Chapter 977: Lost Soul.

“……What did you just say?”

Yu-sa asked again at Shin-cheol’s words. He couldn’t help but do so.

Because he had heard an unbelievable story.

Kin? Did that bastard just call him kin?

“What nonsense is that?”

As the words left his mouth, he recalled the person in his mind. It was that bastard.

The one who ignored his commands and issued commands in reverse.

That bastard, who not only crushed his pride but also disappeared whenever he looked down arrogantly.

He was the one he had resolved to tear apart upon their next meeting.

‘That bastard…’

The Master’s kin? Yu-sa’s widened eyes didn’t shrink at Shin-cheol’s words.

‘No way.’

The doubts that arose gradually became strange.

The reason why his commands didn’t work.

Why power equal to the Master’s authority didn’t affect that bastard.

‘Could it be that he…’

Because he’s the Master’s kin?

‘……No.’

As soon as the thought occurred, Yu-sa shook his head. That wasn’t it. Even if that bastard truly was the Master’s child, that was a separate matter.

Command is a power one possesses as an existence.

Because he is the Master, he is in the heavens. And below him exist generals.

Even if that bastard is indeed the Master’s child. It was strange to view him as being on a higher level than the Master solely based on that.

Judging this, Yu-sa glared fiercely at Shin-cheol.

“You’re not trying to play word games again, are you?”

“Do I look like I have the leisure to play word games with you?”

“Don’t you?”

“……Hmm.”

At Yu-sa’s words, Shin-cheol scratched his cheek.

To deny it would be difficult, as even he could see he looked somewhat like that.

“……This is absurd.”

Seeing that, Yu-sa frowned and sighed. That bastard never changes. The thought suddenly occurred to him.

His form is unchanging, just like before. It was the same when the Master suddenly brought him here, calling him a new general.

He still didn’t like it even now.

He was the one who had protested the most back then.

How could a stranger be appointed as a general?

It was the day he vehemently protested and defied the Master for the first time.

‘……’

Recalling that day, Yu-sa bit his lip. Could it have been that day?

When he started losing favor with the Master and his position began to waver.

Seumul-seumul.

A strange sensation spread from the tips of Yu-sa’s toes.

The disgusting energy climbed up his legs, touched his neck, and then seeped into his throat as if wriggling through his mouth.

“……So.”

Yu-sa swallowed a handful of his emotions and spoke.

“If, as you say, my desire is such… then there will be friction with what that bastard intends to do, won’t there?”

If he truly wished to become the Master.

It couldn’t align with the intentions of that bastard called Cheonma. To change the ten thousand realms and become the Master meant…

Wasn’t that directly clashing with Yu-sa’s desires?

As he pointed that out, Shin-cheol tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“What do you mean? That bastard is also dreaming of becoming the Master.”

If he wanted to become the Master, he absolutely shouldn’t join hands with that bastard.

As he pointed this out, Shin-cheol chuckled.

“You’re mistaken about something.”

“What?”

“That bastard… Ah… No. That person doesn’t wish to become the Master.”

What was this nonsense now? He wants to change the ten thousand realms but doesn’t wish to become the Master?

It was incomprehensible talk.

Was he really joking? Just as Yu-sa was about to narrow his eyes again.

“Therefore, if you want to hear the proper story. Make a clear choice.”

Shin-cheol cut off Yu-sa’s reaction and said to him.

“Will you remain here, feeling anxious, and maintain your original life? Or will you prepare to soar towards where you desire to go. Make that choice.”

“……”

Choice.

Whether to join hands with those bastards.

Or, remain in this position and fulfill his duty as a general.

‘If. If I remain as a general.’

I would have to report what these bastards are plotting to the Master. If I did that, I could catch those who dared to rebel against the Master.

I would gain the justification to eliminate that bastard in front of me, whom I’ve disliked for so long, and Hwasan.

However.

‘If I were to make such a choice.’

Would that bastard remain still now?

Yu-sa doubted whether that monster would leave him alone.

He had already seen firsthand how much power that bastard possessed.

Even Yu-sa, who had lived his life reigning as a powerhouse of Wolya. He considered that bastard a monster, so that says it all.

If I decide to remain as a general here.

I would have to report to the Master, keeping in mind the possibility of needing to escape from that bastard.

Next.

‘If I choose those bastards.’

What would happen if I turned my back on the Master and chose those bastards?

‘Really.’

Do those bastards have a plan?

Is that bastard truly the Master’s kin?

Do they really intend to change the ten thousand realms without aiming to become the Master?

And ultimately.

‘If I shake hands with those bastards.’

Can I become the Master?

All sorts of thoughts invade his mind.

If considering only the possibilities, it’s better to remain in the current position. Because I could solidify my position further by taking this opportunity.

‘The leader, that ignorant bastard. That damned bitch named Ya-rang. And furthermore, that unlucky crow bastard.’

If I could secure my position so that no one could do anything about it.

This would truly be a more beneficial position.

Ppudeuk-!

Yu-sa clenched his fist at the words that kept coming to mind.

So.

Am I truly satisfied with that?

As such a question arose, Yu-sa reflexively said.

“……For now.”

With words filled with emotion.

“……I want to have a conversation with him.”

“Kkekkeul.”

Shin-cheol’s lips split into a grin.

“Anytime.”

* * *

It was noon under a bright sun. Beneath a crimson sky.

Ya-wol was unusually quiet and serene.

This was due to the atmosphere becoming somewhat bleak and quiet because of the incident that occurred in the Blue Family and the previous attack on the White Leader.

People walked around, looking around cautiously.

Or they weren’t leaving their homes at all in the first place.

Ya-wol Castle was also half-sealed, so there was almost no entry for outsiders.

They couldn’t go out, nor could they come in.

The current situation in Ya-wol was exactly that.

In such a situation, behind the alley where the former White Leader was attacked.

Several people were gathered in a shabby building.

Most of them were wearing the same clothes. Clothes of white martial attire embroidered with plum blossoms.

They had swords at their waists and were looking at someone with somewhat flushed faces.

“Sect Leader…! How did you get here…!”

As one of the martial artists spoke, the old man sitting at the table smiled slightly and waved his hand.

“I came to see your faces after a long time. Have you all been well?”

Shin-cheol, the Sect Leader of Hwasan, observed his disciples.

These were all second-generation disciples.

“I heard Seol-yeong visited last time.”

“That’s correct.”

“Other than that, has nothing else happened?”

“……Other than that.”

The disciple glanced at Shin-cheol, seeming to read his mind.

“Lately… the atmosphere in Ya-wol isn’t good.”

“That’s right… They’re being particularly vigilant because an unknown being attacked a noble.”

“……What kind of crazy bastard touched a noble. It’s really a mess.”

Hearing this, Shin-cheol involuntarily let out a dry cough.

Because the face of that crazy bastard came to mind.

Just then.

Kkik-!

The building’s door opened and someone entered. At the sudden entry, the martial artists inside quickly drew their swords, but.

“Ah, fuck.”

Soon after, hearing the curse from the door, Shin-cheol had to sigh like a ghost.

‘He’s here.’

It was the appearance of that crazy bastard.

“This is damn hard, really. Argh. I should just quit this crap!”

He entered stomping in with a voice full of annoyance. With his confident and natural demeanor, the martial artists were momentarily unable to react.

“Uh…”

“That… person.”

They were flustered, wondering who that was, but soon they all realized. They recalled seeing that face when Gubong visited last time.

Fierce and sharp eyes, and a way of speaking that greatly resembled his face.

Moreover, as if his temper also resembled his face, it was the very person who had beaten up the White Leader’s son out of anger.

“Why are you all staring? Don’t mind me and continue what you were doing.”

The young man who appeared.

Gu Yangcheon waved his hands dismissively, as if annoyed, and said to the disciples.

“……”

Anyone would think he owned this building.

“Oof, I’m tired.”

Gu Yangcheon walked over, stomping, and sat down in front of Shin-cheol. At that moment, Shin-cheol inexplicably covered his face with his hands.

“Old man. What are you doing?”

“……Don’t talk to me for a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’m too embarrassed to lift my head.”

“……What are you talking about?”

What is he saying out of the blue? Gu Yangcheon looked at Shin-cheol with eyes full of incomprehension.

Shin-cheol eventually lowered the hands he had been holding up.

“Hoo…”

Gu Yangcheon looked at him with a face asking what strange behavior that was, but.

Seemingly unbothered, he picked his nose and asked Shin-cheol.

“Did you finish the job properly?”

Shin-cheol reacted to the brusquely asked question.

“And you?”

“……As for me, well. It turned out about right.”

“It’s no different on this end.”

About right.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was about right.

They gave the same answer, yet both looked at each other with displeased eyes.

“You should have done better, young man.”

“……You told me to trust you because you’re experienced. What’s with ‘about right’? You’ve just aged poorly.”

“This punk…?”

“Whoa, whoa? Violence is prohibited.”

As Shin-cheol tried to get up, Gu Yangcheon quickly raised his hand.

This crazy old man tries to hit people all the time.

With such a foul temper, how on earth did he become a Taoist?

It was something he could never understand.

Tsk tsk. Shin-cheol clicked his tongue, sat back down in his chair, and asked Gu Yangcheon.

“What happened with what you were going to confirm?”

“Ah, that.”

Hearing that, Gu Yangcheon nodded and said.

What he was going to confirm. That was.

“Yes. It seems that demonic energy works on the Leader-class as well.”

The Wolya tribe. Does demonic energy work even on their Leader-class?

That’s what he had just come back from confirming.