Chapter 264: What Am I. (1)

A bedwetter.

Was it because I suddenly saw that face I hated looking at?

The words I spat out without realizing it.

Tzereok-

Was enough to create a crack in the mask the guy was firmly wearing.

“…I don’t know what…you’re saying.”

“Why don’t you relax your expression before you speak?”

Look at this bastard.

Seeing his expression crumple the moment I brought up the bedwetter story.

It seems he doesn’t not remember what happened back then.

‘I thought I had lost consciousness.’

Does that mean, surprisingly, a little bit of consciousness remained?

If so, that wouldn’t have been a very good situation for that guy.

As expected, Namgung Cheonjun’s expression was crumbling like a shattered mask.

Looking at his state, it seemed he either thought it was a dream.

Or he just wanted to pretend it wasn’t.

“I even dried your pants so you wouldn’t be embarrassed, you know. Shouldn’t you express your gratitude first?”

“…Kkeudeuk.”

Although I did it so Namgung Bi-ah wouldn’t be embarrassed.

For him, that reason would likely make him even angrier.

“…You bastard….”

Look at that.

He’s getting angry right away.

Seeing that puts me at ease.

Fortunately, it seems he hasn’t matured or anything.

Though I wouldn’t think kindly of him even if he had matured.

“…No matter how many times I see it, I don’t like it.”

“Your attitude towards the benefactor who saved your face is quite something.”

Jjirit.

While we were talking, an energy grazed my cheek.

It was internal energy.

A faint internal energy was flowing from Namgung Cheonjun’s shoulder.

‘It’s clear, unlike back then.’

Unlike the blurry internal energy he emitted at the martial arts tournament.

Whether his level has risen, or it’s because of the pathetic things he’s done, I don’t know.

The level was different from back then.

‘Even so, it’s just him.’

It’s just him, that’s all.

At best, it was still the level of an outstanding late-stage martial artist, no different.

In my current situation, late-stage martial artists are insignificant, except for the top two or three.

Just as I was thinking of grabbing the incoming internal energy and cutting it off.

Kwadeuk.

A larger energy surged, chewing and swallowing the internal energy.

It was the same kind of internal energy, but.

It was denser, with a much greater presence.

Catching the internal energy shot at me, someone stepped forward to block.

It was Namgung Bi-ah.

“Cheonjun.”

The voice that flowed out coolly was filled with deep anger.

It was a voice I hadn’t heard from her in quite a long time.

“What are you doing?”

“…Noonim?”

“What… what is this you’re doing?”

Although she hadn’t drawn her sword, sword energy was flowing from Namgung Bi-ah.

It was the energy of a sword master who had surpassed the peak and begun to handle energy with mastery.

To consolidate and control her energy after just a year of breaking through the wall.

‘…It’s surprising every time I see it.’

For me, it’s simply amazing.

To witness talents that might have touched the heavens from the closest vantage point.

It was a wondrous thing every day.

In my past life, I was filled with jealousy and self-loathing regarding these aspects, but.

Now, it’s not like that.

As the dense internal energy began to surround me as if to protect me.

Namgung Cheonjun squinted as he looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

“I merely came to greet you.”

“This is… not a greeting.”

That’s obvious.

What kind of person greets someone like this?

Of course, I started the trouble first, but his intentions were obvious, so I couldn’t let it go smoothly.

Ha-

At Namgung Bi-ah’s words, Namgung Cheonjun let out a hollow laugh.

His sigh was unusually deep.

“It seems Noonim is still on that guy’s side. The blood relative should be me, not that guy.”

“…Cheonjun.”

As Namgung Bi-ah called his name once more, sounding uncomfortable.

The internal energy flowing from Namgung Cheonjun disappeared.

He himself locked away the energy he was emitting.

As the threatening aura vanished, Namgung Bi-ah also withdrew her sword energy.

Namgung Cheonjun, looking at Namgung Bi-ah like this.

“…If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have held back.”

Leaving behind some bitter words, he turned his back and walked towards the deep darkness behind him.

Is it really over like this?

Did he really come just to see my face for this?

‘That can’t be right.’

I slightly furrowed my brow and watched Namgung Cheonjun’s back disappear into the distance.

Because I wanted to know how that guy ended up in such a state.

‘Did he regain his blood energy?’

When I saw him at the banquet hall earlier.

I couldn’t feel any blood energy in his dantian, so I thought nothing had happened since last time.

Upon closer inspection, that wasn’t the case.

It meant the dantian wasn’t the only place to look.

The blood energy hadn’t completely disappeared from Namgung Cheonjun’s dantian.

The blood energy that should have been dormant in his dantian.

Was melting into Namgung Cheonjun’s body.

Leaving the internal energy in his dantian as it was.

The faint blood energy lingering in his body.

It’s a situation I saw plenty of in my past life.

‘Back then, it wasn’t blood energy, but demonic energy.’

Moreover, since internal energy is converted into demonic energy.

It was difficult to say they were exactly the same, but.

In the body of a martial artist who reached the peak.

Just as internal energy naturally permeates.

Demonic energy naturally blending into the body.

If you consider the similar-looking energies to be the same.

There was only one reason I knew for seeing that state.

‘Demonization.’

Namgung Cheonjun.

Was currently in a state no different from a demonized person.

If that is called the energy bestowed by the Blood Demon, it might be ambiguous to call him a demonized person, but.

In my view, he doesn’t look much different from a demonized person.

He might not have become a madman controlled by madness, but.

‘He was already crazy to begin with, so it might not show.’

Or perhaps, he isn’t captured by madness.

For example, Sword Demon (劍魔), a master of the Demonic Cult.

He was a madman obsessed with slaughter from the start, so becoming demonized didn’t change his nature.

Namgung Cheonjun might be of that type.

Or else.

‘Blood energy might not be related to madness.’

As it’s an energy I don’t know well.

I have to make many assumptions, but.

Separate from that.

‘Why did that guy become like that?’

Since various things happened after the martial arts tournament.

Was it a problem that I didn’t bother to pay attention?

‘Didn’t I do everything by drying his pants?’

I dealt with a grown man wetting his pants.

What more could I possibly do?

Have some conscience.

Even if Namgung Cheonjun really became demonized.

No, since it’s blood energy, should I call him a blood-demonized person?

Anyway, even if he became like that.

I had no intention of doing anything about it.

All I can know now is.

‘That the Blood Demon is indeed moving.’

I don’t know what intentions drove its movement, but.

It probably isn’t entirely the Blood Demon’s fault that Namgung Cheonjun became like that.

More importantly.

‘It’s unsettling.’

His condition.

The energies I met with my eyes.

His body undergoing changes.

Every single one looked bothersome.

I felt a sensation as if I wanted to grab him right now and extract his energy.

‘Thinking I want to absorb it… is this because of the guy’s appetite?’

Is it because there’s a piglet inside me that eats anything it sees?

Or is it because the guy rarely shows such intense hostility?

Furthermore.

Since others besides me didn’t seem to notice.

Could it be because I received the same blood energy from the Blood Demon?

“Haa.”

A sigh escapes me naturally.

‘If you’re an old geezer relegated to the back rooms, just stay put quietly.’

If you’re a human who caused trouble centuries ago, just be buried quietly in the ground.

Why are you still around, bothering people?

‘I’m someone who feels like going crazy from other things too.’

Not the Blood Demon.

My life is already busy day by day with other matters.

I wish there wasn’t room for the previous calamity to interfere here.

As I sighed, clutching my throbbing head.

A cold, white hand reached out and covered my forehead.

It was Namgung Bi-ah’s palm.

“…Are you okay…?”

Her cautious tone was mixed with anxiety.

She was worried that I might be upset because of what Namgung Cheonjun did to me.

‘How foolish.’

She’s still immature, too.

I covered Namgung Bi-ah’s hand with mine once more and said.

“I’m okay.”

“…Yeah.”

Namgung Bi-ah still wouldn’t know why I was acting like this.

It was just an action because I looked tired.

‘So, what should I do?’

If that guy simply fell into corruption, intoxicated by his own energy.

Honestly, I didn’t want to care much about it.

If he went that far, intoxicated by his energy.

Not only did I not want to do anything about it.

Although it concerns the Blood Demon, so I do care.

‘I didn’t particularly want to get involved.’

If it weren’t for the look in his eyes and the words he spoke at the end.

I wouldn’t have bothered paying attention.

-…If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have held back.

The guy’s gaze as he spoke those words was dull.

The trace of emotion visible, mixed with his energy.

Was so clear to my senses.

I had to wrap my energy around it so it wouldn’t reach Namgung Bi-ah.

Because I didn’t want such disgusting emotions to reach her.

I recall Namgung Cheonjun’s face.

‘I hope he doesn’t cross the final line this time.’

How many times has this been now?

I think it’s at least three times.

Including the words the young dragon brat uttered as his dying words.

And the reasons he made to endure, suppressing them tightly.

Leaving him alone is reaching its limit now.

‘It means there won’t be a next time.’

This warning won’t reach him.

Because I don’t have the kind of disposition that would needlessly convey it.

I just murmured, looking in the direction he disappeared.

While barely controlling myself, lest killing intent leak out and reach Namgung Bi-ah.

I hope that guy doesn’t make a foolish choice, but.

From what I see, it doesn’t seem like that will happen.

Standing still, watching the darkness.

I spoke to Namgung Bi-ah beside me.

“For now.”

“Yeah…?”

“Go back first. I have something I need to take care of.”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with clear eyes, as if searching for something in my words, but.

She soon nodded.

I left her behind and moved my feet.

******************

My steps towards the garden are quick.

As if exploring the distant darkness, I plunged into the forest.

The forest I entered was as dark as I had hoped.

A few ancient trees around grew tall, blocking even the moonlight.

This means it’s a forest where not even a speck of light penetrates.

As Namgung Cheonjun crossed the forest with hurried steps, someone’s voice echoed in his ears.

-I told you not to reveal it carelessly.

The voice resembled telepathy.

Although it was a calm woman’s voice.

Hearing this, Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t help but contort his face like a demon.

“I told you not to meddle in my affairs, didn’t I?”

-Thunder Dragon, I don’t know what ideology you hold, or what your goals are, but I clearly told you it’s still too early.

“Whether it’s early or not, I will decide.”

-…If you keep acting like this, I will have no choice but to take back the divine flame bestowed by that person.

At the woman’s words, Namgung Cheonjun’s steps faltered.

It seemed the woman’s words might have provoked him, but.

Namgung Cheonjun’s face held more mockery than anger.

“Do you even have the authority to do that?”

-…Thunder Dragon.

Rarely, anger seeped into the woman’s voice.

However, Namgung Cheonjun didn’t pay much attention.

“Since that person calls you a dancer, you must really think you’re someone. In reality, you’re just a parrot relaying the words of a great being.”

-Watch your words. Even if you’re intoxicated by your energy and not in your right mind…

“I am being careful right now. As you said, I am in a position to have received divine flames.”

Even that great Peng Woojin.

And the holy power that was so damn annoying, bypassing them both.

It was the power he himself had received.

The day I was miserably defeated by that guy, and followed Peng Woojin underground.

On that day, Namgung Cheonjun faced a great being and was granted power.

This meant he had been chosen.

The power to destroy the worm who stole his sister.

As if the power wasn’t a lie.

The elusive internal energy grew stronger, his dantian became wider and firmer.

The peak wall, which seemed impossible to overcome, was also broken through so easily.

‘Just a little more.’

So, just a tiny bit more.

Until the newly received power permeates his body.

It’s just a little bit of time. All he had to do was get past this time.

That person said.

Once the body assimilated.

And the energy returned to the dantian once more.

Only then would a new world unfold, he said.

‘If that happens, this time I will surely….’

I will tear his limbs and burn him.

Afterwards… I will reclaim my beautiful Noonim.

After that…

“…Hoo…”

Suppressing the surging desire, Namgung Cheonjun exhaled.

Noonim was still beautiful.

Moreover, she had become much stronger.

He remembered the massive thunder he had absorbed, which consumed his internal energy.

Noonim, like her blooming appearance day by day, is gradually growing into a stronger person.

Isn’t that perfectly flawless?

‘As expected, my Noonim.’

That’s why I absolutely cannot hand her over to such a worm.

Noonim, caught in that guy’s schemes, is being deceived.

Listening to baseless stories and thoughts, she is gradually pushing me away.

Therefore, I had to put her back.

It was the power for that purpose.

“…How much longer do I have to wait?”

How much longer must I wait.

For the complete assimilation that person spoke of to arrive.

Namgung Cheonjun asked the dancer again to find this out, but.

-…….

For some reason, the dancer responded with silence.

Although she was someone whose calm voice and attitude towards him he disliked.

She had never been silent like this before.

Namgung Cheonjun expressed his confusion and asked again.

“Why aren’t you answering….”

“What answer.”

The answer came from elsewhere.

Goosebumps instantly prickled Namgung Cheonjun’s back.

He urgently drew up his internal energy and turned around, but.

“…Kkeok…!”

An outstretched hand instantly gripped Namgung Cheonjun’s neck.

“I’m asking you. What answer?”

He struggled desperately, but just being grabbed by the neck made his whole body feel restrained.

Soon after.

In the place Namgung Cheonjun faced, unable to even breathe properly.

As if illuminating the dim forest.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

Glowing crimson eyes looked up at him, filled with killing intent.