Chapter 646: Ice Qi (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 646: Ice Qi (2)
When I opened my eyes again, the night was freezing.
The "white night" my father had created had vanished, and the moon had reclaimed its place in the sky. The blade-like cold remained, and I could feel it gradually intensifying. No snow fell, yet the chill grew sharper by the second.
Through the cracks of that biting sensation, a voice reached me.
“Biwegun—!!”
It was the Black Lion’s roar.
My gaze shifted. The Black Lion had already laid the Lord he was supporting on the ground. Gripping his signature greatsword, he was glaring at something with murderous intensity.
Following his line of sight, I saw Woo Hyuk collapsed on the ground.
We were just talking a moment ago. Did he just pass out?
I wanted to ask what had happened, but seeing him in that state, questions would have to wait.
What is going on?
I clutched my dizzy head and tried to assess the situation. The meeting I’d just had couldn't have been an illusion, so I needed to properly check my condition.
It was definitely Namgung Myung. Whether he was telling the truth or not was uncertain, but it was ridiculous to doubt him now. It was better to proceed under the assumption that he was the real Namgung Myung.
Time to sort through the information. I recalled the words he had spoken.
—All treasures will bow their heads before you.
That was the first piece of information. The reason I could use treasures that already had owners—including Thunder Fang—was because I was a ‘Dragon.’ However, he said that forcibly using them was one thing, but making them obey me as he described was another matter entirely. I could wield Thunder Fang, but making it follow me like Solar Light was different.
This was why Namgung Myung had been so certain.
—You are the reincarnation.
He claimed I was the vessel Elder Shin was supposed to have been reincarnated into.
What a load of bullshit.
How could that even be possible? Even after hearing it, I couldn't wrap my head around it. Even if that was the reason Solar Light followed me so readily, it wasn't something I could easily swallow.
Only questions remained.
Why me of all people?
I wasn't a disciple of Mount Hua, nor did I belong to some ordinary sect. I carried the Gu Clan’s bloodline. If I was the reincarnation of Elder Shin, it was a story I couldn't possibly comprehend.
The Divine Sword of Mount Hua. The Greatest Sword of the Central Plains. If I were truly the reincarnation of someone so exceptional that I could have achieved anything…
Damn it, I should've inherited something, then.
Shouldn't I have been born just as outstanding? Only now, after devouring all sorts of fortunate encounters, had I raised my level. My past life was far from that.
Furthermore, what about the difference between my beliefs and Elder Shin’s?
Live for the world? Don't make me laugh.
If he’d said I live for myself, maybe. But this was the complete opposite conviction. Even if I were a reincarnation, I didn't resemble him in any meaningful way. Was I supposed to believe this naively?
…Besides, it’s strange that Elder Shin didn't know.
Namgung Myung, who saw me for the first time, recognized it at a glance. It made no sense that Elder Shin, who personally handed me Solar Light, wouldn't have known.
In the end, does this mean I have to meet Elder Shin and ask, or find Namgung Myung again?
It was too much to figure out on my own. And even if I really am Elder Shin’s reincarnation… would that even be so important?
I was a little surprised, but it didn't really resonate with me. His lingering soul was in a separate body anyway, and I had no memories of living as Elder Shin centuries ago. Should I even care? I wasn't sure. It felt burdensome and cumbersome. Right now, that was the only emotion that remained.
It couldn't be helped. Whether it’s true or not, I have to do what I have to do. Elder Shin’s business was part of my business anyway, and I had planned to see this through even if there were a separate reincarnation. From that standpoint, the truth didn't change my path.
More important than that right now…
…were Namgung Myung’s final words.
—Find Xinjiang.
He had said that while poking my forehead. I knew that in that moment, Namgung Myung’s Lightning Qi had seeped into my body.
Why is he telling me to go to Xinjiang?
Where was Xinjiang? It was at the very edge of the world, a long way west from Henan.
In my past life, that was where the Demonic Cult was located.
It was the home of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the order founded by the Heavenly Demon. To its followers, it was a sacred place called the Sanctuary, but for me, it had been my own personal hell.
To think he’d tell me to go to a place like that.
What could possibly be there? From what I remembered, like the frontline the Gu Clan was in charge of, it was a place that had fallen to ruin when the Gates of Demons appeared…
Wait.
As I thought about it, something clicked. Now that I considered it, that was right.
If it’s Xinjiang around the time the Gates of Demons opened…?
In my past life, it was where the Demonic Cult was, but during the time Elder Shin and the others were active… it was also where the Blood Cult was.
Why didn't I think of this?
Was it because it was so long ago? Thinking about it now, it felt ominous. Is there something in Xinjiang? Why did both the Blood Demon and the Heavenly Demon establish their main bases in Xinjiang of all places? To call it a coincidence felt unsettling.
Whatever it is, I’ll have to go and see.
It was a place I had considered visiting someday. I just hadn't chosen to go because I lacked the time and a proper justification. If I moved up the schedule to coincide with other important matters, there shouldn't be a problem.
I’ve sorted things out for the most part… Now, what’s left is…
Perhaps the most important words of all.
—Be wary of Yeon Il-Cheon.
“...”
A regressor like me, the previous Zenith Under the Heavens, and the man who led the superhumans of his era, including Elder Shin. The Golden Heaven Fist King, Yeon Il-Cheon.
Why did Namgung Myung mention him and warn me to be careful?
Hasn't that man already disappeared?
From my perspective, I didn't have a very good impression of him. When I faced his lingering soul in the Heavenly Dragon Academy’s secret vault, if it hadn't been for Elder Shin’s help, I would have been killed by Yeon Il-Cheon right there.
He also had a history of branding me a calamity. He claimed I would destroy the world—that I would become a disaster. He had stated it as an absolute fact.
But… damn it, it feels like his words are coming true.
If what he said back then was bullshit, it would be one thing. But my inhuman body and the series of events unfolding were all pushing me as if to confirm that I was indeed a calamity. In such a situation, for Namgung Myung to tell me to be wary of him…
Does that mean I’ll meet Yeon Il-Cheon someday?
Whether I liked it or not, my connection with him wasn't over. I didn't know why Namgung Myung was so sure, or what his lingering soul was doing in the North Sea in the first place, but… to find that out, I’d have to meet him again.
Maybe Namgung Myung had intended for this to happen. If not…
“He wouldn't have forced my hand like this.”
I stepped forward, twisted my waist, and whipped my foot around.
CRACK—!!
A wave of energy erupted as my Combat Qi-wreathed foot collided with the blade of the greatsword. The wind pressure, mixed with a sudden shift in atmospheric pressure, swept away the snow on the ground.
“Kuh—!”
The Black Lion, who had blocked my kick, let out a groan and increased the distance between us. Fwoosh—! The heavy greatsword swung around, its tip aimed directly at me.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The Black Lion glared at me with blazing eyes.
Enduring his gaze, I slowly raised both hands to show him I wasn't drawing a weapon. “Calm down, will you?”
“Calm down? Did you just say calm down?!”
“Yes, you heard me right. Calm down.”
As I spoke, I extended my hand. The moment my fist reached a point in the empty air, a sword aura struck it.
BOOM—!!
I shattered the sword aura with my bare fist. The tip of my knuckles throbbed. It seemed my body wasn't in perfect condition either.
“I said, calm down. Good grief…”
Despite my words, the Black Lion unleashed his fighting spirit and killing intent, as if he could never be pacified. His fighting spirit was directed at me. His killing intent was directed at the man lying behind me—the man known in the North Sea as Biwegun, and known to me as Woo Hyuk.
“Do you know what you are protecting right now?”
“I know very well.”
“And knowing that, you still tell me to calm down?”
“Yes.”
The story that Woo Hyuk had plotted a rebellion in the North Sea had spread everywhere. I also knew that he was, in fact, involved to some extent. Even if he had reasons I couldn't understand, that fact didn't change.
That’s why I was planning to let him get beaten up to some extent, whether he was right or wrong.
Getting beaten was one thing, but dying was a problem. The Black Lion looked ready to kill Woo Hyuk at any moment. No, he would definitely kill him. That killing intent was real. That's why I stepped in.
“It’ll be a problem for me if he dies here. So please, hold back.”
I still had things to ask Namgung Myung. For that reason alone, Woo Hyuk couldn't die.
“Hold back…?”
The problem was, those words seemed to have pulled the bowstring too tight. The Black Lion’s fighting spirit grew even thicker.
“Do you know what that bastard has done—!!”
A rough Lion’s Roar erupted. Laced with raw emotion and internal energy, it shook the air.
“Because of the rebellion, many warriors died! The people of the North Sea who were caught up in it died! And yet, you see the main culprit and tell me to calm down?!”
A sob was woven into his shout. I felt like I knew all too well what emotions the Black Lion was harboring. However…
“I don't know.”
“What…?”
“Why should I know how many died or how many were involved?”
His emotions couldn't reach me. I knew he had justification and righteous anger. But.
“You should have done a better job in the first place. Isn't the moron who thought the regime would last forever on the sacrifice of his own bloodline the real problem?”
“You—!!”
The Black Lion, exploding with maximum fighting spirit, swelled his muscles. His eyes were so strained they looked like the blood vessels would burst. Even seeing that, I remained calm. I nudged the fallen Woo Hyuk with my foot and continued.
“I know this idiot caused trouble. But in the first place, the North Sea was a place that could have collapsed at any time.”
It was something I realized the moment I met Yuri and heard about the Lord of the Ice Palace. And the moment I came to the North Sea and looked around.
“The palace’s military power was being managed by someone other than the Lord. And from what I see, the finances and everything else were being handled elsewhere too, right?”
To move them, the Lord’s permission was necessary, but still. The Lord wasn't managing the important things overall. Instead, he had entrusted it to internal personnel—not by dividing the duties, but by assigning it all to a specific clan.
I get it. They were good at it. And since the bloodline had its own issues, he must have delegated it. But that’s not how power works.
“When you do that, desire is bound to sprout. That’s just how most humans are. When you handle something big, you get greedy.”
How many years did he say they were in charge of the military? I heard that the Blue Wolf Clan has been managing it for over a hundred years now. A single clan is in charge of not just its own forces, but most of the palace’s military power? And the Lord just lets it slide?
He might have seen it as a sign of trust and fostered loyalty.
But looking at how things turned out, that clearly wasn't the case.
“The problem exploded because it was left alone until it became this much of a mess.”
Even if a rebellion was started, what about those who joined it? They had been holding back because of the restraining force that made betraying the Lord impossible. But as soon as they were convinced it could be done, didn't they immediately join in? They had secretly wished for it. That must be why they gathered so quickly.
“Looking at this, the Lord also bears some responsibility…”
“How dare you—!”
Unable to contain his anger, the Black Lion gripped his greatsword and leaped into the air. As the blade cut through the sky, it left a trail like a ripple in water. That was some powerful internal energy.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue as I watched the Black Lion fly toward me. It’s not like I said anything wrong. I was so astonished when I heard that a single clan was in charge of most of the military power. In that case, it wouldn't have been strange for a rebellion to happen at any time.
It was only maintained because, without the Ice Palace’s bloodline, they couldn't fend off the North Sea’s cold waves. But as soon as a means to replace that appeared, didn't things immediately fall apart?
Whoooosh—!!
I thought as I dodged the greatsword. Why did the rebellion succeed? It’s because they failed to lay the groundwork. There were many reasons, but the most fundamental one was that the Lord didn't have the capacity to manage it.
Because he was busy.
He had to block the cold waves and manage the Ice Crystal. He was the Lord in name only; it must have been an empty title. To do all that and handle politics and public sentiment? He would have had to be a true superhuman.
But reality isn't about ideals and romance. If you can't do it, you get torn apart. That was reality.
That's what was strange. How is it still being maintained? In that situation, it would have been plausible for them to take some vicious measures, like locking up the bloodline in a prison and using them only to block the cold waves. The fact that the palace was still functioning was somewhat surprising.
Not that I would have done that, of course.
A person has to have a conscience. How could one lock someone in a prison and just suck out their life force? That was the kind of thing power-crazed bastards would do.
Ah, was I not human anymore?
Anyway. It meant the Ice Palace was that precarious. In such cases, there were a few ways to solidify one's position. Among them, the easiest method could be exemplified by the Heavenly Demon.
She had no interest in power or politics. Despite operating with countless followers and several legions, there was no betrayal; there were only Demonic Humans who died for her. So, how was that possible? The reason was simple.
Because she was overwhelmingly strong.
It was also because the Demonic Qi made it impossible to betray her, but even without that, the Heavenly Demon was so strong that no one would dare defy her. That was all there was to it. Being so strong that no one could betray you. If not that, it was an unmanageable act.
There might be stories of benevolent rulers and what not, but those were words I couldn't understand. Of course… even considering all this. The one who started the rebellion is in the wrong. No matter how poorly you lock your doors, in the end, the thief is the one at fault. This was a matter of course, but it was something I couldn't bring up now.
Clang—!! Clang—!
As I blocked his attacks and continued the exchange, the Black Lion, who was infusing his greatsword with Combat Qi, spoke to me.
“If you intend to protect Biwegun, I will cut you down as well.”
I saw killing intent mix with the fighting spirit coming at me. Seeing that, my eyes widened.
He’s only mixing it in now?
I was surprised it was so late. The Black Lion hadn't shown any killing intent towards me until the very end, only revealing it after issuing a warning. He was truly an upright man. A rare good person.
That thought crossed my mind, but I hid my feelings and spoke to the Black Lion with a smirk. “Can you even do it?”
“Even if I cannot, I will not back down. Therefore, I will.”
“…Hmm.”
In many ways, it seemed like a good answer.
Pass.
Hearing his answer, I nodded inwardly. It was a satisfactory answer, so I could confirm what I had been contemplating.
I shouldn't kill him.
Originally, I was going to kill him for being a nuisance, but it seemed better to leave a man of his caliber alive. I lowered my stance slightly and drew up my energy. As the energy took form and became visible, a sense of caution crept into the Black Lion’s body.
This was my chance.
“Hah—! Over there! There’s something!”
With an urgent expression, I lifted my upper body and pointed somewhere behind him. Seeing that, the Black Lion’s thick eyebrows furrowed.
“What are you doing now? Do you think I’m foolish enough to fall for such a trick—!”
The Black Lion gasped at what was happening. It didn't matter if it worked or not. The important thing was to break his concentration, even for a moment.
My body was already right in front of him. The Black Lion reacted late to my unexpected speed. Yes, it was too late. By the time he reacted…
Thwack—!
“Kuk!?”
My fist had already struck the Black Lion’s jaw. It must have been a direct hit, as the Black Lion immediately lost consciousness.
Thud—!
His large body collapsed onto the snowy ground. Watching him, I let out a small sigh.
“That was close.”
If I had been a little later, the surprise attack would have failed. My own level had risen, but it was also thanks to the fact that the Black Lion, a Fusion Realm martial artist, was exhausted from fighting demons.
As I took a moment to catch my breath and calm down…
“Looks like it’s all over.”
The Dishonored Venerable and Seong Yul, who had been watching from a distance, approached me. Seeing them, I couldn't help but make a dumbfounded expression.
“Aren't you showing up a little late? I knew you were watching. You could have helped.”
“Why interfere in another’s fight? There’s nothing more entertaining to watch.” The Dishonored Venerable laughed heartily. “Besides, you wouldn't have wanted me to interfere, would you?”
“…Hmph.”
He was right. It was something I could handle on my own, and I thought it was something I had to do alone, so I wouldn't have been pleased if the Dishonored Venerable had intervened.
Crunch.
I slowly walked past the Black Lion. Towards where the Lord of the Ice Palace was.
“Are you planning to kill him?” the Dishonored Venerable asked.
Hearing his question, I had to let out a short laugh. “What a scary thing to say. Kill who?”
For one of the Three Venerables of the Orthodox Faction to say something like that so casually… He was truly a bloodthirsty man.
The funny part is that it’s hard to deny it.
To be honest, I had originally planned to kill him. To be precise, it was more that I didn't care if he lived or died. And since the Lord’s death would be to my advantage, I had leaned towards the former. If the Lord died, it would be easier to escape from the somewhat chaotic North Sea. I could just grab Woo Hyuk and run in the confusion, but…
Things got a little complicated. Because of what Namgung Myung had said, I couldn't do that anymore. That was also why I knocked out the Black Lion. I didn't have the leisure to explain everything one by one. It was just easier to knock him out.
Meanwhile, I felt gazes on my back. It must be the Dishonored Venerable and Seong Yul. The Dishonored Venerable said nothing more and watched me with interest. He must be curious about what I was going to do.
Honestly, I’d rather he didn't watch either.
But he wasn't the type to look away just because I told him to. I felt it was about time I could show this much to the Dishonored Venerable.
I approached the Lord, lowered my posture, and reached out my hand. As my hand touched his chest, I could feel his breathing. It was shallow. His breath was so faint it felt like it could stop at any moment. If left like this, he would stop breathing soon.
Crackle—!
I felt a strange sensation from his body. It felt like something was freezing. I wondered what it was, but it didn't take long to figure it out.
…My internal energy is freezing.
Perhaps because of his weakened body, the Lord’s energy was freezing at an alarming rate. How was I supposed to save him? From a distance, I thought it might be possible, but touching him directly, I realized the level of his Ice Qi was different from Moyong Hi-ah’s.
Melt this with heat? Was that even possible?
My body isn't in great shape right now either.
My physical condition was also a problem. That made me hesitate for a moment, but recalling Namgung Myung’s words, I changed my mind.
For him to ask me to save him and then tell me to come to Xinjiang later must mean I can do it now.
Even if that wasn't the case, it meant there was a way for me to do it. I nodded slightly and sent heat into the Lord.
Fwoooosh…
The heat generated from my heart surged, flowing through my hand and into the Lord’s body. So far, there were no problems. The heat calmly infiltrated the Lord’s body, and thankfully, I could feel the Ice Qi melting to some extent.
The problem was… it was slow. The speed at which the heat was spreading was remarkably slow. It was too slow compared to the speed at which the Ice Qi was freezing his energy. It was barely enough to prevent him from freezing completely. Was it already too late to do anything?
Still, just in case, I tried to infuse more heat, but then…
CR-CR-CRACK—!!
“…!”
In an instant, Ice Qi flowed into me from the Lord’s body. I tried to pull my hand away from the cold, chilling energy, but…
Hwoooooo—!!
As soon as the Ice Qi entered my body, the Demonic Absorption activated and began to devour the Ice Qi for itself.
Gulp—! Gulp—!
The Demonic Absorption greedily devoured the energy, starting to fill its belly. Seeing this, I realized.
This bastard was the one sucking it in.
The Ice Qi hadn't suddenly infiltrated my body; the Demonic Absorption had activated on its own to consume the Ice Qi. Thanks to that, a cold energy began to accumulate in a corner of my heart, and just as it did with Demonic Qi, my Gu Flame Wheel Art began to gradually purify the Ice Qi.
Hmm.
Feeling the energy in my heart increase, I had to make an awkward expression.
Should I call this a fortunate encounter too?
My internal energy capacity was already vast, but if I consumed all the energy I was feeling now, I could probably add another twenty percent. Twenty percent might not sound like much, but it was an enormous amount. Twenty percent by my standards was equivalent to the entire internal energy capacity of an ordinary peak martial artist.
Fortunately, it seems I can deal with the Ice Qi this way.
I wasn't sure if this would work, but being able to do it like this was a success, wasn't it? Moreover, I was gaining internal energy in the process. I thought it was a considerable harvest, but…
Saaaaaaaaaah—!
Suddenly, I felt an anomaly.
KUUUUUUUAAAAAA---!!!
A strange sound came from the sky. I couldn't lift my head. I tried to force myself to concentrate on absorbing the Ice Qi, but in that moment…
KUUUUUUUUUUUNG—!!!
“…!!!”
An immense energy poured down on me from the sky.
“…Kuhk…!”
Under the tremendous pressure, I couldn't even scream. I barely held onto my consciousness and tried to manage the situation.
What the hell is this?
I couldn't move. It was a situation where I couldn't even let out a scream. Since energy was flowing back and forth, a single mistake could lead to a Qi deviation. In other words, I had to endure it.
“Young—!!”
“Young Master—!”
I could faintly hear the shouts of the Dishonored Venerable and Seong Yul.
And then, I realized. What was this energy? It was hard to think in this sudden situation, but for some reason, I knew instinctively.
This was the Ice Qi that had spread throughout the North Sea. The dreadful chill that the Ice Crystal had created and the bloodline had been holding back. The very same energy that had been released when the Ice Crystal finally shattered.
The moment I touched the Lord’s Ice Qi, it was gathering at a single point and pouring down on me.