293. <Return of the Tiger's Armor>
"Y-you said it was your last words..."
Yeah, I never said that.
"Just like Senior Brother said, all the people from the afterlife are either con artists or liars..."
Well, that's not entirely wrong. But isn't that a bit rich coming from someone who tried to kill me just for hearing a story that wasn't even true?
"You lawless rogue who doesn't even know the Way..."
But hey, aren't you hurt pretty bad? When are you gonna pass out?
I'd had enough of his whining, so I struck his pressure points with a gust of wind to knock him out. Then, just in case, I approached to check his wounds more closely.
But the wound was shallower than I'd thought.
What the hell? It definitely felt like it went in clean.
I lifted his clothes, and there it was—something shiny inside his uniform.
Hancheol... hancheol armor.
Not as tough as hyuncheol, but lightweight with high cutting power, hancheol was a metal favored by martial artists as a weapon material. There were countless warriors who dreamed their whole lives of wielding a weapon made with hancheol, as common as river sand.
Yet Jongnam had made armor out of it.
Fuck, and they call Jongnam in crisis?
I'd almost felt a pang of conscience thinking I was taking away their last glimmer of hope. No need to carry that weight anymore.
With a lighter heart, I pressed deep into his blood points again to ensure he wouldn't wake, then turned to head back to my junior brothers.
But.
Creak—something was off. Why wouldn't my body move?
I twisted forcefully, but it stayed rooted. Turning my head, I saw the hancheol armor peeking out from between his wounds, clutching desperately at my ankle.
You want me to take you with me?
I shook my head firmly.
"No. You already have an owner. I'm no thief."
The hancheol armor shook its head violently in response. It had never felt any sense of belonging in Jongnam. Its true home was Tae-eul Gate.
"Hoo... Even so, I can't steal. Ahem, I'm a Daoist through and through."
As I turned away coldly, the armor let out a heartbreaking wail, so loud I worried it might draw people from Jongnam.
"Fine... maybe this is fate after all."
With no choice, I approached the man and removed the hancheol armor. Yeah, this was truly unavoidable. Even an object seeking its rightful path...
Really unavoidable...
Tiny chains linked the metal pieces tightly around the entire torso. The uniform color suggested the whole thing was forged from solid hancheol.
Fuck, how many mansions is this one piece worth?
With a heavy heart, I rummaged through the man's pockets, hoping for another fateful encounter. But no sparkling treasures or elixirs—just a dull wooden nameplate.
Dam Jungho.
Probably the man's name. Since the plate didn't resonate, I tucked it back into his pocket and turned away.
Time to rejoin my juniors.
A few steps later.
Rustle.
My ears perked at the sound from behind. He'd woken up already, despite the deep pressure points?
I hastily stuffed the hancheol armor into my robes and whipped around.
But rustle rustle.
A new man was rifling through Dam Jungho's pockets.
"......"
Chills ran down my spine, my heart dropping.
What the fuck is this guy? When did he get here?
With my senses extended, not even an ant had stirred in the area. Yet this bastard? It meant he'd slipped past my senses into the radius.
"...Damn, nothing here either?"
The mysterious man muttered while searching Dam Jungho, tossing and catching the nameplate before turning toward me.
Our eyes met.
"You didn't find a ring or anything here, did you?"
"......"
He asked so casually. When I didn't answer, he nodded matter-of-factly and muttered to himself.
"Makes sense. I'd have sensed it if he had it. ...Hoo, another bust. Tch."
His whole demeanor screamed leisure, like this was his living room.
Crack, crack.
He sharpened his nails menacingly. His slender fingers elongated, black claws sprouting.
Then he moved to stab Dam Jungho's throat.
Fuck, if he dies here, it'll be a hassle.
I drew my Black Dragon Sword and unleashed sword energy.
Clang.
Sword energy clashed with claws—why did it sound like metal on metal? The realization hit instantly.
Demonic Cult...
The damn bastards had shown up.
#
"Huh?"
The guy who'd been struck by my sword energy blinked wide-eyed at me.
"What's wrong? Did I do something bad?"
What the fuck is this asshole saying?
I swung my sword tip at him.
"Get away from him."
He glanced between me and Dam Jungho, tilting his head.
"Wasn't this guy your enemy? That's why you stole his stuff, right?"
I didn't steal it, you prick! Watch your words!
It was fate that connected us, a deep circumstance I couldn't explain—but no way I'd dignify a demon with it. Pride wouldn't allow it.
I warned again.
"I said get away."
His innocent expression twisted into a demonic grimace—not just fierce, but literally transforming into a monster...
"Don't give me orders! Unless you wanna die!!!"
Whoa. The horrific sight made my heart sink.
I'd never seen anything like this even in my past life. Typical Demonic Cult bastard.
What freakish technique had he learned now?
As I grimaced, he raised his hand.
"Ah! Sorry, got a bit excited. Forget what just happened—first meeting and all."
Forget? That shitshow would haunt my dreams.
His face reverted to its innocent form.
"You're the one who turned Jegumhak into a vegetable, right? That's why I'm giving you a pass. That prick was a pain anyway."
Doesn't he realize he's a pain too?
I channeled Jade Pure Heavenly Star Force into my Black Dragon Sword.
"I said get away. Last warning."
He tilted his head at my hostility, baffled.
"You got the Oryeongseonhwayu, so you're done here, aren't you? And you're not even with Jongnam."
My heart dropped at his words.
How much did this fucker know? Were there others besides him?
Worry for my juniors surged like a tide.
"How... do you know that?"
"I was watching. Anyway, you gonna keep that glowing? It's making my stomach churn."
He nodded at my golden Black Dragon Sword.
Was he baiting me? Or just plain crazy?
Either way, I hated it.
"Get. Away."
"Haa... This is why I can't understand you Jianghu folks. Fine."
He backed away innocently, then muttered something baffling.
"Why's Lady 'Soma' interested in a nobody like you?"
While he spoke, I assessed him mentally.
He opposed Jegumhak, so probably a rival at a similar level. Otherwise, no need to antagonize him.
Thus, this guy's skill matched Jegumhak's.
Just my luck.
Meeting him here was bad enough, but not recognizing him from my past life was the real issue. I'd suffered so much catching that Jegumhak bastard.
Maybe... my juniors need to head out first.
As if reading my mind, he snickered.
"You thinking of fighting me? Haha! Jegumhak must've seemed like a pushover."
Whatever was so funny, he pretended to wipe tears, scrutinizing me closely. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"No! No! I promised not to cause trouble this time!"
After muttering to himself, he grinned again.
What the fuck is this lunatic?
"Got a question—mind answering?"
"No."
"Why?"
Fuck, do I have to spell it out?
"Jegumhak came back with his head smashed in. Teacher's fixing him, but said it's a mess to repair."
He spun his hands around his head, excitedly describing the damage.
"But the Bimada guys said you crushed his skull without touching him? First I've heard of any Central Plains martial art like that."
His eyes sharpened suddenly.
"How'd you do it?"
Pure curiosity in his gaze—making it all the more dangerous.
"No business? Then fuck off."
"Not gonna answer?"
He stared behind me, as if something was there.
"You want me to answer after my juniors are dead?"
"......You wanna die?"
I unleashed killing intent. But he stared back unfazed, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Fun guy. No wonder Lady 'Soma' is interested."
The prick nodded agreeably.
"Eh, doesn't matter how you smashed his head. Results are what count. Nice meeting you. See you next time. Definitely."
He vanished as abruptly as he'd appeared, without a trace.
Fucking hell.
Next time my ass. Should've carried salt like always.
From now on, salt's a must.
#
"Haa."
Once the bastard was gone, my legs gave out, and I slumped to the ground.
That guy's eyes were pure madness.
My head throbbed, on the verge of exploding. How he'd bypassed my senses, what he was after, how many Demonic Cult bastards infested the Central Plains.
The biggest issue was his words.
[Why's Lady 'Soma' interested in a nobody like you?]
I had a rough idea who 'Soma' meant, and it made my head spin.
I'd suspected after Jegumhak, but now it was certain.
The king of all fuckers is interested in me.
And broadcasting it like a lovestruck girl. Otherwise, why would every demon I'd met lately know about me?
A demon with girly sentiments...
Just imagining it was horrifying. Unwanted attention from the opposite sex was bad enough; from a hated same-sex demon? Unbearable.
And that fucker had killed me in my past life, even cursing me with demonic energy.
"...But when did we meet in this life?"
Searching my memories, only past-life scenes surfaced: sweeping Murim Alliance forces like a storm during the Upright-Demonic War, flicking peak experts to spew blood from the Seven Apertures during the Baekdo siege, strolling through mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. And finally, killing me.
Looking back, what a monstrous fucker.
Scouring those gruesome memories, no encounters in this life.
"What the hell is going on?"
I shook it off and stood. Not the time for deep thoughts.
First, check Dam Jungho—no poison slipped in while I was gone?
"Ugh..."
Some time had passed; he was stirring, so I deepened the pressure points again.
Saving his life oddly made the hancheol armor feel less guilty about leaving Jongnam.
That lunatic wouldn't come back to finish him while I was gone, right?
Even if he did, what could I do? I could only pray fervently he wouldn't.
I returned to the cave with the Oryeongseonhwayu.
Clearing the rocks and dirt from the collapsed entrance, I stepped in—and swords flew at me.
"Die...! Big Senior Brother!"
"Haa, haa! Whoa."
The juniors, thinking I was an intruder, lowered their swords with sighs of relief.
"Did you get all the Oryeongseonhwayu?"
"...Y-yes. Just finished."
"Senior Brother, you okay? Didn't run into anyone dangerous?"
"......"
Should I tell them about that Demonic Cult guy? Or Gwak Gung's interest in me?
I shook my head.
They wouldn't believe it easily, and if they did, it'd breed problems. Pondering an untouchable giant enemy would make their own achievements feel insignificant.
The greatest hindrance to martial cultivation was impatience.
"Nothing happened. Just put the North Dipper Sword Master to sleep on my way back."
That was enough. They'd grow stronger. Step by step, climbing their own stairs.
"......"
"......"
As I thought that, glancing up to check the Oryeongseonhwayu, the kids' eyes had turned sly.
What now?
"...Sheesh, Big Senior Brother... Haa... Haha!"
Geum Pyo started it, and Eunho burst into laughter. Even Hong Saryeon cracked a smile.
What? This vibe?
"Senior Brother, the North Dipper Sword Master?!"
"North Dipper Sword Master, he says. Hahaha."
They... didn't buy it?
As I furrowed my brow, Geum Pyo sternly scolded the mocking Eunho and Saryeon.
"Eunho, cut it out."
Yeah, at least you're reliable, Geum Pyo...
"Big Senior Brother says he's the North Dipper Sword Master, so he is."
"Hahaha! Right, North Dipper if he says so. But... Poo Dipper Sword Master? Poo Dipper?"
Then Dongryong toddled over and tugged my robe.
"Big Senior Brother, I believe you. It must be the North Dipper Sword Master."
Heh, these kids... Must be craving more training.