Ultimately, I saw it all.
Without the ability to close or open my eyes, enduring it all was rather arduous, but in the end, I managed to withstand it.
Frankly, I’m not sure if “managed to withstand it” is the right expression. At the final moment, it seemed like I somehow adapted, and my heart eased considerably.
However, after revisiting those bleak memories of the past, a genuine problem remained.
‘I knew it, but I didn’t think it would repeat itself again.’
Cursed Face Art traps its target in the remnants of their past forever.
Just because the past has ended doesn’t mean the curse is lifted. It simply loops back to the beginning and starts anew.
What a real headache this Cursed Face Art is.
If I could at least use some internal energy, I might have found a way around it.
But in this powerless state, unable to even twitch a finger, there’s no possibility to act.
I’m fine, but I’m worried about what’s happening outside.
It’s been several years since I started living here. But I don’t believe those years flowed at the same speed as the outside world.
After all, the fact that the spell is progressing also means I’m still alive.
No matter how strong I am, it’s impossible to remain conscious for so long in this ghost cave.
However, I shouldn’t settle here either.
I don’t know how long Jade Flower can hold out outside, and those mysterious things that clutched my arms and legs in the final moment are still concerning.
Surrounded by worries and concerns about the future, it happened.
Patzutz.
“?”
Suddenly, the sky conjured by Cursed Face Art began to split.
“What is this…?”
Before I had a chance to wonder, a giant hand emerged from the crack.
A hand so colossal it could cover the entire sky; it was an entirely surreal scene.
The hand slowly descended toward me.
Kwaak!
“Ugh!”
Then it grabbed me, encircling my waist with its thumb and index finger, and its finger-sized-as-my-whole-body enveloping my torso.
It was an unstoppable force. With no control over my body, even minor resistance was impossible.
“Master Sword Sage… is it really you? Damn, you look nothing like the guy I saw during the Seven Flowers Battle.”
“…!”
“Ah, the blue eyes confirm it. And that pig, Namgung Bin….”
Through the crack, an incomprehensible mutter was heard.
However, there was no time to think, as the hand that grabbed me immediately pulled me back through the hole it had emerged from, dragging me along.
I was helplessly dragged by the hand with no resistance at all.
Once I entered the crack in the sky,
Bassu.
“A?”
A misty smoke entered my field of vision.
The cold air touched the tip of my nose, and I felt the raw sensation of the earthen ground against my skin.
But most importantly,
“Are you awake? Master Sword Sage?”
Looking at me, were vivid green eyes.
They were eyes I had seen but not often.
“Ouch… my back hurts. Whoever cast this spell, it sure was powerful. You really made me break a sweat.”
A pristine and elegant face with neatly cut short hair, and that emerald green eye. To my knowledge, there’s only one person in this vast world with such features.
The golden daughter of the Fourth Tang family, Poison Flower Tang Sobaek.
“We’ve met before at the Seven Flowers Battle, though we didn’t exchange formalities. Do you remember me?”
One thing I don’t understand is, why is she, who has no relation to the Celestial Immortal Valley, standing here in front of me now?
“If it’s not too much to ask, Miss, could you explain the current situation?”
Just as I was about to ask the reason,
“Byul Rak, are you conscious now?”
The icy voice of Jade Flower.
“Yes, yes, yes, Master…?”
Without a doubt, a voice I’ve never heard before, clear and refined, sounded from behind me.
*
About half an hour before Byul Rak awakened from Cursed Face Art—
Booming! Booming!
“Uhhh!”
Overwhelmed by the endless number of enemies, Jade Flower let out a groan.
Is it because they are already the dead, or do they fear nothing as they recklessly charge?
Whoosh!
With a fierce swing of the sword, a sharp slash cut through the air.
I can confidently say that this strike was the most immaculately executed sword technique in Jade Flower’s life. For it was imbued with the conviction of one who gazes upon the righteous path.
“Haah, Haah.”
However, even so,
“Keep pushing! We have the overwhelming number!”
“That woman’s breathing is faltering! Let’s focus on her!”
The ever-growing number of lost souls gradually eroded Jade Flower’s determination.
It wasn’t the thought of abandoning Byul Rak that crossed her mind.
Rather, her deep fear was the possibility that her strength would falter, resulting in a helpless and inevitable defeat.
And the situation where she fails to protect Byul Rak.
This very thought caused her to shiver.
She could see her fellow righteous warriors around her falling one by one.
‘Tell me, how am I supposed to break through this obstacle?’
They were all people of virtue. Recalling her past self even in the midst of battle, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed of herself.
But righteous spirit is not the same as internal strength.
A righteous warrior does not necessarily excel in combat.
Not compared to the evil sect masters who fight with unconventional tactics and despicable techniques.
And then,
“Ggggh…! Why are you attacking us, you…!”
“Would you discard now the opportunity to return to this life when it’s right in front of you?”
“Isn’t he your son! What father would covet his own son’s body?”
“What’s wrong with the son sacrificing for his father?”
“You insane old man!”
The righteous master, yet blinded by greed, who sought to seize Byul Rak’s body—Great Master of the Green Heaven Dao, Namgung Danhyuk.
Given that he was Byul Rak’s father, it was truly exasperating for Jade Flower.
“Just a bit more pressure! He’s almost done!”
“Kraaa! You vile external Daoist!”
“Hmph, this guy’s really stubborn. Who would’ve thought he could hold off hundreds by himself?”
Just now, another absolute master was annihilated into mist in the air.
That was the cost of exhausting all the demonic energy lent by the Celestial Immortal Valley.
The big problem was,
The master of the Green Heaven Dao, sent to the underworld this moment, was the last remaining absolute master among those who had aligned with her in the Celestial Immortal Valley.
“Now, there’s just you left.”
“All of you retreat! I will not yield!”
“You don’t have to tell us, for that’s exactly what will happen.”
With a cunning smile, the Heaven-Sundering Demon General gestured forward.
At his command, a limitless army of lost souls charged towards Jade Flower and Byul Rak in perfect synchronization.
Clearly, the Demon Valley was full of ghostly mist, but inexplicably now, it was only the mist of dust that swirled in the Celestial Immortal Valley.
Faced with overwhelming force and numbers, Jade Flower swallowed a determined lump in her throat.
‘Justice must be absolute!’
She had no intention of retreating, even a little.
With her single sword, she would cut down and repel every enemy rushing toward her.
She would not allow even a single wound on Byul Rak.
And she would straighten the crooked sense of justice that she once possessed.
With this resolve, as she prepared to swing her sword, imbued with her sword qi,
“The Great Lord Lao urgently commands by imperial decree.”
A deep mutter was heard from somewhere.
Though not trained in sorcery, Jade Flower, being a Taoist initiate of the Kunlun Sect, knew what this incantation was.
A Taoist spell, invoking deities and capturing ghosts.
“Kyeeeek!!”
It was like a panacea to the lost souls.
Then continued the powerful proclamation: “By the authority of the Great Lord Lao, I command you lost souls to return to the underworld!”
At the forceful words, the souls emitted cries and scattered, fleeing in terror as if they had been struck.
All heading away from where the torturous spell resounded.
“!”
Startled by the sudden turn of events, Jade Flower turned to see Tang Sobaek walking in confidently.
Tang Sobaek said nonchalantly,
“Haha, here I am, using ghost-control spells stolen from a Taoist sect back in the day.”
Bravely admitting her wrongdoing, Tang Sobaek continued.
Jade Flower didn’t take issue with that.
“…”
If the Poison Flower who had suddenly appeared hadn’t chanted that spell, where would she and Byul Rak be now?
She didn’t even want to imagine it.
Jade Flower quickly glanced around the now eerily quiet Celestial Immortal Valley. The icy chill still lingered, but not a single ghost could be seen.
Well, there was exactly one remaining ghost.
“By the great imperial decree.”
“…”
“Hey, old ghost. Come here for a moment.”
For some reason, Tang Sobaek wasn’t letting the Great Master of the Green Heaven Dao go so easily.
“You… Tch, forget it. What a hopeless man.”
Under control of the linguistic command, the Great Master of the Green Heaven Dao had no choice but to obey.
“Thank you, Poison Flower. This reprieve is due to you.”
“Nothing to it. We must help each other survive.”
“You’re right. Still, you… it seems you have some conscience left.”
“Hmm, well, I came here at the request of the Sword Immortal… let’s just call it having a conscience.”
Jade Flower breathed a deep sigh, expressing her thanks to Tang Sobaek.
Her once-tense sword gradually relaxed.
“Qi!”
Pang!
Had she not sensed any presence until the very last moment, she would have let it fall completely.
“Where do you come from, woman!”
“Why did the lost souls all flee…! Tch, this has gotten troublesome.”
“Rather, it’s a good thing. I wouldn’t have wanted to deal with those ghosts after this was done anyway.”
Three supreme experts not affected by Tang Sobaek’s verbal command, as they were not spirits, appeared from the mist.
They were the Three Great Demon Generals without the Great Strength Demon General: Heaven-Sundering Demon General, Great Strength Demon General, and Blood-Sucking Demon General.
“Me? I’m called Poison Flower from the Fourth Tang family. Anyone know me?”
“You’re one of the legendary Seven Flowers. I’ve exchanged blows with your father a few times.”
“Uh… you’re more of a big shot than I thought.”
The cold sweat that had temporarily stopped on her back started flowing again.
It was the same for Tang Sobaek, who was now stuck close to Jade Flower.
The enemy trio were all supreme experts, not just in numbers.
“Fool! Do you believe you can withstand all of us alone, Jade Flower?”
“Let’s go.”
“I hear that Poison Flower is merely an ultimate master. Care to try us?”
“Not really? This is our senior’s fight.”
Even though Tang Sobaek showed no apparent hostility towards the Demon Generals, having already seen her dissolve all the lost souls, they didn’t consider her an ally.
“Tsk! Stop playing games! Your head will be mine soon!”
“Ah! If you’re going to be hostile like that, I have no choice but to fight.”
“Finally showing your true colors, huh!”
“Anyways, since I had to protect the Sword Sage anyway… let’s call it fate.”
Ka-ang!
The Three Demon Generals each grabbed their weapons.
Tang Sobaek retrieved several flying daggers from her bosom.
A tense current of battle energy flowed between Jade Flower, Tang Sobaek, and the Three Demon Generals.
The atmosphere was on edge, anyone could explode into action at any moment.
Gently.
This heavy tension was disrupted by a light footstep.
“Ugh, where is my troublesome master within the Demon Valley!”
Too light, to the extent that you couldn’t feel any weight.
The footsteps of an absolute master.
