Chapter: 776
The first thing I felt was the sound of my heart.
Thump-!
It was a vibration that felt a bit thicker than usual.
Because of that, I involuntarily clutched my chest.
A man’s back that looked fine at first glance.
I wasn’t bothered at first, but the more I looked, the more something started to grate on me.
Thump-! Thump-!
The vibrations grew stronger and stronger, so intense that I could feel them even without concentrating.
Ha.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yeah, I thought it was too easy.
For some reason, it seemed like everything was going perfectly according to my plans. Yeah, my life couldn’t possibly be that easy.
I furrowed my brows, putting more pressure on my clenched chest.
Thump-!
The heartbeat continued to grow louder, and the sensation locked inside my body began to stir.
Woohoo!
A sound that only I could hear spread into my ears like a phantom ringing.
“Hoo.”
I did my best to hold back any sounds that might slip from my lips.
My ragged breathing might reach him.
– You mean the Dragon Lord?
– Is that the new Dragon Lord?
– Then what happens to the martial arts tournament?
The Dragon Lord had said he would seat the winner of the martial arts competition.
Who the heck is that guy?
As everyone pondered this, Geomseon spoke as if offering an explanation.
“I fully recognize that you are surprised. Trust me on this— the Dragon Lord I just introduced is an exceptional person.”
It was an introduction that differed from the plan, without even revealing his identity.
In the midst of it all, he mentioned that he knew everyone was startled, but he asked for their trust.
Naturally, there was no one who thought positively about this.
A vague flutter of excitement permeated the doubts and suspicions.
What’s with this excitement amid all this chaos?
Am I seriously thinking favorably about the Dragon Lord when I might die soon?
What could it be?
Geomseon continued his explanations, but I was already too preoccupied to hear.
All I could focus on was this mysterious figure called the Dragon Lord.
My pounding heart and the instinctual feeling bubbling inside me.
An energy that wasn’t completely precise, but felt clear at the same time.
That primal certainty that this unknown individual had the essence of a blood demon.
Blood energy.
The energy that the blood demon had instilled in Jang Seon-yeon and Namgung Cheonjun was emanating from him too.
I could feel the blood energy, albeit faintly.
It was so subtle that if I’d been careless, I might have overlooked it.
Even though it was emanating so delicately, I could undeniably sense it.
Because…
I have that blood flowing within me too.
It would be more accurate to say that it came to the body of a dragon and became integrated into the flesh.
Now, it was closer to my energy than the blood demon’s energy, allowing me to feel it.
That guy possesses the blood energy.
The Dragon Lord introduced by Geomseon has blood energy, which strongly suggests he is associated with the Blood Demon faction.
Not just likely, but almost certainty.
Yeah, if he weren’t one of them, there’d be no way I could feel that energy at all.
Then, another question popped into my mind.
Who is he?
Who is this guy that a being of such strength appeared out of nowhere as the Dragon Lord?
You can’t tell just by looking at the body.
The way he carried himself and the form of his muscles. Just from that, I could ascertain he was a swordsman.
But still, if he’s of that caliber, I should recognize him just from seeing his face.
I can’t even see his face.
Even that is concealed behind a mask.
Should I try to get a closer look?
To figure it out, I thought I might check beyond the mask with my sensing abilities.
It’s dangerous.
That would be a gamble too risky.
It was clear at a glance that it was no ordinary mask.
It probably had a similar effect to the one I used when disguising myself as a demon.
Even if not, it was too risky to use my abilities immediately.
If I tried to take a peak at that level, I’d surely be caught.
If I expressed my curiosity too overtly, the chances of being noticed were high.
So, the only thing I could estimate right now was:
That guy is with the Blood Demon.
I already knew that the Blood Demon had extended its influence into the Murim Alliance.
In reality, it seemed bizarre that someone causing this much chaos hadn’t appeared until now.
Perhaps this is a stroke of good fortune.
It might seem odd to frame it as fortunate.
Surprisingly, it brought some comfort.
If he doesn’t show up, it would have been a real problem.
The other party needs to emerge properly for me to understand the situation.
If they stayed completely still, I’d struggle to formulate a plan of action.
Thus, the appearance of this figure could complicate things in my mind but also turn into an opportunity.
Because it confirms that they exist.
The Blood Demon has reached out to the sect.
That individual is moving with some kind of intent.
Now, that’s certain and it makes navigating the future much easier.
…Hah.
I realigned my objectives.
The reasoning behind taking on the troublesome position of Dragon Lord fell under this umbrella too.
The issue is.
I understand this part, but what is the true intent behind it?
At the same time…
He knows something about me.
Given that the Blood Demon faction is aware of my existence, it’s likely that they have a handle on the current situation too.
So, will he take some action?
Maybe this very moment is the result of whatever action he’s decided to take.
Thump-.
Thump-.
With my heart racing and thoughts in a whirl, all kinds of notions crashed together.
“If a crisis like this arises again…”
Geomseon’s reiterated words still didn’t reach me.
My attention remained solely fixed on the Dragon Lord.
After watching for a while like this…
Swish-!
…!
The Lord’s gaze suddenly turned toward me, making our eyes meet for a brief moment.
It was a gaze not easily seen due to the mask. But just as quickly, he shifted his focus away.
For that fleeting instant, looking into those eyes made me feel something inexplicable.
What was that?
The momentary glance at the Dragon Lord’s eyes triggered a sense of familiarity.
As if I had seen them somewhere before.
Shortly after the funeral.
As the crowd began to disperse, countless pieces of information started to circulate.
– The legend of the Murim Alliance. The strategist Mokyeon has returned.
A genius who led the golden age of the alliance alongside Geomseon.
Now in his old age, the living legend who was Mokyeon returned to his post upon hearing of the alliance’s crisis.
While rumors began to spread quietly, he made an appearance at the funeral to prove the truth behind it.
Many responded positively to this news.
It’s no wonder.
He achieved overwhelming victories in the first war against the Sapa in Guangdong, pushing back their forces significantly.
Afterward, he continued to lead numerous wars to victory.
A person who managed to bring home victory even in adverse conditions.
A living testament to the legend of invincibility.
It was said that because there was a Sword Lord, the alliance prospered.
And because of Mokyeon’s presence, they did not face defeat.
This was a saying during the peak period of the Murim Alliance in the Central Plains.
When word spread that Mokyeon would step down as strategist alongside Geomseon’s retirement, many expressed their dismay.
Their departure meant concerns about the future of the alliance.
– It’s truly starting to get a bit tricky, just as they’d said.
These worries were proven true. Indeed, shortly thereafter, the Murim Alliance began to decline gradually.
The person who rose to lead after Geomseon.
Jang Cheon, the “Fun Sword”, possessed decent political and managerial skills but was merely average.
When compared to the times he was noted as remarkable, he was seen as relatively lacking.
Frankly, it probably wasn’t bad.
Even if their strength waned, maintaining it was beyond impossible.
Therefore, one could say he was not a bad leader, given his certain shortcomings.
But.
It was tough to step into the shoes that had been neatly filled by his predecessor.
Whether this was a problem from Geomseon’s days or if Nakgeom had messed up is unclear.
Or perhaps it was simply unfortunate timing.
The Murim Alliance was shaking day by day.
This instability stemmed from a chain of past events that had accumulated over the years and brought us to where we are now.
Of course, labeling this as Nakgeom’s failure is complicated.
Even if it had been Geomseon in charge, recovery would have been difficult.
What could anyone do when it wasn’t their fault and everything around them was unraveling?
Anyway, afterward, Nakgeom stepped down from his position for various reasons, and Geomseon took on the leadership role, but…
This guy is the most unfortunate.
Currently, the most pitiful figure was Geomseon.
Mishaps that accumulated during Nakgeom’s time and things that others ignited.
And.
I anticipate causing many more mishaps in the future.
I was set to push forward vigorously with my plans, which would leave Geomseon as the most tormented leader in the history of the Murim Alliance.
Otherwise, he might become simply the most incompetent leader.
It wasn’t anticipated, yet murmurs of this have been circulating already.
In this scenario.
Mokyeon will have a substantial impact on public sentiment.
The return of a legendary figure is an excellent source of hope for the people.
Wouldn’t Mokyeon be able to mend the current disarray?
People would undoubtedly believe so.
And in reality, most of them do believe it.
Is this something Mokyeon planned himself?
I don’t know that old man very well. Somehow, I suspect it was part of his scheme.
For someone who understands his value well, it would certainly be a way to leverage it.
There was also this:
– They say the Holy King plans to lead the Seongryongdae and prepare for battle against the Sapa?
Those who made a mess of Hanam through raids.
He mentioned he would hunt them down and prepare for revenge.
Now that I’ve gained notoriety, this merges into a grand tale like feeding firewood to a flame.
What happened in Hanam was the Sapa’s fault.
The Holy King will not only save Hanam but will also wage war on the Sapa.
This means our enemy is the Sapa.
Clearly, this was an action taken with that intention.
Don’t confuse the enemy. It’s the Sapa, not the Murim Alliance.
It appears that’s the message the Murim Alliance aimed to convey…
Funny enough, it’s working.
This ridiculous trick has proved quite effective.
By tying Mokyeon and me together, the perceptions in people’s minds began to shift.
The real enemy is the Sapa.
Those who aimed their spears at the incompetent Murim Alliance soon redirected their fury toward the Sapa.
While there were still some who insisted it was the alliance’s fault and warned against being swept away…
– Are you going to defend those damn Sapa bastards?
– Damn it!! If they hadn’t attacked in the first place, none of this would have happened!
As ideologies transformed, division and rifts began to emerge.
Watching this, I couldn’t help but internally applaud.
As expected, those who’ve been entrenched in the political scene are impressive.
Do you know the easiest and most effective way to alter public opinion in politics?
Instead of just redirecting the spear tips targeting them.
Make them aim at each other.
The aim was to incite conflict among them, thus reducing the collateral damage on our side.
Incitement is a frightening yet surprisingly simple task.
The method I used was, ultimately, agitation.
The tactics used by the Murim Alliance this time are likely no different.
What a shame.
Honestly, I knew this would unfold.
If only it could have burned a bit brighter, things would’ve been simpler afterward…but it didn’t happen.
Then.
With the interference of the Dragon Lord, it felt like throwing a dart right into the eye of a dragon.
– The alliance certainly seems to be up to something.
– The revival of the Dragon Lord… This might genuinely restore peace.
– If they can just do as much as the Dragon Lord did! That shouldn’t be too difficult…!
Words that were once ablaze with anger were now replaced with something else entirely.
As I surveyed the situation, I released a short sigh.
The reason behind that sigh was not anything complicated.
“I should have been more attentive.”
It was a self-directed reproach.
“Had I done that, I could have plotted even more effectively.”
I should have dug deeper into Mokyeon’s affairs.
Ideally, I should have envisaged a way to eliminate him before he reemerged.
I should have been certain about the Dragon Lord too.
Since Geomseon had leveraged the Dragon Lord’s standing using the martial arts system, I should’ve educated myself on the significance of the Dragon Lord.
Of course, it’s not that I was completely unprepared; but given the outcome, it felt more like an excuse.
Tsk.
If it’s a failure, then yes, it’s a failure.
It wasn’t a loss, but it was certainly a painful blunder.
Or maybe… when you look at it another way…
Perhaps this isn’t the sole problem.
If we analyze things during this process, isn’t there one certainty?
I lack strength.
The ability to handle any issues that may arise.
Simply put, that’s what I’m lacking.
Gnash.
I grimaced, biting down on my teeth.
I’m still too weak.
This hit home again when facing a monster of the hundredth level.
Today, the necessity of power was made clear once more.
I restored my skillset at an age fully a decade earlier than in my past life.
My body is better than before, and its functionality has become sharper, yet I still feel unsatisfied.
“This isn’t going to cut it.”
My ambitions are far too lofty to stay complacent.
Today reinforced that certainty.
“I need to grow stronger.”
Just reaching the realm of a mediocre teenage master isn’t going to suffice.
That’s far too little.
I must push myself further.
Some might hear this and scowl at me, thinking, “What kind of privileged talk is that?”
“I need to at least reach the Three Supreme Realms.”
Only then can I actually effect change.
Grit.
I threw those words out and rotated my thoughts around.
With each rotation, pain shot through me.
It meant my injuries were slowly mending, but they were still there, reminding me of their presence.
Feeling this, I stood upright.
“Alright then.”
After the funeral wrapped up, I took a moment to greet others briefly before heading back to my quarters.
There was a need to investigate both the Blood Demon and the Dragon Lord.
But a larger reason was my realization of how dangerous the current situation was, meaning I needed a plan.
Fortunately, a plan was indeed at my disposal.
In the storage room within my quarters.
As I approached it slowly, I extended my hand to examine what was hidden inside.
“…Where?”
Swish-!
Upon lifting the blanket covering it, I could see the collected items inside.
There seemed to be an assortment of large stones.
Huge stones radiating a red hue.
These were the magical stones of the red monsters we captured during the last raid.
For others, they might just appear as ordinary debris from monsters, but for me, each of these was equivalent to an extraordinary elixir.
In terms of value, the magical stones far exceed the Dokcheondan.
These magic stones were piled together by the dozens.
Of course.
“Even if I consume them, there’s not much gain.”
Given how much my energy reservoirs have expanded, consuming these red monsters won’t make a significant difference anymore.
To be precise, they would merely replenish my spent energy.
But I wasn’t too concerned about that.
“After all, they’re merely dessert.”
These red magical stones were nothing but an afterthought.
My true interest lay elsewhere.
Among the stack of red rocks, I spotted a particularly unique magical stone that stood out boldly.
It was vastly larger and colored differently.
A white stone.
This was the magical stone gifted by a hundred-level monster.
Carefully preserved evidence of that creature’s power.
Its energy levels were incomparable to other magical stones.
“… ”
Just as I reached out, I hesitated.
There was a staggering amount, enough to make it daunting to consume.
A few days had passed since the battle, meaning the magical stone had been stored for just as long; but the reason I hadn’t consumed it was straightforward.
The sheer abundance of energy meant my body needed to be capable of processing it.
Thus, ideally, I’d planned to rest and safely consume it after at least two weeks.
“… I might have made things a bit complicated.”
Given the new developments, I felt an urgency to consume it quickly.
“Eating this won’t break my boundaries or anything.”
Yet surely my injuries would be somewhat healed in the process.
It’s unfortunate that with my currently damaged state, I can’t afford to spill more energy, but given the pressing matters surrounding the Dragon Lord, it was better to eat something than risk starvation.
Once I made that decision, I stretched out the hand that had hesitated.
Thud.
My fingers brushed against the white magical stone.
The chill radiating from it sent a shiver through me.
Woohoo!
Immediately, I activated the Demonic Absorption technique.
At that moment.
Kuuuuuu—!!!
An immense surge of energy began to invade my heart.
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