Chapter 267: Winter Day Comes. (1)

The emptied dantian feels particularly hollow.

My body, drained not only of demonic energy but most of my vital force, is quite exhausted.

Now, it’s an energy that wouldn’t deplete even if I unleashed flames all day.

It meant I had used a considerable amount of energy to corrupt others into demonic beings.

Feeling the humid summer air, I think.

‘Should I have killed him.’

Namgung Cheonjun. Should I have killed him back then?

Perhaps that would have been better.

This wasn’t regret, but a question.

If I had killed him, how would I have handled the aftermath?

And how would I have managed things going forward?

Putting aside such trivial details.

I’m contemplating whether killing him wouldn’t have been better than corrupting him into a demonic being.

‘In the end, I corrupted him anyway.’

I crammed demonic energy into Namgung Cheonjun’s body.

Not only did I make it settle deep within his dantian,

but I also let it spread gradually, permeating his flesh.

This…

wasn’t much different from how Namgung Cheonjun had received his blood energy.

Furthermore, it was no different from what the Heavenly Demon did in my past life when creating other demonic beings.

The problem was…

‘…that I can do it.’

Why is that?

I clench and unclench my fist repeatedly,

but there’s no way I can grasp it.

If I try to figure out why I can do it,

I can only explain it as it happened naturally.

‘It’s strange enough that I regressed with demonic arts in the first place.’

The body I felt after regression…

was clearly distinct from a demonic being’s,

and even now, I am not a demonic being.

What flows through my body is the sword energy I received from the treasure of Mount Hua,

and the demonic energy is lodged in a corner of my dantian.

It’s ambiguous to call myself a demonic being.

Yet, I can use demonic energy freely whenever I want, which is also strange.

For example, it feels like the situation adjusts itself to allow me to act comfortably.

It’s as if the demonic arts are growing to match my level, isn’t it?

This feels like someone is pushing my back.

As if…

they’re telling me to become the Heavenly Demon.

‘What bullshit.’

It’s truly bullshit.

This whole situation.

Previously, silencing Namgung Cheonjun was easy.

If I told him not to die, he wouldn’t die.

If I told him not to speak carelessly, he wouldn’t.

He’s no different from a slave.

If I ordered Namgung Cheonjun to die right now, he would bite his tongue or slit his own throat to die.

That’s typically how relationships bound by demonic energy are.

More precisely…

it’s the relationship between the Heavenly Demon and his demonic beings.

‘The problem is…’

Just as the demonic beings created by the Heavenly Demon were,

Namgung Cheonjun might also be engulfed in madness due to the demonic energy.

Just in case, I’ve taken precautions.

-Do not commit murder.

-Do not emit killing intent.

-Do not do anything fucked up to me.

-Slap your own cheek with your palm every morning.

Etc.

Besides silencing him, I had him do various other things.

Fortunately, it seems he’s listening to everything.

‘Is a restriction not even necessary?’

Just like the Heavenly Demon imposed on me and other demonic beings,

a restriction that caused instant death by heart explosion upon betraying the Demonic Cult.

It seemed merely speaking to Namgung Cheonjun was enough, without needing such a thing.

‘Is the reason for imposing restrictions perhaps because the coercive force is different?’

If not, perhaps it’s because the number of demonic beings became too large,

making verbal commands insufficient, thus requiring restrictions?

Or perhaps…

maybe there was another reason for the restrictions?

‘I don’t know his intentions.’

Why did the Heavenly Demon do that?

I was filled with such questions.

‘The only difference, perhaps…’

is that while I knew I could corrupt someone into a demonic being,

I couldn’t bestow powers like the Heavenly Demon could.

Should I consider that fortunate?

Or should I be afraid, wondering if I might eventually be able to do that too?

I wasn’t sure yet.

If I had to choose, wouldn’t it be the latter?

‘For now… the issue is what to do with Namgung Cheonjun.’

Separate from corrupting him into a demonic being,

I was looking for ways to utilize him.

‘I tried to extract some information, but…’

Originally, I wanted to find out why he gained such power,

to extract information related to that,

but when I asked about it, Namgung Cheonjun clearly told me this.

‘-…I don’t remember… No, I don’t.’

‘Damn useless bastard….’

Namgung Cheonjun just looked like an idiot, as if he’d lost his memory.

‘He can’t lie, so it must be the truth.’

The moment the blood energy in his body completely vanished…

does that mean Namgung Cheonjun lost memories related to blood energy?

However.

‘…He didn’t seem like this at the martial arts tournament, so is becoming a demonic being the issue?’

That’s probably it.

I absorbed energy back then too, but my memories remained intact.

The only difference compared to now is just that.

Even so, causing memory confusion…

Is that even possible?

‘It must be possible. That’s why they did it. Fuck.’

When time itself can be reversed, what is impossible?

I’ve known for a long time that quite a few monsters hide in this world.

‘Ha.’

Unfortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to get information easily.

In that case…

‘What should I do?’

I hold Namgung Cheonjun’s life in my hands.

He could escape if he committed suicide,

but otherwise, there’s nothing he could do.

Of course, considerately,

I didn’t give the order not to die, so he’ll have to choose for himself.

‘If he dies on his own, that would be convenient.’

If not, then the demonic being created by my demonic energy…

is worth observing to see what happens, so watching for a bit should be fine.

‘And then…’

When I feel I’ve confirmed enough,

‘I’ll have to get rid of him.’

The option to keep him alive was never there from the start.

I merely kept his lifeline attached because I wanted to confirm something.

His value ended right there.

If there’s one thing that bothers me,

‘Will that child be sad?’

It’s only Namgung Bi-ah.

If Namgung Cheonjun loses his life, will Namgung Bi-ah truly be sad?

If that’s the only hesitation, then that’s my hesitation.

If I were to hear of Gu Ryeong-hwa’s death,

I wouldn’t likely be okay.

In fact,

in my past life, that became the reason I burned down Mount Hua.

‘…’

Putting aside distracting thoughts,

I ponder from various angles,

but Namgung Cheonjun’s fate still brings only death later to mind.

I’ve merely kept him alive a little longer.

This thought hasn’t wavered.

Perhaps it will remain the same even at the end.

Just then.

Hooook-

The sound of a sword cutting through the air was heard.

Perhaps thanks to that,

my mind, previously caught in distractions, felt slightly awakened.

Hooook- Hooook-!

Fast and concise.

As expected, it’s a different level from the excellence I saw from the disciples of the later generation.

If I had to compare,

perhaps Namgung Cheonjun would reach that level after decades of effort.

That was my impression.

To put it more deeply, that was all there was to it.

After some more time passed,

‘Hoo…’

The man who had been strenuously swinging his sword finished his movements, wiped his sweat, and looked towards me.

His clear blue eyes were quite burdensome.

The man, now close in front of me, asked me.

‘How was it?’

‘…Pardon? What was?’

As I answered blankly without realizing it,

the man, Namgung Jin, the family head of the Namgung Family, replied again.

‘I asked how the recent movements looked.’

‘…Ah.’

I had to quickly hide my expression at Namgung Jin’s question.

The reason I was here…

was Namgung Jin’s fault for showing up early this morning.

Thanks to him, Namgung Cheonjun was immediately dismissed, and I had to be dragged here by a visibly hurried Namgung Jin.

The head of a family, no less, the Namgung Family, known as a prestigious house.

Who would have expected him to show up like a dog needing to poop first thing in the morning?

I was doing so well escaping, too.

Moreover.

‘How the hell should I know… Damn it.’

Namgung Jin performed exceptionally ordinary sword techniques,

but what would I know even if I saw it?

‘He’s good, just plain good….’

As I said earlier, that was the extent of my impression.

I know jack shit about swordsmanship, so what can I do?

It was the sword path of a swordsman who had reached the Hua Realm.

Seeing the sword path of a swordsman who reached such a level,

there’s no way I could find anything to point out.

‘What’s certain is… something has changed compared to last time.’

Namgung Jin’s sword path I saw in the past was refined and sharp even then,

but his swordplay now was somehow different.

Although I don’t know much about swords,

if Old Man Shin had seen it, he probably would have said something. Because there’s clearly a difference.

From my crude perspective, the only thing I can say is…

‘It resembles Sword Empress Ma’s sword.’

That’s the only thought I can come up with.

Of course, it’s the sword of the Namgung Family,

so it’s natural for it to be the same as Sword Empress Ma’s sword.

‘It just feels a bit different.’

It’s truly pathetic, but that’s really all it was.

That Namgung Jin’s swordplay has become a little closer to the techniques Sword Empress Ma used.

That’s all I could see.

If I were to try and express that difference,

‘How should I put this?’

What kind of difference did I feel?

That makes me think thoughts like these?

‘What was Sword Empress Ma’s sword like?’

Actually, the Namgung sword I know…

is only the swordplay Sword Empress Ma used.

Wrapping her entire body in lightning energy that illuminated the night,

striking down lightning bolts, and gracefully drawing her sword amidst the flashes – that woman’s image.

It was a sword path full of killing intent and sharpness, unseen in Namgung Bi-ah today.

Just watching from the side made one tense up considerably.

Should I say her sword contained a heart full of resentment towards the world?

‘Separate from that, her swordsmanship was also perfect.’

That’s why she dared to be called the Sword Empress, despite belonging to the Demonic Cult.

Even if she was obsessed with slaughter,

the sword techniques she displayed were perfect.

As I was recalling Sword Empress Ma,

Namgung Jin’s voice was heard again.

‘I would appreciate some advice that might be of reference.’

‘…’

Advice… Advice?

What kind of advice?

‘…Old Man’

I inwardly call out to Old Man with difficulty.

There was still no answer.

‘You crazy old geezer! Please wake up…!’

No matter how much I call out excessively,

what on earth is he doing that he won’t wake up?

Is he hibernating even though it’s summer?

‘What should I do?’

I’m receiving Namgung Jin’s burdensome expectations.

I don’t know what kind of advice he expects,

and I don’t know what I should say…

As I said again, I am not a swordsman.

The only time I held a sword was in my childhood,

when I followed Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo, holding wooden swords,

and after that, I put the sword down.

There’s almost nothing I know.

As we are both martial artists, I could offer advice if I wanted to,

but it’s probably not what Namgung Jin desires.

‘…What could there be?’

A way to break through this situation, I mean.

‘Ah.’

As I was thinking about Sword Empress Ma, a thought briefly crossed my mind.

Commonly, the world says…

The end for a swordsman isn’t the realm achieved as a martial artist,

but the realm of ‘Body and Sword Become One’ (Shin-Geom-Hab-Il).

It means becoming the sword,

and the sword becoming me.

In reality, the name doesn’t matter.

If you wield a spear, it becomes ‘Body and Spear Become One’,

and if you wield a bow, ‘Body and Bow Become One’.

Names can be changed as much as one likes,

what’s important is the meaning within.

The internal energy contained within the body flows,

permeating naturally into one’s beloved weapon – that’s the realm.

Generating sword energy,

Wrapping oneself in sword aura,

not those aspects,

but reaching the pinnacle where internal energy naturally permeates the body,

meaning the realm of becoming one with the weapon held in hand.

I roughly understand the meaning,

but honestly,

it’s difficult for martial artists.

The moment martial artists shine…

is around the time they reach the pinnacle.

As internal energy permeates the body, it finally exhibits its efficiency,

though people call it ‘Body and Fist Become One’,

I wasn’t sure about it myself.

I didn’t know if I had reached that point,

or perhaps reached it unknowingly,

but at least I knew it was different from swordsmanship.

‘What did I say when I asked her back then?’

I’ve definitely thought about this before.

When I asked Sword Empress Ma about this,

she clearly answered like this.

‘-Just keep doing it, and you’ll get it.’

That’s how she put it.

Naturally,

I was the idiot for asking.

Of course,

she added a few more words afterward,

but it was all stuff I couldn’t understand.

What did she say…?

‘…She told me to recall the flow of lightning, I think.’

That seems to be roughly what she said.

Since she used lightning energy herself, she seemed to explain it by analogy.

‘What would I possibly understand hearing that?’

What is the flow of lightning?

Do you gain enlightenment just by staring intently at the sky on a stormy day?

Whatever it was, it meant I had no way of knowing.

No, wait.

I was foolish to even try asking Sword Empress Ma something in the first place.

As they were people brimming solely with talent, I shouldn’t have expected guidance.

For those people, I would have had to explain why something wasn’t possible first.

‘Anyway, that’s not important right now.’

Lightning or whatever, what I need to say to Namgung Jin right now is…

‘…Hmm?’

As I was about to move my heavy lips, thinking I should say something at least,

Namgung Jin, standing before me, was looking at me with a somewhat dazed expression.

‘…What? Why are you looking at me like that…’

I stopped mid-sentence and instinctively shut my mouth.

It’s because I sensed something from Namgung Jin’s expression.

Whoa…

‘That’s seriously fucked up.’

Doesn’t he look like he’s just had an epiphany?

Did he really get it? Suddenly?

What did I even do to make him act like this all of a sudden?

I didn’t really do anything…

‘No way.’

A thought that briefly flashed through my mind.

‘Is he reacting because of what I just mumbled about lightning?’

It was something Sword Empress Ma told me in the past,

though it was completely useless advice for me.

Apparently, it wasn’t like that for Namgung Jin.

However.

‘It’s not an impossible idea to come up with, is it?’

As they are people who use lightning energy due to the influence of their bloodline martial arts,

it seems unlikely they haven’t thought of this.

Even I, trying to gain something from flames,

once spent days staring at a campfire I’d built.

For reference, I gained nothing and ended up stomping on it randomly with my foot to take out my frustration,

and got badly burned.

‘Crazy bastard…’

A martial artist from a family using fire arts getting burned –

What kind of crazy thing is that…?

…Anyway.

If Namgung Jin has now reached enlightenment through these words,

‘It means this statement has become helpful in his situation.’

What kind of difference is there,

that recalling the flow of lightning is helpful, I don’t know,

but it seems certain Namgung Jin has reached enlightenment.

The result of that enlightenment could be good,

or it could be bad, but…

What comes to mind now is something else.

‘…Can I ditch this?’

Even though it was accidental,

I did give him something.

My conscience pricks me a little, but…

Since I’m someone without a conscience to begin with, wouldn’t it be fine?

Moreover, I could claim the justification that this much should be enough.

I observed Namgung Jin, who was quietly staring into the void.

The energy he had hidden within his body was clearly visible.

It was lightning energy that sent shivers just by looking at it,

and I could feel the energies moving stealthily, as if possessing their own will.

Although he wasn’t in a proper stance,

the movement of the energy was real.

‘…If I disturb him now. I’ll die right away, won’t I?’

If his consciousness is focused on one spot like that,

just a ‘tok!’ touch would twist his meridians, causing instant death.

I casually said to Namgung Jin, who was in that state.

‘So… I’m leaving?’

Even though I spoke, there was no answer from Namgung Jin.

Of course, who would speak in that situation?

Normally, it would be polite to stand guard in this situation,

but I figured he’d handle it himself.

Meanwhile.

‘Still, isn’t it a bit shady to gain enlightenment just from mumbling something about lightning?’

Enlightenment is supposed to be sudden and strange,

but isn’t this a bit cheap?

If enlightenment was coming, it should have come to me.

It felt like it was spoon-fed, making my stomach hurt badly.

‘I’m suddenly pissed off? Should I just poke him hard?’

Right now, even a slight nudge on the shoulder could lead him to ‘Ju-Hwa-Ip-Ma’.

Deureuk-

Someone opens the training ground door from behind.

I didn’t bother turning my head to check.

Because I sensed a familiar scent.

‘What… are you doing?’

The voice I sensed was, as expected, Namgung Bi-ah,

so I answered Namgung Bi-ah without turning my head.

‘…Guard duty.’

Even I thought my voice sounded a bit serious.