NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 104
104th Chapter: Blood Wash of the Gods and Demons
“Ugh.”
I swallowed my breath.
My eyes opened.
The ceiling embedded with Night Pearl was the first thing I noticed.
My whole body felt as heavy as lead. I was overwhelmed with fatigue.
No matter how much it happened in the realm of consciousness and how imperfectly it was manifested through magic, it was still a strike dealt by an absolute master of the Boundary of Life and Death.
If there was no physical strain on my body, that would have been even weirder.
My whole body trembled. Soon after, a piercing pain struck my mind like a crack!
I half-rose and coughed out blood.
Guh-kh!
A dark-colored lump of blood splattered from my mouth.
My blood vessels felt like they were being torn apart. Normally, events occurring in the realm of consciousness wouldn’t affect the physical body.
It was supposed to be nothing more than a mental phenomenon. It shouldn’t affect the physical realm.
But this time was different.
What happened in my mind had impacted my physical body, causing internal injuries.
This was something that couldn’t happen. To put it in modern terms, it was like my game character’s HP dropping and then I got hurt in real life.
“Even rotten fish can still be a decent meal, is this the power of an absolute master of the Boundary of Life and Death?”
I bit my lip.
Black Thunder Infinite.
It was a strike dealt in an overwhelmingly unfavorable situation—under the limited condition of being in the realm of consciousness where I held the reins and through imperfect manifestation by magic.
It was a handicap match where the enemy was overwhelmingly disadvantaged, and I was overwhelmingly favored.
Did the enemy even use 1% of their power?
It would be like comparing their pinky finger to my entire body’s muscles in a struggle.
It was a very special condition, so I was able to block it.
“Thank goodness it’s the mental world.”
My resolution to abandon the Mind’s Martial Arts in confronting the Primordial Sword Technique was true.
However, once gained, insights cannot be erased. The Mind’s Martial Arts were the same. I couldn’t completely abandon them.
Yet right now, my current life prevented me from using the One Piece of Ice Heart in reality.
The One Piece of Ice Heart, the Mind’s Martial Art I possessed in my previous life, was an art achieved at the pinnacle of Regulation Preservation.
Thus, One Piece of Ice Heart was a Mind’s Martial Art based on Regulation Preservation, so I couldn’t use it in reality now that I hadn’t performed Regulation Preservation.
Not unless it was in a special situation where only my spirit and mind existed, like in the realm of consciousness.
Of course, if I performed Regulation Preservation in this life as well, I could use One Piece of Ice Heart in reality.
“That crazy eunuch pervert martial art? Never using it in reality.”
First, I had to cut ties with that ghastly martial art, Regulation Preservation. I would never practice it in reality. I ought to not even be able to consider it.
If in this life, as the Primordial Sword Technique said, I were to reach the pinnacle of Gongdong Sect Martial Arts, there would be a high chance for a Mind’s Martial Art different from my previous life to manifest.
Because my previous and current selves are the same yet different beings.
In any case, even in such special circumstances, a strike dealt by an absolute master who reached the point of entering the Boundary of Life and Death injured my body as well as my mind.
“That was mere good fortune, or rather, heaven’s will. If I had truly met him…”
Then I would have been overwhelmed and torn apart in just a second.
My bones felt cold.
For the first time since my reincarnation, I shuddered.
In my previous life, I had already reached the absolute level known as Hyeongyeong. Although I was not as renowned as the world’s strongest swordmaster, Geomseong Yujinhwi, I was a mature master of Hyeongyeong and the top master of the Imperial Palace.
Thus, I naively thought that reclaiming the state of my previous life would be enough.
“No.”
But that was not the case.
The ominous calamity of reversed fate.
Even after hearing the warning from the Primordial Sword Technique, I did not take it seriously. In my previous life, there was no such calamity. I even thought maybe I was the calamity being a treacherous villain noted in history.
When I discovered traces of the Blood Sect, I was unworried, thinking they were just guys with shadows that wouldn’t be seen or how powerful they could really be.
But that was incorrect.
The calamity of reversed fate existed.
The danger of the Blood Sect was real. Should I call him the Sect Leader or the Demon?
Their mastery was at the Boundary of Life and Death.
“I need to get stronger.”
I gritted my teeth.
“To protect my women and become a true grown man… I need to become an absolute master beyond my previous life… I must ascend to the Boundary of Life and Death.”
The Sect Leader of the Blood Sect.
I had already formed a hidden relationship with him. If his goal were the same as that of the Blood Wash Demon from 300 years ago, then I would have to fight against him.
The goal declared by the Blood Wash Demon 300 years ago was the New Heaven and New Earth. He aimed to ascend to the heavens and establish a new world order. His goal for leading the Blood Sect, overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty, and expelling the Mongols was all for that.
Whether he meant to simply become the lord of the Central Plains and later conquer the world like Alexander, or literally ascend to heaven and become a god, I had no clue.
But if his goal were the same as the Blood Wash Demon, I would have no choice but to stop him.
There was no patriotic fervor for this medieval world’s Ming Dynasty.
The Emperor.
Because she was in the Forbidden City. She would rise to power like in my previous life. She would be the Emperor of the Ming Empire. I could not let her, someone akin to my own blood, be ruled by anyone else.
My gaze sank heavily.
“…Blood Wash Demon…”
The Blood Wash Demon.
A legendary Grand Demon who was defeated and killed by the Primordial Sword Technique in the chaotic times of the late Yuan to early Ming 300 years ago. Leader of the Blood Sect. An absolute master who reached the Boundary of Life and Death, just like the Primordial Sword Technique.
His name kept resonating in my head.
“Is it even possible for an absolute master of the Boundary of Life and Death to appear again after 300 years?”
The first question that came to mind.
There had to be at least one master of Hyeongyeong in every era. In general, the realm of Hyeongyeong is known as the epitome of being the “strongest in the world.”
But the Boundary of Life and Death?
The Boundary of Life and Death discusses the realm of transcendent beings, the strongest of all time. In any era, it is exceedingly difficult to produce even one figure in the realm of the Boundary of Life and Death even after hundreds of years.
Even if one had the talent of a Heavenly Body, it was not something that could be easily achieved.
In fact, those who reached the pinnacle of the Boundary of Life and Death included the First Heavenly Demon, adept founder of the Shaolin, founding ancestor Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang, the first Sect Leader of the Heavenly Real Religion, Wang Zhongyang, Genius Sword Enthusiast Ye Dong-bin, Blood Wash Demon, and Primordial Sword Technique, all of whom are entrenched legendary figures in the martial arts world.
But now, the notion that such an absolute master of the Boundary of Life and Death had been active and unnamed in the dark this whole time? If they approached directly, they could easily take control of the martial arts world at once?
It didn’t add up.
“It’s not that he doesn’t move. He can’t move.”
That means there’s only one conclusion.
The current Sect Leader of the Blood Sect is in a situation where he cannot act directly. For instance, he may have sustained injuries that hinder his mobility.
If he had severe injuries, it would explain why there were no traces of the Blood Sect in my previous life, and why he chose to operate only in the shadows.
However, the Sect Leader of the Blood Sect is an absolute master of the Boundary of Life and Death. The only ones who could injure such a master are those who’ve also achieved the Boundary of Life and Death.
The last two figures from history to appear at the Boundary of Life and Death were the Blood Wash Demon and the Primordial Sword Technique. Just two.
The Blood Wash Demon could not have injured the Demon, so the remaining possibility is…
“The Primordial Sword Technique, that gentleman.”
The Primordial Sword Technique injured the Demon.
Having derived that conclusion, I shuddered slightly.
“However, the Primordial Sword Technique, after eliminating the Blood Wash Demon at Payang Lake, stepped down from the position of the Martial Alliance Leader, returned to the Gongdong Sect, and entered the Secret Cave to seclude himself.”
Did he catch the Demon while secluded?
In that short period, did the Blood Wash Demon’s disciple manage to ascend to the Boundary of Life and Death?
While it’s not impossible, it doesn’t seem likely.
It’s much more plausible to think the other way around.
“For example, what if the current Sect Leader of the Blood Sect is the same person as the Blood Wash Demon?”
If the Sect Leader and the Blood Wash Demon were the same person?
Then, everything connects smoothly. But the Blood Wash Demon certainly died in the battle at Payang Lake.
A dead man can’t come back to life…
“Actually, he can come back to life.”
I muttered softly.
Rebirth Great Method.
A secret technique from reversed fate that allows one to reincarnate into another’s body and live a second life. It was my last resort used to regain my powers. The source of that technique was none other than the Blood Sect.
“The Blood Wash Demon… He must have resurrected using the Rebirth Great Method… But the resurrection was imperfect. That’s why he can’t act directly.”
Not a complete resurrection, but an imperfect one.
Executing the Rebirth Great Method required the subject to be alive first. However, the Blood Wash Demon was already a corpse at the time. Of course, using the Rebirth Great Method on a corpse would lead to an incomplete resurrection.
Both his spirit and body became imperfectly revived.
Thus, the Blood Wash Demon could not act directly. Therefore, he operated in secrecy using magic and subordinates.
His existence should not be revealed until he fully resurrected.
The Blood Sect was a band of traitors officially blacklisted by the Ming Empire. If their survival came to light and their location was pinpointed, an extermination army would be deployed in conjunction with the martial arts world from the Imperial Palace immediately.
The Blood Sect was in danger. Perhaps the safety of the not fully resurrected Blood Wash Demon was also in jeopardy.
Thus, he needed to remain hidden.
Every piece of the puzzle fit together seamlessly.
“I finally understand the warning from the Primordial Sword Technique.”
The calamity of reversed fate would resurface.
The warning from the Primordial Sword Technique was a literal foreshadowing that the Blood Wash Demon would return.
The Primordial Sword Technique must have known.
That the Blood Wash Demon would resurrect through the Rebirth Great Method.
That’s why he left arrangements in the Secret Cave. To cultivate talented individuals to oppose the Blood Wash Demon across generations.
So, in the previous life, the Blood Wash Demon destroyed the Secret Cave, dismantling the Primordial Sword Technique’s plan.
“If the Blood Wash Demon has been imperfectly resurrected, it also explains why he never revealed himself before I died in my previous life.”
My mind continued to turn.
In my previous life, neither the Blood Wash Demon nor the Blood Sect made an appearance.
The reason was simple.
They must have used underlings as per the martial arts novel cliché to infiltrate the orthodoxy, heretics, demon sect, and the Imperial Palace.
Among them, the Imperial Palace was probably their real target.
If they seize the imperial palace and make the emperor their puppet, it would be like ruling the Ming Empire in practice.
I knew very well from my previous life having been in such a position of hidden power.
Yet, in the process of placing Hwang Sang on the throne, I inadvertently eliminated all the underlings they had planted in the Imperial Palace.
Their biggest plan to dominate the world by controlling the imperial palace went up in smoke.
“It doesn’t end there. I’ve scooped up every precious herb throughout the Central Plains and beyond to reclaim my powers.”
In order for their resurrection to be completed, they would likely need beneficial herbs.
But those herbs had long been depleted since I had gathered every last one while ascending to the realm of Hyeongyeong and bought the ones on the market using royal finances with bonuses.
There was no doubt that the resurrection would be delayed.
Moreover, the martial arts world still had the Heavenly Body known as Sahyeong, and the entire Ming Empire was under my control.
My power control was perfect. There was no room for the Blood Sect to interfere.
In my previous life, while trying to reclaim my powers, I had inadvertently become the greatest obstacle for the Blood Wash Demon.
The Blood Wash Demon, unable to act directly, must have been seething with rage.
“That’s why he gave me the Rebirth Great Method.”
The fact that the Rebirth Great Method, a technique of the Blood Sect, came into my hands was not a coincidence. It was a scheme of the Blood Sect. They planned to use the Rebirth Great Method to kill me.
The success rate of the Rebirth Great Method was less than 10%.
Even if one somehow managed to succeed despite that slim chance, the greatest obstacle, Lee Cheol-soo, had already died, so their plan was likely smooth sailing.
Had I not reincarnated, I would have played right into their hands had they resurrected.
“Those bastards…”
Profanities slipped from my lips as I grasped all of the Blood Sect’s schemes.
How dare they!
Using the loss of my eunuch status and my lack of powers to play tricks on me? How dare? Those bastards who had never felt the blade’s edge use my weakness against me!
It was unforgivable.
“The Blood Wash Demon, that bastard… He needs to be castrated to come to his senses…”
I gritted my teeth as I stood up.
My legs trembled. My body swayed.
But I needed to move.
I had uncovered all the enemy’s conspiracy. Now I finally realized who my adversary was. So I couldn’t continue to remain complacent like this.
To protect my women and achieve Samcheosacheop and Hyeolgyo’s Scheme, I must not stop here.
I had to keep moving. I had to make an effort. I needed to rise to the Boundary of Life and Death. I had to move a step ahead of him.
More effort was required than in my previous life. A stronger martial art than in my previous life was essential.
“You’re dead meat, you bastard.”
For me and my women.
For my Hyeolgyo’s Scheme and my gallant exploits.
I had to turn that bastard, the Blood Wash Demon, into a eunuch like I was.
“Once I deal with the Blood Wash Demon, my fame will spread far and wide. I will become a hero of the martial arts world, encompassing the Lord of the Right. Of course I will be popular… Fan letters from fan girls would pour in endlessly… Hehe.”
Grinding my teeth, I observed my surroundings.
Beneath the light of the Night Pearl, there were a handful of bloodied corpses left over from the ghostly figures and one body whose head burst open.
It seemed that a member of the Blood Sect was killed as a backlash when I destroyed the magic. The ghostly figures were probably offered as sacrifices for the magic.
The figure of the Geumhu emerged. She lay collapsed on the ground with her eyes closed. I could hear her soft breathing.
It seemed she hadn’t suffered any serious harm thanks to my destruction of the magic. Still, worried, I approached and grabbed her wrist to check her pulse.
Fortunately, she was just asleep. There was nothing wrong.
I was relieved to have protected Geumhu. My future wife is precious.
“Sangong… No… Don’t go there…”
Murmurs slipped from Geumhu’s lips as she was sleeping. Her face flushed. A smile bloomed on her face.
Geumhu is smiling?
Sangong? No?
What on earth was she dreaming? Had she been in solitary confinement for too long and was now dreaming about living with the imagined husband?
Well.
I hope it’s a nice dream.
In the future, she wouldn’t have to dream like that anymore.
Because I would truly become her Sangong and make that dream a reality.
Thinking that, I disengaged from her.
There was no other danger nearby.
Geumhu wouldn’t wake up for a while.
Then…
I stumbled over to where my backpack lay sprawled on the floor.
As I rummaged through the backpack, I pulled out a medicinal flask and opened the lid.
Click.
A refreshing fragrance brushed against my nostrils. There was a high-grade internal injury healing medicine, the Sokmyeongdan, that I had treasured, given to me by Jeoksawol in the form of Hwa Myeon-ho-geum one year ago.
“I was right to save it instead of using it back then.”
Praising my past self, I took out the Sokmyeongdan, swallowed it, and immediately entered a meditative posture to circulate my energy.
Now, it was time to heal my internal injuries.