Chapter 243: Catching the Bull. (1)

Hwa-reureuk.

It’s flames.

The blaze spreads along the forest path.

The deep crimson flames spread their territory as they pass the trees.

The range was wide enough to cover hundreds of ancient trees.

At its center, I endured the thick heat and controlled the flames.

Sseuk

With a short gesture, the flames writhed violently.

The flames, wriggling and stretching in all directions, resembled a dragon.

Yet, the flames, which showed such an intense appearance…

Surprisingly, they only writhed ceaselessly without harming the surroundings.

As this involved spewing flames in a forest.

Even a small spark would spread wildly, but…

The flames wrapped around the trees and passed by without leaving a trace.

I was controlling them by moving the internal energy (Naegi) that formed the flames, preventing them from igniting anything.

Because of that, I had to calm the Naegi swirling inside me as if a typhoon were blowing.

It required much more effort, causing cold sweat to trickle down, but…

That much wasn’t enough to make me stop.

Because there was still work to be done.

The Naegi filling my lower dantian moved ceaselessly.

It grasped the fierce disaster as if raising high waves.

Kwaaaah!

When the endlessly extending flames finally reached their limit.

My dantian contracted due to the insufficient Naegi, inflicting a wringing pain.

After enduring this a little longer.

Kwak!

Finally, I clenched the hand that had been gesturing into a fist.

Kung!

Then, the flames filling the surroundings vanished instantly like mist.

“…Hoo.”

Feeling the Naegi swirling within me gradually calm down, I let out a held breath.

“Seriously, it’s damn hard.”

Feeling my entire body drenched in sweat, I let out a deep sigh.

This is bullshit every time I do it. Why is it so difficult?

My physical training had eventually changed so I wouldn’t get tired even after training until the end of the day, but…

Training my Naegi was still difficult.

Should I say it’s endless no matter how much I do it?

It’s enough just to release it. Not only compressing it endlessly…

Controlling it so it doesn’t harm the surroundings was an incredibly difficult task.

Isn’t it like saying subduing is harder than killing?

Of course.

This kind of training helps gradually widen the vessel within my body, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘Is the upper dantian still too much?’

While circulating the flames and moving my Naegi.

I felt the still-closed door leading to the upper dantian.

It had been well over a year since I became accustomed to opening the middle dantian and letting Naegi flow in and out.

This meant it had been over a year since I reached the peak.

However.

‘The upper dantian is still too much.’

While continuously training, I keep nudging it, checking for any signs, but…

The door to the upper dantian remained steadfast.

Well, that’s natural.

It’s only been two to three years since I regressed.

Reaching the peak within that time was only possible due to an unbelievable stroke of luck.

Opening up to the upper dantian was somewhat pushing it.

If I recklessly tried to open it now…

It was obvious I’d explode and die, blood vessels and heart alike.

‘…It’s fortunate I can at least touch it.’

Right. In the first place, the current situation where I fill my middle dantian and keep nudging the upper dantian was already nonsensical.

While others can’t find the path and take a long detour…

I know the way but lack the strength to open the door.

In other words, it meant I could open it anytime once my strength was sufficient.

‘Even so, how much longer until I reach the next stage?’

It’s far.

It felt incredibly far.

The mountain I’m climbing is still high.

The path is treacherous.

The higher I go, the more likely it is to fall and die from a slight slip.

Because it gets steeper and steeper, inevitably draining my strength.

‘…Still, I have to climb.’

I can’t see where the summit is, but…

No, does a summit even exist in the first place?

‘That’s not important, though.’

Whatever the case, I had to climb.

Composing my disturbed breathing.

I took out a seal I had kept in my inner pocket.

It looked simple and was painted yellow, but…

Recalling the meaning this seal held, it wasn’t just a common antique.

‘The Hwangbo family’s seal.’

This is a seal given to key figures of the Hwangbo Family.

In my past life, it was also something that Mukwon Hwangbo Seon carried even after becoming a demon.

It was unusual for him to carry it even after becoming a demon, but…

Because I vaguely knew what kind of feelings he had for it, I didn’t say much.

And thanks to that, I was able to find this.

‘As expected, he had it.’

I recalled the hidden person I met last night.

‘He was a martial artist who had reached the Hwa-gyeong realm.’

No matter how prestigious the Hwangbo family was, I thought they wouldn’t fail to grant some position to someone who had reached the Hwa-gyeong realm.

However, judging by the lack of clear distinction, he must have only recently reached the Hwa-gyeong realm.

The guy couldn’t properly manage the changed aura and senses as his realm increased.

He was in an unstable situation.

‘I knew that from the start and attacked him, though.’

Of course, even so, he was definitely a Hwa-gyeong martial artist.

Because the aura he projected and the Naegi I felt were vastly different.

Compared to him, I was still at the peak.

I was touching the very edge, so…

It felt like I could ascend if I polished it a little more, but…

It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still at the peak.

Despite that, the reason I could defeat a Hwa-gyeong martial artist was…

‘It’s fortunate it worked properly.’

It was because I injected demonic energy (Magi) into him.

As I carefully opened my hand.

Black energy slowly rose above it.

This was Magi that the Nine Burning Wheel Technique hadn’t purified yet.

In another sense, it was also energy I had set aside separately.

Last night.

The moment I grabbed his arm.

I sent Magi flowing into him.

Through this, I could easily achieve victory with the Magi that latched onto the opponent like a seizure.

Magi is fatal to martial artists.

Magi hidden in the dantian not only gnaws away at Naegi…

But it was also energy that rendered a martial artist’s body powerless.

Didn’t the guy tell me?

-Is it… extreme poison?

The effect of Magi was so terrible that he mistook its seizure for extreme poison.

The problem isn’t that he was swept away by Magi.

‘…I didn’t think I could do this.’

The fact that my Magi could affect even a Hwa-gyeong martial artist.

That was the problem.

In the first place, a martial artist who received Magi from the Heavenly Demon and became a demon…

Anyone could use Magi, but…

Injecting Magi into another martial artist through it to collapse their body was impossible.

Because that was solely the Heavenly Demon’s authority.

For example, the Magi I mixed with the seal and injected into the Namgung Family Head…

Was merely to easily check if the seal was properly applied.

It meant I couldn’t place any kind of device on the Namgung Family Head’s body through it.

Clearly.

It should have been that way even in the past, but…

‘Something has changed again.’

If the first change was becoming able to absorb other energies, store them in my body, and use them as different energies…

The second change was becoming able to inflict damage on others’ bodies through my Magi.

This situation arose at some point.

There wasn’t a specific trigger.

It was simply an epiphany that came during a moment of ordinary training.

Isn’t it funny?

Out of all the possible enlightenments, why this kind of thing?

“It’s bullshit, really.”

Being able to deal with those of a higher realm more easily than before…

Could be considered a good thing in a way, but…

For me, it was just an uncomfortable and unpleasant matter.

Coveting another’s energy.

And suppressing the opponent with pain by injecting Magi…

It was like…

‘Being like the Heavenly Demon back then.’

That fact felt suffocating.

If this continues, someday…

I might become capable of corrupting others into demons like the Heavenly Demon.

I was a little afraid of that.

---

After finishing training, I returned to my tent.

I washed my sweat-soaked body.

After changing my clothes, I stepped outside my private tent.

A familiar face was waiting for me.

“Greetings, First Young Master.”

The impeccably dressed handsome young man.

It was Gu Jeolyub.

The moment I saw that handsome face, my expression hardened.

“…Young Master.”

“Why.”

“Why do you always frown when you see my face?”

“Because I don’t like how handsome you are.”

“Huh?”

Is this a compliment or bullshit?

Gu Jeolyub wore an expression of utter confusion.

“So, why did you come? Aren’t you busy right now?”

“…I am busy, but I can’t refuse orders from the Great Master.”

Oh, by the way, Gu Jeolyub was in charge of training at Biyeon Island.

Since he brought them, he has to take responsibility.

The Second Commander seems to want to entrust it to me, but…

Given my rank, it’s probably not the time for me to do something like that.

“My sister? Why?”

“It seems she summoned me regarding yesterday’s incident.”

“Tsk…”

I had reported the attack that occurred while I was on duty yesterday.

It must be because of that incident.

The attack was good because it allowed me to get out of duty midway, but…

Now, only a slightly troublesome matter remained.

“I’ll go now.”

“Yes. Since the message has been delivered, I’ll be going now.”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“You haven’t forgotten about coming with me tomorrow, right?”

At my question, Gu Jeolyub’s shoulders flinched.

What’s with that reaction?

“Were you forgetting?”

“…I wasn’t forget… No, I hadn’t forgotten.”

“But why the reaction? Why so surprised?”

“I wasn’t surprised…”

Anyone could see he was surprised, but his insistence otherwise was unconvincing.

“…Right, well, as long as you haven’t forgotten, that’s fine.”

“Yes, yes.”

Tomorrow, I had to go into the heart of the forest.

I wanted to go alone if possible, but…

Due to their insistence that it was too dangerous to go alone and that they wouldn’t let me go even if I died, I had stated I would take Gu Jeolyub and Mu Yeon.

Mu Yeon spoke up, saying it was fortunate he could accompany me, but…

I saw Gu Jeolyub’s expression sour as he muttered about having to go to such a dangerous place.

‘This bastard, he wouldn’t have plotted this because he didn’t want to go, would he?’

I wondered if that might be the case, but…

He knew what kind of consequences he’d face upon returning if he did, so he probably wouldn’t.

Because being rolled around by me upon return would be scarier than going to the center.

“Anyway, make sure your preparations are adequate.”

“…Understood.”

His evasive answer made me suspicious, but…

I decided to leave it be for now since I had something to attend to.

He’ll probably handle it himself.

Leaving Gu Jeolyub behind, I walked towards the Great Commander’s tent.

The distance wasn’t far, so I arrived quickly.

As I peeked inside the tent.

Someone appeared and grabbed my cheek with a loud smack.

“Ack…!”

It was so strong that I involuntarily let out a groan.

“Younger brother…! Are you okay?”

“I’m not okay. It hurts a lot.”

“Wh-where…!”

“…My cheek that you’re currently grabbing hurts.”

Gu Huibi, realizing her mistake with a ‘whoops’ expression, slightly stepped back.

When she removed her hand, my cheek felt numb.

Just how hard did she grab it?

As I rubbed my cheek with my hand.

Gu Huibi in front of me was scanning me from head to toe.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“No. You must have seen the report I submitted.”

If anything, my body was quite tired from drawing upon and using Magi, but…

It wasn’t noticeable.

“Still, just in case, perhaps the infirmary…”

“Do you even know how many days it takes to get to the infirmary from here?”

It takes days to travel from the front lines to the area with the infirmary.

If not, I’d have to go to where the Murim Alliance is, but…

That was something I had to decline.

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

“How can an assassination attempt not be a big deal? Coincidentally, the Family Head also issued an order for your return, so perhaps you should return to the family estate right away…”

“Stop fussing, I’m really fine.”

Although it was an attack by a Hwa-gyeong level martial artist…

I didn’t bother revealing this.

Regardless, I had passed through it without any issues.

And my body was perfectly fine.

Gu Huibi frowned slightly at my words, but…

She seemed to be trying hard to organize her thoughts.

“…Do you know who was behind it?”

“I don’t know.”

I knew, but I pretended not to for now.

When I said I didn’t know, Gu Huibi bit her lip slightly.

Then she let out a deep sigh.

“…Yes, it’s fortunate you weren’t harmed. I’ll have to send a letter to the family estate to investigate this matter separately.”

“Why go to such lengths…”

“An assassination attempt was made by a blood relative. Do you think this is something that can be overlooked so easily?”

Indeed.

It wasn’t something to just brush aside.

‘Still, I’d rather not have things get complicated.’

I doubted if they could even find anything if they tried.

It was unlikely that things happening on the front lines would be easy to track.

It was more realistic to assume they wouldn’t find anything.

“Younger brother.”

“Hm?”

“…When do you plan to return to the family estate?”

“What, are you trying to send me away?”

Last time, she seemed like she didn’t want me to go, but…

Now she’s trying to send me off.

“I have to go anyway, so don’t rush me. You told me not to go last time.”

Since my father sent word for me to return quickly…

I couldn’t keep stalling indefinitely.

I planned to return to the family estate immediately after visiting the central area once.

‘It’s just that something came up that I need to do before then.’

That’s why I don’t have time to argue with Gu Huibi like this.

“My body is fine. Everything is fine, so don’t worry about it and continue with what you were doing.”

“…Younger brother.”

“And please, stop looking at me like that.”

Do they think I’m some child left unattended by the water?

“I’m done observing, so I’ll be going now?”

“Wait…!”

Gu Huibi tried to grab me, but…

I just bolted out.

Actually, I intended to tell her I’d be back shortly, but I knew she’d stop me if I said where I was going right now.

So I just slipped away.

“I appreciate the concern, but…”

While I was grateful, it still felt awkward when someone worried about me.

If they worry about me, they won’t live out their natural lifespan…

Because there were more than a few accidents I needed to cause.

Anyway.

Leaving Gu Huibi, who was probably being held back by the Second Commander, behind…

I headed out of the front lines.

Because there was someone I needed to meet…

No, because someone had appeared.

---

“…Why hasn’t he returned?”

Inside the Hwangbo Family’s tent, Hwangbo Cheok muttered quietly.

Because the Sixth Elder, who left last night, still hadn’t returned.

The Sixth Elder, who readily accepted his request.

No, he probably felt delighted thinking about what he could gain from Hwangbo Cheok.

With the situation already filled with frequent clashes over the Young Master position…

A request from a blood relative now would be seen as a greater favor than usual.

‘I requested it even considering that, though.’

Because I knew what kind of deeds the Sixth Elder performed during his prime.

I thought he was an expert in these matters.

More importantly, since he happened to be on the front lines as a relative’s attendant and guard…

I thought it was the perfect situation to ask.

‘Perhaps, did something go wrong?’

Although it seemed unlikely for a master like the Sixth Elder to encounter trouble…

Too much time had passed, causing some concern.

“Surely… that wouldn’t happen.”

Hwangbo Cheok decided to dismiss the unnecessary thoughts.

Because it was too absurd a worry.

“For now… I need to think about what to do with that collateral relative.”

Leaning his massive body heavily against the chair.

Hwangbo Cheok thought about Hwangbo Seon, a member of the collateral line.

That collateral relative who, despite inheriting the Hwangbo family bloodline, was incredibly frail and incompetent.

‘And despite all that, he managed to find himself a fine woman.’

Tsk.

The thought still simmered.

Thinking about the beautiful woman attached to Hwangbo Seon made me feel stifled.

She would have been perfect as my concubine.

‘To fall for such a worthless fellow.’

I didn’t like it.

What’s more, that guy even witnessed my pathetic behavior.

‘…I should take care of him this time.’

I already disliked him, and now…

The timing was perfect.

Poisoning him would be fine.

Or perhaps handing him over as monster feed after killing him would also be acceptable.

Although the news of killing a collateral relative wouldn’t sit well with the Family Head…

He’s already an old man on the verge of death anyway.

‘Once the Sixth Elder returns, I’ll hear the situation… and then call the collateral relative separately with the kids…’

As I was pondering how to deal with Hwangbo Seon…

Sarak.

Feeling a presence suddenly, Hwangbo Cheok smirked.

Because it was probably the Sixth Elder returning.

The only one who could enter his tent stealthily like this was the Sixth Elder.

“You’ve returned. How did the job go… Gkkeup…!”

Kwak!

The moment Hwangbo Cheok turned his head.

A hand flew in, grabbed Hwangbo Cheok’s neck, and lifted him straight up.

The sight of Hwangbo Cheok’s massive body being lifted into the air so effortlessly…

Felt quite unnatural.

“Gkk… Gkkeup…”

Hwangbo Cheok, unable to breathe properly under the immense pressure…

Managed to roll his eyes and look down.

“We seem to be seeing each other quite often, don’t we?”

Within the voice full of mockery…

A deeply ingrained killing intent crawled up Hwangbo Cheok’s spine.

“I’m getting a bit tired of this. How about you?”

Hwangbo Cheok, meeting the attacker’s red gaze…

Had to experience the sensation of his heart sinking.

Because the killing intent gripping his heart was impossibly heavy.

It was a level far beyond what a late-stage Houtian disciple could emit.

‘…Th-this guy… how….’

Hwangbo Cheok’s eyes trembled.

His eyes held more surprise than anger or fear.

Instead of the Sixth Elder who should have returned…

Gu Yangcheon had appeared here.