Chapter 512

Chapter 512
Back when my previous life was completely stripped away from me.

In those days when existence itself felt entirely devoid of purpose.

It was then that I used whatever influence and strength I possessed to stage my very first rebellion. Though I had once cowered and trembled at the mere mention of **Gye-cheol-yeong**, I stood before the heads of the **Murim Alliance** and made a solitary demand.

“Send me back to the **So-jeong-dae**.”

Predictably, my plea was dismissed out of hand, and from that moment forward, I flatly refused to follow the commands of the superiors. Even as I endured daily beatings, endless harassment, and relentless mockery, my singular request never wavered.

“Send me back to the **So-jeong-dae**.”

Taking pity on my miserable state, **Dam-ak** ultimately granted my request and reassigned me to the **So-jeong-dae**. My desire had nothing to do with a passion for combat on the front lines. Nor did it stem from any fondness for those bastards in the **So-jeong-dae** who used to torment me relentlessly because of my origins in the **One Hundred and Eight Peaks**.

The true motive driving me back to the **So-jeong-dae** was simple.

*’They were always the first expendable forces thrown to the slaughter at the vanguard.’*

It was fundamentally a vanguard of human shields. A destination where losing one’s life equated to final salvation. I fervently wished to be among those rapidly swapped out in death, which meant the chaos of war ceased to terrify me.

It was during that specific period.

**Moyong-seol** was reassigned to the **So-jeong-dae**. The exact circumstances and reasons for her arrival in the **So-jeong-dae** remained a mystery. Some rumored she had been abandoned after her clan perished in the conflict, leaving her without any utility. Others whispered that her transfer was a disciplinary measure for striking a high-ranking officer. Yet, the facts were impossible to verify, as she never uttered a single word regarding the matter.

To the rest of us, it simply felt bizarre. Here was a brilliant prodigy hailing from one of the Five Great Families, taking directives from a squad commander far weaker than herself in martial arts, all while fighting alongside us at the extreme edge of danger. Giving her all in a role completely beneath her, she was an anomaly in our midst. At the same time, her title as the **Sword Queen** erected an invisible barrier between her and the rest of the unit. The vulgar scoundrels of the **So-jeong-dae**, who habitually spewed crude remarks and profanity, would instantly grow silent whenever she drew near.

Out of nowhere, this very woman approached me with a question.

[Does **Jin Gong-ja** harbor a desire to end his life?]

Though we were mutually aware of one another, it was hardly an appropriate icebreaker for two individuals who had never exchanged a word. I shot back, “Why do you care?” before brushing past her coldly. The next instance we actually spoke to one another,

“Stop interfering with me!”

I was screaming profanities in her face.

“Son of a bitch…! If you had such an intense urge to protect something, you ought to have kept your own family safe!”

Navigating a battlefield that felt like treading on paper-thin ice, where mortality loomed at every turn, she constantly pulled me back from the brink. She kept rescuing me, a person who had sought out this place precisely to cease existing.

“Can’t you hear me?! Just let me perish!!”

Even so, she continued to preserve my life time and again. If anything,

[Would you mind lending an ear to my tale for a moment?]

She drew even nearer to me, treating me as though I held some form of value.

“Beat it.”

I dismissed her bluntly with a harsh snarl. Yet, despite my constant rejection, **Moyong-seol** sought me out every single evening, pleading with me to hear her out. Her persistent behavior eventually kindled a deep skepticism within me. Why choose me of all people? When I finally pressed her on the matter, she gave her answer.

[I was told you possess an extraordinary memory. My own recollections are beginning to fade away… So please, keep them safe for me.]

They were merely ghosts of things that had long since disappeared. I failed to comprehend the value of holding onto and passing down such fleeting illusions, yet her yearning was absolute. Despite the profound resentment I harbored toward her back then, I conceded to her plea. The exact motivation eludes me now. Perhaps, since she had compelled me to go on living this worthless existence, I simply found myself with nothing better to occupy my time.

She recounted the mischief of her younger years, her experiences alongside her kindred, and the deep yearning she felt for them. She spoke of her routine at the Academy and her exploits during the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. The tales poured from her continuously, and I remained a silent audience to it all. No genuine dialogue occurred between us beyond this. Whenever she unburdened her past, I merely observed in silence. It felt as though she were etching her legacy onto a tablet made of my own mind, passing down every single word with meticulous care. Occasionally, she would repeat herself, or the details would drift slightly, given that ordinary human recollection lacks the flawless precision of my own.

As the conflict moved into the concluding phases of the Great War between Justice and Demons, the fortunes of the **Murim Alliance** took a severe downturn. Paradoxically, an intense craving for survival sparked within me. I couldn’t tell if it was because my time in the **So-jeong-dae** had brought a strange sense of contentment, or if the monsters of the Demonic Cult truly terrified me. Perhaps the agony over my slaughtered kin and the demise of my clan had finally dulled, or maybe…

Maybe it was a consequence of absorbing **Moyong-seol**’s personal history. Whatever the underlying cause, a desperate urge to survive took hold of me. I wanted to stay alive alongside the members of the **So-jeong-dae**. And alongside **Moyong-seol**.

It was at this juncture that the various records I had been forced to commit to memory by the heads of the **Murim Alliance** proved invaluable. Within those details, I discovered a method to secure an escape route for our **So-jeong-dae**. To ensure our survival. Never before had my instinct to cling to life burn so fiercely. Eagerly, I laid out the strategy to the rest of the **So-jeong-dae**.

However,

[Seeing as you harbor the strongest desire to survive out of all of us, go on and live.]

Not a single soul within the **So-jeong-dae** agreed to follow my lead. Not even **Moyong-seol**, the very person who had dragged me back into the living.

[If your yearning for life is truly that immense… then go ahead and survive on your own.]

Even during the moments I spat curses at the Moyong Clan and poured scorn over them, she had never shown such an unyielding countenance. As I steeled myself to pursue survival in accordance with her mandate, chasing after longevity, the sheer frostiness radiating from her sent a shiver straight to my core. Ultimately, I turned my back on the **So-jeong-dae**, deeply disillusioned by their choice to abandon reality in favor of hollow ideals.

It was only a long time afterward that the truth came to light. The warriors of the **So-jeong-dae** had never informed the leadership of my abandonment. Furthermore, despite being granted a chance to withdraw safely to the North Sea, **Moyong-seol** chose to stand with the **So-jeong-dae** until her final moments.

When all was said and done, I was the sole coward who fled. When my clan fell and my martial siblings perished, I turned tail without learning a single thing. Subsequently, I fled once more from the **So-jeong-dae**, abandoned **Moyong-seol**, and retreated from the Demonic Cult. Through it all, fleeing was always my default response.

“What is making your expression so grim?”

**Dang-seo-hee** inquired with a stoic look as we sprinted along.

“……”

Unsure of the underlying intent behind her question, I simply turned to look at her.

“Do you actually trust what **Yong-so-a**’s claims? If that is the case, what drives your journey? Is your true intention simply to verify a dead body?”

Hearing **Dang-seo-hee**’s query caused a cold sensation to settle deep within my chest. …The thought of receiving confirmation of her demise a second time was unbearable.

“Should you find **Yong-so-a**’s statements doubtful, then there is no cause for anxiety.”

With those unexpected remarks, **Dang-seo-hee** jolted me back to reality, pulling my mind out of the dark abyss it was sinking into.

“**Dang Sunbae**, to what extent are you familiar with **Yong-so-a**?”

“My understanding is likely on par with what **Hall Master Jin** knows.”

“Has there ever been an instance where a prediction from **Yong-so-a** failed to materialize?”

“**Yong-so-a** refuses to label his insights as predictions.”

Despite the rapid pace of our stride, **Dang-seo-hee**’s voice remained perfectly steady.

“He terms it ‘**Unwritten History**.'”

The mere phrase made my stomach churn with an overwhelming wave of disgust. The sheer audacity and arrogance required to use such language was staggering. To designate it as ‘History’…

*’Has that fellow completely lost his mind?’*

Regardless of how much the martial artists of the Jianghu relished theatrical titles, calling a volatile future—especially a mere glimpse of it—by the name of ‘History’ was utterly jarring. It forced me back into total alertness.

“That bas… rather, that **Yong-so-a** character. Was he completely intoxicated when he came up with that name?”

“**Yong-so-a** abstains from liquor entirely.”

“*Ha*…! Of course he does.”

He was undoubtedly the sort of individual who couldn’t stand even the slightest hint of chaos…

“Any spirits that might actually appeal to **Yong-so-a**’s refined tastes are far too costly.”

“……”

From the way she spoke, it became clear that **Dang-seo-hee** had received a firsthand explanation from **Yong-so-a** regarding his unique talent.

“Be that as it may, **Yong-so-a**’s foresight cannot possibly be flawless every single time, right?”

If it were foolproof, there would be no logical explanation for why **Dang-seo-hee** had chosen to accompany me without giving much weight to **Yong-so-a**’s assertions.

“He has never been mistaken.”

“…Not even once?”

“To my immense frustration, I was forced to concede to the validity of ‘**Unwritten History**.'”

“……”

If that were the case, what reason did **Dang-seo-hee** have for swaying **Yong-so-a** just to come along with me?

“In that case, does **Dang Sunbae** truly believe that **Moyong So-jeo** has perished?”

**Dang-seo-hee** cast a glance in my direction. An emerald glint shimmered briefly within her dark eyes. Moments later, she averted her eyes to fixate once more on the path ahead. Her gaze grew serene, as though she were searching for something hidden far in the distance.

“**Yong-so-a**’s record remained unblemished, save for one singular occasion where his vision faltered.”

What a bizarre turn for this conversation to take…

“The **Murim Grand Exam**.”

I caught my breath. Following a brief interlude of quiet between us, I pushed the dialogue forward.

“Did something unexpected occur throughout the course of the **Murim Grand Exam**?”

Did **Yong-so-a** not secure the highest honors during his own iteration of the event?

“My reference is not to **Yong-so-a**’s test, but rather to the Grand Exam taken by **Hall Master Jin**.”

“……?”

Was she referencing his abrupt appearance during the tournament to offer his assistance? To be fair, that incident remained an unresolved riddle to this day. What could have possessed him to unexpectedly offer his backing right in the thick of the Grand Exam?

“**Yong-so-a** perceived a timeline wherein **Hall Master Jin** emerged as the ultimate victor. It was for this reason that he sought to extend his support exclusively to **Hall Master Jin**.”

“I turned him down.”

I had spurned the assistance **Yong-so-a** offered, choosing instead to stand alongside my allies.

“That unexpected refusal left **Yong-so-a** deeply unsettled. He muttered that the ‘matter’ had been derailed.”

“What exactly was this ‘matter’?”

“Regarding that, I remain uninformed.”

This response triggered a whole new wave of questions. What sort of objective could have driven him to assist me, considering the antagonism we shared back at the **Demon Spirit Plateau**? Still, recognizing it wasn’t the most pressing concern at the moment, I let it drop. **Dang-seo-hee** continued, murmuring softly under her breath.

“Yet reflecting upon it today, his vision might not have been entirely incorrect after all.”

What was she trying to get at now?

“The vision **Yong-so-a** witnessed merely depicted **Hall Master Jin** claiming the top rank. Given that **Hall Master Jin** belonged to an obscure, minor sect, **Yong-so-a** presumed that our intervention was necessary to prevent your failure.”

It was an accurate assessment; by the closing stages of the Grand Exam, we found ourselves cornered by various factions hunting us down.

“Yet, defying all standard predictions, **Hall Master Jin** ultimately secured the prime position alongside your companions.”

“……!”

Listening to **Dang-seo-hee**’s explanation, I finally understood why she felt compelled to treat his foresight as established ‘History.’

“When viewed through that lens, his prediction cannot truly be deemed a failure.”

A profound chill crept down my back all the way to my waist, causing a sudden wave of goosebumps to break out across my skin.

“Even so, there is no reason to become overly anxious. What **Yong-so-a** perceives is ultimately just the grand ‘flow’ of events. In fact, **Yong-so-a** frequently managed to alter the trajectory of History by meddling with minor occurrences.”

He managed to alter it?

“What are you implying by that?”

“**Yong-so-a** observes merely a single slice of the timeline. Consequently, he has demonstrated firsthand that the specific events comprising that broader stream are entirely malleable.”

I found myself thoroughly baffled by **Dang-seo-hee**’s assertions. Frankly, this confusion stemmed from a fundamental gap in how we each conceptualized **Yong-so-a**’s unique gift.

“In any case, **Dang Sunbae** is operating under the assumption that **Yong-so-a**’s latest vision is far from guaranteed, correct?”

“Precisely.”

To make matters more confusing, **Dang-seo-hee** offered an even more enigmatic remark.

“……Furthermore, given that it is **Hall Master Jin**, you might possess the capacity to disrupt the ‘flow’ entirely.”

Naturally, her words eluded my comprehension, but I refrained from questioning her further. My focus shifted because I detected a human presence within the cavern we had just stepped into. Oddly enough, my sensory perception picked up only a solitary signature.

*’What could this mean?’*

Up to this point, any lone wanderers we encountered had either completely lost their sanity—mindlessly repeating identical motions—or turned into crazed lunatics blindly swinging their blades at anyone in sight. Yet, the individual currently registered by my internal senses was…

“……”

Concealing themselves along a wall of the cavern while desperately holding their breath. Nevertheless, if this was meant to be a surprise assault, their attempt at concealment was laughably inept. While ignoring them and continuing onward was an option, my reluctance to disregard an unsettling intuition in such an environment prompted me to discharge a blast of fist-qi, shattering the rock overhead.

*Cra-crack—*

“Eek!”

As the overhead stones came crashing down, the figure, curled up like an insect, scrambled away in a frantic roll. Amused and bewildered by the ridiculous display, I executed the **Dae-yang-jang** several times in rapid succession.

*Boom— boom— boom— boom—*

“Yikes! P-Please show mercy! I have an aging mother, a spouse, a young child, and even a crippled dog depending on me! If you let me live, my lineage will praise the name of the Dae-hyeop for eternity!”

Hold on, that particular voice struck an incredibly familiar chord… hmm?

*Whizz—*

Deploying the **Bi-ryong-jo**, I snared the individual’s garments and hauled him over.

“Aaaagh—let go—”

The captive thrashed about violently like a beast ensnared in a net, causing his robes to rip apart completely by the time he landed right at my feet.

“You would have fared better if you hadn’t struggled.”

“H-Have mercy on me, please, Dae-in…”

Groveling desperately on the ground, the man gingerly tilted his face upward. The moment his gaze locked onto mine, his eyes widened.

“**Jin…… so-un**?”

“Are you leaving out the title of **Dae-hyeop**? Do you possess a death wish?”

“H-How… how did you manage to get inside this place…”

“Didn’t I explicitly warn you to stay away from here?”

The individual cowering before me was none other than **Do-gwang-su**, an acquaintance stretching back to my previous life. It appeared he had disregarded my advice and ventured inside anyway after obtaining the treasure chart.

“Honestly, some things never change; **Do-gwang-su** remains exactly who he always was.”

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are referring to…”

*Sigh*, what an absolute nuisance he is.

“**Dae—Dae-hyeop**……?”

“Setting that aside, are you functioning normally?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Your thoughts aren’t clouded? You aren’t experiencing an overwhelming dread of dying or anything similar?”

**Do-gwang-su** appeared completely unaltered from the man I remembered. Judging by his disheveled and miserable state, he must have spent no less than a fortnight hunkered down within these caverns. Yet, despite his obvious physical exhaustion, he exhibited absolutely none of the symptoms associated with exposure to **Musim-hwan-gak-san**.

“Did you happen to slaughter the rest of your party members?”

“What?! Why would you ask such a horrifying thing!”

“If you didn’t, there is no logical explanation for why you are wandering this cavern completely by yourself.”

“T-That happened because my traveling companions began acting in an incredibly bizarre manner…”

It was clear he had remained tucked away in the shadows for that precise reason from the moment he set foot in here.

“Have you remained confined to this exact spot the entire time?”

“No, that’s not the case. I kept shifting around to steer clear of anyone else. While I managed to sustain myself on underground water, the supply of edible moss and fungi was too scarce, forcing me to constantly seek out new spots…”

He had clearly endured a grueling ordeal following his entry. Honestly, it was nothing short of miraculous that he had managed to survive at all. Considering how many individuals far more formidable and ruthless than **Do-gwang-su** were perishing in droves, his survival was an utter paradox.

“Anyway, why do you keep keeping your head glued to the floor? There’s no need for that, so stand up. You’ll strain your back.”

“N-No, really. I-I am perfectly comfortable.”

“I told you to stand up straight! I might even give you some rations.”

“N-No, please, I am completely f-fine…”

As I grabbed **Do-gwang-su** to pull him upright, his upper body jerked backward, and simultaneously—

*Clunk—*

A solid object slipped out from his shredded robes and dropped heavily onto the ground.

“……!!!”

“What exactly do we have here?”

**Do-gwang-su** instantly began thrashing his arms and legs about erratically, looking for all the world like a man seized by a phantom.

“I-It’s nothing! Absolutely nothing!”

I easily swatted **Do-gwang-su**’s frantic hands aside to inspect the object. It turned out to be an ancient wooden container, the sort typically referred to as a book case meant for preserving invaluable texts, heavily weathered by the passage of time.

“Ji—**Jin Gong-ja**! No, **Jin Gong-ja-nim**!! A—No, **Jin Dae-hyeop**!!! That is……!”

With the intention of having a lighthearted chuckle at his pathetic level of cultivation after all this time, I slid the wooden container open, only to—

“!!!”

Find myself frozen in absolute shock.

“……*Si-beol*.”

This specific item…

“Why…… does it come out from here???”