Chapter 866: Ilcheonkyo. Pama (Demon Destruction).

The pond was, at most, the size that could fit about five adult men, but that was only the visible part; the inside was much wider.

A pond embracing a golden hue. As soon as I saw its interior, my eyes widened.

The pond’s hidden size was surprising, but that was because something was filling it up inside.

A size that couldn’t be properly confirmed. At first, I wondered what on earth that thing was.

‘…That’s….’

Not long after, I recalled the identity of that thing. That’s a huge snake.

A very, very huge snake.

Moreover, I had seen that thing before.

‘…It seems like the snake I met in the archives of the Geumcheon Yeon Family?’

Around the time when not even a year had passed since I regressed to the past.

That guy I met in the archives I searched for with Wi Seol-ah.

At first, I was terrified thinking it was a monster, but when it even spoke, I almost passed out.

‘Is it that guy from back then?’

Could it be the same snake I met back then? If it is, why is it there doing… that?

Looking at its condition, it seemed like its breath had been cut off a long time ago.

‘…Besides.’

As I examined the inside of the pond, I discovered another strange point besides the snake.

Something was floating inside the pond.

Its size was roughly like a thumbnail, and its shape was round.

Immediately, using Void Grasp, I pulled one out.

It’s a white orb.

‘Isn’t this the same thing I ate?’

The Spirit Pill I brought after killing some unknown brute. It was the exact same item.

If so, this must be it.

The Gyecheon Cult Master ate it, and those who died also ate it; it must all be this thing.

‘Why is this floating around inside this pond?’

Why is the snake’s corpse embedded in the pond, and why are these orbs inside it?

I couldn’t know. In that case.

‘I’ll have to find out.’

I decided I had to find out, starting now. Thinking so, I waved my hand.

“Kkoop!”

The frozen Gyecheon Cult Master flew over and rolled across the floor.

I immediately released his pressure points.

“Hngh-! Keok….”

As soon as the pressure points were released, he tried to blurt something out, so I grabbed his neck to stop him.

I also controlled that, fearing he might bite his tongue to commit suicide.

“I have quite a few things to ask you.”

Thump-! My heart is pounding.

“But I’m short on time…. And besides, I happen to have something to test right now.”

Ssssuuu-!!

“Kuhk!”

Demonic energy burst forth along my palm.

“Let’s just make this easy.”

I engulfed the Gyecheon Cult Master just like that.

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

Amidst a calm breeze blowing, the seated young man opened his eyes.

“Mmm.”

He stretched, letting out a short sound.

“Huuuum.”

An unknown ecstasy could be felt in his voice. At the same time, he repeatedly opened and closed his hands a few times.

“Not bad. You went through a lot.”

“No, I did not.”

The young man, Blood Demon, spoke, and the kneeling woman answered.

Listening to the answer, Blood Demon slowly stood up from the chair.

His appearance was quite different from some time ago.

His limbs were not intact, and it was questionable how he was even alive.

Now, he had returned in a perfectly whole body.

“If it’s this much…. I should be able to make some use of it.”

Blood Demon smiled, seemingly satisfied.

His body couldn’t even withstand thirty percent of the desired strength.

Perhaps thanks to using a bit too much sacrifice, he was better than that now.

If this vessel is enough….

Fifty percent. It’s difficult to compare with my main body, but compared to my past self, I should be able to exert just about that much.

Recalling that, Blood Demon moved his steps.

“How is the situation?”

“…The preparations are finished as you instructed.”

“I like that.”

“However.”

At Muhee’s words, Blood Demon looked at her.

“Regarding the Saint King…. You haven’t given separate instructions, so we are currently waiting.”

“The Saint King? Ah…”

Blood Demon nodded as if recalling it belatedly. Yes, that title had been given.

“Just leave that child be.”

“Pardon?”

Muhee widened her eyes.

“It means don’t mind whatever they do. Rather, I hope they continue to move like that.”

“However…”

“Hmm?”

At her words, Blood Demon tilted his head.

Under that gaze, Muhee immediately bowed her forehead deeply.

“…I apologize.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Blood Demon chuckled and looked forward again.

He knew why Muhee was saying that.

Anomalies had been continuously occurring.

Due to the sudden appearance of an unexpected being, the plan was being altered, and a situation completely different from what Blood Demon had predicted was unfolding.

Because of that, Muhee seemed worried, but.

‘This is good.’

Blood Demon actually liked the current situation. It was a series of anomalies unknown even to himself, and unknown to the world.

I thought no more unpredictable situations would occur.

It was truly interesting.

Look even now.

‘Something has changed.’

As Blood Demon felt it, the air had changed during the brief moment his eyes were closed.

What could it be? He didn’t ponder it for long.

‘Is it you again.’

It’s that child.

The hidden dagger of Man-gye, deliberately left behind to create an opening for rebellion.

‘What interesting thing have they caused this time?’

What did they do to cause this much…

‘Is the world angry?’

Blood Demon wiped his mouth as if gesturing a smile.

At the same time, he stopped walking and looked up at the sky. Though blocked by a ceiling, Blood Demon knew.

“If you dislike it that much, why don’t you intervene somewhere.”

Tsk tsk.

Blood Demon spoke and started walking again. He knew well that no answer would come anyway.

However, the change had already begun, and it couldn’t be reversed.

Sensing this, Blood Demon smiled with his eyes.

The time has come. Or perhaps, it has already passed?

“Muhee.”

“Yes.”

“I must go see my precious daughters.”

“…!”

At Blood Demon’s words, Muhee’s body trembled greatly. It was because she understood the meaning behind his words.

“…Which… side do you intend to visit first?”

“Hmm…. Let me see.”

Blood Demon said after pondering for a moment.

“First,”

The face of Blood Demon, saying so.

“I’m feeling hungry, so I need to regain my strength first.”

He wore a chillingly terrifying smile.

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

The space was the same as before. The location had not changed at all.

And the same place where I was standing.

Though nothing had changed.

I was looking at something with my eyes greatly lowered.

It was the pond from earlier.

The pond dyed in golden hues. While looking at it, I glanced sideways.

“…Hk… Hkeu….”

A thin and worn-out-looking old man. The Gyecheon Cult Master was kneeling, shaking his head.

He looked like he had slightly lost his mind.

The sparkle in his eyes had vanished long ago.

The resentment or despair he held while looking at me was also gone.

He looked as if his vitality, let alone his soul, had all vanished.

While looking at him, I moved my hand.

Kwajik-!!

Teolseok.

His head, hit by my fist, was crushed as it fell straight onto the ground. It was instant death.

“…”

Without even wiping the blood off my hand, I contorted my face. I had already found out all the necessary information.

How a damn group like the Ilcheon Cult came into existence. What they were doing here.

Also, what their objective was.

I had finished grasping what I wanted to know through the Gyecheon Cult Master’s mouth, but.

“…I’m going crazy.”

Even after hearing all of it, I couldn’t easily understand.

It wasn’t a problem with the situation.

I understood all that. It’s just that.

The Gyecheon Cult Master’s last words linger on my mind.

I looked back. It was where the Dark King was.

Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah also had surprised expressions. Was it a problem that I didn’t send them out and let them hear this together? Or was it because they saw me use demonic energy to make the Gyecheon Cult Master act strangely?

As for me, I showed it intentionally. It wasn’t something I could hide forever.

By now, it was also my intention to gradually show them what kind of person I am.

The problem is.

‘Something much bigger has happened.’

They ended up hearing something far more appalling than the appearance I just showed.

That’s why. Never mind the other two.

‘Dark King….’

The reason the Dark King had such a blank expression. It was precisely because of that.

What he was thinking, what emotions he was feeling-it hadn’t been revealed on the Dark King’s face at all, making it hard to grasp, but now, too clear an emotion was glimpsed on the Dark King.

Bewilderment.

And shock.

It was a face I had never seen on the Dark King before.

‘…It’s understandable.’

If it’s the Dark King’s situation, of all things, it makes sense. How could it not?

The location here, the events that transpired, even the last words the Gyecheon Cult Master spoke.

If I were the Dark King, my reaction would have been even greater than that.

‘How on earth?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand, so I kept ruminating.

However, even after chewing and chewing again, I couldn’t understand.

It couldn’t be helped.

Anyone would have reacted the same way.

“Tsk.”

Furrowing my brow deeply, I recalled the last conversation with the Gyecheon Cult Master.

-So, who on earth planned this matter?

-….

He couldn’t have planned it alone. Someone must have been behind him. I asked him about it, and after choking for a long time, the Gyecheon Cult Master told me.

-…Il.

-What?

The sound was too quiet. Narrowing my brow, I brought my ear closer.

Only then did I hear the Gyecheon Cult Master’s whisper.

-…Yeon Il-cheon.

-…!

Hearing that, I contorted my face. What kind of crazy talk is this?

-Why does that person’s name suddenly come up? He should have been dead for hundreds of years.

I was supposed to spit out only the truth, but the Gyecheon Cult Master spewed utter bullshit, and hearing it, I asked again, dumbfounded.

-What, are you saying he’s alive?

To my question, the Gyecheon Cult Master replied.

-Y-yes.

-…What?

-Yeon… Il-cheon… is… alive.

At the Gyecheon Cult Master’s answer, everyone nearby froze.