Chapter 243
Whoosh.
It was a blaze.
The flames spread through the woodland path.
The deep magenta flames expanded their territory as they moved past the trees.
The area covered was vast enough to envelop hundreds of ancient trees.
In the center, I endured the thick heat while controlling the flames.
Swish.
With a quick gesture of my hand, the flames roared violently.
The sight of the flames writhing and reaching out in all directions was reminiscent of a dragon.
Despite their fierce appearance, the flames astonishingly only thrashed around endlessly without causing any damage to the surroundings.
Using fire in a forest could lead to a rampant blaze with even a tiny spark, but the flames left no trace as they wrapped around the trees.
I was manipulating my Qi to ensure nothing ignited.
Because of that, I had to calm the Qi within me, swirling like a typhoon. It required a significant amount of energy and caused a cold sweat, but I couldn’t afford to stop just yet.
There was still work to be done.
The Qi that filled my Middle Dantian perpetually surged, resembling a colossal wave.
Boom!
When the relentless flames finally reached their limit, my Dantian shrank with a painful squeeze from the insufficient Qi.
After enduring a bit longer…
Crack!
I clenched my fist.
Thud!
And just like that, the flames around me vanished in an instant, like mist.
“…Phew.”
As I felt the Qi within me settling, I let out a stifled sigh.
“It really is disgustingly tough.”
Realizing that my entire body was drenched in sweat, I let out a deep sigh.
Why was it such a hassle every time? Why was it so demanding?
While my physical training had reached the point where I didn’t get tired even after an entire day, practicing my Qi remained an arduous task.
No matter how much I trained, it felt like an endless journey.
It was just a matter of releasing Qi, but compressing and controlling it to prevent damage to the surroundings was incredibly challenging.
It felt similar to the idea that rendering someone unconscious was far tougher than simply eliminating them.
Of course, I had no choice but to persist since such training gradually expanded my potential.
Is it still too much to access my Top Dantian?
While I flowed my Qi amidst the flames, I sensed my energy trying to reach the door leading to the Top Dantian, still firmly shut.
It had already been over a year since I unlocked my Middle Dantian and got used to moving my Qi inward.
This meant it had been over a year since I reached the Peak Realm.
However…
Accessing my Top Dantian is still way too much for me.
I tried every time I trained, but the entrance to the Top Dantian remained stubbornly closed.
But of course, that made sense.
It had only been two to three years since my regression.
Achieving the Peak Realm in such a short time was nothing short of a series of miraculous events.
Opening the Top Dantian, however, was a different ballgame.
If I recklessly attempted to open it, my blood vessels and heart would likely burst, leading to an instant demise.
…At least I’ve been able to make contact with it.
That’s right. Being able to fill my Middle Dantian to the brim and get close to the Top Dantian in the first place was incredible.
While others wandered aimlessly, unable to find the path, I knew the route but lacked the strength to open the door.
Meaning, if only I had enough power, I could easily open it.
But still, how long until I reach the next level?
It felt far away.
Way too far.
The mountain I was climbing was seriously high, and the paths were treacherous.
The higher I climbed, a mere misstep could easily lead to a dangerous fall. As I went up, the incline grew steeper, and fatigue was inevitable.
…Still, I need to keep climbing.
The peak was obscured from my view.
No, did it even exist in the first place?
That’s not the important part, though.
Whatever the case, I needed to ascend.
Regaining my breath, I pulled out a seal I had tucked away.
It appeared simple and was painted in yellow, but recalling its significance, it was far from just a common antique.
The Hwangbo Clan’s seal.
This seal was given to key figures of the Hwangbo Clan.
In my past life, it was an item that Hwangbo Seon had carried with him even after becoming a Demonic Human.
It was odd for him to carry it even after transforming, yet I refrained from commenting as I had a vague idea of the feelings tied to it.
And thanks to that knowledge, I had managed to find it now.
Sure enough, I had it with me.
I recalled the assassin I had met last night.
He was a martial artist who had reached the Fusion Realm.
Even if the Hwangbo Clan was noble, they wouldn’t dispatch someone who had reached the Fusion Realm for this task without due reason.
However, judging by how he didn’t seem much stronger, it was safe to assume that he hadn’t reached the Fusion Realm for long.
He struggled to control his Qi and senses, evidently in an unstable state due to being unfamiliar with this higher realm.
That was probably why I even put up a fight with him in the first place.
Still, despite this, that guy was definitely a Fusion Realm martial artist, as his aura and the Qi I sensed from him were distinctly different.
In comparison, I was still stuck in the Peak Realm.
I was at the edge and felt like I could reach the next level with a little more effort, but it didn’t change the fact that I remained at the Peak.
And yet, the reason I could defeat a Fusion Realm martial artist was…
I’m just glad it took hold without a hitch.
Because I had injected Demonic Qi into him.
As I cautiously opened my hand, a black aura began to rise gently.
This was the Demonic Qi that my Destructive Flame Arts hadn’t purified yet, and it was also the energy I had set aside intentionally.
Last night.
The moment that guy grabbed my arm…
I injected Demonic Qi into him, allowing me to easily secure victory over him.
Demonic Qi was devastatingly dangerous to martial artists.
Not only did it gnaw at the Qi hidden inside the body, but it also crippled the martial artist’s physical form.
Didn’t he ask me?
—Is this… poison?
The effects of the Demonic Qi were potent enough for him to misinterpret it as poison.
But it wasn’t the issue of him being affected by Demonic Qi.
…I can’t believe it worked.
The fact that my Demonic Qi had an impact on a Fusion Realm martial artist was the real concern.
If it was someone who had turned into a Demonic Human thanks to the Heavenly Demon granting Qi, they could wield the Qi, but injecting it to destroy another martial artist’s body was impossible.
That was purely the Heavenly Demon’s domain.
For example, the Demonic Qi I mixed into the Namgung Clan’s Lord to ensure he was properly shackled.
Such efforts meant I couldn’t do anything harmful to his body.
It was the truth.
It had certainly been true not long ago.
But something has changed again.
If the first change was my ability to absorb other Qi to make it my own, the second was my newfound capacity to inflict harm upon another’s body using my Demonic Qi.
This shift occurred without any forethought.
Just a sudden realization while I was training as usual.
Isn’t it ridiculous?
After all the insights I’ve had, that this would be the one to manifest.
“What a joke, seriously.”
The fact that I could now face opponents of higher levels might seem like a good thing, but to me, it merely felt bothersome and made me uneasy.
Stealing others’ Qi and causing them pain through injecting Demonic Qi was almost like…
The Heavenly Demon from back then.
That alone left me feeling suffocated.
At this rate, it seemed possible that one day I too could corrupt other beings into Demonic Humans.
That thought unnerved me.
After wrapping up my training, I returned to the camp.
I washed off the sweat, changed clothes, and stepped outside my designated tent only to find a familiar face waiting for me.
“I greet the Young Master.”
It was Gu Jeolyub, dressed in a crisp outfit.
As soon as I caught sight of his face, my expression soured dramatically.
“…Young Master.”
“What?”
“Why do you always frown when you see my face?”
“It grates on my nerves how good-looking you are.”
“Excuse me?”
Was that a compliment or a jab?
The clueless look on Gu Jeolyub’s face seemed to reflect that confusion.
“So, why are you here? Aren’t you busy right now?”
“…I am, but I can’t help it since the Captain ordered me to do this.”
Ah, by the way, Gu Jeolyub was currently on duty to train Bi Yeonsum.
Since he brought him in, he had to take responsibility for him.
It appeared the Vice Captain wanted me to take charge, but that seemed a bit much for someone of my rank.
“What about my sister? Why?”
“I think she called for you because of yesterday’s incident.”
“Tsk…”
I had reported the ambush I suffered during my night watch yesterday, and it seemed to be the reason for my summoning.
It was fortunate I got to skip my watch due to the attack, yet there were still annoying tasks left to handle.
“I’ll go now.”
“Sure. I’ll also head out since I’ve delivered the message.”
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t forget about our trip together tomorrow, did you?”
At my question, Gu Jeolyub’s shoulder flinched in surprise.
What on earth was that reaction?
“Did you forget?”
“…I didn’t forget… I mean, I remember!”
“What kind of reaction is that? Why are you so shocked?”
“I wasn’t shocked…”
It was evident he looked surprised, but his lame denial fell short.
“…Well, as long as you haven’t forgotten, that’s what matters.”
“Y-Yes.”
Tomorrow, I had to venture into the heart of the forest.
Though I would have preferred to go solo, the risk of being alone was too high, so I had arranged for Gu Jeolyub and Muyeon to accompany me.
Muyeon expressed his excitement about joining, but I noticed Gu Jeolyub’s face scrunch up in disdain about heading into such perilous territory.
This brat, he isn’t trying to wriggle his way out of this, is he?
Though I wondered about that briefly, I figured he wouldn’t dare; he clearly knew I could dish out a good punishment once I returned.
It would be scarier for him to face me than to go into the forest.
“Anyways, make sure you prepare properly.”
“…Understood.”
His downcast eyes made me suspicious, but I had my own affairs to attend to, so I decided to leave him be.
He would figure it out.
Leaving Gu Jeolyub behind, I made my way towards the Captain’s tent.
It wasn’t far, and I arrived rather quickly.
As I peered into the tent, someone suddenly seized my cheek and gripped it hard.
“Ouch…!”
The strength of the pinch made me involuntarily whimper.
“Brother…! Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not. It’s sore as hell.”
“W-Where did it hurt…!”
“…It’s this cheek you’re holding.”
Realizing her blunder, Gu Huibi released her grasp and stepped back.
Even afterward, my cheek still felt numb from her grip.
Just how fiercely did she grab it?
As I rubbed my sore face, I caught sight of Gu Huibi inspecting me from top to bottom.
“What’re you staring at?”
“Checking for injuries.”
“None. You must have seen my report already.”
To be more precise, I felt fatigued due to the substantial amount of Demonic Qi I’d exerted, but it was nothing too noticeable to others.
“But just in case, maybe a visit to the medic room…?”
“Do you know how many days it would take for me to get to a medic room from here? You’re seriously suggesting that?”
Traveling to the medic rooms from the frontlines could easily take several days.
Otherwise, I’d have to trek to the Murim Alliance’s camp, but I’d rather not do that.
“It was just a minor event.”
“There was an assassination attempt; how can you say it’s minor? Also, the lord has ordered your return to the clan, so maybe now would be good time to…”
“Stop overreacting. I’m completely fine.”
Despite it being an ambush from a Fusion Realm martial artist, I didn’t feel the need to reveal the details.
After all, I had emerged unaffected, so everything had gone smoothly.
Gu Huibi frowned slightly but composed herself to say,
“…Do you know who was responsible?”
“Nope.”
I did know, but I opted to play dumb for now.
Upon hearing my response, Gu Huibi bit her lip and exhaled deeply.
“…Well, at least you’re unhurt. I’ll have to report this to the clan through a letter.”
“You really don’t have to go that far…”
“It was an assassination attempt on a blood relative. Do you think I could just brush this aside?”
Fair enough.
This wasn’t something to glance over lightly.
But it would certainly be annoying if this dragged on.
Would they even manage to figure out who was behind this?
Finding out what transpired at the frontlines wasn’t exactly straightforward, and it was nearly guaranteed they wouldn’t trace it back to anyone.
“Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“…When do you plan on returning to the clan?”
“What, were you planning to send me off?”
She seemed reluctant to let me go then, but now she acted like she was pushing me out.
“Stop rushing me. I have to return anyway. Remember how you told me not to leave just yet?”
Considering my father had urged me to return, I couldn’t dawdle too much longer.
I intended to head back right after my business in the forest was wrapped up.
Except I had one last thing to handle before that.
Essentially, I didn’t have time for pointless chit-chat with Gu Huibi.
“I’m fine, everything’s fine, so just go back to what you were doing.”
“…Brother.”
“Seriously, don’t give me those eyes.”
Does she think I’m some lost child wandering around?
“I’m leaving now that I’ve reported everything to you, alright?”
“Wait…!”
Gu Huibi tried to stop me, but I swiftly slipped away.
I initially intended to inform her that I would be going somewhere, but I knew that if I said anything, she’d grab me with questions, so I decided to take my leave instead.
“Though I appreciate the concern she shows for me.”
I was grateful, but the notion of someone worrying about me still felt awkward.
It wouldn’t be wise to let them fret about me; I had enough going on already.
Anyway,
I left behind Gu Huibi, who was likely trapped in an endless cycle of worry due to the Vice Captain and made my way to the front lines.
Because there was someone I needed to meet—no, now, there was someone I needed to meet.
“…Why hasn’t he returned yet?”
Inside the Hwangbo Clan’s camp, Hwangbo Cheok quietly muttered.
It was because the Sixth Elder, who had left the previous night, still hadn’t made it back.
The Sixth Elder had gladly accepted his request.
He was probably thrilled about the reward he anticipated receiving from Hwangbo Cheok more than anything else.
Given that Hwangbo Cheok was already struggling to secure the position of Young Lord, fulfilling his request could only be seen as advantageous.
Of course, I had taken that into consideration while making my request.
Knowing what the Sixth Elder was like and the feats he’d accomplished in his prime, Hwangbo Cheok considered him a professional in such matters.
Especially since he had come to the frontlines as a guardian for Hwangbo Cheok, it was the perfect opportunity for a favor.
Could something have gone wrong?
It seemed unlikely that someone of the Sixth Elder’s skill would encounter any issues, yet the prolonged absence was beginning to gnaw at his mind.
“No way… it couldn’t be.”
Hwangbo Cheok chose to dismiss these irrational worries.
“Right now… I need to think of a plan for the collateral line.”
Leaning back in his chair, he recalled Hwangbo Seon, a member of the clan’s collateral line.
A descendant of the Hwangbo bloodline who was weak and utterly incompetent.
Yet, even so, he met an exceptional girl.
Tsk.
This thought raised his ire. Just thinking about the beautiful girl next to Hwangbo Seon drove him into a frenzy.
If only she had been taken as his concubine instead…
To think that she’d settle for that scoundrel.
He was less than pleased with this situation, especially after having seen firsthand how Hwangbo Seon had been made a fool of.
…I should get rid of him as well.
Timing felt just right, what with his ingrained contempt for Hwangbo Seon.
Poison would do nicely, and what remained could simply be discarded to the beasts.
The news of Hwangbo Seon’s demise might not sit well with the Lord, but after all, the Lord was already on his last legs.
As soon as the Sixth Elder returns, I’ll hear about the details… then, I’ll invite that collateral brat and the others separately…
While Hwangbo Cheok schemed about how best to dispose of Hwangbo Seon,
Swish.
He grinned when sensing someone approaching.
Most likely, it was the Sixth Elder returning.
At this point, the Sixth Elder was the only one permitted to enter Hwangbo Cheok’s tent unnoticed.
“You’ve returned! How did—Gah…!”
Crack!
In an instant, as Hwangbo Cheok turned around, a hand shot out, seizing his neck and effortlessly lifting him off the ground.
The sight of Hwangbo Cheok’s enormous frame being hoisted so easily was quite an unsettling display.
“Gah… Gah…”
Struggling beneath the immense pressure, Hwangbo Cheok managed to shift his gaze downward.
“It seems we’re running into each other quite a bit, hmm?”
A voice filled with mockery radiated a chilling killer intent that made Hwangbo Cheok shudder.
“I feel like I’m getting a bit tired of this. How about you?”
Faced with the red glow in the attacker’s eyes, Hwangbo Cheok was overwhelmed with a sinking sensation.
The murderous intent from the assailant was impossibly heavy, a feat for someone so young.
…You… how…
His eyes trembled, filled with more shock than fear or anger.
Instead of the Sixth Elder he had anticipated, it was Gu Yangcheon standing before him.
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