Chapter 1128

If I’d let myself think for just a little longer, I might have started crying without meaning to.

I knew better than anyone that I wasn’t ready to leave yet.

But the time I’d thought was endless was inching toward its end even now, and I forced the corners of my mouth upward.

For my sake.

And for the sake of those who would remain and remember my final moments for a long time.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Personally, I thought it was a very convincing performance.

A smiling face. A calm voice.

But the Fire Dragon Pavilion members, reunited with me at last, weren’t foolish enough to miss what my condition and the heavy air around us meant.

“…Pavilion Master.”

There was nothing more to say.

Sama Pyo stared at me blankly, then bit his lip. Song Ilseom quietly closed his eyes, and tears clouded Taishan’s eyes, each as big as a calf’s.

And Ju Hwaran—

Squish. Squish.

She staggered across a lake-like pool of blood and buried her trembling face against my shoulder.

That was all.

There were no more words, but it was enough for me.

They’re all alive.

My ominous hunches were never wrong, but this time was the exception.

Seeing them safe, I felt my stiff smile soften.

Thank goodness. Really… thank goodness.

The smile on my lips wasn’t an act anymore.

Gung Gibang and Cheongheoja appeared after the Fire Dragon Pavilion members.

Even the face of that wild-haired weirdo who gave me a headache every time I saw him made my heart swell with relief.

No—maybe it wasn’t Great Sir himself I was so glad to see, but the person on his back.

“Don’t worry. He suffered a serious internal injury, but the Seafaring King got the stagnant blood out in time. His life isn’t in danger.”

At the voice that suddenly reached my ears, I gave a small nod instead of answering.

Hyuk Mujin was unconscious and covered in blood from head to toe, but I could trust those words a hundred times over.

They came from none other than a man worthy of being called the greatest under heaven in this age.

“Swift Wind Sword Hyuk Mujin fought magnificently. He never gave an inch. He stood his ground with pride.”

Sword Saint Mae Jonghak added quietly, “Just like you.”

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, I parted my blood-crusted lips.

“Yes. I’m sure he did.”

I looked at Hyuk Mujin and smiled faintly.

“He’s my right arm, after all.”

Mae Jonghak had been watching me with a grave expression. Then he smiled along with me.

“So that’s how it is.”

“But he probably doesn’t know.”

“Why not?”

“I was always giving him a hard time. Told him he wasn’t nearly good enough to be my right arm.”

If there’d been even the slimmest chance I could recover, Mae Jonghak would have answered without hesitation.

Tell him yourself later.

He’ll be happy to hear it.

But like the Slaughter Saint and Bow Saint, who stood with their jaws clenched, he knew I didn’t have much time left.

“When he wakes, I’ll tell him exactly what you said. I won’t leave out a single word.”

“He’s so starved for praise that you can exaggerate all you like. For example…”

A conversation I’d had with Hyuk Mujin a long time ago came to mind, and I let out a quiet laugh.

“He has what it takes to become the Alliance Leader. Yeah. That’d make him faint with joy.”

“The next Alliance Leader, you say? I must reflect on this. My successor was right in front of me, and I failed to recognize him.”

“I’ll let it slide this time. You saved everyone, after all.”

“No. That’s not right.”

Tap.

Mae Jonghak placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice firm.

“It wasn’t me who saved everyone. It was you. And they saved themselves, too.”

“…!”

“Look. Listen. See who they’re fighting for—and whose name they’re shouting.”

At that moment—

Fwoooosh.

Warm qi flowed from the fingers resting on my shoulder and seeped into me.

Like the sunset, it roused my fading consciousness. I saw the fanatics crumbling even now and heard our allies’ shouts sweeping over them like a wave.

A roar that swallowed the fierce wind, the rain, and even the eight-character maxim.

“Fight back! For the Blazing Flame Divine Dragon, Jin Taekyung!”

Banners soared so high they seemed to pierce the sky, whipping wildly in the wind.

A forest of glittering steel covered the city and advanced, raising red flowers as it went.

Murim warriors, government troops, and commoners.

Three forces that mixed about as well as water and oil had come together as one, driving through the invaders.

All of them shouting my name.

Their desperate will and resolve drowned out even the fanatics’ madness.

“…!”

I trembled before I knew it.

A lightning-like shiver ran up my spine, and Mae Jonghak’s voice reached my ears.

“A month ago, when I went to persuade the Seafaring King, he told me that ships couldn’t sail on a stormy night. The sails and oars would break, and without a single glimmer of light, you wouldn’t even know which way was forward or back.”

The age of war had come at last.

The sun of peace that had shone over the land for more than fifty years had disappeared. Night had fallen with the dark clouds of Dark Heaven, deep and black as pitch.

Deep enough to shake even the two giants of the dark path, who had once fought the Hundred Thousand Demonic Disciples led by the Heavenly Demon.

“The Green Forest Battle King said much the same thing. Both of them feared Dark Heaven’s power, and spies planted in their ranks long ago had urged them to submit in order to survive.”

But what I saw now was the exact opposite.

KRA-DRRRK!

Two streaks of red and blue Force flashed so fiercely I could make them out even from here.

At the heart of those vast energies, cutting down fanatics without mercy, were two Supreme Peak masters who ruled the mountains and rivers of the land.

“Yes, I managed to persuade them in the end. And it was easier than I expected.”

“How?”

“It was just like the Great Faction War. All they needed was someone they could believe in and move forward beside. A single ray of light.”

I didn’t know that distant past.

And yet I could guess what light had shone through the darkness of the Great Faction War.

That was probably why my eyes widened without my meaning to.

The brilliant light that had illuminated that age of war had vanished long ago.

“…No way.”

I looked at Mae Jonghak, smiling faintly, and asked as if groaning.

“Has the Martial God returned?”

His answer sent something hot surging up from deep in my chest.

“No. But you were here.”

“…!”

“One who goes ahead of everyone else to light the way. Someone who can bring everyone together because he isn’t bound by status or formality. That’s why you are the Blazing Flame Divine Dragon and Prince Shangshan—but before either of those, you’re a human being.”

His voice carried across the battlefield as though he were reciting a poem.

Countless feet trampled through the pools of blood left by the invaders, and dazzling spears and blades lit the darkness.

The darkness was fading. So was the flame inside me.

But the shouting didn’t stop.

Everyone in Xining was still calling my name at the top of their lungs.

As if mourning my death, just around the corner.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry. For coming too late. For failing to protect you.”

Mae Jonghak said much the same thing as Cheongpung had, crying just as he had. Then he had no choice but to turn away from me.

He was the Alliance Leader.

He had a duty to end this damn battle even a moment sooner and save as many lives as he could.

No.

Maybe he was also giving someone space.

Someone who stood a few steps behind me, frozen in body and spirit, watching it all in silence.

“What’s so amusing?”

His voice was so cold it seemed at odds with his title, the Fire King.

But I knew better than anyone that Jeok Cheongang’s anger was aimed at himself.

And I knew that smiling was the only thing I could do for him, when he must have been bleeding tears inside.

“What, I’m not even allowed to smile when I feel like it?”

“I can tell you’re forcing it.”

“…Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah. Look at the state you’re in.”

“I can’t see myself. Why don’t you bring me a mirror?”

“Do you need one? You’re covered in blood from head to toe, grinning like some evil spirit.”

“Like you’re in any position to talk.”

Jeok Cheongang and I fell silent.

Then, as if we’d planned it, we smiled at the same time.

We both knew it was the only way we could comfort each other, even a little.

Of course, we could see in each other’s eyes that neither smile was real.

“I can definitely tell you’re forcing that smile.”

“It isn’t easy.”

“No. It isn’t. Looking back, nothing ever was.”

I murmured weakly and looked at Jeok Cheongang.

The translucent hologram window stayed in the corner of my vision, no matter which way I turned my head.

System Time Limit: 59 seconds

“Old Master.”

“Speak.”

“Do you think there really is an afterlife?”

“There must be. No—there definitely is.”

“How do you know?”

“Hong Dao said so. The great Abbot of Shaolin Temple said it, so you’d better believe him without arguing.”

“Come on. You always write him off as some damn monk.”

“This time, I intend to believe him.”

“Why?”

“…There has to be an afterlife for us to meet again.”

System Time Limit: 30 seconds

“I don’t mind if it’s a long time before we meet. Come as late as you can.”

“It’ll take quite a while regardless. There are a lot of bastards I need to kill.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. That gives me an idea.”

“What is it?”

“Once you’ve killed those motherfuckers, I’ll be waiting in the afterlife to kill them again.”

“No.”

“What? Why not?”

“Just beat them until they’re about to die. Then we can kill them together one more time.”

“Wow. Are you a genius?”

“I suppose I was close to a natural disaster.”

System Time Limit: 15 seconds

“By the way, Old Master.”

“Hmm?”

“I think I’m getting sleepy.”

“…Yeah. You must be exhausted.”

“I’m sorry, but could I ask you for a favor?”

“I’ll grant it. Anything.”

“I have family. They aren’t here, so I don’t think I’ll get to see them now.”

System Time Limit: 10 seconds

“If you happen to meet them someday—though I know that probably won’t happen—could you tell them how I’m doing?”

“What must this old man do to reach the realm of immortals where you stayed?”

“I’m not sure. Ascend to immortality? I don’t really know.”

“Understood. I’ll find a way, whatever it takes. But you must grant this old man one favor in return.”

“Tell me.”

System Time Limit: 5 seconds

I blinked weakly.

Through my blurring vision, I could see Jeok Cheongang crying like a child.

“Please… can’t you stay alive?”

As darkness closed in, I answered.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

System Time Limit: 1 second

And then the entire world around me closed.