Chapter 461
Summoning Peng Zuo was essentially like placing a bet on the slim chance of it working.
At this point, it’s quite likely that Peng Zuo already firmly considered us as ‘enemies’. He was probably hatching some secretive plan in the eerie underground and had noticed our spying on the National Seal. If he was good at covering his tracks, he might have even tried to figure out my identity, especially since I held the National Seal. If that attempt had succeeded, he could’ve discovered who I really am.
But before fearing Peng Zuo, the fact remained that tracking down Chang Hee was dependent on him being the only lead I had. Moreover, isn’t Peng Zuo a descendant of Jeon Wook, one of the Three Sovereigns, and someone with the identity of a Great Immortal? Using his refusal to respond to my summons could easily lead him to alert the Celestial Realm about our suspicious activity.
There was nothing to lose, so I started preparing to head to Master Mangnyang’s village to summon Peng Zuo. However, Zhuge Sa stopped me right before I left.
“Hold on. Wait a sec. I need to clarify something first.”
“Alright.”
Zhuge Sa paused, folding his arms, and then asked, “Have you ever considered just how strong Chang Hee or Peng Zuo actually are?”
That was an unexpected question. I hesitated before replying, “Well… maybe they’re about as powerful as a Great Immortal?”
“Damn it. Good thing I asked.”
“Why?”
“They’re definitely not just that. You should consider that those two are at least on the level of an Apostle.”
“……!!”
What is he talking about? I stared at Zhuge Sa with wide eyes, and he lowered his posture slightly before continuing.
“Of course, whether it’s Chang Hee or Peng Zuo, in the Celestial Realm, their status is that of a Great Immortal. There aren’t any distinctly defined hierarchies besides the Three Pure Ones and the Great Immortal. But according to the information you’ve gathered from your previous life, Chang Hee was a king during the ancient Silver Age, serving as a close aide to Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, and Peng Zuo is biologically a descendant of the Three Sovereigns. There’s a very high probability that they possess power beyond what their outward status suggests.”
“Hmm.”
“And on top of that, Peng Zuo is located at the Black Brotherhood’s headquarters, which is tied to the Golden Crow and the Sacred Place… Doesn’t that seem overly suspicious?”
“……”
“Peng Zuo must have a lot of knowledge regarding the Golden Crow. He might have brought the Golden Crow that was originally in the Central Plains over to the West.”
I carefully processed Zhuge Sa’s words. Even though I’d rushed to the West amidst the pressure of a direct order to find Chang Hee within ten years, he was definitely pointing out things that hadn’t occurred to me. After pondering for a moment, I asked, “Do you think Peng Zuo partnered with the Otherworldly Race to strengthen himself?”
“That’s possible, but until you ask him directly, you won’t know.”
Zhuge Sa chuckled lightly.
“They’re indeed a peculiar combination. Both Chang Hee and Peng Zuo are recorded as renowned figures from the mythological age in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, but their significance in myth is rather low. For them to emerge as a black mask now means that the myth of the Three Sovereigns era we know has been intentionally distorted.”
“I don’t want to get into something so complicated right now. Even if they are strong at the Apostle level, as long as I make good use of the power of the Seven Luminaries, I can manage!”
I continued firmly, “Even if Peng Zuo responds to the summon, I doubt he’ll easily give up information about Chang Hee. He’ll most likely play dumb, so how can I extract information from him?”
In fact, this was the advice I most wanted to hear from Zhuge Sa. He shook his head.
“I don’t have any plans for that!”
“What…? ”
“If it can’t be done, it can’t be done. Right now, there’s just too much uncertainty. However, the very fact that he responded to the summon implies something, so you should just give it your best shot when talking to him. It might actually go better than you expect.”
Finally, Zhuge Sa explained the tactics I should use when speaking. He could consider using the Soul Exchange Technique to observe from a distance, but if Cheon Woo-jin were to notice any signs of the Soul Exchange Technique, it would become evident right away. In the end, I had to tackle this alone.
Pa-at!
Once I was ready, I headed to Master Mangnyang’s village and met Cheon Woo-jin. He looked at me with an expression reminiscent of someone staring at a cockroach and said, “Please… just go away… Go.”
“……”
Cheon Woo-jin started to take steps back. “I’m annoyed, so please!”
Seriously? He was that disgusted?
It seemed I had been labeled a leech, someone who just wanted to borrow Cheon Woo-jin’s abilities whenever the opportunity arose. But I couldn’t back down; I sighed and said, “I’m sorry, but I really need to see Master Mangnyang.”
“Do you think saying you want to see him will make me move aside? No one has ever come here with as much personal desire as you have. I really ask you to leave.”
Seeing him use the word ‘ask’ showed that he was quite serious. Did he anticipate that involving himself with me could lead to tremendous annoyance due to the chaos of worldly affairs? But I coldly replied, “I have news regarding the Guardian of the West. Therefore, I absolutely must meet with Master Mangnyang, the Guardian of Taoism.”
“Ugh…”
Cheon Woo-jin flinched for a moment. Then, seemingly resigned, he said, “Damn it… the Master has also allowed you to enter, so I’ll let you in for now.”
It seemed Master Mangnyang had given permission for me to enter. After Cheon Woo-jin’s illusions faded, I entered the village and arrived in front of Yeodong-bin’s shrine. Moments later, a familiar drowsiness overwhelmed me.
……
I entered a dream. As expected, in that place, Master Mangnyang approached from the path, taking the form of a black cat. He casually greeted me.
[ You sure are making up every excuse in the book. You seem pretty good at improvising; is that experience or talent?]
Why is he asking this out of the blue?
I had the feeling that Master Mangnyang looked rather pleased. So, I decided to tell him, “Master Mangnyang, the West is hell.”
[ I already know everything you’re trying to tell me. That the Guardian of the West was sealed to protect the Golden Crow…]
As he replied, Master Mangnyang’s eyes glowed bright blue.
[ All of this is part of a scheme and plot by a nefarious being. The purpose is to forcibly open the firmly closed door of the East…]
“… I don’t know you well enough.”
I abandoned the thought of trying to learn something from him. That damn cat was exceptionally good at grasping intentions when he spoke with such purpose, often ignoring my words. So, I decided to express my honest feelings.
“You’re sealing the dragon sleeping in Luoyang, you’re the Guardian of Taoism, and you’re some cosmic entity? Also, amnesia? What on earth are you?”
[ You just explained it all with your own mouth.]
“No, those are just adjectives, aren’t they? I still absolutely have no idea who you are!”
I yelled out in frustration.
Throughout my 22 rebirths, Master Mangnyang had given me important information but had never once revealed who he was or what he desired. Well, it’s funny that someone with amnesia would answer anyway, but it’s human nature to want to know who Master Mangnyang really is. As Master Mangnyang stared at me vacantly, I felt even more absurd.
“Why the hell a black cat?! Why?! Is it really necessary?!”
[ Do I appear to be a cat?]
“Yeah! You’re a cat!”
This was something I really wanted to say!
He takes on a solemn mentor form for others, yet he shows up as a black cat for me?!
Then Master Mangnyang replied, “[ That’s interesting. It means that you have gained some insight into the essence of my power… ]”
Insight?
Master Mangnyang jumped onto the roof, curled up, and sat down arrogantly, looking down at me.
[ If you have something you want to say, go ahead and say it.]
“You say you’re a guardian, yet you’re leaving the West as it is? At this rate, the Golden Crow will be stolen, and all Westerners will end up as livestock for the Otherworldly Race.”
[ There’s nothing I can do. I don’t have the capacity to stop them.]
“So, you’re saying you only care about the Eastern continent?”
[ That’s the realistic limit.]
Master Mangnyang’s cold response continued.
[ Do you have anything else to say?]
“Why don’t you quit the seal of that foreign spirit and use your powers directly? You’re a cosmic entity, right? You should be able to face the [Old Ruler]! ”
I expressed my long-bottled frustrations. In response, Master Mangnyang licked his front paw and replied, “[ That’s like burning down a thatched cottage to catch a flea.]”
“What?”
[ If I were to stop my seal, then as you said, I could handle a regular [Old Ruler], but hundreds of times more threatening beings would then roam the world freely. In that case, even the Three Sovereigns would be unable to intervene.]
“……!!”
What?!
I was startled when Master Mangnyang directly mentioned the Three Sovereigns. I knew he wasn’t tied down by the hierarchy of the Celestial Realm, but could he be claiming to be a being on par with or even above the Three Sovereigns? I swallowed hard and cautiously asked, “Are you… the [Old Ruler]?”
[ I don’t know that either. Like you said, I currently have amnesia. Even if I’m teamed up with the Celestial Realm, it’s merely for convenience.]
Master Mangnyang’s gaze turned to the blue sky.
[ The only thing I know is this.]
“What is it?”
[ When I first fell to the ground, my essence whispered to me: ‘Protect the humans’…]
“……”
So, he’s acting on an impulse to protect humans.
I felt confused and asked, “Fell? Fell from where? The sky… the universe?”
[ No. It felt like I fell from somewhere higher.]
“Where are you talking about?”
[ When I was falling, I thought that once I fell, I would never be able to return there until the world perished…]
As Master Mangnyang muttered that, he said, “[ This is strange. My essence is responding to the law of cause and effect you’ve built up. You still have a long way to go.]”
Is he talking about my Rebirth Ability?
Because that law of cause and effect had accumulated, did Master Mangnyang start sharing his story?
When I fell silent, Master Mangnyang asked, “[ Why did you come here?]”
“I’m on a mission from Jeon Wook to find Chang Hee’s whereabouts. In the process, I learned that Peng Zuo is related to him, so I came to summon him.”
[ I see.]
While Master Mangnyang swished his tail for a moment, he continued, “[ I spoke to Jeon Wook. He said to help you.]”
“Huh!”
This insane cat is implying that he’s on par with the Three Sovereigns?! The casual way he mentioned Jeon Wook meant this was no joke. As my vision started to blur and Master Mangnyang’s figure faded, I heard his final words.
[ Woo-jin will assist with your summoning ceremony. Now go.]
……
I woke up and got up. Over there, I saw Cheon Woo-jin with a furious expression, diligently sticking a flag into the altar. I called out to him.
“Cheon…”
“Shut up!! I’ll help as the Master said, so please just be quiet!!”
With a crunch, Cheon Woo-jin forcefully stuck the Tai Chi flag right in the middle of the altar while shouting, “If it weren’t for you being my elder brother’s friend and having received an order from the Master, you would’ve been dead by my hand here, regardless of being an Apostle of the Three Sovereigns or whatever!!”
Is this guy seriously that angry?!
It seems no matter how many times Cheon Woo-jin steps in for others, it only makes him angrier. I decided not to provoke angry Cheon Woo-jin and instead quickly thought about what gift to give him to appease his wrath. Continuing to hold onto grudges with Cheon Woo-jin wouldn’t be a wise course of action going forward.
After a while, the summoning ceremony for the Great Immortal began. Since the target to summon was already established, I wouldn’t have to face the likes of the Primordial Void Ruler or the Queen Mother of the West this time. I pulled out the Silver Phoenix Fragment and a Portrait Immortal for offerings. Both were valuable items, but they weren’t immediately necessary, so I decided to sacrifice them.
Whooooosh!
As Cheon Woo-jin received the spirit, a silver ring hovered above his head. For a while, blue veins protruded from Cheon Woo-jin’s head, and his eyes turned completely white, after which a heavy voice emerged from his mouth.
[ Apostle of the Three Sovereigns, Baek Woong. You called me without fear.]
I glared directly at him as I replied, “You are indeed Peng Zuo, the great-grandson of Jeon Wook and a Great Immortal, right?”
[ Correct.]
“I thought you wouldn’t respond to my summons. Surely you must have many guilty spots.”
[ Hehe…]
Peng Zuo let out a creepy laugh. Then, he raised his index finger and pointed at me, saying, “[ The reason I agreed is to warn you.]”
“A warning?”
[ Whatever you do in the East, we will not interfere with you. But don’t you dare meddle in affairs of the West. If you are the owner of the Seven Luminaries and the Apostle of Jeon Wook, you should understand what I mean… ]
I instantly felt the negotiations Zhuge Sa had mentioned were drawing near.
‘Just as expected.’
According to Zhuge Sa, if Peng Zuo responds to the summoning, he will almost certainly express that I shouldn’t set foot in the West. I quickly put my brain to work and replied, “I’m open to your proposal. But first, tell me where Chang Hee is.”
[ How would I know where Chang Hee is…? ]
“Don’t act coy. You and Chang Hee are registered as joint-managers of the National Seal. What do you think would happen if I reported to Jeon Wook that you two are companions?”
[ Hmph… go ahead and try… but you won’t have any evidence.]
“I have evidence.”
[ What?!]
I triumphantly raised the National Seal from my pocket and glared at Peng Zuo. “Normally, the Three Sovereigns wouldn’t know much about the mundane affairs, but if I offer the National Seal as a sacrifice in the Offering Ceremony, then Jeon Wook would get to understand its intricacies, obtain the law of cause and effect, and descend to this world.”
[ ……!!]
“Do you want to fight with Jeon Wook, who has entered the West, or will you tell me Chang Hee’s whereabouts? This is a fair law of cause and effect, so it won’t violate the terms of the Seven Luminaries’ defensive covenant.”
Peng Zuo shouted in shock, “[ You madman! The National Seal is the ultimate treasure, an unparalleled rare artifact. Are you really planning to return it to God just for a threat? It’s worth ten times of a regular treasure! ]”
“I’m being serious.”
[ Don’t brag.]
“…… ”
For a while, we glared at each other in a contest of wills. Though Peng Zuo was in a spirit exchange, his emotions were hard to read, but it seemed he was quite troubled, as his body twitched. After approximately one meal’s worth of time in this staring contest, Peng Zuo finally said, “[ Fine. If you tell me Chang Hee’s whereabouts, promise not to meddle in the West any longer.]”
“Sure.”
I asserted, driving in Zhuge Sa’s advice. “But since you might lie or make a slip of the tongue, I’ll bring in Master Mangnyang as an objective witness.”
[ What?]
Whoooosh!
Suddenly, I felt the atmosphere grow very heavy as if it were responding to my words. Though invisible, Master Mangnyang began to keep a watchful eye on the scene. Summoning him as an objective witness meant that, in case of deceit, Master Mangnyang could gain a legitimate law of cause and effect and tear lying frauds apart.
No way he could dare lie!
Considering that God’s insight operates on a different plane than mortals, it made sense.
Peng Zuo hesitated, looking somewhat flustered, and then said, “[ … I understand. I will speak the truth in the name of Master Mangnyang. However, your promise should also be kept in the name of Master Mangnyang.]”
“No objections.”
[ I don’t know Chang Hee’s precise whereabouts at this time either. It’s been thousands of years since I last saw him. What I do know is that he last headed toward the Dark Heaven Village.]
“Dark Heaven Village!”
I jumped back in shock.
That place is a land of madness where even the Great Immortal goes completely insane! The most nightmarish Demon Realm, the [Old Ruler] being sighted there isn’t uncommon! Chang Hee spoke his final words and then vanished from Cheon Woo-jin.
[ Go find the moon of Dark Heaven Village. The last known destination of Chang Hee was there.]
