Wolseongja.
A term referring to one who walks the path of transcending not only human limits but even the divine realms of the Constellations.
The road to becoming a Wolseongja is as arduous and thorny as it is liberating from the grasp of the Constellations, yet the rewards it brings are immense.
The ability to revive necrotic cells and reconnect severed flesh and bone—an extraordinary regenerative power—is merely one aspect of Wolinseonki, a single ability within the greater power of a Wolseongja.
A power that can only be obtained by surpassing human limitations—Wolinseonki.
If one imbues Wolinseonki into their eyes, they gain sight beyond human capabilities.
If one imbues it into their ears, they gain hearing beyond human limits.
If one imbues it into their muscles, they gain strength that surpasses humanity.
And when injured, their wounds regenerate at an extraordinary speed, far beyond natural healing.
Yet even with this power, one cannot escape the grasp of the Constellations.
To truly break free, one must undergo immense hardship and, amidst the suffering, continuously engage in acts of virtue to cultivate Myeolseongseonki—the evolved form of Wolinseonki.
Breaking free from the sacred paths that bind one to the Constellations requires liberating the mind and soul from the concept of self.
And the most effective way to dissolve this concept is through the practice of selfless virtue.
Even when one’s body aches, when one’s heart is weary, when one’s mind is exhausted—one must continue to alleviate the suffering of others, to pray for their happiness, and to dedicate oneself entirely to the well-being of others.
Only then, little by little, can one obtain Myeolseongseonki.
And when one finally reaches its ultimate peak—Only then can they sever the ties of the body, the self, and the sacred path of the Constellations to complete Cheondo and ascend as a Cheonjwa.
A Chainsaw—the highest seat in the universe, overseeing all existence from above.
From an age long forgotten, Wolseongja has been passed down through a single master-disciple lineage.
And among all the Wolseongjas who have ever lived, only one has ever succeeded in becoming a Cheonjwa—the first Wolseongja.
All others have vanished, unable to complete Cheondo, leaving behind only their disciples.
That is how arduous this path truly is.
But even if I die, I refuse to share that fate.
I will complete Cheondo and free myself from all suffering.
That is why I endure these trials and dedicate myself to the path of virtue.
I reattach severed hands and arms.
I restore amputated feet and legs.
I regenerate organs and mend shattered bones.
Until my entire body is drained, until I no longer have the strength to lift a single finger, Haa… finally, it’s done.
After staying awake through the entire night, it was only at the break of dawn the next day that I was finally free.
For nearly two days, I had neither slept nor eaten, focusing solely on treating the wounded.
A hardship that pushes me beyond human limits.
A trial that tests my ability to endure all desires.
Yet, amidst this suffering, when I see those freed from pain, when I witness their happiness—I find that my desire is no longer merely about completing my training,but simply the pure intention to do good.
“Thank you! Thank you for saving my mother…!”
“Thank you for saving my daughter…!”
“You are the savior of our family…!”
“We do not know how to repay this immense kindness…!”
Watching their joy, all the exhaustion and pain seem to wash away.
But what is most important—is that my heart does not grow arrogant.
I must lower myself again and again, humbling myself beneath all beings of this world.
The moment I allow myself to believe I am superior to others, my sense of self strengthens—and that pride will only become an obstacle in my path of hardship and virtue.
There have been many disciples who failed to overcome this pride and were ultimately expelled by their masters.
“I am not your savior. It was simply fate that your lives did not end here.”
“How can you be so humble…?”
“Son, you must learn from this man’s heart.”
“To think we were fortunate enough to meet such a sage…”
“Thanks to the Sage, we have all been freed from a great burden in our hearts.”
“Sage…? Sage?”
“It’s a title we’ve decided to call you… Do you not like it?”
“We weren’t sure what else to call you…”
“Hmm… It feels far too grand for someone like me.”
Sage.
It feels strange.
So vastly different from the names I have been called before—The disgrace of the nobility.
A butcher.
A murderer.
A criminal.
And now—Sage.
Is this some kind of spot-the-difference puzzle?
“Um… Sage, this…”
Turning toward the voice, I saw a rather pretty girl standing there, holding a spoon and a bowl of soup.
“I noticed you haven’t eaten anything…”
This is troublesome.
I cannot remove my mask here.
“It’s fine. I have somewhere I need to be.”
“Huh?”
“But… You must be completely exhausted… shouldn’t you rest?”
“It’s already so late… You should stay the night at least.”
“No, I have no further need here. I must go.”
“But still…”
“We haven’t even properly repaid you yet…”
“At least have a meal at our home before you leave…”
At that moment, the Lord—who had been listening from a distance—approached.
“Are you truly planning to leave immediately?”
“Yes. I have urgent matters to attend to.”
“That is… unfortunate. If you had the time, I would have liked to offer you proper hospitality.”
“There is no need. If you wish to offer something, please share it with your people instead.”
The Lord thought to himself—‘What a kind, humble, and virtuous man… If only he had been our Count instead…’
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Ah, yes. I will escort you.”
As I followed the Lord, pushing aside the tent flap and stepping out of the medical barracks—”It’s the Sage!”
“The Sage?!”
“Where?”
“Mom! Lift me up! I want to see the Sage!”
“Me too! Daddy, lift me up too!”
“Ugh… up you go!”
“Waaah! It’s the Sage!”
“The Sage has come out!”
“It’s really the Sage!!”
It was as if the entire population of the fortress had gathered in one place.
Adults, children, the elderly—everyone, without exception.
The entrance to the barracks was packed so tightly that there was barely any room to step.
The noise was so overwhelming that it was difficult to even hear the person next to me.
“Everyone, step back!!!”
The Lord shouted at the gathered citizens.
“Clear a path at once! The Sage must be allowed to pass!”
At his command, the soldiers who had been waiting outside the barracks rushed forward, pushing through the crowd to open a path leading to the fortress gates.
Just as I had arrived in silence, borrowing the speed of Phoenix, I had intended to leave just as quietly.
But with so many eyes watching, slipping away unnoticed was impossible.
There was no particular reason to hide my abilities, but it was still better to keep as much as possible concealed.
With no other choice, I began walking along the path the soldiers had cleared.
“Sage! Sage! Please, take this!”
“Please… please stay in our fortress!!”
“I knitted this scarf for you all night… please wear it when you leave…!!”
“Thank you so much… for defeating the beasts…”
More words of gratitude than I could count, to the point where I was tired of hearing them.
People desperate to give me something, anything.
There were too many of them—I couldn’t possibly accept everything.
So, I simply kept walking, eyes fixed straight ahead.
Even as I moved forward, the crowd pressed in behind me, following closely, filling the once-empty space in front of the gates.
By the time I reached the fortress entrance, the Lord approached to bid farewell.
“…Thank you. I will never forget this debt of gratitude.”
“It was nothing. You have also worked tirelessly to keep up with me.”
For the time I had spent without sleep or food, the Lord had endured much as well.
Not to the same extent, of course—but he had diligently watched over his people, displaying the qualities of a true ruler.
“Someday… we will meet again, won’t we…?”
“Most likely in a few days. There’s a high chance of that happening.”
“…What?”
He had only meant it as a wishful thought—just a hope that we might cross paths again.
Yet, I responded with unexpected certainty.
“Just a feeling. That’s all.”
“What do you mean.”
Before he could finish, I turned and began walking away.
A heavy fatigue crept into my legs.
It was no surprise, given I had been on my feet for nearly two days.
But even at the moment when exhaustion felt like it might consume me—one more step.
One step beyond what seems like the limit.
That is what it means to transcend human boundaries and move closer to Cheondo.
I walked until the fortress behind me had shrunk to a mere speck in the distance.
Then, at last, I moved into action once more.
Even as I treated the injured, my destination had already been decided.
Because virtue has no end.
Healing people alone is never enough.
If I were to knowingly ignore an impending threat to them simply because it was troublesome…Then I could not claim to be walking the path of virtue.
The beasts that had fled, their bodies ablaze with Phoenix’s fire, had taken refuge in a cave in the snowy mountains.
Even amid my trials and healing, my Wolinseonki-infused eyes had never lost sight of their every move.
Now, borrowing the eyes of the Constellation Phoenix, I saw them in even greater detail.
And with Phoenix’s feet, I would reach them.
***
The Deepest Cavern of the Snowy Mountain.
Dark blood had congealed in the corners, and piles of beast corpses were strewn across the ground.
The ones who had fled during the fortress raid two days ago—This was how they had ended up.
“Captain… there’s nothing left in the mountains.”
“…We have no choice. Light the fire. Roast the corpses.”
At the leader’s command, the beasts began preparing to burn and consume the bodies of their own kind.
“Feeding on your own kin…”
“Who’s there?!”
The beast leader reacted instantly, his instincts sharp.
He whirled around, swinging his massive axe downward.
A deafening screech cut through the air—But the axe stopped mid-swing, caught between two fingers.
“You… you’re…!!”
Cold sweat poured down the leader’s back.
The red-masked human standing before him.
The very one who had unleashed that devastating storm of fire upon them during the fortress raid.
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