Chapter 31. The Imugi’s Wish (1/2)

Chapter 31. The Imugi’s Wish

An Imugi that failed to become a dragon cannot survive in the material world for long. That was because it failed to become an immortal being selected by the heavens. ‘It’ was in a similar case in the past, too.

The day where there was quite a bit of rain. ‘It’ used up all the power it had in order to ascend. Already, a half of his body had turned into a dragon’s. Once he ascends, his other half will also transform, turning him into a full-fledged dragon. But unfortunately, the gate of heaven did not open on that fateful day.

‘It’ settled it’s tired body in the bottom of the Dragon Pond (龍泉). It was waiting for it’s death quietly.

The being that was neither a dragon or an Imugi. ‘It’ was fated to soon die and disappear from the world forever. The one that appeared in front of the dying being was a human, something that ‘it’ regarded as worthless before.

[…….You’re lucky.]

When it opened it’s eyes, it could see something in front of it. A thin human male. A weak human that didn’t even look like it could lift a twig.

However, ‘it’ was currently very weak. At this rate, he would be thrashed by this weak human, and spit out his Neidan (內丹) and die. That was the fate of most imugis that failed to ascend, after all.

Having his stomach cut open by a human, and having his Neidan ripped away from his body. ‘It’ quietly accepted its fate, but the human simply stood there, looking into the pond for a long time.

An arrogant look.

The human didn’t look afraid at all, even when looking at a giant half-dragon half-imugi monster. Actually, he had an excited look on his face.

“I never saw a dragon that failed to ascend. Interesting.”

[…….]

“Are you dying?”

‘It’ looked up towards the human. ‘It’ then proceeded to smile. Those eyes the human possessed were something that you’d attain once you surpassed the limits of the human race, wasn’t it? ‘It’ was happy that it got to see something so rare before death.

“Do you wish to live?”

[……Cocky little thing. Do not speak so casually, lowly human.]

“I can’t do that. I’m a little bored, you see.”

‘It’ didn’t respond, and shut its eyes under the pond. ‘It’ wanted to rest. Come to think of it, ‘It’ used up too much energy. ‘It’ used up too much time of its life polishing its power. Now that ‘It’ had failed, it didn’t want to do anything. ‘It’ just wanted to rest.

“I will give you life.”

‘It’ snorted in amusement. The human was insane. There was no way to hide its giant body in this world. Its body had turned too big because of the half of his body becoming those of a dragon’s. This world could not support a massive body like that. ‘It’ would slowly get dissolved away from the world, and die.

“You’re lucky that you met me.”

Lucky? Who’s he kidding? The man stretched out his hand towards the pond, not caring if ‘It’ would get angry or not. That was the first meeting between ‘It’ and Zhuge Liang.

[Do you have a wish, human?]

“A wish?”

[Yes. A wish. I will grant you a single wish.]

“You? Something that failed to even become a dragon?”

Zhuge Liang smirked. But he knew. He knew that this new friend of his, even though it failed to become a dragon, still held immense power……. Zhuge Liang leaned back on his chair, and spoke.

“I accomplished everything I wanted to do by my own hands. But there is one thing that bugs me. There’s no one who can understand on my teachings properly.”

There was no one who could understand Zhuge Liang’s teachings in the present world. The fate of having no disciples. That ultimately meant that his knowledge would fate away once he died.

[It bugs you? Would what you said be your wish, then?]

“Is that how it works? Well, this isn’t something even you can do, anyways.”

‘It’ twisted its body to look at Zhuge Liang, and smiled.

[Human, you are underestimating me. I will grant you your wish.]

“Really? Haha, if that happens, I too, will grant you a single wish.”

‘It’s face turned extremely serious.

[…….Humans make easy promises. I do not trust promises made by humans.]

The past or the present, humans made promises that they’d never be able to keep.

“You don’t trust me?”

‘It’ paused, and began to think. After a moment, ‘It’ shook its head.

[I trust you, human. You are special.]

“Should I be happy?”

Zhuge Liang smiled. And that was how a thousand year old promise was made.

* * *

[You promised.]

‘It’ was saved that time, by that man. Perhaps the man did it because he was bored. But they still made a promise. And ‘It’ had fulfilled its part of the promist. That was how ‘It’ repaid the man who introduced ‘It’ to the world of Math.

[…….He’s coming.]

The time was coming. The one who would complete the promise would be coming soon. ‘It’ closed its eyes, and waited patiently. There was no need to hurry. Didn’t he fail to ascend a thousand years ago due to haste? ‘It’ couldn’t make the same mistake again.

* * *

‘It’s cold.’

The formation was strangely cold. The giant aura that suppressed everything inside, and the seven giant mountains weren’t a problem for him. But the strange coldness inside didn’t seem to be related to the formation. It seemed to be something that came from the location itself.

‘It’s strange.’

Indeed, this was something extremely strange. This formation here was a formation, and at the same time, not a formation. It was something where a pocket of space was twisted a little bit, so that it would be completely cut off from the rest of the world. Most of the space that got cut off retained its original shape.

‘Why?’

This type of a formation was, for some reason, extremely strange, and at the same time, complicated.

‘But…….’

Cho Ryu Hyang fixed his glasses. He still had his special vision, didn’t he? The power to perceive the truth of every being in the world was nonsensically powerful when used in a formation. Cho Ryu Hyang, who had been leisurely walking through the formation, stopped and turned his head. The cave that suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

Cave of Disturbance (騷擾洞)

He could see the words someone wrote on top of the cave entrance. At the same time, he was clearly able to sense that the cold power that covered the inside of the formation was originating from this cave.

‘It’s here.’

This was it. Whatever hurt his teacher, it was inside here. He could feel it.

Cho Ryu Hyang walked inside filled with absolute confidence. Whatever was inside, he wasn’t about to let it go peacefully. A feeling of rage pulsed within his body. Thanks to that, he was able to resist the power of fear.