Chapter 910: So in the end.

‘What is this….’

Seolyeong, the first-generation disciple of the Myriad Worlds’ Volcanic Sect and in charge of educating the third-generation disciples.

‘…This is screwed.’

She had to contort her face, seeing the situation unfold.

KWAANG-!

“Kkuek!”

Someone flies away with a loud noise.

It was a third-generation disciple, sent flying far away and rolling on the floor.

“Kkueo….”

The disciple collapsed on the ground, convulsed briefly, trembled, and then lost consciousness.

Limply hanging down, he seemed completely knocked out.

“Hieek…!”

“Again, it’s again…!”

“How many is this already….”

The other third-generation disciples trembled in fear, watching it.

As they said, how many was this already? It was at least over ten.

Over ten disciples lay piled up like a mountain in that corner, knocked out.

“…Ah….”

Seeing that, Seolyeong covered her forehead with her hand.

“…I’m doomed.”

What should I do about this?

Her mind went blank at the sight.

She pondered how it came to this, but the answer was simple.

‘…I shouldn’t have brought him.’

I shouldn’t have dragged that nonsensical monster here.

Just then.

“Next.”

The person standing in front spoke, leaving Seolyeong with a headache.

It was him. He was the cause of her headache.

“Hie…Hieek… I don’t wa-want to!”

A disciple whose turn was coming, terrified, tried to run away.

“Don’t want to? What a great opportunity this is. Hurry up and come here?”

“Uwaaaaa!!! Sabunim!”

“…”

Watching the disciple being grabbed by the nape of his neck and dragged away, Seolyeong couldn’t say anything.

He couldn’t even run away properly.

Hwa-reureu-reuk-!!

Unknown flames formed a barrier around the training ground, giving off immense heat to those trying to leave.

It was likely his doing, to prevent escape.

“Draw your sword.”

“P-please….”

“Huh? A swordsman can’t even draw his sword before fighting? Is his head screwed on? Should I draw it for you?”

“Hieeeek…!”

“Damn it.”

‘…What kind of person is he?’

Seolyeong was horrified by the sight of him forcing sparring matches.

She had been surprised when he knocked out the first disciple, but she had tried to accept it then.

‘First, that kid did wrong….’

She had been curious about his skills after hearing he’d wrecked Gu-bong.

‘What is this….’

Facing him directly, the feeling was completely different. Even though he had been facing over ten third-generation disciples until now.

‘He didn’t move a single step.’

He hadn’t moved an inch from where he stood.

Standing right there, he dodged all attacks and finished with a single blow.

It was overwhelming.

Could I do that myself?

‘I don’t think so.’

Seolyeong was very self-aware.

Could Gu-bong, whom the Sect Leader particularly favored, do it? Maybe. But.

‘Gu-bong lost to the Guest too.’

Although she hadn’t seen him fight directly, she heard he lost even when bathed in moonlight.

Later, when she visited the infirmary, the state of things was beyond description.

That tough guy was smashed all over.

It was absurd.

‘How on earth did he get hit like that?’

She wondered how one had to beat someone to make that possible.

KWAANG-!!

“Kkuek!”

“…”

Now she understood.

That’s how you do it to make it possible.

Another disciple fell, and he grabbed the unconscious disciple and threw him far away.

“Next.”

It was terrifying how he said it, dusting off his hands.

“Mas…Sabunim….”

“Help us…!”

The disciples looked pleadingly at Seolyeong.

“…”

Seolyeong responded by ignoring their desperate gazes.

“Sabunim…?!”

“Mas, Sabunim!”

“Can’t you hear me? I said next.”

“Hiaaak!”

Fear and betrayal dawned in the disciples’ eyes.

The fear was naturally directed at him, and the betrayal was directed at Seolyeong herself.

‘I’m sorry, kids.’

Guilt gnawed at her, but Seolyeong ignored it nonetheless.

Was it because she was afraid of that young Guest? No.

If so, was it because she wanted to show the disciples a new trend, as they say?

Half right, half wrong.

It was true she wanted to create a new trend, but.

‘This wasn’t it….’

At least, it wasn’t supposed to feel like this. This wasn’t a trend; it was violence, wasn’t it?

It was too violent, and…

‘Why is he enjoying it…?’

That person was clearly enjoying himself. You could tell just by looking at his face. He had an expression that said tormenting disciples was incredibly fun.

‘…I brought the wrong person.’

She realized she had made a huge mistake, but it was already too late.

‘Ah…. Could it be because of that?’

Seolyeong suddenly recalled the situation when she went to get permission from the Sect Leader.

When she asked if she could ask the Guest for a favor, the Sect Leader suddenly smiled brightly.

She knew he usually had an ulterior motive when he smiled like that, but Seolyeong, thinking of her disciples, momentarily forgot.

‘No wonder.’

No wonder he smiled so brightly.

Only now did she realize his face looked like he had known this would happen.

‘…Ah….’

What should I do? She wondered if something terrible might happen, but.

“…”

Seolyeong ultimately didn’t step in. The reason wasn’t fear, as she’d said earlier.

“Forearm. Pay attention. Is that the right angle to swing your sword? I don’t think so?”

As he spoke, he knocked the sword away with his hand. The disciple lost his grip, his wrist going slack, and dropped the sword.

He was hit squarely in the jaw and knocked out.

“Your lower body is shaking. You seem to know it yourself, so why are you lunging in like that? Are you asking me to hit your face? I’ll oblige, then.”

With his stance broken, his knee rammed into his nose. The disciple staggered and collapsed again.

“Your abdomen is exposed. If you’re going to defend, do it properly. And if an attack won’t even be blocked, you should think about dodging. What, ‘give flesh to take bone’? Tsk tsk. You’ll end up dead, whole package.”

The disciple hit in the solar plexus vomited and then collapsed.

It continued like this.

While it was regrettable that disciples were falling,

‘He’s actually sparring, isn’t he?’

Seolyeong couldn’t help but admire him.

Even while hitting them fiercely, he pointed out each disciple’s flaws and areas for improvement.

And by exploiting those points to attack, the disciples would surely gain considerable insight.

“Lower body, you idiot, the lower body. Trying to compensate for your weakness with your… well, what are you going to do with that pathetic thing?! Fundamentals are important, fundamentals.”

“Kkeureureuk!”

“…”

Of course, it wasn’t any less violent, so it was pitifully brutal.

After quite some time passed like that.

“Next.”

The young man, scowling deeply, shouted to the surroundings, but this time, not even a scream was heard.

Wondering what was up, she shifted her gaze.

“Hmm? Ah.”

Seeing the situation, the young man nodded as if he understood.

“Is that all?”

There were no more disciples.

It meant they had all passed out, so there was no one left to spar.

“Ah…. I still have to hit… no, teach more.”

You were about to say ‘hit,’ weren’t you?

The young man said to Seolyeong with a look full of regret.

“Are there no more disciples?”

“…Yes.”

Even if there were, she felt she shouldn’t have brought them here.

“I think I’m almost there.”

“What… are you talking about?”

“Just a little more hitting… no, teaching, and I think my anger will subside.”

“…”

Ah, I see. He’s not even trying to hide it anymore.

Seolyeong smiled wryly, realizing the extent of her mistake.

As she was hiding her decaying insides.

“If there are no third-generation disciples, the second-generation disciples should be fine too. Are there any of them?”

Seolyeong paused at Gu Yangcheon’s words.

“…Ah. The second-generation disciples…. They aren’t currently within the sect.”

“Hmm? Why?”

He tilted his head, looking puzzled. Seeing that, Seolyeong thought to herself.

He’s subtly dropped the honorifics, hasn’t he?

He seems intent on maintaining the casual speech he started earlier.

She considered pointing it out but held back. She felt like she might get hit if she did.

Seeing how he beat disciples regardless of gender, the possibility was high.

“Because they have missions to carry out outside the Bottomless Pit…”

“Ah, missions… wait, what did you say?”

“What?”

Mid-sentence, Gu Yangcheon narrowed his eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“What…?”

“Where is this place?”

“The Volcanic Sect.”

“No, not that. What you just said.”

“If you mean just now… ah.”

Seolyeong was about to speak, as if she realized.

No, she was about to speak.

“You said Bottomless Pit.”

The answer came not from Seolyeong’s mouth, but from behind Gu Yangcheon.

At that voice, Gu Yangcheon quickly turned around.

KWA-ANG–!!

“Kkuaaak!”

Gu Yangcheon screamed as a fist hit him squarely on the crown of his head.

He staggered, the pain seeming considerable. Seeing that, Seolyeong unconsciously thought, ‘Serves him right.’

But that lasted only a moment. Looking at the owner of the fist, Seolyeong showed respect.

“Sect Leader.”

The one who appeared was Shincheol.

He greeted Seolyeong with a gesture and looked at the fallen Gu Yangcheon.

“You crazy bastard.”

It started with an insult.

“How many times have I told you to behave? And you’ve caused trouble again in the meantime? When do you plan on growing up?”

At Shincheol’s words, Gu Yangcheon rubbed his head and glared.

“Trouble my ass! I heard you gave permission for everything, so I did as I pleased, why are you throwing a fit now?”

“A fit? A FIIIIIT?”

“Then what is this if not a fit?! I’m already swamped with work, and you told me to earn my keep, so I did!”

“What? I told you to do your job properly. Who told you to beat the kids like that?!”

“Beat them? Who beat them? I just petted them because they were cute!”

“Petted them? If you pet them twice more, you’ll kill someone.”

“…”

The shouting match was no joke.

Seeing them raise their hackles and shout at each other the moment they met, Seolyeong was speechless.

Gu Yangcheon, who had been so fierce just moments ago, yelled back at the Sect Leader as if refusing to back down, but eventually, he was busy dodging whenever the Sect Leader moved.

The Sect Leader, whom she usually found stoic and taciturn, was spewing words at Gu Yangcheon incessantly.

It was a sight she’d never seen before.

‘Ah.’

Seolyeong understood something.

‘So that’s why Gu-bong hated him so much.’

Watching that, she understood how he felt.

Although they seemed angry, arguing constantly, Seolyeong, who had known the Sect Leader for a long time, knew.

The Sect Leader was smiling.

‘I see.’

That was why.

Seolyeong nodded, unable to help herself.

“Aack! Fuck!”

Gu Yangcheon screamed as he was hit one last time.

---

“…Ouch…. That hurts.”

He walked along, rubbing the top of his head. It felt like a bump would form from just a few hits.

He barely escaped before they could grab him and beat him further.

His whole body ached.

I only got hit maybe three times, so why does it hurt this much?

‘This old man’s hands are fierce.’

It wasn’t just fierce.

It was so spicy it felt like his tongue would burn if he tasted it wrong.

“Kkeueu….”

He managed to escape. Because of that, he couldn’t ask what he wanted to ask.

‘This place is the Bottomless Pit…?’

The source of all things, a space that expels demons through the Demonic Mirror Gate.

Another world within the Myriad Worlds where Kkurung exists as its master.

That place was here.

‘…I didn’t expect this at all.’

Since they called it the Bottomless Pit, I expected it to be utterly dark and murky, but this place was too beautiful to be called the Bottomless Pit.

‘So that’s why that Kkurung fellow was here?’

If so, that makes sense, but.

‘Then…. Why are there people living here?’

Not only did they build a castle in the Bottomless Pit, where extinguished beings gather, but they also created the Volcanic Sect?

I couldn’t comprehend this process or its outcome.

I wanted to ask, but since the old man kept trying to hit me, escaping took priority.

The place I managed to escape to and headed for was the dimensional gate I had entered through the day before.

It was because there were a few things I needed to check.

“Hey.”

As I walked, I turned around and spoke. Cheonma was quietly following behind me.

“…?”

Cheonma tilted his head at my call. Seeing that innocent expression, I said.

“When the hell did you say you’d protect me, and why are you just watching?”

Where was that confident demeanor from before, even standing firm before the Blood Demon, saying he had to protect me? This time, I was getting beaten black and blue, and Cheonma just watched from the shade.

It was so absurd that I asked him.

“Huh?”

Cheonma just wore an expression of utter cluelessness.

“Ha….”

Seeing that, I sighed. It was because I realized my behavior was childish.

“Forget it…. What’s the point of talking to you.”

This was just venting again. I shook my head repeatedly and started walking again.

Why am I so annoyed? Is it because I’m busy with work and stuck doing this? Yeah, that seems to be it.

Let’s hurry up and check what I need to check. As I thought that and was about to walk again.

“Are you done being jealous?”

Halt.

Cheonma’s words made me stop. I stared at Cheonma with a stiff expression.

“…What?”

“Jealousy.”

“What kind of bullshit are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Jealousy? At the nonsensical remark, I had to frown deeply.

“What jealousy?”

“Earlier. You were jealous.”

“Jealous of what, and who?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Of course not….”

I stopped mid-sentence and closed my mouth.

“…”

Oh, shit.

My head is spinning.

‘No way.’

Is that why I felt suffocated and annoyed?

‘…Was I jealous of the disciples?’

Jealous of the Volcanic Sect disciples created by Old Man Ya? Me?

I barely received any teaching, but it felt like those guys got a lot.

Did that make me jealous?

“Bullshit. Absolute bullshit.”

I shook my head, letting out a hollow laugh.

I didn’t want to admit it. Nothing felt more like shit than that.

‘Don’t make me laugh.’

How old am I? To be jealous over something like that?

If that’s the case, it’s like…

‘I’m no different from that bastard Gu-bong.’

I was no different from that guy I thought was pathetic inwardly.

I couldn’t accept it. While thinking that.

‘Fuck.’

Vaguely, a feeling that it might be true was creeping up.

“Ah…. Crazy.”

I felt embarrassed. If it was really for that reason, I couldn’t be more embarrassed.

Annoyance surged along with it, and I turned my back.

“…Haaah.”

I let out a deep sigh and wiped my face with my hand.

I controlled my body heat, lest my face turn red.

Afraid such feelings might surface, I quickly asked Cheonma something else.

“Forget it…. Did you notice anything strange when I went out yesterday?”

It was a statement made while trying to change the subject.

Cheonma didn’t answer for a moment at my words.

“Ah.”

He said to me, as if remembering something.

“Someone was watching me.”

“…Well, that’s possible. Is it someone from here?”

“No, outside.”

“Outside? Outside? You went outside here?”

“Yeah.”

At his calm reply, I looked at Cheonma. He went outside the Bottomless Pit?

“And someone outside was watching you…?”

“Yeah.”

“…Did they seem like someone from inside here?”

“No.”

“…”

Someone not from here went outside and was watching Cheonma?

What is this?

My head, which had been hot with embarrassment just moments ago, felt chillingly cool.

“And then what happened?”

“They disappeared.”

“…”

They watched and then disappeared.

Just hearing that much, I understood.

Something seems to have gone wrong.

But.

“…Why are you telling me this now?”

Why are you only telling me this now?

Hearing this, Cheonma looked at me strangely and said.

“You didn’t ask.”

“…”

Hearing the answer, I closed my eyes and pressed my eyelids with my fingers.

‘Ah, I want to go home.’

It was a moment when I genuinely missed Zhongyuan.