Chapter 012: Martial God
"Are you saying you're going to go down here with just your bare body right now?"
Eun Bin seed to be barely holding back from asking if I was crazy.
"Yeah, I plan to go down."
"It's a cliff. Are you planning to die just to find the Martial God's legacy, which might not even be down there?!"
I looked at Eun Bin with a fascinated gaze.
Because the Eun Bin I knew wasn't this short-tempered.
"Are you worried that if I die, the Young Palace Head will die too?"
"That is..."
"It's fine, I won't die."
I pressed my feet against the cliff.
Then I infused qi into my Bubbling Spring acupoint.
'Inner Qi is Mana.'
That ant it was possible to change the properties of qi just like mana.
Chwa-ap!
The qi shot out through the Bubbling Spring acupoint stuck to the cliff.
I tried to pull my foot off with force, but it didn't budge.
'Perfect.'
Although I hadn't learned the Wall Lizard Art, changing the properties of my qi allowed to perform a martial art similar to it.
"Kyaaak! Young Master!"
Wi Ji-yeong scread as she saw throw my body down the cliff.
"My ears hurt."
"...Young Master?"
Chwa-ap.
I was standing with my feet on the cliff and my body straightened out, looking at Wi Ji-yeong, Baek Mu-yong, and Eun Bin.
"I'll be back."
Eun Bin muttered as he watched leisurely descend the cliff.
"Using Wall Lizard Art so naturally?"
"Young Master! You must co back safely!"
Listening to Wi Ji-yeong's voice, I smiled with satisfaction.
It was because I could feel it more clearly the further I descended the cliff.
-...Child.
A sound like soone desperately calling could be heard.
A sound that could only be heard by , who had already experienced multiple lives.
-Child.
I'm coming, I'm coming.
I didn't know he would be looking for soone this anxiously.
Well.
'Since his descendants haven't looked for him even once, it's understandable he's anxious.'
But if he wanted to be found, he shouldn't have left his legacy in a place like this.
As I went further down the cliff, a cold wind began to blow.
Hwaruruk-
Amidst the blowing frost, I conjured a fla.
"Your words and actions are different."
No wonder no one could find it.
The further down I went, the clearer it beca where I had to go.
When I reached the middle of the cliff.
Tststs-
The Extre Yin Qi I had received from Seol Ye-rin reacted.
'There is sothing here?'
I knew there was sothing like a formation, but I couldn't figure out how to break through it.
At that mont.
Woo-woong-
This ti, Extre Yang Qi was emitted through my Bubbling Spring acupoint.
Then.
Chiii-ik-
The cliff began to lt.
Then, a cave began to appear.
"Did the Extre Yang Qi lt the formation surrounded by Extre Yin Qi?"
This was why it hadn't been discovered.
Even if one possessed Extre Yin Qi.
If they couldn't break through the formation, they wouldn't have been able to discover this place.
Ta-ak.
Upon arriving at the cave.
I could see the frozen cave shining brightly.
I had a strong feeling that the Martial God's legacy was here.
"Is anyone there?"
The voice that had called out to stopped abruptly.
As I approached the entrance to enter the cave.
[No Entry]
A sign stating that entry was forbidden was written there.
Smirk.
A smile ford on my lips without realizing it.
Isn't it human nature to want to do sothing more when told not to?
In my past life, I had entered many restricted areas for the sake of research.
And,
"I always ca out having made everything inside mine."
Here would be the sa.
Flas began to soar from my entire body.
The fire started to lt the ice.
Drip.
The ice wall where "No Entry" was written lted down completely.
Hwa-aak!
An imnse energy burst out from the cave.
"Even if they found this cave, it seems they couldn't have entered if they couldn't lt that wall just now."
I carefully entered the cave.
There were a total of four Martial Gods of the North Sea.
It was because I hadn't yet figured out which one's tomb this was.
-...Child.
Just then, the sorrowful voice began to be heard again.
"Were you annoyed because you wanted to co out but no one ca?"
Hwaruruk!
I conjured fire to illuminate the surroundings.
Then.
-We finally t.
Light flashed from an ice statue located near what seed to be the center of the cave.
"Are you the Martial God?"
-Tsk tsk, it seems about three hundred years have passed, are they revering as a Martial God outside?
The ghost revealed its form.
The figure of an old man with fluttering white hair was visible.
"Yes, that is correct. I am Hyeokryeon Yeom. I am curious about the Martial God's na."
-Baek Un-han.
"Snow Wind Sword Venerable!"
-Tsk tsk, to think there is still soone who rembers . I am grateful.
Perhaps satisfied with my reaction, the Martial God from three hundred years ago, Snow Wind Sword Venerable Baek Un-han, smiled.
"The North Sea Ice Palace's live-in son-in-law, Hyeokryeon Yeom, offers his greetings."
-Live-in son-in-law?
Baek Un-han's expression stiffened rapidly.
-To think soone who isn't a direct descendant heard my voice and ca here. How can that be!
Baek Un-han quickly began to circle around .
Baek Un-han, who was examining here and there as if taking my pulse, spoke.
-Ho-oh. Where did you get this Extre Yin Qi?
It seed Baek Un-han had detected the very small amount of yin qi circulating through my body.
"It is the yin qi of the person who will be my spouse."
-To handle an Extre Yang Body, ordinary yin qi wouldn't suffice... Don't tell , was she born with the Nine Yin Severed ridians?
With just a few pieces of information, Baek Un-han quickly deduced Seol Ye-rin's situation.
I explained to Baek Un-han how I ca to the Ice Palace and why I possessed Extre Yin Qi despite having an Extre Yang Body.
-To accept a bastard from the Demonic Cult as a live-in son-in-law, my descendant must be crazy too.
"Didn't I tell you earlier? I'm a guy from the Demonic Cult, but now I'm a guy from the Ice Palace."
I slowly approached the ice statue.
Inside the ice statue, a frozen skeleton existed.
"By the way, how did the Martial God end up in this state?"
I was curious why he ended up like this without being able to pass down his martial arts and legacy to his descendants at all.
-Tsk tsk, it is because of the Ice Crystal.
"If it's because of the Ice Crystal..."
-Well, if you want to hear my story, prove that you are from the Ice Palace.
"Proof, how should I prove it?"
-Let's make a pact. Then I will hand over my legacy, including the reason I beca like this.
"What is it?"
-Revenge.
At the word revenge, I asked with a puzzled expression.
"Does the Martial God of the North Sea still have a target for revenge left?"
-Yes.
"Who is it?"
-The Demonic Cult.
At the Sword Venerable's single word, the corners of my eyes began to tremble slightly.
***
"Cult Leader. I have a question."
"What is it, Strategist?"
"Why was it the Ice Palace?"
There was the Potala Palace in the West, the Poison Palace in the South and the Great Thunder Temple in India.
He was asking why he sent Hyeokryeon Yeom to the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Why, you ask. Shouldn't I send him to the strongest place in the Outer Region Murim so that Yeom becos stronger too?"
"So you thought the Ice Palace was the strongest among the Outer Region Murim."
"Why? Does the Strategist think otherwise?"
The Strategist, Sa Ma-ui, shook his head.
It was recorded in the archives as well.
The past patriarchs had always spoken of the Martial Gods of the Ice Palace as their most formidable enemies.
"I do not think otherwise. I asked to see if you were also aware of the stories about the Martial Gods of the North Sea."
"Ah, of course I know."
"Ah, that's right. The past Cult Leaders visited the Outer Region Murim whenever there was a Cult Leader inauguration ceremony, didn't they?"
"Correct, quite so ti has passed already. But the Ice Palace Head felt very lacking to be called a Martial God."
Sa Ma-ui nodded.
"The archives state that the Martial Gods of the North Sea appear once every hundred years. Since the last Martial God appeared about eighty years ago, there is a high probability that a Martial God will appear right about this ti."
"If Yeom cures the Young Palace Head, there is a high probability that the next Martial God of the North Sea will be the Young Palace Head of the Ice Palace."
The Cult Leader, Hyeokryeon Hwi, spoke decisively.
"Is that so? Then the Third Young Master might live under her thumb."
"You think so?"
"It seems key will be what kind of relationship he forms with the Ice Palace Head. The archives contain information that the past Cult Leaders completely smashed the Martial Gods of the North Sea, will that be alright?"
The question was raised whether the two families could beco in-laws.
"That happened a hundred years ago. Surely, they wouldn't be that petty?"
***
-It is sothing I have dread of for three hundred years!
The Snow Wind Sword Venerable was a Martial God who held a grudge for a very long ti.
"Revenge. Are you saying it was a past Cult Leader who made you like this?"
Flinch.
At my question, Baek Un-han made a troubled expression.
'Probably not.'
Among the past Cult Leaders of the Demonic Cult, there was no Cult Leader who used Ice Arts.
Maybe Fire Arts.
Becoming an ice statue in a cave where no one lived clearly had a different cause.
-Ahem, this is indeed because of the Ice Crystal.
"The Ice Crystal... you say?"
-Yes. Future descendants might not know, but the Ice Crystal makes its power go rampant every hundred years. While trying to handle the Ice Crystal's power...
Wait.
"If the cycle of the Ice Crystal exploding is one hundred years..."
There were four Martial Gods in history.
The fact that stories of the Martial God from a hundred years ago are circulating ans that a hundred years have passed from the current point in ti.
'It feels like there's one more reason for Seol Ye-rin to die besides the Extre Yin Body.'
"Is there no way to stop it?"
-Unfortunately, I didn't have one, but you do.
"What is it?"
-Extre Yang Body. Your constitution.
As I raised the flas, the ice statue began to lt.
"Then I should try my best."
Drip.
When the ice of the ice statue lted completely, the figure of the skeletonized Snow Wind Sword Venerable, Baek Un-han, was revealed.
-Tsk tsk, seeing that you found like this, it seems it's already ti for the Ice Crystal to start going rampant again.
"I need your help, Elder."
-Make the pact. Can you achieve my revenge?
"Of course."
I planned to take revenge on Hyeokryeon Geuk anyway.
To do that, I intended to build my strength in the North Sea.
The Snow Wind Sword Venerable looked into my eyes.
-You are sincere. Good. I don't know how much of my legacy you, with your Extre Yang Qi, can accept, but try learning it!
Flash!
The Snow Wind Sword Venerable's skeleton spewed out blue light.
Hwa-aak-
"This place is..."
An endlessly stretching snowy field.
Even though I emitted Yang Qi, the snow did not lt.
"You are keeping your mind clear. Impressive child."
When did he appear?
The white-haired old man on the snowy field, Snow Wind Sword Venerable Baek Un-han, was holding a sword.
"Did you create a ntal world?"
"You know of such things?"
"I created them a lot in the past."
ditation was one of the things I did a lot in my imdiate past life.
Since I couldn't use magic, training within the ntal image drawn out by ditation was a necessary condition for survival.
This was similar to the image training I did in my first life.
However.
'The only difference is that this feels more realistic.'
Snow Wind Sword Venerable Baek Un-han smiled.
"Then I can transmit it more quickly."
"Transmit what?"
"Didn't you say you wanted my legacy?"
Seureureuk.
Baek Un-han's sword rose, drawing an afterimage.
The pure white sword flux blooming from the sword spewed out imnse cold.
Then.
The wind began to blow.
"I will let you know why this old man was called the Snow Wind Sword Venerable."
Chiii-ik-
If my body hadn't been wrapped in Extre Yang Qi, I would have frozen long ago.
"I would be very happy if you could teach the sword arts of the North Sea."
I had to weigh whether that sword was truly stronger than the martial arts I had learned.
Hwaruruk-
Flas began to soar from my sword as well.
"Flas, truly like a bastard from the Demonic Cult. But you won't be able to keep up with this old man's experience."
A fierce wind rushed towards .
Baek Un-han opened his mouth.
-This sword form is called Snow Wind."
Not only the cold wind of the north, but all the wind and cold air circling the surroundings were swirling into Baek Un-han's sword.
-Martial artists called this Perishing Snow. Co.
The legacy left by the Snow Wind Sword Venerable.
Three hundred years ago.
Baek Un-han's unique sword thod, revered as the Martial God.
I rushed towards the Snow Wind Sword.
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