Chapter 86: Purple Hue (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 86: Purple Hue (1)
Finding Namgung Bi-ah collapsed on the ground…
It dragged me back to the final memory of the Demonic Sword from my past life—the image of her slowly dying in my arms beneath the cold rain.
I had been far too carefree.
It was only after that tragedy that I realized how naive I had been. I watched my world shatter in an instant.
From then on, I chose to observe life from a distance rather than involve myself in its currents.
But if I had truly done nothing from the start, none of this would have happened.
Even so, I intervened despite my reluctance, because I knew I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
I was still afraid. Terrified, even.
It seemed death hadn’t changed me at all.
…What in the world am I doing?
What have I been doing all this time since I returned?
Do I want to kill the Heavenly Demon?
If I truly did, I would have handed Wi Seol-Ah a sword instead of a servant’s uniform. That would have been the simplest solution.
But knowing that… what have I been doing instead?
I watched the Sword Venerable look after Wi Seol-Ah with a smile, assuming he had some grand plan—even though I knew all he wanted was for her to never lift a blade again.
And what did I gain from this pitiful excuse of an effort?
I saw a smile on her face—one I had never witnessed in my previous life.
The hand I could never hold before was now beside me, warm and inviting, as if urging me to take it.
The hand I should have released remained close.
Her arms were open, as though welcoming me into an embrace.
But… did I honestly deserve that warmth?
Even that beautiful smile would vanish once the Heavenly Demon emerged into the world.
Knowing that, I kept running away. Do I really deserve such kindness?
I asked myself again.
I already knew the answer, but the fear remained.
I can’t face the Heavenly Demon.
I didn’t want to fight—I was too afraid.
It doesn’t have to be me.
That was the excuse I used to cling to an easy life.
I had been living carefree, clinging to that flimsy justification, even after all the sins and bloodshed of my past life.
I tried to convince myself that since I had already died once, I was entitled to a peaceful, happy life.
But I knew what was coming, and it tormented me.
I kept running.
I trained at night, but without any real goal.
I kept reminding myself that when the time came, I would flee.
I kept trying to persuade myself that it was enough—that I didn’t need to do more.
[So, are you satisfied?]
Then, out of nowhere, an unknown voice spoke to me.
[Are you truly content with just this?]
No.
Nothing.
I felt hollow.
This place still felt like the dream I had on my first day back—a vivid yet hazy dream I couldn’t wake from.
That was how I felt, yet I still had to face my responsibilities.
I had to conjure hundreds of excuses to placate myself.
And I had to take responsibility for what was to come.
If I didn’t want Wi Seol-Ah to wield a sword, someone else would have to.
Moreover, if Namgung Bi-ah ever wished to leave me…
I would have to let her go.
Even as my fiancée, I had plenty of reasons to distance myself from her.
…And yet, I can’t let go.
Because of my own pathetic selfishness, I kept hoping she would stay.
So I had to bear the weight of all the burdens piling up around me alone.
I could no longer afford to run and hide.
If I couldn’t release my grip and refused to lose anything…
I had to wake from this dream.
“…Ah.”
A unfamiliar ceiling greeted me when I opened my eyes.
* * *
An unfamiliar ceiling came into view as my eyes fluttered open.
“…You’re awake.”
Along with it, an old man with wild, spreading white hair came into focus.
It was the Immortal Healer.
I couldn’t believe the first person I saw upon waking was him. Startled, I tried to move—
“Aghhh!”
A sudden, tearing pain shot through my body, and I screamed.
It hurt so much my eyes watered.
“Tch, don’t you know the meaning of caution?”
“Wh-what happened…?”
It felt as if parts of my bones had been bitten off. The pain was indescribable.
Struggling against the agony, I tried to recall what happened before I lost consciousness.
“It seems everything turned out fine, so don’t worry.”
The Immortal Healer answered after reading my expression.
How did I lose consciousness? What about Ya Hyeoljeok? …And Namgung Bi-ah?
“…Um, what about the girl who was—”
“The girl next to you is in much better shape than you are. Don’t worry; just rest.”
“I see… Thank you.”
Fortunately, Namgung Bi-ah seemed fine.
But I didn’t get a chance to ask about Ya Hyeoljeok.
Just as I was about to, the Immortal Healer spoke first.
“Your body isn’t seriously injured. Once the pain subsides, you should be able to move again.”
“Thank you…”
“I warned you that using too much qi could kill you, yet you drained yourself dry.”
“Ah.”
“Young people these days think they’re invincible… I don’t know why they’re so reckless when a single knife stab can end it all.”
I offered a bitter smile at his words.
He was right—I had lost my mind and acted recklessly.
…I really wasn’t in my right mind back then.
I had used up all my energy without a second thought.
There were probably other options, but for some reason, I couldn’t calm down.
Not with Namgung Bi-ah lying on the ground.
And why did I lose consciousness?
I definitely had some qi left, and my body wasn’t that exhausted.
Sure, near the end, I started feeling pain from overexertion, but I could still move freely—unlike before.
And…
I feel like… I heard a voice at the end.
It was hazy.
I definitely remembered hearing something, but I couldn’t recall it clearly.
Whenever I tried, a sharp pain throbbed in my head.
-Tap
The sound of a plate being set down nearby reached my ears, followed by a bitter scent.
Medicine?
A moment later, something touched my lips.
Turning my gaze, I saw Zhuge Hyuk holding a spoon to my mouth.
After a brief hesitation, I accepted it.
It was far more bitter than I expected, and I winced.
“It’s a pain-suppressing medicine. Finish it all—you’ll feel better afterward.”
I obeyed the Immortal Healer and drank it all.
It felt strange being fed by Zhuge Hyuk.
“Wait a while longer. Someone will come soon. Everyone has been waiting for you to wake up.”
“How long was I out?”
“Two days. After tonight, it’ll be three.”
“…T-two days?”
I’d been unconscious that long?
I suddenly remembered Wi Seol-Ah telling me to return safely.
She must have been worried sick.
“Now that you’re awake, these two can finally rest easy.”
I followed the Immortal Healer’s gaze.
“…Ah.”
In the corner of the room, two girls were asleep, leaning against the wall.
Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah.
“They waited without sleeping, but dozed off just as you woke up.”
“…”
Looking at them, my heart tingled with a strange warmth.
As I watched them, the Immortal Healer spoke again.
“I have a question for you.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember when I called you a living corpse?”
“Yes, I remember.”
That was why I had been searching for demonic stones in the first place. I could never forget.
The Immortal Healer studied me with a serious expression.
“I take pride in my skills as a doctor.”
It sounded arrogant, but coming from him, it was simply a statement of fact.
He continued, “I’ve lived my whole life believing that, but this is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
“…Did you find another problem with my body?”
Again?
Is my body some kind of battlefield? Why does so much keep happening inside it?
Is this punishment for all the trouble I caused in the past?
I wondered why these issues kept arising.
The Immortal Healer wore a complicated expression.
“…It’s calm.”
“Huh?”
“All those conflicting qi energies inside you, trying to devour each other… they’ve gone quiet, as if they’ve died down.”
They’ve… calmed down?
It had only been about ten days since he warned me I could explode at any moment.
Shocked, I tried to circulate qi through my body, but whether from exhaustion or something else, my dantian only trembled weakly. I couldn’t muster any qi.
Instead, a different sensation flowed through me.
I shuddered and immediately stopped.
Demonic Qi…?
There was Demonic Qi circulating inside my body.
Murky and unstable, but unmistakably…
The same Demonic Qi that Ya Hyeoljeok had possessed.
* * *
“Young Master is a dummy.”
“Yeah…”
“A d-dumb idiot!”
“Yeah…”
When I woke in the morning, Wi Seol-Ah was scolding me.
My first task of the day was calming her down—she had been on the verge of tears the moment she saw me.
Even after some time, her eyes were still glistening, and I hadn’t fully soothed her.
“Why do you always get hurt when I’m not around?”
I couldn’t answer her question.
Honestly, it did seem to happen often…
Then again, I always try not to bring her if I know there’s danger.
That was the main reason.
Anyway, that was that.
Wi Seol-Ah wiped her tear-filled eyes.
I thought about patting her head, but my body was still too sore to move easily.
“You… really are a dummy.”
“Wait—!”
In the end, Wi Seol-Ah burst into tears.
As she cried, Namgung Bi-ah, who had been standing quietly nearby, handed her a handkerchief.
Namgung Bi-ah’s arm was wrapped in bandages.
According to the Immortal Healer, she would heal completely in a few days; she was a martial artist, and the rest of her was fine.
Wi Seol-Ah sniffled and spoke to Namgung Bi-ah in a small voice.
“…Sis.”
“Hm?”
“…Can I blow my nose?”
She asked cautiously.
Namgung Bi-ah looked taken aback but nodded permission.
Wi Seol-Ah blew her nose loudly.
Feeling I shouldn’t watch, I averted my gaze.
“Thank you…”
When she returned the handkerchief, Namgung Bi-ah looked unsure what to do with it.
I’ll buy her a new one later…
While we were talking, the Immortal Healer entered and frowned.
“Everyone out. I need to examine him now.”
“C-can we stay a little longer?”
“You think I can concentrate with all of you here? Out!”
Even Wi Seol-Ah, who usually got her way with her charm, was firmly ushered out by the indifferent Immortal Healer.
In the end, Namgung Bi-ah left with a disappointed Wi Seol-Ah.
I felt uneasy seeing her look back at me with those sad eyes.
After they left, the Immortal Healer took my arm.
“How do you feel?”
“Much better than yesterday.”
“I still can’t let you move around yet. Stay in bed.”
“…Yes, sir.”
He had noticed I wanted to leave.
This didn’t look like the hut I remembered. Was I still on Mount Hua?
As I lay still, the Immortal Healer spoke unexpectedly.
“I haven’t thanked you yet.”
He said this while I was just lying there.
I responded, confused. “For what…?”
“You ended up like this fighting that man who was targeting the hut.”
The man targeting the hut?
Was that Ya Hyeoljeok’s real goal here?
Truthfully, I had fought him out of sheer rage—not for the reason the Immortal Healer assumed.
“Dohwa will have to come for more details… but it’ll take a while with everything happening right now.”
“When you say ‘everything,’ is something going on?”
“It’s not my place to say. Dohwa will explain later.”
The Immortal Healer’s expression darkened as he spoke.
I felt frustrated being cut off from the outside world.
After checking my arm for a long time, the Immortal Healer stood, seeming finished.
“You’ll be able to get up soon. You’ve mostly healed. But stay in bed today, just to be safe.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
After he left, I pondered my situation.
About the state of my body.
The Immortal Healer can’t sense the Demonic Qi.
He had examined me thoroughly but hadn’t mentioned any Demonic Qi.
It was possible he was hiding it from me, but that seemed unlikely.
I didn’t know how the Demonic Qi had entered my body, but thankfully, it seemed to be slowly purifying.
It was similar to last time, when I absorbed energy from a demonic stone using my demonic absorption ability, and my Gu Flame Wheel Art devoured the Demonic Qi afterward, purifying my body.
But the Demonic Qi I had now felt noticeably different from what I absorbed from demonic stones or the qi I took from the Heavenly Demon.
The Black Palace.
It felt especially similar to the murky energy Ya Hyeoljeok possessed.
As if I had stolen his qi.
Did I absorb his qi?
Absorbing qi directly from a person, not a demonic stone?
I had never heard of such an ability.
Then again, I probably shouldn’t be surprised, since I absorbed energy from multiple demonic stones.
Moreover, I believed the Immortal Healer’s comment about my energy calming down was related to this.
…So, in the end, my Demonic Qi is settling down as well.
Which meant I wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of finding a demonic stone to test it.
It left me uneasy, thinking I’d have to deal with the Heavenly Demon’s Demonic Qi again in this life.
But I needed to get my mind right from now on.
So be it.
There was one more thing bothering me.
Ever since I woke up…
Elder Shin.
I kept calling for Elder Shin, but there was no response.
Elder Shin…
I called again.
[…]
Still nothing.
I had been calling for him since I woke up last night, but he hadn’t answered once.
I called aloud and in my mind.
But there was no reply.
“…Where did that old man go…?”
Elder Shin had disappeared.