Chapter 316: The Song of Swords (1)
With the death of the Heart Demon Commander and the information Jinhyuk handed over to the Murim Alliance, the situation began to take an intriguing turn.
The relentless momentum of the Heavenly Demon Cult was slightly dampened.
In contrast, the morale of the Murim Alliance’s warriors, buoyed by their successive victories, soared sky-high.
Because of this, the various sects couldn’t vent their anger at Jinhyuk and were instead watching each other cautiously.
– If we anger that guy unnecessarily, he might take even more from us.
– Worse than the Heavenly Demon Cult. He uprooted everything.
– Complaining over such a small thing. We lost gold and silver, and now we have to live on grass roots from today.
– But thanks to the information he provided, we dealt with over 1,000 Jiangshi. It’s our loss, so let’s wait quietly.
– Isn’t this all Buddha’s will? Amitabha. Haha.
While everyone was busy trying to gauge Jinhyuk’s mood…
Jinhyuk, left alone, enjoyed his rare leisure time to the fullest.
[Returnee’s Bracelet]
Difficulty of Acquisition: A
Description: A bracelet used by someone who once went to another world and climbed the Tower. It was exhibited in the ‘Museum’ exclusive to the residents of the 1st floor of the Tower of Trials and is currently in a stolen state.
Effect 1: Resonates when encountering a returnee. All stats increase by +3 during combat.
Effect 2: Under certain conditions, it can create a gate connected to another world.
A returnee.
A term referring to those who have returned from another world.
There were returnees in the Tower of Trials, but Jinhyuk hadn’t accurately grasped their numbers.
They had kept their identities tightly hidden.
‘Still, with this, I might be able to find some of them.’
Is it a reward for discovering an Easter egg of sorts?
Simply identifying returnees granted various privileges from the Tower.
In particular, ‘Medley’ was an indispensable talent in the upper floors of the Tower.
Of course, all this was still premature.
To meet the returnees, one had to at least surpass the 30th floor of the Tower.
Jinhyuk stuffed the returnee’s bracelet back into his subspace inventory.
At that moment.
Woooong!
Another weapon stored in the subspace inventory emitted a chilling resonance.
Balmung.
The supreme holy relic, radiating a purple light, struggled to answer its master’s call.
‘Yeah, you haven’t forgotten either.’
The time to use Balmung was approaching.
When all the main actors are gathered.
When the moment calls for the strongest blow.
Then, the completed Balmung will reveal itself.
‘Well, now that everything’s roughly sorted, shall we get going?’
Jinhyuk prepared to move.
But then.
“Hey, where are you going at this hour? Or are you leaving without even telling me?”
Alice ran up to him as he was about to jump over the window.
He had deliberately made a lot of meat dumplings to avoid being caught by her.
She must have eaten all those in the meantime.
Look at the grease around her mouth.
She ate all 50 of them and her cheeks are puffed up like a hamster.
“I was just going for a walk.”
“Really? Then I’ll go with you. Perfect timing, I’m full anyway.”
“Actually, I have a condition where I die if I walk with someone… so that’s a bit difficult.”
“If the contractor goes, I’ll go too. If you try to leave me behind, I’ll scream right here. Seriously.”
Alice glared with wide eyes.
She meant it.
Her pupils began to turn red as her magic rose.
“Okay… I’ll take you, but you have to behave. Got it?”
“Yes! I’m really good at behaving!”
Alice smiled brightly, revealing her pointed fangs.
She didn’t look very trustworthy, but there was no other choice.
They had to go together.
Jinhyuk lightly jumped over the window and landed outside.
＊＊＊
How far had they walked through the deserted market street?
Their long steps finally stopped when they reached an abandoned temple halfway up a deep mountain.
Swaa…
The wind rustled through the bamboo forest.
Under the starry night sky.
There was the Heavenly Demon, completely changed from when they first met.
“…”
The appearance of a man who looked like he would collapse at any moment was gone.
Sitting in a cross-legged position, absorbing the qi from the atmosphere, he looked like the epitome of a martial artist.
…The word ‘reverent’ seemed fitting at this moment.
Jinhyuk found himself staring at the sight, lost in thought.
“Ahem! You’ve never shown that look to your master. Seems you’re completely captivated. A sole disciple straying… I should die of sorrow in my old age.”
Dark Emperor grumbled as he approached.
“Master. You’ve come. It’s been a long time.”
Wolyoung was next to him, carrying a bundle of firewood.
The two had joined last night after moving separately to confront Sama-ja and were currently staying here to heal the Heavenly Demon’s wounds.
“Of all the terms, why ‘straying’?”
“What? Are you contradicting your master now?”
“No, I meant… isn’t it better if we all get along well?”
“You and your words… Oh. Did you bring your fiancée?”
Dark Emperor’s gaze shifted to Alice.
“…”
Alice, like a scared deer, clung tightly to Jinhyuk and watched anxiously.
She hadn’t expected to meet the Heavenly Demon or Dark Emperor on a casual walk.
‘He has recovered to the point of manifesting a fragment of Heavenly Demon Divine Art… good, not bad.’
Jinhyuk chuckled, looking at Alice.
It had been a long time since he had seen her make that face.
After all, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was on par with the ‘Blood Road,’ so it was natural to feel uneasy.
[Currently, a 10-star barrier ‘Ether Territory’ is deployed here.]
Harmony of Yin and Yang.
To repair the damaged dantian, the energy of opposing forces was necessary.
The Heavenly Demon had sought clues with dual energy attributes in the village for that reason.
The problem was…
The Heavenly Demon only instinctively guessed the solution but didn’t know the detailed method.
So Jinhyuk actively helped.
To repair the Heavenly Demon’s dantian and allow him to gather his lost inner power again.
The barrier that could amplify ether within a certain area would provide the optimal environment for the Heavenly Demon to recover his inner power.
“Ugh!… Ugh! Ugh!”
Suddenly, red blood spurted from the Heavenly Demon’s mouth.
Hematemesis. [1]
However, the blood was black, not bright red.
Another clot blocking the meridians had been cleared.
“…”
The Heavenly Demon looked down at his body in disbelief.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Qi was accumulating in his dantian.
The dantian, which should have felt nothing, trembled as if reminiscing old memories.
“Ahem. Didn’t I say? This guy’s words are trustworthy. All thanks to my discerning eye.”
Dark Emperor’s face radiated pride in Jinhyuk.
Breaking all conventional wisdom and achieving what everyone deemed impossible.
His one and only disciple had done it.
“Your disciple is quite special.”
“Indeed. He is my last disciple; how could I not be proud? Even though…”
Dark Emperor, speaking proudly, glanced at the Heavenly Demon.
“Just to be sure, don’t think of taking my disciple away.”
“If he is your disciple, then he is also mine, isn’t he? Great talents should have multiple masters.”
“See? He’s already eyeing him. Absolutely not. Not until I’m dead.”
“Absolutely not?”
The Heavenly Demon’s eyebrows arched.
Dark Emperor flinched and took a few steps back.
“I mean it. Absolutely not.”
“Since when does the supposedly cooperative you defy my command? If I regain even a tenth of my power, I’ll hold you accountable.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t resort to violence for everything. Just because you’ve rejuvenated a bit, why are you so full of energy? Besides, flaunting your meager inner power like that, what if you get hurt?”
“Flaunting? Are you saying I’m flaunting?”
The Heavenly Demon and Dark Emperor growled at each other.
“Don’t go to them. I’m stronger. Probably…”
Alice murmured anxiously.
“Master. Though I may not be as strong as them, if you call, I will always fight by your side.”
Wolyoung chimed in.
Both seemed worried about being abandoned.
‘Are they fools?’
They weren’t children.
Seeing them argue about pride in this situation was more ridiculous than annoying.
‘Well…’
It wasn’t a bad feeling.
They had shared countless experiences and memories on one floor.
A soft smile formed on Jinhyuk’s lips.
This might be the last time they could rest like this.
Soon…
…One of the Four Symbols would awaken.
The Eastern divine beast ‘Azure Dragon,’ known as a natural disaster.
Although preparations had been made, the thought of the upcoming colossal battle made his fists clench unconsciously.
Tension, excitement, and a burning desire to grow even stronger surged within him.
But…
It was almost time…
Jinhyuk checked the time on his status window.
Exactly midnight.
It was the appointed time.
At that moment.
Rustle!
There was movement in the bushes.
＊＊＊
A pair of men and women appeared.
Chun Yoosung and Chuhon Sayoung.
“How did you find this place…?”
Dark Emperor’s eyes widened.
Although they had once enjoyed a vacation outside the tower together, that was outside the tower.
* * *
In Murim, they were enemies.
Even the Heavenly Demon looked at Chuhon Sayoung with interest.
“You don’t seem surprised to see me.”
He exuded the aura of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, not his usual self. There was no way Chuhon Sayoung didn’t recognize him.
Yet, Chuhon Sayoung showed no sign of being disturbed.
“I heard from Master Kang.”
Chuhon Sayoung spoke slowly.
“Heard what?”
“That you… saved Murim. And in doing so, lost all your inner power.”
“And?”
“Do you think I would pity you or say you’re not worth fighting?”
“No, I have no intention of disrespecting you.”
Swish!
Chuhon Sayoung slowly drew her sword.
“Master Kang. You said that to restore the Heavenly Demon’s inner power, the energy of Yin and Yang is needed, right?”
“Yes. Although he’s recovering slowly, I can’t say how long it will take.”
“In that case, we should directly release the two energies. There are plenty of people here who have mastered the energies of Yin and Yang to the extreme.”
At Chuhon Sayoung’s words, Dark Emperor’s eyes widened even more.
“The leaders of the Murim Alliance… are willing to help us? There’s no way the alliance approved this.”
Indeed.
The Murim Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Cult couldn’t coexist.
In their blood-stained history, they had always been at each other’s throats.
Helping each other was unthinkable.
“It wasn’t approved by the alliance. This is my decision alone.”
“Why? Why go to such lengths…?”
“Because we are ‘Murim.'”
At this moment, there was no distinction between the Orthodox, the Unorthodox, or the Heavenly Demon Cult.
To defeat Sama-ja and the disaster of the 50th floor manifestation.
Murim.
Only one force existed.
“Heavenly Demon Cult. Cooperative. Dark Emperor.”
Chuhon Sayoung’s gaze turned to Dark Emperor.
“I, Chuhon Sayoung, on behalf of the Murim Alliance, challenge you to a duel.”
Her sword left a trail as it gracefully moved.
***
Footnotes:
[1] Hematemesis: Vomiting blood. This medical term is used to describe the expulsion of blood from the stomach or esophagus, which can appear as bright red vomit or look like coffee grounds due to partially digested blood.