Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter 198

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Miho and I began to traverse the area known as the Great Prairie. We had previously heard from the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace about a large lake to the north, which could be considered a water source, so we headed straight in that direction. About half a day later, a huge lake came into view.

“Hmmm… this must be it.”

It was the location known as Hangka Lake, and this area wasn’t completely frozen ground; sunlight filtered through, and there was quite a bit of greenery in the form of grass and trees. Also, probably because it was a lake, I could see nomadic tribes wandering nearby. While this place currently belonged to Goryeo, it was said that since they couldn’t exert full control over the Liaodong territory, they had entrusted some local tribes with a degree of autonomy.

I thought the size of Hangka Lake was considerably vast. It wasn’t just a matter of being one or two li across; it seemed nearly comparable to Dongting Lake. With its width and the distant ends not easily seen, it was a vast oasis unlike a typical lake.

‘Well, I suppose it’s all right to stop here.’

In exploration, water was incredibly important. Especially in the case of a lake, it was easy to find abundant ingredients and places to rest. Naturally, I intended to make a stop at Jinrang Valley, but in urgent situations, we could think about starting again from Hangka Lake. Miho dipped her feet into the lake and joked around.

“Whee! Let’s play in the water for a bit!”

“We can do that later. It’s more important to save time and rush to the territory of Arasa.”

“I’m sorry.”

Although Miho said this in a sulky voice, I could only console her. Having had plenty of travel experience, I knew that the longer the journey, the tighter the reins should be held to finish it quickly, as it was beneficial both in terms of time and stamina. Lengthy travels could mentally wear one down, undoubtedly making it more difficult in the later stages.

I said to Miho,

“For now, we’ll move towards the lake. Our first target will be the Hurun Lake.”

“How do you plan to navigate?”

“Since my Qi is abundant, I can always accurately orient myself in all four directions depending on the situation.”

When one’s internal energy became extremely strong, it felt like connecting with the Qi of heaven and earth, allowing me to understand the directions without needing to see. Even without a compass, I could tell the east, west, south, and north better than anyone. This ability was precisely why I could embark on a long journey to Sichuan Province.

“Alright, let’s hurry.”

Miho, as a Great Demon, could also use her magic and demon power to travel at a speed comparable to mine. Agreeing that we should travel fast, she began to run with all her might. As we started to soar over rivers and mountain ranges, we were able to move much faster than before.

Whoosh!

When we reached Hurun Lake, about a day and a half had passed. Having run almost non-stop, Miho and I decided to sit by the lake for a half-day break. Miho, looking a bit tired, tapped her legs and said,

“Phew, this land is really vast. As far as you can see, it’s just land.”

“It’s the same with the Central Plains, right?”

“But here, it gets too cold at night. The temperature swing is so big, it’s exhausting.”

“Then how about transforming into an inanimate object? I’ll do all the running anyway…”

Until now, we hadn’t stopped by Jinrang Valley. If Mangnyang had too many things to worry about, it would be unfavorable, and Mangnyang urged to avoid exposing myself as much as possible. The more regularly we visited Jinrang Valley, the higher the risk of attracting attention.

Then Miho shook her head.

“I think it’s fascinating to step on unfamiliar land. I haven’t been to places like this, so I want to savor the scenery a bit more.”

I chuckled softly.

“Do you prefer nature over people?”

“Hmph… It’s not a big deal. It’s just that being in nature replenishes my demon power faster and helps me recover more quickly.”

“I see.”

“I want to catch some fish.”

Swish!

Miho exuded a sharp aura from her hand and sent it flying toward Hurun Lake. Shortly after, it was as if threads of Qi speared eight fish and lifted them into the air. As the fish flopped down onto the ground, Miho wagged her tail, seemingly pleased.

“They look delicious.”

As Miho reached for the fish, I smacked her hand away.

“Miho, no.”

“What do you mean no?”

“Lake fish are often full of parasites, so they need to be cooked.”

“…….”

Miho momentarily wore a dumbfounded expression but quickly got annoyed.

“It doesn’t matter for me since I’m a demon. If I’m not of the magic clan, it’s not a concern!”

I firmly replied,

“I have to eat too, you know. I don’t like raw food.”

Back in my days as a civilian, I had witnessed several people who died or became incapacitated after consuming freshwater fish carelessly due to parasites. Because of those memories, I had developed the habit of never eating freshwater fish raw.

“Ugh… fine.”

Miho, looking disappointed, ignited a fire with her Fire Technique. As the fish began to roast, I asked Miho,

“Isn’t it about time you taught me that Fire Technique?”

During our three-month stay at the North Sea Ice Palace, Miho had resisted teaching me the Fire Technique under the pretext of it being bothersome. However, since a promise was a promise, I urged her to keep it.

“Hmm… I suppose you’re right. As disappointing as it is, I’ll teach you.”

Squatting down, Miho continued.

“The Fire Technique I use is different from what humans use. While human techniques rely on the powers of trigrams, mine is rooted in demon power. So originally, it’s impossible for humans to replicate my technique.”

“Hmmm…”

“But you can use it.”

“Why?”

“Because the essence of the Fox Spirit’s power is intertwined with you. The power of my tail is latent within you, so with a little familiarity, you should be able to use the Fire Technique.”

Having explained this much, Miho gazed at me and said,

“Baek Woong. Have you ever thought about becoming a Demon?”

What was she talking about?

However, Miho’s eyes were serious. As the fish began to cook a bit, Miho poked at the head of one with a twig and continued,

“You know that human bodies are inconvenient and filled with limitations. If you became a demon, you would gain several times your current lifespan, along with a powerful body. Plus, all the Qi you’ve accumulated until now would remain intact, so becoming a demon would instantly make you a formidable Great Demon.”

“Don’t say such nonsense. After all, demons are ultimately of the yin category and bound to be vulnerable to magic techniques. They tend to have weaknesses against languages of spells as well. It’s better to continue living as a human.”

Knowing the weaknesses of demons based on my magical knowledge, I bluntly responded, causing Miho to smile slyly.

“Wuhuh, you say you won’t become a demon just because they have weaknesses… You’re certainly different from regular humans.”

“What do you mean?”

“Put differently, does it mean you’d seriously consider becoming a demon if there were no weaknesses? That’s not a thought typical of a regular human.”

“……”

It was a valid point, so I didn’t outright deny it. I wasn’t particularly attached to remaining human, and if becoming a demon meant gaining power, it could be something worth considering. However, since demons are inherently associated with the yin element, there would always be a critical weakness, and they are also innately weaker to magic techniques. So for now, there was no need to gain demonhood while also bearing such weaknesses.

“Eat this, and I’ll teach you. It shouldn’t be too hard.”

I watched in fascination as Miho devoured the roasted fish. She seemed to be enjoying it so much; I felt hungrier just watching her.

‘Is it really that delicious?’

I decided to tear into the fish myself, but unsurprisingly for a freshwater fish, it didn’t have a strong taste. Even so, it was edible enough, so I resolved to make this my meal. Of course, it would be much better to eat something once we reached Jinrang Valley, but Miho seemed to be keen on enjoying delicacies.

Moments later, I learned how to draw out fire and the incantations to summon flames from Miho.

Whoosh!

“You’re doing it right away!”

“Am I a genius or what?”

“Pfft, impossible. Of course you’re good at it, since you possess the energy of my tail, haha!”

“……”

I felt a bit embarrassed for boasting unnecessarily. After receiving the Fire Technique from Miho, I found I could summon Will-O’-the-Wisps with just a simple invocation, and I realized I could use this for both illumination and combat.

Miho smiled.

“Though that technique is weak for now, it will grow alongside your own power. So how strong it becomes depends on you.”

“Can I also use Illusion Techniques?”

“You’d be better off learning that from human techniques. It’s a far more innate technique, and I don’t think it would suit you.”

“Got it.”

Once the teachings were finished, we began to run again.

We had just entered the vast plateau of the Great Prairie, with tribes appearing here and there. They were descendants of the once-great Great Yuan Empire. Among them, there seemed to be several who had cultivated martial arts, but realizing that we were moving at a speed that vastly exceeded theirs, they refrained from provoking us.

Creak!

After running for about three days and nights, I felt we arrived at a lake in the middle of the night. Having gone almost non-stop, we truly had come faster than a galloping horse. I patted Miho on the back and said,

“I’ll ask someone here what this place is.”

“Ugh…”

Miho, having exhausted her energy, sat resting against a tree stump. According to her, this was a type of training for her; after a steep decline in stamina, her demon power would rise. I left Miho behind and ran to find any signs of life nearby.

Whoosh!

It wasn’t long before I encountered a prairie tribe camping nearby with a fire. They seemed startled upon seeing me, drawing their swords and bows, shouting something in alarm, but I performed the greeting I had learned from the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.

Calmly placing my hands on my arms and shoulders in sequence, I knelt with my hands over my heart, and after a moment, they relaxed and lowered their weapons. This was a common greeting among the prairie tribes, signifying, I am a traveler and I seek assistance. Once I lowered my guard, an older-looking prairie man approached and spoke.

“#(&[email protected][email protected]*&@(%…..”

Of course, I had almost no knowledge of the prairie language. So I asked if there was anyone who could speak the Central Plains language. The prairie man called over a nearby youth, and after a moment, the young man spoke.

“I can speak the Central Plains language. Please, traveler, go ahead.”

I studied the youth and the prairie tribesmen’s attire.

‘They’re wielding Matchlock Guns.’

It confirmed that the prairie people knew how to use firearms and seemed to equip them regularly. With their guns in mind, I spoke,

“I am So Woong, a traveler from the Central Plains. I’d like to camp by the lake here, and I’m looking to know the name of this lake.”

The young man translated for the older prairie man, and soon his response came.

“It is called Ovs Lake.”

“We are journeying towards the Crimean Khanate. How much farther do we have to go?”

This was also a question based on the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace’s advice. If I were to mention that we were headed to the capital of the Arasa Empire, which is Moscow, the prairie people would never see me favorably. Upon hearing my question, the young man looked somewhat surprised and replied,

“That place is very, very far from here, over 2000 li away.”

“Is there any worthwhile destination along the way?”

After the young man relayed my question, the older man seemed to say something in return. A moment later, the young man responded,

“If you’re aiming for Tatar territory, it would be good to stop by Astana to seek wisdom from the Prophet.”

“Astana?”

The young man chuckled slightly.

“It’s the coldest land in the world. There’s a great prophet who could assist travelers like you.”

“Where in Astana is the Prophet located?”

“In the Grand Temple.”

A prophet in Astana? A Grand Temple?

“Why should I seek wisdom from the Prophet?”

“That person is the smartest being in the world and is respected by all.”

“I see.”

In any case, after receiving explanations regarding the terrain and directions from them, I felt I had a rough idea of where to go. As payment for their help, I took out three of the roasted fish I had caught previously and handed them over. They seemed pleased. Unlike the people of the Central Plains, the prairie folks preferred trading necessities over gold and silver.

I returned to Miho and said,

“This place is Ovs Lake, and we’re going to see the Prophet in Astana to ask for directions.”

“The Prophet in Astana? What’s that all about?”

“I’m not sure. Seems like either a seer or a sage.”

Miho let out a scoff.

“Hmph! Anyway, it’s just a human bum, isn’t it? We’ve rested long enough, so let’s get going.”

After a brief rest, Miho and I set off running across the mountains and fields again. For an ordinary human, this would be an impossible level of exertion; however, I could sustain this due to my immense internal energy, and Miho, being a Great Demon, had stamina incomparable to any human.

So, after about a day or two of running almost nonstop, I soon realized we had reached an incredibly cold land. The area was filled with snowfields, and the biting cold was beyond anything I’d experienced before. I glanced at Miho, who seemed alright, and she said,

“I won’t feel the cold as long as I summon my fox flames.”

Whoosh!

As several fox fireballs flickered around, Miho seemed to overcome the cold with ease. I could withstand the chill with just my internal energy, but not wanting to waste it unnecessarily, I pulled out a thick fur coat from my gear and wore it.

Whirr!

It was utterly frigid. My breath transformed into frost as it floated away, and I imagined that if I were to relieve myself, it would instantly freeze. It was hard to believe that someone could live in this cold. We trudged through the endless expanse of snowfields for a while when, finally, a peculiar temple caught my eye.

Thud…

“No way…”

I was astounded.

Despite the hellish cold, there stood an enormous temple, likely hundreds of square feet in size. It wasn’t haphazardly constructed but built with proper architectural techniques, and it didn’t resemble the styles of the Central Plains either. The lack of any signs of life within the temple only added to the strangeness.

Whirr!

Whirr!

A fierce, biting wind howled. Standing still wouldn’t do, so reluctantly, Miho and I pushed open the massive door to the Grand Temple. The door was already ajar, allowing us to enter without much force.

Bang!

As the door to the temple closed behind us, we were filled with wonder at the unfamiliar architecture within. While exploring, I noticed what appeared to be a temple altar up ahead, where a figure stood beside it.

As I approached the being, it spoke.

[You are a traveler from afar. Are you heading west…?]

The voice was similar to the Heart Language that Miho used. Perhaps because of that, I could understand it without needing a translator; it came into my mind directly. The figure was shrouded in darkness, making it unclear what it looked like.

‘Seems to be skilled in magic.’

I glanced at Miho before responding to its words.

“Indeed. Are you the Prophet?”

[Yes. Why have you come to this Grand Temple…?]

“I am So Woong, and this is Miho. We are heading to the capital of the Arasa Empire and came seeking you because we believed you would know the way.”

Swish…

After a brief moment, the Prophet revealed itself from the shadows.

In that instant, I was struck with shock, as if I had been hit by lightning.

“……!!”

Otherworldly Creature!

It was unlike any other Otherworldly Creature I had encountered thus far, being neither human nor demon but a bizarre, grotesque being. Protruding from its core were tentacles that seemed to function as a face, with pincers extending in multiple directions. Soft hissing sounds echoed, as if the Otherworldly Creature was undergoing some peculiar metabolism.