Everyone was exhausted.
The martial artists of Cheonuigung sitting around the campfire did not even engage in the usual small talk, gazing at the blazing flames with weary eyes.
Then, a man approached them shouldering a box. It was Geom Mugeuk, dressed in the garb of a Cheonuigung martial artist.
“That’s a face I haven’t seen before?”
At the question from the martial artist across the campfire, Geom Mugeuk set down his box and squeezed himself into their circle.
“Well, that’s because you’re seeing it for the first time. Hey, move your butt over a bit.”
The other martial artists burst into snickers. There were so many people encamped that it was impossible to know everyone. He must have just arrived to fill a dead man’s spot.
Geom Mugeuk pulled a bottle of liquor from the box he had brought, took a long swig, and then tossed the bottle to the man who had first spoken to him.
“Where did you get the booze?”
“Want to know?”
“No.”
The man drank. The others waited their turn and passed it around, each taking a sip. These days, with the fighting dragging on, getting liquor was like plucking stars from the sky.
Geom Mugeuk’s behavior was so natural, and since he had even shared liquor, no one suspected this new face. Surely, if he were an enemy, he wouldn’t have deliberately come and squeezed himself in among them.
Geom Mugeuk had infiltrated deep into the central area of the Cheonuigung encampment. His target was the central command tent visible up ahead.
‘This won’t be easy.’
A strict perimeter was spread around the area, but they were not the problem.
He did not possess enough internal energy to unleash the Guhwamagong, but he could execute a variation of the Pungsin Sobo footwork. Avoiding their eyes was not difficult.
The problem was the Cheonuigungju and the true experts guarding him at his side. It would be impossible to deceive them as well and infiltrate that place. Yet having come this far, it was too much of a waste to simply turn back, so he needed to find some way.
Then, the martial artist from earlier asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Any more liquor?”
“I have some. But could you handle it if I did?”
Geom Mugeuk gestured with his chin toward the large central command tent. It meant the liquor would be taken there. He might be able to siphon off a bottle or so, but if he diverted more and caused a problem, he would pay a truly steep price for the liquor.
The man did not dare ask for more liquor and instead poured out complaints.
“Damn it. When is this blasted war going to end?”
Then the others sitting around chimed in one by one.
“It’ll end soon. Haven’t you heard the rumors that the Muhwang Singeom has arrived on the other side? He’ll cross blades with our Palace Lord before long.”
“What if our Palace Lord loses?”
“What else? Then we’re all dead too.”
At the mention of death, everyone rather laughed.
Listening to their conversation, these men were no different from the Martial Alliance’s martial artists. At first, they had likely entered the war endowing it with all manner of meaning, but as time went on, everyone had only one wish: for the war to end soon.
Then a martial artist came running from the other side and shouted,
“The Palace Lord has returned!”
At that, everyone sprang to their feet and the surroundings grew hectic.
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes sparkled.
‘Then that means the Cheonuigungju is not in that tent right now?’
Carrying the box, Geom Mugeuk quickly moved toward the large command tent. He set the box down nearby and displayed his skill.
It was not the kind of spectacular footwork that could shave one’s nose off before one’s very eyes, but even so, infiltrating the interior of the tent guarded by ordinary martial artists was not difficult.
As expected, the interior of the tent was empty. Everything inside was luxurious. The fur covering the chair, the small table, even the liquor bottles and cups set upon it.
He had entered this place knowing full well that the Cheonuigungju would come, for there was one thing he believed in.
Just then, sounds of movement came from outside, and two men entered.
When they entered, Geom Mugeuk’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
He had unleashed the Space-Time Transference Technique. The space Geom Mugeuk created was just large enough for one person to stand—a space of darkness where not even a single ray of light could exist.
It was the only space he could create with his current internal energy. This too was possible because, thanks to ceaselessly training in the Space-Time Transference Technique and the Sicheon Bisul, his mastery had deepened, allowing him to open a space with very little internal energy.
From within the Space-Time Transference Technique, Geom Mugeuk watched the two who had entered: an old man and a middle-aged man.
The old man’s face bore deep furrows carved by time, yet there was also something about him that made one hesitate to call him old. His back was straight, his eyes fierce. And more than anything, he radiated not the setting sun of a life nearing its end, but the blazing heat of a sun still high in the sky.
This old man was none other than Wi Mucheon, the Cheonuigungju.
He was the very one who had started a war against the Martial Alliance, the symbol of the orthodox faction.
Wi Mucheon paused and looked around the interior, seemingly sensing a subtle disharmony. It was a moment that revealed just how extraordinary his martial prowess was.
“Why do you pause, sir?”
The middle-aged martial artist who had entered with Wi Mucheon asked.
He had a strong impression, looking like a man who would never back down from any situation. This was Baek Yanggi, the Palace Lord of Suhogung, one of the Three Great Divine Palaces of Cheonuigung.
“It is nothing.”
Wi Mucheon failed to detect the Space-Time Transference Technique that Geom Mugeuk had deployed.
He sat in his chair and poured liquor from the bottle on the side table.
“Then please rest.”
As the Palace Lord of Suhogung turned to leave, Wi Mucheon asked,
“Do you know why the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Heretical Alliance are not intervening in this fight with the Martial Alliance?”
The Palace Lord of Suhogung turned back to Wi Mucheon and answered.
“They must be hoping that the orthodox martial world’s vitality will be greatly damaged by this war.”
Wi Mucheon nodded at his calm reply.
“Exactly. The strategy of the borrowed knife. They strike the Martial Alliance with the blade that is Cheonuigung. That is their scheme.”
Wi Mucheon had started the war knowing that scheme better than anyone.
It was a strategy that exploited the longstanding enmity between the orthodox and demonic. Because of that ancient hatred that could never stand to see the other thriving, he was confident that even if one side was attacked, the other would never come to their aid.
As expected, the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Heretical Alliance did not help the Martial Alliance. Instead, they supported the various factions aiding Cheonuigung.
“They must think that we will mutually exhaust ourselves fighting the orthodox martial world.”
The smile formed by the wrinkles at the corners of Wi Mucheon’s mouth was full of confidence.
“Because of their arrogance, we will be victorious.”
The eyes of the Palace Lord of Suhogung watching him deepened. Who was truly the arrogant one? Did the Cheonuigungju truly believe he could achieve the unification of the martial world?
“Have a drink.”
Wi Mucheon held out a cup to the Palace Lord of Suhogung, who received it respectfully.
Glug-glug.
“You opposed this war.”
With the liquor falling into the cup between them, the two men’s gazes intertwined.
The Palace Lord of Suhogung knew. He knew of the Palace Lord’s fervent dream of unification under Heaven. He knew how long he had prepared for that dream. Even so.
“The Muhwang Singeom is a strong man.”
The Palace Lord of Suhogung knew all too well that these words could wound Wi Mucheon’s pride if he erred. But it was something that had to be said.
Even if they killed the Muhwang Singeom, if the Martial Alliance fell, countless hidden experts of the orthodox faction would reveal themselves.
And that was not all.
The Heretical Alliance remained, and the Heavenly Demon Cult remained.
Unification under Heaven.
The only thing that could fill those four characters was blood.
And the moment those four characters came together, they would become a monster that could drink blood without ever being sated.
It was unimaginable how much blood would have to be poured to complete those characters.
Wi Mucheon silently poured liquor into his own cup.
Of course, the Palace Lord of Suhogung knew. He was hardly a madman crazed for blood, was he? He merely possessed a fierce determination toward the unification of the martial world.
He understood his ambition as well. A martial prodigy, he possessed the strongest martial arts among all past Cheonuigungju.
“I apologize.”
To the Palace Lord of Suhogung’s apology, Wi Mucheon uttered something unexpected.
“This war is not mine.”
Wi Mucheon emptied his cup. The Palace Lord of Suhogung waited until he finished drinking, then poured him more and asked,
“Then whose war is it?”
“Heaven’s will.”
A brief silence passed.
The will of Heaven.
Cheonuigung was a place that existed to preserve that heavenly will. No one knew when Cheonuigung had descended through history, but the fact that it was an organization that protected the will of Heaven had never changed.
“I do not believe Heaven desires blood.”
The Palace Lord of Suhogung conveyed his honest feelings. He knew these words would greatly displease the Cheonuigungju, but they too had to be spoken. For Suhogung existed to protect Cheonuigung.
Wi Mucheon fixed his gaze upon the Palace Lord of Suhogung. The tension heightened to a breaking point, but the Palace Lord showed no fear.
As if he had expected such a reaction, the Cheonuigungju did not grow angry. Instead, he conveyed an astonishing fact.
“The Bigwe has awakened.”
“!”
The Palace Lord of Suhogung was startled. Not only him, but Geom Mugeuk who was listening was also startled. He had known the Bigwe was related to Cheonuigung, but he had not expected to hear of it in their conversation.
What could it mean that the Bigwe had awakened?
“As you know, the Bigwe is the sacred object of the main palace, said to contain the will of Heaven. No one knows who made it or for what purpose, but after the first Cheonuigungju obtained the Bigwe, Cheonuigung became a place that existed generation after generation to protect the Bigwe.”
From his words, Geom Mugeuk was able to understand the relationship between the Bigwe and Cheonuigung.
‘So the Bigwe was the sacred object of Cheonuigung.’
He could now understand more clearly why that Bigwe had brought him here.
The Palace Lord of Suhogung looked at Wi Mucheon with a surprised face.
He found it hard to believe. Over the years, the Bigwe had existed as merely a symbol. Like some bell somewhere, some incense burner somewhere, some sword somewhere.
‘But that Bigwe has awakened?’
Wi Mucheon showed him the proof directly. He took something from within his robe.
“The Bigwe produced this.”
What Wi Mucheon took out was a small Bigwe.
The moment he saw that Bigwe, the Palace Lord of Suhogung knelt down on the spot, paying his respects. It was shaped exactly like the great Bigwe.
“In accordance with the will of Heaven, this body shall follow the will of the sacred object.”
The Bigwe, sacred object of Cheonuigung, was not something one could dare to meet eyes with or gaze upon. In truth, the Bigwe was stored in the treasure vault of Cheonuigung, and only the Cheonuigungju could enter that place.
Wi Mucheon’s eyes as he gazed upon the Bigwe were also filled with awe and reverence.
“I can feel the power contained within. It is a fearsome power. Not something the likes of the Muhwang Singeom could stop.”
Only now did the Palace Lord of Suhogung understand why the Cheonuigungju had started such an unreasonable war.
And it was at that very moment.
At this instant, remarkably, the Bigwe cried out.
*Oooooong.*
Even Wi Mucheon was startled. It was the first time the small Bigwe had shown a reaction since he obtained it.
Wi Mucheon lifted the Bigwe high, and the Palace Lord of Suhogung bowed his head to the ground.
“I started this fight in accordance with the will of Heaven.”
“I shall assist Your Highness in achieving the unification of the world under Heaven’s will without fail.”
The resolve to no longer harbor other thoughts about the meaning of this war surfaced on the Palace Lord of Suhogung’s face.
Watching that scene, Geom Mugeuk realized one fact.
‘The Bigwe did not cry because of the Cheonuigungju.’
Because right now, the Bigwe in his own embrace was vibrating as well. Geom Mugeuk could feel it instinctively.
‘It is the same Bigwe.’
That across three hundred years, two Bigwes—one and the same—were resonating with each other.
No doubt it was because that Bigwe existed here that it had been possible to bring him across that long span of years.
‘You… you were this incredible, huh.’
Sorry. Since I drew a smiling face on you without knowing you were such an amazing sacred object.
Then, a subordinate’s voice was heard from outside.
“The Sinnyeo of Sinnyeogung has arrived.”
The Sinnyeo was the palace lord who led Sinnyeogung, another of the Three Great Divine Palaces.
The two men were startled to hear that she had come. For the Sinnyeo to come personally to this battlefield meant that something equally important had occurred.
“Bring her in.”
Shortly after, women dressed in white entered first.
As they lined up left and right to clear a path, the Sinnyeo walked in between them.
The Palace Lord of Sinnyeogung, Ye Seol.
She had her two eyes covered with a white cloth. Though her eyes were covered, she was known to see everything in the world.
A sacred aura flowed from her body, and with every step she took, mystery seemed to ripple up like heat haze.
Wi Mucheon greeted her with courtesy. Though the Sinnyeo was indeed his subordinate, she was a special existence.
“To what do we owe the presence of the Sinnyeo in such a perilous place?”
Then the Sinnyeo spoke astonishing words. Her voice possessed a composed dignity. She spoke in a voice that made all ears lean in.
“A prophecy has descended.”
At those words, both Wi Mucheon and the Palace Lord of Suhogung were startled.
The reason the people of Cheonuigung revered and valued the Sinnyeo was precisely because she could read the will of Heaven and make prophecies. Among all past Sinnyeos, she was the one who had made the most accurate prophecies.
Wi Mucheon and the Palace Lord of Suhogung cupped their fists simultaneously and paid their respects.
“We listen to the will of Heaven on behalf of the main palace.”
Anticipation filled Wi Mucheon’s eyes. A prophecy delivered before an important battle.
He prayed it would be a positive prophecy regarding his unification of the world.
“It was said that the unification of the world will be achieved.”
Joy filled Wi Mucheon’s face. Yes, there was a reason the Bigwe had awakened. He could now understand why the Bigwe had cried out.
Then, astonishing words flowed from the Sinnyeo.
“However, the will of Heaven is not with the Palace Lord.”
“!”
Puzzlement bloomed on Wi Mucheon’s face.
Had she not clearly said the unification would be achieved? Yet the will of Heaven was not with him?
A shocking prophecy flowed from the Sinnyeo’s mouth.
“The time when Cheonuigung’s heavenly will shall be fulfilled is three hundred years hence.”