254. The Time When Fruits Ripen
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
Blood Fight's hand moved like lightning.
There was no time to react. His left hand had already sealed my pressure points, locking my movements. In his other hand, a dagger infused with qi gleamed—pulled out who knows when—and he pressed it firmly against the nape of my neck.
A little more pressure, and I'd be dead.
Gulp.
I'd thought that after my shedding the mortal shell, I'd closed some of the gap with his level. But no—it wasn't a distance I could bridge in just a day or two.
“I asked how you knew that place really exists.”
“I didn't know.”
“......This isn't a joke. Tell me straight—how did you find out?”
I could understand Blood Fight's overreaction to some extent. The Black Forest was like their final sanctuary.
I answered without moving my neck as much as possible.
“I really didn't know. But now I do.”
“What?”
“Your reaction just now basically confirmed that the Black Forest exists, didn't it?”
“......”
The Black Forest was one of those legendary rumors floating around the martial world. A place where retired black path masters gathered. Also called the Black Immortal Realm, it was prime drinking fodder for tavern boasters.
In my previous life, I'd dismissed it as just another tall tale, like the Ta eul Sword Emperor.
But this reaction? It confirmed everything.
“Amazing. So the Black Forest really exists.”
“......Is that true?”
Blood Fight's eyes shook violently.
“Whether it's true or not, who actually believes a place like that exists?”
“......”
Of course, it was a lie.
In my previous life, masters from the Black Forest had poured into the martial world en masse. That's when I learned it was real.
After the Sword Demon's Four Black Alliances collapsed and the black path martial world was left in ruins, the gates of that legendary place had opened.
The emergence of those absolute black path masters—most thought dead or retired from old age—had been a massive shock even to the Murim Alliance.
I endured the pain radiating from my neck and added,
“Who knew my habit of tossing out jokes would pay off like this?”
“......Don't you realize that just made your life even more precarious?”
“The fact that you haven't killed me right now means you've already admitted your mistake, doesn't it, elder?”
Shhuk— Blood Fight's hand lowered.
I rubbed my neck as the pressure points released. A bit of blood, but for drawing out the Black Forest story, it was a small price.
Blood Fight warned lowly.
“You'd best forget what you just heard.”
“Why?”
Blood Fight sheathed his dagger and stared at me wordlessly.
“No one would believe it anyway. And anyone who hears even a whisper about that place from you... they'll end up dead, one by one.”
“......”
Listening quietly, I realized the Black Forest's existence had stayed a mere rumor because they wanted it that way.
“I swear I won't breathe a word to anyone.”
“You'd better not. If you don't want to see pointless deaths.”
I nodded once, then got to the point.
“In exchange, I have a request.”
“......This isn't a bargaining chip.”
“Then just consider it a favor.”
Blood Fight looked at me like I was absurd, but I didn't back down.
If the Black Forest appeared at the same time as in my previous life, it'd be too late.
I met his eyes squarely.
“Let me meet the elders of the Black Forest.”
“You think the Black Forest is some tourist spot?”
“I'm not asking to sightsee. I want to meet the people there.”
“Why?”
Sometimes, it was faster to let them convince themselves than explain at length.
“You've seen it yourself, elder. What the Four Black Alliances and the current martial world are dealing with.”
“What are you—......”
Blood Fight furrowed his brow mid-sentence.
Even without me spelling it out, looking at the Four Black Alliances' recent crises would make it easy for him to grasp what I needed from the Black Forest.
Blood Fight drew a firm line.
“That's the martial world's business.”
“Isn't the Black Forest part of the martial world too?”
“We don't meddle in worldly affairs.”
But I couldn't back down easily.
“Didn't you and Elder Yeom Gwi-bi coming to the Four Black Alliances count as meddling?”
“That's......”
Blood Fight clamped his mouth shut.
He knew this kind of argument was just futile back-and-forth.
“This started with the Four Black Alliances. The longer you stay knee-deep in the black path martial world, the more your place in the righteous path will erode—don't you get that?”
I shook my head firmly.
“This isn't just about the Four Black Alliances. I've seen traces of the culprits behind this from Henan Province, the Fuyang Plains, and now Sichuan.”
“......”
Blood Fight still looked displeased, his face twisted.
But displeased or not, he knew better than anyone what I meant.
“If the Black Forest is in the martial world, it can't exist without it. And if the Black Forest doesn't ally against 'that group,' the martial world will be in peril.”
“......You.”
Blood Fight's face hardened more than ever.
“You're too timid. Even so, they're just one group in the vast martial world.”
“And that one group is shaking the Murim Alliance and the Four Black Alliances to their core—without leaving a single trace.”
“......”
I fell silent as Blood Fight pondered.
Adding more would just fuel negativity.
And after a moment.
“What do you plan to do in the Black Forest?”
Blood Fight spoke.
I laid out my plan without hesitation.
“Prepare so it's not too late.”
“You want to pull people out of the Black Forest?”
“Yes.”
Blood Fight closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Impossible.”
“Even if they've left the secular world, their roots are still in the martial world. Joining late would just be locking the barn after losing the ox.”
Blood Fight stayed silent for a long time.
Was he about to repeat the regrets of my previous life?
I stepped closer.
“Regret means nothing after everything's gone.”
“......That's not it.”
“Pardon?”
Blood Fight continued with effort.
“That's not the reason.”
“Then what is it?”
“......”
Blood Fight stared at me with complex eyes, lost in thought.
Finally, his heavy lips parted again.
“......I'll tell you when you come to the Black Forest.”
“......!”
Jackpot.
I cheered inwardly. That meant he'd allow a visit.
But the joy was short-lived.
Blood Fight's sunken voice followed.
“However, not now.”
“Then when?”
“I'll let you know when the time comes.”
“No idea how long that might take?”
Blood Fight pondered briefly, then nodded slowly.
“......Yes.”
“Then how do I contact you? I'll be on the move.”
“Wherever you are, we'll find you. And when the time comes, we'll tell you.”
It left much to be desired, but getting this far was enough.
I decided not to push further.
“I'll wait. But please, not too late.”
“With you... it might actually work......”
Blood Fight muttered cryptically to himself.
# I tried to persuade Chaseokdu right up to the end.
But he wouldn't even listen, and in the finale, he didn't bother meeting me.
I'd created the Four Black Alliances and stabilized them, for crying out loud.
This is why you don't trust black-haired beasts—especially the black-hearted ones.
“That's enough. The Murim Alliance says they've cleaned up the Blood Cult in Sichuan this time, so you've done more than your share.”
If even Ak Byeongbi, the delegation leader, said that, then yeah, I'd done well.
“Besides, these are black path folk. Incompatible with us. Look—even after we saved the Four Black Alliances from crisis, no one's here to see us off.”
As he said, fine for Chaseokdu, but it stung that the black path bigshots I'd connected with didn't show.
“If anyone badmouths you for not sealing the alliance, I'll step in. Don't worry.”
“......”
What the—why's this uncle suddenly so caring?
Hmm...... Feels like some misunderstanding cleared up between us. Nice, but our relationship seems even more twisted somehow.
Dang Seohui went further.
“No need to worry, you know. If words fail, just become the Four Black Alliances' vice leader or something.”
While I slept, Dang Seohui had gotten chummy with the Sahwang Peak warriors, it seemed.
She was the one in our delegation who regretted heading back to the Murim Alliance most.
Thanks to them, I shook off some lingering regrets—right as the escorts reported.
“Leader, preparations are complete.”
At the escort's words, we grabbed our personal gear and headed out.
The wagons, once loaded with gifts, now stood empty save for journey supplies.
As we moved to mount the horses the escorts had brought...
Sudden commotion outside. A group entered the horse yard.
And a familiar face stepped forward.
“Huh?”
“I'm a bit late.”
Damak clasped his hands toward Ak Byeongbi, who was mounting up. Ak Byeongbi returned the greeting awkwardly.
“Didn't expect you to come.”
Ak Byeongbi's face was full of surprise.
A faint smile tugged at Damak's lips.
“The ancient sages said failing to express gratitude makes one worse than a beast.”
“......”
Did he know how much we'd trashed them before?
Damak scanned the delegation, his gaze settling on me, then added,
“We might be comrades walking the same path ahead. Of course I had to come.”
Ak Byeongbi struggled to compose his expression.
Whoa, hope his face doesn't explode.
“......Thank you for your consideration.”
Damak waved it off like it was nothing, then pointed behind him.
“The alliance leader also prepared a gift.”
“A gift?”
Moments later, a dozen people entered the yard carrying large and small boxes.
“What's all that?”
As curiosity-filled Dang Seohui spoke, they lined up beside Damak and opened the boxes.
“Eek! That's—!”
Ilmyeong screamed first.
He couldn't tear his eyes from the nearest box.
Then, in rapture, he cried out.
“The Maitreya Small Buddha Statue!”
Ilmyeong trembled like he'd met Buddha himself, scalp quivering fiercely—a rare sight.
“Hooh......!”
The other delegation members reacted similarly.
Damak, who'd prepared it, remained composed.
“The alliance leader expressed regret over the failed alliance. But two distant groups can't grow close overnight. He suggested taking it one step at a time.”
Looking at the box contents, I blurted,
“Feels like three steps closer already.”
“......”
Ak Byeongbi shot me a sharp glare for my faux pas, then turned, clasped his hands to Damak.
“The Four Black Alliances' intentions will be conveyed clearly to the Murim Alliance.”
His lips had curled up slyly too.
Always pretending otherwise.
“Come on! Load 'em this way!! Put your backs into it!”
As escorts loaded Damak's gifts into the empty wagons amid my enthusiastic cheers, Damak approached me.
He stared at my face silently, then said flatly,
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
At my question, he coughed awkwardly a couple times and turned away.
“......See you next time.”
His ears looked a bit red.
I smirked at him.
“Of course we will.”
He hadn't said it outright, but I could feel Damak's sincerity.
Damak nodded lightly and turned.
And then.
As I gripped the reins, thinking it was really time to go...
“......!”
The horse yard entrance filled with people, forcing us to halt again.
“What the—......!”
Black path folk packed the road. No way for our wagons to pass.
“Wh-what do we do?”
As Ilmyeong's brow furrowed at the fierce-looking crowd, Ak Byeongbi said calmly,
“Just go.”
“Pardon?”
Ak Byeongbi lifted his chin, staring ahead.
“They're not here to block us.”
As confusion flickered in Ilmyeong and Dang Seohui's eyes...
“......!”
The crowd parted to the sides.
And then.
Clap clap clap clap clap—starting with someone, applause erupted.
Cheers followed soon after.
“Safe travels! See you next time!”
“Black Flame Dragon! True black path legend!”
“Watch out on the road, Murim Alliance grunts!”
Some unwelcome words mixed in, but...
Friendly voices enveloped us anyway.
Here and there, people tossed rice cakes or money pouches. Dang Seohui snatched only the edible snacks.
Glancing back, the Murim Alliance guards looked baffled by the spectacle.
None of us responded to their greetings, but the cheers continued nonstop.
And faint smiles graced the delegation members' faces.
Once we exited the Four Black Alliances and their send-off faded from sight.
Ak Byeongbi slowed his horse and whispered to me,
“Maybe I was wrong.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden......”
Ak Byeongbi said no more and rode ahead.