Chapter 755
Chapter 1: The Unraveling Shadows
“Oh no…”
In a place somewhat distant from the stronghold.
A lake adorned with the autumn hues and beautiful scales of a carp.
Beneath the mansion built at an exorbitant price, an old man let out a sigh.
An overwhelming energy lingered in the void.
Melodies formed in an attempt to connect to it.
Others may not have noticed, but the old man saw the gruesome sight clearly.
‘…The Clan Leader. What on earth are you doing?’
That was undoubtedly the power of sorcery.
A systematic and calculated realm that had been prepared for an extraordinarily long time.
What could have been used as a sacrifice for it was beyond mere imagination.
Chilling.
What could have compelled someone to create such a thing?
‘…’
Wiping his cold sweat, the elder, Shin Yi, frowned.
Should I go down to the realm right now?
Shin Yi’s physical body resembled that of an ordinary person.
As such, the sounds were unheard from a distance, but he sensed them through intuition.
Pain and screams could be felt.
Someone would be wounded, crying out, and their pain was also Shin Yi’s pain.
I must descend.
What can an old man like me even do? Such worries and hesitations were luxuries.
Didn’t I know that from the moment I cast aside my last name?
‘I am a physician.’
Though life has been lamentable and I always run away…
Shin Yi had never forgotten that belief.
Though the old body clings to life, it’s no way to live by neglecting what lies ahead.
With such thoughts, his toes began to turn towards the realm.
-Elder, please don’t forget.
“…”
Suddenly, the words heard at dawn bound Shin Yi’s feet.
-Today, whatever happens, please close your eyes and shut your ears. Just stay here for a little while.
Those were the words of the damn brat who caused me hardship under the pretense of lessons.
-What do you mean by that?
-I’m sure, Elder, you’ll want to intervene no matter what. I’m asking you to refrain from that.
-What nonsense are you spewing? Speak clearly so that this old man can understand.
-…
The brat seemed to contemplate for a moment.
The look of contemplation was quite scary.
Unfortunately, Shin Yi lacked the ability to reshape appearances, so that was one thing he couldn’t fix.
In any case.
The brat, after a short pause, attempted to persuade Shin Yi again.
-Just trust me and stay still. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to resort to threats, so can you just trust me?
-…?
I thought he was truly a madman.
To say that if I don’t comply, he would threaten me, what kind of mindset could produce such words?
It was absurd, yet what was frightening was that he would truly carry out a threat.
He was indeed a shameless madman.
-…I’ve never met someone like you in my life.
-Yes, I’m the first of my kind, too.
-Enough of your ridiculous jokes. So what do you want me to do?
The funny thing was, despite speaking in such an aggravated manner, it was oddly compelling enough to be listened to.
Even though what he said was nonsensical, he had never gone back on his word. Even if he was at a loss, he never made others suffer.
If there was an issue… it would be that all those ends would result in him being broken while fixing something else.
So-called sacrifice.
A fellow who blocks something by sacrificing his own body.
Calling him a holy child seemed impossible, yet that term flashed through Shin Yi’s mind for a brief moment.
Was I perhaps a little mad myself?
-…It’s simple. Just stay put and don’t leave this place, no matter what happens today.
-What exactly could possibly happen?
-Just keep that in mind. Just don’t go out.
Upon hearing the resolved proclamation, Shin Yi offered no reply.
If that brat spoke so firmly, it indeed signified that something unusual was bound to occur.
-What a funny fellow.
Shin Yi let out a hollow laugh.
-If something goes wrong, I should pack up and run away right away; saying to just stay here is practically telling this old man to wait for death…
-It’s clear you won’t run, so I’m saying this.
-…
The look in the brat’s eyes was resolute.
-You’ll undoubtedly try to step in with that frail body of yours. If that happens, I’ll be inconvenienced. So just stay here.
-Huh…! Is this brat for real?
Although Shin Yi tried to reveal his discomfort at the somewhat overstepping tone…
-Please.
The brat continued, looking directly into Shin Yi’s eyes.
-There won’t be any issues. I’ll do everything I can to ensure it.
-…
Desperation could be felt.
Vague, but undeniably, it was desperation.
Perhaps it was because he saw that.
On one hand, it was incomprehensible.
Shin Yi ultimately replied with a positive affirmation.
Nothing was more straightforward than that.
There would be no issues. He would make sure of it.
Beyond the desperation in the eyes that conveyed that feeling.
Believing those words was altogether another matter.
But—
“This isn’t… right.”
This definitely isn’t right.
The ominous dark clouds gathering overhead and the sorcery formation nearing its completion.
Just witnessing it sends chills down one’s spine.
What sort of medium could create sorcery of that level, and what calamity would befall if that sorcery succeeded?
It was probably something he didn’t even want to think about.
Shin Yi dared to predict that.
Surely it would be so.
“…What on earth are you thinking?”
What could that brat be contemplating?
Even in the face of such chaos, can he really manage to deal with this?
Logically, it’s unimaginable.
Despite it being absurd, that one ridiculous remark held Shin Yi’s feet.
“…”
A feeling of suffocation. His chest tightened, and breathing became labored.
I must go. This is beyond mere requests; I must act.
Just as Shin Yi resolved to move forward…
“…Stay.”
“…!”
Someone halted him.
Turning his head in a hurry, he saw a rather fatigued woman standing behind him.
“How did you come out?”
With blue and white hair and skin as white as snow.
Her sharp eyes, like those of her bloodline, held a weariness that tempered her usual sharpness.
A walking enchantment.
A woman with features that seemed to contain the essence of flowers.
The woman was clutching a martial robe that belonged to the brat Shin Yi deemed ‘damn.’
Immediately upon seeing her, Shin Yi’s expression soured.
“The patient said not to leave. Did none of my words manage to reach you?”
“…”
Despite Shin Yi’s stern reprimand, the woman remained expressionless.
That’s just how she was.
She felt no thrill in anyone’s words.
Except for one person, that is.
Thud.
Ignoring the words, the woman stepped out, holding the robe to her nose and beginning to sniff a few times.
What in the world is she doing?
Shin Yi was momentarily bewildered, but after a few sniffs, she draped the robe over herself.
“What on earth are you doing…”
“I was going to take a nap, but…”
Swish.
While continuing her words, the woman suddenly drew a sword.
“…”
The old man fell silent at the scene.
The woman, who appeared calm before, now radiated a different atmosphere with the sword in hand.
Even Shin Yi, who had seen a lot, couldn’t muster a word.
“The smell is too strong… I can’t… sleep.”
“…What…”
“So… I’ll be going out… please stay here.”
“No, where do you think you’re going? I also…”
“Stay here.”
“…!”
The woman’s gaze locked onto Shin Yi.
With that look, for a brief moment, Shin Yi’s body trembled. The drowsy look washed away, replaced by a chilling visage.
He was startled, hesitating for a moment. That’s when it happened.
The woman moved gracefully.
Shin Yi hurriedly attempted to grab her, but his hand merely swiped through the air in futility.
She had already vanished.
Crackle-!
A bright flash erupted, and nothing was left where she once stood.
“Whoa?”
In disbelief, Shin Yi let out a hollow laugh when suddenly—
Thunk-! A hand landed on his shoulder.
What’s this?
“I was trying to catch you somehow. I guess it’s because you’re my blood relative that you’re quite a bit like me.”
The one gripping his shoulder had the same blue and white hair as the woman, but what was peculiar was he was missing an arm.
Yet again, Shin Yi recognized this face.
“…You?”
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not educating my disciple correctly.”
The gleeful expression on his face was irksome.
He was the best at misusing his charm.
“Well then, I’ll have to catch her back as punishment. Elder, just wait here a moment.”
Huh?
“…What? Just a minute!”
Shhink-!
There was no way those words could possibly scare him as the man’s figure rapidly vanished right before his eyes.
In an instant, both patients he had been in charge of had executed a breakout.
“…”
The elder, watching the two escape, furrowed his brows heavily.
“…Those damn Nangong bastards.”
Whispered words carried deep meaning.
As he soared through the void for some time.
His toes finally touched the ground.
-Thud!
-Clang! Clang!
From all around, sharp sounds echoed out in a relatively desolate place.
It was only upon arriving that the young man,
Gu Yangcheong, turned around.
Cough, cough.
There stood the elderly man, repeatedly clearing his throat.
Pildu Ma.
“Cough… cough.”
Seeing him, Gu Yangcheong remarked:
[That’s quite the sight, isn’t it?]
“…”
He looked pitifully drenched in sweat.
Seeming to recognize this, the old man put on a somewhat awkward expression.
“…I’m sorry for showing such a disgraceful appearance.”
[Yes, you were quite disgraceful. But it was a rather amusing sight, to be honest.]
“I never expected Huangbo Clan Leader to show up so suddenly.”
It was not just his arrival; his idleness was also unexpected.
His power exceeded expectations by far.
[Hmm.]
There was something displeasing in his expression.
Given that, the elder quickly added:
“B-But there are no issues with the plan.”
Since the plan was paramount, as long as there were no hitches, everything would be fine.
This was something Gu Yangcheong acknowledged too.
[As long as there’s no problem with that, it’s fine.]
Swoosh.
The masked figure turned toward the void.
The dark clouds had turned far darker than before, and the connections flowed almost to their conclusion.
[Is that what you were talking about?]
“Yes, it is.”
The old man nodded his head.
“It’s a sorcery triggered using six mediums.”
Even while speaking, he was keenly assessing the other’s reaction.
There was none.
A signal to continue explaining.
“When all the connections are complete… the calamity I explained to you before will explode forth.”
[That’s right. Ah, that’s right. Heavenly Demon.]
“Yes, my Lord.”
[There’s one thing I’d like to ask.]
“Speak freely.”
[That sorcery, is it activated without you?]
“Well… what do you mean by…?”
[Answer.]
A slight hesitation at the subtle question, but the old man continued with his answer.
“Since it’s been activated, unless one seeks out and destroys the mediums, it won’t cease.”
[Certainly, you must have hidden them away?]
“Yes. No matter how the Wind Dragon Order operates… they won’t be able to find and release them within today.”
[Good.]
Upon hearing the explanation, laughter resurfaced.
The Wind Dragon Order had a day to act; if not, it would take at least several days, so there seemed to be no problems in that.
Furthermore,
The gaze hidden behind the mask, with purple eyes, was directed at Pildu Ma.
[How fortunate.]
“Lord…?”
What sort of gaze could this be? Shin Yi felt a chill run down his back.
Before he could ponder the odd sensation, suddenly—
Thump.
He sensed a presence nearby.
As Pildu Ma turned his head, someone approached him.
Dressed in yellow clothing, their face concealed.
“What is this!”
An enemy, perhaps? Pildu Ma rapidly grabbed a weapon and stood up.
He hadn’t caught on to the other’s approach. That meant they were quite strong.
Though surprised, there was thankfully no need for concern.
After all, beside him stood the divine being, one of the Eminent Beings, Pejon.
Kuwack-!
“…Cough…!?”
Spitting blood, Pildu Ma’s eyes widened.
He lowered his head to gaze at something.
His chest.
A hand had erupted from within it.
With a creaking sound, he slowly turned to see who had ambushed him.
“…Lord…?”
Drip.
His gaze filled with queries.
As if on cue, the hand reached slowly for the mask.
Clink.
Gripping the cracked mask, it gradually peeled away.
The mask slipped off entirely, and the face within met Pildu Ma’s gaze.
“…What…?”
Shock crept onto the old man’s face.
The once dazzling purple eyes remained unchanged, but the face was undeniably much younger.
No, the age didn’t matter.
What mattered was—
“…You…”
The identity of the person he believed to be the Heavenly Demon was none other than someone Pildu Ma recognized.
“…So…yeom…”
“I’m sorry.”
Fwoosh!
“…Curse…”
Thud.
As the hand withdrew from his chest, Pildu Ma fell weakly to the ground.
Rolling beside him was something that had been yanked from his chest.
His heart.
That heart, as if still full of life, continued to beat.
“…Curse…”
Pildu Ma desperately tried to grab it, but—
Squash-!
A foot came crashing down, crushing the heart beneath it.
“I was hoping to use you a bit longer.”
Those merciless words curled around Pildu Ma’s ears.
“But unfortunately, you are no longer of any use.”
That would be the last voice Pildu Ma ever heard.
The elder who dreamed of reviving the Jiegal Clan breathed his last breath.
Leaving behind his freezing flesh, Gu Yangcheong continued onward.
Crackling—!!
As he walked, a rough sound roared from his body as it began to transform.
The gigantic form started to shrink gradually.
“…”
Walking calmly, he came before the figure of the Huangbo Clan.
He had already kneeled, greeting Gu Yangcheong.
“What’s the situation?”
Watching that, Gu Yangcheong asked nonchalantly.
Then,
“According to the Clan Leader’s orders, we are focusing on rescuing civilians and are trying to minimize kills as much as possible.”
Swoosh.
As the figure spoke, he unmasked himself. The identity was revealed as Nahi.
Dressed in the Huangbo Clan attire, Nahi remained mobile.
“Keep as many people away from the center as possible.”
“I understand.”
Gu Yangcheong took off the martial robe he was wearing and handed it to Nahi.
Nahi readily accepted it, casting a glance at Pildu Ma’s corpse.
“What should we do about that?”
The already deceased body.
She was inquiring whether to dispose of it discreetly.
“Huangbo Clan Leader has been informed separately; he’ll take care of it. Just have your personnel dispose of it at a designated location.”
“Understood.”
Pildu Ma would likely be found dead in some remote mountain, destined to be discovered. No, he had to be discovered.
Upon the awakening of the Huangbo Clan Leader, he would search for the culprit, and upon finding them, a struggle would ensue that would culminate in his death.
After that, I expanded my sensibilities to gauge the situation.
The aftermath of battles could be felt from everywhere.
‘More than I anticipated.’
Defenders against the ambush.
Those weren’t only members of the Huangbo Clan.
‘The Hwasan Sect too. A few martial artists among them.’
I had expected them to crumble, yet there were unexpectedly many who bore goodwill.
Should I be pleased or annoyed by this?
I wasn’t quite sure how to feel.
Once I grasped the situation, I immediately ordered Nahi.
“Reinforce the personnel.”
“I’ll notify the troops.”
The waiting Night Assassins would also need to move.
“Get to it.”
Bang-!
At Gu Yangcheong’s command, Nahi vanished from sight.
Time was of the essence.
Looking up at the sky, a thought crossed my mind.
“…”
What should I do from here?
I pondered briefly.
I wasn’t contemplating how to proceed.
It was about whether what I had to do was the correct course of action.
So I took a moment to reflect, yet—
“…I must. What else is there to do?”
This was a mental debate with a set answer.
“Let’s move.”
I tucked the mask into my bosom.
At this point, I’d imparted enough awareness, even if only briefly.
That an evil exists capable of creating such a situation.
I’ve shown that to the Clans. It was insufficient but satisfactory nonetheless.
This was chaos.
Although it was chaos created by someone, chaos nonetheless.
The existence that would incite chaos.
Banshees and despair echoed within.
It was time to further demonstrate the possibility.
Now was the time to attend to other matters.
– Waaaaah…
– Please save me… save me…
– Daddy…! Where are you, Daddy…!! Daddy!
When chaos arrives, a hero is bound to emerge.
An evil has created chaos, so now it is time for that hero to rise.
“…”
Swallowing down the rising despair, I braced my legs and soared into the air.
“Life truly is…”
Having just played the villain.
“…the worst.”
It was time to be the hero!
