Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: gumo hwicg fumdik-24i
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Time of Solitude
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That was right.
Song Myeong-cheon's left shoulder had sunk in completely, as if it had never been there to begin with.
What the Demon Bear had clamped down on was merely a flap of Song Myeong-cheon's clothing.
Even the Demon Bear's eyes, as it bit down on empty cloth, were filled with bewilderment.
At that moment, something shot out from within Song Myeong-cheon's embrace.
It was none other than Song Myeong-cheon's left arm.
His left hand seized the Demon Bear's two hind legs outright. Before the beast could even react, he slammed it viciously against a massive boulder.
Once, twice, three times...
Accompanied by the dull, gruesome thud thud thud sounds, the Demon Bear's head was smashed to pieces.
At first, blood sprayed out, but soon even its marrow oozed forth. In an instant, the creature perished, reduced literally to a lump of mangled meat.
Only then did Han Ibi grasp what had happened.
Song Myeong-cheon had hidden his left arm inside his robes, then infused his empty sleeve with internal energy to puff it up as a decoy.
To that end, he had deliberately exposed a weakness, luring the Demon Bear to bite.
Even tainted by demonic influence, his wisdom hadn't dulled in the slightest—that was fortunate, at least.
Song Myeong-cheon tossed aside the rag-like remains of the Demon Bear and let out a long sigh. The black marks circulating along his veins began to fade.
Han Ibi cautiously began digging up the Golden Radiant Herb. His body, already dulled to the extreme by the poison, took far longer than usual.
Glancing toward Song Myeong-cheon, he saw the man had entered a meditative state of circulating energy. The pattern on his forehead had already vanished.
Han Ibi slowly... ever so slowly... groped for the Golden Radiant Herb's roots.
Just a little more... just a bit...
But now... even that had become too arduous.
A dizzying sensation overwhelmed his entire body, and he felt his mind growing hazy.
It felt like sleeping and waking. Or like teetering between life and death.
Or perhaps being pinned down in sleep paralysis.
Han Ibi regained consciousness in fleeting moments, but they were mere fragments of sensation.
Even now, it was the same.
Something was forcing its way into his body.
An immense power he couldn't resist. An overwhelming force.
It came from within him, yet it was utterly alien—no way could it be called his.
Han Ibi felt like he might vomit at any second.
But vomiting required strength.
Right now... he didn't have even a shred of energy left.
All he could do was watch helplessly as that horrific power ravaged his body at will...
But for now, he was just... so terribly, utterly exhausted.
What even was consciousness?
What was this "I"?
In the haze, who was the faint bearer of this sensation...?
A whirlpool of emotions and thoughts swirled chaotically.
How long had it been...? A moment?
How long?
But more than that, where was this? Where was he?
Then, he felt something burrowing into his body.
Like a parasite, it churned and burrowed deeper. Wherever it passed, his flesh burned with searing agony.
And finally, it reached his core.
Crack.
A pain like something inside him fracturing. It entered his core and melted away in an instant.
Then, a vast, evil, sinister, uncontrollable power overflowed. Like the wild mane of a horse whipping in the wind.
Energy... overflowing?
Truly bizarre.
And... cold.
Damn it. Freezing cold. This bone-chilling frost. Lethal chill. Cursed cold.
Han Ibi's eyes snapped open.
The snowfall had long since stopped.
He hurriedly propped himself up on his upper body. Steam still rose vigorously from his drenched form.
Where he lay was a makeshift "natural bed"—a crude bed of withered leaves and branches, hastily gathered after sweeping aside the snow.
And there, in his sight, was Song Myeong-cheon.
"Master!"
Han Ibi cried out, eyes wide. Song Myeong-cheon was slumped weakly against a tree trunk.
Bloodstains clotted around his ears and nose, as if he'd bled profusely.
But stranger still: aside from his white hair, his appearance could have passed for middle-aged. Now, it had transformed into that of a wrinkled old man.
He looked like a completely different person.
In his haste, Han Ibi scrambled up and rushed toward Song Myeong-cheon.
Then he saw Song Myeong-cheon chuckling heartily.
"No, moving around like that already—won't that hurt?"
Han Ibi said.
"A-Are you alright?"
"Hahaha. Do I look alright?"
He didn't in the slightest.
Suddenly remembering, Han Ibi asked.
"The Golden Radiant Herb... I found the Golden Radiant Herb."
Song Myeong-cheon smiled meaningfully.
"Indeed. At last... you found it."
"Didn't you see the Golden Radiant Herb? I definitely... I..."
"Yes. You found it. Now I'll admit it outright. You're a far better herb gatherer than I am."
He pointed toward where the Golden Radiant Herb had been.
There, astonishingly, lay only withered, yellowed grass and flower fragments.
Han Ibi exclaimed in shock.
"No! What happened? The Golden Radiant Herb was definitely there..."
Song Myeong-cheon chuckled and continued.
"It should have been like this from the start. Long ago..."
"What do you mean?"
"I should have let it go sooner. Something so freeing. Resentments or favors—they were nothing but burdens weighing on my heart. Why did it take until now to realize...?"
"What... what are you saying? I don't understand at all. The Golden Radiant Herb I dug up—where did it go?"
"The Golden Radiant Herb... is pure essence itself. With impurities nearby, it withers in no time."
Han Ibi was dumbfounded, but soon understood.
He wailed loudly.
"Ah! Master, forgive me. This foolish disciple made a grave mistake..."
Song Myeong-cheon shook his head with a compassionate expression.
"No. No. The mistake was mine."
"What?"
"The Crimson Dream Great Law is akin to heavenly punishment. To pass this heavenly punishment—the only one I've encountered in this life—onto my sole disciple..."
Han Ibi's eyes widened round.
What... what did that mean?
"What?"
As Song Myeong-cheon smiled wistfully in reply,
his body began to tremble faintly. In an instant, the subtle shaking escalated into violent convulsions.
Han Ibi said.
"Master!"
It was identical to the symptoms back at the Clear Stream Inn.
Han Ibi recalled the memory from his delirious haze: something forcing its way into his body.
Heavenly punishment... punishment from the heavens?
So, he meant divine retribution?
He had clearly been poisoned, yet not only had it been cured, but his body felt lighter than ever...
Sudden realization dawned.
A chill sweat crept up Han Ibi's spine.
On a hunch, he glanced down at the back of his hand.
A faint, dark pattern was visible.
Player Information
Internal Arts
External Arts
None
Techniques
Lightness Skills
Special Information
When Crimson Dream Great Law activates, physical abilities are enhanced, and randomly used skill abilities are amplified.
His entire body shuddering, he turned to Song Myeong-cheon, who writhed in agony.
"Could it be... you passed it to me... to me..."
Even amid excruciating pain, Song Myeong-cheon grinned triumphantly.
"You little... bastard. Your instincts... are annoyingly... sharp..."
It hit like a hammer to the head.
He'd hoped it wasn't true... Han Ibi erupted in fury.
"No way... while I was unconscious, you transmitted the Crimson Dream Great Law to me? When your condition is this dire, ignoring it to... why on earth would you do that?!"
Song Myeong-cheon replied.
"You... right now... to your master... who saved your life... huff huff... what kind of insolent talk is that...?"
Unable to endure further, Song Myeong-cheon coughed and vomited blood again.
Aah. What am I supposed to do now?
Han Ibi shot to his feet.
"I'll... go find more Golden Radiant Herb right away."
Song Myeong-cheon spoke in a quiet, solemn tone.
"Heh heh heh. You know better than anyone that's impossible. If it were that easy, I'd have found it long ago. Besides, I've... lived long enough already."
Han Ibi was outright angry now.
"What are you saying? Don't talk nonsense!"
"Hahaha. Nonsense, eh? Nothing I say fazes you, huh? My only worry is one thing..."
Han Ibi and Song Myeong-cheon's gazes locked.
"Passing my damned heavenly punishment to you. It's regrettable, but I don't regret it. I didn't want to lose my only disciple first... The Crimson Dream Great Law is mighty, and its healing prowess unmatched."
"That's not what I'm talking about right now!"
Song Myeong-cheon smiled meaningfully, yet utterly relieved.
"Let's drop that talk. Huff huff. Even if you press, I won't answer."
With that, he rummaged in his bosom and pulled something out.
Seeing it, Han Ibi's eyes nearly bulged in shock.
It was the jade plaque fragment he'd shared in a vow of brotherhood with Tak Bu-yong and Bok Yeon-hwa.
But he couldn't let on that he knew...
Song Myeong-cheon said.
"I don't know how much it'll fetch, but... this is the only valuable thing I carry on me."
Han Ibi silently gazed at the jade fragment.
Song Myeong-cheon chuckled.
"What? Scared because it's broken? It wasn't me who broke it—there's a story behind it. Come on, take it. Huff huff. This master's strength is fading."
Han Ibi accepted it gravely.
"No... even though it's cracked... it's a truly beautiful jade plaque. Why give this to me...?"
Song Myeong-cheon said.
"Sell it for traveling funds or something. Huff huff. Down in the village, there'll be places to pawn it for cash. Hm? Why... what's with that look?"
Indeed. Thick tears now streamed down Han Ibi's face.
"Master..."
Song Myeong-cheon smiled.
"Now it's warm. So very warm."
Upon closer look, Song Myeong-cheon seemed free of his hellish convulsions.
His face looked serene, sharp vitality gleaming from his eyes.
He appeared remarkably healthy.
But Han Ibi's ominous premonition grew stronger. He'd seen this plenty in wuxia novels.
The return of the light.
The phenomenon where one briefly regains vigor right before death.
Song Myeong-cheon said.
"Live steadfastly without me. Life comes alone and leaves alone, so don't feel too forlorn."
"Aah, Master..."
"Got anywhere to go? Hm. With your family slaughtered... you probably don't."
"One person... one person remains."
"...Hm?"
"I have an older brother."
"A blood relative survives— that's fortunate."
Then Song Myeong-cheon spoke with resolute expression.
"If you ever venture into the martial world... never speak of me. This is my first and last request to my sole disciple."
Han Ibi bowed deeply and formally.
"This disciple promises his one and only master in this world. I will never utter a word about you."
Song Myeong-cheon closed his eyes in satisfaction, nodded, and replied.
"Good. Good..."
Han Ibi waited briefly for his next words.
But...
The movement ceased! The life faded from Song Myeong-cheon's face!
Han Ibi hurriedly checked his nose for breath.
Aaah! No breath.
He had already passed.
Han Ibi's nose tingled unwittingly, tears welling up again.
In this lonely world where he'd abruptly landed, he was the only one Han Ibi had opened his heart to.
A bit gruff, sure... but not the villain from those novel descriptions. Villainy aside—he saved my life and became my master...
Han Ibi slowly approached Song Myeong-cheon. A faint smile still lingered on his face.
To a stranger, he might look like he was just resting against the tree.
Han Ibi thought.
Climbing the cliff with the body is impossible. I'm so sorry, but I have no choice but to lay you to rest here... in a good spot.
Han Ibi lifted Song Myeong-cheon's body and laid it where the Golden Radiant Herb had grown.
He covered it with leaves and branches.
In front, he split the earth with the Mysterious Frost Blade and planted his wooden staff—the only weapon and guide that had been his companion.
Rest here... may you sleep in peace.
He gave a light bow toward the laid-out form, then began scaling the cliff in reverse.
Astonishingly, his movements were far lighter than usual. Circulating his qi felt smoother than ever.
Han Ibi's Zhongli Swift Leopard Step adorned the sheer cliff face brilliantly.
(To be continued in the next chapter)
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