Chapter 471 - Ten Thousand (萬).
By the time So Geomseong opened her eyes once more, her surroundings were filled with bustling noise.
“-Hurry… move!”
“-…There’s no… time…!”
Sounds of frantic activity reached her ears. Thus, So Geomseong hurriedly opened her eyes and sprang to her feet.
“…Hah… hah.”
As she let out such ragged breaths, a voice called from beside her.
“You are awake?”
So Geomseong turned her gaze to look at the owner of the voice. When their eyes met, the man found himself trembling. So Geomseong’s gaze had been far too frigid. Perhaps realizing it herself, she hurriedly schooled her expression. It was also because this was a man she knew.
“…Geolwang?”
The man was known by the alias Geolwang. He was the eyes and ears of the Righteous Faction, commanding all the beggars of the Central Plains.
At her words, Geolwang let out a slight cough before adding,
“It seems something grave has happened… judging by your unusual expression.”
“…”
So Geomseong offered no answer. Geolwang seemed to have expected as much and asked no further. So Geomseong looked at the murmuring crowd outside and changed the subject.
“…What is happening?”
“Well, it’s… nothing serious…”
“Geolwang.”
Her voice had turned frigid, piercing into him.
“What is it?”
It was a voice demanding a proper explanation. Geolwang let out a deep sigh. She was usually not one to notice, yet at times like this, her intuition was razor-sharp. But…
“Truly… it is nothing serious.”
This time, however, Geolwang had no intention of telling her anything.
“It is something that can be handled sufficiently without you going out of your way. For now, it would be better to remain still.”
To be honest, it was a problematic situation. But they couldn’t exactly wake the collapsed So Geomseong and send her out. Of course, the higher-ups were clamoring to contact her immediately, but—
‘Those bastards.’
The worn-out righteousness of the Righteous Faction was sickening. Making one woman bear all the burdens—what righteousness and alliance was that? He knew it was all rotten, but the more he saw, the more his faith in humanity waned. Perhaps it would be better if it all burned away so something new could be built. Or…
‘Perhaps it would be better to let Cheonma win.’
Just how wretched had things become for him to harbor such damnable thoughts? Knowing he must not let that happen only made him feel more pathetic.
The problem was—
“Geolwang.”
—regardless of Geolwang’s thoughts, So Geomseong had no such intention.
“Where is the Cheonjon?”
“…”
“Please answer me.”
At her question, Geolwang turned his gaze away for a moment, then finally let out a deep sigh.
“The Cheonjon is away… I believe he has headed to Sichuan.”
“…”
At his answer, So Geomseong bit her lip. Because it matched what she had seen right before losing consciousness.
*Screech—!*
The moment she immediately rose to go outside, Geolwang blocked her.
“Where do you intend to go in that condition?”
“…Step aside.”
“I say again, this is a situation where you do not need to go out of your way. Do not throw your life away for nothing…”
“I must go.”
Despite his dissuasion, So Geomseong’s eyes were resolute. Meeting those eyes, Geolwang finally furrowed his brow.
“He is none other than the Cheonjon, so he will surely return unscathed. I have already sent word to the Paejon as well…”
“The Paejon?”
“…!”
*Ah.*
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Geolwang bit his lip.
“Did you say you sent word to the Paejon?”
“…Well.”
“That means it is not ‘nothing serious.’”
As expected. So Geomseong immediately grasped the problem from his slip. The Paejon, who by now would have received different orders and gone to a region not far from here to hunt demons—the fact that they had contacted him and asked him to come here contained many implications.
“What on earth…”
The moment So Geomseong finally tried to raise her voice as if angry—
*Thud—!*
“…!!”
At the sensation coursing through her body, she fell to one knee.
“So Geomseong!”
Geolwang urgently tried to support her, but So Geomseong raised her hand to refuse his touch.
“Hah… hak…”
Empty breaths burst out on their own. Resonance spread from her dantian to her heart. Blood vessels bulged throughout her body, and the pounding heartbeat made her ears ring. Feeling rough vibrations in her exhausted body, she felt like she would lose consciousness again at any moment, but So Geomseong bit her tongue hard and held on.
*So that’s why…*
This maddening sensation. Feeling this, So Geomseong could understand why the surroundings were so frantic, and also why Geolwang had tried so hard not to tell her. Because there was only one reason for feeling such resonance.
“Cheonma…”
“…!”
“Has she come?”
At her words, Geolwang’s face distorted. She gained certainty from that expression. So Geomseong immediately got up and—
*Fwoooosh—!!*
—drew up energy throughout her body.
“So Geomseong…! Wait…!”
Geolwang tried to stop her, but the transformation had already begun. The first abnormality was her hair. Her brilliant blonde hair changed to snow-white from the ends. It was not merely a change in color; the light she inherently held also grew stronger. The light thus created condensed one by one behind her back.
*Shwish—!*
Soon, multiple pure white sword blades were generated. Swords spread wide behind her back, giving the feeling that she had unfurled pure white wings.
“Wait…! I told you to wait!”
Geolwang urgently shouted, but—
*Whooooosh—!*
—So Geomseong simply soared up with all her might, ignoring him. And so, her destination was the place where the resonance was felt.
***
The moment she arrived at her destination, So Geomseong had to swallow a groan at the being looking up at her from the ground. Facing the purple pupils contained within deep black hair and a black dao robe, cold sweat flowed naturally. Moreover—
*Thud—! Thud—!*
—the unceasing resonance. Forcefully ignoring the unpleasant sensations, So Geomseong examined her surroundings. And immediately found them.
“…Ah.”
Cheonjon’s head rolling on the ground, and the young man beside him looking at her with surprised eyes. The moment she saw the young man, she had to swallow her surprise inwardly.
*Why?*
Because his very existence had changed from what she had seen just moments ago. What on earth had happened? Clenching her fist tight as she saw that—
“…Cheonma.”
—she swallowed her anger and quietly uttered that name.
*Fwoosh—!*
“…!”
So Geomseong’s body was forcibly pulled down from midair. Unable to respond properly, she was immediately dragged to the ground.
*Crash—!*
She barely maintained her balance and performed a breakfall. She immediately tried to draw up energy to respond.
“If you have come, you should greet me first; why do you merely stare?”
At the voice heard right before her, So Geomseong jerked her head up. Familiar features were before her eyes, as if reflecting her own face upon water.
“Still such an unsightly face.”
At Cheonma’s words, So Geomseong deeply furrowed her brow.
“…Why are you here, Cheonma?”
At her question, Cheonma spoke with a strange expression.
“A strange question.”
Faint arrogance was bound within that expression.
“There is no place in this world that this venerable self cannot go. A trifling question.”
“…”
“Moreover.”
*Creak—!*
“…!”
So Geomseong’s toes slowly moved. Her body was being pulled toward Cheonma.
*Hwooh—!* She drew up energy to increase her repulsive force. Yet it was insufficient.
“It is this venerable self who should ask the questions; how dare you reverse host and guest.”
Contrary to the gradually emanating energy, a smile rose on Cheonma’s face.
“The land of Sichuan has become mine; the Three Venerables dare not set foot here.”
Cheonma’s foot moved and nudged something on the ground.
“This venerable self is certain I said so.”
It was Cheonjon’s severed head.
“Seeing bugs crawling about like this, it seems my words were quite amusing.”
Words and laughter mixed. Along with the sense of otherworldliness that came from them—
*Groooan—!*
—thick darkness spewed from Cheonma’s feet and devoured the surroundings.
“Odious things.”
So Geomseong could tell that Cheonma’s smile was an expression of her anger.
*Shwish—!* She controlled the swords scattered around, turning their tips toward Cheonma.
“This venerable self showed mercy on a whim, yet you still do not know your place.”
As if paying no mind to So Geomseong’s energy, Cheonma merely continued to boil her aura.
“Well…”
Energy seeped into Cheonma’s fingertips.
“…thus, you must have dared to touch what should not be touched.”
Night unfolded from her fingertips. It poured forth.
*Gurrrrgle.*
Darkness began to flood down like crashing waves. Seeing this, So Geomseong also moved. Following her hand’s swing, a sword imbued with demon-subjugating power shot into the darkness.
*Clank—!*
Starting from where the sword struck, the darkness melted as if burning, but—
*Kwaaaaah—!*
—it was woefully insufficient to block the energy. Even in this brief exchange, So Geomseong could feel it clearly.
*Even now…!*
The gap between Cheonma and herself. It was immense. Still so high. Even burning her vitality to draw up strength, she ultimately could not reach her power. How could this be? How much higher did she have to climb to even touch that place?
“Still the same.”
“…Kuk!”
Swept away by the energy, So Geomseong was pushed backward.
“Still no fun.”
Even then, Cheonma hadn’t moved a single step from where she first stood. Whether due to her exhausted body, her strength was lacking. She had rushed blindly toward the felt resonance, but no answer was in sight. Many believed in the power of demon subjugation and placed their hopes on So Geomseong, but before this abyssal darkness, even such power was useless. Unlike others placing their hopes on her, So Geomseong felt only despair every time she faced Cheonma. Yet having to grip her sword was nothing short of that level of hell. She swung her sword to sweep away the darkness, but greater darkness surged after. Truly, there was no end.
“This venerable self loathes you.”
A voice was heard while she cut through the darkness.
“If you are going to struggle, you should have been more earnest; you are still looking for a place to die.”
At the indifferent words, So Geomseong soon frowned.
“…What do you know…!”
The moment she flared up, darkness plunged into her shoulder. She immediately moved three swords and layered them to defend.
*Thud—!*
Yet her protective astral energy shattered, the sword hilts broke to pieces, and from the recoil, So Geomseong was pushed backward.
“Do I seem not to know?”
Even then, Cheonma’s mouth remained composed.
“There is likely no one in this world who knows you better than this venerable self.”
“Nonsense…”
“Do not dodge so filthily. If you are leftover dregs, act like dregs.”
*Rumble—!*
At Cheonma’s hand gesture, the ground right below So Geomseong cracked with a screech and rose into the air.
“This is to teach you your place.”
*Thud—!*
The risen fragments of earth roughly clumped together as if to crush her. The fragments gathered tightly without gaps, compressing firmly into the form of a sphere. By all appearances, it was a shape that should have caused instant death, but—
*Slash—!*
A flash burst from the sphere floating in the air, and it was cut in half as So Geomseong escaped. She quickly swung and unleashed sword qi, sending dozens of sword hilts from all directions toward Cheonma. Along with brilliant sword qi, swords poured down like a white rain. Seeing that, Cheonma lightly waved one hand in the air. That was enough. The darkness covering the ground surged up and served as a shield, and the pouring energies were blocked, unable to fulfill their purpose.
The difference in skill was extreme. It was a situation she couldn’t win even with a healthy body; as of now, there was no hope. This was something no one could fail to see, and the one who knew it best was So Geomseong herself. But she didn’t stop. The light had not yet set. She had to swing her sword until the light she possessed died out on its own, even if she died right here.
And seeing such an appearance of So Geomseong, Cheonma’s expression—
“I’m tired of it.”
—soon became colored with boredom. Seeing this, So Geomseong quickly closed in.
Fast.
It was a speed that could not even be captured by the eyes.
*Shwiiiiick—!*
Then So Geomseong’s twin swords quickly dug toward Cheonma’s neck. If left like this, Cheonma’s neck could be severed. However, So Geomseong swung without hesitation.
*Ting—!*
The rather savage attack had failed effortlessly.
“…!”
Witnessing the situation, So Geomseong couldn’t help but be shocked. She had no choice. One sword blade had broken off effortlessly, and the other was caught and stopped by Cheonma’s hand. In that horrific situation, So Geomseong could not hide her wretched heart.