Chapter 293: Avenger (3)

Chapter 293: Avenger (3)

Join the Discord for chapter updates and important news!

Chapter 293: Avenger (3)

"Kang Min-hee?"

I respond, slightly surprised.

'Even though Seo Li's investigation into Black Ghost Valley didn't yield any information beyond her general location, she's still difficult to locate...'

It seems that the disciples sent to the Nether Ghost Realm have news about Kim Min-hee, indicating she might be in the Nether Ghost Realm.

"Is she perhaps in the Nether Ghost Realm?"ViiSit no(v)3lb!n(.)com for new novels

"No. To be precise, she's on the 'path' heading from the Bright Cold Realm to the Nether Ghost Realm."

"A path to the Nether Ghost Realm..."

'That's the first I've heard of such a thing.'

The True Devil Realm, being adjacent to the Bright Cold Realm, has many paths leading to it. Every major sect has at least one or two entrances to the True Devil Realm, given its proximity.

However, realms like Ancient Force, Purple Gold, and Nether Ghost are all quite distant, making formal pathways difficult to establish.

Understanding my confusion, Jeon Myeong-hoon adds more information.

"It's a very peculiar path that opens only through the Nether Crossing Ship. According to the information received from the Nether Ghost Realm disciples, it's more of a 'side path' than a formal path."

"A side path?"

If a hole is made in a dimension, that becomes the entrance to the dimension.

But how could there exist something like a 'side path' in a dimension?

'Well, I guess I don't need to know the details. It's not like I'm going to be creating side paths myself.'

"Hmm... So, you're saying we should use this 'side path' through Kang Min-hee?"

"Yeah. Try contacting Kang Min-hee. She won't turn down a request from old colleagues, would she?"

"Umm... Why are you asking me to contact her? Why don't you do it?"

At that, Jeon Myeong-hoon grins and says,

"I saw many things flash before my eyes when I ascended to the Nascent Soul stage. Most passed by quickly, so I don't remember everything, but some memories are still vivid in my mind."

"...And?"

"One of those memories from our company days was that Kang Min-hee really disliked me."

'Well, the only person who was outwardly friendly with Jeon Myeong-hoon was Oh Hye-seo.'

But his next words leave me speechless.

"And I remember during the early days at work, you and Kang Min-hee were the closest... You always backed each other up well, even during discussions at the Ascension Path. So, maybe she'd listen to you, since you were close?"

"...Me and Kang Min-hee being close... Yeah, that was true in the beginning."

"That's why I'm asking you to do it. If I contact her again, given Kang Min-hee's temperament, I'm likely to get a mouthful of curses."

"..."

'If I contact her, it might not just be a mouthful of curses. She might just hang up on me right away.'

But then I reconsider.

'No, it's been nearly a hundred years; would Kang Min-hee still feel uncomfortable about me?'

It's such an old issue that my own feelings about it have faded, but I'm unsure how Kang Min-hee might think of me now, which makes contacting her directly awkward.

Nor does it feel right to talk about that time to Jeon Myeong-hoon without Kang Min-hee's permission.

'Now that I've taken the position of Grand Cultivator, I guess she might agree to meet if I formally contact her through Black Ghost Valley...'

Suddenly, I become curious whether Kang Min-hee's feelings towards me have truly faded or not.

'...Should I try contacting her?'

After Jeon Myeong-hoon's persuasion, I contemplated whether I should reach out to Kang Min-hee.

In the early days, after all,

Kang Min-hee and I had secretly dated within the company.

Blink.

I open my eyes.

Both my main body and I share a common sentiment when it comes to Kang Min-hee.

'I wonder what Kang Min-hee thinks of me now?'

Kang Min-hee and I had a strange relationship.

Initially, as fellow new hires and batchmates at the company, we both harbored a strange fascination with the idea of having an 'office romance.' So, we started dating on the way home from our first company dinner with the thought, 'Shall we try it?'

"I see. Then, who are the key figures of the valley?"

"Well, the various hall masters of the Yin Soul Hall, Ghost Soul Hall, Corpse Soul Hall, Gate Soul Hall, and Duty Hall are all positioned under the Black Grand Elders."

The Yin Soul Hall manages the Nether Crossing Ship and navigation.

The Ghost Soul Hall handles cultivation methods and the management of Ghost Kings, as well as rituals towards the Netherworld and communication with the main branch of the Nether Ghost Realm.

The Corpse Soul Hall manages the sect's discipline and laws.

The Gate Soul Hall manages entry into the sect and overall administration.

The Duty Hall is responsible for distributing various sect tasks in a mission format and managing rewards.

"Elders, in your opinion, which of the recent disciples of the Black Ghost Valley have stood out the most?"

After thinking for a moment, they say,

"Well... not a disciple, but if you count the recent arrivals, there's really only one."

"Indeed. Although many exceptional individuals have joined, the most outstanding is definitely that person."

I read Wi Hon and Geub Un's intent.

They clearly hold respect for this person.

"The current deputy hall master of the Ghost Soul Hall, Grand Perfection Heavenly Being Elder Kang Min-hee is that person."

"A remarkable individual indeed. It hasn't even been a hundred years since she started cultivation, and she is already transitioning from the Heavenly Being stage to the Four-Axis stage."

"Wow...is she not even 100 years old?"

"Yes. She's indeed very promising."

As soon as Kang Min-hee is mentioned, my eyes light up, and I ask about her.

"That's impressive... How can one enter the Yin Soul Hall, Ghost Soul Hall, and the like of the Black Ghost Valley?"

"To enter one of the Five Great Halls, you first need merit points. If you accumulate over a thousand merit points, you can choose to enter one of the halls."

"Otherwise, becoming a Heavenly Being Elder allows you to become a hall master and enter."

'Either gather merit points or become a Heavenly Soul...'

I resolve to accumulate merit points or reach the Heavenly Being stage as quickly as possible.

After hearing more information and anecdotes about Kang Min-hee, I returned to my lodging to think.

'Kang Min-hee hasn't changed since 100 years ago.'

That likely means that the awkwardness and discomfort she feels towards me probably still lingers to a significant extent.

'Then, I might have no choice but to leave it to Jeon Myeong-hoon.'

"...You want me to contact Kang Min-hee?"

"Yes. You probably already know, but about a year and a half before we fell to Ascension Path, Kang Min-hee and I had a big fight."

"...Ah! That one. I've heard about it from the Director. You two were shouting at each other in the office, right?"

"Yeah... But now that I think about it, that happened during work hours, so why do you know about it?"

"Hmmhm, that's not important. But ever since I stopped her department transfer through my uncle, she almost never spoke to me again... And you want me to contact her?"

I sigh at his lack of response.

'Jeon Myeong-hoon and me... That would be the worst combination for Kang Min-hee.'

Given her personality, if we both ask her to help us use the 'side path,' she will sternly refuse.

The two people she dislikes the most asking her for a favor; why would she agree?

'And I don't want to force her to open the side path for a mere couple disciples from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect...'

I feel an increasing sense of dissonance but choose to ignore it.

"...Well, can't help it. If that's the case, I'll try talking through someone else."

"Who?"

"Kim Yeon."

I stand up.

'I was planning to go save her anyway, but I guess I'll have to go a bit sooner. Escaping won't be hard now.'

"Come with me. We're going to meet the Mad Lord."

Translator Notes: I'm changing Mount Tai Emperor Splitting Technique and Owner of Mount Tai to Great Mountain. I got confused because Great Mountain (太山) also translates to Mount Tai, however after doing some more research, it's a different Mount Tai from the famous one (泰山).

***

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Link to donations in the discord!