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Splash.

I looked around at the sound of shallow waves lapping gently.

Splash… splash…

I could hear the sound, but I felt no difference.

The ink-filled space allowed me to see only a short distance ahead; the rest was just pitch black darkness.

Where was this place? What was happening outside?

Suddenly, such questions flitted through my mind, but I didn’t dwell on them.

From my experience in life, I knew that pondering too much wouldn’t yield clarity.

As always, I only needed to focus on the situation right in front of me.

Thinking that, I locked eyes with the old man.

“Wow.”

What a terrifying appearance he had.

That was the thought that crossed my mind upon seeing him.

Dressed in a pure white martial robe adorned with plum blossom embroidery on his chest.

He was tall, sitting cross-legged, propping his chin with his hand.

His deep scarlet eyes were striking as they bore down on me.

Thump.

My heart raced as I looked at him.

Thump.

Thump.

It wasn’t an emotional reaction.

It was energy. The energy of Noya within my body resonating with that of the “author.”

In other words…

“Is that you, Noya?”

Did this old man in front of me mean the Shin Noya I knew?

As I pondered this, the old man’s voice broke through my thoughts.

[How strange.]

The old man also expressed confusion and spoke to me.

[Who are you? Why do you possess that?]

The Taoist Qi of Shin Noya within me.

Could he sense that? His expression was one of obvious bewilderment.

[What is your identity?]

Identity, huh?

His question made me chuckle slightly.

“That’s what I’d like to ask.”

I spoke with Noya’s voice in Noya’s form.

And since I harbored Noya’s energy, the chance of that old man being Shin Noya was high.

However…

“What are you exactly?”

Oddly enough, I didn’t think of that old man as Shin Noya.

[You wish to know who I am?]

In response to my question, the old man smiled back.

Wow, that smile was fierce.

He looked genuinely menacing.

[You called for me so urgently, yet you don’t even know who I am?]

“I wasn’t searching hard,” I replied. “I just called out once since it was on my mind, and here you are.”

[Hoh.]

As he laughed, the plum blossom petals fell.

In this dark space, that peculiar little leaf softly landed on the water.

Buzz.

Waves spread as if resonating outward.

[I am the eighth Sect Leader of the Hwasan Sect.]

Before I knew it, the old man had stepped down from the rock to stand before me.

[They call me Hwasan Sword God Shin Cheol.]

As I gazed closely into his scarlet eyes, my skin involuntarily tightened.

A sense of wariness resided within my physical body.

[Is that enough of an introduction for you?]

“…”

As expected.

The old man introduced himself as Shin Cheol, and I could clearly tell that it was indeed him.

But why was it so?

“Hmm.”

Why did I keep feeling as if this old man was not Shin Noya?

[Now, tell me. Young one, who are you that sought me out so desperately? And,]

The old man’s fingertip pointed at my chest.

[Why does my energy reside within you?]

Thud.

The tip of the old man’s finger poked my chest.

Then…

Whoosh!

The Taoist Qi within me surged, expanding through my Blood Qi.

It felt like the petals of a flower blooming.

The sensation was refreshingly warm, tempting me to let it be for a moment.

But…

Crack-!

I seized the spreading energy and sealed it back in my heart.

[Hah.]

The old man let out a snicker at my action.

I paid no heed.

“This energy was naturally received from its owner.”

[Hmm?]

“He was a foul-tempered old man who loved to talk a lot.”

Thud thud.

I brushed off the spot where his finger had touched me.

[Nonsense. I never gave you such energy.]

The old man frowned as if he couldn’t believe my words, so I corrected him once more.

“Hey, I didn’t say I received it from you. I said I got it from the owner of this energy.”

[So, that energy is my energy-.]

“No.”

I cut him off while he scowled.

“This energy isn’t yours, I said.”

Swoosh-!

[…!]

The old man’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

Probably because something was wrapped around my hand when I interrupted him.

Gui Jeong.

Hwasan’s Treasure, and Noya’s beloved item, wrapped tightly around my left hand.

[How did you…?]

“I’m just as curious as you. What are you?”

His appearance, his voice, the atmosphere radiating from him—

Even the Taoist Qi within my body kept pointing to him as Shin Noya.

But…

“Why are you wearing Noya’s guise?”

I didn’t trust him.

My instincts were telling me.

That old man was not the Shin Noya I knew.

And I had no doubt in that instinct.

[…Hah.]

In response to my confident words, the old man’s expression turned incredulous.

And at the same time…

Swish-!!

Scarlet bandages appeared in the old man’s hand and took shape as a sword.

Gui Jeong.

The very Gui Jeong that had once held that scarlet hue before I touched it.

[How very strange.]

As the old man grasped Gui Jeong, he threw it over his shoulder and locked eyes with me.

[Young one, though you are not my successor, you’ve grasped things I arranged for. This item was recently given to a child, yet you carry it. Just what is your identity? Could you be the child who entered Biwa first…? No, that cannot be. I would have known.]

Biwa.

Was it the thing Yeongpung found?

The one that supposedly communicated voices and energies?

[You don’t understand, do you? Just what are you?]

“What I am, you can ask that so-called successor of yours.”

I figured it wouldn’t be possible for Yeongpung and me to converse directly, but that was their problem.

“I’m in a position where I can’t talk with our old man either.”

At this point, the one I had to question had left the stage to help me.

“If you truly are Hwasan Sword God, then what is a long-dead gentleman doing here?”

[That is a foolish question.]

The old man’s response came without hesitation.

[I am sorry to burden the hands of my successor with unfinished business… but it could not be helped.]

“Unfinished business… Could it be related to the Blood Demon?”

[-!]

The old man’s expression twisted at my words.

[…How do you know that?]

“Umm.”

It seemed I was right.

‘That means…’

The old man knows something about the Blood Demon.

That was strange.

‘Noya didn’t know anything.’

That gentleman had lost most of his memories, knowing very little.

He had only said that the ghost was more of a nuisance than useful.

Of course, by later stages, he had somewhat regained his senses.

But before that, he had been a man unaware of why he died.

In that light…

‘…Wait, is this really the real deal?’

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

Just from the feeling, this one seemed like it might be more useful.

‘Should I switch?’

If they’re both similar types, a switch wouldn’t hurt too much…

-What the hell is this?

“…”

I sharply turned my head away.

I could’ve sworn I heard someone give a rude remark from somewhere.

What a creepy feeling.

‘Just kidding. Just kidding.’

I felt too scared to joke around.

Chuckle. I laughed inwardly and turned back to face the old man.

Whether what I faced was fake or real, I didn’t care.

Whatever I believed to be real was real for me.

And the man standing before me was fake.

As far as I’m concerned, that was enough.

[How do you know that?]

“I heard it. Here and there.”

I’d heard more than enough to believe the rumors had reached me.

[I heard… ?]

“Yup. I heard from Unyielding of Shaolin.”

That was what the Unyielding I met in Shaolin had said.

“And from Poison Heavenly River in Sichuan.”

The same was true for Tang Je-mun, whom I met in Sichuan.

“And from that damn North Sea, where I heard it from Thunderous Heavenly Sword.”

I even heard it from Nangong Ming, who was guarding Ice Spirit.

“And…”

Lastly, I called out one by one the gentlemen who had tormented me in the past.

Ah, but forget about Tang Je-mun, my senior; he was more of a help than a hindrance.

“I also heard it from Yeon Ilcheon.”

Upon mentioning Yeon Ilcheon, the old man’s reaction sharpened.

[…]

I could see his expression twist slightly.

So I decided to deliver my final blow.

“Oh, and by the way, Thunderous Heavenly Sword said I was the reincarnation of Hwasan Sword God.”

[What?]

As I picked at my ears and said this, the old man’s expression twisted into amusement.

“So the reason I can’t trust you is…”

[Don’t spew nonsensical words.]

He truly looked angry, glaring at me with burning eyes.

[There’s no way my reincarnation could look like you.]

“…What the hell did you just say?”

[You little brat. Mind your words when speaking to an elder.]

“This old man sure does have a way with words…?”

My mood soured considerably.

What the hell was this frustrating feeling?

Grinding my teeth, I glared at the old man.

[Indeed, I thought something was off from the beginning.]

The old man’s tone shifted, as if he had realized something.

[It was strange that the Gui Jeong at Wudang wasn’t responsive, and alongside your words, along with the last piece of nonsense I just heard—I think I understand now.]

His voice was filled with certainty.

Did he truly realize something?

[You are the servant of the Blood Demon.]

“Dammit.”

As if the realization itself was ridiculous.

[It flowed differently than expected. Was this his ploy?]

“I’m sure you’ll believe whatever you hear, right?”

[If that’s the case, then it’s just a mistake.]

“What? You’re telling me you don’t believe me?”

Looking at the state of things, it seemed things had indeed gone awry.

But the reason things had gone south was because I was the reincarnation, and that was a rather frustrating truth.

‘Dammit…’

A sigh escaped my lips.

At this point, I didn’t care whether he was Shin Noya or not.

My original goal wasn’t that.

“…Now, could you tell me the situation of why you’re stuck here? And why you chose Yeongpung as your successor?”

[That’s a joke. How can I share that when I can’t even trust you?]

“Right. We can’t trust each other.”

I acknowledged that. We didn’t trust a single soul around here.

But that was also irrelevant.

Swoosh.

[Huh?]

I raised my fist towards the old man and said, “But don’t you also have questions for me? If so, this might go a lot smoother.”

I smiled brightly.

“Let’s have a match.”

[…]

It was the same method I had used a few days ago with the Sect Leader of Emei.

The situations were quite different, but…

The fact that it could be applied anywhere was a great feature.

“So, we agree that the winner will share the truth.”

A tidy way to wrap things up.

Bantering would get us nowhere; it was pointless.

If conversation couldn’t resolve it, this was the natural course of action.

Hearing this, the old man looked at me with a strange expression.

[Ha ha.]

Suddenly he burst out laughing and added,

[Everything was quite displeasing, yet I like this one thing.]

Saying that, he plunged Gui Jeong into the ground.

Shiver!

As I saw this, my entire body stood on edge.

Oh… This crazy.

‘Wow. I feel like I’ve entered into deep trouble.’

How long had it been since I’d felt this sensation?

Even without any major actions, my survival instinct screamed at me.

That simple motion emanated such overwhelming pressure.

[It’s good that you’re intoxicated with your own strength. You are indeed strong, young one. However, if you are believing that it grants you permission to challenge me to a spar… ]

“Are you crazy?”

[Hmm?]

As his momentum continued to rise, I yelled out in clarification.

“Of course, you should go easy on me.”

[…]

“Are you seriously planning to battle me, an adult, to the fullest? That’s just downright cold-hearted, isn’t it?”

[…]

“You should fight me with your legs up, or even with just a finger. Hell, you can hold your breath and fight with your eyes closed. You ought to entertain me like that!”

[…Doesn’t your example sound rather ridiculous?]

“Then are you telling me you plan to fight seriously? If you win, I’ll definitely say whatever you want.”

[…]

“I’d be unwilling to say anything even if I were wronged.”

At my words, the old man looked as if he could barely hide his dread.

[…You little brat, you don’t appear to have much pride.]

“Yeah. Worrying about that hasn’t helped me at all.”

[That’s true.]

The old man nodded, seeming to accept that.

[Knowing your place is one of the best aids for survival.]

Without a doubt, even if he were fake, he felt more relatable.

When I shared words like this with others, they would simply stare, awestruck, as if they had no idea what I was talking about.

[Very well.]

Whoosh.

The sound of Gui Jeong being pulled from the ground echoed, and it settled upon his shoulder.

It was the same action as before, but strangely, I perceived the plum blossom fragrant around him.

[Out of respect for your wishes, I will set conditions.]

The aroma was evident in his voice.

Was this some form of combat posturing?

[Only eight strikes. I will yield that much. If you land even a single strike on me, I shall acknowledge your victory—!?]

Before the old man could finish laying out his conditions.

I hurled the Sacred Spear at him with all my might.

Whoosh-!

Bang–!!

The spear struck the old man, causing an explosion.

The ink on the floor splattered everywhere, expressing the impact.

So, this was the power of condensed energy from such close range?

I couldn’t help but feel astonished at my own martial arts.

“Ugh.”

Regrettably, I had to wear a disappointing expression as I assessed the situation.

“Oh, how unfortunate. I thought this might work.”

In the center of the explosion.

From that very core, the old man glared at me with discontent.

Grasping the Gui Jeong in his hand, he frowned at the fact I had prepared this surprise attack.

It turned out disappointing; I had expected at least a slight injury.

As the old man looked around the scene and then at me, he spoke up.

[This is preposterous…. To think I’d be reaping what I had sown in my old days directly.]

He merely dusted off his attire.

Despite being struck directly, that was all he seemed to gather.

The contrast in our realms was stark.

As a martial artist, I was filled with respect.

I conveyed that sense and said to the old man, “As I struck before your words finished, this attack is void, right? That leaves us with nine strikes remaining.”

[…]

While I had said something brash, one would expect a reprimand to follow.

But instead, the old man merely shook his head in annoyance.

After shaking his head a few times, he looked at me and remarked.

[Seems like you need a lesson.]

And with that.

Swoosh-!

Plum blossom leaves erupted in all directions.

 

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