Chapter 1756
Because I made it this way. (1)
ROTMHS Glossary || About page
The ominous red eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness.
He senses it from up there.
It’s faint, but the scent he’s been searching for is wafting towards him.
A fleeting smirk crossed the red eyes, but it quickly faded, giving way to a cautious calmness. His tongue briefly emerged, checking the tightly wrapped bandage.
Sssrrrk.
The body of the Blood Cult Leader melted into the darkness.
This mountain is teeming with enemies. From his perspective, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a deathtrap [사지(死地)] or even the gates to hell.
Yet, the Blood Cult Leader, blending seamlessly into the thick shadows covering the mountain, felt no hesitation or doubt.
Sssst.
His gaze, slowly scanning the blackened mountain, finally settled on a single point.
It was a mountain peak.
Nothing particularly special about it. Not the highest, not the sharpest, nor the most concealed. It was as ordinary as the countless other peaks rising everywhere.
However, the Blood Cult Leader’s eyes remained fixed solely on that spot.
“…..There it is.”
The bandaged mouth of the Blood Cult Leader twisted slowly.
His body, completely merged with the darkness, began to move stealthily, like a wind climbing the mountain.
Towards a clear goal.
Creak.
From his bandaged hand came a spine-chilling sound of bones creaking. No matter how much he tried to remain calm, he was still a demon [마인(魔人) – demonic person]. The flesh, tainted by demonic energy, made his blood boil at the mere thought of the word ‘murder.’
However, at some point, the Blood Cult Leader’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
His body, once cloaked in the darkness of the night, began to slowly emerge. The concealment arts [은형술(隱形術)] that had hidden him were gradually unraveling, though he didn’t even realize it.
A shock far greater than the urge to kill engulfed his entire being.
His blood-red eyes trembled slightly.
‘This is…’
His instincts were warning him.
If he went any further, he would die.
It was difficult to understand through reason or logic. It was just that the instincts that had saved him countless times before were now screaming at him with a razor-sharp intensity.
At the same time, a chilling killing intent pricked at his skin.
The Blood Cult Leader instinctively raised his hand, ready to strike, but quickly shook his head.
‘No. No, it’s not.’
He hadn’t been discovered yet. Even if his presence had been noticed, they wouldn’t have pinpointed his exact location.
But if he took even one more step, it would be different. The one exuding such a terrifying aura would immediately sense him.
The Blood Cult Leader cast his darkened gaze at the ground beneath his feet.
One chi… no, even just a half.
Even that much could reveal his presence to the enemy. Perhaps that might be the quickest way to fulfill his desire for a sea of blood and corpses.
However, the Blood Cult Leader quickly shook off that thought.
‘No, it can’t be.’
Paegun is not so easily taken down. Given what he had done this time, even his own future was uncertain.
The Blood Cult Leader slowly retracted the foot he had extended.
If he got greedy, he would lose his head.
From the beginning, the enemy had been spreading such an extraordinary aura all around to detect any intrusion. And the Blood Cult Leader didn’t even know how this was possible.
If he tried to imitate it clumsily, he would collapse from exhaustion in no time. Even attempting to sense just half the range of the area that the enemy’s aura covered would be enough to wear him out.
And yet, they continued this throughout the entire night?
‘This is not a human.’
It’s not something that can be achieved by mere strength alone.
Even if the internal energy is the same, the way it’s utilized can make a difference as vast as heaven and earth. In this sense, the skill of the one who set up this deception far exceeded any conventional wisdom.
Among the enemies, the only one capable of such a feat would be…
Grit.
The Blood Cult Leader clenched his teeth for a moment, then turned away without hesitation.
Another opportunity will surely come. They can’t keep up such efforts throughout the entire war. In other words, there’s no need to feel humiliated for retreating temporarily.
‘But…’
The Blood Cult Leader’s gaze subtly shifted back again.
This aura heightened his senses and grated on his nerves. Yet, at the same time, it brought about a deep sense of unease.
‘Is this really the aura of a Just Sect bastard?’
If it is, then what is this stickiness and gloominess? This feels almost like…
The Blood Cult Leader’s eyes darkened even further.
Staring intently ahead, he once again vanished seamlessly into the darkness.
❀ ❀ ❀
Chung Myung, who had been burying his face in his knees, slowly lifted his head and stared blankly at some distant spot down the mountain.
His eyes seemed empty, but even without focus, they were clearly fixed on something.
Should I go?
He pondered for a moment but quickly dismissed the thought. He had experienced enough of those old war tactics – deliberately drawing attention to lure him out while another group struck at his allies. It was better to stay put.
Lowering his head again, he rested his cheek on his knees.
There was a time when nights like this felt normal.
Even after everyone else had fallen asleep, he could never rest, not for a single moment.
It was a long, sleepless night.
Back then, everything felt tiresome. He felt disillusioned with protecting those he didn’t even understand why he should protect, those who didn’t even know what gratitude was.
Yet, despite that, Chung Myung continued to protect everyone, gnawing away at himself in the process.
The next morning, he didn’t want to see Chung Mun’s sorrowful face, swallowing his grief with a heavy heart. That was the only reason.
But now, how are things?
Now, everyone has a reason to be protected. Everyone understands what gratitude is.
But does that mean the burden Chung Myung feels has lessened…?
A faint chuckle escaped Chung Myung’s lips.
It’s exhausting.
The realization that the efforts you began with the hope of achieving something different only lead to the same outcome. That the struggle for a different result ends up dragging you into an even deeper swamp.
No. That’s not it.
These corrupt thoughts gnawing at his mind are nothing more than the demons’s [마(魔)] temptations, trying to consume his heart. There’s absolutely no reason to be sick of protecting his Sahyeongs.
The moon cast an eerily pale light.
Chung Myung stared at the scene, lost in thought.
It felt like he was losing his mind. No, maybe he has already been mad.
‘Damn it.’
This is a relentless inner demon [심마(心魔)].
He has overcome inner demons countless times. They’re like gatekeepers, standing just beyond the limits of one’s inner realm.
They’re like a solid iron gate that must be opened, or an insurmountable cliff that must be climbed, to advance further.
But this… this time, something is different.
Even Chung Myung, who had overcome countless inner demons and ascended to a level few humans could reach, had never encountered such a relentless demon [마(魔)].
Inner demons usually gnaw away at a person’s spirit. The higher the level one reaches, the deeper their cultivation, the more insidious the inner demon’s temptations become.
The reason Chung Myung is in turmoil despite knowing all this…
‘What’s the reason?’
…is that there shouldn’t be an inner demon plaguing him yet.
He hasn’t reached the level he once had as Maehwa Geomjon. Although he has recently regained much of his former senses after enduring many trials, he hasn’t surpassed those past years. Not objectively, at least.
So why is he now facing an inner demon that he never even encountered in his previous life?
Or is this even an inner demon at all?
‘When did this start?’
Was it after confronting Jang Ilso? Or was it earlier, on the way to Mount Wudang? Or perhaps when he witnessed the devastation in Hubei?
No, none of that really matters. The crucial point is why he’s being tormented by an inner demon in the first place. There must be a legitimate reason for everything in this world. Unless the cause is his rising martial prowess, there must be another reason.
Chung Myung stared blankly at his hands. They were still trembling slightly.
It was as if his body feared something unknown to him, betraying his own will. Letting out a hollow laugh, Chung Myung weakly rested his forehead on his knees.
‘I just have to overcome it.’
That’s right. He has to.
But what if he can’t?
The question suddenly piqued his curiosity.
When one overcomes the inner demon and achieves ultimate virtue [선(善)], severing all attachments to the world, a Buddhist becomes a Buddha, and a Taoist becomes an immortal [a sage]. Those who did not seek that path are called divine beings [신령(神靈) – or deities], remaining in the world.
But what about those who fail to overcome it?
What happens to those who, despite achieving everything humanly possible, cannot conquer the final inner demon? What becomes of a person whose level is so high that they cannot even die, who has embraced the demon… no, who has become one with the very essence of the demon [마(魔)]?
As his thoughts reached this point, his body began to tremble visibly, like an aspen tree.
‘I am…’
He thinks he knows. No, he doesn’t know. No, he does know. No, he absolutely does not. He doesn’t know.
He knows, but he must not acknowledge it, and even if he suspects, he must never get a glimpse of that path. This is the closest thing to true terror for Chung Myung.
But… if that happens. If, in the end, it comes to that?
Rustle.
Suddenly, a noise from behind made Chung Myung flinch as he curled up.
He hadn’t noticed someone approaching so close.
Of course, it made sense. He had been focusing all his attention on sensing unfamiliar presences, so he had failed to detect the familiar ones right nearby.
“…..Sahyeong?”
Chung Myung slowly lifted his head and turned to look back.
“What are you doing here, in a place like this?”
Tang Soso was looking at him with slightly startled eyes.
Chung Myung opened his mouth to respond but quickly closed it again. He didn’t want her to hear his voice, which could only be rough and strained.
“…Are you okay, Sahyeong?”
But he couldn’t ignore her forever, so he finally spoke.
“What about you?”
Fortunately, his voice came out sounding somewhat normal.
“What are you doing?”
“I…”
Tang Soso hesitated before answering. Chung Myung let out a short sigh without realizing it. He didn’t need to hear her answer to know. It was obvious she had been searching for Baek Cheon’s trail, taking advantage of the others being asleep since she couldn’t do it openly.
“Don’t waste your time. Get some rest.”
“What about you, Sahyeong? What are you doing? Do you also think Sasuk is still nearby?”
“…”
“Then why?”
Tang Soso’s last words were tinged with frustration.
If you want to find him, you can. Chung Myung could locate Baek Cheon anytime. He doesn’t even need to exert himself. Just releasing Baek Ah would be enough to find Baek Cheon’s location in less than half a day.
So why isn’t he looking for him? That’s what she was really asking.
Chung Myung had no answer to give in response to her words filled with resentment.
No, the question itself was wrong from the start. Chung Myung didn’t need to find Baek Cheon. He already knew where he was.
But… Chung Myung wanted to ask himself again.
After finding him, then what? What could he do after locating him?
Should he bind him, forcing him to live a life he doesn’t want forever? Or should he allow him to die miserably on the battlefield as he wishes?
Which choice is the right one? Which is just?
Chung Myung stood up.
He couldn’t afford to drain his energy in a conversation with Tang Soso right now.
She would soon notice the abnormality in Chung Myung’s condition. He wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation as quickly as possible.
Without a word, Chung Myung walked past Tang Soso and headed into the dense forest.
“Get some rest.”
“Sahyeong.”
Her voice called out from behind, causing Chung Myung to pause briefly.
“Why has it come to this?”
“…”
“This isn’t what we wanted, was it?”
The bitter question lingered in the air. Chung Myung glanced back at her without any expression. In the moonlight, half of his face was illuminated, but a deep shadow covered the other half.
A moment later, Chung Myung muttered something under his breath. He stood there, gazing at Tang Soso for a long while before quietly disappearing into the shadows.
Tang Soso watched his retreating figure with worried eyes.
The words he had murmured, almost to himself, still echoed in her ears.
– Because I made it this way.
“Sahyeong…”
Her large eyes wavered like a shattered, drifting boat lost at sea.
Comments