Chapter 192: Continuing Bonds (2)

“You speak as if you know something, but I don’t see how you could. Don’t speak so lightly about the relationship between me and the Monster.”

“What the hell? This again? Let’s just get everything out in the open.”

Seo Ryeom, who had stepped aside to allow the two to talk, stood ready to intervene at any moment.

Ignoring him, Jang Woo-hyeon opened his mouth.

“I don’t claim to fully understand Senior Kim’s heart. But I do know why he acted the way he did.”

“I, the one directly involved, don’t even know, and yet you say you do. How amusing.”

Im Gwan-hwa slightly furrowed her brows.

“Because I share the same origin as Senior Kim. We’re both from the lower world.”

After a brief pause, Jang Woo-hyeon continued speaking.

“Senior Kim and I are both being targeted by the Jinseon.”

“……”

It was an unexpected statement. A situation she had never once considered.

Caught in confusion, Im Gwan-hwa slowly opened her mouth, her face filled with dismay.

“Jinseon? You mean those from the upper world?”

“Yes. That’s likely why he kept his distance. He feared something might happen to Wu Hobup.”

Jang Woo-hyeon gave a brief explanation about the Jinseon who were targeting both him and Kim Min-su.

“So that’s why he acted like he was being chased.”

Despite possessing more than enough strength, Kim Min-su always seemed anxious and repeatedly said his skills were lacking.

Now, Im Gwan-hwa finally understood why he kept his distance from her.

Their enemy was a Jinseon who had ascended to the upper world.

No matter how strong someone became in Jungcheon Murim, it was no match. Besides, Im Gwan-hwa herself had not been as strong back then.

Keeping a distance from her must have been an unavoidable choice for Kim Min-su.

—Since we met here, let’s name this place ourselves. How about Gwansudo? Does it sound weird? Childish? What’s so childish about it? It’s simple and nice.

Kim Min-su had been an unusual man. A man she still remembered clearly.

As memories of him resurfaced, Im Gwan-hwa slightly wrinkled her brow.

Jang Woo-hyeon had clearly stated he too was being targeted by the Jinseon.

‘Then who are these people?’

Many individuals surrounded Jang Woo-hyeon.

“You said you were targeted too. Then, those people…”

“They all know.”

Im Gwan-hwa turned her head toward Tongpung Daeseong, her eyes widened in surprise. The man who had been lounging nearby, listening to the conversation, rose to his feet.

“Jinseon or whatever. If we fight properly, I’ll beat them all.”

“Y-Yes, of course. You all fight just fine without me.”

Her gaze now shifted toward Mak Ya-wol. She knew the Baekmu Society’s Fighting Ghost Unit Captain well.

Faced with her stare, Mak Ya-wol simply smiled.

“If this life ends fighting someone stronger than me, then so be it. There’s nothing better than facing a Jinseon who’s ascended to the upper world.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never fought them.”

Even Seo Ryeom, grumbling on the side as if chiming in.

These people knew they were connected to the Jinseon, yet they stayed with Jang Woo-hyeon.

‘They’re different from us.’

They didn’t fear the Jinseon.

Unlike Kim Min-su, Jang Woo-hyeon had reached out to his companions, and they were not weak like the Im Gwan-hwa of the past.

‘I was the one lacking.’

If she had been just a bit stronger, she might’ve been able to help Kim Min-su.

No, even if she had lacked strength, had she clung to him persistently, pestered him constantly—perhaps they could have stayed together.

But she hadn’t. And in the end, Kim Min-su had left alone.

“Do you know whether the Monster is alive?”

“I’ve never met him in person.”

Jang Woo-hyeon had only met a clone, not the real Kim Min-su, so he couldn’t say for certain.

“But if it’s Senior Kim, he’s definitely alive. He’s not an ordinary man.”

Kim Min-su was someone who would crack jokes even in the most serious of moments. Even facing the power of the Jinseon or the Ascension Cult, he would’ve held out just fine.

‘And he has the Nayuta Clone Technique.’

A man who had prepared to resist the Jinseon by creating countless clones. Jang Woo-hyeon believed Kim Min-su was still alive. And the Jinseon he recently met had said there were only two left now.

“If by any chance you meet the Monster, please give him my regards.”

Anyone could see Im Gwan-hwa wanted to see Kim Min-su again, but Jang Woo-hyeon refrained from saying so.

If he clumsily suggested, ‘Why don’t you go find him yourself?’ here, she’d likely get angry again.

“You said you were looking for Gwansudo, right?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t find it anymore.”

“It’s gone?”

At Jang Woo-hyeon’s words, Im Gwan-hwa nodded. As expected, Unhakdo had been another name for Gwansudo.

“Some time ago, unknown Taoists invaded the cult’s territory. They attacked several places, which were all related to the Monster. But there were no clear traces left, so we couldn’t determine exactly what they were after.”

“It wasn’t just one place?”

“Other than Gwansudo, there were about three more. All places where the Monster had done something. I’m the only one who knows about it. All I found were some incomprehensible characters he left behind… but I guess there was something.”

“He must’ve left something behind for people like me. I don’t know exactly what it is either. If there were three places besides Gwansudo, then was Gwansudo attacked last?”

Im Gwan-hwa nodded and continued.

“After the Tai Chi Sect gathering, those bastards showed up again. This time, they smashed Gwansudo and fled. I’ll say it upfront—there’s nothing left to find there. It wasn’t a big island to begin with, and now it’s vanished without a trace.”

With his objective suddenly gone, Jang Woo-hyeon fell into brief thought.

He had planned to discover traces of Kim Min-su here and then plan his next move, but things had gone awry.

While watching Jang Woo-hyeon deep in thought, Im Gwan-hwa looked around at those nearby.

Tongpung Daeseong, Mak Ya-wol, Seo Ryeom, Maeng Ye-ju, Jin Ha-un, and the warriors of the Annihilation Squad, who had once been part of the Fighting Ghost Unit.

The Annihilation Squad that had suddenly appeared was a considerable force.

When she didn’t know their identities, she had thought them a dangerous group—but that concern had vanished.

Especially after learning that Jang Woo-hyeon had a connection to the Monster, Im Gwan-hwa no longer saw him as a stranger.

Though, as one seated in the leadership of a great sect, it wasn’t ideal to judge people based on personal connections—people weren’t always rational beings.

The moment she no longer saw Jang Woo-hyeon as a stranger, a thought crossed her mind.

‘Should I try asking for help?’

The current situation of the Five Elements Cult was dire. Even if they wanted to seek help from other sects, the entire Jungcheon Murim was in chaos, leaving them with no allies to turn to.

And now, a powerful force—Jang Woo-hyeon and the Annihilation Squad—stood before her.

Words asking for help welled up to her throat, but Im Gwan-hwa couldn’t bring herself to speak them.

Jang Woo-hyeon had no ties to the Five Elements Cult, and it was difficult to explain all the cult’s internal matters to an outsider.

‘This isn’t the time to be pondering things like this. How foolish.’

As she wrestled with her thoughts, Im Gwan-hwa let out a self-deprecating laugh. And then, as if he had read her mind, Jang Woo-hyeon spoke first.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

It wasn’t just Im Gwan-hwa making irrational, emotional judgments.

Though they had just met today, Jang Woo-hyeon didn’t see her as a stranger either.

She was the first person he had met in this world who knew Kim Min-su. And not just as a passing acquaintance—she was someone special to him.

That’s why Jang Woo-hyeon wanted to help her.

Besides, his next target was in the territory of the Divine Dragon Clan, so he couldn’t go there immediately anyway.

‘I also have to settle things with Hwanhwanmun.’

Hyeon Wol, the current Sect Leader who had long allied with the Ascension Cult.

He needed to face him, and crush the hidden Ascension Cult Taoists within Hwanhwanmun.

‘I might be able to get help later.’

If he incurred a debt, he might be able to use it later. The territories of the Five Elements Cult and Hwanhwanmun weren’t far apart.

It was a rational decision, concluded after much thought.

Of course, the biggest reason was that Im Gwan-hwa had a connection to Kim Min-su.

‘I only ever received from Senior Kim.’

Kim Min-su had sacrificed his own life to prepare for those who would arrive in this world. It was Jang Woo-hyeon who had benefitted from that preparation.

He had received one-sided help, unable to repay it—yet here he met someone from Kim Min-su’s life, and not just anyone, but someone who had been close, possibly even a lover.

Naturally, Jang Woo-hyeon wanted to help Im Gwan-hwa.

“You’re offering help? Out of nowhere?”

“I only ever received help from Senior Kim. So, I should repay the favor.”

“Then you should repay it to the Monster. I have nothing to do with him…”

But she stopped mid-sentence, seeing Jang Woo-hyeon smiling knowingly. She seemed to understand what he was thinking.

“We’re not like that.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. Understood. Besides that, I just want to help. That way, I might be able to receive help from the Five Elements Cult later.”

“Help?”

“I might end up fighting Hwanhwanmun.”

At Jang Woo-hyeon’s reply, Im Gwan-hwa was at a loss for words.

To talk so casually about fighting Hwanhwanmun, one of the Ten Great Sects and Three Great Clans—what kind of guy was this?

‘I’ve met someone who’s not all there.’ She glanced around, and her opinion shifted.

Tongpung Daeseong, Mak Ya-wol, Seo Ryeom… not to mention Nokgak Baekmyeon, who, though unseen, was also present. With that, this wasn’t so strange—they had more than enough power.

“Even if you help us, we can’t promise to repay you later. Who knows what the situation will be then.”

“Let’s think about that when the time comes.”

After hearing Jang Woo-hyeon’s answer, Im Gwan-hwa hesitated briefly. Given the Five Elements Cult’s current state, the so-called Annihilation Squad would be a great help.

After a short while,

Im Gwan-hwa asked a few more questions and accepted Jang Woo-hyeon’s offer to help.

“What the? So, we’re not fighting the Five Elements Cult after all?”

There were even some disappointed by the sudden shift into an alliance-like relationship.

Seo Ryeom was still full of dissatisfaction. Surprisingly, the one who stepped in to stop him was Tongpung Daeseong.

“Mouse, if you wait, you’ll get two dang-gwa.”

“Huh? Why are we suddenly talking about dang-gwa? Besides, I don’t even like them.”

“Ah, you really are a dumbass. If you don’t eat the dang-gwa now and wait, you’ll get two later.”

“Wait, what does that even mean? Why would I get two?”

Tongpung Daeseong tried to explain what he’d heard from Jang Woo-hyeon, but having cut out all context, Seo Ryeom couldn’t understand a thing.

Im Gwan-hwa called Jang Woo-hyeon aside and handed him a neatly folded paper.

“What’s this?”

The faint energy from the paper suggested it was old, weathered with time.

“The Monster gave it to me. Do you recognize it? It looked like the characters he used. He used to write with symbols like these—not quite the same, but more complex. He told me it was a kind of talisman.”

“A talisman?”

“He said it would make me healthier if I kept it with me.”

Jang Woo-hyeon unfolded the paper and read its contents.

‘I knew it. Just as I thought.’

His guess had been right. Kim Min-su had thought of Im Gwan-hwa as someone special.

Inside was proper Korean—something he hadn’t seen in a while.

“There’s a short message written. Shall I read it?”

“Go ahead.”

Im Gwan-hwa replied casually, assuming the contents wouldn’t be much.

“To Gwan-hwa, may you always be healthy and happy.”

At the first sentence, the corners of Im Gwan-hwa’s lips lifted slightly. It was the first time Jang Woo-hyeon had seen her smile properly.

Smiling faintly himself, he read the more important part.

“And may you never forget me.”

At that second sentence, her rising lips halted, and her expression hardened like stone.

“That idiot…”

Embarrassed, Im Gwan-hwa muttered curses under her breath, and Jang Woo-hyeon turned his head to the side.

But before he looked away, he clearly saw it—her face had turned slightly red.

‘Helping her was the right decision.’

Jang Woo-hyeon once again felt confident in his judgment.

‘Senior Kim, I’ll start repaying my debt this time.’

‘Feels like I’ve seen it somewhere before.’

From a little distance away, Tongpung Daeseong, who had been harassing Seo Ryeom, tilted his head.

The distance between Jang Woo-hyeon and Im Gwan-hwa wasn’t far, so he could hear their conversation and even see the contents of the paper.

‘Where was it?’

The writing was unfamiliar, but he was certain he’d seen something like it somewhere.

Since he wasn’t the main body but a clone, his memories and experiences weren’t perfect—so it didn’t come to him right away.

‘Maybe not? Maybe it just looked similar?’

He thought it had been messier and more complicated than that. He couldn’t recall it exactly.

Soon, he figured he’d need to connect with the main body and recall the memory properly.

“You feel the same, right? If they attack first, I’ll jump in right away.”

While Tongpung Daeseong was sorting out his thoughts, Seo Ryeom muttered beside him. Apparently still sulking about not getting to fight, he remained disappointed.

“If you want two dang-gwa, you have to wait.”

“Seriously, what’s the deal with that dang-gwa story?”

“Geez, you’re hopeless. You get one dang-gwa now, but if you wait, you’ll get two.”

“……”

Staring at Tongpung Daeseong’s incomprehensible expression, Seo Ryeom held back the curse words rising in his throat.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep