Chapter 109

I just got done hooking up with two critical patients at the clinic when chaos erupted. Guess what? I finally understood why Gu Mil-mil is called a Celestial Maiden—she straight-up asked if I was some kinda Immortal. Harsh words, let me tell you. So, I made sure to deny it… hard. Just a plain ol’ monster, that’s me. But maybe I came on too strong ‘cause after that, she didn’t say much before we parted ways.

Soo-oh looks at me with admiration in her eyes—it feels good, but deep down, I know it’s all fake. Someday, she might figure out the truth, and all that admiration could turn into pure hatred. Will it hurt when that day comes? Dunno.

Anyway, as long as light equals souls, once I take their warmth, things get real grim. Like shattering beneath cold ocean waves or turning to dust inside a glass bottle. Eventually, everything will come to light—this warmth included. But honestly, this part’s confusing even to Daegon. The organization doesn’t even know what “warmth” really is. They were all about using souls, but there wasn’t any mention of the warmth within them.

Speaking of warmth… winter prep time! A long, harsh winter’s coming, and it’ll keep coming back. Meanwhile, the Tianma Organization recently got word from the Woljedang: no more production goods—they won’t receive anything moving forward because the place they were supposed to deliver to has vanished into the light. Not just some random human sacrifice event; when humans offer themselves or become Fishmen, they expect rewards in return. Stuff like tons of seafood and precious gems. That’s how the relatively unproductive Tianma Organization stayed rich despite not raiding anyone. But now that supply line’s cut off, they’re gonna start struggling for sure.

And wouldn’t you know it, right at this bad time, the Murim Alliance attacks. Time to prep for winter—or rather, survival. We’ve confirmed over 15 sects involved already, including one of the Five Great Families watching closely, and even imperial forces have started showing up. It’s clear something big is brewing. Meetings between Tianma leaders have ramped up, and half the ten Dangju believe an all-out war against the Murim Alliance is inevitable. There are reports of both major orthodox factions and smaller ones abandoning neutral zones while pro-Murim groups move in. Weapons stockpile, numbers grow—it’s obvious trouble’s ahead.

As battles escalate, my “Faded Memories” kick in. There’s supposedly an untouchable zone for monks, but hey, when gangs go to war, governments *always* pay attention. Wouldn’t it be great if I hitched a ride through official channels? Even being treated like cargo would work fine as long as I can collect warmth. Let’s call it business as usual.

But watch out. There’s a Transcendent cultivating nearby who’s building his own kingdom. He might have tech we don’t know about. Could this clash end in a two-way battle, or expand into three sides? Or worse—total chaos? No way to predict the future. All I can do is prepare. Day by day, I’ve been converting people into Harvesters. Regular folks, skilled fighters from the Tianma Organization—26 in total so far. Whenever death strikes, I’ll reap the warmth. For now, I pretend ignorance and wait patiently for the big fight.

—

Spring arrived, where water never freezes even during the coldest nights. Turns out, Soo-oh’s gotten pretty strong, earning praise even from the Tianma Elders. She’s also made friends—Gu Mil-mil, Oh Myeong-seong, even Inseonwon. Sure, she lacks peers her age, but seeing her develop social skills makes me happy, even if her ideals remain questionable. Last winter, I tried teaching her various lessons, but she found it boring and stopped listening. Maybe strict morality isn’t ideal anyway. Each era has its own standards, and those who defy them often get labeled crazy and ostracized. Their lives tend to suck. Only true geniuses can pull that off. Normal people struggle under such extreme discipline. While debating how much to teach Soo-oh…

The Jeongma Daejeon began.

The Martial Arts World consists of superhumans. Once combat starts, everything moves lightning-fast. Tianma outposts crumble instantly, and fighters flood inward. Superhumans either dominate or get dominated depending on strength. This isn’t your average war—it’s chaotic, unpredictable. Numbers mean nothing here. People die in an instant, and amidst the chaos, my Harvesters shine. At the first sign of conflict, the Tianma taught them how to use me efficiently. Only a few can channel my power into blades, but most wield spears capable of firing purple beams. Kinda like guns, except closer to long-range infantry tactics. Form ranks, advance together, thrust simultaneously. Most martial artists approaching die mid-step. When someone tougher breaks through, another user steps up to swing me directly. Focused clusters of Harvesters obscure the bigger picture, but on Day One…

I gained loads of warmth.

Hehe.

—

Day Two.

Soo-oh noticed something odd. “Choseol, the forest feels weird.” She pointed north. Unaware of internal turmoil within the Tianma Organization, she spent yesterday blissfully ignorant. “What’s wrong with it?” I asked, unsure whether she sensed danger or imagined it. Squinting, she scanned the trees before pointing toward the center. “It’s too quiet. Like everything’s asleep.”

Oh, that. Now that she mentions it, the usual bird songs are gone. Either animals sense impending doom or intruders lurk within. The only Harvesters nearby are Tianma and Oh Myeong-seong, both busy discussing strategy—or rather, negotiation—with the Dangju. Sigh. Since becoming more feminine, Tianma grew softer, unlike aggressive Oh Myeong-seong, who insists these attackers won’t negotiate. Yet Elder Ziguandang opposes him, suggesting we hand over Oh Myeong-seong to save face. His reasoning? This whole mess stems from Oh Myeong-seong’s flashy purple hair attracting unwanted attention. Hand him over temporarily, regroup, then strike later. The old man’s face betrays his indifference—he expects to die soon anyway. To him, surviving today suffices. Still, as one of the highest-ranking members, his opinion carries weight. No one dares contradict him, partly due to respect, partly because many dislike Oh Myeong-seong. He took the coveted Guangming Usasa position meant for the next Tianma leader without breaking a sweat—a recipe for jealousy. Thus, momentum shifts toward surrendering him for peace talks. Some Dangju see this conflict as merely someone else’s problem. After all, outside Woljedang, none of them are Harvesters.

Amidst disarray, the war rages on. Turning back to Soo-oh, I said, “Something big is about to happen.” What should’ve been a quick victory with Tianma and Oh Myeong-seong teaming up now seems uncertain. Time to reveal the truth.