Chapter 848: Ilcheonkyo.

Everyone has memories they’d rather not recall. It’s no different for martial artists.

Martial artists are people too.

Whether they’re top experts with high cultivation or low-level novices. They too must have memories they wish to erase.

Memories they want to turn back time to eliminate. Or ones that make their teeth chatter just thinking about them.

And it was no different for me.

No, if anything, I’d boast that I’m worse than anyone else.

I wanted to do more than just erase my memories; I wanted to tear them into tiny pieces and burn them away.

So I could never recall them again.

Memories I wanted buried forever, sunk and gone.

Unfortunately, the more I tried, the tighter those memories squeezed my neck. My stupid head forgets everything else so easily, but it holds onto things like this until the very end.

So, maybe this is a form of karma?

Karma that tells me never to forget, to remember until the very end.

Memories I couldn’t forget even if I wanted to became my karma.

A shackle that would never let me escape, tightening around me for life. That was the memory from back then for me.

And of all things.

“Bastard. Look at those eyes.”

That damn shackle was right in front of my eyes.

Exactly as it looked back then.

***************

Torn and frayed black martial arts uniform. It was incredibly old, and seeing it made me wrinkle my nose.

“Ugh. Wash yourself, you bastard. The smell of blood is overwhelming.”

An immense scent of blood emanated from the clothes.

It was so concentrated; it had been a long time since I smelled something so rank.

Did I really wear something like that? I didn’t know.

It couldn’t be. No matter how recklessly I lived, if it got to that point, I would have washed it…

‘…Or maybe not.’

Just as I was denying it, it suddenly came to mind.

Was it during the war with the Kunlun Sect? I had killed enough to make puddles of blood, so there were times when it felt quite soaked.

If it was then, maybe it looked like that.

Considering that, I could see it better.

‘What a state.’

What could possibly be so wrong with the world? Eyes glaring upwards, already fierce.

And the aura it continuously emitted, as if it had no intention of hiding its demonic energy.

It gave off a vibe that it would kill you just for getting a little closer.

Seeing it, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Seeing this again is ridiculous. Are you some kind of beast, bastard? Why are you looking at me like that? Fuck, that’s why rumors spread that I did things I didn’t even do.”

And what about the killing intent?

This thick pressure surrounding me now, the subtle weight pressing down on my shoulders – it was all from that guy’s killing intent.

As I mentioned last time, killing intent deepens with higher cultivation, but the ability to conceal it also increases.

“Yeah, you bastard never had any intention of hiding it.”

I clicked my tongue. I walked across the hard floor.

“Why did you do that? I’ve wondered about it sometimes.”

The guy’s eyes clearly focused on me.

His gaze was full of murderous intent, steeped in all sorts of inferiority complexes and self-loathing.

I wanted to rip it out right then and there.

“Superficially and deeply. I thought about it carefully, and the conclusion is just one thing.”

KUGUGUGUGU—!!! The vibrations felt as I approached the throne grew stronger.

“It’s just because you’re an idiot. It’s because you’re a fucking idiot bastard.”

Why did you do it? If you ask for the reason, this is all I can say.

Hoping someone would see me as a villain.

Or perhaps, hoping someone would notice my existence.

Forget those trivial reasons.

They were too grand and brilliant for me.

Just because the person was an idiot.

Because he was a pathetic creature crawling on the ground, he didn’t know any other way.

That’s the right way to put it.

So.

“Hey, you idiot. Say something.”

You are an idiot.

It’s a statement I’ve wanted to make for a long, long time, and have often made.

At my words, the guy remained still as if turned to stone.

“You’re not mute, are you? You spoke fine last time, why are you shutting your mouth now?”

He probably wasn’t frozen.

His eyes were fixed on me, and the vibrations were getting stronger.

GUGUGUNG—!!! The ground shook so deeply it felt like the world was slightly trembling.

Tsk! I clicked my tongue briefly and spoke to the guy.

“You go to the trouble of summoning me, only to snub me? What are you trying to do?”

You summoned me.

At that word, a spark appeared in the guy’s eyes.

“What? You want to say you didn’t summon me? Don’t bullshit me. You know it’s not true, and so do I.”

It was exactly as I said.

It might look like I came here of my own accord, but that wasn’t the case.

This was clearly an invitation.

“How could I not know when you were causing such a commotion inside?”

To hurry up and show your face.

To face me like that.

The sensation I felt like a heart attack.

Not being able to use flames either.

It was all that guy’s doing.

But.

“Now that I’m here, tell me. Why the hell are you doing this?”

What was the reason for wanting to see me like this? And.

“How could you come here using the Poison Heaven Pill? Don’t you think it’s damn expensive for an admission ticket?”

Why the Poison Heaven Pill of all things? No, it’s not even right to call it the Poison Heaven Pill.

Eating it only increases resistance to fire arts.

If I had to be precise, should I call it the Fire Heaven Pill or the Flame Heaven Pill?

Anyway. My prediction that I had to eat this expensive thing to get here turned out to be correct.

As if to prove it, I was facing the guy right here.

“Bastard. Do you know how much this costs…”

[You talk too much.]

“What?”

Just as I was about to unleash a barrage of complaints, I frowned at his words.

“What did you say?”

Too much talk? This son of a bitch?

Just as I was about to let go of the restraint I was barely holding onto and start the ‘mouth-flapping’ I considered my greatest talent…

[You lived keeping quiet, saying you hated even your own voice, but now you have the capacity for it?]

“…”

I couldn’t even spit out hundreds of curses and could only twitch my throat.

That wasn’t all.

[Is the habit of gnawing your tongue, as if to bite it off, still the same?]

It was an action I unconsciously took when doing things I didn’t want to do.

[Is the way you crumpled your insides to hide your true feelings still the same? Or perhaps.]

The purple eyes shone exceptionally bright.

I wanted to turn my head away from that hideous gaze.

[Did you keep the fangs you bared to keep everyone away?]

The mouth that had been silently shut, once opened, continuously threw words at me.

The weight of the words was so heavy, I couldn’t possibly bear it.

Kkiiik.

The guy stood up.

[No. The current you has nothing.]

The guy who rose from the throne was small.

Having undergone metamorphosis and become a dragon, I was a span taller than before.

Because of that, I was much taller than him now.

For some reason, he felt larger than me.

Looking at his gaze, he was clearly looking down on me, so why did I feel this way?

I squinted and looked at the guy.

He continued to speak to me.

[Why the hell are you still alive?]

I had heard that before.

Hearing that, I managed to say.

“Why the hell do you keep spewing curses, you damn bastard? Does it bother you so much that I’m alive?”

[It was the opportunity you so desperately wanted.]

“What opportunity?”

[An opportunity to punish yourself in a time where nothing happened. That was the opportunity for you.]

His voice clearly held an emotion of utter incomprehension.

[But why didn’t you do it?]

“…”

I didn’t answer his question.

No, I couldn’t.

Because I didn’t know the answer?

That wasn’t it either.

I already knew the answer.

I just didn’t want to recall it.

Perhaps knowing this, he brought up the answer I didn’t want to give.

[Since no one remembers, you grew greedy.]

My heart ached.

[Since no one would know. You thought maybe you could make it like nothing ever happened? Did you hold onto that hope?]

The words that had risen to the tip of my throat gradually subsided.

The words I could have spoken flickered out within me.

[And thus, you dream of happiness? How truly pathetic.]

The intense contempt within his indifferent expression reached out, drawing closer to my heart.

[You don’t deserve that.]

It was something I told myself every day.

Hearing it through that bastard made it hit me particularly hard.

[Do you remember all those you killed while making excuses that it couldn’t be helped?]

I don’t remember.

There were too many to remember.

If I remembered them all, I wouldn’t be able to endure it.

That was the kind of life it was.

[Then what did you gain by living like that? What was at the end of the life you gained by killing even your own father with your bare hands? Nothing. That was the nature of your life.]

Nausea surged.

I tried to hold it back, forcing myself to swallow, but it wasn’t easy.

[Then, I shall ask again.]

I held it back, veins bulging in my neck, but…

[Why are you still alive, then?]

I still had no answer.

“…”

I tried to move my lips, to make an effort, but my mouth wouldn’t open.

No voice came out either.

Then I realized.

I was gnawing my thick tongue in my mouth.

The silence, thick with killing intent, continued.

After a few seconds, the guy nodded and spoke.

[You cannot answer.]

His tone sounded like he expected it.

He couldn’t be more annoyingly smug.

Then.

[Yes, if that’s the case, then it’s fine.]

Uwoooong—!!!

“…!”

As he finished speaking, the vibrations intensified immensely.

Simultaneously.

Hwa-reureureureureuk—!!!

From the guy’s body, a foul and dense black flame (黑炎) erupted.

[If you cannot provide an answer.]

The moment I saw it, I moved my legs.

[Then, just die like this.]

The burning night surged towards me.

******************

“…Sseup.”

Roughly half an hour after Gu Yangcheon swallowed the Elixir Pill. It wasn’t that long a time, but.

During that time, the Poison King had to keep letting out shallow breaths, his face filled with worry.

‘…Is it really okay to leave him like this?’

The reason was Gu Yangcheon, who was with him.

As soon as Gu Yangcheon swallowed the Elixir Pill, he stiffened and closed his eyes.

For the half hour that followed, he showed no sign of movement.

Moreover, he wasn’t even breathing, which made it worse.

‘He did this last time too, but.’

Around the time he first succeeded in manufacturing the Poison Heaven Pill.

Back then, Gu Yangcheon, having taken the Elixir Pill, stiffened his whole body just like now.

Fortunately, he had regained consciousness not long after.

But now, much more time had passed than back then.

Why did it turn out like this?

‘Could there be some problem with the Elixir Pill?’

Since I also took the same thing and overcame a small hurdle, that couldn’t be it.

Then why is this happening only to Gu Yangcheon?

The Poison King pondered the question, but there was nothing he could do.

It was because of what Gu Yangcheon had said last.

-No matter what happens, please don’t interfere.

Gu Yangcheon had earnestly requested this of the Poison King with a resolute expression.

The Poison King intended to grant that request.

However.

“What in the world is going on?”

Reaching this point, it was impossible not to interfere.

Especially.

‘What is this energy…’

Gu Yangcheon was just standing still, yet the energy emanating from his body was visibly fluctuating.

This hadn’t happened last time.

‘And the amount… it’s immense.’

The way it surged was extraordinary.

Just seeing that much, it matched the total amount the Poison King himself possessed.

That meant the amount of internal energy Gu Yangcheon possessed was several times more than that.

‘How on earth…?’

I had never seen such overwhelming internal energy.

Perhaps, even including all three Venerables, it might be the largest amount.

It was overwhelming enough to make me think that.

That’s why it was even more so.

“Why is that much energy fluctuating so wildly?”

What was he doing for that wild energy to fluctuate so much?

It was like a storm.

He looked like he was engaged in a fierce battle while standing still.

Furthermore, the momentary flinches gave the distinct impression of being attacked.

It was the appearance shown when a martial artist engages in combat.

If he were fighting, what could he possibly be fighting against in that situation?

The Poison King couldn’t understand it no matter how he looked.

He had to keep pondering.

‘Should I really… leave him alone?’

Just because he told me not to interfere, should I really leave him like this?

If it was the Gu Yangcheon the Poison King knew, he was the type to keep his word.

Therefore, he judged it was right to trust him for now, but.

-Dad.

The face of his daughter, who lived obsessively for that damn guy, flashed through his mind.

If something happened like this, that child would collapse.

The moment he was sure of that, the Poison King moved.

He couldn’t leave him like this.

He approached.

Since his energy was fluctuating, touching him carelessly could lead to serious trouble.

So, first, he needed to get close and examine the energy.

With that thought, the Poison King approached Gu Yangcheon…

At that moment.

Beonjjeok-!

“…Heop!”

Gu Yangcheon opened the eyes he had closed.

That’s a relief.

He finally came to his senses.

Just as I was reassuring myself inside.

“Young Master Gu. Are you okay…”

“Keok.”

Gu Yangcheon suddenly clutched his chest, collapsed onto his knees, and then…

“Kuheo-eok…!”

Began to vomit a mouthful of blood.

“Young Master Gu!”

The Poison King shouted, his eyes wide.

The blood was plentiful enough to soak the entire floor.

And it was black.