Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: You're Like Me
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[Thanks.]
It was late, but Dang Heeran sent a transmission to Wi Seongcheon. Wi Seongcheon didn't look at Dang Heeran. That was because Dang Seona was openly glaring at her.
Earning Dang Seona's hatred was a problem in itself, but if he stuck his neck out to defend Dang Heeran, it might make Dang Seona view her even more unfavorably.
Thanks to General Chungyeon leaving his seat, everyone filed out of the tent.
Wi Seongcheon glanced toward where Moo Yeonjun was. Moo Yeonjun, the culprit who had made the atmosphere tense, wore his usual expressionless face. He glanced back at Wi Seongcheon, who was staring at him openly.
"Got something to say?"
"No."
"I see. Well, I do."
At Moo Yeonjun's words, Sang Yirin jumped in surprise and looked at him. She wasn't the only one. The students who had left the tent together alternated glances between Wi Seongcheon and Moo Yeonjun.
Wi Seongcheon was just as startled. He blinked at Moo Yeonjun before pointing at himself with a hand.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Follow me."
Moo Yeonjun strode off without waiting for Wi Seongcheon's response. Sang Yirin hurriedly tried to follow, but a glance from Moo Yeonjun halted her steps.
Wi Seongcheon stared at Moo Yeonjun's retreating back with an annoyed expression. Paeng Yeonhwa, standing beside him, blinked up at his face.
"Not going?"
"You think I'm the type to follow just because that guy says so?"
"He must have his reasons."
"Too arrogant. Don't wanna."
Moo Yeonjun stopped in the distance. He stood there blankly, staring at Wi Seongcheon, who wasn't moving. Wi Seongcheon crossed his arms and stared back. A moment later, Moo Yeonjun turned and walked back.
"Why aren't you coming?"
"When did I say I would?"
"You didn't say it outright."
"Right? So why should I?"
"Ah, I see. You don't like my attitude."
Moo Yeonjun smirked and muttered to himself. He pointed to his shoulder with a hand.
"I'd like to have a little talk with you. Would you come along?"
"Why didn't you just say that from the start? Would've been so much better."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled as he nodded. Sang Yirin's eyes trembled violently as she watched Wi Seongcheon and Moo Yeonjun. Wi Seongcheon shot her a side-eye as she chewed her lower lip and smirked faintly.
"No need to bring her, right?"
Wi Seongcheon openly pointed at Sang Yirin. Moo Yeonjun shook his head without hesitation.
"It's you I want to talk to."
Sang Yirin's shoulders twitched. Wi Seongcheon chuckled and nodded. He sauntered toward Moo Yeonjun. As Wi Seongcheon approached, Moo Yeonjun turned and started walking.
"So, where are we going?"
"Nowhere in particular. It's just a personal question, so I figured no need for others to hear."
They walked away from the other students, along the darkening street. Moo Yeonjun looked at Wi Seongcheon as he spoke.
"Did you feel it?"
"......Feel what?"
"During the demonic beast subjugation. Didn't you sense something different?"
Moo Yeonjun's eyes sparkled as he spoke. It was a look completely unlike the one he gave General Chungyeon or the other students. It was a bit unsettling to see this normally emotionless guy staring like that.
It wasn't a question he had to dodge, so Wi Seongcheon reluctantly nodded with a reluctant face.
"......Yeah, I did."
"What was it like? Like bugs crawling under your skin, a bitter taste deep in your throat, an itch in some indefinable place?"
It was a very specific question. Wi Seongcheon recalled the discomfort he'd felt when sensing the demonic beast and just before the faceless ghost appeared, then nodded.
"Yeah, exactly."
"As I thought."
A thin smile formed on Moo Yeonjun's lips at Wi Seongcheon's answer.
"You're like me."
"Not exactly. You're not me. What I felt might be a little different from yours."
"Even so, it's clear you sensed demonic qi innately. What about your martial arts?"
"Huh?"
"Are you still using the Heavenly Flower Sect's techniques?"
"What are you talking about? I've always used Heavenly Flower Sect techniques. I'll keep using them."
"I see."
Moo Yeonjun seemed disappointed. He still seemed hung up on advising Wi Seongcheon to learn new martial arts back in the sparring waiting room.
"Anything else, don't use the Blood Absorption Great Law against demonic beasts or demon humans. With your incomplete arts, any residual demonic qi you can't fully expel could ruin your body."
"I'm well aware. More importantly, what gave you the confidence to say all that earlier?"
Moo Yeonjun tilted his head at Wi Seongcheon's grumbling.
"Provoking General Chungyeon like that. Talking about the Son of Heaven was going too far. Your words were enough to get you beheaded on the spot."
"They couldn't cut my head off."
The smile faded from Moo Yeonjun's face.
"General Chungyeon and his guards weren't that impressive. You think the likes of them could take my head?"
"No, kid, that's not what I—"
"I don't think my words were wrong. It's true the Son of Heaven didn't descend from the heavens, and it's true General Chungyeon is old and sickly, of no use."
"And that you were born from the heavens?"
"True. Of course, I was born from a human body as a human, but my birth was by the will of heaven."
"Ultimately, a human gave birth to you."
"I don't deny that. But I'm a heavenly being born by the will of heaven. A human bore me, but... my true parents are the heavens, not humans."
Moo Yeonjun's eyes no longer sparkled like before. Emotion had vanished from his eyes and face. Wi Seongcheon stared at him intently.
"You said you could subjugate the nest alone."
"If I tried, I could."
"And that demon extermination is your fate."
"Yes."
While listening to General Chungyeon and Moo Yeonjun, Wi Seongcheon had harbored a question. And here was Moo Yeonjun, who could answer it, right beside him.
"Why are you at the Righteous Heaven Academy? If demon extermination is your fate, why waste time there instead of roaming the front lines and the Demonic Realm, hunting demonic beasts?"
"So that's what you were wondering."
Moo Yeonjun smirked. It was clearly a smile, but it didn't feel like one.
"I'm afraid."
"......What?"
"Don't misunderstand. It's not fear of facing demonic kin. I'm afraid of failing to fulfill my fated destiny. Afraid of dying without defeating the Heavenly Demon."
Moo Yeonjun stopped walking as he spoke. He looked up at the night sky. No stars were visible. Only hazy moonlight glowed faintly.
"As you say, roaming the Demonic Realm without the academy could be one way to fulfill my fate. But I'm not complete yet. I'm young. I lack confidence even against one of the Ten Demons, let alone the Heavenly Demon. I might exhaust my strength in the Demonic Realm and die to a demonic beast."
Moo Yeonjun lowered his gaze from the sky to Wi Seongcheon.
"Do you remember the story of Dokgo?"
Dokgo (Poison Drum). The mysterious master from twenty years ago, mentioned in Teacher Sang Myeong-jung's martial arts history class. He roamed the Demonic Realm alone, defeated one of the Ten Demons, the Blood Splash Demon, earning great fame, but vanished mysteriously in the Demonic Realm.
"Dokgo was strong, but alone. If he hadn't wandered solo and had help from other Sword Heroes, he might have taken down more than just the Blood Splash Demon. I... can't disappear like Dokgo."
"Then?"
"There's nothing for me to learn at the Righteous Heaven Academy. But my masters said... I could gain something else there."
Comrades.
Wi Seongcheon understood what Moo Yeonjun meant. It was the same conversation from the waiting room. Moo Yeonjun sought comrades. He recognized his own lack of strength.
"It doesn't sit well with me."
Moo Yeonjun said.
"If I were complete, a perfect being, I could do it all alone. But... I'm not yet. That's why I'm at the Righteous Heaven Academy, where there's nothing to learn. It's where the righteous faction's prodigies gather. They're young now, but someday they'll be pillars of the righteous sects."
That's why Moo Yeonjun stayed at the Righteous Heaven Academy. Worshipped as a heavenly being, followers gathered around him. Even if he didn't like it, he didn't push them away—it was the foundation for that someday.
"Joining the Orthodox Heaven Society despite my reluctance, showing up at meetings, being grouped with the Dragon-Phoenixes. Diligently attending classes. Getting dragged here for demonic beast subjugation and going along without much resistance. All of it is for that 'someday.'"
"I suppose so."
Wi Seongcheon smirked.
"And recommending new martial arts to me? Hoping that someday I'll join your fate."
"Not just my fate. The Demonic Cult's goal is to destroy the world. Demon extermination isn't just mine—it's the fate of everyone in this world."
"I suppose so."
There was no pretense in Moo Yeonjun's words. But they sounded obsessively intense. The same as what he'd said to General Chungyeon earlier. All of Moo Yeonjun's actions and words were those of a "heavenly being."
Wi Seongcheon stared at Moo Yeonjun. The fate of being a heavenly being he carried. The countless expectations and hopes tied to it... Wi Seongcheon couldn't even imagine the pressure Moo Yeonjun felt.
'Poor guy.'
That was all he thought. Wi Seongcheon clicked his tongue and turned.
"Looks like we're done talking. Can I head back now?"
"You pity me?"
Moo Yeonjun asked abruptly. Wi Seongcheon halted and glanced back. Surprisingly, Moo Yeonjun's face looked serene.
"Why do you think that?"
"Your eyes when you look at me are like my masters'."
"If I said I pity you, then what?"
"I'd do nothing. How you see me is entirely up to you. Just... it's a strange feeling. To receive pity from a fellow student."
Moo Yeonjun smirked. This smile was different from before. He was genuinely amused.
"I feel a kinship with you."
Moo Yeonjun walked past Wi Seongcheon.
"Whatever your martial arts, you have the same constitution as me. You innately find demons repulsive... and ultimately, you share my fate of demon extermination."
"Constitution has nothing to do with it. My fate is whatever I make it."
"Of course."
Moo Yeonjun didn't look back.
"But I think you could be my understanding ally."
"What?"
"Not now, but someday."
Wi Seongcheon stood blankly, watching Moo Yeonjun's back as he walked away, then let out a hollow laugh. Understanding ally? What bullshit was that?
Wi Seongcheon had never once resolved to exterminate demons like Moo Yeonjun. Where the Heavenly Flower Sect had been, demonic beasts didn't appear, so he'd never truly felt the fear of demonic beasts, the Demonic Cult, or the Heavenly Demon.
"If you want to build a faction, start with the ones close by, not someone far off like me."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled, scratching his head vigorously.
* * *
The students gathered at the north gate. The ones summoned by General Chungyeon yesterday, plus Dang Seona's maids, the Twin-Headed Venomous Serpents—ten in total. Added to that were Professor Seo Il, Absolute Death Sword Seok Ijin, and Professor Baek Giryeong.
"Why are you professors coming?"
Wi Seongcheon figured Professor Seo Il joining after his charges had all gone made sense, but Absolute Death Sword joining the nest subjugation team was unexpected. Seok Ijin snorted in response.
"I'm the strongest professor here."
"Pardon?"
"What's with that reaction? It's a fact. I considered bringing more professors, but no need. For just subjugating a nest, our current force is plenty. This isn't the Demonic Realm, after all."
Seok Ijin glanced at Dang Heeran and Dang Seona as he spoke. Dang Heeran stared rigidly ahead with a stiff face, while Dang Seona stood with the Twin-Headed Venomous Serpents.
"Surprised to see those two together."
"Why?"
"Didn't think Dang Seona would bring Heeran."
Seok Ijin muttered and turned his head. The soldiers guiding them to the nest were approaching. There were three soldiers, including Do Jun.
"I'm Do Jun, your guide."
Do Jun announced immediately upon arrival.
"If I'm unlucky and die en route, Park Il beside me will take over. If Park Il dies too, So Hyeokdae will step in."
"What if all three of you die?"
Wi Seongcheon grinned and asked. Do Jun glared.
"Isn't preventing that your job? If all three of us die—which would only happen if you can't handle the situation—then you're on your own. Probably best to flee."
Do Jun spat that out and turned.
"No need to dawdle. Let's head out right away. We've got a good run ahead."