Chapter 166: The Thing I Want to Show You. (6) (Revised)

The Thing I Want to Show. (6)

KUUUNG!

Sound one.

My shoulder went out with this.

KWAANG!

Sound two.

I wonder what went out just now.

I don’t know.

Not only my senses, but my vision was also blurry.

I just swung my sword instinctively.

The sharp aura lingering at the tip of the sword was still menacing.

The divine energy contained within my body had strengthened Jang Seon-yeon’s flesh and martial arts.

Enough to easily defeat martial artists of the same level.

It had raised me to such a high level that I could subdue them without even brushing their collars, but.

KWADUDEUDUK.

To that guy, it was merely a trivial display.

“Keoheok…!”

Jang Seon-yeon stumbled back a few steps, then clutched his chest and sank down.

“Why….”

It was a phrase he uttered unconsciously, as if whispering.

“Why do you think?”

It seemed Gu Yangcheon heard it as if he were a ghost.

Gu Yangcheon reached out to Jang Seon-yeon.

Jang Seon-yeon flinched and trembled.

‘Damn it….’

Jang Seon-yeon tried to stop his trembling shoulders, spitting out curses inwardly.

It was because he felt utterly pathetic for being scared.

The outstretched hand brushed past Jang Seon-yeon’s cheek, tapping it lightly.

It was incredibly humiliating.

Why.

Just why.

“You don’t know, do you? You won’t know.”

Perhaps you’ll never know. I kind of hope you don’t.

The reason? The reason is simple.

By now, the saying ‘the strong survive’ had faded considerably, but.

Since the Central Plains still worshipped martial arts and the essence of pursuing chivalry hadn’t disappeared.

Ultimately, the reason was simply that he was weak, and I was strong.

‘However, he was stronger than I thought.’

If possible, I had intended to show just enough, given the many eyes watching and my inability to kill him quietly.

He was stronger than expected.

Thanks to that, I even had to use a secret technique that activates the body with heat.

I thought I wouldn’t need to use it against a late-stage disciple.

‘Is he at the initial stage of ‘Peak’?’

If we’re talking about cultivation levels, somewhere around a fully accomplished first-rate master.

Just that alone was an unbelievable level for Jang Seon-yeon’s age.

Namgung the bedwetter couldn’t even compare.

If we were to compare, it’s a level comparable to Sword Phoenix, Geom Ryong, and Jam Ryong.

And yet, that guy used some unknown power to raise his cultivation level.

‘But he hasn’t broken through the middle dantian yet.’

I couldn’t feel the sensation of shedding skin that begins upon reaching the ‘Peak’ from him.

It was merely a fragmented growth, and it seemed he couldn’t maintain it for long.

‘That’s probably why he didn’t use it from the start.’

I thought the reason he hesitated like that, when he should have been using everything he had, wasn’t just to make excuses.

It must be either that he can’t maintain it for long, or that there’s a limit to how many times he can use it.

I wondered if it was one of those two possibilities.

Maybe it’s both.

‘If the energy I took from Namgung Cheon-jun is the same as his, can I use it too?’

I tried it, but the energy didn’t really move or anything.

In fact, purification was faster than demonic energy, so it wasn’t even left inside my body anymore, making further experimentation impossible.

‘It’s different from demonic energy.’

Demonic energy can also strengthen the body, but it doesn’t increase the power of martial arts.

It’s ultimately the driving force for using demonic arts.

And like a mark signifying one has become a demon.

‘But this…’

I recalled the moment Jang Seon-yeon split the flames with a single blow earlier.

I thought he would simply dodge, but he split them instead.

SWISH!

While I was thinking about this and that, Jang Seon-yeon’s sword came flying.

He swung it quickly towards my neck, but.

CRACK!

I dodged by moving my head and twisted the wrist holding the sword.

I had no hesitation in breaking it.

“Kkeu-aaaaa!”

This time, Jang Seon-yeon let out a loud scream.

He seemed to be holding back, but it seemed too much this time.

I was a little surprised at this point.

Surprised that he attacked.

‘Wasn’t he scared?’

I thought I had instilled enough fear.

Hoping that he would be crushed and broken quietly, so he wouldn’t act up next time we met.

Since I couldn’t kill him now, I had laid the groundwork to make it easier next time.

It seemed he hadn’t lost his fighting spirit yet.

In that case,

‘How much can I break?’

My mind was filled with such thoughts.

If I wanted to kill him, it would be faster, but.

If I wanted to break him, I needed to be a bit more careful.

I couldn’t beat him to a level where he couldn’t be healed, at least.

I couldn’t ruin my relationship with the Martial Alliance already.

‘This is what’s annoying.’

Not being able to kill the guy I want to kill as I please.

Although things in the world don’t go my way.

It was infuriating that I couldn’t do anything even to scum like this.

‘Why did I even reincarnate if it’s like this? I can’t do anything.’

I kicked his joint with my foot, forcing him to kneel once more.

“If you keep moving like that, something bad might happen…”

BANG!

The sound of internal energy exploding echoed from the hand I hastily raised to block.

He had shot out sword energy.

Not only my right hand, but I had twisted the left wrist holding the sword, so how?

‘Look at this?’

Jang Seon-yeon swung his sword with his shattered wrist.

I didn’t know how he planned to get treatment by leaving it like that, but.

I had to acknowledge his spirit.

Is this what it means to be a martial artist?

I kicked Jang Seon-yeon in the chest, sending him flying, and glanced at the referee.

The martial arts stage, which was smashed and messed up everywhere.

And Jang Seon-yeon, whose body was already smashed to pieces, was in no condition for the match to continue.

The referee seemed to know this too, as his eyes were shaking slightly, but.

He couldn’t intervene.

‘Because he didn’t concede.’

Because the referee cannot intervene unless the participant loses consciousness or victory is clearly achieved.

‘Knowing that, he still wants to continue?’

He must have known he was going to lose long ago.

Even after using that unknown power, he ended up like this, yet he wants to continue?

‘If it were the guy I knew, he wouldn’t act like this.’

It was a question.

If it were the guy I knew from my past life, he wouldn’t do something so foolish.

It would be one thing if he tried something else afterward, but.

‘Is the guy at this time different?’

I had to hope that wasn’t the case.

Because it was one of the scenarios I least wanted to imagine.

‘Even if that’s the case.’

It didn’t matter.

I had no intention of letting that ruin what I wanted to do.

Even if the current him is not corrupted, just a young boy intoxicated by power.

‘As long as what you did isn’t erased from my mind.’

Forgiveness or resentment, it’s not that noble a matter.

I was simply angry, so I had to take it out on him.

The reason I focused on his chest was because he had injured Namgung Bi-ah’s chest.

The purpose of instilling fear.

Even if I tried to attach grand reasons.

It was ultimately a factor needed for my emotional release.

Let’s not think of myself as a saint.

That would only be poison to me.

I lived a sordid and crude life, and that past made me who I am.

Don’t deny it.

The more you deny your true self, the more it becomes poison to reaching transcendence.

I had to rise higher than I am now.

Much higher than now.

‘So, I don’t have much time to waste on you.’

It was time to finish this.

It was insufficient as a way to vent my anger, but dragging it out wouldn’t be good either.

I had to wrap things up soon.

‘Still, I should break one more thing.’

Ending it with a blow to the chin would be too impersonal.

I should break an arm one more time.

Or perhaps play a little prank on his groin; I had to do one of the two.

It felt like too much of a waste not to.

Just then.

PUDUDEUDUK-.

Jang Seon-yeon started to get up.

Perhaps because he was forcing himself up, bone sounds could be heard from every joint.

Since various parts were broken, even getting up didn’t seem to be going well.

The pain must be unbearable.

‘Such willpower…’

I thought I should at least acknowledge his willpower.

The faint, strange sensation crawling up my back sent shivers down my spine.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out.

It was a situation I had experienced many times in my past life.

“That moronic bastard.”

Jang Seon-yeon, who had forced himself up and grabbed his sword, had empty eyes.

He had already lost consciousness.

Thinking about how he could get up then.

‘He was consumed by power.’

When a demon excessively or forcibly uses the demonic energy they’ve been granted, their mind can be consumed, turning them into a monster.

This is called being consumed by power,

And that guy was exactly like that.

Even though the energy felt different from demonic energy, the side effect seemed to be the same.

‘Did I beat him too hard?’

That seemed the most likely reason.

Because I beat him after putting him in a situation where he might die if he didn’t use it.

I calmly watched the staggering Jang Seon-yeon.

Leaving him like this wouldn’t kill him, but if I left him any longer, his mind would shatter.

‘Should I just leave him then?’

It wasn’t a bad idea.

If he were to break down like this now, it would look like he broke while bravely facing me as a martial artist, determined to protect his pride.

In that case, the Alliance Leader wouldn’t have anything to blame me for. Although he might resent me as a father.

‘Still, if he tries to blame me, I’ll have to call Elder Lee.’

Though I wasn’t sure if that bear-like old man would be helpful.

It was true that I wouldn’t feel truly satisfied unless I killed Jang Seon-yeon with my own hands someday.

But I had no intention of messing things up by obsessing over that.

Because there were far too many more important things right now.

As I was trying to assume a proper stance.

The guy who had gotten up looked at me calmly.

With empty pupils and a vacant gaze, I slightly raised my internal energy sensing, just in case he charged, but.

Contrary to my expectations, he didn’t charge.

He just.

“It’s you.”

For lips that were swollen and burst, the pronunciation was surprisingly accurate.

Had he not lost consciousness?

“What?”

I asked again, as if I’d misheard, but he just continued speaking his mind.

“I felt something break, and it was you.”

The way he chuckled was somehow strange.

Without hesitation, I lunged at him and grabbed his neck.

A subtle sensation, like goosebumps prickling all over my body.

Cold sweat that felt like it might trickle down without me realizing it.

What should I call this damn feeling?

I asked, pinning Jang Seon-yeon’s body down.

“Who the hell are you?”

As I growled and asked about his identity, Jang Seon-yeon, with his neck held, laughed.

His lips didn’t move; he was just laughing with sound alone.

“That’s what I wanted to ask. Child. What are you?”

“What are you?”

KKOOWOOK.

I slowly tightened my grip on the neck I held.

It was a threat, implying I could just crush him if he kept spouting nonsense.

However, his mouth didn’t stop.

“What are you, to possess so much?”

Normally, he should be suffocating, unable to speak properly because his neck was caught, but.

Jang Seon-yeon kept talking as if nothing was wrong.

‘No, this isn’t Jang Seon-yeon.’

It was definitely something else.

Did this bastard also have something growing inside his body?

Since entering this life, I’d encountered so many things that consumed and lived in my body as if it were their own, that I wasn’t particularly surprised even seeing this.

It’s normal for people to live with a ghost inside their bodies, isn’t it?

The problem was something else.

[Hiiii….]

A sound could be heard.

A clear voice that seemed to resonate directly inside my head.

At first, I thought it was Shin Noya.

‘Shin Noya…?’

It wasn’t strange for him to suddenly return, so I urgently called out to Noya, but.

[Hiii… Hiiii…. I’m hungry….]

It wasn’t Noya.

“What the hell is this now.”

[I’m hungryyy…. That… eat that….]

Suddenly, an incomprehensible voice began to stir within my mind.

At the same time, my dantian started to tremble violently.

The surging energy became difficult for me to control easily.

It felt like I had lost control.

What terrible timing, an accident right when the martial arts tournament was almost over.

[Eat… eat! That… you must eat.]

An unpleasant voice, like countless voices condensed into one.

Just hearing a few words was enough to cause a piercing headache that was almost unbearable.

‘…This voice….’

Amidst the pain causing me to frown, I recalled hearing this voice somewhere before.

The end of the last match against Namgung Cheon-jun.

The voice I briefly heard after absorbing all his energy.

And.

The fight against the Night Blood Tribe in Shaanxi.

It was the same voice I heard right before losing consciousness at the very end.

WOOONG.

“…!”

Gritting my teeth against the headache, I felt the energy emanating from my body.

It was because the Demonic Heaven Absorption technique had activated on its own again.

‘Shit, not this time.’

If I absorbed more, it would only raise unnecessary suspicions.

For now, if possible, I couldn’t let anyone know that I could absorb energy.

Since I didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of such a thing, I tried to hastily let go.

GRIP!

Instead, Jang Seon-yeon’s hand gripped my wrist.

“I see. This feeling.”

Soon after, he spoke to me in a voice tinged with laughter, as if he had realized something.

“You’ve brought darkness into your small body. Is it because your vessel is large that you don’t break after putting something so immense inside? It doesn’t seem so.”

I wanted to ask what nonsense he was talking about, but my mouth wouldn’t open easily.

‘Why are they all acting up at once?’

I don’t know why they have to gang up and complicate things like this.

Even though he must feel his energy being drained, he increased the pressure, as if he had no intention of letting go of my hand.

‘What kind of power…!’

If it were Jang Seon-yeon’s original strength, I should have broken free long ago.

For some reason, even that wasn’t easy.

“I cannot know why the master of the bottomless pit is in the body of a child like you, but I am fortunate to have learned it now.”

The energy entering my body was the same as Namgung Cheon-jun’s, but.

The richness was different.

And my body, receiving the energy, was swallowing it all as if it were delicious.

“You eat so well, as if you’ve been starving.”

With those words, I could be sure.

As expected, even though he knew I was swallowing his energy.

He was letting me do it calmly.

THUMP!

Jang Seon-yeon let go of the hand he had been gripping for a while.

“Child.”

To his call, I still couldn’t give any answer.

My current body seemed to be beyond my will and wouldn’t obey.

“With the joy of facing the crack, I have given you a gift. The beast within your body will also welcome it.”

“I wanted to give it all to you, but unfortunately, this child’s body and soul have a purpose, so I cannot give it as a gift.”

“So, if you like the gift later, come find me.”

As Jang Seon-yeon’s words came to an end.

I staggered, knelt on one knee, and collapsed.

The voice was still echoing in my head. There were many things I wanted to say right away, but.

Even though my body’s senses had returned, my stiff tongue remained the same.

“It was nice meeting you. If you meet Mu Hui later, tell him this.”

Jang Seon-yeon’s crumbling body slowly closed its eyes.

Before closing his eyes, Jang Seon-yeon added in a very small voice.

“I, Dokgo Jun, am looking for you, child.”

With those words, Jang Seon-yeon closed his eyes, all too futilely.

I was kneeling, gasping for breath repeatedly.

Not only the energy that had seeped into my body, but I had to collect my thoughts amidst the sudden turn of events.

The referee, seeing that Jang Seon-yeon had lost consciousness, immediately rushed over to check his condition.

“…”

He briefly touched Jang Seon-yeon’s body and nodded.

It seemed he confirmed he wasn’t dead.

Soon after.

“Sanseogu’s Gu Yangcheon wins.”

The referee announced the verdict of my victory.

-WAAAAAAAAAH!

Cheers erupted from the stunned audience, loud enough to burst one’s ears, but.

My contorted expression didn’t ease.