Free Web Novel—Mm......
“There are things that cannot be seen from afar but become visible up close. Is that not so?”
—Correct.
“Conversely, there are things that can be seen from afar but cannot be seen up close.”
—That is also correct.
“In the current world, martial artists of the Innate Three Realms cannot appear.”
—......Correct.
“Because of the twisted heavenly energy. One must become one with that heavenly energy to rise into the Innate Three Realms, but in a world like this, no one can rise. The moment they do, they will die.”
—......That is also correct.
“I understand the principle. I have learned that the world can only be corrected by correcting the twisted heavenly energy. That was something I had to see and feel directly, and I realized it after learning of this place. All of this is thanks to your sacrifice, Senior.”
Zhuge Xian gave a faint laugh.
—That is comforting.
Unhwi took one step closer.
“The Heavenly Wayfarer, to me—and Baek Docheon, to you—told me to deliver this.”
—......Mm. Let me hear it.
“Waiting is something that will someday end. Since you made your own choice to preserve your own worth, face the result of that choice.”
Zhuge Xian closed his eyes.
A brief silence.
At length, he opened them.
—Face the end...... I expected it, but hearing it directly makes my heart ache.
Zhuge Xian smiled.
Soundlessly.
But many emotions were mixed into that smile.
Relief.
Longing.
And.
Liberation.
—To think that the voice I hear from him after five hundred years would be that.
Unhwi looked at Zhuge Xian.
His eyes were not empty.
He was not a specter.
They were the eyes of a living person.
No.
The eyes of a living martial artist.
A true martial artist.
A proper human being.
Unhwi felt it.
This person was more genuine than anyone he had ever met.
Unhwi slowly opened his mouth.
“I have never once apologized for killing someone.”
—......Mm.
“But this time, I believe I must.”
Zhuge Xian looked at Unhwi.
“I am sorry for killing Zhuge Yingxian.”
Silence.
A long silence flowed.
Zhuge Xian smiled.
—......Very well.
“.......”
—I accept your apology.
Zhuge Xian slowly approached Unhwi.
—But listen.
“Yes.”
—That boy died because of his own fault. It was not yours.
“.......”
—As I said then, when there was both a counterexample and a precedent, there is no need for you to shoulder the death of a fool who made the same mistake.
Zhuge Xian placed his hand on Unhwi’s shoulder.
It was rotten.
But warm.
—You merely did what you had to do.
“......Thank you.”
—No need to thank me. Rather, I am the grateful one.
Zhuge Xian withdrew his hand.
—Because after five hundred years, I finally had a proper conversation.
“.......”
—And because now, I can meet the end.
Unhwi drew his sword.
The True Fire Heavenly Spirit Sword.
Zhuge Xian looked at it.
—A fine sword.
“Yes.”
—Will you send me off with that sword?
“Yes.”
Zhuge Xian opened his chest.
—My heart is here.
“.......”
—End it in one stroke. I dislike pain.
“I understand.”
Unhwi raised his sword.
Zhuge Xian asked one final question.
—May I ask just one thing?
“Please speak.”
—I said that if I died, the people precious to you would be in danger.
“I remember.”
—Do you know the exact reason?
Unhwi nodded.
“Yes. Because the Chaotic Heaven Kings and Chaotic Heaven Ones you controlled will be released from that control.”
—......You really are clever.
“They will spread outward. Toward Windwall.”
—Correct. Thousands, no, tens of thousands will pour out.
“.......”
—Will you still do it?
Unhwi looked straight at Zhuge Xian.
“Yes.”
—.......
“And I believe that if it is you, Senior, you will at least prevent them from scattering in every direction like that.”
Zhuge Xian smiled.
Brightly.
—Correct.
“Gather them here. Every last one, without exception.”
—Was that not why you came?
“That is right.”
—Their number will exceed tens of thousands.
“It does not matter.”
—......Good. And there is something I truly wanted to say.
“I will listen.”
—I am grateful that the martial artist I see just before death is genuine.
“The same goes for me.”
—Then I leave it to you. Unhwi.
For the first time, he called him by name.
Unhwi raised his sword.
Toward Zhuge Xian’s heart.
“Rest in peace, Senior Zhuge.”
He thrust the sword.
Puk—!
It lodged in his heart.
Deeply.
Zhuge Xian coughed blood.
But he was smiling.
—......Thank you......
“.......”
—Five hundred years...... truly was long......
Zhuge Xian’s body swayed.
Unhwi pulled out the sword.
Zhuge Xian fell to his knees.
He looked up at Unhwi one last time.
—......Unhwi.
“Yes.”
—Baek Docheon is doing what is right.
“.......”
—Even when you learn the truth, do not be disappointed in him.
Unhwi answered silently.
“I suspect as much.”
—......Is that so.
“Also, the man I know is someone who would never make a wrong choice.”
—......There is trust between you.
“Yes.”
—Then that is enough. And.
Blood flowed down from Zhuge Xian’s mouth.
—......I will send it. My will.
“.......”
—I can make all the Chaotic Heaven Ones gather here at least once, without fail. Unhwi.
“Yes.”
—Can you survive?
“I have lived my whole life in regret.”
—.......
“Now, I do not make choices I will regret.”
—......I see. You are...... an even worse bastard than [N O V E L I G H T] I am.
Unhwi gave a faint laugh, and Zhuge Xian laughed as well.
Slowly, Zhuge Xian collapsed.
Unhwi put away his sword.
He looked at Zhuge Xian.
His eyes were closed.
His expression was peaceful.
As though he had laid down a long-borne burden.
It was then.
Kwaaaaang—!!
The ground shook.
The space resonated.
Unhwi raised his head.
From all directions.
Monstrous screams could be heard.
Kraaaaaah—!!
Kyaaaaaak—!!
Chaotic Heaven Ones.
No.
Chaotic Heaven Kings.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
They were rushing endlessly toward this place.
They had reacted to Zhuge Xian’s death.
The control had been released.
And at the very end, Zhuge Xian had sent his will to them.
All of them.
To come here without a single exception.
Those who had been controlled, and even those who had not been controlled.
All of them heard Zhuge Xian’s voice and heard his will.
This was the true meaning behind his words that great danger would come if he died.
The cry released just before death could imprint itself, even briefly, on all Chaotic Heaven Ones.
That brief moment was important.
Group behavior, crowd psychology.
If dozens, hundreds, and then thousands moved at once, even those who were not controlled had no choice but to move, and that guided their actions according to the final will they had heard.
Every Chaotic Heaven One in the Chaotic Heaven Region was now coming here.
How long would the effect of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal last?
He did not know.
But today would be fine.
He would surpass it.
He intended to use this opportunity to rise into the complete Five Realms of Martial Divinity.
The monstrous screams coming from every direction drew closer.
The space heaved, and the cries grew louder.
Unhwi took his stance.
He spread Void-Origin Energy throughout his entire body.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal activated.
He finished preparing.
And then.
The first Chaotic Heaven King appeared.
It charged toward Unhwi.
***
Windwall.
It was a night no different from usual.
Martial artists stood guard, merchants drank at inns, and families sought sleep in their homes.
An ordinary night like that.
But suddenly, monstrous screams burst out.
Kraaaaaah—!!
Kyaaaaaak—!!
The cries of Chaotic Heaven Ones rang out from every direction at once.
No.
They were shouts.
Enormous shouts, enough to easily shatter Windwall’s silence.
Everyone froze, and the martial artists startled and drew their weapons.
“It’s an attack!”
“Prepare for battle!”
But it was strange.
The Chaotic Heaven Ones did not attack.
Leaving aside the people inside, those outside felt that clearly.
The figures visible before their eyes were certainly Chaotic Heaven Ones.
And yet they were merely running.
In one direction.
At the end of that way stood the Chaotic Heaven Gate.
Watching the Chaotic Heaven Ones run madly toward it, they could only be bewildered.
“What...... what is this?”
“Why are the Chaotic Heaven Ones going that way......?”
All of Windwall fell into confusion.
Windwall General Command was even worse.
Ma Suhyeok hurriedly ran outside.
“What is happening!”
A Seolcheon Guard captain urgently reported.
“The Chaotic Heaven Ones are running toward the Chaotic Heaven Gate!”
“What?”
“They are not attacking! They are just running......”
Ma Suhyeok’s face hardened.
Strange.
This had never happened before.
Outlandish.
That word suited this far too well.
Then suddenly, one fact flashed through his mind.
Seol Unhwi.
He had clearly said it.
That he was going to the Chaotic Heaven Gate.
Then there was only one possibility.
He had done something.
He had created this absurd situation.
“What...... shall we do?”
His mind snapped back. There was no time to stand around like this.
“First...... first, gather all troops! And inform Seolhwa Mountain Manor at once!”
“Yes!”
It did not take long for the news to reach Seolhwa Mountain Manor.
A martial artist who had reached the Heaven-Human realm ran like mad, and before even half an hour had passed, Man Seokcheong received the report.
His reaction was the same as Commander General Ma’s.
“The Chaotic Heaven Ones are going to the Chaotic Heaven Gate?”
“Yes, Manor Lord!”
Man Seokcheong rose from his seat.
There was no need to say more about how grave the matter was.
Man Seokcheong gathered all of Seolhwa Mountain Manor’s elite forces and immediately rushed near the Chaotic Heaven Gate.
On the way, they killed over several hundred Chaotic Heaven Ones, yet their numbers were endless.
It was enough to leave him dumbfounded.
They had conducted patrols so consistently, yet there had been this many Chaotic Heaven Ones?
When Man Seokcheong arrived near the Chaotic Heaven Gate, he was able to find Ma Suhyeok.
“Commander General Ma.”
“Ah...... Manor Lord Man......”
“How is the situation developing?”
“At present, we are killing as many visible Chaotic Heaven Ones as possible, but their numbers are too great. And.”
“And?”
“They are all entering the Chaotic Heaven Gate without counterattacking us.”
Man Seokcheong’s gaze moved forward.
The Chaotic Heaven Gate was open.
No matter where he looked, it was a complete Chaotic Heaven Gate.
And yet, far from pouring out, the Chaotic Heaven Ones were instead going in.
Beside it, tense martial artists were slaughtering the charging Chaotic Heaven Ones, but more were entering than dying.
What in the world was this?
“......What is happening?”
Ma Suhyeok muttered.
Man Seokcheong also frowned.
“I do not know. But......”
“But?”
“There is something inside there.”
It was then.
Three people came running.
Chief Seong.
Ju Soa.
Namgung Wonyang.
Chief Seong saw the Chaotic Heaven Ones.
His eyes widened.
This is......
Ju Soa panted as she spoke.
“What in the world is this......”
Namgung Wonyang also looked startled.
“Why are the Chaotic Heaven Ones......”
The three exchanged glances.
They had the same thought at the same time.
Young Master.
Commander General.
My lord.
Whatever it was, whenever something this unreal happened, Unhwi was always at its center.
This time would be the same. Moreover, Unhwi was nowhere to be seen right now. He had not said where he was going; he had simply disappeared.
Then it was obvious.
He was in there.
And there was someone who added certainty to that guess.
