Chapter 334
Chapter 335: Listen, Mother. (1)
“What is that…?”
[The reason is simply that there was no other way. The child was crying pitifully. This old tree could only offer that. If I were to look for a reason, this is all that comes to mind.]
“ ”
[Traveling back in time to the past is akin to placing karma on the soul.]
My expression twisted in confusion.
That story was one I clearly remembered as well.
[The child chose, but going against what is determined by reason is simply impossible.]
‘That means….’
[One way or another, that child must have achieved something. So, Apostle, can’t you make a pact with me?]
As the World Tree stated, Yeon Ilcheon succeeded in sealing the Blood Demon.
The implication of that meaning was probably clear here.
And.
In the future, the Blood Demon would be resurrected.
Which also suggested that the world does not make the same mistake twice.
‘In the end, the end will come.’
That was what Yeon Ilcheon conveyed to me.
No matter how hard you try, the end will come. Whether it becomes the Blood Demon or something else.
‘The world that the World Tree speaks of. Does that mean it’s a being akin to a god?’
A deity that Wudang and Shaolin hold in such high respect.
Could such a being exist?
‘That’s a strange thought.’
If the existence of the World Tree has been wiped from the world.
That suggests it originally existed.
What would the Taoist look like in that world?
With vast entities like this Master of Light, could they even believe in a god?
‘Now isn’t the time to ponder such things.’
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. There were so many more things I needed to know.
It wasn’t the time for trivial worries.
“…Then… ha.”
A sigh slipped out as I spoke.
The current situation felt overwhelmingly burdensome.
In the end, this situation was the mess our ancestors left behind.
Is it correct to say I’m the one cleaning it up?
In the grand scheme, perhaps that isn’t entirely true.
But it sure felt that way.
‘What to ask first….’
What the hell should I even start with?
There were so many that it was hard to recall.
Damn it…
My head was a jumble.
How did it get this messy?
What should I ask first?
What the hell is the Heavenly Demon?
What should I ask about this place?
What on earth is my regression?
Or should I ask—
If not that…
[Apostle.]
“…!”
Just as I was forcibly sifting through my turbulent thoughts.
The voice of the World Tree reached me.
[You seem quite exhausted, Apostle.]
….
!
“…That’s not quite true.”
A lie. I already knew it.
That I was feeling overwhelmed and heavy.
That I was struggling.
“My regression, you said it wasn’t your doing.”
[Indeed, your turning back time isn’t something I did.]
Surely, it was said that I had no strength left.
Is that statement true?
Or could it have been a lie….
A sudden jolt!
I punched my own head to shake the thoughts loose.
I often questioned everything, trying to discern truth from lies.
I couldn’t trust anyone.
Having experienced a situation where everyone was an enemy.
The sight of those who had stayed by my side through that, sacrificing themselves for me, was seared into my memory.
It was a habit I developed to survive.
“…It’s all fine. It’s all good but…”
I cradled my weary head.
The thoughts I had heard before were pushed aside for the moment.
Looking at the World Tree, I wanted to ask what I wished to know.
The truth of how the world operates.
The secrets wrapped within it.
Simply put.
“What do you want from me?”
What am I supposed to do?
How am I to proceed from here?
In this damnable situation, I wanted to know desperately what they expected from me.
[Apostle.]
“…You told me.”
That it was a flame that could burn away all karma.
In my previous life, the World Tree looked at me and said that.
Did they merely say that because I could kindle that flame?
It couldn’t be that simple.
[Did I truly say such to you?]
“Yes, but I don’t know how to do that. Only people can burn away karma.”
Burning away karma.
What could be the reason you said that to me?
I didn’t understand anything.
Thus, I had to ask more earnestly.
“Where do I start? What should I do?”
How should I proceed?
The people nearby were increasing one by one.
I found their presence amusing yet precious.
Even in such a circumstance, the Blood Calamity drew nearer.
The thought that I merely had to stop the Heavenly Demon was naive.
A greater truth lurked behind it.
To protect them, I had to know.
Not for me.
But for them.
“You said I could burn it.”
[…Apostle.]
You said you’d do it.
Whether it was stopping the Blood Demon or the Heavenly Demon.
I had to strive to survive, and for them to survive, I would attempt it.
So please, tell me.
“Apostle, indeed. Yeon Ilcheon was also one who bore your Holy Mark.”
To refer to me as an Apostle makes me think that Yeon Ilcheon is also an Apostle like me.
[…Yes, that child was also an Apostle.]
“Yeon Ilcheon called me a disaster. He said I would ruin the world.”
The Blood Demon has failed.
But the disaster remains unchanged and will rise again.
If the World Tree is to be believed, then it would indeed happen.
I thought that meant the Heavenly Demon.
[Did you meet that child?]
“Yes. He left behind his thoughts.”
It wasn’t a pleasant memory, but I had met him.
[That child left thoughts….]
The World Tree spoke as though submerged in thought.
But there was no time to wait for that.
“What do you desire? What is it for….”
As I said that, a thought suddenly struck me.
“Could it be… the reason my previous self fell here is because you called me?”
[That isn’t the case. Back then, and now, encountering you is merely coincidence.]
That was a relief.
The entire situation began due to the Demonic Gate torn open by Cheol Jiseon.
If it were a result of the World Tree’s intervention…
That would be horrifying.
“Then, please tell me, what is it that you want from me?”
Burning away karma and all that.
Giving me the Holy Mark.
Was it to show me the way out of this world?
The answer was the World Tree before me.
Specifically, the World Tree I met in my previous life.
“…Are you hoping to take me, to send me back to my original world?”
The World Tree smirked slightly at my question.
[That is an impossible story.]
“Then what did you choose me for?”
[I merely wish for the children to continue living.]
For those who originally existed in the world where the World Tree resided.
That is, those who lived in the world I came from.
The World Tree wishes for them to keep on living.
“So for that, you chose me?”
Could that really be? How could that be?
It made no sense to me.
“…Why me specifically?”
I was a being devoid of such power.
[No, Apostle, you can do it.]
“Why do you have such certainty….”
Just as I was about to ask how they could be so sure—
[Before discussing that, there is something you need to understand first.]
“Something to understand?”
The World Tree interrupted.
[Do you know what the being inside you is?]
“…!”
I swallowed hard at the World Tree’s words.
The being he spoke of referred to the beast dwelling within me.
“How do you know about it….”
[For that, first, I must speak of your mother.]
A tale from ages past.
A story about the mother who has long since vanished.
Thud!
Cheol Jiseon swiftly moved, slamming his foot to the ground.
His breath was rapid, and his legs trembled, yet Cheol Jiseon did not stop.
‘What is that…!’
Still, his gaze remained fixed on the sky.
The once darkening sky was growing ever dimmer.
‘No…. that isn’t the sky.’
Indeed, it wasn’t the sky.
What loomed closer was something akin to a barrier.
The dark veil slowly began to envelop the surroundings.
The area was nothing to scoff at.
It covered two mountains and even reached the distant Shinryong Temple.
‘What on earth is happening…!’
Cheol Jiseon bit down hard, moving swiftly.
There was clearly no peaceful scenario here.
While Cheol Jiseon ran, he pondered.
‘Where… where am I heading?’
In the urgent situation, he moved before thinking.
But there was no clarity on where to go.
‘What about the instructors?’
If he wasn’t the only one witnessing this,
The instructors must surely have seen it too.
The surroundings were silent.
Chillingly so.
At that moment.
Whoosh—!
An instinct propelled Cheol Jiseon to swiftly turn his body.
The movement was instinctual, but—
Thud!
Crack!
Had he been too late? Pain stabbed through him.
Was it part of a bet? A crashing sound reverberated as he was flung backward.
Soon, Cheol Jiseon’s body crumpled limply to the ground.
“Gasp… gasp!”
He wondered where he had been wounded.
It seemed his thigh had been pierced.
The dagger imbedded there.
“…Ugh!”
As the pain increased, Cheol Jiseon began to grit his teeth.
“What are you doing? You almost killed me!”
A voice rang out from ahead.
As Cheol Jiseon looked up in pain, he saw someone clad in black martial robes, drawing near with a sword in hand.
‘Who….’
“I told you to confirm the face before you kill. Do you want to die at Tae Joo’s hands?”
“Just one or two should be fine.”
A voice came from behind as well.
One appeared to be the figure who had thrown the dagger.
“After all, only the descendants of the Four Great Clans are female. We can kill the rest without worry.”
“That only applies to the instructors. If you don’t want to cause trouble, then be cautious.”
Hearing another’s admonition, a man clicked his tongue and quite literally grabbed Cheol Jiseon by the hair and lifted him.
“Gah!”
“Do you recognize this face?”
The man moved closer, grasping Cheol Jiseon’s chin to inspect him.
“Heh.”
It seemed as if something was wrong as his expression twisted.
“Why?”
“Look at the position of the mark and his attire. He’s one of those that Tae Joo didn’t want touched.”
“…Ah, is that so?”
“What will you do now?”
“What can be done? Just let it go.”
They both cackled with laughter.
While Cheol Jiseon was in a state of utter horror due to the unexpected ambush.
His eyes darted rapidly.
‘One is near the heart, the other by the left wrist… both are dragons.’
He focused keenly on their features.
“Sorry about this. I was just so eager to taste blood after all this time.”
The one who threw the dagger noted, not looking at all remorseful, as he gave Cheol Jiseon’s cheek a light pat before casually rising to his feet.
It seemed he had no intention to kill.
‘If he doesn’t kill me, then what about the others?’
He recalled what they said.
-After all, only the descendants of the Four Great Clans are female. We can kill the rest without worry.
That meant—
They intended to kill everyone except those deemed important.
‘The instructors not showing up….’
The instructors might either be involved in this incident or there were many who resembled those facing him.
…Is it a planned ambush?
‘No way.’
Just yesterday, he recalled how the Holy One told Gu Yangcheong not to worry about the Heavenly Demon’s assault.
Could it be that this incident is somehow linked to the Holy One?
“Your leg should be fine if you bind it properly. I didn’t apply any poison.”
With a laugh, the man prepared to move.
It seemed he was trying to capture others rather than him.
He couldn’t afford to leave it at that.
Cheol Jiseon moved his fingertips.
Since it had only been a short while since he opened the Demonic Gate.
Even if he couldn’t open a gate like before, he couldn’t afford to let them leave as they pleased.
He struggled to find a sensation with his fingertips.
‘Please….’
The power he had longed to vanish.
Yet at such a time, it decided not to respond.
As Cheol Jiseon earnestly tried moving his fingertips—
“Let’s go the other way….”
The man who had risen halted in his tracks.
The response was peculiar, causing Cheol Jiseon to instinctively shift his gaze.
Thud.
Something dropped in front of Cheol Jiseon.
“Ugh… ugh!”
Seeing it, an involuntary scream escaped Cheol Jiseon.
The thing that had suddenly fallen was a human head.
The very head of the person who had been inspecting Cheol Jiseon.
“Which bastard…!”
Before the man could pull his dagger, a chilling sound of slashing echoed.
Thud.
The man’s head landed right before Cheol Jiseon’s eyes.
Seeing that, Cheol Jiseon couldn’t even scream, clutching his rapidly beating heart.
Could it be an instructor?
Both martial artists were no pushovers.
To be done away with in such a manner, would imply…
“…Where are you?”
Just as he began to think it was indeed an instructor, another voice echoed just above him.
It was a voice he had heard before.
Not frequently, but several times.
Originally, the tone was gentle and sounded sleepy.
But now it felt cold, as if the owner were angry.
The frigid emotion conveyed in the voice left Cheol Jiseon trembling more than ever.
He raised his shivering head to gaze at the source of the voice.
The first thing he noticed was the silver-white hair, close to pale.
“…That person is.”
The second was the beautiful blue eyes.
“Where are you?”
Swish—!
Wiping the blood off the sword, Nangong Bi-ah was looking down at Cheol Jiseon.
