Splash.
I looked around at the sound of shallowly lapping waves.
Splash... splash...
I could hear the sound but felt no difference in the water.
The space filled with ink barely revealed an inch ahead; beyond that lay only pitch-black darkness.
Where is this place? What's happening on the outside?
Such questions briefly crossed my mind, but I didn't think too deeply about them.
I've learned this in my life. Thinking hard about these things doesn't help you figure them out.
As always, I just need to deal with what's right in front of me.
With that thought, I locked eyes with the old man.
'Wow.'
One fierce-looking mug.
That was the thought that crossed my mind upon seeing the old man.
Pure white martial robes with a plum blossom embroidery on the chest.
A tall old man sitting cross-legged, resting his chin on his hand—the look was unmistakable.
The deep crimson eyes in his downward gaze left a strong impression.
Thump.
My heart beats as I look at him.
Thump.
Thump.
It's not a pounding born of emotion.
It was energy. The energy of Noya within my body was resonating with 'that man.'
Which means.
'So it's Noya.'
Does this mean the old man before me is the Shin Noya I know?
Around the time I was looking at the old man with such doubt.
[How strange.]
The old man also expressed his doubt and addressed me.
[Brat, what exactly are you? Why do you possess that?]
The Dao energy of Shin Noya within my body.
The old man must have felt it too, as he wore a considerably puzzled expression.
[What is your identity?]
Identity.
I let out a scoff at the old man's question.
"That's what I'd like to ask."
I take on Noya's appearance and speak with Noya's voice.
And harboring Noya's energy as well, there's a high probability this old man is Shin Noya.
However.
"Who are you?"
Strangely, I didn't think this old man was Shin Noya.
[You ask who I am?]
At my question, the old man also holds back a laugh.
Wow, that smiling face is terrifying.
He truly had the impression of someone with a filthy temper.
[You searched for me so desperately, calling out to me, and yet you claim you don't know who I am?]
"I didn't search that desperately. I just called out once because I was curious, and you came scurrying out."
[Hoho.]
Along with the laughter, plum blossom petals fall.
An alien presence within the dark space.
Tiny leaves landed with a plop on the water's surface.
Vwooom.
A wave arrived as if a vibration was spreading.
[I am the 8th Sect Leader of the Great Hwasan Sect.]
Before I knew it, the old man had descended from the rock and appeared before me.
[I am called Hwasan Sage Sword Shin Cheol.]
Meeting those crimson eyes this close up, my skin stiffens involuntarily.
Wariness had settled into my flesh.
[That should suffice for my introduction.]
"..."
Words as expected.
The old man introduced himself as Shin Cheol. And from what I could see, it was definitely that old man.
But why on earth.
"Hmm."
Why do I keep feeling like this old man is not Shin Noya?
[Now, speak. Brat, who are you that you sought me so anxiously. Also—]
The old man's fingertips point toward my chest.
[—why my energy resides within your body.]
Poke.
The tip of the old man's finger pokes my chest.
Then.
Whoooosh.
The Dao energy within my body surges and begins to expand through my meridians.
The sensation of flower petals blooming fully.
Feeling the refreshing warmth, I considered letting it go for a moment, but.
Crunch—!
I grabbed the spreading energy and locked it back inside my heart.
[Hah.]
The old man lets out a hollow laugh at that action.
I didn't pay it any mind.
"I naturally received this energy from its owner."
[Hm?]
"He was an old man with a terrible temper and far too many words."
Tap tap.
I brushed off the spot where his finger had touched a few times with my hand.
[Nonsense. I have never given such energy to a brat like you.]
The old man frowned as if asking what I was talking about, so I corrected him once more.
"Yes, I didn't say I received it from you either. I said I received it from the owner of this energy."
[So that energy is my energy—]
"No."
I cut off his words with a frown.
"I said this energy. Is not yours."
Swish—!
[...!]
The old man's eyes widen as he looks at me.
The reason is probably because something had coiled around my hand that cut him off.
Guicheong.
Hwasan's spectral blade and Shin Noya's beloved sword was wrapped firmly in my left hand.
[How do you possess that...]
"I'm curious too. What exactly are you?"
His appearance.
His voice.
The atmosphere emanating from him.
Even the Dao energy within my body. Everything kept pointing to the old man being Shin Noya, but.
"Why are you wearing Noya's mask?"
I didn't believe it.
My instinct tells me.
That old man is not the Shin Noya I know.
I trusted that instinct without a doubt.
[...Hah.]
At my certain words, the old man makes an expression of disbelief.
And at the same time.
Shwirik—!!
A crimson bandage appeared in the old man's hand and formed into the shape of a point sword.
It was Guicheong.
The very Guicheong that had possessed a crimson color before I touched it.
[This is truly strange.]
The old man holding Guicheong casually draped it over his shoulder and continued speaking while looking at me.
[Brat. You are not my successor, yet you possess the things I have arranged. I recently gave this one to that child as well, so what exactly are you? Or perhaps, are you the child who entered the Bigo first...? No. Then I couldn't have not known.]
Bigo.
Does he mean the one in Seomseo that Yeongpung discovered?
It seems to be referring to that Bigo, where they said they received a voice and energy from inside.
[I cannot understand. What exactly are you?]
"Who I am is something you should ask the one you call your successor."
From what I know, it seems like he can't have separate conversations with Yeongpung, but well, that's his problem.
"I'm also unfortunately in a situation where I can't talk with our old man."
It was at the point when the very person I needed to ask had left his spot to help me.
"If you are truly the Hwasan Sage Sword, what is a man who should have died long ago doing here?"
[An absurd question.]
The old man's answer held no hesitation.
[There was unfinished business, and though I feel sorry for relying on my successor's hands like this... it was simply unavoidable.]
"Unfinished business... By any chance, is it because of the Blood Demon?"
[—!]
At my words, the old man's expression contorts.
[How do you know of that?]
"Hmm."
Seems like he's confirming it.
'That means...'
This old man knows something about the Blood Demon's affairs.
It was strange.
'Noya didn't know anything.'
That man had lost most of his memories and knew very little.
To the point he even said that aside from being noisy, the ghost was useless.
Of course, towards the end, he came to his senses a bit.
But before that, he was a man who didn't even know why he had died.
Seeing that.
'...Huh, is this one actually the real one?'
I suddenly flinch.
Just going by feel, this one seems more useful.
'Should I swap them out this opportunity?'
If both are similar anyway, swapping wouldn't be much...
-What the hell, you little shit?
"..."
I whipped my head around.
There shouldn't be anyone there, but I thought I heard someone cursing from somewhere.
That gave me chills.
'Just kidding. Just kidding.'
I can't even make jokes with that guy around.
Heh heh. Laughing inwardly, I turned my head back.
Whether what's in front of me is fake or real, I don't care.
Because what I believed to be real was real to me.
And the man before me was a fake to me.
That was enough for me.
[I asked how you know of that.]
"I heard about it. Here and there."
I've heard it so much my ears are practically calloused.
[Heard it...?]
"Yes. I heard it from Shaolin's Bulyeong as well."
Hwang-a Bulyeong, whom I met at Shaolin, had said so.
"And from Sichuan's Dokjeolcheon as well."
Dangjemun, whom I met in Sichuan, had also mentioned it.
"I even heard about it from that damn North Sea's Thunder Heaven One Sword."
I also heard it from Namgung Myeong, who was guarding the ice array.
"Also."
I listed off the ones who had given me trouble in the past.
Ah, I should leave out Great Senior Dangjemun. That person didn't give me trouble; in fact, they only helped me.
"And I heard it from Yeon Il-cheon as well."
When I finally mentioned Yeon Il-cheon, the old man's reaction was pronounced.
[...]
I could see the old man's expression crumple.
So I decided to deliver the final blow as well.
"Ah, by the way, the Thunder Heaven One Sword said I was the reincarnation of the Hwasan Sage Sword."
[What?]
As I said that while picking my ears, the old man's expression became a spectacle.
"So the reason I can't believe you is also..."
[Don't say such ridiculous things.]
Whether truly enraged, he spoke to me with blazing eyes.
[My reincarnation couldn't possibly be as ugly as you.]
"...What the fuck?"
[Brat. Don't speak carelessly just because you have a hole in your face.]
"This old man sure talks like shit..."
My mood turned considerably worse.
What the hell is this shitty feeling?
Grinding my teeth, I was glaring at the old man when.
[Right, I thought it was strange from the beginning.]
The old man added as if he had figured something out.
[I thought it was odd that Guicheong wouldn't listen at Wudang, but hearing your words and now even this last bit of bullshit, I think I understand.]
A voice full of conviction.
Has he really figured something out?
[You are the Blood Demon's spy.]
"Fuck off."
Figured out my ass.
[I thought something was flowing differently than expected. So it was that one's doing after all.]
"Even if I said it wasn't, you wouldn't believe me anyway, right? Right?"
[If that were truly the case, then it was a mistake.]
"See, you don't believe me."
Judging by the situation, things were tangled up anyway.
But isn't the reason they're tangled being that my reincarnation is the reason a bit too shitty?
'Fuuuuuck...'
A sigh escapes me involuntarily.
Now it didn't matter whether he was Shin Noya or not.
That wasn't my purpose to begin with.
"...Whatever. The circumstances of why you remained here. And why you chose Yeongpung as your successor. Could you tell me at least that?"
[An absurd notion. I cannot trust you, so how do you judge that I would tell you such things?]
"You're right. We don't trust each other at all."
I acknowledge it. We trusted each other about as far as we could throw each other.
That didn't matter either.
Swish.
[Hm?]
I raised my fist and spoke to the old man.
"But you also have something you want to ask me, right? So it seems like things would be a bit easier this way."
I smiled brightly.
"Let's have a match."
[...]
It was a method I had also used on the Ami Sect's Sect Leader a few days ago.
The situation is quite different, but...
The advantage of this method is that it can be used anywhere.
"So let's have the winner tell the other."
A way to wrap things up neatly.
Having a war of words is pointless and meaningless.
If words can't solve it, then this was how it was supposed to be.
Hearing this, the old man looked at me with a peculiar expression and.
[Haha.]
Suddenly burst into laughter and added.
[Everything about you displeases me. But this one thing I like.]
Saying so, he stabbed the Guicheong he was holding into the ground with a thunk.
Shiver!
The moment I saw that, every hair on my body stood on end.
Oh... this crazy bastard.
'Wow. I think I'm fucked?'
How long has it been since I felt this sensation?
Despite making no particular move, my survival instincts screamed.
That much overwhelming pressure from just that one movement.
[Being intoxicated by your own strength is fine. You truly are strong, brat. However, if you're challenging me to a duel relying on that...]
"Are you crazy?"
[Hm?]
As his killing intent kept rising, I shouted as if correcting him.
"Of course you have to go easy on me."
[...Huh?]
"You're a full-grown adult going to fight a kid with everything you've got? That's seriously cheap, isn't it?"
[...]
"Fight with both feet off the ground. Or use just one finger. Or fight while holding your breath and closing your eyes. You need to do something like that!"
[...Your examples seem a bit too much of a mess, don't you think?]
"So are you really going to fight seriously? If you win fighting like that, I'll definitely tell you everything."
[...]
"I won't say a damn thing out of sheer spite."
At my words, the old man makes an expression of utter disgust.
[Brat, you have far less pride than I expected.]
"Yes. There's no benefit to having that kind of thing."
[That is true.]
The self-proclaimed Shin Noya nodded immediately as if convinced.
[Nothing helps survival as much as knowing your place.]
Even if he's a fake, it felt like we could communicate a bit.
When I said things like this to the others, they would just look at me like they didn't understand.
[Very well.]
Swirl.
The Guicheong pulled from the ground rose up and settled on his shoulder while spinning.
It was the same motion as before, but strangely, I could smell plum blossoms.
[I will set conditions in respect of your wishes.]
Even his voice carried that fragrance.
Is it some kind of battle stance?
[Ten moves exactly. I will concede that much. If even a single strike among them lands on me—your victory—!?]
Before the old man could even finish stating his conditions.
I threw the Sacred Spear at him with all my might.
Blaze——!
Crash——!!
The Sacred Spear struck the old man and caused an explosion.
The ink on the ground scattered in all directions, expressing the impact.
This much power from condensed energy exploding at close range.
It made me think anew that I had created an incredible martial art.
"Tsk."
I had to show disappointment as I assessed the situation.
"Ah, what a shame. I thought this one would work."
At the center of the explosion.
At the very center of it, the old man was looking at me with a frown.
With Guicheong in his hand, no less.
It was somewhat of a prepared surprise attack, but it was a shame it failed. To think there wouldn't even be a scratch.
The old man, looking around at the situation, opened his mouth.
[I'm at a loss for words... To think I'd personally experience a trick I only pulled in my youth.]
Just lightly brushing off his clothes.
That's all it was despite a direct hit from the Sacred Spear. An overwhelmingly distant gap in realm.
As a martial artist, it inspired a sense of reverence.
I conveyed that feeling to the old man.
"The attack before you finished speaking doesn't count, right? Then I still have ten moves left."
[...]
Something should have been said about my shameless words.
But the old man just shook his head as if even that was now tiresome.
After shaking his head a few times, the old man looked at me and casually spoke.
[I suppose.]
At the same time.
[Brat. You need to be taught a lesson.]
Rustle—!
Plum blossom petals bloomed in all directions.