Chapter 1149: I’ve Done Everything I Needed To. (4) |
An old man sits cross-legged with his eyes closed.
His white hair flows down to his waist, a long beard reaches his chest, his eyebrows are pure white, and he wears white robes covering his entire body. His appearance naturally evokes the phrase ‘immortal aura and Taoist spirit’.
Moreover, the old man exuded an aura not found in ordinary people, a noble atmosphere that naturally inspires reverence in those who observe him.
Even those who do not believe in immortals would have to acknowledge their existence upon seeing this old man.
The old man’s slightly faded lips parted gently, and a whispered incantation flowed out.
Countless flickering candles illuminated the dark room, and at their center, the immortal-like old man chanted the incantation.
The solemn atmosphere was broken by the sharp creak of an old hinge twisting as a door was opened.
Creeeeak.
The harsh sound mixed with the old man’s chanting, but he seemed unaware and continued his incantation without faltering.
Clear footsteps grew steadily closer.
The peace and silence surrounding the old man faded with the approaching footsteps, and a low voice whispered into his ear.
“I’m back.”
Since the old man was the only one present, the words were surely directed at him. Yet strangely, he showed no particular reaction except stopping his chant, which he had been reciting almost like a song.
“It took longer than I thought. Damn sluggish worms.”
Each time the voice spoke, the candles in the room flickered wildly. Yet the old man’s calm heart remained unshaken.
“I killed him as ordered.”
A person’s death is never a trivial matter. Still, the old man’s expression remained unchanged in silence.
“But… it seems like a needless act. I almost didn’t have to go there.”
A slightly sharp emotion seeped from the voice.
“Even if I hadn’t gone, he would have died at the hands of the Central Plains guys.”
Instead of answering, the old man resumed his incantation. No voice or event seemed able to disturb his composure.
“By the hand of that Mount Hua guy.”
And at that moment, the old man’s seemingly endless chant began to fade.
When the old man closed his mouth firmly, a heavy silence fell over the room where the two men were. After a long pause, the old man finally spoke in a faint, murmuring voice.
“Mount Hua…”
He muttered softly with his eyes closed.
“A name I long for.”
“Hmph.”
The man standing behind the old man, Heaven Killer, frowned as he stared at the old man’s back.
“Still, it seems the word ‘Mount Hua’ reaches your ears.”
“Yes. A name I cherish. To think they still remain.”
A gentle smile formed on the old man’s lips.
“If possible, I’d like to see them once. How Mount Hua has changed now. I wish they were still as they were in the past. There aren’t many things left connected to my past.”
Heaven Killer’s mouth twisted slightly upon hearing those words.
“They haven’t changed much.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“There’s even someone like the Sword Saint.”
It was at that moment.
The old man’s head, which had been still until now, slowly turned back. At the same time, his tightly closed eyes opened.
The old man’s eyes were very different from those of ordinary people.
They were blood-red and pitch-black, as if mixed together, set like dots in his pure white exterior. The immortal saint-like appearance of the old man instantly transformed.
Anyone who saw this old man now would no longer think of an immortal. Eyes are the mirror of the soul, but in his eyes existed only deep, profound darkness.
“…What did you say?”
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Heaven Killer covered his mouth and laughed.
“Have you gone deaf now too?”
“I asked what you said.”
“You said you saw someone like the Sword Saint.”
“Sword Saint?”
The candles began to flicker. More precisely, the entire pavilion where the old man resided began to tremble.
“The Sword Saint you speak of, is it that cursed guy?”
“Is there another Sword Saint in the world?”
The old man’s calm hair began to stand on end. Watching this, Heaven Killer laughed heartily and shook his head.
“Calm down, great priest. It’s just a feeling. A rookie. Yes, just a rookie.”
“…”
“Well, who knows? In fifty years, he might become a real Sword Saint.”
“Impossible.”
The old man’s hair that had risen suddenly settled back down. Regaining composure, he spoke sharply.
“There cannot be another like him in this world.”
“…That is true.”
The old man sighed softly.
“Mount Hua has revived and is raising someone like Sword Saint is in it again.”
“There is one who stands out… but there are definitely others with potential. Annoying ones.”
“That means time has passed.”
Regret seeped into the old man’s voice.
“A hundred years is no short time. It’s enough for a sect whose foundation vanished to bloom again.”
“While we rot in here.”
At those words, the old man’s lips twitched slightly.
“Heaven Killer.”
“I know, so stop the old-fashioned talk. I’ve heard it for a hundred years and I’m sick of it.”
The old man quietly looked at Heaven Killer, then turned his head. His gaze fixed forward again.
“What about the cultists?”
“They just followed that foolish guy’s orders, but they are not without sin. I ordered them to enter the Demon Valley for a month as punishment.”
The old man said nothing. Heavenly Demon glanced at his back and spoke bluntly.
“I also think that rookie was wrong…”
“…”
“But I agree with one thing he said. Our lives are short. If the Heavenly Demon does not reincarnate before we die…”
“The Heavenly Demon will return.”
“I suppose so. Yes, as you say. But if He cannot find Himself before we die, isn’t that the same as not reincarnating?”
“What are you trying to say?”
The old man shot a sharp look at Heavenly Demon, who then smiled wryly.
“Until now, I thought waiting proved my faith to the Cult. But… I have other thoughts now. Maybe blindly waiting here is complacent.”
“I’ve said it repeatedly…”
“The situation in the Central Plains is unfolding interestingly.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped speaking.
Heaven Killer no longer mocked him but spoke with a more serious expression than the old man.
“There is a high chance of a great war, a war that will sweep across the entire Central Plains.”
“…”
“Do you understand? Even if we don’t intervene, the Central Plains will be engulfed in chaos. You know what that means, right?”
The old man’s mouth closed tightly, but unlike before, his lips twitched faintly.
“To Him, even that is a small matter. But not to us.”
Heaven Killer clenched and unclenched his fist slightly.
“Still, is just waiting really enough?”
“Your mortal desires have stirred.”
The old man’s words interrupted the conversation, and Heavenly Demon’s expression hardened.
“You said ‘child of Mount Hua’?”
“Why bring that story right now…”
“It makes me even more curious. After all, he’s just someone who hasn’t lived a hundred years. What kind of person could shake you so much?”
“…”
“Well, even if it’s just a label, the name Sword Saint can’t be thrown around to just anyone.”
The place that hates the Sword Saint the most is the cult.
If they could inflict even a small wound on Sword Saint’s soul instead of falling into endless hell, the cultists would do it without hesitation. Sword Saint is the one who dared to defile and destroy the absolute divinity that must never be harmed.
But conversely, the cult is also the place that most acknowledges Sword Saint.
The moment they belittle Sword Saint, the divinity of the Heavenly Demon who died by the Sword Saint’s hand also collapses. Therefore, to them, Sword Saint must exist as an absolute evil that must never be defiled.
But setting aside doctrinal issues, anyone who experienced Sword Saint during the war would never belittle him. They might curse, swear, and wail, but not belittle that being.
“Listen carefully, great high priest.”
“…”
“I’m not doing this because I want to fight. Nor because I’m tired of this place.”
“…”
“I am simply worried. If countless people are swept up in that war, even the great one who has not yet awakened cannot be guaranteed safety anymore. Some measures must be taken…”
“You just lack faith in Him.”
“Are you doubting my faith now?”
A sudden killing intent flared in Heavenly Demon’s eyes.
But the old man calmly absorbed the intent, like an unshakable tranquil lake.
Heaven Killer’s expression twisted slightly.
“I just don’t like that the measure of faith has become how long one can endure and wait.”
“That’s an excuse.”
“Oh, really?”
Heaven Killer’s eyes traced a strange curve.
“Indeed… I’m curious too. Whether you say just believe and wait because you truly believe He will find us.”
His mouth slowly twisted as well.
“Or… maybe you yourself are not sure He has reincarnated and are just afraid.”
“How dare you…”
At that moment, an immense demonic qi burst from the old man. His white robes quickly darkened to black, and a malevolent aura swirled around him like a hungry demon.
“Did I hit a sore spot?”
“Heaven Killer!”
“So don’t think of stopping me. I just think differently from you. If you think differently from me, I’ll find my own way.”
“He will…”
“At the last moments!”
Heaven Killer suddenly cut off the old man’s words with a howl.
“I don’t want to die regretting that I didn’t seek Him out at my last breath. I’d rather accept a glorious death at the hands of His reincarnated self as punishment for moving without His permission.”
“…”
“If you can stop me, try. But the only way to stop me is to kill me, great high priest.”
Heaven Killer turned away.
“That wouldn’t be so bad either, old friend.”
Heaven Killer left the hall without hesitation.
Left alone, the old man stared at the door Heaven Killer had closed behind him and sighed deeply.
‘This is why we should never set foot in the Central Plains.’
That place shakes the hearts of men.
That’s why he couldn’t send other cultists and sent Heaven Killer himself, yet even he was shaken.
‘Heavenly Demon…’
The old man closed his eyes.
“How could the Perfect One understand our imperfect suffering? Please… please reincarnate soon. Please…”
Incantations flowed again from the old man’s lips, endlessly continuing, echoing like a song, like a sob.