Chapter 352: Dark King (2)

Time flows.

From just past noon, nearing the hour of You (夕).

The lingering scent of blood in the forest remained, but the overwhelming fighting spirit and killing intent began to gradually decrease.

It had reached what could be called a lull.

The screams of the academy students, which had been incessant, gradually lessened.

By the time the sun began to set, the situation could finally be assessed.

It was an unexpected, massive attack.

Humorously, the attack could be suppressed in less than a day.

That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

After I headed to the Demonic Mirror (魔鏡), when I returned,

I had thought at least several days must have passed.

Surprisingly, they said not even one Si-jin (時辰) had passed since I disappeared.

What in the world could this mean….

Regarding the attack.

Was it because the main figures, the Dark Night Palace Lord (黑夜宮主) and the Black Dragon Sword (黑龍劍), suffered an early defeat?

If someone heard it, they might scoff, ‘An attack involving people like that, suppressed in less than a day?’

It’s not anticlimactic, is what they might say.

In an attack, anticlimactic or not doesn’t exist.

Especially if someone lost their life.

Hwareureuk.

When the captured person’s breath ceased, and all their vitality burned away, leaving only a pile of black ash.

Only then did I release my grip.

As they collapsed powerlessly onto the floor.

Their body crumbled from the impact.

That was the end for the nameless rogue cultivator.

Tuk tuk.

Brushing off my hands, I surveyed the surroundings.

‘Anyone else.’

I expanded my sensory range.

Perhaps it was because I broke through my cultivation level, but my sensory range, which could only perceive a part of the mountain,

Had grown to encompass half of Mount Tai.

It might be partly because my upper dantian opened and my capacity grew,

But it was largely thanks to my control abilities developing more finely and precisely.

‘…Seems like there are a few hiding.’

The rest seemed like something the instructors could handle on their own.

Tadak.

I gathered the remaining flames around me and checked my physical condition.

‘Fatigue has accumulated.’

I could clearly feel my heavy body. It was because I had exerted myself to the point of exhaustion the moment I reached the Martial Grandmaster (化境) realm.

What could I do? An incident had erupted the moment I came out.

Not intervening would have been a problem in itself.

Moreover.

‘I had to find him.’

I was looking for Jang Seon-yeon to deal with him, so I figured I’d take care of things while I was at it.

In the end, I couldn’t find Jang Seon-yeon.

That’s the problem.

‘…What happened?’

According to the laws of the Demonic Mirror, Jang Seon-yeon should have returned with me.

Even when I asked the World Tree, the answer was the same.

It was one of the things I had anticipated, so I didn’t think it would be a major issue.

In fact.

‘If the situation is like this now. It fits perfectly.’

There was an attack.

I didn’t know some crazy bastard would attack the Dragon God Pavilion (神龍館).

Thanks to that, though it’s hard to say, the situation has become quite convenient for killing the bastards I wanted dead.

If Jang Seon-yeon had returned with me,

And I had disposed of him without a trace right now, it would have been like catching the enemy off guard.

‘It’s become troublesome.’

Just in case, I even went to the place where Cheol Ji-seon opened the Demonic Mirror,

But Jang Seon-yeon had vanished as if dead and silent.

I had checked the entirety of Mount Tai while burning enemies to death,

But I couldn’t find Jang Seon-yeon.

How could that be?

‘If he hid… No, that still doesn’t make sense.’

It’s strange for Jang Seon-yeon, who clearly lost his memory, to hide from me.

Even if he did hide, there’s no way I wouldn’t find him.

The only remaining possibility,

‘Is that he’s already dead.’

Lying on the ground, having lost his life force, which is why I can’t find him.

That’s the most plausible story.

Unless he vanished without a trace.

“Tsk.”

It’s become a bit bothersome.

It would have been a very good situation if I could have dealt with him during this opportunity.

But a possibility remains.

“Sigh… Yeah, since when did anything I do ever go smoothly.”

I roughly swept my hair back and recalled all my energy.

My body was filled with fatigue, but I could still move without issue.

This is probably…

‘The effect of becoming a Demon (魔人)?’

I released all the demonic energy (魔氣) into my body and used my heart as collateral.

Thanks to that, I succeeded in becoming a Demon while completely severing my connection with the Heavenly Demon (天魔).

Even….

“…I didn’t think I could undo it.”

I clenched and unclenched my fist to check.

My current body wasn’t that of a Demon, but my original human form.

Once you become a Demon, you can’t return until you die.

This was an immutable law set by the Heavenly Demon.

I was able to return from being a Demon to a human.

‘Was it this easy?’

Around the time I became a Demon and completely subjugated the demonic energy as my own.

I could realize it without anyone teaching me.

How to return to being human.

And how to use the demonic energy.

It was like instinct.

‘And….’

I rolled up my right sleeve and checked my skin.

Seeing the remaining marks there, I frowned.

“What the hell is this.”

There was a subtle something left, an effect I couldn’t identify.

When I became a Demon in my previous life, there was nothing like this.

Why is that?

It’s like…

“Hyung-nim.”

“…!”

The moment I heard the voice, I covered my sleeve. I immediately turned my head towards the direction of the sound.

Pae Woo-cheol was standing there.

“Ah, you were alive?”

“…Alive, you say?”

At my words, Pae Woo-cheol made a hurt expression.

Since his impression was just as rough as mine, making that expression only made him look scarier.

“Hyung-nim… seems to be alright.”

Pae Woo-cheol looked around me, his eyes widening.

All around were the corpses of burned rogue cultivators.

Although the number wasn’t that large, it could be surprising to see.

And as I watched Pae Woo-cheol, who uttered such words, I suddenly spoke.

“Did you kill them?”

“…!”

Hearing my words, Pae Woo-cheol’s eyes trembled.

I knew the emotion reflected in his eyes well.

Looking at Pae Woo-cheol’s condition and the traces left on his hands,

It seemed he had dealt with rogue cultivators.

Because of that, his state of mind seemed a bit disturbed.

Seeing that, I could feel that despite his large build, he was still a late-stage disciple.

“You worked hard.”

That was the extent of my feelings.

It’s something you’ll experience anyway if you’re born a warrior.

Comfort or empathy isn’t needed.

As it’s something one must endure alone, that was all there was to it.

“It seems like it’s almost over, so head back.”

“…Hyung-nim…”

“I have to go too.”

Originally, the academy students should have evacuated beforehand.

I just…

Had the thought of finding and dealing with Jang Seon-yeon,

And needed a way to vent my damn mood.

It’s strange that Pae Woo-cheol is still here.

“Why did you stay?”

“…”

To my question, Pae Woo-cheol slightly turned his head.

He avoided my gaze and closed his mouth, seeming to have some unspoken reason.

Seeing that, I moved my steps, brushing past Pae Woo-cheol.

My hand patted Pae Woo-cheol’s sturdy shoulder.

“Alright. Let’s head down now.”

If he doesn’t want to talk, I can’t be bothered to pry.

If he had something to say, he would have said it.

“Yes… Hyung-nim.”

Hwi-i-i.

The spring breeze, past winter, brushed against my cheek.

In the wind that should have been fragrant,

A terrible smell of blood was mixed.

“…”

This year’s spring…

Will probably be the worst season I’ve experienced since my regression.

---

The collapsed and crushed Dragon God Pavilion (神龍館) had turned into a shelter.

Academy students receiving treatment while bleeding,

And those trembling in fear were also visible.

Some sat against the wall, their eyes dead as if their souls had left.

Even though the attack hadn’t lasted even a day,

The condition of those experiencing such an event for the first time was far from good.

‘No, it probably rarely happened.’

Was it called an era of peace?

Ending the war with the rogue factions after experiencing conflict was a thing of the past.

Although the top figures of the rogue path, the Five Emperors of Demonic Arts (邪魔五帝), seemed to live prosperously,

In the end, they were all hiding beneath the lines drawn by the righteous path.

Considering the absolute beings called the Three Venerables (三尊),

They were all from the righteous path, it’s easy to understand.

Now is the era of the righteous path.

No matter how much the bastards of the rogue path grit their teeth and appear, they wouldn’t be able to stand tall under the might of the righteous path.

How long has it been since such an incident and attack occurred?

It must be the first time in nearly a decade.

‘Even in my previous life, the biggest incident was from when the Dark Night Palace fell.’

The incident of attacking the Dragon God Pavilion was at least not something that happened in my previous life.

This is also an anomaly that appeared in this current life.

This means…

‘It’s my fault.’

The saying that it’s a butterfly effect caused by my regression.

That saying feels a bit piercing.

“…No… get up…!”

“Jang Hyung… Jang Hyuuung!”

“Sa-hyung… Please open your eyes…”

In the middle of the plain set up within the Dragon God Pavilion.

The reason why screams close to wails could be heard continuously.

Is because that is where the bodies of the deceased academy students were gathered.

How much time has passed?

That so many academy students have ended their lives.

Strictly speaking, the number of those killed wasn’t large compared to the total number of academy students,

But still, those who died are dead.

If it weren’t for this incident, people who might have been alive at least until just before the bloodbath (血劫),

Might have been killed in this incident.

If so, then it’s my fault.

If something that didn’t happen in my previous life occurred,

Then it must all be my fault.

‘…’

Did I not know something like this would happen?

No, I knew it well.

I already knew that something like this might happen someday.

The problem is that experiencing it firsthand feels much more like shit than I expected.

Moreover.

In the midst of piercing screams, I see the back of someone standing with a blood-stained sword.

The favored disciple of the Shaman (巫堂), who always had a lazy expression and loud way of speaking,

Stood amidst the dead junior disciples (師弟), saying nothing.

Since there were disciples belonging to the Shaman too, it seems there were casualties among them as well.

The back of the Sleeping Dragon (潛龍), watching that intently, catches my eye.

Kkeudeuk.

I felt the taste of blood from my lips, which I bit down on without holding back.

It’s truly a fucking terrible day.

I considered approaching but forced myself to turn my head away.

There’s nothing I can do by approaching him right now.

I moved my steps.

After walking a bit with tired steps, I saw Gu Jeolyub in the distance.

Gu Jeolyub’s appearance wasn’t in great condition either.

A thoroughly exhausted face and lingering tension.

Unlike fighting monsters on the front lines, this must have been his first real combat against people.

I could see cold sweat, which he hadn’t managed to wipe off, still flowing.

“…You’ve arrived.”

Gu Jeolyub sensed my approach and bowed his head slightly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. First Young Master (一公子)… you seem to be alright, as expected.”

“What do you mean, ‘as expected’?”

“Because it’s hard to imagine First Young Master getting beaten up somewhere.”

“…”

Normally, I might have spanked his shins, calling him cheeky,

But now, I just sighed and let it pass.

“You worked hard.”

As I passed by, Gu Jeolyub said to me.

Hearing those words, my eyes slightly furrowed.

“Worked hard?”

Do I deserve to hear such words?

I passed Gu Jeolyub and entered the building.

Though calling it a building is a bit much, as it had started to collapse.

“…Ha.”

I see people moving busily.

It looks like a mix of academy students and instructors.

“-Hasn’t the Alliance (맹) contacted us yet?”

“-…They should be coming.”

“-Is that what you should say now!? You belong to the Alliance!”

“-I’m frustrated too!”

The atmosphere isn’t very good.

With so many people crowded together, it might be worse.

It’s a hastily made resting area to treat and rest the injured.

The problem is the significantly small number of physicians compared to the number of injured.

Moreover, since several of the already scarce physicians are dead, it can only be slower.

I continued walking, avoiding them.

“Ah…”

Then someone spotted me and let out a sound.

I had been seeing them all along as I walked.

The sight of them wrapped head-to-toe in bandages was comical.

And how much blood had they lost to become so gaunt?

“You’re here?”

Peng Ah-hee, who was staying by their side as if nursing them, looked at me with a tired expression.

Her disheveled hair and martial attire (武服), dusty from not being able to change.

Peng Ah-hee, who looked disheveled for a young lady of a noble family, looked at me with a tired expression.

“…I heard the stories, you worked hard, right?”

At Peng Ah-hee’s sudden words, I had to let out a hollow laugh.

“Seems like some strange rumors are spreading. I didn’t do anything…”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

Perhaps thinking I was joking, Peng Ah-hee laughed bitterly.

Leaving that Peng Ah-hee behind.

I saw someone beckoning me slightly.

It was Namgung Bi-ah, wrapped in bandages with a gaunt face.

“…Hi…”

Seeing that, I had to grit my teeth inwardly.

“You’re greeting me?”

At my angry voice, Namgung Bi-ah flinched.

“…Are… you angry?”

“Wouldn’t I be?”

“…I’m sorry.”

At my words, Namgung Bi-ah instantly shriveled up.

I didn’t like that appearance.

Her appearance of apologizing to me, that is.

“What were you trying to do?”

“…Hm?”

“You should have considered your opponent before attacking.”

I had heard the story.

That Namgung Bi-ah had stood against the Dark Night Palace Lord.

And that she ended up in this state.

“Are you crazy? Do you want to die?”

“…”

“What would you have done if you died then? You’re so weak, what were you trying to achieve…!”

The more I spoke, the less I could control my emotions.

It wasn’t anger towards anyone else, but towards myself.

Didn’t I almost lose her again, foolishly knowing nothing?

Because I was incompetent.

That made me furious to the core.

At that moment, Namgung Bi-ah’s hand carefully grasped the hem of my clothes.

“…I’m sorry… Don’t cry.”

The words that suddenly came were…

-Crying?

They reminded me of a certain situation I experienced in my previous life.

“Who’s crying?”

“…I’m okay…”

Her bones were broken everywhere.

She had exhausted her internal energy (內氣) and lost so much blood that she was in a critical condition.

What do you mean, okay?

“That’s enough… Don’t apologize.”

“…Yeah.”

It was I who should have apologized.

How pathetic I am.

I felt so pathetic, trying to resolve my guilt this way.

What’s the point of my cultivation advancing?

If I can’t even handle something like this.

I should be grateful to the World Tree for this.

If it were as expected, several days should have passed by now.

Because it was highly likely the World Tree’s power that prevented that process and allowed me to emerge so soon after.

‘What if it had been a few days later?’

It’s a dizzying thought.

It’s also something I don’t want to recall.

So, it’s fortunate.

That she didn’t die.

I shifted my gaze.

Next to Namgung Bi-ah lay Tang Soyeol, eyes closed.

Looking at her condition, she hadn’t fallen asleep naturally.

It seemed she was forcibly put to sleep using her internal energy.

“She lost too much blood, but her life is not in danger,” they say.

Peng Ah-hee answered what I was curious about.

“…But why did you put her to sleep?”

“…Unni (언니) is fine because her cultivation level is high, but they said this is faster for Soyeol.”

Namgung Bi-ah, being at her peak, has such high natural healing power that there’s no problem,

But Tang Soyeol isn’t at that level, so that’s why this is faster.

I also heard what Tang Soyeol did against the Dark Night Palace Lord.

“…”

Recalling those words, I unconsciously touched her hair.

Namgung Bi-ah just watched my actions intently, showing no particular reaction.

She just asked me.

“Seol-ah?”

Referring to Wi Seol-ah.

“She’s resting.”

I recall what happened during the day.

There were various incidents, but Wi Seol-ah lost consciousness and collapsed afterward.

Because of that, I had to spend some time dealing with the collapsed Wi Seol-ah and Bi Ui-jin.

Moreover.

“It seems we have something to talk about. Don’t we?”

Those were the words Bi Ui-jin said meaningfully to me.

Damn it.

It meant he definitely wasn’t planning to let it go easily.

‘How should I handle this.’

I don’t know.

Whenever an incident occurs, it blows up so damn big that it just makes me dizzy every time.

“You know.”

As I was racking my brain about what to do,

Peng Ah-hee suddenly spoke to me.

“…Why?”

“Sword Empress (劍后) visited earlier.”

“The Sword Empress?”

Since I couldn’t see her, I wondered if something had happened,

But fortunately, the Sword Empress seems to be alive.

Well, it’s not easy for a martial artist of that caliber to die from such an attack.

‘Though, thinking about the Clear Sea Sword Saint (靑海一劍), it’s another story.’

The old man who lost an arm and collapsed came to mind, making my lips feel dry.

“She asked me to find you when you arrived.”

“Me? Where to.”

It’s a message that the Sword Empress is looking for me.

Peng Ah-hee relayed that the Sword Empress was at the place where the Clear Sea Sword Saint was being treated,

And soon after, I left after briefly entrusting my internal energy to Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol.

If it were up to me, I would have wanted to stay there and head straight for Wi Seol-ah,

But if the Sword Empress insisted on finding me, I figured it must be urgent.

I headed towards the space where the Clear Sea Sword Saint was receiving treatment.

The instructors who were standing guard flinched upon seeing me,

But naturally moved aside when I conveyed the message that the Sword Empress was looking for me.

It seems they had been informed beforehand.

After moving past the guards.

Seureuk.

I pushed aside the curtain blocking the way.

There, the Clear Sea Sword Saint, who seemed to have finished treatment and fallen asleep,

And the Sword Empress, who had called me, were sitting.

“…You’ve come.”

“…!”

The problem was.

Next to the kneeling Sword Empress.

The white-haired, white-eyed man I met earlier was also sitting there.