Chapter 597: So, You Were Something Special After All

TL: FoodieMonster007

Everyone was exhausted. The Heavenly Fate Palace martial artists gathered around the campfire did not even make small talk. Their tired eyes were fixed only on the blazing flames.

Just then, a man approached with a box on his shoulder. It was Geom Mugeuk, dressed in the uniform of a Heavenly Fate Palace martial artist.

"Never seen that face before."

In response to the question from a martial artist across the fire, Geom Mugeuk set his box down and squeezed in among them.

"That's because it's your first time seeing me. Hey, scoot your butt over a bit."

The other martial artists chuckled. With so many people stationed here, it was impossible to know everyone. They assumed he must be a new arrival, filling a spot left by someone who had died.

Geom Mugeuk pulled a bottle of liquor from the box he had brought and took a long drink. He then tossed the bottle to the man who had first spoken to him.

"Where'd you get the booze?"

"You want to know?"

"Nope."

The man drank. The others waited for their turn, each taking a sip. As the battle dragged on, finding alcohol these days was like trying to pluck stars from the sky.

Geom Mugeuk's actions were so natural, and since he was even sharing his liquor, no one was suspicious of the new face. They were sure that if he were an enemy, he wouldn't deliberately come and sit among them like this.

Geom Mugeuk had infiltrated quite deep into the center of the Heavenly Fate Palace's camp. His target was the central barracks up ahead.

This won't be easy.

The area around it was under heavy guard, but the guards weren't the problem. He didn't have enough inner arts to use the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, but he could perform a modified version of the Four Strides of the Wind God movement arts. Evading their eyes wouldn't be difficult.

The real problem was the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord and the true masters who served as his bodyguards. It would be impossible to deceive them and sneak inside. However, having come this far, just turning back would be too much of a waste. He had to find a way.

Just then, the same martial artist from before asked Geom Mugeuk a question.

"Got any more booze?"

"I do. But can you handle the consequences?"

Geom Mugeuk gestured toward the central barracks with his chin, implying the liquor was for the higher-ups. While he might get away with sneaking one bottle, he would have to pay a very steep price if he took more and caused a problem.

The man didn't dare ask for more liquor and instead began to complain.

"Damn it. I wonder when this damn war will ever end."

At that, the others sitting around chimed in.

"It'll be over soon. Haven't you heard the rumor that the Divine Sword Martial Emperor has arrived over there? He'll be facing our Saintess in a decisive battle any day now."

"What if our Saintess loses?"

"What do you mean, 'what if'? Then we'll all die, of course."

Everyone actually laughed at the mention of dying.

Listening to their conversation, Geom Mugeuk realized they were no different from the Murim Alliance martial artists. They might have joined the war with all sorts of justifications at first, but as time went on, everyone's wish was the same. For the war to end quickly.

Just then, a martial artist came running from the distance, shouting.

"The Saintess has returned!"

At that, everyone shot to their feet, and the area became bustling with activity.

A glint appeared in Geom Mugeuk's eyes.

Does that mean the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord isn't in the barracks right now?

Geom Mugeuk picked up his box and moved quickly toward the barracks. He set the box down nearby and put his skills to use. Infiltrating a barracks guarded only by ordinary martial artists wasn't difficult, even without the kind of flashy movement arts that could deceive someone in plain sight.

Sure enough, the inside of the barracks was empty. Everything within was luxurious, from the fur pelt covering the chair to the small table and even the liquor bottle and cup placed upon it.

He had entered this place knowing the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord would come, because there was one thing he was counting on.

Just then, he heard signs of people outside, and two men stepped inside.

When they entered, Geom Mugeuk was nowhere to be seen.

He had deployed the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. The space Geom Mugeuk created was just large enough for one person to stand. Even then, it was a space of darkness without a single ray of light.

This was the only space he could create with his current inner arts. It was only possible because his proficiency had increased thanks to his ceaseless training in the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and the Heavenly Space Secret Art, allowing him to open a space with very little inner arts.

From within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, Geom Mugeuk watched the two men who had entered. They were an old man and a middle-aged man.

The old man's face was deeply lined with the marks of time, yet it seemed a waste to call him old. His back was straight and his gaze was intense. Above all, he didn't exude the aura of a setting sun but rather the heat of a still-blazing one.

This old man was none other than the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord, Wi Mucheon, the very man who had started a war against the Murim Alliance.

Wi Mucheon stopped abruptly and looked around the interior. It seemed he felt some kind of incongruity. The moment showed just how formidable Wi Mucheon's martial arts skills were.

"Is something wrong?"

The middle-aged martial artist who had entered with Wi Mucheon asked. He had a tough impression, as if he would never back down. He was Baek Yanggi, the Saintess of the Protection Palace, one of the three great divine palaces of the Heavenly Fate Palace.

"It's nothing."

Wi Mucheon didn't notice the Spacetime Manipulation Technique that Geom Mugeuk had deployed. He sat in his chair and poured liquor from the table beside him.

"Then please rest."

As the Protection Palace Lord turned to leave, Wi Mucheon asked a question.

"Do you know why the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Alliance haven't intervened in this fight with the Murim Alliance?"

The Protection Palace Lord turned back toward Wi Mucheon and answered.

"They must be hoping that the vital energy of the orthodox sects' murim will be greatly damaged by this war."

Wi Mucheon nodded at his calm reply.

"That's right. The strategy of killing with a borrowed knife. They strike the Murim Alliance with the sword called the Heavenly Fate Palace. That is their scheme."

Wi Mucheon had started the war knowing their scheme better than anyone. It was a strategy that exploited the long-standing hatred between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions. Because of that ancient animosity, he was confident that they would never help another faction that was under attack.

Just as he predicted, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Alliance did not help the Murim Alliance. Instead, they supported the various sects that were helping the Heavenly Fate Palace.

"They may think we will suffer mutual destruction fighting the orthodox sects' murim."

The smile formed by the wrinkles around Wi Mucheon's mouth was full of confidence.

"Because of their arrogance, we will be victorious."

The Protection Palace Lord's gaze deepened as he looked at him.

Who is the truly arrogant one? Does the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord really believe he can achieve the conquer the murim?

"Have a drink."

Wi Mucheon offered a cup to the Protection Palace Lord, who respectfully accepted the drink.

TRICKLE.

"You were against this war."

Their gazes locked over the liquor pouring into the cup.

The Protection Palace Lord knew. He knew that the Saintess's earnest dream was world domination and that he had been preparing for that dream for many long years.

And yet.

"The Divine Sword Martial Emperor is a strong man."

The Protection Palace Lord knew well that these words could easily wound Wi Mucheon's pride, but it was something that had to be said. Even if they killed the Divine Sword Martial Emperor, countless reclusive masters of the orthodox sects would reveal themselves if the Murim Alliance were to fall.

And was that all? The Evil Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult still remained.

World domination. The only thing that can achieve this goal is blood. The moment that goal is realized, it becomes a monster whose belly is never full, no matter how much blood it drinks. It was impossible to even imagine how much blood would have to be shed.

Wi Mucheon silently poured liquor into his own cup.

Of course, the Protection Palace Lord knew. It wasn't as if the man was a madman crazed for blood. His will to unify the murim was just that strong. He also understood his ambition. As a martial genius, he possessed the most powerful martial arts among all the Heavenly Fate Palace Lords in history.

"I apologize."

In response to the Protection Palace Lord's apology, Wi Mucheon said something unexpected.

"This war is not my war."

Wi Mucheon drained his cup. The Protection Palace Lord waited until he had finished drinking, then refilled his cup and asked.

"Then whose war is it?"

"Heaven's."

A moment of silence passed.

Heaven's Will. The Heavenly Fate Palace existed to protect that Heaven's Will. It was unknown how long the Heavenly Fate Palace had existed, but the fact that it was an organization that protected Heaven's Will had never changed.

"I do not believe that Heaven desires blood."

The Protection Palace Lord conveyed his honest feelings. He knew these words would also greatly displease the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord, but they too had to be said. After all, the Protection Palace existed to protect the Heavenly Fate Palace.

Wi Mucheon stared at the Protection Palace Lord. The taut tension heightened, but the Protection Palace Lord showed no fear. As if he had expected this reaction, the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord did not get angry. Instead, he shared a surprising fact.

"The Secret Box has awakened."

"!"

The Protection Palace Lord was stunned. Not only him, but Geom Mugeuk, who was listening, was also shocked. He knew the Secret Box was related to the Heavenly Fate Palace, but he never expected to hear about it in their conversation.

What on earth does it mean for the Secret Box to have awakened?

"As you know, the Secret Box is a sacred artifact of our palace, said to contain Heaven's Will. We don't know who made it or for what purpose, but after the first Heavenly Fate Palace Lord obtained the Secret Box, the Heavenly Fate Palace has existed for generations to protect it."

From his words, Geom Mugeuk was able to understand the relationship between the Secret Box and the Heavenly Fate Palace.

So the Secret Box was a sacred artifact of the Heavenly Fate Palace.

He could also understand more clearly why that Secret Box had brought him to this place.

The Protection Palace Lord stared at Wi Mucheon with a shocked expression. He found it hard to believe. For ages, the Secret Box had existed merely as a symbol, like a bell somewhere or a sword in another place.

But that Secret Box has awakened?

Wi Mucheon showed him the proof directly. He took something out from his robes.

"The Secret Box produced this."

What Wi Mucheon held out was a small Secret Box.

The moment he saw that Secret Box, the Protection Palace Lord showed his respects and knelt on the spot. It had the exact same shape as the large Secret Box.

"In accordance with Heaven's Will, I will follow the will of this sacred artifact with my entire being."

The Secret Box, the sacred artifact of the Heavenly Fate Palace, was not something one could dare to look at directly. In fact, the Secret Box was kept in the treasury of the Heavenly Fate Palace, and only the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord was allowed to enter that place.

Wi Mucheon's eyes, as he looked at the Secret Box, were also filled with awe and reverence.

"I can feel the power contained within it. It's a formidable power. Not a power that someone like the Divine Sword Martial Emperor could possibly stop."

It was at that very moment.

In that instant, surprisingly, the Secret Box cried out.

HUUUMMM.

Even Wi Mucheon was surprised. It was the first time the small Secret Box had shown any reaction since he obtained it.

Wi Mucheon held the Secret Box up high, and the Protection Palace Lord bowed his head low.

"I started this battle according to Heaven's Will."

"I will help you, Saintess, to surely achieve world domination in accordance with Heaven's Will."

A resolve to no longer harbor different thoughts about the meaning of this war bloomed on the Protection Palace Lord's face.

Watching them, Geom Mugeuk realized one thing.

The Secret Box isn't crying because of the Heavenly Fate Palace Lord.

Because the Secret Box in his own robes was also vibrating. Geom Mugeuk could feel it instinctively.

It's the same Secret Box.

He realized that across three hundred years of time, the two Secret Boxes, one and the same, were communicating with each other. The fact that it could bring him here across such a long span of time was likely possible because that Secret Box was here.

So, you were something special after all.

Sorry. To think I drew a smiling face on such a great sacred artifact without even knowing.

Just then, the voice of a subordinate was heard from outside.

"The Saintess of the Saintess Palace has arrived."

The Saintess was the Saintess who led the Saintess Palace, another of the three great divine palaces.

The two men were startled at the news of her arrival. For the Saintess to come to the battlefield herself meant that something very important had happened.

"Show her in."

A moment later, women dressed in white robes entered first. As they lined up to the left and right to form a path, the Saintess walked through the middle.

The Saintess Palace Saintess, Ye Seol.

She had her eyes covered with a white cloth. Though her eyes were covered, she was known to see everything in the world. A sacred energy flowed from her body, and with every step she took, a sense of mystery seemed to rise like a heat haze.

Wi Mucheon greeted her respectfully. Although the Saintess was also his subordinate, she was a special existence.

"Saintess, what brings you to such a harsh place?"

Then, the Saintess uttered astonishing words. Her voice possessed a calm dignity. In a voice that made everyone listen intently, she said.

"A prophecy has descended."

At those words, both Wi Mucheon and the Protection Palace Lord were stunned.

The reason the people of the Heavenly Fate Palace respected and valued the Saintess was precisely because she could read the secrets of heaven and make prophecies. Among all the Saintesses in history, she had made the most accurate prophecies.

Wi Mucheon and the Protection Palace Lord simultaneously performed a clasped hands greeting to show their respect.

"On behalf of the palace, we will hear Heaven's Will."

Wi Mucheon's eyes filled with anticipation. It was a prophecy that had descended just before a crucial battle. He desperately hoped it would be a positive prophecy about his attempt at world domination.

"It is said that world domination will be achieved."

Wi Mucheon's face filled with joy. Yes, there had to be a reason the Secret Box had awakened. He could also understand why the Secret Box had cried out.

Just then, astonishing words flowed from the Saintess.

"However, Heaven's Will does not lie with you, Saintess."

"!"

A look of bewilderment spread across Wi Mucheon's face.

Didn't she just say world domination would be achieved? But Heaven's Will doesn't lie with me?

A shocking prophecy flowed from the Saintess's lips.

"The time when our palace's Heaven's Will is to be fulfilled is three hundred years from now."