Episode 328: The Demonic Realm Listens. (2)
Immediately after beginning practical training.
Cheol Jiseon followed Jang Seonyeon, his steps filled with hesitation.
It had been the same feeling for several days now.
Moreover.
'Should I stop even now....'
Even as he followed those trudging steps.
His mind was a mess.
The Divine One in front remained silent, but.
Cheol Jiseon had to break out in a cold sweat from the faint aura radiating from his back.
Even without words, he could tell.
How darkly settled the Divine One's emotions were.
To the point that he could feel it all too well.
Cheol Jiseon had to weep silently inside from the terror.
'This is the Divine One?'
His first impression of him had already been ruined upon meeting him.
But even so.
For an illegitimate son of the Alliance Leader.
A figure known to have such a gentle nature, he was far too different inside and out.
'If it's going to be like this, I'd rather....'
A certain someone's face surfaced in Cheol Jiseon's mind.
Though he had a fierce appearance and a personality closer to the Demonic faction than the Orthodox, a thug.
At least he seemed like someone whose outside and inside were not different.
'...I’d rather.'
Cheol Jiseon's steps came to a halt.
He had been told to do everything Jang Seonyeon ordered.
But from Cheol Jiseon's position, he couldn't comfortably do so blindly.
'Open a gate right beneath where someone stands...?'
A handful of fragmented childhood memories seemed to grip his hand.
Above the burning land.
The house being swallowed.
And his father who was atop it.
His own scream, shouted until his throat burst.
And his older sister who embraced him and held her breath.
And even his mother who afterward could no longer meet her son's eyes.
To Cheol Jiseon, a memory like hell itself.
'...They're telling me to do that again with my own hands...?'
His fist clenched.
Trembling came and went, and cold sweat flowed from his forehead down to the tip of his nose.
Around the time Cheol Jiseon was consumed by the past and his mind wavered.
"Young Master Cheol."
The Divine One's voice rang out.
"...!"
Perhaps noticing he had stopped still.
Jang Seonyeon called out to him.
Cheol Jiseon, startled, looked at Jang Seonyeon.
He had to cover his mouth with his hand.
Because Jang Seonyeon's eyes looking at him.
Were so dark.
"You seem to be hesitating."
That was all the Divine One said after meeting eyes with Cheol Jiseon.
"N-no, that’s not it."
Jang Seonyeon, hearing Cheol Jiseon's trembling voice.
Gave a faint smile.
Cheol Jiseon found that smile terrifying.
"That’s right. You mustn't hesitate now."
Kyu,, !.. ! .
"Don't we both want something."
Jang Seonyeon said so and turned his head again.
What is wanted....
At the Divine One's words, Cheol Jiseon immediately recalled.
What he himself wanted.
'The revival of the clan.'
The Zhuge Clan clearing its false accusation, and re-establishing itself as a pillar of the Orthodox faction.
'...My sister's happiness.'
His sister living a happy life.
It was a life wishing for only that.
Fulfilling the dream his father couldn't achieve, and at the same time.
His sister's....
'I’ll cure my sister's illness.'
That was why he had come to the Central Plains.
Jang Seonyeon had said he would help revive the Zhuge Clan.
He hadn't spoken about his sister.
But if even that was included in the contract.
He might have said he would do it without hesitation.
'...If I hadn't met Jin Long.'
Yes, if he hadn't met him.
Setting aside that Jin Long was a terrifying being who had tried to kill him.
The presence he held was overwhelming.
Even just looking at the Divine Dragon Hall proved it.
At first, he had marveled at the fact that the bloodlines of the Four Great Clans had all entered.
And that this cohort had the highest level in the history of the Divine Dragon Hall.
More than half of the Six Dragons Three Peaks had entered.
Each and every one of them displaying an absurd presence.
Not only that.
Geom Muhee, the masterpiece of the Nangong Clan, famed for beautiful looks.
The Divine One, child of the Alliance Leader and recently renowned as an outstanding figure.
And even the successor of the Sword Monarch, who was said to have retired and gone missing.
Amidst a gathering of monsters at an absurd level.
Two months passed.
The one showing the most presence was none other than Jin Long.
Not content with taking first place in the entrance exam.
He clashed with an instructor from the first day and even won.
Jin Long became the center of various incidents, as if bringing a storm.
'...Because of that, I became strange, called a mad dog and whatnot.'
Just recalling it made him grind his teeth in anger, but that wasn't important now.
Jin Long was aloof and solitary.
Rumors about him were plentiful.
And most of them were malicious rumors.
But Jin Long didn't pay them much mind.
He would listen once to the chattering of his inferiors as if it were unimportant and then cut off interest.
Yet he didn't overlook murmurs about those around him.
Once, someone spread bad rumors about Dufeng.
Jin Long personally found the source and destroyed them.
The words he had said then were, 'If you do that one more time, next time I'll shut your muzzle and burn you so you can't open your mouth,' or something like that.
Those who watched the situation then.
Knew in an instant those words were not a lie.
The killing intent Jin Long exuded as he spoke.
Had dominated the entire room.
This is what it means to say Jin Long is not different inside and out.
Not caring in the slightest about others' gazes.
He moves as his heart desires.
If he doesn't like something, he destroys it.
If he likes it, he keeps it by his side.
Truly simple and straightforward, yet.
Acting without worrying about others' gazes was a separate matter.
Of course, Jin Long also seemed to have many thoughts or secrets hidden inside.
But he didn't give as creepy a feeling as the Divine One before him.
'...In that regard, he is better than the Divine One.'
That Jin Long held an inferiority complex toward the Divine One, and so on.
Rumors went around that his jealousy was excessive.
The Jin Long Cheol Jiseon saw wasn't someone who cared about such things.
Rather.
'The person before my eyes seems to care more about that.'
Conversely, it would be right to say that the Divine One felt an inferiority complex toward Jin Long.
Because even now, he was emitting energy enough to be seen with the eyes.
In this situation.
No matter how much Jin Long had told him to do so.
Was it truly right to point a blade at him?
Cheol Jiseon only fell deeper into worry.
Jin Long didn't know well about his own power.
Not just the Demonic Realm Gate that spewed demonic creatures.
It was the power to open a dimensional rift in the ground and swallow everything above, sending it somewhere.
Moreover, if a fissure was opened in the ground, those above it couldn't move.
It was at a level where even experts beyond the Peak couldn't move.
And those swallowed by it hadn't returned until now.
Because his own father had done exactly that.
Cheol Jiseon moved his steps, dragging out his hesitation.
Before they knew it, the two were heading toward the highest point of the mountain.
Walking silently.
Ouyang Tian was visible in the distance. The Divine One had truly come to find him.
He had thought there would be some disturbance.
But it was truly flowing as Ouyang Tian had predicted.
At that moment.
"Please wait here."
This was what the Divine One said to Cheol Jiseon.
Cheol Jiseon hid his body in the bushes according to Jang Seonyeon's words.
Hwoong-!
The moment he sat carefully, an unknown barrier formed around Cheol Jiseon.
Along with feeling faint internal energy.
A very faint vibrating sound was heard.
It seemed to be a qi barrier after all.
Cheol Jiseon felt surprise for a moment at the sophisticated internal energy application felt from the qi barrier.
But that was brief.
Cheol Jiseon could clearly see.
Ouyang Tian's gaze, which had been confronting the Divine One in the distance.
Had momentarily turned toward Cheol Jiseon.
'Did he feel this...?'
Not only was there distance.
But to notice immediately despite the qi barrier spread out.
Ouyang Tian, having briefly exchanged gazes with Cheol Jiseon, smirked and looked back at Jang Seonyeon.
Cheol Jiseon swallowed hard upon seeing that.
It seemed Jang Seonyeon had made many preparations, but.
In the end, from Cheol Jiseon's perspective, it was no different from a board created by Ouyang Tian.
As if he had known everything from the start, without the slightest hesitation.
'Just what is his true identity?'
It was still a question.
Though younger than him, his actions and eyes said otherwise.
Though he acted like a thug or a madman.
The way he conducted himself and moved to avoid future trouble.
Seemed almost experienced.
Within that.
His appearance of thoroughly trampling someone so they could never rise again if he stepped on them.
Was twisted somewhere for someone called an Orthodox faction member.
That he had once thought of killing Cheol Jiseon was the same.
If the Divine One gave Cheol Jiseon the creeps.
Ouyang Tian was a fearsome existence.
He was terrifying.
The more he tried to dig into or understand him, the more difficult a person Ouyang Tian was.
Even if his outside and inside were similar.
There was no telling how many stories he held inside.
In this situation.
Cheol Jiseon had to keep hesitating over whether he should do this to Ouyang Tian.
Glancing toward the Divine One and Ouyang Tian with anxious eyes.
The two were continuously having an unknowable conversation.
The reason it was unknowable was none other than.
Because he simply couldn't hear it.
Probably the qi barrier the Divine One had placed around them was not only for Cheol Jiseon's presence.
It seemed to block out sounds from outside as well.
Even so.
Cheol Jiseon could tell well that the atmosphere between the two was not good.
Ouyang Tian was giggling.
But the Divine One's face was terrifyingly horrifying.
Seeing that, he recalled.
'Is this really okay?'
Cheol Jiseon was still in doubt.
Rather than how the Divine One knew his secret.
Whether it was right to use that power here in this way.
That was what he had to worry about.
In a situation where instructors were stationed all around.
What was the Divine One planning?
He had told him not to worry and to do as told, but....
How could he not worry?
While Cheol Jiseon swam in hesitation and doubt.
-Now.
"...!"
The Divine One sent a signal via voice transmission.
Telling him to open the Demonic Realm Gate right now.
Hearing the voice, Cheol Jiseon immediately looked toward where Ouyang Tian stood and reached out his hand.
When he slightly twisted his fingertips.
Something caught at the end.
This was the spot.
If he grabbed and tore relying on this sensation.
Disaster would immediately unfold.
Ouyang Tian would be sealed, his movements bound as if constrained.
And be swallowed by the Demonic Realm Gate opened in the ground.
And might not be able to return.
Just as his own father had done then.
"Ngh...."
Resisting opening the fissure he had already grasped caused considerable pain.
Cheol Jiseon hesitated until the very end.
The memory of that day flickered.
Harming another in this manner.
Even if he saved the clan and saved his sister.
Even if he did it this way.
Because the thought that his sister wouldn't see it favorably had crossed his mind.
-Young Master Cheol.
The Divine One called Cheol Jiseon once more as if urging him.
When he shifted his gaze.
The Divine One had his head lowered as if to buy time, quietly holding Ouyang Tian's gaze.
To fulfill the promise, he could hesitate no longer.
But.
'As I thought... I can't do it.'
Cheol Jiseon simply couldn't use his power.
Because no matter what, he couldn't do such a thing.
'I am....'
Hey
'...!'
Just as he was releasing the power he held and tried to slowly lower his hand.
A fierce voice pierced into Cheol Jiseon's ear.
It wasn't the Divine One's voice.
-Stop being pathetic and open it quickly. What are you just spectating, want to die?
The voice that came was clearly Ouyang Tian's.
It pierced through the qi barrier the Divine One had spread, coming through so clearly.
He couldn't even think how that was possible.
"Th...at."
-Not opening quickly? Then what are you keeping those arms for, want me to tear them off?
At Ouyang Tian's annoyed voice.
In the end, Cheol Jiseon moved his fingertips along the sensation with trembling hands.
The worry he had hesitated over for so long.
Was pushed aside by mere irritation from Ouyang Tian.
Shrieeek-!
A sensation like tearing paper in the air was felt.
Cheol Jiseon hated this feeling to madness.
And immediately.
Kuwooooo-!
As expected, space twisted and a Demonic Realm Gate formed beneath Ouyang Tian's feet.
Seeing that, the Divine One smiled.
Ouyang Tian widened his eyes as if surprised.
As expected....
Ouyang Tian's body stiffening as expected....
-It won't take long. Stay still.
'...Huh?'
Unlike Ouyang Tian's expression as he widened his eyes and looked at the Divine One.
The voice transmission Ouyang Tian sent to Cheol Jiseon was a completely different, calm voice.
Just when he wondered what was going on.
"Hey, you can close it now."
A voice, not a voice transmission, of Ouyang Tian.
Pierced through the qi barrier.
"...What!?"
Ouyang Tian, whom he had thought would absolutely not be able to move.
Began moving nonchalantly above the Demonic Realm Gate.
And moved at an incredibly fast speed.
He grabbed the Divine One's neck and dragged him over the Demonic Realm Gate.
"How...?"
Cheol Jiseon let out a sound unknowingly upon seeing that.
Even his father, who had surpassed the Peak, hadn't been able to move a single step.
How could Ouyang Tian move so nonchalantly?
It was a speed so fast that even the Divine One couldn't react.
Kuwoooo!
From that point.
The Demonic Realm Gate slowly closed space to devour the two.
Cheol Jiseon hadn't intended to close it.
Rather, he had wanted to prevent it from closing if possible.
The captured Divine One struggled desperately.
Whether the binding was properly applied or not, the Divine One's body lying atop the Demonic Realm Gate seemed rigidly stiff.
In other words.
Only Ouyang Tian could move freely.
Before Cheol Jiseon could express doubt as to how.
Kuuuung-!
The Demonic Realm Gate opened in the ground swallowed the two.
And vanished in an instant.
"Wh...what?"
Cheol Jiseon could only sit there blankly at the incomprehensible situation.
Cheol Jiseon silently looked at the ground where the two had disappeared.
After a mere few seconds, he came to his senses and thought.
'Now....'
'Now... what do I do?'
He had opened the Demonic Realm as the Divine One had wished.
But Ouyang Tian had grabbed the Divine One and dragged him into the Demonic Realm.
His thoughts wouldn't turn properly.
He didn't know what to do now.
Could it be that Ouyang Tian wanted to commit suicide?
Though he definitely didn't seem like such a person....
In the current situation, even such a strange thought crossed his mind.
"Ah, what should I do from now on...?"
Setting Ouyang Tian aside.
If even the Divine One, who had said he would look out for him, had disappeared....
What was he to do from now on?
As Cheol Jiseon thought of his distant future.
Just as he was about to grab his hair in frustration.
Uuuung-!
"...Huh?"
Above Cheol Jiseon's head.
Suddenly, a phenomenon occurred in the blue sky that had been spread out.
Feeling an unknown unpleasantness, Cheol Jiseon looked up at the sky.
"What is that...?"
Cheol Jiseon's eyes widened to their limit upon checking the sky.
He couldn't help it.
The sky that he had thought was especially nice today.
Was gradually being dyed black.
"What is that...."
That bizarre phenomenon.
Was at least not his power.
He at least didn't possess the power to turn bright daylight into night.
In a situation that made him break into a cold sweat just by looking.
The words the Divine One had said surfaced in Cheol Jiseon's mind.
The words the Divine One had said to him when he was worried.
-Do not worry. I have thought of everything.
Recalling that, Cheol Jiseon shed a bead of cold sweat.
"...No way."
The method the Divine One had spoken of.
Was this it?
Cheol Jiseon forcibly raised his trembling body and dashed headlong down the mountain.
To run to the people.
Though he was worried about what happened to Ouyang Tian and the Divine One.
His instinct was telling him right now.
Whether the recent events were the trigger or not.
Around him.
Something strange seemed to be beginning to happen.