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Chapter 645: Chill

My head feels like it’s turning into stone.

I have no idea where to even begin my thoughts.

That was the sensation.

‘What the hell is this human talking about?’

Even though I tried to understand, it just wouldn’t click. It was that kind of nonsense.

“Are you saying I’m the reincarnation of the Hwasan Sword God?”

So, I’m the reincarnation of Shin Noya? No, to be precise, it means I must possess the body that should have contained his soul?

Hearing that, I thought to myself.

‘What kind of ridiculous talk is this?’

It was utterly absurd.

How could this even come to be?

With a completely bewildered expression, I replied to Nangong Ming.

“That makes no sense.”

“Why not?”

Why not, you ask? At Nangong Ming’s question, I had to stifle a chuckle.

“I’m not a disciple of Hwasan Sect.”

There were dozens of reasons to back that up. This was just the simplest one.

From my robe to the body that uses martial arts techniques, the only thing I could use to prove that I belonged to Hwasan Sect was—

‘The energy that Noya possessed and the neck token provided by the sect.’

The energy absorbed from the treasure and the neck token given as an honorary disciple.

Yet, I’m supposed to be the reincarnation of Shin Noya?

‘It would be more believable if Yeongpung were said to be Noya’s reincarnation.’

This statement held truth.

If Yeongpung were said to be Noya’s reincarnation, it would be a lot easier to buy into it.

‘There wouldn’t just be one or two things to back it up.’

A fellow disciple from the Hwasan Sect.

With the same martial arts and heart techniques, and since Yeongpung is called the greatest talent of Hwasan, he must also have the talent.

If Noya’s body had been reincarnated ahead of time, it would make more sense for it to be Yeongpung rather than myself.

‘Even if it’s not Yeongpung…’

There would be plenty more fitting candidates, but I surely wouldn’t be among them.

That was definitely the case.

“What’s the issue with that?”

Nangong Ming responded as if my words didn’t even faze him. Hearing that caused me to frown.

“Excuse me?”

“I could tell you weren’t a disciple of Hwasan Sect as soon as I saw you. I’m not blind.”

“Then why are you so adamantly insisting that I am?”

“That’s meaningless.”

“Meaningless, you say?”

“I will ask again. Does Noya’s reincarnation necessarily have to be a disciple of Hwasan Sect?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

The person who lived their whole life as part of Hwasan Sect and is called Shin Noya.

If he were to reincarnate, surely he would return to that place; becoming a successor of a martial family or clan that uses techniques he has never even touched would just be a hassle.

‘Noya used a sword, so…’

It doesn’t mean it has to be that way, but isn’t it much better?

“Hmm.”

Hearing this, Nangong Ming nodded slightly.

“That’s a valid point.”

It was a recognition that came much quicker than I expected. I thought we would engage in a debate, but it felt a bit lackluster when he reacted.

“One thing, however, that doesn’t count as a reason.”

Nangong Ming’s eyes scanned me.

It was a scrutinizing gaze, as if he were assessing me.

“Martial arts and position do not validate him.”

I focused on his words.

His distinct assertiveness made me pay attention.

“The reason he was called the Hwasan Sword God is simply because he was born and raised around Hwasan and took up a sword.”

Despite his expression showing clear discontent, there was a compelling acknowledgment in his tone.

It was a subtle difference.

Yet because of that subtle difference, I was even more focused.

“Do you know what else he was called besides the Hwasan Sword God, Shin Cheol?”

“…I don’t know.”

Any other title?

I really had no idea. I hadn’t heard of any other names besides what was historically known, but could there have been another?

If there was, perhaps something like Hwasan Mad Dog or Hwasan Wacko would be the vibe.

Since the Thunder Celestial Sword was also known as Thunder God, I thought it might have been something along those lines.

“The Greatest Sword in the Central Plains.”

“…!”

“That’s another title of his.”

That name from Nangong Ming felt heavy, pressing down somewhere in my chest.

How could it not be heavy?

The word “greatest” is already a weight, and the one speaking it is Nangong Ming.

If you had to pick someone from that era to be the strongest in the world, he would surely be a candidate and perhaps might have been the closest.

For someone like him to call Shin Noya the greatest without hesitation brought an alien feeling that made my heart tremble.

Speechless, I paused for a moment, but Nangong Ming continued as if that weren’t the end.

“If he had taken up a spear in some unknown martial arts instead of Hwasan, he would have been called the Greatest Spearmaster.”

With each word, my eyes widened.

As he spoke, I finally began to understand what Nangong Ming meant.

“If he had taken up a bow, he would have been lauded as a Divine Archer. If he walked the path of an assassin, no one would have known his face or name.”

The idea was that whatever he learned and whatever weapon he chose, he would have reached the peak.

Those words were nearly like praise.

“Though, with the techniques of a martial art, that might be a stretch; regardless, he was that kind of person.”

The commentary about the martial art techniques being a stretch was probably because of Yeon Ilcheon.

Putting that aside, just the words I had heard made me think.

A person who could have reached the top, no matter what he did.

When I recalled the Shin Noya I knew, it didn’t quite connect with the impression, yet apart from that.

‘I am a person who has no relation to such things.’

In comparison to me, it was a mix of words that felt worlds apart.

The peak and the greatest under heaven.

Things I had thought were completely unrelated as I lived my life.

Also, when I heard that Shin Noya had lived for the world, that he took up his sword for that purpose, I became all the more convinced.

‘I can’t do that.’

Not for anyone or for anything else, but living for the world?

‘What kind of insane idea is that? I wouldn’t do it, even if I’m wronged.’

I could neither do that nor think that way.

That was the kind of human I was.

So, I wished it wasn’t the case.

Though I could accept the work Noya wanted to do and live as a successor, I could never take on his mindset or live that life.

I knew that too well.

I was not Shin Noya; though I may share some resemblance, there were twisted differences.

That’s precisely why.

‘I can’t be some reincarnation of Noya.’

Nangong Ming must have been mistaken. It had to be so.

“Why exactly… do you have such confidence that I am? From what you’ve said, I understand he was an extraordinary person, but I’m so distant from that.”

“How old are you, successor?”

“Twenty.”

Including my past life, I’ve crossed that threshold, but I didn’t want to delve into that detail.

“I see. At your age, Shin Cheol and I hadn’t reached that level. From what I observe, you don’t seem that lacking?”

“…”

Nangong Ming’s words made my expression wrinkle.

“No, that’s…”

Thanks to the regression, I’d experienced all kinds of opportunities to reach this level. In terms of talent, I was far behind.

It was rather complicated to explain, so I just felt a sense of entanglement.

To him, having reached the Transformation Realm at my age might make me look like an unprecedented monster, but it wasn’t built only on my talent.

So I felt no thrill.

Seeing me like that, Nangong Ming expressed his curiosity.

“Successor, you seem more like you don’t want to know the truth of the incident rather than genuinely interested in it.”

“…”

I couldn’t deny that.

“Why is that?”

“Do I have to say that?”

The manners I had been barely holding onto began to slip. I accidentally let my anger surface.

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever response you show won’t hide the truth.”

Nangong Ming remained unfazed by my demeanor, which was somehow both relieving and infuriating at the same time.

“Successor.”

At his call, I looked at Nangong Ming.

“Did you ask how I could be so sure?”

“…Yes.”

The statement that I was Shin Noya’s reincarnation was something no one had ever suggested to me among all the intentions I encountered thus far.

In that situation, how could he be so certain it was me?

In response, Nangong Ming pointed to a part of my body.

His gaze shifted. It was my arm.

“Your left arm bears Gui Jeong.”

The blue-hued artifact, which originally lost its color, belonged to Noya.

“That is the proof.”

“…!”

At Nangong Ming’s words, my eyes widened in surprise.

“What do you mean by that?”

That being the proof?

‘How can that piece of junk be proof?’

Gui Jeong was an item I acquired from Shinryong Temple’s Biwaegun.

It was something Noya had provided, and for a while, I lived without knowing what it was, never managing to detach it from my arm.

I had learned how to use it as well as its significance, but to say it was proof?

“How does Gui Jeong become proof…?”

“Gui Jeong follows you. Is there any other proof you need?”

Ah, it’s because I’m using Gui Jeong that it seems like that.

If that’s the case, I have a rebuttal.

“In the past, I also used my senior’s artifact.”

“Artifact?”

“Yes, Thunder Fang.”

“…”

Thunder Fang, the item used by Nangong Ming, I had once used in Sichuan.

It was an item said to be usable only by those with blood ties to the Nangong Clan, yet somehow, I was able to use it strangely well.

Since the remnants of Nangong Ming were likely shouting at me, it seemed that my constitution must be rather unique.

So, wouldn’t I also be able to use Gui Jeong?

“Different.”

Nangong Ming flatly rejected my thought.

“It’s different, you say?”

“There’s a difference between using it forcibly and it following you.”

“What do you…”

“Do you really think the Thunder Fang followed you?”

I briefly thought back to the moment. Did Thunder Fang follow me?

‘…Well.’

I certainly used it, but the rebound I felt after using it was significant.

Although I used it under pressure, whether it followed me was ambiguous.

“I don’t know if it followed me or not, but I did use Thunder Fang, that’s for sure.”

“That would indeed be true. All treasures bow to you, right?”

“Yes?”

“You are a dragon, aren’t you?”

“…!”

His words were laced with daggers despite his hard expression.

Hearing that made it difficult for me to maintain my composure.

‘Did he know?’

I hadn’t been trying to hide it specifically, but I never hinted at it either. Since Nangong Ming hadn’t mentioned it, I thought he didn’t know.

But it seemed he had known all along.

“Are you saying that my being a dragon and my ability to use Thunder Fang are connected?”

I didn’t deny the dragon part.

I thought it would be a waste of time to go around discussing it.

So, I wanted to finish the Q&A quickly.

“Of course. The thing about treasures is that they originate from dragons.”

“Yes?”

I momentarily halted at Nangong Ming’s next words.

I had heard that before.

It was said that treasures came from White Grade Demon Beasts.

And I also understood that they were now known as dragons.

But how does that connect to this?

“The dragon is the master of these treasures; even if they acknowledge a human as their master, they’ll still be drawn back to the dragon.”

“So, what you’re saying is….”

Because I’m a dragon, I was able to use Thunder Fang.

Moreover, it implied I could use any treasure I wished to as well.

In that case.

“Couldn’t my ability to use Gui Jeong follow the same logic?”

Just as I could use Thunder Fang, I thought the same might apply to Gui Jeong.

“I mentioned earlier, but there’s a distinction between following and using it forcibly. Gui Jeong is following you.”

What that distinction was, I didn’t quite understand, but I somewhat grasped the nature of the latter part.

Gui Jeong follows me.

Unlike the heavy recoil I felt after using Thunder Fang, Gui Jeong gave me none of that.

I could use it at will.

After using it, I wouldn’t feel any recoil.

In that regard, I thought it was simply because I held onto a fraction of Noya’s energy combined with his remnants, which made it possible.

‘Could it be that it isn’t…?’

As that thought arose, the old memories surfaced.

I recalled the day I first saw Gui Jeong at Wudang, when it suddenly flew into me.

‘…’

There was too much evidence to deny it.

And if I was to argue against it, the reality was closing in all too fast.

“Senior…”

“Enough.”

Right when I was about to ask something further, Nangong Ming raised his hand to stop me.

“I came to confirm the situation and to make a request of you. I didn’t intend to have a lengthy conversation.”

“That is—”

“Moreover, time is of the essence.”

Crack—!

As soon as Nangong Ming opened his mouth, a sound emerged from within the space.

My gaze shifted.

I saw the air splitting.

It was a familiar sight. It indicated that our conversation was forcibly coming to a close. Seeing it made me grit my teeth.

‘Damn it, I still have so many questions.’

I had learned a lot, but with that, there was just as much left unasked.

If Noya successfully reincarnated, then where did the soul that should have entered this body go?

Also, I still hadn’t learned what Nangong Ming was supposed to do here in the first place.

What reason did he have to go to the North Sea? Were we really ending it here? That couldn’t be right.

With my impatience growing, I rolled my eyes around restlessly.

“Next time, I’ll question you in a much closer timeframe. One thing, I hope Shin Cheol isn’t with you then.”

“When you say next time… you’re saying you won’t just disappear like this?”

That sounded like a relief amidst all the happening.

“I haven’t given you much time, but this is also my role.”

Thud.

Nangong Ming reached out and tapped my forehead with his fingertip.

I didn’t dodge it. No, I couldn’t.

His movement was too natural for me to respond.

In that moment.

Zing—!

A slight current ran through my body.

It felt as though Thunder Qi were seeping into me.

“What is this…?”

“Things fell into place. Now seek out the Divine Stronghold.”

“Yes?”

“Though it wasn’t part of our planned arrangement, if Shin Cheol chose you, that itself must be destiny. What you are doesn’t matter. So for now, head towards that place.”

“…!”

Nangong Ming’s blunt words were heavy with meaning.

“And.”

As he spoke, Nangong Ming pointed somewhere again.

It was in the direction of the Black Lion and Gungju.

“If possible, I’d like you to rescue the Bloodline of the Ice Palace.”

“The Gungju, you mean…?”

It was a rather abrupt request.

Suddenly asking me to save Gungju in this situation?

When I turned to Nangong Ming, puzzled, he added,

“I have a personal favor to ask. I’ve given you so much; you should be able to do at least this much.”

“Ha.”

Hearing Nangong Ming’s words, a laugh escaped me.

So that’s what all this back and forth was about, a request all along.

What reason did Nangong Ming have to save Gungju?

I was curious about that as well, but I couldn’t ask.

“If you think of the next generation, you should be able to do this much.”

If I wanted to hear his remaining words, I would have to follow his wishes obediently.

Though it was framed as a request, it felt more like a threat.

Staring at him with a look of disbelief,

Crack—!!

The space that had split began to shatter.

It signaled the end was near.

As the debris fell, growing larger, and the rumbling vibrations sank in, Nangong Ming looked back at me.

“Oh, and successor.”

There was no time to respond.

“Be wary of Yeon Ilcheon.”

“What…?”

I wanted to urgently ask again.

Boom—!!

With a crashing vibration, I couldn’t finish my question.

As the shockwave erupted, my eyes closed.

When I finally forced them open again.

“Biwaegun—!!”

Everything had already returned to its original state.

 

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