Chapter: 494
A resplendently white magic stone lay on the table.
At first glance, it radiated no energy and seemed like an ordinary jewel.
However, this was currently the strongest demon scripture recorded in the Central Plains.
It was a remnant left behind by the supreme monster that emerged from that place.
So-called Baekma-seok.
Now, it harbored an energy incomparable to the magic stones left by the blue and red monsters that had started to crawl out little by little.
In terms of energy alone, including the Dokcheondan I possessed,
it contained powerful energy that was on par with Shaolin’s Daehwandan.
However, within the Central Plains,
and for the foreseeable future, no white-level monsters would emerge, so it could be said there was absolutely no way to obtain Baekma-seok.
This thing before my eyes.
I firmly believed it was the only remaining Baekma-seok.
Originally, I had intended to consume it as soon as I got it.
“I was too busy to find the time.”
Upon returning, I had been bustling around, leaving no time for such things.
It was something I originally needed to stabilize my incomplete state, so there was no rush in the current situation.
Besides, I thought I might use it someday, even if not right now.
“I never imagined I’d use it this way.”
Never did I think it would come to serve this purpose.
The god was nearly glaring at the Baekma-seok placed on the table.
Could it be that this was indeed what he thought it was?
“… This is.”
“Yes, it’s Baekma-seok.”
“…!”
As he spoke with conviction, the god’s eyes widened as if they were lanterns.
“If you don’t believe me, then there’s no helper for that. This is indeed Baekma-seok.”
I couldn’t be mistaken with the magic stone, not when the magic absorption skill in my body was informing me.
“… Why does your guy have this?”
“Someone gave it to me, to use.”
“What?”
The god gaped at me, as if dumbfounded by my response.
It was true.
Although it was a gift from Dangjemun, meaning I had received it, the god seemed hesitant to believe it.
Whether he believed it or not was irrelevant.
What mattered was that I possessed the White Horse Stone.
“I’ll ask you again. The god mentioned you needed this. Do you?”
“…”
The eyes of the god trembled at my words.
I did not pressure him for an answer, simply looking at him quietly. I shouldn’t be rushing him here.
Doing so would signal my hurry, something I needed to avoid.
I waited silently for his response.
After a few seconds, he finally spoke.
“… okay.”
The god forced the words out.
Good.
It seemed I had navigated the first hurdle without too much difficulty.
Suppressing my true feelings, I smirked lightly and opened my mouth.
“If you need it, I can give it to you.”
I could offer him the Baekma-seok I had.
One would think Shin-ui should be ecstatic to hear that, but he wasn’t.
On the contrary, discomfort radiated from his slightly furrowed brow.
Seeing this, it was clear he understood.
“I’m saying I would give you the white horse stone I possess.”
It meant he had some other requests, which he wished to voice.
“What do you want from me?”
As expected, the god asked me directly.
Two things could be inferred here.
Instead of inquiring about my purpose, he was asking what I wanted.
He was questioning what I needed while not having a clue about my needs.
Considering these two meanings.
“The god is determined to seize the White Horse Stone regardless.”
I realized he would never relinquish the Baekma-seok lying before him.
Why on earth?
“As someone who cannot absorb the magic stone’s energy through the magic absorption skill like me, the White Horse Stone is just a white rock rolling around.”
Why was he so fixated on it?
“Doesn’t matter.”
I may not comprehend it, but it didn’t really matter either.
I could learn about it later.
“I have something I wish to ask you, god. If you simply respond well, I can give you this Baekma-seok. I don’t really need it.”
The claim that I didn’t need it was, of course, a lie.
With dozens of Dokcheondan pills in my possession, I could afford to let it go. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have done so.
“An answer?”
“Yes.”
“…”
The god gave no response to my query.
In this context, silence would imply affirmation.
Sensing that, I took a moment to breathe and continued.
“First, I want to know why you need Baekma-seok.”
“…”
“Clearly, it might be rare, but in terms of efficacy, it seems nothing more than a worthless rock. Why do you require this?”
Why does the god want Baekma-seok?
Despite his status in the Central Plains, he didn’t strike me as someone materialistic, dedicating himself solely to medicine.
What need could he have for Baekma-seok? I found myself curious.
“If you don’t answer, what would happen?”
“It doesn’t matter as much. Perhaps the Baekma-seok I intended to gift you might just disappear.”
It was a blatant threat.
A threat saying that if he didn’t answer, he wouldn’t receive it.
“Ha, that was clever.”
“I apologize. I have my circumstances.”
While I wouldn’t mind sharing a bit with Shin-ui,
my situation wasn’t conducive to such generosity.
It wasn’t a matter of trusting someone or not.
It meant that I had too many people I wanted to protect to focus solely on that.
“… “
Deep in contemplation, Shin-ui focused intently on the Baekma-seok.
Finally, he bit his lip and slowly began to speak.
“… I will use it on my grandson.”
“When you say grandson, are you referring to Jegal Hyuk?”
“Correct.”
“You plan to use the Baekma-seok on Jegal Hyuk?”
I shifted my head in confusion at Shin-ui’s words.
This wasn’t some drug or elixir; to an ordinary person, it would just be a rock. What could he possibly do with it concerning Jegal Hyuk?
“What will you do with it?”
“It will clear his throat.”
“Excuse me?”
You’re going to mend the throat of mute Jegal Hyuk?
“… It’s hard to understand.”
How on earth do you intend to carry that out with Baekma-seok? I couldn’t fathom it no matter how hard I tried.
“… Do I have to answer that too?”
“Yes. I simply can’t let it go by without comprehension.”
“What if I am lying about it?”
“I doubt you would go that route… But then, what can I do?”
“… “
I had no plans to confront the god about deceit.
This was merely a foolish trust that he’d avoid that path.
“… “
My unexpectedly candid response seemed to trouble Shin-ui further.
“If that’s the case, I’ll just ask something else…”
“The child’s inability to speak isn’t due to a physical issue.”
“Hmm?”
So not a physical issue regarding the throat?
“That’s not it, what do you mean?”
“To be precise, it’s part of a ‘curse.’”
“A curse?”
Curse.
It was a term I had heard in passing.
I had heard it was a technique employed by pseudo-Sapa Taoists.
Wasn’t it said to be quite ineffective? Only a minuscule number would resort to using it since it didn’t even suffice in first class, right?
“A curse…? Then.”
I recalled the spirit from my past life.
He wore a half-mask, hiding his smile behind a fan.
Unlike the current Jegal Hyuk, he was not mute.
I assumed the heavenly horse must have done something to restore his voice.
But was that some technique for remedying the curse the god mentioned?
“So are you saying you need Baekma-seok to lift that curse?”
“… Yes.”
“Why?”
“I can’t elaborate further.”
“Hmm.”
I nodded at his answer.
That didn’t mean I understood.
I simply felt like I had to let that part go.
“There’s something at play.”
Aside from his prickly personality, he despised seeing folks around him suffer or get hurt.
Judging by his answer, it seemed discussing it might create an issue.
At that moment, a flash of someone’s face flickered through my mind.
Iron Line! The connection between him and the god crossed my thoughts and quickly disappeared.
“That’s not something I should broach.”
This wasn’t something I should ask about.
It wasn’t my place to inquire with the god.
“Because I need to hear it from Cheol Ji-seon.”
It needed to be a matter I should discuss with the appropriate party.
Having thought that, I declared to the deity.
“Alright, I’ll let this go.”
“… “
Shin-ui sighed softly, as if relieved, at my words.
“Next, the matter I wish to bring up is my physical condition.”
“Your physical condition?”
“Yes, previously you mentioned that my bowl was on the verge of breaking.”
“Yes… no, what? Wait, what did you just say?”
His response to my casual words was intense.
“You broke the bowl and remade it?”
“Indeed, it happened to unfold that way.”
“What on earth could bring that about?”
“What can I say? I also find it quite fascinating.”
I was at a loss for words since it was so unexpected.
From the perspective of the god, it must be shocking to hear that someone who had been given a ten-year life expectancy suddenly returned from the brink.
“No, what on earth is that…? Just show me your hand first. I need to see for myself.”
“I’ll give this to you later… I’d like you to make a promise regarding this matter.”
“What?”
“Whatever you observe about my body, you must vow to keep your mouth shut.”
“…!”
Was he sensing something strange? Shin-ui’s expression tightened a bit.
“Will you agree to that?”
Even if he perceived something, he wouldn’t have an alternate response.
“… I understand.”
With the Baekma-seok laid out before him, the god found himself in a subordinate position.
“Thank you.”
Naturally, I felt a little anxious regarding the god’s demeanor.
To be frank, I bore no ill feelings towards Shin; in fact, I held only positive sentiments toward him.
My instincts rebelled at the idea of making someone who seemed virtuous appear so unseemly.
How petty and sordid.
I was painfully aware of that.
But still, it was something I had to do.
“Now… finally, I wish to inquire about something.”
The earlier inquiry, in truth, didn’t hold much significance, whether it was true or not.
The crucial point rested in the present question alone.
“I would like to ask about Wi Seol-ah.”
“… “
It seemed the god had anticipated this, as one corner of his eye twitched.
“I heard that the Elder Sword Master and you used the Seal Stone to do something to the child.”
The Seal Stone that previously belonged to Cheon Yu-rang-ah.
And Wi Seol-ah, who had regained her sense of presence.
I deduced there must be a connection here.
I wanted to ask the god about this while recalling what Wi Seol-ah had told me.
Why did Geomjon choose that path?
What is Wi Seol-ah’s current condition?
I intended to obtain answers at any cost.
…
Upon hearing my question, Shin-ui’s expression darkened, signaling his struggle.
Eventually, he took a moment to respond, his voice labored.
“Does that child still harbor resentment towards the leader?”
A rather unexpected remark.
Did he mean the Sword Lord when he said leader?
In the past… or currently speaking, it’s the previous generation’s leader, but he obviously referred to Geomjon.
If he asked whether Wi Seol-ah was resentful towards Geomjon, then my answer was undeniably affirmative.
“Yes.”
I already knew.
Her discomfort was palpable every time she spoke about my grandfather.
After hearing my answer, Shin-ui sighed audibly before addressing me.
“I don’t hold the leader in high regard. I recognize his abilities, but he often placed other priorities over his beliefs, resulting in numerous ill-conceived decisions as a leader.”
When simply considering status, he had the greatest influence among the past leaders of the Murim Alliance, aside from the first leader, Yeon Il-cheon.
Yet God didn’t seem to share that view.
“However, setting that aside, I do understand. I know that he is also human.”
“What do you mean…?”
“It was probably unacceptable for him as a leader. However, as a father and grandfather, it’s something I can appreciate.”
A swirl of emotions resonated in his voice.
It seemed to carry not only resentment but also a hint of sorrow and relatability lurking beneath.
“There was only one reason why the leader had to take this action regarding the child. Because of that single reason, I extended my aid despite my discontent.”
“That reason is…?”
The moment I inquired, hiding my innate unease.
Shin-ui responded calmly.
“Had the child’s potential not been sealed.”
I had been breathing normally until now.
“That child would undoubtedly perish shortly after.”
The instant I heard the god’s words, I felt a tightening in my throat.
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