Chapter 526: Give it to me just once.

As the sunset gradually began, I came out of my quarters and stretched.

Considering I had just passed noon when I lost consciousness, I must have been out for roughly a few hours.

I stretched my body slightly.

Throb.

Pain radiated through my entire body.

It wasn’t just muscle aches; it felt like my whole body had been broken.

It was quite painful, though.

‘I can endure this much.’

Compared to the pain I felt when performing the Two-Shattering-Heavenly-Dance (투아파천무), this was trivial.

‘Well, this much is nothing.’

Recalling the torture I endured in my past life, this kind of pain barely registered.

Thinking about it, it’s amazing that my limbs were intact until the day I died.

Other Mind Lords (마인) would have their eyes and tongues ripped out if captured, so considering only my vocal cords were damaged, I could say I was lucky.

Of course, thinking about it now.

‘It wasn’t so much luck…’

‘Something…’

I think it was someone’s doing.

I’m not certain, but looking back now, I tend to think so.

No matter how I looked at it, it was strange.

The things that happened to me felt too subtle to be mere coincidence.

‘This…’

Before, after my last conversation with Tang Jemun (당제문), I felt like a fog had lifted.

My thoughts on the Heavenly Demon (천마) changed, and things like this were part of it.

I don’t know if I deliberately pretended not to know, or if I simply didn’t try to find out.

Right now, I was feeling that subtle sensation.

It was like something blurry had become clear.

‘Did Tang Jemun do something?’

I wasn’t sure, but her words to me lingered.

Specifically, the words about her erasing the oblivion that was placed upon me.

Crack.

I stretched out my arm.

Pain shot up my spine and pierced my scalp, but I ignored it.

I slowly assessed the effects of the backlash.

Pain aside.

‘It feels like my energy isn’t circulating well.’

It’s a sensation like my body isn’t holding onto its energy properly.

It’s too definite to be a mere illusion.

‘Hmm.’

Is this the backlash from using an incompatible magical artifact (귀물)?

If so, it feels like the cost-effectiveness is terrible.

It wasn’t that severe, though.

In actual combat, I felt like I’d be down about thirty percent of my strength.

The fortunate thing is.

‘Recovery probably won’t take too long.’

Even if my body is strained, my recovery speed is fast.

Just look at how I am now.

My aching muscles are recovering, and the seemingly exhausted acupoints are healing quickly.

It’s like the pain arrives simultaneously with blood starting to flow rapidly.

I can literally feel my body healing itself.

‘Not bad.’

This is the same feeling I had when I was beaten up by Paejon (패존).

Not only did my body’s durability increase, but the body that should have been bedridden for days recovered in just a few.

‘Good.’

A body that can handle rough use without issue is incredibly welcome for the future.

Throb. The immediate pain is annoying, but didn’t I reap some rewards?

‘I can use any magical artifact.’

This isn’t a certainty yet, but I believe it’s clear.

In addition to being able to convert the brain energy (뇌기) of the Brain Demon (뇌아) into fire energy (화기), I also thought about the Gui-jeong (귀정).

‘Was I really unable to use the Gui-jeong because I didn’t know how?’

Slide.

As I focused my will, I could feel the Gui-jeong moving.

Though it just looks like a bandage, it is undeniably a magical artifact.

It was an item that could change into any form.

The problem is.

‘Isn’t there a reason I can use this thing?’

This thought has been crossing my mind ever since I realized I could use the Brain Demon.

The Gui-jeong, which used to be crimson, had somehow changed to blue.

Ever since I shed my skin (탈각).

This definitely wasn’t a coincidence. Anyone could see that.

The Gui-jeong changed along with my transformation.

Furthermore.

Shyaa…

The Red Water Snake (적수사)… no, that little guy, Ddol-doli (똘똘이), who had peeked out along my hand, was the same.

That Ddol-doli fellow, whose body had changed from red to blue scales.

Even…

‘Its appearance changed too.’

Ddol-doli, who was just at the level of a common python, had transformed into a different form.

Right now, it’s back to its original slender snake form, but…

If this creature wanted to, it could grow enormous at any time.

To compare its size, it was about the size of a village cow.

Watching the creature flick its tongue as if it knew nothing, I asked.

“Hey, where have you been?”

-Shyaa?

“Now that I think about it, where have you been all this time? I haven’t seen you.”

I’ve been busy running around dealing with various things for days, so I didn’t know what Ddol-doli had been up to.

Seeing as it wasn’t whining for food despite meeting after so long, it seems to have taken care of itself.

‘Surely it didn’t transform into that size and go hunting, did it?’

Although not particularly large compared to demonic beasts (마물), its appearance is quite striking.

Its lustrous scales, the fur along its body, and its aura were all extraordinary.

Its appearance was too unusual to be just another demonic beast, so Ddol-doli moving around in its true form could cause problems.

“If that’s the case, be careful. If people start talking because of you, I’ll eat you whole.”

-Sha… Shyaa…

Seeing it tremble at my words, it really seemed like it had been hunting.

‘I need to find out more about this little guy too.’

The egg left by the Red Water Snake. A creature born by consuming my energy.

At first, I thought it was a baby Red Water Snake, but now that it’s become something else entirely, I need to know what’s going on.

Recalling these things one by one, I chuckled.

‘I’m going to be busy.’

So much.

There’s just too much to do. It’s baffling why the workload only increases as time goes on.

After checking my physical condition thoroughly.

I took a breath and used the Body Transformation Technique (기체변역술).

Crack-!

My joints twisted as I slowly returned to my previous body.

The sensation of my vision lowering always felt uncomfortable.

“Hoo…”

I looked around with a somewhat tired gaze.

I sensed movement beyond the bushes.

Soon after, someone appeared.

“You were here.”

The one who appeared, frowning as she looked at me, was Moyong Hi-ah (모용희아).

Seeing her, I asked.

“Is it over?”

“…Is it over?”

Perhaps my question displeased her. Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes turned somewhat menacing.

What the…?

“Why are you looking at me like that…?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha…”

Moyong Hi-ah let out a deep sigh and continued.

“How could you just leave us behind like that! I thought I was going to suffocate!”

“Well, I figured since Father was leaving soon too, it was okay. Father said it was fine.”

When I said I was going out briefly to check my condition, Father gave me permission.

I was just following his instructions.

Besides.

‘It was a bit awkward being with Namgung Bi-ah (남궁비아).’

[Awkward my ass. You were just embarrassed, weren’t you?]

‘…’

For once, I couldn’t ignore Noya’s (노야) sharp remark.

Damn it.

Of course, Moyong Hi-ah, unaware of my thoughts, simply seemed displeased with the situation.

“Just because he said it was okay, how could you just leave… Hmph.”

“Are you that angry? Why? What did your father say to you?”

“No. He didn’t say anything.”

In fact, that was the problem.

Moyong Hi-ah whispered the rest.

“He didn’t say much and just stayed quiet… then he got up first, saying he had something to attend to.”

“Oh?”

Did him leaving right away mean his business wasn’t finished yet?

So, does that mean he came to see me even though his business wasn’t concluded?

After all, the Poison King’s (독왕) commission probably wasn’t that simple.

As I reasoned that, Moyong Hi-ah asked me in a voice that sounded like she was barely holding back exhaustion.

“…Alright. Even if I concede a hundred times and say this can be overlooked. Young Master-nim.”

“Hmm?”

“…Did something else happen again?”

“…Huh?”

“This incident, it’s related to you, isn’t it?”

“…”

I felt it earlier too, but how did she possibly know?

I was somewhat intimidated by Moyong Hi-ah’s certainty.

For now, I decided to play dumb like last time.

“…What are you talking about? How could this possibly involve me?”

“Really, none at all?”

“Of course.”

“Then why are your eyes telling a different story?”

“…”

At her words, I involuntarily avoided her gaze.

Only after averting my eyes did I realize that was tantamount to an admission.

‘Damn it.’

As expected, Moyong Hi-ah snorted at my reaction.

Her expression showed she was already convinced.

“…Tsk.”

She clicked her tongue dismissively. Would she let it slide if I just tried to move past it?

“I’m not going to let this slide.”

“…I haven’t told you yet.”

Even though I hadn’t asked, I received a firm reply.

It’s hopeless to try and escape. Such a thought naturally arose.

What should I do?

‘It’s information that will be revealed soon anyway.’

Judging by the Poison King’s actions and Moyong Hi-ah’s subsequent information gathering, she wouldn’t take long to figure things out.

Thinking about that… there’s no need to hide it.

Moyong Hi-ah knows this too, which is why she’s asking me to tell her.

First, I organized my thoughts internally.

There were a few things I shouldn’t reveal.

After quickly organizing them, I told Moyong Hi-ah the information in a somewhat condensed form.

“…Human experimentation?”

Upon hearing this information, Moyong Hi-ah quickly reacted.

She didn’t seem particularly concerned about past plans or Elder Il’s (일장로) schemes.

However, she reacted strongly to the story about human experimentation being conducted to create elixirs.

It wasn’t so much because the story was that shocking…

“…But the Poison King is acting like this?”

She likely couldn’t comprehend the Poison King’s actions despite such an incident occurring.

He massacred Elder Il amidst the fallout of the human experimentation.

And now he’s trying to deal with Elder Sam (삼장로) and Elder Sa (사장로) as well.

If he does that, it would be quite burdensome to absorb the factions they each manage.

He must know that such rapid actions would incite extreme backlash, yet the Poison King chose a direct confrontation.

From Moyong Hi-ah’s perspective, this must have been the most incomprehensible course of action.

‘I’d be no different.’

Not knowing about such an incident is a problem in itself, so coming out like this might be his way of proving his innocence, but…

‘Even so… it’s too radical.’

Radical? He acted far too conspicuously.

Instead of trying to quietly conceal this process, he moved as if to make everyone aware immediately.

‘Did he say he contacted the Alliance (맹) too?’

I even heard he sent correspondence containing details about the issue to the Alliance.

‘What is he trying to achieve?’

What’s his intention?

I still couldn’t grasp his purpose.

If things go wrong, this story could spread throughout the Central Plains (중원), and if that happens…

‘If it fails, we could be demoted from the Four Great Families (사대세가).’

There was a risk of one pillar of the prestigious families, known as the Four Great Families, being replaced.

I don’t know about the past, but now people discuss the Five Great Families (오대세가), with many prestigious families following behind.

The Poison King, who knows this better than anyone, must be aware that acting this way is immediately dangerous.

‘…Could it be.’

A thought, bordering on disbelief, flashed through my mind.

The mention of contacting the Alliance sparked the thought.

‘Is he intentionally trying to inform the Alliance?’

Since the Martial Arts Alliance (무림맹) is clearly involved in this incident, and they’d want to cover it up…

Is he trying to preemptively make a big deal out of it to force the Martial Arts Alliance to intervene?

I considered that for a moment, but…

‘That’s too risky.’

I immediately shook my head.

If that were the case, he would have sent the information with much greater secrecy.

He wouldn’t have resorted to this tactic.

‘I don’t know.’

Reaching this point, I have no idea what the Poison King intends.

Should I just leave it, assuming he’ll handle it? But then there’s Tang Soyeol (당소열).

As I pondered these various things, filled with questions.

“Ah…!”

Moyong Hi-ah suddenly reacted.

It was a reaction as if she had realized something.

“…No way… Is that why?”

“What’s wrong?”

Moyong Hi-ah was so startled that even her eyes were trembling.

Did she figure something out?

“What…”

“Young Master-nim, I should get going first.”

“Huh? Hey, wait…!”

As if she had truly realized something, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly turned and ran.

Before I could even grab her.

“…”

She was so fast, she had already disappeared into the distance.

Watching her, I remarked.

“…She seems much better, huh?”

Perhaps because the cold energy (냉기) has significantly decreased? Her physical condition seems to have recovered.

Of course, honestly, if I had tried, I could have caught her.

No matter how exhausted my body was, it wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t catch Moyong Hi-ah.

I was even curious about what she had realized, so I considered just grabbing her and asking, but…

I held back.

There was one more person who needed to see me.

I tore my gaze away from the vanished Moyong Hi-ah and looked behind me, saying.

“You haven’t been seen around lately. It seems you’re doing better now?”

Hearing my words, the bushes rustled slightly.

Afterward, a young man dressed in black martial arts attire (무복) slowly walked out.

The young man walked towards me for a moment, then looked at me and said.

“…It’s been a while.”

It was Paejon, who hadn’t shown his face for a while. Where had that guy been this time?

Appearing only after everything was over…

“I heard something broke out… It seems to have been quite a major incident. And.”

Paejon glanced around and said to me.

“Looks like your father came too.”

“How did you know?”

Did you happen to run into him?

I looked at Paejon, wondering if that was the case.

“Who else but your father would emit this much heat?”

“…Hmm…”

It was an answer that made perfect sense, so I nodded.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Thinking that, I looked at Paejon.

“And… that”

“But, you know. There’s something I’m curious about before we get to that.”

I said.

These were the words I absolutely had to ask my master, who hadn’t shown his face for nearly three days.

Paejon looked at me with a questioning expression.

Meeting his gaze, I said.

“Why are you so curt? My little brother?”

“…”

Never mind that he showed up after so long… I have to do what needs to be done, right?

Less than seven days had passed, so I was still the older brother.