– Three months ago –
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Located at the very southern tip of the continent, far removed from the Central Plains.
Just looking at it fills one with a sense of the grandeur of nature, and here lived the descendants of the Bright Religion, known colloquially as the Demon Sect.
Originally active under the name of the White Lotus Sect, they had showcased their might since the Song Dynasty, but thanks to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who took the lead in suppressing the White Lotus Sect, their power has significantly diminished compared to their heyday.
However, they were merely curling up for a moment, confident that they could unleash their power again at any time.
After all, the leader of the Bright Religion was the immortal sorceress Bulsamahu, who had been alive for an astounding 300 years.
She always resided in the deepest part of the Bright Sect, known as the Altar of Fire Worship, and the only one allowed to meet her was the chosen protector of the age, Cheonma.
And now,
The current Cheonma, Nguyen Tai Khan, had been summoned by Bulsamahu to the Altar of Fire Worship.
“Lady Elder, I heard you summoned me.”
“Yes, I called you for an important matter.”
Originally, the one holding the highest official title in the Bright Sect is the sect leader, Cheonma.
But before Bulsamahu, the founder of the Bright Sect, who had been considered a demigod since her first appearance in the world, such illustrious titles faded away.
She truly was the closest existence to the ‘deity’ believed in by the Bright Sect.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask why you summoned me?”
At this, Bulsamahu, appearing as a mature woman, rested her chin on one arm while seated on her throne.
“I think it’s time to visit the Central Plains after a long while.”
“What’s brought this on all of a sudden?”
Bulsamahu flicked her fingers in response.
“Recently, the energies of the night sky have been unusual, and in divining fortune and misfortune, I saw a star that counters fate appearing at the western edge.”
“A star that counters fate, you say?”
“An逆天子.”
“…!”
“He is a person who possesses the power to escape from a predetermined fate, appearing perhaps once in a hundred years.”
I plan to find that guy and end this tiresome immortal life.
“Therefore, will you accompany me on this journey?”
To Bulsamahu’s question, the Cheonma, Nguyen Tai Khan, replied without hesitation, bowing his head.
“I shall follow the Elder’s will.”
Looking down at Nguyen, Bulsamahu smiled sadly.
“Thank you for understanding my intentions, Khan.”
*
After the comprehensive training held at the volcano came to an end, we returned to our daily lives.
Of course, Namgoong Ruby, who had been assigned to a different group during the outdoor training, sulked a bit, but after sweetening things up with some treats, she quickly brightened up.
‘Thank goodness she’s simple-minded.’
Following the comprehensive training, there was a slight change in my relationships with people around me, particularly with Hyecheong, the direct disciple of the Shaolin Temple’s abbot, as we became quite close.
In an environment surrounded by only girls, having a same-sex friend to comfortably chat with was truly precious.
Originally, Samajak was meant to fill that role, but it turned out she was a girl all along.
For Hyecheong, being a monk and having that usually serious demeanor likely resulted in very few classmates approaching her.
Thanks to that, despite the short period, we rapidly grew closer.
Since we lived in the same dorm, and I had a two-person room to myself, it was easy for her to come over.
“By the way, what do you think Dokkorin will do after completing her family’s revenge?”
While Hyecheong was hanging out in my room today, she suddenly threw out the question, and I hesitated, “Um—”.
“To be honest, I don’t know either. For now, my top priority is revenge, so I’m just charging forward, but I haven’t really decided what I’ll do afterwards.”
“I see.”
Hyecheong was quite different from the typical serious image one might associate with a ‘monk.’
Instead of delivering aimless sermons about revenge being fruitless, she seriously expressed concern about how to live after it was all done.
“But don’t worry too much, I’ll be there for you. If it seems like you’re going off track, I’ll stop you even if I have to hit you.”
“Your bond seems truly deep. As someone who must live alone for a lifetime, I might be a little envious.”
“It doesn’t mean you can only build bonds through marriage and romance, right? So there’s no need to think that way.”
“Every time I talk with Chilbok, it feels like I’m having an awakening. You speak from a perspective I could never imagine.”
“Isn’t that a bit too much praise?”
“No, that’s a sincere truth without a hint of a lie.”
Just as we were enjoying this delightful atmosphere, there was a knock!
When I went to see who it was, the dorm leader was standing there with an annoyed expression.
“Ichillbok, there’s someone outside looking for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, they mentioned your name and said they wanted to meet you.”
Want to meet me?
Does that mean it’s someone I don’t know?
“Looks like a guest has come. Then, I’ll head back to my room. I had fun today.”
“Eh, are you leaving?”
“Yes. I’ve been hanging around since morning.”
With that, Hyecheong bowed her head and stood up.
Since we were headed the same way anyway, I decided to walk her partway while wondering who might be waiting for me on the first floor.
*
“This way.”
As I descended the dormitory stairs, I saw a pair of unfamiliar adults— a man and a woman— seated at the table in the reception area.
The man had slightly dark skin, suggesting he was not from the Central Plains.
He might be someone from the Southern region or around there.
He stood in a diagonal position behind the woman sitting next to him, seemingly as her guard, and an unusual atmosphere emanated from him.
‘At least at the peak stage.’
Thanks to recently becoming proficient at peak levels myself, I could somewhat guess the levels of others, and the man standing before me, despite not revealing any energy, carried an incredible presence.
‘And this side…’
A woman with deep red hair, exuding a sultry charm, likely in her mid-to-late twenties.
While the man guarding her appeared to be at least at the peak level, I felt nothing unusual from her.
‘Just an ordinary person? Or a tremendous expert I can’t sense?’
Either way, the aura they radiated made it clear they were not to be underestimated.
Habitually observing the two, I suddenly remembered it was rude, so I hurried up and apologized.
“Sorry, I have a habit of observing people.”
“It’s fine, young one.”
Young one?
The naturally condescending tone from the woman momentarily took me aback, but I pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
“You said you came to see me; what brings you here? If I’m not mistaken, this should be our first meeting.”
“Actually, I have a little ability for divination, and my reading showed there’s a noble person waiting for me in the West.”
“A noble person?”
As I tilted my head, unsure of what she meant, the woman asked.
“I need to confirm one thing; is your name written with the character for seven and the character for fortune, making it Chilbongi?”
“…Yes.”
“They say names typically reflect one’s essence. Your parents must have loved you a lot. It’s a fitting name for a child destined for much misfortune.”
Was it a common trait for fortune-tellers to be talking nonsense? The old man I met in the market previously and this woman before me both seemed to indulge in whimsical prophecies.
Just as I felt my patience wearing thin and contemplated standing up, the woman spoke meaningfully.
“You’re not from this world, are you?”
“…What?”
“It’s easy to guess when an individual borne to die long ago is still alive and roaming about.”
“…What’s your identity?”
This person, who figured out my identity that I hadn’t revealed to anyone except Dokkorin, was clearly a threat.
Naturally, my vigilance surged.
But finding my wariness amusing, the woman with red hair smiled and clasped her hands over her knees.
“Don’t be surprised, the Central Plains has quite a few titles for me. The Goddess of the Sun and Moon, Bulsamahu, Blood Maitreya, Queen Mother of the West— how do you prefer to address me?”
With that, she looked at me with half-closed eyes.
As if she were putting me to the test.
So I calmly responded to her question.
“I’m asking not for a title but for your name.”
Names reflect one’s essence, don’t they?
“Names, huh.”
With a smug expression as if she had successfully bested me, the red-haired woman then unwound her crossed legs and spoke.
“My true name is Baek Yujin, a reincarnation born about 300 years ago.”
