The slanted moon was a violet hue.
The wandering starlight nearby was like primary colors, but that ominous moon seemed as though it would swallow everything.
Drip—
Only the sound of water dropping echoed within the dense darkness.
Clack—!
At the sound of the teacup dropping, a voice echoed from beyond the darkness.
[You are late.]
Surely, there was no qi mixed in the voice, yet his heart tightened at that casual question.
Those shining violet eyes were still a chilling sight even as time passed.
[...I greet the heaven of our Cult.]
The man approached him and knelt on one knee. There was no hesitation.
For he did not lack the sense to keep his head raised before such an absurd existence.
Tianmo (Heavenly Demon).
The master of Wantian stood before the man. Tianmo quietly looked down at the man and whispered.
[I heard the news. They say Majianhou died.]
At the sudden mention of the name, the man's back flinched.
[Do you resent it?]
At Tianmo's question, the man harbored a doubt.
Towards whom was the resentment he spoke of? Myself? Or Jegal Hyuk?
If not that, was he asking if he dared to resent Tianmo? The man ultimately gave no answer to Tianmo's question.
Keukeuk...
Did he sense something from the man's reaction? Tianmo stifled a laugh.
[You deny nothing.]
Rolling—
A small cup rolled forward. The man carefully picked up the cup.
[Drink.]
The man raised the cup at Tianmo's command. Trickling, the cup was filled to the brim with alcohol.
Holding the cup full of alcohol, he raised his head. The black martial uniform Tianmo was wearing caught his eye.
Tianmo's uniform was pristine.
He unconsciously swallowed dry saliva at the black uniform without a speck of dust.
The same went for his flesh, which bore not a single wound.
Tianzun died, and Bazun was also killed by Tianmo's hand today.
He had heard that not only the Murim Alliance but also Jianzun had joined forces to attack, yet there were no wounds on Tianmo's body.
Just looking at the results proved as much.
Bazun died with his heart ripped out, and Jianzun survived, but his body was far from intact.
Even though two of the Three Venerables Under Heaven who looked down upon the world had joined forces, they couldn't even graze the hem of Tianmo's robes.
If Tianzun hadn't died and all Three Venerables had attacked together, would there have been a different result?
It was a story that could not be easily affirmed.
[I kept the agreement. I saved that old bat Jianzun twice, so this should be enough.]
[...]
[This means that This Seat has bestowed this much magnanimity upon you, Dazhu.]
[...I give my thanks.]
Was he telling him not to attach any meaning to Majianhou's death?
He drained the alcohol Tianmo had poured for him in one gulp. No matter how bitter the alcohol he drank, his body had lost its capacity for intoxication, yet the alcohol he swallowed was exceedingly bitter.
[Tian Yulang, that fellow seems to think This Seat will entrust the Xiao Jiansheng to you, Dazhu. What is your opinion?]
[...]
[Your face is unseen, but I can tell clearly.]
Wi Seol-a's alias was mentioned by Tianmo. At the heavy melody crawling down his back, it felt like a sigh would escape.
Trickle—
Tianmo filled the empty cup with alcohol again. The man drank it in one shot, just as before.
[I will say no more teasing words; This Seat has not forgotten the agreement.]
As soon as Tianmo's words ended, countless rifts appeared behind his back.
Jji-ji-jik-! Keu-geu-geu-geuk-!
The chilling sounds were a natural accompaniment. The violet rifts gradually grew in size.
The several rifts that opened simultaneously devoured each other and soon merged into a single rift.
The man knew. All of this heterogeneous scene was brought about by Tianmo's hand.
Kreureureureu... Geureu...!
The cries of beasts echoed from beyond the rift. Sensing Tianmo, they displayed their fear, yet did not hide their resentment toward the world.
Feeling the deep Wonyao (Deep Resentment), Tianmo casually continued speaking.
[Do you know how much expectation This Seat places on you, Dazhu?]
[Yes.]
[You asked to save the woman, and I granted it; you desired power, and I gave you power.]
-Kreureu!
Soon, giant beasts revealed themselves one by one from beyond the rift.
The aura they emanated was vast and vicious enough to shake the surroundings.
[Not blaming your unilateral actions in Sichuan is another such example. Why do you think This Seat did so?]
As no more stream flowed from the alcohol bottle that was pouring into the cup—
The bottle Tianmo was holding instantly scattered and blew away in the wind.
[As I said, according to the oath I made with you, Dazhu, I will not touch the Xiao Jiansheng yet. However.]
Tianmo's violet gaze pinned the man down.
[Remember that too will soon come to an end.]
[...I am deeply grateful for your magnanimity.]
Tianmo, having finished speaking, stood up. His black robes could be seen fluttering from the demonic qi unconsciously emanating from him.
Stepping toward the Lianmajing with his own feet, Tianmo pulled a ring from his hand and threw it to the man.
The man caught and grasped the ring Tianmo threw. The moment he grabbed it, the viscous demonic qi felt from the ring made his head feel like it would ring.
[It is a command. Bring the Alliance Leader's head.]
The man did not answer Tianmo's command and simply slipped the ring onto his finger.
That itself was the answer.
Tianmo confirmed this and stepped into the rift.
[The period is three days. That should be enough.]
The demonic beasts followed Tianmo back into the rift, and soon the rift closed and disappeared.
Tianmo had disappeared, but the man could not lift his bowed head.
He could not grasp what the emotions he was feeling right now were.
He didn't know whether what was boiling inside was anger toward himself or resentment toward someone else.
Even while thinking himself miserable, the man knew he could blame no one else.
Because everything was the consequence of the karma he had created.
He washed away the unnecessary emotions quickly.
He had no right to blame himself, and no time to hesitate.
The man rose and walked into the gaps of the black mist.
Shin Noya asked what Tianmo was. He thought about the intent of the question.
He hadn't asked who he was.
He was asking 'what' he was.
I didn't know how much of my memories Shin Noya had seen, but it was truly an uncomfortable matter for me.
[There were many things I couldn't see, but among them, the stories about that fellow Tianmo were mostly shrouded in fog, so I couldn't see them.]
[However, just from seeing the things that were visible even briefly, I couldn't erase my doubts about whether that fellow is truly human.]
“...”
[I will ask again. Brat, just what is that fellow?]
At Shin Noya's words, I thought about Tianmo.
An absurd existence who sought to stand alone above the heavens.
An existence who commanded the demonic practitioners of ten thousand people, and whose sheer personal power, excluding that, would have reached the heavens.
I knew Shin Noya wasn't doubting his very existence simply because Tianmo's power was outstanding.
Even so, I had always harbored doubts about whether he was truly human.
After finishing my brief contemplation, I spoke to Shin Noya.
“...I do not know the details about Tianmo.”
[What?]
Noya spoke as if it was absurd, but this was the truth.
Not just me, there was no information about where Tianmo came from or how he had lived before.
It was simply one day.
The Zhenmajingmen, which hadn't appeared at the Murim Alliance for centuries, suddenly opened.
It was a sudden situation, but many were not panicked by it.
At that time, it was the period when the Murim Alliance was hosting a martial arts tournament for countless rising talents.
Around were not only outstanding rising talents, but also the key figures of each major family who had gathered to watch them.
Not only the martial artists of the Murim Alliance, but also the heads of the Four Great Families, led by the head of the Nangong Family and excluding the Peng Family, were all in attendance, and the majority of the strong martial artists belonging to the Nine Sects One Faction were gathered.
Normally, it would have been a situation akin to a disaster, but given the current circumstances, everyone thought it wouldn't be that dangerous.
However, contrary to everyone's expectations, the incident that day was the beginning of a disaster.
Contrary to the expectation that dozens of demonic beasts would appear roaring, only a single person revealed themselves with unhurried steps from the Demonic Realm Gate.
Except for his pale skin, a black hue enveloped him from head to toe.
Caught off guard, everyone pointed their swords at the unidentified human who emerged from the Demonic Realm Gate.
He merely wore a relaxed expression.
—What kind of fellow are you.
At the Alliance Leader's question, he held back a smile.
- Nice to meet you.
That was the beginning of the disaster.
-This Seat is Tianmo.
There was no peaceful conversation whatsoever.
Killing nearly half of the martial artists present and devastating the surroundings, Tianmo casually walked out through the Alliance's main gate.
It was the moment the two characters Tianmo were etched across the entire Central Plains.
Many rising talents and renowned strong martial artists lost their lives that day.
Tianmo instantly became listed as an enemy of the Murim, but it was a meaningless act in the face of his absurdity.
His power was captivating in itself, and many who were bewitched by that power voluntarily entered under Tianmo.
Tianmo did not refuse those who came.
If they wished to become demonic practitioners, he let them have their way. They lost their freedom before the restrictions, but they could soar within Tianmo's embrace, so the demonic practitioners gradually increased in number.
What did Tianmo desire?
For what did he reveal his face to the world, and what did he dream of?
Although there were so many demonic practitioners in Tianmo's embrace, nothing could be properly known.
Tianmo was simply Tianmo.
He wished to stand above the heavens, and he was worthy of doing so, so he needed no reason or explanation.
Everyone thought so. Funnily enough, even me.
[...You mean he appeared from within a rift.]
Shin Noya trailed off at my answer. Why he did so, how I turned back time...
At the very least, he didn't ask why I became a demonic practitioner.
He might not have asked because he already knew, but rather, he was focusing on the fact that Tianmo had emerged from a rift.
[...Why.]
A brief silence passed as if he had fallen into thought.
I was rather flustered that most of the questions I had braced myself for didn't come.
I thought the story about the Huashan Sect in my past life would come up first.
What Noya was interested in was solely regarding Tianmo.
“Noya.”
[Speak.]
“Do you know that I committed terrible deeds against the Huashan Sect in my past life?”
My mind was telling me to just keep my mouth shut, but I brought it up.
It was already a belated confession, but having come this far, I couldn't run away.
[I know.]
Noya answered calmly. My eyes widened at that response.
“...Then why do you not rebuke me?”
[Do you wish to be rebuked?]
“...”
[Even though I am a Taoist, it's not as if there is no lingering indignation in my heart, thinking it is already a thing of the past.]
Shin Noya was a hero of the previous generation who burned the flowers he had spent his entire life cultivating to protect Huashan.
Much less, as he was the sect leader of the sect, there was no way he lacked affection for the Huashan Sect.
[However, even if there is resentment, that is something for the people who remain in the present era to do.]
Shin Noya paused to take a breath in the middle, fell silent for a moment, and then continued speaking.
[The reason I do not rebuke you and vent my indignation is also because what I saw was not just the burning plum blossoms.]
“...Noya.”
[Do not be mistaken. I have not forgiven you. I am merely enduring it and watching.]
“...”
[So do not hesitate. You know the reason better than anyone, do you not?]
I squeezed my eyes shut at Noya's words. Because the karma I had to bear was far too heavy.
[Brat.]
“Yes...”
[What do you plan to do from now on?]
The meaning of Shin Noya's question was extremely clear. Will you stop Tianmo? Or will you not stop him?
My tightly shut mouth would not easily open. Seeing me hesitate, Noya added more words.
[I know why you are hesitating so much. However, I also know that you have already reached an answer in your heart. So speak it with your own mouth.]
“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
[I realized it while examining your memories. I think I faintly understand why I have remained on this land for so long.]
“What do you mean suddenly—”
[You've already reached the answer, haven't you? Is it that hard to say it out loud?]
I was somewhat flustered by Noya's urging. But since Noya's words weren't wrong, I gathered my thoughts for a moment.
'...That wasn't what I originally had in mind.'
I just thought of living a peaceful life.
Since it was a chance gained again, I wanted to live moderately without doing anything.
I thought that alone would change a lot. But thinking about it now, I probably knew from the start.
I just wanted to live pretending not to know this too.
Letting out a deep breath, I said to Noya.
“Yes, I intend to stop Tianmo.”
Setting aside the doubts of whether I could even stop him, how I should stop him, and whether I could dare to do it.
I made up my mind to do so. It wasn't a desire to become a hero.
The reason was simply that I wanted to bear the karma I was originally supposed to bear.
It was an unsightly resolve and determination, but it surely contained my sincerity.
[Huu... Huu...]
At my answer, Noya let out heavy breaths. What in the world was he thinking? Even though Noya could feel a part of my inner thoughts.
Conversely, I couldn't read Noya's thoughts, so it was truly awkward.
Soon, Noya spoke.
[Alright, that is enough.]
With that monotonous single phrase, Noya didn't bring up any words to me for a while.
The single question about Tianmo was the end of it.
'Is this it?'
Telegram's largest novel sharing room
Over 100,000 novels available for download..
..
It was to the point that I wondered why I didn't ask more.
It would soon be noon, and after that, I planned to go meet Meihuaxian.
I needed to conclude the conversation regarding the Yeongdan I had promised to compensate for, or the Dao Qi contained within my body.
Soon, on the mountain path returning to the lodging.
Shin Noya was organizing his doubts alone.
The existence called Tianmo, who walked out from within a rift.
His unfathomable, absurd power and stature somehow felt familiar.
[That should not be...]
Because of that, Shin Noya had to harbor even more anxiety and doubt.
The history remaining for future generations was telling him.
That the fellow died.
That they surely stopped him, and that the disaster ended at their hands.
[Then why...]
Why was he superimposing the image of Xuemo onto the existence called Tianmo?
Shin Noya could not erase the intense sense of anxiety.
Not long after Gu Yang-cheon left.
A man wearing the uniform of a Murim Alliance member was standing in the basement of the branch.
The man was looking around amidst the corpses scattered here and there.
“...”
He examined the walls and floor, tilting his head.
There were hardly any traces of a battle.
It looked as though there hadn't been a fierce exchange of blows.
Thud-!
The man stepped on one of the corpses lying on the floor and flipped it over.
Black clothes and a black mask—clothes that screamed 'I am an assassin' to anyone who saw them.
The corpse was a Nachal who had died from a pierced heart.
'One arm is severed, and the tendons are all cut.'
Did they cut them to prevent escape? It didn't seem possible to cut them this cleanly during a battle.
It would be a much more believable story to say they were cut after being subdued.
The absence of fierce battle traces meant they were overwhelmed one-sidedly, and judging by the cleanly severed arm and the cause of death, the culprit was a skilled swordsman.
'A swordsman... Did Huashan catch on?'
Even so, there were still many suspicious parts.
It was a question from the beginning how they could open the mechanism and enter.
'They shouldn't be able to open it without Tianqi.'
He judged that a martial artist like Nachal wouldn't have stupidly left the door open.
Could there be a traitor inside the Bangong? Otherwise...
“Tsk...”
The man carelessly pushed Nachal's corpse aside and approached the puddle of blood.
The flower that should have been growing there was gone. It seemed it had already been pulled out and taken.
'This is troublesome.'
Nachal's failure was an unexpected part.
Surely the Gongzhu would think so too.
I thought there wouldn't be a problem as long as Meihuaxian didn't personally notice and intervene.
'...To fail to retrieve Huashan's Yuanye.'
I heard that even if it wouldn't become the main ingredient, it was a significant component.
Moreover, whoever handled this was so skilled that there were barely any traces left.
“The intervention of the Gu family, too... I should report something to the Bangong.”
The man recently heard the news that the young master of the Gu family had killed Yexuedi.
Could it be that this incident is also related to that?
He heard that the Gu family's young master was of the martial faction that used Huogong.
However, there was absolutely no such trace left on the corpse he was looking at now.
Then where did he intervene?
He had heard that the Gaimen had been lurking around several branches lately; it might be them.
Thanks to that, the things he needed to investigate increased.
Tsk-!
The man clutched his throbbing head.
The problem was that whenever things went wrong, they always tangled up this complicatedly.
“Dazhu-nim.”
Another person appeared from the back of the room and spoke to the man.
The man instantly composed his expression and looked back.
“Did you find anything?”
“It seems we'll need to call an expert for the mechanism that created the secret door to find out.”
“Alright, write that part down separately and bring it to me.”
“Yes... Then what should we do here?”
“What do you mean, do what?”
“Shouldn't we contact Huashan?”
Looking at the corpses drained of blood scattered here and there, the Alliance member scowled.
Seeing the puddle of blood in the center, he felt like he wouldn't be able to eat for a while.
Suppressing a dry heave, the member spoke.
“What were they trying to do?”
“How would we know what those Sapa bastards are thinking? Don't try to understand them.”
“...That's true.”
At the member's words, the man chuckled. He was starting to get sick of this kind of role.
'To think I have to keep playing the bat for at least another year.'
Yexuedi, who died to a brat, that dumbass still occupied a seat, while he had to spend his time doing clean-up in this kind of place.
Suppressing his churning stomach, the man spoke.
“I'll report separately to the higher-ups and the Huashan Sect, so you don't need to worry about it.”
“Yes...? Ah, understood.”
“Related matters will go through me anyway, so if you find anything, bring it and tell me.”
“Understood!”
“Alright, good work.”
After sending the member away, he spread his ki sense and fiddled with Nachal's corpse. He had to erase any traces that might remain.
“What's this.”
While touching Nachal's body, the man sensed something strange.
Since not much time had passed after his death, there was still internal qi remaining in Nachal's body.
Even if a lot had dispersed, there should definitely be internal qi remaining...
'Not even a handful of Tianqi remains?'
The most important thing couldn't be felt.
The qi of the heavens that could only be obtained by receiving the Gongzhu's approval and entering the sanctuary.
Since the man possessed the qi just like Nachal, he should have been able to feel it.
But surprisingly, he couldn't feel it at all. Since it seemed he hadn't been dead for long, it couldn't have dispersed.
Since the dantian wasn't destroyed either, the qi should clearly remain...
The fact that not even a handful could be felt was incomprehensible.
It was impossible, but it felt as if someone had intentionally extracted it.
'...I'll have to write one more line.'
One more line was added to the report he would send to the Bangong in his head.
The man was certain that this part would become the most crucial part.