Chapter: 977
“……What did you just say?”
Yusa asked Shin Cheol, unable to contain her disbelief. It couldn’t be helped—she had just heard an unbelievable story.
Bloodline? Did he just say bloodline?
“What does that mean?”
As she spoke, a face popped into her head. It was him.
The guy who ignored his own orders and gave commands that directly contradicted them.
That guy who not only stomped on her pride but vanished whenever she tried to look down on him arrogantly.
He was the type of person she was determined to tear apart the next time they crossed paths.
‘That guy…’
Her master’s bloodline? Yusa’s widened eyes refused to shrink at Shin Cheol’s words.
‘No way.’
The questions swirling in her mind gradually became more tangled.
The reason why her commands didn’t have any effect.
A power like the master’s couldn’t reach him.
‘No way, that guy…’
Because he’s the master’s bloodline?
‘……No.’
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, Yusa shook her head. That couldn’t be it. Even if he really was the master’s child, that had nothing to do with her.
Commands are the power one possesses as a being.
Because he is the master, he stands at the top, with generals beneath him.
Even if he were the master’s child, it’s strange to presume he is superior to the master based solely on that.
Judging by this, Yusa stared fiercely at Shin Cheol.
“You’re not trying to play with words again, are you?”
“Do I look so relaxed that I can joke around with you?”
“Don’t you think so?”
“……Hmm.”
Shin Cheol scratched his cheek at Yusa’s pointed words.
Even she had to admit, it did seem a bit like that.
“……This is ridiculous.”
Yusa frowned at the sight and sighed. That guy never changes. That thought suddenly struck her.
He was just like before—exactly as he was when the master brought him here and presented him as the new general.
Even now, she still wasn’t fond of him.
At that time, she had been the one who protested the most.
How could the master appoint a foreigner as a general?
That was the first day she had vehemently rebelled against her master.
‘……’
Recalling that day, Yusa bit her lip. Was that the day it all began?
The moment she fell out of favor with her master, and her position started to waver.
Slither, slither.
A strange sensation spread from Yusa’s toes.
That disgusting energy crawled up her legs and brushed against her throat. It then seeped into her throat through her mouth.
“……So.”
Yusa said, swallowing a mouthful of her emotions.
“If what you say is true… then there’s bound to be friction with what that guy wants to do?”
If she truly wished to become the master.
That ambition wouldn’t align with that guy called Cheonma. Changing the world and aiming to become its master meant she’d be clashing head-on with her own desires.
As she pointed this out, Shin Cheol tilted his head, confused.
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean, what am I talking about? He also dreams of being the master.”
If she wanted to take that position, she absolutely shouldn’t join hands with him.
As she pointed this out, Shin Cheol chuckled lightly.
“You’re misunderstanding something.”
“What?”
“That guy… Ah… No. He doesn’t want to be the master.”
What kind of nonsense was he spouting? He wants to change the world, yet doesn’t want to be its master?
This was utterly baffling.
Was he really joking? Just as Yusa was about to narrow her eyes again.
“So, if you want to hear the truth, make a clear choice.”
Shin Cheol cut off Yusa’s reaction and addressed her directly.
“Will you continue to live your original life here, feeling uneasy? Or will you prepare to soar towards where you truly want to go? Make your choice.”
“……”
Choose.
Should she join forces with those guys?
Or, should she remain here and fulfill her duties as a general?
‘If… I choose to stay as a general…’
She’d have to report the scheming of these men to her master. Doing so would allow her to capture those daring enough to rebel against him.
Finally, she’d have a reason to erase that irritating guy and the volcano she’d been fed up with.
But.
‘If I make that choice…’
Would that guy just sit idly by now?
Yusa wondered if that monster would actually leave her alone.
She had seen how much power that guy possessed—she was fully aware.
Even she, who had lived as a powerful figure among the Moonlight Warriors, referred to him as a monster.
Deciding to stay as a general would mean keeping in mind the possibility of needing to flee, as she reported to her master.
Next.
‘What if I choose them?’
What would happen if she turned her back on her master and joined forces with those guys?
‘Really.’
Did they have a cunning plan?
Was that guy genuinely the master’s bloodline?
He said he’d alter the world, but had no intention of becoming its master?
And ultimately.
‘If I join hands with them…’
Could she become her own master?
All sorts of thoughts invaded her mind.
If she only considered the possibilities, remaining in her current position seemed more beneficial. This could serve as an opportunity to solidify her standing.
‘If only that foolish leader, that damned punk named Yarang, and that despicable crow could all remain powerless, I could truly establish my position.’
If she could secure her place so firmly that no one would dare dispute it, then perhaps this would indeed prove beneficial.
Crack!
With her thoughts racing, Yusa clenched her fist.
So.
Was she truly satisfied with that?
When that question echoed in her mind, she reflexively responded.
“…First.”
Words filled with emotion.
“…I want to talk to him.”
“Heh heh.”
The corners of Shin Cheol’s mouth twitched up.
“As much as you like.”
—
A bright and sunny noon. Beneath a purplish sky.
It was an exceptionally tranquil and peaceful Yawol.
The atmosphere felt somewhat dreary and quiet due to recent events at the Blue Clan and what had befallen the prior White Chief.
People were moving cautiously, glancing around as if on guard.
In fact, many didn’t even dare step outside.
Yawol Castle was half-sealed, and the entry of outsiders was nearly nonexistent.
Neither coming nor going.
That was precisely the nature of the current situation in Yawol.
In this tense environment, behind the alley where the former White Chief was attacked.
A few individuals had gathered in a dilapidated building.
Most wore similar clothing—a white uniform adorned with plum blossom embroidery.
They had swords strapped to their waists and were wearing somewhat excited expressions as they gazed at someone.
“Long Story…! How did you…!”
As one of the warriors spoke up, the elder seated at the table smiled gently and waved his hand.
“I came to see your faces after a long time. How have you all been?”
The leader of the Volcano, Shin Cheol, examined his disciples.
These were all elite disciples.
“I heard Seol-young visited last time.”
“That’s right.”
“Was anything else happening?”
“…Nothing much apart from that.”
The man of letters eyed Shin Cheol closely as though scrutinizing him.
“Recently… the atmosphere in Yawol has not been good.”
“Indeed… there’s an unusual caution as an unidentified entity has been attacking the nobles.”
“…What kind of lunatic would provoke a noble? This is chaotically ridiculous.”
Upon hearing this, Shin Cheol unconsciously cleared his throat.
The image of that lunatic came to mind.
At that very moment.
Squeak-!
The building’s door creaked open as someone entered. The warriors inside quickly grasped their swords at the sudden intrusion.
“Damn it, this is infuriating.”
As soon as crass words echoed from the entrance, Shin Cheol sighed as if haunted by spirits.
‘Here they come.’
It was that lunatic again.
“Life’s a drag, seriously. Oh, I need to quit this nonsense!”
With irritation ringing in his voice, he stomped in. The warriors were momentarily stunned by his confident and natural demeanor.
“Uh….”
“That… person.”
What on earth was he up to? They were puzzled for a moment but quickly remembered. They had seen that face the last time Gubong had come by.
With fierce, sharp eyes and a tone that closely resembled his visage.
This was the very guy who had beaten up the son of the White Chief because he was irked.
“What are you staring at? Don’t worry about me, just get back to what you were doing.”
The young man had arrived.
Gu Yangcheon waved dismissively at the disciples, as if he were annoyed.
“……”
Anyone watching would think he owned the place.
“Oh, this is exhausting.”
Gu Yangcheon trudged over and plopped himself down in front of Shin Cheol. At that moment, Shin Cheol was bizarrely covering his face with his hand.
“Noya. What are you up to?”
“…For a moment, don’t talk to me.”
“Why? What’s the matter?”
“I’m so embarrassed I can barely look up.”
“…What are you even saying?”
Why was he rambling abruptly? Gu Yangcheon looked at Shin Cheol with an expression of disbelief.
After a brief moment, Shin Cheol managed to pull his hand away from his face.
“Phew…”
Gu Yangcheon regarded him with a look that silently questioned, “What’s with this strange behavior?”
He casually picked his nose and asked Shin Cheol, “Did you wrap things up well?”
“Did you?”
“…Well, it turned out okay.”
“That side is no different.”
Right.
Not perfect, but satisfactory.
They both exchanged identical answers and shot each other looks tinged with mutual dissatisfaction.
“The young man should have done better.”
“… You said to trust me because I’m experienced. What do you mean by just okay? It’s like I aged poorly.”
“This brat…?”
“Hey now. No violence.”
As Shin Cheol began to rise, Gu Yangcheon quickly raised a hand.
This mad old man had a tendency to throw punches at people for no reason.
What exactly was a Taoist to do when faced with such a terrible temper?
No matter how one looked at it, it was baffling.
Tsk, tsk. Shin Cheol clicked his tongue and sat back down in his chair, then asked Gu Yangcheon.
“What about the thing you said you’d check?”
“Oh, that.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Yangcheon nodded in agreement.
That’s what he had been checking up on.
“Yes, it seems that the magic also has an effect on the chief.”
The Moonlight Tribe. Indeed, did the magic work even among the leaders?
He had just come to verify that.
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