< Chapter 641 > Thunder Heaven Sword (雷天一劍).
Saaaaah….
As the sudden situation came to an end, only a chill swept across the ground.
Left alone, I wore a blank expression and quietly whispered.
"Was it a dream?"
Could it be that I had merely dreamed all this? That was how desperately I wanted to believe it.
"…"
But looking at the situation before me, it was absolutely not a dream.
The ground had been shattered and reduced to ashes by whatever had swept through.
Feeling the lingering heat, I broke out in a cold sweat.
‘I didn't see it properly.’
What kind of force had surged through? I should have seen it.
The light was so intense that I closed my eyes.
That was my eternal regret.
‘I should have watched it.’
I should have seen everything that happened and memorized it all.
To think I stupidly closed my eyes.
Damn it.
Gnashing my teeth in frustration, I surveyed my surroundings.
Leaving the surroundings in shambles aside, grasping what had just happened was the priority.
Especially the fact that my father had appeared out of nowhere, only to vanish mid-conversation.
‘And besides that….’
I was certain he had been about to say something regarding my mother.
Of all times, he had to disappear right then.
"What the hell."
He only piqued my curiosity for no reason; where on earth did he go?
No, how did he even get here in the first place?
As I was mulling over these questions, recalling my father who had appeared like the wind and vanished like the wind—
Jjjeojeok-!
"Huh?"
Feeling something in my chest, I reached in and pulled it out.
"Huh?"
My eyes widened at the object I retrieved.
It was a bead.
The red jade bead that Lady Mi had given me, which I had checked earlier.
Since I had already seen it before, there was nothing strange about it.
But there was a problem with the bead.
"It's broken?"
For some reason, the bead was shattered.
Not only that, it had lost its color and turned transparent.
The moment I saw this, the thought that came to mind was none other than:
"…I'm fucked."
I had to be far more terrified than when I had seen a Grade 100 demonic beast.
The fact that the one who had given me this bead was none other than Lady Mi was the problem.
"What am I going to say…?"
A bead I received from Lady Mi had been destroyed.
What excuse should I make when I get back?
Even as I was stupidly getting caught up in such thoughts.
"…Hm?"
I belatedly realized there was another anomaly with the bead.
As I fiddled with the broken bead a few times, I felt it.
‘It’s hot.’
The bead was burning hot.
‘Because of my body?’
That couldn't be it.
Though I had mastered fire arts and my body temperature was higher than an average person's, simply carrying it wouldn't make it this hot.
And even more so.
‘I can feel qi.’
Apart from the heat, qi was seeping through the bead.
Was it my qi? For a moment I thought so, but that wasn't it either.
This was definitely—
‘Father’s qi.’
It was closer to my father's heat than my own.
…If that was the case, could it be?
"Was it because of this thing?"
Could the reason my father had suddenly appeared in the Northern Sea be because of this bead?
I thought it was a ridiculous notion, but nothing else came to mind.
Moreover, hadn't Lady Mi said something when she gave me this bead?
"…She told me to use it when I'm in danger."
Use it when it seems dangerous.
And Lady Mi had even said that Father had given her the bead itself.
Looking at the cracked bead, I nodded.
"You little thing."
This was definitely it.
This seemed to be the reason my father had been able to appear in the Northern Sea.
‘I knew it was an artifact, but….’
Since it was a bead given by Lady Mi.
I had naturally assumed it was an artifact.
‘But to think it had this kind of power.’
The power to bring someone from far away here.
To think there was such an artifact in this world.
‘…No, well, there's also a crazy bastard who opens the Demonic Realm Gate with his own hands, so it's not that strange.’
At that thought, I suddenly remembered Cheoljiseon, who was probably struggling with the errand I had assigned him, and my mind eased slightly.
With a somewhat calmer heart, I examined the bead this way and that.
‘How did it activate?’
Setting aside the bead's effects and the fact that it was an artifact, I had never tried to use it.
Lady Mi had told me to use it when in danger, but she had never mentioned anything like a method of activation.
How on earth had it been used? As I pondered this, one thing came to mind.
‘Was it then?’
She hadn't handed me the bead directly, but had used an empty-air retrieval technique to give it.
I recalled that the bead had faintly glowed at that moment.
Which meant—
‘If I infuse qi directly into the bead, it activates.’
Thinking about it this way, the activation method didn't seem difficult. Perhaps that was why the incident had occurred.
‘And, it seems to have a duration as well….’
[Time is up.]
That was what Father had said right before disappearing.
Judging by that, it wasn't complete movement; it seemed to have a time limit.
‘Furthermore, the fact that the bead broke.’
Was it right to see it as single-use?
Or….
‘Should I see it as having reached its limit?’
I couldn't know that far. But the important part here was—
‘In the end, I can't use this artifact anymore.’
It was something I could tell instinctively.
The artifact's efficacy had ended.
Actually, setting aside instinct, it was obvious just by looking at it.
Having cracked and lost its color like this, that much was clear.
‘Hmm.’
I felt a bit regretful about that.
‘It was quite a useful item.’
To think that simply by infusing qi, someone could come all the way to where the other person was.
It wasn't a complete movement, but there was no other device like it.
If I just had this….
‘I could prevent situations like this one from happening.’
Just that alone would have put my mind at ease.
I already had enough things to worry about.
This meant I could reduce the one that worried me the most.
The bead… no, the former bead—I carefully put it away and tucked it back into my bosom.
The broken artifact was finished regardless.
Though there was no point in regretting it now.
‘Fortunately, though.’
I knew one person who could overturn that logic.
Not only could they repair broken artifacts.
But they could also create ‘artificial’ ones.
"I was already planning on going to find him, but."
I now had a definite reason I had to go.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like it would be too difficult to find him.
‘And besides.’
Cheonma (天魔).
I had confirmed that she was in Hannam.
And the person I was looking for would be by her side.
Just as I was recalling this and revising my plans.
"Palace Lord!!"
I turned my gaze toward the voice.
‘Ah. Right.’
I had forgotten about that for a moment because the situation was so sudden.
The natural disaster my father had created.
In front of it lay the corpse of a demonic beast, reduced to ashes.
Its outstanding regenerative ability was nowhere to be seen, and there were no further changes.
It looked certainly dead.
‘Well, if that thing hadn't died, that would have been too much.’
Its body was horrifically burned.
If it had gotten up even in that state, it would have been beyond excessive.
Near the corpse of that Grade 100 demonic beast, Heuksaja, who had been the Palace Lord's guard, was approaching.
"Palace Lord…!!"
Heuksaja tried to touch the remains of the demonic beast with trembling hands.
But he hesitated, seemingly unable to approach recklessly.
So I went up to him and said.
"You were swinging your blade so cheerfully before. What are you hesitating for now?"
"…!"
Hearing my words, Heuksaja flinched.
No answer came back.
I thought he might get angry, but he didn't.
As I was staring at him wondering why, someone smoothly appeared beside us.
It was Paejon.
He looked at me and spoke.
"I knew you lacked consideration, but I didn't know you were this much of a mess."
Tsk, tsk.
Perhaps displeased by my words, Paejon clicked his tongue repeatedly.
"…I hadn't included character education in your training. I'm starting to think that might be necessary after all."
"Come on, character education from an old man like you? That's a bit… Argh!"
The back of my head was struck so hard my eyes nearly popped out.
I roughly knew it meant I should watch my mouth, but I still couldn't understand why.
Perhaps because that feeling showed on my face, I heard Paejon let out a slight sigh.
"My disciple."
"Yes."
"If you're born human, you need to improve your ability to empathize."
"I know that, but you don't exactly have much of it yourself, old man."
"…"
I had said it preparing to get hit, but the blow didn't come this time.
Perhaps Paejon had felt a sting too, as he turned his gaze to me.
"…Anyway."
Since he seemed ready to move on, I decided to stay quiet too.
"Where did your father go?"
"…Well… I think he's probably in Shanxi."
"…Hm? Shanxi?"
What do you mean he's in Shanxi when he was just here in the Northern Sea?
Paejon's eyes were full of questions, but I decided to brush it off since explaining was a hassle.
"Anyway, that's where he is."
"…Palace Lord…."
Heuksaja was still sending his gaze toward the dead demonic beast.
At the sight of Heuksaja like that, both Paejon and Seongyul, who had stealthily drawn closer, wore rather unpleasant expressions.
The air was filled with the smell of smoke mixed with wind and a gloomy atmosphere.
Good grief.
"It's not even dead yet, so what are you…."
Thump.
"Hm?"
I flinched and turned my head.
I felt something change upon the words I had unwittingly uttered.
Everyone around was staring at me.
Did I do something wrong again?
I didn't think I had.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Even Heuksaja, who hadn't turned his head until now, was looking at me.
He asked me.
"…What did you just say?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what do you mean by saying it's not dead."
At Heuksaja's urgent words, I tilted my head.
It was because I had only just realized.
‘Aha, was that the issue?’
I had wondered why they were reacting like that; I guess they simply didn't know.
‘Well, if they had known, they wouldn't be hesitating like this.’
I placed my hand over my heart.
Thump! Thump!
The sound of a beating heart.
Something more was seeping within it.
Feeling this, I looked at the demonic beast reduced to ashes.
Thump! Thump-thump! The beating sound grew deeper.
My heart was telling me.
That something was still alive.
Sswik.
I raised my hand and lightly swung it.
Pwaang-!!
A burst of wind pressure erupted from the shout mixed with ganggi.
The rough wind reached the demonic beast.
Passsss---!!!
The burned body soon crumbled apart along with the wind pressure.
"What in the world are you doing--!!"
Heuksaja roared at me, but.
"Don't get angry and look closely."
Ignoring him, I pointed my finger ahead.
Passsss….
Ash flying in the empty air.
The speed at which it crumbled and broke apart was considerable.
It must have been an enormous heat to make it like that.
Just how hot must it have been for that bizarre body to end up like that?
Well, leaving that aside.
"…!!"
Once the ashes were easily scattered, it seemed Heuksaja finally noticed as well.
After the demonic beast's body disappeared, what remained on the ground was clearly a human body.
"Palace Lord--!!"
Binggungju.
The body of the one who had been devoured by the Ice Spirit and turned into a demonic beast was there.
Heuksaja hurriedly approached and examined the Palace Lord.
"H-how…!"
Surprisingly, the Palace Lord's condition was spotless without a single wound.
Though clearly her upper body had been blown away or her snout had been torn repeatedly.
In that situation, the demonic beast's body had disappeared and the Palace Lord's body was intact.
‘How curious.’
This was something even I hadn't expected.
However.
‘She has no wounds, but there are many other problems.’
First, her skin had changed drastically.
Scales that had already been protruding were now covering the entire area around her face.
The resonance felt from a half-dragon was still there, but her breathing was so shallow it was barely hanging on.
‘Is this the aftermath of being devoured by the Ice Spirit?’
I was curious as to what had happened.
She seemed to have lost consciousness. With her breathing and qi in that state, it was questionable whether she could wake up.
‘Hmm.’
Looking at the Palace Lord like that, I suddenly wondered if I couldn't use my heat to treat her, just as I had done with Murong Xiya.
The thought crossed my mind, but.
‘I'm not exactly inclined to.’
Even if it were possible, the most important thing was needed.
And that was—
‘Why would I do that?’
The necessity of going out of my way for the Palace Lord.
I didn't feel it at all.
There was nothing more to gain from the Palace Lord.
Meaning it wasn't worth the trouble of using my heat to attempt it.
Thinking of that, my insides went cold with indifference.
I lost interest.
Unlike me, Heuksaja supported the Palace Lord and looked around with an urgent expression.
"We must… hurry to where the physician is…!"
At Heuksaja's appearance, I tilted my head.
What remarkable loyalty.
I wondered what he saw to act like that.
Because I was the type to think all of that was meaningless, it stood out even more.
Furthermore.
‘Even if we take her, I don't think there's much to be done.’
Heuksaja's heart was admirable, but reality was reality.
Of course, I didn't nitpick or deliberately disrupt him.
Not so much out of respect for Heuksaja.
‘It became a hassle.’
Because I had lost interest, even that was bothersome.
That was purely the entirety of it. Withdrawing my gaze, I thought.
‘Should I head back first?’
I had to return to where the group was anyway.
Because Namgung Bia and Dang Soyeol, who were said to be injured, were far more important than the Palace Lord.
Thus, I immediately looked at Seongyul.
"You said you helped them escape, so you should know where the kids are—"
Just as I asked this and was about to move.
Tuk.
At a strange sign, my head turned again.
My eyes widened in surprise as I looked over there.
Someone was standing where clearly only Heuksaja and Binggungju had been.
"Hup!"
Heuksaja also seemed to notice this belatedly. He tried to move urgently, but.
"Stop."
At the figure's voice, Heuksaja's body stiffened rigidly.
He had stopped upon hearing the words, but his expression showed that he himself didn't know why he had obeyed the command.
The figure continued toward Heuksaja.
"If you do not wish for your lord to die, it would be best you stay still."
A cold, chilling tone.
We hadn't even noticed when he had been standing there.
Moreover.
He was someone I knew.
Not only me, but Heuksaja also seemed to know him, his face crumpling instantly.
Not only had his black hair turned white, but his black pupils were now gleaming blue.
However, his striking features remained unchanged. There was no way I couldn't recognize him.
Heuksaja looked at him and spoke.
"Biwoegun…!!"
Yes, the one who had appeared was surprisingly Woohyeok.
For a moment, since I had told Woohyeok to come back on his own, I thought he had come here.
‘No.’
The moment I saw him, I could be sure.
With my brows furrowed deeply, I opened my mouth to him.
"…You."
At my words, his gaze turned this way.
The moment I met those blue eyes, I felt a spine-chilling sensation.
It felt as though his gaze alone could cut me.
Because of that, I could be even more certain.
"Who are you?"
He was not Woohyeok.