Episode 180

He had three options ahead of him, and Seol-Hwi pondered over and over again for the first time in a while.

The AI’s words were to look at the big picture.

In order to follow that, what point in time should he head back to?

Not the first one.

That was the “Three Lives presented by the Earth Demon.”

If he chose this, it would be difficult to get strong.

This was because he was not sure how the life would flow.

And definitely not the third option either.

That was the fateful day.

At this time it was a record of when Songhwa was brought in and him standing in front of the Earth Demon.

From what the AI said, the progress at that point already seemed odd.

So the second would be most appropriate.

In the 98th heavenly year, the last day of the 7th month. It was the time when his monthly training had ended with one month left.

After receiving the report that Ma Taryong was out of contact, the Earth Demon assigned Seol-Hwi a mission.

Due to the situation of the time being right, he broke into the central plains.

If I hadn’t saved at that point in time, I would have had to start from scratch.

Seol-Hwi realized how important it was to save at the right time.

If he had not saved there, or if he chose to overwrite it, he would have had to head back to three years ago.

At the phrase which came up, Seol-Hwi was done deciding.

And his vision changed right then.

The time was shifted to the past.

“Hmm…”

Seol-Hwi, who returned to his old residence after a long time, stood there blankly.

It was a narrow room and not to mention a messy one too.

He did not think it was extravagant or anything, but it felt lacking compared to the next room he got.

And this was not an extremely lacking room. As a result of that thought, he realized that his body and internal energy had decreased significantly from what it used to be.

But his memories were all very deeply carved in his heart and mind.

As I thought.

As soon as he remembered this, he saw the book which the Earth Demon gave him appear in his hand.

In addition, many things which the trainer gave him before the mission and the many things he had trained all came to his mind. It was a situation in which what was learned and engraved in one’s head was not lost.

However, there was a bit of disappointment.

The martial arts which the AI used when fighting Wang Mo-ryeok, those of Mount Hua, Wudang, and Shaolin, and in addition, the footwork of the Heavenly Demon—they had all been lost.

Maybe it was because he did not learn them himself.

“I should get them back one by one. Even if I die, what I learn remains in my head. Before that…”

Drrr

Seol-Hwi hurriedly opened the door of the residence and moved.

He needed to pick them up, the weapons his subordinates must have dropped before he died.

Papat

Seol-Hwi crossed the area and moved in full force. The destination was right outside the Supreme Pavilion.

There should be not just the weapons of his subordinates but also his own, so he hoped no one had picked them up.

After running for a while he reached the sewer.

Fortunately, no one was there, maybe because it was surrounded by the outer wall.

There it is!

Was this a good sign for his new start?

The weapons of his subordinates were there too. But this seemed like a natural situation.

And at the moment when his subordinates died and items dropped, he himself had lost his life as well.

First, everything goes into the toolbox.

He took the weapons of his subordinates, then his own, and went back to the residence.

And then he sat down at the writing table as he began to write something down.

They were the needed things for this life, and a day passed just like that.

In the morning he saw a familiar face

Oh!

This was unexpected, and it felt like he could repurchase what he bought too and there was no shortage of funds.

When he went to rescue Ma Taryong in the past, the money and goods from Mount Hua were stored.

Seol-Hwi used it to purchase the items.

As soon as Geum Man-jung vanished, Seol-Hwi opened the golden belt and put in the elixirs.

“This is it.”

Seol-Hwi was delighted when he saw the items, and he bought all four. And these were the ones which helped in restoring physical strength and internal energy, and they also have an effect to prevent the loss of life too.

Even a fatal wound could be healed up when such elixirs were used. And with this all his preparations were complete. Seol-Hwi soon stood in front of the door.

As soon as he chose to move together, his vision was covered in white light

The second life he experienced was familiar to Seol-Hwi

He moved with his subordinates to save the fangshi and received a mission. It was because everything was the same until <Turn Based Lv2.>

Was it because of the experience of dealing with the situation once before?

As in the past, he dealt with the Kangshi and soulless and it felt too easy with no crises occurring.

However, like the previous life, Yupae came up and spoke to him, and from the conversation,

He faltered here, wondering how the life would change.

Of course, Seol-Hwi chose to refuse, and he was able to head back to the base with the troops with Songhwa.

Events began to pass by quickly.

The Earth Demon said that Ma Taryong had to be found, and even the elder said the same words.

And later, he met the man at the border of the sect and they moved.

“I have something to tell all of you.”

Looking around, Seol-Hwi spoke to his subordinates. After finishing setting up the camp site, they all sat around and listened to Seol-Hwi, who had a serious expression on his face. In that atmosphere he said,

“As of now, I plan to head to the central plains.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

For a moment, each of them were shocked. Some looked like they did not understand it.

“I plan to complete the mission given by the Fourth Disciple. I have already marked the location of Ma Taryong on the map.”

Seol-Hwi opened up a piece of parchment paper, and all the subordinates who saw it were shocked.

“This… how did you know?”

“Wait, one of the Seven Messengers is being held captive?”

Seol-Hwi nodded at the question of Jeok Song and Yorim who were checking the map. It had been twice now, so Seol-Hwi drew it nicely.

“Yes. There are a few things I haven’t told you all, but trust me, this has been confirmed.”

“…Why go to the central plains?”

Songhwa asked him.

“I have reasons of my own, but you people might not understand it. At least not yet.”

Seol-Hwi looked at them and continued,

“Well, I will go to the central plains. If anyone wants to follow me, let me know. But not everyone. I need someone to report that I and those who follow me are dead to the Earth Demon.”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

It was a fact that the location of Ma Taryong was found, but this sudden trip elsewhere shocked them.

“…Will the Fourth Disciple believe it?”

Yong Jin asked Seol-Hwi.

“On the map I gave, the X mark is for Ma Taryong. There is a circle around, and if you report what happens three days from now, he will have to believe it.”

As Seol-Hwi said that, his subordinates just nodded.

So far, Seol-Hwi had shown them he was trustworthy, had amazing abilities, and wit. They figured this had to be something like that.

“I will go.”

“Me too.”

In the atmosphere of concern, Yorim spoke first and Yong Jin conveyed his intentions.

“Me too.”

Jeok Song said.

Eventually he turned to Seo Ryeong.

“You aren’t just sending us in, right? You know something and gave us this choice?”

She asked.

“Yes.”

Seol-Hwi said.

“Continue to inform me how the fight for the successor in the sect is happening and the internal situation too. You can inform me through the post station at the gate of Hangzhou.

“There will be a risk of getting caught in normal language. And if we use a cryptic text then it will take too long.”

At those words, Seol-Hwi looked at Songhwa.

“This is my speciality. I can spread the news well with a skill. On the last day of every month a red falcon will come to the Hidden Truth Corps, write it and tie it to its leg.”

Seol-Hwi thought to leave this matter to Songhwa. As expected of a child who can handle mystic arts, he knew what to do.

“So, will you go?”

Seo Ryeong looked at Songhwa he said,

“Yes. I am always one with the Lord. I am ready to follow anytime on whatever path.”

At that, Seo Ryeong nodded.

“Then we four should be at the Hidden Truth Corps. It would be advantageous to spread the news and to fool the eyes of people too.”

Seol-Hwi nodded.

Imugi then spoke,

“My dream was to move to the central plains. When the chance came, there is no need to let go. In addition, I am also one with Master.”

Well, in the past life this guy said he wanted to live in the central plains and live out a quiet life. After things were roughly organized, Seol-Hwi looked at everyone and said, this time in a low voice,

“You all might not know, but right now there is an escort following us, and since he is a talented warrior who reached Peak Demon, those having to come to central plains have to fool his eyes.”

“Peak Demon?”

“Why are they…”

Everyone was shocked.

Seol-Hwi looked at Songhwa and said,

“Looks like we need to move. Can you do it? The surest way that is.”

“I can.”

“Good.”

Seol-Hwi responded.

If the help of simulation was used, and Songhwa was moved, then they could fool the man. And that night they went to bed after discussing it all.

Thorough preparations were made to deceive the man.

Two days later, Seol-Hwi and the others found the secret branch and attempted to move over.

“We have moved!”

And they succeeded.

He, Imugi, and Songhwa arrived on the retreat path at the Mount Hua branch and Seol-Hwi changed the fighting and turned on Simulation.

It has been a while since he saw this option, so it was fine.

“Making sure that Cheol Gun-sung is not following us.”

Seeing the answer, Seol-Hwi moved with Imugi and Songhwa.

All that could be done was done, and rest was in the hands of his subordinates.

When four days passed, they had moved quite a distance.

Suddenly text appeared informing him that there will be a problem with the combat method.

Is this where the system backs out?

Seol-Hwi felt it.

The combat method was gone. Was this not a sign that he moved away from the control of the system which wanted him to fight?

He had come out during the monthly Warrior Training option.

Seeing that Sichuan was the largest place to move to, it could be said that there was a limit to the system following him.

It is a bit unfortunate… but fortunate too.

Being out of the range defined by the system meant he was out of its system of control.

Of course he knew it did not fully end there.

Because when he looked at his head in the stream—

Coin 8 [Eight lives]

It was still above his head.