Chapter 244. Catching a Rat (1)
Crackle.
It's a flame.
The fire spreads along the forest path.
The deep magenta flames pass through the trees, expanding their domain.
The range was wide enough to cover hundreds of old trees.
At its center, I endured the stifling heat and controlled the flames.
Swoosh.
With a short flick of my hand, the flames fluctuate wildly.
Wriggling and stretching out in all directions, the shape of the flames resembled a dragon.
The flames, which displayed such a fierce appearance...
Surprisingly, only constantly fluctuated without causing any harm to the surrounding environment.
Since it was a task of emitting flames in a forest...
If even a little spark caught, it would have spread massively...
But the flames left no trace even as they wrapped around and passed the trees.
I was manipulating the internal energy that formed the flames, controlling it so it wouldn't ignite.
Because of that, I had to calm my internal energy, which felt like it was being swept away by a storm inside my body.
It took much more effort, causing cold sweat to flow...
But I couldn't stop at just that.
Because there was still work left to do.
My internal energy, filling the middle dantian, moved ceaselessly.
It grasped the fierce torrent like rising high waves.
Kwaaaaah!
When the endlessly stretching flames finally reached their limit...
The dantian contracted from the lack of internal energy, delivering a pain as if it were being wrung out...
Enduring this a little longer...
Clench.
I finally clenched my hand, which had been gesturing, into a fist.
Boom!
Then, the flames that filled the surroundings vanished in an instant like mist.
« * ”
...Phew.
Feeling the internal energy rampaging inside my body gradually calm down, I let out the breath I had been holding.
"Anyway, this is damn hard."
Feeling my whole body drenched in sweat, I let out a deep sigh.
It's hellish every time I do it. Why is it so hard?
Although physical training had changed so that I wouldn't get tired even if I did it all day long...
Training my internal energy was still difficult.
Should I say there's no end to it no matter how much I do it?
It would be fine if I just emitted it. But on top of compressing it endlessly...
Controlling it so it wouldn't cause harm to the surroundings was an incredibly difficult task.
Isn't it similar to saying that suppressing is harder than killing?
Of course.
This kind of training helped to gradually expand the vessel inside my body, so I had no choice...
'Is the upper dantian still too much?'
While moving my internal energy by swirling the flames...
I could feel the door leading to the still-closed upper dantian.
It had already been well over a year since I opened the middle dantian and became familiar with letting internal energy flow back and forth.
This meant it had been over a year since I reached the Peak realm.
However.
'The upper dantian is still too much.'
While continuing to train, I've been prodding to see if there's any opening...
The door to the upper dantian remained solid.
Well, that makes sense.
It's only been two to three years since I regressed.
Reaching the Peak within that time was only possible because of an absurdly fortunate encounter.
Opening even the upper dantian was somewhat unreasonable.
If I recklessly tried to open it now...
It was obvious I would die bursting, blood vessels and heart exploding.
'...It's something just to be able to reach it.'
Right. The current situation, where I've filled the middle dantian and am even prodding the upper dantian, was already nonsensical.
While others wander for a long time, unable to find the way...
I know the way but lack the strength to open the door.
In other words, it meant I could open it anytime once I had enough strength.
'Even so, how much is left until the next realm?'
It's far.
It felt too far.
The mountain I still had to climb was high.
And the path was rough.
The higher I climbed, the more likely a single slip would lead to a fatal fall.
As it grew steeper the further I went, it was natural to lose strength.
'...Still, I must climb.'
Even if I can't see where the summit is.
No, does a summit even exist in the first place?
'That's not what's important, though.'
Whatever it was, I had to keep climbing.
Straightening out my ragged breathing.
I took out a seal from my chest pocket.
It looked simple, painted in yellow, but...
Recalling the meaning this seal held, it wasn't just some common antique.
'The seal of the Hwangbo Family.'
This is a seal given to the key figures of the Hwangbo Family.
In my past life, it was also an item that Mokgwon Hwangbo Seon carried even after becoming a demonic human.
Carrying it even after becoming a demonic human was unusual, but...
Since I vaguely knew what feelings he held in keeping it, I didn't say much about it.
And thanks to that, I was able to find this.
'As expected, he had it.'
I recalled the assassin I met last night.
'He was a martial artist who had reached the Transformation Realm.'
No matter how prestigious the Hwangbo Family was, I thought they wouldn't fail to give some position to someone who had reached the Transformation Realm.
However, seeing as the difference wasn't distinct, he likely hadn't been in the Transformation Realm for long.
The guy couldn't properly control the changed energy and aura that came with the higher realm...
Leaving him in an unstable state.
'I jumped him knowing that from the start, though.'
Of course, even so, he was definitely a martial artist of the Transformation Realm.
The spread-out aura and the felt internal energy were quite different.
In comparison, I was still lingering at the Peak.
I had reached the very edge, though.
If I honed it a bit more, I felt like I could ascend...
But it didn't change the fact that I was still at the Peak.
The reason I could defeat a martial artist of the Transformation Realm despite that was...
'It's a relief it seeped in properly.'
Because I injected demonic energy into him.
As I carefully opened my hand.
Black energy slowly rose above it.
This was the demonic energy that the Nine Flames Fire Wheel Art hadn't yet purified.
In another sense, it was also energy I had set aside separately.
Last night.
The moment I grabbed the guy's arm.
I sent demonic energy flowing into him.
Through this, I was able to easily secure victory as the demonic energy clung to him like a seizure.
Demonic energy is fatal to a martial artist.
Not only does the demonic energy hiding in the dantian eat away at internal energy...
It's an energy that renders even a martial artist's body powerless.
Didn't he say it to me?
-Extreme... poison?
The effect of demonic energy was so vicious that he mistook the demonic seizure for extreme poison.
The problem isn't that he was swept up by demonic energy.
'...I didn't know I could do this.'
The fact that my demonic energy could affect a martial artist of the Transformation Realm.
That was the problem.
If it was a martial artist who became a demonic human by receiving demonic energy from the Heavenly Demon in the first place...
Anyone could use demonic energy...
Using it to inject demonic energy into another martial artist and collapse their body was impossible.
Because that was solely the authority of the Heavenly Demon.
For example, the demonic energy I mixed in with the restriction on the Namgung Family Head...
Was to easily check if the restriction was properly placed.
This meant I couldn't set up any device in the Namgung Family Head's body through it.
Clearly.
Until before, that would have been the case, but...
'Something else has changed.'
If absorbing other energies, storing them in my body, and using them as different energy was the first change...
Being able to inflict harm on another's body through my demonic energy was the second change.
Things turning out like this happened at some point.
There wasn't a particular trigger.
It was an enlightenment that came while I was training normally.
Isn't it ridiculous?
Out of all the many enlightenments, it had to be this kind of thing.
"Damn it. Really."
Being able to deal with someone of a higher realm more easily than before...
Could be considered a good thing in a way...
But for me, it was just an uncomfortable and awkward matter.
Coveting another's energy.
And oppressing the opponent with pain by injecting demonic energy...
It was just like...
'The Heavenly Demon from back then.'
That fact gave me a suffocating feeling.
At this rate, someday...
I feared I might also become able to corrupt others into demonic humans like the Heavenly Demon.
That was a bit frightening.
After finishing my training, I returned to the tent.
I washed my sweat-soaked body.
After changing my clothes and coming out of my private tent...
A familiar face was waiting for me.
"I greet the First Young Master."
The neatly dressed young master.
It was Gu Jeolyeop.
My expression immediately soured as soon as I saw that handsome face of his.
"...Young Master."
"Why?"
"Why do you frown whenever you see my face?"
"Because I don't like how handsome you are."
"Excuse me?"
Is this a compliment or bullshit?
Gu Jeolyeop had an expression of utter incomprehension.
"So, why did you come looking for me? Aren't you busy right now?"
"...I am busy, but I can't help it since the Daeju ordered me to."
Ah, by the way, Bi Yeonseom's education was taken care of by Gu Jeolyeop.
Since he brought her, he had to take responsibility.
The Vice Daeju seems to want to leave it to me...
But with my level of experience, it wasn't the time to do such things.
"My sister? Why?"
"It seems she called for you because of yesterday's incident."
"Tch..."
I had reported being attacked while on duty yesterday...
It seemed to be because of that.
Thanks to the attack, it was good that I could skip the rest of my duty...
But now only slightly annoying things remained.
"I'll go now."
"Yes. Since the message is delivered, I'll be leaving now."
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"You didn't forget about going with me tomorrow, did you?"
At my question, Gu Jeolyeop's shoulders flinched.
What's with that reaction?
"Had you forgotten?"
"...I didn't forget... No, I haven't forgotten."
"Then why that reaction? Why are you so startled?"
"I wasn't startled..."
Anyone could see he was startled, so his denial wasn't very convincing.
"...Fine, whatever, as long as you didn't forget."
"Yes, yes."
Tomorrow, I had to go into the center of the forest.
I wanted to go alone if possible...
But since they said they'd never let me go because it was dangerous alone, I told them I'd take Gu Jeolyeop and Muyeon with me.
Muyeon spoke up, saying it was a relief he could go with me...
But I saw Gu Jeolyeop's expression sour as he asked if he really had to go to such a dangerous place.
'This bastard, he didn't pull a trick to get out of going, did he?'
I wondered if he did, but...
He probably wouldn't have, knowing what would happen to him when he returned.
Getting beaten up by me after returning would be scarier than going to the center.
"Anyway, prepare yourself properly."
"...Understood."
Him answering while avoiding my eyes was somewhat suspicious, but...
I decided to leave him be since I had business now.
He'll figure it out.
Leaving Gu Jeolyeop behind, I headed to the Daeju's tent.
It wasn't too far, so I could arrive quickly.
As I peeked my head inside the tent...
Someone appeared and grabbed my cheek with a smack.
"Ugh...!"
She grabbed it so hard that I let out a groan involuntarily.
"Brother...! Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not. It hurts a lot."
"Uh, where are you..."
"...My cheek, which you're grabbing right now, hurts."
At my words, Gu Huibi made an "oops" expression and stepped back slightly.
When she let go, my cheek felt numb.
How hard did she grab it?
As I was rubbing my cheek with my hand...
I saw Gu Huibi in front of me examining me up and down.
"What are you looking at like that?"
"Any injuries..."
"None. You would have seen the report I submitted."
To be strict, my body was very tired because I used demonic energy...
But it wasn't at a noticeable level.
"Still, just in case, we should at least go to the medical ward..."
"Do you know how many days it takes to get to the medical ward from here?"
It takes days to get to the area with a medical ward from the front lines.
Otherwise, we'd have to go to where the Murim Alliance is...
That was something I'd decline.
"It was nothing."
"There was an assassination attempt, so how is it nothing? A command to return just came from the Patriarch, so even now, to the family..."
"Don't overreact. I'm really fine."
Although it was an attack by a Transformation Realm martial artist...
I didn't bother to disclose this.
Either way, I passed through it with truly no problems...
And my body was perfectly fine.
Gu Huibi frowned slightly at my words...
But she seemed to be struggling to organize her words.
"...Do you know who did it?"
"I don't know."
I did know, but I pretended not to know for now.
When I said I didn't know, Gu Huibi bit her lip slightly.
Then let out a deep sigh.
"...Right, it's a relief you aren't hurt. I'll send a letter to the family to investigate this separately."
"Why go that far..."
"There was an assassination attempt on a blood relative. Do you think that's something that can just be passed over?"
...
...
Well.
It's not something to just gloss over.
'Still, it's annoying when things get tangled like this.'
I doubted it would be found even if they looked.
Incidents happening on the front lines wouldn't be easy to investigate...
It was more accurate to assume it was almost untraceable.
"Brother."
"Yeah?"
"...When are you planning to return to the family?"
"What, are you trying to send me away?"
Last time, she seemed like she didn't want me to go.
Now she's trying to send me away.
"I have to go anyway, so don't rush me. You were telling me not to go before."
Since Father sent me word to return quickly...
I couldn't keep stalling forever...
I planned to return to the family immediately after visiting the center once.
'Except there's something I need to do before that.'
So I didn't have time to bicker with Gu Huibi like this.
"My body is fine. Everything is fine, so don't worry and continue what you were doing."
"...Brother."
"Please, don't make that face either."
Does she think I'm some fragile child left by the water?
"The report is over, so I'll head out first?"
"Wait...!"
Gu Huibi tried to grab me, but...
I just dashed out.
Truthfully, I was going to tell her I'd be away for a bit, but it was obvious she'd grab me and ask where I was going if I did...
So I just slipped out.
"I'm thankful for the concern, but..."
Still, having someone worry about me remained uncomfortable.
If they worry about me, they won't live out their natural lifespan in the future...
Because there wasn't just one or two accidents I had to cause.
Anyway.
Leaving Gu Huibi, who was probably being held up by the Vice Daeju and couldn't come out, behind...
I headed outside the front lines.
Because there was someone I needed to meet...
No, because someone had come up.
"...Why isn't he returning?"
Inside the tent of the Hwangbo Family, Hwangbo Cheok muttered quietly.
Because the Sixth Elder, who left last night, hadn't returned yet.
The Sixth Elder, who had gladly accepted his request.
No, he was probably thrilled just imagining what he would get from Hwangbo Cheok.
With the competition for the position of Young Patriarch already getting fierce...
A request from a blood relative would be considered a greater favor than usual.
'I asked him keeping that in mind, but...'
Knowing what kind of deeds the Sixth Elder committed during his prime...
I thought he was an expert in such matters.
Above all, he had come to the front lines as a manager and guard for a blood relative, so it was the perfect situation to ask.
I thought it was the perfect situation to ask...
'Could something have gone wrong?'
I didn't think a problem would occur to a master like the Sixth Elder...
But too much time had passed, so I was getting a bit worried.
"Surely... that can't be."
Hwangbo Cheok decided to brush away his useless thoughts.
Because it was too absurd a worry.
"Right now... I need to think about what to do with that branch family bastard."
Leaning his massive body against the chair...
Hwangbo Cheok thought of Hwangbo Seon from the branch family.
The branch family bastard who inherited the Hwangbo Family's blood, yet was incredibly weak and incompetent.
'For someone like that, he sure met a fine woman.'
Tsk.
It was a thought that still boiled over. Recalling the beautiful woman stuck beside Hwangbo Seon made him feel stifled.
It would have been perfect if he had taken her as his concubine.
'To think she went to a pathetic guy like him.'
He didn't like it.
Moreover, the bastard had even seen him rolling around miserably.
'...I should dispose of him this time.'
He was already displeased with him...
And the timing was good.
Assassination by poison would work.
Or feeding his corpse to demonic beasts after killing him would be fine too.
If the news of killing a branch family member reached the Patriarch's ears, it wouldn't be great...
But the old man was dying anyway.
'As soon as the Sixth Elder returns, I'll hear the situation... and call the branch family bastard separately with the guys...'
While he was racking his brain on how to dispose of Hwangbo Seon...
Rustle.
Hwangbo Cheok smiled at the sudden presence he felt.
It was probably the Sixth Elder returning.
The only one who could enter his tent while killing their presence like this was the Sixth Elder.
"Have you returned. How did the wo...ugh...!"
Grab.
The moment Hwangbo Cheok turned his head.
A hand flew in, grabbed Hwangbo Cheok by the throat, and lifted him up.
Hwangbo Cheok's massive body being lifted into the air so lightly...
Felt quite alien.
Hwangbo Cheok, unable to breathe properly under the immense pressure...
Barely rolled his eyes down to look below.
"We seem to be seeing each other quite often, right?"
Within the voice full of mockery...
A deeply steeped killing intent brushed up Hwangbo Cheok's spine.
"I'm getting a bit tired of it. How about you?"
Hwangbo Cheok, facing the red glow in the eyes of the attacker...
Had to taste the sensation of his heart dropping.
Because the killing intent that gripped his heart was absurdly heavy.
It was an absurd level for a mere late-stage Peak expert to emit.
'...How... is this bastard...'
Hwangbo Cheok's eyes trembled fiercely.
The emotion contained in his eyes was more surprise than anger or fear.
Instead of the Sixth Elder who should have returned.
Gu Yangcheon had appeared here.