Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Bongmyeong Cave (3)
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I gazed endlessly up at the sky from the very spot where the Imugi had transformed into a dragon. Praying fervently that my long-time benefactor, who had finally fulfilled his cherished wish after endless years of endurance, would safely ascend to the heavenly realm.
"Well then, now it's time for me to do my part."
I had achieved my goal, but my work wasn't finished. The hardest task still lay ahead of me.
I stared at the fragment of the inner core that lay on the ground, unable to become the Dragon Pearl. If the Dragon Pearl was the crystallization of his aspirations, then this could be seen as a heap of resentments.
The hatred and thirst for revenge toward humanity that the Imugi had harbored for a thousand years—all tangled together into a mass of malice. That was the source of this endless chill.
Even if it was mere dregs, this was still the crystallized essence of qi that had formed his inner core. It undoubtedly contained an overwhelming amount of inner energy.
Of course, swallowing it as is wouldn't be safe, no matter how peerless the master. Nine out of ten would surely go mad and fall into qi deviation.
Even in my previous life, when I had devoured the Imugi's inner core whole, I had teetered on the edge of qi deviation countless times.
"Hah, but I can't just give up on it."
The war with the Demonic Cult that would break out in half a year had dragged on for over five years in my previous life. Countless blood had soaked the martial world.
I absolutely could not let that happen in this life.
But to prevent it, I needed power. Overwhelming power capable of ending the war early. What I had now fell woefully short.
If I could safely absorb the qi from this inner core, I could gain that sufficient strength. But if I failed, my life wouldn't be guaranteed.
"Well, it's all or nothing in life, right? I did it in my previous life—what's stopping me now?"
I reached out toward the qi of the inner core. It looked like nothing more than a black orb the size of a fist, but the moment my hand touched it, it scattered like mist, enveloping my hand.
Having lost its focal point, it could no longer maintain its form. In that case, I had no choice but to forcibly gather the energy.
I focused my energy on the sensation at my fingertips. Even with the inner core of the millennium flower dew within me, a bone-chilling cold surged through my entire body, as if it would freeze solid.
Then, centered on my hand, the chill and resentments coalesced, finally forming a small orb. It resembled a piece of ice.
A strange sense of loneliness and desolation emanated from the orb.
I had thought it contained only hatred and grudges, but perhaps what tormented you the most was solitude. Just looking at it transmitted those feelings to me.
Without hesitation, I swallowed the orb on my palm along with the inner core of the millennium flower dew.
Gulp.
"Kuhk!!"
But even the heat from the millennium flower dew couldn't neutralize the vicious chill. The moment it entered my body, the inner core's warmth faded, and a numbing cold gripped me from head to toe, as if my meridians were freezing over.
I hurriedly sat cross-legged and began circulating my energy to manage the qi. The explosive energy overwhelmed my dantian, causing the chill to spread in all directions from it.
If this continued, my meridians would freeze solid, and I'd die of frostbite. I had to expel the cold my body couldn't handle outside.
"Hoo...."
The breath I exhaled turned into shards of frost, showing how thoroughly the chill had filled my body. The freezing sensation paralyzed my lungs, making even breathing difficult.
There was only one way now. I had to circulate the chill filling my dantian and lungs throughout my body, expelling it bit by bit.
One wrong move, and the chill could rush to my Baihui acupoint, leaving me crippled for life. But in a situation where I might die any moment, I had no time to worry about that.
Please, body—hold on just this once.
"Sss."
I fully opened my dantian, pushing out the chill inside. It traveled up through my dantian along the Du Meridian and finally settled at the Baihui acupoint.
Now, if I could expel the turbid qi and return the chill to my dantian via the Ren Meridian...
"Kuhk!"
As the chill surged into the Baihui at the crown of my head, blood flowed from my nose, and my mind began to grow hazy.
Damn it—not here, I can't die here.
Ah.
This time, I'm really going to die.
"...So... lend us your... power..."
When I opened my eyes, a hazy voice reached my ears.
Where is this place?
Have I really gone to the afterlife this time?
"Great power comes with a great price. Do you have the responsibility to bear it?"
The Imugi appeared before me. Why was the dragon it had become here?
"Power follows justice. We pledge to use that power for righteousness."
A black-haired man conversing with the Imugi spoke passionately, his eyes gleaming. Beside him, a red-haired man listened silently.
Were these the Imugi's memories?
It seemed the qi from the inner core had filled my Baihui, mixing in the creature's memories.
Then these must be the humans who betrayed the Imugi a thousand years ago.
"You harbor good intentions and act on them, but your will overshadows righteousness. You have no right to speak of justice."
The Imugi turned from the black-haired man to the red-haired one.
"In contrast, you possess a fierce aura yet hold righteousness in your heart. Your resolve may be weak, but you have the makings of greatness."
The black-haired man in pristine white robes looked displeased, unable to accept the words. Was he angry at not being chosen?
"I shall give this to him."
The Imugi offered his inner core, forged over centuries, to the red-haired man.
"What is this?"
"It's akin to an unfulfilled wish. As you said, creating multiple inner cores won't make me a dragon. I need only one true Dragon Pearl—so take this one."
With that, the Imugi began nurturing another inner core. It seemed he had abandoned making multiple cores repeatedly to reach the Dragon Pearl and instead focused on a single one.
Having cast aside greed, the inner core he nurtured shone with a pure light. It might soon become a Dragon Pearl.
Yet despite that, the fact that he had spent the last thousand years in deep resentment implied there was more—another incident.
"I offer my deepest gratitude for this immense grace."
The red-haired man bowed to the Imugi. Come to think of it, he bore a striking resemblance to the man I had seen on the brink of death in my previous life.
Could it be the same person?
The man who regressed me had worn immortal-like robes, so it wouldn't be strange if he was from a thousand years ago.
If so, the key was this man's identity.
"If you're done, leave. I detest nuisances."
Unfortunately, no further conversation followed as the two men departed.
The red-haired man from a thousand years ago—the very one who sent me back in time. I didn't know his identity, but he was undoubtedly my benefactor.
Someone with the power to defy fate and send me to the past might truly be an immortal.
I never expected to find a clue here.
Blink.
The moment I closed and opened my eyes, the scene before me changed in an instant. This was an illusory world born from the Imugi's memories. Time and space mixed freely here.
Some time later in the memories, the Imugi's inner core had grown larger, and a white-haired elder appeared before him.
Judging by his aura, it was the black-haired man from before, now aged and returned.
"What brings you here this time?"
"To express my gratitude."
The elder bowed to the Imugi, who regarded him.
"The power you gave me was extraordinary. Thanks to it, my dear friend is now hailed as the world's greatest."
His dear friend—the red-haired man from moments ago.
"And with that power, we'll tear down everything we've built."
"Have you come begging for help?"
"Help... yes, help."
Their eyes met. In that instant, the elder's serene expression twisted into something sinister.
"Ha, haha, hahahaha!"
Letting out a hollow chuckle that burst into full laughter, the elder drew his sword and charged at the Imugi.
Shing.
Slash.
"You... you dare."
His martial prowess had long surpassed mortal limits, so the Imugi couldn't even react to the sudden strike.
In a single attack, dozens of red lines were carved across the Imugi's snow-white, gleaming body.
"That power was too great for a mere beast like you. I need no help. With this, I'll catch up to him."
The elder had already sheathed his sword, now holding the Imugi's inner core.
"That's no power for the likes of you."
"Ha, you dare lecture me on justice? I established righteousness. My will is justice itself. I'll use this power for the greater good."
With that, the elder took the inner core and fled the cave. To ensure no one else came, he slashed the entrance with his sword, collapsing it into rubble.
Rumble!!
As the cave mouth crumbled into a pile of debris, sealing it shut, the only thing left in that vast space was the Imugi, bleeding and collapsed.
"Kuhk. Kck. Hah, ha. Haha. I'll curse you. To my last breath, I'll curse you all. Someday, I'll eradicate everything you've left in this world, without mercy."
With that roar, an intensely bitter chill spread in all directions. Rage, sorrow, hatred—those emotions rode the chill straight to me.
Were these the Imugi's feelings?
A ferocious impulse to erase everything in the world. A desire to surrender to madness. Endless thirst for revenge. Those emotions flooded my mind, threatening to drive me insane.
If I let myself be swept away here, I'd lose myself in that instant.
Hoo, calm down. I've endured such emotions so many times they've become familiar.
"Oppa."
Then, Wolhyang's voice came from behind me.
"Save me...."
Turning around, there she stood, calling to me with a blade pierced through her heart.
"Why did you let me die?"
"Leader, please save me."
Next appeared Baek Eunhwa, Unhak, and Jegal Hyeon. In the forms I had failed to protect them.
With hearts run through by swords, upper bodies only, massive holes in their chests.
These were mere illusions.
Fragments of my memories, blooming in resonance with the Imugi's emotions.
I knew that.
I definitely knew.
"Hahk, hahk...."
Cold sweat drenched my body.
Their appearances were so vivid that the chest-tightening pain returned.
Breathing felt labored. Being alive was agony.
Even after decades in the same torment, had I still not adapted?
"Why."
As my heartbeat drowned out everything in my ears, a woman's voice pierced clearly into my mind.
"Why did you kill me?"
There she was, with her jade-green hair. The one who longed to escape her cage and see the world.
With my sword buried in her abdomen.
Ah.
Aaah.
I mustn't close my eyes. The moment I succumb to these emotions, I may never open them again.
I knew it in my head, yet my tear-blurred vision grew hazier.
Maybe if I just closed my eyes like this, the pain would end.
Hadn't the reason for me to live vanished long ago?
Why was I clinging to life?
In a world of nothing but suffering, it might be better to just die like this...
Grab.
The moment I nearly let go of the thread of my sanity, someone grasped my hand and pulled me back.