Chapter: 479
“… Are you okay?”
These were the words I blurted out right after I heard the request from Dangjemun.
Are you sure it’s okay?
This was a question that just had to be asked.
No matter how many times I heard it, it was really hard to believe this came from the mouth of Dangjemun.
Despite my doubts, Dangjemun only maintained her sad gaze and didn’t retract her words.
—Is it possible?
“…”
In response to her question, I pinched my lips with my thumb. Is it possible?
‘I don’t know.’
To be honest, it was impossible to give a definite answer.
It was a tricky situation to think of how to handle this without it backfiring on me.
But.
‘Hmm.’
Even though I’ve pondered over it, the truth is my answer is already set in stone.
“I don’t think it’s a problem that can be avoided by running away.”
—…
At my answer, Dangjemun smiled faintly, probably because I hit the nail on the head.
She knew I wouldn’t refuse.
So why bother?
‘I guess she brought up the topic of Dang So-yeol on purpose.’
If it was something she was involved with, she probably thought I wouldn’t be able to refuse. And that was that.
‘There’s no way I could say no.’
It was something I couldn’t deny.
“I’ll give it a try.”
I’ll at least attempt to see if it works or not. That’s about all I can offer at the moment.
Fortunately, it seemed my answer wasn’t so bad, as Dangjemun nodded slightly in approval.
—Thank you, Huin.
“There’s no need for thanks. Anyway….”
I felt like I was being compensated for my work, so there was no need for gratitude.
Moreover, she seemed quite troubled by this issue herself.
‘It’s not exactly a pleasant situation for me either.’
Plainly speaking, it was far from pleasant; it was downright exasperating.
‘The real problem is, how to deal with the Poison King?’
Since it pertained to Dangjemun, I had no clue how to approach the Poison King.
Moreover, this should only be considered if the Poison King wasn’t involved in the situation at all.
Even if the Poison King is a rotten piece of work.
I didn’t want to believe he’d be involved in this sort of mess.
‘My daughter is tangled in this. I really hope not.’
If, by some chance, it turns out the Poison King was indeed involved.
KNOCK KNOCK.
I tilted my head slightly in contemplation.
‘I have to kill him.’
A chill settled ominously in my chest. My answer formed as a conclusion in my mind.
If the Poison King stands in my way, I’ll put him six feet under.
I settled my resolve like that, my determination firm.
—Huin.
Dangjemun called out to me.
“Yes, ma’am.”
—I’ve already conveyed to Shincheol the matters that you might be curious about.
“Excuse me?”
Her words made my eyes widen in surprise.
‘Things I would be curious about?’
It wasn’t because I had no clue what they might be.
There were so many possibilities that I was left wondering what might have been said.
‘Really? Noya.’
I anxiously inwardly called out to Noya.
[Hmph.]
Noya’s response was oddly aloof, as if he were still miffed about the earlier argument.
… Anyway, he’s such a narrow-minded old man.
In the meantime, at least he didn’t outright deny the possibility, so it seemed he had heard something.
Just when I was left wondering what kind of information I had missed.
—Also….
Dangjemun continued, as if not yet finished with her thoughts.
—I’ve prepared a small gift for you.
“A gift… you say?”
—Yes. A gift.
What could she possibly have prepared?
Since I couldn’t recall ever receiving a decent gift, I felt quite anxious.
Whether she sensed my anxiety or not, Dangjemun continued.
—Originally… it should have been given to Shincheol… or another child.
Dangjemun smiled as she spoke.
—For now, it’s right for you to take it. She would want this, too.
“…Her?”
As I questioned her, her hand reached towards me.
SWISH.
“…!?”
The tip of Dangjemun’s translucent finger pierced my chest. It was a sudden and unexpected move.
There was no pain. Not even a slightest sensation.
Is this because of being a spirit?
“Ma’am….”
I was about to ask Dangjemun what this behavior meant.
—May you always be blessed on your journey.
Dangjemun simply smiled and interrupted her own words.
And then.
BOOM—!
“…!”
With the sensation of my body flipping over, I lost consciousness.
Gu Yangcheon’s body slumped down, losing its strength.
Just before hitting the ground.
THUD—!
CRUNCH.
A small dragon swooped in to catch Gu Yangcheon.
Confirming this, Dangjemun took a step back.
And immediately inspected her hands.
SWISH…
She watched her translucent hand growing fainter. This was proof that the end was approaching.
Even though Dangjemun was clearly aware, she didn’t feel sad.
She simply accepted it.
She had lived too long to cling onto anything foolishly, and she thought that if she could achieve even a small part of what she had longed for, that would be sufficient.
But.
—Shincheol.
There lingered a tiny regret about that.
—There you are.
[…What is it?]
At her call, a somewhat grumpy old man’s voice emerged.
At that voice, which seemed somewhat inconsequential, Dangjemun chuckled softly.
—Are you still sulking?
[Who’s sulking? Do you think I’m that petty?]
I couldn’t bring myself to say no to Dangjemun.
—Please stop being annoyed. I didn’t mean it.
[I’m perfectly fine! I don’t even remember what I heard…]
—Was it because I called you a narrow-minded and insensitive fellow?
[…]cue awkward silence
At her words, Gu Yangcheon’s body trembled slightly.
It seemed like Shincheol reacted there.
[…Who… who…?]
—I understand.
Just before Shincheol could explode, Dangjemun cut him off.
—I understand that you didn’t recognize my feelings or me. And that you ultimately let go of Mo Yong So-jeo.
[…]another awkward silence
—Shincheol, you have always valued your beliefs above all else.
Despite his narrow perspective and lack of awareness, it was genuinely frustrating and infuriating from the standpoint of a woman who admired him.
If only he had known where his gaze was focused during that time, things would have been different.
—Because you’re a hero.
A person whose only purpose was to save the world.
The hero’s belief that he would plant a magnificent plum tree on peaceful soil.
Shincheol had lived by only looking at that.
Dangjemun knew well that even if he glanced at a woman, he never intended to pursue her.
What if she had approached him in her original form, using the name of Dang Je-hee? Would the result have been different?
No, Dangjemun was certain.
Shincheol would have ultimately chosen nothing.
Thus, just arriving next to him in her original body.
Or being beside him in a male form.
That was the only choice Dangjemun had.
—I wanted to share this with you. But.
Even though she knew this, she had always wanted to express it.
She wanted to say she was a woman.
Such a beautiful woman.
And.
I love you.
She wanted to chirp, to ask to be embraced, touched, to request a moment of rest.
But Dangjemun held it in.
She had to restrain herself.
She longed to see Shincheol treat her that way, and she felt hunger pangs.
—I held it in. Because that’s who you are.
Rather, it was because of that very persona that she found herself falling in love.
Despite his rough, abrasive manner, he was the type to offer his life without hesitation to protect others.
If faced with a situation where he would die, he would be the first to step forward.
More than living an ordinary life.
He was Shincheol, who chose the conviction and desire to save the world.
That was the reason Dangjemun could love him.
—So it’s okay.
She smiled.
—Don’t carry guilt. I’m okay.
[…Dangjemun.]
Hearing Shincheol’s voice, Dangjemun nodded.
It was the end. She could perceive it distinctly.
She looked at her feet.
Her translucent form was gradually fading from there.
Seeing this, she closed her eyes.
—I think I need to go first.
She spoke calmly.
—Are there any of our friends waiting for us?
[…They likely are. They are all scoundrels, but none of them would leave anyone behind.]
—That’s right.
Dangjemun nodded in response to Shincheol’s lighthearted acknowledgment.
—Shincheol.
[…Yeah.]
Though she called out to him, she paused momentarily.
Initially, she wanted to express her love, but she found herself incapable of doing so.
Because this wasn’t the time for such declarations.
So then, what was there left to say?
She engaged in deep contemplation.
Though she pondered thoroughly, Dangjemun realized she only had one thing to convey.
It was something she had wished for long ago, immensely long ago.
A singular wish she had dreamt of enduring through countless days.
Something she yearned to experience at least once.
At long last, she spoke it out loud.
—Can you hug me just once?
[… .]
She had to be exceptionally cautious about how she phrased it.
In her heart, she wanted to admit how lonely she felt, how much she missed him, so she merely asked to be embraced.
Ironically, those heartfelt sentiments failed to escape her lips.
She only wished for that simple request.
—Ah… I was just saying that…
Even to Dangjemun, who was cautiously trying to tread lightly.
SWISH.
—…!
A peculiar sensation washed over her.
It felt like someone was hugging her and gently patting her back.
Dangjemun opened her eyes in surprise but saw nothing in front of her.
Since Shincheol was present inside Gu Yangcheon, he wouldn’t show his face.
Yet leaving behind that mystery.
[You’ve worked hard.]
—… .
Hearing that voice, she closed her eyes once more.
If she kept them open, tears were bound to spill over.
[Go first and wait.]
—… Shincheol?
[It might take a while. This pesky fellow isn’t anything too extraordinary, so it’ll likely take some time.]
—…
[So, just a bit longer. Just wait a little more. You’ll be able to share what you couldn’t voice there.]
SWISH.
The hand that had been caressing her back transformed into a hand ruffling her hair.
[You’ve done well…]
—… yes.
Just a few words, nothing extravagant.
What was this? As Dangjemun felt her heart lifting.
It was just a simple exchange, yet.
That was the might that this man had.
Because he was a man who would uphold his promises at all costs, she could trust him.
No further words were spoken.
WHISSSSSS…
Dangjemun ultimately dissolved into thin air.
The fragments dispersing from her body glimmered brightly.
It vanished gracefully, as if a butterfly were soaring through the atmosphere.
[…]
After Dangjemun departed.
In the cavern, only the shallow breaths of Gu Yangcheon, who had lost consciousness, lingered.
[…Ah.]
There, an old man held his breath.
He tried not to make a single sound.
The silence persisted until Gu Yangcheon awakened.
FLASH—!
My eyes sprang open due to a bizarre sensation.
When I finally regained my senses, the first thing I understood was that I was submerged in water.
“Ugh…?”
How shocked I was to suddenly find myself with eyes wide open underwater.
I had definitely been inside the secret vault, but how on earth did I lose consciousness?
What about Dangjemun?
Where was this place?
I quickly recalled the events right before I blacked out—the moment when Dangjemun had pierced my chest with her hand.
‘And then I lost consciousness?’
It had happened just like that, yet here I was now.
I scanned my surroundings, glancing around wildly. Why was I suddenly underwater?
‘Wait, if I’m in the water…’
An unsettling chill swept through me at that realization.
I recalled where I had ventured before stepping into the secret vault.
Dokcheon Lake.
A toxic lake containing the essence of the Tang Clan, a vile source of poison.
I had a strong hunch that this was precisely the place.
‘Oh hell…!’
As soon as I formed that conclusion, I tried to move my body because I had to get out of the lake immediately.
Just as I attempted to gather strength to rise above the water.
SHHHHHHH-!
“…!”
Suddenly, I began to feel vibrations in the water.
SWOOOSH—!!
‘What the hell!?’
Waves surged from all sides, diving towards me.
That wasn’t the only problem.
BUZZZZZZ—!
The Demonic Absorption technique, which I hadn’t even cast, activated on its own.
Was this what was causing the issue?
The waves crashing into me began to shift in intensity.
‘W-What’s happening?!’
They flowed into my body, altering into energy.
No, ‘energy’ didn’t quite capture the peculiar sensation. It didn’t feel like it was converting into anything a typical energy should.
Now, it felt as if the essence was traversing through my entire being rather than just stopping at the heart, which was supposed to act as the center.
It permeated not only the blood vessels but every muscle.
While it wasn’t unpleasant, it was definitely an alien feeling.
KWAAAAAAH!
The swiftly absorbed essence seeped into my body before I could even fully grasp the situation.
When I barely regained my clarity.
“SPIT—”
The waters that had formed the lake had completely dissipated, leaving behind only an empty pit.
I coughed out the remnants of water that lingered in my mouth while assessing my surroundings.
There was absolutely no moisture left in sight.
“…Oh, crap.”
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but curse harshly.
“Great, just fantastic.”
The Dokcheon Lake, once treated like a sacred site, had disappeared.
To be precise, I had gulped it all down.
“No way…”
How did things turn out this way?
How did my body end up consuming all the lake water?
‘… Please tell me this isn’t the gift she was referring to.’
The gift Dangjemun spoke about.
That can’t be it, right? It better not be.
If that’s the case…
‘That’s not a gift, that’s a joke!’
How could anyone hand over such a thing while expecting me to manage this situation? Honestly, it felt like every person from this era was nothing but a punk.
As I gritted my teeth in frustration over how I felt like I’d been completely hoodwinked.
BOOM!
“… Huh?”
Something suddenly stirred in my mind.
It wasn’t my own memory.
What was this…?
‘… A phrase?’
The words that popped into my head seemed unmistakably like phrases used for martial arts.
‘Wait, what?’
I stared incredulously at the phrases that appeared out of nowhere in my mind.
My body instinctively started to align itself with the phrases.
At that moment.
CRACK—!
“CRACK…!”
Suddenly, an intense pain radiated through my body.
I groaned, overwhelmed by the excruciating agony.
CRUNCH-CRUNCH—!
The suffering heightened as if it were fighting to seize control of me.
‘… What the heck is going on?’
It wasn’t just pain, however.
Not long after, I sensed something unusual.
SWISH —!
“…!”
Gradually, my vision started to droop. Additionally, I felt my body beginning to constrict.
“…What is…?”
With unexpected sensations flooding in, I glanced at my hands.
Upon inspection, it became abundantly clear.
The vessel was being reconstructed, altering and growing.
Because of that, my once bulky arms were sliming down, reminiscent of how they used to be.
My height had also notably diminished.
“…”
Rolling my eyes to assess the astounding situation, my mind mechanically unraveled the answer behind what was happening.
I’d seen it somewhere before.
It was far too recent of an incident to forget—barely even a day since it had occurred.
This was it.
‘… Qi Transformation Technique?!’
The ability Dangjemun wielded to alter not only her physical form but also her gender.
I was using that very technique.
The principle baffled me. Even if I understood the rules, there was no plausible way for me to perform martial arts like this.
Yet, as soon as I wanted it to happen, my body reacted.
I recognized it as I witnessed the change.
‘Is this the gift?!’
Had this been the so-called gift Dangjemun was referencing?
As I considered this, I nodded to myself.
‘Of course.’
It made sense now.
“I’ve always believed in you, ma’am.”
I had anticipated an extraordinary gift.
Without letting down those hopes, Dangjemun had indeed presented me with a gift.
I had been right to believe without a sliver of doubt.
Dangjemun was nothing less than divine.
“Hmm.”
As I thoroughly nodded my head in agreement.
GRRRR—
A sound akin to derision echoed from somewhere.
I dismissed it lightly.
It didn’t matter how the enemies perceived it.
‘… Dangjemun is divine.’
To me, Dangjemun was religion itself.
It couldn’t be helped.
Had she provided me only with the Transformation Technique, I wouldn’t have reacted this way.
That wasn’t all that lingered in my mind.
Something of greater significance had lodged itself in my thoughts. The moment I recalled that, my worries evaporated instantly.
‘This could make things easier to handle.’
The solution to my concerns regarding which approach to take amidst this convoluted situation had presented itself.
I chuckled as I contemplated this.
The reason for my fondness resided solely in this.
Right now, along with the Qi Transformation Technique in my head.
The recipe for the Euphoric Heavenly Pill from the Tang Clan had also been embedded within it.
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