Chapter 908: So in the end.

Another dawn broke after a night had passed.

As night flowed away and the sun was just rising, I stepped outside my quarters.

I looked around in the fresh air.

Things I hadn’t seen before were visible.

The chirping of birds I hadn’t consciously noticed, and the faint shouts echoing since morning.

-Hup!

-Hup!

Seeing figures who clearly looked like they’d started their dawn training, I heightened my senses and watched intently.

It wasn’t much different from what I saw yesterday. People who didn’t quite look human were gathered together, practicing swordsmanship.

-Higher! Don’t relax the strength in your lower body!

In front, someone who looked like an instructor was shouting and observing the disciples.

Even amidst that sweat-soaked situation, plum blossom petals continued to fall endlessly.

If not for a few artificial elements, they looked just like the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect from the Central Plains, and no one would doubt it.

-Hah! Hah!

-Hup!

-You there! Put proper strength in your arms!

-My apologies!

-Aren’t you concentrating? If you’re going to use it like that, you won’t need it, so I’ll take it off.

-M-my apologies!

“…”

Take what off?

Those were quite harsh words. I must have misheard…?

“What are you looking at so intently?”

A voice came from behind, and I turned my head. Shin No-ya was walking out of his quarters with a tired face.

“I was just looking because it was visible.”

“Did you find it amusing to watch the kids struggle?”

“Yes. After all, others’ suffering is the best.”

“…Judging by your expression, you’re not joking.”

“Don’t you enjoy it too, No-ya?”

“That’s right.”

Shin No-ya nodded in agreement.

Indeed, there was nothing quite like watching others suffer.

I chuckled and surveyed the training grounds again.

“How exactly is the system structured?”

I wondered what kind of method was used for their training. Curious, I asked.

“There’s no real system to speak of. We just threw something together haphazardly.”

“…And what does ‘haphazardly’ entail?”

“You know, the simple method. Teach one or two people, then have them teach the ones below them the exact same way.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was literally a very simple method.

And furthermore.

‘That’s a dangerous method.’

It was the easiest, yet also the most dangerous, way to manage a sect.

Even if the correct teachings were passed down, the issue was how many people would actually grasp them properly.

‘Looking at them, it doesn’t seem entirely bad, though.’

Seeing the intensity of the training and the way the disciples were handling it, it thankfully didn’t seem like it would cause major problems.

“…Hmm.”

What level were the instructors at?

As I was observing that, I tried to ask No-ya again, but-

“No….”

I had to stop mid-word. Shin No-ya’s expression was strange.

Should I call it sulky, or wickedly twisted?

Whatever it was, it was a bizarre face.

“…”

Seeing it, I sighed inwardly. I knew why that old man was like this.

“Hey, are you still sulking?”

“Sulking? Who says I’m sulking!”

As I pointed it out directly, No-ya retorted indignantly. But his expression alone was proof enough he was sulking.

“You didn’t even lose directly, so why are you holding such a grudge?”

“Who’s holding a grudge…!”

“Then you’re holding a grudge. Perhaps your pride was hurt or something-“

He turned his head.

Whoosh-!

KWA-AHHH–!

“Fuck…?”

I dodged the fist hastily, but the air pressure from the punch that cut through the void surged towards me.

I thought it felt slower than usual; it seemed like it was packed with energy.

Looking at that, I stared at Shin No-ya, dumbfounded.

“You dodged?”

This guy actually looked at me and spoke confidently.

“If I hadn’t dodged, I would’ve been dead. Are you out of your mind…?”

“You underestimate yourself too much. One wouldn’t die so easily from something like that.”

“That’s hilarious.”

“This punk…?”

As No-ya raised his fist again, I urgently shouted.

“Ah, if you have something to argue about, argue with Jin himself! Why are you yelling at me!”

“I told you I didn’t lose!”

“You lost!”

WHAM-!

“Gah!”

In the end, I got punched square in the face. The impact was much stronger than usual, forcing me to collapse.

“Ughhhhh….”

Clutching the top of my head in pain, I glared at Shin No-ya.

“Just you wait…. Once I get stronger, you’ll see what happens.”

“Hmph, even if you get stronger, you punk, do you really think you could even reach my toes?”

“Yeah, but I won, didn’t I? Ah, my apologies.”

Sensing the atmosphere turning hostile, I quickly apologized.

Damn old man, jokes just don’t get through to him.

‘I’m so frustrated I could die.’

Why do I have to get hit for this?

It was truly unfair. Moreover, the reason No-ya was puffing himself up like this was none other than…

‘…Because I won the sparring match against No-ya.’

Specifically, the other Shin No-ya who was dormant within Yeongpung’s body.

It was because I fought and won against him during the Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Last night, while we were talking slowly, I had mentioned this matter.

Upon hearing it, No-ya let out a hollow breath.

The funny thing was.

“-…I lost?”

He showed no interest in the existence of another self or Gwijung; only the fact that he lost to me seemed important.

“-Yes. You got thoroughly beaten and cried like a baby.”

The result of the sparring match was my victory.

I managed to obtain it by exploiting a blind spot.

‘In reality, it was close to him going easy on me, though….’

I knew it.

That sparring match was practically No-ya playing around with me.

No matter how much I made him let his guard down and used Gwijung to secure the victory, it was only possible because No-ya had held back then.

‘If Shin No-ya had wanted to, my head would have been severed with a single sword strike.’

I knew it back then, and I’m even more certain now.

No-ya could have taken my head anytime he wished.

Of course, there’s a clear difference between the No-ya of now and the one I met then.

But even so, that fact didn’t seem likely to change.

However, that’s that.

“Why do you keep getting angry at me?”

Hearing that, No-ya started nagging me relentlessly.

“It’s because I’m annoyed that I lost to a mere whelp like you.”

“So you’re just taking it out on me, is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you so brazen about it, you old geezer.”

“You also took your anger out on someone yesterday and sent them packing. I’m just using words, which is much better.”

“…Bringing up the past is cheating.”

Leaving me speechless.

“At least I had a reason, but you have no justification whatsoever.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Huh?”

He has a reason? I waited to hear what excuse he’d come up with.

“The fact that I’m not feeling good. That’s my justification.”

“…”

That was a truly shitty answer.

Ah, my head hurts….

“…I’m really going crazy.”

I said, holding back a sigh that wanted to escape.

“Why aren’t you bringing up any of the important topics and just focusing on that?”

We talked about more than just one or two things yesterday. This old man didn’t seem to care about any of that.

Especially among them.

“Only the fact that you lost to me is important, but aren’t you surprised that I’m No-ya’s reincarnation?”

The words I heard from No-cheon-il-geom.

That I was originally No-ya’s reincarnation.

Or rather, the body that should have reincarnated, wasn’t it?

That part should have been quite shocking. Yet, No-ya didn’t seem to care much about it.

“Why are trivial matters like that important?”

“Trivial… Trivial?”

How could that possibly be trivial? I was dumbfounded.

Just then.

“No, wait.”

No-ya seemed to realize his answer was strange and suddenly pondered.

Right, even he must have thought his words were pretty crappy-

“If that’s the case, it lends credibility to the claims that we resemble each other, which does make me feel rather foul.”

“Seriously, just die already.”

I was the idiot for expecting anything from this guy.

I repeatedly wiped my face with one hand.

“Kekekeke.”

The old man who said it was busy laughing as if he found it hilarious.

Then, No-ya stopped laughing and asked me something.

“Listen, kid.”

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t be lecturing me. You don’t seem particularly surprised yourself, do you? Am I wrong?”

“…”

I averted my gaze slightly, putting on an awkward expression.

“Your expression confirms it. You either expected it to some extent.”

No-ya moved his hands, which had been fidgeting, and clasped them behind his back.

“Or you already knew.”

“…”

Hearing No-ya’s words, I kept biting my tongue. It was hard to meet his eyes.

His characteristic eyes, which seemed to know everything, were quite bothersome.

It was a bit like that when I was just a soul, but even more so now that we’re face-to-face.

“I didn’t know.”

How could I possibly know that? Honestly, I hadn’t even anticipated it.

Still, the reason for my reaction is….

‘Because it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.’

Yes, that seems like the best way to put it.

Whether it was anticipation or certainty, it wasn’t like that.

It was simply because it felt like it wouldn’t matter regardless.

Rather, if I were the reincarnation of such a being… couldn’t my value increase a little?

Couldn’t I get even a little closer to the people I want to protect?

Those thoughts and feelings were probably the strongest.

It’s just that.

“Hmm, is that so?”

I absolutely didn’t want to tell No-ya about those thoughts.

‘Is this all predetermined, perhaps?’

The fact that I ended up possessing the Plum Blossom Stone that contained No-ya.

The fact that Gwijung came into my possession.

The fact that I got involved in this whole affair.

Was it all predetermined?

Such thoughts have been crossing my mind lately. And.

‘Or if it’s not predetermined.’

Perhaps it wasn’t predetermined, but rather orchestrated by someone.

I’d been having somewhat frightening delusions lately.

That’s why I’m anxious.

I worry that everything I’m doing now might be meaningless, or worse, part of someone else’s plan.

That thought kept bothering me.

‘Erase it.’

I scowled and forced the thought away. It was a useless thought that only served to worry me.

“Hoo.”

I let out a deep sigh and shifted my gaze afar.

I looked around, trying to think of something else, and my eyes caught sight of the giant tree I visited before.

It was called the Divine Tree, I believe.

“But, No-ya.”

“What is it?”

Pointing towards the Divine Tree, I asked No-ya.

“You said you planted that yourself… Are there plum trees here too?”

There were trees here I’d never seen in the Central Plains, and such a large plum tree was truly fascinating.

Especially since you said you planted it yourself, it raises more questions.

To my question, Shin No-ya replied with a smile.

“Ah, that? Of course not.”

“Huh? Then that….”

“That is the seed infused with the planter’s imagination. Since I planted it, it bloomed as a plum tree. If someone else had planted it, something else would have emerged.”

“Is that possible?”

Different things blooming depending on the planter.

I wondered if such a thing existed.

“That’s why it’s called the Divine Tree. Isn’t a tree of that size inherently strange?”

“…That’s true.”

“It’s quite a remarkable item, more than you might think.”

No-ya said, looking at the Divine Tree with pride.

“It was something I cherished greatly, so it was quite difficult to steal.”

“Oh, you must have gone through trouble- Huh? What did you say?”

Hearing that, I quickly turned my head.

Stole?

What?

“Ah.”

At my words, No-ya wore an ‘oops’ expression.

“Did I not mention it?”

As if realizing it belatedly, he pointed at the Divine Tree with his hand and said.

“That originally belonged to your mother, the mistress of Man-gye.”

“…What?”

“But I stole it and planted it in the ground. Hahahaha. Thanks to that, I had a rough time here, fighting and running for about fifty years.”

“…”

No-ya uttered the crazy statement nonchalantly.

‘Whoa. Fuck.’

Hearing that, I thought to myself.

‘Should I run away right now?’

It seems I made the wrong choice at the beginning.

---

Kuhuhuhuhuhu.

Kuhuhuhu.

An unknown sound echoed within the vast cave.

In the middle of the dark and damp cave, something sat slumped over, catching its breath.

Surprisingly, this unknown sound was its breath.

[Kuhuhuhuhu.]

A giant figure with the head of a bull and the body of a human.

The Leader gasped raggedly.

Was it because he was injured?

No. It was merely breath filled with rage.

Just then.

“Still carrying on like this?”

Someone revealed themselves within the cave.

[…]

Upon confirming the opponent, a light ignited in the Leader’s eyes.

[…Tusang.]

The man took a step forward at the name.

As he moved, black feathers fell from somewhere.

“Leader, the Master is greatly concerned.”

[…Kuhuhu….]

Hearing this, the Leader bowed his head.

[…My apologies.]

To the Leader’s apology, the man called Tusang nodded.

“If you intend to apologize, it would be proper to face the Master directly and speak, not me.”

[…]

“Furthermore, the Master has ordered you to wait. Put aside any pointless ambitions.”

[However…. ]

“Leader.”

As the Leader tried to say something, the man cut him off.

“Do you intend to disobey orders out of uncontrollable rage?”

At Tusang’s words, the Leader fell silent.

He wanted to rush out and tear those guys apart right now, but ultimately, the Master’s command was everything to the Leader.

“Answer me.”

[…I shall keep that in mind.]

To the Leader’s reply, Tusang nodded.

“I understand how you feel, but do not worry excessively.”

Tusang spoke, recalling someone.

“Ya-rang has made a move.”

[…!]

At Tusang’s words, the Leader’s breathing suddenly became turbulent.

“Therefore, the time you desire will come soon enough.”

After saying that, Tusang turned and walked away. Soon after, he completely disappeared from the Leader’s domain.

Kuhuh!

The Leader let out a low puff of air. Flames erupted, showing his emotions.

“Ya-rang has made a move.”

That single phrase made the Leader’s heart pound violently once more.

Feeling his heart race, the Leader spoke.

[…Next time, for sure.]

I will catch and dispose of those bastards.

[Everything is for Man-gye.]

The Leader slowly closed his eyes.

He was waiting for his night to come.