Chapter 175: Fragment. (1)

Fragment. (1)

Moyong Hi-ah, who seemed to want something from me.

It was more baffling than the frozen surroundings.

“A carp is talking…?”

The carp was talking.

The way it clearly enunciated with its gaping mouth was utterly grotesque.

[You shitty flat-nosed punk.]

Its mouth was even foul.

[If someone calls you, you should answer, how can you be so rude even after living that long.]

“Are you talking to me right now?”

[Then who else is here besides you.]

There are plenty of people, it’s just that none of them are moving.

What was important now wasn’t that.

“…What is your identity?”

[Can’t you tell by looking.]

If it was about looking, I could tell very well.

It was a carp.

A white and precious carp, living for hundreds of years, called a treasure of Shaolin.

Was it called the White Crane Carp?

It was a name that seemed to imply something.

Seeing my bewildered expression, the carp continued to speak, gaping.

[Your surprised face is truly dog-like, how can a face born defying reincarnation be so fierce….]

“What on earth are you talking about.”

The situation is bad enough, and I’m being personally attacked by a little bastard carp.

As I uttered that I didn’t understand what it was saying, the carp’s barbels rustled.

Its expression seemed to change slightly too.

It felt like it was mocking me, perhaps.

[Shin-cheol, you flat-nosed punk. Do you still want to play games even in this situation.]

‘Shin-cheol.’

Hearing the carp’s call, I didn’t need to think about who it was.

Shin-cheol was the Taoist name of the old man sprawled out in my body, not paying rent.

‘The problem is why that carp sees me as Old Man Shin.’

Is this current state, as if time has stopped, also the carp’s power?

‘It called itself a treasure….’

It’s not even an object in the first place. What kind of treasure is this, it’s a demon!

I immediately spoke to the carp.

“It seems you’re mistaken, I am not Shin-cheol.”

[You shit-covered flat-nosed punk. You know better than anyone that time is short. Why are you acting like this.]

“It seems you have no intention of listening…?”

The moment I spoke with disbelief, the carp’s barbels stretched out long and stroked my cheek.

The slippery sensation was momentarily bothersome, and I tried to grab it, but the barbels evaded my touch and returned.

As soon as they returned, the barbels wriggled, and it spoke to me with a suppressed smile.

[You’ve made quite a body. Not only have you crossed the wall, but you’ve already started laying the groundwork to reach transcendence.]

“…”

At the carp’s words, a cold sweat trickled down my back.

Because it was exactly as it said.

I was preparing in advance to reach the Hua Jing realm from the peak.

My martial arts reached its peak, crossing the wall, and my internal energy was gradually assimilating with my body, laying the foundation for transcendence.

Of course, transitioning from first-class to the peak was called the martial artist’s grave.

Reaching the Hua Jing realm from the peak was even harder.

Even for me now, it would take at least several years.

‘Did it figure that out all at once?’

[Being able to reach that point with a body of mere flesh is the first proof that it’s you, and the second was even more so.]

Splash.

Water droplets that splashed as the carp thrashed hit my cheek.

[Even carrying such a strong plum blossom scent, you try to play games with me? You damn flat-nosed bastard.]

Ah.

‘Is it because of the Taoist energy in my body?’

The Taoist energy that came along with Old Man Shin from the treasure of Mount Hua.

It was so potent that it even affected the fire technique of the Nine Flame Wheel Gong, changing its color.

Old Man Shin said that the Taoist energy I possessed was deeper than the one possessed by Yeong-pung, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

The problem is that even if it sensed that, it doesn’t provide a reason to mistake me for Old Man Shin.

Above all, Old Man Shin was already dead.

[So let’s end the games here. I’m glad it seems to have happened as we hoped, but I don’t have much time.]

“As I said again, I am not that person….”

As I denied it once more, the carp snorted.

To show such a distinct expression with that seemingly bland face.

[Alright, if you’re going to act like that. I didn’t want to go this far.]

Is it going to do something?

Just in case an attack came, I slightly raised my ki sense.

I wondered if I should be wary of the carp, but since the opponent was a monster-like being that had lived for hundreds of years, anything was possible.

However, unlike the heightened vigilance, no attack came.

Far from attacking, the carp looked at me with a determined expression and began to speak.

[It’s something from when we were young, you surely remember, right? When you were chasing after the Moyong family’s child….]

At the carp’s words, I felt a sudden surge from my lower abdomen.

This turned into pain, and I couldn’t help but grimace.

The feeling of being tightly constricted felt like it was running wild.

‘Could this be….’

Is that monster-like thing that devours all energy trying to run wild again?

[After confessing for three days and nights, in the end, it was in Myung-i’s hands….]

As the carp was about to utter something.

[You damn rotten monk…! Shut up!?]

A familiar voice burst out in my head.

“…Huh?”

[Huh?]

[Oh.]

A serene silence momentarily lingered.

Amidst the continuing silence, an old man with a notably ill-tempered voice.

[…This works?]

Old Man Shin muttered as if resigned.

---

Huang-a-bul-yeong Cheol-yeong, they say, is the most outstanding martial artist in Shaolin’s history.

He was the Buddhist who reached the highest realm.

One of the five masters who blocked the Blood Demon’s bloody calamity.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Cheol-yeong was the figure who laid the most groundwork for the brilliant Shaolin of today.

Such a person.

ppuk-ppuk.

‘That carp?’

I looked at the white carp gaping with a bewildered expression.

Its swimming movements and pure white scales looked noble and elegant, but.

It felt like the carp’s characteristic dumb-looking face was its flaw.

I didn’t think it was a lie.

Since Old Man Shin himself said so, it must be true.

Old Man Shin stared at the carp for a long time before speaking.

[Cheol-yeong, what on earth is this state you’re in.]

It was baffling enough that the gentleman who had been sleeping without even breathing suddenly appeared.

There wasn’t even time to ask what he was doing.

Old Man Shin was busy conversing with that carp… or rather, Huang-a-bul-yeong.

[That’s what I want to ask. Shin-cheol.]

The light voice from earlier disappeared.

An unknown weight permeated the air.

[…And why are you in such a state?]

[It must be the same reason as yours.]

That carp was something called a treasure of Shaolin.

Just as Old Man Shin was dormant in the treasure of Mount Hua, was Cheol-yeong also dormant, residing in a treasure?

‘There’s a certain credibility to that.’

Since Old Man Shin was like that, it was possible for Cheol-yeong to be too, but.

To do that, it needed to explain why a past master’s soul was bound to a treasure.

Old Man Shin had said before that he didn’t know the reason, but.

Perhaps Cheol-yeong would know.

‘Was Old Man Shin expecting something like this?’

It was possible.

Old Man Shin’s words came to mind: ‘If you ever go to Henan, please visit Shaolin.’

Perhaps Old Man Shin was hoping for a situation like this.

As expected.

Old Man Shin asked Cheol-yeong.

[Cheol-yeong, do you know the reason why I, why we, remain in the modern era in this form?]

The reason Old Man Shin could remain in this era.

And the cause of his remaining.

[…You. Why are you asking that?]

[Because I don’t know, why else would I ask.]

[…]

[Cheol-yeong.]

Huang-a-bul-yeong, who had been spewing words just moments ago, chose silence for a moment.

It was quiet.

A world where time has stopped is this quiet because there is no sound.

Old Man Shin, unable to bear the silence, urged Cheol-yeong continuously.

[Cheol-yeong, why aren’t you answering….]

[That child, isn’t it you?]

[What?]

[The young man I am looking at now, aren’t you him?]

It was a strange question.

Am I not Old Man Shin?

Old Man Shin, not understanding what it meant, immediately asked back.

[What kind of nonsensical talk is that, saying I am not this child?]

To Old Man Shin’s question, Cheol-yeong remained silent.

He just stared into my eyes with his gaping mouth.

[Cheol-yeong.]

Old Man Shin, sensing something strange, kept calling his name.

Not long after, a sigh was heard.

[…I see. As expected, it didn’t work out.]

[What on earth are you talking about, you need to explain properly for me to understand.]

[Shin-cheol.]

[Speak.]

The thin barbels that had been rustling sank deep beneath the lake.

As if mirroring Cheol-yeong’s current mood.

[Did you say you have no memory.]

[Yes, I… cannot remember anything. So you must tell me.]

From the time the Blood Demon died.

What happened to himself.

Why he had to remain as a spirit here, wandering the mortal world.

Old Man Shin could not remember.

Unlike the written history, the Old Man who knew nothing hoped that Cheol-yeong would resolve this question, but.

[Do you know the reason?]

To Old Man Shin’s question, Cheol-yeong answered with a gulp.

[I know. I know it well.]

[Then.]

[But I cannot tell you.]

At Cheol-yeong’s words, Old Man Shin flared up momentarily.

[Are you playing games right now?]

[I wish that were the case, but as long as you are in that state, I cannot say anything.]

[What kind of talk is that….]

[These past few hundred years. After a long wait, I met you, but the only story I gained is that reincarnation cannot be severed.]

Is it my imagination?

The carp’s beautiful scales seemed to have lost a bit of their color.

Even while the two were conversing, I just kept my mouth shut and listened quietly.

There was no room to intervene, and besides, Old Man Shin’s emotions were too palpable.

I couldn’t just butt in.

[Are you just going to keep spouting strange nonsense?]

[How much do you remember.]

To Cheol-yeong’s question, Old Man Shin thought for a moment and then answered.

[Mount Cheokma. The final battle with the Blood Demon. I remember that moment.]

At Old Man Shin’s words, Cheol-yeong laughed emptily.

[Then, it truly means you know nothing.]

As the incomprehensible answers continued, Old Man Shin finally couldn’t hold back and yelled.

[You damn rotten monk…! If you’re going to answer, answer properly!]

Despite Old Man Shin’s shout, Cheol-yeong’s reaction was the same. Indifferent and detached.

From the moment Old Man Shin appeared in spirit form, Cheol-yeong’s reaction had been crumbling.

Unable to endure that reaction, Old Man Shin gritted his teeth and brought up another topic.

[…Just one, answer just one thing properly.]

Cheol-yeong’s answer wasn’t heard, but Old Man Shin continued speaking.

[Did the Blood Demon die?]

For a moment, Old Man Shin’s question felt like a gust of wind.

Everything around was stopped, so it shouldn’t happen, but for some reason, that feeling brushed past.

Cheol-yeong, whose barbels had been twitching, gave an answer this time.

[Fortunately, I can answer this. However, you seem to already know the answer, don’t you? Am I wrong.]

[…]

At Cheol-yeong’s words, a ripple was felt from my lower abdomen.

This meant Old Man Shin was agitated.

As Cheol-yeong added further.

[He did not die.]

The Taoist energy sleeping within my lower abdomen violently stirred.

“Old Man…!”

I tried my best to hold back and calm the raging Taoist energy, but.

Old Man Shin seemed not to hear me, continuously expressing his emotions.

Meanwhile, I too had to be shocked by Cheol-yeong’s words.

How could I not be shocked?

‘The Blood Demon didn’t die?’

The Blood Demon who tried to dye the Central Plains red centuries ago.

It was said that after the Blood Demon War, the five masters killed the Blood Demon.

‘Such a person didn’t die….?’

Cheol-yeong’s words implied that the Blood Demon was still alive even now.

All this long time.

[Judging by your reaction, it seems you don’t remember the final moment.]

[…Explain properly what happened.]

[Didn’t you hear the answer you wanted? The Blood Demon is still alive in this land.]

[That can’t be, history clearly….]

[Do you still believe in history? Even after suffering so much?]

At Cheol-yeong’s sharp words, Old Man Shin swallowed hard.

[Yes, it’s not wrong. The Blood Demon certainly died in that battle.]

[Then…!]

[However, he did not die.]

The wind felt behind my back seemed to grow a bit stronger.

It wasn’t the cold air of winter, but hot and thick.

It was a wind filled with heat.

[Even in death, he bound himself to this land.]

[Make it easier to understand….]

The carp with white scales slowly swam towards me.

As if intending to meet Old Man Shin’s gaze.

Finally, a resolute voice flowed from its gaping mouth.

[The Blood Demon dreams of resurrection, Volcanic Sword Saint.]

At Cheol-yeong’s words, my lower abdomen violently churned as if an earthquake had struck.