Chapter 569: To Hanam.

The heat rushes back to my head, which I’d barely managed to cool.

Thump-thump.

The sound of my heart echoes like a vibration throughout my body, and the corners of my eyes twitch.

My breathing became ragged.

I could feel it, but I couldn’t control it.

What kind of expression must I be making?

The fact that I’m even thinking about it means I’m not managing myself properly.

‘Scent?’

The words Wu Bong-chwi-gae brought up made my stomach churn.

He smelled my scent at Yeo-myeong?

That was something from a long time ago.

There was no way my scent would still be lingering.

So, is he just probing? Maybe.

But.

‘Fuck.’

It’s too late to even think about it now.

If I was going to play dumb, I should have stuck with it until the end.

But it was far too late to deny it now.

So, what should I do?

What should I do?

‘Can I kill that old man right here?’

More than just killing him, could I dispose of the body without a trace?

Seriously, what should I do?

What’s the justification? What reason should I find?

No, can I even kill him in the first place?

It would take months to recover naturally.

And it would take at least ten days before I could exert myself with control.

Not to mention, the opponent would likely anticipate that my condition isn’t optimal.

Furthermore.

‘I don’t know Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s level.’

I have no way of knowing how much power he has accumulated.

I have absolutely no information about the opponent, while conversely, he knows quite a bit about me.

There couldn’t be a more desperate situation than this.

So, should I just leave it like this?

I couldn’t do that.

If I get caught now, everything is finished.

Everything I had planned would go down the drain.

Is there really no way to kill him?

‘No…’

If I looked for it, there was one method.

It’s just that.

‘I can’t use this right now.’

It was a ‘power’ that wasn’t ready yet.

Once, Pae-jon, who had confirmed this power, had sternly warned me.

He told me never to use it unless I was absolutely sure about the preparation.

He said that if I used it incorrectly, my body would be shattered.

However.

‘There’s no other way.’

This was the only option now.

Since I couldn’t leave things as they were, and playing dumb was no longer an option.

It was an unavoidable choice.

I didn’t know if this would kill Wu Bong-chwi-gae, but it was time to do it.

Of course, even if I succeeded in killing him, I had no idea what would happen next.

‘For now, I kill him.’

Right now, I had to kill Wu Bong-chwi-gae.

After organizing my thoughts in a brief moment.

I was about to put force into my heart when.

“Hoho.”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae chuckled and said.

“Even the look in your eyes strongly resembles your father.”

“…”

The mention of my father made me unconsciously loosen my grip slightly.

Because of that, during the brief pause.

Wu Bong-chwi-gae continued speaking to me.

“I don’t know what your intentions were when you touched Yeo-myeong, but the reason I came here is simple.”

Hearing this, I narrowed my eyes.

Wu Bong-chwi-gae was only talking about Yeo-myeong.

Seeing that, I thought.

‘Perhaps he doesn’t know about the attack?’

He might not know that I killed Woo Baek while pretending.

‘That’s possible.’

Even if he found my traces at Yeo-myeong.

It would be difficult to connect that to me attacking the Mu-dang while impersonating Cheon-ma.

Jicheol died in the meantime, but since I used demonic energy to make him commit suicide.

It might be a part that Wu Bong-chwi-gae cannot grasp.

If that’s the case, it’s fortunate.

Because if it’s only about the demonic artifact, I might be able to get past it somehow.

As I thought that and composed myself internally.

Wu Bong-chwi-gae spoke, and the old man’s words made me frown.

I couldn’t help it.

“If you tell me why you did it, I might overlook this matter quietly.”

Because it was something I couldn’t understand at all.

“Yes…?”

Hearing that, I unintentionally asked again.

He’d overlook it just if I told him the reason?

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden…. I don’t quite understand.”

Is he perhaps trying to persuade me?

Just as I wondered if he had brought me out here to get my confession.

“I have a debt to repay to your father.”

I frowned at Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s words.

I hadn’t expected the topic of my father to come up here.

‘Debt?’

And a debt, no less. What kind of debt could my father have incurred with Wu Bong-chwi-gae?

Unexpected questions surged.

However, contrary to my questions, Wu Bong-chwi-gae simply continued speaking.

“While I can’t repay everything through this, if you save my child, I’ll think favorably of that child too.”

The sight of the old man referring to my father as ‘child’ was incredibly awkward.

It was also surprising that my father might have ties with the leader of the Beggars’ Sect.

Wu Bong-chwi-gae spoke with his characteristic chuckle. Judging by appearances alone, it was clearly a favorable situation for me.

But I couldn’t afford to smile carelessly.

With narrowed eyes and a tense atmosphere.

Looking at Wu Bong-chwi-gae, I finally uttered the words I had been hesitating on.

“How can I possibly believe that?”

The moment I said that, it was tantamount to admitting my involvement in the Yeo-myeong incident, but.

It was an unavoidable choice for me.

Especially since there were no other viable options besides killing Wu Bong-chwi-gae.

“Hoho….”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae chuckled briefly at my question.

“If you can’t believe me, is there any other way?”

“…”

Killing you.

I didn’t voice the option that remained: killing him.

I figured Wu Bong-chwi-gae probably wouldn’t expect that.

“You seem troubled after finding this out. Child. Isn’t there no other way?”

He was right.

For now, believing Wu Bong-chwi-gae was indeed the best course of action.

The problem was whether I could easily do that.

As I was contemplating what to do, Wu Bong-chwi-gae suddenly extended his hand towards me.

I looked at it, wondering what this was about.

“Take my hand.”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae told me to take his hand.

Seeing that, I hesitated for a moment.

Two martial artists holding hands is a considerably dangerous act.

Especially so when one is injured internally like I am now.

However, after a brief hesitation, I clasped Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s hand.

If necessary, I could pour my demonic energy into him while our hands were clasped.

Using demonic energy was risky in my current state, but compared to other options, this was safer.

Thinking that, I clasped Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s hand, bracing myself.

Woong-!

“…!”

Immediately, I felt Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s energy.

Wondering what he was trying to do, I was about to unleash my demonic energy when.

Woong.

Realizing Wu Bong-chwi-gae was using his own energy, I had to halt the movement of my demonic energy.

‘This….’

The flow of energy felt strange. Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s energy wasn’t directed at me to do something.

Instead, it was directed towards himself.

Was holding hands meant to show me the movement of that energy?

Realizing that, I examined the energy closely and soon understood.

‘It’s a restriction.’

Wu Bong-chwi-gae was currently placing a restriction on himself.

It was quite a powerful restriction. I could tell just from the amount of internal energy poured in and the complex formation (式).

Just as I wondered what on earth he was trying to do.

Wu Bong-chwi-gae looked at me and said.

“Child, if my words about letting this matter pass are false, I will take my own life.”

“…!”

At Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s words, my eyes widened like saucers.

Simultaneously with those words.

Cheol-geok-!

I felt energy intertwining within Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s body.

The restriction had incorporated Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s words, creating a loop.

Looking at the flow of energy and the state of the restriction.

I couldn’t help but know that Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s words were true.

I looked at Wu Bong-chwi-gae with trembling eyes.

Having come this far, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Why on earth are you going this far?”

“Hoho.”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae laughed.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m doing this purely for your father’s sake.”

Even so, I couldn’t understand.

However.

‘He even placed a restriction right before my eyes.’

He risked his life, binding his energy and words into a restriction.

A restriction of that level must be unbelievable.

He even held hands with me to demonstrate it.

It was clear he intended to make me believe him somehow.

Moreover.

‘…I mixed in some demonic energy.’

While Wu Bong-chwi-gae was weaving the restriction, I secretly mixed in my demonic energy.

This was to use if things went south.

Demonic energy is difficult to sense unless it’s activated.

Since I infused it very subtly and carefully, Wu Bong-chwi-gae wouldn’t have noticed.

Whether he knew or not, Wu Bong-chwi-gae kept smiling as he looked at me.

“Now that I’ve shown you this much, shouldn’t it be easier to talk?”

“…”

Hearing that, I recalled.

What did he ask earlier?

‘Didn’t he ask why I committed the act involving the demonic artifact?’

Answering that is easy.

It wasn’t about the attack, just how I handled the demonic artifact.

The problem was whether I could get past Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s offer to overlook the matter.

‘If he went as far as placing that restriction.’

It would be harder not to believe him.

After hesitating for a few seconds like that. I looked at Wu Bong-chwi-gae and carefully spoke.

“…It’s because I knew the Mu-dang would meddle with Hwasan’s demonic artifact.”

Hearing this, Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s expression changed.

“Ho…”

His face was full of interest.

“How did you reach that conclusion?”

This was also easy to answer.

‘Because the circumstances suggested it.’

The Wind-Rider Swordmaster who disappeared over a decade ago.

It was strange enough that he suddenly reappeared, but it was also peculiar that he went straight to the Mu-dang.

And wasn’t it also coincidental that this happened right when Hwasan and the Mu-dang were about to exchange the demonic artifact?

Moreover, it was a time when the Mu-dang needed to solidify their position, so I thought they might be trying to gain an advantage using this.

When I presented the story to Wu Bong-chwi-gae in that manner.

“Hmm.”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae stroked his beard, his usually unseen eyes gleaming.

“So you stole Yeo-myeong because of that?”

“Yes.”

I nodded in response.

This was the answer I had prepared.

The part about Jicheol dying at dawn could be problematic, but.

There was no way the Mu-dang would have told Wu Bong-chwi-gae about this.

Rather, it was something they would try to hide at all costs.

Hearing this, Wu Bong-chwi-gae took a sip of tea, sipping it.

I wondered if he accepted it, but unfortunately…

‘That’s not it.’

It was an answer that sounded plausible.

But there were clear flaws within it.

There was no way Wu Bong-chwi-gae wouldn’t notice those flaws.

Just as I thought, sure enough.

“That’s strange.”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae looked at me and asked.

“I heard there were no issues with the Yeon-ui-seon you were wearing at the time.”

“…”

“Also, how did you manage to breach those defenses and take Yeo-myeong?”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae keenly pressed into the gaps of my answer.

The Yeon-ui-seon that the Mu-dang had prepared to monitor us back then.

Not only did I move past it.

I pierced through the deadly defenses and stole the demonic artifact.

How did I plan to get past these points?

Wu Bong-chwi-gae asked with that intention.

It was a natural question, one I expected.

So, I brought out the words I had prepared.

“I cannot answer that.”

Rather than saying something problematic.

I chose not to answer at all.

Speaking in a way that suggested there was a reason I couldn’t answer.

“Hoho….”

Wu Bong-chwi-gae chuckled lowly.

Seeing that, I wiped away cold sweat internally.

‘There’s no way he’d fall for this.’

There was no way that old man would be fooled by such an answer.

I said it even though I knew that.

The reason is.

‘It’s so he’ll ask again.’

Naturally, I had an answer prepared.

I had prepared an explanation for the fatal flaw in the Yeon-ui-seon and the reason I could sneak in and steal Yeo-myeong.

Despite that, I gave a dismissive answer to stage the situation.

That way.

‘It would be a bit more dramatic.’

Something like, ‘You can’t just get away with this.’

Or, ‘Are you mocking me?’

After eliciting Wu Bong-chwi-gae’s reaction, I planned to bring up the Yeon-ui-seon next.

‘…Specifically, the flaw in the Yeon-ui-seon.’

The reason I could move past the Yeon-ui-seon.

The Yeon-ui-seon, created by the Mu-dang, had a flaw that no one knew about.

This was information Woo Hyuk told me in my previous life.

It was a Yeon-ui-seon that the Mu-dang had forcibly placed on Woo Hyuk, who was constantly on the run.

But it was a flaw Woo Hyuk himself found to escape even with it equipped.

I planned to turn the situation around by revealing this information to Wu Bong-chwi-gae now.

Even though that was my intention when I spoke.

“Then that’s enough.”

Huh?

“Sect Leader-nim, what did you just say….”

“If you can’t answer, then there’s nothing more to be done.”

“Yes…?”

“More importantly, I happened to steal some snacks. Would you like to have some?”

Seeing Wu Bong-chwi-gae say that so casually, I couldn’t help but wear a bewildered expression.