129
129 ― Ritual
"This is Instructor Zhang, an S-rank Hunter from Wulian."
"S-rank?"
If it's Wulian, I know it as one of Hong Kong's top guilds. They have 2 S-rank Hunters and over 100 A-rank Hunters. When you add in the lower-ranked Hunters, the staff supporting them, and related businesses, they're top-tier in terms of scale alone.
Zhang Lüye, one of Wulian's S-ranks. He's of average height but doesn't look particularly large in build. However, he was a sharp man who gave off a well-honed feeling, like the sword at his waist.
"What business does an S-rank from Hong Kong have?"
"Kang Jin-woo. I heard you're the swordsman who defeated Lin Shenlin. I also saw a video about Ireland."
"Ah, you mean back then."
The fight with Lin Shenlin and the New York incident were both quite some time ago. In terms of time alone, it hasn't been that long, but somehow it feels like something from decades past. That's how much has happened since then.
"You are very famous. All the swordsmen in Hong Kong want to see your sword."
"I heard the talk on the internet, but wasn't that just online chatter?"
"No. In reality, there's great interest too. Among passionate swordsmen, many stay up all night analyzing your swordsmanship videos."
"That's... An honor."
Whatever his intention in initiating conversation, it wasn't unpleasant to hear. How could I dislike hearing that my skills are gaining attention from future generations?
I thought there might be conflict because of the Lin Shenlin matter, but surprisingly, the other party was courteous.
"May I join you for a moment? I'll have tea brought."
When Jin-woo nodded, the interpreter sent someone other than himself to fetch tea. Zhang Lüye sat across from Jin-woo, and the interpreter stayed by his side.
"#%#@!#$"
When Zhang Lüye said a few words to the interpreter, the man nodded and conveyed the message to Jin-woo.
"Instructor Zhang requests. May he ask for a sparring match?"
It was naturally an expected request, but Jin-woo shook his head.
"I have to leave early tomorrow morning. Sparring is impossible."
"I see. Understood."
Having received the message, Zhang Lüye nodded and accepted it easily. Though he had a sharp atmosphere that made you think he'd draw his sword immediately if refused, that was just his aura—his actions were reasonable.
"It's regrettable that the sparring request was denied, but in fact, there's something else I want to ask. Kang Jin-woo, do you know where Lin Shenlin is?"
"Lin Shenlin?"
Now that I see it, there must have been another main point. Jin-woo expressed doubt at the question about Lin Shenlin's location.
"Why are you asking me that? Is he missing?"
"Correct. He was last seen on the 3rd floor, where you fought."
Though he had clashed more with Kaleshian and April than with me, it seems in Hong Kong I'm known as the one who confronted him.
It's not incomprehensible. After all, I was the one who destroyed Lin Shenlin's position as the defender of the Temple of the Sky and the rank 1 holder.
"Well, I have no idea. I heard he definitely jumped through the Red Portal leading to the 4th floor at that time."
"He hasn't returned since then. Whether he's still in the Gate, or has returned and is hiding."
When the interpreter conveyed the message, Zhang Lüye let out a deep sigh. It was a sigh full of worry or anxiety—some kind of anguish.
When he spoke, the interpreter was startled. Then, after asking a few questions back and forth as if consulting, he soon told Jin-woo as well.
"Lin Shenlin is experiencing Qi Deviation. If he doesn't continue treatment, he'll die."
"Qi Deviation?"
Jin-woo was surprised by this information he was hearing for the first time. He knew the term itself. It's a disease that occurs when the magical power they call internal energy twists and tangles inside the body. Though he didn't know the details, he at least knew it was dangerous.
"The reason he was on the 3rd floor was to stabilize his body. It's an incurable disease where modern medicine can only maintain the status quo, but they said it could be healed by borrowing the power of the god on the 3rd floor."
So that's why he was holding onto the rank 1 position.... Wait, that means.
"So it relapsed when he fled after losing rank 1 to me."
"I don't know if 'relapse' is the right expression, but... Essentially, yes."
According to that statement, I was the one who triggered Lin Shenlin's Qi Deviation again.
Of course, that doesn't make me feel guilty. That fight was kill or be killed—we both staked our lives on it. If anything, I was disappointed that I couldn't finish him off properly and let him escape.
'So he was suppressing the Qi Deviation with Jeraxon's power.'
If it was being suppressed by the power of the Temple of the Sky, then it was Jeraxon's power. And recently, I killed Jeraxon, and the Erosion disappeared from Earth.
At the same time, the power protecting Lin Shenlin also vanished. Wherever he is, he must have definitely been affected.
"The god's power isn't absent even on the 4th floor, so he'll manage on his own, but we can't help but want to know his whereabouts. Overcoming Qi Deviation is every swordsman's dream, after all."
I don't know if he's worried about Lin Shenlin or wants the cure for Qi Deviation, but either way, I understand why he's curious about Lin Shenlin's whereabouts. So—
"Why ask me?"
"......I thought he'd appear before you again. Lin Shenlin is a persistent bastard."
It's a famous story that Hong Kong's swordsmen are obsessed with revenge. They talk about gratitude and grudges from their own mouths, but there are overwhelmingly more stories of repaying grudges than repaying kindnesses.
So Lin Shenlin must be targeting Kang Jin-woo again, too. Perhaps they've already made contact, or if not, he'll appear someday.
"So I want to make a request. If Lin Shenlin appears, let us know. If you capture him alive without killing him, I'll give you greater compensation."
"I understand the proposition. I'll decide whether to accept it or not on my own."
"Very well."
When the interpreter conveyed the message to Zhang Lüye, he stood up abruptly. Then he looked at Jin-woo for a moment before suddenly extending his hand.
"@#%@#$"
They exchanged a ceremonial handshake, and after saying something, he disappeared. The interpreter who remained behind conveyed Zhang Lüye's last words.
"He said, 'I look forward to the day I can see your sword'."
Only cold tea that hadn't been touched even once remained on the table.
***
In the morning, the investigation team came out of the city. They rode in cargo vehicles and shuttle buses toward their destination, the White Land. It's not actually white, but they're temporarily calling it the White Land to signify that the black earth has recovered.
"As expected, there are quite a few monsters. It's completely different from around Seoul."
Shartia grumbled as she pulled out a tree branch and swept away a monster trying to cover the bus window.
As soon as they left the city, all kinds of monsters attacked like starving beasts. Because of that, many were having difficulties, but fortunately, Seoul's investigation team was safe. This was because Shartia was completely blocking all approaching monsters at the source.
"You're working so hard. There will be much work when we get there, too...."
When the investigation team leader spoke as if feeling apologetic, Shartia answered with a snicker.
"My, this much isn't even work."
As if proving her words, she lightly drove away monsters as if shooing away insects. Monsters on the ground couldn't even approach properly, and flying monsters were all shot down. Though the investigation team had many strong A-rank Hunters, their turn never came.
Eventually, the vehicles arrived at the White Land. They passed through darkened soil and grass to see normal grassland. Seeing it in person, it looked much wider than when viewed through drones.
"First, let's find a safe location."
Even after arriving at the White Land, there was no time to catch their breath. Rather, this land had monsters even more densely packed, leaving no time to rest at all.
All kinds of bizarre monsters were desperate to claim even one more handful of this land.
'It definitely feels similar to back then.'
It was a similar feeling to when he went to her castle at the invitation of the God of Light. The air he felt then was also cold like now, and had a thick scent of blood like now.
If this land's recovery isn't natural, but the power of the God of Light.
'That's a bit troublesome.'
The God of Light's ruling philosophy differs from Jeraxon's. If Jeraxon suppresses and crushes everything other than himself, the God of Light does the opposite, bestowing mercy and benevolence. However, he does so while extremely limiting the beneficiaries who can receive it.
In a place teeming with masses suffering in darkness, he bestows only a single point of light. Thus making those who crave light worship him—in some ways, he's a more malicious creature.
If this White Land is that creature's work, he intends to use it to interfere with Earth. It's no different from applying new saliva to this planet that was barely reclaimed after Jeraxon disappeared.
'Tsk.'
At the thought of one mountain after another, Jin-woo clicked his tongue. Just as they barely drove out one creature, before much time passed, a new one crawled out.
He was able to encounter and kill Jeraxon in the Spirit Realm, but what about this one? Should he jump into the Spirit Realm again to find its location?
'Let's observe the situation for now.'
Now is the time to assess the situation. After all, it's not even certain yet that this land is the work of the God of Light. It might be just premature speculation, and if they wait, White Lands might appear in other cities too.
Hopefully, it recovered naturally. That's what Jin-woo hoped for.
***
It was a refreshing forest full of lush greenery. Warm sunlight filtered through the tree branches, and the soil holding the sunshine gave off a cozy fragrance.
In that forest, corpses of all kinds of monsters were scattered about.
Flowing blood ran like rivers, and nameless insects swarmed the piled corpses. Even the refreshing forest fragrance couldn't erase the smell of rotting corpses. In such a forest, a man was sitting cross-legged, gathering his energy.
"Kuleok!"
Suddenly, he coughed heavily and vomited blood. The darkly dead blood, as if containing some strange component, began evaporating immediately upon touching the ground.
"Damn it."
After vomiting the nauseating blood clot, the man lifted his canteen and rinsed his mouth.
Lin Shenlin. Having been defeated and driven out of the 3rd floor, he had long since exited the Gate and was hiding.
[ If you cannot accept it, you will simply die. ]
Beside him floated an unfamiliar cluster of light. At first glance, it looked like the spirits handled by Elves, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't. It was light, holding a completely different mystical energy.
Whether it was purer or more sinister, Lin Shenlin still couldn't gauge that light.
"To restore the black earth, I understand you have tremendous power, but...."
[ You understand, but what? ]
"Why did you have to restore the place where I am! Because of that, I'm about to get caught!"
He can't return to the city. That's why he crawled into this remote forest to hide, but it's all ruined because of this cluster of light.
Even he, separated from the secular world, could tell. That this land is now receiving attention from the entire world.
[ Then you can just run away, can't you? Why are you staying still? ]
"You bastard, you know everything already...."
Though the tone was innocent, he already knew from past experience that the words were full of sarcasm. At this point, when his Qi Deviation treatment was already reaching its final stages, if he moved carelessly and got caught, it would be disastrous. As an S-rank Hunter of Hong Kong, he had far too many grudges against him.
Knowing this well, the God of Light spoke in a voice tinged with laughter.
[ Then you'll have no choice but to kill them all, will you? ]
The White Land. Under this single point of light, he bestowed, killing and being killed—who will be the one to survive until the end? That was his ritual.