Chapter 479: Damned Bastard (3)

“…Are you really okay with that?”

I asked Tang Jaemoon after I heard her request.

I wanted to make sure if she was okay with her decision.

I couldn’t help but ask her.

No matter how much I thought about it, I found it difficult to believe those words came out of Tang Jaemoon’s mouth.

Tang Jaemoon still maintained her sad expression without trying to fix it.

-Do you think it’s possible?

“…”

I lightly bit my lips after hearing her question. Is it possible you ask?

I’m not sure.

It was difficult to give a definite answer.

I wasn’t sure how to take care of such a situation without causing any damage.

However.

Hmm.

Even if I was hesitant, I already knew what my answer was going to be.

“I don’t think I can run away, even if it doesn’t seem possible.”

-…

Tang Jaemoon put on a bitter smile after hearing my response. My words were on point after all.

She knew that I wasn’t able to deny her request.

Knowing that, she-

Brought up a topic about Tang Soyeol.

Tang Jaemoon believed that I wouldn’t be able to deny her request if she brought her up.

And she isn’t wrong.

I wasn’t able to deny it.

“I’ll give it a try.”

Even if I didn’t know if it was possible, I had to give it a try. That was the best answer I was able to give her.

Tang Jaemoon thankfully seemed satisfied by the response as she lightly nodded her head.

-Thank you, descendant.

“No need for the thanks. Besides…”

It felt like I was doing this because of the rewards I got, so I didn’t think she needed to thank me.

Moreover, she herself seemed rather bothered by this problem as well.

And it doesn’t make me feel good either.

Rather, it actually pissed me the hell off.

The problem is how I’m supposed to deal with the Poison King.

Considering this was the Tang Clan’s problem, I had to discuss this with the Poison King first, which I didn’t know how to.

Moreover, I had to believe that the Poison King wasn’t associated with this issue in the first place.

Even if he was an awful person, I at the very least hoped that he wasn’t associated with this issue.

It’s about his daughter, so he better not be.

If the Poison King was really involved with this,

Crack.

I cracked my neck and thought to myself.

I’ll just have to kill him.

My heart became colder. I was already prepared.

I will kill the Poison King if he turns out to be that bad.

That’s what I told myself. At the same time of me having that thought,

-Descendant.

Tang Jaemoon called out to me.

“Yes, Senior.”

-I already told Shincheol about everything you might be curious about.

“Huh?”

I opened my eyes widely after hearing her.

Things I might be curious about?

It wasn’t because I didn’t know what they were.

Instead, there were too many things that I found confusing.

Is that true, Elder Shin?

I hurriedly called out to him,

[Hmph.]

But Elder Shin didn’t give an answer as if he was still mad about the argument we had earlier.

…This petty old man.

However, it did sound like it was true, considering he didn’t deny it.

As I became curious about what kind of information he heard from her,

-Also…

Tang Jaemoon continued to speak as she had more things to tell me.

-I prepared a small gift for you, descendant.

“Gift… you say?”

-Yes. A gift.

What did she prepare for me?

I felt rather nervous, considering how I never once got a normal gift in my life.

Whether she knew how I felt or not, she continued to speak.

-Originally… This should’ve gone to Shincheol… or a different child.

Tang Jaemoon spoke with a smile.

-But it would be right for you to take it now. I’m sure she would want that as well.

“…She?”

Tang Jaemoon’s hand reached out towards me at the same time I spoke.

Swish-

“…!?”

Her half-transparent hand penetrated through my chest. It was a rather sudden attack.

I felt no pain. I didn’t even feel contact.

Was it because she was a spirit?

“Sen- “

I wanted to ask what she was currently doing.

-I pray that your paths will always be full of blessings.

But Tang Jaemoon cut off my words with a smile.

Then…

Thud-!

“…!”

At the same time, my body falling backwards, I lost consciousness.

Gu Yangcheon’s body effortlessly fell to the ground after he lost consciousness.

Before he struck the ground,

Tap-!

Grr.

A small humanoid dragon threw itself to catch Gu Yangcheon.

After seeing the sight, Tang Jaemoon took a step backward.

Then, she checked her hand.

Swish…

Her half-transparent hand was becoming fainter than before. This was the proof of her time coming to an end.

Despite knowing that, Tang Jaemoon didn’t feel sad about it.

Instead, she accepted it.

The life she lived was too long for her to feel any yearning, and she felt satisfied with achieving her goal, even if it was only partially.

However.

-Shincheol.

There was a tiny disappointment left in her.

-You are there, correct?

[…What do you want.]

An old man spoke in a sad tone after hearing Tang Jaemoon’s call.

Tang Jaemoon smirked after hearing his pitiful voice.

-Are you still sulking?

[Who… would sulk? You really think I’m narrow-minded like that?]

Tang Jaemoon couldn’t say no to that.

-Please forgive me. I wasn’t being honest.

[I told you I don’t feel anything. I don’t even remember what you said to me-]

-A narrow-minded man who never gets the hint. Aren’t you angry because I said that to you?

[…]

Gu Yangcheon’s body flinched a bit after Tang Jaemoon spoke.

It was Shincheol reacting to her words.

[…Who… would…]

-I understand.

Before Shincheol could shout out in anger, Tang Jaemoon cut off his words and continued to speak.

-Even if you didn’t notice my feelings towards you, and even when you gave up on Lady Moyong, I understand it all.

[…]

-After all, a man named Shincheol always valued his beliefs first and foremost.

It was very frustrating for a lady to deal with a man who never got the hint from her, but she couldn’t bring herself to blame him, considering she knew what kind of person he was.

-You are a hero.

A martial artist whose goal was to save the world.

A hero’s determination to plant a plum flower tree in a peaceful land of the Central Plains.

That was the person Shincheol was, and Tang Jaemoon knew that he didn’t have any females in his eyes.

Would it have been different if she had gone up to him in her original body using the Tang Jaehee name?

No, and Tang Jaemoon was certain of it.

Shincheol wouldn’t have chosen anyone in the end.

Because of that, she only stood by his side using her male form, and occasionally using her original body while role-playing.

That was the only decision Tang Jaemoon was able to make.

-I wanted to tell you. However.

Despite knowing what kind of person he was, she wanted to tell him that she was a girl, a very beautiful one.

And… that she loved him.

She wanted to tell him all about it, she wanted to ask him to hug her, touch her, and sleep with her, but she held back.

She had to.

She desperately wanted to see Shincheol treat her like that.

-I held back. Because that was who you were.

However, she loved Shincheol because of who he was.

Even though he spoke in a rude tone, he threw himself into danger to save other people’s lives.

He was the first one to step up into life-threatening situations.

Shincheol was the person who wanted to save the world rather than live as an ordinary person.

That was who Tang Jaemoon loved.

-So I’m okay with that.

She smiled.

-Don’t feel so guilty. I’m okay.

[…Jaemoon.]

Tang Jaemoon nodded after hearing Shincheol’s voice.

This was the final moment. She was sure of it.

She glanced at her feet.

Starting from that point, her half-transparent body started to disappear.

After checking the sight, Tang Jaemoon closed her eyes.

-I think I’ll have to depart first.

She spoke calmly.

-Would other friends be there waiting for me?

[…Yes. They may all be bastards, but they aren’t the type of people to leave anyone behind.]

-I agree.

Tang Jaemoon nodded after hearing Shincheol’s response.

-Shincheol.

[…Speak.]

Tang Jaemoon called out to him, but she hesitated with her lips for a moment.

She wanted to tell him that she loved him, but she couldn’t bring herself to.

Now wasn’t the best time to tell him.

But then what could she tell him now?

She thought deeply to herself.

It was a long thought, but there was only one thing to say.

It was something she had dreamed of ever since a very long time ago.

This was something she desperately wanted from him.

Tang Jaemoon spoke.

-…Could you… hug me once?

[…]

She spoke in a very careful tone.

She wanted to say that she felt very lonely, and that she demanded a hug from him because she desperately wanted to see him, but she found it difficult to say all those things.

Because of that, she only asked without giving a reason.

-Um… I said it as a joke-

Right as Tang Jaemoon was about to take back her words,

Swish-

-…!

She felt an unfamiliar sensation.

It felt like someone pulled her in and started rubbing her back.

Tang Jaemoon opened her eyes after feeling the sensation, but there wasn’t anything in front of her.

Shincheol was inside Gu Yangcheon’s body, so his appearance wasn’t going to show outside.

Putting that fact aside,

[You worked hard.]

-…

Tang Jaemoon closed her eyes once again after hearing a voice in her ears.

She closed it because she felt like she was going to cry if she didn’t.

[Go and wait for me there.]

-…Shincheol?

[It might take a long time. This little brat isn’t the most impressive guy, so it’ll take a while.]

-…

[So please, be patient and wait for me. We can discuss everything we didn’t get to there.]

Swish-

His hand started to brush her hair.

[You worked very hard…]

-…Yes.

He didn’t say much to her.

Yet, Tang Jaemoon felt comfort in her heart.

It was mere words, but that was also a part of his strengths.

Tang Jaemoon was able to believe him as he always fulfilled his promises.

No more words were said.

Swoosh…

Just like that, Tang Jaemoon’s body scattered away into the emptiness.

The pieces of her body shone brightly.

It almost looked as if they were butterflies, flying off into the distance.

[…]

Once Tang Jaemoon disappeared, only Gu Yangcheon’s light breathing remained in the secret vault.

[…Ah.]

In this situation, an old man blocked his mouth using his hand.

He tried his best not to make a single noise, and this silence continued until Gu Yangcheon woke up.

Flash-!

My eyes opened automatically after I felt a strange sensation.

When I barely managed to wake up, the first thing I noticed was the fact that I was currently in water.

“Urgh…?”

I couldn’t be more shocked than this, waking up in water, of all things.

I could’ve sworn I was in the secret vault. How did I lose consciousness?

Where is Tang Jaemoon?

Where is this place?

I thought about what happened right before I lost consciousness. Tang Jaemoon’s hand went through my chest.

Then I lost consciousness.

That’s indeed what happened, but now I was here after waking up.

I looked around my surroundings. Why was I in water all of a sudden?

Wait, water?

I felt a chilling sensation after the thought.

I was reminded of what I had to go through before I made it to the secret vault.

The Lake of Poison.

It was the treasure that belonged to the Tang Clan, which consisted of nasty poison.

It seemed like I was inside that lake right now.

Dammit all…!

I immediately tried moving my body at the thought. I had to leave this lake this instant.

Right as I was about to leap my way out of it,

Swoooosh-!

“…!”

I suddenly felt a vibration from the water.

Swooop-!

What the!?

Waves started to rage around me and started digging towards my way.

That wasn’t all.

Woong-!

My Demonic Absorption Art activated on its own as well.

Was that the problem?

The water around me started to change.

W-What’s up with this?

It started to enter my body in the form of energy.

No, it was strange to call it energy. It didn’t feel like it was adding to my Qi.

It wasn’t going into my heart that was now acting as Dantian, instead it swam through my whole body.

It felt as if it was seeping into both my blood vessels and muscles.

It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, but I didn’t know how to describe it.

Craaaash-!

All of this energy poured into my body before I could even comprehend the situation, and when I barely regained my consciousness,

“Ptoo…”

I was standing in an empty crater, which was where the lake was supposed to be.

I looked around while spitting out the water that entered my mouth.

Not a single droplet of water remained.

“…Shit.”

I cursed out after seeing the sight.

“I’m fucked.”

The lake, known as the clan’s treasure, had disappeared completely.

Well, I drank all that water to be more accurate.

“How…”

How did things become this way?

How was it possible for this body to consume a whole lake?

…That wasn’t the gift she spoke of, right?

I was reminded of the gift that Tang Jaemoon spoke of.

This wasn’t it, right…? I had to pray that wasn’t the case.

If it was…

Then this is a ticket to jail, not a gift.

Why did she gift me this when I had no idea how to deal with this situation? Seriously, all of the heroes of the past were just bullies.

As I ground my teeth after feeling like I was tricked again,

Flash.

“…Hmm?”

An image popped up in my mind.

It wasn’t a memory of mine.

This is…?

…A lead?

That was the first thought I had. This was definitely a lead into using a martial technique.

Wha?

It was certainly out of the blue, but my body was already following the lead.

Then…

Craaack-!

“Ugh…!?”

I suddenly felt pain in my body.

I groaned at the horrifying pain.

Craack-!

The pain continued to go wild inside my body as if it were trying to take over.

…What the hell.

Moreover, pain wasn’t the only thing I felt.

I started to feel something changing after a short amount of time.

Swoosh…

“…!”

My perspective was getting lower. I also noticed my body shrinking slightly.

“…Isn’t this…?”

I checked my hand after seeing the unexpected change.

I became more certain after checking them.

My body became different and bigger after my vessel shattered.

With the current change, however, my arm became thinner, just like how it used to be before my body changed.

I was also shorter.

“…”

I checked the situation, and I already have in my mind why this happened.

I saw a similar sight before.

There was no way that I was going to forget it after a day or two.

This was…

Qi Body Transformation Technique?

This was the technique that Tang Jaemoon used that allowed a person to change their body, and even their gender and age.

I was using it now.

I wasn’t able to understand the process it though. Even if there was a lead showing me the way, it shouldn’t have been possible for me to use it so easily like that.

Yet, my body reacted on its own.

I realized after seeing this situation.

Was this the gift?

Perhaps this was the gift Tang Jaemoon spoke of.

I was able to nod after that thought entered my mind.

As I expected.

I was certain all along.

“I always believed in you, Senior.”

I always believed that she would give me a grand gift, and she indeed met my high expectations.

I knew I was right to trust her.

Tang Jaemoon is absolute.

“Mhm, indeed.”

As I repeatedly nodded my head,

Grrr…

I started to hear a growl in a disappointed tone.

I ignored the noise.

I didn’t care how the Red Water Snake looked at me.

…Tang Jaemoon is God.

I was a follower of Tang Jaemoon.

Of course I was.

I wouldn’t have been reacting like this if it were only the Qi Body Transformation Technique that she gifted me, but that wasn’t the case at all.

A very important matter was haunting my mind, but now that worry went away in an instant.

With this… this matter will be so much easier to deal with.

I was worried about how I needed to deal with this difficult situation, but I had an answer now.

I smiled at the thought.

There was only one reason why I was in such a good mood.

Because inside my mind, along with the Qi Body Transformation Technique, I now had the forgotten recipe of the Tang Clan.

The ingredients that were needed to craft Heavenly Poison Orbs.