Chapter 178: Pieces (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: Pieces (4)
Crack-! Rustle!
The fractured sky shattered into pieces, raining down upon the earth.
“Young Master Gu?”
I turned towards the voice to see Moyong Hi-ah staring at me with a bewildered expression.
I shook my head to clear the lingering dizziness. The breeze brushed against my skin. I could hear the whisper of grass swaying in the wind. Time, which had seemed frozen, was flowing once more.
…Did time truly stop?
Perhaps not in the literal sense. Given how my mind had faltered and my awareness had drifted, it was more likely I had been pulled into some kind of separate dimension.
I averted my gaze from Moyong Hi-ah’s sky-blue eyes and looked back at the lake. There, in the center, was the White Fish of Purity, staring directly at me.
Its color has returned to normal.
The fish’s scales, which had lost their hue in that timeless space, were once again a lustrous, brilliant white. It held my gaze for a long moment before suddenly swimming away to another part of the lake.
“Sir, is something wrong?” Heeyoung asked with concern.
I shook my head. “…It’s nothing. I just felt a bit lightheaded for a moment…”
I trailed off, my attention snapping fully to Heeyoung. He looked back at me, confused by my intense stare. But as I studied him, a strange feeling crept over me.
What’s this?
It was as if I had stepped into an entirely different world.
[What’s wrong.]
Elder Shin’s voice echoed in my mind. At least that confirmed what I had experienced wasn’t an illusion.
“Young Master?” Heeyoung called again.
I schooled my expression. “It’s nothing… Anyway, where shall we go next?”
What I had just witnessed… it felt like I had undergone a change. Because now, I could see things that were previously hidden from me.
* * *
Heeyoung’s tour continued. The houses and elegant buildings that followed the lake, set against a breathtaking backdrop, were like paintings come to life. It was a vivid display of Shaolin’s illustrious history.
As we walked, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly spoke. “It’s truly beautiful, isn’t it?”
This was our first proper conversation since entering Shaolin. I glanced at her. “Is this your first time here?”
“No, I’ve visited a few times on clan business.”
That made sense. It would be stranger for a scion of a noble clan to have never visited Shaolin.
“What about you?” she asked.
“What about what?”
“Don’t you find this place beautiful?”
“Of course. I have eyes, after all.” Any carefully curated environment was bound to be pleasing. Though, my own clan didn’t place much emphasis on aesthetics. We valued cleanliness, but that was about it. “But I’m not particularly fond of places like this.”
I glanced at her as she spoke. I already knew she didn’t care for such things. She had never been one for picturesque scenery, especially in the dead of winter.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I can acknowledge its beauty, but it doesn’t resonate with me.”
As she said this, she subtly closed the distance between us. I allowed it, but even with my past life’s memories, I couldn’t fathom her reason. I remembered her shuddering in disgust if we so much as stood too close.
Just as I was about to ask why she was edging nearer, I heard Elder Shin.
[…You got another woman, huh.]
I shut my mouth. I was used to such comments from him, though it had been a while.
I was wondering when you’d say that.
[Well, if you already know, then why do you keep collecting them?]
When did I ever try…
[HAH. Right, it’s not that you tried, it just happened. Right? Right?!]
Technically, he was correct, so I had no grounds to argue.
…Instead of that, why were you asleep for so long?
I ignored his first question and asked what was actually important. Time-wise, he’d been out for about a week. The shock that put him to sleep hadn’t seemed severe enough to warrant such a long rest.
Did something happen?
Elder Shin responded with an apathetic tone. [Don’t even ask. I had to deal with all kinds of hassles.]
Hassles? What could he have possibly dealt with while unconscious?
As if reading my thoughts, he explained. […The beast inside your body—you have no idea how much it rampaged.]
A rampage?
[Yes. It was wild. It only calmed down recently and hasn’t shown itself since.]*
If it was ‘recently,’ did that mean absorbing energy from either the Pissing Dragon or Jang Seonyeon had something to do with it?
The beast, huh…
During my final tournament match, Dok Gojun had mentioned that the beast within me was the ‘owner of the abyss.’ How did he know about a creature even I was unaware of? More importantly…
Dok Gojun.
According to the Light of Might, the Blood Demon’s name was Dok Gojun. That meant the strange energy festering inside me belonged to the Blood Demon. It also seemed Dok Gojun had ties to the Murim Alliance. Was he truly the Blood Demon?
Elder Shin.
[Well, no need to worry too much about me. I held myself rather wel-]
I need to ask you about Dok Gojun.
[…What?]*
His tone shifted instantly. I calmly recounted the events of that day: the suspicious energy in Namgung Cheonjun, my fight with Jang Seonyeon, and Dok Gojun’s appearance. Elder Shin listened in complete silence.
Only when I finished did he speak. [Sigh…]
He let out a light sigh.
What do you make of it?
[It’s strange.]
It wasn’t a direct answer.
What do you mean by ‘strange’?
[The name and the circumstances certainly point to that bastard, but the problem is that it also feels like they don’t.]*
It seemed I still lacked the information to confirm it was truly him.
[If it were the bastard I knew, he wouldn’t have used such methods…]*
Are you saying it doesn’t seem like the Blood Demon’s style?
[No.]
Elder Shin’s response was resolute. [What you saw was most likely the Blood Demon.]
His voice was eerily calm, but I could feel it—the seething heat bubbling beneath that calm, ready to explode at any moment.
[Cheolyoung was right to be nervous. It seems that bastard has already planted his roots in this land.]*
Cheolyoung had said the Blood Demon’s body and soul were severed and sealed across the world. He’d also said the Blood Demon dreamed of resurrection, but it appeared the resurrection was already underway.
[However, doesn’t it seem strange?] Elder Shin continued. [Considering the bastard’s personality, he has no reason to hide his identity like this.]*
What do you mean?
[How strong do you think the current top martial artists are?]*
I pondered his question. The pinnacle of the martial world undoubtedly included the Three Venerables and the five masters of the Unorthodox Faction. Each was a peerless expert who had reached the absolute peak.
[But they all died in the future.]*
By the Heavenly Demon’s hand.
[Its power was utterly unreasonable. Didn’t you think so?]*
The Heavenly Demon was so powerful it slaughtered the Three Venerables and either subjugated or killed the five Unorthodox masters. Its strength defied all logic, especially for a mere human.
[And it was the same with the Blood Demon.]*
An existence that not even the Five Masters of the Central Plains combined could kill—that was the Blood Demon.
[That bastard’s power was domineering. Even compared to the Heavenly Demon that will appear, I can assure you the Blood Demon was, at the very least, on the same level.]*
…It’s that severe, huh.
If the Blood Demon’s power was truly comparable to the Heavenly Demon’s, then it was indeed bizarre for Dok Gojun to conceal his identity.
[This most likely means the bastard hasn’t fully regained his power yet.]*
If he had, he wouldn’t have left the world in its current state. Cheolyoung did say the Blood Demon was scattered in pieces, so a full resurrection probably wasn’t simple. The real problem was his connection to the Murim Alliance.
And the fact that I only learned this after my regression means they hid it exceptionally well. Or perhaps there was another issue?
Also…
Did the Heavenly Demon not know about this?
That seemed unlikely. There was no way such a monstrous existence could have escaped the Heavenly Demon’s notice.
Perhaps the Heavenly Demon’s attack on the Alliance was related to this?
Elder Shin once said the Blood Demon and the Heavenly Demon seemed similar. I wondered if the two were somehow connected.
[Hmm. It seems if we want to learn more, we need to listen to that old baldie and find that Myung bastard.]*
You say that, but he didn’t even know the location himself.
How was I supposed to find him without a clue?
Elder Shin scoffed. [It’s obvious. That bastard is probably trapped inside some treasure, so we just need to find it. You have your bride and the clan lord under your thumb—it should be easy.]*
…Bride…
[Don’t overreact. You look like a loser.]*
I let out a few forced coughs as Elder Shin voiced his disgust. The Namgung Clan’s treasure… Would the Thunderous Sword really be there?
[Even if he’s not, we’ll find him somehow.]*
Meeting Cheolyoung seemed to have bolstered Elder Shin’s resolve. But a sense of foreboding made me ask immediately.
Wait, are you telling me to go look for him?
[Hmm. Who else is going to?]*
His bluntness made me want to laugh bitterly. I was seriously going to go insane… Yet, I didn’t argue much. This was something I was concerned about, too.
Dok Gojun’s words to me, and the fact that his energy felt eerily similar to the future Wi Seol-Ah, the Celestial Sword… There were more than a few troubling threads here.
“…ter.”
Hmm… I should probably return to the clan and-
“Young Master Gu!”
Something poked my cheek. I turned my head to see it was Moyong Hi-ah’s finger.
“You finally turned around,” she said, her tone uncharacteristically bright. It clashed with her usual cold demeanor.
“…What are you doing?” I asked, dumbfounded.
She maintained her smile, her eyes crinkling. “I kept calling you, but you weren’t paying any attention.”
“You could have tapped my shoulder.”
“That would have been a bit disrespectful.”
And poking my cheek wasn’t? She seemed oblivious to my frown as she continued.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind. You’ve been spaced out this whole time.”
“I have some business to take care of.”
“Did you finish everything you needed to do in Shaolin?”
I nodded. My business here was primarily for Elder Shin. Whether meeting Cheolyoung was what he’d wanted or not, I had probably accomplished all I needed to.
However…
“Hah, I thought I was done here,” I said, staring at the young monk yawning ahead of us. “But another matter seems to have popped up.”
I looked back at Moyong Hi-ah. “Lady Moyong.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want something from me?”
“Yes.”
Her response was jarringly blunt. Not that it was a surprise; she had been dropping hints. How could I not notice?
“What is it? It’s not as if you’re interested in me.”
“Why would you think that? It’s certainly possible I might be interested in you.”
Moyong Hi-ah, interested in me? The sun would rise in the west—no, from the ground—before that ever happened.
[…Fucker.]*
Elder Shin whispered. Was he annoyed that this was the first thing he witnessed after waking up?
Oh, wait. Moyong…
I suddenly remembered Cheolyoung’s words. He’d said Elder Shin used to chase after the Young Lady of the Moyong Clan, but she was taken by the Thunderous Swo—
“Ugh…!”
A sharp, twisting pain flared in my dantian, forcing a grunt from my lips. This old man…!
[…You’d better forget that lie spread by that old fucker.]*
Why should I forget it if it’s a lie…? Elder Shin, did you really chase after Moyon-
[Won’t you shut your mouth?!]*
I couldn’t see him, but I could vividly picture his face turning red. It was definitely red.
“Young Master Gu? Are you alright?” Moyong Hi-ah asked.
“…No. I think the food I ate earlier didn’t agree with me.” I straightened my back and returned to our previous topic. “Anyway, I don’t believe you have any personal interest in me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Those aren’t the eyes of someone who’s interested.”
My response made Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widen slightly. It might have seemed presumptuous to judge based on a glance, but I knew her well.
“I don’t know what you want from me, but if you want something, just say it straight. I’m not fond of beating around the bush.”
Knowing her true personality, this fake persona of hers made me uncomfortable. When I set a clear boundary, Moyong Hi-ah fell silent.
Huh.
She seemed to shrink slightly. She looked like a kitten caught in the rain. But even that could be an act. I didn’t wait for a response and started walking.
After a few steps, I felt her presence following me. After trailing Heeyoung a while longer, we arrived back at the entrance.
Heeyoung clasped his hands together in farewell. “I hope your visit was satisfactory.”
“Thank you for your guidance.”
“You are welcome to linger if you wish to see more. I shall take my leave now.”
With that, Heeyoung departed. Watching the young monk walk away, I began descending the stairs. Moyong Hi-ah followed slowly behind.
“Is there a servant waiting for you below?” I asked.
Perhaps surprised I’d spoken, she was slow to respond. “…Oh, yes. A servant should be waiting.”
Glancing back, I saw the tips of her ears were slightly red. If she hated the cold, why had she followed me? She wasn’t even giving me a reason. If she wouldn’t tell me, I had no intention of prying.
Still… looking at her hesitant expression, I decided to ask. “Could you give me your hand for a second?”
“Huh?”
Confused, she reached out her hand. I remembered how Namgung Bi-ah would redden, whether it was her hands, ears, or…
Ugh.
I took Moyong Hi-ah’s hand and circulated some heat into it.
“I don’t know why you went out of your way to do this when you’re weak to the cold, but try to avoid exhausting yourself. It creates more work for the people around you.”
I knew a Flame Art’s heat wouldn’t do much for her condition.
-When you are by my side, the cold doesn’t affect me as much.
But I did it anyway, prompted by that pointless memory surfacing in my head.
Feeling the heat, Moyong Hi-ah flinched. Still, I knew she wouldn’t feel warm on the inside. After holding her hand for a few seconds, I let go immediately.
“You may leave first. I need to go back to Shaolin. I think I left something behind.”
“Ah…! Wait!”
She tried to call out, but I ignored her and ran back up the steps. Because of that…
“I knew it…”
I missed the words Moyong Hi-ah whispered to my retreating back.
* * *
Heeyoung was a child monk. Since infancy, he had been found and raised by Shaolin’s martial artists. He had a gentle nature and considerable talent, making him a beloved figure within the temple. He was also excellent at guiding tours, a job he enjoyed due to his fondness for meeting people. Some visitors even came specifically for him.
After finishing his duties, Heeyoung picked up a small broom. He needed to sweep the grounds before martial arts training.
Tap.
While walking, broom in hand, Heeyoung sensed a presence and turned around.
“Oh? Young Master Gu.”
Behind him stood Gu Yangcheon, whom he had just bid farewell. Heeyoung had thought the young master had descended the mountain, but it seemed he had unfinished business.
After a moment, Heeyoung smiled slightly. “Perhaps, you have something you have lef—”
“Hey.”
Heeyoung flinched as Gu Yangcheon cut him off. To the young monk, Gu Yangcheon’s voice was terrifying, and the hostility lacing his words made Heeyoung’s legs tremble.
“Y-Young Master Gu…?”
“Where is it?”
“W-What are you talking abou— Ugh!”
Before Heeyoung could finish, Gu Yangcheon closed the distance in a flash and seized his throat.
“Cough…! Cough, cough…!”
Heeyoung choked under the immense pressure, but Gu Yangcheon only glared with fiery eyes.
“Youn… ghh… Mast… Hel…p…” Heeyoung begged, consumed by fear.
“We’ve met before, right?”
Heeyoung stopped struggling and fell silent at Gu Yangcheon’s words.
“You. You’ve seen me before, haven’t you?”
It was a statement of certainty, referring to an encounter months ago at the Gu Clan. Hearing this, the fear on Heeyoung’s face vanished, replaced by utter blankness.
Suddenly, Heeyoung’s features began to warp and shift in a sickening display. The thing that was no longer Heeyoung spoke.
“How did you know?”
Crack-!
In response, Gu Yangcheon twisted its neck without hesitation.