Tang Jemoon's (Dokjeolcheon) expression was inscrutable as she looked at me, but my focus was solely on the Dokcheon Pills lying next to the white stone.
‘…How many are there?’
At a quick count, there were over ten. With that quantity, you could probably acquire a decent-sized martial sect, if not more.
Naturally, such rarity was expected; after all, the Tang Clan could no longer produce these ancient miracle pills. The Dokcheon Pill held more than just the usual concentrated inner qi of divine pills.
It was also said to grant immunity to poison.
By consuming it, one could develop a resistance to poisons.
While I couldn't confirm this as a fact, the records stated it clearly.
A miracle pill that could enhance one's martial power immensely and even build resistance to poison.
Now a legacy of the past, priceless even with limitless wealth.
‘Dokcheon Pill…’
There they were, rolling around in front of me. Just passing the trial would grant me access to them.
‘Though I won’t be able to use them right away.’
Given the unstable state of my vessel, absorbing the Dokcheon Pill’s energy would probably destroy me instantly.
‘But I could share it with others.’
There were plenty around me who could use it. Even aside from that, the Dokcheon Pill's worth was too high to ignore.
The same goes for the white stone…no, the Baekmaseok (White Demon Stone).
Typically, stones from demonic beasts would lose their energy and color within days of extraction.
But the Baekmaseok wasn’t like that.
It retained its color, light, and energy—even now, it was as brilliant as ever.
‘I haven’t seen other Baekmaseoks to confirm, but…’
Seeing this, I could only assume it was special. Looking between the Baekmaseok at the center and the Dokcheon Pills beside it, I thought to myself:
‘Damn…this is truly an extraordinary opportunity.’
Just seeing it made my eyes water.
[Young Master…are you crying?] "Yes… Tears of joy. Please ignore it." [Oh…okay.]
Scenes of past opportunities flashed through my mind.
The first was the Golden Cheongyeon Family's chance.
The second, I think, was at the Shinryong Pavilion.
But both times, I’d been plagued by awful experiences, rather than gaining any luck.
‘This…this is true fortune.’
This, here, was the real deal.
What a far cry from the Golden Cheongyeon Family.
Come to think of it, both previous incidents had been connected to Yeonilcheon.
Damn bastard. Rotten bastard.
Just because he’s a regressor, he thinks he can mess with people’s lives. I was cleaning up the mess he left behind.
Inside, a deep resentment toward the previous regressor grew.
Even though Tang Jemoon hadn’t agreed to give me anything yet, it already felt like the Dokcheon Pills were mine.
“Senior…” [Yes?] "May I pay my respects?" […What?]
Tang Jemoon looked at me, slightly disturbed by my request.
Seeing that expression, I decided to drop the idea and nodded to myself.
Yeah, that would’ve been a bit much.
“It was a joke.” [Young Master…you really do resemble Shin Cheol in the strangest ways.] “That’s…extremely unpleasant to hear.”
She said I reminded her of that meddling old man, which was, frankly, offensive.
Tang Jemoon chuckled behind her hand, apparently finding my reaction amusing.
So, she does laugh.
For someone who seemed so cold, it was an unexpected side of her. Maybe that’s why I felt like asking something I’d been hesitating to.
“Um, Senior.” [Yes?] “That… It’s not really an important question, but why is that stone next to the Dokcheon Pill?”
[Hmm?]
She looked over at the Baekmaseok.
[Ah.]
As if she’d just remembered, she clapped her hands.
[It’s for showing off. That came from a beast I personally hunted. I wanted to brag to Shin Cheol when I met him.]
"..."
She told me in a slightly raised voice.
An unexpectedly cute reason.
I had thought it was there for some significant reason.
Just for showing off, really…
‘Unbelievable.’
I barely held back a snicker.
‘The fact that she personally hunted the beast…’
Looking at the Baekmaseok, I recalled the Water Dragon River.
The river was supposedly created by the beast of the White Rank that Tang Jemoon defeated.
‘This slender woman has that kind of strength?’
The question flickered through my mind.
The deeds of the past heroes.
Every time I encountered one of them, the same thought crossed my mind.
Each one of them seemed comparable to the current Triumvirate.
‘Just how…’
How strong were they, really?
And if they were so powerful, how had they failed to defeat a single Blood Demon?
A question that lingered in my mind.
But for now… the Dokcheon Pills are more important.
The Baekmaseok had become secondary.
Life’s all about priorities.
Shaaa….
“Could you quiet down a bit?”
I pushed back the head of the Red Water Snake (Jeoksusa), who was noisily slithering in.
[Young Master.] “Yes, Senior.”
I immediately turned to Tang Jemoon, whose expression held a peculiar look.
[You seem…different from when we first met. Is it my imagination?]
Did my attitude change?
Of course.
Unlike those people who promised fortune but only handed out trouble, Tang Jemoon was offering something genuine.
I would bow a hundred times if needed.
I wasn’t exactly proud to begin with.
‘A person who feeds you is a god.’
It was the way of life I’d learned through endless struggle.
Leaving the slightly distant Tang Jemoon behind, I asked what I wanted to know.
“Please tell me, Senior. What kind of trial is this?”
[...]
She had said I needed to pass a trial to get the Dokcheon Pills.
I was ready for anything.
‘She said it was prepared for Shin Noya.’
If it was for him, why bother setting up a trial?
‘This must be part of a greater plan.’
There had to be a reason for it.
The one thing that lingered in my mind about this situation was…
‘Is it okay for me to take Shin Noya’s fortune?’
If most of the fortunes I’d gained had been intended for Shin Noya’s benefit…
Could I really consume all of it?
While Noya had said it was fine, I couldn’t shake a sense of unease.
‘I just feel uncomfortable.’
It was a self-imposed burden I couldn’t quite understand.
Of course, I couldn’t let it stop me.
To prepare for the impending bloodshed, I’d resolved to take everything within reach.
Time wasn’t on my side.
I reminded myself of that.
‘Besides… Noya wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity anyway.’
Had Noya, by some miracle, reincarnated or possessed another body and returned to this world, maybe it would’ve been better to leave his fortunes untouched.
But in my previous life, there was no one like Shin Noya.
In other words…
‘Their plan failed.’
Whatever they’d been planning, it didn’t succeed.
Which meant…
‘I’ll take it and deal with the mess too.’
Might as well hunt down Cheonma and the Blood Demon along the way.
This was, after all, something Noya had told me.
He’d suggested that while I was stopping the bloodshed, I might as well take care of the rest.
At the time, it sounded like nonsense.
But now it made sense.
‘Did that old man see all of this coming?’
Could Shin Noya have anticipated this outcome?
It made me wonder.
Just then…
[Before we begin the trial.]
Tang Jemoon spoke up.
[There’s something I’d like to ask you.]
“Yes?”
Something she wanted to ask me?
I looked at her with curiosity.
[Have you ever experienced regret?] “Yes…?”
A rather unexpected question.
At the same time, it struck a deep chord within me.
Had I ever experienced regret?
‘How could I not?’
It was a ridiculous question.
My entire life was filled with regret; how could I not have experienced it?
“I have. More than I can bear.”
I shouldn’t have lived like that.
I shouldn’t have done that.
I shouldn’t have said that.
I shouldn’t have left you behind. I shouldn’t have used you as an excuse to do those things.
A fleeting thought surfaced, and countless, deeply felt regrets, with no clear subject, flooded my mind.
Tang Jemoon looked slightly surprised as she observed my expression.
Whatever expression I was making now, I had no way to see it.
After a brief silence, Tang Jemoon spoke again.
[Have you ever thought of overcoming that regret?] “Overcome my regret?”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little at her words.
A clear scoff. It was a slip-up.
I quickly dropped the smirk and spoke cautiously.
“…I don’t see regret as something to overcome.” [Then?] “It’s something to carry with me. That’s how I see regret.” [...]
Regret is like lingering attachment.
Living more in the past than the present, it chokes you constantly.
Overcoming it?
No. That’s nonsense.
You carry it with you.
Because it’s a memory you can never forget.
I just keep walking forward, recalling that time.
‘Is this conversation part of the trial?’
That was the only thought in my mind. Pushing away my jumbled thoughts, I looked at Tang Jemoon.
‘…What?’
Seeing her face, I was taken aback.
She looked…sad.
[Young Master, are you truly moving forward with your regrets?]
I wanted to say yes immediately.
But…
“…”
I couldn’t.
Because I knew all too well that any positive response would be a lie.
I just couldn’t bring myself to answer.
Tang Jemoon’s expression grew even deeper as she looked at me.
Then, with a voice that sounded heavy, she spoke.
[Then, let’s begin the trial now….]
Hearing that, I immediately focused.
The sudden start was a little surprising, but the sooner we started, the better.
Not knowing what to expect, I focused all my attention on Tang Jemoon.
She then said in a calm voice:
[This trial holds no success or failure.] “What? What does that mean…?”
No success or failure?
How was she going to judge if I passed?
[Once the trial is over, whatever thoughts you have are all that matters.] “Senior?”
Tang Jemoon’s vague words only made a sense of unease creep up within me.
When people started talking cryptically like this, it usually meant…
‘I’m in for a rough time.’
As that unsettling thought crossed my mind, I tried to call out to Tang Jemoon.
[All I want is for you to make a different choice than I did.]
Tang Jemoon finished her words and reached her hand out to me.
In that instant.
Kwaduduk-!
“What?!”
The surrounding space began to warp.
Damn it, I knew it…!
As the situation unraveled around me, I tried to escape, but the cracks had already engulfed everything, myself included.
Through the distorting view, I could hear Tang Jemoon’s voice.
[Someday…]
There was a hint of laughter in her voice.
Or was it sorrow? Maybe even longing?
I didn’t know Tang Jemoon well enough to tell.
[If you see Shin Cheol, please give him my message.]
I tried to respond, but no words came out.
Amidst the collapsing space, only Tang Jemoon’s voice echoed.
[That I missed him. I missed him so much… and that I…]
Her words, laden with longing, didn’t reach the end.
The cracks grew stronger, and as they exceeded their limit, the pressure finally snapped my consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again…
“Hah…!”
I found myself lying in the center of an unknown pit.