One Must Listen to Know (6)
Bu Seon opened her eyes at the sudden scent of blood that pierced through her meditation.
“You’ve come.”
Swish.
She slowly turned her head to the left.
There stood Yeop Seong.
His condition was far from good. He had wrapped the stump of his severed arm with clean cloth and changed into fresh clothes, but his complexion remained deathly pale.
Yet…
So it was true.
Bu Seon’s eyes trembled.
This aura… it’s no longer the original Blood Lion Qi. There’s a tiny trace of the Strange Rock Martial Arts mixed in.
It hadn’t even been a few hours since Jeon Hong’s death.
And yet Yeop Seong had already absorbed most of the man’s qi and made it his own. The beast-like pressure he once exuded was gone, but a cold, ferocious power now dominated the entire cave.
It was Jeon Hong’s qi. More precisely, it was Yeop Seong’s new strength after claiming the majority of Jeon Hong’s power as his own.
Even so, it was only about half of his original strength.
The problem is that even half that power makes him dangerous.
She once again felt the vast gap between herself and Yeop Seong.
And her astonishment toward Yeon Hojeong—who had crushed that same Yeop Seong so effortlessly—only grew stronger.
“Were you waiting for me?”
Yeop Seong’s voice was hoarse.
It didn’t sound like his original voice. It felt as if it had merged with Jeon Hong’s. Whether it was her imagination or not, simply hearing it sent chills across her entire body. It didn’t feel like she was facing a person.
Bu Seon rose slowly and examined Yeop Seong’s body.
“You’ve restored your left arm to its original state. Your internal injuries aren’t fully healed… but you’ve already recovered more than half.”
“……”
“Impressive. No matter how remarkable the Death Absorption Art may be, turning absorbed inner energy into one’s own is a matter of the practitioner’s ability, isn’t it?”
Yeop Seong’s eyes deepened.
“You know about the Death Absorption Art?”
“Master told me about it.”
“I see…”
Yeop Seong gave a faint, eerie smile.
“Master… Master, huh…”
Though his voice was chilling, it carried a strange resonance.
After staring at Bu Seon for a moment, Yeop Seong shook his head.
“This is the outer perimeter of the Black Dragon Department. I was waiting for the moment you’d be alone. That’s why I appeared now.”
“……”
“But… it seems even this was a trap.”
Bu Seon spoke coldly.
“You killed the Third with such filthy martial arts. There’s no choice but to capture and kill you.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“……?”
“You have far too many illusions about Master. You don’t know him at all.”
“I think I know him better than you do.”
“No, you don’t. Master wouldn’t bat an eye no matter how I killed you or the Third. Whether I killed them with his martial arts or with techniques obtained from a third party, it wouldn’t matter to him.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“I do. That’s why I targeted the Third. I planned to devour him, absorb the Blood Lion Qi, recover faster, and then consume you as well.”
Consume.
It was a truly terrifying word. Beyond contempt, Bu Seon felt a subtle, creeping dread.
Yeop Seong let out a low chuckle.
“The real problem… is that I didn’t realize Master was someone who could also accept ‘change.’”
“……”
“Isn’t that right, Master?”
The moment Yeop Seong finished speaking, Yang Cheon and Kang Liang emerged from the shadows beyond the cave.
Yeop Seong smiled.
“So you were there. Incredible. Truly impressive. Even in this state, I thought my senses were still sharp, but I had no idea you were present, Master.”
Yang Cheon stared at Yeop Seong in silence.
Yeop Seong continued.
“Have you come to capture me?”
Yang Cheon smiled.
“What do you think?”
“You were never one for many words, Master. Is there any reason to test me like this?”
“……”
“As expected, you really have changed, Master.”
Yang Cheon nodded.
“That’s right. I’ve come to capture you.”
“Why would you want to capture me?”
It was a strange question.
Yeop Seong’s face twisted slightly.
“That’s not like you, Master. Whether it’s a successor or a cherished subordinate, you never interfered no matter how one devoured the other.”
“……”
“Survival of the fittest. Whether poisoned or tricked, the one who falls is simply a fool. Isn’t that the true meaning of the strong ruling all?”
Yang Cheon remained silent.
Yeop Seong pointed at Bu Seon.
“You said you acknowledged the Second. That’s why you taught her stronger martial arts that we don’t know about.”
“……”
“To be honest, I wasn’t happy about it. But I endured. No—I tried not to care. Because no matter what, I could just kill her. Once I became the last one standing, I would naturally inherit everything from you, Master.”
“……”
“But what is this?”
Killing intent surged from Yeop Seong’s eyes.
“Why have you come to capture me? Surely you haven’t already chosen this pathetically weak girl as your successor?”
Yang Cheon shook his head.
“I have not yet chosen anyone as my successor.”
“Then why—!”
Yeop Seong’s voice rose with agitation.
“Why have you come to capture me! Just leave! Go back and drink your wine! This isn’t something you should concern yourself with, Master!”
“……”
“This is how you raised us! We were taught to tear apart the weak and avoid the strong! That’s how we’ve come this far! And now, right before me, only one final person remains!”
“……”
“Were all your teachings meaningless? If you dislike me, just say so!”
“How curious.”
Yang Cheon tilted his head.
“If I were the man I used to be, I wouldn’t have bothered coming to capture you.”
“Then why—!”
“But tell me, which version of me from the past were you looking at?”
“……?!”
“Was it me before my decisive battle with the Four Yin Cult Leader? Or was it me after being poisoned by him, when I couldn’t make proper judgments?”
“……!!”
“Or perhaps it was me from not long ago—the one who overcame all of that and joined hands with the Martial Alliance to win the war against the Three Sects?”
Yeop Seong’s face hardened.
The smile vanished from Yang Cheon’s face.
“Let’s say it’s unfair that you failed to notice my change.”
“……”
“But on the grounds of the Black Dragon Department, on this land of the Dark Faction, across the vast Nine Provinces and Eight Desolations—who would dare question the King of Combat for disciplining his own disciple?”
“……!!”
It was a truly shocking statement.
Yeop Seong’s eyes shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
“Do you need a reason? Did I ever teach you that?”
“……”
“No. I did not teach you that. Why? Because I never saw you as disciples. I saw you as subordinates.”
A terrifying wave of energy erupted from Yang Cheon’s body, crushing the entire area.
A terrifying voice flowed from his lips.
“I only accepted you as disciples in name. Only those who earn my true recognition are real disciples. And I can discipline you just like I did all those half-broken senior brothers and sisters of yours.”
“……!”
“Did you truly never think that the same fate could befall you?”
“Why…”
Blood vessels bulged in Yeop Seong’s eyes.
“Why are you interfering in my affairs? Why are you meddling in the matter of choosing a successor?!”
“Didn’t I already tell you? If you don’t please me, then successor or not, it ends there.”
“For such an absurd reason…!”
“There is only one value we share in our relationship.”
Yang Cheon lifted his chin.
“Act in a way that pleases me.”
“……!”
“Grow stronger. Prove your worth as a disciple to me, your lord.”
“That’s…!”
“Why did I take a liking to the Second? Because she acted in a way that pleased me. She understood exactly what kind of disciple I wanted. She spared no means or methods in carrying out her tasks, and she even risked her life to become stronger.”
“……”
“When did I ever say I wouldn’t interfere in the successor competition? Did I truly ever say such a thing in front of you?”
“……?!”
“You interpreted my hands-off approach however you liked, and now you resent reality because I never intervened?”
The entire cave rumbled violently, as if it might collapse at any moment. It sounded like thunder roaring inside the cavern.
Yang Cheon spoke.
“Just what kind of world have you been living in? Was the version of me you saw something that could be measured by that tiny brain of yours?”
An indescribable expression appeared on Yeop Seong’s face.
“It’s possible to misunderstand. People only see what they want to see. However…”
Yang Cheon extended his left hand. A dark crimson energy blazed from his palm. It contained horrifying killing intent and unimaginable power, as if it could explode at any moment.
“You, who haven’t even glimpsed the ultimate realm of my martial arts, are satisfied with such a meager level and dare to refine techniques given to you by others?”
“……!!”
“Having talent only makes this sin even less forgivable. And I doubt you even figured out the true origin of that Death Absorption Art you refined.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes had grown as cold as ice.
“You are even more pathetic than the Third. The Third may have been arrogant and lacking in insight, but at least he had conviction in his own martial arts.”
Tremble.
Yeop Seong’s body began to shake.
It was from the overwhelming terror that rendered him powerless before that immense energy, and from the extreme rage he felt toward both himself and his opponent.
“In the end, you disappoint me until the very last moment.”
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Boom!
Yeop Seong let out a monstrous roar and charged at Bu Seon.
It was a moment no one had expected. No one thought he would be able to move while enduring Yang Cheon’s overwhelming pressure.
But—
Crack!
“Kuaaak!”
Yang Cheon had already appeared in front of Bu Seon and seized Yeop Seong’s left arm.
It hadn’t been long since he had fixed the dislocated joint, yet the arm was ruined once again.
“Uwaaaah! Uwaaaaaah!”
Yeop Seong swung his severed right arm.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Blood began to seep from the arm that was relentlessly pounding Yang Cheon’s chest. The wounds he had desperately suppressed had burst open again.
It was a horrific sight, but Yeop Seong felt no pain. His resentment and fury had completely devoured his reason.
Yang Cheon’s grip on Yeop Seong’s arm tightened with even greater force.
Crack!
“Kuhk!”
Bones shattered. At the same time, Yeop Seong’s legs gave out and he fell to his knees. The Black Lion Qi had completely seized control of his body.
Yang Cheon looked down at Yeop Seong with a chilling gaze.
“You have no idea how thoroughly my pride has been shattered.”
“Kuuuugh!”
“And how much I regret this.”
Yeop Seong, who had been groaning in pain, looked up at Yang Cheon in shock.
Regret?
The master he knew was not someone who ever felt regret, no matter what happened.
Yang Cheon placed his hand on Yeop Seong’s head.
“Rest now.”
A dull, heavy thud echoed as if a drum had burst.
Yeop Seong collapsed on the spot. His eyes were rolled back, showing only the whites.
Bu Seon swallowed hard.
“Is he dead?”
“Not yet.”
Yang Cheon’s expression as he looked down at the fallen Yeop Seong was strange. It seemed both angry and sorrowful—an incredibly complex look.
“We need to find out where the boy learned the Death Absorption Art, don’t we?”
“Ah… yes.”
“If Vice Commander Yeon has already extracted all the information we don’t know, then we can send him off peacefully.”
Yang Cheon looked up at the ceiling of the cave.
A small sigh escaped his lips.
“……
This isn’t easy. It really isn’t easy at all.”
Regret had arisen. Yeop Seong’s death was ultimately his own fault.
And Yang Cheon did not like the fact that he had begun to blame himself for the death of someone who had crossed the line.