Chapter 164: Sword God Yoo Jin
Chapter 164: Sword God Yoo Jin
Growl! Grrrrowl!
By the time I suddenly came back to my senses, the savory smell of something delicious was drifting into my nose.
Only then did I realize that my stomach had been growling incessantly.
When I gently opened my eyes, I saw that he was grilling fish over the campfire beside me.
He must have sensed me stirring immediately, because he looked at me and spoke with an incredulous expression.
"You are truly a remarkable bastard. To keep sleeping even while your stomach is growling like that. And on top of that, to make me grill fish and serve it to you."
I just gave him a soft smile.
"Thank you, Daehyeop."
It seemed the ploy I'd thrown out before losing consciousness had worked splendidly.
In the time since, not only had he refrained from killing me, but he'd even, as he put it, grilled fish and served it to me.
It probably didn't mean my life was completely safe yet, but it was clearly a rather encouraging outcome.
At that, he let out a hollow laugh, looking baffled.
"Huh!"
But for some reason, his expression wasn't entirely displeased.
He held out a skewered fish to me and said,
"Here, eat this and finish the story you were telling."
The story he meant, of course, was about the Sword God's legacy.
I had half expected him to press me as soon as I woke up, so being told to eat the fish while we talked was a little unexpected.
'I feel like the vibe has changed a bit from before...'
He was definitely treating me with far more familiarity than he had before I collapsed.
Several possibilities came to mind.
'Maybe he feels some rapport over the fact that I know about the Sword Emperor's legacy?'
Considering he was a small-minded man who loved to show off, that was entirely possible.
He liked being acknowledged by others, but despite being an absolute being of the martial world, he must have been a lonely man respected by no one.
'Of course, it could also be that he decided to humor me since he's planning to kill me anyway.'
I still couldn't tell which it was.
And even if he genuinely felt some warmth toward me, I couldn't let my guard down.
He was a man notorious for his extreme capriciousness and for acting on whim, whatever his mood dictated.
With those thoughts, I first tried to take the fish.
"Ugh!"
But when I tried to sit up a little, I ended up giving up and had no choice but to accept the fish he gave me while still lying down.
My body was still in that bad a shape.
"Receiving food graciously given by you, Daehyeop, while lying down... I am truly sorry, Daehyeop."
At that, he let out a scoff and retorted,
"Heh, are you going to die while minding your manners? Stop spouting nonsense and just stay down."
With an apologetic expression, I accepted the fish, brought it to my mouth, and took a bite.
And the moment I bit down, I was startled.
'Huh?'
It was delicious.
Well, it didn't seem like it was actually delicious, but it tasted insanely good.
The instant the food entered my mouth, a hunger I hadn't even been conscious of came surging in all at once.
It seemed my body had been desperately craving food.
I started mindlessly tearing into the fish.
Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!
When I devoured one in an instant, he watched me and silently held out another fish.
"Ah, thank you, Daehyeop!"
And then I mindlessly wolfed that one down, too.
Like that, I polished off three fish in the blink of an eye.
He was still quietly watching over me and waiting.
Nor did he seem annoyed that I was just eating.
I began to think he might actually feel some affinity for me.
But I didn't want to test his patience any further.
After filling my stomach to some degree, I decided to be the first to broach the topic he was curious about.
"I do have some thoughts about the Sword God's legacy... but before I share them, may I ask you something, Daehyeop?"
At that, he nodded, his eyes slightly curious.
"Me? Go ahead."
I cautiously studied his mood as I asked,
"Do you happen to know much about the Sword Emperor elder?"
At that, his face instantly twisted into a scowl.
"The Sword Emperor?"
Just as I thought.
Earlier, he'd shown a deeply offended reaction every time the Sword Emperor came up in conversation.
It seemed too excessive to be simply a petty man's competitive spirit toward someone stronger than himself.
My guess was that he and the Sword Emperor had some kind of history.
"Yes, I thought if I could hear about him, I might be able to organize my thoughts a bit more."
After frowning for a moment, he finally opened his mouth as if he had no choice.
As I'd sensed earlier, he didn't seem to be the tight-lipped, taciturn type.
Maybe he was actually the kind of person who liked talking to others.
Come to think of it, if a man with a desire to show off couldn't talk, he wouldn't be able to show off, would he?
If someone like that hadn't had a chance to have long conversations with anyone, he might have been quite lonely.
"When we were young, that bastard and I were fellow disciples."
"...Pardon?"
"We started learning martial arts together at a small martial hall in the countryside."
That was really quite shocking news.
Because I'd never heard anything like it anywhere.
That the current strongest in the martial world, the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor, and the Poisonous Eyed Ghost Sword, though the lowest ranked, still one of the Fifteen Absolute Beings, were originally fellow disciples — it was surely something that would make any gossip-lover in the jianghu gape in astonishment.
He continued speaking.
"In our childhood, the bastard was an utterly pathetic fool. He took days to learn what I grasped and mastered in a single session, and he always just got beaten up in sparring. And yet he was so meddlesome, constantly sticking his nose into this and that for no reason and always ending up harmed because of it."
He went on at length, trash-talking the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor's childhood.
I didn't believe everything he said, so I tried to listen while filtering out his personal bias as much as possible, but even accounting for that, it seemed the current number one under heaven, the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor Ban Jung-yang, hadn't been exceptionally talented from a young age.
However, it also seemed that his sense of chivalry was so strong that he couldn't stand injustice, even if it meant he suffered for it.
And it seemed that despite their constant bickering, the two had been quite close in their youth, always sticking together.
Which was why they had been together when they obtained the Blood Wolf Sword and the Yellow Wolf Sword, too.
Seo Il, who had been telling the story with an expression mocking the childhood Blood Wolf Sword Emperor, suddenly turned furious and clenched his teeth as the tale shifted to the Blood Wolf Sword and Yellow Wolf Sword.
"I should have said I would take the Blood Wolf Sword back then..."
It seemed Seo Il had been the one to choose the Yellow Wolf Sword first.
Picking the Yellow Wolf Sword and letting his friend take the Blood Wolf Sword must have remained a deep and lasting regret for him.
Now his expression firmly settled into fury, he continued the story.
"One day, the bastard suddenly started using martial arts I'd never seen before. Yes, it was the Sword God's martial arts."
His eyes blazed fiercely as he recalled that time.
"Once he started using that, the bastard who always used to just chase at my heels instantly became a master I could no longer follow. And once that happened, the bastard... in a cowardly act, betrayed me."
"...Betrayed you?"
Those words came as a complete surprise.
Because from what I'd heard, the Sword Emperor, though he'd gone into seclusion for some time now, had been a great hero and righteous man during his active years.
When I asked again with a surprised look, he shouted, his face filled with rage.
"We were friends who always stuck together! No, to be precise, because of Master's deathbed request, I was the one looking after the brat! So I was like a guardian and benefactor to him! Until then, we had always shared everything! But then!"
Now his eyes were filled with undisguised hatred and resentment.
"He! Once he obtained the Sword God's legacy, he completely changed and betrayed me! He didn't share the martial arts with me, making the ridiculous excuse that the Sword God had not permitted it! To me, who had sacrificed so thoroughly for him until then!"
"..."
Having understood his words, I found I couldn't bring myself to sympathize with him.
In the end, the core of his resentment was that he hadn't shared the Sword God's legacy with him.
He was saying that his friend, who had obtained the Sword God's legacy, turned his back on him.
But who in the martial world would automatically share their personal fortuitous encounter?
Furthermore, seeing how he was now, I even thought that the Sword Emperor's judgment back then had been correct.
Besides, I couldn't take his words entirely at face value.
I suddenly asked him,
"Then the martial arts you now practice, Seo Daehyeop, did you learn them elsewhere?"
At that, he flinched slightly before answering.
"...The Pa-ma Sword Technique and the Pa-ma Heart Method are indeed martial arts that the bastard taught me. But he, having learned the Sword God's legacy, only taught me techniques that were far inferior! If he hadn't, there's no way I, with my far superior talent, would have remained below him! Jealous of my talent, he used a dirty and craven trick!"
I let out an inward sigh.
I thought I understood what he was saying, more or less.
Seo Il was now claiming that the Sword Emperor Ban Jung-yang, out of jealousy, had taught him lower-level martial arts.
But was that really the case?
Martial arts that had made Seo Il, who had learned them at a countryside martial hall, into an absolute being of the martial world — those were low-level?
Martial arts that had elevated such a petty man into an absolute being of the martial world?
'Tch, absolutely impossible.'
Even after that, as if a dam had burst, he spewed out complaints and resentments against Ban Jung-yang for a long while.
I just listened silently as he poured it all out.
But the more I heard him speak, the more clearly I understood just what a petty man he was.
Suddenly, that sort of thought also came to me.
That such a petty man had risen to the position of one of the Fifteen Absolute Beings of the martial world—his talent alone must have been exceptional.
And the martial arts he had learned would surely be tremendous ultimate techniques as well.
After ranting and raving for a long while, Seo Il suddenly stopped speaking and looked at me.
He seemed to realize that my silently listening without saying anything was not because I agreed with his words.
He glared at me for a moment and then asked.
"So, what is the reason you made me speak of these things? You must give a proper answer."
I nodded.
It was time to bring out the answer I had been preparing while listening to him.
"I suddenly had that thought. If the Sword God had left a relic, he would not have bestowed it upon just anyone. That is why I asked about the Sword Emperor. But as you say, Seo Daehyeop, it seems the Sword Emperor also did not obtain the Sword God's relic immediately after obtaining the Blood Wolf Sword. And above all... it seems he was a hyeopgaek who could not bear to witness injustice, even if it meant his own loss."
At my words, his expression twisted.
"...That bastard, a hyeopgaek?"
"Yes, according to legend, wasn't the Sword God also famous as a hyeopgaek? So wouldn't your true transmission have been arranged so that only those with a chivalrous heart like himself could learn it?"
This story was not merely a lie I made up to deceive him.
When I looked back, the times when Mukrang—likely the Sword God's spirit—spoke to me were always when I had put my life on the line to save someone else.
So honestly, when I rushed to save Yeoryeong Saekma Son Eun-sang from the self-destruction of Tamhwa Saengma Hwa Sa-yu last time, I had some hope that if I did this, Mukrang would appear again.
'Of course, since he didn't show up then, there seem to be other conditions, but...'
And the reason I was telling this to Seo Il now was to restrain his actions.
So that he couldn't kill me, and if possible, couldn't lay a hand on Mukrang either.
My current situation was not very good.
Am Hyeol-hyang was surely waiting somewhere for Seo Il to leave, and in contrast, my physical condition was so poor that I could barely move.
And even now, I wasn't safe.
The reason Poisonous Eyed Ghost Sword Seo Il was keeping me alive was likely just because he wanted to gain even a little more information about the Sword God's relic.
'If he thought there was no more information to gain even right now, he could kill me. Even if not, he would definitely take Mukrang with him.'
So that was why I told him this story.
To force him into compromise.
Seo Il glared at me and asked.
"So... you're saying that because that bastard was a hyeopgaek, he was able to inherit the Sword God's relic?"
"Perhaps that was the case—that is what I think."
Then he suddenly flared up in anger.
"Nonsense! How could that kind of bastard who betrayed me be a hyeopgaek?! Are you speaking nonsense?!"
His show of anger was a dangerous sign.
But this time, I didn't put on an act to humor him.
Because I thought it was time to take a gamble.
I just calmly nodded and replied.
"Of course, it could be as you say, Seo Daehyeop. It's just my speculation, and I don't know the details of your situation. If you truly think he is not a hyeopgaek, then perhaps my thoughts are wrong."
Then, though he looked at me with angry eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refute it.
He too, in truth, knew.
That the Sword Emperor was a true hyeopgaek, and he himself was not.
That his own resentment and hatred were twisted.
After gritting his teeth and glaring at me for a moment, he spoke slowly, as if chewing his words.
His eyes took on a dangerous glint.
"Fine, so be it. Let's assume you don't know about that bastard. Then what about me? Am I, who saved your life, a hyeopgaek or not?"
I instinctively realized that this answer would be a crucial turning point.
That with one wrong word, I could die by his hand.
I had two choices.
To humor him and lower his anger, or to speak the truth and force him into chivalrous behavior—those two...
And for me to survive right now, humoring him might have been better.
But my choice was not that.
"I don't think that is something I can say. If you acted purely out of a desire to save me, not because of Mukrang, then you would certainly be a hyeopgaek. But how can I know your true heart? In the end, isn't a hyeopgaek someone who is honorable to themselves?"
My choice was to make him look back on himself.
It was a risky move I made, thinking that if I humored him now, I might save my life, but I would never be able to reclaim Mukrang.
Then he glared at me as if to devour me for a moment, and then spoke with a voice that seemed to grit its teeth.
"You have been deceiving me all along. You thought of me like that from the start! A thief pretending to save you to steal your sword!"
His stinging killing intent was pricking my body like needles. If it grew just a little stronger, it felt like my actual body would be pierced by it alone.
The touch of the death god was right before my eyes.
But it was already spilled water.
I just pretended to be calm, shook my head, and replied.
"I never said such a thing."
Then his mouth closed again.
He seemed to understand as well.
That the one who said that was, in the end, himself.
He continued to glare at me for a long while after that.
I could fully see that various emotions were in conflict within his eyes.
And that was undoubtedly a conflict over whether to kill me or not.
After a while, when he spoke again, he was wearing a bitter smile as if he had made a resolution.
"So, you speak of chivalrous behavior. I have heard your words well. And I admit it. That bastard was indeed much closer to a hyeopgaek than I was. I was more greedy than him, and not honest. Even cowardly. So I only fought those I could surely win against, and I killed those opponents so they wouldn't grow again and threaten me. Yes, that was how it was. Perhaps it wasn't the difference in swords, but that difference, that allowed him to inherit the Sword God's relic, and I could not."
It was an honest confession I hadn't expected at all.
As I listened to his overly sincere inner thoughts, I cursed inwardly.
'Damn it...'
It seemed my gamble had failed.
Because there was no way he would leave alive the person he had confided such things to.
He had decided to kill me.
But instead, Seo Il, who had spoken that way, looked at the Mukrang he was holding for a moment, and then suddenly threw it to me.
Clank!
"If, as you say, the way to obtain the Sword God's relic is through chivalrous behavior, then I will let you live. I saved you when you were dying, so that can certainly be called chivalrous behavior. Also, I will not steal this sword. I return it intact. After all, I have the Byeok-rang Sword."
It was strange.
It was a strange thing.
He was clearly saying he would let me live with his words, while his eyes said he would kill me.
'What was his angle?'
It didn't take long to find out his angle.
Because he immediately said this.
"But I do have a rather pressing appointment. This was more important, so I spent some time, but now I've heard everything I needed to, and I've saved your life, so I must be going. If you're still alive, let's meet again next time."
Saying that and smiling bitterly, Seo Il immediately leaped up and began flying into the sky.
He had left me behind.
'Damn.'
Now I thought I knew what he was thinking.
He was thinking of a borrowed knife murder.
He hadn't killed me directly nor stolen the sword, but by stepping aside, he was handing me, unable to even control my body, back to Am Hyeol-hyang.
'What a despicable bastard!'
But it wasn't the worst situation yet.
Anyway, Am Hyeol-hyang wouldn't yet know that he had left, so I would have a little time.
So I had to move as quickly as possible before Am Hyeol-hyang grasped the situation.
I tried to get up.
"Ugh!"
But I immediately collapsed again.
My whole body was screaming.
I waited a moment for the pain to subside.
But I didn't have long to wait.
Because I had to escape or hide somehow before Am Hyeol-hyang grasped the situation.
But at that time.
I had to realize that I had far less time than I thought.
Because from far away, the voice of Poisonous Eyed Ghost Sword Seo Il came.
- Wahahahaha! Farewell, hahahaha!
His voice echoed loudly all around.
His voice, which I was sure not only I but also Am Hyeol-hyang had heard...
He was a truly despicable fellow.
To not give me time, he had informed Am Hyeol-hyang that he had left.
"You son of a bitch!"
I cursed and gathered strength in my body again.
Now there really was no time.
"Ugh!"
A fierce pain came.
It was enough to make my head go blank.
It seemed I would have to activate the Moonlight Illusion Sword Dance to erase the pain.
'It would be very bad for my body, but there's no choice...'
And then.
Rustle!
Suddenly, the sound of rustling bushes came.
Startled, I quickly raised my head.
'Am Hyeol-hyang?! Already?!'
Perhaps because of the pain, I had been distracted and couldn't even properly sense the signs around me.
With dim eyes, I was just watching as someone emerged from the bushes.