Humans Truly Are Arrogant.

Pajijijijik.
Bright yellow Thunder Qi poured from Namgung Hyeok’s body.
The air heated up in an instant.
His presence was even more intense than when the battle had begun.
He had gained enlightenment during the fight.
This brought him closer to crossing the wall.
Considering Namgung Hyeok’s age, it was an unbelievable achievement.
Jeokyang So and the other Jeokyang Clan martial artists were overwhelmed by a single boy.
However, they couldn’t simply withdraw.
There was only one opponent, and he was merely a young boy.
Jeokyang So glanced at the fallen Jeokyang Gwang.
His chest was rising and falling, though only faintly.
He was still breathing.
There was a chance of saving him if they took him away now. No matter how irritating he was, he was still Jeokyang So’s own flesh and blood.
However, he didn’t have long to consider it.
Kwang!
Part of the inn burst apart as a wild-dog yokai was hurled outside.
It looked small compared to Myeong-gong.
The yokai’s head drooped as soon as it landed.
Then the others emerged.

“What in the world…?”
“…Taoist Gyo!”
“Brother Gyo!”

The bewildered group spotted Gyo-ha lying on the ground.
In front of him lay a corpse with only its lower body remaining.
A corpse covered in fur.
It wasn’t difficult to guess its identity.
Jeon Pyeong immediately drew his sword and stood in front of Gyo-ha as though protecting him.
He looked ready to intervene at any moment.
Jeokyang So signaled to the martial artists with his eyes.

“We withdraw.”

One of the martial artists quickly supported Jeokyang Gwang.
Jeokyang So looked back and forth between Namgung Hyeok and Gyo-ha before turning away.
Namgung Hyeok and Jeon Pyeong merely watched them leave without giving chase.
Handling the current situation came first.
Once the enemies were gone, they approached Gyo-ha.

“What in the world happened?”

His breathing had seemed to return, but now it suddenly grew rapid.
It looked as though he might stop breathing at any moment.
His body was also burning hot.
At that moment, a hand suddenly appeared.

“This is a Flying Shadow Pill.”

It was Jegal Yeon.
The Flying Shadow Pill was an elixir in which the Jegal Clan took great pride.

“…It’s only a recuperative pill, but use this as well.”

Peng Seon-ho also offered something. Upon seeing him, the others began taking medicines from their robes one after another.
They were emergency medicines brought from their clans and sects.
As they came from the Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects, One Union, none of them were ordinary.
However, Namgung Hyeok shook his head.

“Elixirs are more poison than medicine to Brother.”
“What?”

Peng Seon-ho frowned, but Jegal Yeon realized something.

“Ah! So that’s why…”
“Yes. His constitution prevents him from accumulating internal energy.”

Everyone’s expression grew grave at Namgung Hyeok’s words.
A constitution incapable of accumulating internal energy. For a martial artist, it was nearly the worst possible condition.
Considering Gyo-ha’s level, it was difficult to believe.
However, not everyone was confused.

“…Once his internal energy accumulates to a certain point, it disperses throughout his body.”

It was Hyeon Gong.
When everyone looked at him, he softly intoned, “Amitabha.”

“Our temple possesses a similar martial art. It is a cultivation method that tempers the body by emptying one’s accumulated internal energy. One must discard more than sixty years’ worth of internal energy merely to begin learning it. Achieving mastery requires even more.”

A martial art that could only be learned by emptying one’s internal energy.
It followed principles entirely different from ordinary martial arts.
That was why everyone looked unable to comprehend it.
Unless one had accumulated internal energy solely through elixirs, possessing more than sixty years’ worth would normally place a martial artist near the pinnacle of the first-rate level or at the peak realm.
Hyeon Gong could not simply mean expending internal energy.
Expended internal energy could quickly be restored.
What he described was abandoning the internal energy one had accumulated.
It was akin to discarding a martial artist’s history and life.
There was, however, one exception.

“Bodhidharma Tendon Transformation Sutra.”

Jegal Yeon spoke the name of a martial art.
Exclamations arose around her. They might not have understood its principles, but everyone had heard its name.
It was a martial art hailed as a peerless divine art.
However, they had heard that it was so difficult to learn that not even Shaolin had anyone practicing it.
Now they finally understood why.
Only by emptying oneself could one reach the desired realm.
Would someone who had already attained a high realm discard everything they possessed merely to learn a new martial art?
It truly was a martial art befitting Shaolin.

“It may not be precisely the same, but he must have undergone similar training. It is undoubtedly one of Kunlun’s secret teachings.”

The Kunlun Sect’s history was even older than Shaolin’s.
It would not be strange for Kunlun to possess such a martial art.
Only then did everyone feel that they understood Gyo-ha’s abnormalities.
Namgung Hyeok and Jeon Pyeong knew that wasn’t the whole truth, but they didn’t say so.

“…Then how can Taoist Gyo be treated?”

Everyone’s expression darkened.
Could injuries this severe be treated without elixirs?

“The Three Great Physicians!”
“The Poison Physician is currently at the Murim Alliance!”

Someone’s shout drew exclamations from the others.
However, Namgung Hyeok’s expression remained grim.

‘Even one of the Three Great Physicians would be no different.’

The Poison Physician, Tang Ja-gyeong, had personally said that he could not treat Gyo-ha, so there could be no mistake.
At that moment, something occurred to Namgung Hyeok.

“Everyone, leave ahead of us. I will take care of Brother.”
“Young Master Namgung?”
“Do you mean the Medicine Immortal?”

It was a Diancang Sect Taoist.

“I heard that the Medicine Immortal treated Young Master Namgung when he was critically wounded.”

Surprise appeared in everyone’s eyes, but they soon nodded.
The Namgung Clan was one of the Five Great Clans.
It wouldn’t be strange for them to have ties to the Medicine Immortal.

“…I cannot tell you right now.”

Everyone nodded at Namgung Hyeok’s response, assuming he had made some agreement with the Medicine Immortal.

“Understood. Then we will see you at the Murim Alliance.”

It was Moyong Hwi. He cut off the conversation and began organizing the situation.
This was no time for idle discussion.

“The rest of you will collect the survivors and…”

Moyong Hwi frowned as he considered what to call them.
Having already rejected the term once, he did not want to use the name he had heard from Gyo-ha.

“…the monsters’ corpses. We will depart for the Murim Alliance immediately.”

The battle had only just ended, and the sun was rising. Even so, he didn’t want to remain there any longer.
As the others headed toward the inn, only Namgung Hyeok, Gyo-ha, and Moyong Hwi remained.
Namgung Hyeok frowned at Moyong Hwi, who remained there watching him and Gyo-ha.
He quietly took hold of his sword.
He had seen the hesitation in Moyong Hwi’s eyes.
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze met Moyong Hwi’s.
Moyong Hwi was the first to look away.
He couldn’t make a move here.
Namgung Hyeok sighed as he watched Moyong Hwi leave.
Nothing was ever easy.
However, that confrontation was nothing compared to what he was about to do.
Steeling himself, Namgung Hyeok lifted Gyo-ha onto his back.
His destination was the cave where the spider yokai lived.

“You sworn brothers are equally reckless.”

A voice reached Namgung Hyeok as he approached the cave.
The spider woman was already outside.
Rather than coming to welcome him, she simply did not want the two of them entering her home.
Although she stood beneath the daylight, darkness surrounded her.
The space around her alone looked as dark as the inside of the cave.
A long shadow stretched from the cavern.
Having seen Myeong-gong, Namgung Hyeok understood.
She was a monster in an entirely different league from Myeong-gong.

“…Can you heal Brother?”

The woman hummed thoughtfully at Namgung Hyeok’s question.

“Rather than healing him, I can assist his recovery.”

Namgung Hyeok’s eyes brightened at her answer, but she wasn’t finished.

“Of course, even I cannot do anything about those two arms.”

Disappointment appeared on Namgung Hyeok’s face.
Even so, helping the rest of his body recover would already be an enormous achievement.
The corners of the woman’s mouth rose as she watched him.

“But why should I?”

Namgung Hyeok bit his lip at the woman’s question.
After considering it briefly, he spoke.

“In exchange, I will give you my life.”
“Hmm.”

The woman looked at Namgung Hyeok with interest.
Had it worked? Namgung Hyeok closed his eyes.
Gyo-ha had saved his life in the first place. He would not regret giving it back for Gyo-ha’s sake.
He had resolved himself to do so before coming here.
Laughter reached Namgung Hyeok’s ears.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the woman laughing merrily.

“…What is so amusing?”
“Humans truly are arrogant. Do you believe your life possesses that much value?”

The woman walked lightly toward him.
She then stroked Namgung Hyeok’s chin with her slender finger.

“Kings, nobles, generals, and ministers, was it? Such things mean nothing to me. A child on the street looks far more appetizing than one of those kings.”

She viewed humans as prey.
Naturally, human common sense could not apply to her.
A fresh human was preferable to one bearing a lofty title.
Naturally, the name of the Namgung Clan meant nothing to her either.
After saying that, she appeared to remember something and furrowed her elegant brow.

“Of course, some yokai enjoy playing such games.”

The woman rested her chin on her hand.
She was considering something because of Myeong-gong, who had intruded upon her territory.
Humans and yokai were different.
Myeong-gong himself posed no problem to her, but the being controlling him was another matter.
A being with a yokai of his level under their command had to be a great yokai.
Her eyes soon turned toward Namgung Hyeok.
Dark, translucent eyes.
They were so deep that he could not begin to fathom them.

“Very well. Now that I think about it, even your insignificant life may have some use.”

When Namgung Hyeok looked puzzled, the woman smiled.

“When I desire it, you will perform one task for me.”

It sounded simpler than expected. Could that truly be worth more than his life?
However, her next words made him understand.

“Even if that task requires you to oppose humanity.”
“……”

Namgung Hyeok fell silent. She was a monster beyond comparison with Myeong-gong.
What sort of task could someone like her possibly need him to perform?
It couldn’t be anything ordinary.

“If you break the contract, I will come for more than just you. The Namgung Clan, was it? I will visit your family personally.”

As expected, she had heard the group’s earlier conversations as well.

“…What happens if I accept the task but fail?”
“Do not worry. I will only order you to do something within your abilities. That is also why I helped this child earlier.”

The woman pointed toward Gyo-ha.
As expected, she had intervened during the fight with Myeong-gong.
Namgung Hyeok had suspected it, but hearing her confirm it carried a different weight.
Her reason for intervening was clear.
If Gyo-ha had died in that situation, matters would have become complicated.
The consequences might even have reached her.

“Of course, it will not be anytime soon. There is nothing someone of your present ability can do for me. Ah, and if you never become capable enough, I will never give you a task.”

She smiled gently.
If he lacked the ability, she would demand nothing from him.
An ordinary human might have been pleased, but Namgung Hyeok was different.
A promise was a promise. Being spared from fulfilling it solely because he was incapable would be nothing short of humiliation.

“…Very well.”
“Good. The contract is sealed.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Namgung Hyeok felt an itch near his heart.
He instinctively realized that something had changed.

‘Sorcery?’

She would not have entered into a contract without some means of enforcing it.

“Then leave this child here and go. My children are already clamoring that they are hungry.”

The scent of prey had drifted deep into the cave.
Because Myeong-gong’s subordinates and the Murim Alliance had stirred up the area, they had been unable to feed for some time.
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze turned beyond the mouth of the cave.
Perhaps because his realm had risen, he could sense their presences more clearly than before.
Countless spider yokai.
What would happen if they poured out of the cave?
It would be horrifying.
However, there was nothing Namgung Hyeok could do.
They were no different from a natural disaster.
They could not be stopped merely because someone wished to stop them.
And for now, Gyo-ha came first.

“…Please take good care of him.”

Namgung Hyeok left.
Once his presence had completely disappeared, the woman turned her head.
Gyo-ha’s skin had now turned black.

“I expected to see you again, but I did not expect it to be under these circumstances.”

The woman chuckled and gestured, causing spiderwebs to wrap tightly around Gyo-ha’s body.
The woman then carried the cocooned Gyo-ha into the cave.