After the Pungcheon Cult Leader departed, I tried the Spacetime Transference Technique for the first time. I was curious to see how quickly I could create a space.
I had no intention of refining this martial art for decades, so I merely hoped that the space I first created would be made as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, having listened to the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s explanation of the mnemonic formula, I had thoroughly grasped the profound secret contained within the Spacetime Transference Technique, so I circulated my true qi and unfolded the formula with the same skill as someone who had trained in this martial art for a very long time.
How much time had passed?
A clear, crisp sound rang in my ears, and I was standing in a new space.
It was a success!
The time taken was exactly two shichen. Even a talented person was said to take several days, so I had created a new space in an incomparably short time.
I was certain. Not even my father could create a space this quickly.
Two shichen.
If I kept reducing that time, the day would surely come when I could use this martial art as freely as the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord or the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
Learning a new martial art always granted great excitement, but the thrill the Spacetime Transference Technique gave me was entirely different in nature.
I slowly walked around and examined the space. There was nothing in this place that had just been created.
Just as the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord had created cliffs and the Pungcheon Cult Leader had created barren lands, I too would later be able to create the space I desired.
But even now, it was not bad.
Perhaps because it was a space where I alone could exist, completely cut off from the world? Surprisingly, I felt a comfort in this empty place that I had never felt before.
A place where I could be apart from the responsibilities I shouldered, the struggles, the succession battles, the weaponry, human relationships, and everything else in the world—a place where I could have time alone without a single thought. That was why I liked it. Because a space of my own had been born.
But unfortunately, I could not enjoy this freedom for long. Perhaps because it was my first time, the drain on my internal energy was enormous.
Later, as my martial level rose, the internal energy required would gradually decrease, but at my current level, it drained away like water poured into a bottomless pot.
Dispelling the space was easy. As soon as I recited the mnemonic formula, the same crisp sound rang out and the space slowly vanished.
Having returned to the original world, I sat down and began circulating my energy in meditation.
To obtain that brief freedom, I had to fill my internal energy using a cultivation method and invest a period of two shichen, but I did not hesitate.
After filling my internal energy, I unfolded the Spacetime Transference Technique again. This time it also took nearly two shichen, but it felt subjectively a little faster than before. Yes, keep decreasing. So that I too could create this space in an instant.
So I unfolded the Spacetime Transference Technique, created a space and dispelled it again, created it again and dispelled it.
Until dawn broke, I was completely absorbed in creating my own space. The creation time was decreasing, ever so slightly.
Heavens! To think there was such an interesting martial art! That was my honest feeling.
* * *
At the moment Geom Mugeuk was completely absorbed in the Spacetime Transference Technique, the Pungcheon Cult Leader and Mabul were creating a rather heavy atmosphere.
Mabul had come to the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s residence late at night without any word.
Mabul, who had been about to sit facing him across the tea table, hurried over and stood before the shackled man. Because Mabul was short, his eye level was almost the same as the seated man.
The shackled man hung his head, so his face could not be seen.
Mabul bent down to try to see the shackled man’s face, but because of the hair hanging down in tangled strands, this too was not easy.
Mabul contemplated whether to lift the man’s hair with his tiny hand.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader watched this with a displeased expression. He was unhappy that Mabul was treating the shackled man like a spectacle.
But he did not voice any protest about ignoring his subordinate. Because if he did, that Mabul would surely start with something like, “Who is the one who bound him in shackles and didn’t treat him like a human in the first place?” and turn his stomach inside out.
Then Mabul turned around and abruptly asked.
“I heard you met the Second Young Master.”
A jaundiced, probing gaze flew toward him, but the Pungcheon Cult Leader was not shaken in the slightest.
“He may become the cult leader someday, so I had to meet him.”
“The cult leader will be the Eldest Young Master.”
Even without such a firm answer, the Pungcheon Cult Leader already knew. That Mabul was actively supporting the Eldest Young Master. If the Second Young Master had the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Eldest Young Master had Mabul.
“The situation does not seem to be going entirely that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hasn’t the Second Young Master ascended to the position of Hwangcheon Pavilion Master? No matter who looks at it, it seems the Heavenly Demon is grooming a successor, does it not?”
“Hehe, my friend. Spending all your time beyond the pass has dulled your insight.”
Mabul deliberately said something unnecessary to offend the other before continuing with his own piece.
“I see it the opposite way. He will make the Eldest Young Master his successor, and has simply given the Second Young Master another position. You should be content with that.”
“That may well be. It is a shame to return from this long-awaited trip to the Central Plains without seeing the Eldest Young Master.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader never revealed his true feelings to Mabul.
“Why do you support the Eldest Young Master?”
“Because the Eldest Young Master will become the successor. Must you ask something so obvious?”
“What gives you such certainty?”
“Just my intuition.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader knew. That Mabul was not someone who decided such weighty matters on intuition alone. He simply did not want to tell him matters related to the Eldest Young Master.
‘How can we possibly call each other friends like this?’
He was the same, of course. Because he would never tell him anything important regarding the Second Young Master.
“Look here, Cult Leader.”
“What is it?”
“Do not think of doing anything unnecessary. There are many eyes watching you on this side as well.”
“I do not know what you mean.”
“Why are you not returning?”
“Are you telling me to get lost now that business is finished?”
“That is not what I meant.”
Though the content was sharp, the tones of both men were soft and calm.
“Then leave me be. I am enjoying a rare trip to the Central Plains. Why? Do you mean to charge me for the room?”
“If you come to another’s house, you should stay quietly and leave. How can you defile the inner chamber?”
“Hehe. Whose mutt’s feces am I being mistaken for?”
“Advice from a friend. Do not cause needless trouble, and just return to the Pungcheon Cult.”
Honestly, the Pungcheon Cult Leader was inwardly taken aback. He had not expected Mabul to come and tell him to leave so brazenly. Setting aside their true feelings, they had outwardly maintained a relationship of courtesy and friendly pretense.
“Am I some existence that must come when called and go when dismissed?”
Still a calm tone, but the words themselves were a gleaming cold blade.
“Were you not?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader’s expression hardened, and the surrounding air grew cold in an instant.
Then Mabul burst into a broad smile.
“A jest, a jest. My friend, going all serious because of a little joke. You have really lost your touch, spending all your time beyond the pass. Enjoy yourself to your heart’s content. Let us stay here and play forever. Hahaha.”
As if he had never been angry, the Pungcheon Cult Leader laughed along.
“I suppose so. The desolate sandstorms have made me desolate as well. Such is the nature of the lands beyond the pass.”
“Let me buy you a drink somewhere with a nice atmosphere. Somewhere with beauties who could melt our Cult Leader’s desolation like snow.”
“Is it proper for a monk to frequent such places? Will your Buddha not scold you?”
“The Buddha I serve sometimes manifests as a Lustful Buddha.”
“Splendid.”
The two men smiled at each other.
“Well then, let us have a seat for a while!”
“Very well.”
Mabul laughed heartily and left the room.
Once Mabul departed, all trace of laughter vanished from the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s face, and he asked the shackled man.
“What do you think?”
“He is anxious. He seems to have caught on that you intend to join hands with the Second Young Master.”
“Is that something to be so anxious about?”
“It means he is wary of the Second Young Master to that extent. He is keeping a close watch.”
“What should I do now?”
“Think for yourself. Do not get into the habit of always asking.”
“My life and the life of our cult are at stake right now. So do not drive such a hard bargain.”
The man turned to face him and rattled his shackles.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader made a reluctant expression, but ultimately opened a new space.
Gazing at the blue field, the man wore a bright expression as if he might take flight.
As he undid the myriad-year cold-iron shackles with the key hanging from his neck, the Pungcheon Cult Leader asked.
“Why do you like this place so much?”
For an instant, a certain tender affection flickered across the man’s eyes. But the emotion disappeared so quickly, and the Pungcheon Cult Leader did not see it because he was bent over unlocking the shackles.
“Cult Leader, try being bound in shackles all day long. Let us switch roles for just one day.”
“I must decline.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader gave the man a moment to enjoy his freedom.
Today, the man’s emotions were unusually calm. Perhaps that was why. Gazing at the field, he immediately offered the necessary advice.
“Mabul will find a way to make you return. He will probably use his own cult leader.”
But the Pungcheon Cult Leader had no intention of returning obediently. He intended to somehow establish a foothold for advancing into the Central Plains with this opportunity.
“What should I do?”
“Go find the Second Young Master and ask how to remain here. He will surely tell you.”
“Might you not also know the way?”
“Even if I knew, you must present a gift to the Second Young Master to receive it.”
“I cannot understand. Why must I cling to the Second Young Master like this?”
“Then who else would you cling to?”
For a moment, the Pungcheon Cult Leader was speechless. The Heavenly Demon disliked him, and the Eldest Young Master was supported by Mabul and the other Demon Lords.
Only the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had officially joined hands with the Second Young Master; the rest of the Demon Lords were either neutral or believed the Eldest Young Master would become the successor. He truly had nowhere to set foot.
“If you do not wish to cling to anyone, just hole up beyond the pass, coming when called and going when told. Then you can live comfortably in luxury for the rest of your life.”
It would have been less infuriating if he had spoken while cursing, but because he spoke politely, the Pungcheon Cult Leader was even angrier.
“Do not provoke my pride with such words!”
But the man paid no heed to the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s mood.
“The way to win this fight is simple. Choose well and believe until the end. Simple, is it not? So simple that it is actually difficult to put into practice. Losers never know, do they? That victory depends on whether one follows these simple principles.”
“Enough nagging! Enough lecturing!”
“If you do not think you can keep to this principle, then Mabul is right—we should go back.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader, who had been about to explode in anger and tell him to shut up, calmed his mind.
He had been several times more infuriated than with Mabul, but everything the man said was correct. So instead of getting angry, the Pungcheon Cult Leader revealed his innermost thoughts.
“I do not want to keep giving things to the Second Young Master. Honestly, it is a waste. An unbearable waste. I keep regretting giving him the Spacetime Transference Technique too. I could not sleep a wink last night, thinking I had given it away for nothing.”
No one would know that he, the supreme ruler of the martial world beyond the pass, had such a personality. And that he lived hearing such nagging.
“It is because you are narrow-minded and greedy.”
When he heard such words, the Pungcheon Cult Leader felt fury rising to the tip of his hair, yet at the same time felt a strange pleasure. He had lived hiding his true nature better than anyone, but the sense of kinship at having at least one person who knew exactly what kind of person he was.
“What can I do about feeling it is a waste? And yet you tell me to give more?”
“If you have chosen, you must believe. Give. Give everything.”
“It is a waste! I do not want to give a single thing!”
Normally, this would be the moment curses burst from the shackled man’s mouth. But today the man remained calm until the end.
“Let us just go back, wipe the dust from the sacred objects, and busy ourselves with paperwork. That perfectly suits a Cult Leader’s vessel.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader bit his lip firmly.
“I will break free. I am doing this to break out of this skull the size of a soy sauce dish! I will definitely establish the Pungcheon Cult’s main headquarters in the Central Plains. I will accomplish with my own hands what previous generations could not.”
He would rather have been cursed at, but the shackled man only let out a sigh.
“…I do not think it will work.”
After that, the Pungcheon Cult Leader fell silent for a long time, lost in thought. It was a day when he had been terribly furious, but the illusory space lasted until his internal energy ran out.