Chapter 899: Man-gye (Ten Thousand Worlds).

Petals scatter.

Petals flowing gently in the air, and the scent of plum blossoms rushed up my nose with a Hwak!

Fragrant and also leisurely.

I wondered if it was right to describe a scent as leisurely, but that’s at least how I felt it.

Under the moonlight, the blooming petals gradually increased in number.

The petals moving leisurely on the breeze were certainly beautiful, but…

‘…There’s no wind.’

Surprisingly, there was no wind blowing right now.

My gaze fixed. I was staring at the owner of these plum blossoms with surprised eyes.

‘How?’

Just why.

‘…That old geezer?’

Could that fellow be here?

No, assuming he’s here is one thing. More importantly…

‘Why…why can I see him?’

Why could I see him? That was even more absurd to me.

His form was visible. Something that shouldn’t be visible was visible.

Because of that, I was staring blankly only at the old man’s face.

“Tsk tsk.”

The old man merely clicked his tongue at me.

“Ugly bastard. You haven’t changed a bit, still ugly even after all this time.”

“…”

I scowled at the familiar verbal abuse.

I looked at the distinctive white martial uniform the old man wore, with the plum blossom embroidery sewn onto the chest, and spoke.

“Shin No-ya.”

An old man with eyes that gave no hint of how sharp he must have looked in his youth, his white hair and beard flowing.

Shin No-ya.

The hero of the Central Plains, the Volcanic Sword Saint Shin Cheol.

He was right before my eyes.

At my call, the old man, whose uniform fluttered, slowly descended from the air.

I wondered how he was floating, then saw plum blossom petals beneath his feet.

It seemed he was standing on those small petals.

Shin No-ya calmly landed on the ground.

At that moment, petals bloomed from the tips of No-ya’s feet.

Hwa-ah-ah—!!

My hair fluttered in the felt breeze. I could feel it was purely wind pressure formed by energy.

In terms of intensity, it was about the same as a gentle mountain breeze.

In that breeze, the petals, which had been moving even without wind, moved even more brilliantly.

My gaze was momentarily stolen by the petals.

They were beautiful enough to draw my attention even in this situation.

However. Barely regaining my focus, I asked No-ya.

“No-ya…how…”

[Stranger.]

Just as I was about to ask, the bastard calf who called himself Duryeong cut me off.

[Why do you interfere with this sacred act?]

At Duryeong’s words, No-ya turned his gaze.

“Well, who told you to make such a racket and disturb a light-sleeping old man like me?”

[This is my master’s command.]

“Of course. That’s why a lazy bum like you bothered to come out in the middle of the night, isn’t it? Or perhaps not.”

No-ya added with a sly grin.

“Are you perhaps out because you’re more cowardly than you are nocturnal?”

[…]

Puhuhuhuhuhu.

The fellow snorted out powerful flames. He seemed displeased by No-ya’s words.

[Stranger. You definitely made a pact with my master, didn’t you?]

KUNG!!

He slammed the axe he was holding straight into the ground. Instantly, a huge cloud of dust erupted.

[The pact stating you wouldn’t interfere with what that person does.]

Despite such a rough reaction, No-ya didn’t bat an eye.

“That’s right. We did.”

He simply calmly released the hands clasped behind his back.

“But didn’t I clearly add my own condition afterward?”

[Your condition?]

“Yes, my condition.”

Hwa-ah-ah-ah—.

The plum blossom petals floating amidst the surrounding dust stirred busily.

“I also won’t interfere. So don’t needlessly provoke me. I definitely said that, didn’t I?”

[…I cannot comprehend.]

Duryeong’s small eyes narrowed.

[Stranger. We have never touched you.]

“No. You did touch me. Look.”

Seureureuk-!

“…!”

Suddenly, I felt a sensation on my arm.

The ear ornament tied to my left arm came loose and flew towards No-ya.

As it flew, the ear ornament, which had been blue, gradually turned a crimson hue.

It was the ear ornament’s original color.

The flying ear ornament landed in No-ya’s hand, then was instantly molded into the shape of a sword.

As soon as No-ya held the ear ornament, he pointed the sword’s tip at Duryeong.

“You don’t seem bothered even when I point a sword at you like this, do you?”

[…]

“Does this look like breaking our pact from your perspective?”

Duryeong’s snort grew increasingly intense as he stared fixedly at the tip of the ear ornament sword.

[I cannot comprehend.]

Hu-du-duk.

The axe stuck in the ground was pulled out.

Simultaneously, Duryeong’s bulging muscles writhed roughly once more.

[However, I understand now. Stranger.]

“Speak.”

[You are currently obstructing my master’s will. Therefore, you shall be executed.]

“Hmm.”

At those words.

“Just.”

No-ya laughed.

“Someone like you?”

[Kuhuhuhu-!]

Duryeong charged.

---

KWAANG-! KWAAANG-!!

Kkigigig-!!

I couldn’t take my eyes off the unfolding battle.

Sparks flew as the axe and sword clashed.

They were remnants of friction, and where the pressures met, shockwaves continuously exploded.

The axe split the sky once more.

KWOOOWOOONG—!! When it hit the ground, the earth instantly cracked, fissures spreading in all directions.

The destructive power alone made my skin crawl.

Moreover, since it wasn’t even a full-power strike, Duryeong immediately pulled out his axe and began a flurry of attacks.

‘That guy’s completely insane.’

His strength is no joke.

Each blow was at a level that would be dangerous if it landed.

It felt like I could endure it if I channeled my energy, but the intensity was such that I couldn’t withstand more than exactly three hits.

That’s how brute and immense his strength was…

“Hmm.”

Yet, the old man facing that axe showed no sign of strain whatsoever.

Kkang-! Kkang-kkang-!!

He parried the onslaught of the axe with the ear ornament sword.

The wind pressure burst, sending the axe soaring into the sky.

Seeing that, my eyes widened.

To deflect that much force upwards with a downward strike? That’s impossible grip strength.

[Kuhung!]

Duryeong tried to put more force into another downward strike, but…

Chwa-ah-ah—!!

[Kuru-reuk!!]

Shin No-ya slashed Duryeong’s chest with the sword.

Blood sprayed and scattered across the sky.

It wasn’t just a slash. It was so deep it nearly split Duryeong’s body in two.

Tzeu-reuk!

“Huh.”

The body that was about to split suddenly fused back together.

The moment I gasped at that grotesque sight.

[Keuhuhuhu…!! You bas–tard!!]

Duryeong, seemingly enraged further, began pouring power into his axe.

Hwa-reuk-!

Then, the axe became engulfed in hot flames.

It was potent heat. I could immediately tell the concentration of the flames within.

Hu-wu-uk-!

The surrounding air began to creep towards the axe.

[Everything is according to my master’s will.]

Kya-ah-ah-ah—!!

Along with Duryeong’s words, other beasts nearby bared their fangs.

Were they planning to charge at No-ya? That’s why they were so quiet.

Grimacing, I also began to gather my strength.

I couldn’t just stand by.

Just then.

“Don’t interfere.”

No-ya said to me in a voice tinged with amusement.

“It’s been a while since this old man got to have some fun. Honestly.”

“…Yes?”

“Kid. Just stay put and let this old man show off a bit. What are you going to do if you’re that clueless? Tsk tsk.”

“…”

What kind of ridiculous talk was this?

To say something like that even in this situation?

As I stared blankly at No-ya’s back.

“Full Bloom.”

Shin No-ya murmured in a low voice.

Sa-ah-ah….

The floating plum blossom petals stirred.

It was then.

The moment the petals, which I had merely thought beautiful, unleashed hell.

Shwi-ah-ah-ah—-!!

The plum blossom petals filling the sky spun all around like they were creating a storm.

The problem was.

[Kya-ah-ah-ah!]

[Keu-reu-reung–!!]

Chwa-ah-ah-ah—-!!!

All those petals were pouring down, targeting the demonic beasts.

And with those penetrating petals, the demonic beasts began to be torn apart.

When I dealt with them using Hellfire, they vanished without a trace, but these petals were different.

Each petal acted like a blade, mincing the demonic beasts.

Blood splattered, and fragments of bone and flesh filled the ground.

It took only a few seconds for the beasts, howling with burning hostility, to be extinguished.

The field, which wasn’t really a field, was stained with blood.

The only relatively clean spots were where Duryeong and No-ya stood.

And where I and Cheonma stood.

Everywhere else was filled with the beasts’ blood.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

Despite being covered in blood, the fact that only a few spots remained clean meant he had controlled it even amidst the chaos.

To control such a vast amount and still manage that? It was impossible for me.

‘Even though controlling Hellfire is difficult….’

The process of increasing its numbers accompanied by compression and rotation, then rotating them again.

Even I admit that mass slaughter using Hellfire is difficult.

‘Splitting and controlling that tiny bit of energy is also insane.’

The plum blossom petals formed from energy.

Applying such minuscule energy in this way was, no matter how I looked at it, on a completely different level.

This was a battlefield created like that.

“Now it’s finally a bit quiet.”

No-ya nodded, seemingly pleased, in the silence he had created.

[Kuhuhuhu—!! Heu!!]

Duryeong, having lost his forces in an instant, raged.

His muscles bulged, veins standing out, and he tried to charge at No-ya again with his flame-wreathed axe, but…

“Will you be alright? The night will end soon.”

[…!]

At No-ya’s words, Duryeong froze for a moment.

‘Night?’

At his words, I too looked up at the sky.

I could definitely feel that the sky was a bit brighter than before.

“When the sun rises, you won’t even be able to show off your tricks in front of me. Will you still come?”

[Keu-reu… Keu-reu-reu-reu….]

What was it? I could sense Duryeong hesitantly considering No-ya’s words.

‘What is it about the night?’

It seemed like sunrise was indeed a problem.

“Beast of the Full Moon. I respect your loyalty to your master, but I believe knowing your place is also important… What do you think?”

[…]

Shin No-ya spoke as if he would let him go if he chose to leave, but…

[The one who doesn’t know their place is you, Stranger.]

Duryeong broke through his hesitation and gripped his axe again.

[My master commanded me to kill the hideous dragon. I merely follow that command. Night and day are irrelevant there.]

“Hmm.”

[I will kill you, and then kill the dragon. That’s all.]

“Is that so?”

[Die-!]

Duryeong swung his axe.

Flames erupted and headed straight for No-ya.

But.

‘Why….’

Why is that guy just standing there?

If this continued, No-ya might be in trouble. The moment I thought of leaping forward…

[…Keuhung!]

Kkig-!

For an instant, the axe stopped right in front of Shin No-ya.

The sudden halt caused the energy and heat concentrated in the axe to explode outwards.

Kwa-ah-ah-ah—-!!

The immense heat made me involuntarily frown.

If it had gone a little further, it would have split No-ya’s head right open.

Why on earth did the attack stop?

As I pondered this.

[…Kuhuhung…. ]

Duryeong retrieved the axe he was holding and took a step back.

Seeing this, No-ya smirked.

“Looks like you got a call telling you to hurry home.”

[…]

Duryeong didn’t answer. But his lack of denial suggested No-ya was right.

“Don’t worry. I won’t stop you, so go on your way.”

[Keu-reu…. ]

He let out a low growl at the taunt, but that was all.

Duryeong turned his back and said to No-ya.

[Stranger. You are fortunate. Be grateful that my master has shown mercy.]

“Yes, yes, be sure to pass on my thanks.”

[…Keu-reu-reu-reu. ]

Duryeong lightly swung his axe, cleaving the air.

Chi-ee-ik–!!

Where the axe had cut, a demonic gate opened, just like before.

Duryeong walked into it.

The demonic gate immediately began to slowly close.

Before it closed completely, Duryeong turned his head to look this way.

[Dragon, I’ll kill you next time.]

He said it directly to me, causing my brow to furrow.

“What the hell are you saying? I’ll roast you alive. Get lost, you cattle bastard.”

[…Y-!]

Duryeong tried to say something in response to my outburst, but the demonic gate had already closed and vanished.

In the suddenly calmed situation, the first to react was No-ya.

“Hoho. Your mouth still talks like dog crap.”

No-ya let out a breath, looking at me.

Then, he unrolled the ear ornament he was holding, rolled it into a ball, and threw it at me.

Tak-! I caught the ear ornament with my hand without thinking.

As if waiting, the caught ear ornament wrapped around my hand again.

By then, its color had already returned to blue.

“It’s been a while since I used it, but it wasn’t bad. It felt familiar.”

No-ya said it with a hint of regret.

Watching him, I bit my lip.

What should I ask first?

I had a mountain of questions.

Should I ask why he’s here?

Or should I ask where this place is?

Or maybe, how he could stand there in a physical form?

Should I ask generally what happened?

All sorts of questions came to mind, but…

The very first words that came out of my mouth were…

“Why were you just standing there?”

The battle just now. That was the question.

“Huh?”

No-ya looked at me as if asking what I meant.

“Just now. Why were you standing still? It looked dangerous, clearly.”

“Standing still? Who?”

“Yes? Well, you, No-ya…”

“Ah, tsk tsk.”

At my words, No-ya clicked his tongue sharply.

His face clearly showed disdain.

“Kid. How can you still have such poor eyesight even after all this time?”

Saying that, No-ya pointed his hand towards the sky.

Following his hand, my gaze naturally went upwards.

“What the, huh…!”

Seeing the sky, I froze completely.

Only then did I see.

Three colossal swords protruding through the clouds and stars.

Swords that radiated an obviously intense energy. All were mind-swords formed from pure intent.

Distant.

My heart pounded just looking at them.

They were on a different level compared to the Mind Pulses I unleashed or the mind-swords the kids used.

I felt something higher and more sublime.

“Dangerous?”

At No-ya’s voice, I turned my gaze back to him.

Shin No-ya was still smiling.

That smile was just like…

“Who?”

The smile of an old man watching a child’s antics.