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The视野 was still dark. My hazy senses had not returned yet.

How much time had passed? With my senses shattered, even the feeling of time was difficult to grasp.

All I could gather was that—

Thud-!

“Gah!”

This makes it the ninth time.

Exactly the ninth time.

The number of times I had been killed.

Dizzy and staggering, I collapsed to the ground.

Blood began to spurt from my pierced neck, and in that moment, I felt my consciousness fading away.

Just like that, a few seconds passed.

“Haa…!”

I snapped back to consciousness and sprang upright.

What was that last moment? It felt like my throat had been stabbed.

Cautiously, I touched my neck with my hands, finding no pain or any injury.

‘…Damn it.’

This sensation had, by now, become the ninth instance of my demise.

Killed by the King of Demons.

Frowning, I surveyed the surroundings.

I hadn’t strayed far from the plains where I had last been with Pejon.

‘What the hell is going on?’

I wondered if it was a hallucination, yet the sensations of having my throat slit and my heart pierced felt all too real.

The feeling of sharpness piercing my neck just moments ago was similarly vivid.

Seeing all this made me certain of one thing: I had indeed died nine times.

The real question was.

‘But how am I still alive?’

How on earth was I surviving?

‘Damn it.’

This thought just slipped out.

No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t make sense of it.

Pejon, that damned old man… What did he expect me to do, thrown into a situation like this?

After merely uttering ‘endure,’ Pejon vanished, and since then, I had continuously met my demise at the hands of the King of Demons.

A myriad of emotions washed over me.

Being subjected to formations and hallucinations, yet suffering in such a bizarre manner at night…

“I really want to just give up.”

What about the Heavenly Demon? Should I just ditch it all and hide in the mountains?

Such thoughts flashed through my mind.

Crunch.

I bit my teeth together.

I knew it wasn’t an option, but it crossed my mind.

Calming my breath, I turned my gaze.

The tension lingered in the dark field of vision.

Before I could assess the situation, there was something more urgent to do.

‘Where am I?’

I summoned my Qi perception.

Perhaps there was a remaining rebound or something obstructing it, my Qi spread was incomplete; still, it was better than doing nothing.

‘Where is it?’

I focused my senses, spreading all available areas.

Pejon had said,

This too is part of training.

And to complete this training, all I had to do was catch the King of Demons at least once.

‘What kind of training is this, anyway?’

Even though I didn’t quite understand, I knew I couldn’t just ignore it.

I clenched my teeth and resolved to break through.

“Whoo…”

I exhaled, bringing heat into my breath.

The King of Demons kept attacking me, and I was waiting for an opportunity to catch him.

But it wasn’t easy at all.

Crackle—

“…!”

I turned to the direction of the sound. Just as I instinctively reached my hand out.

There was no one in sight.

A mere illusion…

Thud-!

“Gah!?”

The pain as something stabbed into my thigh forced an involuntary scream from me.

Where did it stab me?

It seemed from behind.

Then the presence I felt earlier was merely a tactic to induce carelessness?

Even though it was just a stab to the thigh, the pain felt strangely intense.

Could this also be the work of the King of Demons? I had thought I was quite accustomed to pain due to my training in Tua Pacheonmu.

But this was unbearable enough to make me scream.

‘Where is it?’

Still, I decided that moving to catch the King of Demons took precedence over the immediate pain.

Ignoring the pain in my leg, I turned around to find the King of Demons.

Wham-!

“…!”

Before I could do anything, I felt the tip of his sword pierce my abdomen.

Blood surged up to my throat.

Pain shot through me, and my eyes began to water from the intensity.

In the dim light, I couldn’t clearly see the figure of the King of Demons right in front of me.

But still, I reached out my hand. I had no choice but to.

Just hoping to touch him as my fingertips reached out.

Yet before my fingers could connect with something, I saw something approaching.

The sword tip.

As I recognized it and tried to move my head away.

Suddenly…

The King of Demons’ dagger stopped just before stabbing my forehead.

It was so close to reaching me.

What was happening?

As my mind swirled with questions.

“It ends here.”

The King of Demons withdrew the dagger and stepped back.

I was about to ask him what he meant by ‘it ends,’ but—

Suuuu-!

As if answering my question, the surroundings suddenly brightened.

The sky, which had been pitch black just moments ago, brightened instantly, revealing the sun rising in the distance.

Looking at it, I thought…

…It’s daybreak?

‘Then what was it just now?’

This space had been shrouded in darkness, where I couldn’t see a thing.

How could it brighten so completely in an instant? It was a ridiculous situation.

‘Could it be….’

I realized then that the darkness that had been enveloping me until now was also the work of the King of Demons.

Once that dawned on me, chills ran down my spine.

‘What a crazy human.’

I had heard no one could defeat the King of Demons once night fell, but it meant that he could create night itself.

Assassins wait for the right moment and favorable conditions to strike.

Is it not excessive to create the timings and place to fit his needs?

‘…And also.’

The stab to my thigh left no wounds behind; it was as if it had recovered completely.

Just like the previous deaths, this phenomenon was so nonsensical.

‘Is this considered martial art?’

It felt more like a power close to formations than martial arts.

I couldn’t just dismiss the vivid pain as mere hallucination.

Could this be classified as training?

Given that the method edged on torture.

‘Yet it feels a tad too neat for torture.’

It was too clean of a means to end lives, which made it a bit questionable to call it that.

Swallowing hard, I gazed at the King of Demons.

“Today’s training ends here.”

With that, the King of Demons vanished like mist before my eyes.

He seemed to indicate no further conversation was necessary.

Only once I confirmed that could I exhale a breath of relief.

“…Is this really the end?”

I had heard this training only took place at night.

Could it be the reason he vanished the moment dawn arrived?

In that case…

“Does that mean I have to undergo this every night?”

Every morning I would have to die at the hands of the King of Demons?

“…”

Upon reaching that thought, I began to consider.

‘Should I just abandon it all and flee?’

I truly had to entertain that thought seriously.

While Gu Yangcheong seriously contemplated escape.

The King of Demons arrived soundlessly somewhere in the woods.

Upon revealing himself, he found Pejon perched on a rock, leisurely pouring liquor.

Seeing two cups, it seemed he had anticipated the King of Demons’ arrival.

Pejon tossed a cup toward the King of Demons.

The flying cup suddenly changed direction as it slowed, landing perfectly in the King of Demons’ palm.

Pejon smirked as he observed this and said to the King of Demons.

“You could have just caught it, no need to exert any effort.”

“This is easier.”

“Tsk tsk.”

The King of Demons, having received the cup, slowly approached and plopped down beside Pejon.

Pouring some liquor into the empty cup of the King of Demons without a word, Pejon then questioned him.

“How was it?”

There was no need to ask what he meant.

The conversation they were to have was already set.

Pejon was inquiring about the time Gu Yangcheong and the King of Demons had spent together.

Having heard the question, the King of Demons took a sip of his liquor and answered.

“He’s a strange one.”

“Oh?”

Pejon’s eyes sharpened at the King of Demons’ remark.

This was not a response that was commonly heard from a man who typically merely deemed things as good or bad.

“What do you mean strange?”

“He’s unsettlingly calm.”

The King of Demons recalled Gu Yangcheong.

Pejon wouldn’t know, but Gu Yangcheong was someone who had already sparked the King of Demons’ interest.

A talent worthy of making history?

Such stories didn’t pique his interest much.

The reason the King of Demons was interested in Gu Yangcheong was that he held something both similar yet utterly different from him.

And perhaps, he might hold the key to unraveling the curse binding him.

Above all.

‘Taechon is interested.’

The being the King of Demons relentlessly pursued seemed to be paying attention to Gu Yangcheong.

Not only that.

The very reason the King of Demons declared Gu Yangcheong a strange one was simply because—

‘He doesn’t change at all.’

When the King of Demons had killed him about three times, Gu Yangcheong had astonishingly attempted to capture him.

Up to this point, it was understandable.

After all, it was said that the moment one catches the King of Demons, their training ends.

However.

‘He kept trying until the end.’

Even after the sun rose and signaled the end of the training, Gu Yangcheong continuously aimed to seize the King of Demons.

What was wrong with that may you ask?

Throughout close to ten deaths, from beginning to end, Gu Yangcheong showed no fear of death.

The King of Demons could sense it.

Gu Yangcheong was keenly attempting to grasp the King of Demons’ presence.

He continued to attempt to capture him without any traces of fear or weariness.

Typically, a common person would succumb to terror, begging for their life in such a scenario.

No matter how many times one could return to life, the totality of it would bring about dread.

Gu Yangcheong’s attitude was utterly strange.

Even the King of Demons, ruler of assassins.

It was baffling.

Although martial artists may endure more, Gu Yangcheong felt different altogether.

He remained unfazed by death and pain – it was almost excessively abnormal.

‘And then.’

The King of Demons, while recalling Gu Yangcheong, turned his gaze toward Pejon.

“You must have known already, huh?”

“Hmm?”

Pejon looked at him as if to ask what he was talking about, but the King of Demons was already certain.

Pejon must have known about Gu Yangcheong’s strangeness.

‘Did you make such a request because you knew that?’

If Pejon knew that his disciple was in such a state, he must have deemed that this kind of training would be fine.

If that were true,

‘You really are twisted.’

When it comes to reaching martial arts, Pejon was also far from normal.

Leaving his disciple in the hands of the King of Demons and adopting such a brutal training method from the very beginning.

The King of Demons saw them both as peculiar beings.

Thinking of this, he turned his gaze away from Pejon to the cup.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

No matter their circumstances, it had nothing to do with the King of Demons.

Just as they had their goals, he had his own objectives to fulfill.

This was simply an act done upon request.

Having thought that far, the King of Demons turned to Pejon.

“Just don’t forget the request.”

“I won’t forget, so don’t worry about it.”

Pejon replied with a hint of exasperation and stood up.

There wasn’t much liquor left, and after watching the events unfold all night, he too had to begin his training.

“Oh right.”

Just before departing, Pejon glanced at the King of Demons as if something had crossed his mind.

“How long do you think it will take? Until that kid can succeed.”

“…”

At Pejon’s question, the King of Demons gave him a peculiar look.

How long would it take for Gu Yangcheong’s hand to reach him?

The King of Demons appeared to contemplate for a moment before answering straightforwardly.

“Under the current circumstances, it’s impossible.”

So resolute was his tone.

“Quite resolute, huh?”

“It’s better to find another route.”

It may feel unjust to judge based solely on a day’s time, but in Gu Yangcheong’s case, even if he were to die and revive, he wouldn’t reach the King of Demons’.

Pejon’s intentions behind setting this training were unclear, but that was how it appeared to the King of Demons.

Though he firmly denied Pejon’s expectation, Pejon merely smiled.

The King of Demons couldn’t stand that grin of Pejon’s.

So much so that a hint of a frown appeared on his otherwise expressionless brow.

Whenever Pejon wore such a smile, there was always an unexpected incident that followed.

“That aside, regardless, I trust you to handle things well moving forward.”

“…”

The King of Demons vanished without responding to Pejon and upon confirming this, Pejon also moved on.

As he walked, he pondered.

‘It’s impossible.’

Though the King of Demons had claimed it was impossible for Gu Yangcheong to reach him, Pejon thought otherwise.

‘It might not be that straightforward.’

Although he hadn’t seen him in a while, this kid had consistently shown him more than he expected.

Perhaps this time would be no different? Pejon held that anticipation close to his heart.

Time passed until it neared noon.

Just before the carriage was about to depart again, I was having a light meal after a quick training session.

Though I was still exhausted from the chaos the night brought, I couldn’t afford to rest on my laurels.

Thud.

While in the midst of it all, as news of Paewoocheol approached, I decided to take a brief rest.

I set down the massive boulder I was holding and turned to Paewoocheol.

“Who arrived?”

“They say someone from the Moyong Clan has arrived.”

“Oh, finally they’ve come.”

I nodded upon hearing it.

It seemed Moyong Hi-ah had indeed arrived.

I had assumed she would take a few days; what was with this one day visit?

As I was thinking I should go see her since it had been a while, I spotted Cheol Jiseon lying on the ground and exhaling exhaustedly.

Seeing him, Paewoocheol had a peculiar expression and asked me.

“Um… How did Jiseon end up like that?”

“I just figured he looked so weak, so I thought I’d give him a bit of training, and now he’s this mess. Tsk tsk, a man looking so pathetic like that….”

“Ah, yes…”

“If you’re going to train, you can join him here. Seems like you both would make a good pair.”

At my words, Paewoocheol glanced over somewhere.

There was—

Hoo-! Hoo-!

Woo Hyeok was continuously moving, holding a stone slightly smaller than the one I had been carrying.

Despite dripping with sweat, he kept going without a break.

Even that seemed impressive thanks to his handsome features.

I was the one who looked like a wet rat. Life really wasn’t fair.

He trained hard, except for his tendency for gluttony and his ridiculous personality, there was hardly anything lacking. Ah, but those two things were massive flaws.

But it wouldn’t matter since he already had a fiancée.

Even if I tried to pick on him, his looks would mostly cover it up. It truly irked me.

“Damn it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Not talking to you. So, am I supposed to head over now?”

“Oh, yes… but…”

Paewoocheol seemed to have more to say, his expression unreadable.

“One more person has arrived aside from Moyong Sojeo.”

“One more? Who?”

I tilted my head at Paewoocheol’s words.

Who else could possibly arrive other than Moyong Hi-ah?

From Paewoocheol’s tone, it didn’t seem like it would be a servant, so could it be Baek Cheon-gyeomju?

‘No, that guy, as flirtatious as he is, wouldn’t come all the way here.’

A clan leader from a prestigious family wouldn’t follow his daughter this far.

But then again, considering that guy’s personality, I couldn’t be entirely sure.

Just as I worriedly looked at Paewoocheol, he revealed the identity of the visitor.

Ah, thankfully, it wasn’t Baek Cheon-gyeomju.

Instead, it was someone completely unexpected.

“Senior Baek Cheon-gyeom has arrived.”

“Eh…?”

I wore a dumbfounded expression at that unexpected name that emerged from Paewoocheol’s lips.

…Why on earth is that lady’s alias popping up here?

 

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