Chapter 211: The First Sin (3)
As the barrier was on the verge of being ripped apart, the Palace Lord was heading toward the crimson sky created by Gu Cheolun.
The authority granted to him by Heaven was near perfection. It filled in his shortcomings and enhanced the strength he originally possessed.
I will step into a new world, the Palace Lord assured himself.
He was convinced that he was different from his past self, the one who had once crawled on the ground, crushed under the feet of the Orthodox Faction.
With the passage of time, he had relied on the belief born from the power bestowed upon him by Heaven. Yet…
Crack…
It took just a moment for that deep-seated belief to shatter.
Beneath the reddened sky stood a man who resembled a calamity to the Unorthodox Faction.
A man was tearing apart the barrier, layer by layer, with absurd strength, even though it had been created using demonic stones by the Great Oni.
The Flaming Demon, Gu Cheolun.
He was the one who had once left a hole in the Palace Lord’s stomach. A monstrous man who had had many Unorthodox Faction members bowing to him through powerful treaties.
They say the Sword Venerable is the pillar of the Alliance.
When Wi Hyogun was the leader of the Murim Alliance, that was certainly the name thrown about. However, the Palace Lord knew the truth.
The figure that the Unorthodox Faction truly feared wasn’t the Almighty Sword Venerable but the Flaming Demon born from flames.
Far away, he could see that calamity-like man.
At one point, he had wanted nothing more than to kill him, and at another, this red martial artist had sparked feelings of intense jealousy.
Riiip-!
Once more, Gu Cheolun tore apart another layer of the barrier, then slightly raised his head.
His clear, or perhaps horrifying, red eyes were fixated on the Palace Lord.
…!
At the moment their eyes met, the Palace Lord grasped many things in an instant.
He was certain. Even after years had passed and he had been granted authority, he still wouldn’t be able to defeat the Flaming Demon.
Just from that gaze alone, he could tell.
The fire standing there was indeed akin to a calamity, and contrary to the rumors, its fangs hadn’t dulled in the slightest.
The Flaming Demon wasn’t emitting any of his usual anger, nor did he reveal the flames to prove his affiliation with the Gu Clan.
What’s more, despite their gazes intertwining, his focus remained solely on the barrier; the force he emanated wasn’t directed toward the Palace Lord.
But still, is it really that much?
The Palace Lord had thought that the beast was likely wasting away deep in the mountains, but in reality, the great beast was simply taking a nap.
As if he could reign whenever he wished.
What was he even doing? Just taking a short break?
How ridiculous, the Palace Lord murmured to himself.
He had received that much power, amassed strength by taking lives, yet still, he couldn’t match Gu Cheolun.
…not yet.
After a fleeting moment of eye contact with Gu Cheolun, the Palace Lord turned away and headed somewhere.
From the reckless manner of tearing through the barrier, he knew it wouldn’t be long until it fully breached.
And realizing he was unable to confront the Flaming Demon, he concluded that it was unnecessary for him to linger any longer.
The purpose of the Main Palace was to serve a value to Heaven, which he intended to discard right after.
Given that an issue had arisen with Heaven, there was no need to remain here any longer.
I’m a bit disappointed about the incident with the flame, though.
But opportunities weren’t limited to just this one. For now, escorting Heaven and leaving was the priority.
I’m glad I informed the Great King beforehand.
From the moment he brought Gu Huibi to the Main Palace, the Palace Lord had sent a heads up to the Black Dragon in Guangdong.
Now it was time for him to turn around and leave without lingering regrets.
What made him feel a bit wistful was the fact that he had to depart without facing the Flaming Demon.
Just hold on a little longer.
He had left his pride behind in the Abyss years ago, yet his desire to rise had never faded.
Having confirmed that the Flaming Demon’s flames had not weakened, the Palace Lord was merely preparing.
He was getting ready to pour water over that loathsome flame.
Additionally, he intended to unleash a downpour that would soak the tainted Central Plains.
He planned to gather clouds above and unleash the rain indefinitely.
Crack.
Blood dripped from his clenched fist.
The sight of himself turning and running away after gaining power was painfully pitiful, a struggle to vehemently turn away from such an image.
*
Inside the heavily clotted fog of Demonic Qi,
Beneath the violet moon that had turned daytime into night,
Drip, drip—
He poured a drink into the cup as usual.
With eyes slightly downcast, skin as pale as a ghost, and violet eyes shining amidst all that, I felt a sense of dread beyond reason.
I was aware that I was being suppressed by the aura uniquely claimed by this bastard.
When I cautiously looked up, there were eyes like the moon watching me intently.
Noticing my gaze, the bastard spoke.
“Your gaze seems strange.”
“…I apologize.”
“No need to apologize. It doesn’t concern me.”
The Heavenly Demon lifted the cup filled with alcohol.
That massive amount of alcohol vanished after just a few gulps.
After quenching his thirst, the Heavenly Demon gazed down at me in silence.
That stare was so uncomfortable that I couldn’t maintain eye contact for long.
“From time to time…”
Swish…
Along with the Heavenly Demon’s words came an unidentifiable breeze.
“It seems you’re looking at someone else through me.”
That chilling statement from the Heavenly Demon made my heart feel like it had turned to ice.
It was like every word stabbed salt into my existing wounds, which were already becoming scars.
Though I knew these words would fade, their meaning remained cold enough to make me shiver.
“Are you thinking about the girl in your heart?”
“No…”
“No, you say? How amusing the way you put it.”
It was the truth.
That was merely a clever ruse to escape.
“Chuckle.”
The Heavenly Demon let out a slight laugh.
“If the Demonic Sword Queen, who died for you, saw you like this, she’d feel deeply hurt.”
“…”
“You still haven’t forgotten about her? How stubborn, that affection of yours.”
“That’s not true, I—”
“Lies do not work against me.”
Thud.
An intense pressure bore down on my shoulders while the Demonic Qi in my dantian roiled like a storm.
It was as if the Demonic Qi was beckoning to the figure that stood before me.
The pain within surged through me like a raging storm, yet I pressed my breath down to endure.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Was my response finally satisfactory?
Drip, drip…
The Heavenly Demon poured another drink into his cup.
After downing a cup brimming with alcohol, the Heavenly Demon replied in a tone steeped in amusement.
“I am curious.”
With each spoken word, the world around us seemed to tremble.
This locale was the sacred ground of the Heavenly Demon.
“In the future, if that girl dies by my hand, will you still remain unscathed?”
“…”
The man remained silent, and the Heavenly Demon’s laughter continued, revealing the joy in his expression.
In that situation, the man only stood, continuing to observe the Heavenly Demon’s mirth.
Because that face resembled someone he once knew…
Witnessing that joyful face, his rotting insides quieted, if only for a moment.
“Is it because I saw a smile on that face?”
As that thought crossed his mind, the man mockingly chuckled to himself.
After all, it was a repugnant kind of thought.
In seeking a small consolation within his warped existence, he had burnt the very vessel that could cradle even a trace of comfort.
His insides were now empty.
The only remnants were the regrets that he continued to burn.
In the ever-heavy silence around him, he bowed his head and closed his eyes.
*
Inside the room filled with Demonic Qi, I found myself pondering the child nestled in the arms of the Palace Lord.
“Why does it look like a child?”
Whether it was the lean physique or eyes that seemed hazy compared to my past life didn’t matter much.
What mattered was that this child was undoubtedly the Heavenly Demon I knew.
“This is absurd.”
Was it a mere misconception? I thought maybe I had it all wrong, but knowing I couldn’t be mistaken, I bit my lips.
The child’s face was eerily similar to Wi Seol-Ah’s.
Not to mention the unique eyes.
While others may not recognize him, it was impossible for me to overlook who that bastard truly was.
Grrrgle…
“Shit.”
Just look! The Demonic Qi within my body was kicking up a storm.
How could that possibly be a mistake?
The pressing issue was why the Heavenly Demon was here in such a form.
At least the Heavenly Demon I knew had a body substantially more mature than this one.
“And it claimed to have come from the Abyss.”
It broke through the Alliance, then descended upon the world through the Abyss.
That was what was said.
But in reality, the Heavenly Demon had already existed within this realm long before that…
“And it was in the Black Palace in such a form?”
I just don’t understand anything at all.
What on earth was happening here? None of this was what I ever anticipated.
“It seems you can’t hear me.”
…!
In a moment, a shiver coursed through me.
Crack!
The energy released from the Palace Lord swirled through the room, aiming its assault at me.
“Did you dodge?”
The Palace Lord sounded remarkably surprised—clearly, he hadn’t anticipated me missing it.
Ignoring the aching pain in my dantian from my sudden movement, I responded to him.
“Your greeting could use a little more gentleness.”
“That face and energy… Ah, so you are the son of the Flaming Demon.”
The Flaming Demon, huh…
That was a title I hadn’t heard in quite a while.
I knew my father was sometimes referred to as that.
“I’ve heard that you’re the True Dragon.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Lord of the Black Palace.”
“Of course I know who you are. How could I not? Especially given our shared history.”
Did he mean our prior run-in with the Black Palace when he mentioned “history?”
The Palace Lord continued, observing me.
“You look just like your father.”
“I’m sick of hearing that so often.”
“I once thought your sister demonstrated extraordinary talent, but seeing you makes it clear that words alone can’t encompass it.”
As the Palace Lord uttered these words, I caught a glimpse of some unfathomable emotion in his gaze.
Was it envy?
Perhaps jealousy?
For a martial artist who had reached the Fusion Realm, showing such sentiments toward me felt extremely odd.
“Now will you answer me? How did you open that door?”
“What do you mean? I simply pushed it open!”
As I answered, I glanced behind me.
Due to the overwhelming Demonic Qi, it appeared the Gu Clan’s swordsmen were struggling to enter.
“What’s the plan here?”
If the child being cradled by that bastard was indeed the Heavenly Demon, I couldn’t afford to let him slip away.
“How fascinating.”
“What’s so fascinating?”
“Your eyes—they look as though you know who this person is.”
The Palace Lord was addressing the Heavenly Demon as a person.
By using such a term, it signified the relationship they held wasn’t particularly amicable.
“Does that mean the Heavenly Demon turned the Palace Lord into a Demonic Human?”
Not just him, but all the other martial artists in the Black Palace?
Had the Heavenly Demon played a role in that, just like the Demonic Humans from my past life?
“In order to decipher this,”
I had to capture that bastard, no matter the cost.
Even if it meant standing against insurmountable odds.
“Blaze—!”
I instantly summoned flames after channeling my Qi.
My dantian was still throbbing with pain, yet I couldn’t afford to hesitate because of that.
When the Palace Lord witnessed me igniting my energy, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“I can’t believe a child like you doesn’t know their place. Or are you mocking my generosity?”
With a swish of his hand, the energy saturating the room surged toward me with a fierce intensity.
I quickened my pace, burning the flames brighter.
Bang!
As I tried to reach the Palace Lord, my body collided with his.
“Agggh—!”
My side was laid bare to the force of the Palace Lord’s arm.
The explosive sound echoed as I was sent hurtling backward, tumbling across the floor.
…It’s hard to react effectively when I can’t fully utilize my abilities.
Let alone the struggle stemming from our vast disparity in levels.
Since my dantian wasn’t functioning properly, it felt like I was fighting without weapons.
“Are you really telling me to just let this go?”
How could I possibly let this disaster—this calamity in the Palace Lord’s arms—escape?
Despite trembling with fear, my body remained still as I glared forward.
The Palace Lord whispered softly, “If that happens, the Gu Clan will have to commit the First Sin.”
…!
Finally, after uttering those words, the Great Oni, the Palace Lord, and the Heavenly Demon disappeared into the Gate of Demons.
Until the very last moment, I continued to gaze upon the Heavenly Demon, and the young Heavenly Demon returned my stare.
As the Gate of Demons consumed them all, it vanished as though it were closing its eyes in the air—silent as if nothing had ever existed in that space.
“…Why?”
Even amidst letting the Heavenly Demon slip away, I had to ruminate on the final words spoken by the Palace Lord.
“Why did he leave after saying such things?”
The First Sin.
The First Sin of the Gu Clan.
This was when they first opened the Gate of Demons long ago in Central Plains.
That was the First Sin and the legacy of the Gu Clan.
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