Book 9: Chapter 19: Black Status

A few hours ago.

Through the pouring heavy rain, wheels of steel rolled fiercely.

If it had not been for the well-maintained main road inside the Sword Family and the maintenance that was properly completed, it was a speed at which an accident would have occurred several times.

“Hya! Hya!”

Even though she knew it clearly exceeded the limit, the maid holding the reins urged the spiritual beasts again and again.

"——!"

The two spiritual beasts, which would have normally been annoyed, snorted fiercely and ran without resting their four legs even a little.

“Ch-Clear the way!”

“Oh my!”

At the suddenly encountered giant steel oxcart, the servants of the Sword Family who were maintaining the drainage ditches threw themselves to dodge.

“…It is the entrance to Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment!”

As soon as she reported to the Maid Chief Jeong-ah inside the carriage, the maid who was not holding the reins threw herself from the running oxcart just like that.

Losing her balance due to the acceleration and rainwater, she rolled on the ground forward.

But as if she did not even know that pain, she bounced up and deployed her movement technique directly toward the entrance.

Her body rushed forward like an arrow.

“Open the main gate! Open the main gate!”

The urgent shout of the maid.

The members of the Special Duty Unit at the main gate, who had already realized that the situation was unusual, hurriedly threw open the closed main gate.

Just how urgent it was the oxcart passing through the entrance did not even think of reducing its speed.

And finally, its heavy body that had tilted to the right side brushed past, smashing the right gate of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

Crack—!

As soon as the Ironclad Fortress passed the main gate like that and entered Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, sound transmissions went back and forth dizzily among the Special Duty Unit members.

[First-class security status in effect!] the spiritual beasts planted their four feet into the earth as if rooting them.

[This is not a training situation! All personnel, move right now! Strengthen guard!] when the oxcart reached the front yard of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, the maid holding the reins pulled the brake lever to the end and shouted.

"Stop!"

The heavy body of the Ironclad Fortress slid sideways, and the wheels smashed the paving stones.

At the last moment, the Ironclad Fortress tilted heavily outward and was on the verge of overturning, but when a middle-aged man appeared like a ghost and stepped on the opposite roof to press down, the wheel that had floated in the air fell back to the ground.

It was a technique of the Thousand-Jin Fall close to an art.

But there was no one who had the leisure to express admiration for the middle-aged man's technique.

“Life-Snatching Ghost Sword!”

Jeong-ah shouted the middle-aged man's moniker out of the window.

“Immediately, the Elder…!”

At that urgent shout, the middle-aged man, the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword's face hardened even further.

“What is the situation?!”

At his question, Jeong-ah's reply immediately returned.

“Black! Black status!”

As soon as the word black was heard, the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword's body was heading toward the guest quarters of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment using explosive elasticity.

But even before he could reach the guest quarters, he could already find an old man running at a terrifying speed.

That old man who was running out barefoot was the best physician in the state of Zhongyuan whom he was about to go call.

A living legend.

The teacher of the Medicine Fairy Yak So-yu, who was called the manifestation of the Medicine Buddha.

It was the Medicine King.

Looking inside the oxcart, the Medicine King's face distorted.

“I knew that damn demonic qi was piercing the sky…!”

Yeon So-hyeon's body, which was laid long on the seat of the oxcart, was pale white without a drop of blood, and he was constantly convulsing in small fits.

A maid was attached to his side, removing the blood foam flowing from Yeon So-hyeon's mouth to prevent his airway from being blocked.

“How long has it been?!”

At the Medicine King's shout, Jeong-ah, who was frantically giving instructions to the maids, replied.

“It is soon to be the fourth quarter since the master personally announced the black status and entered the Turtle Breathing Art!”

Black status.

The expression representing the time when Yeon So-hyeon could not handle the demonic qi of the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.

The Turtle Breathing Art that Yeon So-hyeon had personally improved was a special measure prepared for this kind of situation.

When a situation occurred where he could not control the rapidly increased demonic qi like now.

With the specially designed Turtle Breathing Art, he would lower the body's metabolism to the absolute limit.

“You! You must do as trained! What are you doing right now?!”

Looking at the unconscious Yeon So-hyeon, the Medicine King, who kicked the shin of the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword who had turned pale white, shouted.

“If you do not want to lose this fellow like your former lord, move right now!”

At those words, the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword suddenly came to his senses and ran while carrying Yeon So-hyeon on his back.

That direction was the shrine where the ancestral tablet of Yeon So-hyeon's mother, Yak So-yu, was enshrined.

Crash!

Following the guidelines Yeon So-hyeon had prepared, the movements of the maids who had trained repeatedly were seamless.

They even mobilized their internal energy to clear away the Buddhist statues that filled the shrine floor as if smashing them, securing a space for the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword to lay Yeon So-hyeon down.

“Elder! The master's consciousness is gradually fading away!”

Jeong-ah, who held Yeon So-hyeon's hand, shouted like a shriek while shining her golden eyes.

“I know! That is the correct order! So keep talking to the fellow just like you have done so far! If it is you, you can do it!”

To the voice of the Medicine King shouting while checking the tools the maids had brought, Jeong-ah grabbed both of Yeon So-hyeon's hands and kept shouting.

“Master! Jeong-ah is here! Master!”

After acting according to the guidelines, the maids did not know what to do and stood frozen in place, pale white.

The side effect of brainwashing.

They were no different from dead people.

“The preparations are finished, so all of you get out!”

When the Medicine King's exceptionally clear voice stimulated their minds, they and the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword hurriedly left the place.

The door of the shrine closed.

“Endure it, you fellow!”

As the Medicine King, who sat cross-legged next to the long-laid Yeon So-hyeon, waved his hand, his long sterling silver needles floated into the air.

From his body that was drenched in rain, rainwater began to evaporate with a terrifying force.

“I will pull you out of there soon!”

To find Yeon So-hyeon's fading consciousness, Jeong-ah, who had pulled up the power of her golden eyes to the limit, was astonished at that sight. "……!"

It was different from any kind of medical art she had seen so far.

What the Medicine King was displaying now the mysterious energies gathering rapidly that were reflected in her eyes, was not a medical art in the first place.

“This grandfather will not lose only you…!”

Following his daughter-like Yak So-yu, he could not lose Yeon So-hyeon in vain.

* * *

In the pitch-black darkness.

'Is it that way…?'

Yeon So-hyeon held up what was in his hand toward the empty space.

That which was trembling faintly and emitting light in his hand was the remaining piece of the 'Grand Sealing Art' that his mother had cast in exchange for her life in the past, after it was destroyed.

[…Mother really loves our So-hyeon.] although the faint light only sufficed to illuminate Yeon So-hyeon's surroundings, the nostalgic voice heard from within it in this freezing cold place was only warm, as if soothing his soul.

'…The old man and Jeong-ah.'

Black status.

He had practiced with them dozens, hundreds of times, and improved it to prepare for this kind of situation.

The precursor had been there since he cleaned the Valley of Sin in the form of the Dark Venerable and he had made all the preparations he could.

'…They must be doing well on their own.'

It was not the time to worry about them.

They would do their part, and what was left now was his own will. "……."

Yeon So-hyeon moved his steps with a calm expression.

Although the river of blood that rose to his waist flowed roughly and pushed his body without mercy, when he was pushed back one step, he walked two steps.

When he was pushed back two steps, he walked three steps.

He, like that went forward little by little.

Incessantly.

The appearance of the voice was sudden.

[It is a unique Turtle Breathing Art. To suppress the rampage of demonic qi.] it was the voice from when he first contracted with the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.

[I must acknowledge that you have many talents.] the voice seemed as if it would tear Yeon So-hyeon's mind to pieces just with its echo.

“Since I am the type to always keep preparations solid.”

Yeon So-hyeon clenched his teeth and replied.

If he did not even reply, he felt like his current spiritual body would explode from the inside.

[But how much longer do you think you can resist?] veins bulged out incessantly here and there on his face.

“Forever.”

Because of clenching tightly, his teeth broke off.

[The struggling of a feeble existence is always laughable. Laughable.] to the words of Yeon So-hyeon who, while trembling, forced up the corners of his mouth to make a sneer, the voice asked.

“Yes. I also find you laughable.”

[You find me laughable?] another tooth fragmented.

The blood vessels in his eyes burst, and tears of blood flowed.

“Yes.”

Even so, Yeon So-hyeon did not stop replying.

The moment he stopped resisting, it was the end.

Silence was an act of alignment, and an admission of defeat.

“Losing oneself, aligning one's consciousness with a mere demon, and running wild with the demon's power on one's back. How could that not be laughable?”

Yeon So-hyeon finished his words, ignoring the blood flowing from his nose.

“A mere chosen one who succumbed and lost to a demon.”

[—-!!] the anger of the voice was felt vividly, as if it would break all the bones of his body.

A wild wind swept in.

The river of blood became even rougher.

A smile was hanging on the mouth of Yeon So-hyeon, who covered his face with both hands.

'As expected, it was so.'

In the past, the fallen immortal had told Yeon So-hyeon that the voice was absolutely not that of the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.

'The fallen immortal and the fire giant.'

The two chosen ones Yeon So-hyeon had met so far were kind and acted friendly.

They worried about his future path.

'But there is no rule that only such people exist.'

The current voice.

That voice, which had urged the contract with the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens, was precisely the end of a chosen one who had completely lost even his consciousness to the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.

“Losers.”

Yeon So-hyeon was not swept away even by that rapid torrent and wild wind.

Rather, he sneered at 'them' once more.

[This brat whose blood has not even dried on his head—!] it was immortal qi.

[I will tear you to pieces right here right now—!] the madness that lurked deep in his eyes spewed out as if exploding.

[You will walk in a hell that will never end—!] what had been heard as a single voice now became hundreds of voices and echoed, striking Yeon So-hyeon's entire body.

[You made a contract involving your soul with the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens, and with us! Your soul is ours!] spitting out the blood that welled up, Yeon So-hyeon replied.

“Someday it might become so.”

“But it is not right now.”

[You—!] and almost simultaneously, a single thin ray of light descended from the sky and cleared away the voices.

Feeling the scent of immortal qi fill the surroundings richly, Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“…Move a bit faster, old man.”

[Do not forget! The more you struggle—!] he continued to move his steps, which had not stopped for a single moment.

[The fact that an even more terrible end will await you—!] thanks to the immortal qi shining down, his spiritual body was much lighter.

[We will wait for you in this hell—!] hearing the fading voices, Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.

“Yes, yes. See you later, guys.”

The deepest place of Yeon So-hyeon's world of consciousness.

At that place where even the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens had not yet reached, there was a giant cliff.

Thousand-Ren Cliff.

Below the cliff made of skulls one who looked exactly like Yeon So-hyeon was bound.

As soon as he saw Yeon So-hyeon who had waded through the river of blood, he showed a displeased expression.

“Move a bit faster.”

“This is coming as fast as possible.”

Even that arrogant tone is exactly the same.

Pierced by giant ink-iron chains, he held up his hand.

In that hand, a piece of light like the one Yeon So-hyeon, who had waded through the river of blood, was holding was held.

“I was almost late.”

It was another piece left after the grand art his mother had performed was destroyed.

That piece was resonating with the piece held by Yeon So-hyeon who had waded through the river of blood, announcing its position.

“Yes, yes.”

Yeon So-hyeon roughly shook off the blood on his spiritual body and approached 'another self'.

“During this time, you worked hard.”

The Yeon So-hyeon pierced by the ink-iron chains showed a smile.

“Yes. I worked hard.”

That smile was terribly arrogant, and also filled with confidence.

Even while his body was gradually encroached by the pitch-black energy and corroded, he was not discarding that arrogant smile.

“Do not make this hard work in vain, second.”

Spilling demonic qi that melted his entire body, the Yeon So-hyeon divided by the Dual Principles Mind Art said.

“Yes, first.”

Yeon So-hyeon now approached the 'first self' who was being uncontrollably eroded, and held up his mother's sealing piece.

Puff—.

“Leave the rest to me.”

The first Yeon So-hyeon, who had been paying the price of spiritual and physical erosion that Yeon So-hyeon originally had to receive instead, smiled faintly.

“Su-Surely… escape from this destiny…”

Watching the landscape of him dispersing as he dissolved, the second Yeon So-hyeon quietly put his hands together.

That was the method Yeon So-hyeon had devised to avoid the erosion that could not be avoided no matter how he resisted. "……."

As the one who was being pierced vanished, the thick ink-iron chains fell to the ground with a loud noise and rolled.

“Good. Then…”

The second Yeon So-hyeon leaned his back against the skull cliff.

“This time it is my turn.”

What was revealed on his face was a resolution that transcended imagination.

“Come.”

Puff—.

Crack—.

The ink-iron chains moved as if alive, piercing Yeon So-hyeon's entire body. "……."

At the extreme pain running through his entire body, Yeon So-hyeon vomited blood and swallowed a shriek.

Whether they did so or not, the mental supplementation system he had designed in the form of ink-iron chains constantly pierced and fixed his body.

A moment later the fixing finished.

“…It hurts, damn, bad.”

How many times he had vomited blood, how many times he had shrieked, he did not even remember.

“Damn it…”

Fixing his consciousness at the absolute bottom, the preparation to receive the new price was finished. "……."

Yeon So-hyeon concentrated his mind through the ink-iron chain supplementation system.

The supplementation system connected to the acupoints of the physical body delivered his will.

Feeling the Turtle Breathing Art of the physical body loosen, he began to circulate the Dual Principles Mind Art.

How much time had passed?

“It is fine now.”

What made the circulation stop was Yeon So-hyeon's voice. "……."

The spiritual body of the second Yeon So-hyeon, pierced by the chains, raised his head and looked at the owner of that voice.

“You, succeeded.”

In front of his eyes, there was another perfectly fine Yeon So-hyeon.

He was the new spiritual body of himself replicated through the Dual Principles Mind Art that had undergone improvement after improvement.

“Yes, succeeded. Who do you think I am, would I fail?”

At the words of the 'third' Yeon So-hyeon, the second Yeon So-hyeon, who had become the new sacrifice, chuckled.

“…Go.”

At those words, the third Yeon So-hyeon picked up the mother's sealing piece that had fallen to the ground.

It was the sealing piece that had fallen to the ground when the first Yeon So-hyeon dissolved.

This piece, when the next 'his turn' came would let him find the second Yeon So-hyeon through resonance.

“Yes.”

The third Yeon So-hyeon bowed his head in greeting as he watched the second Yeon So-hyeon, who was pierced on the cliff, holding his mother's sealing piece tightly.

“Leave the next to me.”

“I will wait.”

The greeting was only that.

Since everyone was himself, no more conversation was needed.

[…aster! Master…! Here! It is this way! This way…] hearing Jeong-ah's voice that had been heard from earlier, the third Yeon So-hyeon grabbed the thin immortal qi descending from the sky like a rope.

The immortal qi slowly pulled the spiritual body upward, and his consciousness began to awaken. "……."

Watching the third self fade away, the second Yeon So-hyeon left on the cliff clenched his teeth.

“Kuhuk—!”

An intense pain seemed to pierce his head.

As the Turtle Breathing Art loosened, the rampaging demonic qi began to ravage his mind without mercy.

Even so…

“Eldest Brother!”

He had met the fellow Yeon Bi.

“So-hyeon!”

He had met the second older sister.

“Brother!”

He had also met the cute third and fourth twin younger sisters.

'Yes. I can endure…'

He tightly grabbed his mother's sealing piece.

[…Mother really loves our So-hyeon.] that nostalgic voice in this cold and lonely space was so warm.

* * *

“…aster! Master!”

“You fellow! Have you come to your senses?!”

The awakened Yeon So-hyeon looked at Jeong-ah and the Medicine King, who were covered in tears and snot, and smiled nonchalantly.

“…Both of you, go wash your faces.”