mentioned in my dream that he couldn’t reveal heavenly secrets.
“If things become dire, I may have to intervene, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“…I’ll do my best to prevent it.”
“Indeed. With you and that child, I trust you can resolve things within the mortal realm.”
“…Me too?”
“Follow the threads of your grudges, and your true enemy will reveal himself. Continue to follow this man. He will be your guide. And…hmm.”
…That made me feel a bit responsible for her.
But it was my fault for interfering in the first place. I had to take responsibility.
I ignored Mokgyeong’s gaze and looked up at the sky outside.
Clear.
And I hoped it would stay that way.
“…Then, we’ll take our leave.”
We quickly prepared to descend the mountain.
There was nothing more to gain by staying here, and the Wudang Sect might be wondering where we were. I should at least inform them of our departure.
“Very well. Bring another bottle of wine next time. It’s one of the few joys I have left.”
“Understood. Then, we’ll see you again, Elder.”
We began our descent down Mount Wudang, accompanied by Hak-un’s farewell.
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“…Hero Wi! You’ve reached a new level!”
“The True Immortal of the Great Void has imparted his wisdom.”
“He has…bestowed his teachings…”
Hak-un looked at me with envy. Receiving direct instruction from a Wudang elder was a great honor for any Taoist.
But the fact that his envy wasn’t tinged with jealousy spoke volumes about his character.
An ordinary martial artist would have been consumed by jealousy. Looking at Hak-un’s clear eyes, I felt confident in the future of the Wudang Sect.
…Assuming it survived, of course.
I had to work hard to ensure the survival of people like him.
“Where will you go now?”
“I’ll return to the Martial Alliance.”
I needed to ask the elders what had transpired in my absence.
Since the original story lacked a clear timeline, I had to rely on events to determine where I was in the narrative.
The smaller incidents had likely already occurred. My goal was to prevent or quickly resolve the major incidents to minimize the damage.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. By steadily resolving each issue, I would eventually reach the Heavenly Demon.
“Mister! I’m ready!”
“Benefactor, I’m ready as well.”
Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong stood beside me, their belongings packed.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Safe travels.”
“We’ll see you again.”
We descended the steps of Mount Wudang, accompanied by Hak-un’s farewell.
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Thanks fusion!