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Chapter 615: Biwaegun

Sometimes, very rarely, memories rise up.

Just around the time I had just turned twenty.

Yeah, exactly the age I am now.

It was a memory of the time I was barely surviving in the Demonic Gate.

[I told you. Following so closely is foolish.]

As I gasped for breath, that bastard had said it while looking down at me.

Damn it.

[Hah… I should be able to follow… Hah… You crazy bastard.]

I could barely speak.

That’s how drained I was.

Seeing that, Woo Hyeok chuckled and said,

[You just died three times in front of me.]

Once from getting my head chopped off in the first exchange.

Twice from a feint in the third.

And the last time, failing in a reckless charge, that made it three times.

It meant that everything I tried had failed.

[Just let me die in one go. Why drag it out to three? Damn it.]

[Think before you fight, will you?]

[I did think, you jerk.]

[Don’t you remember almost getting eaten the last time you charged in like that?]

It wasn’t that I didn’t remember—it was all too clear.

I had almost been chewed up, saved only by the So Sword Sect and Woo Hyeok.

[…So embarrassing, damn it. Why didn’t you just let me die there?]

As I spat my lament, Woo Hyeok suddenly gave me a flick to the head.

Thud-!

Did he hit harder than usual? My head spun.

[You crazy…!]

[You don’t throw your life away so carelessly.]

I was about to snap, but Woo Hyeok’s words made me frown and shut up.

His eyes were unnecessarily serious.

[I keep saying it, but you need to stop throwing your life away when things don’t go your way.]

I couldn’t understand.

If all means and methods fail, there’s nothing left but to charge in at the end.

Furthermore.

‘My life isn’t precious.’

What’s the point in valuing this life?

Countless lives that seemed more precious than mine had perished in this land.

I didn’t live a life worthy enough to cherish myself.

It was something that didn’t resonate with me.

Was that thought clear on my face?

Woo Hyeok sighed and said,

[Calm down a bit.]

[This is me trying to calm down.]

He spoke earnestly, but Woo Hyeok’s face was instantly distorted.

What the hell is wrong with this guy…?

[Look at you now. You were about to get mad.]

[You’re making a ugly face.]

[People can have bad expressions! But does that mean you have to get mad right away?]

[If you hold it in, you might die of anger!]

[You are basically a walking anger management problem, so you’ll be fine… Sorry. I apologized within three seconds.]

I grit my teeth and held back.

It wasn’t like hitting him would do me any good. If I made the wrong move, I’d just end up getting beaten.

[Please, no matter what happens, hold on just three times. Then, you’ll live.]

Struggling to hold back even once was hard enough; asking me to hold back three times was insane.

At that time, it sounded like complete nonsense.

Even after hearing those words, I rarely managed to hold back.

Not even on the days when Woo Hyeok uttered those words until he died.

Now, while I tried to keep the promise of that day, I still had doubts.

Telling me to cherish life and that my life wasn’t something to be thrown away.

Such words are.

‘At least.’

I thought Woo Hyeok didn’t have the right to say that.

He had lived with the intent of giving up his life.

The eyes of Woo Hyeok, who advised me to live, were dead.

He, just like me, lived throwing his life away.

If there was any difference.

‘I just threw mine carelessly. That guy burned his body to save others.’

My life wasn’t precious at all.

So, I might as well live as I please until I die.

That was me.

My life wasn’t something to treasure.

So, I would use it to help others.

That was Woo Hyeok.

Things seemed similar yet different.

And so, I wondered.

Though I may have lived like a worm, you, who lived under the Wudang’s blessing and the world’s attention.

How come you have such hollow eyes?

Also.

‘Why do you feel a sense of kinship with me?’

What was the reason you extended your hand to me, a beggar, and stayed friends?

Those were questions I couldn’t know because he died.

Therefore, what I felt as I lived through now was.

‘In the end, you were right.’

I was wrong.

Woo Hyeok was right.

Cherish your life.

Don’t carelessly throw your life away.

That might not have been what he intended to convey.

But now I understood that my life held its own value.

Even if it wasn’t.

Thud-!

‘It may not be for myself.’

Swirling-!

The Taoist Qi of Wudang.

The unique clear and pure energy blends into the flow, increasing its intensity.

Wudang’s defense wasn’t about being unbreakable.

It was about calmly letting everything flow no matter the circumstances.

Slow yet swift movements.

Thump-!

Meanwhile, the weight pressed down onto the foot that crushed the eyes.

The sword flows. It’s fitting to express it that way.

It’s vivid. And beautiful.

At least much more than the sword I faced from the elder of Wudang.

Abandoning my thoughts and going mindless, just flowing with the moment.

Woo Hyeok’s sword contained the Wudang’s will.

Thud-!

The sword tip grazed my cheek.

Blood splattered.

Feeling that, I laughed.

‘This crazy bastard.’

Both he and I.

Have all turned into monsters after just a few years of not seeing each other.

Woo Hyeok had already crossed the wall.

He was at his peak when I first saw him.

And by the time we parted, he had reached complete mastery.

Now he was on the verge of transformation.

He hadn’t completely crossed it yet, but it wouldn’t take long until he did.

‘What a ridiculous turn of events.’

It felt hollow.

In my previous life, I definitely wasn’t this fast.

Tang Soyeol and Yeongpung too.

Somehow, the growth rate of Late-Stage Talents felt out of sync.

‘Some are surviving while gobbling all the opportunities.’

I have no idea where they keep getting their enlightenment from.

Rush-!

I changed my footwork.

I stepped back half a pace. At that moment, the sword grazed my neck.

When I sent my gaze, the sword was already gone.

It had already been retracted due to my failure.

Boom-! Heat rose in my eyes as my heart raced.

I opened my Heart Eye.

Whoosh-!

Countless lines radiated from Woo Hyeok’s body.

Simultaneously, as the sword flowed, it seemed like stars were pouring down.

The stars were the trace left by the sword.

Their number was particularly high, reminiscent of the night sky.

He’s gotten stronger.

I felt that as I witnessed it.

But.

Fortunately, I was still stronger.

‘Technique of the Flame Wheel.’

Whoosh–!!

The blue flame that burst from my physical body soon enveloped the surroundings. The flames roared and devoured everything.

“…!”

Woo Hyeok paused at the sight and widened the distance.

He was trying to measure the distance of the flames.

Seeing that, I altered my energy’s movement.

‘Improvement.’

There were times when I modified my martial arts to my taste.

That was the strength of today.

Technique of the Flame Wheel.

Whew—!!

The enormous ring of flames flowing through my body began to change shape gradually.

Dozens, hundreds, breaking down into smaller and smaller fragments.

Torn and ripped, the blobs of fire gradually sharpened.

Yeah, it transformed to look like arrowheads at the end.

Woo Hyeok widened his eyes at that sight.

It was a vast quantity of flames that could obscure his vision.

I looked at him and lowered my fingertip.

At that very moment.

Boom–!!!

Countless spheres of fire floating in the sky poured down on Woo Hyeok.

Kaboom-kaboomkaboom—!!

An enormous explosion shook the snowy ground.

Flames burst forth, and energy erupted in all directions.

Each time, my heart’s beat intensified.

‘Tch….’

I was running low on energy.

The bet from before hadn’t fully recovered.

That was the reason.

Zzzt-!

The reason Woo Hyeok could endure those flames.

Swish—!!

A sword moved at tremendous speed.

Countless forms of strong energy repelled the flames.

Carving and carving through the air.

The marks left behind formed a circular barrier.

Kaboom-!!

It seemed as if he wouldn’t miss a single one, driving away all the flames.

A chilling speed and accuracy.

‘Wow.’

As I watched, a sudden premonition struck me.

If the world were to turn peaceful.

And if I could prevent the Blood Calamity from happening.

‘This Sword King title battle will be intense.’

The one receiving the title from Nangong Jin would undoubtedly be strong.

Whether it’s Yeongpung, Seongyul, or Woo Hyeok—no matter who, it would be quite a spectacle.

Thinking that.

Whoosh-!

I lunged toward Woo Hyeok.

“…!”

In the midst of blocking the flames, Woo Hyeok turned his gaze toward me.

Swish-!

The speed of his swinging sword quickened.

Thus, the barrier thickened.

Was he trying to make it so I couldn’t easily approach him?

Not a bad choice.

He had to block those flames too.

‘But.’

-There’re definitely gaps between those rapid sword strokes.

The Heart Eye I learned from the Pejon spoke so.

My eyes grew heated.

In the vast gaps of the sword paths, a faint light flickered.

That was it.

Amidst the chaotic celebration of blades.

Without hesitation, I reached out my hand.

Then.

Smash-!

“Gah!!”

My hand pierced through the barrier and grasped Woo Hyeok’s neck.

And I pulled him out.

Roar–!!

The pouring flames swept across the ground.

Kaboomkaboomkaboom-!!!

Only the surroundings, excluding ‘us’, were engulfed in glaring explosions.

After a while, when the pouring flames stopped.

Thick smoke billowed, and I lifted Woo Hyeok, whom I had grabbed.

“Hey.”

“Cough….”

Woo Hyeok exhaled in distress.

He didn’t look that great physically.

It seemed he didn’t take a critical hit, but it looked like he got scratched up a few times.

“Does it hurt?”

I asked blankly, and Woo Hyeok spoke with a hoarse voice.

“…Huff…huff…. It hurts…a lot.”

“You just died three times in that fight with me.”

Even as I spoke, I found it amusing.

Because it was something I had once heard from Woo Hyeok.

“…I know. I know very well.”

Woo Hyeok laughed at my words.

I couldn’t laugh back at that time.

“…You really are strong. You seem much stronger than before.”

“Coming from you, that makes me feel quite guilty.”

This guy was a true genius.

Every time I heard words like that from geniuses, the tiny guilt that remained in me ached.

Well, that aside.

“Why did you do that?”

“…”

“Everything’s fine. You can start a rebellion and all. Right?”

If you didn’t like something, you could turn the nation upside down, right?

I was fine until there.

But.

“You shouldn’t be blocking me.”

Woo Hyeok held his sword and genuinely tried to fight me.

“You’ll die doing that. Do you understand?”

Did he think he could defeat me?

No, there was no way Woo Hyeok thought that.

So, did he think I could not kill him?

‘That’s partially correct.’

Right.

I couldn’t kill Woo Hyeok.

It wasn’t just because I considered him a friend.

He was too precious a person to kill.

But.

‘That was only when he was ‘Woo Hyeok’.’

The guy who had strived to protect the foolish me.

The one who kept holding onto an unknown belief amidst numerous circumstances.

At least, he wouldn’t block my path.

That was how I thought of Woo Hyeok.

However.

‘Is the current you still Woo Hyeok?’

Or are you just Biwaegun, an unknown being?

Though they had the same existence, the person in front of me was not the same individual.

“Tell me. Why are you doing this?”

Though I asked, looking into Woo Hyeok’s eyes.

“…”

Once again, Woo Hyeok didn’t answer.

He just stared silently at me.

‘Hmm.’

I was about to add something but had to shut my mouth.

The look in Woo Hyeok’s eyes now.

It’s too familiar.

A gaze so familiar that I felt like I had seen it somewhere.

Where have I seen such eyes?

After a moment of thought, I realized not long after.

‘Ah.’

Yeah, that gaze. I wondered where I had seen it.

‘It’s my own eyes.’

Just like the eyes I had in my previous life.

Though they seemed a bit clearer now.

That implies.

‘To kill?’

It meant his state wasn’t good.

He was barely hanging onto his consciousness as he gave up everything.

Was that act even meaningful?

Isn’t it too late for Woo Hyeok now?

As that thought crossed my mind.

I tightened my grip.

At that moment.

[Just hold on for three times.]

“…”

That damnable line floated in my ear.

“Tch.”

Whoosh-!

I threw Woo Hyeok away.

Thud-! He rolled helplessly in the snow.

“Gah…!”

Since he couldn’t properly wrap his energy, he left a mark on the ground.

Looking at that, I said.

“Get lost. I’ll let you off this time.”

I was about to leave, saying that to Woo Hyeok, moving towards Nangong Bi-ah when—

A crackle.

I turned back at the sound of presence.

There, Woo Hyeok was standing up once more.

I wished that was the end of it.

Swish.

He aimed his sword at me again.

Seeing that, I had to pinch my brows.

He had no intention of letting it go, did he? Is that what he’s saying?

“…You’re really going to die. Stop it now.”

I warned him.

“Just kill me.”

Woo Hyeok said firmly, looking at me.

“I can’t let you go there. Just kill me instead.”

“Sheesh.”

I spat out a curse and steadied my energy.

“Damn it.”

I see.

This meant there was no other way.

Then.

“Fine, just die.”

It seemed there was only one method left.

I moved my body.

Woo Hyeok also lunged at me simultaneously.

The sword tip was sharp. It meant he wouldn’t hold back in using it.

I felt his sincerity.

Watching this, I wrapped flames around my palm.

Flame Jade.

The blue jewel gathered on my palm.

Whoosh-! A substantial amount of my energy flowed out.

It meant I intended to finish this in one blow.

Holding onto the Flame Jade, I charged at Woo Hyeok, while he struggled to stabilize his swaying sword and charged back at me.

The killing intent coiled around the sword tip.

Seeing that, I swung my hand, thrusting the Flame Jade toward Woo Hyeok.

Just before we reached each other.

I could see it.

Woo Hyeok’s sword, coming at me.

Swoosh…

Right before it touched, he relaxed his grip.

Seeing that, I thought.

‘Right.’

I wasn’t surprised.

‘Figured you’d do that.’

I had known from the start.

As Woo Hyeok’s body approached and the Flame Jade was about to touch him.

Boom-!

I reclaimed the energy of the Flame Jade and retreated.

“What…?”

At that moment, Woo Hyeok’s expression turned to one of panic.

Crack-!

I grasped his sword, plunging it into my body.

Thud-!

An eerie sound echoed from my belly.

“…!!”

The sword blade dug into my flesh.

Blood oozed from my skin, dripping down the blade.

“Ah…!!”

Woo Hyeok’s eyes widened in surprise at the situation.

As he hastily tried to pull out the sword.

Crack-!!

I grasped it tightly, not letting it budge.

“You…!”

“Three times.”

I cut Woo Hyeok off.

“I told you to just hold on three times, but this time I’ve held on for about four. Did well, right?”

In Woo Hyeok’s eyes, full of confusion and surprise, he clearly didn’t understand.

I said to him.

“From what I’ve experienced…”

Though blood kept flowing from my lips.

Feeling that, I instead grinned at Woo Hyeok.

“This is the quickest way to bring you back to your senses.”

This was a tale from my past life.

A story I had experienced directly from my father.

 

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