Chapter 424: It’s a Snake (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 424: It’s a Snake (1)
What was that?
My senses were dulled by the water, making it hard to see or hear clearly. I scanned my surroundings carefully, maintaining control over my breathing. It would have been strange enough for someone to suddenly contact me telepathically from outside, but for the voice to be so crystal clear while I was submerged was downright bizarre.
[Why… just why…]
The voice echoed in my mind again, confirming I hadn't imagined it the first time.
Wait.
Is it you?
I directed the thought toward the Demon, and the creature’s body flinched slightly in response.
[…Oh, great one…]
What in the world? Was a Demon actually speaking to me?
A talking Demon?
As strange as it was, it wasn't the most unbelievable thing I'd encountered. Back when I infiltrated the Golden Sky Yeon Clan's secret vault, a giant snake had spoken to me then, too.
Another snake, huh?
Maybe snake Demons are just capable of speech?
It was a peculiar thought, and one I had no experience with from my past life.
What are you… Do you know me?
I tried communicating with it again.
Kyaaaaa-!
Instead of a reply, the bastard only let out a final, agonized scream as my flames consumed it. I quickly tried to withdraw the flames, but it was too late. The Demon's eyes slowly dimmed, and its body went completely still.
Damn it.
I frowned at the sight. The creature had seemed like it had something to say, but now it was dead…
I pulled my arm free from the snake's flesh and pondered its words.
Great one?
That's what it had called me. What could that mean?
It makes it sound like I'm their ally or something.
The idea of being on the same side as Demons was absurd. They were creatures of pure instinct, driven only by the desire to devour. How could I possibly become allies with such monsters?
Though… it has happened before.
A memory from my past life surfaced. Despite their mindless nature, they had once bowed their heads to a single individual.
The Heavenly Demon.
I recalled how countless Demons had willingly sacrificed their lives at her slightest gesture.
…Wait.
Remembering that, a strange feeling settled over me. Was this really just a coincidence?
No. It couldn't be.
A Red Demon appearing out of nowhere, the timeline of events shifting… and it felt like I was at the center of every problem that arose.
Something isn't right.
It was one thing for strange events to occur, but I was certain I was the common denominator.
Does that mean the Red Demon appeared only because of me?
The notion was ludicrous. I wanted to deny it, but all the evidence seemed to point directly at me.
Dammit.
I bit my lip and recalled the flames still eating away at the Demon's corpse. I wasn't certain of anything yet, and this wasn't the time to waste on speculation.
I turned my attention to the massive body floating around me. I needed to find what I was looking for, and quickly, before the heavy carcass sank into the river's depths.
Expanding my senses, I searched the Demon's body.
…! There. A spot where energy was intensely concentrated.
I swam toward it and used my Qi to tear through the snake's scales. They were tough and resilient, but with the creature dead, a focused application of force was enough to rip them open.
Riiip-!
I tore the skin apart and thrust my arm deep into its body. I couldn't reach it. Gritting my teeth, I shoved my entire upper body inside.
The sensation of its cold flesh and blood was disgusting. This was exactly why I hated hunting underwater… Ugh.
I pushed deeper until my fingers finally brushed against what I was seeking.
This is it.
I grabbed the object and pulled it free.
Craaack-!
Clutching my prize, I exited the Demon's body and examined what was in my hand. It was a Demonic Stone from a Red Demon, about the size of a child's head.
I nodded in satisfaction. The earlier incident was bothersome, but I'd gotten what I came for.
It's better than nothing, I suppose.
A net gain, in the end. I was on my way to Sichuan to obtain a White Demonic Stone to boost my strength, and this Red Demonic Stone would be a significant help as well.
Just as I was about to start drawing energy from the stone…
Woong-
Hmm?
A vibration came from the stone in my hand. As the giant Demon's body sank into the murky depths, I stared at the rock.
Then…
“Hgh…!”
I gasped in shock. The air escaping my mouth formed bubbles that rose toward the surface, forcing me to swallow a mouthful of water tainted with Demon's blood. But that was the least of my concerns.
What the hell is this?
My eyes widened as I stared at the stone. Its condition was… strange.
* * *
Gu Yangcheon had plunged into the water with the Demon. The creature had thrashed and screamed wildly beneath the surface before eventually falling silent.
Several minutes passed.
Neither the Demon nor Gu Yangcheon resurfaced. A few minutes was more than enough time to drown an ordinary person. While a Peak Realm martial artist could hold their breath for over two hours, he had submerged while grappling with the Demon.
Seeing this, Namgung Bi-ah’s expression hardened, and she moved to jump into the river.
Kwak-! Someone grabbed her arm.
It was Woo Hyuk.
Namgung Bi-ah turned her head, and Woo Hyuk flinched momentarily when their eyes met. The usual peace in her gaze was gone, replaced by a sharp, murderous intent.
“Let go.” Her tone was as icy as her stare.
Seeing this, Woo Hyuk managed a small chuckle. “Please calm down.”
“I said, let go.” Qi began to swirl around the sword in her other hand, as if she were prepared to sever his arm.
“Friend’s wife, I don’t think he’d like it if you went down there.”
“…”
The title Woo Hyuk used caused a slight tremor in Namgung Bi-ah’s pupils.
“You know he won’t die that easily.”
“…”
“I’m sure he didn’t go down without a plan. Let’s wait a little longer.”
The killing intent in Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes slowly receded as she listened to Woo Hyuk. Internally, he breathed a sigh of relief.
…That was dangerous.
He’d maintained a smile on the outside, but he hadn’t been calm inside. The killing intent she had projected was very real. If he had been any slower to placate her, she might have actually tried to cut his arm off.
What a fierce devotion.
He felt a tiny twinge of jealousy at how Gu Yangcheon was surrounded by such beautiful women, but right now, he was just glad he wasn't in his friend's position. Having that many women focused on one person seemed like its own kind of problem.
After all, Namgung Bi-ah wasn't the only one.
Woo Hyuk glanced sideways at another woman staring intently at the water with a sharp gaze.
Wi Seol-Ah, was it? The descendant of the Sword Emperor?
They had known each other for months, but Woo Hyuk had barely exchanged a word with her. In fact, hardly anyone spoke to her besides Gu Yangcheon. The difference in her demeanor when she was with him versus when she wasn't was stark. With him, she resembled an innocent puppy; without him, she was like a cold, sharp sword, forbidding anyone from approaching.
Judging by their reactions, both women would have jumped in sooner rather than later.
However.
I probably would have done the same.
The same went for Woo Hyuk himself.
Ever since Gu Yangcheon had disappeared beneath the water, Woo Hyuk’s ears had been flooded with voices.
-Gu Yangcheon, he…
-That Young Expert, how could he-
-Look around us and…
Voices from nearby, and even from the distant ship that had sailed out of view, all crowded into Woo Hyuk’s mind.
It’s a problem.
He forced a smile, pretending to be at ease, but the mental noise he hadn't heard in a long time was grating on him. He had known it would return if Gu Yangcheon wasn't nearby, but he hadn't expected it to be this loud. It felt just like the time before they had met. Had he grown too accustomed to the peace? The cacophony gave him a headache and drained his energy.
What’s happening down there?
Woo Hyuk looked down at the water. The noise had started a few minutes after Gu Yangcheon submerged. The Demon had stopped its rampage, and the water had calmed along with it. It had all happened so suddenly. He wondered if something had gone wrong.
Also,
Them too.
Woo Hyuk observed Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah. Since the noise began, he had seen their expressions change abruptly.
Do they have some special sense as well?
From their reactions, he wondered if they possessed unique abilities like his own. But for now, Gu Yangcheon’s safety was all that mattered.
Woo Hyuk recalled what Gu Yangcheon had said to the group just before engaging the Demon.
[Just follow my orders. Don’t be surprised if anything strange happens.]
That’s what he had said. It would have sounded arrogant coming from anyone else, but Woo Hyuk found himself strangely trusting Gu Yangcheon’s words.
Was Gu Yangcheon particularly trustworthy? Not… really. Yet, Woo Hyuk felt compelled to trust him. And truthfully, following his orders had allowed them to hunt the Demon down. It was fascinating.
How was it even possible?
Woo Hyuk had been shocked when he first encountered the Demon’s barrier. A barrier that absorbed Qi? How could such a thing exist? How could anyone hope to defeat it?
But that shock was short-lived. Once Gu Yangcheon started issuing commands and Woo Hyuk swung his sword accordingly, he was met with an even greater shock. He understood why Gu Yangcheon was giving those specific orders. On his second swing, Woo Hyuk felt a clear, though minuscule, difference in the invisible barrier. It was an extremely subtle change, one that was hard for even him to detect, yet Gu Yangcheon had perceived it from afar and directed them accordingly.
…He’s unbelievable.
He felt a vast gulf every time he assessed Gu Yangcheon. Woo Hyuk was aware of his own talents. He wasn't arrogant, but he knew he was more gifted than most. Yet, compared to Gu Yangcheon, he sometimes felt insignificant. They were of the same generation, but Gu Yangcheon was on a completely different level.
If things continued this way, Gu Yangcheon would rapidly surpass his peers and reach unimaginable heights in the near future. Woo Hyuk was certain of it. That certainty made him deeply curious about the future.
So, please.
Come up already.
He gripped his sword tightly, staring down at the water. Gu Yangcheon was not someone who could afford to die in a place like this. At least, that’s what Woo Hyuk believed.
As his calm began to fray and a frown creased his face…
Swooosh-!
“…!”
Woo Hyuk’s eyes widened as a powerful presence surged from the depths. The chaotic noise in his mind vanished in an instant. He wasn't the only one who felt it. Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah also sensed it, both immediately moving toward the center of the river where the presence originated.
Gurgle-
Bubbles rose to the surface from that spot.
“Pwah…!”
A head broke through the water, its owner gasping for air.
“Damn… for fuck’s sake. I almost died— Agh!”
The young man with a fierce expression tried to speak, but Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah threw themselves at him, wrapping him in a simultaneous embrace.
“W…Wait…! This is a bit dangerous right now!”
Gu Yangcheon was promptly dragged back under the water by the two women. Watching the scene, Woo Hyuk finally allowed himself to release a sigh of relief.
* * *
After the Demon's rampage ended, I immediately returned to the ship. Normally, martial artists would gather to harvest the Demon's leather and bones, but its body had sunk into the river depths. Combined with the fact that the situation wasn't fully resolved, the Poison King ordered everyone back to the deck.
I noted the shocked expression on the Poison King's face when I returned. It was understandable; the ship and surrounding waters were littered with Demon corpses. They were the lesser fiends that had attacked alongside the Red Demon, and thankfully, they all seemed to have been eliminated. The number of corpses on the ship and in the water was staggering, almost impossible to count.
In the middle of it all stood a silent martial artist holding a spear.
Tang Duk.
Before I'd jumped off the ship to confront the Red Demon, I'd ordered him to protect the others. He'd had no choice but to obey. His face was sour, undoubtedly from having to protect members of the Tang Clan he despised, but I couldn't care less. His expression grew particularly foul when the Poison King thanked him for his efforts. The Poison King himself looked confused by the reaction.
I explained to the Poison King that the guy always looked like that. It was meant as a joke, but it confirmed one thing for me: The Poison King did not recognize Tang Duk.
Even with his distinctive hair and his inability to learn Poison Arts, the fact that the Poison King showed no sign of recognition meant he genuinely didn't know who Tang Duk was.
Of course, he could just be acting.
But that seemed like a stretch.
My mind was already preoccupied with the appearance of the Red Demon. The other martial artists were bewildered, unsure what to think after encountering a creature that hadn't been seen in hundreds of years. Debates broke out over whether it was safe to continue the voyage or if they should return to Henan to report the incident.
However, the Poison King, as the leader of the expedition, declared that their duty was to escort everyone safely to Sichuan. He decided to send a swift letter to the Murim Alliance reporting the events instead. Some voiced dissatisfaction, but his decision stood.
If they were unhappy, they were welcome to swim back. If not, they had to stay quiet if they wanted to remain on the ship. No one was foolish enough to choose the former option. Having witnessed the danger of a Red Demon, no one would risk the waters on the chance another might appear.
In short, the journey to Sichuan would continue.
“Sigh…”
I let out a long sigh, sitting alone on my bed. I truly hadn't expected something like this to happen. Because of it, I'd been wound tight until now. Only after the situation was resolved could I finally relax the tension in my body. I could breathe again, I supposed.
When I'd returned to the ship, I was met with endless scolding from Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah. They berated me for recklessly charging into danger.
Frankly, it was a little frustrating. It wasn't as if I could have just stood by and done nothing. A monster like that appears right in front of us—how could I possibly have stayed on the ship?
“…Actually, maybe it would have been better if I had done nothing.”
It was absurd that I'd nearly drowned, of all things. If I'd known that was going to happen, I might have just stayed put.
I sighed again and looked down at my hand. There was a specific reason I'd almost drowned after killing the Demon.
“…Come out now.”
It was because of this bastard.
Swish…
At my call, something slithered out from my sleeve. It was about as thick as my pinky finger and roughly the length from my wrist to my elbow. It coiled around my hand and lifted its small head, its yellow eyes meeting mine.
Blep.
Its tongue flicked out. Those yellow eyes… they looked familiar. Yes, they were identical to the eyes of the Demon I had just fought. The feeling it gave off was the same, too.
A snake. It was a snake.
A tiny serpent with crimson scales was wrapped around my hand, staring back at me.