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Chapter 176: Fragment. (1)

Looks like Moyong Hi-ah wants something from me.

It was more surprising than the frozen environment around us.

“Is the carp speaking…?”

The carp was indeed talking.

The clarity of its pronunciation as it flapped its mouth was downright creepy.

[You little fish!]

Its mouth was even foul-mouthed.

[Shouldn’t you answer when someone calls? How can you be so rude at that age?]

“Are you talking to me right now?”

[Who else would I be speaking to here?]

Sure, there are plenty of people around, but none are moving.

That wasn’t the important part right now.

“…What the heck are you?”

[Can’t you tell just by looking?]

When it came to looking, I knew all too well.

It was a carp.

A white and expensive carp, called Shaolin’s Treasure, that had lived for hundreds of years.

What was it called? The White Cliff Carp, was it?

Sounded like a fancy name.

Seeing my bewildered expression, the carp kept flapping its mouth and continued talking.

[Your surprised face is truly ridiculous. To think you’d look so fierce even while defying reincarnation…!]

“What on earth are you talking about?”

To be stuck in a situation like this and get insulted by a carp!

As I muttered that I couldn’t understand a word, the carp’s whiskers twitched.

Its expression also seemed to shift a bit.

Like it was trying to smile.

[Shin Cheol, you little pest. You want to joke around even in this situation?]

‘Shin Cheol.’

With the carp calling me, I didn’t even need to think about who I was.

Shin Cheol was the name of that old man who was lounging around in my body without paying rent.

‘The problem is, why does this carp mistake me for Shin Noya?’

Is this frozen time also due to this carp’s powers?

‘They call it a treasure…’

It wasn’t even an object from the start. What kind of treasure was this? A demon beast!

I promptly told the carp.

“I think you’re mistaken; I am not Shin Cheol.”

[You little brat! You know better than anyone that time is short. Why are you behaving like this?]

“Looks like you’re not planning to listen…”

As I spat that out in disbelief, the carp’s whiskers stretched out and caressed my cheek.

The slippery sensation bothered me for a moment, and I tried to grab it, but the whiskers dodged my touch and returned to their place.

Once it got back, it wiggled its whiskers and spoke to me with a smile.

[You’ve got quite a remarkable physical body. Not only have you surpassed the wall, but you’ve also begun laying the foundation for transcendence.]

“ ”

The carp’s words sent chills down my spine.

It was as if it knew what I was preparing for.

I was getting ready to reach the Transformation Realm at the peak.

My martial arts had peaked, and my energy was gradually merging with my body, laying the groundwork for transcendence.

Of course, going from first-rate to the peak was called the grave of martial artists.

Reaching the Transformation Realm from the peak was even harder.

Even I would need at least a few years to attempt it.

‘Did it figure that out in an instant?’

[The fact that you can raise your pitiful body there is the first proof of you, and the second is even more than that.]

Splash.

Droplets from the carp splashed onto my cheek as it flailed about.

[With such a rich plum blossom fragrance, you dare to tease me? You damn fish!]

Ah.

‘Is it because of the Taoist Qi in my body?’

The Taoist Qi that came along with Shin Noya from Hwasan’s Treasure.

It was so dense that it even affected the color of the fire technique in the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

Shin Noya said the Taoist Qi I had was denser than that of Yeongpung’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

The problem was, even if it could sense that, there was no reason for it to mistake me for Shin Noya.

Above all, Noya was a deceased person!

[So let’s stop playing games here. I’m glad that things seem to have gone as we hoped, but my time is limited.]

“I’m telling you again, I am not that guy…”

As I denied it once more, the carp scoffed.

What a ridiculously clear expression on that silly-looking face.

[Alright, if that’s how you want to play it, I wasn’t going to go this far.]

Is it planning to do something?

I subtly heightened my Qi perception in case of an attack.

Should I be cautious against a carp that had lived for hundreds of years, it might not be an ordinary thing.

But contrary to my heightened alertness, no attack came.

Instead, the carp looked at me with a solemn expression and began to speak.

[Back when we were young, I’m sure you remember? That time you chased the Moyong Family’s child…]

At those words from the carp, I felt a sudden jolt in my Lower Dantian.

It morphed into pain, making me scrunch my face inadvertently.

It felt as if something was going haywire.

‘Could it be…?’

That monster that devours all my Qi is trying to explode again.

[After confessions for three days and nights, you ultimately… at the hands of that brat…!]

As the carp was about to say something…

[You damn monk…! Can’t you shut up!?]

A familiar voice echoed in my mind.

“…Huh?”

[Huh?]

[Oh.]

An eerie silence hung in the air for a moment.

While the silence persisted, a grumpy voice that sounded quite unfriendly made itself known.

[•••Is this really happening?]

With a sigh, Shin Noya muttered.

Hwang Abulyeong Cheol-Yeong, renowned for being the greatest martial artist in Shaolin history.

The one who reached the highest realm as a monk.

One of the five masters who survived the Blood Demon calamity.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Cheol-Yeong laid the foundation for the wondrous Shaolin we see today.

That person.

Flapping its mouth.

‘That carp?’

I stared at the white carp, flapping its mouth in a dumbfounded expression.

Its swimming movements and beautiful white scales appeared noble and elegant.

Yet, that trademark goofy expression of a carp felt like quite a flaw.

But I didn’t think it was faking it.

Shin Noya had said so, after all.

Noya stared at the carp for a while before asking.

[Cheol-Yeong, just what are you doing looking like that?]

Not only was I surprised to see that old man—who had been quietly sleeping until now—suddenly pop up.

I didn’t even have time to ask what he had been doing coming out now.

Shin Noya was too busy trying to converse with that carp… precisely, with Hwang Abulyeong.

[That’s what I want to ask! Shin Cheol!]

…

…..

The light tone from earlier vanished, replaced with an undefined weight hanging in the air.

[•••Why do you look like that?]

[For the same reason as you.]

That carp was known as Shaolin’s Treasure.

Just like Shin Noya had been asleep in Hwasan’s treasure, Cheol-Yeong also seemed to have been resting within the treasure.

‘That sounds plausible.’

Since Shin Noya was like that, it wouldn’t be surprising if Cheol-Yeong was the same.

But then, it needed explaining why the past masters’ souls were bound to treasures.

Previously, Shin Noya had said he didn’t know the reason.

But Cheol-Yeong might know.

‘Was Noya expecting something like this?’

It was possible.

The words that he hoped I would visit Shaolin when I went to Hanam came to mind.

Had Noya perhaps hoped for a situation like this?

As expected.

Shin Noya asked Cheol-Yeong.

[Cheol-Yeong, do you know why we remain in this form in this modern era?]

The reason Noya could remain in this time.

And the cause that led to it.

[•••So you’re asking that now?]

[I’m asking because I don’t know.]

[…]

[Cheol-Yeong.]

Having gone silent for a moment, Hwang Abulyeong seemed to choose to hold his tongue.

It was quiet.

The world was so still that one could almost say time had stopped.

Shin Noya, unable to endure the silence, continued to urge Cheol-Yeong.

[Cheol-Yeong, why aren’t you answering…?]

[That kid seems to not be you.]

[What?]

[The boy I see now is not you.]

This was a shocking question.

Am I not Shin Noya?

Shin Noya, seemingly confused, quickly fired back.

[What an absurd statement! Am I not this child?]

To Noya’s inquiry, Cheol-Yeong remained silent.

He just flapped his mouth while looking at me.

[Cheol-Yeong.]

As if sensing the odd atmosphere, Noya continued to call out.

Before long, a sigh of resignation could be heard.

[•••I see. It really wasn’t meant to be, was it.]

[What on earth are you talking about? Could you please explain it properly?]

[Shin Cheol.]

[Speak!]

The slender whiskers that had been swaying floated deep into the lake.

Just like the atmosphere looming over Cheol-Yeong now.

[Didn’t you say you have no recollection?]

[Yes, I… can remember nothing. So you must tell me.]

Since the Blood Demon’s death, Shin Noya hadn’t the slightest clue about what happened to him.

Why did he remain as a spirit here and wander aimlessly?

He had no memory of it.

He who knew nothing of the written history desperately hoped Cheol-Yeong would solve this puzzle.

[Do you know the reason?]

To Noya’s question, Cheol-Yeong flapped his mouth and answered.

[I do. I know very well.]

[Then…!]

[But I cannot tell you.]

At Cheol-Yeong’s words, Shin Noya was momentarily enraged.

[Are you kidding me right now?]

[I also wish for that to be the case, but in this form, I can say nothing.]

[What does that even mean…?]

[For the past few hundred years, after a long wait, I finally met you, but in return for that meeting, all I learned is that reincarnation cannot be escaped.]

Was it an illusion?

The beautiful scales of the carp seemed to lose a bit of their color.

Even while the two conversed, I merely remained silent, listening.

I couldn’t even find a moment to interject, but I could feel Noya’s emotions very well.

This was something I couldn’t carelessly chime in on.

[Are you going to keep spouting nonsense?]

[How much do you remember?]

To Cheol-Yeong’s question, Noya thought for a moment before answering.

[Cheong Ma-san. The last fight with the Blood Demon. I remember that moment.]

At Noya’s words, Cheol-Yeong chuckled in dismay.

[Then, you truly know nothing.]

As Cheol-Yeong continued with his unknown answers, Shin Noya eventually couldn’t take it anymore and shouted.

[You damn monk! If you’re going to answer, answer properly!]

Even to Noya’s outburst, Cheol-Yeong’s reaction remained the same. Indifferent and unperturbed.

From the moment Noya manifested as a spirit, Cheol-Yeong’s response had crumbled.

Unable to bear it any longer, Noya bit his teeth and brought up another topic.

[…Just one, only one thing. Answer this clearly.]

Though Cheol-Yeong’s answer didn’t come through, Noya spoke on.

[Did the Blood Demon die?]

In an instant, I felt a gust of wind, as if there was a delusion.

With everything around seeming to have stopped, such a feeling passed by inexplicably.

The whiskers that had been twitching now finally answered.

[Fortunately, I can answer this. First, you already seem to know the answer. Am I wrong?]

[.’]

At Cheol-Yeong’s words, I felt a ripple deep in my Lower Dantian.

This meant Noya was agitated.

Then, with Cheol-Yeong’s next words:

[He did not die.]

The Taoist Qi that had been sleeping in my Lower Dantian churned violently.

“Noya…!”

I desperately tried to calm the tumultuous Qi, but Noya seemed to not hear me, continuously expressing his emotions.

Amidst this, I was shocked by Cheol-Yeong’s words.

How could I not be shocked?

‘The Blood Demon didn’t die?’

Centuries ago, the Blood Demon that wished to drench the Central Plains in blood.

It was said that with the conclusion of the Blood Demon War, the five masters had killed the Blood Demon.

‘How could such a figure still be alive…?’

Cheol-Yeong’s words were as if implying that the Blood Demon was still alive even now.

Through all these long years.

[Judging by your reaction, you seem unable to recall the last moment.]

[…Please explain properly what happened.]

[Didn’t you hear the answer you wished for? The Blood Demon is still alive on this land.]

[That’s impossible. History clearly says….]

[Do you still believe in history? Despite all you’ve been through?]

At Cheol-Yeong’s sharp words, Shin Noya swallowed hard.

[Yes, that’s not incorrect. The Blood Demon surely did breathe his last in that battle.]

[But…!]

[Yet, he did not die.]

I felt a stronger wind at my back.

The chilly air of winter mismatched with a hot, thick warmth.

It was a wind filled with heat.

[He has tied himself to this land even after dying.]

[To make it clearer….]

The white-scaled carp slowly swam toward me.

As if to meet Noya’s gaze.

Finally, a firm voice escaped its flapping mouth.

[The Blood Demon dreams of resurrection, Hwasan Sword God.]

With Cheol-Yeong’s words, the Lower Dantian shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

 

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