Chapter: 498
The pressure rises heavily.
I rolled my eyes, feeling the air change.
‘Okay.’
The speculation about the ghost ship makes my hair stand on end.
In contrast to that eerie sensation, my brain felt like it was spinning rapidly.
[This crazy guy.]
Noya tells me incredulously.
[You’re really trying to do this? You’re truly out of your mind.]
‘You helped me so much, and now you’re backing out?’
[What do you mean I helped you?]
It helped me a lot.
That is, it told me about Namgung Myung’s personality.
Oh, precisely speaking…
‘It is presumed to be Namgung Myung’s personality.’
Before arriving here with Woohyuk, I had to seriously think about how to obtain the brain.
The reason is that all the methods I had previously considered had to be swapped out.
The various methods I had brainstormed became impossible after confirming that the ghost was a member of the Namgung family, leading to suspicions that they were pretending not to know.
This was due to the problems that arose when trying to use the ideas I had in mind.
So should I just give up on the brain?
‘No.’
That can’t be the case.
‘The brain should be handed over to Namgung Bi-ah.’
For the future.
Also, the brain was essential for Namgung Bi-ah to conveniently ascend to a higher level.
‘Namgung Myung’s temperament is a bit irritating, though.’
Who would deny that? Even a fleeting glance reveals the old man’s temperament is utterly foul.
[What the hell?]
I could hear Noya getting worked up, well aware of my insults.
But that was the truth.
No…
‘Is it a problem that it might not be Namgung Myung?’
If there’s an issue, it’s that what Noya said when he came was a bit unsettling.
The moment I was about to take a step to meet the ghost, Noya conveyed something inexplicable to me.
‘Maybe that guy isn’t Ming.’
Wondering about the sudden remark, I asked him what he meant.
Noya said he wasn’t certain yet, just to keep it in mind.
‘If he’s not Namgung Myung, then who is he?’
I don’t know; I just believed it because Noya said so.
Now, being unable to trust Noya is another problem.
Furthermore…
‘It doesn’t matter whether it’s Namgung Myung or not at this moment.’
Even if the old man inside that brain isn’t Namgung Myung…
It didn’t concern me. What mattered was whether I could get the brain or not.
So I kept worrying.
How can I obtain the brain?
When I pondered this, fortunately, there were indeed methods.
In fact, quite a few options sprang to mind. It’s not like I’ve never experienced such chaotic affairs in my past life.
Having tackled this sort of work professionally, it wasn’t overly difficult for me.
The real issue was that none of the methods were particularly sound.
[… That, too, is a talent in its own right.]
‘Thanks for the compliment.’
[Is that even a compliment?]
‘If I receive it as a compliment, it is a compliment.’
After that, I ignored Noya, who was grumbling that he was going to choke from the annoyance.
I couldn’t fathom why a dead old man was acting like this.
Anyway…
Among the many undesirable and distasteful methods, I decided to choose the least problematic one.
That method being…
[Steal it by causing trouble…]
‘Why are you naming your plan so crudely?’
[Do you expect there’s a more eloquent way to phrase it?]
No matter how you slice it, a name like that is just too crude.
Even if it makes sense.
“You’re scolding me.”
“That’s what our crazy old man wishes. Since you’re an old gent, you should get that.”
“How can I understand when my friend’s teacher is about to be turned into a pancake?”
“Haha.”
Goeseon chuckled at my banter.
“Your expression is surprisingly lively for such a conversation?”
“…”
Upon hearing that, I quickly managed my expression.
It seemed that I was about to let my guard down, thinking things were going my way.
‘I’ve died a lot too.’
I had been so lost in peace that I had made these small errors.
I must continue to remind myself—it is not the time for complacency.
Calming my breath and hardening my expression, a sharp voice rang out.
[I don’t understand.]
It was Namgung Myung’s voice.
[Why aren’t you stopping him, Shincheol?]
His words dripped with incredulity, making me think internally.
‘Of course.’
Confirming what I suspected, it turned out to be true.
I could hear their conversation, but it seemed my dialogue with Noya was kept from their ears.
‘Interesting.’
Of course, I wasn’t entirely sure.
If they wanted to conceal it, they might manage to do so.
However, considering whether they would go to such lengths, I couldn’t help but think they wouldn’t.
While holding on to my minor doubts, I set the course of my actions.
Rather than vacillating back and forth in suspicion, this felt more decisive.
Shin Noya sighed at Namgung Myung’s remarks.
[Do you think this guy will listen to you?]
[Ha. You call me junior, but you can’t even handle this?]
[That doesn’t seem like something you should be saying… and furthermore…]
I gradually relaxed my bodily energy and projected it outward.
[It doesn’t seem like he said anything particularly wrong.]
[… What?]
At Noya’s comment, Namgung Myung’s voice turned chilling.
[You think the child’s words were harsh, but do you believe he was wrong?]
[You…]
[Hmm. Times have certainly changed. I didn’t realize your tongue had grown this long.]
He kept needling me for being overly provocative.
Now it struck me that even this old man had a sharp tongue.
[… I can hear your insults, so just shut up. Didn’t you ask for help?]
‘I’m sorry…’
Even spirits have keen hearing.
As Namgung Myung’s ire loomed, Goeseon, who had been holding back, threw in his own remarks.
“Haa… Old man. You seem a bit off today, how about just keeping quiet?”
[You too…!]
“I don’t understand what you’re babbling about, but can you please not shout? And—”
At that moment, Goeseon’s gaze turned toward me.
“Even if it wasn’t intentional, I am sorry about my previous words.”
“…”
“But just know that your words crossed a line.”
I was already aware that I had perhaps crossed a bit too far.
This also granted me some authority to banter with either Goeseon or Namgung Myung.
To ensure that facing me wouldn’t bring about an issue, and to boot…
“If there’s anything you want from me, then all the more… ”
‘Now you’ve done it.’
Goeseon seemed to pick up on that.
“I wonder what a kid like you hopes for? I’m living as a beggar, so I don’t have any money…”
“To be honest, I’m not particularly inclined to extort money from Goeseon.”
In fact, I’m pretty well-off now, so…
I don’t need money all that badly.
Hearing my response, Goeseon gave a small smile and probed.
“Then what could you possibly want that makes you come out like this?”
Would they even grasp it if I suddenly asked for a brain child right here?
Based on Goeseon’s intuition, perhaps he would.
But…
“Well, that’s….”
It felt slightly disappointing. The reason being…
“I’d say we can discuss things after you finish scolding me.”
It’s hilariously ironic, really, but I was feeling a surge of appetite for battle.
My body was itching to fight with the monster.
[Huh… In the past, he would avoid fights and take the long way around. Now, it’s as if the sun is rising in the west.]
‘That’s the truth.’
Is it because my body has transformed? Or has my fighting spirit bubbled up while recovering my realm?
Or perhaps I simply want to test how strong I’ve grown.
Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
I began to loosen up, raising the stakes.
Now was the time to concentrate on my opponent.
“Sssss… ”
As the heat accumulated in my body…
“… There’s something I want to ask first.”
Goeseon’s voice echoed.
“What is it?”
“… Well… that’s something I’ve been wanting to ask for a while now…”
Goeseon hesitated as though it was a bit awkward to approach.
Why the sudden inquiry?
Just as I tilted my head, puzzled…
“…Why does your face look like that?”
“… ”
Ah.
At Goeseon’s words, I recalled something I had nearly forgotten.
My face looked like a rice cake, swollen from being pounded by that ghastly foe.
In the stillness of the space, the air abruptly shifted.
The pressure emitted by the ghost ship had been quite overwhelming.
Hoo-ooook!
As an unexplainable heat started to discharge from Gu Yangcheon’s body, the oppressive atmosphere intensified.
‘It’s hot.’
The heat brushed against my cheeks, feeling distinctly different.
Goeseon had to resist the urge to smirk at the overwhelmingly thick and heavy aura, fighting against the corners of his lips.
‘Impressive.’
History stood right there.
Goeseon was convinced of that.
He was witnessing a mark that would surely be engraved in history for ages.
As he gazed at Gu Yangcheon, Goeseon contemplated the future.
If it was already this impressive, how much higher would it soar eventually?
A pillar rising to the heights unreachable to the eye.
Viewing it from this starting point brought forth a bittersweet contradiction.
Are you jealous of talent?
Nah.
Goeseon was never really the jealous type to begin with.
‘When the levels differ, you don’t even feel that.’
Jealousy creeps in only when you regret not being able to keep pace.
It was natural to feel reverence, not jealousy, toward something so distant and grand.
That’s how Gu Yangcheon appeared to him.
This was not a talent one could covet or envy.
That was, indeed, the choice of heaven.
If not, it wouldn’t make sense.
So what was the regret gnawing at Goeseon now?
‘I feel pity for my disciple.’
It was precisely the concern he held for Woohyuk.
Worrying about Woohyuk, who watched the monster from the sidelines, left Goeseon feeling unsettled.
‘Ha, I never thought I would worry about something like this.’
Even when I thought about it, it seemed absurd.
Worrying that your disciple might be overshadowed and overwhelmed by peers.
Interestingly, the disciple didn’t seem to care too much about it.
Goeseon glanced at Woohyuk from afar.
‘… Why does that brat look so thrilled?’
Woohyuk had an unusually bright expression while eagerly watching the unfolding drama.
Even though his teacher was about to battle his friend, he was curious about when they would get to the actual fighting.
What a twist…
‘Am I cursed with having a goofy disciple?’
I had never thought about such a thing before.
On the contrary, I thought he was overflowing with vitality. Maybe he had chosen inadequate friends, but Woohyuk seemed to have changed a bit.
So was it the fault of that guy?
Goeseon fixed his gaze on Gu Yangcheon.
It was quite unsettling.
Those eyes were maddening.
Rather than looking intimidated before the fight, he seemed to exhibit an eagerness.
This indicated that he was looking forward to a confrontation with himself right now.
‘Good grief.’
What sort of person actively welcomes such a clash?
Goeseon couldn’t fathom it. What could be the motivation behind accepting this fight?
He had a vague feeling that the child desired something from him.
Goeseon was perceptive in that regard.
Yet he had no solid grasp of what it could be.
‘Moreover…’
While Gu Yangcheon was an issue unto himself, a more significant dilemma lay ahead.
‘It’s the fact that I feel a sense of expectation.’
Goeseon himself secretly yearned for a bout with Gu Yangcheon.
His senses heightened.
The spirit of battle reared its head, rolling its way beyond willpower, now growling in anticipation.
Was this instinct of a warrior, independent of demeanor?
With a worthy foe on the horizon, the inclination to strike manifested.
I remembered when Namgung Myung commissioned me to chastise the young folks.
Back then, what had I truly felt?
On the surface, I cursed Namgung Myung for issuing that directive.
‘That’s just an excuse.’
Deep inside, I’d honestly regarded it as a suitable justification. Goeseon recognized his own inconsistency.
I craved combat.
Were the incredibly high possibilities laid out before me?
Just how luminous was that brilliant light?
Moreover.
‘How bright will it ultimately become?’
I wished to savor that experience firsthand.
With a rustle…
I drew my sword.
The moment that transpired…
Hoo-ooook—!
The air pressure radiating from Goeseon’s body enveloped all directions.
Woo-ooom—!
Contrasting with the heavy pressure, the sound of the blade emerging from Goeseon’s sword was exceptionally refreshing.
This served as a testament to the outstanding level Goeseon had attained.
“Wow….”
Woohyuk, caught up in awe, couldn’t help but exclaim.
Seeing that illuminated the principle of his teacher’s prowess.
‘I hope this is alright.’
While he remained intrigued, anxiety wove into his thoughts.
Though Goeseon might garner disdain for his odd behaviors, no one could belittle his swordsmanship.
As the elders and clan leaders said, had it not been for his temperament, he would have been a contender for the next leader.
Of course… it didn’t seem his temperament would shift.
The current leader, Mudanggeomseon, likely wouldn’t offer him that position.
Furthermore, it seemed unlikely that the teacher himself had any desire for that title, so it might not matter.
As the atmosphere became increasingly charged, Woohyuk scrutinized Gu Yangcheon.
An upright posture.
That presence felt markedly different somehow over the past few days.
A bizarre air of tranquil silence mingled with a feral, seemingly frenzied nature.
Despite his shorter stature compared to me, he had an aura that didn’t render him insignificant.
Even though his face had clearly seen better days…
Woohyuk instinctively sensed that something was profoundly different about Gu Yangcheon.
‘What on earth happened?’
His curiosity piqued.
Though Gu Yangcheon was silent, he pretended not to notice, yet he wanted to discern the source of that drastic transformation.
His reluctance to inquire stemmed from the aforementioned desire to respect Gu Yangcheon’s will.
Because Gu Yangcheon preferred to remain mum about it.
So, Woohyuk kept his lips sealed, turning his attention elsewhere.
Woo-oooom—!!
The sound of the sword intensified, and concurrently, the heat thickened.
Woohyuk extended his hand.
Something brushed against his fingertips as he stirred the air.
What a sight to behold.
The energy radiating from the center was deftly contained to not reach Namgung Bi-ah and Woohyuk.
Without being ostentatious, it felt so picturesque.
Though he acted oblivious, Woohyuk, with his keen hearing, could ‘detect’ that Gu Yangcheon had concealed it.
Acknowledging that, he turned his gaze to Gu Yangcheon.
‘There’s going to be a loss.’
If these two engaged, Gu Yangcheon would undoubtedly fall short.
No matter how remarkable Gu Yangcheon was…
The master wouldn’t falter.
Could Gu Yangcheon truly be unaware of this?
No, it was evident he knew but was still drawn to the clash.
What could compel this?
Woohyuk was puzzled by the matter.
While Gu Yangcheon seemed to express anything without restraint, he was the sort to guard pivotal matters closely.
Having reached that point, Woohyuk sighed audibly and shifted his gaze again.
The two figures, particularly Namgung Bi-ah, who was fixated on Goeseon, were strikingly present.
“… Are you alright?”
“… ”
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t glance at me, appearing disinterested in my question.
In that cold disregard, Woohyuk cracked a smile.
“Sister-in-law.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, right.”
Namgung Bi-ah turned her head at the casually uttered address.
Given that straightforward yet assertive demeanor, Woohyuk couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Sister-in-law, are you holding up okay?”
“… in what way?”
“Considering that fiery lad is going to have a go. I’m curious if you’re alright with that.”
After all, he was about to confront his master directly.
When Gu Yangcheon initially arrived here with that look, Woohyuk hadn’t forgotten the expression in Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes.
‘… It was a look that seemed ready to cut everything apart.’
How could he forget the slight tremor of his fingertips as he gripped the sword hilt?
Had Namgung Bi-ah and Woohyuk clashed, defeat would have been a foregone conclusion.
That’s how staggering Namgung Bi-ah’s fighting spirit had been.
But now it seemed the master himself was about to face off.
So, was Namgung Bi-ah truly unbothered?
I intended to ask that but when Namgung Bi-ah replied.
“I’m fine.”
“Hmm?”
Surprisingly, she offered her response calmly.
“Why?”
Just as Woohyuk was ready to be taken aback by that answer, Namgung Bi-ah continued.
“There’s got to be a reason for that.”
“… ”
A sense of unwavering conviction emanated from her words.
And amidst that, she added,
“But… I hope it isn’t for me… or us.”
A tinge of sadness tinged her tone, leaving Woohyuk speechless.
‘Now that’s a bit enviable.’
A hint of jealousy stirred from deep within me.
Gu Yangcheon’s greatest strength lay not in absurd talent but rather some extravagant good fortune.
That feeling crossed his mind suddenly.
Woohyuk turned his gaze toward Gu Yangcheon, who was tightly clenching his fist.
It was evident that the heat had peaked, and an explosion could erupt at any moment.
Just as he concentrated, thinking along those lines…
Pop—!
In a twist of fate, the spirits of Goeseon and Gu Yangcheon vanished.
Kwaaaah—!
Suddenly, a thunderous noise erupted.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.