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Chapter 531 – The Original Treasure

-What is the relationship with the Blood Demon?

Nangong Ming’s sudden remark left me feeling a chill run down my spine.

Blood Demon, huh.

‘Why is it here too?’

Every time something goes wrong, it seems to be related to the Blood Demon.

Even recalling how Noya had ended up in that state makes me think of the Blood Demon.

As I was about to ask Nangong Ming why he mentioned that, suddenly—

[That’s enough….]

Shin Noya stepped in, blocking my question.

[We should go now.]

‘Noya?’

Not only was it strange that he interrupted me, but I was also caught off guard by his sudden urge to leave mid-conversation.

This was no ordinary matter; it was tied to the Blood Demon.

It felt like I needed to hear it somehow, but if we just left like this?

What in the world was going on?

[I’ll explain when we return. But for now, let’s go.]

‘…’

I could sense it there.

Shin Noya knew something.

Moreover, it began to dawn on me.

‘Does this mean it’s something I shouldn’t hear here?’

The fact that Noya intentionally cut off the conversation suggested that there was a valid reason for it.

I had to make a choice.

Either I insist on hearing what’s being said here or trust Noya.

What choice should I make? The answer was painfully obvious.

“… We’ll meet again next time.”

I chose to trust Noya without hesitation.

Not trusting Shin Noya after coming all this way was a problem in itself.

“So, what was that all about?”

I returned to the room, leaving behind the Nangong trio and Woo Hyeok. I hadn’t even heard the significant reason why Nangong Bi-ah rejected Noya.

I was utterly exhausted. Mentally and physically, I felt like collapsing, but I still had to ask about it.

[…]

As soon as I entered the room, Noya remained silent after my question.

Was he choosing his words carefully, or was he simply unable to speak?

“Noya.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have held my tongue, but not this time.

I had to know.

This wasn’t just about anything; it was related to the Blood Demon.

He looked at me, recalling the Blood Demon.

No one knew better than Noya how sensitive I was about this topic.

So, I waited.

I had faith that he would provide an answer, so I had to wait.

I believed that if I waited, I would receive a response.

And sure enough—

[… Kid.]

Shin Noya started to speak.

“Yes.”

As I answered, I summoned the energy barrier.

After all, there were a few martial artists gathered around.

They must have been sent by the Poison King.

It wasn’t too surprising.

Given the scale of the commotion, they were likely there to protect the guests.

And perhaps, to keep an eye on us.

I didn’t mind.

I could easily dodge their gaze now.

Honestly, even though others couldn’t hear Noya’s words, setting up the barrier put my mind at ease.

‘Just makes me feel comfortable.’

That way I wouldn’t have to worry about the rumors of a lunatic from the Gu Clan wandering about.

Oh, but then again, the rumors of me being a lunatic have already spread, so maybe it didn’t matter.

‘… Whatever.’

The rumors of me being a lunatic were somewhat convenient.

No matter what I did, people would brush it off as just me being crazy.

‘I guess I’ll just have to act crazier from now on.’

It’s what I was best at.

While I was deeply lost in this resolve,

[Before we dive into that, there’s something I need to tell you first.]

Noya began to speak.

[Kid,]

As I leaned in, the first thing he asked was—

[What do you think a treasure (귀물) is?]

It was a somewhat unexpected question.

What is a treasure (귀물)?

There are various definitions, but ultimately,

It refers to objects that possess special powers.

They serve as symbols of clans or martial sects, like the Thunder Fang or the Gui Jeong.

Once upon a time, the number of treasures owned might even have determined a clan’s prestige.

If you were to question why such a simple material possession could carry so much weight,

The crux of the matter is that treasures are items that cannot be created by human hands.

Why have they become symbols?

Why do they maintain their value?

It’s ultimately a question of whether or not humans can create them.

Special objects acquire value.

The fewer they are and the more precious they are, the higher their value tends to soar.

A treasure is termed as such not just because it possesses special powers.

It’s called a ‘treasure’ precisely because it is rare.

Ah, of course…

‘Eventually, there will be people capable of crafting treasures too.’

In five or six years, a person who could artificially create treasures would emerge.

Though it was debatable whether that would truly qualify as a treasure.

When that happened, it surely stirred quite a ruckus.

It would also be a rare occurrence to witness the birth of a new treasure.

‘But that’s not the priority right now.’

So, was Noya’s question all about what a treasure is?

From my perspective, I would say it’s simply—

“… A bizarre object.”

No other words came to mind.

Isn’t that true?

Like a sword that emits a blade of energy when infused with power.

Or a bandage that absolutely never breaks.

Or those odd rocks that no one can comprehend.

At first glance, they seem anything but normal. I couldn’t think of a more fitting description.

Having heard that answer, Noya smirked and said,

[That’s not wrong. In fact, it’s quite accurate. Now, let me ask you another question.]

[When do you think treasures came into existence?]

“Excuse me?”

When do I think treasures originated, you ask?

‘… Good question?’

When did they first appear?

By the time I was born, treasures were already widely known and existed for hundreds of years in history.

‘… But I don’t specifically remember learning when they first appeared.’

I only knew they existed in the world.

I had never been curious about how or when they came to be.

It was just common knowledge that they existed.

But now that Noya was asking me this question,

“… Are you implying there’s some connection between the Blood Demon and treasures?”

The Blood Demon that surfaced centuries ago and the treasures that seem to be widespread now—are they linked in some way?

To that, Noya replied,

[I’m not certain. But I suspect it’s related to Ming as well.]

His answer was somewhat vague.

‘Not certain.’

The fact that he isn’t sure implies he can’t categorically say it’s unconnected.

“…Then why mention treasures in the first place?”

Besides, I also needed an explanation as to why Nangong Ming linked me with the Blood Demon.

Noya paused briefly before answering.

[The items currently known as treasures.]

As he elaborated, I leaned in to listen.

[They emerged alongside the Demonic Gate.]

“… What did you say?”

I was slightly taken aback by that revelation.

‘Are you saying treasures came from the Demonic Gate?’

It was the first I had heard that.

“Is that true…?”

[How could I lie? I witnessed it with my own eyes.]

Noya had directly seen treasures spew forth from the Demonic Gate?

If this was accurate, it was certainly not a strange claim.

Shin Noya belonged to the era that began to unravel due to the Demonic Gate.

However, the content of the story was indeed bizarre.

“Are you saying the Demonic Gate… exhaled treasures?”

[Do you think so?]

“What are you trying to say? How could treasures…?”

[To be precise, what we call treasures are items spat out by the Demonic Beasts from the gate.]

… That sounds even stranger.

“Spat out by the beasts?”

An object spat out by a beast?

Not a demon stone but an actual object?

As I stood there, bewildered by that ridiculous explanation, I quickly regained my composure and questioned Noya’s statement.

“If that’s the case, why haven’t I heard about this before?”

If demons truly spit out treasures,

Why don’t they do so anymore?

Also,

‘There are no records of this.’

It was baffling that I only learned about this now.

[They may not appear now.]

“Excuse me?”

[Currently, the White Beasts are no longer surfacing, are they?]

“… Noya, are you implying…?”

The ‘white beasts’ Noya referred to were, if I wasn’t mistaken,

‘White-tier Demon Beasts.’

They were creatures with a white hue that, due to their overwhelming power, cursed the land even after their death.

With the Blood Calamity now over, such creatures no longer appeared.

Based on Noya’s words, treasure originated from such white-tier beasts.

[That’s correct, all treasures have been obtained by slaying those beasts.]

“How is that even possible?”

Gaining items by slaying demons?

I could understand if it was skin or bones or even a demon stone, but treasures? That was beyond comprehension.

It’d be more reasonable to say they were created using byproducts from those creatures.

They just spontaneously appeared?

[As for how, I have no idea. That was just the case.]

If the origin of treasures was as such, many questions arose.

Numerous contradictions came to mind.

‘… But that doesn’t matter now.’

I wasn’t focusing on the origin of the treasures.

“So what does this have to do with Nangong Ming’s remark about the Blood Demon?”

This was the important part.

The essence of the Blood Demon matter Nangong Ming mentioned.

I had to hear it.

Not a gentle nudge, Shin Noya began speaking to me in his flat tone.

[Kid.]

“Yes.”

[Have you ever questioned how you can use the Gui Jeong in your arm?]

He brought up the matter of Gui Jeong.

‘… I never found it particularly strange, though?’

It was Noya who insisted I should use it right away, asking why I wasn’t.

His words implied that I could’ve used it all along; I just didn’t know how.

Moreover, since I was endorsed with Noya’s energy at that moment, I thought it only natural that I could wield it.

[Nah.]

But Noya shook his head.

[Forget the fact that you can wield it. What I’m saying is that the Gui Jeong has changed.]

“Changed?”

I raised my arm to inspect the Gui Jeong at his words.

‘Does he mean its color has changed?’

The energy used by the Hwasan martial artists is of a scarlet hue.

Originally the Gui Jeong was that color, but now it shimmered with blue.

Seeing this, I naturally thought it had been influenced by my energy and transformed.

[That’s right, but that’s the problem.]

“… This is a problem?”

[Do you know the position of the treasures that belong to the clans?]

“I know.”

There are all kinds of treasures.

Countless to differentiate among them even.

While some are nearly useless, others, like the Thunder Fang or Gui Jeong, serve as symbols for entire factions.

Indeed, symbolic treasures.

Every prominent clan or family owned such indicative treasures.

The Gu Clan had one too, but I had never seen it being used.

[What do you think could be the reason behind that?]

“That would be… naturally, because of their unique traits matching up.”

The compatibility of those traits, that was my view.

The Thunder Fang, as can be deduced from its very name, embodies the qualities of Thunder Qi.

The same could be said for the Gui Jeong I provided to Hwasan; it bore the essence of the Plum Blossom.

All the other symbolic treasures did the same.

Each possessed qualities that reminded one of their respective clan or martial sect.

‘Now that I think about it, that is rather fascinating.’

How could that be?

As I pondered, it sparked intrigue.

If treasures emerged from white beasts, did that imply they had all absorbed energies that were compatible?

The Thunder Fang had Thunder energy, hence it was taken by Nangong Ming, and the Gui Jeong inherited Hwasan’s Daoist Qi, which meant it was taken by Noya?

Somewhere around there, I began to think I was getting it.

[… Your order is wrong.]

Again, Noya denied that notion.

“What do you mean?”

[Those items that spewed out as treasures originally had none of that energy.]

“None at all?”

This time I was even more startled than before.

You’re saying the treasures that had been spat out held no energy? Then what do the current treasures even represent?

[The original Thunder Fang was nothing more than a nameless stick, and the Gui Jeong was merely a white orb.]

“So…?”

[Do you know how such trivial treasures transformed into what they are now?]

Noya’s question sparked a connection in my mind.

It was his earlier statement about the sequence being wrong that resonated with me.

In a moment of pure instinct, I tossed out an answer.

“… You infused your energy into them?”

[Right, we infused our energy into those objects.]

And astonishing as it may seem, that was indeed correct.

The Thunder Fang, once just a simple stick, became what it is today because Nangong Ming had poured his energy into it.

The Gui Jeong transformed into a ‘Gui Jeong’ because Shin Noya infused it with his power.

‘So that’s why symbolic treasures exist in clans.’

They crafted them by infusing their own energy into previously lifeless objects.

By pouring Hwasan’s energy into the original Gui Jeong, it was bestowed upon Hwasan.

That was the implication.

“This too, does it mean that I infused my energy and thus it changed?”

[That’s right.]

So, my energy was what caused the change in the Gui Jeong’s color.

This definitively made sense.

However, here comes the hitch.

“So… what’s the problem with that?”

My energy infused into the treasure caused it to reshape itself to fit me.

What’s so problematic about that?

Isn’t that how it’s meant to work in the first place?

As I frowned, totally bewildered, Noya exhaled a sigh and continued.

[How can that not be problematic?]

[… Once energy is infused into a treasure, it does not change.]

“… Excuse me? You mean it doesn’t change?”

I lifted my arm, rediscovering the Gui Jeong cinched against it.

If it doesn’t change, then what about this?

This was clearly altered, and yet you’re saying that it doesn’t happen?

[That’s exactly the issue. Perhaps that was a concern for Ming as well.]

“Hmm….”

Isn’t the very reason why symbolic treasures are called symbolic due to the fact that most of them can’t be wielded unless one learns from their respective cause’s bloodline martial arts?

If anyone could use them, their significance would diminish considerably.

But if so…

‘Why can I use it?’

That was indeed perplexing.

To concede even a little, I possessed Hwasan’s Daoist Qi, so perhaps it was justifiable that I could wield the Gui Jeong.

However, the Thunder Fang was a different story.

That was an item soaked with Thunder Qi, and I had used it, pouring my heat into it as I had.

How could I explain this disparity?

As my confusion mounted, Noya continued.

[… We referred to such instances as dependency. It meant infusing energy into treasures to make them dependent on oneself.]

As I listened to his explanation, my mind raced with the implications.

It seemed Shin Noya continued speaking, knowing full well the weight of his words.

[Not all weapons absorb energy like that, but those that do align with their users find it to absorb energy particularly well. In such cases, other martial artists with differing inner energies could not wield them.]

Examples like the Gui Jeong or the Thunder Fang painted those perfect illustrations.

[However.]

As the conversation persisted, Noya’s tone began to grow somewhat somber.

[There was someone who used such items without the slightest care.]

That made me react.

A feeling of foreboding washed over me.

[Someone who wielded treasures like they were their own, completely indifferent to the infusions of energy.]

Additionally, he would casually toss such treasures aside once he lost enthusiasm for them.

There existed a genuine monster who had no need for the powers of treasures.

What that person did was just that.

[Even the treasures that were changed, once they fell into his hands, they took on a new appearance as if they had acquired a new owner.]

“… Noya, you don’t mean….”

At that moment, I grasped whom Shin Noya was referring to.

I felt my stomach turn.

Having reached this point,

Nangong Ming’s words echoed repeatedly in my head.

-What is the relationship with the Blood Demon?

“… Damnit?”

Why did Nangong Ming bring up the Blood Demon while looking at me?

Considering that the transformation of the Gui Jeong happened right after I exited the Blood Calamity…

[… Right. That’s exactly it.]

The answer to the story was singular.

The truth Shin Noya had been trying to convey from the start.

That was.

[It’s the Blood Demon.]

I was wielding the same power that Blood Demon Dogo Jun had once showcased, as the scourge that drenched that era in blood.

 

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