Chapter 740: From the Beginning.

Slosh.

At the sound of shallow waves lapping, I looked around.

Slosh… slosh….

I could hear the sound, but I couldn’t feel any movement.

The space, filled with ink, allowed me to barely see an inch ahead, the rest swallowed by pitch-black darkness.

Where could this place be? What was happening outside?

Such questions briefly crossed my mind, but I didn’t dwell on them.

I’ve felt this before in my life. Trying too hard to figure it out just never worked.

As always, I just need to focus on the situation right in front of me.

Thinking thus, I met the old man’s eyes.

‘Whoa.’

What a damn fierce mug.

That was my thought upon seeing the old man.

A snow-white martial uniform with plum blossom embroidery on the chest.

An old man, clearly tall, sitting cross-legged with his chin resting on his hand.

His gaze looking down was striking, with deep crimson irises.

Thump.

My heart pounded as I looked at him.

Thump.

Thump.

It wasn’t the resonance caused by emotion.

It was energy. The energy of the Old Man within my body was resonating with ‘that guy’.

This means…

‘He’s an Old Man?’

Does this mean the old man before me is the Divine Old Man I know?

As I watched the old man, still full of questions.

[This is strange.]

The old man also expressed his confusion and spoke to me.

[Youngster, what exactly are you? Why do you possess that?]

The Divine Old Man’s Daoqi within my body.

Perhaps sensing it, the old man wore a look of considerable bewilderment.

[What is your identity?]

My identity?

I let out a small laugh at the old man’s question.

“That’s what I’d like to ask you.”

I used the voice and demeanor of an Old Man.

And since I was channeling the energy of an Old Man, the probability that this old man was the Divine Old Man was high.

However.

“Who are you?”

Strangely, I didn’t think this old man was the Divine Old Man.

[Who am I?]

At my question, the old man also chuckled.

Wow, his smile was chilling.

He really gave off the impression of having a nasty temper.

[After searching for me and calling me out so earnestly, you don’t even know who I am?]

“I wasn’t searching that earnestly. You just popped out so quickly because I was curious enough to call you once.”

[Ho ho.]

With his laughter, plum blossoms fell.

An alien sight within the black space.

The tiny leaf landed with a soft plop onto the water.

Woowooong.

A ripple spread like a vibration.

[I am the 8th Sect Leader of the Great Hua San Sect.]

Before I knew it, the old man had descended from the rock and appeared before me.

[I am Hua San Sword Saint Shin Cheol.]

Meeting those crimson eyes up close, my skin involuntarily stiffened.

My body was becoming wary.

[Is my introduction sufficient?]

“…”

The words were as expected.

The old man introduced himself as Shin Cheol, and by my observation, it was indeed him.

But why, then?

“Hmm.”

Why did I keep feeling like this old man wasn’t the Divine Old Man?

[Now, speak. Youngster, who are you that you were searching for me so desperately? And.]

The old man’s fingertip pointed towards my chest.

[Why my energy resides within your body.]

Thump.

The old man’s fingertip pierced my chest.

Then.

Hwaahwak.

The Daoqi within my body surged, beginning to expand through my meridians.

It felt like petals blooming.

Though the refreshing yet warm sensation made me consider letting it be for a moment.

Kkwaak-!

I clenched the spreading energy, confining it back into my heart.

[Hmph.]

At that action, the old man let out a hollow laugh.

I paid it no mind.

“This energy, naturally, I received it from its owner.”

[Hm?]

“He was a grumpy old man with a terrible temper and a lot to say.”

Tuk tuk.

I brushed off the spot where his finger had touched a few times.

[Nonsense. I have never given energy like that to a brat like you.]

As the old man frowned as if asking what I meant, I corrected him once more.

“Yes, I didn’t say I received it from you. I said I received it from the owner of this energy.”

[Meaning, that energy is my energy-]

“No, it’s not.”

I cut him off, frowning.

“I said this energy isn’t yours.”

Swoosh-!

[…]

The old man’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

It was likely because something had wrapped around my hand, the one that cut him off.

Gwijung.

Gwijung, the treasure of Hua San and the beloved weapon of the Divine Old Man, was grasped tightly in my left hand.

[How could you…]

“I’m curious too. Just who are you?”

His appearance.

His voice.

The aura he gave off.

Even the Daoqi within my body. Everything pointed to the old man being the Divine Old Man, but.

“Why are you wearing the guise of an Old Man?”

I didn’t believe it.

My instincts screamed.

That this old man wasn’t the Divine Old Man I knew.

I trusted that instinct without a doubt.

[…]

At my confident words, the old man wore an expression of utter disbelief.

And at the same time.

Shwirik-!!

A crimson binding appeared in the old man’s hand, forming into the shape of a sword.

It was Gwijung.

The very Gwijung that possessed that crimson hue before I touched it.

[This is truly strange.]

The old man, gripping Gwijung, slung it over his shoulder and continued speaking as he looked at me.

[Youngster. You are not my successor, yet you possess the things I arranged. I only recently entrusted them to this child, so what exactly is your identity? Could you be a child who entered Bigo first…? No. Then I would have known.]

Bigo.

Is it that thing in Shaanxi that Yeongpung discovered?

It seems to refer to that Bigo, the place from which he said he received a voice and energy.

[I cannot comprehend it. What are you, truly?]

“As for who I am, you should ask your supposed successor.”

From what I know, it seems Yeongpung can’t converse separately, but that’s their problem.

“Unfortunately, I’m also in a situation where I can’t talk to my Old Man.”

The very person I needed to ask was also absent, having stepped away to help me.

“If you truly are the Hua San Sword Saint, what is a man long dead doing here?”

[A comical question.]

The old man’s answer was without hesitation.

[I regret needing to borrow the hands of a successor due to unfinished business, but… it was unavoidable.]

“Unfinished business… Perhaps, is it related to the Blood Demon?”

[-]

At my words, the old man’s expression crumpled.

[…How do you know that?]

“Hmm.”

It seems correct.

‘That means…’

This old man must roughly know about the Blood Demon incident.

It was strange.

‘My Old Man didn’t know.’

That fellow had lost most of his memory and didn’t know much.

He even went so far as to say ghosts were useless except for being noisy.

Of course, he did regain some clarity later on.

Before that, he was someone who didn’t even know why he died.

Considering that.

‘…Huh, maybe this one is the real deal?’

I suddenly felt a jolt.

Judging by the feel of it, this one seems more useful?

‘Should I switch now?’

Since they’re both similar old guys anyway, switching wouldn’t be much…

-What the hell are you saying, you bastard?

“…”

I quickly turned my head.

He shouldn’t be there, but I thought I heard someone cursing.

Seriously creepy.

‘Just kidding. Kidding.’

Can’t even crack a joke out of fear.

Heh heh. Laughing inwardly, I turned my head back.

Whether the one before me is fake or real doesn’t matter.

Because whatever I believe to be real is real to me.

And this guy in front of me was fake.

That was enough for me.

[I asked how you knew that.]

“I heard it. Here and there.”

I’ve heard it so much my ears are practically worn out.

[Heard it…]

“Yes. I heard it from Shaolin’s Bulyeong-nim too.”

The Yellow Monkey Bulyeong I met at Shaolin said so.

“I also heard it from Sichuan’s Dokjeolcheon-nim.”

Tang Jemun, whom I met in Sichuan, also mentioned it.

“And from Bei Hai’s Thundercloud Sword Saint-nim, damn it all, I heard the story too.”

I heard it from Namgung Myung, who was guarding Bingjeong.

“Also.”

I listed off the people who tormented me in the past, one by one.

Ah, let’s exclude Senior Tang Jemun. He didn’t torment me; he only helped me.

“I heard it from Yeon Ilcheon too.”

As I mentioned Yeon Ilcheon last, the old man’s reaction became pronounced.

[…]

I could see the old man’s expression twisting.

So, I decided to deliver the final blow.

“Oh, and for reference, Thundercloud Sword Saint-nim said I was the reincarnation of the Hua San Sword Saint.”

[What?]

As I said it while picking my ear, the old man’s expression turned priceless.

“So the reason I don’t trust you is….”

[Don’t spout such nonsense.]

He spoke to me with burning eyes, truly furious.

[My reincarnation couldn’t possibly be as ugly as you!]

“…What the fuck did you just say?”

[Youngster. Don’t speak carelessly with that mouth of yours.]

“This old geezer is talking some real shit, huh…?”

My mood turned incredibly sour.

Fuck, what is this shitty feeling?

As I glared at the old man, grinding my teeth.

[Yes, I thought something was strange from the beginning.]

The old man added, as if he had realized something.

[I found it strange that Gwijung wouldn’t obey at Wudang, but hearing your words now, along with that final piece of bullshit, I think I understand.]

His voice was full of conviction.

Did he really figure something out?

[You are Blood Demon’s spy.]

“Ah, fuck this shit.”

Realized my ass.

[I suspected something was unfolding differently than expected. So it was his scheme after all.]

“From the looks of it, you wouldn’t believe me even if I said no, would you? Right?”

[If that’s truly the case, then it was a mistake.]

“Believe it or don’t.”

Looking at the situation, things were already messed up anyway.

But isn’t it pretty fucked up that the reason they’re messed up is because I’m the reincarnation?

‘Fuuuuuck….’

A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

It didn’t matter anymore whether he was the Divine Old Man or not.

That wasn’t my objective in the first place.

“…Enough. Tell me about the circumstances that led you to remain here. And why you chose Yeongpung as your successor. Just that.”

[A ridiculous request. If I cannot trust you, why would I judge that you would tell me?]

“Right. We can’t trust each other.”

I admit it. We couldn’t trust each other one bit.

That didn’t matter either.

Swoosh.

[Hm?]

I raised my fist and said to the old man.

“But you also have questions for me, don’t you? If so, I think our conversation will go much smoother.”

I smiled brightly.

“Let’s have a match.”

[…]

It was a method I’d used on the Amipa Sect Leader just a few days ago.

The situation is quite different, but…

This is a method that has the advantage of being usable anywhere.

“So, the winner gets the answers.”

A clean way to settle this.

Arguing would be futile and meaningless.

If it can’t be resolved with words, this is how it should be done.

Hearing this, the old man looked at me with a strange expression, then.

[Haha.]

He suddenly burst out laughing and added.

[I disliked everything else, but I like this one thing.]

Saying that, he thrust the Gwijung he was holding firmly onto the ground.

Chills!

The moment I saw that, goosebumps rose all over my body.

Oh… this crazy bastard.

‘Whoa. Looks like I’m screwed?’

How long has it been since I felt this?

Even without any particular action from him, my survival instincts screamed.

Such overwhelming power from just that movement?

[It’s good to be confident in your own strength. You are indeed strong, youngster. However, if you’re challenging me based on that confidence…]

“Are you crazy?”

As he was building momentum, I shouted to correct him.

“Of course, you have to go easy on me.”

[…Huh?]

“You’re going to fight seriously against a child when you’re a grown adult? Isn’t that really cheap?”

[…]

“Whether you fight on two feet. Or use just one finger. Or hold your breath and fight with your eyes closed. You should do something like that!”

[…Don’t your examples seem like complete crap?]

“So are you going to fight seriously? If you win like that, I’ll be sure to talk.”

[…]

“I’d never talk out of sheer resentment.”

At my words, the old man made a face expressing extreme displeasure.

[…Youngster, you seem to have less pride than I thought.]

“Yeah. I found that worrying about such things doesn’t help.”

[That’s true.]

The self-proclaimed Divine Old Man immediately nodded, as if convinced.

[There’s nothing more helpful for survival than knowing one’s place.]

Certainly, even if he was fake, it felt like he was somewhat reasonable.

If I said this to others, they’d just stare at me like they didn’t understand.

[Very well.]

Wheerik.

Gwijung, pulled from the ground, spun and settled onto his shoulder.

It was the same movement as before, but strangely, I sensed the fragrance of plum blossoms.

[Respecting your wish, I shall set a condition.]

I could sense a fragrance in his voice too.

Was this some kind of combat stance?

[Exactly ten moves. I will concede that much, so if you, youngster, manage to land even a single blow on me within those ten… I will acknowledge your victory-!?]

Before the old man could even finish stating his conditions.

I threw my Seongchang at him with all my might.

Hwarurururuk-!

Kwaaaah—-!!

The Seongchang hit the old man, causing an explosion.

The ink on the floor splashed everywhere, expressing the impact.

Is this the power of condensed energy exploding at close range?

I thought maybe I’d created an incredible martial art, but.

“Tsk.”

I had to show my disappointment as I checked the situation.

“Ah, what a shame. I thought this would work.”

At the center of the explosion.

From the center, the old man glared at me, frowning.

Still holding Gwijung in his hand.

It was a surprise attack I’d prepared, but unfortunately, it failed. I didn’t expect him to be completely unharmed.

The old man, looking around the situation, opened his mouth to speak to me.

[This is absurd… To think I’d experience firsthand what I used to do in my youth.]

Just brushing off his clothes slightly.

To be unaffected even after a direct hit from Seongchang? The difference in cultivation felt immense.

As a warrior, it inspired respect.

I conveyed that feeling to the old man.

“I did it before you finished speaking, so this attack doesn’t count, right? That means there are ten moves left.”

[…]

I expected some kind of reprimand for my brazen words, but.

The old man merely shook his head, as if tired of it all.

After shaking his head a few times, the old man looked at me and uttered bluntly.

[It seems.]

And at the same time.

[Youngster. You really need to be taught a lesson.]

Sarak-!

Plum blossoms bloomed all around.