Chapter 620: Inverted World (1)
"Um, Master...? Why are you staring at me like that...?"
"...Mm, it's nothing."
I shake my head slowly.
'He does seem to resemble Song Jin...but also feels different.'
To begin with, he is a head taller than Song Jin.
And...
'Song Jin never had that imperial air about him.'
If Song Jin was merely an Elder of Black Ghost Valley, then Hong Fan is a king.His solemn face has a bearing that anyone would call the demeanour of a king.
'Hmm...Why does he specifically resemble Song Jin?'
The most likely reason, I infer, is that Song Jin was present when Hong Fan was born.
'...If not that...'
I decide to ask Oh Hyun-seok, just in case.
"By the way, Hyun-seok Hyung-nim. Didn't you mention that your master, the Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang, resembles Hong Fan? Would it be possible to show me Their noble appearance?"
"Mm? My master? Alright."
Wo-woong!
As Oh Hyun-seok flicks his hand, a simple illusion unfolds before us.
What appears before our eyes are a total of five figures.
One of them is someone in the form of a young boy.
He has short hair like vapor, and his face even appears rather pretty at a glance. Wearing a silver robe, he looks quite beautiful.
Next is a sturdy young man.
Still with short vapor-like hair, he is a large man clad in a purple robe, his skin extremely pale.
Next is a middle-aged man.
My eyes widen as I look at that figure.
His hair remains the same vapor-like white, but his clothes are black, and his face is almost identical to Hong Fan's.
Only the shape of his eyes and the overall impression seem slightly softer.
Yes.
"So...Song Jin...?"
What stands before my eyes is unmistakably 'Song Jin'.
I stare at the middle-aged figure, taken aback.
Beside the middle-aged man is an old man with vapor-like hair, dressed in what appears to be white burial garments.
Dividing the four seasons of life into four forms, at their center is the figure of a giant composed of vapor.
"The one in the center is my master's main body. And those around Them are my master's Transformation forms. I was told they represent the process of my master's growth. What do you think? Doesn't my master's 'middle-aged' stage look exactly like Hong Fan? At first, I thought my master had just dyed Their hair to tease me."
"...Certainly...it's true."
I look at the old man dressed in burial garments.
It is undeniable.
That old man's appearance is almost a mirror image of Hong Fan's childhood.
I can't say much about the boy and young man forms, but Hyeon Rang's middle-aged and elderly appearances seem like exact copies of Hong Fan.
'Setting aside that the eyes are less sharp than Hong Fan's and that the height is a bit shorter...I'd believe it if someone said they are the same person.'
It's while we are marveling at Hong Fan and Hyeon Rang's appearances.
Twitch—
One of Hyeon Rang's faces suddenly begins to move in place.
Oh Hyun-seok flinches in surprise and hurriedly erases the illusion.
"Yikes, Master almost noticed."
"Is it bad if Hyeon Rang notices?"
"Of course it is. If my master realizes where I am, They will probably...torment me again with some strange grand methods. Why would I let my master catch me when I've finally gained my freedom?"
"..."
It seems Oh Hyun-seok is quite satisfied having slipped away from the Naming Supreme Deity, and doesn't particularly want to be caught by Them.
"...By the way, I've been too busy in the past thousand years to get the chance to ask, but what is Hyung-nim's Immortal Title?"
"Me? Well...I don't know either."
"Pardon...?"
"Master never gave me one. Why that is, I don't know either..."
"Hoo..."
At those words, Hong Fan's eyes glint for some reason.
"How strange. Bestowing names is not only the authority of one who possesses the Origin Essence of Naming, but also a duty and responsibility..."
"Hm, is that so? But how do you know something like that?"
"Um, that is..."
Hong Fan is about to say something, and I immediately clap my hands.
"Ah, I see. You must have been a Reaper of the Underworld in your previous life who was close to the Naming Supreme Deity! That would explain everything. Since the Naming Supreme Deity Hyeon Rang also seems acquainted with the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, perhaps you were the one acting as a bridge between the two?"
"..."
At my words, Hong Fan looks at me silently, then gives a smile whose meaning I cannot discern.
"...An amusing speculation. Indeed...hearing Master say that, it feels like memories are returning. I think...I had good memories with the Underworld and Hyeon Rang."
"...Hmm?"
'What is this, I was just throwing it out there, but did I actually hit the mark?'
Since Hong Fan seems to affirm it calmly, I nod blankly.
"Well, that's good then. I hope you regain your memories as soon as possible."
"Yes, thank you."
I continue chatting warmly with Hong Fan.
But then Jeon Myeong-hoon suddenly cuts in.
"So. Is Hong Fan what's important right now?"
"...Well, Hong Fan's past life is important in its own right."
"The most important thing right now is your situation, Seo Eun-hyun. In the end, does this mean we have to kill you?"
"..."
I smile bitterly at those words.
"...Given the current situation, this seems like the most humane method...I suppose."
"...Damn it. How is killing a comrade...the most humane option!? Are you telling us to push you toward death with our own hands!?"
"..."
Watching Jeon Myeong-hoon get angry, I inwardly let out a small exclamation.
—Anyway, Deputy Seo who's already lost one arm won't last long in that body.
—So this time too, let's have Deputy Seo sacrifice himself...
"Kukuk..."
Somehow, the Jeon Myeong-hoon of the first cycle and the current Jeon Myeong-hoon overlap in my eyes, and I feel laughter welling up.
"You've really grown so much, Jeon Myeong-hoon!"
"What, you punk?"
"With what you just said, I'm sure of it. Indeed...if it's by your hands, I'd be fine dying."
"What!?"
"Kill me. And..."
I speak to my comrades.
"Become...my parents."
Oh Hyun-seok stands up, his voice trembling.
"I-I'll do it instead of that brat! Just kill me, and I'll reincarnate instead!"
"Forbidden (不可)."
Kang Min-hee suddenly cuts off Oh Hyun-seok's words with a hardened face.
"Seo Eun-hyun is able to do so because he possesses the Flawless Mantra. None of you will be able to remember your past lives."
"What? No, wait, Kang Min-hee, didn't you also learn something called the Flawless Mantra...?"
"Min-hee must not."
"...You, who are you."
Oh Hyun-seok glares at Kang Min-hee.
However, Kang Min-hee does not answer Oh Hyun-seok's question and simply continues speaking.
"This child is the workings of the Imperial Venerable. Therefore, she cannot be recklessly thrown into a gamble. The only one who can die is...Seo Eun-hyun, who created an absurd Immortal Art like the Canvas of Myriad Forms and Connections. If this child dies, she will only lose herself."
Having finished speaking, Kang Min-hee closes her eyes and opens them again.
Then, she blinks and looks around.
"...What is this, why is everyone so quiet? Ah, seeing how everyone seems to know except me...Seo Eun-hyun, did something happen to me?"
"...It seems one of the Reapers from the Underworld possessed you for a moment."
I clearly recall who that presence belonged to just now.
It was that of the current Chief Judge, the Yama True Lord Yan Luo.
I shrug my shoulders and speak.
"There's no helping it. Apparently, there's no better candidate than me."
The faces of my comrades darken, but I instead smile.
"Cheer up! This is my choice! If it really bothers you, have Ho Woon chew me up and you can all just shove me into the fox's maw. And, I will say this again... Don't think of it as simply killing me."
My voice that carries a hint of lightness at the start soon becomes more serious.
"Please take care of me...the me who will reincarnate and be born again. Please..."
I look around at them as I speak.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Hong Fan...
"Become my parents. Become my parents, become my teachers, and protect me until I safely complete the cultivation of the Flawless Mantra. Didn't I say it at the start? That until we all finish our cultivation...let us save our strengths and watch over each other quietly here. Everyone can simply think of it as watching over me until I finish cultivating the Flawless Mantra."
"..."
"..."
"So...there's no need to worry. All my memories will return in the end, and as Hong Fan said, by cultivating the Flawless Mantra here in the Twin Holding Heavenly Domain, I will also gain the power of the God of Gods of the distant past."
I speak while looking at them, who somehow still wear troubled expressions.
"This is my will as well. So everyone...please respect it."
For a moment, the other comrades also fall into solemn silence.
However, in the end, the discussion regarding the Upper Immortal cultivation proceeds according to my suggestion.
Upper Immortal cultivation, Immortal Beast Candle Shadow.
It is decided to kill me.
"...So why exactly do I have to help with this?"
Ho Woon speaks with a face full of displeasure.
Right now, in front of us, stands a fox-shaped doll made from one of Ho Woon's clones.
When my comrades imbue energy into this doll, the secret art of Ho Woon recorded in the doll will activate, causing it to bite and devour me.
"Well, since I'm imprisoned by you, contributing to killing you is nice, but do I really have to watch you getting violently killed by your own comrades?"
"What's so violent about it? It's just a fox-shaped doll swallowing me, nothing more."
"What I mean is...eh, whatever. Do as you please! It's not like just providing a clone will qualify me for the Upper Immortal cultivation judgment anyway, so I'll just enjoy watching."
Ho Woon sighs, leaves their clone behind as if telling us to handle it ourselves, and disappears. Jeon Myeong-hoon thrusts a lightning spear into Ho Woon's clone.
Kwachijijik!
Ho Woon's clone surges with red lightning.
The first to act is Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with a hardened face.
"Say your goodbyes. It'll be decades before we meet again, at least."
As soon as his words end, Kim Yeon runs to me and hugs me.
"...Hhic...hngh..."
Kim Yeon sheds tears as she holds me tightly for a long time.
After a while, she wipes her tears, and with her face flushed, she grabs my head.
I close my eyes as I see her light pink intent, and what follows is Kim Yeon's headbutt.
Kwang!
"...!"
"Mmm!"
Kim Yeon says something while glaring at me.
Though I cannot make out her words, I somehow understand their meaning.
—You must come back safely.
"...Yeah. I'll definitely come back. Over and over again..."
Next is Oh Hyun-seok.
"Hyung-nim..."
Kwang!
Oh Hyun-seok promptly bursts apart my head.
"Ah, wait..."
"Hmph, when it's my turn after Jeon Myeong-hoon, I'll kill you even more painfully. So make sure to come back!"
"...Yes!"
The farewell with Oh Hyun-seok is short.
Next is Kang Min-hee.
"Kang Min—"
Jjaak!
Kang Min-hee strongly slaps my face.
Her eyes redden.
"I told you...to stop sacrificing yourself every time. Last time, the time before, and now again!"
"...Sorry."
"Don't say sorry. It's your will, after all...so I'll respect it."
"..."
"As a disciple of the Imperial Venerable, there's no need for farewells. I've already grasped enough of the principles of life and death, and I know first-hand that death isn't the end. But...in the next life, you will have to suffer under me for a bit."
With that, Kang Min-hee turns her around and walks away.
And finally, Jeon Myeong-hoon approaches.
"...Do we really have to do it this way, Seo Eun-hyun?"
"Th—"
"If the words 'this time too' come out of your mouth, I'll rip it apart."
"..."
"Damn it...you bastard...! You really are...a fucking idiot. You were the same back on Earth. Everything about you, even your breathing, pissed me off! I wanted Kim Yeon for myself, but she only stuck to you. And damn it, even that vicious Kang Min-hee, when I tried to get with her she never gave me a chance, but when she was with you, there was always that strange atmosphere! Only Oh Hye-seo clung to me like a joke! All the staff, directors, chiefs, they all liked only you! Damn it, I hated you, Seo Eun-hyun!"
"..."
"It's the same even after coming here! You never explain things properly, always triggering my trauma and brushing everything off with crap like 'this time too'. Did you think I was a pushover just because I quietly followed along? You low-birth bastard. Honestly...I want to beat the shit out of you."
Jeon Myeong-hoon speaks with red lightning flowing all over his body.
"But killing and beating are different things. So...come back, Seo Eun-hyun. Come back so I can beat you properly. It's not like you've only made one or two mistakes deserving a beating from me; isn't that right?"
"...Yeah. Once this Upper Immortal cultivation is all over..."
"Shut up! I don't want to hear ominous crap like that. Shut your mouth and come back safely. Seo Eun-hyun!"
With those words, Jeon Myeong-hoon squeezes his eyes shut and shoves me into the fox's maw.
As I enter the fox's mouth, I accept all my cultivation and authorities being destroyed by Jeon Myeong-hoon's red lightning.
Beyond the fox's mouth, I see them all.
Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Hong Fan, Ham Jin, Yu Hwi, Yeo Hwi, Golden Shaking Bird, Ho Woon, and the others...
The last thing I hear before losing consciousness is Hong Fan speaking with a smile.
"I will follow you every time."
Thus, reciting the Flawless Mantra, I leap toward the next life.
That, is my first reincarnation.