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Chapter 643: Thunder Heaven One Sword

“[…Why?]”

It was a question that showed absolute confusion. Woo Hyeok looked amused, as if he couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

“Even if you ask why…”

[No matter how deeply I think about it, I cannot comprehend. Why?]

Why reject such a great opportunity? Is he crazy? Nangong Ming’s expression reflected just that. It truly seemed like a fantastic chance to him, but to explain the reason here…

“Because I am not a member of the Nangong Clan.”

It was a very straightforward reason.

Whether that thought actually was Nangong Ming or not—if it was, why was he appearing in this form? Woo Hyeok knew nothing about it.

But if everything he said was true, and he wished to give this opportunity under the name of “chance”…

“I cannot accept it.”

Woo Hyeok had no intention of accepting it at all.

[Is that all?]

Upon hearing his answer, Nangong Ming tilted his head slightly, still wearing a bewildered expression.

“It’s just that if it’s such a chance and task, it would be more reasonable to leave it to my descendants rather than myself.”

Had the Nangong Clan completely fallen apart and vanished, it would be different. They were still one of the Four Great Clans, serving as a pillar in the Central Plains.

“Moreover… I don’t know if you are aware, but your descendants are also here.”

Both might not be in good condition, but he thought there would be no problem with that friend around.

In this situation, could he take this task for himself? That would be out of the question.

[Hmm.]

Nangong Ming’s expression grew subtle upon hearing those words.

[A descendant.]

The clan of Nangong was here.

Even hearing that, he still reacted with an utterly flat response. This caused Woo Hyeok to feel a strange sense of alienation within.

“…Perhaps, is there some issue with the clan?”

Unable to suppress his discomfort, Woo Hyeok asked, and Nangong Ming replied with an expressionless face.

[Not specifically. Just that it doesn’t matter at all.]

“What do you mean by that…?”

[It means that I’ve long since put any sentiments behind me.]

Put sentiments behind? Did that mean he held no sentiment toward the clan simply because he was dead?

It seemed too ambiguous to consider it merely a simple notion.

So what exactly did it imply? For now, Woo Hyeok couldn’t comprehend.

[Then, are you saying you intend to decline your offer?]

“…I judged that it wasn’t mine to take.”

[So that’s what rejection means.]

“Yes.”

He wasn’t going to claim what was not his.

That was how Woo Hyeok thought.

[Hmm.]

Upon hearing such an answer, Nangong Ming’s expression slightly changed. Was he perhaps contemplating something?

Watching this, Woo Hyeok spoke to Nangong Ming.

“Instead, if you wish to guide the descendants of the Nangong Clan, I would agree to that after taking care of matters here…”

He was about to suggest offering guidance when—

Boom—!

“…!”

Woo Hyeok’s head quickly turned toward a sound coming from somewhere.

Beyond the collapsed wall, a vibration was felt from a distance.

Not just the vibration but an overwhelming energy as well.

Instinctively shifting his gaze, Woo Hyeok’s mouth slightly opened.

“Uh…?”

The night sky was shining brightly.

It was supposed to be the darkest time, yet why was only that place under a clear sky? Moreover, what was this energy and heat he felt now?

As he felt the heat swirling in the wind, Woo Hyeok suddenly thought of something.

‘Could it be?’

He remembered a friend who had hurriedly left saying there was something urgent.

Was it possible that this heat and the bright night were created by that friend? Such thoughts crossed his mind.

Could a human even accomplish that?

‘If it were that friend…’

He always did unpredictable things, so maybe he had done something again.

‘And the direction is just right…’

It seemed to be in the direction of the Ice Palace Lord’s hideout. If he felt such vibrations coming from there, did this mean something had occurred?

‘Then.’

Was it possible that something had also happened to the Demon Lord or his friend?

Tightening his grip, Woo Hyeok thought.

‘I must go.’

Wasn’t it now necessary to head over?

He couldn’t afford to be late any longer.

Suu—!

Energy leaked out from Woo Hyeok’s heart. It was a peculiar sensation.

Releasing energy from his Lower Dantian felt truly surreal. However, he was accustomed to it.

As if he had always used it this way, effortlessly enveloping his body in energy.

He could go.

With his solidified body and the energy within it, he felt assured.

He had no idea how far his realm had risen compared to before, but he believed it wouldn’t take long to reach the energy he felt.

He had to run.

Just as Woo Hyeok decided and bent his upper body forward—

Boom—!

The vibrations erupted continuously before suddenly quieting down.

Woo Hyeok’s eyes widened in surprise. Was that the end of the situation?

With that question in mind, he stared straight ahead.

Bang-!

“…Cough!?”

A tremendous flash of light burst forth, blinding Woo Hyeok.

What was happening? As he felt panic rise and strained to open his eyes—

Bwahhh—!!!

Suddenly, an enormous pressure overwhelmed him.

Uaaah—!

A scream echoed from below.

With his feet planted firmly, he opened his squinting eyes and looked ahead.

“Uh…?”

Where the light was erupting from.

Beyond the whirlwind of mixed heat, an overwhelming sight unfolded.

His widened perception barely caught onto it.

Flame Burst—!

Something swallowed in flames.

It looked like a beast, particularly resembling a tiger, sweeping across the ground.

The hairs on his body stood upright as a wave of fear surged through him.

The massive energy surrounding the tiger accentuated the absolute power of a martial artist.

What on earth was that? Did that friend really do this?

For flames, it surely had to be that friend. Yet, he felt something was off.

[Hmm.]

Whether it was the wind blowing or the light erupting, Nangong Ming’s reactions were evident as he watched beside Woo Hyeok.

[This is strange.]

His gaze pointed towards the flame tiger was full of questions.

[In this day and age… there’s no way one could have reached such a height. How could this happen?]

It was as if Nangong Ming knew what that Flame Tiger was, speaking aloud to himself.

[The seal has been broken, there seems to be an anomaly.]

“Senior…?”

As Woo Hyeok looked at Nangong Ming, about to ask something, Nangong Ming acted first.

Swoosh—!

“!?”

Nangong Ming’s translucent arm plunged into Woo Hyeok’s chest.

“What the—!”

Woo Hyeok flinched, trying to pull away from Nangong Ming.

There was no pain.

Rather, he felt absolutely nothing. But—

Zzzz—!

A small surge of Thunder Qi was felt from the arm inserted.

There was no time to feel confused. The Thunder Qi expanded in volume, and by the time he realized it, it was enveloping Woo Hyeok’s entire body.

[Just borrowing for a moment.]

With that declaration, Woo Hyeok lost consciousness.

Immediately after hearing all that explanation.

I was staring at the person in front of me, still frowning deeply.

“So, you showed up like that right now?”

Nodding.

Nangong Ming, using Woo Hyeok’s body, nodded at my words.

With such a nonchalant reaction, I had to wipe my face with my hand.

“…Great, aren’t you the town fool? You even got taken from that.”

A sigh couldn’t be helped.

After all that suffering, now being taken by a century-old geezer was too ironic.

‘Next time, I really shouldn’t need to save someone…’

Who knows what strange beings might take over next time? Ignoring it seems like the better option now.

‘Anyway…’

I peeked at the person with my face covered by my hands. The one standing with hands behind his back, looking somewhere.

Though it appeared to be Woo Hyeok’s body, as he already introduced himself, he was not Woo Hyeok.

‘Thunder Heaven One Sword, Nangong Ming.’

A man once called the Thunder God by another alias.

Furthermore.

‘The essence of the thoughts within Thunder Fang.’

It was likely the Thunder Fang now belonged to Nangong Bi-ah, containing the essence within.

He said that he’d left his sentiments behind, and that his essence was in the North Sea.

‘That must mean he is the essence.’

The sentiments he left behind for his clan and remained with the sole determination to save the world.

That was the author.

‘Indeed.’

Something was different about him.

The light and filthy emotions that were felt from Thunder Fang had vanished, and as I mentioned earlier, he now stood like a sharp blade in human form.

Nangong Ming was that kind of man.

“Damn offspring of that wretched one.”

He reacted to Nangong Ming’s voice. The title was strange, but I didn’t argue.

It was plain to see who that wretched one referred to, and it wasn’t surprising that he understood my identity.

‘He had likely been through a lot to figure it out.’

That the energy of Shin Noya was within my body and that’s how he recognized me. It was no longer a matter people could be oblivious to, judging by the reactions of those here.

“Was that your doing?”

Pointing at something, as I followed, I saw the burnt remains of the White Grade Demon Beast.

“…That was not my doing.”

I had tried to catch it, but ultimately failed.

“Then, whose doing was it?”

“Why are you asking that?”

What intention did he have behind this query?

A sense of suspicion arose within me. As I spoke with an emotional tone, Nangong Ming this time gazed back at me.

“Do you know what that is?”

“…It’s a White Grade Demon Beast, right?”

The highest ranking among the demon beasts that appeared during the Blood Demon War, infamous for bringing calamity.

Moreover, they were beings that had been bestowed the name of Dragon due to their bizarre and powerful appearance.

“That should not have appeared at this time. Furthermore—”

Nangong Ming’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“Currently, that is something you cannot capture. Hence, I ask—how did you manage to catch it?”

“…Huh?”

What does that mean?

The first part made sense, but the latter was incomprehensible.

“Capture something you can’t?”

What does that even mean?

“It’s a point in time cursed by the world. As long as the beasts bear that curse, they cannot be caught. It should be like that… yet, if it’s not you, then who has managed to do this?”

“…!”

Nangong Ming’s words startled me.

The curse.

That was what Shin Noya once said.

The world had cast a curse upon this realm, to no longer grant opportunities, which had trapped martial artists who couldn’t gain strength under the descending wall like in the past.

Did that mean this was somehow related to what was happening now?

“It’s puzzling. I had prepared to hold the seal just in case. What in the world happened?”

“…You had been holding the seal?”

That meant this White Grade Demon Beast.

Specifically, that it was Nangong Ming himself preventing the manifestation of the Wretched One.

[Just a little longer….]

The words of the Wretched One came to mind. He mentioned that if given a bit more time, it would have been perfect.

This meant that he had awakened or broken free not too long ago.

Ignoring why he was conducting such actions, the important fact was that it was unexpected—the Wretched One was freed.

‘Originally, it shouldn’t have been this way.’

It might not have been like this in the previous life.

I had never heard that a White Grade Demon Beast had appeared in the North Sea.

Given the significant distance, it wouldn’t be surprising if I had been unaware if something happened. But now, it raised a question.

‘What if this had never happened?’

What if the White Grade Demon Beast had never appeared, and furthermore, if the Wretched One had never surfaced?

‘It surely means something occurred just now.’

It’s appropriate to view that someone had released the Wretched One, who had been tied within the Ice Spirit.

‘Who could it be?’

Who could have orchestrated such events?

A sense of discomfort crept up within me.

As my mind raced, Nangong Ming spoke while looking at me.

“Those monsters must not appear in this world now. The timing isn’t right.”

Not right timing.

Nangong Ming’s words stuck with me.

“Is that timing referring to when Noya… no, is it referring to when the Hwasan Sword God reappears?”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from Hwang Ah Bul Yeong.”

The remnants of Hwang Ah Bul Yeong, contained within the White Carp of Shaolin. It was what he declared.

“I see. You’ve already met that friend.”

“Yes.”

Not just Hwang Ah Bul Yeong, but also Tang Je-mun and Yeon Ilcheon.

And there was one more.

“I have also encountered other thoughts of your senior.”

“…”

Mentioning Thunder Fang, Nangong Ming seemed slightly uncomfortable.

“Perhaps, he might be nearby….”

“I know. He’s been noisy barking from the start.”

Hmm?

‘Was the Thunder Fang trying to communicate?’

It reminded me of the Thunder Fang, which had been constantly cursing the Wretched One.

It seemed like communication was possible here as well.

As I gazed at him in amazement, Nangong Ming seemed about to ignore it and continued speaking to me.

“Descendant, where is Shin Cheol?”

“…”

I had to pout at his question about Shin Noya.

“…He is not here right now.”

“Not here? Does that mean he used to be?”

“Yes.”

He originally was present, but now he was gone.

Hearing the explanation, Nangong Ming’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Are you saying he has completely vanished?”

“That’s not the case. He merely…. has passed on.”

“I can’t understand.”

“Neither can I. It’s quite perplexing, but more than that…”

As I looked into Nangong Ming’s eyes, I asked.

“What about that timing you mentioned earlier? Could you explain that a bit more?”

I was already aware of Shin Noya’s reincarnation, having heard it several times.

It was an event prepared by the heroes who foresaw the rebirth of the Blood Demon, concerned for the future.

To reincarnate Noya at the appropriate time.

That was something I had understood through numerous discussions already.

‘Even the fact it hadn’t proceeded smoothly.’

The matter concerning reincarnation was simply beyond belief, but given that I had defied time, it wasn’t something I could dismiss lightly.

Having experienced numerous absurdities, I didn’t doubt it entirely, yet—

Through the recent conversation, I learned something even more significant.

“…Are you implying that the world’s curse is connected to Noya’s reincarnation?”

A curse preventing warriors from ascending beyond a certain level due to restrictions.

With that curse, it stated that one couldn’t properly hunt a White Grade Demon Beast, and now it seemed related to Noya’s reincarnation.

‘If Noya had properly reincarnated, wouldn’t he have overcome the curse he was afflicted by?’

If that were the case, then I could understand why they were so eager for Noya’s rebirth.

With a hasty inquiry, Nangong Ming nodded.

“Did you not hear it properly?”

“There isn’t much I know.”

I also wanted to learn more about it, but it seemed Shin Noya was even more eager for information.

Originally, he had hardly any memories, so it was impossible for him to explain anything to me.

As I mentioned that, Nangong Ming’s expression grew strange.

“Did he have no memories?”

“Yes. He couldn’t even remember how he ended up contained within that treasure.”

The reasons behind why he was bound to the Hwasan Sect’s treasure and why his peers remained as sentiments stuck in this era.

Noya knew next to nothing.

Imagining the frustrated expressions we both had then, it felt somewhat amusing.

It appeared that Nangong Ming was aware of this, so perhaps my frustration could finally be alleviated.

“What does that mean?”

Even after hearing my words, Nangong Ming still had a puzzled look.

Was it so strange for Shin Noya to have no memories?

“Contained within a treasure?”

Nangong Ming conveyed somewhat shocking words.

“Not within the Ice Spirit that is in Seongseo, but a treasure? What are you saying right now?”

A chilling breeze brushed past my chest.

 

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