A white martial robe.
On his chest was the emblem of a plum blossom leaf, and a vertical scar that ran up his neck, reaching his chin. His sharp, piercing eyes and deeply furrowed brows immediately gave the impression that he was not someone to be trifled with.
Though I wasn't exactly one to judge, it was clear that no one would mistake him for a righteous sect member or an ascetic.
Among all the people I had seen, he was the most vicious-looking.
To anyone else, he might have looked like a complete stranger. But I knew exactly who he was.
How could I not?
He was the very one who had been ringing incessantly in my head. As he continued to look at me with clear disdain, I cautiously called out to him.
“Noya?”
“Hmph.”
At my call, the old man let out a heavy snort, still rubbing the back of my throbbing head.
“Are you really Shin Noya?”
“Tsk, tsk... For all the messes I've cleaned up after you, you still have to ask?”
The old man stepped forward, and he was taller than I had anticipated. Just shy of six feet, maybe?
Is he really Shin Noya? Then why is he here…
Or maybe the real question is why I’m seeing Noya here in the first place?
“Are you going to keep thinking those foolish thoughts?”
“Pardon?”
“Do I need to smack you in the head again? Get a grip!”
At his fierce scolding, I flinched. I had no idea what he meant by ‘getting a grip.’ What was I supposed to focus on?
Even so, I felt the fog in my mind clear up just a bit.
It felt like something was happening, that something was gradually taking form in my awareness. Noya, however, still looked thoroughly unimpressed, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“You dull-headed fool.”
“…Why do you speak to me like that the moment you see me? Could you at least give me a reason?”
“Well, you’ve always been the type who needs everything spoon-fed.”
“...”
“Look down at your chest, then.”
I tilted my head in confusion and glanced downward. Why did he want me to look at my chest...?
“...!”
My eyes widened as I reached out, patting my chest in panic.
It was inevitable. Right where my heart should have been, there was a significant hole.
“What the hell…”
What was this? Why was there a hole in my chest?
I blinked, trying to comprehend the situation.
Heh.
“Quite the wind hole you’ve got there.”
Noya chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. It was closer to a mocking laugh than anything.
“…What…is this?”
When I asked why my body was in such a state, Noya pointed behind me.
I turned around and saw the enormous egg I had been looking at earlier.
Now it was shrouded in plum blossoms.
“What is that…?”
“That is what used to be in that hole of yours.”
“…Excuse me?”
I nearly choked at his words.
That thing had been inside my chest?
That…
“That’s not my vessel…?”
Did that mean it wasn’t the materialized form of my vessel?
“There’s little difference between a vessel and a heart. In the end, they mean the same thing.”
“…A vessel resides in the dantian, so how are they the same?”
“If either breaks, you die. Isn’t that enough?”
“…”
Well…put that way, I guess he’s not wrong…
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Noya looked at me and sighed deeply.
“As I was straining myself to hold it together, you went and caused a disaster.”
“You were…holding it together?”
I perked up at his words. Holding it together? Holding what?
Seeing my confusion, Noya stepped forward and suddenly brought his fist down.
Boom--!
“Guh!”
He struck me hard on the top of my head, and I staggered from the impact.
The pain was so intense that I had to sit down and clutch my throbbing head.
“Ugh…”
While I was groaning in pain, Noya spoke to me.
“Your energy has been increasing, but your vessel can’t handle it. So naturally, something has to bear the burden.”
“…Does that mean…”
The Divine Doctor’s words about my vessel being on the verge of breaking came to mind. Was Noya saying that he had been the one holding it together?
“When…when did this start?”
“You already know the answer. Why bother asking?”
“…”
It started around the time I finished my closed-door training.
‘It was that long ago?’
Right after I’d gone through rapid growth. A silence I had expected to last months stretched into years, starting from that point.
Could it be…
“…So you’ve been holding it together since then?”
“When you reached the Haegyeong level, it improved slightly, but it didn’t hold out for long.”
“Then, what about the time you saved me in Viego?”
Noya looked at me incredulously.
“Did you expect me to just let you die?”
“…”
“Good grief. I save your life, and all I get is a ‘What for?’ You’re as mad as ever.”
I didn’t really have much to say to that. As I averted my gaze, Noya let out a small sigh and continued.
“Young one, your vessel isn’t small. In fact, it’s rather large.”
Noya glanced back at the egg, his gaze thoughtful.
“It’s just that you filled it with so much energy that it’s reached this state.”
For a moment, I found myself at a loss for words.
The sheer amount of energy stored in my vessel was…a lot.
It wasn’t just a matter of how much energy; it was also the variety of energies within me.
I had the energy of Guyeom Flame Wheels, the Taoist energy from Mount Hua, demonic energy, blood energy…
And finally, Tua Pacheonmu.
A total of five different energies were contained within me. It made sense that my vessel had finally reached its limit.
...Yes, now that I look at it, it is a lot.
For an average person, having just two different energies would have been impossible to manage. My vessel should have reached a breaking point ages ago.
“It’s not just that, either…”
“Pardon?”
“That’s not the only issue right now. There’s something else we need to address first.”
With a slight rustle, Noya extended his hand toward the plum blossom leaves that were wrapped around the egg. As his fingers touched them—
Huaaa--!
The plum blossoms reacted.
The vibrant color of the petals surrounding the egg began to fade, gradually becoming translucent.
Now the egg inside was fully visible.
“…”
Looking at the egg again, I realized how terrible its state was.
It was covered in numerous cracks and looked like it could shatter with a mere tap. Unknown liquid continued to seep from the cracks, and it seemed that only the plum blossoms were keeping it from completely falling apart.
In other words…
This state had persisted for some time without me realizing it.
“It’s broken.”
Startled, I turned to look at Noya.
“…Are you using mind-reading techniques?”
I hadn’t said a word, so how did he know?
“As I always say, young one, your thoughts are written all over your face.”
He gave me a look of mild disappointment.
“It was already in tatters, but…”
Hearing the word “tatters” from a master was…well, something else.
“But this incident has only accelerated its deterioration.”
“What do you mean, ‘this incident’?”
What was he talking about? What incident?
As confusion filled my face, Noya’s gaze softened slightly.
“You’ll remember soon enough. You don’t have much time left, after all.”
“Then what…?”
“Or do you want to forget instead?”
“You reappear after so long, yet all you do is speak in riddles…”
“I’m telling you to remember why you’re here.”
Why I’m here?
Yes.
Why am I here?
Why is my chest like this, and what does he mean by “accelerated”?
If Noya was telling me to remember, that meant he believed I already knew.
But I couldn’t recall anything.
It felt like the mental clarity I’d regained was clouded over again.
Seeing my confusion, Noya added one final statement.
“If all you’re going to do is worry and lose it, then I’ll respect your choice.”
“Lose…?”
The word lose caused a sharp ache in the empty space where my heart should be.
What am I supposed to lose?
The reason I’m here…
“Urgh…”
A sudden headache forced me to clutch my temples. It felt like something was on the verge of breaking through with the pain.
And not long after—
“Haa…!”
I gasped, instinctively clutching my chest. I could feel the sharp, stabbing sensation of a blade piercing my heart.
Memories began flooding back.
The moment Heavenly Lord had attacked, the helpless feeling of facing my death.
His cold, murderous gaze as he turned toward Mageomhu after cutting me down.
A vibration filled the air.
Wooooom--!
The sound was coming from the massive egg before me.
Watching it, I turned to Noya and asked,
“…Am I…dead?”
“You aren’t dead yet. But soon, yes, you will be.”
“…”
My heart had been pierced.
My vessel was in that terrible state, and the recent events had only hastened its deterioration. It wouldn’t be long before it shattered.
Realizing this, I looked at Noya.
“What should I do?”
It was a question about how to survive. Noya’s expression turned exasperated.
“Right at death’s door, and you’re asking me to find a way out?”
“Aren’t you here because you know a way?”
“Heh.”
I had no idea what this space was—whether it was a manifestation of my inner mind or something else. But what mattered was that Noya had appeared here and was speaking to me.
“Look at this impudent fool, now demanding I clean up his mess again.”
“Yes. Since you’re here to help, please do it just once more.”
“Heh.”
I spoke as shamelessly as possible. I knew by now that I didn’t have the luxury of pleading or wasting time.
Rumble.
The movements within the egg grew more violent. It seemed like it would break at any moment, and only Noya’s energy was holding it back.
“What should I do?”
“…Why do you think I know?”
“Because you wouldn’t make that expression if you didn’t.”
“…”
Noya’s expression grew a little more strained.
“There is a way, but it’s not exactly ideal. Nor is there any alternative. That’s the look on your face.”
“…It seems you’re the one reading minds now.”
“You’re not exactly subtle with your expressions, Noya.”
Heh…
Noya gave a bitter smile at my words. Though it was my first time seeing his face, he somehow felt familiar—likely from being around him for so long.
Setting aside sentiment, there was something I needed to know.
“…Please tell me how to survive this, Noya.”
If I had indeed died from having my heart pierced, how was I supposed to survive?
Looking into my eyes, Noya let out a small chuckle.
“You were dazed and lost just a moment ago, but now your gaze sharpens at the thought of a woman. Tsk, tsk.”
“…”
“A method… yes, there is a way.”
Hearing his answer, I focused intently.
What could it be? Expanding my vessel, perhaps? Or would he present me with some rare elixir?
Thinking about all the things I’d taken before and how badly that had turned out, I felt a hint of dread…
“Whatever you’re imagining, expanding your vessel is impossible.”
Noticing my expression, Noya immediately clarified.
“Even if your unsteady foundation is restored, your vessel still wouldn’t be able to contain it all.”
“…Then what am I supposed to do?”
With a sense of unease, I looked back at the egg as Noya gestured toward it.
Since he kept pointing at it, I wondered—
“If you can’t hold it back anymore, just let it flow out.”
“Pardon…?”
Just let it flow out? Was he saying to let my vessel break?
“Wouldn’t that mean I’d die if the vessel shatters?”
“Yes, you would.”
“Then, in the end…”
“As a human, that is.”
“…!”
Noya’s chilling words made my eyes widen.
What did he mean by as a human I would die?
“You already know. It’s becoming harder to call yourself human.”
“…”
“That egg is the last thing keeping you human.”
The final restraint.
“…You’re saying that egg is the last thing keeping me alive as a human?”
“And yet, the reason it hasn’t shattered is due to your lingering attachment.”
“Attachment…?”
“Yes, your last attachment to being human.”
Clench.
My fist tightened reflexively.
Attachment?
So that vessel was my lingering desire to remain human?
The liquid spilling and pooling on the ground, and the vessel barely holding it in—that was my attachment?
“…I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to. What matters…is the choice you make now.”
“…Noya.”
“The reason I’ve been holding it together up to now was purely my selfishness.”
“Selfishness?”
“If your attachment is to remain human, then my desire to keep you human is my selfishness.”
“…”
“I wanted you to remain human.”
There was a faint bitterness in Noya’s voice.
“But it’s too late now, and the choice is yours to make.”
I didn’t hide the trembling in my eyes as I looked at him.
“If you want, you can die here as a human.”
“…!”
As he spoke, plum blossom petals gathered around his hand in mid-air.
Forming a shape in his grip—a sword.
With a red-hued blade now pointing toward me, Noya said,
“Now choose. Will you end it here as a human, or continue, forsaking your humanity?”
“…”
Life and death.
Choosing between them was like weighing two lopsided scales.
How could it not be? Life, after all, is inherently unbalanced.
Even knowing that, I couldn’t answer easily.
Becoming something other than human…
The sheer gravity of those words kept my mouth tightly shut.
“…If I am no longer human, then what will I become?”
“I don’t know. But if you make this choice, you’ll regret it.”
“If I choose it, will I survive?”
“That, too, I cannot say.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Your body may revive, but I can’t say if what inhabits it will be you.”
It was a truly frightening thing to hear.
“It might not be me?”
If not me, then what would be inhabiting my body?
The warning that I would regret it was also deeply unsettling.
I thought I could sacrifice anything for my peace. But now, it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.
So that’s it…
Looking at the broken egg, I thought to myself.
I wanted to live as a human.
In my past life as a demon, I’d lived a life far from human.
In this life, I had wanted to live as an ordinary person.
That must have been a desire I wasn’t even aware of.
If I abandoned this, would I end up regretting it?
Perhaps, inevitably, I would.
Even so—
I stepped forward with an untroubled expression.
“…”
Noya said nothing, only watched me silently.
My destination was the egg.
Up close, it looked just as broken as ever, barely holding together.
It felt like it mirrored my life.
A life battered and broken, covered in scars.
The egg seemed to represent my life as a human.
Slowly, I reached out.
Tap.
Its surface was rough, without a single smooth spot.
It seemed to resemble its owner’s temperament.
Ignoring it, I pressed my hand deeper.
Crack--!
The outer shell broke away easily as my hand burrowed inside.
Inside, it felt…warm.
“…Young one.”
In a voice that sounded uncharacteristically weak, Noya called out to me.
“Yes.”
“Do you have no regrets about this choice?”
Hearing his question, I chuckled.
Regrets?
“No. I’d stop right now if I could.”
“Then…”
“But I have too many things that are more important than my pride.”
Rather than holding onto my foolish pride about living and dying as a human, what mattered more were those I wanted to protect with my life.
“If the scales had my death and the world on them, the choice would have been easier.”
I am a man who values my pride over the world. If it had come to that, I would have chosen instantly.
Unfortunately, the opponent was too formidable.
“…Ha.”
Noya let out a hollow laugh at my response.
“After all this time, you’re still the same.”
“You haven’t changed either, Noya.”
“Oh?”
“You’re still as ornery as ever.”
“…You brat.”
Crack--!
As he grimaced and moved closer—
Crack--! Crackle--!
The spot where my hand had penetrated was the center of a large, spreading fracture. Thick streams of liquid began to pour out.
“…”
Feeling that something immense was about to occur, I swallowed my small fear and called out to Noya.
“Oh, Noya.”
“What?”
“When we meet again…”
“Yes?”
As I spoke, the shell shattered, and the liquid within surged forth.
Swoosh--!
Just before I was swept away by the powerful current, I turned to Noya with a wide grin.
“I think we’ll have a lot to talk about regarding Lady Tang Jemoon.”
“…”
The expression on Noya’s face as I mentioned Tang Jemoon was priceless.
That's enough.
I'll stay and make fun of the old man.
That was enough for now.