Chapter 579: Welcoming the Night.

After the Divine Dragon left.

After finishing our miscellaneous conversation, when I returned, Paejon was already inside the inn.

Even worse, a whole bunch of stuff was spread out on the table.

“What is this?”

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

I know.

It’s a problem because I know it all too well.

“Why did you order so much food?”

“There’s some food to take away too. Aren’t you curious?”

“Curious about what?”

“Dumplings that even monks eat? How could I not be curious?”

“…”

Hearing that, I had to pause slightly.

‘He figured it out.’

This old man. As expected, he seemed to have realized.

That the guy eating dumplings in the inn was the Divine Dragon of Shaolin.

Then again, since I recognized him, there was no way Paejon wouldn’t have.

Putting on a reluctant expression, I pulled up a chair and sat down.

Picking up a dumpling from the table, I asked.

“May I eat this?”

“Why are you asking after already touching it with your dirty hands?”

“Dirty? I wash myself diligently.”

“You should wash yourself diligently. If you don’t even do that, what else do you plan to do?”

“…”

What is this irritating conversation?

Wrinkling my nose intensely, I took a bite of the dumpling.

Yeah, the dumplings are still delicious.

It was the same taste I had asked Moyong Xi’a to bring.

The savory flavor is rich.

The aroma is good, and the taste is good too.

As expected, even if I didn’t know about anything else, it was at a level where I’d be annoyed if this place disappeared.

Right after stuffing the remaining dumplings into my mouth, I asked Paejon.

“So, what happened?”

To my question, Paejon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean about what happened earlier. Did anything happen afterward?”

The Divine Dragon was si… what was it.

Anyway, it was a question about the events right after knocking that man out.

“What could have happened? The people from the Alliance came and took him away, that’s all.”

As expected, it seemed like nothing else happened. And…

‘The Alliance took him away.’

If the Alliance dragged away a first-rate martial artist who was drunk and causing a scene.

He probably wouldn’t look too good when he came out.

At the very least.

‘He won’t be seen around here for a while.’

That was fortunate.

Seeing him causing trouble in the inn…

‘I was thinking of dealing with him discreetly.’

It seemed I wouldn’t have to get my hands dirty.

In that sense, should I eat another dumpling?

Thinking that, I reached out my hand.

“Did you have a good talk?”

Paejon asked me.

At those words, my heating appetite suddenly dropped completely.

“Yes, well.”

“You didn’t beat the kid, right?”

“…?”

It felt like I heard a strange question, so I frowned.

“Beat him? What do you mean, beat him? You’re saying something that would cause a huge problem if someone heard it.”

This is absurd.

Who do you think I am, some neighborhood punk? Beat him? What are you talking about?

“He wasn’t the type to be beaten just because you hit him, was he?”

“Hmm.”

Paejon didn’t particularly deny my words.

It couldn’t be helped.

The Divine Dragon was, just by looking, an unbelievable existence.

“Indeed. Cheonan made quite a remarkable fellow.”

Remarkable fellow.

The fact that such words came from Paejon’s mouth showed a different level of understanding.

Hearing that, I chuckled and said.

“Did you like him?”

Thinking he must have liked him quite a bit, I asked the question, and then Paejon’s lips curved slightly upwards.

“Why, are you jealous?”

“What? What kind of crazy talk is this?”

“Old man, are you losing your mind…!”

As soon as I uttered the words, something suddenly stopped right in front of my eyes.

I wondered what it was – it was chopsticks.

“Shall I pick out your eyeballs instead of a dumpling? Seeing as your eyeballs seem to be malfunctioning.”

“…Sorry.”

As I offered a brief apology, only then did Paejon retrieve his chopsticks.

Seeing this, I had to suppress my uneasy feelings.

The reason is none other than.

‘I didn’t see it.’

The problem is, even if I wasn’t using my divine sight, I couldn’t properly track Paejon’s movements.

Did Paejon’s movements become faster as he reached the Hua Jing?

I don’t know.

I don’t know, but if there’s something I can clearly tell.

‘I won’t be able to act cocky for a while.’

I thought I could barely compete, but now I can’t anymore.

Even so, it was an annoying matter that I couldn’t just let go of.

“Jealousy? What jealousy? There are things worth being jealous of.”

Tsk tsk.

Paejon chuckled at my words spoken with emotion.

“It’s true you possess a good body. But such things are meaningless.”

“Why? Didn’t I say I had an amazing body?”

“That’s right. However, you’re not the only one whose body meets the criteria, are you?”

That’s true.

It’s a body I created through regression and various fortunate encounters.

Those who possessed the minimum requirements to learn the Tua Pa Cheon Mu were plentiful.

Ah, maybe not plentiful, but it means they weren’t impossible to find.

‘Having learned it myself, I understood it better.’

Unlike Paejon searching for someone with an incredible body and talent.

The Tua Pa Cheon Mu wasn’t a martial art that required that much talent.

Unlike being intimidated thinking how high-level the martial art was.

Having learned it, it wasn’t that difficult a power.

I felt that way at first, but the more I learned, the more I understood.

The fact that I, who had absolutely no talent, had no problem learning it would be proof.

‘Honestly, I think Paejon’s contribution here is quite large.’

If something doesn’t work, until it does.

If it still doesn’t work, change the method and try again.

There’s nothing impossible in the world.

That was Paejon’s philosophy.

Following his will, it really happened that way.

Damn it all.

Seeing this.

Just when I thought, contrary to Paejon’s intention, that the Tua Pa Cheon Mu might not be such a difficult martial art.

“My foolish disciple. You’re making a big mistake.”

Paejon clicked his tongue and said to me.

“As you said, people whose physical conditions match are quite numerous.”

His eyes were filled with pity.

“How many people met that condition at your age?”

“Well, that’s true.”

A body possessing the conditions enough to contain the Tua Pa Cheon Mu.

There might be many such bodies, but how many achieved it at a young age?

If you count them, it wouldn’t reach ten.

If I count those who come to my mind right now, maybe four?

Including myself, that means four.

“Furthermore, the most important talent for learning martial arts is neither the body nor innate talent.”

“Then what is it?”

“Patience.”

Patience?

Seeing Paejon’s expression, it seemed sincere, but it wasn’t a story I could really relate to.

That patience is the most important thing.

To learn martial arts, isn’t that something that should naturally be included?

If you say the obvious is the most important, it was impossible for me to relate to.

Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face.

Paejon looked at me and clicked his tongue briefly.

“You don’t think so?”

“…It’s just not something I can really relate to.”

I knew what he meant.

The pain felt while learning the Tua Pa Cheon Mu.

To artificially transform the body, moving the bones, and stimulating even the meridians beyond the muscles.

Because of this, I had to feel pain like someone was dancing with knives inside my body.

In expressing the movements, not only the internal energy (Nei), but also without the slightest waver was required.

Enduring that pain, I had to repeat the same movements tens of thousands of times.

‘Once I finished taking a step, I had to do the next one.’

As they piled up, I couldn’t even count how many times I moved.

If I had to count, I’d have to count by days.

I spent ten days just extending my fist.

And another fifteen days twisting my waist.

Those were the times.

That’s how I got here.

Paejon didn’t rush my slow progress, so I repeated until I became perfect.

No one was impatient or frustrated.

While feeling that time was extremely tight and insufficient.

If I were to blame someone, I would only blame my past self for living poorly; I didn’t resent anyone.

That’s how I became who I am now.

That’s it.

“What was so difficult?”

What exactly was so difficult?

To learn martial arts, patience is naturally required.

Not realizing that, I lived my past life like a worm.

I’m just trying not to do that now.

Pain is something you endure, and frustration is something you bear.

Why would that be so difficult to call it talent?

When you just have to endure it.

“…”

As I said it nonchalantly, Paejon stared at me calmly.

Paejon, who seemed to be gathering his thoughts for a moment, soon spoke to me.

“You stupid fellow.”

“Why are you suddenly cursing at me?”

“It’s just that today, you look particularly pathetic.”

Paejon, having spoken, got up.

Then, he roughly grabbed some of the food prepared on the table.

“Let’s go now. It’s late at night.”

At those words, I also got up.

“So, what was it you were going to say in the end?”

“Hmm? Ah.”

Following Paejon, I asked.

I asked because I was curious about the words he was about to say to me earlier.

“It was nothing much. You’ll find out later anyway, so don’t worry about it now.”

“…It makes me worry even more.”

When he says that, how am I supposed to not worry?

Especially since it was Paejon saying it, it was even more so.

That guy tells me not to cause trouble every day, but.

‘He himself isn’t exactly a quiet person.’

When Paejon was young.

Claiming he wanted to test his martial arts, he destroyed sects alone.

The stories about him seeking out unorthodox masters and reassembling his opponents were still famous.

It’s no wonder ‘Mad Dog’ was among Paejon’s youthful nicknames.

In my opinion, that guy is crazy about martial arts, but.

‘He’s just plain crazy….’

Whoosh-!

“…!”

Suddenly, like before, chopsticks lunged towards my eyes.

I quickly turned my head to dodge, but it was truly a close call.

Seeing that, I shouted at Paejon with a startled face.

“What is this sudden action?”

“You seemed to be talking nonsense in your head, so I couldn’t help myself.”

“…”

Damn it.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

His intuition was still incredibly sharp.

When I looked up again, Paejon was already heading out of the inn.

I also obediently followed behind Paejon.

Just then.

“Uh, excuse me….”

Someone called out to me.

I looked to see what it was – it was the woman who had been teased earlier.

Misun or Misuk? Something like that?

‘It doesn’t matter which.’

I said, looking at the woman.

“What is it?”

It was a novel experience for someone who wasn’t a martial artist to talk to me.

I replied, widening my eyes slightly.

“Eek…!”

The woman looked at me and stepped back in fear.

“…”

“S-sorry, I’m sorry….”

I could overlook most things, but that just now was a real blow.

Is my face really that much of a problem?

The kids said it was fine, though.

Anyway, no matter what, I couldn’t get angry at a civilian, so I barely held back and asked again.

“…So, what is it?”

“Ah, ah… excuse me… um….”

The woman pointed somewhere.

It was Paejon, who had already left the inn.

Paejon disappeared from view with hurried steps.

What the heck, is he that hungry?

Unexpectedly, I thought Paejon might have had a big appetite.

“…Ah, still….”

The woman said to me.

“The b-bill… you didn’t pay….”

“…?”

Didn’t pay?

But he just took the food?

Hearing that, my eyes narrowed.

‘Wait, could it be….’

With a chilling thought, the moment I looked back at the woman.

“A member of your party… would pay.”

“…”

Haha.

This damn old man….

---

Since when?

It hasn’t been long, but recently, I’ve been dreaming often.

It’s not that strange.

I’ve always dreamed frequently.

The problem is that most of them are nightmares.

Most of them were dreams of remembering the things I did in my past life, or of those whom I couldn’t save and who died for me.

They are truly terrible nightmares.

That’s why I hated dreams.

Because all the dreams I had were like that.

But.

Lately, I’ve been having somewhat different dreams.

It must have been not long after I barely stopped the nightmares.

Just when I thought I could finally sleep peacefully.

I started having different dreams.

They aren’t related to my past life.

I’ve never experienced them.

They were situations I’d never seen before.

Even the scenery I always saw kept changing.

If there’s anything that doesn’t change.

Is that I appear in the dream, and the person next to me doesn’t change.

Today was the same.

Today too, I was walking somewhere.

The person always beside me was walking there.

[Your hand is cold.]

These were the words I uttered while holding someone’s hand.

My head turned, and I looked at the person beside me.

I couldn’t see their face.

I only knew that the person was a woman and that she was the figure who always appeared in my dreams.

Even though I couldn’t see her face, if you ask how I thought so.

I could somehow know.

Yes, I just knew.

As I carefully took her hand.

The woman smiled.

[Haha. It’s autumn now. It’s not even cold.]

[…If I’m cold, then I’m cold.]

That bastard is playing games.

Doing such things with my face makes me want to vomit.

What kind of bullshit dream is this? I feel particularly bad today.

Despite that ridiculousness, the woman smiled, seemingly pleased.

It must be because it’s a dream.

What woman would like such bullshit? She’s only doing it because it’s a dream.

[The maple leaves have bloomed.]

[Are they pretty?]

[They’re particularly pretty this year.]

I tightened my grip on the hand I was holding.

The woman was leading the way.

As I followed her, I ironically found myself thinking I wanted to walk even slower.

[They’ll be even prettier next year.]

[How can you be so sure?]

[I know everything. Because I’m smart.]

[…Right.]

[You don’t seem to believe me?]

[I believe you.]

About how old is she?

If I had to say, she looked about the same age as I was just before I died in my past life.

As I gave a half-hearted answer, the woman let out a displeased voice.

[I really know everything. Why don’t you believe me?]

[Didn’t I just say I believe you?]

[No. You don’t believe me.]

Her voice sounded slightly sulky.

At the same time, she let go of my hand.

As the touch disappeared, a sense of regret crossed my mind.

The woman, who walked lightly forward, turned gently and said to me.

[Shall I tell you one more thing?]

[Tell me what.]

It was a happy voice.

Me too.

That woman too.

Even the blooming maple leaves.

Felt particularly so.

[This baby, will it be a boy or a girl?]

As the woman said, stroking her belly.

I had to gasp.

Now that I think about it, the woman’s belly was slightly swollen.

Seeing that, I felt a sense of tightness in my chest.

[I don’t know.]

[Don’t you wish for anything?]

[…It doesn’t matter. Whoever it may be.]

Whether it’s a son or a daughter, it doesn’t matter.

At least, I’ll be a better father than my own father.

That’s what the me in the dream was thinking.

Seeing the foolish me, the woman smiled.

[Right. I knew you’d say that.]

I couldn’t see her face.

For some reason, she seemed to be smiling broadly.

I couldn’t see her smile.

Yet, I could clearly feel it.

I want to hold it.

Reaching out my hand, I wanted to hold the woman’s hand again.

Move.

If this is a dream, move according to my will.

As I wished so earnestly, my body slowly started to move.

I approach the smiling woman.

I get closer and reach out my hand.

And just as I was about to hold the woman’s hand again.

[No.]

The woman put distance between us.

Why? Why is she suddenly putting distance between us?

Seeing her reaction with confusion, the woman, maintaining her smile, said to me.

[You shouldn’t do this.]

[Why…?]

[You must not remember this.]

[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]

[That’s… our promise.]

She walks away.

Ignoring her incomprehensible words, I walked to catch the woman.

But.

The distance wasn’t closing.

I’m getting impatient.

Why isn’t it closing?

I reached out my hand, and then ran, but the distance was still the same.

[What the…!]

[Hey.]

Seeing me run desperately, the woman said.

[Please be happy.]

Despite saying it with a smile, it was filled with sadness.

[Only then, I think I’ll be okay too.]

[What are you talking about!?]

That’s when I realized.

The beautiful scenery had disappeared, and only pitch-black darkness remained around us.

It slowly descended.

The dark and terrifying darkness was swallowing us.

Even knowing that, my legs didn’t stop.

I tried desperately to catch the woman, but she just watched me and whispered quietly.

[Goodbye.]

That was the end.

After those words, the darkness swallowed me.

“Gasp…!”

I was able to open my eyes.

“Gasping… pant….”

I sat bolt upright and gasped for breath.

“…What the… what the hell….”

Overwhelmed by the terribly unpleasant feeling, I tried to distract myself.

Wondering what kind of fucked up dream this was.

“Huh?”

But then.

‘…What was the dream about?’

For some reason, I couldn’t remember any of the dream I was just having.

As if I hadn’t dreamed at all, not even a sliver of memory surfaced.

That.

It felt maddeningly unpleasant.