Chapter: 399
Let’s think about war.
No need for further elaboration; simply calling it hell would suffice.
Wherever you walk, there are traces of the dead. The once-clear stream is now tainted, losing its color as it mingles with blood.
The once-splendid sky is stained red, and the towering walls are cracked and in disarray.
Those lingering in the streets all wore expressions of fright or were so empty as if they had already given up everything.
There is no hope.
Their faces spoke volumes.
That’s the essence of war in the first place.
Just as a beautiful fight cannot exist, the most brutal of all is war.
Under the banner of the Bloody Calamity, the world is gradually decaying.
My past life was just like that.
It’s only been a few years since the emergence of the Heavenly Demon. That brief span was enough to bring the world to this state.
How many years remain until such a world descends?
At least I knew it wouldn’t be that long.
Because back then, there was the divine sword.
Moreover, there were countless forces rallying behind the divine sword, making it possible to withstand the bloody calamity.
I know very well that such a thing is impossible for me.
Even so, if I truly wish to take Weeseol-ah’s place,
that means I need to accumulate at least the same level of power and influence as Wi Seol-ah.
Having the divine sword is one thing, but…
‘It’s about power.’
The countless individuals who aided her were also an issue.
I couldn’t possibly possess the status Wi Seol-ah had at the time, nor emulate her warm approach to attract people.
Of course, this is due to my complete lack of experience in dealing with people like that.
It wasn’t a method that suited me at all. Forcing myself to imitate it would be meaningless.
I had to discover my own way.
‘My own way…’
It’s not as if nothing comes to mind.
After all, I knew the easiest path right off the bat.
That is…
‘Demonic Conversion.’
Just as I made Namgung Cheonjun into what he is, I realized I could corrupt others with my magic.
Furthermore, I understand I can treat them like slaves, using magic as a leash.
If I wish to build a force, this method seems to suit me best.
With that in mind, it’s hard to deny the want for a new power.
If I gather individuals consumed by my magic, I doubt there’s a better approach.
‘Is that really the case?’
Is it the right thing to do?
This thought crossed my mind from time to time.
There are more than just a few things I hesitated over, simply because I didn’t want to live like that.
At the very least, I’m struggling to live a life different from my past life, so if I end up choosing this method…
‘What sets me apart from a demon?’
No matter how I look at it, if I resort to this kind of action in the name of hindering the demonic cult…
Isn’t that no different from creating a demonic cult myself?
Such thoughts filled my mind.
Of course, even if that is true…
‘… Is there another way?’
Eventually, these kinds of worries could only arise when there was another alternative available.
Just because it’s not correct, and also not something I want to do…
I cannot afford to make a decision about whether to engage in it or not.
Thus, I felt this reality and had already set a line from the very beginning when forming my list.
Those who can be corrupted by magic without any problem.
Even if it means living and dying as a demonic being, I sorted out those who would prefer that fate.
This is the last excuse I can offer myself.
‘Even if it’s not right, I have to bear it.’
Simply declaring my intent to take the place of the divine sword brings no answers.
I know that.
I know I’m not meant for such a role.
Therefore, it’s even more crucial to use all means and methods available to me.
Guilt? Regret? Hesitation?
Let me reiterate this again.
Such considerations are only relevant when there are other alternatives available.
What this implies is…
It means I don’t have the luxury of choosing at this moment.
There’s no time for worrying.
If a plan has been devised, then it must be carried out.
Now is the time to amass the strength to implement it as swiftly as possible.
Crash-!
I channeled more force into my fist to accelerate.
Thud-!
As soon as it connected with the wall, the cave’s surface crumbled from the impact.
Even this minor exertion brought a surge of pain.
However, perhaps due to having endured so much pain, now I merely twitch my eyebrows a bit at this level of discomfort. Have I really grown accustomed to this pain?
I find myself thinking I should appreciate it; maybe my brain has begun to stew in this training.
In the midst of this, I sought to identify the differences from before.
‘The movement has changed.’
It’s a very subtle difference, but there’s distinct change in the action of extending my fist.
How should I describe it?
Should I say it’s become a bit cleaner? Or perhaps say something inconvenient has disappeared?
After a brief moment of contemplation, the appropriate term finally surfaced in my mind.
‘Flexibility.’
There’s now a newfound flexibility in my movements.
With this flexibility, I feel that my way of exerting power has improved just a tad.
‘No, it’s not just a feeling.’
It leans more towards certainty.
Changes in my body while training in the Tuapacheonmu are unmistakable.
Is this the indication of the body’s framework shifting, as Paejon mentioned?
‘How ridiculous.’
No matter how fiercely I trained, it never improved.
Who could have guessed that a single new technique would pave the way?
‘…No, that’s perhaps too cavalier to say.’
Breathing, too, had become agonizing, and if enduring it is a dilemma in itself, then it is indeed a problem.
Nobody would dispute the fact that there is no better martial art than this, provided one can withstand the pain.
It was obvious if one had experienced any of it.
I kept moving my body without rest.
My entire body was already drenched in sweat, and after days of reduced sleep, fatigue had built up significantly.
Nevertheless, I moved with no hesitation whatsoever.
Even if I were to reach my limits and lose consciousness, I wouldn’t stop until then.
It has been days since I began acting in such a manner.
Perhaps it’s due to the intense focus, but I have started feeling something unusual as of late.
My body is trembling.
It would be more accurate to state that it’s shaking rather than just moving.
Before I realized it, my body was flailing about uncontrollably as if it had disentangled from my will.
It was a loss of control in movement, yet I made no effort to grasp it.
Because the last remnants of instinct were warning me not to interfere with it.
Pain surged through my feet as I took a step forward.
My knees and back were far from fine.
The Danjeon was continuously unleashing the Tuapacheongong.
The energy was overflowing, showing no signs of abating for days on end.
At best, I could manipulate my body using deep energy, diminutive for a proper wager.
My vision became hazy.
Was there even a need to keep track of people’s attention?
There was no such requirement.
The countless movements stretching out still initiated themselves, independent of my will.
The pain gradually dulled.
Was this a state of mindlessness steeped in fatigue?
I found it rather amusing, knowing full well this was not a place I could attain with mere trivialities.
Anything else would do.
Right now.
‘Just a little longer.’
I wished to surrender myself to this sensation for a tad more time.
An undefined unease loomed.
Whenever I tried to regain my senses, I knew too well that this delicate sensation would snap away.
A contradicting sensation that I had to disregard.
Should we consider this enlightenment too?
I was somewhat intrigued as to what would happen if I were to escape this sensation.
At that very moment.
Thud thud.
‘Oh. Dammit.’
Was the worry I just entertained the root of the problem?
Gradually, my mind became clearer.
The vague sensations I gripped began to revert to their original state.
Should I forcibly attempt to recreate that feeling?
When I pondered this…
“Stop right there.”
Someone appeared and seized my body.
The body that had been moving uncontrollably was abruptly halted.
“…Ha…”
Then suddenly, the strength supporting my body vanished entirely.
I slumped down like a deflated balloon.
“Haah… Haah…”
I scarcely managed to stabilize myself by pressing my palms against the floor.
Had I really been this weary?
Sweat trickled down my face, soaking the floor.
Only then did I notice that the hand I laid on the ground trembled.
I hadn’t realized it; my body had clearly reached its limit.
As I staggered and gasped for air, someone spoke from behind me.
It was Paejon.
“I wondered how long you’d last, and it turns out you went until sunrise.”
“…What…?”
I opened my eyes wide at Paejon’s words.
Has it really been that long…?
Noting my expression, Paejon chuckled before continuing.
“You seem utterly oblivious to how much time has slipped by.”
It was entirely clear that Paejon hadn’t been around until just before.
When exactly had he appeared? How long had it been since he did?
At least it didn’t exist within the confines of my memory.
Had so much time passed while I was lost in that fuzzy sensation?
“…”
In that moment, I stared quietly at Paejon.
He grinned cheekily.
“Feeling disappointed?”
“…Not really.”
“No? Then why does your face show traces of regret?”
Did I really look that way?
I didn’t believe so, yet it must have leaked onto my face.
“Don’t you dare think I interfered; if I hadn’t caught you then, it could have ended in disaster.”
“I had no such thoughts.”
Looking solely at my current state would have made it abundantly clear.
Had I persisted in that manner, it would have wreaked havoc on me.
My body was at its limit right now.
Although I had reached this state of mulling over nothingness, perhaps Paejon saved me from harm. I was fully aware of the reason, hence I harbored little concern.
Upon hearing my response, Paejon pursed his lips slightly, clearly displeased.
“… When you say that, it loses its excitement.”
“What do you want me to say…?”
Just as I was about to voice my bewilderment, Paejon flung something at me.
With my weak arms, I caught it; it turned out to be a gourd.
Something was sloshing inside, indicating there was liquid within.
“First, quench your thirst. Tsk tsk… Why am I, an old man, fetching water for a kid?”
“…Thank you.”
Already needing to drink, I bowed in respect and gulped it down.
Swallowing felt like bringing me back to life.
As I drank ravenously, Paejon turned to me with a question.
“How is it? What’s it like to visit that place for a moment?”
After taking a few sips, I turned to Paejon, puzzled.
“That place?”
“The place you just touched not long ago.”
“…”
“It’s hazy and you wouldn’t want to escape. Yet, isn’t there an anxiety that a slight misstep may lead you to escape?”
“…That’s true.”
“It’s the right direction, so don’t think too oddly about it.”
Upon hearing Paejon’s words, I couldn’t help but feel a peculiar emotion.
What I simply assumed felt akin to enlightenment seemed to deviate from the kind of understanding that comes to a martial artist.
“The reason I urged you not to feel regret is that it is ultimately a destination you must reach someday.”
“We must reach it eventually?”
“Have you ever heard the term ‘the realm of no-self’?”
“Yes.”
It’s the feeling of losing oneself and becoming one with the movement.
This phenomenon often occurs when a martial artist reaches a certain enlightenment.
It’s described as a dream for those who seek enlightenment.
“What you experienced is indeed a kind of no-self state.”
What that means is, did I just undergo a form of enlightenment?
But if that’s the case, Paejon’s words seem a bit misaligned.
As such doubts flickered, Paejon spoke up.
“To be precise… you could say it’s a state of no-self created by the Tuapacheonmu.”
“…What?”
My eyes widened upon hearing Paejon’s explanation.
Is it really true that the Tuapacheonmu produces a realm of no-self?
“The Tuapacheonmu can create such a state of no-self?”
As I posed my question, my confusion likely showed on my face, prompting a slight upwards curl at the corners of Paejon’s lips.
“I never expected you’d receive this explanation so soon. You’ve experienced it earlier than I anticipated.”
“…”
“You must have heard that my martial arts were birthed purely out of my own greed.”
“Yes.”
The martial art crafted by Paejon to become a superior martial artist was the Tuapacheonmu.
“To articulate it more specifically, I sought to surpass human limitations.”
“…By limitations… do you mean?”
“Yes, that’s precisely the martial art conjured for that aim.”
Human limitations.
So, are you saying you wanted to become a god?
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