Chapter: 424
What is this?
I can’t see or hear anything properly underwater.
I carefully look around, making sure the air isn’t disturbed.
It’s a bit odd to think that someone transmitted a message from outside.
But it sounds extremely clear for something that supposedly came from underwater.
[Why… why…]
As if I hadn’t misheard, a voice continues to echo in my head.
No way.
—Is that you?
I send a transmission as if I were talking with a monster, and its body twitches slightly.
[… Great Being…]
What the heck is this creature?
Is a real monster talking to me?
‘… A monster speaks?’
It’s not something to dismiss completely.
Because even when I went to Geumcheon Yeon-ga before, a giant snake talked to me.
And this guy is a snake too.
‘Can snake monsters actually talk?’
It’s no wonder such thoughts crossed my mind, but I had no experience like this in my past life.
—What are you? Do you know me?
I try talking again.
KYAAAAAH!
The creature is engulfed in flames and can only scream.
It desperately tries to retract the flames, but its eyes gradually lose their spark, and eventually, it stops moving as if it had completely died.
‘This is bad.’
I frowned at that.
He seems like he had something going for him, but now he’s dead…
I pull my trapped arm free and ponder the monster’s words.
‘Great Being?’
He clearly looked at me and called me that.
What could that possibly mean?
‘If you call me that, it’s almost as if you consider me an ally.’
Monsters as allies? Now that’s absurd.
They follow nothing but their instincts, with the sole goal of devouring their opponents. How could creatures like that be on our side?
‘Not that it’s out of the question…’
While contemplating this, memories from my past life surface, as if proving it wasn’t entirely impossible.
For instance, there were rare instances when creatures driven solely by instinct bent the knee.
Heavenly Demon.
I remembered countless monsters bowing their heads before her, willing to part with their lives merely at a tiny gesture.
‘… This is strange.’
Thinking this far, something feels off.
Could this really just be a coincidence?
No, it definitely doesn’t seem like a coincidence.
That sudden appearance of a red monster is suspicious.
And the timing has begun to warp strangely.
Moreover, it feels like I’m at the center of all these issues.
‘Something feels wrong here.’
It feels like the flow is skewing.
Even with the circumstances being pretty complicated, one thing is clear: I’m definitely mixed up in this.
‘So, is it my fault the red monster appeared?’
That’s ridiculous.
I’d love to deny it, but saying no seems impossible.
Everything points squarely back to me, making denial difficult.
‘Damn it.’
I bit my lip and retrieved the flame clinging to the monster’s body.
I’m not certain about this. Furthermore, now isn’t the time to dwell on such things.
I look around and feel the monster’s corpse.
Given its massive size, locating things is somewhat tough.
Leaving it there, it would unmistakably sink deeper into the river, so I needed to find it quickly.
I extend my senses, reaching out to scan the monster’s body.
‘…!’
Only then did I find a spot on the monster’s body where energy was densely concentrated.
I follow the sensation closely and dare to yank off the scales.
It’s unbelievably tough, but with its life already gone, it’s not so hard to rip them away.
CRUNCH!
I grab it forcefully and plunge my hand deep into the flesh.
I can’t quite reach. Even that wasn’t enough, so I stuffed my body in.
The feel of its flesh and blood is unmistakable.
Such an unpleasant sensation. This is precisely why I avoid hunting near water… Darn it.
As I clear away the bones and continue pressing in, I feel something brush against my fingertips.
This is it.
Grabbing that sensation, I pull it out.
THUD THUD THUD!
Right after obtaining what I wanted, I emerge from the monster’s body and check my prize.
In my hand is a rock about the size of a child’s head, the red monster’s magic stone.
I nod slightly at that confirmation.
Sure, the previous situation was quite unsettling, but hey, I got what I aimed for, right?
‘Better than leaving empty-handed.’
This too is a harvest of sorts.
The reason I’m heading to Sichuan right now is to obtain the White Horse Stone to supplement my current imperfect state.
I don’t know what will happen, but the stakes from the red magic stone will surely be far from trivial.
Just as I think that and prepare to absorb the magic stone in my hand, something happens.
WOOM…
‘Huh?’
I feel something from the magic stone in my hand.
Leaving the monster to slowly sink away, I turn my gaze to the stone.
And then…
“GURK…!”
I couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.
Air bursts from my mouth, racing upwards in waves.
Thanks to that, I end up gulping down a significant amount of water mixed with the monster’s blood.
But right now, that isn’t the important part.
‘What is this?!’
I examine the magic stone in my hand with wide eyes.
No matter how I look at it, something seems off with its condition.
After Gu Yangcheon was pulled into the river along with the monster, chaos unfolded as the water surged madly with the monster’s screams.
But after a time, everything fell silent as if nothing had happened.
A few minutes passed before I realized.
Not only were there no monsters, but for some reason, Gu Yangcheon hadn’t resurfaced for quite a while.
Though it might have been just a few minutes in time, it’s another story underwater.
An interval where an ordinary person could just as easily perish.
If it’s a peak martial artist, they might endure for over an hour or so.
But the critical point was that he sank down with the monster.
Watching this, Namgung Bi-ah wore a tense expression, poised to leap into the water—a moment away from action.
THWACK!
Someone grabbed her arm.
It was Woo Hyuk.
The moment her actions were halted, Namgung Bi-ah turned her head toward him.
Woo Hyuk met her gaze and felt startled inwardly.
Where had the peaceful look in Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes gone? Instead, a vicious glare glinted towards him.
“Let go.”
Her eyes weren’t the only issue; her voice brimmed with dangerous energy.
Seeing this, Woo Hyuk forced a smile and calmly replied.
“Please relax.”
“I told you to let go.”
Namgung Bi-ah seemed ready to sever her arm if he didn’t comply.
“Listen, sister-in-law. If you do this, he really won’t appreciate it.”
“…”
Maybe it was Woohyuk’s choice of words that made her falter. A slight hesitation crossed her eyes.
“You know that guy isn’t someone who’ll die easily.”
“…”
“Given he’s not the type to jump in recklessly, let’s wait a bit.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s hostility began to subside with Woo Hyuk’s calming words.
Seeing that made him breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘… That was close.’
While appearing cheerful, Woo Hyuk also wasn’t entirely at ease.
Because it was clear that Namgung Bi-ah meant every bit of killing intent she had just shown.
If he had delayed even a second longer, she truly might have tried to sever her own arm.
‘What a fiercely devoted love.’
Watching Gu Yangcheon enjoy himself surrounded by charming women made him feel a twinge of envy.
But observing this made it somewhat distant for him.
He thought this could be a problem, regardless of how affectionate it appeared.
After all, Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t the only one who posed a challenge.
Woo Hyuk turned slightly and noticed another woman staring sharply at the rivers below.
What was her name again? Wi Seol-ah?
Descendant of the Sword Master, wasn’t she?
Including Shinryong Academy, they had traveled together for months now.
Yet Woo Hyuk had barely exchanged words with her.
To be precise…
Excluding Gu Yangcheon, the number of people who had spoken with Wi Seol-ah could be counted on one hand.
This stark contrast between Wi Seol-ah’s demeanor when Gu Yangcheon was present versus when she was alone was daunting. When he was around, she appeared like a docile lamb or puppy.
But without Gu Yangcheon? She felt like a razor-sharp blade, almost indicating no one was welcome near.
Witnessing that, it was clear these two would soon throw themselves into the river.
And truth be told…
‘I’m no different.’
Woo Hyuk felt the same.
Immediately after Gu Yangcheon sank with the monster, his ears buzzed uncomfortably.
—Gu Yangcheon…
—Who on Earth is that guy…
—Look around…
From the sounds close by, to ships far away adjusting their courses to widen the distance.
All kinds of noises pierced into Woo Hyuk’s ears.
‘This is troubling indeed.’
Despite maintaining a smile and pretending to be calm, the unrelenting noise felt overwhelming after so long.
He’d known from the start that distancing himself from Gu Yangcheon would invite chaos.
But it had been ages since it got this loud.
It felt just like before he met Gu Yangcheon.
Perhaps the recent quiet only made it feel worse. As the headache crept in, Woo Hyuk sensed himself growing weary.
‘What the heck is happening here?’
Conscious of this, he peered into the river. The sudden onslaught of noise began just a few minutes after Gu Yangcheon fell beneath the surface.
When the chaos created by the monsters quieted down, and the waves calmed…
It was a sudden onset. Looking at that, Woo Hyuk wondered if something had gone wrong with Gu Yangcheon.
And…
‘Them too.’
Woo Hyuk’s gaze shifted to Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah.
Just as he started hearing noise, they, too, seemed startled and had their expressions change drastically.
‘Could it be? They also feel something unusual?’
Seeing that, he wondered if perhaps they were sensing something odd too. But at this moment, Gu Yangcheon’s well-being was paramount.
Right before taking action to hunt the monster, Woo Hyuk recalled Gu Yangcheon’s words to the group.
[Just do as I say. Don’t get alarmed if something unusual occurs.]
He had surely said that.
If anyone else had mentioned it, it would have sounded bizarre, but for some bizarre reason, Woo Hyuk strangely trusted Gu Yangcheon’s words.
Was he the kind of person one could trust? Well, not necessarily…
Yet, oddly enough, he felt reassured just by his words.
In fact, by following his instructions, he could confront the monsters effectively.
This truly felt miraculous!
How on Earth was that possible?
Woo Hyuk recalled the first time he sensed the monster’s barrier and was struck with bewilderment, questioning what on Earth it was.
A membrane absorbing bets.
What sort of absurdity is this?
How in the world could one hunt something like that?
After enduring his shock for a moment, Gu Yangcheon gave directions while observing, and at the moment Woo Hyuk drew his sword…
He was met with an even greater shock.
He had an inkling as to why Gu Yangcheon issued those commands.
After swinging the blade a few times, Woo Hyuk could feel distinct differences with the transparent membrane.
It felt quite nuanced.
Capturing this strange sensation proved quite challenging for him.
This meant Gu Yangcheon had been fully aware of it and had issued instructions accordingly.
‘… He’s truly unbelievable.’
Every time he glanced at Gu Yangcheon, he felt a sense of insurmountable barrier.
Woo Hyuk recognized his own talent.
He’d never grown proud or arrogant due to it.
However, he was aware that he possessed a gift above the norm.
Yet…
Every time he looked at Gu Yangcheon, he was reminded how trivial that talent seemed.
They were on different tracks.
Though born in the same era, Gu Yangcheon was operating on a level apart.
As long as fate treated him kindly, Gu Yangcheon would surely ascend to heights beyond his imagination.
Woo Hyuk was certain about that.
And he was genuinely curious what the future held.
Therefore…
‘Hurry up and surface already!’
He clutched his sword, gazing intently at the river.
Gu Yangcheon is simply too precious a person to die here.
That’s how it appeared to Woo Hyuk.
As he grew impatient, unable to hide his anxiousness, he frowned.
SSSSHHH…!
“…!”
His eyes widened at the sensation he felt below the water’s surface. Suddenly, the surrounding noise faded eerily away.
And it wasn’t just Woo Hyuk.
Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah must have sensed it too. They dashed across the water, making for the source of the commotion.
BLOOP BLOOP—
Bubbles began to rise from that very spot.
“WHEW…!”
A head suddenly shot up from the depths, gasping for air.
“Wow… What the hell. I really almost died… AARGH!”
A fierce-looking young man sprang from the water, attempting to speak, but Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah quickly embraced him.
“Wait… wait…! This is rather dangerous right now!”
As Gu Yangcheon struggled in their hold and tumbled back into the water, Woo Hyuk could finally exhale in relief upon witnessing it.
Immediately after the monster’s ruckus ended, we returned to the ship.
Normally, it would be proper to collect a monster’s remains for its bones or hide.
But the body had already sunk deep in the river.
Considering the situation was still ongoing, searching for it immediately would have been futile.
We returned to the deck under the Poison King’s command.
When we arrived on the deck, I remember the astonished look on the King’s face.
It was no wonder; the area was scattered with monster corpses.
It appeared they were indeed targeting the ship alongside the red monster.
The silver lining was that they were all dead.
The number of bodies floating in the river and littered on the deck was considerable, too numerous to count.
And at the heart of it all stood a man with a spear, quietly awaiting orders.
It was Dangdeok.
Before he leaped down to hunt the monster, I had instructed him to protect the people. As a result, he had to ensure their safety, even if by force.
His expression twisted at having to defend the Tang family’s people personally.
But that wasn’t my concern.
Especially when the Poison King turned to thank Dangdeok, the look on the latter’s face was priceless.
Even the Poison King wore a curious expression upon witnessing it.
I had to explain to him that this guy was mute and that the expression is simply how he looks.
It might have been a twisted joke, but out of it came my newfound certainty.
‘The Poison King does not know who Dangdeok is.’
He had hidden his distinct hair under a veil.
Even if Dangdeok had not learned Poison Arts, not sensing anything strange so close to him implies that he was unaware of Dangdeok’s true identity.
‘Of course, it’s also possible this is some act from the Poison King.’
Thinking to that extent became overly complicated.
All this chaos instigated by that unexpected red monster made things chaotic enough.
The martial artists were at a loss for a course of action as they faced a level of threat unseen in hundreds of years.
Should they even continue sailing?
Discussions erupted whether it was better to return to Hanam to report on this matter first and sort it out.
Ultimately, the leader of this crowd was the Poison King.
The Poison King insisted that ensuring the safe passage of the transport to Sichuan was the top priority and wrapped it up by sending a brief letter to the Murim Alliance.
Others may have donned disgruntled faces, but nothing would change.
If you don’t like it, swim back to the river.
If that’s not feasible, you better remain quietly on the boat.
They most likely wouldn’t choose the former.
Having witnessed firsthand the might and ferocity of the red monster, it would be impossible to downplay the anxiety surrounding the possibility of encountering another.
In conclusion, and regardless of the circumstances, it would have been impossible to halt the voyage to Sichuan.
“Ha…”
I sat alone on the ship’s bunk, letting out a sigh.
What an utterly unexpected turn of events.
I had been tense from head to toe because of it.
Only once the situation was over could I finally relax.
Now I could finally take a breather.
Upon returning to the ship, Tang Xiaoyeol and Murong Xiuya spoke to me, nagging me as they shared their account of what had transpired.
Didn’t I tell you to stop engaging in dangerous actions?
From my perspective, that felt a bit unfair.
But it was one of those situations where I couldn’t simply refrain.
How could I just remain idly on the ship when faced with something like that?
“… More than anything, perhaps it would have been better to just stay still.”
It was absurd to nearly drown, much less anything else.
Had I known, I would have remained quiet on the boat.
Keep sighing as I extended my hand in front of my eyes.
If you were to question how I nearly drowned after defeating the monster?
“… Now, come out.”
This was all thanks to that little creature.
SLINK…
Upon my call, something slipped out from inside my sleeve, trailing down my arm.
In terms of thickness, it resembled roughly the width of a pinky.
At most, it stretched from my wrist to my elbow.
The squirming little thing coiled around my hand, turning its small head toward me.
Nervously, its tongue flicked out, revealing those familiar yellow eyes.
Yes, they were exactly the same as the eyes of the monster I faced earlier—same feeling, same type.
A snake. Yes, it’s a snake.
A very small snake with red scales.
It stared at me, entwined around my hand.
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