Chapter 503 - Let Me Hold It Just Once.
A curse had been cast upon humanity.
I chewed over those words from Noya.
'A curse.'
What did he mean by a curse?
'Did he say the strength martial artists obtain has grown weaker?'
The overall power of martial artists cultivating their realms had decreased.
I had to harbor all sorts of doubts about this statement.
Did he mean their limits had lowered?
Or did he mean the power they obtained itself had decreased?
I didn't know. I didn't know, but if Divine Noya's words were true.
'I'm fucked.'
No matter how I looked at it, I could tell the road ahead would be incomparably rough.
Powers that had been nothing special in Noya's era had now become unattainable.
Which meant...
'And even with that, they couldn't stop the Blood Demon.'
It was a completely fucked-up situation.
'No, the Blood Demon is sealed, after all.'
I tried to think that way, but.
Seeing the Blood Demon's reactions and the way it had directly revealed itself, I felt that wasn't the case.
The Blood Demon looked like it could break its seal and emerge at any time.
And yet, seeing that it was maintaining its current state somehow.
'It's waiting for something.'
It seemed to be simply waiting for some situation.
What could that be?
Furthermore.
'What about the Heavenly Demon?'
It wasn't just a problem of the Blood Demon; the Heavenly Demon was also a problem.
Huuuk—!
Feeling the sensation of my foot trampling the ground, I twisted my waist.
Crack—! The ground caved in deeply under the pressure.
Inside my body, the inner qi of Tuapa Cheonmu was writhing.
Pain welled up.
Even though I had shed my skin, the pain remained.
It still hurt, and it was still agonizing, but.
By now, I could endure this much without batting an eye.
I extended my arm.
Paaang—!
A sonic boom burst above the space my fist grazed. Along with it.
Hwaryuk—!
At the same time as the sound, Cheongyeom burst forth slightly.
"Tch."
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue briefly.
Because that flame wasn't something I had intentionally ignited.
'Is it hard to control...?'
Perhaps the problem was that my blood energy and body had become assimilated.
Flames permeated every martial art I unleashed.
It wasn't a bad thing.
Compared to the purple-red flames I had originally used, Cheongyeom possessed overwhelmingly greater power.
Since the recoil that had previously come belatedly when using blood energy had vanished, I could tell the side effects had disappeared too.
With the flames of Guyeomhwaryungong permeating my martial arts and adding to my strength.
I understood this was quite a helpful situation in combat, but.
'...It hinders my training.'
It was subtly getting in the way of my Tuapa Cheonmu training.
Since flames mixed with every movement I performed, I couldn't concentrate properly.
Tuk tuk.
Dusting off my fingertips, I also returned the energy of Tuapa Cheonmu that had been circulating through my body back to my heart.
'Hmm.'
I examined my surroundings. Right now, I had undone the Gichebyeonyeoksul and returned my physical body to its original state.
This was to inspect my body's condition.
Though my heightened field of vision was still dizzying, I had grown somewhat accustomed to it through my battle with the defeated foe last time.
I could tell many things even while being beaten black and blue.
When checking alone, I could tell other things too.
'For sure. Using Gichebyeonyeoksul feels a bit difficult.'
This was from when I fought Gwiseon.
Since I couldn't reveal my true body, I had forcibly fought in my previous form.
At first, I thought it might be fine because Gichebyeonyeoksul itself didn't consume much energy.
But.
'It's far more bothersome than I thought.'
The influence Gichebyeonyeoksul exerted on my body was greater than expected.
'Never mind the energy; maintaining it is annoying.'
Normally it didn't show, but the problem was maintaining a physique transformed by Gichebyeonyeoksul.
Even if it was a small amount of energy, I had to constantly use it to keep my center.
It was simply a pain to maintain this even during battle.
'...Should I just release it completely?'
Should I just live with it undone? That thought flashed through my mind, but.
'That would be too much...'
There were various problems with doing that.
First and foremost, I stood out way too much.
I touched my cheek with my hand. As my fingertips grazed my skin, I felt a strange sensation.
'...Tch.'
From afar, I looked no different from an ordinary person, but examining it up close, it was visible.
My skin had shallowly transformed.
'It's not as bad as my arm...'
Not as much as my left arm, which had changed color and become covered in scales.
My skin had undergone some degree of change as well.
'My hair color and pupils are also a problem.'
Was it because the Guyeomhwaryungong I had harbored within my body had changed?
Things that had gradually been dyed crimson had transformed into blue.
How was I supposed to explain this at home?
'And of all times, Father is here right now.'
Even Father, the one I least wanted to explain anything to, had come.
Should I run?
Should I really run? Wasn't this the runaway scenario I had so desperately wished for?
I genuinely thought so.
I wondered if I could just dash away right now.
However.
[...Is that the best thought you can muster?]
As expected, Divine Noya cut in.
And the common-sense thought that it was far too late for that now also crossed my mind.
'...If the situation has already turned into this mess, shouldn't I be allowed to run away a little?'
[...]
It was words spat out in jest, but Noya said nothing in response.
It seemed even that old man had nothing to say for once.
Hard work would suffice.
That was what Divine Noya always said, but if heaven itself blocked that very effort, there was no direction left for me to take.
No matter how much I thought about it, wasn't it truly petty?
'To throw a tantrum just because they failed a little.'
They blocked every path just because things didn't go their way. Really fucked up and petty.
Even so, a question arose.
'Noya.'
[...Yes.]
'Lady Dang called it a curse.'
[Even though she's not a lady?]
'Anyway.'
That shouldn't be what's important right now, yet he nitpicks even at a time like this.
As always, sharp as a tack.
'If you say so, it must be. But I have some doubts.'
[What do you mean?]
'No, it's just.'
The world had cast a curse, lowering the quality of martial artists.
Noya had said so after hearing Dang Je-mun's words, but.
'...Something.'
Apart from that, something just kept nagging at me.
—What do you think happens to a world whose master has disappeared?
Something that Yeonilcheon had said, and the Blood Demon as well.
A world where the master who had originally resided in this land had disappeared.
That was the present world.
And some crazy world wanted to overturn such a world.
Considering the things they were doing, it wouldn't be strange if they were pulling all sorts of dogshit tricks involving curses or what have you, but.
'A world whose master has disappeared. Is this truly not a problem?'
That doubt simply arose.
If the master of the world is the connection point to all life.
I wondered if this world, from which he had disappeared for his karma, was truly intact.
'Perhaps, rather than a curse... couldn't it be the influence of that?'
Setting aside the certainty that human limits had lowered.
If we were to get to the bottom of it, that was the thought that suddenly crossed my mind, but.
'...Either way, neither is important right now.'
Now was the time to consider other things.
'Noya.'
[Yes...]
Calling Noya, I put strength into my hand.
Then, the Gwijeong bound to my left arm reacted.
Squirm.
The sensation changed.
Gwijeong had begun moving according to my will.
It slithered downward. I sent the Gwijeong that had been wrapped around my forearm toward my fingertips and bound it there.
Applying Noya's words about using it as a sword, I wrapped it around my hand fully, changing it to be used in the form of a gauntlet (quān jiǎ).
It absolutely wouldn't break or shatter.
If I used the power that Gwijeong possessed, it would make quite a fine weapon.
Furthermore.
'With this much sensation, there's little discomfort too.'
Since it actually felt similar to bandages, for a fighter like me who disliked gauntlets, it was an unparalleled treasure.
Therefore, I had to put in extra effort to get accustomed to Gwijeong.
I had tried using it once before, and it wasn't bad.
"The world cast a curse upon humanity. That is what you said."
[So?]
"Then I'm curious. What happens to me?"
[...What? What do you mean, what happens?]
"I am no longer human now, am I?"
[...!]
Why was I so calm after uttering something so shocking?
I had contemplated it throughout my training, but I couldn't really tell.
It was just.
It didn't bother me as much as I had expected.
"If it is a curse cast upon humans... wouldn't it no longer concern me?"
[...Hah?]
Hearing my words, Noya reacted as if asking what I was talking about.
That was how it was.
If it was called a curse upon humans, I wondered if it actually had nothing to do with me anymore.
'Since I'm not even a person anymore.'
I hated to admit it, and it was fucked up, but.
If I was no longer human. Wouldn't this part be irrelevant?
Ah, of course.
[It does not seem like a problem to be viewed so simply.]
Of course, as Noya said, it wouldn't be resolved that easily.
Even so. I was thinking that I wished it would be so.
[Brat.]
"Yes."
[I cannot understand. Why are you happy?]
"Did you say I'm happy?"
[Yes... Why on earth are you acting like this.]
"...Um."
Me, happy?
At Noya's words, I examined my mouth with my hand.
The corners of my mouth were indeed slightly raised.
This was no situation to smile in; why was this happening?
As I thought deeply.
"...Ah."
Thinking a bit, I seemed to understand.
Why I was happy about this fact.
Probably because I thought it was a relief.
The hope that because I was no longer human, I would no longer be connected to the curse.
That was probably the cause.
Because I could become strong alone?
That could be so. When everyone else stopped at their limits, advancing alone would certainly have its own appeal.
But.
The reason I was smiling now was not that.
If I could become strong through this.
'It's like I've gained the justification to handle it alone.'
Without dragging those around me into it. The justification to bear it alone.
It was infuriating that I had to roll in the dirt by myself, but the fact that those who rose alongside me might be relatively safe.
Funnily enough, that felt like a relief.
[...Brat.]
Noya let out a tone that seemed to pity me.
'Don't look at me like that. It's because it's really not that bad.'
[...Who said I was looking at you like that?]
'Aren't you feeling sorry because I'm cleaning up the shit you guys left behind?'
[...]
Noya once again did not answer.
It was obvious.
That old man's temper was filthy and petty, but he wasn't a bad person.
'Don't worry about it. I'm doing this anyway, so I might as well clean up your shit too while I'm at it.'
[...D-don't keep calling it shit. It makes me feel dirty.]
'Shit is shit, what else.'
The reason Noya's atmosphere had seemed subdued and lowered recently was obviously this.
He had sealed the Blood Demon but failed to handle it properly.
And because of that, he had affected even later generations.
He was acting this way out of guilt.
'Why?'
Naturally, it was a feeling I couldn't understand.
After rolling around so much to even create a seal, he should have been able to proudly tell them to handle the rest; why was he feeling sorry?
I was jokingly calling it shit, but that was honestly how I felt.
It was a problem that I would end up handling the remaining work.
As I said earlier.
'If I want to stop the Blood Calamity, it all overlaps anyway.'
I knew the Heavenly Demon was related to the Blood Demon.
And seeing another world, I had learned that perhaps even the Divine Sword of a past life was related to the Blood Demon.
Also.
'The Martial Alliance itself is entangled with the Blood Demon.'
It was obvious when looking at the basis of blood energy.
If I wanted to do anything, I would inevitably be entangled anyway.
So, there was no need for Noya to feel so sorry.
I do it because it must be done. As it was from the start, that meaning remained the same now.
Rather, wasn't it fortunate?
'Because it's me, not them.'
The one who had to roll on the ground was me, not those who should be happy and comfortable.
Nothing more than that was fortunate.
[...Come to think of it, brat.]
"Yes."
[Will it be fine to leave that fellow as is?]
"That fellow...? Ah!"
I was about to stretch when I paused at Noya's words.
Because I remembered who Noya was talking about.
Nea. Something presumed not to be Namgung Myeong contained within it.
I had shoved it in a drawer and come outside.
I had stuffed it in a drawer because it was making such a racket.
Funny enough, when I moved away, I couldn't hear it anymore.
"Isn't that fortunate? If it were imbued with energy like you, Noya, my ears would have hurt."
Since Gwiseon had dumped it on me anyway, I figured it might be fine to leave it stuffed there.
Besides, it was awkward to hand it over to Namgung Bia right away.
'...How it ended up like that.'
Trying to recall Nea made my head hurt a bit.
The bloodline of the Namgung family. They said those not chosen by Nea couldn't wield it.
So why could I?
It was endlessly complicated in many ways.
I had tried to find out more, but Namgung Myeong was making such a fuss that I just shoved it away.
[...You are truly something.]
Noya expressed surprise, asking if I really stuffed it away.
'It's not like we'll be getting along anyway.'
Honestly, I was a bit indifferent about it.
It wasn't even a weapon I would use.
Moreover.
'I want to be quiet right now.'
I was already distressed; one foul-tempered old man was enough.
[...Hehe. This brat...?]
It was a complicated situation as it was, but.
'...The problem is dinner tonight.'
There was also the issue of my father. How surprised I had been to see Father boldly show up in Sacheon.
I had even been told to prepare to be scolded at dinner.
'I really want to run away.'
It was an utterly distressing situation.
In my heart, I just wanted to get the scolding over with, but.
Father had said he had business to attend to and disappeared, so even that wasn't possible.
'Where on earth did he go?'
It was already amazing that he appeared suddenly.
What business could he have in Sacheon?
I was a bit curious.
******************
The Sacheon region.
In its center stood the Sacheon Branch of the Baekhwa Sangdan.
It was the most eye-catchingly splendid building in Sacheon.
From the splendidly decorated entrance.
To the abundance of well-trained employees.
It couldn't be helped. Branch Leader Mi Hyoran was someone who didn't tolerate even the slightest flaw, so management of her people was thorough.
And the branch leader responsible for this Sacheon branch.
Daemeokri had been harboring grand dreams lately.
The reason being.
Daemeokri was at a point where he felt himself gradually becoming obsolete with age.
Moreover, as his poor performance increased and his superiors caught wind of Daemeokri's scheming, rumors had begun circulating that a new branch leader would be appointed for the Sacheon branch.
Just as anxiety was growing day by day.
—...What?
—T-the First Young Master of the Gu family has come.
—Why would a man like that come here?
The First Young Master of the Gu family.
He had come.
He wasn't born of the head wife, nay, he was said to be a bastard son.
Yet he was the sole surviving male of the Gu family and the one certain to become the family head.
Moreover, it was said he had recently earned the nickname Soyeomra based on his outstanding talent.
And they said he was the youngest to reach Hwagyeong?
Of course, Daemeokri had dismissed this part as a joke.
A martial artist not yet of age reaching Hwagyeong?
It was a nonsensical rumor.
Anyway.
What mattered was that he had come.
And rumors were subtly circulating within the sangdan that the head cherished him.
For Daemeokri, this was not a meeting he could refuse.
He thought to gain a few points to maintain his position.
He had thought it a light meeting, but.
"Mother would be pleased."
Recalling Guyangcheon speaking with a bright smile, Daemeokri had to tremble.
The atmosphere exuding from him.
The words and gaze that nonchalantly pressured his opponent.
He had definitely heard that not a drop of blood was shared with the head, so why did Daemeokri sense an air similar to the head from Guyangcheon?
What he did know.
'...This is an opportunity.'
That this might be an opportunity the First Young Master was presenting to him.
A merchant's convictions? The pride gained throughout life?
Daemeokri knew such things were worthless.
It might have been an opportunity to gain a patron as great as a god, but.
The problem was that he couldn't provide the item he wanted.
And feeling the atmosphere emanating from the Guyangcheon before him, Daemeokri had no choice.
He would attach himself to the First Young Master.
Daemeokri made that choice.
And when he heard the news that Guyangcheon had, as promised, sent a letter to the Baekhwa Head, Daemeokri could be certain this choice wasn't wrong.
That had been only a few days ago.
"I heard the child traded something here."
Daemeokri had to regret that choice.
"G-Gu Family Head... th-that is..."
If he had known that choice would lead to this situation, he would never have made it.
"You don't have to answer."
Daemeokri was regretting it belatedly, but.
"However, I wish you wouldn't."
"...."
"Because I don't think I can control my strength right now."
It was already too late.