< Episode 645 > Chill.
My head felt as if it were freezing solid.
I didn't know where to even begin thinking.
That was how it felt.
'What is this guy saying?'
I tried to understand, but couldn't. It was that nonsensical.
"That I am the reincarnation of the Hwasan Sword Immortal?"
That I was the reincarnation of Sin Noya? No, more precisely, the physical body that was supposed to contain his soul?
Hearing that, I thought.
'What kind of dog-shit nonsense is that.'
It was absurd.
How could things have possibly progressed to become like that?
With an utterly bewildered expression, I spoke to Namgung Myeong.
"That's absurd."
"Why?"
Why? I had to let out a hollow laugh at Namgung Myeong's retort.
"I'm not a disciple of the Hwasan Sect."
There had been dozens more reasons I could give. This was simply the easiest one.
From the martial uniform I wore to the body that used fist and leg techniques, there was nothing that could prove me to be a disciple of the Hwasan Sect except—
'—the aura Noya possessed, and the sect's authentication plaque.'
Nothing more than the aura I had absorbed from a spirit artifact, and the plaque the Hwasan Sect had given me when they named me an honorary disciple.
And yet, I was the reincarnation of Sin Noya?
'I'd sooner believe that Yeongpung was Noya's reincarnation.'
Those words were right.
If it were said that Yeongpung was Noya's reincarnation, I would have found it much easier to believe.
'Because there are more than one or two things that fit.'
A fellow disciple of the Hwasan Sect.
Sharing the same martial arts and mental arts, and being called Hwasan's greatest talent, Yeongpung possessed the aptitude as well.
If Noya's physical body had reincarnated in advance, it would make more sense to say it was Yeongpung, not me.
'Even if it wasn't Yeongpung.'
There would have been many suitable candidates if one looked, but I wouldn't have been among them.
That should have been obvious.
"What's the problem with that?"
Namgung Myeong replied as though he didn't even care about my words. Hearing that, I furrowed my brow.
"Pardon?"
"I could tell you weren't a Taoist of the Hwasan Sect the moment I saw you. I am not blind."
"Then how can you conclude it's me so decisively?"
"Because such things are meaningless."
"Meaningless?"
"Let me ask you this. Is it necessary for his reincarnation to be a Taoist of the Hwasan Sect?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Sin Noya is someone who lived his entire life as a member of the Hwasan Sect.
If he were to reincarnate, wouldn't it be easier to become someone from there? Wouldn't it be troublesome to suddenly become a descendant of some sect or family that uses fist and leg techniques or spears, martial arts he had never used?
'Because Noya used a sword.'
It wasn't that it absolutely had to be that way, but wasn't it much better that way?
"Hmm."
Hearing this, Namgung Myeong nodded slightly.
"That has merit."
It was an acknowledgment much quicker than expected. I had thought we would have a debate that wasn't quite a debate, and just when it was starting to feel rather anticlimactic—
"However, that too fails as a reason."
Namgung Myeong's pupils swept over me.
It was a gaze as if he were searching for something.
"Martial arts and position cannot prove him."
I focused on his words.
His characteristic resoluteness made me listen closely.
"The reason he was called the Hwasan Sword Immortal is simply that he was born and raised on Mount Hwa, and he wielded a sword."
Though his displeasure was evident, those words contained clear acknowledgment.
It was a subtle difference.
But it was precisely because of that subtle difference that I focused even more.
"Sin Cheol, do you know what else that bastard was called besides the Hwasan Sword Immortal?"
"...I don't know."
Another alias besides that.
I truly didn't know. I didn't think there were any other historically known facts—had there been another name?
If there had been one, wouldn't it have been something like the Hwasan Mad Dog or the Hwasan Mad Bastard?
Since the Thunder Heaven First Sword had once been called the Thunder God, I had thought it might be something along those lines.
"The Greatest Sword of the Central Plains."
"...!"
"That was his other alias."
Somewhere deep inside felt heavily pressed upon by the title that came from Namgung Myeong.
It couldn't be helped.
The word "greatest" was already heavy enough, but the one speaking it was Namgung Myeong.
Among those who lived in that era, if one were to select the Greatest Sword Under Heaven, he would unquestionably have been a candidate—perhaps even the one who came closest to it.
Such a Namgung Myeong had called Sin Noya the greatest without the slightest hesitation.
The alien sensation that came from it made my heart tremble.
At a loss for words, I hesitated for a moment, but Namgung Myeong continued as though this wasn't the end.
"If, rather than Mount Hwa, he had picked up a spear in some nameless martial family, he would have been called the Greatest Spear of the Central Plains."
The more I heard, the wider my eyes grew.
As his words continued, I finally seemed to understand what Namgung Myeong was trying to say.
"Had he picked up a bow, he would have been called the Divine Archer and praised. Had he walked the path of an assassin, no one would have known his face or name."
That no matter what he picked up or what he learned, he would have reached the pinnacle.
They were words close to praise.
"Fist and leg techniques... I suppose that alone might have been too much, but regardless, that was the kind of man he was."
The reason he said fist and leg techniques would have been too much was probably because of Yeonilcheon.
Even if that weren't the case, what I had just heard alone gave me much to think about.
A man who would have reached the pinnacle no matter what he did.
It was an impression that didn't quite overlap with the Sin Noya I had known, but even setting that aside—
'He was a figure even more unrelated to me.'
Compared to me, it was a far-removed description.
The pinnacle and the greatest under heaven.
They were the words I had thought had the least relevance to my life.
Moreover, when I heard that Sin Noya had lived for the world and had wielded his sword for that purpose, I became even more certain.
'I can't do that.'
It wasn't anything else—the words "lived for the world" stuck with me.
Not for myself, not for someone important. Live for the world?
'What kind of crazy talk is that. Even out of spite, I couldn't do that.'
I couldn't do it, nor did I have any intention to.
That was the kind of person I was.
That was why I wished it wasn't me.
I could perhaps accept what Noya had wanted to do and live as his successor.
But I could not live a life with the same mindset as his.
I knew that all too well.
I resembled Noya yet was different; there were corners where we seemed to fit but were twisted.
That was why.
'I must not be something like Noya's reincarnation.'
Namgung Myeong must have been mistaken. It had to be so.
"Just what is the reason you are so certain it's me? I understand he was an incredible figure based on what you've said. But I am a man far removed from him."
"Successor, how old are you?"
"Twenty."
If my previous life were included, it would have been much higher, but I didn't count that in detail.
"I see. At your age, Sin Cheol and I had not reached that level. Looking at the subject, you don't seem so lacking, do you?"
"..."
I furrowed my brow at Namgung Myeong's words.
"No, this is..."
It was because I had devoured all sorts of fortuitous encounters thanks to my regression that I had reached this realm. In terms of talent, I was far more lacking.
Unable to explain this, it was simply complicated.
To him, reaching the Hwagyeong realm at this age must have made me look like an unprecedented monster, but this wasn't achieved through my talent alone.
That was why I wasn't particularly moved.
Watching such a reaction, Namgung Myeong spoke with a puzzled expression.
"Successor, rather than wanting to know the truth of the matter, you seem to be hoping that you aren't him."
"..."
I couldn't deny it.
"Why?"
"Must I tell you even that?"
The courtesy I had barely maintained crumbled slightly. Without realizing it, I spoke in an angry tone.
"It doesn't matter. Whatever reaction you show, it won't hide the truth."
Namgung Myeong reacted calmly even to my display. It was ambiguous whether to consider that fortunate or infuriating.
"Successor."
At the call, I looked at Namgung Myeong.
"Did you ask how I am certain it's you?"
"...Yes."
The words that I was Sin Noya's reincarnation—none of the lingering spirits I had met until now had ever said that to me.
In such a situation, how could he be certain it was me?
In response, Namgung Myeong pointed somewhere on my body.
My gaze followed. It was my arm.
"The Gwijeong bound to your left arm."
Noya's beloved weapon, which originally lost its color and took on a blue hue.
"That is the proof."
"...!"
At Namgung Myeong's words, my eyes grew as large as lanterns.
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
This was proof?
'How is this thing proof?'
Gwijeong was an item I had obtained from the secret vault of the Divine Dragon Hall.
It was something Noya had found for me, and because it had stuck to my arm and wouldn't come off, there was a time when I had lived without knowing what it was.
Though I had figured out that it was Noya's beloved weapon and how to use it, and had been making good use of it—this was proof?
"How does the Gwijeong become proof...?"
"Gwijeong follows you. Is any greater proof needed?"
Ah, was it because I was using Gwijeong that it looked that way?
If so, I had an excuse.
"In the past, I have also used Senior's beloved weapon."
"Beloved weapon?"
"Yes, I mean the Noea."
"..."
The Noea that had been used by Namgung Myeong of the Thunder Heaven First Sword—I had once used it in Sichuan.
It was an item said to be unusable unless one was of the bloodline recognized by the Noea of the Namgung Clan, yet I had strangely been able to use it.
Seeing how even Namgung Myeong's lingering attachment inside the Noea had shouted, wondering what was going on, my constitution was probably peculiar.
That's why I had thought perhaps I could use Gwijeong as well.
"It's different."
This time too, Namgung Myeong firmly rejected the notion.
"Different?"
"Being forcibly used and following you are different principles."
"What do you—"
"Do you truly think the Noea followed you?"
At his words, I recalled the situation for a moment. Had the Noea followed me?
'...Hmm.'
I had certainly used the Noea, but the recoil I had felt afterward had been fierce.
It was something I had suppressed and forced to use; if asked whether it had followed me, that was ambiguous.
"I'm not sure if it followed me or not... but it's true that I used the Noea."
"That must be true. All spirit artifacts would bow their heads before you."
"What?"
"You are a dragon. Are you not?"
"...!"
His expressionlessly uttered words held daggers.
Hearing them, I failed to manage my expression for an instant.
'He knew.'
It wasn't that I had tried to hide it, but I had never revealed it, and since Namgung Myeong hadn't mentioned it either, I had thought perhaps he didn't know.
It seemed he had known from the beginning.
"Are you saying that my being a dragon is connected to my being able to use the Noea?"
I didn't deny the part about being a dragon.
I thought it would be a waste of time to do so.
Thus, I had wanted to end the back-and-forth quickly, but—
"That goes without saying. Spirit artifacts originally come from dragons."
"What?"
I paused briefly at Namgung Myeong's following words.
I had heard of it before.
They said spirit artifacts were items obtained from hundred-class demonic beasts.
And I knew that they came to be called dragons in the present day.
But that this was related to the matter at hand?
"Dragons are the masters of spirit artifacts, so even if they recognize a human as their master, they are ultimately drawn to dragons."
"In other words, you mean..."
That because I was a dragon, I could use the Noea.
And furthermore, if I wished to use any spirit artifact, I could.
If so.
"My ability to use the Gwijeong as well—could it not be the same logic?"
Wasn't my ability to use the Gwijeong just like how I had used the Noea?
"As I said before, there is a difference between following and being forcibly used. Gwijeong is following you."
I didn't quite know what the difference was, but I felt I vaguely understood the latter part.
Gwijeong follows me.
Unlike the fierce recoil that had struck after using the Noea, there was nothing like that with Gwijeong.
When I wanted to use it, I could.
And after using it, there was no recoil.
Regarding this, I had thought it was possible only because I possessed a trace of Noya's aura and because Noya's lingering spirit had been present.
'Are you saying that wasn't it...?'
As I recalled this, old memories surfaced naturally.
When I had seen the Gwijeong at Wudang. The day it had suddenly flown to me.
'...'
There was too much evidence to deny it.
And reality was closing in, making it impossible to say no.
"Senior..."
"Enough."
Just as I was trying to ask something more, Namgung Myeong raised his hand to stop me.
"I merely came to check the situation and make a request of you. I had no intention of having a long chat."
"But—"
"Besides, there is no time."
Crack—!
The moment Namgung Myeong spoke, a sound rang out from the space around us.
My gaze moved.
I could see cracks in the empty air.
It was a familiar sight. It signaled that the end of our conversation had been forcibly brought about. Seeing it, I gritted my teeth.
'Damn it, I still have so much to ask.'
I had learned much, but equally, my curiosity had grown.
If Noya had succeeded in reincarnating and the body he should have obtained was me, where had the soul that should have entered it gone?
Furthermore, what had Namgung Myeong intended to do here in the first place?
I hadn't even heard the reason he had to go to the North Sea—was this really the end? That couldn't be.
As anxiousness set in and my eyes were darting about—
"I will have our next dialogue before too long. However, I hope Sin Cheol will be with you then."
"The next... does that mean you aren't disappearing like this?"
It was welcome news to hear.
"I haven't been given much time. But this too must be my role."
Tap.
Namgung Myeong reached out and tapped my forehead with his fingertip.
I didn't dodge. No, I couldn't.
His movement was so natural that I couldn't react in time.
In that instant.
Zzzt—!
A faint current swept through my body.
It felt like lightning energy seeping into my body.
"What... is this?"
"The sequence is correct. Now find Singang."
"What?"
"Though it may not have been the arrangement we planned, if Sin Cheol has chosen you, then even that is fate. It doesn't matter what you are. Therefore, head there next."
"...!"
His curt words contained a great deal.
"And."
As he spoke, Namgung Myeong pointed somewhere else.
It was the direction where the Black Lion and the Palace Lord were.
"If possible, I would like you to save that bloodline descendant of the Ice Palace."
"The Palace Lord...?"
It was a rather sudden request.
Save the Palace Lord in this situation, all of a sudden?
As I looked at Namgung Myeong with questions, he added more words.
"I owe a personal debt. I have received much. You can do at least this much."
"Ha."
I let out a hollow laugh at Namgung Myeong's words.
So there had been a request behind why he had been speaking so freely until now—that was it.
What reason did Namgung Myeong have to save the Palace Lord?
I was curious about that too, but I couldn't ask.
"If you wish for what comes next, I believe you will do at least that much."
If I wanted to hear the rest, I should quietly do as he said.
It was a request in name only, no different from a threat.
As I was looking at him with an expression of absurdity—
Crumble—!!
The cracked background began to gradually crumble apart.
It signaled that the end had come.
As the falling debris grew larger and a gradually buzzing vibration spread, Namgung Myeong looked at me.
"Ah, and successor."
There was no time to answer.
"Beware of Yeonilcheon."
"What...?"
I tried to urgently ask back at Namgung Myeong's words, but—
Kugugung—!!
The surging vibration prevented me from spitting out the rest of my question.
The vibration burst, and my eyes closed.
Enduring it, when I opened my eyes once more—
"Bioegun—!!"
Everything had already returned to the way it was.