Chapter 175: Pieces (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: Pieces (1)
Whether it was Moyong Hi-ah, who clearly wanted something from me, or the fact that the entire world had frozen solid… the current situation was far more bewildering than both of those things combined.
“A fish… is talking?”
A fish was speaking to me. The sight of its fishy mouth forming words with perfect pronunciation was utterly bizarre.
[You fucking idiot.]
And its choice of words was rather harsh, to boot.
[You should answer when someone speaks to you. Have you no manners, even at your age?]
“Are you talking to me?”
[Who else is here besides you?]
Well, technically, there were plenty of people around; they were just all frozen in place. But that wasn’t the important part.
“…What the hell are you?”
[Are you blind? Isn’t it obvious?]
Its appearance was unmistakable. It was a fish. A fish that had lived for centuries, an expensive white specimen hailed as a treasure of Shaolin. The ‘White Fish of Purity,’ or something like that.
As I stood there dumbfounded, the fish continued speaking, its little mouth moving.
[Ugh, that stupid, shocked look on your face is as ugly as ever. I can’t believe you were reincarnated with such a fiercely stupid mug…]
“What in the world is it even saying?”
The bizarre situation was one thing, but now my face was being insulted by a fish. As I spoke in confusion, the fish began to wiggle its whiskers. Its expression seemed to shift into one of mockery.
[Hah! Shincheol, you idiot, do you really want to fool around even now?]
Shincheol.
I didn’t need to think twice. That was the name of the old man currently sleeping rent-free inside my body.
But why does this fish think I am Elder Shin?
Was the frozen time also this fish’s doing? They called it a treasure… but it wasn’t an object. How was this a treasure? It was more like a demon.
“I think you’re mistaken,” I said to the fish. “I’m not Shincheol.”
[You idiotic shitstain. You know better than anyone that we’re short on time, so why the fuck are you acting like this?]
“It doesn’t seem to want to listen…”
As I responded, one of the fish’s whiskers suddenly stretched out and brushed against my cheek. I tried to grab it, irritated by the uncomfortable sensation, but the whisker deftly evaded my grasp and retracted. It wiggled slightly back in place, and the fish spoke with what sounded like a smile.
[You didn’t hold back when building this body, huh. Not only did you break through your wall, you’ve even started laying a strong foundation to reach the Transcendent Realm.]
“…”
A cold sweat trickled down my back. The fish was exactly right. I was in the process of preparing to advance from the Peak Realm to the Fusion Realm. After overcoming my bottleneck, my martial arts had reached a new level, and my qi and body were gradually unifying to transcend into a higher state. Reaching the Fusion Realm from the Peak Realm was an even more monumental task than advancing from First-Rate to Peak; I had assumed it would take me several years at my current pace.
And this fish saw through it instantly.
[The fact that you’ve reached this level with a young boy’s body is the first proof. And as for the second proof…]
Splash.
A drop of water hit my cheek as the fish splashed in its pond.
[…Are you really trying to fool me when you reek of that thick plum blossom scent, you fucking idiot?!]
Ah.
Is it because of the Taoist Qi inside me?
The Taoist Qi that had entered my body along with Elder Shin from Mount Hua’s treasure. It was so dense it had influenced my Flame Qi and even altered the color of my Gu Flame Wheel Art. Elder Shin himself had said my Taoist Qi was denser than even that of Yung Pung.
But the problem was, the fish shouldn’t mistake me for Elder Shin just because I have Taoist Qi. Most importantly, Elder Shin was dead.
[Hoo, let’s stop the nonsense. I’m glad things turned out as we hoped, but I really don’t have much time left.]
“I’ll say it again, I’m not who you think I—”
The fish let out a scoff before I could finish. I was amazed I could read its expression so clearly on that dumb fish face.
[Fine. If you’re going to be stubborn, I have no choice, even though I didn’t plan to do this.]
Was it about to do something? I heightened my senses in case it attacked. It felt silly to be wary of a fish, but this was a centuries-old demon, not a mere animal. I had to be cautious.
But contrary to my expectations, no attack came. Instead, the fish looked at me with a determined expression and spoke.
[This happened when we were young. I’m sure you remember. Back then, you were chasing after the daughter of the Moyong Clan…]
A sudden, violent kicking sensation erupted deep within me, quickly morphing into excruciating pain. It felt as though something was running amok inside my body.
Is this… Is that energy-devouring monster about to rampage again?
[You courted her for three days and three nights, but she ended up with Myung in the—]
As the fish tried to finish its sentence—
[You rotting piece of…! Won’t you shut up!?]
A familiar voice roared inside my head.
“…Huh?!”
[Eh?]
[Huh.]
For a moment, silence prevailed.
Then, an old man with a notoriously rude personality whispered, spiritless and baffled.
[…This actually worked?]
It was Elder Shin.
* * *
The Light of Might, Cheolyoung, was renowned as the greatest martial artist in Shaolin’s history. He had reached the pinnacle of martial arts and was one of the Five Masters who halted the Blood Disaster wrought by the Blood Demon. Cheolyoung was credited with shaping Shaolin into the glorious institution it was today.
And such a legendary figure…
Puff puff.
…was that fish right there?
I stared dumbfounded at the white fish puffing its mouth. Its graceful swimming and noble white scales couldn’t completely cover up the the inherently vacant look of a fish. I didn’t think it was a lie, though. Elder Shin himself had confirmed it, so it had to be true.
Elder Shin observed the fish for a long moment before finally speaking.
[Cheolyoung, how the hell did you end up like this?]
I was still reeling from the old man’s sudden appearance after being asleep for so long, but I didn’t get a chance to ask why he’d woken up now. He was completely focused on the fish—or rather, the Light of Might.
[I want to ask you the same thing, Shincheol.]
The fish’s previously carefree tone was gone, replaced by a grave seriousness.
[…Why are you in such a state?]
[Probably for the same reason you are.]
This fish was called Shaolin’s treasure. Did that mean Cheolyoung’s spirit was slumbering within it, just as Elder Shin’s had been inside Mount Hua’s treasure?
Hmm. That’s quite convincing.
If Elder Shin was in such a state, it made sense that Cheolyoung would be, too. But I desperately needed an explanation for why heroes of the past had their souls trapped within treasures. Last time, Elder Shin claimed he didn’t know, but perhaps Cheolyoung did.
Was this what Elder Shin was hoping for?
It was possible. I recalled how he had insisted I visit Shaolin if I ever went to Hanam. Had Elder Shin been hoping for a situation exactly like this?
As if reading my thoughts, Elder Shin asked Cheolyoung.
[Cheolyoung, do you know why the two of us remain in the world today, in these states?]
What was the reason? How had it happened?
[…Why are you asking me that?]
[Because I don’t know the answer.]
[…]
[Cheolyoung.]
The Light of Might fell silent, a stark contrast to his earlier verbosity. A palpable silence descended. In a world where time itself had stopped, the quiet was absolute.
Unable to bear it, Elder Shin pressed him.
[Cheolyoung, why won’t you ans—]
[That child… is that not you?]
[What?]
[The child I’m looking at right now. I’m asking if that isn’t you.]
It was a strange question. What did he mean, ‘was I not Elder Shin’? Elder Shin seemed equally confused.
[What kind of nonsense is that? What do you mean, ‘is that not me’?]
Cheolyoung remained silent despite the question, simply staring into my eyes, its fish mouth puffing.
[Cheolyoung.]
Elder Shin called his name, sensing that something was wrong. A moment later, a lamenting voice echoed.
[…I see. So it didn’t happen after all.]
[Explain yourself clearly so I can understand what you’re talking about.]
[Shincheol.]
[Speak.]
The fish’s wiggling whiskers sank beneath the water’s surface, mirroring Cheolyoung’s suddenly somber mood.
[You said you have no memory.]
[Yes. I… I remember nothing. I need you to tell me everything.]
The death of the Blood Demon… what happened to him afterwards… and why he was left in the world as a spirit… Elder Shin remembered none of it. He was counting on Cheolyoung to resolve his doubts.
[Do you know why?]
Cheolyoung puffed its mouth before responding.
[Yes, I do. I know very well.]
[Then—]
[But I cannot tell you.]
Elder Shin’s anger flared for a moment.
[Are you making fun of me?]
[I wish I were. But given your current state, I cannot say anything.]
[What does that—]
[I’ve waited hundreds of years to meet you, but sadly, one cannot truly learn anything they don’t discover for themselves.]
Was it my imagination, or had the fish’s beautiful scales lost a bit of their luster?
Throughout their conversation, I remained silent, simply listening. Not only did I lack an opportunity to interrupt, but I could also feel Elder Shin’s emotions far too clearly. I couldn’t bring myself to cut in.
[Are you just going to keep spouting nonsense?]
[How much do you remember?]
Elder Shin pondered the question before answering.
[The final battle against the Blood Demon. That’s the last thing I remember.]
Cheolyoung let out a listless laugh.
[If that’s the case, then you truly know nothing.]
Fed up with the fish’s cryptic replies, Elder Shin finally shouted.
[You rotting piece of…! If you’re going to answer, then give me a proper response!]
Despite the outburst, Cheolyoung’s reaction remained apathetic and impassive, as it had been since Elder Shin appeared.
Unable to tolerate this any longer, Elder Shin clenched his spiritual teeth and asked a different question.
[…Answer one thing for me. Properly.]
Cheolyoung didn’t respond, but Elder Shin pressed on.
[Did the Blood Demon die?]
For a brief moment, I felt a breeze brush past me—an impossibility, since everything around us was frozen. Yet the sensation was undeniable.
Cheolyoung’s whiskers twitched, and this time, he answered.
[Hoo, fortunately, I believe I can answer this one. However, it seems you already know the answer, don’t you?]
[…]
I felt my dantian tremble violently at his words. Elder Shin was undoubtedly shaken.
And as Cheolyoung continued…
[It didn’t die.]
The Taoist Qi slumbering within me suddenly went wild, raging uncontrollably.
“Elder Shin…!”
I tried to calm the rampaging energy, but Elder Shin, deaf to my pleas, continued to pour out his turmoil.
Even amidst the chaos, I was utterly shocked by Cheolyoung’s revelation. How could I not be?
The Blood Demon didn’t die?
The Blood Demon was the entity that had tried to drown the world in blood centuries ago. History recorded that the Five Heroes of the Central Plains had slain it in their final battle, but…
The Blood Demon never died…?
Wait, the way Cheolyoung spoke made it sound like the Blood Demon was still alive. Had it been alive all this time?
[Ha, judging by your reaction, it seems you don’t even remember the final moments.]
[…Explain clearly. What happened that day?]
[You got your answer. The Blood Demon is still alive, walking this very land.]
[That’s impossible! History clearly states—]
[You still trust history? Even after being deceived by it so many times?]
Elder Shin fell silent under the barrage of sharp words.
[Well, technically, history isn’t entirely wrong. The Blood Demon certainly stopped breathing in that battle.]
[Then…!]
[However, the bastard didn’t die.]
The breeze around me seemed to grow stronger, carrying an intense heat unlike the cold winter air.
[It bound itself to this land, even in death.]
[Explain it in a way I can underst—]
The white-scaled fish swam slowly closer, as if trying to look Elder Shin in the eye. From its puffing mouth came a resolute, earth-shattering declaration.
[The Blood Demon is dreaming of resurrection, Divine Sword of Mount Hua.]
As if struck by an earthquake, my dantian convulsed wildly at Cheolyoung’s words.