Chapter 352: The Dark King (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 352: The Dark King (2)
Time flowed onward.
By afternoon, the forest still reeked of blood, though the sharp tang of martial energy and killing intent had begun to fade. It was a brief respite.
The students’ endless screams finally quieted, and the chaos gradually subsided as the sun dipped toward the horizon. An unexpected ambush, yet it had been suppressed in less than a single day.
But that wasn’t the only surprise.
When I returned from the Abyss, I had assumed several days had passed in the outside world. To my shock, barely two hours had gone by.
What was going on…?
As for the ambush itself—perhaps because the Black Palace Lord and the Black Dragon had been defeated—it ended almost as quickly as it began. Some might call it anticlimactic, but there’s no such thing as a “lame” ambush. Not when lives are lost.
Blaze.
Once I confirmed its breathing had ceased and only black ash remained of the body I’d burned, I released my grip.
The moment I let go, the corpse collapsed to the ground, crumbling into pieces upon impact.
So ended another nameless martial artist of the Unorthodox Faction—one of many who fell by my hand.
Tap. Tap.
I dusted off my hands and scanned my surroundings.
Any more left?
I expanded my senses. At my current level, I could cover half the mountain—a dramatic improvement from before. Part of that was due to unlocking my upper dantian and the expansion of my vessel, but the greater reason was my refined control over qi.
…A few bastards are still hiding.
But they were weak enough for the instructors to handle.
Crackle.
I drew the flames back into myself and took stock.
I’m exhausted.
My body felt heavy, strained from diving straight into combat so soon after breaking through to the Fusion Realm. But what choice did I have? Trouble had found me the moment I returned. Standing by would only have made things worse.
Besides,
I still have to find that bastard.
I’d been searching for Jang Seonyeon while cutting down every enemy in my path. Yet in the end, I never found him.
That was a problem.
…What happened?
According to the rules of the Abyss, Jang Seonyeon should have returned just as I did. That’s what the World Tree had assured me. I hadn’t expected it to become an issue.
What’s more,
This situation was perfect.
An ambush on the Heavenly Dragon Academy—who would have thought anyone so bold? It gave me the ideal chance to eliminate my targets without leaving a trace. If Jang Seonyeon had returned as planned, I could have ended him here and now.
But now it’s turned into a hassle.
I even checked the spot where Cheol Jiseon had opened the gate to the Abyss, just in case. Still no sign of Jang Seonyeon. I scoured the entire mountain, burning every enemy I came across, yet he was nowhere to be found.
How was that possible?
If he’s hiding… No, even then, it doesn’t make sense.
Jang Seonyeon shouldn’t have any memories of the Abyss. There’s no reason for him to hide from me specifically. And even if he were hiding, there’s no way my senses wouldn’t have picked him up.
That left only one possibility:
He’s already dead.
If he’d lost his life here before I returned, that would explain why I couldn’t find him. It was the only logical conclusion—unless he’d vanished somewhere else entirely.
“Tsk.”
This was troublesome. I’d lost the perfect opportunity to eliminate him. Now there was a chance he might survive after all.
“Haah… Fine. It’s not like the world has ever been on my side.”
I swept a hand through my hair and drew in all my qi. My body was utterly fatigued, but I could still move without issue—likely for one reason.
The Power of the Demonic Human.
I released all my Demonic Qi and directed it toward my heart. By doing so, I had become a Demonic Human and severed the connection between the Heavenly Demon and myself.
And more than that…
“…I never thought I’d be able to undo it.”
I opened and closed my hand a few times. I no longer bore the appearance of a Demonic Human; I had returned to my usual form. Reverting was supposed to be impossible—an absolute law decreed by the Heavenly Demon. Yet here I was, a Demonic Human turned back into an ordinary man.
Was it really this easy?
Once I claimed the Demonic Qi as my own, the knowledge came to me instinctively—how to revert, how to wield the energy more effectively. It felt almost natural.
And beyond that…
I pulled up my right sleeve and frowned at the strange mark etched into my skin.
“What is this?”
A peculiar trace lingered there. I hadn’t had anything like it in my previous life when I became a Demonic Human. What did it mean?
It almost looked like…
“Brother.”
“…!”
At the sound of the voice, I quickly pulled my sleeve down and turned.
It was Pe Woocheol.
“Oh, you survived?”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
He looked genuinely hurt, though with his fierce features, the expression only made him seem more intimidating.
“Brother… you seem to be fine.”
His eyes widened as he took in the scene around me—the ground littered with corpses from the Unorthodox Faction. There weren’t many, but his shock was understandable.
I studied his face for a moment before speaking abruptly.
“Did you kill?”
“…!”
His pupils trembled. I recognized the flicker of emotion in his eyes. Judging by the marks on his hands, he’d dealt with a few martial artists himself. It seemed the experience had left him conflicted. Despite his powerful build, he was still just a Young Prodigy at heart.
“Good work.”
That was all I said. This was something every martial artist had to face sooner or later. There was no need for comfort or consolation. He would have to endure it on his own.
“It seems like things are winding down. You should head back.”
“…Brother, what about you?”
“I’ll go too.”
The students should have evacuated by now. I’d only stayed behind to deal with Jang Seonyeon and vent my frustration on a few enemies. It was odd that Pe Woocheol was still here.
“Why are you still here?”
“…”
He averted his gaze, silent. He clearly had a reason he couldn’t share.
I didn’t press him. Instead, I walked past and tapped his broad shoulder.
“It’s fine. Let’s go back now.”
If he didn’t want to talk, I wouldn’t pry. He’d tell me when he was ready.
“Yes… Brother.”
Swish.
A spring breeze brushed past my cheek. It should have carried the scent of fresh growth, but all I could smell was blood.
“…”
This was likely the worst spring I’d experienced since my regression.
* * *
The shattered grounds of the Heavenly Dragon Academy had been turned into a makeshift refuge. Students stained with blood were being treated; others trembled in fear. Some sat slumped against the walls, eyes hollow, as if their souls had been drained.
The ambush had lasted less than a day, but for most, it was their first taste of true violence.
No—probably the first for nearly all of them.
A generation of peace, they called it. The great war against the Unorthodox Faction was long over. The so-called Four Emperors and Five Kings of the unorthodox side still existed, but they dared not show themselves openly—not while the Orthodox Faction stood strong. Especially with the Three Venerables among their ranks.
This was the Orthodox Faction’s era. No matter how much the Unorthodox Faction gnashed their teeth, they could do nothing against such overwhelming power. That’s why I wondered how long it had been since they’d launched an ambush of this scale. Decades, most likely.
The biggest event I remember from my past life was the destruction of the Black Palace.
But an attack on the Heavenly Dragon Academy? That never happened before. This was a new development—a change in this life.
And that could only mean one thing:
It’s my fault.
My regression had set off a butterfly effect. The thought struck deep.
“…No… Get up…!”
“Brother Jang… Brother Jaaaang!”
“Senior… Please open your eyes…”
Desperate cries echoed from the center of the academy, where the bodies of the fallen had been gathered. So many students had lost their lives in such a short time. They weren’t the majority, but their deaths still mattered. They might have survived until the coming calamity, but instead, they died here, now—because of this incident.
Because of me.
If events that never occurred in my past life were unfolding now, the responsibility lay with me.
…
Had I known something like this would happen? Yes, I had. I knew it was inevitable. But experiencing it firsthand was far worse than I’d imagined.
Amid the despair, I noticed a figure standing silently among the bodies—a young man with a bloodied sword. The rising star of Wudang, usually loud and carefree, now stood mute amidst the corpses of his seniors and juniors. Several Wudang disciples had been among the casualties.
The sight of the Sleeping Dragon silently mourning his fallen comrades caught my eye.
Crack.
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.
What a shitty day.
I thought about approaching him, but in the end, I turned away. There was nothing I could say or do for him now.
I moved on.
A short distance away, I spotted Gu Jeolyub. He didn’t look well either—face exhausted, body still tense. Unlike fighting demons on the front lines, this was probably his first time killing real people. Cold sweat still glistened on his brow.
“…You came.”
He noticed me and gave a slight nod.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. You seem… well, as I expected, Master.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I can’t imagine you ever being beaten, no matter the situation.”
“…”
Normally, I’d have smacked his leg for a comment like that, but this time, I just sighed and let it go.
“Good work,” he said as I passed.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. Good work? Did I really deserve praise?
I walked past him and entered what remained of a building—though “building” was a generous term, given its near-collapsed state.
“…Sigh.”
Inside, everyone was bustling about. Both instructors and students had gathered here.
—“Is there still no contact from the Murim Alliance?”
—“It should come soon…”
—“Do you hear yourself!? You’re from the Alliance!”
—“I’m just as frustrated as you are!”
The atmosphere was thick and tense. Perhaps it was the sheer number of people crammed into one space. This room was meant for treating the injured, but there were far too few medics for the number of wounded. To make matters worse, some of the medical students had died in the ambush, slowing everything to a crawl.
I moved past them without stopping.
“Ah…”
Someone noticed me and called out. I’d sensed them long before.
They were wrapped in bandages, looking thinner than usual—likely from blood loss.
“You came?”
It was Peng Ah-hee, sitting beside them, assisting with treatment. Her hair was a mess, her clothes covered in dust. Far from her usual noble appearance, she gave me a weary look.
“…I heard what happened. You went through some trouble, huh?”
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “Strange rumors seem to follow me. I didn’t do anything…”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
She offered a faint, bitter smile, thinking I was joking.
I turned from her and noticed a bandaged hand slowly reaching toward me. It was Namgung Bi-ah, swathed in bandages, her face paler and thinner than usual.
“…Hey…”
The sight made me grit my teeth.
“Do you really think you’re in any condition to greet me?”
She flinched at the sharpness in my voice.
“…Are you… angry?”
“Is that even a question?”
“…Sorry.”
She fell silent immediately. I hated seeing her like this—apologizing to me, of all people.
“What were you thinking?”
“…Hmm?”
“You know better than to charge in without assessing your opponent first.”
I’d heard the story. Namgung Bi-ah had faced the Palace Lord, and this was the result.
“Are you insane? Do you have a death wish?”
“…”
“What if you’d died there? What were you thinking, being so reckless…!”
I couldn’t hold back my anger—anger that was really directed at myself. I’d nearly lost her again because I was oblivious to what was happening. It was my own incompetence that made me lash out.
Then, Namgung Bi-ah gently tugged at my sleeve.
“…I’m sorry… don’t cry.”
Her words brought back a memory from my past life.
—Are you crying?
“What do you mean, crying?”
“…I’m fine…”
Her bones were broken, her qi exhausted, and she’d nearly bled to death. How could she say she was fine?
“It’s fine… so don’t apologize.”
“…Okay.”
I should be the one apologizing. I was horrible—pathetic, taking my guilt out on her. What was the point of reaching higher realms if I couldn’t even protect her from something like this?
I had the World Tree to thank for her survival. I’d expected to return days later, but thanks to its intervention, only a couple of hours had passed.
What would have happened if I’d been a few days late?
The thought sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t want to imagine it.
It was fortunate. So fortunate that she was still alive.
I shifted my gaze. Beside Namgung Bi-ah, Tang Soyeol lay with her eyes closed. She hadn’t fallen asleep naturally—someone had used qi to induce unconsciousness.
“She lost a lot of blood, but they say her life isn’t in danger.”
Peng Ah-hee answered the question I hadn’t asked.
“…Why put her to sleep?”
“…Sis is fine because of her cultivation level, but they said Soyeol would heal faster this way.”
As a Peak Realm martial artist, Namgung Bi-ah could stay awake thanks to her rapid regeneration. Tang Soyeol lacked that ability, so they sedated her. I’d also heard how Tang Soyeol had confronted the Black Palace Lord.
“…”
Without thinking, I found myself gently stroking Tang Soyeol’s hair. Namgung Bi-ah watched but didn’t react strangely. Instead, she asked:
“Where is Seol-Ah?”
She was asking about Wi Seol-Ah.
“She’s resting.”
I recalled what had happened earlier. After everything, Wi Seol-Ah had lost consciousness. I’d spent a considerable amount of time helping her and Bi Eejin.
And then there was Bi Eejin’s words:
—We have some things to discuss, don’t we?
He wasn’t going to let me off easily.
How am I going to explain this to him?
I had no idea. Every time I did something, new problems cropped up. It made my head throb.
“Hey.”
Peng Ah-hee’s voice startled me out of my thoughts.
“…What?”
“The Sword Queen came by earlier.”
“The Sword Queen?”
I hadn’t seen her and had wondered if something had happened. But it would take more than an ambush to kill a martial artist of her caliber.
Though the same can’t be said for the Qinghai Sword.
My lips went dry as I remembered the old man kneeling on the ground, one arm missing.
“She asked me to tell you to see her when you arrived.”
“Me? Where?”
The Sword Queen was looking for me. Peng Ah-hee explained that she was currently with the Qinghai Sword, where he was being treated.
I immediately transferred a stream of qi to Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol, then stood to leave. I would have liked to stay longer and check on Wi Seol-Ah afterward, but this felt urgent.
I made my way to the treatment area where the Qinghai Sword was resting. The instructors guarding the entrance flinched when they saw me, but allowed me through after I mentioned the Sword Queen’s summons. She had informed them in advance.
As I walked past them,
Swish.
I lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
There, I saw the Qinghai Sword, asleep after his treatment, and the Sword Queen who had summoned me. She knelt calmly beside him.
“…You came.”
“…!”
And standing beside her was the white-haired man with pale eyes I had seen earlier that day.