Chapter 574: Side Story 74

Chapter side_74

“Sigh… I already read and knew it, but it is truly incredible.”

A man who seemed to have just turned thirty fanned his face and sighed. If he had not read the scriptures, he would have stepped forward thoughtlessly and would not have escaped a terrible fate.

How did the Great Dharma King of that time express it so well?

From the tall height to the shape of his hair and facial features.

Even the momentum he exuded was clearly expressed, so he could realize who he was in an instant just by looking.

He might have asked how a man from a thousand years ago could still be alive, but he was able to recognize him because the words left by the Great Dharma King of that era lingered in his mind.

‘He who fell asleep in the depths of Dongting Lake due to the scheme of an immortal, though dead, cannot be considered dead, and thus will appear again at any time.’

‘Therefore, his appearance is recorded in detail; if anyone in future generations sees him, do not hesitate to bow your head.’

Thus, he confirmed the figure from afar, and instead of stepping forward, he turned back immediately. Otherwise, he might have ended up like Gu Jagok by now.

“Sigh… that damn old man Golden Heaven Water King. He should have recognized the person properly before starting this.”

The Great Dharma King frowned with a reluctant expression.

If they had only told him that such an existence was there in the first place, he would not have even thought about searching for the scriptures.

‘Also, no matter what happens, you must make sure that the talk of this scripture does not enter his ears.’

He was one who already knew the contents of the scriptures.

Therefore, he knew why better than anyone. If he were to find out that such contents were written, the Potala Palace, which had become a sacred place of Buddhism transcending a thousand years of history, might turn to dust in an instant.

Indeed, since such a humiliating story was contained within it, even if he were the Martial God himself, he would have overturned it.

‘Should I return?’

The Great Dharma King moved hurriedly toward the Western Regions. He thought that keeping as much distance as possible from the Martial God was the safest path.

But soon, he came to a dead stop.

Shiver! In an instant, his entire body trembled.

Cold sweat poured down, looking just like someone drenched in fear.

With great difficulty, he turned his gaze.

As he turned his head, a strange creaking sound seemed to come from his neck.

“You are young.”

“…?!”

“Since you are the Great Dharma King, I thought you would be an old man…”

Soon, he stood in front of him.

With long hair fluttering, his gaze looked as if it had swallowed a wild beast, and the momentum flowing naturally was overwhelming, as if seeing a rising dragon.

Was that all?

The wind blew.

A gentle breeze rose around him.

As if it always stayed by his side, and as if the wind itself symbolized him, there was always wind around him.

The Great Dharma King shut his eyes tightly in an instant.

“Wh… Who are you?!”

“You do not… know me?”

“Y-Yes. I do not know who you are… but I saw nothing.”

He uttered strange words.

He claimed not to know who he was, yet the words he spoke to him were a bizarre excuse. Realizing his blunder in an instant, the Great Dharma King hurriedly covered his mouth.

Instead of saying he saw nothing, he should have pretended not to know until the very end.

Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes flashed brilliantly.

“Did you see?”

Shake shake!

He shook his head hurriedly at the incoming question.

The moment he nodded, he would die.

He knew that no matter how hard he struggled and poured in his internal energy, he could not lay a single finger on him or leave even a scratch.

‘What should I do? What do I do?’

And in that instant, Dan Woo-hyun pulled something from his chest and threw it onto the ground. With a rattling sound, a considerable number of bamboo slips poured down.

Knowing the contents of each one, the Great Dharma King’s complexion turned paler and paler.

“In the past… there was a Lama monk who recorded stories that didn’t exist.”

“Stories that… didn’t exist… Hic!”

“He was a guy who said that although it wasn’t true, it was necessary for entertainment.”

“…?!”

The Great Dharma King nodded.

The Great Dharma King of that era would not have written non-existent content. He would have recorded the Martial God exactly as he was. But if Dan Woo-hyun said it was so, then it was so.

Facing someone who could kill him and turn him to dust as many times as he wanted, whether he had ten lives or a hundred, there would be no fool who would shake his head at his words.

“So… did you see?”

“N-No! I absolutely did not see!”

Whoosh!

In an instant, the bamboo slips burst into flames in front of him.

He did not touch them to trigger Samadhi True Fire, but set them on fire purely with his will. Witnessing that absurd sight, he only gaped, unable to speak.

Somehow, this monster…

No, even the word monster could not fully describe that man.

Only then did Dan Woo-hyun smirk.

His expression looked very satisfied about something.

“So, are these necessary?”

“N-No! It’s okay if they d-disappear.”

“That’s a relief… Since you won’t have to burn and disappear like this…”

Shuddering, the Great Dharma King trembled.

Those words were no different from saying that if he had claimed they were necessary, he would have burned down the entire Potala Palace. He felt his heart drop, but he tried to hide his expression and forced an awkward smile.

Only then did Dan Woo-hyun nod and turn his back.

“By the way… there isn’t anything else besides this, right?”

“N-No, there isn’t!”

In fact, there was.

A book made of paper, not bamboo slips. In it, the details of what martial arts the Martial God used at the time, and how he subdued his opponents, were written densely.

Of course… they were useless even if one looked at them.

Besides that, he had read stories about secret manuals written by the Great Dharma King of that era when he left the palace in his later years. Although there were writings about him confining himself in a cave to interpret the martial arts of many, including the Three Heavens, they had not been found in the first place, and since they had nothing to do with the Martial God, that too was meaningless.

“…I will trust you.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Watching Dan Woo-hyun’s back as he walked slowly, the Great Dharma King held his breath. Even his disappearing back was so threatening that it felt suffocating.

Soon, around the time his figure completely disappeared from view, his legs finally gave out, and he slumped down, letting out a sigh.

“He is scary as hell…”

He felt like he finally understood a little why they said to be careful of him and fear him. There would be no one in the world who could remain in their right mind before him.

* * *

Gu Jagok slowly opened his eyes.

The intense pain felt throughout his body made him realize that this was by no means the afterlife. Unwittingly swallowing his dry saliva, he looked around.

“Here.”

And in that instant, a girl offered him a cup of water.

The moment he blinked and looked at the girl’s face, he could not help but widen his eyes. Why was this girl here?

“You are…”

“You’ve finally woken up! I’m glad.”

If his memory was correct, he had surely swung his sword to kill her. Although it didn’t end up that way due to a combination of coincidence and luck, it was true that he had ultimately tried to kill her.

But why was she here?

“Why… are you… nursing me?”

“Ah, I asked Grandpa Sa. There was no one around to nurse you…”

Dan So-mi said, glancing around.

Dan Woo-hyun was not seen, and Jang Sam-tae had no talent for nursing. She couldn’t ask Sa Do-hak or Namgung Cheon, and Geum Jiran and Jin Tae-gong were somehow out of their minds.

Since it was Namgung So-hye, she was terrified probably because he was a member of the Demonic Cult, so in the end Dan So-mi was in a situation where she had to do it.

Whether he knew that or not, Gu Jagok smiled bitterly.

“…Are you not afraid of me?”

“Yes? Ah… is it because of what happened then? I’m fine. Since I’ve experienced that kind of thing more than once or twice…”

Dan So-mi spoke with eyes that looked as if her soul had left her. Counting from her childhood, how many times had it been? Since she had survived somehow every time, from a certain point she stopped thinking that she would die.

Moreover, if Gu Jagok’s sword had truly been capable of killing Dan So-mi, the White Cat or White Tiger in her arms would have stepped in long ago.

“I am… sorry.”

“Ahahaha… don’t worry about it. It’s in the past.”

“…”

Despite Dan So-mi’s words, Gu Jagok could not help but care. Even though he had been brainwashed and could only see one thing, he had tried to kill an innocent child.

What’s more, he had even betrayed Sa Do-hak and the Demonic Cult, so how could his heart be at ease?

He was forcing himself to endure the urge to hang himself right away.

“You are still alive, I see.”

“C-Cult Leader?!”

At that moment, the door opened and Sa Do-hak walked inside.

Behind him, Dan Woo-hyun and Namgung Cheon were seen, but Gu Jagok’s eyes were fixed solely on Sa Do-hak.

As if he could not even see anyone else.

“I… I apologize, Cult Leader! Because I was foolish…”

“No, it is fine. There is no use blaming a fool. As long as you know you were foolish, that’s enough. You won’t make such a mistake next time, right?”

“…”

“Gam Chun will handle the punishment of you guys, so let’s move past that…”

“C-Cult Leader! Everything is my fault. Please, at least my subordinates…!”

The moment Sa Do-hak’s words heard, Gu Jagok raised his head hurriedly and shouted. He was the only one brainwashed, and his subordinates had merely moved according to the orders of the Leader, Gu Jagok.

Therefore, Gu Jagok’s desire was to save his subordinates, whose only crime was following him, by any means.

But in that instant, Sa Do-hak placed his hand on his shoulder with a thud.

Soon, he met his gaze while his dark eyes glowed, and smirked.

“Am I the Cult Leader now? Who is leading the Cult?”

“…?!”

“The one you must serve is not me… but Gam Chun. Behave properly.”

“…”

Gu Jagok could not say anything.

As Sa Do-hak said, Gam Chun was the one in the position of Cult Leader. Therefore, as a member of the Mount Tian Demonic Cult, what he had to do was not to beg Sa Do-hak, but to ask Gam Chun for forgiveness and bow his head.

Only then realizing his mistake, Gu Jagok stood up from his seat.

“Thank you… for reminding me.”

“As long as you know. Go.”

Gu Jagok nodded silently and moved. He intended to go to Gam Chun, the Cult Leader, beg for forgiveness, and accept his punishment.

That was indeed the way for him to resolve the matter he himself had started.

Just then, someone’s voice heard.

“By the way… were those bamboo slips really all?”

At the sound that soon heard, Gu Jagok turned his gaze to look at Dan Woo-hyun.

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