Chapter: 959
“…”
“…”
A space filled with silence.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The only sound you can hear is the sound of water droplets.
The source of the sound was my hand.
Drops of blood keep flowing from the hand that held the sword.
I thought as I watched the dripping blood.
Ah, hell, this hurts so damn much.
‘…Why does it have to hurt so much…’
I’m keeping a straight face, but it honestly feels like I’m in the middle of a torture session.
Is it because I’m gripping harder and longer than last time?
I casually glanced at my palm.
‘Oh dear.’
I can see my bones.
Having experienced this before, I recalled how painfully slow the healing was, and I expected the same this time.
The bandage I had painstakingly wrapped was already soaked and disheveled.
I didn’t feel bad about that. After all, it wasn’t mine; it belonged to Seol-young.
However, things can’t just stay like this…
I was contemplating ripping my clothes to wrap the wound.
Swish.
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, I felt a sensation in my left arm. It was Guijeong.
Guijeong suddenly moved and wrapped my injured hand like a bandage.
‘…Oh.’
What’s this? Are you worried I might faint?
The ghost had a keen sense for caring, apparently.
Crunch.
‘Ugh…!’
As if he read my thoughts, Guijeong tightly wrapped my hand.
It must’ve been meant to stop the bleeding, but the whole situation was utterly ridiculous.
While struggling to bear the pain, the guy in front of me spoke.
“…What do you mean? You want to kill the Dragon Emperor?”
“Literally, I’m going to kill the Dragon Emperor.”
“Are you insane?! How can a dragon intend to kill the Dragon Emperor!”
His eyes turned red at my earnest words. His expression was intense, almost fitting for a dramatic soap opera.
“Why? I could totally kill you.”
“Don’t try to mesmerize me with your nonsense! Do you think I don’t know that a dragon absolutely cannot defy the Dragon Emperor?”
I nodded thoughtfully after hearing the old man’s words.
Cannot defy? I don’t think so.
‘If that were the case…’
That blood demon wouldn’t have needed to act like that.
“…I, no, we don’t trust dragons.”
“…Hmmm….”
Is it because he doesn’t understand the situation, or does he just have a mental block against dragons in general?
The old man kept growling at me.
‘But hey, at least it’s not completely hitting a brick wall.’
I could feel it.
Their atmosphere changed in a rather strange way.
Was it because I mentioned killing the Dragon Emperor?
I could sense that their gazes subtly shifted.
“If you don’t believe me, then nothing can be done….”
It didn’t really matter whether or not they trusted me.
What mattered was.
“That sword you’re holding. I’d like a piece of that for myself.”
“…What?”
As I pointed at the sword the old man was gripping, he narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
“No, I mean this sword right here.”
Thud.
“Huh!?”
I snatched the sword from the old man’s hand, claiming it for myself.
With a weak attempt at grabbing it back, the old man’s face darkened.
“This… This kid!”
He lunged to retrieve it but…
…!
As I pressed the sword against the old man’s neck, he froze.
Of course, I had no intention of actually cutting his throat.
I just needed the sword, and stopping the old man was my goal.
I left the immobilized old man behind, took back my sword, and placed the blade directly against my forearm.
I barely touched it, and yet…
Shiiiii-…!
It burned hot, just like before.
The sword wasn’t hot. Instead, it felt almost icy.
After a brief touch, I withdrew it.
Then, I hurled the sword back at the old man.
“Yikes!”
The old man caught the sword urgently. With a chuckle, I remarked, “I kinda need this. It’s fantastic, isn’t it? I just sat around waiting, and my skin was melting! So I’m asking—does this only work on dragons?”
I had been curious about this for ages. Just looking at it felt ominous.
Even during the spar with Gubong, just seeing this iron made me feel nauseous.
Is it merely annoyance from the metal itself?
Or is this due to the discomfort I feel as a dragon?
“…Do you think I’d tell you?”
“What else can you say? If you don’t enlighten me, I’ll find out elsewhere. Also.”
I glanced around. The place was teeming with wary little folk watching me.
I locked my gaze onto each one and addressed the old man.
“If you can’t answer, how about I just start eliminating your buddies here, one by one?”
“…!”
As I uttered that with a menacing energy, the old man hesitated.
Before his reaction could escalate, I laughed.
“Just kidding.”
I grinned widely, but the old man’s expression remained as stern as a judge in a courtroom.
Of course. This was both a warning and proof.
I can snuff out all of you whenever I feel like it.
But for now, I’m not doing that.
This was the way to demonstrate it to the old man.
Whether it worked or not, the atmosphere around us turned icy.
I took a step back, observing the expressions of those present.
“I suspect staying here any longer is pointless. I’ll be heading back for now.”
Just this much.
I could do more, but to achieve the relationship I desired, I needed to retreat a bit.
“Next time I come around, I hope we can have a proper chat.”
“…I mentioned it before… but I…”
“Yes, I get it, you really despise dragons. I totally understand that. Also…”
I pointed to myself using my wounded hand.
“I hate dragons too. So we should get along famously.”
“…”
“Let’s meet again. I hope you’ll be more forthcoming with your answers next time.”
“Hey, you…!”
I waved my hand casually as I made my way outside.
The old man seemed to be saying something, but I brushed it off lightly.
I leaped away, escaping the street and scaling a building.
“Hmm….”
The sunset cast a warm glow.
Night was just around the corner.
I quietly observed it before shifting my gaze to the north.
This side was this side.
For now, the turtle business was wrapped up.
‘Shall we head back again?’
It was time to finish the last task of the day.
I stepped out of the Volcano Sect.
The destination, of course, was Yawol.
I considered going back right after dealing with yesterday’s business.
‘I should go.’
There were still plenty of unfinished matters, so off I had to go.
Besides, I needed to keep an eye on things.
‘I need to look further into similarities.’
I had to approach him.
I wasn’t sure I could get in close completely, though.
‘If you get closer, you’ll find out eventually.’
With a vague understanding of how powerful the similarities were, I figured he wouldn’t be the kind to remain oblivious if I approached discreetly.
In situations like this, it’s better to approach openly.
‘It feels like I’m going too often….’
Seems like I’m going to Yawol daily.
In that case, wouldn’t it be easier to just settle down there?
‘I think that would be best.’
It’s a hassle going back and forth constantly. Since they say there are folks from the Volcano Sect there, why not just inform them?
I mused on that while climbing the mountain.
“…”
Suddenly, I paused and rolled my eyes.
I scanned the area slowly, as if surveying a forest.
At first glance, it looked like nothing was amiss. Just the same trees and weeds I always encountered along the trail.
Then gradually, the only thing left was the sky with two moons hanging above.
“Hmmm…”
I rested my chin in my hand and exhaled softly.
“…”
I felt the wind.
It didn’t widen the air currents or condense them.
I just stood there, still, with my eyes closed, absorbing my surroundings.
After standing there for a moment.
Ssssssh…
I detected an unusual presence in the flowing air.
“Gotcha.”
As I opened my eyes, I felt a surge of energy at the same moment.
Thump.
The scene shifted, and I chased after someone.
As soon as I moved, whoever had been hiding also started to dash.
But…
Bam!
“…!!”
I was quicker at grabbing the opponent.
As soon as I caught him, he struggled to escape, but before he could find his footing, I slammed him down to the ground.
Crash—!!!
A loud noise erupted, and the ground cracked open.
A burst of wind sent dust spiraling into the air.
As the sight became obscured, I used my energy to clear the dust away.
The being pinned to the ground came into view.
I grinned at him.
“Ah, it’s you?”
The past few days, he had been the one to irritate me every time I stepped out of the Volcano.
Whenever I attempted to locate him with my senses, he disappeared.
I would just try to find him, but he remained elusive, which only added to my irritation.
“It’s you?”
I finally managed to grab hold of my elusive foe.
Thanks to this, I was able to catch the strange sensation I’d been feeling for days without any use of my powers.
“Yalang, was it?”
A woman adorned with a black mask.
I couldn’t tell whether she was genuinely a woman, but judging by her physical form, she definitely was.
She was just staring at me with my hand around her neck.
What kind of expression was hidden behind that mask?
It must have been quite painful, as I was applying considerable pressure.
Not a single drop of sweat fell from her.
‘This woman…’
The master of the myriad worlds.
So, is she the one your mother claimed was your daughter?
Furthermore.
‘She said she inflicted wounds upon Cheonma.’
Did she really injure the Heavenly Horse and escape after that?
Crack!
The moment the thought crossed my mind, I tightened my grip.
“What are you? Why do you keep following me around and irritating me?”
“…”
“Don’t want to talk? Fine then.”
Being someone referred to as a general, she must be quite strong.
Anyway, this opponent had been watching over me until now.
It would be better to provoke her and observe her reactions.
After confirming my thoughts.
“Let’s see how long you can keep your mouth shut.”
Fwoosh—!!!
I engulfed my hand in flames.
Surrounding myself with blue flames and energy.
I aimed the fiery intent at the woman known as Yalang.
No, I tried to unleash my fury.
Whooosh—!!!
With blistering speed, my fist lunged towards her face, set on obliterating it, but…
For some reason, it halted right before her nose.
Was I just trying to scare her? No.
I genuinely meant to strike this woman.
But…
“…Who are you…?”
I couldn’t.
My rigid form rejected the notion.
“You.”
Then I spoke, my voice quaking.
“What is your identity—”
Sssssssss…!!
“Huh!”
As I started to speak, I grimaced suddenly.
Because an explosion of energy burst forth from within me.
A golden aura flooded the scene, momentarily blinding my sight.
I hastily cleared it away, attempting to regain my vision but…
“Damn it.”
The Yalang I had captured had vanished in an instant.
Where did she go? Where could she possibly have fled?
I hurriedly searched for Yalang, but amusingly, there was no need for me to look.
She didn’t attempt to escape at all.
Before I realized it, she had simply moved behind me, watching me intently.
Seeing that, I tried to say something to Yalang again.
Thud!
Suddenly, the cord binding Yalang’s mask came undone.
Slowly, the mask drifted away from her face.
Clunk. It landed lightly on the ground.
Yalang’s bare face was now revealed to the world.
Upon that revelation, my heart felt as if it had hit the floor.
I couldn’t help it.
The face before me was…
“Here you are…”
The face I longed for the most, in both my past life and this one.
She bore an uncanny resemblance to Shin-gyeom Wisul-ah.
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