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Chapter 89: Healing (1)

About an hour had passed since I holed up in my room.

Finally, it was time to step outside.

I was feeling worn out, but I also had a few things on my mind.

After a little tidying up, I emerged to find Wi Seol-Ah sitting quietly on the floor.

“What are you doing… Why do you look like that?”

As I attempted to strike up a conversation, I noticed something was off with Wi Seol-Ah’s expression.

Her eyes seemed a bit puffy as if she had been crying, and her face looked rather gloomy.

“Is something going on?”

“Nothing at all…”

“Shouldn’t you say that with a face that looks like nothing’s wrong to sound credible?”

“…”

Even without trying, her slightly drooping eyes already made her look sad.

The corners of her mouth drooped just enough to give her the appearance of carrying the weight of the world in her expression.

Wi Seol-Ah, who had been mumbling, quietly uttered a few words.

“…I had a fight with Grandfather.”

“…With Shin Yi?”

The Sword Sovereign and Wi Seol-Ah? That was unexpected.

From what I could see, it seemed like no matter what Wi Seol-Ah did, he’d usually respond with, “Oh, my granddaughter is so cute!” but here she was, sobbing as if she had been scolded.

‘Except for that time she secretly followed me to Sichuan, I’ve hardly seen her get scolded at all.’

The fact that Wi Seol-Ah was upset enough to cry was concerning.

What could have possibly happened?

I asked as nonchalantly as I could.

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

She really did not look fine at all.

Wi Seol-Ah gazed at me with a sorrowful expression.

It was clear she wanted to say something, but she ultimately remained silent.

Wi Seol-Ah quietly stood up.

She mentioned needing to go to Hong-Wa since she had some business there.

“Younger Master.”

“Yeah…?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Uh? Sure… Do your best.”

I had no idea what she was talking about, but since she said she’d do her best, I gave her my encouragement.

After saying that, Wi Seol-Ah rushed off.

I couldn’t help but wonder what she claimed she was going to do her best at.

Was she heading to Hong-Wa to work hard?

Whatever it was, her gloomy face bothered me, so I decided to buy her some rice cakes later.

I stepped out of the lodging.

Though I still felt a slight pain, it was manageable now that I was moving around.

I wandered through the Hwasan Sect’s mountain paths, which I had grown a bit accustomed to lately.

First, I planned to check the Training Grounds, but it seemed no one was around.

| | .

After not too long of wandering, I finally spotted someone scaling a distant cliff.

“Dojo!”

Upon hearing my call, Yeongpung looked down from his climb.

Without hesitation, he jumped down and approached me.

“Gu So-hyeob.”

‘He looks troubled too.’

As Yeongpung slowly made his way over, it was evident that he was not in the best shape either.

Even though he usually looked vibrant even after a whole day of training, right now, he was soaking wet with sweat, showing that he had been working out particularly hard.

His ankle and arm weights were also noticeably heavier, a testament to his rigorous training.

“Is something the matter?”

Upon my question, Yeongpung forced a smile.

The expressions of the Hwasan Sect disciples I encountered after waking up had been mostly similar to his.

Normally, I would try to avoid getting involved, but this time, I suppressed my feelings and inquired further.

“I was going to ask about Maehwa Seon, but your gloomy expression seems a bit too heavy for me to do so.”

“…”

“If it’s something outsiders shouldn’t know, you don’t have to tell me.”

If it had been something enough to delay the Jehwa Contest, it likely meant something significant was going on.

Considering that every disciple, including the Sect Leader, had the same expression, it was likely not a good situation.

Yeongpung took a moment to think and then cautiously opened his mouth.

“…Do you remember the talk about disciples going missing?”

“Yes, I do.”

“A few days ago, we found the ones who went missing.”

‘As expected…’

It seemed my hunch was correct.

Did they finally succeed in their search?

Despite the Maehwa Sword Techniques disciples not being able to find them while searching in rotation, it seemed they found them somehow.

The issue was, while finding them was good, it didn’t seem like a favorable outcome awaited us.

Yeongpung’s gradually darkening expression confirmed that.

“…They were already lifeless when we discovered them.”

“Were you present when they were found?”

“Yes, there were only a few Maehwa Sword Techniques left in the sect at that time.”

If Yeongpung, who was still in the Late-Stage Talents, was there, it must’ve been urgent.

But to hear they were all already dead…

Could it be that there was some grudge against the Hwasan Sect, or maybe they specifically targeted the Maehwa Sword Techniques to weaken the sect’s strength?

‘Whatever the case… It seems like this isn’t a well-known incident.’

“And.”

Yeongpung seemed to have more to say but hesitated, contemplating for a moment before finally exhaling deeply and speaking.

“…The corpses we found had no blood left in them at all.”

“.…!”

My eyes widened at Yeongpung’s words.

No blood in the bodies?

None at all?

Just imagining it conjured a horrific scene.

Not only had they barely recovered their missing disciples, but they had also been found in a gruesome state.

I could understand their gloom to some degree.

However, one question lingered.

Why the hell would anyone go to the trouble of draining the blood from multiple bodies instead of just one?

“Dojo…”

“Yes?”

I asked Yeongpung, hoping my suspicion were wrong.

“Was the place you found them at perhaps managed by the Black Night Palace?”

Yeongpung swallowed hard at my question.

“How did you know, Junior?”

Seeing Yeongpung’s reaction confirmed my hunch that it indeed had to do with the Black Night Palace.

Given that I had encountered them recently, I couldn’t shake off the feeling it was them.

“The last time I encountered a demon was with one hailing from the Black Night Palace, so I figured it might be connected.”

“Ah.”

Yeongpung seemed to realize I had fought against Ya Hyeoljeok.

It wasn’t just him—lots of things surrounding the demons and their actions seemed fishy.

‘…What the heck is the Black Night Palace up to?’

I initially thought they were just another demonic faction destined to fall against the Martial Alliance in a few years.

Yet now, it seemed that Ya Hyeoljeok from the Black Night Palace had already possessed demon energy before turning into a demon themselves.

‘Is there a connection between the Black Night Palace and the Demonic Sect? If so, how?’

The purpose of my earlier encounter with the demon was targeting the Hut, aiming for the Holy Being there.

Moreover, it seemed like the Black Night Palace had been kidnapping the Maehwa Sword Techniques disciples, killing them, and draining their blood.

The fact they killed them indicated that they weren’t planning to use them as hostages.

‘What are they planning?’

It was obviously a convoluted and grim situation.

As I assessed it, I mentally braced myself to avoid getting involved, but I realized that I couldn’t just ignore or run away from this.

‘Do not run away.’

There was another matter that required my legs to be put into motion.

“So is that why you’ve changed your training regimen?”

“…Ah.”

I asked while looking at the weight Yeongpung wore.

Noticing my gaze, he responded with a weary voice.

“…When I saw the once formidable disciples of my fellow sects leave in such a pathetic state, sleep hasn’t come easily to me.”

He was drenched in sweat, yet it seemed he still intended to push himself harder.

“I thought I was something special just because I received high praise, but fortunately, it seems I’ve finally become aware of my reality.”

“”

“I was too complacent. If I had worked harder as a martial artist, situations like this wouldn’t arise.”

I simply stared at Yeongpung as he spoke calmly yet resolutely.

Internally, I found his conviction utterly absurd.

In a past life, Wi Seol-Ah had slain the Heavenly Demon and saved the world, but she still couldn’t save everyone.

Of course, Yeongpung was hailed as Hwasan’s greatest prodigy, but when the Demonic Sect eventually began to emerge, he would ultimately lose more than he would save.

But this wasn’t a matter for me to interfere with.

It wasn’t my place to say anything.

I hadn’t walked the path he had, after all.

If Shin Noya were here, I wondered what he would say while observing Yeongpung now.

Would he say something along the lines of, “What’s the big deal about carrying the weight of three generations?” or would he praise him for his good intentions?

In my eyes, it was neither.

He most likely would have said nothing at all.

Probably just let out a bittersweet sigh.

That was my conclusion.

Yeongpung noticed my expression and let out a sheepish smile.

Am I making a strange face again?

“This year has turned out to be quite the year of enlightenment for me.”

With a forced chuckle as he concealed his emotions, Yeongpung remarked he needed to enhance his training more, and as I wished him well, I moved on.

I set my sights on the summit of Yeonhwa Peak.

To think I had to climb this ridiculous mountain to reach the peak, how could I be so unfortunate?

‘…Perhaps going to the hut outside the sect would have been much better.’

I grumbled to myself as I kept moving.

I was currently on my way to see the Sword Demoness.

From what I heard from Maehwa Seon, she was recovering at the spot where the Sword Demoness originally stayed, rather than the previous hut.

‘Why did it have to be built so high up…?’

If healing were to be done, the Holy Being would have to be coming and going as well.

I wondered how the Holy Being managed to travel around. It seemed challenging for an elderly person who was not a martial artist…

‘Perhaps the Holy Being has also learned martial arts?’

I didn’t think so, but I couldn’t completely rule it out.

Finally, after a struggle, I reached my destination.

The house in front of me looked much larger than the hut where the Holy Being stayed.

Approaching cautiously, I knocked on the door.

Creeeak.

As the door slowly opened, I found a familiar face—Jiegal Hyeok, the Holy Being’s grandson.

Upon seeing me, Jiegal Hyeok slightly lowered his head.

It seemed to be a greeting.

Not knowing how to say anything, I jumped straight to the point instead.

“I came to see the Sword Demoness… Where is the Holy Being?”

Upon my question, Jiegal Hyeok gestured, indicating that it seemed the Holy Being wasn’t present.

And with another gesture, he seemed to invite me inside.

Inside, I noticed the Sword Demoness appeared to be sleeping, lying down.

As I carefully stepped into the room—

‘…Huh?’

Something caught my attention from the Sword Demoness’s body.

It was something that definitely hadn’t been visible before; why was it now so apparent?

As soon as I saw it, my eyelids began to twitch.

Demon Energy.

There was demon energy writhing within the Sword Demoness’s body.

Moreover, it didn’t seem like the stagnant energy owned by the Black Night Palace.

It was more akin to the pure demon energy possessed by the Heavenly Demon.

At that very moment, Gu Yangcheong was taken aback as he looked at the Sword Demoness.

The Holy Being was lost in thought as he gazed at a massive tree towering over a mountain.

Had there ever been such a tall tree on Hwasan?

Reflecting on this trivial thought, he stood idly with his hands clasped behind his back.

Waiting for someone.

“Holy Being.”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind, prompting the Holy Being to turn and face the source of the voice.

“…I’ve been searching for you for ages, Holy Being.”

“Indeed, you have. I have been diligently avoiding you. How is it you’re so persistent?”

The one who had found the Holy Being was the Sword Sovereign.

Seeing him, the Holy Being’s expression tightened slightly.

“It’s been a while, Leader.”

Upon the Holy Being’s greeting, the Sword Sovereign shook his head.

“I am… no longer the leader.”

It had been many years since he had relinquished his position and left the Martial Alliance.

But in response to the Sword Sovereign’s comment, the Holy Being spoke resolutely.

“To me, you remain the same person. This means I have not forgotten what you once did.”

The Holy Being’s firm voice rendered the Sword Sovereign speechless.

“I sincerely hope that you, at least, would refrain from searching for me.”

The Sword Sovereign opened his mouth as if he had something to say but quickly closed it instead.

He simply didn’t have the words to express what he felt.

The Holy Being sighed quietly, looking at the Sword Sovereign, unsure if the person before him was truly the same individual he once knew.

The sight of the man who had once embodied the Righteous Faction’s pinnacle, now fluttering in despair, seemed unacceptable.

‘…Looks like what Dohwa said was no different after all.’

Remembering his encounter with Dohwa from the previous night, the Holy Being couldn’t help but curse at himself for questioning whom he should meet.

Despite all the harsh words he spewed towards Dohwa, he only asked him to meet the leader one last time, persistently pleading for it.

“Shouldn’t he be given a chance to atone, even if it has been such a long time?”

The Holy Being felt that it was just too late to consider forgiveness now. The grudge and hatred he had harbored had long since faded.

To ask for forgiveness felt too burdensome, and to maintain resentment, he found himself understanding the Sword Sovereign a little.

Thus, the Holy Being didn’t take kindly to seeing the fallen sky.

Once upon a time, he had hoped for it to collapse.

After staring at the Sword Sovereign, the Holy Being finally sighed heavily and asked.

“Why have you come?”

The Sword Sovereign appeared momentarily surprised by the question.

He seemed unaccustomed to being asked casually like this.

Struck by that look, the Holy Being frowned slightly, clarifying.

“…I simply meant to ask, so please don’t read too much into it.”

“…Thank you…”

The Sword Sovereign expressed his gratitude to the Holy Being’s consideration, and then slowly began to let out the words he had been holding back all this time.

 

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