Chapter 648: Ninth Stage (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 648: Ninth Stage (2)
It wasn’t a particularly remarkable memory.
It dated back to when his younger sister had fled to the Central Plains, and he had traveled to that distant land to bring her back.
A question had followed him then.
Why did the Palace Lord, who was bound by a sacred oath to never leave his domain, travel all the way to the Central Plains?
At the time, the relatively young Yucheon couldn't understand it. It was only much later, when he realized it was a father’s desperate love for his daughter, that he finally understood the former Palace Lord.
Even so, Yucheon knew he wouldn't have made the same choice. After all, he was more of a Palace Lord than he was a father.
The Central Plains back then had been sweltering.
Summer, they called it.
The oppressive heat had stirred many unfamiliar emotions in Yucheon. It was the kind of weather where thick furs were unnecessary, and the chill that had seeped into his very bones felt momentarily eased. It was a truly mysterious sensation.
Should he call it a flicker of long-lost sentiment?
While the current Palace Lord’s expression had remained grim, the Young Palace Lord—only thirty at the time—couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement.
A new land. Scorching heat. People who seemed a little more at ease with the world.
To Yucheon, it was all a wondrous experience.
At least, it was until he met him.
Kwoong—!!
Thud—!!
A massive vibration rippled out from the direction of Mount Tai.
He had heard that the current master of the Central Plains was an old man known as the Sword Venerable. The sovereign of the North Sea was currently clashing with him in a display of raw power. They hadn't come to the Central Plains on an official visit, and the resulting friction had ignited a battle.
At that moment, the Young Palace Lord was facing another man.
[I greet the Young Palace Lord of the North Sea.]
The man had jet-black hair and crimson eyes. He looked to be around Yucheon's age. A light blue cape, signifying his affiliation, fluttered behind him as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing Yucheon.
Yucheon met his gaze. Before long, the man introduced himself.
[I am Gu Cheolun, Captain of the Murim Alliance's Heavenly Dragon Army.]
Instinctive caution flared within Yucheon. For some reason, the Ice Qi in his body stirred with unprovoked hostility. Though he couldn't sense any energy from his opponent, his instincts were already drawing out his power in response.
Kwoooong—!!!
A roar echoed from Mount Tai to the north. Yucheon scowled at the sound and spoke.
[Step aside.]
The Alliance Leader and his father, the Palace Lord, were currently locked in a life-or-death struggle. Yucheon had his own mission to complete amidst the chaos: execute the member of the Moyong Clan who had taken his sister and bring her home.
That was the order Yucheon had been given.
In response to Yucheon’s demand, Gu Cheolun spoke calmly.
[I cannot do that.]
His composure was absolute.
[Your sister has already become a member of the Moyong Clan. As a Captain, I am duty-bound to protect those under the Alliance Leader's command. Therefore, I cannot step aside.]
[You dare stand in my way? Is that what you're saying?]
Yucheon let out a sharp laugh at Gu Cheolun’s audacity.
[I care nothing for the orders of your so-called Alliance. We of the North Sea handle our affairs according to our own laws.]
[I know nothing of the laws of the North Sea.]
[So? Are you telling me to follow yours?]
[No. You are outsiders; there is no need for you to follow the laws of the Central Plains.]
Kwaddeudeudeudeuk—!!!
The wind pressure intensified. Beneath his scowl, Yucheon felt a growing sense of urgency.
[It simply means we must each fulfill our roles,] Gu Cheolun said, his eyes narrowing slightly. [I cannot move, and you have something you must retrieve. If you want it, then try and take it.]
[Ha?]
If you want it, then try and take it.
The man’s tone carried an absolute certainty, an arrogance that suggested he was an unbreakable wall. That tone grated on Yucheon's nerves.
[You bastard, do you really think that old man, the Sword Venerable, can defeat the Palace Lord?]
[Hmm?]
Gu Cheolun tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled. Seeing that expression, Yucheon was certain: these people knew nothing.
[No matter how skilled you people of the Central Plains are, you are merely human. You cannot defeat us.]
Thinking back on it now, his words were embarrassing. It was the kind of thing he’d said back when he thought the world belonged to him. He regretted it. If only he had known more about the world, he wouldn't have left such a cringeworthy memory behind.
[Soon, the Palace Lord will dispose of that old man and come here. When that happens, you will meet your end. Wouldn't it be better to step aside before then?]
[Hmm.]
Even then, Gu Cheolun simply tilted his head. It was as if he couldn't comprehend the logic no matter how many times he heard it. After a few moments of pondering, Gu Cheolun finally spoke.
[Let me ask you something. Are you really that weak?]
[What?]
[Why do you assume you cannot get past me until your Palace Lord arrives?]
[…!]
Yucheon swallowed hard. It was an unexpected point.
That's right. Why? Why was I thinking of waiting for the Palace Lord?
As Yucheon’s body tensed, Gu Cheolun continued, unconcerned.
[Also, you seem to be mistaken about something. I should correct that as well.]
Thud—!!
Thud—!!
The terrain continued to crumble under the battle of the two absolutes. Gu Cheolun glanced toward the destruction and spoke.
[Even if the Alliance Leader is defeated, you will not achieve what you desire.]
[…What did you say…?]
[As long as I stand here with my eyes open, your journey ends here.]
[…]
Yucheon fell silent. He couldn't wrap his head around what he had just heard.
[…What did you say?]
[Your hearing must be poor.] Gu Cheolun’s brow furrowed slightly. [I don't particularly enjoy repeating myself….]
Ssk.
Gu Cheolun unclasped his hands from behind his back. His empty hands came into view.
[You will not pass this point. If you don't want to die, get lost now….]
[…!]
[Is it easier to understand when I put it that way?]
[You bastard…!]
The moment Yucheon’s face contorted and he began to summon his Ice Qi—
Fwoosh—!!!
Flames erupted from Gu Cheolun’s body. The surrounding air became intensely hot. The flames were a vicious, deep red—less like light and more like burning blood.
Yucheon instinctively looked up.
[The sky…!]
The blue sky was being dyed a deep, bruised red. As he stood bewildered by the phenomenon, Gu Cheolun’s voice reached him.
[What are you doing? Are you not coming?]
Yucheon snapped his gaze back down.
[Then I’ll come to you.]
Gu Cheolun’s large hand was already reaching for Yucheon’s face. Just as he tried to drop into a stance—
Smack—!!
With a sharp crack, Yucheon’s consciousness began to return.
Slap—! Smack—!!
—…Hey, aren't you hitting him a bit too hard?
—There's no better way to wake someone up.
He heard voices. Whose were they?
—What if you break his teeth?
—How should I know?
—Hmm?
—It wouldn't be my fault. Who’s to say he didn't already have a cavity?
—My disciple.
—Yes?
—You really are a madman.
—It's all thanks to having a good master… I'm kidding. Please move your hand.
The grim conversation caused Yucheon’s eyes to flutter open. It wasn't the noise that woke him, but the stinging pain in his face.
"Ugh…" Yucheon groaned as he blinked.
"Oh, he's awake. See? I told you this works like a charm. Why don't you trust me?"
"…No, why does this actually work?"
At the surprised voice from in front of him, Yucheon looked up. Someone was looking down at him with a hand slightly raised. Through his blurry vision, he made out the features: black hair, a hint of blue in the eyes, and a sharp gaze that looked exactly like the one from his memory.
Seeing this, Yucheon croaked out a name.
"…Gu Cheolun?"
"Huh?"
The young man’s face contorted.
"I don't think he's fully conscious yet. Should I smack… I mean, touch him a little more?"
"Changing the word doesn't soften the meaning, you know."
The one who stopped the young man was another youth of a similar age with a gentler expression. Barely gathering his fading consciousness, Yucheon pushed himself up.
"Guhk…!"
His body was in terrible condition. It hadn't been great to begin with, but the level of pain was staggering. Every inch of him throbbed.
"You should move slowly. You likely have quite a few broken bones."
"…Hoo…"
Yucheon looked at the owner of the voice. He had thought it was Gu Cheolun, but it wasn't.
"…Young Master Gu…"
It wasn't the man himself, but his son.
"Are you alright?"
Gu Cheolun’s son, Gu Yangcheon.
Yucheon didn't answer. He had been mistaken. The resemblance was striking, but there was a difference. That was why he had momentarily confused the two.
"May I ask what happened?"
"What happened…?"
"I heard that the Palace Lord was devoured by the Ice Crystals."
Devoured by the Ice Crystals?
At those words, Yucheon suddenly recalled the situation. He had been with the Ice Crystals. After Gu Yangcheon left, he had stayed to watch them. He didn't know why, but he felt he had to stay right there.
Time had passed… the Ice Crystals began to glow… and then…
"Ugh…"
Throb—!
A sudden headache made Yucheon clutch his forehead.
"Hoo… hoo."
Yucheon—the Palace Lord—breathed slowly, enduring the pain. Air seeped into his lungs. As he felt it, his eyes widened slightly.
"…This is?"
The air felt strange. The sense of incongruity that usually permeated his every breath was gone. Or rather, he felt a sense of incongruity because the usual discomfort was missing.
"Ahem."
As the Palace Lord reacted, Gu Yangcheon let out a dry cough.
"Ahem… ahem…"
His eyes darted around guiltily.
"Well, uh… no need to force yourself to remember. Your body is in bad shape, so let's get you treated first."
Gu Yangcheon hurriedly changed the subject and helped the Palace Lord up. Seeing this, the Dishonored Venerable stood nearby with a dumbfounded expression.
Worried the old man might say something, Gu Yangcheon quickly looked at him.
"What are you doing? If your hands are free, you could at least carry that lump… I mean, the Black Lion General."
"You're the one who beat him unconscious, and now you're telling me to carry him?"
"Beat him? It was just a minor accident."
"A second accident and he'll be dead."
"Isn't it normal to be wrecked after two accidents?"
"..."
Strangely, the brat had a point. The Dishonored Venerable sighed and turned around. He glanced back at Gu Yangcheon.
"By the end of today, you’re explaining everything."
"..."
At the firm tone, Gu Yangcheon nodded. Satisfied, the Dishonored Venerable started toward the Black Lion General, but stopped.
"Hmm?"
Someone was already carrying the general. It was Seong Yul.
"Should we depart now?"
The Dishonored Venerable gave a slight nod to Seong Yul, who spoke with a deadpan expression. The boy was perceptive and quick on his feet. From what he’d seen, Seong Yul was the type to quietly do his job without complaint.
'There are people like him in the world, yet I don't know why my disciple is such a mess.'
The disciple he had finally taken on in his twilight years was a nightmare—stubborn, foul-tempered, and utterly lacking in respect. It seemed he had terrible luck with disciples.
'…If only his talent were a little more pathetic, I would have kicked his ass out long ago.'
Unfortunately, the talent the boy possessed was immense. When he first saw him, he thought the boy was a bit slow for his realm. The kid, not even twenty, had reached the Perfected Peak Realm, and shortly after, he touched the Fusion Realm. For some reason, the Alliance had hidden this fact, and the boy himself didn't seem to care.
But it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had reached that level at the youngest age in history. He should have been a genius of the ages, but for some reason, Gu Yangcheon lacked both confidence and conviction. Likewise, his technical application of martial arts didn't seem very high, which had made the Dishonored Venerable question him before.
But in the end, training in Heaven Destruction Art came down to how much pain one could endure and the body's potential to accept it. So, the Dishonored Venerable had stopped worrying about the rest.
So what if he was a little lacking? If he couldn't do it, the master would just make him do it.
Several years had passed with that mindset. And now, the Dishonored Venerable's opinion had shifted.
'That bastard is a genius after all.'
He was certain of it now. The boy might be lacking in technical application, but his control over internal energy was monstrous. He didn't seem to know it yet, but his level was astonishing even to the Dishonored Venerable.
The boy clearly had no idea how difficult it was to create and then shrink a massive flame. Ranged martial arts like flame arts were impossible to even attempt without innate talent. It was one of the most difficult disciplines in terms of Qi usage. Simply having a large reservoir of internal energy didn't mean one could just blast out pressure. If one were to burst it out all at once like that, their Dantian would be shredded.
Yet Gu Yangcheon focused and controlled his firepower as if it were nothing. And he did it gently, ensuring he didn't strain his body. For someone with an abnormally large amount of internal energy, this should have been exponentially harder.
'And yet, he looked perfectly fine.'
As the volume of energy increased, so did his control. Gu Yangcheon seemed to have no difficulty with it at all. The Dishonored Venerable felt a tremor of excitement as he recalled the display.
The energy that had poured in from all directions—a vast amount that seemed impossible for a single human to contain—and the sheer violence of internal energy that wasn't even his own…
'That bastard controlled it like it was child's play.'
He hated to admit it, but the sight had been marvelous. The slightest slip-up would have caused the energy to explode, a blast even the Dishonored Venerable couldn't have stopped. And yet, Gu Yangcheon had danced on that knife's edge as if to show off. He played with the energy as if the crisis were a joke, eventually gathering it all and shoving it into his own mouth.
'Madman.'
The Dishonored Venerable smiled. Eighty-some years—a life others saw as long, but he considered short. In that time, he had prided himself on being second to none in martial arts. He still felt that way. He knew the extent of his own talent. A few decades ago, he might have boasted he was the best.
But things were different now.
Watching the martial prowess Gu Cheolun, the Lord of the Gu Clan, had briefly shown, and the spectacle his disciple had just displayed, various thoughts crossed his mind.
'I just can't understand that family.'
To top it off, they shared the same blood. Had the heavens bestowed some unique blessing on that lineage? While it was absurd, his anticipation grew.
'What would happen if my disciple became aware of his talent and time passed?'
He was truly curious, but he wouldn't tell the boy.
'…If I told him and he got arrogant, he’d be a pain to deal with.'
He didn't like seeing the boy grovel with low self-esteem, but seeing him puff out his chest and swagger around would be even worse.
'He'll find out on his own soon enough. Best to leave him be for now.'
His father, the Tiger Warrior, must have known, yet he hadn't said anything either. As his master, there was no need for him to step in.
'But then, why didn't the Lord of the Gu Clan say anything?'
Given his level and the fact that he was the boy's father, he should have known his son's talent better than anyone. It was a mystery.
'Could it be….'
A thought suddenly occurred to the Dishonored Venerable.
'Surely it's not that they didn't consider it a talent because it was something they could just naturally do?'
Considering Gu Cheolun's prowess, it was possible, but the Dishonored Venerable shook his head.
'No way. Something that ridiculous couldn't be true.'
It was too absurd even for him to consider. The Dishonored Venerable patted Seong Yul's shoulder and started walking. Since there was no one else to carry, he moved toward the others.
Shaaaaaa—!
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the ground. It was large enough to cover everyone nearby. The Dishonored Venerable looked up at the strange phenomenon. Seong Yul and Gu Yangcheon did the same.
The only difference was that Gu Yangcheon was scowling intensely.
"That damned bastard," Gu Yangcheon swore at the sky. "He wouldn't come out when I called, but now that it's all over, he finally crawls out."
Grrrrrrrowl—.
At Gu Yangcheon's words, the being covering the sky let out a cry. It was as rough as a beast's roar, yet far more massive. The creature, large enough to blot out the sun, writhed its long, thick body.
As the creature descended, Gu Yangcheon's eyes narrowed.
"What the?"
Something was wrong.
Grrrrrrrrr—!!
The ground shook with a loud roar.
"…Why the hell did he get so big?"
Name: Ttolddoli.
Age: Three.
The creature, already large, had grown to twice its previous size.