Chapter: 330
Pssssss.
As I move bit by bit, I notice something falling from my body like powder.
It was ash.
The functions of life had already been lost.
All that remained was ‘something’—a charred human.
A trace that seemed absolutely immovable.
But right before my eyes, it was moving so casually.
It’s a strange thing to say, to act like it was nothing.
Because the way it creaked and moved was definitely not normal.
It examined its body piece by piece.
Then it looked at me with a nodding head.
[Incredible.]
The first words that popped out were praises.
[This child wasn’t weak. I never expected it would come to this. This is unexpected.]
The voice I heard seemed to carry a sense of delight.
Leaving behind its shattered body,
It looked around again.
Blood-red sky, the wind stained with blood.
Rotten earth and ancient trees.
As it gazed upon them, the Blood Demon spoke.
[I was wondering why the connection was severed. It seems there was a reason. There is another master of this world, after all; it can’t be easy to burrow in.]
While the Blood Demon spoke, sounding intrigued,
I asked him,
“… Do you have some business with me?”
The Blood Demon chuckled at my words.
[You don’t seem very surprised. What a disappointing reaction.]
“I’ve already experienced this once.”
I had encountered it in the martial arts tournament.
Afterward, I found out it was already well-established that the Blood Demon was lurking in this land.
Just like in the last competition.
However, I had thought it might reappear in Jang Seon-yeon’s body.
‘Why now of all times?’
Though I tried hard to appear unfazed,
Inside, I was quite shocked.
I never thought the Blood Demon would invade this world.
What is it planning?
“How did you get here?”
[Don’t be too hard on yourself; I had to exert a considerable amount of effort to come here as well.]
“Was that body so valuable?”
Did it come to protect Jang Seon-yeon, who had already perished?
Or perhaps it had come here for a purpose concerning me.
Whatever the case,
This was not a pleasant encounter.
Hearing my question, the Blood Demon looked at me quietly for a moment,
Heh heh.
It emitted a soft chuckle.
[She is a rather precious child. I had high expectations for her, you see.]
“But what now? I’ve already killed her. Are you planning to take her back alive?”
I threw out a sarcastic remark.
[You’re joking with me, aren’t you?]
The Blood Demon seemed unfazed.
[Figuring out how this world is structured isn’t particularly difficult for me.]
‘Damn.’
I was cursing inwardly at the Blood Demon’s words.
What he meant was that he already understood the essence of this world.
Additionally, it hinted that the moment I returned to this land,
He vaguely knew that Jang Seon-yeon would revive.
‘Can the Blood Demon really know such things?’
Even though it was a monster that instigated a massive disaster in the past,
This was different from what I knew of this world.
[It’s an amusing world, isn’t it?]
“…If you’ve gone through the trouble to appear, do you intend to cause trouble?”
The Blood Demon himself had stated that he cared for Jang Seon-yeon.
It was possible he sensed that I was about to deal with her and was attempting to intervene.
I don’t know how much power the Blood Demon possesses,
But if it tried to intervene, that wouldn’t bode well for me.
[Are you anxious?]
The sight of him resting his chin on his burned hand looked so surreal.
It raised the stakes.
I had just spent quite a bit of strength in dealing with Jang Seon-yeon.
It would have been better if I had just burned her away, but taking my time to do it aspect by aspect ended up being problematic.
[Your eyes don’t seem good; you shouldn’t feel anxious about anything.]
“What are you talking about?”
[Did you say you were going to kill this child?]
“I didn’t say I was going to kill her; I’ve already killed her.”
I burned her alive, causing her pain.
According to the laws of this world, if she returns to the original realm, she will revive.
Of course, I already devised a way around that.
If Jang Seon-yeon revives because my method fails,
‘Then I’ll just have to kill her again.’
Though it was cruel,
It was better than letting it spiral out of control.
[I see this child really gets under your skin. Why is that?]
At the Blood Demon’s question, I glanced at it, but I immediately wished to turn my head away.
Just looking at it made me uncomfortable.
There was still that inexplicable sensation hanging in the air.
Was it the energy exuding from the very existence of this creature?
I wanted to rid myself of this feeling right away.
Suppressing those feelings as best I could, I forced the words out.
“What is your goal?”
[Hmm?]
“If you’re already dead and have been rotting for hundreds of years, you should just attain Buddhahood. Why on earth are you still hanging around?”
[Heh heh heh….]
Five masters, likely at the level of the current Samjon, were unable to kill him and thus decided that sealing him was the best possible option.
As a result, the Blood Demon was bound and remained in this land.
If that’s the case, why has he stayed this long to reveal himself like this?
“Are you planning to resurrect?”
Am I to think that he might try to come back to life?
[That’s an intriguing question. Resurrection.]
“If that’s not the case, then why don’t you just stay put? Why do you keep hanging around?”
Namgung Cheonjun and Jang Seon-yeon—
They’re beings that feed on blood and utilize the powers of the Blood Demon.
Are they truly the only ones receiving such strength?
There could be more.
‘The Murim Alliance might turn out to be under the Blood Demon’s control in the end.’
Considering I could barely trust the Murim Alliance as it was,
There seemed to be little room for more doubt.
[Heh heh….]
The Blood Demon had been chuckling for a while now, seemingly delighted by something.
Was this a laugh?
[Ah, how amusing.]
The Blood Demon beckons me.
[You’re quite the grand entertainment in this tedious thread of fate for me. Allow me to offer you a gift.]
“…What are you talking about…”
[If I wanted to be resurrected, I would have done so long ago.]
“What?”
[Sealing… Did you really think a mere being could keep me struggling under a seal for so long?]
My body froze for a moment at the Blood Demon’s words.
I couldn’t discern whether any of his statements were truthful or not.
It could all be a ploy.
And if it were a trap, what was the motive?
While my thoughts were mixed and tangled, the Blood Demon continued speaking.
[I could awaken at any time.]
“…But why didn’t you?”
[Because there was no need to do so.]
“No need for that?”
[Exactly. There was no longer any need. So I simply did not.]
“That’s ridiculous! If that’s the case, then why are you causing a ruckus now?”
[What are you referring to?]
I already knew that Jang Seon-yeon and Namgung Cheon-jun bore the powers of the Blood Demon.
Just like before, he was communicating through Jang Seon-yeon’s body.
“But what are you even talking about now?”
[I only offered it upon hearing they were in need of strength. I hadn’t reached out to them first.]
“How am I supposed to believe that?”
[Ah, you seem to have misinterpreted something.]
Bam bam bam—!
“…!”
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of blood scent slammed into my senses.
I stumbled back a step.
Had I not set this bet, I might have collapsed and vomited right there.
This energy undeniably burst forth from Jang Seon-yeon’s body before me.
He borrowed someone’s body and thinks this is acceptable?
As I widened my eyes in surprise, the Blood Demon continued speaking.
[I am not one who needs your belief.]
Pssssssss…
Jang Seon-yeon’s body was gradually stirring.
Although it seemed like it might crumble at a touch, it managed to rise and meet my gaze.
I couldn’t see her eyes, so I couldn’t be sure.
But there was no doubt she was looking directly at me.
[Aren’t you grateful for this?]
“…What should I be thankful for?”
[I am fully aware of where my five senses are located and where my stored energy and body might be, yet I simply stood by and observed. How merciful of me.]
Five senses and energy.
And the physical body.
This echoed the words of Hwang A-bul-yeong.
It was said all five senses of the Blood Demon were scattered to the shallow sea.
Its spirit and flesh were purportedly separated and sealed carefully.
‘You know where they are?’
Even if that were true,
It doesn’t add any credibility to the notion of it being able to resurrect.
Knowing something doesn’t automatically mean one can locate it.
[I am merely waiting for the right moment.]
What are you waiting for?
“So, when that long-awaited time arrives, will you finally resurrect?”
[Well… that decision hasn’t been made yet.]
From what I can remember from my past life,
The entity known as the Blood Demon never resurrected.
He was simply the trigger behind the catastrophic bloodshed of the past,
And merely a character sealed away by the actions of heroes.
Letting my mind wander, I continued.
“I have something I want to ask.”
At this confidence-laced statement, the Blood Demon burst into laughter briefly.
[You’re quite audacious; it sounds as if I came here to engage in a dialogue with you.]
“Well, that’s true.”
[Why do you feel that way?]
“Then you wouldn’t bother to tell me such trivial stories.”
What about the five senses? Energy? The physical body?
He claimed he didn’t seek resurrection and was waiting for the right time.
All of it sounded pretty trivial.
If he really came to save Jang Seon-yeon, he seemed to ramble on quite a bit.
If he were here to kill me, he appeared all too peaceful.
“If you don’t intend to answer, then I have no need for you. Just leave.”
Not that I planned to treat him kindly.
Whatever his identity, whatever his intentions,
I firmly believed he wouldn’t bring me any benefits.
No matter what his purpose was,
In the end, it meant I had to deal with him.
[What do you want to ask?]
“Are you a calamity?”
As Yeon Il-cheon once said,
The Blood Demon they halted was called a calamity.
A calamity that was supposed to determine the fate of this world, leading to its ruin.
Furthermore,
Yeon Il-cheon referred to me as a calamity too. There had to be a reason for my return.
It was said I was a calamity destined to bring about destruction.
Shin Noya told me to be confident,
But it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.
If the Blood Demon had sought me out for a conversation,
I decided to pose the question directly.
Are you a calamity?
Is Yeon Il-cheon’s statement accurate?
Upon hearing my inquiry, the Blood Demon fell silent for a spell.
A brief hush passed for several seconds.
Finally, the Blood Demon responded.
[I never expected you to ask such a question. How amusing.]
“I didn’t ask to be amusing. Just answer.”
[A calamity.]
The Blood Demon took a step closer to me.
At that moment, cracks began forming across its body.
[What do you see?]
“Looking at it now, you definitely seem like a calamity.”
In a grotesque, soulless body after death,
Even I found the sight of it closing in unsettling.
[A calamity… Who said that?]
“Just answer yes or no.”
[No, there’s no need to respond. After all, there’s only one anyway.]
It reached out.
I grimaced at the black fingertips coming toward me.
Should I swat it away?
Or break it?
[It must’ve been Yeon Il-cheon.]
The Blood Demon seemed to instantly recognize who had imparted those words to me.
Should I deny it?
From my point of view, Yeon Il-cheon was not someone I could easily trust either.
[Foolish one, you still cling to such naivety, it seems. Your friend must have clouded your sight.]
“My eyesight is perfectly fine.”
[No, the specter of the past has clouded your vision. I must clear it.]
The Blood Demon’s fingertips drew closer to my eyes.
They hovered so near as though about to touch.
I resisted the urge to move.
If I kept this up, I instinctively wondered what the Blood Demon might do.
But I wouldn’t budge.
Just when the fingertips of the Blood Demon were about to touch my eyes—
Crack—!
The reaction I had been anticipating surged forth.
Something erupted from the ground, separating me from the Blood Demon.
[Oh?]
The Blood Demon exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
Curious about what had emerged, I looked.
It was a giant tree root. Upon recognizing this, the Blood Demon took a slight step back.
[It seems I’ve wasted too much time.]
When the Blood Demon reached for the tree root, his fingers crumbled before he could even touch it.
[Was this your intention?]
“I wasn’t necessarily aiming for you, but you came closer. I just thought I’d give it a try.”
[You have quite the nerve. You certainly weren’t planning to resist.]
I thought it would undoubtedly come.
This as well had a purpose for me, considering it needed me.
I certainly didn’t think it would just let me be.
[Such a pity… I would have liked to continue our conversation, but it seems the owner of this place does not welcome me.]
Cracks began to appear all over the Blood Demon’s body.
[I may be unsatisfied, but I hope this conversation brings us a bit closer.]
“You’re a more grotesque creature than I expected. You’re making me feel ill. If you plan to leave, just vanish quietly.”
I retorted with a growl.
The Blood Demon didn’t seem particularly moved by my words.
Even as I witnessed Jang Seon-yeon’s body swiftly fade away, I didn’t let down my guard.
The Blood Demon was still intently watching my face.
[What I said before is still true. When you meet a dancer, come find me.]
Ha.
I let out a laugh at the Blood Demon’s words.
“Do you have any idea what I’d do when I arrive?”
I didn’t even know what a dancer was supposed to be, so I simply couldn’t understand why it kept telling me to visit.
Why continue inviting me if I was just going to break everything?
Is it that confident?
“If I ever end up going, I’ll definitely not come with good intentions.”
[That’s just fine. There’s nothing better than breaking free from the mold.]
As it said this, the Blood Demon’s lower body faded away while the upper body crumpled.
The impact upon hitting the ground shattered its form into pieces.
The fragmented body was blown apart by the raging winds.
Even amidst such a situation, the Blood Demon still left me with words.
[We’ll see each other again next time.]
Saying that, the wind whisked Jang Seon-yeon’s body out of sight.
“…Hoo.”
Only after confirming that did I let out a ragged breath.
I had finally eased the extreme tension I was holding.
“Like a dog. Whenever I try to do something, it seems something always interrupts.”
Is this just another stroke of bad luck?
I could feel the throbbing headache.
Why on earth did the Blood Demon show up so suddenly?
‘What’s happening?’
As I tried to recall solely the information from my past life,
Secrets I’d been unaware of began to unravel one by one.
What did it all signify?
What is its fate?
What is the karmic debt accumulated in this world?
What is this so-called seed that Guga possessed?
Even with a single mystery, a series of troublesome events would unfold.
My insides felt incredibly tangled.
That’s why I sought this place. From the moment I came to Shinryonggwan.
From the moment I confirmed the existence of the Iron Wire.
This was the place I wanted to reach.
I thought surely it would know if I was here.
I turned around and said,
“If you were going to show up, you should have done so earlier. Why are you only appearing now?”
Addressing the annoyance, what stood before me wasn’t the endless, barren plains anymore.
Instead, looming before my eyes was an enormous something that blocked out the sky.
I had seen this before in my past life.
The size was utterly absurd; it couldn’t be simply labeled a tree.
The aura and grandeur emitted were on a completely different level.
Moreover,
This tree had a name of its own.
Please introduce yourself someday,
That’s what I had mentioned.
He is the fifth World Tree rooted here—
Muah. is what he said.
With a sigh—
As if responding to my words, the branches that stretched up into the clouds moved all at once.
With its leaves seemingly gone long ago, the barren branches felt deserted.
In that moment—
[Nice to meet you.]
A voice echoed in my ear.
It was a voice so hollow and full of sorrow.
The same voice I had heard back then.
Even then, the greeting felt similar to this moment.
Yet the second statement uttered was different from my previous life.
[My apostle.]
At the words that reached my ears, I grimaced.
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