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Chapter 331: Listen, Apostle. (1)

Pssss.

The more I moved, the more I could see something falling from my body like powder.

It was ash.

The functions of a living being had already been lost.

All that remained was ‘something’ that was a charred human.

The traces that seemed absolutely immobile were moving right in front of me, completely nonchalantly.

To say it was nonchalant was a strange expression.

The creaking movements weren’t normal at all.

It inspected its body part by part, then cocked its head to glance at me.

[Impressive.]

The first words that came out were praise.

[This child must not have been weak. To end up like this… What an unexpected turn of events.]

The voice carried emotions that seemed almost pleased.

Leaving behind its shattered body, it looked around once more.

Blood-red sky, wind stained with blood.

The rotting earth and old trees.

Looking at those, the Blood Demon spoke.

[I wondered why the connection was severed. Now I see there was a reason. The master of this world has its own in mind; it’s no wonder they’re hard to worm into.]

While the Blood Demon spoke with intrigue, I asked it.

“…Do you have business with me?”

At my words, the Blood Demon chuckled lightly.

[Not surprised at all. What a disappointing reaction.]

“I already went through it once.”

I had faced it during the martial arts tournament.

From the facts I learned afterward, I realized the Blood Demon had been lingering in this land for a while.

Just like in the last tournament.

I entertained thoughts it might appear again through Jang Seonyeon’s body.

‘And here it is, of all times.’

I was trying to act calm, but I was quite startled inside.

I never expected the Blood Demon would invade this world.

What in the world was it?

“How did you get here?”

[Don’t push too hard; I had to expend quite a bit of strength to come here myself.]

“Was that body really that precious?”

I wasn’t sure if it had come to protect the already burnt Jang Seonyeon or if it had business with me.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t a pleasant encounter.

Upon hearing my question, the Blood Demon stared at me for a moment, then snickered.

[Indeed quite valuable. I had high expectations for this child.]

“But what’s the point? I’ve already killed her. Are you planning to take her back alive or something?”

I spat out, sardonic.

[You’re really trying to be funny, aren’t you?]

The Blood Demon maintained its indifferent facade.

[Understanding how this world works isn’t a difficult task for me.]

‘Damn.’

I had to restrain myself from cursing at its words.

In essence, it meant that it already knew the essence of this world.

And also that it vaguely knew that if I returned to this world, Jang Seonyeon would come back to life.

Could the Blood Demon truly perceive such things?

No matter how monstrous it was, having wreaked havoc in the previous era, this was something else entirely.

[Such an interesting world. Don’t you think?]

“…Since you’ve shown up, are you planning to intervene in my business?”

Since the Blood Demon had claimed to cherish Jang Seonyeon in its own way, it might have sensed I would take care of her and decided to intervene.

..

I had no clue how much power the Blood Demon possessed.

If it intended to intervene, that wasn’t good news for me.

[Are you feeling uneasy?]

Propping its burnt hand under its chin was aesthetically disturbing.

I gathered my energy.

I had just used a significant amount dealing with Jang Seonyeon.

If only I had burned her without hesitation instead of doing it slowly, it might have been better.

[That look in your eyes isn’t good. You should not feel uneasy about anything.]

“What are you talking about?”

[Did you say you would kill this child?]

“I didn’t say I would kill her; I already did.”

I had tormented and burnt her alive.

According to the laws of this world, she would typically return if the world itself was restored.

Yet, I already had a means in mind.

If all else fails and she were to come back to life, I would take care of it.

Despite the terrible choice of action, it was better to eliminate her than let things go awry.

[You must really hate this child. I wonder why.]

Looking at the Blood Demon’s question made me want to turn away immediately.

Just looking at it was unpleasant.

The previously felt unknown sensation surfaced.

Could it be the energy felt from the very existence of it?

I wanted to get rid of it right then and there.

Suppressing that feeling, I managed to spit out words.

“What is your purpose?”

[Hmm?]

“You’ve been dead for hundreds of years, decaying away. Aren’t you supposed to quietly achieve enlightenment or something? Why are you still kicking around now?”

[Hehe…]

Five martial masters, at least at the level of the Three Eminent Beings, were probably unable to kill it and chose the maximum sealing method instead. Thus, the Blood Demon was sealed and remained in this land.

Then what was the reason for it hanging around all this time, showing its face?

“Are you planning to resurrect?”

Was it thinking of coming back to life?

[An interesting question. Resurrection.]

“If that’s not the case, why not just stay put instead of poking around?”

Nangong Cheonjun and Jang Seonyeon were both consuming Blood Qi and wielding the powers of the Blood Demon.

Were those two really the only ones receiving such strength?

There might be more, which meant.

‘The Martial Alliance might ultimately be in the Blood Demon’s grasp.’

As if I didn’t already mistrust the Martial Alliance, there lay even more reasons not to.

[Hehe…]

The Blood Demon seemed quite entertained for some reason.

Was it mocking me?

[You see.]

The Blood Demon addressed me.

[You are a tremendous source of amusement in this boring fate. Allow me to give you a gift.]

“…What are you talking about…”

[If I wanted resurrection, I would have done it long ago.]

“What?”

[Sealing… do you think a mere creature like yourself could bind me for such a long time? Do you think I suffered for that long because of a mere seal?]

For a moment, my body stiffened at the Blood Demon’s words.

Because I couldn’t tell whether it was the truth or falsehood.

It could be aiming for something.

If it was scheming, then, what for?

As complicated thoughts swirled in my mind, the Blood Demon continued its speech.

[I could have awakened at any time.]

“…Then why didn’t you?”

[Because there was no need.]

“There was no need?”

[Yes. There was no longer any need to. That’s why I did not awaken.]

“That’s nonsense. If that’s the case, then why are you causing all this ruckus now?”

[What do you mean?]

I had known that the powers of the Blood Demon resided within Jang Seonyeon and Nangong Cheonjun.

In the last confrontation and even now, it was speaking to me through Jang Seonyeon’s body.

“So what exactly are you trying to say now?”

[It was simply a matter of needing power. I merely offered it. I did not reach out to them first.]

“How can I believe that?”

[Ah, it seems you are under some misapprehension.]

Gu Gugu-!

In an instant, a horrible scent of blood surged forth.

I staggered backward.

If I hadn’t placed a barrier, I might have collapsed right then and thrown up.

Without question, this energy erupted from Jang Seonyeon’s decaying body.

Even borrowing someone else’s body, it was capable of projecting this kind of power?

As my eyes widened in astonishment, the Blood Demon spoke to me.

[I am not a being who needs your trust.]

Jang Seonyeon’s body was slowly rising.

It seemed fragile enough to break with a single touch, yet it was standing up and locking eyes with me.

Though its eyes were obscured, I could tell it was looking at me.

[You should rather be thanking me.]

“…What do I owe you thanks for?”

[Even though I know precisely where my senses lie, and where the powers and body I have stored are, you merely stood there and watched. Isn’t that a generous act?]

Senses and powers.

And the body.

That was what Hwang Ah Bulyeong mentioned.

It had been said that all of the Blood Demon’s senses had been transferred to Tian Hai.

Powers and the physical body had also been sealed and separated.

‘Does it truly know where they are?’

Even if that were true, it didn’t validate the credibility of its claim that it could awaken at any moment.

Just because it knew didn’t mean it could locate them.

[I am just waiting for the right time.]

Waiting for a time… what could it be waiting for?

“So when that awaited time comes, are you saying you will eventually resurrect?”

[Well… that’s something I have not yet decided.]

In my recollection of my previous life.

The existence called the Blood Demon did not resurrect.

It was merely the instigator of the Blood Calamity that had transpired in the past.

Because of the heroes’ efforts, it was sealed away.

I pondered over this.

“I have something to ask.”

Boldly uttering my words caused the Blood Demon to snicker slightly.

[How audacious of you; as if you think I came here to have a dialogue with you.]

“Isn’t that so?”

[Why do you think that?]

“Then why waste your breath talking to me about such trivial things?”

All this talk about senses, powers, and bodies.

Including that it isn’t yearning for resurrection and that it’s merely waiting for a time was thoroughly tedious information.

For someone who claimed to have come to save Jang Seonyeon, it had certainly spoken a great deal.

If it were here to kill me, it had approached way too peacefully.

“If you don’t intend to answer, then I have no business here, so just leave.”

I didn’t intend to treat it kindly either.

Regardless of its identity or its purpose.

I figured it wouldn’t be a good presence for me.

No matter what purpose it had, it was something I ultimately had to dispose of.

[What is your question?]

“Are you a disaster?”

As Yeon Ilcheon once stated.

The Blood Demon was called a disaster that had been thwarted.

It was meant to bring about the world’s demise, the being that should have dictated the fate that this world possessed.

Furthermore…

Yeon Ilcheon had labeled me a disaster too; my regression must have a reason behind it.

Spinning around, leading to the world’s catastrophe in its wake, was what made me a disaster.

Shin Noya had asked me to hold faith, but harboring such thoughts wasn’t easy.

If the Blood Demon had sought to converse with me, then I would ask it directly.

Are you a disaster?

Was what Yeon Ilcheon said correct?

Upon hearing my question, the Blood Demon fell into brief silence.

Seconds ticked by in quiet, then the Blood Demon spoke.

[I didn’t expect such a question from you. How interesting.]

“I’m not asking for your amusement. Answer me.”

[A disaster.]

The Blood Demon took a step toward me.

At the instant it stepped forward, its body cracked.

[How do I appear in your eyes?]

“If I only consider your current appearance, you definitely look like a disaster.”

It was inhabiting a gruesome, headless body that lost its soul.

Seeing it approach me like this was uncomfortable for even me.

[A disaster… Who said such things?]

“Just answer if it’s true or not.”

[No, there’s no need to answer. After all, there’s just one person who said it.]

It reached out.

As its black fingertips approached me, I frowned.

Should I push it away?

Or crush it?

[That would be Yeon Ilcheon.]

It seemed the Blood Demon realized immediately who had uttered those words to me.

Should I deny it?

In my position, Yeon Ilcheon wasn’t exactly trustworthy either.

[The mysterious one after all; still, it seems he has left a few tricks to pull. It seems he’s managed to blind your eyes.]

“My eyes are perfectly fine.”

[No, they’ve been somewhat dimmed by the specter of the past. I must clear that away.]

The Blood Demon’s fingertips came closer to my eyes.

As they neared, just before touching my eyes.

Crack-!

The reaction I had been waiting for surged forth.

Something burst forth from the ground, separating the Blood Demon from me.

[Oh?]

The Blood Demon let out a sound of regret.

I glanced at what had erupted and found it was a massive tree root. The Blood Demon subtly stepped back.

[It appears I’ve taken too long.]

As it reached for the tree root, even before it could touch, its fingertips shattered weakly.

[Was that your aim?]

“I wasn’t aiming for anything, but since you came close, it was a possibility.”

[You’ve got a gutsy one there. It seems you weren’t planning to move at all.]

I expected it would want to reach out for something.

That ‘thing’ was definitely intended in some manner, and it needed me.

It never seemed like it would leave without any intent.

[How regrettable… I wanted to converse a little longer, but it seems the master of this place isn’t welcoming me.]

Cracks began to appear all over the Blood Demon’s body.

[Though I’m dissatisfied, I hope that our conversation allows us to draw a little closer.]

“More disgusting than I expected; you’ve made me feel gross. If you’re leaving, then do so quietly.”

I spat those words in a low growl.

But the Blood Demon didn’t seem bothered.

Even while watching Jang Seonyeon’s body rapidly dissolve, it maintained its fixation on me.

[What I told you once remains valid. When you meet my dancer, seek me out.]

Hah—

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the Blood Demon’s words.

“If I do seek you out, what do you think I will do?”

I had no clue what this Dancer was, so why on Earth should I keep seeking it out.

What was it expecting me to do if I went there, smash everything to pieces?

Was it that confident?

“If by chance I do go, I definitely won’t be visiting with good intentions.”

[Well, that sounds good. As long as you step out of the mold, there’s nothing better than that.]

As it said that, the Blood Demon’s lower body disappeared and its upper body crumbled.

The shock of hitting the ground shattered its remaining form.

The fragmented body broke apart like dust in the whirling wind.

Even in that situation, the Blood Demon left me with one last message.

[Let’s meet again next time.]

Saying so, the winds obscured Jang Seonyeon’s form from my sight.

“…Huh.”

After confirming that, I exhaled heavily.

I had finally eased the extreme tension I had been holding.

“Damn it. Whenever I try to do something, something always interferes.”

Was this just a series of bad luck?

It’s really annoying that the Blood Demon decided to show up out of the blue.

‘What is even going on?’

Trying to recall information from my past life proved difficult.

Secrets that I hadn’t known before were now surfacing one by one.

What on Earth did it all mean?

What was the fate of that being?

What accumulated karma lay upon this world?

What was the seed that was referred to as belonging to the Gu Clan?

Even just one of those was irritating enough to deal with.

It made everything within me feel tangled.

That was why I’d come here, starting from when I sought Shinryong Temple.

The moment I confirmed Cheol Jiseon’s presence was the time I had to come here.

If the thing that resides here, it would surely know something.

I turned around and spoke.

“If you’re going to show yourself, then do it sooner. Why appear so late?”

I infused my voice with annoyance.

Gone was the withered plain that had spread endlessly.

Instead, a massive something that obscured even the sky stood right before me.

I had seen it in my previous life, but its sheer size was utterly nonsensical. Simply calling it a tree seemed a significant understatement given the aura and majesty emanating from it.

Moreover.

This tree had a name of its own.

At one point in time, it introduced itself.

It claimed to be the fifth World Tree rooted in this place.

Mua, it had said.

Sssssh—

As if responding to my words, the branches that stretched up to the clouds moved in unison.

The leaves appeared desiccated, stripped of moisture, giving a desolate appearance.

At that moment.

[It’s good to see you.]

A voice echoed into my ears.

It was overly hollow, filled with sorrow.

It was the same voice I had heard back then.

It was similar to that greeting from before, yet the following words were different from what I heard in my past life.

[My Apostle.]

I frowned at the words that resonated.

 

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