Chapter 170: Want to Go Together? (1)

Whooong!

A golden aura sweeps through the room, revealing it filled with medicine and bandages.

The pure energy contained within was undeniably sharp.

However, the energy that flew towards Jang Seon-yeon failed to reach him, fizzling out right before his nose.

Just like smoke.

“Tsk, tsk….”

Despite the sudden attack, Jang Seon-yeon didn’t lose his smile.

As if he had known this would happen.

“My child, your greeting is quite aggressive.”

It was a voice devoid of melody.

Unlike the smile brimming with laughter, the voice was so emotionless it sent shivers down the spine.

“…You.”

At Wi Seol-ah’s reaction, Jang Seon-yeon tilted his head.

“You, and the child from the other day too. Neither of you seem particularly surprised. How boring.”

Tsk, tsk, tsk…. Jang Seon-yeon, no, Dokgo Jun chuckled softly.

Wi Seol-ah looked at Dokgo Jun and asked.

“Did you know I was coming?”

“Of course, how could I not? You’re emitting such intense killing intent towards this child.”

That couldn’t be.

Wi Seol-ah was an expert at concealing and revealing killing intent. How careful had he been not to harm this young body?

‘Then why….’

“My child.”

As the question surfaced, Dokgo Jun addressed Wi Seol-ah.

“It seems you know me.”

“…!”

A statement filled with certainty. A question asking if he knew the identity of the one residing within Jang Seon-yeon’s body, not Jang Seon-yeon himself.

At Dokgo Jun’s words, Wi Seol-ah had to suppress a groan inwardly.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Don’t say ridiculous things.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t be this surprised, would you?”

His expression was hidden, and his breathing was steady. Although he had concealed everything the opponent could possibly know about him.

Dokgo Jun saw right through it, as if unbothered.

“What might you be? That strong child harbored a great beast within their body. You possess nothing.”

No sooner had Dokgo Jun finished speaking than Wi Seol-ah swung his hand again, channeling even stronger energy this time.

Fwish-!

Jang Seon-yeon’s arm was cleanly severed. Seeing this, Wi Seol-ah frowned.

Not only had the energy aimed at the neck veered towards the arm.

It was because no blood flowed from the severed arm’s surface.

Dokgo Jun smiled, looking at the severed arm.

“I see, so you…”

He whispered, as if realizing something.

‘Sealed with energy?’

It wasn’t impossible, but it was something Jang Seon-yeon’s body, at its current level, couldn’t achieve. If so, it must be the energy of that inhuman entity.

Just like himself.

Despite losing an arm, Dokgo Jun’s expression remained unchanged.

“You’re quite impatient. We haven’t even had a proper conversation yet.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

He didn’t want to exchange words. He was only thinking of finishing his task and leaving.

He gathered his energy once more.

The energy that was now dwindling.

Increasing the intensity, the attack landed. Seeing that, he realized he just needed to apply a little more force.

Dokgo Jun, watching this, spoke.

“Even when it concerns the child you cherish?”

Wi Seol-ah faltered at Dokgo Jun’s words.

Simultaneously, the energy in his hand wavered.

Dokgo Jun smirked at the obvious reaction.

“Such an honest child.”

Grrr.

Just as he was about to swing his arm again at Dokgo Jun’s words.

“I’ve planted my seed within that child.”

“What?”

“I gave them the highest quality one, something the child would surely like.”

Wi Seol-ah’s hair whipped around as the words were spoken nonchalantly.

Kuuuuk! The pressure and killing intent filling the room began to crush Jang Seon-yeon’s body, yet his expression remained smiling.

“Don’t worry. It’s not a power that will cause harm.”

“Stop spewing disgusting words! Are you spouting nonsense even after showing me that state?”

The sight of him confidently occupying Jang Seon-yeon’s body and conversing with him.

That alone made it impossible to trust him. Especially for Wi Seol-ah, considering who Dokgo Jun was.

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. What’s important isn’t that.”

Geugeugeuk-

As the pressure intensified, the objects in the room began to vibrate.

“So, are you asking me to save you right now?”

“That’s up to you, I don’t care. I simply wish to converse with you.”

“What conversation.”

He wanted to end it all by cutting off the head right now. Because he didn’t want to converse with that filthy tongue.

However, if Gu Yangcheon was even slightly involved, he needed to be cautious.

Looking at Wi Seol-ah, Dokgo Jun asked.

“What did you give up?”

At the question, Wi Seol-ah bit his lip.

“To become that way, what did you let go of?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“My child. I am merely curious that you accomplished what I could not.”

Is it a question about influencing things against the flow of time?

Or perhaps.

“You are like me.”

Wi Seol-ah offered no response to Dokgo Jun’s words. To deny it would be admitting the truth, but affirming it wasn’t entirely accurate either.

“A bit brighter, a bit more radiant, but the essence is the same. How could we be different, given our similar beginnings?”

“Spit it out clearly. What are you trying to say?”

“I am simply curious. How you came to be. Whether the cause of the distortion is you, or that child. I am merely curious. As I always have been.”

Kkeudeuk.

Wi Seol-ah clenched his teeth. This was an unwanted conversation, and it was dragging on for too long.

Meanwhile, Dokgo Jun continued speaking.

“That boy is not my fragment.”

A statement filled with conviction; Dokgo Jun’s voice was filled with certainty from beginning to end.

“Nor is this child. That’s why it’s fascinating. Two children who are not, have caught my eye.”

“I have no interest in your ulterior motives.”

Wi Seol-ah’s voice held hostility. Dokgo Jun replied to this.

“I will do nothing.”

“What?”

“I merely wait, so this is just out of curiosity.”

Wi Seol-ah hated that nonchalance. He hated it even more, knowing how dark and cruel the power hidden within was. It was disgusting hypocrisy, like acting as an ordinary person.

“Are you worried? That I might do something to that child?”

“If you know, don’t touch them.”

Grinding his teeth, he gathered his energy.

“Before I come to your nest and cause a ruckus.”

As Wi Seol-ah unleashed heavy killing intent, Dokgo Jun reacted with a look of renewed surprise.

“It seems you know more than I thought.”

“Do you really think I wouldn’t do it, knowing that?”

If he widened this gap any further and twisted the flow, it would exceed manageable levels. His soul would rot, and he wouldn’t even be able to give him the farewell he dared to wish for.

Nevertheless, Wi Seol-ah had no intention of hesitating. He would take the consequences himself. If it meant reducing the burden left for him.

‘What is a soul, anyway.’

Compared to all the things he had done for Wi Seol-ah, his own soul felt insignificant.

Dokgo Jun spoke with apparent interest at Wi Seol-ah’s words.

“As I said earlier, I have no intention of harming that child.”

It wasn’t words he could believe. He had already said he planted a seed in that person.

Wi Seol-ah knew the fate of those who carried such seeds. If those words were true, it was a regret that he couldn’t stop it.

“It’s a gift that was well-received, so the child will surely like it too.”

“Don’t misunderstand. They’re someone who would find your meddling disgusting.”

He is not the type of person who desires such things. He is someone who can stand alone, and he will be that way in this life too.

Gu Yangcheon, freed from the shackles of Wi Seol-ah, would be able to soar.

Wi Seol-ah stood here now precisely for that reason.

Unlike Wi Seol-ah’s glare, Dokgo Jun remained unfazed. Even when threatened or intimidated.

Wi Seol-ah knew where his heart was.

Deep underground, right beneath this land.

It would be there.

He couldn’t touch that, so he had to remain still, but if Dokgo Jun continued like this, Wi Seol-ah intended to act immediately.

“Do not worry.”

As Wi Seol-ah’s aggression grew stronger, Dokgo Jun gestured and said to him.

“My power cannot harm that child.”

Not that he wouldn’t cause harm, but that it was impossible.

The smile Dokgo Jun wore vanished the moment he spoke.

Wi Seol-ah did not let his guard down. That too could be an act.

The strength in his hand gradually increased.

“Judging by your reaction, it seems even you don’t know what resides within that boy’s body.”

A beast slumbering, curled up to hide its famished belly.

Dokgo Jun chuckled, recalling that chilling presence.

“I yearn and wait. I endured for so many years for this, why would I harm that child?”

Thick smoke filled the room. This was not due to the influence of the bet.

“No one wishes for that child’s vessel to grow greater more than I do. That is why I personally appeared to give them a gift.”

“Since we’ve formed a connection, they will surely seek me out on their own. You know that the causality of life works that way, don’t you?”

As Dokgo Jun spoke, he grasped his own neck with his hand.

At that sight, Wi Seol-ah’s eyes widened.

“Therefore, I hope you will stay by that child’s side for now.”

“What are you….”

“It’s a shame, but not regrettable. This is the price for the flow, and my gift to you.”

Wi Seol-ah lunged to grab Jang Seon-yeon’s body, but the dense smoke that billowed up obstructed him.

“Today’s conversation was quite enjoyable. I hope to see you again.”

Kuuung!

Wi Seol-ah finally unleashed his energy, dispersing the smoke and charging at Jang Seon-yeon, but.

Ududuk.

Jang Seon-yeon twisted his own neck without hesitation and collapsed.

Lying on the floor with his neck grotesquely twisted, anyone could tell he was surely dead.

Dokgo Jun was still speaking through Jang Seon-yeon’s mouth.

“It was nice meeting you. My daughter.”

One last sentence.

With those words, the life drained from Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes.

Wi Seol-ah concealed his distorted expression and trembling shoulders. He wanted to spew out his anger and unleash energy in all directions, but he forced himself to hold back.

It was a situation where he couldn’t.

The fear of being unable to do anything, in this life as in the last, was still difficult to endure.

What is the Divine Sword, and why is it the greatest under heaven?

Yet I am so incompetent and pathetic. In the end, I couldn’t do anything this time either.

With tightly shut lips, Wi Seol-ah waved his hand.

Hwaruruk

Then, golden flames enveloped Jang Seon-yeon’s body, instantly erasing all traces.

Amidst the flickering energies, Wi Seol-ah lowered his head, holding his breath, and trembled.

‘…I’m sorry.’

His face surfaced in his mind.

He wanted to do everything he possibly could for him.

He was still a hindrance to him.

He considered rushing underground and causing chaos right away, but knowing that a mistake could bring heavier karma upon him than any harm to himself, he couldn’t even do that.

Unable to convey anything.

Unable to do anything easily. Even after reaching enlightenment and reversing time, Wi Seol-ah was still a sinner.

-You stupid bitch.

He recalled the words spoken to him. Because now, he understood all too well the heart behind those words.

Wi Seol-ah could only hold his breath tighter.

---

A day passed, and the Martial Arts Tournament was proceeding with its final event.

It was a ceremony where the Sect Leader, Jang Cheon, personally congratulated the winner and runner-up of the tournament.

In the presence of many onlookers.

Gu Yangcheon stood before Jang Cheon with his characteristic indifferent expression.

Wi Seol-ah, watching this, had to clench his fists and calm his ragged breaths.

Next to the standing Gu Yangcheon.

Jang Seon-yeon, whose neck he had snapped with his own hands last night, stood perfectly fine as if nothing had happened.