Chương 473: Her (1)

'Heavenly King designate?'

I recall the words spoken about the 'Heavenly Kings' long ago.

'Buddhist Family Seven Brilliances King.'

The concept of 'Heavenly King's first emerged from Tae Yeol-jeon's mouth.

The great seven Bodhisattvas that exist within the Buddhist Family.

Each of their names ends with the title 'Heavenly King (天王)'.

'Is that what she is referring to?'

I quickly ponder.

'Referring to me as a Heavenly King designate... can it be considered as a certain 'point' that the Enders, who are called Heavenly Kings, can reach?

Even a brief consideration suggests that among the Seven Brilliances Kings, the 'Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King' who symbolizes Unity is the owner of the Bright Cold Realm.

The Vast Cold Heavenly Lord is the Heavenly King of Unity.

And from what I've heard from rumors so far, there's a high possibility that Vast Cold was also an Ender.

Thus, her mention of 'Heavenly King designate' likely refers to another term for Enders.

'In a way, she is an entity who holds a clue about Enders.'

I must not be careless.

I check my physical condition in case I need to resist Yu Oh.

'My body is gone, and currently, only the soul remains.'

It seems I was temporarily dropped in front of Sacred Master Yu Oh while my soul was being dragged to the Netherworld via the Nether Crossing Ship.

Thanks to that, I am merely a strong spirit entity, possessing just the consciousness domain of the Star Shattering stage.

'It seems... I can't draw my main body's power through the All-Heavens sword.'

While checking this space belonging to Yu Oh, I click my tongue internally.

Even if I try to bring the power of my main body by adjusting the plane, it feels like her space itself is sealed against such actions.

'I could escape using the realm of Void Shattering or Immortal Arts if necessary, but the extent of her power merged with the Nether Ghost Realm is unknown... I cannot act rashly.'

After reaching Void Shattering, the reason I bared my fangs at Baek Woon was because she had suffered injuries at the hands of Yang Su-jin.

At the same time, Jeon Myeong-hoon was by my side, capable of wielding Yang Su-jin's power whenever needed.

That's why I felt I could 'take on' Sacred Baek Woon in case of an emergency and was a bit aggressive.

'But... is she really the same Sacred Master?'

From Yu Oh in front of me, I feel an inexplicable, ominous foreboding with no clear beginning or end.

At the same time, I feel a certain sense of déjà vu, but I can't recall what it is.

'In any case, she's definitely not an entity to be taken lightly.'

I swallow hard and look at the tea before me.

Judging from the faint scent of plums, it seems to be the Nether Ghost Realm's specialty, plum tea.

'Black plum.'

It's a seed born in the territory of the Nether Ghost Realm's Black Ghost Valley and is the most popular plum variety there.

If a living person were to consume it, the sourness could cause a heart attack.

Gulp.

'Not bad.'

After sipping the black plum tea, I alternately look at Sacred Master Yu Oh and Seo Ran.

"Thank you for offering such fine tea."

"It is I who should be thankful for you enjoying this humble tea. Originally, I wanted to personally brew a tastier tea, but under these circumstances, it's a pity."

"Haha, you are too modest. This tea is already excellent as it is..."

"I am merely thankful for your excessive praise."

"Since the topic has come up... I would greatly appreciate it if you could help my friend Seo Ran also enjoy this splendid tea."

As I watch Seo Ran trembling like an aspen tree, I speak.

"I wish you would ease the pressure on my friend a bit. Since he is still at the Four-Axis stage, it seems difficult for him to bear the authority of a Sacred Master."

While sipping the black plum tea, I respectfully ask Yu Oh to lessen the pressure on Seo Ran, keeping it within the lines of not upsetting her as much as possible.

Then, Yu Oh tilts her head with a puzzled expression.

"Um... you are saying strange things. I haven't done anything to that child. It was that child who brought both the Esteemed One and the child's own soul into the inner part of my palace through the power of the Nether Crossing Ship. Meeting you two here was not my plan, and naturally, since it wasn't planned, there was no opportunity for me to play any tricks."

"Mmm..."

I look at Seo Ran.

Inside this palace, who knows what Yu Oh had done, but I can't read intent or heart essence.

'Then just why is this happening?'

"Seo Ran, what's going on?"

However, Seo Ran trembles more like an aspen, seemingly unable to hear me at all.

"Um, it seems there's an Immortal Art preventing mental fragmentation. Being too close to such a vast entity seems to have damaged the Immortal Art. That appears to be the cause."

"Mm..."

I recall when Gwak Am struck Seo Ran's stomach and cast an Immortal Art.

'Could it be that the Immortal Art of Great Mountain was protecting his mind, and it cracked when encountering Blood Yin?'

"Fortunately, it's an Immortal Art I know of, so I can mend it. Since meeting like this is also fate. I will mend it for you."

Snap!

Yu Oh flicks her finger and the attraction force around Seo Ran seems to change. Then he immediately regains his senses.

"Heheok... heok... heok..."

"Are you okay, Seo Ran?"

Seo Ran trembles like an aspen tree before raising his head to look at Yu Oh.

After staring at her for a moment, Seo Ran bites his lip tightly.

"Who... is this person?"

"This person is the Sacred Master of the Nether Ghost Realm, known as 'Yu Oh'."

"In addition to that, I am currently the palace lord of the Azure Ghost Palace. I ask for your kind consideration, Junior Seo."

She smiles warmly at Seo Ran, looking at his black robe.

But the next moment, a completely unexpected word bursts from Seo Ran's mouth.

"Mother...?"

"...?"

"Are you... my mother...?"

I feel a shock as if I've been hit on the back of my head, looking back and forth between Seo Ran and Yu Oh.

'What? This is... no, wait. Excluding the parts that look like Seo Hweol, Seo Ran's face... seems to resemble Yu Oh?'

Still in utter shock, I alternate my gaze between the two.

Yu Oh looks at Seo Ran with an expression that shows interest and speaks.

"Emm... What exactly is Sir Junior saying?"

Seo Ran replies with a bewildered face.

"... When I reached the Nascent Soul stage, I also saw the moment I was born. It was too brief to see clearly... but I vividly remember my mother's face. I even asked my master to see a portrait of my mother. My mother's name is 'Yu Oh,' a disciple from the Black Ghost Valley. Sacred Master... shares the same name and appearance."

He looks up at Yu Oh with a stunned expression.

"Is Sacred Master... not my mother?"

To that, Sacred Master Yu Oh makes a thoughtful expression and says,

"Emm... I don't particularly have any children. However, it's possible for Yu Oh to have children."

"Pardon...?"

Seo Ran and I stare at her, wondering what absurd thing she is saying.

Then, Yu Oh suddenly turns her head.

"Eot...!"

"Heot..."

Click, crack crack...

Seo Ran and I cannot help but be shocked by her actions.

She completely twisted her neck, turning her head 180 degrees.

But what's even more shocking isn't just that.

"...!!!"

What is revealed where she has turned her neck is 'another Yu Oh'.

The face of the 'other Yu Oh' appears to be peacefully sleeping with eyes closed.

"The high ones of the Nether Ghost Realm all know this, but... the name 'Yu Oh' has the meaning of 'the two of us.' I have two faces and also two personalities. We also take turns, with one of us sleeping for several years while the other wakes up and becomes active."

Creak!

Yu Oh turns her head counterclockwise again so that her 'awake' face is facing us.

"That is why... the personality that is awake now, 'I,' have no children. But the 'other' Yu Oh who is asleep right now, who knows."

"Th-then... is it possible to wake the other one up now?"

"Um, that would be difficult. Having two personalities and alternating between sleep and wake cycles every few years is due to my cultivation method. It's a method of balancing Yin and Yang with two faces to bring me closer to Immortal Arts. Waking her up suddenly today would take me further away from Immortal Arts."

"That... I understand."

Seo Ran sighs deeply and lowers his head.

"Hoho, someday you will be able to find your real family. Trust me. Having two heads, I have double the intuition."

Yu Oh kindly consoles Seo Ran, and while I am wondering why she's boasting about having only two heads, I suddenly realize I only have one head now and feel inferior, casting my eyes down slightly.

"Ahem, that's right. Let's ask the other Sacred Master about your mother when she wakes up."

"... Yes."

I clear my throat and change the subject, and Yu Oh turns her gaze back to me.

"What is the relationship between the two of you?"

"We are friends."

"Friends you say... I hope you get along well."

"By the way, I have a question."

I take a sip of the black plum tea and ask her with a serious expression.

"What does Heavenly King designate mean?"

"It's so very obvious... it refers to you all. You have a rough idea already, no? Heavenly Rejected (天拒子) Esteemed One Seo?"

"...!"

I flinch in shock at her words.

Seo Ran looks at me, puzzled, not knowing what Heavenly Rejected means, and I stiffen my face and heighten my tension as I continue with my question.

"Does Heavenly Rejected being a Heavenly King mean... the Seven Brilliances Kings are referring to...'us' seven?"

"Yes. Even the Tridacna Vast Cold Heavenly King, the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord... was famous for calling upon the heavens in their distant youth during the Qi Refining stage's Seven Stars Ritual."

"..."

It seems she's indirectly telling me that the Vast Cold Heavenly Lord, the Seven Brilliances Kings, are 'Enders.'

"As you well know, the Seven Brilliances Kings are those that embody the hearts of beings. And you all, the seven Heavenly Rejected, are the candidates who are bound to become such Heavenly Kings. Therefore, studying the heart is inevitably essential for the Seven Brilliances Kings. Although it has been a short time so far... have you been studying the heart well?"

"Short time, huh... I've only lived about 700, or maybe 800 years, but I don't think it was that short of a time."

"Hoho... time isn't what's important. What matters more is what kind of heart you have experienced during that time. From what I see, Esteemed One seems to have studied the heart unexpectedly well. I'm saying this because I can sense the traces of Immortal Arts."

"I merely had the fortune to meet a good master and learn well."

Yu Oh's eyes sparkle as she questions me.

"I'm suddenly curious. I know you've only recently been promoted to Esteemed One, but... how can I feel the traces of the Immortal Art Examination of Doubts...? Which master did you meet and where did you study?"

"I merely met a good master and studied at a good place. Of course, as I am not as exceptional as Sacred Master Yu Oh, so I dare not raise my head..."

At my words, Yu Oh takes a sip of black plum tea and her eyes shine.

"It seems you have no intention of telling me."

"This is a bit difficult to say... but... are we not meeting for the first time today? Unless it is a matter of utmost importance, I cannot casually disclose my master's name."

"Meeting for the first time, huh... Haha, well... good. So you're saying we need to build a closer relationship."

She sets down her teacup and speaks.

"Then let me tell you an interesting story about the Heavenly Kings I know. How about building a closer relationship while listening to this?"

"Hmm... what kind of story is it?"

Chururuk— Yu Oh pours more black plum tea and smiles.

Then, I can't help but be startled by the words that come from her mouth.

"Falling into a 'strange world', 'falling in love', 'inevitably losing that loved one', and 'through them realizing one's own fate'…a story about some moths... I'll tell you the beginning, development, twist, and conclusion."

"..."

It's obvious.

The 'moth' she is talking about refers to 'us'.

And I can instantly see something strange in her words.

'If you think about it... aren't they all similar?'

Kim Young-hoon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon... regarding Oh Hye-seo, I just can't get a good grasp on her as a person.

They have all 'been separated from a loved one'.

In the case of Kim Young-hoon, it was even his wife.

'Why... are they similar?'

I feel an eerie sense of déjà vu as I focus on the story emerging from Yu Oh's mouth.

"I will begin the story. A very long time ago. There lived a monster called Obsidian."