Chapter 529: Give it to me just once.

“Ah… my body aches….”

Right after finishing my training with the Peddler King, I returned to my quarters with a staggering body.

That damn old man, he pushed me so hard my arms and legs were trembling.

[You should have known your place and not acted out so much.]

I let out a hollow laugh at the old man’s words.

Then again, this mouth of mine was the problem. If I hadn’t talked back, it probably would have ended quickly.

‘…I held back quite a bit, you know.’

[You call that holding back…?]

The old man said it as if he couldn’t believe it.

I really held back a lot, so why is he surprised?

‘What am I supposed to do when I feel wronged because I couldn’t even land a single blow.’

If I couldn’t solve it with my fighting techniques, I had to provoke him with my mouth.

Thanks to that, I took two or three hits for every one I might have taken, but it made me feel better, so what else could I do?

Du-deuk.

“Whoa, fuck….”

As I walked, I heard a sound from my bones.

The place where my bones were hit earlier still hurt.

It was only natural, given the pain that resonated through my entire body.

That damn old man didn’t seem to have any intention of holding back.

‘Still, even so. How could I not even graze him.’

Whatever I tried to do, it was blocked, countered, or overturned.

If I tried to move my inner energy, he’d cut it off, and if I tried to make a move, the Peddler King was already there before me.

I could feel a wall naturally.

Setting aside our cultivation levels, the Peddler King made me feel the wall of a martial artist.

Well, he’s someone who went and messed up half-immortality in pursuit of perfecting his martial arts.

It’s only natural that he’d make me feel such a wall.

‘…How in the world am I supposed to solve this?’

It had become quite a problem for now.

‘Block it?’

The homework the Peddler King gave me was the problem.

Something I needed to obtain before practicing the transplantation of the Two-Stage Heavenly Dance.

The Peddler King said it required raising one’s sight, didn’t he?

He said that if I could block the Peddler King’s movements even once using this, the training would be over.

It sounds like an easy task, but…

‘It’s damn difficult.’

When I actually try it, I realize there’s no answer.

In a situation where all means are blocked, he wants me to block instead of dodging or parrying?

‘Grrr….’

Trying to do this against the Peddler King was absolutely not easy.

‘The Peddler King knows that too, which is why he set such a timeframe, isn’t it?’

Around the time the training ended, the Peddler King, who was sitting above me, said to me.

-It’ll probably take about a year to get a rough grasp of it.

He said this training would likely take about a year.

And not even to finish the training, but just to get a grasp of it would take a year?

So, does that mean I have to get beaten like this every day for a year?

‘…I’m totally screwed.’

I had to break out in a cold sweat thinking about the hell that lay ahead.

[Tsk tsk.]

I heard the old man chuckle.

‘Stop laughing and help me out a bit…?’

[Help? What are you talking about.]

‘I mean the part about raising my sight. What does it mean?’

I was curious about what the Peddler King had demanded of me.

The old man surely knows.

Since the old man was impressed when the training started, it means he knows, right?

[Hmm.]

In response to my question, the old man let out a slight hum as if contemplating, then started speaking to me.

[I don’t think this is something I should advise you on.]

He gave me a refusal.

This is a rare situation. When I asked the old man about something, even if he cursed me out, he never failed to tell me.

So rather than feeling offended, I felt more curious.

‘May I ask the reason?’

[Normally, I might have explained, but from what I see, that guy’s training method seems more suitable for you.]

‘…Then shouldn’t you still tell me more?’

Setting aside the training method, can’t I at least understand the meaning?

That was the intention behind my question.

The old man’s answer to this was not much different from before.

[This training, brat, only has meaning if you realize it yourself.]

‘That’s the part I hate the most.’

Figure it out yourself.

Find out on your own.

I had heard this countless times in this life.

However, even so, it was difficult to find fault with his words.

‘Seeing as even the old man says this, there must be a reason.’

If both the Peddler King and the old man are acting like this, it truly means I have to figure it out myself.

While getting beaten up like this all year round.

‘Should I just run away?’

Such a thought naturally crossed my mind.

I knew I wouldn’t run, nor could I, but I just thought about it once.

“Haa.”

I let out a sigh and entered my quarters.

Time had already turned to night.

Did Father come? Looking around, it seemed he hadn’t arrived yet.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t get to see what happened with the Tang family.’

While the Tang family was in chaos.

I, however, was being overturned by the Peddler King and couldn’t see the situation.

‘…Tsk.’

I needed to know how the situation was unfolding to plan my schedule meticulously.

‘I’ll have to ask Moyong Hi-ah later.’

Moyong Hi-ah, who left as if she had realized something.

I felt like I should go find her and ask tomorrow.

Anyway, I had to go see Moyong Hi-ah once for her cold-air treatment.

‘…But, would it be okay to do it now?’

If there was something bothering me, it was that since I was in a shedding state, wouldn’t my current flames negatively affect Moyong Hi-ah’s body?

This, too, would ultimately have to be found out by trying it myself.

‘Hmm…’

It wasn’t easy due to the possibility, however small.

It’s funny, if it were in the past, I would have just gone for it.

Have I grown attached now, causing me to hesitate?

‘Yeah, that’s probably why I’m hesitating.’

Knowing this makes it even more shitty.

My own sordidness and selfishness were truly irritating.

‘I need to take care of the things I’ve started within a few days.’

Not just the Tang family’s affairs, but also Tang Deok and Na Hee’s matters.

As was my situation with Shin Eui.

And organizing the fortuitous encounters I obtained.

I had a lot to do. The only fortunate thing was…

‘My body has been somewhat stabilized.’

My body, which couldn’t adapt to the increased inner energy, was in a considerably better state thanks to the training with the Peddler King.

If I could clean myself up properly once at a set time during the night, I could probably reach the desired point.

If that happens.

‘I should take the Poison Pill.’

I’ll absorb the accumulated Poison Pills to gain energy.

Even if I give up on the White Jade Stone since I decided to hand it over to Shin Eui, I still need to take the Poison Pills.

Moreover.

‘I have to give some to Tang Soyeol too.’

I had to prepare some for Tang Soyeol, who claimed she wouldn’t get stronger using jewels.

She said she’d handle it herself, but I wanted to give her something anyway.

Even if I have some Poison Pills stashed away, the Poison King wouldn’t say anything seeing this.

What would he say if I’m taking care of his daughter? Surely not.

‘But it doesn’t matter even if he does.’

If I just said I already gave them away and didn’t have any, it would be resolved.

‘For now, I’m tired, so let’s rest.’

After being beaten for several hours straight, I’m really at my limit now.

I needed to lie down on my bed quickly and sleep.

Tomorrow, the Poison King will surely finish his business and deliver a message to those staying here.

My prediction is that it will be a request to leave the Tang family’s residence in the near future.

Given that such an incident occurred, it would be strange to continue staying here, so it was only natural.

This meant that the time I had left to stay at the Tang residence was running out.

‘…I don’t have anything else left to do here, so it doesn’t matter, but…’

It bothers me a bit that I couldn’t visit Pae Woo-cheol’s main residence, but honestly, it wasn’t that important, so I could let it slide.

As I was roughly finishing up, I was gradually getting closer to the resting place.

Woo-oong.

“…”

Suddenly, I felt a reaction from my body.

Is it near my heart?

It was a sensation like resonating with some energy, a clattering feeling.

It felt as if it were pointing somewhere.

What is it?

• …Shaaa…

Ddolddol-i, who was in my arms, also poked its head out to check the situation.

What the hell is this guy?

“Hey, where were you?”

-Shaa?

“This bastard… you ran away when I was getting beaten, so when did you come back in.”

You disappeared without a trace when I was getting thoroughly beaten by the Peddler King.

When did you get into my arms?

-Shaa.

The brat Ddolddol-i stuck out its tongue and tilted its head as if it couldn’t understand what I was saying.

You understand everything, but you act cute like a snake only when it’s like this?

Instead of helping when your master is getting beaten up.

[You take after me perfectly.]

‘…’

I ignored the old man’s mocking words and grabbed Ddolddol-i, tossing it into my room.

Shaaaaaa-!

Ddolddol-i screamed as it was suddenly thrown, but I closed the door right away.

“This is your punishment. Stay quiet inside.”

Saying that, I turned my steps.

If it were up to me, I’d lie down on my bed and rest right away, but…

The energy resonating here was quite bothersome, so I couldn’t help it.

In the end, I had to move my feet to check it out.

The distance wasn’t that far.

It was a small clearing behind my quarters.

It was easy to find; not only could I feel the energy, but I could also feel a dense killing intent, so how could I not know?

Landing lightly in the clearing, I surveyed the front.

“…What are they doing now?”

I saw people suddenly engaged in a sparring match in the center of the clearing.

Chaeng-!

The swords clashed, making a sharp sound.

The air was continuously bursting with shockwaves due to the friction of inner energy.

Due to the air pressure caused by this, wind kept blowing around.

The ones creating this scene were none other than Namgung Bi-ah and Woo Hyuk.

The two who created sword energy clashed roughly against each other, continuously engaging in swordplay.

They seemed quite serious, as fierce sword marks were leaving traces in the air.

“You’ve arrived.”

Hearing a voice, I looked to the side and saw Goe-seon approaching with a smile.

So this guy was here too.

Wait, why is he still here?

“I was wondering where you went, you found your way well… Why does your face look like that?”

“My face… please don’t mind it.”

“No, how can I not mind it? It’s become similar to last time?”

My cheek was swollen from being hit by the Peddler King.

It was better than last time, but it still hurt the same.

Ignoring Goe-seon, who was looking at me with a strange expression, I asked.

“What are they suddenly doing over there?”

Why are they sparring over there?

And so fiercely at that.

Goe-seon answered this.

“Well, my niece said she had something to check, so my disciple is playing along.”

“Something to check?”

At Goe-seon’s words, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

What was she checking? With a question in my mind, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah again.

“…Huh?”

Namgung Bi-ah’s appearance had changed.

Her white hair had turned even whiter, and I could see her hair thoroughly imbued with lightning energy.

That wasn’t all.

The energy subtly surrounding her entire body was lightning energy, and…

The sword she held in her hand was…

‘Re-ah?’

It was Re-ah.

Re-ah was held in Namgung Bi-ah’s hand, showing off its brilliant blade.

‘She can use it.’

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but get sentimental.

At the end of the sparring match earlier that day, Namgung Bi-ah proved that she could use Re-ah.

Remembering that, it was only natural that she could use Re-ah.

It’s just that Namgung Bi-ah herself might have been uncertain whether she could use it or not.

It was truly amazing that she thought of taking it.

How could she have been so sure?

If she wasn’t sure, she wouldn’t have been able to use that method.

Kiiing-!

Re-ah cried out.

With that, the lightning energy became endlessly stronger.

Ku-reureung-!

The sound of thunder came from Namgung Bi-ah’s sword.

Kang-!

“…”!

The swords clashed, and Woo Hyuk was sent flying.

‘It’s Re-ah’s power.’

The sword blade absorbing inner energy and repelling the opponent’s attack.

It was something I felt when using Re-ah.

Woo Hyuk’s expression crumpled at this.

His swordsmanship was clean, and his demonic energy swelled perfectly, proving the Sleeping Dragon’s genius, but…

Ku-reureureung-!

It seemed difficult to withstand the continuously pouring lightning energy.

Perhaps because of that, Woo Hyuk gradually started to be pushed back.

And soon after.

“…Well, I lost.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s sword touched his neck, forcing him to admit defeat.

“It’s not easy. Haha!”

Last time Woo Hyuk had won against Namgung Bi-ah, but this time, Woo Hyuk lost instead.

Aside from Namgung Bi-ah’s continuous growth, it was likely thanks to Re-ah’s power.

What was strange was that the Sleeping Dragon kept smiling, seemingly unbothered by his defeat.

Well, he’s always been like that, so let’s leave it at that.

‘Why does she look like that?’

Namgung Bi-ah’s expression looked even worse, actually.

Huu-uu…

Namgung Bi-ah’s body slowly returned to normal.

The lightning energy seeped back into Re-ah, and she quickly regained her original appearance.

Then, Namgung Bi-ah turned her head towards me.

Our eyes met.

“…Ah…”

Noticing me, Namgung Bi-ah quickly averted her expression and approached me.

‘Oh no.’

Seeing that, I thought to myself that I wanted to run away.

It was because I was still a bit too embarrassed to face Namgung Bi-ah.

“…You’re here…?”

Approaching as usual, Namgung Bi-ah asked me.

It seemed like I was the only one who was conscious of it.

“Uh… yeah… uh…”

What kind of idiotic answer is this?

As I gave an answer that even I thought was stupid, Namgung Bi-ah widened her eyes and reached out towards my face.

“…Your face… what happened…?”

“No, well… I rolled around a bit during training.”

It wasn’t a lie. I did roll around. Though it was by someone else’s hand.

“…”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. A little ointment will heal it.”

It was a wound that would really heal soon.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been looking at my face with worried eyes, nodded briefly.

Although she didn’t quite understand, she didn’t seem like she would ask further.

And then she handed Re-ah, which she was holding, to Goe-seon.

As he accepted Re-ah, Goe-seon asked.

“How is it. Niece, do you like it?”

“…”

Seeing that, I realized.

Was the thing she wanted to check related to Re-ah? To confirm whether she could use it or not?

‘She seemed to use it well.’

Since I saw her use Re-ah without any major issues, Goe-seon might give Re-ah to Namgung Bi-ah.

This way, there would be no need to ask Goe-seon for Re-ah.

It was a situation that seemed somewhat convenient.

At this moment, Goe-seon said to Namgung Bi-ah.

“If you want it, I can hand it over to you, niece. Though there’s a slight issue…”

Oh…

The exact situation I hoped for had arisen. If it went like this, Namgung Bi-ah could truly possess Re-ah faster than in her previous life.

It was a good situation.

Just as I thought that.

“…No…”

Namgung Bi-ah shook her head at Goe-seon’s question about whether she liked Re-ah.

“Hmm?”

At this, not only I but also Goe-seon widened our eyes.

“…I don’t… need it…”

Namgung Bi-ah’s words that she didn’t need Re-ah.

“What do you mean…”

Just as I was about to involuntarily speak out at those words.

[…Ah-hae….]

A voice came from Re-ah.

“…”?

It seemed to be Namgung Myung’s voice.

It was a voice filled with desperation and thirst.

Hearing the old man speak in such a voice gave me a very unpleasant feeling.

I wondered why he was acting like that, and it wasn’t even the end.

[Ah-hae… Please, please.]

From within Re-ah, Namgung Myung said to me in a voice full of desperation.

[Me, me…]

What on earth was he trying to say?

The moment I stared at Re-ah with a strange look.

[G-give it to me just once.]

“…Huh?”

[Please…! Grab and touch me…!]

“…What?”

At Namgung Myung’s words, shouted as if he couldn’t hold back, I involuntarily took a step back.

It was a statement that made me feel quite shitty.