Chapter 481
Miyamoto Musashi slowly walked out from behind me and stood in front of the three of us. His movements appeared slow and borderless, but despite my confidence that I had reached a considerable level among the martial arts experts, I couldn’t find even the slightest gap in Musashi. He glanced at me and said, “I am the messenger of the Eastern Twelve Joules, Miyamoto Musashi. I have come to politely invite you to the Twelve Joules.”
“Politely?” Zhuge Sa, who sat beside me, scoffed. “Do people nowadays equate the emitting of killing intent with politeness? Hehe.” I knew the reason Zhuge Sa was provoking Musashi. If we went for a direct confrontation, it was obvious we would suffer significant damage, so he aimed to unsettle Musashi and create a gap in his mind. However, Musashi responded nonchalantly, “If I intended to kill or fight, you wouldn’t be sitting here unharmed.”
“……” It was such an obvious truth that I couldn’t even refute or respond. It was fortunate that Musashi made a point of emitting an aura; if he had hidden it and suddenly unleashed an absolute sword qi that even the Master of the White Lotus couldn’t evade, we would have been annihilated for sure.
Kugugugu
Even now, it was the same. Musashi had moved from behind me to in front, yet I still didn’t dare to draw my sword. I could distinctly feel that Musashi’s sword technique transcended that of a normal human. I wondered if there was even a chance for a forceful struggle.
As I bit my lip, Mangnyang calmly spoke, “What is the reason for the Twelve Joules calling for us?”
“That is…” Musashi paused, stammering as if he wanted to say something. He then put on a serious expression of deep thought, causing us all to tense up and stare at him intently. Amidst the awkward silence, Musashi spoke, “… Is there anyone here who can speak Dongyoung?”
“……”
I almost collapsed in disbelief. ‘Is he mixing up the Central Plains language in his head?!’ It seemed Musashi wasn’t able to speak the Central Plains language fluently. I was about to raise my hand when Mangnyang quickly raised his instead. Then he spoke in Dongyoung, “I am fluent in Dongyoung. Please repeat what you said in Dongyoung.”
“Very well.”
Musashi cleared his throat and spoke in Dongyoung. “I personally witnessed that the little one among you demonstrated the power of a dragon and defeated an evil sorcerer in Luoyang. I reported this to the Twelve Joules while tracking you, and the Twelve Joules expressed a strong desire to meet you and asked me to bring you.”
Mangnyang looked at him suspiciously and said, “We couldn’t have been tracked so easily, could we? How did you even find this Jangryeong Valley?”
Mangnyang’s words were valid. We had used the Golden Lamp technique to teleport around Luoyang, which could never be followed by the common martial arts tracking methods. Even those known as tracking geniuses ultimately traced movement signs through high deduction; teleportation could not be tracked at all.
Musashi retorted nonchalantly, “I first figured out the names and faces of Baek Woong and Mangnyang Zhuge Xian among you. Then I investigated the individuals who received assistance from Mangnyang Zhuge Xian and learned who they were, researching their relationships and the martial world forces. I found out that the Zhuge clan operates in two locations, and as soon as I confirmed that Jinrang Valley was empty, I came to investigate Jangryeong Valley.”
Upon hearing that, Mangnyang let out a sigh. “Ah! So that’s how it is…” Musashi didn’t seem to have found us through some special ability or the power of an absolute state. It appeared to be the result of pure deduction, stumbling onto the truth through investigation. Moreover, Musashi’s words indicated one thing: there was an information organization behind Musashi assisting him! It would have been impossible to reach Jangryeong Valley so quickly by himself. Even if Mangnyang knew about the Zhuge clan, it would require an immense amount of information to suspect Jinrang Valley or Jangryeong Valley. Most likely, this information organization was secretly operating within the Twelve Joules.
Mangnyang composed himself and spoke. “So what is the reason the Twelve Joules is inviting us?”
“It’s simple. The Twelve Joules wishes to confirm your strength.”
“What do you mean?”
“They want to know if the power of the dragon, which defeated the darkness of the Imperial Palace, is real.”
I understood without needing further details. I calculated inwardly, ‘They intend to reach out to us seriously.’ The fact that Musashi had come to deliver the invitation from the Twelve Joules, knowing our location, held great significance. Musashi, being a special position cherished by the Twelve Joules, didn’t need to reveal his identity to contact us. His power was more of a trump card to be revealed in a final moment.
If all he needed was to invite us to the Twelve Joules, he could have simply sent a subordinate, yet he sent Musashi for one reason.
A show of force!
It was a demonstration that there was an absolute master, Miyamoto Musashi, under his command, implying that if we did not comply, he could sweep us away. This indicated that the Twelve Joules did not consider us merely as an interesting spectacle, but rather was seriously exerting pressure to use us.
How troublesome.
Just when I was about to start a training period to grow stronger, the pressure from the Twelve Joules emerged! And it was an existence as formidable as Musashi that appeared before me, leaving me feeling vexed.
Zhuge Sa, listening to the conversation, said in Dongyoung, “Another presence has just appeared. Is that person one of your companions?”
Musashi displayed a hint of curiosity and replied, “Yes.”
“Tell him to reveal himself.”
Without a word, Musashi gestured, and a figure stealthily emerged about three zhang away from him. The person approaching stared at us with cold eyes and introduced himself. “I am the Wind Master of the Manha Spiritual Gate.”
Three Masters—Wind Master!
One of the strongest sorcerers among the Twelve Joules!
I had definitely seen this Wind Master in my previous life during my time. He had certainly revealed himself during the discussions between the Twelve Joules and the Master of the White Lotus. Furthermore, every time the Three Masters made an appearance, Wind Master was also often seen then.
Wind Master had a neat appearance and was dressed in tidy ceremonial robes, giving off a lean impression. He didn’t appear strong at first glance, but he was indeed a powerful sorcerer comparable to the Fire Spirit Cheon Woo-jin. The moment I saw Wind Master, I instinctively realized, ‘Against those two, even the Master of the White Lotus cannot guarantee victory!’
To win in a direct confrontation here, the help of Fire Dragon Incarnate was essential! However, Fire Dragon Incarnate was currently in a dormant state recovering strength, so my summon went unanswered. If I were to call upon Yeodong-bin, it would be useless since he was not a demon. I might be able to use the Fire Element alongside the National Seal and Great Destruction, but what would it mean to perish together with those beings?
Wind Master glanced at Musashi and clicked his tongue. “Please repeat your urgent request. The special envoy wishes for you to follow our Twelve Joules.”
“If we refuse?”
“Well, then there’s nothing much to be done. You can just vacate this place.”
That was an unexpected answer. Wind Master shrugged. “As I said, our Great Decree wishes to form a good relationship with you. We don’t wish to fight recklessly.”
Zhuge Sa scoffed. “Then it’s fine not to go, right? How considerate of you. Just scram!”
“Hohoho…”
Wind Master, bursting into a bright laugh, narrowed his eyes. “Next time, I will come directly with all Three Masters and the Master of the Twelve Joules. I can’t guarantee that I’ll speak to you as nicely then.”
“……”
Isn’t that an outright threat?!
Zhuge Sa subtly sent me a secret transmission. [Baek Woong. I’ll leave the judgment of this situation to you.]
It seemed that Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang had no clue what the right move was either. Of course, on a usual day, it would be the best solution to just chase them away, but if the Twelve Joules really turned hostile, the drawbacks would far outweigh the benefits. Moreover, with Miyamoto Musashi and the Three Masters as enemies, it was clear they would pursue us to the ends of the earth.
As I pondered, I stood up and said, “I wish to meet the Master of the Twelve Joules alone.”
Wind Master’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Are you the legendary Incarnate of the Dragon I’ve heard about?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. If you follow me, the others can stay here without issue.”
I glanced at Mangnyang, who seemed to understand my signal and nodded. ‘Suspicious Fishhook!’
The Suspicious Fishhook was a treasure that allowed for two-way communication regardless of distance. Having carried one each, Mangnyang and I would be able to relay the situation from afar even if I went to the Twelve Joules.
In truth, if one pursued safety, it would be better for either Mangnyang or Zhuge Sa to visit the Twelve Joules instead of me, but their purpose was most likely me. They had come to talk with the Incarnate of the Dragon who had turned Luoyang upside down. It was better to go, rather than avoid the issue.
“But how are you planning to move? It’s thousands of li from here to the Eastern Twelve Joules.”
“That’s why I’m following Musashi.”
Wind Master waved his hand.
Kuwuoo—
In the next moment, in the empty air, a gigantic passageway glowed orange. Wind Master stood before the passage and said, “If you take this passage, you can travel a thousand li in one go. Use it two or three times, and you’ll arrive at Shin City.”
“Understood.”
I boldly stepped forward. I could feel the worried gazes of Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa behind me, but I steeled my resolve further. ‘Yes, after all, I had to settle things with the Twelve Joules at some point.’
It had just come a bit earlier than expected. Perhaps I might die at the hands of the Master of the Twelve Joules, but I had a feeling that, somehow, going to meet him wouldn’t lead to my death. An inexplicable intuition was telling me that this choice was not a path to annihilation.
Pa-at!
Shortly after, I passed through the Wind Master’s newly created path alongside Miyamoto Musashi. And as the Wind Master created the passage again to move, before I knew it, the familiar scenery of Shin City came into view, just as he had said, in two or three uses.
Upon entering Shin City, I spotted a giant tree that seemed to pierce the sky beyond it. While I was gazing at the tree, Wind Master provided an explanation. “That’s the Sacred Altar Tree.”
I already knew. The Master of the Twelve Joules had mentioned it before.
However, upon seeing the Sacred Altar Tree, I felt another suspicion arise. ‘Could it be…?’
Could that Sacred Altar Tree itself be one of the Seven Luminaries, Wood Luminary?
I began to suspect that the force of Wood Luminary had caused that massive tree to grow. If my thoughts were correct, the Sacred Altar Tree might very well be the source of the Twelve Joules’ strength. I turned my gaze away from the Sacred Altar Tree and headed towards the Master of the Twelve Joules.
The Master of the Twelve Joules was waiting for me at his abode, where he had been before. Just like last time, the interior space was wider than the exterior, and the Master of the Twelve Joules was seated with the other two Masters, Yun Sa and U Sa, awaiting my arrival.
And the Master of the Twelve Joules was indeed still wearing the full dog mask as he waved at me. “Hey, nice to meet you! Incarnate of the Dragon, Baek Woong.”
I stared at him blankly and then responded, “It’s nice to meet you, Master of the Twelve Joules.”
“Hahaha! Just as I heard, you look like a boy. How interesting.”
“……”
“Baek Woong. You must be hungry after coming from so far, so please have a meal.”
As the Master of the Twelve Joules snapped his fingers, a lavish banquet table appeared some distance away. The Master moved naturally to the end of the table to sit, while the Three Masters stood behind him. I sat facing him at the Great Decree and began to eat.
I glanced over at the vanishing figure of Miyamoto Musashi and asked, “Why is Musashi behaving that way?”
“He wants to kill me.”
Huh?!
Surprised, I looked at the Master of the Twelve Joules, who was picking up a well-fried chunk of meat with chopsticks as he continued. “He came to the Peninsula before and challenged me, the supreme being of the Eastern Twelve Joules, and lost. I then hired him as a special envoy under the condition that he could challenge me anytime, anywhere.”
The Master of the Twelve Joules placed the meat inside his mouth. “Thus, Musashi dislikes being around me when the Three Masters are present to guard me, as he cannot find a gap.”
“Ha…”
I spoke in disbelief. “Are you not afraid of Musashi? That guy is a master of the absolute realm.”
“Hehe! I feel the same way,” the Master of the Twelve Joules replied with a laugh. “You Central Plains people should be thanking me. Musashi originally sought to invade the Central Plains through the Peninsula in search of the strongest masters. If I hadn’t hired Musashi during that journey, there would have been a bloodstorm in your martial arts world.”
“……”
Now it all made sense. Musashi had originally forced Kojiro to undergo plastic surgery and passed his techniques to create a false Musashi in Dongyoung, then headed towards the Central Plains. The sudden disappearance of his whereabouts had puzzled me, but I learned that it was because the Master of the Twelve Joules had defeated and recruited him.
Clink!
The meal continued for a while. The feast was delicious, with every dish prepared to the highest standards. The Master of the Twelve Joules, observing me enjoying the food, remarked in delight, “You eat well.”
“It’s delicious.”
“Do you not suspect there might be poison?”
“Surely, a person of such high rank as the Master of the Twelve Joules wouldn’t stoop to such petty tricks.”
I responded calmly. In reality, I had already achieved the Immortal Body of the Ten Thousand Poisons, so I had no particular worries, but the Master of the Twelve Joules seemed to enjoy my answer, laughing heartily.
“Hahaha! You’re a fun friend.”
“How about you reveal the matter for which you called me now?”
“Ah, right.”
The Master of the Twelve Joules appeared to be grinning and said, “To be straightforward, as you know I am the owner of the Fire Element, I would like you to help me together to defeat the Sea God.”