Chapter: 635
It’s quiet.
In the blackened world, Woohyuk thought.
It’s really quiet.
The world that was once full of noise was somehow quiet.
It must have been very noisy just a moment ago.
-Kill him.
-Accept it.
-Praise him.
It was very different from the usual noise he heard.
Unlike the times when all sounds mixed together and couldn’t be heard properly, this time, a very clear sound pierced his ears.
How long had it been since he heard the sound? It felt like countless hours had passed.
Boom! Boom boom!
Suddenly, a sound like the ceiling was about to collapse was heard.
-Praise!
-Be in awe!
As if trying to brainwash him, the voices kept coming.
After a while, the loud ringing sound continued.
-Praise…
At some point, silence fell.
‘Hmm?’
Feeling this, Woohyuk gently opened his eyes.
Suddenly, a feeling of regret washed over him.
‘It wasn’t bad, you know.’
The repetitive voices were a bit dulling, but compared to the usual noise, it was no different from a lullaby.
He thought he could rest a bit longer.
‘The sound has stopped.’
Could it be that something is about to happen?
With that thought, Woohyuk opened his eyes and sat up.
“Hmm?”
He tilted his head at the sight before him.
Night had fallen over the world.
A night so dark that nothing could be seen.
The ground, and even the sky, was shrouded in black…
“Uh?”
Looking up, Woohyuk let out a sound.
He had definitely seen it.
The remaining white background disappearing into the black.
With that last sight, the world where Woohyuk stood was entirely blackened.
“Heh heh.”
Seeing that, Woohyuk laughed.
“It’s a perfect environment for sleeping.”
Rather than worries, that thought came to mind first.
It was a world without a glimmer of light.
He felt like he could sleep soundly if he just closed his eyes here.
Thinking about this, he pondered lying down for a moment.
“Now that I think about it…”
He recalled something strange.
“Why am I here?”
Why was he in such a place?
It was only then that the question arose.
How did he end up here?
‘Definitely… towards the end…’
He felt like he had seen something while following someone.
He wasn’t sure.
“Does it even matter?”
He felt like it didn’t really matter.
Using his arm as a pillow, Woohyuk turned to his side.
What does it matter anyway?
‘It’s so quiet now.’
The calmness was more important to him.
He tried to sleep in silence.
Unable to resist the temptation, Woohyuk tried to close his eyes.
Tuk.
“Hmm?”
He sensed a presence.
Wondering what the sudden sensation was, he looked over.
Someone was sitting next to Woohyuk.
That too…
-Eugh… Eugh…
Crushing something white and unfamiliar.
It looked like… a snake.
He couldn’t be sure.
It had a strangely ambiguous appearance for a snake.
And then.
Whoever was trampling it…
‘…Who is it?’
It was someone Woohyuk had never seen before.
Wearing a tattered, worn black uniform and not appearing too large.
However, when Woohyuk looked up at his face…
“…!”
Chills!
He felt an instinctive urge to rise at the emotion that washed over him.
Goosebumps spread all over his body.
The moment he locked eyes with the stranger, an indescribable fear enveloped him.
‘… What kind of malice…’
Woohyuk’s body naturally became tense at the lethal intent radiating from the man.
He hadn’t done anything. He hadn’t even directed a gaze at Woohyuk.
Just looking at him made Woohyuk feel as if he was staring down the grim reaper.
A figure that seemed to have transformed life into human form.
That was the kind of man he was.
“…Who are you…?”
Asking cautiously, filled with suspicion.
With a swift motion.
The man turned his head towards Woohyuk.
Upon seeing the man’s face, Woohyuk instinctively recoiled.
‘…What is this…?’
He looked eerily similar.
The man’s features closely resembled someone Woohyuk knew.
With purple irises and charred whites, the deathly aura loomed even beyond his gaze.
The distinctive slitted eyes and sharp features reminded him of someone familiar.
If that guy aged a bit more, he might have looked like that.
Gulp.
Woohyuk swallowed hard in the uncomfortable silence.
At that moment…
“I’m sorry.”
The sudden apology left Woohyuk dumbfounded.
He hadn’t expected such a sudden apology.
“…What?”
Without hiding his expression, Woohyuk asked.
“Thinking about it, that’s something I’ve never said to you.”
“Hmm?”
Do you know me? Woohyuk’s expression turned curious.
“How do I look?”
This time, the man posed a question to Woohyuk.
“You saved me. How do I look now?”
“…?”
What does that even mean? It was all gibberish to him.
Saved? What does that even entail?
When on earth had he ever saved this man?
“…When did I save you?”
“Despite trying to understand you all my life, I’ve never managed to grasp you.”
Even when Woohyuk inquired, the man had no intention of answering.
“You threw away your precious life to save me. How you did this without hesitation, I cannot comprehend.”
Why was it so?
Hearing those words, Woohyuk felt a tightening sensation in his chest.
“…Who are you? Who are you to say such things?”
“Do you regret it?”
Once again, the story was the same.
The man remained silent, simply continuing his monologue.
“I hope you regret it.”
A heavy tone that felt almost suffocating.
“So, it’d be great if you blamed me. You have that right.”
“…”
“From then and…”
The man’s gaze returned to Woohyuk once more.
“In the future too.”
“…”
No matter how he pondered, Woohyuk couldn’t grasp it.
He had no clue what the man meant or who he even was.
But…
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
For some reason, Woohyuk found himself speaking to the man.
If you asked why…
“If you’re claiming that I saved your life,”
It felt like that was the only proper thing to say.
“It must have appeared worth it at that time.”
“…”
The man still avoided eye contact but Woohyuk could see the subtle tremor in his shoulders.
“I’m unsure whether you truly know me or not, but you questioned me about regret?”
Woohyuk retorted with a curt expression.
“Well, I’d guess you wouldn’t regret it. Saving someone who deserved it is enough. You likely thought that way.”
That’s what he believed too; he expressed that thought.
At that moment,
“The start was flawed.”
“Start?”
“That’s right.”
I apologize.
That was what the man uttered while looking at Woohyuk.
For some reason, Woohyuk felt unsettled by it.
“Thank you.”
“…!”
“That sounds a bit better to hear.”
“Huh.”
The man smiled lightly at Woohyuk’s words.
“You’re still an idiot, huh?”
“What…”
Woohyuk stared at the man as if it was absurd that he was being insulted like this.
At that same moment, he felt a sense of familiarity.
“What the hell?”
“Such a rude guy upon our first meeting. Is there a common trait for everyone who looks like this?”
Swish.
At Woohyuk’s words, the man stood up.
Seeing that, Woohyuk waved his hand, looking somewhat flustered.
“I was just joking! I was just kidding…!”
Sure enough.
Woohyuk instinctively noticed and tried to escape from the situation.
Fortunately, it seemed the man wasn’t going to hit him.
Walking calmly towards Woohyuk, he looked down and said:
“Now, get up.”
“Pardon?”
“My hands are starting to hurt.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, he pondered what that meant.
Smack!
“Ugh!?”
Woohyuk’s head turned to the side involuntarily.
The sharp pain made him cover his cheek.
That was true. But…
‘That guy didn’t hit me.’
The man remained silent.
What on earth was happening?
Smack!
“Guh!”
He got hit again.
That wasn’t the end.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
With each sharp sound, Woohyuk’s head turned from side to side.
“Ugh-! Stop!”
He let out a cry with no specific target.
Amidst it all, the man merely stared at Woohyuk and continued speaking.
“Get up.”
Smack!
“No-! Sleep…!”
Smack! Smack!
“Get up.”
Smack!
“What the hell—!!”
Finally, after enduring for too long, Woohyuk shouted.
“I’m getting up! I’m getting up, so stop hitting me!”
He jumped up vigorously and yelled.
“Whew… Pant…”
“Oh. You’re awake.”
Woohyuk turned his gaze to the slightly higher-pitched voice, contrasting the heavy tone from earlier.
There, Gu Yangcheon was looking at Woohyuk with his hand raised.
“…You… Ugh!?”
Woohyuk winced at the pain he felt.
His cheeks were burning with pain.
Simultaneously, it felt incredibly hot.
“I barely managed to wake you up. Guess this method worked after all.”
So, the pain and sounds he’d been experiencing…
“…You actually hit me?”
“I did so because you wouldn’t wake up at all.”
Woohyuk, cheek all swollen, responded to Guyangcheon’s words.
“…You could have just woken me up with energy.”
If he wanted to jolt him awake, he only needed to send some energy through him.
While that may have been a slightly challenging method, someone at Guyangcheon’s skill level could do it easily.
Upon hearing that, Guyangcheon sheepishly laughed.
“That’s not something you can easily do anymore.”
“What does that even mean…?”
Woohyuk was about to ask but suddenly widened his eyes.
He sensed something unusual.
He checked his body.
“Uh?”
Then he realized.
Something was definitely different within him.
‘What is this?’
Aside from the fact that his uniform was a total mess, physically, he appeared alright.
Internally, however, it was a different story.
‘…Energy.’
What a tremendous energy! Incredible energy was swirling within Woohyuk’s body.
Originally, Woohyuk belonged to Yoo Seong’s generation.
As one of the six dragons and three peaks, known for supreme martial arts, his energy was by no means small.
Yet the current state was on a different level entirely.
‘…Overwhelming.’
It flowed and overflowed.
So much so that he couldn’t even comprehend the sheer quantity.
Even then.
“…!”
As Woohyuk tried to perceive the energy, he eventually noticed the strangest part.
‘Why is my energy…!’
The energy that should have resided in the lower dantian was now flowing toward the heart…
Which meant…
It was circulating from the breakup point.
What was going on?
“Tsk.”
Guyangcheon clicked his tongue at Woohyuk’s reaction.
“Already a guy known for being close with others. And on top of that, consuming good fortune.”
“What on earth…?”
“Ah, damn it… I’m really regretting it…”
sigh
The constant sighs carried a notable weight.
“…It’s really a shame… a true waste…”
“…What are you talking about? What’s the waste?”
“There’s such a thing, kid! If only I had consumed that…”
He cursed while inspecting Woohyuk’s body left and right.
“However, fortunately, it seems like it’s functioning properly.”
“…?”
“It looks like you’re not aware of what you have… Perhaps this is an issue arising from handing it over?”
“What are you rambling about?”
“Whatever, if everything works out, it’s fine.”
Without offering a single explanation, Guyangcheon got to his feet.
Woohyuk stared at him, astonished.
“Are you hurt…?”
“Hmm? Ah.”
This was due to how battered Guyangcheon appeared.
His upper body was heavily marked with dark scars, bleeding.
His body was covered in scrapes and scratches.
Moreover…
‘His breathing is irregular.’
Guyangcheon’s breath was unstable.
This served as proof that he was well worn out.
What on earth had happened that even a monster like him had become fatigued?
“It’s merely a small scratch.”
He answered casually, though it certainly didn’t look trivial.
At that moment, Woohyuk inspected his surroundings, realizing something.
“Is this…?”
Everything was destroyed and shattered, but this was a familiar space.
Without a doubt… the place he had come with Yusun…
Oh.
“Yusun…! What about Princess Il?”
“…”
At Woohyuk’s question, Guyangcheon made a troubled expression.
Then he spoke to Woohyuk.
“Honestly, I have quite a few things I want to ask you.”
“…”
At those words, Woohyuk clamped his mouth shut.
There were things that needed to be said.
Yes, there were indeed things like that.
Guyangcheon had questions to ask Woohyuk.
Conversely, it was also the moment Woohyuk had his own questions for Guyangcheon.
“So. Be prepared.”
“…Prepared?”
“Yes, get ready.”
Guyangcheon disinterestedly fiddled with his ear with his pinky finger.
“You can tell it’s going to take a while. Let’s prepare a three-line summary. For both of us.”
“…”
“Long chats are annoying for both of us, right?”
Despite this being a serious situation,
Guyangcheon remained unfazed.
Three lines to summarize this situation? He was truly off his rocker.
‘This guy is truly…’
No matter how he looked at him, he was an incomprehensible existence.
But at that moment,
“Then, I’ll go first, so you can take your time.”
“What?”
Guyangcheon slightly turned his back while saying this.
Woohyuk was taken aback by his words.
“You’re leaving?”
Suddenly, he was just up and going?
Leaving him behind here?
Seeing Woohyuk’s look of confusion, Guyangcheon stated,
“Originally, I was going to take you with me when you woke up.”
Right.
Though the original aim of the visit had shifted, the primary goal of coming here had been to bring Woohyuk along.
However…
“I’m a bit in a hurry now.”
Guyangcheon wiped the cold sweat from his brow and stared intently at something in the distance.
“Oh damn, of all the times, this one’s rough. Why is nothing ever simple?”
“…Yangcheon…?”
“Considering your condition, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. Just come as you wish.”
Guyangcheon seemed to prepare himself as though he had no time to explain further.
He bent his knees as if about to jump high.
Flare!
Instantly, flames engulfed Guyangcheon’s body.
And he launched himself forward.
Just as he set his mind to leap,
“Ah.”
As if something had slipped his mind, Guyangcheon turned to look back at Woohyuk.
“Hey.”
“Uh?”
“Thanks…”
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
Biting his lips lightly, Guyangcheon once more addressed Woohyuk.
“Thank you. For being alive.”
“…?”
Woohyuk was about to ask what he meant.
Flare!!! Crash!
In a blaze, Guyangcheon shattered the ceiling and soared.
“…”
Left alone, Woohyuk couldn’t shake the feeling of bittersweetness.
As if he was feeling something,
A feeling that somehow seemed not quite right.
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