Chapter 290: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 290: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (5)
“I lost him.”
A man muttered under his breath as he navigated the bustling crowd. His face was utterly unremarkable, the kind any passerby would forget instantly.
Did he notice me?
Impossible. Even a martial artist in the Fusion realm wouldn’t be able to detect his presence. No matter how prodigious the True Dragon was, it simply couldn’t be done.
Yet I’m the one who lost track of him.
Strange. He had placed a mark on the True Dragon upon arriving in Henan, but it had been erased without any warning.
How?
The mark carried a scent akin to a daphne flower, not something that could be removed easily. A cold sweat broke out on the man’s brow, his usual composure slipping away. Something was very wrong.
I need to report this to the main branch.
The mission itself had been odd from the start. Simple observation was a task the Beggar’s Sect or the Hao Clan could handle. Why had the main branch assigned it to him?
Moreover, ever since members of the Black Palace had allied with the Grandmaster, things had begun to shift. It felt like they were unnecessarily entangling themselves with external forces. He had joined to escape poverty, but these recent developments filled him with unease. After losing several members, their family had become largely inactive.
First, I should head back.
The man began gathering the cheap trinkets spread before him, part of his vendor disguise. Just as he was packing up…
“Oh, are you closing for the day?”
A polite voice inquired.
Of course, a customer shows up now.
“My apologies… I have an urgent matter to attend to…” he began, but trailed off as he looked up. His body went rigid.
The ‘customer’ standing before him was none other than Gu Yangcheon.
“That’s good. How about we have a conversation once you’re finished?”
Before the man could even think of an escape—
Kwak—!
“Ugh!”
Gu Yangcheon seized him by the collar and dragged him into a dark alleyway.
* * *
“Cough… Hugh!”
I tightened my grip on his collar, staring down at the man as he choked and gasped. He looked middle-aged, but I couldn’t be sure of his age.
I thought they’d gone inactive. Have they started moving again?
This was likely the same person I’d encountered before. That would explain why my ring had reacted. After the Black Palace’s destruction, I’d sensed no movement from them and assumed they’d gone to ground.
I didn’t expect a direct connection to the Black Palace.
I’d considered they might be related, but believed they weren’t formally part of it and would lay low after the collapse of one of their power bases. Yet, here was another one, popping up out of nowhere. And he seemed to have a specific interest in me.
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Urgh…”
“The one who annoyed me in the streets last time.”
The bastard who had shouted, “That’s the True Dragon!” And…
“What did you smear on me?”
The one who had planted a scent on me. It was incredibly annoying; it wouldn’t wash off no matter how hard I tried. I’d only managed to get rid of it after the beast devoured it, meaning it had to be some form of Qi. A normal daphne scent wouldn’t have been consumable otherwise.
I’d mentally reviewed everyone who had gotten close to me, and this man wasn’t among them.
Can he apply it from a distance?
The specifics didn’t matter. The important thing was that he was the source of my recent irritation.
“Why are you acting up again? I thought you’d quit after the last time.”
“Cough… Why… are you… doing this…! Master… please let me go!”
These bastards are experts at running away.
Not that I could confirm anything like this. I increased the pressure on his throat and activated my Demonic Absorption Art.
“Ugghh…!”
The man’s eyes flew wide open.
Something felt different. The first one I’d met hadn’t shown any pain and had even regenerated from injuries, making me think they were near-immortal, like Demons. But the subsequent ones, including this one, clearly felt pain and didn’t regenerate quickly.
“So you do feel pain? Unlike that other bastard.”
Craack.
“Urrghhh!”
I broke one of his arms to test the theory. He could have been faking the scream, but the way his muscles contracted and his breathing hitched suggested genuine agony.
“This… What is this…?”
The man’s reaction shifted as he felt the change in his body’s Qi. And that wasn’t all.
“What do you mean… feel pain unlike the others…?”
“That other bastard didn’t seem to feel any pain and healed incredibly fast. You can’t do that?”
“…That’s… did you meet Number Three?”
Number Three? Was that the other one’s name? How peculiar.
It seemed the bastard who had disguised himself as a young boy at Shaolin, working behind the scenes, was called Number Three. Or maybe I was wrong.
“H-How… Number Three can’t die.”
“What do you mean, ‘how’? I just did this.”
Pull.
As I began drawing out his Qi bit by bit, the man’s eyes widened in gradual horror.
“Wa… Wait!”
“I’ll ask you slowly,” I said with a smile.
This was ideal. No need for crude torture, and he couldn’t scream for help. Perfect in so many ways. Their ability to change faces and bodies was a nuisance, but as long as I had this treasure from the Murim Alliance, I could find them.
I should have captured him back then.
The ring’s vibration had been faint, and I’d felt nothing for a long time, making me wonder if it was a mistake. But after patrolling the streets, my certainty grew.
“What’s your goal?”
“Urgh…”
I felt his muscles and blood vessels tense up. Was it due to some kind of Shackle? Or was this another act?
“Since you don’t want to answer, I’ll move on.”
I didn’t want to linger on each question. That would be inefficient.
“Where are you from? Is it the Black Palace?”
“…Ha… Ahh…”
The same non-response. They must have placed restrictions on him, just like Number Three. Just as I was about to absorb more Qi—
“I’m not… f-from the Black Palace.”
He actually answered.
“Woah.”
I hadn’t expected that. But him saying he wasn’t didn’t necessarily make it true. I’d have to take it with a grain of salt.
“Okay, so not the Black Palace. Are you related to them in any way?”
“…”
No response this time. As expected, it wasn’t like the Heavenly Demon’s Shackles, which wouldn’t even allow a denial. A thought occurred to me: since I’d turned Namgung Cheonjun into a Demonic Human who obeyed my commands, could I place a similar, firmer Shackle on this one? Not that I planned to try it… yet.
“Oh, one last question.”
I was already down to my final inquiry. Though I had many, there was one thing I absolutely needed to know.
“Is the Harmonic Sword’s son involved in this?”
“…!”
“That’s a nice reaction. Well, that’s good enough for me.”
He didn’t deny it, and his reaction made me smile. Even if it was an act, I’d take it as a yes. I’d asked on a whim, but it seemed I’d hit the mark.
Seeing my smile, the man in my grasp spoke hastily. “P-Please spare me! I was only following orders! I never intended to harm you… Ufgh…!”
“Who gave the orders?”
“…”
“It’s fine. I already know the answer, even if you can’t say it. Moreover…”
He was begging for his life, but my Demonic Absorption Art continued unabated. As he’d said, his orders seemed limited to observing me and spreading rumors. It didn’t appear he was a direct threat to my life.
“I wouldn’t be telling you all this if I planned to let you live.”
“That’s absurd…! I told you every… Aghhh!”
“You didn’t tell me anything. And I still don’t know if what you did say is true.”
He screamed as I continued draining his Qi, but I’d set up a sound barrier beforehand to ensure no one would investigate. I’d also confirmed he had no accomplices nearby.
[Grrr…]
The beast snorted in satisfaction after finishing its meal. The man had vanished, leaving only his clothes behind.
Were their bodies made entirely of Qi? It felt that way every time I encountered these bastards. I was curious about their composition, but I had no desire to visit their headquarters or that ‘basement’ to find out. The basement was worse. As for the headquarters… well, if things escalated, I might have to go, willing or not.
Tap, tap.
Dusting off my hands, I turned to the person beside me.
“…”
Wi Seol-Ah, whom I’d brought along, was watching me with a shocked expression, seemingly lost in thought.
“I’ll ask you just in case…” I said, staring at her. “Do you like me less now?”
“Huh…?”
It was a strange question for the situation, but a necessary one.
“It’s understandable if you do.”
This was the first time I’d shown her this side of myself. I would have preferred to leave her out of it, but if she chose the path of the sword—if this life was inevitable—I couldn’t hide it any longer. This was a part of me.
After a moment’s hesitation, Wi Seol-Ah responded oddly. “…I don’t like you less.”
That was unexpected. The Wi Seol-Ah of the past would have lectured me about the wrongs of harming others.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She still seemed confused, but she whispered with a soft smile. “Something as little as this… isn’t enough to make me less fond of you.”
“Little, huh? It looks like you’ve grown up.” Even though your appetite has always been large.
Moreover, her reaction wasn’t what I’d anticipated. A man had just dissolved before her eyes, yet she seemed more concerned with something else.
“Just now… is that true?”
“What is?”
“That Young Master Jang is trying to harm you…”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think he was lying.”
It was certainly within that bastard’s character. The question was, how was he connected to them?
He could have been involved with them from the very beginning.
It was possible, though I couldn’t be certain. Even if Jang Seonyeon had a rotten heart, I hoped the Harmonic Sword, at least, was not involved. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but if I compared myself to my father, that wasn’t always the case.
“Young Lord…”
“Yes.”
I still couldn’t get used to that title, no matter how many times she used it.
“Wouldn’t it be wise… for you to keep your distance from Young Master Jang?”
“I have been keeping my distance. We were never close to begin with.”
I didn’t have the slightest desire to get closer to him. Fortunately, it seemed Wi Seol-Ah wasn’t fond of the bastard from the Taeryung Clan either. It had bothered me that she was engaged to him in my past life, but in this one, she clearly disliked him.
“Young Master Jang… He’s a dangerous person…”
“I know. His face says it all.”
No sane person wore a constant smile. Take Peng Woojin, for example. That bastard always smiled, but he wasn’t right in the head either. Of course, he was just crazy, whereas Jang Seonyeon was truly depraved.
“It seems like… He will chase after you by any means necessary, no matter the cost.” Wi Seol-Ah whispered, her voice low.
Considering the Sleeping Dragon and Jang Seonyeon from my past life, she wasn’t wrong. I remembered the fire in Jang Seonyeon’s eyes when he couldn’t keep up with the Sleeping Dragon, how he tried to clip his wings just to get ahead. That was the kind of person he was.
Did the Wi Seol-Ah from my past life not realize what he was like?
With that thought, I asked the present Wi Seol-Ah, “If you know what he’s like, why do you insist on staying near him?”
“…”
Wi Seol-Ah averted her gaze. I didn’t like that, so I took her by the chin and turned her face back to mine.
“Don’t avoid eye contact.”
“Ah…”
She used to be the one who stared until I felt uncomfortable. Had she hit puberty or something? As I held her face, her cheeks began to flush.
“…Something might happen if things continue like this…”
“I know.”
“So instead, I’ll…”
A determined light flickered in her eyes, even as she tried to avoid my gaze. I bopped her on the head.
Smack—!
“Ow…!?”
Wi Seol-Ah clutched her head, staring at me with wide eyes. Wow. It had been a while since I’d seen that frustrated look on her face.
“I appreciate your concern, but don’t do anything reckless. I’ll handle it myself.”
“…Young Lord. That’s not…”
“I don’t know what’s driving you, but stop right there.”
The Sword Emperor must have had a reason for taking her to the Taeryung Clan, even in my past life. I intended to ask her why, but there was something else I needed to address first.
“If that bastard wants to chase me, let him.”
“Pardon…?”
“He won’t be able to catch up in the first place.”
“What do you…?”
Thinking back to my past life, I recalled the Sleeping Dragon—the one Jang Seonyeon felt inferior to before his complex fully took hold. He was far too kind. Lazy, yes, but excessively kind for his own good. That’s why he tried to look after me even when I snarled and glared at him. He even risked his life to save others, which was ultimately how he died.
In my eyes, the truly ideal martial artists of the Orthodox Sect all died young. They valued others’ lives and justice above their own—how could they possibly live long? The saying ‘heroes die young’ exists for a reason. Moreover, there were always people ready to take advantage of heroes. Exploiting those who live for justice is all too easy. That’s why I distrusted most of the Orthodox Sect martial artists in the Central Plains. Seeing how they acted after the calamity struck only reinforced my distrust.
I, unfortunately, had stopped caring about justice long ago. My own life was paramount, and I was confident I could survive without worrying about others. If they tried to chase me, I’d break their legs before they got close. If they ran their mouths, I’d pluck out their teeth. Pulling out their tongues might kill them, and I couldn’t have that. Letting them die so easily would be pointless.
So,
“Leave him be.”
On the contrary, I was waiting for Jang Seonyeon to make a move. He was probably scheming right now, but it wasn’t enough. If things unfolded as I expected, he would do something at the Heavenly Dragon Academy, and that moment was crucial. I was waiting for it.
But for now, I had to wait.
“So, don’t worry. I already know.”
“…But even so… I…”
“It’s fine. I’d rather hear your answer to my previous question.”
I cut Wi Seol-Ah off. I didn’t know what she was thinking as she looked at me, but I didn’t want her life filled with worry. I wanted her to live peacefully, without a care in the world. If that wasn’t possible, I at least wanted her to smile—unlike how downcast she seemed now.
“I’ll ask again.”
“…”
“Can you tell me why your grandfather took you to the Taeryung Clan?”
Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes trembled at my question. She hesitated, staring at me with an inscrutable gaze, then slowly removed the veil she always wore.
Slip.
As the veil fell away, I saw her hair and eyes clearly. Her dark brown hair had lightened, taking on a golden hue. She was looking more and more like she had in my past life.
Why is she showing me her hair now?
I’d always assumed she wore the veil because she didn’t want me to see this. After revealing her hair and hesitating for a long moment, just like before…
“Grandpa…” she began, her lips hesitant. “It seems… he wanted to make me human.”