Chương 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 Kang Min-hee, indicating she might be in the Nether Ghost Realm.

"Is she perhaps in the Nether Ghost Realm?"

"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?'

And we broke up after just three weeks.

We were horribly incompatible.

And as is often the case, we quickly became awkward around each other afterward.

Being in the same department, even if it was just a three-week relationship, the presence of an ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend in the same space was suffocating in itself.

While Kang Min-hee managed to maintain a cheerful appearance professionally, she was difficult to get close to personally, not feeling much attachment to the company. I, on the other hand, was the opposite, getting along with Hyun-seok Hyung and other department members despite Jeon Myeong-hoon's harassment.

So, after a brief and awkward discussion, Kang Min-hee decided to resign.

However, before she submitted her resignation, a project proposal she had written out of boredom caught the eye of the president of SJD Company, who was so impressed that he publicly praised her and raised her initial salary level by three grades.

She was quickly slated for a managerial position, and unable to pass up the opportunity, she decided to stay, enduring the awkward relationship with me while aiming for a department transfer.

…Of course, the department transfer failed due to Jeon Myeong-hoon's tricks.

'I was also beginning to grow fond of the company at that time, and I decided to stay because I wasn't sure if I could succeed in finding another job…'

Thus, we coexisted awkwardly, and Kang Min-hee, climbing the ranks faster than I did, began to openly ignore and dislike me.

Beyond awkwardness, we really disagreed on everything. Since our desks were close, I used to ask her work-related questions occasionally, but at some point, I started going to Hyun-seok Hyung instead.

Moreover, our relationship had been half driven by a fascination with office romance and half by the excitement after the first company dinner, so there was no real affection between us.

We literally became like oil and water.

'Looking back, the reason I could endure Jeon Myeong-hoon's bullying wasn't so much because of my strong mentality, but rather because I was more concerned about my suffocating relationship with Kang Min-hee, that I hardly paid any attention to Jeon Myeong-hoon.'

Our bad relationship persisted, even during Ascension Path. She would smile when interacting with me but always avoided me when any tasks needed to be done.

On the first day, the reason Oh Hye-seo and Kim Yeon found a place to stay with me while Kang Min-hee went off with others to find the car was all because of that.

"…Those are memories too."

I chuckle as I return to my lodging.

That's already a memory from thousands of years ago.

A time when I was no different than an infant.

However, since the events concerning Kang Min-hee happened only about a hundred years ago, it's hard to tell what she thinks of it.

"...."

Leaning against the wall, I ponder for a moment before deciding to delay contacting Kim Min-hee directly through my main body.

'For now, I'll gather some information as Seo Li.'

If she's the same as before, liking and disliking the same things, she'd think the same about me too.

If she's changed, there's a chance her thoughts about me have changed too.

I head to the residence next door and greet the Elders of the Black Ghost Valley.

"Junior Seo Li greets the Elders of the Black Ghost Valley."

"Ah, a polite lad."

"Hehe, we saw everything during the test. You are far superior in curse techniques than those of the Yin Soul Ghost Sect. It's great to see such talent enter the Black Ghost Valley…"

They attempt to pat my shoulder, but I subtly avoid it and ask a question.

"By the way, there's something I'm curious about. Since I am a newcomer, may I ask seniors a question?"

Upon my greeting, the two curse sorcerers at the Heavenly Being stage of Black Ghost Valley look puzzled and ask.

"Hmm, weren't you appointed a temporary Ghost King companion as a new Yin Soul disciple?"

"Look here, senior. Haven't you informed this junior the basics of the Black Ghost Valley?"

They ask, sensing the Bi Yul within me.

But it wasn't that I didn't want to ask Bi Yul.

I asked Bi Yul about Kim Min-hee whenever I had the time, but Bi Yul only said, 'I've heard of the name.'

'Bi Yul is quite an old soul, after all, and said he hasn't been interested in recent disciples or current operations of Black Ghost Valley...'

[Ah, juniors, don't misunderstand. This old man just isn't very interested in the sect's minor or major matters other than merging with the Yin Soul Ghost Sect. I've been around for too long...]

"Ah, I see. It's understandable for an ancient Ghost King."

The Heavenly Being stage Elders, Wi Hon and Geub Un, tell me to ask if I have any questions.

"First of all, who is the highest leader of the current Black Ghost Valley in the Bright Cold Realm?"

"Hmm, who might they be… The one with the highest realm is the Grand Perfection Four-Axis stage Black Grand Elder Ge Ryu, who is one step into the Integration stage. He passed away 3, 000 years ago and is enshrined in the Grand Tomb Domain as a Ghost King. He is on the verge of the Integration stage but has already abandoned his human body, and if he reaches the Integration stage, he'll transfer to the main branch in the Nether Ghost Realm, so he's practically non-existent..."

"The next in line are the mid Four-Axis stage Black Grand Elders Heo Wi and Heo Ryeong, and Black Grand Elder Heo Gwak at the early Four-Axis stage. They are essentially the top leaders of the valley."

His explanation continues.

Upon hearing the explanation, it seems that Black Ghost Valley operates under an oligarchic system where multiple Black Grand Elders handle matters collectively, unlike sects like the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect or the Azure Heaven Creation Sect where one sect master makes all the decisions.

"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 Being…'

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."