Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 87
>Chapter Title: Fragments of Truth (2)
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“You were the incarnation of Ahriman spoken of in the prophecy.”
‘Ahriman’s incarnation?’
The moment he heard those words from Lee Gwang of the Second Realm, Mok Kyung-un recalled the script from the Parsa Kingdom that Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon had possessed along with Gyeongmun.
It had clearly been written there.
“The incarnation of Ahriman shall appear in this world... beware... Is that what you mean right now?”
“You bastard?”
Lee Gwang’s eyes widened at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
How did this guy know about that prophecy?
Even within the organization, only a tiny handful knew of it, and as far as he knew, in the Baekhwa Cult, only the Holy Fire Spirit Lord and those of Cult Protector rank or higher were aware.
Yet this guy wasn’t from the Baekhwa Cult.
What in the world was going on?
“Where did you hear that from, you bastard?”
Mok Kyung-un snorted derisively at his question.
“You’re misunderstanding something.”
“What?”
“I’m the only one who gets to ask questions.”
-Swish!
With those words, Mok Kyung-un clenched his left fist and mimed pulling it back.
Then, Lee Gwang’s left thigh was yanked as if being torn off, the flesh ripping apart.
“Guh...”
-Crunch!
Lee Gwang gritted his teeth, trying to endure.
But even after having both arms torn off, this pain was utterly unbearable.
-Riiip!
“Gaaaaah!”
A scream like a beast’s erupted from Lee Gwang’s mouth.
Finally, his left leg was torn away.
All that remained of him were his right leg, torso, and head.
Lee Gwang, reduced to a body that could hardly be called living, drooled blood-mixed saliva as he writhed in agony.
Mok Kyung-un lifted his chin and spoke.
“Shall we continue our talk? Why did you call me Ahriman’s incarnation? I know it as a prophecy and directive from the Baekhwa Cult.”
“Guhhhh...”
“Your answer’s too slow. Maybe I should give you some more motivation...”
“.......The sacred... flame... shall be dyed... in black... evil... Ahriman’s... incarnation shall appear in this world... beware.”
“The sacred flame dyed in black evil?”
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head.
It differed from the prophecy he had seen.
Or rather, the text he’d seen only contained the latter part.
Puzzled, Mok Kyung-un asked.
“Who did you hear those words from just now?”
At the question, Lee Gwang laboriously rolled his eyes toward someone.
It was the Holy Fire Spirit Lord, collapsed face-down on the floor, unconscious and motionless.
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un’s eyes narrowed.
As expected, the Holy Fire Spirit Lord was connected to this organization in some way.
They were close to enemies now, but perhaps they had been allies in the past.
“Haa... haa...”
No matter how much his life force surpassed a human’s due to demonic power, with most of his energy scattered from his dantian and severe blood loss, Lee Gwang’s condition was dire.
His complexion had turned a pale purple, as if death was imminent.
Mok Kyung-un placed his hand, which pierced the abdomen, over the dantian area.
-Ssssh!
“Huhk!”
Lee Gwang’s half-closed eyes snapped wide open.
It was because energy flowing through Mok Kyung-un’s hand had restored his consciousness.
‘What is this?’
Lee Gwang couldn’t comprehend it.
The energy entering through Mok Kyung-un’s hand wasn’t internal energy—it resembled the energy from his own pitch-black sword, which had become one with him.
It was demonic power.
He still possessed a portion of the unrefined demonic power from the Golden-Furred Nine-Tailed Fox and had infused just a tiny bit of it.
‘Damn it.’
Lee Gwang, who had been half out of his mind, cursed inwardly.
A little more, and he might have died naturally, but the bastard’s energy had stanched the bleeding and revived his mind.
‘Can’t even die when I want to.’
What an ironic twist.
Who could have foreseen a moment when the desire to die outweighed the will to live?
As he agonized over his restored consciousness, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“You look a bit more alive now. Let’s continue. What is this Ahriman’s incarnation?”
“.......I don’t know.”
“Want me to make you know?”
“I really don’t know. All I know is that Ahriman’s incarnation is a being beyond humans, evil itself.”
“A being beyond humans?”
“Yeah...... Seeing your absurd growth speed, which defies all common sense, proves the prophecy isn’t wrong.”
Mok Kyung-un furrowed his brow at his words.
Come to think of it, they had said they were searching for something Grandfather had hidden.
He had assumed it was simply some valuable item.
‘Not an item?’
Was what they sought the something from the prophecy, and that prophecy referred to Ahriman’s incarnation from the script Dark Sect Leader Hwan Ya-seon had?
But something still didn’t add up.
This man seemed utterly convinced that he was Ahriman’s incarnation.
“Why do you think I’m Ahriman’s incarnation?”
“.......If not you, then who could be Ahriman’s incarnation?”
“An intriguing notion.”
“With a hole pierced through the center of your chest, you survived unscathed. Starting martial arts at an age nearing thirty, you surpassed the Wall in just half a year. Do you think a normal human could do that?”
“If that’s your reasoning, it makes even less sense.”
“What?”
“Why assume it’s impossible?”
“What do you...”
“Drawing lines around yourself without even trying—that’s how even doable things become impossible.”
“Ha!”
Lee Gwang was dumbfounded by Mok Kyung-un’s words.
What he was talking about wasn’t merely a matter of limits or will.
Even with a different constitution or innate martial talent, this was beyond what ordinary—no, any human could achieve.
The bastard had completely transcended human limits.
There was reason for even that one to call him a being beyond humans.
“You...... don’t realize how dangerous you are.”
“Dangerous......”
-Crush!
Mok Kyung-un gripped Lee Gwang’s chin hard.
Then, in a low voice, he said.
“That doesn’t matter at all. What matters is who you people killed.”
“You bastard......”
“I heard leaving a mark is a warning to the organization. Why kill him? The Ghost Sword seemed to warn Grandfather and leave, so why did you disobey and kill Grandfather?”
-Twitch! Twitch!
With each word, the intensifying killing intent made Lee Gwang feel like his heart would burst.
How could mere killing intent create such overwhelming pressure and threat?
If it had been ordinary people instead of him, they might have died just from the intent alone.
“No answer? I don’t care if you stay silent all day. A day, no, a month or a year—if you keep your mouth shut that long, it just means more time to torment you.”
His lips curled into a chilling smile.
Seeing Mok Kyung-un’s face, Lee Gwang couldn’t bear it.
If it was this guy’s malice, he really would do it.
His resolve crumbling, Lee Gwang pleaded.
“Please...... just kill me.”
“You want to die?”
“Please.......”
“Begging now? You’re really tugging at my heartstrings.”
“........”
Damn bastard.
Despite the words, the killing intent didn’t wane in the slightest.
Emitting such intense killing intent while trying to torment him more—it was nauseating.
“Want an easy death? Then spill everything. Give me a convincing reason to kill you quickly.”
‘Aaaah.’
If only he had a mental restriction like the others.
Even most executives of the Second Realm had them implanted.
But thanks to his ancestors’ merits, he alone was free of it, so he couldn’t even induce suicide.
As he hesitated, Mok Kyung-un whispered.
“Still manageable, huh? How about I slice your organs one by one from inside?”
-Slash!
Mok Kyung-un subtly ignited sharp energy in his hand buried in the abdomen.
-Shhhhkkk!
“Guhk.”
As the razor-sharp energy spread through his organs, Lee Gwang’s face twisted in pain.
It felt utterly different from being gripped.
“Guek.”
It was like hundreds of shattered blades slicing and stabbing each organ—agony so intense he vomited and tears streamed.
“Nice expression. You’re enduring well, so let’s ramp it up.”
Mok Kyung-un prepared to intensify the sharp energy.
Lee Gwang’s eyes shook wildly.
He had tried to endure for loyalty to that one, but his resolve shattered.
Lee Gwang shouted desperately.
“It wasn’t me who truly killed Mun No!”
‘!?’
Mok Kyung-un froze, staring at his face as he was about to increase the intensity.
Lee Gwang’s eyes, glistening with bloodshot tears of pain, held no tremor.
Mok Kyung-un looked baffled.
“What are you saying? Clearly, you...”
“I merely contributed to Mun No’s end.”
“......Merely contributed?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s skeptical reply, Lee Gwang opened his mouth with eyes lost in memory.
* * *
[What? What do you mean?]
“Exactly that. If Ghost Sword of the First Realm learns nothing from Hae Young Medicine Sage and simply withdraws, then you, Lee Gwang, shall secretly take over the mission.]
“How could I...?”
“Ghost Sword prioritizes his pact with the Heaven-Earth Society Leader over that one’s command.”
“If that’s the case, then not Ghost Sword...”
“No. Ghost Sword will carry out the mission.]
“Then the Heaven-Earth Society Leader...... No.”
Lee Gwang soon shook his head.
The Heaven-Earth Society Leader was beyond his control.
Even that one could only watch.
Better to protect the Society Leader’s safety as ordered than stir unnecessary trouble.
* * *
‘Smoke?’
Sensing smoke rising from the middle of the mountain, Lee Gwang hurried toward it.
He had waited from afar, watching to ensure Ghost Sword fully retreated.
-Papap!
He spotted Ghost Sword unleashing lightness skill, rushing somewhere.
Not fleeing, but pursuing something.
‘What?’
Puzzled, but an opportunity nonetheless.
Had Ghost Sword discovered something or captured him?
Or acted as feared?
Arriving, Lee Gwang found a burning house and, not far in the vegetable patch, an elderly man barely standing, staggering.
It was Hae Young Medicine Sage Mun No.
‘As feared.’
Ghost Sword hadn’t captured or killed Mun No after all.
What was his game?
Puzzled, Lee Gwang frowned.
‘Hm?’
Traces of multiple clashes around Mun No suggested a fight with Ghost Sword, but something was off.
A sword expert like Ghost Sword should have left sword marks everywhere, yet there were none—only remnants of palm techniques and poison arts.
Finding it odd, Lee Gwang approached Mun No, who was barely holding himself up.
Mun No’s injuries were severe; his condition was awful.
“Elder Jang Protector—no, Mun No.”
“........Lee Gwang?”
Mun No couldn’t hide his shock at seeing him.
He hadn’t anticipated reinforcements beyond Ghost Sword.
Lee Gwang drew closer and said.
“I thought you fought Ghost Sword, but looking around, it seems like someone else. Right?”
No sword marks anywhere he looked.
If not Ghost Sword, then who had he fought here?
Puzzled, Mun No suddenly uttered something incomprehensible.
“If you don’t want to be poisoned by Formless Poison, you’d best stay back.”
‘Formless Poison?’