Chapter 698: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 698: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (8)
This was less history and more a matter of oral tradition and folklore.
A tale of that nature.
In the very distant past...
There was a time when a Dokkaebi, consumed by a longing for his home, committed a grave sin.
Because of his transgression, the very framework of the world was crushed and dimensions twisted. From the resulting cracks, beings that defied the laws of nature began to pour out.
A single, fleeting act had shattered the rules.
Those shattered rules began to erode the fundamental laws established by the world itself. Countless lives were lost as a result.
To call it a punishment would be an understatement. It would be more accurate to call it a simple accident—an accident born of pure ignorance.
However, the catastrophe that unfolded from that accident was far more severe.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“H-Help me!”
Screams filled the air as the world was stained with blood.
“It’s a monster!”
Beings of unknown origin appeared, devouring humans whole. The world became steeped in death.
Witnessing this, the Dokkaebi could only shed tears of fire. He had crushed the world with his own hands.
The world, too, was enraged. Not because the innocent were dying—no, the god was furious because the laws it had established had been violated.
As the established rules crumbled, the world began to fall apart. Seeing this, the world spoke:
A broken world is not needed. Therefore, I shall begin anew.
Such was the final judgment the world delivered.
The Dokkaebi realized that, at this rate, he could neither return to his own world nor do anything but watch this one perish.
What, then, should he do?
The Dokkaebi thought long and hard. First, he had to close the gate that was spewing forth those abominations. He had to seal the breach and beg the world for mercy. Since he was the one who had committed the sin, he would plead for leniency.
With that resolve, the Dokkaebi finally managed to close the gate.
Closing the gate was not difficult. Closing it and enduring the aftermath were two different matters, but the act of sealing it was simple enough.
After closing the gate, the Dokkaebi sought out the world. He vowed to resolve the mess he had made, one way or another, and pleaded for mercy.
The moment he offered his desperate prayer, the world, to his surprise, granted his wish. It would give him a chance rather than erasing existence immediately.
As it spoke to the Dokkaebi, it burdened him with a single karmic sin. If the Dokkaebi accepted it, the world would grant a chance to both him and the world. Such was the condition.
The Dokkaebi, having no other choice from the start, accepted without hesitation.
Fortunately, the world did not lie. It gave him a chance, just as it had promised.
The only problem was that the punishment—the condition the world bestowed upon the Dokkaebi—was far more cruel than he had anticipated. And even if the Dokkaebi later came to regret it, this karmic sin was something he could never, ever stop of his own will.
* * *
Crackle! Sssshhh!
A spectacle of energy unfolded before me.
A flow of inky black, as if scorched, danced in the air—an energy darker than the night that had fallen upon the forest.
Amidst that alien sight, I stared at a small back. Dressed in the familiar uniform of the Gu Clan, her long black hair fluttered in the wind. The eyes looking at me were as lovely as someone else’s, yet the violet pupils within them made me think the contradictory thought that they were both hateful and beautiful.
The Heavenly Demon.
I scowled at the back of the woman who had been called a Calamity in my past life. It was a small, slender back. In the past, it had seemed so imposing, but seeing it now, she looked incredibly small.
“What the hell are you?” I asked in a strained voice.
The Heavenly Demon glanced at me before turning her head away again. She looked straight ahead.
Standing before us was the bastard who called himself my grandfather.
“Hmm.”
Though he was wreathed in flames, making it hard to see him clearly, he held a human form and had identified himself as my grandfather. Even if he hadn't, I could tell just from the resonance of the Gu Flame Wheel Art. Not only were the flames themselves those of the Gu Flame Wheel Art, but recalling how he had tried to strip them from me gave credence to his claim.
‘Though I have no idea how he could have even taken it.’
In the end, I knew very well that this was an extremely dangerous situation.
Just then...
Chirp… Chirrrp…
The sound of insects reached my ears. The silence that had gripped the forest had broken. The wind brushed against my cheek. The senses that had vanished were gradually returning.
What was happening? Had Grandfather released his power? Or had something been twisted by the Heavenly Demon’s appearance?
As questions sprouted in my mind, Grandfather spoke, looking at the newly arrived Heavenly Demon.
“Right. There you were. I had forgotten for a moment.”
The slight tilt of his head reminded me of someone. Annoyingly, it resembled my own mannerisms. No—was it I who resembled him?
“The aura of a non-human. It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“...”
At Grandfather’s words, the Heavenly Demon extended her left hand.
Shiiiik—!!!
The black energy floating in the air began to gather in her palm. The moment I felt it, a tingling sensation ran through me. It was an immense, overwhelming amount of energy. The compressed and condensed power began to take shape at her fingertips, forming a blade.
It was a power I knew well—something the Heavenly Demon had often used in my past life. She had never named the power back then, but the Orthodox Faction had given it the ridiculous name of the Heavenly Demon's Divine Sword.
Then again, it was worthy of such a title. A single swing of it had been enough to alter the terrain.
Saaaaa—
The sword was soon complete. The Heavenly Demon pointed the tip of the blade at my grandfather.
“Disappear,” she spoke.
“...”
“This is not a place for you.”
“Haha.” Grandfather let out a dry laugh. “Well, now…”
In that moment...
Wooooong!
“Keuk…!”
My heart began to pound like crazy. The Gu Flame Wheel Art I had reclaimed from my grandfather was having a seizure.
It was hot. The flame energy surged through my blood vessels, spreading throughout my entire body.
Chiiiiik!
Heat began to radiate from my skin, and the pain was excruciating.
“You, who are nothing more than dregs, dare to order me away?”
For some reason, Grandfather seemed genuinely provoked, his voice laced with anger. Were the flames within me convulsing in response to him?
“Anyone in this land may tell me to leave. But not you.”
Step.
As he took a single step forward, the surrounding air churned violently.
Fwoosh!
The temperature skyrocketed. My skin grew hot, as if the forest itself had caught fire.
“Abominable thing.”
Kuuuuuuu—!!
The seething energy threatened to suffocate me. I struggled to control the wildly rampaging energy within me, but it wouldn’t listen.
‘Fucking hell.’
I gritted my teeth. All the while, Grandfather was slowly approaching the Heavenly Demon. In response, she began to move her sword.
Were they about to fight?
‘Goddammit.’
Curses were the only thing that came to mind in this absurd situation. This bastard who calls himself my grandfather shows up out of nowhere to pull this shit, and my Gu Flame Wheel Art suddenly starts acting up. And the Heavenly Demon, whom I despised so much, was now raising her sword to block him.
Was she trying to protect me? The Heavenly Demon?
‘Who the hell does she think she is?’
This was fucking ridiculous. Literally a shitshow. Could this situation get any more fucked up?
Squeeze.
I clenched my fist and slammed it hard into my own chest.
Kuuuuung—!!!
Paaak!
“Hm.”
“…!”
At the harsh sound of impact, the Heavenly Demon turned to look back. I had hit myself so hard that a blast of pressurized air exploded from my body.
“Cough.”
Drip.
Blood trickled down. I wiped the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand.
“Whoa, fuck… That hurts like a bitch.”
I guess I couldn’t control my strength because I was in a hurry. I rubbed my chest; I’d definitely broken a rib. I sighed in frustration, but even that hurt. I should have hit myself a little softer.
The only silver lining was that the blow had shocked the Gu Flame Wheel Art out of its convulsion. This was better than a broken rib. Thanks to that, I could move again.
The two of them stared at me, looking surprised. Ignoring them, I walked forward. As I passed, I grabbed the Heavenly Demon’s shoulder and pulled her back.
“…!”
Her eyes widened as I pulled her, but I didn’t look at her.
“Stay out of it. Don’t interfere.”
This was a family event, of sorts. It wasn’t a situation for an outsider to get involved in. As I stepped forward, catching my breath, Grandfather also reacted with surprise.
“How did you break free?”
He looked at me as if it were impossible that I had escaped the seizure of the Flame Arts.
“Is it because you’ve become a non-human that you can withstand my flames, even for a moment—?”
“Since when were these your flames?”
Ptui.
I spat on the ground. It was bright red blood.
“They’re my flames.”
The flames I’d raised and nurtured through a lifetime of hardship.
“Who are you to covet what’s mine? Do you know how much I suffered to be able to use this?”
“Hoho.”
Hiding my creaking body, I glared at my grandfather.
“A man who calls himself a grandfather should be giving his grandson gifts, not trying to rob him. Are you fucking senile?”
I’d already thrown etiquette out the window. If my opponent didn’t show me respect, I had no reason to either. He could try to take back the flames. The sense of alienation that came with that thought was annoying, but I wouldn’t bow my head.
“If you’re going to take them, then try.”
“Child. You seem to be mistaken about something. If I wish it, I can take the seed at any time…”
“Then I’ll just fucking die right here.”
“…!”
At the mention of death, Grandfather went silent.
“What did you say?”
“I said if you take it, I’ll die.”
“...”
Just as I thought. When I put my life on the line, Grandfather’s attitude changed. It was exactly as I expected.
‘You need me, don’t you?’
Grandfather needed me. Whether it was my body, my lineage, or a male heir to become the Young Lord, I didn’t know. But what was clear was that my death was not an option for him.
“…Ha…”
Hearing my words, Grandfather let out a hollow laugh. Seeing that, I pressed the advantage.
“You think I won’t do it?” I said with a tilt of my head, then grabbed my own neck. “If you’re going to take it, then take it.”
“...”
Losing the flames... Grandfather and Father had met, and though I didn’t know the details, they had mentioned a one-year grace period. That meant he intended to take the Gu Flame Wheel Art so I couldn’t use it during that time.
If that happened...
‘Everything will fall apart.’
Everything I had planned would be ruined. My plans were built upon calculations that included the realm I had already achieved. If my Gu Flame Wheel Art were sealed here, it was all over.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
I would rather die here than let that happen. When I spoke with that intent, Grandfather paused and stared at me. We exchanged gazes without a word—though it was hard to call it a gaze when he was just a mass of flames.
After a brief silence...
“…Haha.” Grandfather burst out laughing. “Hahahaha!”
Wooooong!
Every time he laughed, the air trembled. It wasn’t the pressure of his energy; it was something subtly different.
“Amusing. That boy certainly raised an amusing son.”
Did ‘that boy’ refer to my father? And was ‘raised amusingly’ an insult? To me, it sounded like one.
“To think he would try to negotiate with me using his own life.”
“Negotiate is a nice way of putting it. It's more like I’m desperately fighting back while you’re threatening me.”
I clicked my tongue at the absurdity of it all.
“In that respect, he’s just like his father.”
Grandfather reacted as if something similar had happened before. Then he looked at me and said, “Very well. Seeing your resolve, I will not take the flames.”
He declared he wouldn’t take the Gu Flame Wheel Art. That was a relief, but I didn’t let my guard down.
“However.” Grandfather wasn’t finished. “Even so, the period is one year.”
“…And within that time, what? I have to go to Xinjiang?”
“Yes. To be precise, you must come after you have ascended to your position.”
“Why should I?”
“Because that is our karma.”
I grimaced. Karma, my ass.
“What’s there that I have to go all that way for?”
“A Gate.”
“A gate?”
“We guard the Gate. That is what we must do.”
Grandfather’s words—a gate. What could that mean? I didn’t think too deeply about it; I didn’t have the luxury to.
“One year,” Grandfather repeated, as if to remind me. “Before that time passes, ascend to the position where you belong.”
Become the Young Lord and seek out Xinjiang. That was what my grandfather wanted.
“And if I don’t?” I asked.
“Do as you wish, if you please,” Grandfather said indifferently. “If you can, that is.”
“…Wow.”
That was a more fucked up thing to say than just telling me 'no.' You can’t escape, no matter what you do. That sentiment was clearly embedded in his words.
As I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, he continued.
“Also, I hope you keep ‘that’ safe.” Grandfather’s gaze shifted from me to the Heavenly Demon behind me. “For it is a precious key to us.”
“A key?”
“Yes, a key to lock the gate so that it may never be opened again.”
I frowned. A key? The Heavenly Demon?
“She said you entrusted her to Gu Huibi. What was your intention?”
Grandfather had brought the Heavenly Demon and entrusted her to Gu Huibi. Where did he find her, and why? I had to ask. The fact that he referred to her as a key—did that mean the Gu Clan’s karma and the Heavenly Demon were connected?
At my question, Grandfather tilted his head, mimicking my own habit.
“It was a matter of necessity. It is right to keep precious things where they can be seen.”
A matter of necessity. What bothered me more was what came after. Keep it where it can be seen. So he entrusted her to Gu Huibi. That part rankled.
“As I wished, I have seen your face today, so I shall be on my way.”
Grandfather, cutting off the conversation, looked toward the empty air.
“It seems a guest has arrived for me.”
While keeping his gaze there, he continued to speak to me.
“Child. Remember this well. As long as the flames exist, I will always be watching you. Therefore... let us meet again.”
With those words, Grandfather...
Fwoosh!
...instantly became flames and vanished.
“...”
In the lush forest, only the spot where he had stood remained scorched black. Feeling the air grow cold the moment he disappeared, I bit my lip.
“This is really fucked up.”
It was absurd enough that he just showed up, but then he spouted some nonsense and disappeared.
‘What? A gentlemanly madman?’
I shuddered, recalling what the Dishonored Venerable had said about my grandfather.
‘Gentlemanly, my ass. He’s just a fucking lunatic.’
In what way was he a gentleman? If that was gentlemanly, then the world itself was insane. To bring up karma now... it felt like a task I had been trying to postpone had suddenly been thrust upon me.
‘One year?’
I thought about the time limit.
‘Should I just run for it?’
I had reached a level where I didn’t necessarily have to stay with the Gu Clan. Ending the Blood Disaster was a higher priority than inheriting some karma, so I could just leave, to hell with being the Young Lord.
[Do as you wish, if you can.]
Grandfather’s words echoed in my mind. His certainty that I could not escape bothered me, making my stomach churn.
“Hoo…”
I rubbed my face with one hand and sighed.
Throb!
I clicked my tongue at the pain in my chest. It was the rib I had shattered earlier.
‘This will probably hurt for about three days.’
Considering my enhanced regeneration, it would likely heal in that time. I could just leave it, but just in case, I should find the Immortal Healer.
With that thought, I turned around. My eyes met a pair of violet ones. Right. I had momentarily forgotten that the Heavenly Demon was here.
“...”
The Heavenly Demon was holding her own shoulder with one hand, looking at me with an unreadable expression. Why was she holding her shoulder?
‘Is that where I grabbed her earlier?’
The spot I had grabbed when I pulled her out of the way. Was she doing that because I had grabbed her too hard?
‘I didn’t grab her that hard.’
I was staring at her, wondering if she was faking it, when...
“Leaving?” she asked. “Are you going to go?”
“Yeah. I’m getting the hell out of here.”
I had originally come to see Gu Huibi and the Heavenly Demon, but in this state, I didn’t want to stay any longer. I needed to return to my residence, think things over, and get some rest.
I tried to walk away, but...
Grip.
The Heavenly Demon grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“What is it?” I glared at her, annoyed.
“Food.”
She brought up a completely random topic.
“…What did you say?”
“Eat before you go.”
“What kind of bullshit is this?”
Why would I eat with her? I’d definitely get indigestion. After going through something like this, how could I possibly have an appetite? I tried to shake her off, but...
“Unni will be waiting.”
At those words, I found myself stopping involuntarily.
“Why would she be?”
“Because I said I was going to get you when I left.”
She mentioned me when she left?
“…Hah.”
“Unni… made something delicious. Let’s go.”
The Heavenly Demon tugged at me, mentioning Gu Huibi. I wanted to leave immediately, but at the mention of my sister, I couldn’t help but relax my legs.
‘This might be for the best.’
Since it’s come to this, let’s just get it all over with while I’m here. With that thought, I closed my eyes and followed.
* * *
On the ledge of a high, rocky outcrop, an old man sat.
He wore only pants, his upper body bare. Despite his appearance suggesting old age, his body was a map of dense muscle and scars. He had lush white hair and a wrinkled face—a warrior’s body that didn't match his years.
Furthermore, a long horn protruding from his forehead suggested he was no ordinary human.
“...”
After a long while, the old man opened his eyes, revealing blazing red pupils. He rolled them around before a smile touched his lips.
“Heh heh.”
It seemed he was trying to hold back his laughter, but it wasn’t easy. His reaction was clear, as if he had just witnessed a very amusing sight. How long had it been? It was something that hadn’t happened in a very long time in the old man’s life.
As the old man continued to chuckle, a step sounded behind him.
“It seems something amusing has happened,” a voice asked.
The old man erased his smile and turned his gaze to the newcomer. The earlier mirth was gone, replaced by eerie, predatory eyes.
“It was a deeply moving moment.”
He already knew the other had appeared. That was why he had to hastily retrieve his flames.
“And a dog of the world dares to interfere.”
Hearing this, the young man looked at the old man and spoke.
“My apologies. But we’re in a bit of a hurry ourselves.”
The young man smiled, unfazed by the old man’s anger.
“A pleasure to meet you, Gatekeeper. I’ve truly wanted to see you.”
At that smile, the old man spat out his words. “As it happens, I just met with your dregs.”
Even at the old man’s words, the young man—the Blood Demon—did not erase his smile. He was simply enjoying himself.
“I’ve long since forgotten such trivial things.”
What was energy, and what was a body? To the current Blood Demon, none of that mattered.
“More importantly, there’s something I want to ask.”
The Blood Demon, Dok Gojun, asked the old man, his eyes turning blood-red.
“Gatekeeper.”
He, too, let the smile fall from his face.
“Where is the gate to the Divine Realm?”
In that instant...
Fwooooosh—!!
The moment the question was asked, the old man’s horn blazed red. Dok Gojun’s pupils split into vertical slits, emitting a brilliant, terrifying light.
KWAAAAAAAK—!!
An explosion erupted on the spot.