Chapter 662: Villain and Hero (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 662: Villain and Hero (2)
Splash.
I waded down the passage, my feet splashing in the shallow water. I had left Seong Yul to wait outside; there was no need for him to accompany me.
Splash—! Splash—!
Beyond the sound of my waterlogged footsteps, the space remained unlit by a single lantern. The heavy, stagnant air brushed against my nose, but none of it was a problem for me. The dark passage was perfectly clear to my eyes. The stuffy air was merely unpleasant; it couldn't harm me.
After walking for about fifteen minutes—
Vwoom—!
I felt a subtle energy brush against my skin. The flow of Qi was unusual. Was this also a form of sorcery?
‘It’s definitely different from a formation.’
When I looked at a formation, I couldn't understand a single thing about its construction. But this, I could see. I couldn't discern the principles behind its creation or its ultimate purpose, but I could at least see the flow of its energy. Seeing what was once invisible was a novel experience.
Ssk.
As my fingertips brushed against the energy, it rippled like water.
Thump.
My heart reacted in response, jolting.
‘Oh.’
The moment I touched the energy, the ring bound to my heart began to stir. It was spinning. The ring was rotating. The sensation was similar to the rotation of the Gu Flame Wheel Art.
Thump—! Thump—!
Vrrrrrr—!
As my heart pounded, the ring spun faster. An unknown thrill rose within me as I felt the flow. It was a truly strange sensation. The two separate rings continued to accelerate. Feeling this, I waved my fingertips through the air.
Vwooom.
The barrier of sorcery wavered at my touch. As I watched its flow, my Mind’s Eye opened on its own. It wasn't by my will—or was it? Perhaps I had opened it instinctively. I couldn't be sure. Amidst those thoughts, my eyes rapidly read the flow.
‘This is interesting.’
I thought it could only read internal Qi, but to my surprise, the Mind’s Eye could also see the flow created by sorcery. It looked like a densely packed and chaotically tangled skein of thread. It was so complex that just looking at it made my eyes ache. Normally, I would have cursed and destroyed it the moment I saw it.
‘Hmm.’
The rings spun faster. My hand moved slightly as I gazed at the countless threads. I could see it. And I understood it. I already knew what to do.
Vrrrrrrrrrr—!!!
It was hot. The rings were spinning so fast that my heart was overheating—so much so that it made me frown. Despite how it looked, I felt it could get dangerous if I kept this up. It was a hassle. Should I just end it here?
‘Hmm.’ My reason was clearly telling me to stop, but…
Vriiiing—!!!
Unfortunately, I'm not exactly a rational person. Contrary to my thoughts, my body showed no intention of stopping. So, what should I do?
‘It seems two rings are having trouble with the heat.’
With only two rings, it seemed they couldn't handle the friction. So, the solution was simple.
‘If two isn't enough, I'll just use three.’
I grasped the skein of thread and focused power into my heart.
Chzzzzzt—!
I felt friction grinding within me. Pressure burst forth from beneath the spinning rings. It was painful. It was as if the rings were speaking to me, telling me it wasn't time yet.
‘So what?’
I ignored the warning.
‘I decide when it’s time.’
I felt I could do it. A voice in my head told me this was the way. Following that path, I began to reassemble the structures inside my body. Unknown fragments broke off the rings, scraping my insides. Just as I wondered if it was the dregs of Qi from a backlash—
Chiiiiiiik—!!!!
The friction intensified. At the same time, I felt a sensation below the rings. The fragments that had broken off gathered to form another ring. Its shape was imperfect, but it was unmistakably a third ring.
Kiiiiing—!!!
The newly formed ring knew its role from the moment of its birth. It spun according to my will, and the anxiety that I wouldn't be able to withstand the heat vanished. A sense of stability set in.
Feeling this, I gripped the skein of sorcery before me and pulled hard.
Snap—!! S-snap—!!!!
Contrary to how tightly it was bound, the skein tore apart with a single tug.
Fwoosh—!
A strong gust of wind brushed past my shoulders and dispersed. In that moment—
Vwoooom.
“Hm?”
I could feel the sorcery that had spread throughout this space scatter. It was all disappearing. Huh? Isn't it not supposed to all disappear?
Just as I was getting slightly flustered by the unexpected situation—
Th-thump-thump-thump—!
A flurry of urgent footsteps echoed from the space ahead.
“Th-the energy is coming from this way—!”
“The barrier has been dispelled! Bring more sorcerers!”
“We have to find the intruder and stop them…”
A large group of the Unyielding Demon's subordinates appeared, then flinched and froze when they saw me.
“...”
Seeing them, I froze as well. It looked like I had caused an accident.
‘…I only meant to touch it a little. My mistake.’
I had planned to just observe it for a bit and move on, but I got too focused and tore it apart without realizing. It seems something burst because of that. First, I brushed the lingering energy off my hands. If I hadn't been wearing a mask, the look on my face would have been a sight to see.
“...You...! H-how...?”
I thought for a moment at his bewildered words. Hmm.
‘It’s probably better to just answer honestly.’
There didn't seem to be any excuse, so I decided to tell it like it was.
[It was a mistake. I apologize.]
“...”
“...”
At my sincere apology, the men's expressions twisted bizarrely. It seemed the apology didn't work.
* * *
In a vast space that appeared to be the center of the cave, an old man sat before a table, carefully pouring liquor into a cup.
Glug, glug, glug.
The cup, rather large to be called a wine cup, was filled to the brim. Placing the bottle aside, the old man offered the prepared drink to his guest.
“I received your message on short notice and was unable to prepare a proper reception. I apologize.”
The guest didn't reply, merely staring at the old man in silence. He wore a slightly cracked mask, and beyond it, long black hair and a sturdy physique were visible. The aura of a powerful warrior flowed from him even as he sat still—a pressure great enough to change the very atmosphere.
“Guuuh...”
The pressure was so intense that the old man's subordinates had to crouch, unable to even breathe properly.
Drip.
The old man hid the sweat beading on his cheek as he looked at the man.
‘This has become troublesome.’
Indeed, it was very troublesome. The old man was certain the man was in a foul mood. The reason was likely his failure to prepare a proper reception. Despite announcing his arrival, he hadn't even been properly greeted. The man must be displeased.
‘A mistake.’
The old man had initiated a subtle battle of wills to gauge what kind of person he was dealing with. But his opponent was far rougher and more domineering than he had anticipated. So rough and powerful was he that just for challenging him to a battle of wills...
‘He shattered all the surrounding barriers.’
It was an intricate barrier that the sorcerers had woven, spanning several miles. It was designed to unleash a tremendous backlash if tampered with using an incorrect method of dispelling. It would take the Alliance's formation masters months just to find it, and even longer to dispel it. Even for its creators, it would take a full fortnight to dismantle.
And he had erased such a thing in less than fifteen minutes? Recalling this, cold sweat beaded on the old man's forehead.
‘...Does that mean he also withstood the entire backlash?’
He didn't even consider the possibility that it had been dispelled normally. In such a short time, there could be no other way but to shatter it.
‘But how can he be so unscathed?’
The man sat calmly, as if nothing had happened. It was a force powerful enough to instantly kill even a Fusion Realm martial artist if they were caught in the backlash. To endure that and remain in such a state...
‘Just what kind of monster is he?’
He was beyond comprehension. That was the old man's judgment.
“...I am aware of my lack of courtesy. I pray you will quell your anger.”
[Anger?]
The man tilted his head at the old man's words.
[What are you talking about? This Venerable One is not angry.]
The old man's brow twitched.
[If anything, I should be the one to apologize. I didn't realize it would disappear so easily. My apologies.]
“...”
The old man secretly clenched his fist. The man was clearly toying with him. He had torn down that powerful barrier without a care, packaging it as a simple mistake, and was now offering an apology himself. This was pressure. Proof that a barrier of their making could be broken so easily. A warning not to dare defy him. The man was letting his power speak for him.
“...I will be sure to exercise more caution next time.”
No further words came after the old man spoke. The man simply watched the old man silently from behind his mask. A brief silence passed. The man adjusted his mask and began to speak.
[Hmph... Well, do as you see fit.]
Is he giving me another chance? Just as the old man managed to calm his nerves—
[The task I left you with seems to have been handled reasonably well.]
The old man nodded. “...I did my best to carry it out, within my means.”
[Indeed. It wasn't bad.]
The favor the man had asked of the old man. The first one.
“Immediately after carrying out the operation, we left information regarding the Demonic Cult.”
If they were to carry out any operation, they were to identify themselves as members of the Demonic Cult. They were to be sure to add that they were acting as limbs of the Heavenly Demon, carrying out the cult's will. That was the man's request.
“Since we were leaving traces intentionally, some information must already be circulating within the Alliance.”
[It doesn't matter.]
Such trivial things were meaningless. At the man's nonchalant attitude, the old man stroked his beard.
[Then, what of the second favor?]
“...That too has been prepared. If you wish, I can present it to you right now.”
At the old man's words, the man gestured, and a woman appeared from within his shadow. She was one of the man's subordinates, the one who had been attached to the old man's side to assist him. At the woman's appearance, the old man took a letter from his robes and handed it to her.
[I trust it has been handled well.]
“...I did my utmost.”
[Yes, you'd better have.]
Otherwise, you will end up like the barrier I just destroyed. The man didn't say the words, but for some reason, the old man understood his meaning. Tension filled the air once more. The cup remained untouched. It also meant the man had no intention of removing his mask.
Looking at him, the old man voiced a question. “...There is something I wish to ask you.”
[Speak.]
“How should I address you?”
[Hmm?]
The man tilted his head at the question, then reacted as if he'd realized something.
[Cult Leader. For now, you will call me that.]
“...As you wish.”
The Dishonored Venerable, one of the Three Venerables. The Strongest Martial Artist. That was the man's identity. He himself had affirmed it, and above all—
‘The fact that he intentionally left a trace when he attacked Wudang is the proof.’
He had attacked Wudang—the Alliance Leader's sect and one of the Ten Sect Alliance—and killed an elder. Information had now spread throughout the Central Plains that the martial art used at that time was a form of Heaven Destruction Art, a divine art he was known to have created. There was only one known martial art capable of causing a disaster with a fist and shattering a body to pieces with a single strike.
To be able to use it meant he was either the Dishonored Venerable himself or his disciple.
‘There is no record of the Dishonored Venerable ever taking a disciple.’
There were rumors that the martial artist from Shanxi, once called the True Dragon and now known as the Lesser King of Hell, was the Dishonored Venerable's disciple.
‘But that, too, is just a baseless rumor.’
The Lesser King of Hell used flame arts, and no one had ever seen him use the Dishonored Venerable's techniques, so it was truly nothing more than a rumor. Besides, even if the Dishonored Venerable had taken a disciple, they would not have been able to unleash such power.
Thanks to this, whispers began to spread that the Dishonored Venerable, who had vanished for over a decade, had reappeared in a different form. If this were true, how could one of the pillars of the Orthodox Faction have turned his back on them? No one knew the reason, so the rumors alone revealed nothing.
However, the important thing here was—
‘Those rumors must have already reached the Alliance.’
And yet, the man before me seemed completely unconcerned by it.
‘...It means he doesn't care if the Alliance knows.’
What could the mere Murim Alliance do? Knowing would change nothing. Such was the attitude of the man, the Cult Leader. He looked as if he had no fear of the central pillar of the Orthodox Faction whatsoever.
-Don't you want to destroy the Alliance?
-Those bastards who tore you all apart, don't you want to destroy them?
He recalled the words of the Cult Leader, who had come to him so brazenly. He wanted to destroy the Alliance, and if their goals aligned, he proposed they do it together.
‘...In that case, was he showing me?’
Could it be that he destroyed the barrier not just to pressure them, but to directly show them his power? The power to destroy the Alliance. Was he showing them that he possessed it?
‘I see. So that was it.’
Understanding his intent, the old man nodded repeatedly and spoke carefully to the man. “...I have realized your intentions too late, Cult Leader. I apologize once more. I must have seemed quite foolish.”
[Hmm…?]
The man let out a sound at the old man's words. A few seconds of silence followed. Feeling something was off, the old man tried to call out to him.
“Cult…”
[I’m… glad you’re quick on the uptake.]
He showed a satisfied reaction, knowing his intentions had been understood. It seemed the old man's reasoning had been correct after all.
“Ah... Then, may I consider myself to have passed the test?”
[Test?]
“Carrying out the favor you asked of us. You said that was the test.”
[Ah, did I say something like that…?]
“Cult Leader…?”
[Not everything was to my liking, but this is acceptable.]
The man ignored the old man's confusion and continued.
[So, I will ask. Captain of the Heavenly Net, what is it you are plotting in Henan?]
“...”
So he gets straight to the point as soon as he deems me to have passed. It was a truly enterprising move.
‘...The plan.’
The old man's eyes darted around, surveying his surroundings. This man possessed overwhelming power, and their goals were aligned, but could he so easily reveal everything? Just as a moment of hesitation crossed his mind—
[Captain of the Heavenly Net.]
A heavy voice bored into the old man's ear.
[Stop scheming. My patience is not deep.]
With the chilling warning, the crushing pressure instantly intensified.
K-grrrr—!!
Ssssss.
Vibrations spread through the cave, and debris began to fall.
“Huuup...!! Guuh...!”
Those inside writhed in agony. He could feel the man's intent to give him no time to think.
[If you're going to play such pathetic games even now, then I have no choice.]
Just as the man slowly began to rise, about to unleash his energy—
“...We are—!”
The old man shouted his words. The pressure had not yet subsided. Sensing this, the old man struggled to add, “We... will awaken a secret hidden by the Alliance...”
At that—
Ssssss...
The torrent of energy weakened somewhat. It was a sign for him to continue.
[A secret?]
A trace of interest colored the man's voice. It was only natural.
[You intend to bring down the Alliance with a mere secret? Explain in detail.]
As the pressure lifted, his blocked breath was released. He felt a dry cough coming on, but the old man suppressed it. “...Beneath the land of Henan, a secret buried by the Alliance lies sealed.”
[Beneath the land, you say?]
“That is correct... We intend to break that seal and bring down the Alliance.”
[What is sealed there that would make you do this?]
The man didn't hide his growing amusement, and the old man had to bite his lip at the reaction. To think he had to spit out something he had dedicated his entire life to obtaining so easily... It was utterly disheartening, but there was no other way.
Moreover—
‘Perhaps this man is the one who can fulfill our long-held wish.’
Recalling that desire, the old man finally added, “...A dragon.”
[Hm?]
The man's head tilted. It was likely because the word was completely foreign to him.
“The demon that was said to have attacked the Central Plains centuries ago. A Dragon (龍) is sealed beneath this land.”
[...]
“We intend to release its seal and destroy the Alliance.”
A being called a Dragon, or a White-Grade Demon. The being that brought calamity to the Central Plains hundreds of years ago was hidden beneath the land of Henan.
‘He must be shocked.’
The fact that it still existed, and was even sealed away, was an incredible truth in itself. To declare they would release it was a truly momentous affair. The old man laid out the heavy truth and observed the man's reaction. He had expected a shocked response.
[Ah... is that so…?]
“...?”
[Hmm... I see. How peculiar.]
For some reason, the man's interest seemed to have completely evaporated, his voice turning flat.