Chapter: 597
Woohoo.
Magic energy constantly stirs within the body.
As a consequence, pain rises.
Though my body was making great efforts to recover, whenever I tried to summon energy again, it screamed in protest.
If I make a wrong move here, my recovery will be delayed even further.
But.
There was no option left.
I turned to look at the old man staring at me.
Even while seated, he exudes a significant presence.
His massive body, not to mention the astonishing collection of muscle packed onto it, was something to behold.
To compare, he was roughly the size of Elder Iljang. His bulk was indeed comparable.
I had heard that the Zhuge Clan was renowned for establishing formations and mechanisms.
It was said they focused on other things rather than sheer brute force.
I certainly didn’t expect his power to be this high.
I feel like I’ve crossed a line here.
The elder who was killed at the temple last time.
He looked far stronger than that.
While he might not reach the level of the masters in the Gu’s Ten Sects Alliance or the Great Four Clans, he emanated a strength that felt equally formidable.
What the heck…
This person was the same one I had heard of—the man from the Zhuge family who was planning to cause trouble in Hanam.
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh as I gazed at the elder.
I was taken aback.
This time, I was really surprised.
If I hadn’t been wearing a mask, my expression would have been completely on display.
Whoa.
Why was I surprised?
Was it because the old man’s strength surpassed my expectations? No.
Was it that the individual from the Zhuge Clan seemed so powerful? Neither.
The reason was straightforward.
The old man was someone I knew.
In fact, I knew him very well.
That old fellow, was he a descendant of the Zhuge Clan?
The elder’s true identity was none other than a member of the Celestial Demon Cult’s elite from my past life.
The commander of the Cheonra Black Watchtower.
Pilduma.
He was indeed that old man.
Pilduma was a master who wielded bludgeoning weapons.
I couldn’t recall his name. But in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter.
That too was probably a lie.
Whatever name he used would be a pseudonym.
He was the figure leading the now-downtrodden Zhuge clan.
His real name was obviously something like Zhuge—indications lead me to believe it.
He must have been using a pseudonym even when involved with the Demon Cult.
That seemed like a reasonable judgment.
Moreover, seeing that he was now a scion of the Zhuge clan, I also understood a realization.
Ah, that explains it.
In the past, the Cheonra Black Watchtower was not only directly under the Heavenly Demon, but it was also the unit that Zhuge Hyuk frequently worked with.
They were in charge of protecting Zhuge Hyuk whenever he encountered trouble.
That was part of the reason I targeted the Cheonra Black Watchtower when planning to deal with Cheon Yu-rang-ah.
It made sense that there were many interconnections between Cheon Yu-rang-ah and the Cheonra Black Watchtower.
Could it be that they’re both from the Zhuge Clan?
This was merely a guess, but given the circumstances, I felt half-convinced.
That means not just Zhuge Hyuk, but even the Heavenly Demon was aware of this fact.
In any case, none of it mattered.
The only surprising thing was Pilduma being a descendant of the Zhuge clan.
In fact, it turned out quite well.
Because now the pieces of this story were falling into place.
I concealed my expression and spoke to Pilduma.
“Well then, let’s refer to you as Cheonra Daeju.”
“…As you wish.”
Thud.
Pilduma grunted as he placed something in front of him.
It was a cup of alcohol.
“There’s no decent wine to offer guests.”
I chuckled slightly at Pilduma’s remarks.
Such charm! Offering a drink to someone who barged in uninvited!
“I’m not really planning on drinking, though.”
“Is that so?”
He didn’t seem unduly bothered by my rejection.
Well, he’s probably busy sizing me up right now.
Feigning calmness, I felt his gaze intensely upon me.
Pilduma was doing his utmost to figure out what kind of person I was.
With my chin resting on my hand, I stared at him.
Go ahead, take a good look!
It was a gesture filled with such intentions.
“…”
Pilduma, having caught on, quickly shifted his gaze.
He soon realized it was a futile attempt.
How much do you think this mask is worth?
It was a precious artifact gifted by the King of Darkness.
Unlike silly trinkets, this item was genuinely effective.
Even if you place a bet, you can’t see what’s inside the mask.
It had the power to disguise one’s physical condition and realm.
It was the perfect solution for me since my expressions betrayed me when I lied.
Just as we were silently exchanging glances, Pilduma spoke first.
“I heard you came here after dismantling the formation. How did you manage that?”
Jumping right into the formation question, huh?
I guess it was only natural to be curious.
It was clear that what surrounded us was not a mere formation.
It was intricately laid out, almost as if it was there and not there at the same time.
Should someone discover the formation, it was too complex and detailed to dismantle casually.
Though I didn’t know much about formations, even I could perceive how impressive this one was.
Only.
“It wasn’t a bad prank for an inconsequential joke.”
It wasn’t something that posed a significant problem for me.
Ah, that was Seongyul’s doing, not mine.
The dismantling of the formation was by Seongyul.
Or should I say, did he actually dismantle it? He merely sliced through it with his sword.
In my past life, dismantling a single formation required many people and a considerable amount of time.
Is it really that simple now?
I’m glad I brought him along.
Even if I learned the location, I would’ve been unable to enter because of the formation.
There was a comically unfortunate incident regarding that.
When I asked how he came to know the place while wearing a blindfold, divine providence explained.
“I think he memorized each step he took.”
Memorized the whole route he walked while moving in and out?
I thought to myself, to be considered the best in the Central Plains, you need a brain of that caliber.
Anyway.
Hearing that, I decided to bring Seongyul along.
Recalling the moment he had dismantled the formation with his sword last time, just as predicted, he cleared the formation effortlessly.
I chuckled wryly at the sight.
This fellow, and that one. Either way, they leave a sour taste.
To my question of how he managed it, Seongyul simply replied,
“Somehow, that place just didn’t feel right.”
He uttered the same lines earlier.
Flipping heck! Genius or not, it’s infuriating!
Have I not met someone similar in my previous life?
Immediately, Woohyuk had similar sentiments when he busted down a formation, saying something was stinking about it.
In this lifetime, Namgungbia did the same, making a fuss about the smell while cutting it down.
Each of them, including Seongyul, were astonishing geniuses.
So, is dismantling formations perhaps included in innate talent?
Thinking back on it now bore no real value.
It’s probably best to just shrug it off.
What truly mattered now was Pilduma’s reaction after hearing this.
The old man’s eyes flashed with intensity.
Is that because I brushed off the intricacies of the formation?
Well, given its complexity, it’s understandable.
If I had charged in to unravel it, what would’ve happened?
No thank you! I’d rather not think about it.
How could a clueless head like mine even possibly tackle that?
On the contrary, what if I broke through with brute force?
That might have been feasible.
But I would have to endure all the backlash from forcefully disabling the formation.
I had avoided that by sending Seongyul.
So now, what might Pilduma be thinking as he stares at me?
Does he see me as someone who simply overrode the formation all at once?
Or is it that he perceives me as someone who stormed in by force?
Whatever it may be,
Either way, he would view me as an extraordinary figure.
This was the kind of reaction I sought from the lead character.
Looks like it went down well.
From Pilduma’s reaction, I sensed he couldn’t quite gauge me, appearing busy figuring out my strengths.
Moreover, since he was uncertain about my capabilities, he was cautious.
Exactly the sort of reaction I had hoped from Pilduma.
As I sat still observing him, he spoke to me.
“I’ve heard the rumors.”
I tilted my head at Pilduma’s words.
Rumors? What rumors are you referring to?
“The Heavenly Demon.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“A man wearing a cracked white mask and black martial robe wrecked havoc on the shaman sect.”
I thought the tales I’d spun weren’t circulating widely, but it seems Pilduma’s already picked up on the news.
“When I first heard about you, I thought you were quite extraordinary.”
“How are you finding the reality?”
“…He turned out to be even more formidable.”
Gulp.
It was taxing to hold in my laughter, especially since it felt unbefitting.
For reference, my laughter was a poor imitation of Paejon.
“How did you discover this place? I must admit I don’t know how you managed the formation… but given that you’ve come alone, you must have business.”
“Didn’t I say it from the beginning? I’ve come to have dealings with you.”
“Indeed, what brings you to invite yourself in a troubled manner?”
Pilduma extended his hand into the air.
Phew.
From the distant darkness, something flew and landed in Pilduma’s hand.
Thud!
It was a blunt object, roughly the size of my body.
Boom!
He slammed the heavy object onto the floor.
It was a weapon I recognized all too well.
“So, this is the club Pilduma used?”
The very thing that smashed countless gray-haired folks to bits.
Did I hear it was forged from ten-thousand-year-old iron?
Just a solid club, but wielded by Pilduma, he would be akin to a demon.
“If this conversation isn’t serious, our next dialogue will not remain peaceful.”
“…”
A rather ominous warning suggesting that an absurd statement would lead to a inevitable conflict.
In response to that, I calculated.
What would happen if I fought Pilduma here?
What can happen? I’d certainly lose!
Defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Though in pristine condition, there was no way I could overcome him.
Pilduma was of a level that made victory unlikely.
However.
“That sounds entertaining!”
Woooooo!
“…!”
Even with that in mind, I had zero intention of backing down.
With my heart wide open, I released my energy.
Even now, it still brought pain.
But I was okay with it.
The energy that weighs down my body signals that I’m emanating something well beyond my level.
Pilduma unleashed an air of ferocity, yet I wasn’t simply going to yield.
Loud crash.
As our energies intertwined, the fabric of space contorted.
I forged ahead with intent.
Boom!
My energy ensnared Pilduma’s surging power, swallowing it in a vice-like grip.
While Pilduma’s energy quality was superior, in this clash of spirits, there was no way I would falter.
After all, how much have I absorbed up to this point?
Looking around the Central Plains, few can surpass the current amount of energy I’ve amassed.
Of course, if I brought back my past self, that’d be a different matter altogether.
Yet as things stood, not even Pilduma could approach that threshold.
“Haah…”
Out of the blue, Pilduma, who was vanquished in the energy tussle, exhaled a deep sigh.
He seemed to have sustained some minor injuries.
“Cheonra Daeju.”
I called out to him.
“Due to my favorable view of you, I’ll let this slide once.”
He consolidated the energy swirling in the air and cast it onto the wall.
Crash!
A resounding boom echoed from the invisible wall.
Oh no, did I throw too hard…?
“Don’t expose that recklessly, there won’t be a second chance.”
“…”
Sigh.
The grip on the blunt weapon in Pilduma’s hand loosened momentarily.
“Pardon my intrusion.”
He took a step back.
Thank heavens! I feared he might go wild right then…
“Are you done with your playful banter? Feel free to try again, if you so please.”
I put on a brave front for show.
Internally, I was urging him not to.
“I just wished to confirm if you were truly the rumored individual.”
Pilduma remained unmoved by my taunts, seemingly intent on getting straight to business.
I sighed inwardly.
I felt like I barely survived that narrow escape.
“Was that the answer you sought?”
“…”
Pilduma nodded slightly.
“A person of your caliber… why precisely did you arrive here?”
After a fierce war of nerves, it’s finally time to get to the main discussion?
It wrapped up well in the end, but I had to keep fending off cold sweats.
“I happened to have some matters to address here…”
I beamed at Pilduma.
“I heard there’s someone in Hanam who’s eager to take action. I thought it best to see him in person.”
“…”
At my words, Pilduma furrowed his brow. There was a hint of hostility creeping in.
“What you’re implying is… this domain is yours, so don’t meddle freely—”
“That’s incorrect.”
I preempted, sensing a potential risk in pushing further.
“Feel free to do as you wish. I won’t concern myself with such trifles.”
“Then, what if I proceed anyway?”
Step.
I extended two fingers, presenting them to Pilduma.
“There are two things I require you to accomplish.”
“What is that?”
“If you succeed, I won’t mind whatever you undertake.”
Tap, tap.
Pilduma trembled slightly, as if barely keeping his temper in check.
Speculative energy was creeping up again.
“I will acknowledge your confidence, but it seems you lack a sense of boundaries.”
Growl, growl!
This felt like a newly unleashed intensity from Pilduma.
It seemed he genuinely laid bare his intentions.
My fingers trembled.
I discreetly hid that in my sleeve.
“If you think I’ll revere my life after enduring this treatment—”
“You dishonorable specter clinging to the past.”
Stop.
As I uttered those words, Pilduma came to an immediate halt.
“Even when erased from existence and your clan cast down, it appears your pride remains unbroken.”
“This—”
Striking the heart of the matter made Pilduma release a hint of his power.
“Don’t you desire to shatter the covenants that have weighed you down?”
His stony demeanor gave way as I pressed forward.
“Don’t you long to avenge those who have torn you apart?”
“…Even without you here, it’s of no consequence.”
Confidence dripped from his words.
What he intended to do remained a mystery, but I could sense he was preparing for something significant.
I might have failed in my past life, but who says I can’t succeed this time?
The circumstances were much more favorable now.
Especially as chaos reigned during the martial arts tournament preparations alongside the incidents troubling the shaman sect.
Now would be prime time for a raid in Hanam.
But.
“Cheonra Daeju.”
This was only applicable when I wasn’t around.
“Do my words sound like a request? Don’t misinterpret me.”
“…!”
“I make no requests.”
This is the crucial part.
Labeled concerns about Pilduma’s strength, I needed to keep my demeanor unfazed.
“This is a test I grant you.”
That blunt weapon he’s wielding felt ridiculous.
That thought coursed through every inch of me.
“If you cannot even accomplish this trivial test, you will perish here.”
At that revelation, Pilduma’s eyes bulged.
I couldn’t help but wonder as I observed his reaction.
What?
Was it too early to be shocked?
“If you can’t achieve it, you’ll not just miss the chance for vengeance…”
“I see.”
Huh?
Before I could finish, Pilduma interjected.
I was quite taken aback by that.
I never expected someone to cut me off like this!
What caught me off guard more was what followed next.
“…Now that you mention it, I think I understand who you are.”
What the hell?
My heart plummeted at Pilduma’s words.
He figured it out? How?
I had to resist the urge to check if my mask was askew.
If I acted on that impulse, it would spell disaster.
Where could he have deduced that?
If he really succeeded, it would be a genuine threat.
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind in an instant.
I swallowed dryly without realizing it.
“Not only did you decisively defeat the shaman elder in a single blow, but you also exude such a formidable aura.”
Pilduma distinctly affirmed as he looked at me.
During that pause, I rolled my eyes toward the exit. I needed a plan to evacuate at the drop of a dime.
Should disaster strike, I’m leaping out of here!
“I see. You are… .”
And then, it happened.
“The Three Fallen Deities.”
Huh?
At Pilduma’s statement, my mundane voice slipped out unexpectedly.
“The Defeated Biju.”
That was deeply embarrassing to hear.
“Indeed, that’s you.”
“…”
He regarded me with astonished eyes, like he had concluded something significant.
In my attempt to escape, I shifted my body and assumed a posture of readiness.
And in that moment, I made my decision.
Choices need to be made swiftly; it’s a rule of sorts.
“Hmph.”
I allowed myself a slight chuckle, then looked at Pilduma.
“You have quite the discerning eye.”
There was absolutely no hesitation in my words.
I knew not what was forthcoming, but at this instant, I chose to embrace my identity as the Defeated One.
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