‘An illusion?’
Bu Eunseol’s chest grew cold.
Had the one who set this garden formation reached the Limitless realm?
How else could merely entering this space could draw out deep-seated memories?
‘Or the power of harmony?’
The Sacred Sword Baekri Mujo revealed perfect harmony through his office arrangement. Perhaps this Ghost Valley Gate formation, along with mind-capturing arts, used such arrangements to draw others’ memories.
—There’s a high chance the Valley of Lost Souls is a collective village created by a cult.
Suddenly, the Death Spirit Corps’s report on the Valley of Lost Souls surfaced in his mind.
According to their investigation, those who successfully settled in the Valley of Lost Souls were the pained martial artists they required as a condition.
Martial artists always tormented by suffering and regret—could they truly feel happiness just by entering the isolated Valley of Lost Souls?
That meant the Valley of Lost Souls likely used gaps in incomplete spirits due to torment to brainwash or capture minds.
‘Then perhaps to steal their martial arts.’
The condition for the Valley of Lost Souls was “martial artists in pain.” That could mean luring them to seize their ultimate arts.
‘But… something’s off.’ Whether mind-capturing or anything, showing such illusions should be followed by means to subdue the spirit.
Yet this mechanism merely created serene scenery and wind, evoking beautiful past memories?
—Depending on your thoughts, human life can be happy or unhappy.
Suddenly, grandfather Bu Zhanyang’s voice echoed in his ears.
Bu Zhanyang did his best in all he could, never coveting or regretting what he couldn’t have. He was content with simple daily meals and grateful for performing funerals as a mortician.
‘But I… don’t seek happiness, Grandfather.’
Bu Eunseol had not entered the martial world for his own happiness.
It was to deal with those who cruelly killed his grandfather and disturbed even his eternal rest.
He could not live otherwise.
He could not leave this world with those who did that to his grandfather still alive.
Whoo.
Yet again, a clear breeze brushed Bu Eunseol’s ears.
Then the beautiful garden transformed into a landscape piled with corpses, blood flowing like rivers.
When recalling memories with grandfather, it was beautiful…
Thinking of revenge turned it into hell.
‘Is it saying I’m on the wrong path?’
Crack.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fists.
‘I’m not trying to judge right and wrong!’
There is no absolute right or wrong in the world. Even if all call it wrong, to some it may be utterly right.
“If I cannot avenge Grandfather, there is no meaning!”
Crash.
As Bu Eunseol roared like a lion, the scenes before him shattered.
Simultaneously, the true Ghost Valley Gate appeared.
“Flowers… and wind.” The passage was empty, with only one man-made fake flower.
And a single breeze blowing through an open window.
“So the flowers were flowers, and the wind was wind.”
Bu Eunseol could not hide his astonishment.
To shake a person’s heart with just flowers and wind. Then the Valley Lord of the Valley of Lost Souls clearly possessed tremendous ability beyond what was known.
“My son! My son! Where have you gone, leaving your father?”
“Mother! Mother died so miserably!”
Unlike Bu Eunseol, Nae Bihon and Dae Guhwi still trapped in the illusion wailed pitifully.
They recalled only tormenting, painful memories.
‘So that’s it.’
Having achieved Spirit Regulation Harmony, Bu Eunseol’s spirit could not be invaded by the Ghost Valley Gate. Thus, when he recalled something pleasant, beautiful scenery unfolded.
When he erupted in anger, horrific scenery appeared.
Creak.
Then the door at the passage’s end opened, pouring bright light.
Step, step.
Bu Eunseol walked out as if entranced. There stood a middle-aged man with clear features and proper proportions, smiling broadly.
“Welcome to our valley.”
“Are you the Valley Lord?”
“No, I am merely a guide.” The middle-aged man extended his hand to Bu Eunseol. “Follow me. I’ll guide you to the Valley Lord.”
“Only me?” Looking at the wailing Nae Bihon and Guhwi, the middle-aged man wore a faint smile.
“Don’t worry. Painful memories are temporary. They’ll soon rest easy.”
As he spoke, several men approached from behind. All wore clean clothes, and sweet fragrance rose with their movements.
“It’s fine. Those were just bad memories. Follow us.”
They supported the sobbing Nae Bihon and Dae Guhwi and led them somewhere. Their expressions and actions showed no malice; they seemed intent on no harm.
“Follow.”
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to follow the middle-aged man into the Valley of Lost Souls.
An astonishing landscape unfolded.
The interior was arranged like a large, sunny mountain village, with well-tended fields and orchards around.
They lived here self-sufficiently.
“This way.” The middle-aged man led to a house deep in the village.
Pointing to the gate, he said, “Go in.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol entered the small house. Opening the old door, incense rose inside, and wooden floors were laid.
It looked like a place where great monks meditated.
Before a table sat an elder in white robes, neatly seated. His hair was white as leek roots with age, his sparse wrinkles evoking ancient trees.
“I am Valley Lord Song Baekdo.” Contrary to appearance, the elder’s voice was clear and resonant.
His eyes were bright, never seeming villainous.
“I am the mercenary, Seolso.” Clasping hands, Bu Eunseol bowed.
Valley Lord Song Baekdo wore a peculiar smile.
“If unaffected by the Ghost Valley Formation, you must have reached the pinnacle of mind-strengthening arts.”
In a low voice, he said, “You can freely control your spirit, yet you deliberately visited our valley.”
Song Baekdo had not imagined Bu Eunseol achieved Spirit Regulation Harmony. He thought immense mind-strengthening arts made him immune to the Ghost Valley Formation.
“I came to borrow the Profound Hunt Stone.”
“The Profound Hunt Stone.” Song Baekdo narrowed his eyes briefly, then nodded. “Just borrowing that will suffice?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I’ll lend it. Take it.”
Bu Eunseol wore a blank expression.
He never expected things to resolve so easily?
“But there is a condition.”
“Speak.”
“Stay three days, helping with our valley’s work. Do that, and I’ll give the Profound Hunt Stone immediately.”
“What work must I help with?”
“Nothing much.” Song Baekdo revealed white teeth unbefitting his age. “Just follow the same daily routine as our valley’s people.”
Bu Eunseol felt puzzled.
Merely spending three days like the valley’s people for a treasure like the Profound Hunt Stone?
That made no sense.
“I’ll ask my companions and decide.”
“What is there to ask?” Song Baekdo wore a peculiar smile.
“You alone need to decide.”
Song Baekdo’s eyes were too deep to read his intent.
‘No malice.’
Having achieved Spirit Regulation Harmony, Bu Eunseol could instinctively distinguish goodwill from malice.
The aura emanating from Song Baekdo was clearly benevolent.
‘Though my intuition could be wrong.’ After deep thought, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Understood. I’ll do so.”
“Well thought.” Song Baekdo smiled and extended his hand. “Then rest comfortably.”
From that day, Bu Eunseol’s party stayed in the Valley of Lost Souls.
The valley’s people shared all routines.
They rose at the same time, ate together in a large dining hall, tilled fields together, and slept at the same time. During rest, they recited heart-calming sutras like the Pure Brightness Secret, or shared parables from Buddhist scriptures.
Each meal was rice and greens, but tasty fruits accompanied, and midway, sweet potatoes or potatoes were given to prevent hunger.
Bu Eunseol, Nae Bihon, and Dae Guhwi worked, ate, and recited diligently like valley people.
One day passed, then the second, and changes appeared in the two.
Empty auras flowed from their bodies, expressions gentle as Buddha.
Time sense faded vaguely, spirits filled endlessly with peace.
“Tilling the field is truly rewarding, isn’t it?” Wiping sweat while hoeing, Nae Bihon asked Dae Guhwi.
“Indeed.” Straightening his back, Dae Guhwi smiled brightly, showing white teeth. “I never knew working with sweat could be this happy.”
Astonishing.
Only two days had passed, yet the two adapted perfectly to valley life.
Moreover, unprecedented comfortable smiles graced their lips.
‘This is wrong.’ Watching them, Bu Eunseol finally sensed something amiss.
Peace and happiness of the heart do not come so suddenly, nor so quickly.
Especially Nae Bihon—even with lost memories, only his personality softened.
His sharp, cold edge had still lingered subtly. Yet now he looked like a monk detached from the world, completely abandoning all attachments?
“Brother Nae.” Approaching, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “The promised three days approach. We must obtain the Profound Hunt Stone from the Valley Lord and prepare to leave at once.”
“Hm?” Hoeing, Nae Bihon looked slightly dazed. “Leave?”
With a somewhat fearful expression, he said, “What’s the rush? Three days or four, it’s the same.”
Overhearing, Dae Guhwi nodded.
“Right. We’ve only been here three days; leaving now would be rude to the Valley Lord who showed kindness.”
“You won’t leave?” At Bu Eunseol’s question, Dae Guhwi scratched his head with an awkward smile.
“It doesn’t seem the right time to leave now.” He smiled, but his eyes were firm.
If forced out, they would likely flee back here.
‘This isn’t something to handle by force.’ Watching Nae Bihon and Dae Guhwi, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Understood. I’ll meet the Valley Lord first and ask his intent.”
“Yes, ask the Valley Lord. How long we can stay.”
“Right. We need the Valley Lord’s permission to stay long, don’t we?” Nae Bihon and Dae Guhwi were already indistinguishable from valley people.
Bu Eunseol gave no reply and headed straight to Song Baekdo’s house.
The promised date was three days.
No need to drag it out.
“Valley Lord.” Arriving, Song Baekdo stood outside as if waiting.
“You’ve come.”
“Tomorrow marks the third day.”
“Yes, it does.” Song Baekdo asked Bu Eunseol, “Do you plan to leave the valley?”
“Yes.”
“I see. You were unaffected by the true formation from the start.” Song Baekdo smiled faintly.
Seeing that smile, Bu Eunseol was certain. All this was Song Baekdo’s creation.
“Valley Lord.” Bu Eunseol asked, baffled, “Why forcibly grant people peace?”
Everyone in the Valley of Lost Souls. They had not earned peace through their own efforts.
It was all stability and peace handed by Valley Lord Song Baekdo. And it was not mind-capturing or great magic. If so, Bu Eunseol would have shattered it and attacked Song Baekdo at once.
The peace valley people felt was all artificial “harmony” created by Song Baekdo.
Every landscape in the Valley of Lost Souls.
Food, monotonous routines and heart sutras, shapes of utensils, serene scents everywhere…
Everything in the Valley of Lost Souls blended to bring powerful stability and peace.
“God gave humans the gift of forgetfulness… but regrettably made truly painful memories impossible to erase alone.”
“…”
“As time passes, painful memories only grow clearer.” Song Baekdo gazed at the distant sky and said, “Some humans suffer lifelong from unerasable memories and die.”
Song Baekdo sighed deeply and said, “Time cannot be reversed, and suffering changes nothing…”
He stared straight at Bu Eunseol.
“You have such memories too, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Didn’t you want to forget?”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“There were times I wanted to, but I must never forget.”
“Why.”
“If I forget, there is no reason to live.”
His grandfather’s cruel death.
Naturally, a memory he wanted to forget. But losing it meant no revenge.
No moving forward.
Losing his goal.
Like Nae Bihon who lost all memories.
“Painful memories torment humans but also help them grow.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“Forcibly making one forget pain is no different from ruining a human life.”
His words carried profound mystery. Song Baekdo seemed to empathize yet shook his head.
“Our thoughts differ.” Looking at the people wandering the Valley of Lost Souls, he said, “They all attempted suicide due to painful memories. I knew it was because of martial world grudges and founded the Valley of Lost Souls.”
Pointing around, he said, “You felt it too, but every blade of grass, stone, tree here… I arranged with utmost care to bring rest and peace to human hearts.”
Song Baekdo sighed deeply.
“Of course, your words are right. Without suffering, humans cannot progress.”
Looking straight at Bu Eunseol with regret, he said, “But the world rarely has people like you who sublimate suffering and pain into opportunities for growth.”
Bu Eunseol also sighed deeply.
Song Baekdo had his own goodwill and beliefs in creating the Valley of Lost Souls.
Using his outstanding ability to save people.
In truth, from Bu Eunseol’s view, Song Baekdo’s actions were not right.
Unless a god, one must not manipulate others’ emotions.
Humans grow through trials and suffering.
A newborn learns to walk on two legs only after much effort and pain.
One must never touch another’s spirit to evade pain and suffering.
“I studied mind-capturing arts for a while and researched ways to remove pain for those needing forgetfulness.”
Song Baekdo looked at the distant sky with anguish and said, “That was how I atoned for my past mistakes.”
From Song Baekdo’s body flowed only an immortal-like aura, with no malice.
He truly committed a great wrong in the past and seemed to have created the Valley of Lost Souls to atone by helping people.
‘At least it wasn’t a human playing god.’ Bu Eunseol sighed deeply. ‘Moreover, this level must be the highest realm of mind-capturing arts.’
By merely arranging objects in the Valley of Lost Souls, Song Baekdo gave Nae Bihon and Dae Guhwi spiritual stability and peace they could never obtain before.
Even at the first gate, it affected Bu Eunseol’s spirit despite Spirit Regulation Harmony.
In other words, Song Baekdo was comparable to Hyeok Ryeon-eung, who once left Bu Eunseol near death.
“You were once in the Three Realms, Valley Lord.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly, as if guessing something.
“Likely the Infinite Realm.”
Song Baekdo’s eyes widened. Few in the martial world knew of the Three Realms. Yet this young man guessed the Three Realms—and that he was from the Infinite Realm?
“You… were you also from the Three Realms?”
“How could that be.” Bu Eunseol snorted lowly. “Living cut off from the world, you wouldn’t know, but many in today’s martial world know of the Three Realms.”
“Then…”
“I’ve clashed with them repeatedly.” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath. “Destroying them is also my goal.”
Song Baekdo shook his head in disbelief.
No one or force in the martial world could oppose the Three Realms’ power; defying them meant certain doom.
Yet this bare-faced young man spoke of toppling the Three Realms like dismantling a local gang?
“Incredible. Who exactly are you?”
As a master of mind-capturing arts, Song Baekdo could easily distinguish truth from lies. But Bu Eunseol had achieved Spirit Regulation Harmony, so his inner thoughts were unreadable.
“Since you’ve left the secular world, it’s better you don’t know who I am.”
Bu Eunseol hid his identity not from arrogance.
Revealing it needlessly might entangle Song Baekdo in needless grudges.
“Heh heh.” Song Baekdo laughed hollowly. “If you know I’m from the Three Realms, you know who I am.”
“No.”
“No? Then how did you know I was in the Three Realms.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly, “Because I nearly died from the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.”
Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth with utmost seriousness.
“Are you the master who taught Hyeok Ryeon-eung the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words?”
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