Chapter 344: Second Coming. (4)

Kwoooooo-!

After a great wave of heat had swept through.

The heat quickly subsided in the still-cold spring breeze.

More accurately, the heat was recalled to the dantian before it could spread.

Tadak… tadak.

The sound of burning embers could be heard.

Traces of the remaining flames were left on the ground, gently burning.

Calming the energy that had been running wild.

I checked my physical condition.

‘Is my energy more than half left?’

Unlike the past, when I would be wrecked after using secret techniques.

Even after using Jeokcheon and unleashing Yeomok continuously, my energy remained more than half.

This was thanks to reaching the Hwagyeong realm, opening the upper dantian, and the vessel widening, making it much easier to apply efficiently.

I surveyed the surroundings.

A black curtain was still spread across the sky.

Even the spots I had slightly pierced using Jeokcheon were quickly filled, sealing the gaps seamlessly.

‘What power is that, exactly?’

I focused my observation, but couldn’t identify it immediately.

Strange.

It felt too subtle to be a formation, and too alien to be martial arts.

Could it be the power of a demonic creature?

That was possible.

I shifted my gaze.

Tadak.

The Sinryongguan building, which was cracked and on the verge of collapse.

Now, half of it was gone, making it ambiguous whether it could still be considered a building.

It was ruined by the explosion of Dae Yeomok.

‘…’

I broke out in a cold sweat, wondering if I had been too excessive.

I hope they won’t demand compensation later, right?

Pasak.

I stepped on a burnt twig and moved forward.

In the place where the explosion had passed.

It was filled with dust.

I waved my hand, creating a gust of wind pressure.

Huwook-!

As the dust flew away in the wind.

A huge crater filled with traces of flames came into view.

I walked towards it.

At the center of the crater.

Something dark and shapeless was wriggling.

It was the Hwagyeong martial artist I had been fighting until just before.

‘He’s not dead.’

Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t died.

I hadn’t intended to kill him in the first place.

If there was a slight mistake.

It was that I used my power immediately after advancing my realm, so I couldn’t control it properly.

It would be troublesome if he died.

I haven’t found anything out yet.

“Keoheok…. Heo… heok…”

The old man kept spitting blood.

Fortunately, it seemed he managed to dodge, avoiding a fatal blow, but.

Even though he had enveloped himself in Ganggi, being caught in the explosion meant he wasn’t in normal condition.

“…You… you bastard…”

The old man, whose face was half melted.

Looked at me with murderous eyes.

If you ask whether the old man was weak.

That wasn’t the case.

The old man was a strong individual.

I wondered if there were any weak individuals among those who reached Hwagyeong, but.

He had also put Cheonghae Ilgeom in that state, and the moment I faced him, I knew he was an unusual powerhouse.

Just as there are numerous differences even within the same realm.

When one reaches Hwagyeong, those differences become extreme.

Considering the gap between the old man and me, it must have been a significant difference.

Nevertheless.

The reason I could put the old man in that state was ultimately because.

‘Even Hwagyeong martial artists are susceptible to demonic energy.’

It was because the demonic energy lodged in the corner of my dantian managed to infiltrate the old man.

‘…I’m not entirely unscathed either.’

During the previous battle with the Hwangbo family’s hidden guest.

That old man had only recently reached Hwagyeong, so.

It wasn’t entirely difficult for the demonic energy to penetrate his dantian.

However, this time was slightly different.

‘It was a close call.’

I had to mix in demonic energy during the fight without him noticing.

Due to the old man’s high realm, it wasn’t easy for the demonic energy to infiltrate.

Moreover.

If I hadn’t crossed the wall, the demonic energy wouldn’t have entered easily.

This means.

‘As I ascended to Hwagyeong, my demonic energy also strengthened.’

It means that simultaneously with crossing the wall, the demonic energy within my body also grew stronger.

Should I really see this as a good thing?

‘No, it’s not something to be happy about.’

Although it allowed me to win the fight.

More than the realm I established and advanced.

The reason being that I won with the help of demonic energy was greater.

It’s unavoidable that a sense of unease remains.

Moreover, the aftereffects of using demonic energy were lingering on my body.

‘There’s no internal injury, but a murky feeling definitely remains.’

It hadn’t mixed with my energy, but it felt like it could intrude if I wasn’t careful.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve ascended to Hwagyeong.

The corrupting nature of demonic energy feels particularly intensified.

What happened to the purification speed of Guhyeomhwaryeongong?

I need to figure this out properly later.

For now, I approached the old man.

“Who are you?”

“Keoheok…”

I grabbed the old man’s hair and lifted his face.

There is no respect for the defeated.

Especially if they are from the demonic path.

In the first place, whether righteous or demonic, bastards are bastards, so I don’t really discriminate.

“Why did you come here?”

“…You…”

I saw long, lined scars on the old man’s neck.

Sword scars? Seeing them so deep.

It seemed like quite a fatal wound.

Besides, why would a martial artist of this level attack Sinryongguan?

“Are you not going to talk?”

At my question, the old man’s body trembled slightly.

Is it anger or fear?

From my perspective, it seemed more like the former, not fear.

This isn’t good.

If it’s like this, I’ll have to resort to torture.

‘He probably didn’t attack alone. I need to assess the situation.’

The thing is, I don’t have the luxury for that.

Actually, I don’t really care what happens to the others, but.

‘…It’s not the kids.’

I couldn’t do that to those involved around me.

The reason I desperately rolled around in the demonic realm, raising my cultivation, was for them.

It was for me.

And it was for them.

Given the chaotic situation now.

I need to figure out what state the kids are in.

Even as I thought that, I couldn’t help but frown because.

‘Having more to protect isn’t necessarily good.’

Contrary to what I had originally planned.

The number of people I needed to protect around me has increased.

While I saw my life, different from my past life, in a somewhat positive light.

Thinking about the future, it’s unavoidable that I feel somewhat stifled.

Time is tight.

‘Should I torture him?’

Since time is short, it’s awkward to torture him.

More importantly, since I still have difficulty controlling my strengthened power.

It’s somewhat difficult to torture him delicately.

Especially for someone who suffered that fate.

As I pondered for a moment what to do.

“…Kkul… kkul…”

The old man suddenly chuckled.

“Why are you laughing?”

Has he lost his mind from being close to death?

That can’t happen. He needs to say what he has to say before dying.

“…You have frightening eyes.”

“What did you say?”

“Eyes contemplating how to kill me… I’ve seen plenty of people with eyes like yours. It’s only natural. They were all demonic path practitioners.”

“So.”

Is he trying to personally attack me by saying my eyes are fierce?

“The children with eyes like that… were all buried by my hand, and now I’ve met the same fate, kkul kkul…”

“So what? Should I pity you and let you live?”

Has he gone senile?

The old geezer is saying ridiculous things.

Hwaruk.

I wrapped flames around my hand.

Unlike when I was at my peak, the color and intensity showed a clear difference.

Seeing the flames wrapped around my hand, the old man said with exhaustion.

“Are you… truly a child of the righteous path?”

“Of course. Where else would you find a righteous path practitioner as diligent as me?”

I’m cleaning up these demonic path scum, so who else could be righteous if not me?

After a moment of thought, I organized my thoughts.

‘I’ll kill him.’

I decided to kill him without torture.

The situation isn’t good, and he doesn’t seem like someone from whom I can gain anything.

I judged it better to deal with him cleanly rather than wasting time holding onto him pointlessly.

Even without that, among the numerous energies detected by my Ki sense, I felt a presence poking at the top of my head.

I reached out my hand.

“This Heukryonggeom. To be killed by a mere blood clot, not Wi Hyogun.”

‘Heukryonggeom…?’

I almost paused at the words that reached my ears, but I didn’t stop my hand.

Instead, I increased my speed.

My hand reached the old man’s face.

No, it was just before touching him.

“That cannot be.”

Kkudeudeuk.

“…!”

I felt a change.

I retracted my outstretched hand and put distance between us.

I raised my Ganggi to the fullest and heightened my tension to the extreme.

My dantian reacted to the unknown energy detected by my Ki sense.

[…Reu… reureung…]

“You…?”

My eyes widened at the cry that finally reached me.

This thing, which hadn’t appeared even in the mortal realm, let alone while I was rolling around in the demonic realm, had suddenly awakened.

[Kureureu…]

The growling sound was quite rough.

It was clear that it was baring its teeth towards something.

And that something.

‘…Is it that?’

It was probably the old man who called himself Heukryonggeom.

“Heukryonggeom?”

It sounded like a name I’d heard somewhere before, but I couldn’t quite recall it.

If it were a famous alias, I should have remembered it immediately.

I wondered why I didn’t know, given that a martial artist of that level even had an alias, but.

Now wasn’t the time to ponder such things.

“What is that?”

A change was occurring in the old man’s body.

“Keoheo… heoeok…”

Starting from the scar on the back of his neck.

Something began to ooze out.

It wriggled and moved, making it disgusting just to look at.

If I had to describe the feeling, it was somewhat like a giant earthworm.

Hwareureuk-!

I summoned flames and gathered them at my fingertips.

Leaving it like that looked dangerous, so I couldn’t just stand by.

I felt the energy gathered in my dantian deplete instantly.

Even while casting martial arts, I observed the old man’s transformation.

‘What on earth is that… Is it a demonic beast?’

If it were a demonic beast, it was a form I had never seen before.

A demonic beast parasitizing a human?

I don’t know what it is, but it’s obviously not a good situation.

Flames gathered in my palm.

It was to cast Yeomok one more time, the one I used just before.

I intended to burn it all away.

It was gradually taking shape, and the appearance was incredibly grotesque.

Moreover, the energy I felt seemed somewhat murky and dark.

Should I say it’s slightly different from the demonic energy possessed by demonic beasts?

Hwaruk-!

The preparation for Yeomok was complete.

Just as I was about to release it immediately.

[Kureung!]

Ttuk-!

“What?”

Along with the cry that came from within my body.

I felt the energy gathered in my hand disappear in an instant.

“You crazy son of a bitch.”

The beast cub arbitrarily manipulated my energy and released it.

This was possible too?

Was it possible to interfere with the energy I was using?

More importantly, I needed to know why this thing suddenly interfered.

“Why are you suddenly waking up from just sleeping and interfering…!”

Just as I was about to ask accusingly.

Kkiaaaaaaa-!

Along with a sound that seemed to tear my ears apart.

Something that was the old man spewed a giant tentacle towards me.

Its speed was quite fast.

As I tried to react by raising my Ganggi.

‘…Huh?’

Suddenly, my movement was blocked as if my energy was completely sealed. I wondered if my energy had run out, but.

That couldn’t be.

I had confirmed that more than half was left just moments ago.

Regardless of my confusion, the tentacle flew towards me rapidly.

This is serious.

Just as I wondered if I should draw upon other energies if my own wasn’t working.

Pak-!

The tentacle that flew right in front of me was instantly severed and fell to the ground with a thud.

The tentacle that fell to the ground disappeared as if it were melting.

In a way, it seemed to be absorbed into the ground.

“What the…”

Just as I wondered what had just happened.

A reaction was felt from the center of the crater.

As I directed my gaze straight towards the monster’s location.

‘Someone’s there.’

An unfamiliar person was stabbing a sword into the monster.

It seemed that this person was the one who blocked the attack the monster sent towards me just before.

‘I didn’t sense their presence.’

Even if my energy was sealed.

My Ki sense extends around me.

If I couldn’t notice this person despite that.

It was highly likely they were an immensely skilled expert.

‘Who is it?’

I can’t see them clearly.

Their presence is faint, and I’m having trouble perceiving them, which means.

They are intentionally concealing their energy and presence.

In pristine white martial attire.

With white hair to match.

Kki… kkiaak-!

Perhaps due to the sword stuck in its torso, the monster began to scream continuously.

Where is its mouth that it’s screaming like that?

The figure presumed to be a man.

Moves his hand as if reacting to the screams.

Chwaak-!

The sword stuck in its torso is swung, lightly slicing the monster in half.

The reason I involuntarily gulp air while watching such movements is.

Even though I’m seeing the movements he makes with my eyes, I can’t properly perceive them.

The white-haired man, after splitting the creature once.

Takes advantage of the moment when the monster seemed temporarily incapacitated and its movements quieted, reaching out and placing his hand on the monster’s body.

The viscous, oil-like fluid might be unpleasant, but the man showed no hesitation.

Soon after.

“…Huh?”

I see the man’s shadow, not the man himself, moving.

The shadow, which began to move sluggishly, bursts out and starts to envelop the monster.

-Kkiyak… areureuk…

The not-small body is tightly bound by the shadow.

It pounds continuously as if struggling inside, but.

Whether that movement was brief, it quickly quieted down.

I couldn’t comprehend the situation that unfolded for a moment and could only stare at the man.

What in the world happened here?

Perhaps sensing my gaze.

The white-haired man gradually turns his head towards me.

His pupils were white eyes, just like his white hair.

His skin was also pure white.

So much so that I wondered if he was even human like me.

His appearance was somewhat mystical, so I lost myself in watching him for a moment.

“Are you going to keep watching?”

The man asked, looking at me.

Contrary to my expectations, his voice was much deeper. Hearing that voice made me flinch.

“…Who are you?”

It seemed he had saved me, but since I didn’t know his identity, I raised my tension.

As if ready to respond if necessary.

As I asked the question, laced with tension.

The man looked at me and slowly opened his mouth.

Just as his answer was about to be heard.

Woong…

“What?”

Sensing an energy behind me, I turned around without realizing it.

It was in the direction of Mount Tai.

The energy felt from there made my body tremble involuntarily.

Is that all?

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

“…Why?”

Without even taking back the words I uttered.

Leaving the monster and the man behind, I gathered my energy and leaped.

It was a sudden, unexpected action, but.

The white-haired man didn’t try to stop me.

I increased my speed rapidly.

The reason for moving so urgently was none other than.

From somewhere high up on Mount Tai.

An energy that I had felt before, yet never wanted to feel again, began to be sensed.

‘No way… It can’t be.’

I wanted to tell myself it wasn’t true, but.

The energy imprinted on my body had already given me the confirmation.

It was clear.

From far away Mount Tai.

The demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon (Cheonma) could be felt.