I was momentarily thrown off by Sword Immortal's words. If I took them literally, it meant the Sword Immortal in front of me wasn't the same one I had encountered before. This was a version of him from the distant past.
In other words, the swordsman I was facing now was…
• An echo of the past?
Short sword, sensing my confusion, spoke up, and Sword Immortal nodded, still looking puzzled. It was starting to dawn on me: this Sword Immortal truly was a person from the past.
"Under…" I muttered, trying to process it. If I hadn't experienced regression myself, I would have never believed it.
I had just crossed through a foggy forest and now stood before this swordsman, younger than the one I remembered. Something didn't add up.
• How could a swordsman from the past be here in the present?
Short Sword Sodam's question echoed my own. The idea seemed impossible. Sword Immortal and others were hidden within a strange formation in the fog. How was any of this even possible?
Everything felt surreal, and yet, I couldn't deny what was happening in front of me.
I was on the verge of asking why all of this was happening when suddenly, the Mount Mo sect flashed in my mind.
"Sword Immortal's first disciple mentioned the Mount Mo sect…" I thought.
Then it hit me. "Wait a minute. Does this mean…?"
I paused, my voice trembling as I spoke, "Elder, where I came from, the Mount Mo sect had long been extinct. But you speak as though it's still alive. Is this the past… or is it just the past for me?"
My words wavered. If this was truly the past I was thinking of, it made sense—this wasn't a surprise. It meant I was back in time.
Sword Immortal's eyes brightened, and he asked me a question. "The Mount Mo faction is extinct?"
"Yes, that's right," I answered.
"Huh…" Sword Immortal mused. "Is that how it turned out in the end?"
"Didn't you see my memories?" I asked, confused. "You've read them too, haven't you?"
Sword Immortal shook his head at my question. "You've only come into contact with the other me inside you."
"Wait… Are you saying I came into contact with the your futureself?" I was piecing things together.
Now that I thought about it, I had absorbed the swordsmanship of the old man through the Heavenly Fist from the second treasure. I thought that the Future Sword Immortal's will had merged with me, but was it still there, still holding its own will?
Sword Immortal sighed deeply without releasing my hand. "I understand now. You were able to enter here because of the will of my futureself."
"I have the will of your futureself?" I asked, still trying to make sense of it all.
"Only those invited can enter this place," Geomseon explained. "Without that, you wouldn't even be able to step foot here."
So, when I tried to enter the foggy forest, I realized I must have slipped through from the other side… But I had crossed into that other side several times before. Only this time, I was able to enter after ascending.
It suddenly clicked in my mind. "Ah, I see! The barrier… the one that restricted entry."
The realization dawned on me that the barrier that had kept me out of the forest was linked to something deeper, something I hadn't fully understood until now.
The situation seemed to have unfolded when the prison cell within the Big Dipper was opened. It was a process so intricate that it almost felt planned out in great detail.
However, my confusion only deepened.
"Honestly, none of this makes sense to me. Even if, as you say, I arrived here in this foggy forest, why did I end up in the past?" I asked, still trying to grasp what was happening.
Sword Immortal stroked his beard thoughtfully before answering, "The person you call Sword Immortal may very well be from a long time ago in your world. However, this place—the Fuse—is not bound by the same rules as your world."
"Hmm?"
His words only added to my confusion.
"What do you mean?" I asked, not sure if I understood him correctly.
"The Fuse cannot be defined by time—past, present, or future," Sword Immortal explained. "It is not a place in the traditional sense. It exists beyond time, outside the limits of the world. People who come here sever all ties with the world, and while time exists here, it feels as though time itself doesn't."
I fell silent.
His explanation was paradoxical, and frankly, it felt impossible to fully comprehend. How could a place exist everywhere and nowhere at once? How could time exist but also not exist? It was a riddle wrapped in contradiction. The more I thought about it, the more questions it raised. Would this place ever make sense to me?
"I still don't understand enough to fully grasp what the elder is saying. Could you explain it in simpler terms?" I asked, trying to make sense of it all.
Sword Immortal chuckled. "Hehe, since you haven't practiced the Tao, it's natural you can't understand it."
"Does learning the Tao help you understand it?" I inquired.
"Yes, indeed," he replied. "This place, Peach Blossom Sect, is completely independent, unaffected by the times or changes happening outside. That's why you were able to come here, from your time, to this place."
It was difficult for me to follow his explanation, but I gathered that the concept of time here was entirely different from what I knew.
If my rough understanding was correct, the rules of time didn't apply the same way in Peach Blossom Sect. However, as Sword Immortal mentioned, since I wasn't a Taoist who practiced the Tao, I wasn't expected to comprehend this fully at the moment.
Sword Immortal clicked his tongue, as if in disbelief. "It's truly a coincidence. I can't believe that the one who will inherit my legacy managed to predict countless odds and figured out when and where the Fuse would open."
His words were heavy with meaning, but the more I tried to comprehend them, the more complicated it became. It seemed like everything, including my arrival, was part of a much larger, unforeseen plan.
However, now that some of my questions had been answered, something more important came to my mind.
"Elder, if I leave this place, will I be able to return to the time I came from?" I asked, my voice filled with urgency.
Sword Immortal released the grip he had on my hand and looked at me with a serious expression. "I almost made a huge mistake," he said, his voice now tinged with concern.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"We need to hurry. The entrance to the fuse is constantly shifting," he explained, his urgency evident. "If we're not careful, we could miss the exact moment and place where you originally came from."
"Is that really possible?" I asked, now realizing the gravity of the situation.
If that was the case, I had no time to waste. Everything was in jeopardy, and I needed to act quickly.
When Sword Immortal waved his hand, the energy that had bound my body disappeared, freeing me.
"I'll return the swords to you," he said.
In a strange display, the disassembled sheath reassembled itself and returned to its original form. The Blood Demon Sword and the True Evil Sword, which had been lying on the floor, floated up and slid into the sheath effortlessly.
"Follow me…" Sword Immortal instructed, his tone commanding yet calm.
-Zech!
With a swift motion, Sword Immortal gestured, and a sword hanging on the wall flew toward him. Without hesitation, he mounted the sword and turned to face me.
"Now that you know Air sword, you can do it too…" he added, as if expecting me to follow.
I nodded, understanding immediately. Of course, I knew how to do it—I'd seen it enough times, though the original form of the sword flying through the air still captivated me.
'Southern Heaven.'
-I understand!
Southern Heaven Iron Sword laid itself flat, allowing me to climb onto it. I followed suit, mounting the sword.
Without wasting any time, the sword lifted itself off the ground as if it had been waiting for me. Sword Immortal led the way, flying out the window on his sword, and I followed immediately.
-Shoooooooo!
The sword line stretched out, guiding us toward the southern sky as we soared away.
I followed Sword Immortal, climbing onto the sword, and soon the sun vanished from the sky. The warm atmosphere of Peach Blossom Sect gave way to an unexpected chill.
'Cold?'
My breath escaped in a visible cloud of vapor, catching me off guard.
'!?'
I was startled. It wasn't winter; why was it so cold?
When I looked down, my mind went blank in confusion.
-Woonhwi… the forest is covered with snow.
As Short Sword Sodam had said, the entire forest below was blanketed in thick, white snow. The landscape had completely changed from the one I had been in before, transforming into a frozen, unfamiliar terrain.
The sword that had been guiding me spoke again.
"Is this where we came from?"
I answered in a confused voice.
"No. It wasn't winter when I was there."
"This…"
Sword Immortal also appeared stunned, unable to hide his surprise. This was beyond anyone's expectations.
My thoughts raced, and the first names that crossed my mind were those of Sima Young and Ah Song—the people I had left behind. What had happened to them? What was going on in this place?
I had no idea where I was or what day it was. From the perspective of my companions, they would probably think I had disappeared after flying over the foggy forest.
"Elder! Is there any other way to get back to where I was?" I asked, my frustration growing.
Sword Immortal spoke seriously. "There is no way that change can happen in such a short period of time."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, confused.
"Follow me."
The sword veered in a new direction, heading back toward where the fuse had been. I felt helpless, but I had no other choice but to follow.
As we entered the fuse, the sun reappeared, and otherworldly atmosphere was revealed once more. The sword passed by temple-like buildings and a serene lake, heading toward the highest hill in the area. At the top, I saw a cave-like structure.
He dismounted from the sword and gestured for me to follow him.
"Where are we?" I asked, still uncertain.
"This is the center of the fuse," he replied.
"Center?" I echoed.
"Just follow me without asking any more questions."
"All right," I said, my curiosity growing. I followed him into the cave.
Normally, when entering a cave, you'd expect a damp, musty atmosphere, but this cave felt different. It didn't have any of that heaviness; it was almost as if it had been artificially constructed. In fact, I even felt a warmth emanating from inside.
But this warmth wasn't comforting. The Sword Immortal's expression darkened, and he seemed to focus more intently. He released another sword, sending it deeper into the cave, clearly preparing for something. I followed quickly, but as we advanced, a large cavity appeared before us.
-Grumbling!
"What is this…?" I muttered, wide-eyed.
The entire large cavity was engulfed in flames, and the walls were covered with scriptures, written in deep red characters. These inscriptions were attached like talismans, and the flames seemed to spread through them rapidly.
"Ha!" Sword Immortal let out a sigh, waving his sleeve towards the flames.
A powerful wind surged from his movements, extinguishing the fire as if it were nothing.
-Hehehe!
In an instant, the flames vanished, snuffed out by the profound force of his technique. My eyes widened. The sheer depth of the power he wielded was staggering. To be able to extinguish such intense flames with a mere wave of the hand—this wasn't just skill, it was mastery.
They weren't called great for no reason.
"Why did the change happen so quickly?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion.
The Sword Immortal was deep in thought. "It seems like someone set fire to the Thirty-Six Heavenly Directions Gate in the center of the fuse."
"Are you saying the fire was set on purpose?" I asked, still not fully understanding.
Sword Immortal nodded solemnly, confirming my suspicion.
I couldn't help but feel anxious. "Does this have anything to do with me running back to where I came from?"
Sword Immortal gestured upward, and I followed his direction. As I looked up, I noticed a small hole at the top of the cavern. It was the size of a fist, and light leaked through it, casting a beam of light across the cave floor.
"If you look through the Thirty-Six Heavenly Directions with this, you can pinpoint exactly where and when you came from, but…" Sword Immortal trailed off, his expression grim. "It's been burned down."
I felt an ominous knot in my stomach. "So what do we do now?" My heart raced as I realized the gravity of the situation.
With the gate destroyed, it seemed like the possibility of returning to my original time was slipping away. Was it truly lost? Would I be trapped here forever? The uncertainty weighed heavily on me.
Hearing Sword Immortal's words, I felt my heart sink even further. "So what you're saying is… we can't go back to the original time?"
Sword Immortal nodded solemnly. "That's right. It's impossible to pinpoint exactly when and where you came from now. Your time is lost."
I was left speechless, the weight of his words sinking in. My heart raced as I grappled with the reality of being stuck in a time I didn't understand or belong to.
For a moment, the frustration and despair overwhelmed me. Was I truly trapped here? In a time I couldn't even recognize? It felt like the worst nightmare.
But then, Sword Immortal spoke again, his tone shifting slightly. "However, there is a way. I know the direction in which the shadow shines. If we restore the scriptures, we might be able to find a time similar to the one you came from."
I stared at him, momentarily speechless. It was as if a weight had lifted from my chest, though I couldn't fully comprehend what he meant. I felt foolish for allowing myself to wallow in despair so quickly.
"But why didn't you say this earlier?" I asked, half-exasperated. "I thought I wouldn't be able to return."
Sword Immortal's expression was more serious now. He sighed, looking around the cave. "Look around you. Do you have any idea how many scriptures are in this cave?"
I scanned the walls, trying to take in the enormity of the situation. There were so many sheets of scripture, written in a language I could barely comprehend. The sheer number was overwhelming. It seemed like thousands of pages.
But then, Sword Immortal dropped a bombshell. "There are three hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and sixty scriptures in total."
I blinked, trying to process the number. Three hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and sixty… how could something like that even be restored?
"The preparation period for Dohwaseon's independence from the secular world took over ten years," he added, his voice tinged with regret.
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Looking at the burnt and damaged scriptures around the cavern, I realized that a large portion of the work had been destroyed. More than a third of it was gone.
Sword Immortal's words echoed in my mind. "So, if it took over ten years to prepare everything, it will take at least three to four years to restore it."
My stomach churned as I tried to grasp the enormity of the situation. How long would we be stuck here, trying to piece everything back together? The uncertainty stretched out before me like an endless abyss.
"!!!"
Ah… This is driving me insane.
I came here looking for Sodam(Short Sword), and now I'm trapped in a nightmare I could never have anticipated.
The only small comfort was the idea that no matter how much time passed here, it would align with the exact moment I left my world.
Or so I thought.
Sword Imortal's next words, however, crushed even that fragile hope.
"…Even if the scriptures are fully restored, there will still be a time error in where the light points."
A cold feeling swept over me. "What kind of error are we talking about?"
A day or two, even up to ten days, might be manageable. It would be hard for my group, but not catastrophic.
But his response shattered my faint optimism.
"There will be a difference of at least a few months… possibly up to a year."
"…Ah."
The words hit me like a thunderclap. I felt a curse almost escape my lips.
What was I supposed to do now?
Back in my world, everyone would think I was dead.
I wanted to scream, to shout at the unfairness of it all. None of this would have happened if Sword Imortal's disciple hadn't dragged me here against my will.
I could already picture my companions. At first, they'd search for me. They'd wait, holding on to hope. But as the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, their hope would slowly die.
Would they eventually give up, thinking I had perished?
I clenched my fists, frustration and guilt weighing me down.
This wasn't just about me anymore. It was about the people I cared for, the ones who might suffer because of my absence.
But what could I possibly do now?
Sword Immortal spoke in a calm, almost comforting tone, as if trying to soften the blow.
"It might only be a difference of two or three months."
I stayed silent.
Yes, thank you for the attempt at consolation. But honestly, it wasn't helping much.
Then I remembered something. "Elder, you mentioned earlier… that pale-faced man was your first disciple?"
Sword Immortal sighed deeply. "Yes. I raised that student poorly. If it weren't for that child's impulsiveness, none of this would've happened to you."
I couldn't bring myself to say, It's okay.
Sensing my silence, Sword Immortal continued, as if trying to justify his disciple's actions.
"That child… is pure at heart. But that purity can sometimes turn toxic, leading to reckless behavior. Over the years, they've made many mistakes, bumping into obstacles here and there. But I assure you, none of it was ever done out of malice. They simply act out of a sense of fairness and unwavering idealism. This entire situation… is the result of my own failings as a teacher. So please, do not blame the child too harshly."
Before I could respond, a sudden commotion broke the air.
Ride, ride, ride!
"Elder!"
A sharp voice rang out, and before Sword Immortal could finish his sentence, someone rushed into the cavity.
It was a middle-aged man, clad in a uniform that seemed to exude authority and discipline. Everything about him, from the powerful energy he radiated to his piercing gaze, marked him as someone extraordinary.
But what struck me the most was the urgency on his face—his expression was grim, almost dire.
Sword Immortal looked at the middle-aged monk with a puzzled expression and asked,
"What's going on?"
The taoist, clearly distressed, replied hastily,
"There's a big problem. Female disciple-"
"Yeo Yang-Seon?" Sword Immortal pressed further, his concern growing.
"How could the scriptures end up like this! That reckless fool, Gyeongjeong!" the monk exclaimed in anger, glaring at the damaged talisman scriptures covering the walls of the cavity. [Gyeongjeong: first disciple]
Sword Immortal , visibly taken aback, asked in confusion,"What are you saying? Are you talking about Gyeongjeong?"
Now that I thought about it, Sword Immortal had referred to his first disciple as Gyeongjeong earlier. That must be his name. But why was the taoist so furious, calling out Gyeongjeong's name while staring at the destroyed scriptures?
Could it be… Gyeongjeong was the one who caused the fire here?
I turned to look at Sword Immortal.
"..."
His expression was heavy and grim, his usual composure shattered. If my suspicion was correct, then Gyeongjeong's actions had not only destroyed the scriptures but thrown everything into turmoil.
I couldn't quite put this feeling into words, but it was as if Sword Immortal was engulfed in an overwhelming wave of disappointment—one that ran so deep it seemed almost unbearable.
Sword Immortal finally broke the silence, his voice heavy.
"What happened?"
The middle-aged taoist, with grim expression, replied,
"Gyeongjeong… That traitor fled with half of Peach Blossom Sect's Eight Sacred Tools."
"What?" Geomseon's voice trembled, disbelief washing over him.
"Two Taoists guarding the temple lost their lives. According to the injured ones, Yang Seon—the second disciple, who tried to dissuade him—was also taken away by force."
"How could this happen!"
Sword Immortal staggered as if the weight of the revelation had struck him physically. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from someone so revered, and it spoke volumes about the emotional devastation he was experiencing.
The betrayal of someone you trust is an unbearable pain—especially when it's a beloved disciple.
Suddenly—PAAAAAA!
A powerful gust of wind surged around Geomseon, born of his fury alone.
The sheer force of his energy left me awestruck. The profound depth of his martial arts was evident in this outburst, a power so immense it could summon such winds effortlessly.
It gave me chills just standing there, witnessing it. I could say with certainty: not even the Eight Great Warriors or the Four Great Evils could hope to stand against him.
Sword Immortal gazed at the charred remains of the scriptures, his expression darkening."Are you saying he burned them to prevent tracking?"
The Taoist sighed deeply, as if burdened by the weight of the truth.
"…It seems so, senior. Ha…"
I could feel my anger rising. So the reason I was now trapped here in this strange dimension, unable to return to my time, was because of his actions?
Sword Immortal's voice boomed, reverberating through the cave.
"I will go out and bring him back. I'll catch that ungrateful traitor myself!"
The Taoist quickly interjected, his voice filled with urgency.
"Senior! As much as I want to do the same… have you forgotten the oath we all swore to Jeong Yang Jin-in during the presidential election? Over two hundred years ago, the seven of us vowed to sever ties with the outside world and never interfere again!"
At those words, Sword Immortal froze, his body tense with restrained fury. It was clear he had forgotten, or perhaps momentarily ignored, the weight of that solemn promise.
His face flushed with anger, shifting from red to blue, as if his body was battling the desire to act against his oath. Even with his deep discipline and profound strength, it was apparent that tolerating this betrayal was no simple task.
I, too, was furious at the disciple's actions, but I held back, quietly observing the tense exchange between the two masters. Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.
At that moment, Sword Immortal's gaze sharpened as he spoke to the middle-aged monk.
"Brother… as long as it's not us, isn't it okay?"
The middle-aged taoist seemed confused, his eyebrows furrowing.
"What do you mean by that?"
The Sword Immortal, slowly turned its head, its eyes locking onto mine.
'!?' I froze. What did he mean by that? Was he suggesting something?
My heart raced, and the tension in the air grew palpable.