Chapter 326: Magic Mirror. (1)

“…Did you wait for me?”

The voice of Jang Seon-yeon, as he spoke, held a very slight tremor.

“Not for long. I came quickly too.”

He said with a grin.

At those words, Jang Seon-yeon had to frown. That meant he had, after all, been waiting for him here.

‘How did he know….’

Jang Seon-yeon pondered, but

“Why are you surprised?”

Gu Yangcheon, who had been waiting for him, asked, and Jang Seon-yeon looked up.

“Weren’t you looking for me for the same reason anyway?”

“…!”

“Your reaction is amusing. Right, around this time, you were still like this, huh.”

Jang Seon-yeon put aside Gu Yangcheon’s cryptic follow-up words and focused on what was said before him.

-For the same reason.

Recalling those words, he could simultaneously recall what Gu Yangcheon had said in his previous sect.

-You will die here.

Those were the words Gu Yangcheon had said to him. Remembering them, he clenched his fist slightly.

“Those are words I cannot comprehend.”

“You look like you understand better than anyone. If not, why would you have come looking for me? Do what you need to do. We have to catch the demonic beasts.”

“…”

Listening to Gu Yangcheon’s words, his teeth clenched involuntarily. Was it because of his peculiar way of speaking? Or the mockery hidden within? Or perhaps, the undisguised malice directed at him? Or maybe, blocking his path from beginning to end, it was because of Gu Yangcheon’s talent, he couldn’t tell.

‘No.’

It wasn’t that he couldn’t tell. He was pretending not to know. Jang Seon-yeon already knew the reason. The very existence of that guy was the problem. Talent that seemed to defy the heavens, and the malice directed at him. From the moment he first saw him, until now, and it would continue to block the path he was heading towards. Jang Seon-yeon had to be ahead of everyone else, and shine brighter than anyone. Yet that irritating guy had been ahead of him from the start until now, and moreover, had been shining even brighter. Even if he used his informants and the mouth of the sect, even that would eventually reach its limit. Especially since the sect was gradually withdrawing its support. How could he endure this? That guy was like a huge obstacle to him.

Jang Seon-yeon, hiding his trembling fist, spoke to Gu Yangcheon.

“Isn’t that the same for you too, Young Master Gu?”

“What is.”

“The part about waiting for me. Don’t you have demonic beasts to catch too, Young Master Gu?”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, Gu Yangcheon chuckled.

“That’s right. I have demonic beasts to catch.”

“Then now….”

“I am trying to catch them. Right now.”

Gu Yangcheon’s words made Jang Seon-yeon frown. Because there was no sign of demonic beasts nearby.

“They wear the guise of humans. Not all of them are human. If they forget their true purpose, buried in instinct, and just run wild. What else would they be but demonic beasts?”

The words Gu Yangcheon spat out with a smile towards him, as always, dug into the true intentions hidden beneath his dantian. The emotions reflected in that guy’s eyes were too obvious. His attitude was the same. He didn’t like how the guy acted as if he didn’t care about others’ gazes, running wild as he pleased. While he himself was busy wearing a mask and being conscious of others’ gazes. How could that guy act like that? And even after acting like that, why did so many other people gather around him? Was he the one who was wrong? The more such thoughts crossed his mind, the more Jang Seon-yeon disliked that guy. He was not wrong. He absolutely had to be right.

“Are you perhaps thinking of killing me?”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, Gu Yangcheon replied as if he found it absurd.

“Why are you acting like a victim now? This guy’s hilarious.”

Jang Seon-yeon, suppressing his emotions inwardly at Gu Yangcheon’s words, looked into his eyes and asked.

“I still don’t understand.”

“What.”

“The reason why you hate me, Young Master Gu. What did I do so wrong to you?”

Jang Seon-yeon felt wronged. Gu Yangcheon could empathize with that feeling of being wronged. It was true that he had received the blood energy of the Blood Demon. And it was true that he had used various schemes to secure his position in somewhat dirty ways. At least until the martial arts tournament, he hadn’t caused significant harm to Gu Yangcheon. His methods were crude, but that was another matter. His innate talent was quite outstanding. To the extent that he might not have reached his peak before the age of twenty without his schemes. Jang Seon-yeon was indeed a genius. To suddenly declare he hated him so much. And express malice, saying he didn’t like him, Gu Yangcheon… from Jang Seon-yeon’s perspective, it was difficult to understand, but

“It’s bothersome to explain. Can’t it just be that I hate you?”

He found it bothersome to explain each point. What use would it be to pinpoint and state the reasons why he hated him? ‘Would he even understand if I told him what I experienced in my past life.’ If you put it another way, it meant that the current Jang Seon-yeon hadn’t committed such sins yet. In fact, there were people who, seeing a different side of him in this life compared to his past life, he hadn’t killed. Of course.

“You hate me too, don’t you? Let’s just make it the same.”

That didn’t mean he included Jang Seon-yeon among them.

“What do you intend to do if that’s the case?”

“You don’t even deny hating me anymore?”

“…Are you suggesting we have a life-or-death duel right here, right now?”

“A life-or-death duel sounds good. But do you have the confidence?”

Gu Yangcheon chuckled as he said it. Jang Seon-yeon’s face contorted. His face, which looked so gentle when he smiled, suddenly twisting so drastically was a novel sight.

“…If not that, do you intend to assassinate me? With the instructors of the Divine Dragon Pavilion spread out everywhere?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was a bit curious about that myself. What were you planning to do to me?”

Even though he had leaked his presence and shaken them off, with instructors spread out everywhere…

Click.

Gu Yangcheon shifted his gaze to look behind Jang Seon-yeon. There it was. It was Cheol Ji-seon. The formation spread around them was peculiar. Since Cheol Ji-seon’s level wasn’t enough to completely hide his presence, it seemed he had overlaid something else.

‘What is it?’

It was ambiguous to call it a formation. It was subtly altered.

‘Internal energy technique?’

Ironically, it seemed to be in the domain of sound. Focusing, he heard a low, humming sound. Seeing that, it seemed Cheol Ji-seon had somehow managed to drag him here, avoiding the instructors’ attention. If it was the same as his experience in his past life, it seemed to be the same trick this time. That’s why he was puzzled. As Jang Seon-yeon said, with instructors spread out everywhere, if he suddenly pulled off something like this, did Jang Seon-yeon have a way to handle it himself?

‘That guy never did anything he couldn’t handle.’

It meant he always left an escape route. It didn’t seem like such a guy would act thoughtlessly now. Having thought that far, Gu Yangcheon took his eyes off Cheol Ji-seon and looked at Jang Seon-yeon.

“You asked why I hate you, right?”

“…”

“If I had to pinpoint why I hate you, it’s because I can see too clearly what you’ll do in the future.”

“What…?”

“You seem to be trying to hide it, but your filthy desires are so immense they’re easily visible.”

Gu Yangcheon, stepping down from the rock he was sitting on, continued speaking while looking at Jang Seon-yeon.

“Do all the later disciples look like shit to you?”

“…”

“You probably think you’re such a great person that you can make everyone bow down and rise above them.”

It was like that in his past life, so why would this time be any different?

“After graduation, you’ll join the Martial Arts Alliance. You’ll start as the lowest-ranking sword disciple, even though you’re the Alliance Leader’s son. That would look better to the public.”

With every word spoken, Jang Seon-yeon’s expression changed.

“It won’t matter that you’re low-ranking anyway, since you’ll climb up quickly… As for rumors, there are plenty of people involved who will handle them.”

“…How….”

Jang Seon-yeon covered his mouth. For a moment, he almost blurted out, ‘How do you know that?’ Gu Yangcheon continued speaking, paying no mind.

“What will you do after that? You’ll pretend to be kind-hearted and go around saving civilians suffering from demonic beasts. Up to this point, it’s all quite good.”

Saving people. From what he heard, it was meant with good intentions. No matter how much of a piece of trash Jang Seon-yeon was, if that was the intention, he could overlook it to some extent. However, Jang Seon-yeon was Jang Seon-yeon.

“Those demonic beast attacks. You’ll plan them, won’t you?”

“…!”

“I suspect you would.”

Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes widened in surprise. This was unexpected. In his past life, Jang Seon-yeon was indeed a skilled martial artist, but compared to Wi Seol-ah, who became the youngest sect leader, he lacked much. The reason why Jang Seon-yeon, called the ‘Meteor Sword’ and hailed as a chivalrous hero by many, rose to the position of sect leader… was because he truly appeared like a meteor in times of crisis, slaying demonic beasts and saving people from the Magic Mirror Gate. There were simply too many such instances. The common people praised him as a new chivalrous hero. Even praising Jang Seon-yeon, the Alliance Leader’s son, highly, but Gu Yangcheon knew. Ultimately, the demonic beast attacks they experienced and Jang Seon-yeon’s rescues were all plays orchestrated by Jang Seon-yeon. Ah, to be precise, it would be slightly different. The ones who were eaten and killed by demonic beasts were real, but Jang Seon-yeon, who used this to pose as a hero, was the only one acting. As if to prove it,

“…What… what are you talking about….”

Jang Seon-yeon’s face trembled violently upon hearing Gu Yangcheon’s words.

“Your delusions are excessive, Young Master Gu. How could a person do such a thing?”

“I don’t know how, but it’s just a prediction.”

If one were to ask how humans could use the Magic Mirror Gate, as Jang Seon-yeon implied, the answer was already close by. It was right behind him. The one who could open and close the Magic Mirror.

‘Zhuge Jihee.’

Whether it was Cheol Ji-seon or Zhuge Jihee. Whether they were disguised as a man or a woman was unknown, but because that person existed, Jang Seon-yeon could quickly climb to a high position. The world always wants a hero. Someone handsome, strong in martial arts, and with a strong backing like Jang Seon-yeon. It didn’t take long for him to rise as a young hero, saving people from the Magic Mirror Gate. Internally, through the demonic beasts and the Magic Mirror Gate, he fed people’s lives as bait, effectively using them for his own status. Of course, that wasn’t the reason Gu Yangcheon hated Jang Seon-yeon. It was a pathetic act, true, but from his standpoint, having no faith in the righteous sect bastards from the start, he wouldn’t fall into shock upon hearing such things. He simply thought. Whether Jang Seon-yeon truly acted like that back then, and if he would be any different now. Gu Yangcheon recalled.

-What did I do so wrong to you?

He thought simultaneously. The reason he should have killed from the start. The reason he spared Zhuge Hyuk, the mastermind of the Demonic Cult and the ‘Heavenly Jade Wolf’. Spared that guy, what reason was there to kill the current Jang Seon-yeon? Seeing Jang Seon-yeon remain silent with his head bowed, Gu Yangcheon suddenly spoke.

“Alright. I’ll give you a chance.”

“…”

Jang Seon-yeon flinched at Gu Yangcheon’s words.

“If you leave now without doing anything, I might consider looking upon you favorably.”

Was he looking for a reason to spare Jang Seon-yeon? No. He simply wanted to shed the contradiction. Sparing Zhuge Hyuk and killing Jang Seon-yeon. Back then, it was a simple reason. Because it wasn’t the Heavenly Jade Wolf he knew. He was just a young boy. And. The reason he came to see her not as the Sword Empress but as Namgung Bi-ah also… was because she wasn’t the Sword Empress. She was just a woman contemplating the search for normalcy. Gu Yangcheon was not a saint. He knew that better than anyone. He would kill those who deserved to die. That guy was at the very front of that list, but still, he wanted to confirm.

“How about it?”

Jang Seon-yeon still had his head bowed, silent. What choice would he make? Waiting for Jang Seon-yeon with a slightly intrigued expression, Gu Yangcheon finally spoke, unable to wait any longer.

“Say something….”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Only then did Jang Seon-yeon lift his head.

“…!”

Seeing Jang Seon-yeon raise his head, Gu Yangcheon momentarily closed his mouth. Expressionless. Not the contorted face from before, nor the smiling face as if wearing a mask. Only expressionless. No emotion was carried on Jang Seon-yeon’s face.

Just then.

Crack-

“This…!”

Something unusual happened to the floor where Gu Yangcheon was standing. The floor began to crack as if lines were forming.

Whoooosh!

A gust of wind pressure from the anomaly on the floor swept the surroundings. Something was opening. Looking at it, Jang Seon-yeon spoke to Gu Yangcheon.

“It’s my first time seeing this. It truly is a wondrous sight.”

“You…!”

Gu Yangcheon tried desperately to move, but whether it was the anomaly appearing on the floor that was the problem, his body stiffened rigidly.

“You won’t be able to move easily.”

That thing opening on the floor was said to possess the power to bind even peak masters. Jang Seon-yeon, confirming Gu Yangcheon’s rigid, immobile state, exhaled slightly and said.

“As expected, removing you was the right thing to do. You’ve been irritating me from the start.”

Perhaps due to the unexpected binding, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You intended… to kill me from the very beginning?”

“Yes. I didn’t like your eyes.”

As if exhausted, Jang Seon-yeon swept his hair back.

“For a mere later disciple from some insignificant minor family to look at me like that. I really didn’t like it.”

“…”

“Moreover, though I hate to admit it. You are monstrously strong.”

Saying that, Jang Seon-yeon smiled slightly.

“Annoyingly so….”

His appearance, having thrown off the mask, was completely different from the image he projected at the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

“Earlier, I asked what you planned to do with so many instructors around?”

“You….”

“It wasn’t easy for me either. So I just decided to stir things up comfortably. Fortunately, I found someone who agrees with me. This isn’t something you need to worry about, as you’ll disappear anyway.”

The widening cracks, eventually began to take shape. It was strange that it formed on the floor, but its appearance was undeniably the Magic Mirror Gate. A Magic Mirror Gate generated by someone else. Seeing its form, Jang Seon-yeon couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“As expected… I’m glad I found it. It will be quite useful in the future.”

He was satisfied. Much more than he expected. Jang Seon-yeon felt goosebumps rise involuntarily from the overwhelming aura and atmosphere just by looking at it. Wasn’t that Gu Yangcheon, unable to move even a single step?

‘I told you. I wouldn’t leave you alone.’

He desperately wanted to make that guy kneel. Although he couldn’t make him kneel in the end, he was satisfied with this. At least he could remove him from his sight forever. If that happened, Wi Seol-ah too. The world’s reputation would eventually….

“Is this enough?”

“…What?”

Just as the Magic Mirror Gate fully opened. Unlike before, a nonchalant voice reached Jang Seon-yeon’s ears.

“What did you just….”

“Hey, you can close it now.”

Gu Yangcheon’s words were heard, and then.

Whoosh!

Gu Yangcheon, who had been standing above the Magic Mirror Gate, instantly vanished from Jang Seon-yeon’s sight.

“He definitely couldn’t move…!”

Gasp!

Jang Seon-yeon’s vision blurred as his body violently shook. By the time he barely regained his senses, his neck was already grabbed, and he was being dragged above the Magic Mirror Gate.

“Wh-what… what is this…!”

“That’s fortunate.”

Gu Yangcheon, holding Jang Seon-yeon’s neck, was smiling brightly.

“If you had really said you’d leave without doing anything, it would have been a bit troublesome.”

“H-how.”

Grrrind-

While Jang Seon-yeon was shocked by the current situation. The Magic Mirror Gate spread across the floor moved. It looked like a viscous swamp, or like a giant mouth trying to swallow them whole.

“Amazed at how it moves?”

“Let… let go…!”

“I found it amazing too. I could move. Ah, but that’s not really important.”

“Let go of me right now! If it comes to this, you too…!”

Despite Jang Seon-yeon’s outcry, Gu Yangcheon just laughed.

“I intended to go in the first place. I’m not so sure about you?”

“What do you mean…!”

“Shall we go on a nice trip together?”

As Gu Yangcheon said this with a smile,

Roaaar-

The Magic Mirror Gate spread across the floor. Roughly swallowed the two of them.