Chapter 36: Looking for the Hint (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Looking for the Hint (4)
A colossal serpent, radiating a brilliant white light, gazed down upon us.
“A… a giant snake…!” Wi Seol-Ah stammered.
I gritted my teeth at her words. Our situation was dire.
…A demon beast?
A creature of such immense size could be nothing else.
And it spoke to us… Does that mean it possesses intelligence?
I had never encountered or even heard of such a thing. The very notion of a demon beast this massive was unheard of.
What should I do?
With my current strength, I likely couldn't even scratch it. But I had to ensure Wi Seol-Ah escaped safely.
How can I distract it…?
As if reading my mind, the serpent spoke.
-Calm yourself, child. I am not particularly hungry at the moment.
…It’s not hostile?
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I ventured a question. “You can understand me?”
-We are conversing, are we not?
“But how can a demon beast speak the human tongue?”
-Demon beast… How amusing.
The snake flicked its tongue, a appendage that looked larger than my entire body.
-So this is an age where beings like me are called demon beasts, hmm? Its tone was laced with bitterness.
It didn't seem aggressive, but trusting a demon beast was out of the question. I still shrouded myself in Qi, ready for anything. The serpent opened its eyes fully, revealing piercing golden orbs, and posed a question.
-…I am curious, child. How did one such as you, who does not hail from the Nature, find your way to this place?
“The Nature…?” Is it referring to the Golden Nature Clan?
“…The Golden Nature Clan was destroyed centuries ago,” I replied.
The snake’s eyes widened in surprise at my words, then slowly closed.
-Shhhh…
The giant creature coiled its body tighter. The slightest movement caused the entire chamber to tremble, a testament to its staggering size.
-…I see. It seems it was inevitable, after all.
The serpent’s massive head slowly descended until it rested on the ground.
-Yet, my curiosity remains. Even with my power waning, how did you manage to breach these defenses?
…Power? Does it mean it was the one who set up the spatial magic? A demon beast possessing such inconceivable power was a terrifying thought.
How should I answer? The truth was, I’d only arrived here because Wi Seol-Ah led me. I had no real explanation.
“…I happened to find it by chance,” I said, offering the weak excuse.
-…What?
The snake, seemingly taken aback by my absurd answer, paused. Its gaze shifted away from me, settling intently on Wi Seol-Ah. Its golden eyes glowed faintly as it studied her. The sheer intensity of its focus from that colossal head was unnerving. Wi Seol-Ah, sharing my fear, quickly moved to hide behind my back.
After observing her for a few moments, the snake withdrew its head slightly, giving us space.
-I see… So that is how it is.
Huh? What did it understand?
-Child, what was your purpose in coming here? the snake asked abruptly.
The question stunned me momentarily. If this serpent had ties to the Golden Nature Clan, would it simply let us plunder its secret vault and leave?
“I arrived here by coincidence, sir,” I answered, realizing I had unconsciously used a formal tone.
The snake swirled its tongue. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, or my fear, but it seemed almost like a smile.
-Unfortunately, the object of your search is no longer here.
…Damn, it knows I came for the vault. A cold sweat instantly drenched my back.
The snake continued.
-As my time draws to a close, this place, too, shall fade away.
…Its time is ending? Now I thought I understood how the Tang Clan had eventually found this place. If the serpent spoke truthfully, the Tang Clan must have discovered it only after the spatial magic had dissipated. That explains why such a unique tree remained hidden for so long.
But is it telling the truth about there being nothing here? If so, what did the lord of the Gaecheon Clan gain from this place?
-Child.
“…Yes, sir?” I responded nervously. My pride stung at showing such deference to a snake, but this was no time for trivial concerns.
-What do you believe fate to be?
“What kind of shitty question is that… Sir?” The retort slipped out before I could stop myself. You idiot! Why would you say that now!?
-Hahahaha!
The serpent laughed, its mirth causing the entire room to shake.
-You are right… It was indeed an absurd question for me to ask.
Fortunately, it didn't seem angered. I wanted to complain about being the only one answering questions, but I held my tongue. My current position was too precarious.
The snake slowly uncoiled its massive body.
-…Why cling to something so stubbornly when it is destined to vanish one day?
It didn't seem to be speaking to me. Who is it talking to?
Suddenly, the serpent began to shine with a brilliant light. It wasn't the white radiance from before, but a golden glow that matched its eyes. As I considered using this moment to grab Wi Seol-Ah and flee, something shot from the serpent’s open mouth—a golden marble.
It came to a rest at my feet. I cautiously picked it up.
-Take it, the snake commanded.
“…What is this?”
-A reward for enduring the presence of a monster like me. Since it was fated to fall into someone's hands eventually, it may as well be yours. Such is fate.
Despite emerging from the snake’s body, the marble was clean, devoid of any slime or mucus. It resembled a demonic stone, yet it lacked any ominous aura. Instead, it felt luxurious, bright, and… almost holy.
-Given what you harbor within your body, you will find it easier to absorb than most.
“What”? What does it mean by “that”…?
Before I could ponder further, a torrent of scorching, furious Qi violently surged into my body.
“…Ugh!”
Agony overwhelmed me, and I dropped to my knees. Just like before, my demonic absorption ability activated against my will. I had let my guard down. Was it a demonic stone after all?
Strangely, I felt no Demonic Qi invading me. The problem was the sheer volume of pure, potent Qi flooding my system—it was simply too much for my body to handle. As I wrestled with the pain, I felt Wi Seol-Ah’s hands gently rubbing my back. Miraculously, the raging Qi within me began to calm.
But just as I started to breathe a sigh of relief, the foreign Qi encountered my innate Fire Qi. The two forces combined and immediately went on a rampage throughout my meridians.
“Ughhh…!”
The pain returned with a vengeance, worse than before. It felt like my body was being torn apart from the inside. Is the snake trying to kill me? Why such a convoluted method? It could have just swallowed me whole!
The conflict within me intensified.
Boom!
Amidst my groans, I heard a deafening explosion resonate inside my head. Was I hallucinating from the agony? The two warring Qi streams, after a frantic struggle, finally merged into a single, powerful current. This new, combined Qi surged to my dantian and then, ignoring any attempt I made to control it, exploded outwards, flooding every part of my being.
The pain reached an unbearable crescendo.
And then, everything went black.
* * *
After Gu Yangcheon lost consciousness…
Only two beings remained aware in the chamber: the serpent and Wi Seol-Ah.
The snake let out a soft laugh, observing the fallen young man.
-It seems it was too much for him to handle.
It was the power of a serpent on the verge of becoming a dragon. By absorbing it, Gu Yangcheon now possessed Qi far surpassing that of his peers.
Wi Seol-Ah gently laid Gu Yangcheon’s head on her lap and slowly rubbed his back.
The serpent spoke to her.
-Are you satisfied with this outcome?
Wi Seol-Ah looked up. Her eyes, usually a deep black, now shone with the same golden hue as the serpent’s.
“It is not for me to be satisfied,” she replied, her voice devoid of its usual naivety, now carrying a weight and tone far beyond her years.
The serpent responded, a palpable sadness in its voice.
-You altered so much to come all this way. Is this truly what you desired?
“Why? Can you not comprehend my actions?”
-It is not a lack of comprehension. I understand all too well, and it fills me with sorrow for you.
The serpent slowly lowered its body to the ground. Its scales were gradually losing their luster.
Wi Seol-Ah, continuing to soothe Gu Yangcheon, asked a question of her own. “Why did you give the jewel you protected for so long to someone you just met?”
-A whim. There is nothing more futile than waiting for one who will never return. I decided to let go.
The serpent recalled a golden-haired man with a radiant smile. Someone it would never see again.
-…Fate is a cruel mistress.
Its scales began to fall away, crumbling into dust the moment they touched the ground, vanishing without a trace—much like the leaves of the white maple tree outside. Soon, the massive serpent itself faded away, leaving not a single remnant behind.
These were the final moments of the guardian of the jewel.
Wi Seol-Ah carefully stroked Gu Yangcheon’s head.
“Even in such a situation, your first thought was to protect me… What kind of person are you?”
Drip. Drip.
Tears fell slowly onto Gu Yangcheon’s face.
You could have run away.
Yet, even while trembling, he had stood firm in front of her.
I cannot understand. Why go to such lengths for me? For someone like me, who knows only grudges and contempt…
She remembered the person who never spoke for anyone but herself. She had despised that person, hated her, wanted her dead.
That person was herself.
-…Give it back now.
A voice echoed in her mind.
Wi Seol-Ah wiped away her tears. “Sorry, but I’ll be borrowing it for a while longer.”
It was not the time. The danger had not passed. Just a little more.
She carefully laid Gu Yangcheon’s head on the ground and stood up. She wanted to pat his head again, but she knew her place. It felt selfish, an act that ignored her own guilt.
Wi Seol-Ah stretched slowly. The body was still that of a young, fragile girl, but the consciousness inhabiting it was vast enough to control it without issue.
Finished stretching, she turned her gaze to the doorway they had entered from, her voice now sharp and cold as an awl. “You can come out now.”
A man, shocked by her words, revealed himself from the shadows. “…How? Since when did you know I was here?”
“Did you truly believe you could hide from me with skills as lacking as yours?”
The man was Macheol, Namgung Cheonjun’s escort.
From the very beginning—from the moment Gu Yangcheon had left the Tang Clan—Wi Seol-Ah had known they were being followed. However experienced Gu Yangcheon might be, there was no way he could detect a martial artist who had reached the Peak Realm.
“…I had intended to finish this quietly,” Macheol sighed. His sword was already drawn. “You are a perceptive child. I had no wish to harm you; I only meant to eliminate Gu Yangcheon. Now you force my hand.”
“Was this Namgung’s order?”
Macheol’s eyes narrowed in fury at her casual utterance of the name. “How dare you!? You have no right to speak that name!”
Wi Seol-Ah remained expressionless in the face of his rage. She quietly drew a dagger.
Macheol scoffed upon seeing the small weapon. “What do you plan to do with that?”
Wi Seol-Ah offered no reply.
As he looked at her, Macheol couldn't help but think, Beautiful. She was fascinatingly so. She seemed a bit young, but it would be better to take her back to the clan and only dispose of the Gu Clan’s son. This trip would be a success—securing the secret vault, Gu Yangcheon’s head, and this rare beauty.
Having made his decision, he addressed her again. “If you do not resist, I will not lay a finger on you. What do you say?” She will surely be injured if she fights me while trying to protect her master. And injuring her would not please my master.
Once more, Wi Seol-Ah did not respond. She simply glanced down at the dagger in her hand.
Macheol let out a disappointed sigh. “Very well. If you insist, then…”
Thud.
“Hmm…?” A dumb sound escaped Macheol’s lips.
Something had fallen near him. A moment later, he felt a strange, unnatural imbalance. With a trembling hand, he reached for his left shoulder.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
It was gone.
His entire left arm, which should have been there, was missing. When he looked down, he saw the fallen object was his own severed limb.
“When did you…?” He hadn’t even seen her move.
“Shut up.” Wi Seol-Ah’s voice drilled into his ears.
And Macheol finally realized that something was horribly, terribly wrong.
Wi Seol-Ah took a single step forward. Macheol’s breathing instantly became labored. As the distance between them decreased, an overwhelming pressure bore down on him, making it increasingly difficult to even draw breath.
“…Do not speak another word. I do not wish to wake him from his sound sleep,” she said.
With her next step, Wi Seol-Ah’s hair began to slowly shift in color, turning a radiant gold.