How a legendary returner lives - Chapter 323

Mumyeong’s body slowly turned to dust, scattering into the air.

I silently watched.

I could fully understand his choice.

He was a man with a strong desire.

The first time I saw him on Earth, Han Pae-je Yuhwa, he was a man determined to protect his werewolves.

In the strange place called the Arena of Infinity, he became strong.

But honestly, becoming strong is not easy.

No matter how talented you are, if you don’t have the mental strength to support that talent, you can’t become strong.

He must have endured.

While enduring, his desires evolved, and eventually, his goal led him to his roots.

Was Mumyeong satisfied with living as a werewolf?

The answer to that question was clearly no.

He was not someone who wanted to cause chaos in the world. He thoroughly controlled the werewolves and hid them in the underworld.

When doppelgangers appeared, Mumyeong raised werewolves to protect the world.

He acted with integrity from beginning to end.

I didn’t know exactly who Sura Ma Shin was, but Mumyeong probably knew.

It was either the one who turned him into a werewolf or a descendant of that person.

I stared at him as he disintegrated into dust.

Soon enough, he was completely gone.

Only then did I move. I kicked Sura Ma Shin’s head that had fallen to the ground.

Boom!

The head exploded, and fragments spread out in a fan shape.

I ignored it.

Mumyeong died with satisfaction. Could I die with satisfaction, too?

I turned my head.

If Mumyeong had such desires, what were Helena’s desires?

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything you dislike.”

“Even if I die?”

“That’s a strange thing to say. I won’t. But… will you really die without leaving me behind?”

I smiled softly.

I patted Helena’s head.

“Helena.”

“Yes.”

“I just called you.”

“….”

“Go behind me. It’s time to end this.”

Helena moved without a word.

I silently stared at the empty air. Although Mumyeong had told me, this was entirely my decision.

I was certain.

There was something beyond this.

I reached out my hand.

The space grabbed hold.

I tore it open.

Riiiip!

A chilling sound echoed as the air opened.

There, another space appeared.

A man and a woman were sitting cross-legged.

The man had blood-red hair, resembling that of a Westerner, while the other, a woman, had an imposing figure—one that could easily be described as a general.

Both of them opened their eyes at the same time.

They looked at me, narrowing their brows.

They smiled faintly.

“What are you doing there?”

“…Who are you?”

“I’ll ask the questions. Answer me.”

“…You’re a cheeky one.”

“Stop talking nonsense. I have a question. Can you answer it?”

“…”

“I’m the ruler of the Heavenly Seat of the Middle Realm. It seems like there’s someone similar here. I’d like to meet them. Do you know where they are?”

The two of them reacted simultaneously.

The man, who looked like a general, threw a huge greatsword at me, and the red-haired woman extended her fingers toward me.

“Oh, wow.”

I leaned back and shifted my balance sideways with my foot.

The greatsword passed by, and the woman’s fingers brushed against the side of my neck.

I reached out and grabbed her hand.

It was soft to the touch.

So, I crushed it.

Crack!

The woman frowned.

At that, I flinched.

What are these guys?

I tightened my grip on her hand and threw her backward.

Boom!

The red-haired woman flew out and crashed into the wall.

I turned my head. A massive fist was coming toward my face. I collided with it head-on.

Bang!

The man staggered. I grabbed his hand and threw him, just like the woman from before.

I decided to send them outside and talk later.

I stared at the two of them, both slammed into the wall.

This feels strange…

As if sensing my thoughts, Helena spoke.

“Shihu-nim.”

“What?”

“Can I deal with that woman?”

“Wasn’t that the plan from the start?”

Helena shook her head.

“I was planning to buy time… but… I think I can kill her.”

Helena’s eyes were gleaming with murderous intent, a bit different from her usual self.

“What’s going on?”

“…Now that I see her, I think I should be the one to end it.”

Helena lifted the gloves in her hands.

They were stained bright red, like blood, exuding an ominous energy. After seeing the red-haired woman, who I strongly suspected to be the Blood Spirit Master, Helena said this.

Now that I think about it…

“Can’t you use Void too?”

“Are you asking about my past?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“It wasn’t a good past, I suppose.”

“My past wasn’t bad, but my lineage’s past… it was unpleasant.”

“What do you mean?”

The Blood Spirit Master and the Sun Master rose from their seats.

The Sun Master picked up a huge greatsword, while the Blood Spirit Master furrowed her brow and glared at Helena.

It seemed like they were giving us time to talk.

So, I just listened.

Helena continued.

“The True Blood Clan is split into two branches. The White Blood Clan and the Golden Blood Clan. I’m from the Golden Blood Clan, and they’re from the White Blood Clan. A long time ago, the White Blood Clan massacred the Golden Blood Clan. This glove was left by the Vampire Emperor of the Golden Blood Clan for his descendants.”

“So, is this about revenge for your lineage?”

Helena shrugged.

“It’s from so long ago, so what does it matter now?”

“Your eyes say otherwise.”

Helena shrugged again.

“I’m just embarrassed.”

“About what?”

“Yuhwa over there also dedicated his life to severing the grudges of his bloodline. Shouldn’t I do something? After all, I was a vampire who ruled the underworld on Earth.”

“Is that all?”

“Not exactly. He engaged in cannibalism.”

“Cannibalism?”

“He ate my ancestors. They did.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. They boiled them, ate them raw, tore them apart alive… it was disgusting. The memories.”

I understood.

“Do it.”

“Yes.”

Helena stepped forward.

She exchanged blows with the Blood Spirit Master, and the two women were sent flying far away. I didn’t pay much attention to them.

I turned my head. I could see the Sun Master holding the greatsword.

With the Heavenly Sword in his right hand, he pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

Honestly, I didn’t think Helena would lose.

Whether she won or lost, a mutual destruction seemed possible.

And I wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

Helena would not die here.

This was based on one thought.

The question.

“You said you’re gods, right?”

The Sun Master, holding a greatsword, silently glared at me. I ignored him. There was no murderous intent to pay attention to, and the soul-shattering energy felt… lacking.

“Seems like they’re a lower rank than the ones from the Floating City. What the hell have they been doing in there?”

“Should I tell you?”

“It would be nice. Isn’t it better to just tell me than getting beaten to death?”

It had been weakened, I should say.

The level of those two was, honestly, not at the Immortal Stage.

It was the Semi-Immortal Stage.

That was all.

Now I understood how Mumyeong was able to die alongside Suramashin.

He did it because he could.

I scratched my head.

“I made a promise. With that one over there.”

The “one” I’m referring to is Danmok Cheondo.

“He promised to kill me last, so should we have a chat before that Blood Spirit Master dies?”

“…No need.”

The Sun Master stood up.

His greatsword descended from the sky. I raised my Heavenly Sword and swung it.

Boom!!

His sword was knocked away, and the Sun Master staggered. His sword struck the ground next to me, splitting the earth in half. The radius… about 3 kilometers.

“What were you doing over there?”

“Shut up!”

His sword lashed out again. He swung the greatsword once more.

Crash, the sword was knocked away.

I kept the cigarette in my mouth, bringing my Heavenly Sword down from above.

Crash, he desperately raised his sword to block it. I swung down again, and he dodged backward.

I thrust my Heavenly Sword forward.

He panicked, twisting his body sideways, changing the sword’s trajectory as he swung it horizontally.

Slash, his side was cut deeply. Blood sprayed out. I retrieved the sword and threw it.

Whoosh!

The Heavenly Sword lodged into the Sun Master’s abdomen and sent him flying, pinning him to the wall.

He coughed, spitting blood.

I finished my cigarette.

There was nothing more to say.

This wasn’t what I intended.

When I turned around, Danmok Cheondo seemed pretty shocked.

From anyone’s point of view, I had just toyed with the Sun Master.

A few sword strikes, and I simply threw him against the wall. Even though he struggled to pull my sword out, he couldn’t do it.

It was utter helplessness.

For Danmok Cheondo, that man must have been like a god.

I scratched my head.

“Want to go have a chat?”

“…Are you giving me a chance?”

“You are my enemy, but since I think well of you, I can at least do that.”

“…Thank you.”

I gestured nonchalantly.

Danmok Cheondo headed toward the Sun Master.

I paid them no more mind and turned my attention elsewhere.

Helena…

She was extending her gloved hand toward the Blood Spirit Master.

From that hand, numerous “ghosts” similar to Helena’s form erupted.

There were hundreds of them.

The Blood Spirit Master was horrified.

The hundreds of ghosts began to tear her body apart.

She tried to regenerate as much as she could, but it wasn’t enough.

Helena retracted her hand.

The glove returned to its original white color before crumbling into dust.

Helena, with a strange expression, approached the fallen Blood Spirit Master.

Then, with her other hand, she brought a ring from her ring finger to the Blood Spirit Master’s neck.

She listened closely.

“She wants to repay a grudge.”

“…Cough… She’s the same type of vampire… Why… why are you…?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I’m from the Golden Blood Clan, you’re from the White Blood Clan. The red hair is a characteristic of your clan… What’s left to talk about?”

“…No… Maybe that man over there, but you can join us… Soon, ‘He’ will descend. We’ll remake the world of vampires with ‘Him’!”

Helena smirked.

“Just like you trust ‘Him,’ I trust that man I’m listening to right now.”

I felt a slight sting.

“If there’s an afterlife, try to live with some regret. And you—what kind of beast eats its own kin?”

“…Don’t do this…”

Helena smiled slightly.

“I don’t want to.”

She channeled power into the ring on her ring finger.

What was its name again?

It was made using the relic of the Heavenly Lord, but I couldn’t remember the name.

Was it the Ring of Destruction?

The energy that flowed from it completely obliterated the Blood Spirit Master’s head.

There was a sound, like a snap.

And if I wasn’t mistaken, that energy—it was the energy of the Master of the Heavenly Throne.

The same old man from the Heavenly Throne who had given me his seat before he died.

Helena stood up.

“It’s over.”

“Good job.”

I smiled gently.

I turned my body.

Now there was only the Sun Master left.

He was screaming.

“Danmok Cheondo, you foolish idiot!! How could you betray me?!”

“…It’s not betrayal. Master, the Immortal Lords live in their own world, and we live in ours. It’s just a difference in worlds.”

Danmok Cheondo assumed a stance.

“I will not forget your kindness. And as your disciple, I ask you… please, face your end like an Immortal. I beg you.”

With those words, Danmok Cheondo turned his back.

He walked to a corner, drove his sword into the ground, and bowed his head.

Drip. Drip.

Tears wet the floor. It looked pitiful, but I didn’t think much of it.

Danmok Cheondo knew what was right.

To protect the Martial World, to protect his people, and to enforce his sense of justice.

How could I not like a man like that?

I walked slowly.

Looking at the Sun Master, who was in a daze, I asked.

“Where is this person you’re talking about?”

“…”

“It seems like your strength weakened because of that person, right? Or am I wrong?”

“…”

“Your one and only disciple is begging you to die like an Immortal right now, crying and pleading. Do you want to die while being tortured, crying and whimpering?”

“…”

“I’ll count to five. Decide before I reach five.”

I raised my Heavenly Sword and began counting.

One.

Two.

Three.

And four.

“…I’ll speak.”

The Sun Master finally opened his mouth.