Chapter 755: Hero Appears.

“Tsk…”

A residence somewhat far from the military camp.

A lake with carp possessing beautiful scales, tinged with autumn colors as if announcing the season.

Beneath the mansion, built at a considerable cost, an old man let out a low groan.

An immense energy accumulated in the void.

Melodies being created to connect with it.

Though others might not know, the old man could see the entire dreadful sight clearly.

‘…Master. What in the world are you doing?’

That was definitely the power of sorcery.

And not just any sorcery, but a systematic and calculated domain prepared over a very long time.

It was to the extent that one couldn’t even imagine what had been used as a sacrifice for its activation.

Chilling.

What kind of act were they trying to pull off to create such a thing?

‘…’

Wiping away the flowing cold sweat, the old man, Shinui, frowned.

Should I go down to the capital now? Right now?

Shinui’s body was close to that of an ordinary person.

Therefore, although the distance prevented him from hearing any sounds, he could feel it intuitively.

He could sense pain and screams.

Someone must be crying out in pain from being hurt, and their suffering was Shinui’s suffering too.

I have to go down.

What could I possibly do with this old body? Such worries and hesitation were a luxury.

Didn’t I know this from the moment I abandoned my family name?

‘I am a physician.’

Though I always run away, lamenting my life.

Shinui had never forgotten that conviction.

Even if I keep extending my life with this aging body, it’s not worth living by abandoning what’s before me.

Thinking thus, his toes pointed towards the capital immediately, but…

-Elder, please don’t forget.

“…”

Halt.

The words he had heard at dawn tied Shinui’s feet.

-Today, no matter what happens, please close your eyes and cover your ears. Just stay in your residence for a little while.

These were the words spoken by that damned fellow who had tormented him under the guise of training.

-What nonsense is that?

-Surely, Elder, you will try to intervene somehow. I’m asking you to endure it for a bit.

-You’re talking nonsense that even a ghost would find baffling. Speak plainly so this old man can understand!

-…

The damned fellow seemed to ponder for a moment.

His pondering expression was quite terrifying.

Unfortunately, Shinui lacked the skills for cosmetic surgery, so that was something he couldn’t fix.

Anyway.

After pondering for a moment, the fellow soon began to speak, as if trying to persuade him.

-Please, just trust me and stay put. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to resort to threats, so can’t you just trust me?

-…?

I thought he was genuinely crazy.

Threatening if you don’t comply with a request? What kind of mentality allows someone to say such a thing?

It was absurd, but what was frightening was that the fellow would actually resort to threats.

Truly, he was an unapologetically insane bastard.

-…In all my life, I’ve never met anyone like you.

-Yes, I too have never met anyone like myself.

-Stop with the pointless jokes. So, what do you want me to do?

What’s funny is that despite speaking so infuriatingly, I find myself listening to him.

His words might be crap, but he never broke his promises; even if it meant taking a loss himself, he never caused trouble for others.

The problem, perhaps… is that the outcome of all his actions is him breaking himself to fix something else?

It’s what they call sacrifice.

A guy who sacrifices his own body to block something else.

Calling him a Saint(聖子) would be absurd, but for a moment, that word flashed through my mind.

Shinui wondered if he himself wasn’t a little bit crazy.

-…It’s simple. No matter what happens, you just need to stay here today and not leave.

-What exactly is supposed to happen?

-Just know that much. You just need to stay put.

Shinui didn’t answer the words spoken as if demanding a vow.

If that fellow was speaking so adamantly, it meant something unusual was definitely going to happen.

-What a funny guy.

Shinui let out a hollow laugh.

-If something major happens, I should pack my bags and run immediately. Telling me to stay here is like telling this old man to die…

-I’m saying this because it’s obvious you won’t run away.

-…

The fellow’s eyes were resolute.

-It’s obvious you’ll intervene with that frail body of yours. That would just make things troublesome for me. So please. Just stay here for a bit.

-Hah…! This bastard, really.

Shinui tried to show his displeasure at the somewhat crossing words, but…

-Please.

The fellow continued, looking into his eyes.

-Nothing will happen. I’ll make sure of it, no matter what it takes.

-….

He could feel the earnestness.

Though faint, it was undeniably earnestness.

Perhaps seeing that.

While he couldn’t understand it.

Shinui’s final answer was an affirmation, agreeing to it.

It wasn’t for any other reason.

Nothing will happen. He would make sure of it.

Setting aside the earnest eyes and the atmosphere that promised such a thing.

He believed the words that child had spoken.

That was all there was to it.

And yet.

“This… isn’t right, is it?”

That’s not right at all.

The murky dark clouds gathering, and the magic circle nearing completion.

Just looking at it sent shivers down his spine.

What could have been the medium for creating such sorcery, and what would happen once it was completed?

He suspected something that he wouldn’t even want to imagine would occur.

Shinui dared to predict as much.

It certainly would be.

“…What are you thinking?”

What on earth could that child be thinking?

Could they possibly handle this even with such a thing happening?

It was unbelievable by common sense.

Absurdly, that one nonsensical statement held Shinui’s feet captive.

“…”

It felt suffocating. His chest tightened. He felt his breathing quicken.

I have to go. This is beyond a mere request; I have to go.

Just as Shinui, thinking so, was about to finally take a step.

“…Stay.”

“…!”

Someone stopped Shinui.

Turning his head quickly, he saw a woman who looked somewhat tired standing behind him.

“How did you come out here?”

White hair, pale blue, and snow-white skin.

True to her lineage, she had sharp eyes, but an overwhelming sense of fatigue seemed to have slightly dulled her sharpness.

Walking allure.

A woman with features that seemed sculpted from flowers.

The woman was clutching an unknown martial arts uniform in her hand.

It was the uniform of the fellow Shinui called a damned bastard.

Upon seeing her, Shinui’s expression immediately turned grim.

“I told the patient not to come out as they pleased. Everyone just ignores this old man.”

“…”

Despite Shinui’s scolding, the woman remained expressionless.

That woman was always like that.

She felt no reaction to anyone’s words.

Except for one person.

Thump.

The woman ignored his words, walked out, brought the clothes she was holding to her nose, and started sniffing a few times.

What on earth is she doing?

Shinui was momentarily flustered, but after sniffing a few times, she even put it on as outerwear.

“What are you doing….”

“…I was trying to sleep….”

Sssshh.

As she continued speaking, the woman suddenly drew her sword.

“…”

Seeing that, the old man fell silent.

The previously listless woman’s demeanor changed the moment she grasped the sword.

Even Shinui, who had seen all sorts of things in his life, was rendered speechless.

“It smells too much… I can’t… sleep.”

“…What….”

“So… I’m going. Stay here…”

“No. Where do you think you’re going? I also…”

“Stay.”

“…!”

The woman’s eyes turned towards Shinui.

Shinui’s body trembled slightly at those eyes. The sleepy gaze vanished, replaced by a cold demeanor.

Startled by that, he hesitated for a moment. That was when it happened.

The woman moved gracefully.

Shinui, surprised, tried to grab her quickly, but only waved his hand powerlessly in the air.

The woman was already gone.

Crackle-!

A brief flash erupted, and nothing remained where she had stood.

“Huh?”

Shinui let out a hollow laugh at the absurd situation when, thump! A hand was placed on his shoulder.

What’s this now?

“I tried my best to hold her back. Perhaps because she’s blood, she really resembles me quite a bit.”

The one who placed his hand on his shoulder was a middle-aged man with the same pale blue hair as the woman who had just left. The peculiar thing was that he was missing an arm.

This was also a face Shinui recognized.

“…You?”

“I apologize. This is all my fault for poorly educating my nephew and disciple.”

I didn’t like the way he kept chuckling as if finding something amusing.

It seemed this guy was the best at flaunting his handsome face.

“Therefore, I shall bring them back, using that as an excuse. Elder. Please wait here for a moment.”

Huh?

“…What? Wait!”

Whoosh-!

As if his words were a premonition, the man’s figure also vanished before his eyes.

In an instant, the two patients he was attending to had made their escape.

“…”

The old man frowned deeply, watching those two escapees.

“…Those damned Namgung bastards.”

Many meanings were contained within the softly whispered words.

---

Flying through the air for quite some time.

His toes finally touched the ground.

-Thump!

-Clang! Clang!

While sharp sounds could be heard from various places.

It was a relatively secluded area.

Only upon arriving there did the young man.

Gu Yangcheon look back.

“Cough.”

There stood an old man continuously clearing his throat.

It was Pil Duma.

“Hah… Hah.”

Gu Yangcheon spoke while looking at him.

[You look quite pathetic.]

“…”

His sweat-soaked appearance was utterly pitiful.

The old man seemed aware of this too, wearing a slightly awkward expression.

“…I have shown my unsightly appearance to the… Leader.”

[Yes, you were quite unsightly. But it was an amusing sight in its own way.]

“…I did not expect the Hwangbo Family Head to suddenly appear.”

Not just his appearance. His martial prowess was also beyond expectation.

It was a strength far exceeding expectations.

[Hmm.]

A sense of displeasure could be felt.

Seeing that, the old man quickly added.

“B-but. There are no problems with the plan.”

As the plan was the important thing. As long as there were no setbacks.

That was the intention behind his words.

This was something Gu Yangcheon also acknowledged.

[Yes, as long as that remains unaffected, it’s fine.]

Swish.

The masked face turned towards the void.

The dark clouds had turned much darker than before, and the connecting lines were almost touching their end.

[Is that what you mentioned?]

“It is.”

The old man nodded.

“It’s a spell activated using six mediums.”

While speaking, he observed the other’s reaction.

There was no reaction.

It was a signal to continue the explanation.

“Once all the lines are connected… the catastrophe I explained before will erupt.”

[I see. Ah, right. Cheonra Grand Master.]

“Yes. Leader.”

[There’s one thing I want to ask.]

“Please speak.”

[Can that spell be activated even without you?]

“That… what kind of…?”

[Answer.]

He paused briefly at the subtle question, but the old man continued his answer first.

“Since it’s a spell already activated, it won’t stop unless the mediums are found and destroyed.”

[You’ve hidden the mediums, of course, right?]

“Yes. Even if Grand Master Pungryong intervenes… he won’t be able to find and disable it within today.”

[Good.]

He laughed after hearing the explanation.

Grand Master Pungryong would only take a day at most. If not, it would take several days, so it seemed there would be no problem.

Furthermore.

The purple gaze from within the mask turned towards Pil Duma.

[How fortunate.]

“Leader…?”

What kind of gaze was that? For some reason, Pil Duma felt a chill run down his spine.

As he tried to ponder the question with a sense of bewilderment.

Thud.

He sensed someone’s presence from somewhere.

Pil Duma turned his head upon this, and someone had approached him.

It was a figure dressed in yellow, completely covering their face.

“Whoa!”

An enemy? Pil Duma quickly grabbed his blunt weapon and got up.

He hadn’t noticed the opponent’s approach. That meant they were a strong one.

While surprised by this, he wasn’t worried.

After all, beside him was Pae-jon, one of the absolute Three Venerables…

Kuwak-!

“…Gak…?!”

Spitting blood, Pil Duma’s eyes fluttered.

He lowered his head and looked at something.

It was his chest.

A hand had pierced through his chest and emerged.

With a creak, he turned his head.

He looked at the one who had ambushed him.

“…Leader…?”

Drip.

His eyes were filled with questions.

Then, a hand slowly reached towards the mask.

Click.

The mask held in the hand was soon completely removed. The face within greeted Pil Duma.

“…Huh…?”

Surprise spread across the old man’s face.

The shining purple pupils remained the same, but the face was much younger than expected.

No, the youth wasn’t the problem.

What was important was.

“…You….”

The identity of the person he thought was the Heavenly Demon turned out to be the face of someone Pil Duma also knew.

“So… Yeom…”

“Sorry.”

Fushh!

“…Kkeuk…”

Thump.

As the hand withdrew from his chest, Pil Duma collapsed powerlessly.

Roll. Something rolled beside him.

It was Pil Duma’s heart, pulled out from his chest.

The heart was still beating as if it had strength.

“…Kkeuk…eo…”

Pil Duma desperately tried to grab it, but.

Whack-!

A foot flew in and stomped on the heart.

“I intended to use you a bit longer.”

An indifferent voice wrapped around Pil Duma’s ears.

“Unfortunately, you are no longer needed.”

That became the last voice Pil Duma heard.

The old man who dreamed of the revival of the Zhuge family died powerlessly.

Leaving the cooling body behind, Gu Yangcheon moved his feet.

Squeak-!!

As he walked, rough sounds came from his body, and a change occurred.

The massive body began to shrink little by little.

“…”

The end of his calm steps was before the Hwangbo family member who had appeared moments ago.

He was already kneeling, greeting Gu Yangcheon.

“How’s the situation?”

Gu Yangcheon asked nonchalantly, looking at that.

Then.

“As the Leader commanded, we are focusing on rescuing civilians and are refraining from killing as much as possible.”

Ssssh.

The person spoke and took off their mask. The person’s identity was Nahi.

Nahi was moving while wearing the clothes of the Hwangbo Family.

“Make sure there are as few people as possible in the central area.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Gu Yangcheon took off the martial arts uniform he was wearing and handed it to Nahi.

Nahi accepted it familiarly and looked at Pil Duma’s corpse.

“What should we do about that?”

A body that was already dead.

It was a question asking if it needed to be hidden, but.

“I’ve already spoken to the Hwangbo Family Head separately, so he’ll handle it. Have your personnel throw it in the designated spot.”

“Understood.”

Pil Duma would be found dead in some mountain valley nearby. No, he had to be found.

The story was that the recovered Hwangbo Family Head went searching for the fellow, and after finding him, they fought, resulting in his death.

Afterward, he expanded his senses to grasp the situation.

The aftermath of struggles could be felt from various places.

‘More than I expected.’

Those resisting the attack.

It wasn’t just people from the Hwangbo Family.

‘There’s the Mount Hua Sect too. And some other martial artists.’

I thought they would crumble pathetically, but there are more people with good intentions than expected.

Should I be happy about this or annoyed?

It was a feeling I couldn’t quite place.

After assessing the situation, he immediately ordered Nahi.

“Secure more personnel.”

“I will contact the unit.”

The waiting Cheolya Assassins. It seemed they needed to move too.

“Move out.”

Pop-!

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, Nahi vanished.

Time is running short.

It was a thought that came to mind while looking at the sky.

“…”

What should I do from now on?

He pondered for a moment.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know what to do, but he was pondering.

It was a pondering about whether what he was doing was right.

So he pondered for a moment, but.

“…I have to. What else can I do.”

This was also a deliberation with a predetermined answer.

“Let’s go.”

He put the mask into his pocket.

This should be enough to make them recognize, even if briefly.

That there is a villain who would bring things to this state.

He showed that to the military camp. It wasn’t enough, but it was satisfactory.

This is an era of chaos (亂世).

Although it’s a manufactured era of chaos, it is an era of chaos nonetheless.

A being who would incite chaos.

Something filled with screams and despair.

He showed the possibility of that.

Now, leaving that aside, it was time to do something else.

-Hwaaaaa….

-Help me… Help me….

-Daddy…! Where’s Daddy…!! Dadddyyyy!

When an era of chaos arrives, heroes tend to appear accordingly.

Since a villain has created chaos.

This time, it was the hero’s turn to step forward upon that chaos.

“…”

Crumpling up the rising nausea and swallowing it down, he pushed off with his feet and soared up.

“Life, really.”

Since I just played the villain.

“Shitty.”

Now it was time to be the hero.