This city was once renamed Pyongyang-bu (平壤府) during the reign of King Gongmin. When it was taken by the Yuan (元) Dynasty, it was called Dongning-bu, but it was eventually reclaimed. However, after the transition from the Yuan to the Ming Dynasty, when Goryeo successfully defended and reformed the city, and subsequently King U and King Chang revived the nation's fortunes, this place regained its name as Seogyeong.
King U was originally uninterested in politics but suddenly increased his capabilities and became a resolute king, even purging the rebels. There is a rumor that the Twelve Laws (十二律) were heavily involved in this transformation, but it is not certain. Nonetheless, as Goryeo's fortunes revived and it became a strong nation, the old city, which had declined, also experienced a renaissance.
Jigyeol-seunim stared intently at the ruins of the old Dongning-bu.
"Right there, I can feel the energy of the Onmyoji."
That place had not been rebuilt or even cleared of debris for decades. According to feng shui masters, the grudges of those who died here during the Yuan Dynasty's rule were so strong that the yin energy was intense, making it a dangerous place for humans to enter. The gathered Goryeo sorcerers and monks nodded in agreement.
"Powerful sorcery can be felt."
"Let's remove the barrier."
Whoosh
Those skilled in sorcery stepped forward and began to dismantle the barrier surrounding the ruins. Although it had no physical interference, those who entered the barrier were entranced by illusions and were under a powerful curse. Entering such a barrier without protection would be reckless, so it had to be dismantled first.
Pang!
Suddenly, a light appeared in the air, and a transparent membrane peeled off. This was the signal that the barrier had been dismantled. The Onmyoji extermination team moved further inside, and as everyone entered the main gate of the ruins, something suddenly fell behind them with a loud thud.
Kwakwakwak
Jigyeol-seunim frowned at the cloud of dust.
"Narumun (羅生門)!"
The path of retreat was blocked by a massive door, four zhang high and wide, with demonic figures carved into its entrance, exuding a sinister aura. I asked Jigyeol-seunim.
"What is that?"
"It's a barrier technique of the Onmyodo. It seems the Onmyoji wants to make us like rats in a trap."
"Can't we just ignore it and jump over the wall to escape?"
"That Narumun itself possesses the power of the barrier. To destroy it, we must either kill the caster or use a dispelling technique."
"I see."
I nodded.
"The enemy has come to meet us."
Sssssssh
Ssssh
In front of the vast ruins of the old Dongning-bu, strange shapes gradually appeared. They were not so much monsters as they were artificial, paper-like puppets. As these puppets shuffled and fluttered forward, Jigyeol-seunim gripped his Zen staff.
"Everyone, be careful! These are Shikigami of the Onmyodo! Despite their appearance, they are powerful and hard to kill, so protect yourselves."
Shikigami?
I was amazed, my eyes widening at the sight of something I had never seen before. Could sorcery really create fighting puppets out of paper? There appeared to be about fifty Shikigami, clearly outnumbering the gathered extermination team.
Clank
"Twelve Laws Alliance, Jaryun, let's go!!"
Jaryun, a young disciple of the Twelve Laws Alliance who had sparred with me, shouted fiercely, drew his sword, and charged forward. His sword was imbued with a powerful sword technique, making his attack devastating. Jaryun immediately dismembered two Shikigami into twelve pieces.
Kwakwakwak
Despite being made of paper, the Shikigami fell with a heavy thud, suggesting they possessed significant physical force.
"Uaaaaa!!"
"Drive away the Japanese pirates!!"
Ching
Kaaang
With this as the signal, the Twelve Laws extermination team, as if on cue, each drew their weapons and charged forward. They were all high-ranking experts from their respective sects, with not a single one below the first-class level. In an instant, sword qi, spear techniques, arrows, and sorcery filled the air, and a fierce battle with the Shikigami ensued.
Flare!!
A student of the Twelve Laws who was using fire sorcery to burn the Shikigami frowned.
"They are being summoned again. The sorcerer's power is truly remarkable."
Ziiing
In just half a gong, they had felled half the Shikigami, but more were emerging from the back of the building with a strange sound. It seemed the Onmyoji was summoning low-level Shikigami in large numbers to drain our strength and morale.
Then, a Taoist who had been standing next to Jigyeol-seunim stepped forward and shouted.
"We can't waste time here! Leave this to me, a sorcerer of Haedong Mijeon (海東密天)!!"
Whoosh
His figure moved at an incredible speed, a feat that could not be achieved with ordinary footwork, suggesting it was also a form of sorcery. His shadow stretched out like an illusion, and in an instant, 72 steps of the Bopum technique glowed on the ground. The Taoist formed hand seals and shouted from the center of the square.
It was astonishing. The moment the Taoist completed the final step, the Shikigami, which had been swarming the area, stopped moving simultaneously. This was likely due to the Taoist's Ubo technique, which had a wide range and halted the Shikigami's movements. The martial artists and sorcerers in the courtyard expressed their gratitude.
"Thank you!"
"Let's destroy them quickly!"
Kwakwakwak
Kwak
"......"
I was amazed while helping to cut down the Shikigami. Each of them was a formidable expert, but they worked together, dividing roles and efficiently felling many enemies.
' This is the power of a group...!!'
While direct offensive sorcery was rare, it had a significant impact when used as support. The composition of the extermination team, with a mix of martial artists and sorcerers, showed that the Twelve Laws had extensive experience fighting powerful individuals. Moreover, unlike the factions in Zhongyuan, they had little internal strife and were united in their cause to fight the Japanese pirates.
With the final explosion, all the Shikigami in the courtyard fell. Then, a cackling laughter echoed from inside the ruins of Dongning-bu.
[ Ahaha, you Twelve Laws have come with a purpose! Why do you bother me?]
Jigyeol-seunim stepped forward, gripping his Zen staff, and said with a bow.
"You have summoned monsters from the Shanhaijing to disrupt this land. You must face the corresponding punishment."
[ Huhuhu, did you not know that most of the monsters from the Shanhaijing are mere novelties? They rarely harm humans, as they enjoy eating meat.]
"That may be true, but why did you cause such chaos on Goryeo soil? Do you have any explanation?"
[ An explanation... Ahaha.]
Ssssh!!
"Wh-what?"
"How is this possible?"
The extermination team was shocked. A woman, the Onmyoji, suddenly appeared in the empty air. She was as beautiful as I had seen earlier, with a full chest. However, what was truly surprising, Jigyeol-seunim frowned and said.
"Teleportation technique? How could a sorcerer of your caliber act so recklessly?"
[ Huhuhu... A powerful malevolent spirit is trapped in this land. I set up the barrier to absorb its power, and the Shanhaijing technique just happened to be suitable.]
"You used the energy released when the monsters were sealed to cast your sorcery."
The Onmyoji woman cackled.
[ Oh... You seem to be quite knowledgeable about sorcery. That's correct. You have been quite helpful to me.]
"The Twelve Laws knew we would have to deal with you, so you deliberately did this? Truly a wicked person!!"
Jigyeol-seunim was furious.
But I didn't fully understand their conversation and asked.
"There's a malevolent spirit in this land? Where exactly is it?"
Jigyeol-seunim answered.
"Most likely. There is only one person who could have become a malevolent spirit in this Seogyeong."
"Who is that?"
"......"
Jigyeol-seunim remained silent, and the Onmyoji woman covered her mouth with a fan and chuckled.
[ Ahaha... If I'm going to deal with the malevolent spirit of Seogyeong, what's it to you? It would be better for you to wait until I'm done.]
"Don't be ridiculous. From the yaoqi (妖氣) emanating from you, you are far from a benevolent being. I can't imagine what you'll do with the power after absorbing the malevolent spirit. We will seal both you and the malevolent spirit here."
[ Ahahahaha... Try if you can!]
Ssssh
The Onmyoji used the teleportation technique again and disappeared. She must have gone inside the eerie four-story ruin. I glanced at the building and said.
"Why don't we just call in archers to burn it down with fire arrows?"
"Her sorcery will prevent that. She can block arrows with her techniques."
"You keep talking about a malevolent spirit. What exactly do you mean? Can you explain it more clearly?"
Not just me, but the surrounding Twelve Laws disciples also looked at Jigyeol-seunim, curious. He seemed to be the most knowledgeable sorcerer here. After a long pause, he sighed deeply and said.
"This Dongning-bu building is where the great monk Jeongsim was killed by Jo Gwang."
"Jeongsim?"
I was confused and tilted my head. However, the Taoist from Haedong Mijeon, who had just deployed the powerful Ubo technique, turned pale and shouted.
"Se... Surely this is where Myochung (妙淸) died?"
"That's right. This place was designated as a forbidden area in Seogyeong and left in ruins because there was a high probability that he, who possessed powerful magical abilities in life, had transformed into a powerful malevolent spirit. The intention was to weaken and eventually eliminate his power over a long period using barriers..."
Jigyeol-seunim sighed again.
"Ha... That woman is planning to absorb the malevolent spirit's power. This is a serious matter..."
I couldn't understand why they were so shocked and continued to ask.
"Who is Myochung?"
"Monk Myochung instigated a rebellion to move Goryeo's capital to this Seogyeong. He was betrayed and killed by Jo Gwang. This is the land where he died."
"Hmm... Let's say that's true. What do you plan to do now?"
"What do you mean?"
I pointed at the ruins.
"Clearly, it's a trap inside. Shouldn't we break the Narumun and call for reinforcements?"
Murmur
The Twelve Laws extermination team murmured, thinking my suggestion was reasonable. Indeed, it would be foolish to enter a trap set by a sorcerer capable of teleportation. However, Jigyeol-seunim shook his head firmly.
"No! If we waste too much time, that Onmyoji woman will absorb the malevolent spirit's power. If that happens, a truly formidable evil will be born, making the situation much more difficult."
"Umm..."
"Let's be brave! No matter how powerful her sorcery is, there are limits. She must have expended a lot of energy summoning so many Shikigami. If we remain calm, we can certainly defeat her."
"Ooooh!!"
The Twelve Laws martial artists regained their morale. I realized Jigyeol-seunim was a respected elder in the Twelve Laws, which is why so many of them had joined the extermination effort despite the initial summons.
Thud
The extermination team entered the first floor of the building as the dust settled. A beam of light shone down from the darkness, and a warrior stood there, holding a long sword. Unusually, he wore a large helmet, obscuring most of his face.
Jigyeol-seunim addressed the warrior.
"From your attire, you seem to be a warrior from Dongying. Step aside. You cannot withstand us."
The Dongying warrior, with a halting voice, spoke in Goryeo language.
"Yes. I must. Receive. Power. From. Cheonho (天狐)."
"You're being troublesome. Since you're the same kind, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Jaryun stepped forward. Despite his gentle appearance, he seemed quite hot-tempered. As Jaryun's sword emitted a sword qi, the Dongying warrior flinched and raised his sword. Soon, they began a fierce battle.
Clang! Clang!
' Hmm, what... He's weak?'
I was disappointed by the Dongying warrior's skills. He wasn't a weak fighter, nearly reaching the first-class level, but Jaryun's skills were on par with a senior elder of a major sect, clearly outmatching him. I thought he would be a formidable opponent, but he was just a minor lackey.
Whoosh!
Jaryun's sword tip stopped right in front of the Dongying warrior's throat. After only about fifty seconds, Jaryun said coldly.
"I'll ask again. Will you move?"
The Dongying warrior swallowed hard.
"... I. I will. Move."
"Good decision."
Jaryun sheathed his sword. The Dongying warrior, clearly feeling the skill gap, bowed his head in defeat. The extermination team, sensing his broken spirit, moved past him to the second floor, and no one paid him any attention.
Thud Thud
I felt something was off. The Onmyoji woman was a powerful sorcerer, so why did she place such a weak warrior as a guard? It seemed like a setup where his death didn't matter. Feeling a bit sympathetic, I patted the Dongying warrior's shoulder.
"Stay strong."
At that moment, the Dongying warrior suddenly lifted his head from the darkness and shouted.
"You, you are hereee!!"
Swoosh
With a voice filled with intense hatred, he suddenly swung his sword. I blocked the attack reflexively, but I was taken aback by the suddenness. Why did he suddenly attack when he was just defeated?
But I had to act quickly.
"You brought this upon yourself!"
Whoosh
The Dongying warrior's head was severed, and his helmet fell to the ground. He disappeared into the darkness, no longer visible. I didn't understand why he attacked but shook my head and moved forward.
' Strange. Did I have a grudge with this Dongying guy? Or did he just think I was an easy target?'
I couldn't tell. It was unsettling not to have seen his face.
The extermination team moved to the second floor, where two creatures resembling goblins stood. One was a thin, ghost-like figure, and the other was a broad, ghost-like figure. They didn't seem very strong, so I thought it might be easy again. However, Jigyeol-seunim said tensely.
"Those are the Onmyoji's strongest guards, Jeongwi (前鬼) and Hogui (後鬼)! They are very powerful, so be careful!"
Kwakwakwak
"Uaaaaaah!!"
Jigyeol-seunim was right. The thin Jeongwi suddenly spat a beam of light from his mouth, causing an explosion that sent two or three extermination team members flying. At the same time, the broad Hogui pulled out a mace and swung it with tremendous force and speed.
Kwak
"Uaaaaaah!!"
"Stay focused! Maintain formation!!"
"Unite our strength!"
The martial artists and sorcerers, despite the chaos, quickly reformed their ranks and gathered in groups of seven or eight to surround Jeongwi and Hogui. I went for Hogui because of his large size, making him an easier target.
' These are the real deal.'
I thought it was a good decision to gather the extermination team. I couldn't defeat Jeongwi or Hogui alone, and if I had come here alone, I would have been killed by their combined attacks. Being with the team gave us a fighting chance.
[ Gwaaaaa.]
Kwak
Hogui roared and swung his mace in all directions. The martial artists and sorcerers quickly dodged and attacked him. However, his skin was as hard as iron, making it difficult to penetrate. I used the Brain Lightning technique to dodge Hogui's mace and then swung my sword from behind.
Heavenly Thunder Blade!
Crack!
A massive blade of lightning appeared and sliced through Hogui's back. Despite the powerful attack, Hogui staggered for a moment but managed to stand up. The wound was severe but not fatal. I was amazed by his resilience.
' What kind of creature is this?'
The Heavenly Thunder Blade was compressed to a five-chi size from its original three-zhang length, making it about 30% as powerful as a full-strength attack from the Zhongnan Sect. A human would be completely shattered by such an attack, but Hogui only suffered a minor injury, showing his incredible toughness.
"Stay strong! We can do this!"
"Indeed."
However, the attack had an effect, significantly slowing Hogui. I, along with the Twelve Laws extermination team, relentlessly attacked Hogui for half a gong. After landing more than five effective strikes, Hogui finally fell.
Kwak...
[ Gwaaaaa...]
Hogui screamed, and with a puff, he disintegrated into paper pieces. Despite his formidable appearance, he was just a paper puppet summoned by sorcery. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at Jeongwi.