Chapter 643: Thunder Heaven Single Sword (Thunder Heaven Single Sword)

[…Why?]

A question asking again, completely unable to understand. Woohyuk laughed, seemingly flustered by the attitude that had never considered refusal.

“…Even if you ask why….”

[Even thinking deeply, I can’t understand. Why?]

Why refuse this good opportunity? Is he crazy? Namgung Myung’s expression was exactly like that. Although it seemed like he spoke of it as a truly good opportunity from his perspective, if I were to explain the reason here…

“Because I am not a member of the Namgung family.”

It was a very simple reason.

Whether that thought-spirit was truly Namgung Myung or not, and if it was him, why he remained in that form and appeared here. Woohyuk could not know anything.

If his words were all true, and if he intended to give this as a great opportunity…

“I cannot accept it.”

Woohyuk had no intention of accepting it at all.

[For such a reason?]

Hearing the answer, Namgung Myung nodded. His expression, still unable to understand, remained the same.

“For ‘such a reason’? If it’s such a great opportunity and matter. I thought it right to entrust it to a descendant, not myself.”

If the Namgung family had fallen and disappeared, perhaps. But they were still one of the Four Great Families, serving as pillars of the Central Plains.

“Moreover… whether you know it or not, Senior… your descendant is also staying here.”

Although both might not be in good condition, as long as that friend was there, he thought there would be no problem.

In this situation, for him to take this matter? It wouldn’t be possible.

[Hmm.]

Hearing the words, Namgung Myung’s expression becomes subtle.

[A descendant.]

The Namgung clan members have come here.

A reaction that was utterly bland even after hearing that. Seeing this, Woohyuk couldn’t help but feel a sense of strangeness internally.

“…Perhaps… did you have some issue with the family?”

Unable to suppress the strangeness, Woohyuk asked, and Namgung Myung replied with a nonchalant expression.

[Not really. It’s just that nothing matters anymore.]

“What you mean is…”

[It means I left such lingering attachments behind long ago.]

Left attachments behind? Does it simply mean that because he’s dead, he has no attachments to the family?

It was ambiguous to see it as simply having a simple meaning.

Then what could it mean? Woohyuk couldn’t know right now.

[So, are you saying you refuse my offer?]

“…It is not something for me to obtain. I judged so.”

[So it means refusal.]

“Yes.”

It was not something he should receive.

That was Woohyuk’s thought.

[Hmm.]

Hearing such an answer, Namgung Myung’s expression changes subtly. Is he perhaps contemplating?

Seeing this, Woohyuk speaks to Namgung Myung.

“Rather, if you wish for guidance from a blood relative of the Namgung family. After dealing with the matters here…”

He was about to say he would guide them. Just then.

Woong-!

“…!?”

Woohyuk’s head quickly turned towards the vibration coming from somewhere.

The vibration felt from far beyond the collapsed wall.

Not only vibration, but an immense energy was also felt.

Instinctively turning his gaze to where he looked, Woohyuk’s mouth slightly gaped.

“Huh…?”

The night sky was shining brightly.

Although it was the darkest time, why was only that place under a clear sky? Furthermore, what was this energy and heat felt now?

Seeing the heat mixed in the wind, Woohyuk fleetingly recalled.

‘No way?’

He thought of his close friend who had left quickly, saying there was something urgent.

Perhaps, was this heat and white night created by that friend? Such a thought occurred.

Wondering if it was truly a scale humans could achieve.

‘If it’s that friend.’

Since he was someone who always did inexplicable things, he thought perhaps that friend had done something too.

‘And the direction, of all places.’

By estimation, it was the direction of the Ice Palace Lord’s hideout. That such vibrations were felt from that direction, did it mean something had happened?

‘Then.’

Not to mention the Palace Lord or my friend, had something happened to that child too?

Kkeudeuk.

Force naturally went into Woohyuk’s feet.

‘I have to go.’

Shouldn’t I go right now?

It couldn’t be delayed any further.

Seueu-!

Energy leaked from Woohyuk’s heart. It was a subtle sensation.

That energy came from the middle dantian; it was truly a strange feeling. But it felt familiar.

As if he had used it like that from the beginning, he wrapped his body with energy without burden.

I can go.

He was certain with his hardened body and the energy contained within.

Although he didn’t know how far his increased cultivation level had reached compared to before, it wouldn’t take long to reach the felt energy.

I must run.

As Woohyuk bent forward, judging so.

Uung-!

The vibrations continued bursting out without pause, then suddenly became quiet.

A strange light flickered in Woohyuk’s eyes.

Was the situation over?

As he looked straight ahead with such a question.

Beonjjeok-!

“…Tsk!?”

An immense light burst out, blinding Woohyuk’s vision.

What’s happening? As he tried to force his eyes open while holding back panic.

Hwaaahwak—!!!

Suddenly, immense wind pressure surged in.

Uaaak-!

Screams were heard from below.

Woohyuk fixed his stance, opened his eyes slightly, and looked ahead.

“Huh…?”

The place where the light was emanating.

Beyond the storm mixed with heat, an overwhelming sight unfolded.

His widened vision, enhanced by ki sense, barely captured it.

Hwareureuk-!

Something covered in flames.

It looked like a beast, specifically resembling a tiger, sweeping across the ground.

The hair on his entire body stood on end, and a sense of fear washed over him.

The immense energy comprising the tiger highlighted absolute power to the martial artist.

What on earth is that? Did that friend really do that?

If it’s flames, it must be that friend. But it felt different somehow.

[Hmm.]

Whether the wind blew or light erupted, Namgung Myung, who was watching beside Woohyuk, showed a reaction.

[This is strange.]

His gaze upon the flaming tiger was full of questions.

[In this era… one shouldn’t be able to achieve this. How could this have happened?]

Namgung Myung muttered as if he knew what that Flaming Tiger (炎虎) was.

[The seal being broken, and this… it seems something unusual is happening.]

“Senior…?”

Woohyuk looked at Namgung Myung, trying to ask something, but…

[This won’t do.]

Namgung Myung’s action came before that.

Ssuk-!

“!?”

Namgung Myung’s translucent arm pierced Woohyuk’s chest.

“What is this–!”

Woohyuk, startled, tried to pull away from Namgung Myung.

There was no pain.

Rather, he felt nothing at all. But.

Chijijik-!

A faint thunderous energy (뇌기) was felt from the inserted arm.

There was no time to panic. The thunderous energy expanded, and by the time Woohyuk noticed, it had enveloped his entire body.

[I’ll borrow it for a moment.]

With those words, Woohyuk lost consciousness.

******************

Right after hearing the entire explanation.

I was looking at the person in front of me, my brow still furrowed.

“So… you came in that form?”

Kkeudeok.

To my words, Namgung Myung, using Woohyuk’s body, nodded.

At the nonchalant reaction, I had to run my hand down my face.

“…Seriously, I’m like the neighborhood punching bag. And I let it get taken again.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

After all that suffering, only to have it snatched away by an old man from hundreds of years ago this time.

‘Next time, I really won’t save him….’

No matter how much I save him, I don’t know what strange bastards might take his body next time, so it seemed easier to just ignore him now.

‘Anyway….’

I looked at the other person through the gaps in my hands covering my face. The one standing with his hands behind his back, staring somewhere.

He looked like Woohyuk’s body, but as he had already introduced himself, he wasn’t Woohyuk.

‘Thunder Heaven One Sword, Namgung Myung.’

Another alias was the man called the Thunder God (雷神).

Furthermore.

‘The main body of the thought-spirit that was inside the Thunderous Seed (뇌아).’

The Thunderous Seed that is probably with Namgung Bi-ah now. The thought-spirit that was inside it.

He had said that he himself was the lingering attachment, and his main body was in the Northern Sea.

‘So that’s the main body.’

The thought-spirit who discarded his lingering attachments to his own family, leaving only the determination to save the world.

That was who that person was.

‘Certainly.’

He was definitely different somehow.

The light, vulgar emotions felt from the Thunderous Seed were gone, and as I mentioned earlier, it was like a sharp blade standing in human form.

Namgung Myung was a man with that kind of feeling.

“You descendant of that damned bastard.”

I reacted to Namgung Myung’s voice. Although the title was strange, I didn’t object.

I could tell who that damned bastard referred to without him saying it, and it wasn’t strange that he knew my identity.

‘I’ve already been through it enough to know.’

That he noticed because the energy of Shin No-ya was in my body. Even if it wasn’t Namgung Myung, seeing the reactions of the people in front of me, it was something that couldn’t be unknown now.

“Is that… your doing?”

He pointed somewhere with his fingertip, and following it, I saw the burnt corpse of a White Centipede Demon (백급 마물).

“…It wasn’t me.”

I did try to catch it, but ultimately failed.

“Then whose doing is it?”

“Why do you ask that?”

With what intention are you asking?

I felt wary. Speaking with emotion, Namgung Myung looked towards me this time.

“Do you know what that is?”

“…Isn’t it a White Centipede Demon?”

The highest grade of monster that appeared, bringing disaster during the Blood Demon War (혈마대전).

Furthermore, they were the ones given the name Dragon (龍) due to their bizarre and powerful appearance.

“That thing… that thing shouldn’t appear now. And also.”

A slight intensity entered Namgung Myung’s eyes.

“It’s something you guys can’t catch right now. That’s why I’m asking. How on earth did you catch it?”

“…Yes?”

What are you talking about?

I understood the former, but not the latter.

“What do you mean, ‘can’t catch it’?”

It’s dead like that, what can’t be caught?

“It’s the point where the world cast a curse. As long as the curse exists, monsters cannot be caught. It should be so… If not you, then who accomplished this?”

“…!”

Hearing Namgung Myung’s words, I flinched and trembled.

Curse.

This was something Shin No-ya had said once.

The world had cast a curse to no longer give this world opportunities, and because of it, martial artists, unlike in the past, were blocked by a descending wall and couldn’t grow stronger.

Does this mean it’s related to what’s happening now?

“It’s puzzling. We were blocking the seal to prepare for such situations. What on earth happened?”

“…You were blocking the seal?”

Those words meant that White Centipede Demon.

Specifically, it meant Namgung Myung was the one preventing Mang from appearing.

[Just a little more….]

Mang’s words came to mind. The talk about how it would have been perfect if there was a little more time.

This means it hadn’t been long since that guy woke up or was released again.

Leaving aside why he was doing such a thing, the fact that Mang had been unexpectedly released was important to me.

‘It means it might not have been originally.’

In my past life, it might not have been like that.

I had never heard of a White Centipede Demon appearing in the Northern Sea.

Since it was such a distant location, perhaps I didn’t know even if something happened. I had been thinking that, but looking now, a question arises.

‘What if it was something that didn’t happen in the first place?’

What if the White Centipede Demon itself hadn’t appeared, and furthermore, what if Mang couldn’t appear?

‘It means something must have happened now.’

It would be right to assume someone released Mang, who was bound in ice.

‘Who on earth could it be?’

Who could have caused this?

An unknown discomfort slowly crept up.

As my mind began to race, Namgung Myung continued speaking, looking at me.

“Those guys shouldn’t appear in the world right now. The time is not right.”

The time is not right.

Namgung Myung’s words grated on me.

“When you say ‘the time’, are you referring to when No-ya… no, when the Volcanic Sword Sage (화산선검) reappears?”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from Hwang-a Bulyeong-nim.”

The thought-spirit of Hwang-a Bulyeong, which permeated the white carp of Shaolin. Those were his words.

“I see. You’ve already met that friend.”

“Yes.”

Not only Hwang-a Bulyeong, but I had also met Tang Jemun and Yeon Ilcheon.

Moreover.

“I have also met another of your thought-spirits, Senior.”

“…”

When I brought up the Thunderous Seed, Namgung Myung’s face became slightly uncomfortable.

“Perhaps, not far from here…”

“I know. It’s been barking noisily since a while ago.”

Hm?

‘Is the Thunderous Seed trying to talk to me?’

I recalled the Thunderous Seed that was cursing the main body like crazy. It seemed conversation was possible here too.

As I watched with wonder, Namgung Myung, seemingly intending to ignore it, continued speaking to me.

“Descendant, where is Shin Cheol?”

“…”

I had to put on a reluctant expression at the question about Shin No-ya.

“…He is not here right now.”

“Right now? Does that mean he was here originally?”

“Yes.”

He was here originally, and now he is not.

Hearing that explanation, Namgung Myung’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Are you saying he completely vanished?”

“That’s not it. He merely… went to another world/dimension.”

“I cannot understand.”

“Me neither. It’s a part I don’t quite understand… More importantly.”

Looking into Namgung Myung’s eyes, I asked.

“About what you mentioned earlier… the ‘time’. Please explain that.”

I had heard the story about Shin No-ya’s reincarnation several times and knew about it.

An event prepared by heroes who foresaw the Blood Demon’s (혈마) revival, worrying about the future.

The plan to reincarnate No-ya precisely at the right time.

This was something I had heard and known several times already.

‘Even the fact that it didn’t go well.’

Reincarnation? I wondered how such a thing was possible, but then again.

It wasn’t for me, who had defied time, to say.

Having experienced many unbelievable things, I thought it wasn’t something unbelievable…

I learned something more important from the conversation just now.

“…Are you saying the world’s curse and No-ya’s reincarnation were related?”

The curse that blocked people from growing stronger beyond a certain level.

If one is under that curse, they can’t hunt White Centipede Demons properly. And if it’s related to No-ya’s reincarnation.

‘If No-ya reincarnated properly, does it mean he would have reincarnated having overcome the curse that was in effect?’

If so, I thought I could understand why they had so desperately wanted No-ya’s reincarnation.

To my hastily asked question, Namgung Myung nodded and said.

“Didn’t you hear it properly from that guy?”

“It’s because he didn’t know much.”

I wanted to know sooner too, but Shin No-ya seemed more eager to know than I was.

Since he was someone who barely had any memories to begin with, he was in no state to explain anything to me.

Speaking of him, Namgung Myung’s eyes changed strangely.

“He had no memory?”

“Yes. Forget reincarnation, he couldn’t even remember how he himself was contained in the demonic object (귀물).”

Why he was bound to the Mount Hua Sect’s demonic object, why his other comrades remained as thought-spirits enduring until this era.

No-ya knew almost nothing.

I found it amusing recalling how we were both frustrated.

Since Namgung Myung seemed to know about this, I thought my frustration might finally be resolved.

“What does that mean?”

Namgung Myung said, still looking puzzled after hearing my words.

“Contained in a demonic object?”

Namgung Myung delivered rather shocking words to me.

“Not the Mount Hua Sect’s hidden cave (비동) in Shaanxi, but a demonic object? What are you talking about right now?”

A cold wind seemed to sweep across my chest from somewhere.