Chapter 62

Chapter 61>

Johwi, who had been watching all of this, was extremely irritated.

He understood well that they claimed to be immortals, but their constant gibberish was now making him feel nauseous just at the mention of the word 'divine.'

Moreover, the fact that Tianwu, whom he had thought was on his side, had actually been suspicious of him all along, further turned his stomach.

According to their words, if Dharma, the great founder of Zen, was not a great being but the worst existence humanity had ever produced, how could he be the reincarnation of such a person?

What made him even more furious was that even the venerables of the Spirit Realm, who had always cherished and pampered him, were now wavering at Tianwu's words.

This meant that he, Johwi, was being subjected to 'reasonable suspicion'!

No, the reason he could interpret and master the artifacts of the divine seat differently and more quickly than they could was because he was a 'modern person' just like them!

Just because you can't explain it with your common sense, does interpreting it as some grand 'divine will' make you feel better?

Isn't that the same as the countless uncivilized people of this era who, when they get measles, leave water for the spirits and ask to be cured?

You're really primitive, so primitive.

'What divine seat?'

If he were truly a deity, he would have controlled the human world with sheer will alone.

I don't know God, God?

If you're unhappy, you rain down and destroy the earth, or split the Red Sea in half; that's what a deity is!

Wait a minute?

If the power that split the sea is the same as the one I used to kill Huizunshen not long ago, I could do it too...

When his thoughts reached this point, Johwi was almost driven mad.

'Ah, damn it!'

Johwi, even more enraged, forcibly dispelled Tianwu's manifestation and reclaimed control of his body.

Though it was an impulsive action, it greatly startled the venerables of the Spirit Realm.

-How could this be...!

The venerables of the Spirit Realm were truly venerable.

Their souls, tempered by long karmic ties, were that powerful.

Moreover, among such powerful souls, Tianwu was unparalleled.

What did it mean that he could so easily and forcefully dispel such a powerful soul?

-It's a spiritual power that surpasses us. This is...!

Jinshen, the elder, was shocked.

That he possessed a spiritual power that surpassed the venerables?

In fact, while martial prowess like inner strength was clearly perceptible as one broke through realms, spiritual power did not feel like a tangible entity to Johwi.

Johwi, shifting his gaze to the swirling darkness, spat out his words.

"Enough. Hey, you dark guy."

"Ugh..."

Guiyanzi, recognizing Johwi at first glance due to the changed aura, was now very wary since he had discovered that Johwi was a reincarnation.

"I don't understand. There's no way he would have left you alone all this time."

"I don't care. Just tell me how to get out of here quickly. I'm busy. I have a lot to do."

"I have a request."

"A request?"

You were said to be an absolute being whose power reached the heavens, hated and cursed by the seats, but what request do you have for me?

"Long ago, my soul was weary. Now, I truly want to rest."

Johwi's eyes widened in surprise.

"What? You can't possibly be asking me to kill you?"

"If I could have given up my life so easily, I wouldn't have endured such a harsh era."

"Then?"

"I want to be there too."

"There?"

Johwi, looking puzzled, tilted his head, then, realizing the nature of the 'there' the other was talking about, shouted in desperation.

"Are you saying my head is a tavern?"

"I will watch your every move like a mouse in hiding."

"Ha, you want to be a spectator? Will you give me some tips?"

Now, are you asking me to be a broadcaster too?

His intention was too obvious.

Though he didn't want to admit it, the other was claiming that he had spied on the power of the divine seat from him.

Naturally, he wanted to observe from within the Spirit Realm and find a clue to reach the divine seat.

"No. Absolutely not. I'm already on the verge of a mental breakdown. No more residents."

"Ugh..."

At that moment, Jinshen's voice echoed in his head again.

-Isn't it fine? He is one of the six venerable spirits who directly inherited the legacy from the divine seat. Wouldn't it be beneficial for you? Moreover, he is a being who has cultivated his power for over a thousand years. His knowledge far surpasses the human realm.

Mashen agreed.

-The ones who secretly rule the Central Plains are not the seats but the Tongtianzun... or rather, the Tongtianzunshen, as he is called. If you were to meet him, wouldn't he be a great help to you?

Johwi sighed.

"If he intends to help me, he should do so now. There's no need to bring him into the Spirit Realm."

-You fool! He is someone who roams the depths of the earth to avoid the eyes of the divine seat and the Tongtianzunshen. After the divine power of the martial deity was revealed, you saw how it was completely annihilated by the divine power of the seat. How can you still say such things?

Ah, damn!

It's too logically sound to refute.

"I don't care. Will you really stay quiet? My head is already about to explode. If you come in and make a presence, I won't allow it. Got it?"

"..."

"..."

"Why are you speaking informally?"

"Are you trying to act superior because you're over a thousand years old? Who's the boss here?"

"..."

Thus, Guiyanzi finally dissolved his physical form in the chaotic world after a thousand years and concluded his life of glory and disgrace.

A new life as a venerable of the Spirit Realm awaited him.

However, Guiyanzi had no idea how great a curse this would be for him.

* * *

Duan Liuxiong, or rather, Huizunshen, was the actual master who operated the Secret Clan.

Guyeoncheon, known as the Secret Lord, was merely a proxy for Huizunshen.

However, the absolute being Duan Liuxiong was mysteriously annihilated, which was enough to plunge Guyeoncheon into a state of panic.

It had already been half a month since Guyeoncheon declared his seclusion.

The confusion was the same for Johwi and his companions.

"Still no news?"

In response to Bai Huarin's question, Hong Ye shook her head.

"None. There is no trace of the Lesser Sword God anywhere in the world."

The extensive network of spies was spread across the world.

If Hong Ye spoke with such confidence, Johwi would definitely not exist anywhere.

"Surely he didn't die, right?"

On the day Johwi disappeared,

He left only a message telling his companions not to come out and then vanished. Not long after, thunder rumbled from the sky.

Johwi's companions never thought it was the noise of a battle until they heard the eyewitness accounts. They assumed it was a natural disaster.

"An absolute realm martial artist doesn't die so easily."

Bai Huarin laughed sinisterly.

"The world's spies can't be unaware of how the Black Heaven Sect was born."

Danyongcheng, the master of Moshan Valley, was one of the Eight Martial Seats at the time.

The one who killed him and unified Jiangxi was none other than the Black Heaven Great Killer.

"How can the Lesser Sword God be compared to the master of Moshan Valley? The one who inscribed the divine command on his body is the first since the Three Gods. Don't doubt my ability to judge people anymore."

At that moment, Johwi's figure appeared out of nowhere in the dim shadows of the meeting room.

"Bitch. You've been calling others bitches all this time, but the real bitch is you. Where were you when you were chasing me around calling me 'brother'?"

"Master Johwi!"

"Lesser Sword God!"

Unlike Hong Ye and Dark Corridor, who were extremely delighted, Bai Huarin was at a loss.

"No, that's not it..."

"Get lost! If you had come a day later, I would have set up an altar for you. Come on, me!"

Bai Huarin, tightly pursing her lips and shrinking like a turtle, made Johwi click his tongue and look at Hong Ye.

"How far has the work progressed?"

"Not at all. Everything is in chaos, so nothing has been done."

"Chaos? What's the situation?"

Hong Ye slowly began to explain.

Guyeoncheon's sudden seclusion.

The sale of the Ten Thousand Gold Hall has been suspended.

"Various officials and merchants have requested an audience with the Secret Lord several times a day, but he has refused them all. Even the emperor's uncle came not long ago, but he was also turned away."

Johwi smiled.

"Kid, your mental state is completely gone."

"Mental state?"

"There is such a thing."

Occasionally, the Lesser Sword God used strange words.

Hong Ye, sensitive to information, had been paying close attention to this from the beginning.

Occasionally, the words he used seemed similar to the language of the Western Regions.

"It must be hard to find food now. Let's retreat."

"What?"

"What did you say?"

Most of all, Bai Huarin's expression was full of confusion.

"Three months have already passed, right? Didn't you say the Zhaodaishang Company was in danger? And now you're talking about retreating?"

"Are you underestimating the world's greatest open house? I was receiving regular reports from the Zhaodaishang Company through the messenger pigeons. And..."

Johwi's next words stunned everyone.

"I killed the villain. The Zhaodaishang Company will be safe for a while."

"Villain? Who are you talking about?"

Johwi, with a sardonic smile, looked at the residence of Guyeoncheon, the actual master of the Secret Clan.

"The actual master who operates the Secret Clan is someone else. This kid can't do anything on his own. He has no real power. It's likely that he was able to pacify the underground world with their help."

"Really?"

Hong Ye's bewildered expression.

The Secret Clan, which secretly operates the Central Plains, is a mystery in itself. The idea that there is another organization that moves the Secret Clan is truly a mystery within a mystery, a truly intricate situation.

"Did you personally kill such an incredible being?"

Johwi answered bluntly.

"Yeah. They'll sort it out and clean up on their own as time goes by. There will be plenty of food then. Let's come back when the time is right."

Hong Ye, still in a daze, looked at her stomach.

"What is this...?"

How much hardship I've gone through to deceive Guyeoncheon!

"Are you going to keep living as his wife? I'll keep my promise, so don't worry."

Dark Corridor also expressed bewilderment.

"How do you plan to escape? Ancient and famous formations are spread all around the manor. Moreover, the absolute experts of the Killing Curtain are guarding the manor without a single gap. They wouldn't let the wife of the Secret Lord out so easily, would they?"

Zhu Hui clicked his tongue and pulled out a long rope from his pocket.

"How can they block the sky?"

"Hmm?"

Johwi, approaching Dark Corridor silently, began to tie her up.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't move."

After tightly tying up Dark Corridor, Johwi made a knot and then approached Hong Ye with the rope.

"Are you serious, you?"

"Yeah, you're right."

"Aah!"

Johwi, after tying up the stunned Hong Ye, approached Bai Huarin, who had a bewildered expression.

"Brother, are we really flying in the sky?"

"Actually, I don't really want to take you."

Bai Huarin, a seasoned veteran of the evil path, was someone who could survive using the myriad transformations of creation.

"Why, why are you doing this? I really worked hard!"

"That's why I'm tying you up."

Johwi chuckled once and then floated a black sword in the air and climbed on it.

"Lesser Sword God!"

"Hey! Why didn't you ask us before...!"

But their protests did not reach Johwi.

"Yah!"

"Kyaah!"

"Aah, no! Ahh!"

Bang!

The roof of the lodging broke, and Johwi and his companions, tied together like sausages, soared into the cold night sky.

* * *

The sudden news of Johwi's return brought all his companions together for the first time in a while.

Zhang Yilong, with a peculiar expression, flexed his chest muscles and was keeping a watchful eye on Dark Corridor.

Johwi, looking at his companions, said,

"Introduce yourselves. We'll be working together from now on."

Dark Corridor, with his usual gruff voice, looked around.

"My nickname is Dark Corridor, and I don't have a name. Just call me Corridor."

Zhang Yilong laughed sinisterly.

"Killer Ghost? Spy?"

If someone in the martial world had no name or couldn't reveal it, they were either killers or spies.

Johwi glared at Zhang Yilong.

"Just call him Agent Corridor. Now that he's washed his hands and joined, are you going to question his background? You're not exactly a pushover yourself, are you?"

Indeed, whether it was a highwayman robbing people or a sinister killer, they were all the same. Comparing them was meaningless.

Zhang Yilong growled at Johwi with a look of disbelief.

"How can you compare the noble world of the Green Forest, where valiant men live, to despicable killers!"

"They both wield knives and take lives as hostages, the same thing."

"Brother!"

"What? Are you going to be a highwayman again?"

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"Are you a righteous person now?"

That's how Zhang Yilong became a meek little mouse, and Jin Jiaxi, who had been cautiously observing the situation, approached Bai Huarin.

"Sky Change... I mean, Sister Bai."

"Yes, Sister. How have you been?"

"Yes, Sister."

Women, more so than men, were clear about their hierarchy.

It seemed that the last incident had firmly established the hierarchy, as Jin Jiaxi was showing utmost respect to Bai Huarin.

Nangong Zhanghu, who had been silently observing, approached Johwi.

"This isn't right."

"What is it?"

Nangong Zhanghu glanced at Dark Corridor.

"Even though we are in your employ, we are your comrades and friends. Recruiting a killer is crossing the line. I cannot accept it."

Nangong Zhanghu's attitude clearly showed how killers were perceived in the martial world.

Martial artists did not consider killers to be true martial artists.

Johwi frowned.

"But if you think about it, even righteous people often take lives, don't they?"

Nangong Zhanghu's face showed deep anger, as if this was something he could never compromise on.

"Is the punishment carried out by the path of chivalry and justice the same as taking a life for money?"

Johwi was adamant.

"Well, no matter how much flowery language you use, the essence is the same—murder. The severity of the crime may differ, but the fundamental act of murder doesn't disappear, does it?"

To Johwi, who had modern values, all murders were the same unless they were in self-defense.

No matter how much one argued that they were drunk, had a mental illness, or that the murder was a just punishment, the modern judicial system did not deny the crime of murder.

"Unreasonable sophistry! How can the actions of a chivalrous hero be the same as a hired killer!"

"Actually, Nangong, you're the one using sophistry! Look, you're cleverly omitting the word 'murder'! You're packaging murder as 'the actions of a chivalrous hero,' but deep down, you know that murder can never be justified by anything!"

"Ha!"

"Ha! Twice!"

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable that his friends were arguing because of him, Dark Corridor approached Nangong Zhanghu and respectfully clasped his hands.

"I am Corridor. I have learned the martial arts of a killer, but I have never taken a life."

Nangong Zhanghu, looking surprised, clasped his hands in return.

"Is that true?"

Just a moment ago, he was cursing killers, but now he was clasping hands with one?

It seemed that for Nangong Zhanghu, clasping hands was like passing gas—something he