༺ Pieces (1) ༻

Whether it was Moyong Hi-ah, who seemed to want something from me, or the world that had stopped…

What was happening now was far more confusing than both of those combined.

“A fish is talking…?”

A fish was talking to me.

The way the fish spoke with perfect pronunciation with its fish mouth could not be any weirder.

[You fucking idiot.]

On top of that, his words were rather harsh as well.

[You should respond if someone is talking to you, how could you have no respect even at your age.]

“Is it talking to me?”

[Who else is here besides you.]

I mean, there are a lot of people here, it’s just that they were all frozen.

But that wasn’t the important thing.

“…What the hell is this thing?”

[Are ya blind? Can’t you tell just by looking?]

I was able to tell by its appearance.

It was a fish.

A fish that had lived hundreds of years, and an expensive white fish that was being called the treasure of Shaolin.

The ‘White Fish of Purity’ was it?

It was something like that.

As I made a dumbfounded expression, the fish continued to speak, moving its little fish mouth.

[Ugh, your shocked expression is as ugly as ever, I can’t believe you were reincarnated with such a stupidly fierce face…]

“What in the world is it even saying?”

This weird situation was one thing, but now my face was also being insulted by some fish.

As I spoke in confusion, the fish started wiggling its whiskers.

It seemed that the fish’s expression changed as well.

It was, as if, it was looking at me in mockery.

[Hah! Shincheol you idiot, do you really want to fool around even in this situation?]

‘Shincheol.’

I didn’t need to think twice to know who the fish was referring to.

Because Shincheol was the name that belonged to the old man sleeping rent free inside my body.

‘But the problem is, why does that fish think that I am Elder Shin?’

Also the time that seemed to have frozen, was that caused by the fish as well?

‘They said it was a treasure…’

But it wasn’t even an object. How was this a treasure? It’s more like a demon.

I responded to the fish.

“I think you may be mistaken, but I’m not Shincheol.”

[This idiotic shitstain. You probably know better that we don’t have much time, so why the fuck are you acting like this?]

“It seems like it has no intention of listening to me…”

Hearing my response, the fish’s whisker suddenly stretched out towards me and rubbed my cheek.

I tried to grab the whisker because of the uncomfortable sensation, but the whisker dodged my grasp and returned to its original spot.

The whisker wigged a bit after it went back, the fish then spoke with a smile.

[You made sure to not hold back on building that body, huh. Not only did you overcome the wall, you even started making a strong foundation in order to reach the Transcendence Realm.]

“…”

Cold sweat flowed down my back, as I heard the fish’s words.

Because it was exactly as the fish said.

I was preparing myself so that I could go from the Peak Realm to the Fusion Realm.

My martial art capabilities had reached a new level when I overcame my wall, and my Qi and body were in the process of becoming one so that I could transcend into a higher realm.

And just like how going from First-Rate to the Peak Realm was a grave deal for martial artists, going from the Peak Realm to the Fusion Realm was even harder.

Because even at my current level, I assumed it would take at least a few years for me to reach that level.

‘And that fish could tell immediately.’

[The fact that you were able to reach that level with a little boy’s body is the first proof, and as for the second proof…]

Splash.

A drop of water spattered to my cheek as the fish splashed in the water.

[Are you really, trying to fool me when you have that thick plum flower scent on you, you fucking idiot?!]

Oh.

‘Is it because of the Taoist Qi inside my body?’

The Taoist Qi that had entered my body along with Elder Shin from Mount Hua’s treasure.

It was so dense that it even affected my Flame Qi and changed the color of my destructive flame arts.

And Elder Shin had said that the Taoist Qi I had was even denser than the Taoist Qi that Yung Pung had.

But the problem was, the fish wouldn’t mistake me for elder Shin just because it felt some Taoist Qi from me.

And most importantly, Elder Shin was a dead person.

[Hoo, let’s end the tomfoolery here. I’m happy that things have turned out the way we had hoped, but I really don’t have that much time left.]

“I’m going to say this again, but I’m not who you are thinking o- “

When I spoke again trying to prove him wrong, the fish scoffed.

I couldn’t believe I was able to see that fish’s expression so clearly even with that dumb face.

[Fine, if you’re going to remain stubborn, I have no choice but to do this even though I didn’t plan to.]

Was it trying to do something?

I enhanced my senses just in case it tried to attack me.

I wondered if I should be cautious of a fish, but it was more of a demon that had lived for hundreds of years rather than a fish, so I had to be sure.

But unlike my expectations, no attacks came from the fish.

Instead of attacking me, the fish looked at me with a determined expression and spoke.

[This happened when we were young, but I’m sure you remember. Back then, you were chasing after the Moyong Clan’s daughter… ]

I suddenly felt a kicking sensation from my insides as I heard the fish.

And I couldn’t help but frown as that kicking sensation turned into extreme pain.

It felt like something was rampaging inside my body.

‘Is this perhaps…’

Is that energy-devouring monster trying to go on a rampage again?

[You asked her out for three whole days and nights, yet she ended up with Myung in the end-]

As the fish tried to finish its words,

[You rotting piece of…! Won’t you shut up!?]

A familiar voice appeared inside my head.

“…Uh?!”

[Eh?]

[Huh.]

For a few moments, everything was silent.

In an attempt to break the silence, an old man who seemed to have a very rude personality…

[…This works?]

— Elder Shin, whispered spiritlessly.

******************

The Light of Might, Cheolyoung, was known as the greatest martial artist in the entire history of Shaolin.

He had reached the highest realm of martial arts and was one of the Five Masters that had stopped the Blood Demon’s Blood Disaster.

Cheolyoung could be accredited to having the most influence in forming what was today’s glorious Shaolin.

And such a great person…

Puff puff.

‘Is that fish right there?’

I stared at the white fish puffing its mouth with a dumbfounded expression.

The way it swam and its white colored scales made it look extremely noble and elegant, but that didn’t mean that the usual dumb look of a fish had gone away.

I didn’t think it was a lie though.

It was none other than Elder Shin who had said it, so it must be true.

Elder Shin looked at the fish for a while, then finally spoke.

[Cheolyoung, how the hell did you become like this?]

I was shocked enough that the old man suddenly appeared out of nowhere when he had been sleeping this whole time, but I didn’t even have the chance to ask him why he had woken up so late.

It was because Elder Shin was busy talking to that fish… more accurately, the Light of Might right now.

[I want to ask that as well, Shincheol.]

The fish’s carefree tone was gone, now sounding far more serious.

[…Why are you in such a state right now?]

[Probably the same reason as you.]

That fish was being called the treasure of Shaolin.

Did that mean that just like how Elder Shin had been sleeping inside Mount Hua’s treasure, Cheolyoung was sleeping inside Shaolin’s treasure as well?

‘Hmm. It is quite convincing.’

Elder Shin was like this, so it was understandable that Cheolyoung was also in a similar state.

But I first needed an explanation as to why a hero of the past had their soul trapped inside a treasure.

Elder Shin last time had said that he didn’t know why, but there was a chance that Cheolyoung knew.

‘Was this what Elder Shin was hoping for?’

It was possible.

I thought about back when Elder Shin asked me to go to Shaolin no matter what if I ever went to Hanam.

Did Elder Shin hope that I would come across a situation just like this?

Just as I expected, Elder Shin asked Cheolyoung.

[Cheolyoung, do you know the reason why both of us are left in today’s world in this current state of ours?]

What was the reason why Elder Shin was left in the present day and how did it happen?

[…You, why are you asking that question?]

[Because I don’t know the answer to it.]

[…]

[Cheolyoung.]

The Light of Might remained silent for a moment even though he had been talking a lot just earlier.

A palpable silence hung in the air.

There was no sound in a world where time itself had stopped, thus it was extremely silent.

Elder Shin couldn’t endure the silence, so he urged Cheolyoung.

[Cheolyoung, why won’t you ans-]

[That child, are you not him?]

[What?]

[The child I’m looking at right now, I’m asking if that’s not you.]

It was a strange question.

What did he mean when he asked if I wasn’t Elder Shin?

Elder Shin also seemed like he couldn’t understand, so he asked again.

[What kind of nonsense is that? What do you mean if I’m not this child?]

Cheolyoung still continued to maintain his silence despite Elder Shin’s questioning.

It only stared into my eyes while puffing its fish mouth.

[Cheolyoung.]

Elder Shin called his name as he realized that something was wrong.

And not long after, I heard a lamenting voice.

[…I see. So it didn’t happen after all.]

[Shouldn’t you explain clearly, so that I can understand what you are talking about?]

[Shincheol.]

[Speak.]

The wiggling whiskers sunk deep underneath the lake.

Just like Cheolyoung’s atmosphere right now.

[You said that you have no memory.]

[Yes, I… I don’t remember anything. So I need you to tell me everything.]

The death of the Blood Demon…

What had happened to him after that…

And why he was left in today’s world as a spirit…

Elder Shin couldn’t remember anything.

Elder Shin wanted Cheolyoung to solve his doubts.

[Do you know why?]

Cheolyoung puffed its mouth to respond to Elder Shin’s question.

[Yes, I do, I know very well.]

[Then-]

[But I cannot tell you.]

Elder Shin became angry for a moment after hearing Cheolyoung.

[Are you making fun of me right now?]

[I wish that was the case, but with you in your current state, I cannot say anything.]

[What does that- ]

[After hundreds of years of waiting, I have finally met you, but sadly one cannot learn anything if they don’t find out by themselves.]

Was it a mistake?

It looked like the beautiful scales of the fish had lost some of their colors.

During their conversation, I only remained silent and just continued to listen to them.

Not only did I not have a chance to interrupt, it was also because I was able to feel Elder Shin’s emotions way too clearly.

So I couldn’t just interrupt their conversation.

[Are you going to keep on saying random things?]

[How much do you remember?]

Elder Shin thought for a moment hearing Cheolyoung’s question, then he responded.

[The last fight against the Blood Demon. That’s the last thing I remember.]

Cheolyoung, having heard Elder Shin, laughed listlessly.

[If that’s the case, then that means you truly know nothing.]

As the fish kept on giving the same response, Elder Shin couldn’t hold it in, in the end, and shouted at him.

[You rotting piece of…! If you are going to respond, then at least give me a proper response!]

Despite Elder Shin’s outburst, Cheolyoung’s reaction remained the same. Apathetic and impassive.

Cheolyoung’s spirit had been like that ever since Elder Shin had appeared in the form of a spirit.

Elder Shin, who couldn’t deal with his reaction, clenched his mouth and asked a different question.

[…One thing, I need you to answer just one thing properly.]

Cheolyoung gave no response, yet Elder Shin continued.

[Did the Blood Demon die?]

For a moment, it felt like a breeze flew by as Elder Shin asked the question.

That couldn’t be possible since everything around me had stopped, yet I had felt such a sensation.

Cheolyoung, flinching his whiskers, responded this time.

[Hoo, fortunately, it seems I am able to answer this one. However, it seems like you already know the answer to this question, don’t you?]

[…]

I suddenly felt my dantian waver at Cheolyoung’s words.

This must have meant that Elder Shin was shaken by his words.

And as Cheolyoung continued…

[It didn’t die.]

The Taoist Qi that was sleeping inside me, suddenly went extremely wild.

“Elder Shin…!”

I tried to calm down the rampaging Taoist Qi, but Elder Shin, who couldn’t seem to hear me, continued to pour out his emotions.

And even in the midst of all this, I was extremely shocked at Cheolyoung’s revelation.

How could I not be?

‘The Blood Demon didn’t die?’

The Blood Demon was a being that had tried to paint the world with blood hundreds of years ago.

It was said that the Five Heroes of the Central Plains had killed the Blood Demon in their final fight, but…

‘The Blood Demon never died…?’

Wait, the way Cheolyoung spoke made it sound like the Blood Demon was still alive…

For such a long period of time.

[Ha, judging by your reaction, it seems like you don’t even remember what happened in the last moment.]

[…Explain clearly. What happened that day.]

[You already got the answer you wanted, the Blood Demon is still alive and on this very land.]

[That’s not possible, the history clearly stated-]

[You still believe in history? Even though you’ve been tricked by it so many times?]

Elder Shin became silent at Cheolyoung’s barrage of sharp words.

[Well, technically it’s not wrong. The Blood Demon definitely stopped its breath in that fight.]

[Then…!]

[However, the bastard didn’t die.]

It felt like the breeze behind me had become slightly stronger.

Unlike the cold breeze of winter, it was one that held dense heat.

[The bastard had tied itself to this land, even in its death.]

[Explain it in a way that I could-]

The fish with white scales slowly swam towards us.

As if it was trying to meet its eyes with Elder Shin’s.

And from the fish’s puffing mouth, a resolute voice spoke out.

[The Blood Demon is dreaming of resurrection, Divine Sword of Mount Hua.]

As if an earthquake had occurred, my dantian went wild at Cheolyoung’s words.

TL/N:

Dominus

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