Chapter 615: Biwoegun.

Around the time I just passed the age of majority.

Yes, exactly the same age as now.

It was a memory from when I was just barely surviving, breathing only within the Demonic Realm.

“I told you. You’re slow to follow.”

As I was catching my breath raggedly, that damned bastard said, looking down at me.

Damn it.

“I… I have to be able to follow… huff… Haa… I’m following, you crazy bastard.”

I couldn’t even speak properly.

That’s how much my stamina was completely lacking.

Seeing that, Woohyuk said with a laugh.

“You just died three times against me.”

Once, when my neck was severed in the first exchange.

Twice, when I got caught in an illusion in the third exchange.

And a third time, when I failed after charging headfirst.

It meant everything I tried had failed.

“Just kill me in one go. Why did it take three times? Damn it.”

“Try thinking before you fight for once.”

“I was thinking, you bastard.”

“Don’t you remember almost getting eaten last time when you charged like that?”

Remember? Bullshit. I remembered it all too clearly.

So Geomseong and Woohyuk saved me just as I was about to be chewed up and ground into pieces.

“…Fuck, I’m embarrassed. You should’ve just killed me right there.”

As I spat that out with a sigh of frustration, Woohyuk suddenly flicked my forehead.

Thump-

Maybe he hit a bit too hard, because my head swayed.

“You crazy…!”

“You shouldn’t throw your life away so carelessly.”

I was about to retort angrily, but stopped, frowning at Woohyuk’s words.

It was because Woohyuk’s eyes were unnecessarily serious.

“Like I keep saying, you need to fix that habit of just charging in when other methods don’t work.”

I didn’t understand.

If means and methods aren’t working, isn’t charging in the only option left?

Moreover.

‘My life isn’t precious.’

Why would I cherish such a life? Countless lives that seemed more precious than mine had already died on this earth. Besides, my life wasn’t righteous enough to warrant cherishing it.

It was something I couldn’t comprehend.

Perhaps it was because my feelings showed on my face.

Woohyuk looked at me and said with a sigh.

“Calm down a bit.”

“This is how I live and die, you know.”

I said it sincerely, but Woohyuk’s expression instantly soured.

Look at this guy…?

“See? You were about to get angry again.”

“Because you’re making a shitty face.”

“People can make ugly faces sometimes. Does that mean you should immediately get angry?”

“If you hold it in, you’ll get an ulcer and die from that!”

“You’re basically an anger syndrome yourself, so you’ll be fine… Sorry. Put your hand down. I apologized within three seconds, didn’t I?”

I gritted my teeth and held back.

He wasn’t the type to just take a hit. If I messed with him wrongly, I’d be the one getting beaten up.

“Please, no matter what happens, try to hold back three times. Then you might be able to live.”

It was hard enough to hold back once, let alone three times. At the time, it sounded like utter madness. In fact, even after hearing those words, there were hardly any days I actually held back. Not even until the day Woohyuk, who spoke those words, died.

Now, I try to live by those words. But sometimes, questions arise.

Like ‘cherish your life’ or ‘don’t throw your life away carelessly’.

Such words.

‘At least,’ Woohyuk shouldn’t be the one saying that. I knew this because I had lived giving up on life. Woohyuk’s eyes, which advised me to live, were actually dead. Woohyuk was someone who lived throwing away his life just as much as I did.

The difference was.

‘I just threw mine away recklessly. He, on the other hand, burned himself up to save others.’

My life isn’t precious.

So, I’ll live and die as I please.

That was me.

My life isn’t precious.

So, I’ll use it to save others.

That was Woohyuk.

Although many things seemed similar.

We were very different. That’s why I wonder. Even though I, who was like a worm, lived that way. You, who lived receiving the shaman’s blessing and the world’s attention. Why did you have such empty eyes?

Furthermore.

‘Why did you feel a sense of kinship with me?’

What was the reason you reached out to me, a clueless nobody, and became friends? These were things I couldn’t know because he was dead.

So, what I’ve finally realized living up to now is.

‘In the end, you were right.’

I was wrong, and Woohyuk was right.

Cherish your life.

Don’t throw your life away carelessly.

Although that probably wasn’t what he meant to say. I could now see that my life had its own value. Even if it was.

Thump-

‘Even if it wasn’t a life for myself.’

Whee-

The shaman’s technique. Its unique clear and pure energy mixed into the flow, adding strength.

A shaman’s defense isn’t about not breaking. It’s about calmly letting anything flow past. Movements that seemed leisurely yet were swift.

Thwack-

Meanwhile, weight settled onto the toes that stepped on the snow. The sword flows. That would be the right way to describe it. It’s distinct. And beautiful.

Far more so than the Elder’s sword I faced at the shaman’s place. Shedding thoughts, becoming mindless, and simply flowing. Woohyuk’s sword contained the shaman’s intent.

Flick-

The tip of the sword grazed my cheek. Blood splattered. Feeling that, I laughed.

‘This crazy bastard.’

These guys and those guys. After not seeing them for just a few years, they’re all turning into monsters. Woohyuk had already crossed the wall. When I first saw him, he was at the Peak. By the time we parted, he was at a perfected Peak. Now, he was bordering on the Hua Realm.

Although he hadn’t fully crossed it yet, it wouldn’t take long for him to do so.

‘This is absurd.’

I felt hollow.

In my past life, he definitely wasn’t this fast. Same goes for Tang Soyeol and Yeongpung. Somehow, the growth rate of the later disciples felt like it was in a different league.

‘Some people are barely hanging on while gobbling up every single fortuitous encounter.’

I don’t know where they keep getting these epiphanies from.

Whoosh-

I changed my footwork. I stepped back half a pace. The moment my sword grazed the end of my neck. By the time I looked, the sword was already gone. It meant he had already retracted his sword upon failure.

Hum-

Heat rose in my eyes, and my heart rate quickened.

I opened my Mind’s Eye.

Whoooosh-

Countless death lines erupted from Woohyuk’s body.

Simultaneously, stars poured from the tip of his flowing sword. The stars were the traces left by the sword. Their number was exceptionally large, resembling the night sky.

He’s gotten stronger.

I realized that seeing it. But. Fortunately, I was still stronger.

‘Gu Yeom Tae Ryun Ah.’

Whoooooosh–!!

The azure flames erupting from my body quickly enveloped the surroundings. Whipping up the flames to swallow everything.

“…!”

Seeing this, Woohyuk flinched and widened the distance. His eyes seemed to be gauging the distance of the flames. Seeing that, I changed the flow of my energy.

‘When you fight in wars…’

Sometimes you have to face numerous enemies. At those times, my abilities could be utilized as a tremendous advantage. And as I spewed countless flames to burn people.

‘Improvement.’

There were times I modified martial arts to my liking.

That is the power I have now.

Gu Yeom Tae Ryun Hwa.

Fwooooooosh—!!

The giant ring of flames flowing around my body gradually changed shape.

Dozens. Hundreds, even finer and finer. The torn and shredded masses of flame gradually took on sharp shapes. Yes, they finished transforming into shapes like arrowheads.

Woohyuk’s eyes widened as he saw this. It was a vast amount of flames, enough to obscure vision. I looked at him and lowered my fingertips.

Immediately.

Kuwaaaaaaaaah—!!

Countless fireballs floating in the sky rained down on Woohyuk.

Kugugugung Kugugugung—!!

A massive explosion occurred on the snowy field.

As the flames burst, energy erupted in all directions. Each time, my heartbeat quickened.

‘Tsk…’

My energy is insufficient.

My depleted internal energy from last time hasn’t fully recovered. That’s the reason.

Chwaaak-

The reason Woohyuk can withstand that is…

Shweeeek—!!

Chwaaaaaaaak—!!

Sword strikes of immense speed. Countless streams imbued with sword energy were blocking all the flames.

They were drawn and redrawn in the air. The traces left behind formed something like a circular barrier.

Kwagagagang–!!

As if not letting anything through, it deflected all the flames.

It was chilling speed and accuracy.

‘Wow.’

Watching it, I suddenly had a premonition. If the world were to become truly peaceful. And if we could prevent calamities from occurring.

‘This Sword King(劍王) competition is going to be fierce.’

I mean, the Sword King who will receive their title after Namgung Jin seems exceptionally strong this time. Whether it’s Yeongpung, Seongyul, or Woohyuk. Whoever it might be, it seemed like it would be worth watching.

Thinking that.

Hooook-

I leaped and charged at Woohyuk.

“…!”

While blocking the flames, Woohyuk cast his gaze towards me charging at him.

Swish-

The speed of his swinging sword increased. Because of that, the barrier thickened. Is it to make it difficult to approach? Not a bad choice.

Since he also has to block the flames, after all.

‘But.’

-There must surely be gaps even amidst such rapid sword paths.

The Mind’s Eye I learned from the Sword Master told me so. My eyes grew hot. Amidst the dazzling display of sword edges. A faint light flashed. That was the spot.

Amidst the chaotic feast of sword blades. I reached out without hesitation.

Then.

Kwaak-

“Gak!”

My hand pierced through the barrier and grasped Woohyuk’s neck. And pulled him straight out.

Kuwaaaaak—!!

The pouring flames swept the ground.

Kwagagagag—!!

Only the surroundings, excluding ‘us’. The flames that had been pouring for a while stopped.

Amidst the thick smoke billowing out. I lifted Woohyuk, whom I was holding, upwards.

“Hey.”

“Gak…”

Woohyuk gasped for air. His condition didn’t look too good either. He didn’t seem to have taken a fatal blow, though. It seemed he couldn’t block all the flames and took a few hits.

“Does it hurt?”

I asked calmly, and Woohyuk replied in a rough voice.

“…Hoo… hoo… It… hurts quite a lot…”

“You died more than three times against me in that fight just now.”

It felt amusing even as I said it. Because it was something Woohyuk had told me once.

“…I know. I know very well.”

Woohyuk laughed upon hearing my words. But I couldn’t laugh back then.

“…As expected, you’re strong. You seem much stronger than before.”

“Hearing that from you really pricks my conscience.”

This guy is a genuine genius. Every time I heard such words from guys like him, my tiny remaining conscience ached.

Anyway, putting that aside.

“Why did you do it?”

“…”

“It’s all fine. People can commit treason in their lives, right? If you don’t like something, you can even overthrow a country.”

Up to that point, it was all fine. But.

“You shouldn’t have been the one to stop me.”

Woohyuk drew his sword and genuinely tried to fight me.

“You’ll die if you do that. You know?”

Did he think he could win against me? No, Woohyuk wouldn’t have thought that. Then did he think I couldn’t kill Woohyuk?

‘That’s partly true.’

That’s right. I couldn’t kill Woohyuk. For one thing, I considered him a friend. Woohyuk was someone too valuable to kill.

However.

‘That was…’

That was when Woohyuk was ‘Woohyuk’ to me. The guy who tried to protect the pathetic me. The guy who maintained some unknown conviction amidst countless situations.

Someone who wouldn’t block my path, at least. That was the Woohyuk I knew. But.

‘Is the current you Woohyuk?’

Or are you some clueless guy called Biwegun?

Even if the existence was the same, he wasn’t the same person to me.

“Tell me. Why are you doing this?”

So I asked. I asked while looking into Woohyuk’s eyes, but.

“…”

Woohyuk didn’t answer this time either. He just stared at me blankly.

‘Hmm.’

I was about to add something, but had to shut my mouth.

The eyes Woohyuk had now. It was such a familiar look. Such familiar pupils, like I’d seen them somewhere before. Where had I seen that kind of look?

I thought about it for a moment, and soon realized.

‘Ah.’

Yes, that look. I wondered where I’d seen it, and it turned out to be.

‘The same as my own eyes.’

They were the same eyes I had in my past life. Compared to those, they still seemed clear, perhaps. But that means.

‘Should I kill him?’

It meant his condition was quite bad. He was barely holding onto his sanity, having given up on everything. Was that action truly meaningful?

Wasn’t it already too late for the current Woohyuk? As that thought crossed my mind.

Squeeze-

I tightened my grip. Just then.

“Hold back three times.”

“…”

That damn phrase echoed in my ears.

“Tsk.”

Flick-

I threw Woohyuk, whom I was holding.

Thump-

Roll roll.

“Gack…!”

Woohyuk rolled helplessly across the snowfield. Because he couldn’t properly channel his internal energy, the ground was covered in tracks.

Seeing that, I said.

“Get lost. I’ll let it slide this time.”

Having told Woohyuk to disappear, just as I was about to walk towards Namgung Bi-ah.

Pasasasa.

I turned around at the sound of presence. There, Woohyuk was getting back up again. I wished that was the end of it.

Swish.

The guy aimed his sword at me again. Seeing that, I had to pinch the bridge of my nose. Does this mean he has no intention of letting it go peacefully?

“…You’ll really die. Stop now.”

As I warned him.

“Kill me instead.”

Woohyuk said firmly, looking at me.

“Because I can’t let you go to that place. Kill me instead.”

“Hah.”

I cursed and gathered my energy.

“You fucking…”

I see. This means there’s no other way. In that case.

“Fine then. Just die.”

It seemed there was only one way.

I moved. Woohyuk leaped towards me simultaneously. The tip of his sword was sharp. It meant he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. I could feel his sincerity.

Seeing that, I wrapped my palm with flames.

Yeom Ok (Flame Jewel).

A blue jewel condensed onto my palm.

Swish-

A significant amount of internal energy drained out. This meant I intended to finish it in one go too. I charged at Woohyuk, clutching the Yeom Ok. He desperately steadied his wavering sword and charged at me.

Killing intent wrapped around the tip of his sword. Seeing that, I swung my hand, extending the Yeom Ok towards Woohyuk. Just before we reached each other.

I could see. Woohyuk’s sword, reaching towards me.

Sss…

That he was easing up just before contact.

Seeing this, I thought.

‘Right.’

I wasn’t surprised.

‘I knew it.’

Because I had known it from the start.

Seeing that, just before the Yeom Ok touched Woohyuk’s body.

Hwa-reuk-

I retracted the Yeom Ok’s energy.

“What…?”

The moment Woohyuk looked on in panic.

Kwack-

I grabbed his sword. And thrust it straight into my own body.

Pu-wook-

A chilling sound came from my stomach.

“…!”

The blade dug into my flesh. Blood flowing from my skin dripped down the blade.

“Ah…!”

Woohyuk’s eyes widened, perhaps startled by the turn of events. As he frantically tried to pull the sword out.

Kkwaak–!!

I grabbed it firmly, preventing him from pulling it out.

“You…!”

“Three times.”

I cut Woohyuk off.

“I told you to hold back three times, but this time I held back about four. Pretty good, right?”

Woohyuk’s eyes, unable to comprehend my words, were filled with panic and confusion. Seeing that, I said.

“Because I’ve experienced it myself…”

Blood kept flowing from my mouth, but feeling it, I grinned widely at Woohyuk instead.

“This is the quickest way to snap someone back to reality.”

This was from my past life. It was an experience I had directly with my father.