Chapter 64

Chapter 64

After asking the old man a few questions, Youngho began climbing the mountain.

At first, they ascended quickly, but Hyeon-gang, whose stamina was relatively lacking, was clearly exhausted.

“Why do you not rest even a little?”

“You are the weak one. Grow stronger and return.”

At Youngho’s casual reply, Hyeon-gang grumbled and laboriously followed behind him. Meanwhile, Youngho began reviewing the old man’s words once more.

First. The White Tiger did not harm people.

Second. For some unknown reason, the White Tiger helped people.

Third. The White Tiger never left the mountain.

Originally, everything except the third should not have been true. The White Tiger had been called the Calamity Deity because it had lived near this mountain and devoured all the humans around it.

And above all else…

‘They said it could speak.’

More precisely, it would likely be something similar to a martial artist’s Voice Transmission Across a Thousand Li. It probably did not actually speak.

At that moment, Youngho felt the presence of his companions vanish from within his senses.

‘We have been struck.’

He did not know how it had been done, but Youngho realized he was standing in a completely separate space, entirely cut off from his group.

‘A Formation?’

No, it was far too advanced to be called a Formation. Yet to call it Heretical Arts felt wrong as well—the energy was far too clear.

Yes, it resembled very closely the Immortal Arts said to be used by immortals in legends. It was not a twisting of space but the creation of an entirely new, small world.

‘Even those long-nosed Taoists’ sorcery or those bald monks’ dharma arts could not accomplish something this bizarre.’

It did not take even a fleeting instant for him to reach that conclusion. Just as Youngho was about to draw his sword—

-Stop.

At the dignified voice that resounded inside his head, Youngho hesitated, wondering whether to fully draw the half-unsheathed blade.

-I hold no hostility toward you. I merely wish to speak.

The energy was overwhelmingly sacred. Its purity was so refined that it could not even be compared to Youngho’s own.

‘Has an actual immortal appeared or what?’

He was confused. Still, Youngho decided to respond to the voice echoing in his mind.

“Who are you?”

-I am but a trivial creature who was once called the Calamity Deity before you returned to the past.

In an instant, Youngho’s energy surged explosively.

Kwaaaaaa—!

The energy flowing from his body was absurdly intense and at the same time dreadful.

“How do you know that?”

He had returned from the future. The meaning of that was simple.

‘Was there another besides me who regressed?’

He had not failed to consider it. But since he had never encountered anyone who retained memories from before the regression, he had lived believing that only he remembered the future.

“Who are you?”

His killing intent roared like a growling tiger. Possessing the killing intent of a beast, Youngho’s energy grew ever more ferocious.

It felt as though it could explode at any moment, yet the voice echoing in his mind remained calm.

-I am the White Tiger you were searching for.

Soon, the White Tiger appeared before him, releasing a violent aura.

Kak! Kagagak!

The moment their energies collided in midair, sparks scattered in all directions, and a gale-like wind whipped at the hems of Youngho’s sleeves.

As if surprised by the unexpectedly fierce energy, the White Tiger’s voice carried a trace of agitation.

-You are strong.

“And you do not seem to be some mere Spirit Creature either.”

Though his tone was sharp, the White Tiger merely gazed at Youngho steadily.

-I am merely a communication link. Nothing more, nothing less.

“What does that mean?”

-Do you not wish to know why you returned to the past?

At the completely unexpected words, Youngho’s eyes widened.

“You know the reason?”

-Yes. I know. And I have remained here to atone for my sins.

He could not understand. Why did that White Tiger claim to know the reason he had returned to the past?

-Everything is the will of the Immortal.

“What?”

-From now on, you will converse with the Immortal who sent you back to the past.

“What are you talking about? An Immortal sent me back?”

At that moment—

Wooooong.

The White Tiger’s eyes suddenly rolled back. No, beyond that, its pupils trembled erratically.

The energy of nature converged upon the White Tiger. The surrounding External Qi began seeping into it without leaving a single trace behind.

‘What in the world is happening?’

It did not appear dangerous. There was something about the White Tiger’s energy that put one’s heart at ease.

The moment Youngho steeled his mind and body, the White Tiger’s pupils returned to normal.

-…It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Immortal who sent you back to the past.

The casual way that voice spoke of sending him back to the past grated on him.

But Youngho suppressed those feelings and stared straight into the White Tiger’s eyes.

“You are the Immortal?”

-Yes. There is little time, so ask whatever you wish quickly.

Youngho continued thinking without lowering his guard.

‘Is it truly an Immortal? What should I ask?’

There was much to ask. Far too much. Whether it was truly an Immortal or not was a stale question that could wait.

Ask first. Judge later. Forcing out his voice as if squeezing it from his throat, Youngho spoke.

“Why was it me?”

-What do you mean?

“Why did you make me regress?”

It was a question he had always carried in his heart. Why did it have to be him? What if Namgung Cheon had returned to the past instead of him?

It was a thought he had every night before falling asleep and the first thought upon waking.

“Why me?”

At Youngho’s question, the Immortal wearing the White Tiger’s guise answered smoothly, as though he had anticipated it all along.

-It is because you are one who changes.

“…Changes?”

-Yes. Change. Even in our Immortal Realm, there are many who cause trouble. There are countless fellows like you were before you met Namgung Cheon.

“…….”

-You are one who changes.

“What exactly does that mean?”

-That is different from the Heavenly Demon. That bloodthirst does not change. No matter if he meets someone good like Namgung Cheon.

“So it is fine because I changed?”

-Yes. You changed. And toward the good. If the Heavenly Demon dies, you will likely become the new Immortal.

A new Immortal? He did not know what that meant, but Youngho first voiced what lay in his heart.

“Bullshit.”

-You may think that way. You believe yourself ill-suited to being an Immortal.

“So what are you trying to say?”

-There is little time, so I will be brief. Kill the Heavenly Demon.

The Immortal’s words were exceedingly firm and heavy.

-If you do not kill him, then no matter what punishment awaits me, I will descend and kill him myself.

At that, Youngho stared at the Immortal with bloodshot eyes and said,

“I was planning to do that even without being told.”

-A good mindset. If that one comes to the Immortal Realm, the world will truly be finished. That is why time was turned back. Preserving the memories of exactly two lives.

“And those are me and this White Tiger?”

-Yes. I thought some explanation would be necessary. This White Tiger was quite suitable. If it was you who returned to the past, I was certain you would come to hunt the White Tiger.

“That is true. It is a Calamity Deity, and if I obtained its Inner Core, I would grow stronger.”

-I cannot give you this one’s Inner Core. It is absolutely necessary for coming here.

“That is a bit disappointing.”

-It is not quite compensation, but if you grant my request, I will give you something that will help you.

“Help? What is the request?”

-Would you look after this child’s offspring?

“Offspring? Does this White Tiger have cubs?”

-Yes. If you continue climbing the mountain a bit farther, you will find this child’s offspring. There will also be a small amount of Clear Sky Stone Milk there. I will give it to you in return.

“Clear Sky Stone Milk!”

An elixir formed when undiscovered natural treasures accumulated over time and eventually condensed into a single droplet.

Though called an oil, it was said to appear no different from ordinary water, neither sticky nor slippery.

A legendary elixir said to increase thirty years of Internal Energy with just a single drop.

Youngho spoke.

“What will happen to this White Tiger that you are asking me to take care of its cubs?”

-Due to a covenant, this child must ascend with me to the Immortal Realm.

“A covenant?”

-Such a thing exists.

With sorrowful eyes, the Immortal looked at Youngho and spoke.

-Please take good care of this child’s offspring. Both before you returned to the past and now as well. It is a pitiful child.

“I can roughly guess. It must have lost its cubs to humans. That is why it rampaged enough to be called a Calamity Deity.”

-You are quick-witted. I will take that as acceptance. There is little time left. Is there anything else you are curious about?

“Ah, then one last thing….”

-What is it?

“What is your name?”

-Hm….

The Immortal let out a thoughtful hum for a moment before speaking.

-I will tell you when you come here. Stay strong, Youngho.

Soon, Youngho’s vision changed.

“Gasp! Young Master!”

Kang Hosan cried out in shock at the sight of Youngho suddenly appearing before him.

“Where did you go?”

“O-Oppa.”

“What is it, Chowon?”

Kang Chowon, wearing an unusually shocked expression, pointed toward the sky. Kang Hosan followed her finger.

Soon, Kang Hosan was struck with disbelief as well. Even Horyeung, who had been about to ask after Youngho’s safety, stood with his mouth agape at the sight.

From the White Tiger’s body radiated a blinding yet warm light. Above all, the White Tiger was floating in the air.

It seemed to be more than five zhang above the ground. Soon, the White Tiger slowly opened its eyes and spoke.

-Youngho. So that is your name.

“Yes.”

-I will wait until you come here. And…

“Do not worry. I will not let your cubs go hungry.”

Though it was said lightly in jest, perhaps reassured, the White Tiger smiled benevolently and then ascended into the sky.

The higher it rose, the more intense the light surrounding it became.

Eventually, after rising high enough to illuminate the entire mountain, the White Tiger suddenly vanished.

Hyeon-gang, who had been staring blankly at the sight, asked Youngho,

“What in the world just happened? And what was that White Tiger? No, more than that—what have you been doing all this time, Young Master?”

“Ask one at a time. You are confusing me.”

“Where were you all this time?”

Instead of Hyeon-gang, Kang Chowon pushed her face forward and asked.

“I was just in another space talking with the White Tiger.”

“Do you know how shocked we were when you suddenly disappeared?”

“It was not intentional.”

“We searched for you for a whole Quarter-Hour!”

“Really? I spoke with the White Tiger for about that long as well.”

“So what did you talk about?”

“Nothing much.”

After staring at Youngho for a moment, Horyeung stepped forward and asked,

“What happened between you and that White Tiger?”

“Nothing special. We just talked. Once it was done with its business, it ascended to the Immortal Realm.”

“Ah….”

That only made it harder to understand.

Horyeung had many things he wished to say. It was shocking enough that a Spirit Creature had ascended to the Immortal Realm, but to hear that he had spoken with it as if they were close acquaintances…

His thoughts were tangled.

However, Hyeon-gang seemed to feel something different.

“I greet my Lord!”

Seeing Hyeon-gang prostrate himself before Youngho with reverence, Horyeung let out a hollow laugh.

This was truly chaotic.