Chapter 254

Chapter 254
## Chapter 254. The Time the Fruit Is Borne

“How did you find out?”

“Find out what?”

Blood Battle’s arm lunged with unbelievable speed.

It happened too fast to defend against.

His left fingers had instantly struck my Numbing Acupoint, completely freezing my body.

In his right fingers, which had drawn a weapon without me even noticing, was a dagger radiating thick qi, pressed tightly against the side of my throat.

A fraction of an inch more pressure, and my life would be forfeit.

I swallowed hard.

After experiencing the miraculous transformation of Bone Remolding and Rebirth, I believed I had closed the distance between our skills a bit, but reality proved that such a massive deficit could not be overcome so quickly.

“I am asking how…… you discovered that such a sanctuary actually exists.”

“I had no absolute proof.”

“……Do not play games with me. Speak honestly about how you came across this knowledge.”

To a certain point, I could comprehend why Blood Battle was reacting so violently.

After all, the Black Forest represented the ultimate sanctuary and final resting ground for men of their kind.

I kept my throat as still as possible as I offered my reply.

“I genuinely possessed no certainty. But now, it is a proven fact.”

“What?”

“The way you just lost your composure essentially confirmed to me that the Black Forest is real, did it not?”

“…….”

The rumor of the Black Forest was merely one of many tall tales that drifted across the taverns of Jianghu.

A mythical haven where retired masters of the Black Path supposedly gathered to spend their final days.

Some referred to it as the Black Immortal Realm, and it was usually dismissed by drunkards as nothing more than an entertaining fable to share over spirits.

In my past existence, I too had categorized it as a complete fabrication, much like the legendary tales surrounding the Taeul Sword Emperor.

Yet, witnessing his explosive response now gave me absolute certainty.

“How remarkable. To think the fabled Black Forest is a reality.”

“……Is that the absolute truth?”

Blood Battle’s gaze wavered with intense emotion.

“Whether it is true or not, who in their right mind would believe such a sanctuary actually exists in this world?”

“…….”

Naturally, I was spinning a falsehood.

In my previous life, there arrived a moment when the hidden powerhouses of the Black Forest descended upon Jianghu in massive numbers.

That was the exact moment I realized the place was far more than a mere myth.

Following the total destruction of the Sword Demon’s Black Thought Alliance and the subsequent devastation of the Black Path Murim, the gates of that legendary sanctuary finally swung open.

The sudden emergence of unmatched masters of the Black Path, individuals the world assumed had perished or faded into obscurity from extreme age, sent shockwaves through the leadership of the Murim Alliance.

Ignoring the sharp sting radiating from the blade against my throat, I remarked,

“It appears my habit of constantly dropping playful remarks in everyday conversation has yielded an incredible reward.”

“……Are you blind to the fact that you have placed your very existence in extreme danger?”

“The mere fact that you withheld a fatal blow proves you realize this slip of the tongue was your own undoing, does it not?”

A smooth motion followed.

Blood Battle withdrew his weapon.

The moment the restriction on my Numbing Acupoint dissolved, I began massaging my strained throat.

A faint trickle of blood emerged, but it was a minuscule toll to pay for uncovering the truth behind the ‘Black Forest.’

Blood Battle issued a stern, quiet admonition.

“You would be wise to completely wipe this conversation from your mind.”

“For what reason?”

Blood Battle slipped the blade back into the folds of his attire and locked his gaze with mine.

“Because ordinary men would scoff at the tale anyway, and any unfortunate soul who catches even a whisper of this sanctuary from your lips will face certain death.”

“…….”

As I listened to his grim words, a realization dawned on me.

It was highly probable that the existence of the ‘Black Forest’ remained a mere campfire story precisely because its inhabitants actively enforced that illusion.

“I shall keep this secret entirely to myself.”

“See that you do. Unless you wish to be responsible for a trail of innocent corpses.”

Giving a solitary nod of agreement, I pivoted to my primary objective.

“In exchange for my silence, I have a request to ask of you.”

“……This is not a matter of negotiation.”

“Then consider it a simple favor from a junior.”

Blood Battle stared at me as if I had completely lost my senses, but I stood my ground without flinching.

If the hidden forces of the Black Forest delayed their emergence until the exact timeline of my past life, the consequences would be catastrophic.

I looked directly into Blood Battle’s eyes.

“Please grant me passage to speak with the elders of the Black Forest.”

“Do you mistake the sanctuary of the Black Forest for a common marketplace?”

“I have no desire to go there as a mere sightseer. My sole purpose is to converse with the figures who dwell within its borders.”

“To what end?”

In moments of friction like this, it was far more efficient to guide the other person to their own realization rather than recounting every single detail manually.

“You witnessed the situation with your own eyes, did you not, Senior? The chaotic events unfolding within the Black Thought Alliance and across the wider landscape of Jianghu.”

“What are you implying……”

As the words left his mouth, Blood Battle’s brow knit tightly together.

Even without me spelling out the specifics, reflecting on the chain of disasters that had struck the Black Thought Alliance would allow him to deduce exactly why I needed to reach the Black Forest.

Blood Battle established a rigid boundary.

“That concerns the affairs of the secular world.”

“Is the Black Forest not situated within the boundaries of Jianghu?”

“We have severed our ties with the conflicts of the mortal realm.”

However, I had no intention of retreating so easily.

“Did you and Senior Flame Ghost Consort-bi not cross back into the mortal realm the moment you stepped into the territory of the Black Thought Alliance?”

“That situation was……”

Left with no defense, Blood Battle clamped his jaws shut.

He was well aware that continuing this line of bickering would yield nothing but a tedious, circular debate.

“This crisis manifested right here in the Black Thought Alliance. Can you not see that the deeper you entangle yourself in the affairs of the Black Path Murim, the swifter your position within the Orthodox Path Murim will crumble away?”

I offered a resolute shake of my head.

“This malice is not confined to the borders of the Black Thought Alliance. I have tracked the sinister footprints of the masterminds behind this plot across Henan Province, throughout the Puyang Plains, and deep into Sichuan.”

dishonesty.

“…….”

Blood Battle maintained his deep scowl, clearly displeased by my persistence.

Yet, despite his irritation, he grasped the gravity of my words more clearly than anyone else present.

“If the Black Forest exists within the realm of Jianghu, then the destruction of Jianghu spells the ultimate doom of the sanctuary as well. If the powerhouses of the Black Forest refuse to unite against ‘that faction,’ the entirety of Jianghu will fall into ruin.”

“……You bold brat.”

Blood Battle’s expression grew exceptionally grim.

“You are letting panic cloud your judgment. Regardless of their schemes, they represent a solitary faction hidden within the vast expanses of Jianghu.”

“That solitary faction is currently tearing both the Murim Alliance and the Black Thought Alliance apart from the shadows, without leaving a single shred of evidence behind.”

“…….”

Observing Blood Battle’s deeply conflicted state, I chose to hold my tongue.

Pressing the matter any further would only provoke unnecessary hostility and resentment.

After a tense silence endured for a few moments.

“What exactly do you hope to achieve by entering the Black Forest?”

Blood Battle finally broke the silence.

I presented my objective without a second thought.

“I intend to forge an alliance and prepare our defenses before the disaster becomes unstoppable.”

“You expect to convince the recluses of the Black Forest to draw their blades for the world?”

“Precisely.”

Blood Battle shut his eyes tightly and shook his head in disapproval.

“Such a feat is utterly impossible.”

“Even if they have abandoned the mortal path, their heritage remains bound to Jianghu. If they choose to draw their weapons only after the realm has burned, it will be nothing more than mending the fence long after the livestock has been slaughtered.”

Blood Battle sank into a protracted, heavy silence.

Was he truly prepared to let the tragic oversights of my previous life repeat themselves?

I closed the distance between us by another pace.

“Once everything we know is reduced to ash, tears of regret will mean absolutely nothing.”

“……That is not the issue.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Blood Battle forced the words past his lips with visible reluctance.

“The problem lies elsewhere.”

“Is there a hidden obstacle?”

“…….”

Blood Battle regarded me with a complicated, searching gaze for a long time, as if weighing a monumental decision in his mind.

Then, at long last, he spoke with heavy gravity once more.

“……I shall reveal the truth to you, provided you manage to reach the Black Forest.”

“……!”

The breakthrough had arrived.

I felt a surge of triumph wash over me.

His statement was a tacit confirmation that he was granting me permission to seek out the Black Forest.

Regrettably, my elation was cut short.

Blood Battle’s somber tone echoed through the quiet.

“However, the journey cannot happen at this moment.”

“Then when will the path be open to me?”

“I shall deliver word to you when the conditions are right.”

“Are you saying you cannot provide even a rough estimate of the duration?”

Blood Battle paused, lost in deep contemplation for a brief interval.

Then, he gave a slow, deliberate nod.

“……Correct.”

“In that case, how can I ensure our communications connect? My path will keep me constantly on the move.”

“Your location is irrelevant; we possess the means to locate you. When the hour strikes, I will make contact.”

Though a lingering sense of impatience burned within me, achieving this level of concession was already a massive victory.

I decided it was prudent to stop pushing his boundaries.

“I shall await your signal. I only pray that the hour does not arrive too late.”

“If it is a person of your extraordinary nature, perhaps a miracle is possible……”

Blood Battle murmured a faint, cryptic phrase under his breath.

I had exerted every ounce of effort to sway Cha Seok-du until the final minutes before our departure.

However, he treated my overtures with complete indifference and ultimately refused to even grant me a farewell audience.

I was the individual responsible for both the birth and the subsequent stabilization of the Black Thought Alliance.

This exact situation illustrated why the elders always warned never to place your faith in wild, black-haired beasts.

Particularly those treacherous individuals whose very souls were dyed in darkness.

“You have achieved more than enough. Given that the Murim Alliance managed to successfully purge the Blood Cult forces in Sichuan as a direct consequence of this campaign, your contributions are already immense.”

Hearing those reassuring words from Ak Byeong-bi, our esteemed Delegation Leader, signaled that I had fulfilled my obligations honorably.

“Furthermore, we must remember they belong to the Black Path. They are fundamentally incapable of existing in harmony with our righteous factions. Observe their conduct even now. We pulled the Black Thought Alliance back from the brink of total annihilation, yet not a single prominent leader has arrived to send us off. That behavior speaks volumes about their character.”

Just as he noted, while Cha Seok-du’s absence was frustrating, it was genuinely disappointing that none of the other prominent Black Path figures I had forged bonds with bothers to make an appearance.

“Should any critic attempt to fault you for the failure to secure a formal treaty, I will personally silence them, so lay your anxieties to rest.”

“…… shreds.”

What had gotten into this man?

What was the catalyst for this sudden wave of empathy?

Hmm…… While it was comforting that the hostility between us had dissolved, it simultaneously felt as though our dynamic had warped into an even stranger territory.

Dang Seo-hui contributed her own perspective to the conversation.

“There is no reason to be disheartened. If diplomacy ultimately fails down the road, you can always just claim the title of Deputy Alliance Leader within the Black Thought Alliance.”

I was entirely in the dark about what had transpired during my period of unconsciousness, but Dang Seo-hui had somehow established an incredibly tight rapport with the martial artists representing Four Emperors Peak.

Out of everyone in our traveling party, she displayed the greatest reluctance to journey back toward the Murim Alliance.

Just as their combined banter began to soothe my lingering frustrations, a scouting Escort stepped forward to announce,

“Delegation Leader, all logistical arrangements for our departure have been finalized.”

Prompted by the Escort’s announcement, we gathered our personal gear and made our way out into the courtyard.

The transport carriage that had initially arrived overflowing with diplomatic treasures now stood entirely bare, save for a meager cache of rations meant to sustain us on the return trip.

Then, just as we prepared to swing ourselves onto the mounts prepared by our Escorts,

A sudden commotion erupted beyond the perimeter gates, and a massive throng of people began pouring into the courtyard of the Horse Station.

Emerging from the front of the crowd was a very familiar countenance.

“Oh?”

“It appears my arrival is slightly delayed.”

As Strategist Dam extended a respectful cupped-fist salute toward Ak Byeong-bi, who was in the middle of mounting his horse, Ak Byeong-bi managed to return the courtesy despite his profound shock.

“I certainly did not anticipate your presence here today.”

Ak Byeong-bi’s features were a mask of utter astonishment.

In response, a subtle grin played across the lips of Strategist Dam.

“The ancient masters noted that a man who fails to show proper appreciation for a favor is lower than a common animal.”

“…….”

Was the strategist aware that Ak Byeong-bi had been fiercely disparaging his faction just moments prior?

Dam-ak scanned the gathered members of our traveling party, eventually locking his eyes onto me before continuing,

“We may very well find ourselves operating as allies traveling down the exact same road in the days to come, would you not agree? It was only proper that I came to see you off.”

Ak Byeong-bi fought desperately to maintain a neutral expression.

Watching him struggle, I genuinely worried his veins might burst from the sheer effort.

“……We are deeply grateful for your courtesy.”

Dam-ak gave a casual flick of his wrist to dismiss the gratitude, immediately gesturing toward the procession trailing behind him.

“Furthermore, I bring tokens of appreciation commissioned directly by the Alliance Leader.”

“Tokens?”

A breath later, a dozen attendants bearing an assortment of grand and ornate containers marched into the Horse Station in precise formation.

“What could those contain?”

The moment Dang Seo-hui voiced her intense curiosity, the attendants arranged themselves flanking Dam-ak and threw open the lids of the containers.

“Ah! Look at that!”

The initial shout of pure shock erupted from Il-myeong.

His gaze was entirely locked onto the specific chest positioned closest to Dam-ak.

He then bellowed in absolute spiritual ecstasy.

“A M-Maitreya Small Buddha Statue!”

Il-myeong began shaking violently, looking for all the world like a devout believer face-to-face with a living deity.

Witnessing his entire head vibrate with such intense spiritual fervor was a truly extraordinary spectacle.

“Incredible……!”

Predictably, the astonishment among the remaining members of our envoy was just as profound.

The mastermind behind this grand gesture, Dam-ak, maintained a perfectly poised demeanor.

“Our Alliance Leader also wished to convey his deep sorrow that a formal pact could not be sealed during this visit. Nevertheless, two massive factions separated by vast territories cannot realistically bridge the divide overnight. He expressed his belief that we should instead focus on closing the gap progressively, one step at a time, through gestures such as this.”

As my eyes scanned the valuable treasures glistening inside the open containers, a thought slipped past my lips before I could censor myself.

“By my calculations, it feels as though we have just leaped ahead by roughly three steps.”

“…….”

In response to my blunt commentary, Ak Byeong-bi glared at me with icy intensity, but quickly shifted his attention to offer a respectful cupped-fist gesture toward Dam-ak.

“I shall ensure the sincere intentions of the Black Thought Alliance are communicated with absolute clarity to the leadership of the Murim Alliance.”

Before long, a faint, involuntary smirk began to tug at the corner of his mouth.

He always went out of his way to act above it all.

“Move it, move it! Let’s get these crates secured right here!! Give it some muscle, fellas!”

While our Escorts began transferring the treasures provided by Dam-ak into the vacant transport carriage, guided by my raucous cheering and loud directions, Dam-ak walked over to my side.

He stared intently at my face for a quiet beat before suddenly murmuring,

“You have my gratitude.”

“For what exactly?”

When I questioned him, he offered a couple of self-conscious coughs and averted his gaze.

“……Let us ensure our paths cross again in the future.”

I could swear the tips of his ears turned a shade of crimson.

I let out a soft laugh at his expense.

“Naturally, a future reunion is a must.”

Though nothing had been stated in plain words, I felt an intuitive understanding of the sentiments Dam-ak was harboring.

Dam-ak offered a curt nod of farewell and strode away.

Following that,

Just as I prepared to snap the leather reins to set our mount into motion, fully believing our departure was finally underway—

“……!”

The sudden appearance of an immense crowd flooding the entrance of the Horse Station forced us to pull our mounts to an abrupt halt once more.

“What in the world is happening now……!”

An endless sea of Black Path figures completely choked the thoroughfare.

Their dense numbers left absolutely no clearance for our Escort Agency’s transport carriage to navigate forward.

“H-how do you propose we handle this?”

As Il-myeong’s features contorted with anxiety while surveying the intimidating crowd blocking our exit, Ak Byeong-bi maintained absolute composure as he spoke,

“We continue forward without hesitation.”

“Come again?”

Ak Byeong-bi lifted his gaze, staring directly into the heart of the mass of people.

“I am telling you their intentions are not hostile.”

The moment skepticism flashed across the features of both Il-myeong and Dang Seo-hui,

“……!”

The sea of bodies blocking the thoroughfare began to part cleanly down the middle, creating a wide corridor.

And in that instant,

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP.

Sparked by a solitary individual, a deafening wave of applause began to reverberate through the air.

Moments later, thunderous roars of celebration erupted from the crowd.

“Safe travels! We await your return down the road!”

“Black Flame Dragon! You truly represent the glorious Rising Star of the Black Path!”

“You servants of the Murim Alliance, see that you make it back in one piece!”

While there were definitely a few choices of words mixed into the cheers that I would have preferred not to hear……

Regardless, a wave of genuine warmth and camaraderie washed over our group.

From various points in the crowd, citizens began tossing wrapped rice cakes and decorative Money Pouches toward us.

Dang Seo-hui exhibited impressive reflexes, snatching up only the items that could be consumed as traveling snacks from midair.

When I shifted my gaze to observe the elite guards assigned to the Alliance Leader’s Hall, their faces were a picture of absolute bewilderment, completely unable to process the bizarre spectacle unfolding before them.

Though none of us offered an audible reply to their parting well-wishes, their thunderous acclamations followed us far down the road.

And gentle, proud smiles settled onto the faces of our envoy members.

Once we had completely crossed beyond the territory of the Black Thought Alliance and the sounds of their grand farewell had finally faded into the distance,

Ak Byeong-bi eased up on his reins, slowing his mount’s stride until he was riding abreast of me, and murmured in a low, reflective tone,

“It appears my initial assumptions may have been flawed.”

“What brings about this sudden change of heart……”

Ak Byeong-bi offered no further explanation, leaving only those cryptic words behind as he urged his mount back to the front of the line.