Chapter: 264
Pee-pee.
Was it because I unexpectedly saw a face I didn’t want to see?
Words that slipped out without my knowing.
Jeokjeok-
It was enough to create cracks in the mask he was wearing.
“… I don’t know what… you’re talking about.”
“Why don’t you relax your expression and speak?”
Look at this guy.
As soon as I brought up the pee-pee story, I saw his facial expression crumple.
I guess he hasn’t forgotten what happened back then.
‘I thought he lost his mind.’
Surprisingly, there might still be a little consciousness left?
If that’s the case, it wasn’t exactly a good situation for him.
As expected, Namgung Cheonjun’s expression was like a mask shattering and rotting away.
Looking at his condition, he must have thought it was a dream.
Or perhaps he wanted to pretend it never happened—either way, it seemed about right.
“I told you not to be embarrassed; I even dried your pants. Shouldn’t you thank me first?”
“… Sigh.”
I told you not to be an embarrassment in front of Namgung Bi-ah.
That guy would surely be even angrier for that reason.
“… You….”
Look at that.
He gets angry immediately.
Seeing that is oddly reassuring.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he’s gotten wise or anything.
Not that I intend to favorably view him just because he’s matured, mind you.
“… No matter how many times I see it, I still don’t like it.”
“That’s quite the way to talk to someone who saved your face.”
Tingling.
While we were talking, a rush of energy brushed against my cheek.
It was brain energy.
A pungent energy flowed out from Namgung Cheonjun’s shoulder.
‘It’s vivid, unlike before.’
Unlike the hazy energy emitted during the martial competition.
I don’t know if it’s because he’s reached a higher level or if he’s just been doing something silly.
The level seemed different from what it was back then.
‘But anyway.’
Well, that’s all it is.
At best, it hardly differs from the excellent post-revised index level.
In my current situation, the post-revised index is just something trivial, aside from the top two or three.
Just when I thought about capturing and severing the incoming bets—
Kwadeuk.
A greater energy surged in and devoured the brain energy.
It was the same brain energy, yet it had a deeper and much more massive presence.
As I swallowed that energy aimed at me, someone blocked my path.
It was Namgung Bi-ah.
“Cheonjun.”
The voice that flowed out coolly was saturated with deep anger.
It was a voice I hadn’t heard from her in quite a while.
“What are you doing?”
“… Sister?”
“What are you doing right now…?”
Though he hadn’t drawn his sword, aura was flowing out from Namgung Bi-ah.
It was the energy of a swordsman who had reached his peak and begun to handle energy maturely.
It’s only been a year since he crossed the wall, yet here he was, managing and fine-tuning his energy.
‘… I’m amazed every time I see it.’
To me, it’s just astonishing.
To watch from close proximity talents that might have touched the heavens.
Every day was a fresh marvel.
In my previous life, I was full of jealousy and self-loathing over such things.
But that’s not where I stand now.
As thick energy began to wrap around me, almost like a protective embrace—
Namgung Cheonjun frowned as he glanced at Namgung Bi-ah.
“I just came by to say hello.”
“This is… not a greeting.”
That goes without saying.
What kind of person greets like this?
Sure, I initiated the conflict, but it was clear why I approached, so it wouldn’t end well.
Hah—
Namgung Cheonjun released a hollow laugh at Namgung Bi-ah’s words.
His sigh was unusually deep.
“I guess you’re still on that guy’s side, Sister. Your blood relative is me, not him.”
“… Cheonjun.”
Namgung Bi-ah called his name again, as if she felt uncomfortable.
The energy radiating from Namgung Cheonjun vanished.
He locked away the energy he was releasing by himself.
As the threatening aura faded, Namgung Bi-ah also erased her aggressive posture.
Looking at Namgung Bi-ah, Namgung Cheonjun uttered,
“… If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have endured it.”
After leaving those somewhat exasperated words behind, he turned his back and walked toward the thick darkness behind him.
Is this really the end?
Did you come here just to show your face to do this?
‘That cannot be true.’
I frowned slightly and gazed at Namgung Cheonjun’s back as he vanished into the distance.
It was because I wanted to understand how that guy had ended up in this situation.
‘Has he regained his blood energy?’
When I saw him at the banquet hall earlier,
I hadn’t felt any blood in his lower abdomen, making me wonder if nothing had happened since last time.
Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that I was mistaken.
This meant that Danjeon wasn’t the only place I needed to check.
The blood energy hadn’t completely vanished from Namgung Cheonjun’s Danjeon.
The blood energy that should have been tucked away in the lower abdomen—
It had integrated into Namgung Cheonjun’s body.
Leaving the Danjeon’s betting alone,
A faint blood energy was swirling around his body.
That’s a sight I’d seen many times in my past life.
‘At that time, it wasn’t blood but magic.’
Also, the bet was interchanged by magic.
It’s hard to consider them entirely the same.
In the early stages of a master’s body.
As if the bet naturally permeated,
The magic would naturally blend with the flesh.
If it’s similar looking energy, then—
There was only one reason I realized why it looked that way.
‘The transformation to a demon.’
Namgung Cheonjun was currently in a state no different from that of a demon.
If this energy is referred to as the energy of the blood demon, it could be ambiguous to label it ‘demon.’
To me, it doesn’t seem all that different from a demon.
He may not have become a madman, having been consumed by madness.
‘He was a madman to begin with, so it might not show.’
If that’s not the case, he might not have succumbed to madness.
For instance, the sword demon was a master of the demonic sect.
He had been a lunatic from the start, and becoming a demon didn’t change his nature.
Namgung Cheonjun could also be of that lineage.
If not—
‘Blood energy may have no relation to madness.’
Having only a shaky understanding of the energy used,
I ought to have indulged in many expectations.
Regardless of that—
‘Why did he become like that?’
After the martial competition, so many things had transpired.
Was it a problem that I didn’t actively care about it?
‘Wasn’t drying his pant legs enough?’
I handled a grown man’s wetting himself.
What could I possibly offer him beyond that?
One needs to have a conscience.
Even if Namgung Cheonjun truly became a demon,
No, since it’s blood energy, should I call him a blood demon?
Regardless, that’s how it turned out.
I had no intention of doing anything about it.
For now, all I can ascertain is—
‘The blood demon is moving.’
I don’t know what motives it has behind its actions.
It’s not entirely his fault that Namgung Cheonjun found himself in that state.
Most importantly—
‘It feels off.’
The state of that guy.
The energies that met my eyes were undergoing changes.
They all looked equally unsettling.
It was as if I desperately wanted to snatch him up right away and extract his energy.
‘Is it the result of this guy’s appetite wanting to absorb it?’
Maybe it’s because there’s a piglet within me that gobbles up anything.
Or perhaps it’s because he rarely shows hostility.
Moreover—
No one else appeared to notice it but me.
Could it be because I received the same blood energy from the blood demon?
Ha.
A sigh escaped me.
‘If you’re just a forgotten old man, you should stay buried quietly in a back room.’
If a human caused trouble centuries ago, they would’ve been buried silently under the ground.
Why do they still linger around, bothering others?
‘I’m likely to lose my mind over various other matters as well.’
Not just about the blood demon.
Every day, my life is full of other requirements.
I had hoped there wouldn’t be room for ancient calamities to intervene in this mess.
As I rubbed my throbbing head, a cold, white hand reached out and cupped my forehead.
It was Namgung Bi-ah’s palm.
“… Are you okay…?”
Her careful tone held a mix of anxiety.
She’s worried that Namgung Cheonjun’s actions might have upset me.
‘How naive.’
She’s still a bit immature.
I placed my hand over Namgung Bi-ah’s once more and replied.
“I’m okay.”
“… Uh-huh.”
Namgung Bi-ah still doesn’t understand why I’m acting this way.
She’s merely comforting me because I look tired.
‘So, what do I do now?’
If he just got drunk on energy and spiraled downwards,
Honestly, I don’t want to bother with it.
If he did indeed get that wasted on energy,
I don’t even want to interfere.
I might be a bit anxious because it’s related to the blood demon.
‘I didn’t really want to get involved.’
If not for the look in his eyes and the words he muttered at the end.
I would have probably just let it be.
-… If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have endured it.
The gaze of the man who spoke was murky.
A hint of emotion, mingling with energy, was painfully clear to me.
I had to form a barrier, ensuring that such disgusting feelings wouldn’t touch her.
I didn’t want that revolting sensation to reach her.
I picture Namgung Cheonjun’s face.
‘I hope he doesn’t cross the final line.’
How many times has this happened?
Probably at least three.
The words uttered by that little sleeping dragon and the reasoning I had to suppress everything.
Allowing it to slide has reached its limit.
‘This means there’s no next time.’
This warning won’t reach him.
I’m not kind enough to share it unnecessarily.
I just muttered as I stared towards the direction he disappeared.
I barely controlled my breath to keep it from leaking and reaching Namgung Bi-ah.
I genuinely hope he doesn’t make such a foolish choice.
To me, it seemed improbable that it would happen.
Standing still, I observed the encroaching darkness.
I turned to Namgung Bi-ah next to me and said,
“For now…”
“Uh…?”
“You should head back first; I have some matters to attend to.”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with an earnest gaze, searching for something in my words.
She nodded in understanding.
Leaving her behind, I moved forward.
The pace toward the garden was quick.
Delving into the endless gloom, I made my way into the woods.
The forest we entered was as dark as I had hoped.
A few towering trees nearby grew so tall they blocked out even the moonlight.
This meant it was a forest where not even a single ray of light could penetrate.
As Namgung Cheonjun rushed through the forest, someone’s voice echoed in his ears.
-You were told not to expose it recklessly.
The voice resembled a telegram’s tone.
It was a quiet woman’s voice.
Upon hearing it, Namgung Cheonjun’s expression twisted like a devil’s.
“I told you not to meddle in my affairs, didn’t I?”
-Dragon of the Mind, while I don’t know what your thoughts are or what your goals may be, I must tell you it is certainly still too early.
“Early or not, I’ll decide that.”
-… If you keep acting this way, you will have no choice but to part with the holy fire bestowed upon you.
As he walked, the woman’s words caused Namgung Cheonjun’s steps to halt abruptly.
It seemed the woman’s words might’ve touched his temper.
Yet, Namgung Cheonjun’s face wore a smirk rather than anger.
“Do you even have the authority to do that?”
-… Dragon of the Mind.
It was rare to hear anger seeping into the woman’s voice.
Nevertheless, Namgung Cheonjun didn’t pay much heed.
“He calls you a dancer, so you must think you’re something else. But in reality, you’re just a parrot delivering the Great One’s words.”
-Watch your mouth. No matter how intoxicated you might be, you should still…
“I’m being cautious even now. As you said, I’m in a position to receive the Holy Spirit.”
Even that pompous Peng Woo-jin—
He pushed aside the holiness that resembled excrement.
It was a strength he had seized.
The day he followed Peng Woo-jin underground after suffering a thorough beating.
On that day, Namgung Cheonjun encountered a magnificent being and received power.
This implied he had been chosen already.
The strength to take revenge on the bastard who stole his sister from him.
As if the power was anything but a lie.
The energy that had previously eluded him grew stronger, and his Danjeon expanded and solidified.
The pinnacle of a barrier he had once considered insurmountable was now easily shattered.
‘Just a bit longer.’
So just a little more.
Until the new strength fully infused into his body.
It was merely a matter of time—he just needed to outlast this moment.
He said,
When the body fuses,
Once energy returns to the Danjeon,
Only then will a new world unfold.
‘If that happens, this time I’ll truly…’
I will tear him limb from limb and incinerate him.
After that…. he will recover his beloved sister.
And after that….
“… how much longer will it be?”
How much longer must he wait?
For the perfect assimilation spoken of by the Great One to arrive.
Namgung Cheonjun reeled in his inquiry toward the dancer once more.
-…
For some reason, the dancer remained silent in response.
There was something displeasing about how she treated him with her calm tone.
Yet there hadn’t been a time like this without an answer.
Namgung Cheonjun expressed his confusion and inquired once more.
“Why is there no answer…?”
“What answer?”
The reply came from somewhere else.
A chill ran down Namgung Cheonjun’s spine.
But hurriedly raising his stakes, he turned around.
“… Kuhk…!”
A hand shot out and clutched Namgung Cheonjun’s neck in an instant.
“I asked. What was the answer?”
He struggled violently but it felt like his entire body was bound, only having his neck grasped.
Just then,
Namgung Cheonjun stood helplessly, unable to draw a proper breath.
As darkness lit up the forest—
“Are you going to keep quiet?”
A set of gleaming, blood-red eyes looked up at him, filled with murderous intent.
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