CFZ

Everyone has memories they’d rather not recall. Martial artists are no different.
After all, martial artists are human too.

Whether they’re grandmasters of unparalleled skill or novices still fumbling through the basics, they all harbor memories they wish they could erase. Memories they’d turn back time to undo, or ones that make their blood run cold just by thinking about them.
I was no exception.
In fact, I’d argue that my case was worse than anyone else’s.

For me, merely erasing the memory wasn’t enough. I wanted to shred it into tiny pieces, burn it to ashes, and scatter it until it disappeared forever.
I wanted to bury it so deeply that it would never resurface, sinking into oblivion for all eternity.
Yet, the more I tried, the tighter the memory gripped me. My foolish mind, capable of forgetting so many other things, clung to this with an unrelenting tenacity.

Perhaps, in some twisted way, this was my burden—my karma.
A cruel decree that I must never forget, that I must carry this memory with me until the very end.
The memory I couldn’t forget became my curse. A shackle that would bind me for a lifetime, tightening its hold with every step I took.

And as fate would have it—
“Look at those damned eyes.”
That wretched shackle stood before me now, exactly as it had been back then.

   ***************
   
The tattered, worn black martial robes were more than just old—they were a disgrace. I wrinkled my nose at the sight.
“For god’s sake, could you wash your clothes, you bastard? The stench of blood is overwhelming.”

The scent of blood emanated heavily from the robes, so concentrated it made me gag.
Had I ever worn something like that?
Probably not. As reckless as I’d been, I would’ve at least washed something so filthy…

‘…Or maybe not.’
Denying the thought, I suddenly remembered a time during the war with the Kunlun Sect. Back then, I’d °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° killed so many people that the blood pooled beneath me, and my clothes were drenched.
If it were during that time, perhaps I really did look like this.
In that context, it all made sense.

‘What a mess.’
His eyes glared at the world with such anger, as if it had wronged him deeply. A gaze wild and full of malice, paired with an aura of unrestrained demonic energy that he didn’t even try to conceal.
Even standing nearby, it felt like he could tear someone apart at any moment.

The sight was so ridiculous, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Seeing you again really pisses me off. Are you some kind of beast? Why are your eyes like that? Damn it, people blamed me for things I didn’t even do because of that murderous glare of yours.”
And that aura…

The oppressive sensation blanketing the area, subtly pressing down on my shoulders, was entirely his doing.
As I’d mentioned before, as one’s mastery grows, so does their ability to control their killing intent, suppressing it at will.
“Then again, you never bothered with that, did you?”
My steps echoed across the hard ground as I approached him.

“I’ve often wondered why you acted like that.”
His eyes locked onto mine, brimming with murderous intent, self-loathing, and bitterness.
It made me want to pluck them out right then and there.

“I thought about it a lot—deeply, shallowly—but the conclusion’s always the same.”
The closer I got to the throne, the more intense the vibrations became.
“It’s because you’re just a moron. A complete fucking idiot.”

If someone asked why he acted that way, that’s all I could say.
Was it because he wanted to be seen as a villain? Or because he wanted people to acknowledge his existence?
Such lofty notions were laughable. They were far too generous and noble for the likes of him.

No, it was because he was a fool. A crawling, pathetic wretch who didn’t know any better. That was the truth.
“So, you idiot. Say something, will you?”
You’re an idiot.

It was something I’d wanted to say to him for a long time.
But my words fell on deaf ears. He remained silent, like a statue.
“You’re not mute, are you? You were talking just fine last time. Why shut up now?”

He wasn’t frozen, either.
I could see his eyes clearly, and the tremors in the air were growing stronger.
RUMBLE—!!

The ground shook so violently that the entire world seemed to tremble.
Clicking my tongue in irritation, I addressed him again.
“What’s the point of summoning someone if you’re just going to sit there like an idiot?”

At the word summon, something flickered in his eyes.
“What, are you going to say you didn’t call me here? Don’t bullshit me. You and I both know the truth.”
It was true. While it might have looked like I came here of my own accord, that wasn’t the case.

This was an invitation, plain and simple.
“With how much of a ruckus you were making inside, how could I not notice?”
The sensation of chaos, the inability to wield my flames—all of it was his doing.

“So now that I’m here, talk. What’s with all this bullshit?”
Why did he go to such lengths to make me come here?
“And why was it the Dokcheon Pill that brought me here? Don’t you think that’s an absurdly expensive ticket?”

The Dokcheon Pill… or rather, it wasn’t quite that anymore.
Given how it heightened resistance to flame energy, it might as well be called the Flame Resistance Pill or something similar.
Regardless, my suspicion was correct. Eating that pill allowed me to reach this place.

And now, here I was, standing face-to-face with him.
“Do you have any idea how expensive that pill is, you bastard—”
[You talk too much.]

“What?”
His sudden interruption made me scowl.
“What did you just say?”

I talk too much? This son of a bitch…
Just as I was about to let loose a tirade—my one true talent—he spoke again.
[You used to claim you hated even the sound of your own voice, yet now you’ve found the energy to talk this much?]

“…”
A flood of insults rose to my throat, but I couldn’t say a word.
[Do you still have that habit of gnashing your teeth when you’re forced to do something you don’t want to?]

It was a subconscious action I took when I was frustrated.
[Do you still twist your insides to hide your feelings? Or—]
His violet eyes gleamed ominously, his gaze so vile it made me want to look away.

[—do you still bare your fangs to keep everyone at a distance?]
His lips, once silent, were now relentless, his words weighing so heavily that I couldn’t bear them.
Creeeak.

He rose from the throne.
[No. Now you are nothing.]
Standing before me, his frame was smaller than mine.

I had shed my old skin and grown taller after becoming a dragon. I should’ve towered over him.
Yet somehow, he felt larger than me.
Even as I looked down at him, it felt as though he were the one looking down on me.

I squinted at him, but he continued speaking.
[Why are you still alive?]
The same question he’d asked before.

With great effort, I managed to respond.
“You miserable bastard, why do you keep cursing me? Does it bother you so much that I’m alive?”
[It was the opportunity you longed for.]

“What opportunity?”
[A chance to punish yourself in a time where nothing had happened. That was your opportunity.]
His voice dripped with incredulity, as though he truly couldn’t understand.

[But why didn’t you take it?]
“…”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Was it because I didn’t know the answer? No. I knew. I just didn’t want to think about it.
And as if he knew that, he answered for me.
[You grew greedy because no one would remember. You thought you could rewrite everything as if nothing had happened.]

Pain stabbed at my heart.
[You dared to hope for a life of peace and happiness? How disgusting.]
His words, laced with disdain, clawed at my chest.

[You don’t deserve it.]
They were the same words I had repeated to myself countless times. Yet hearing them from him cut even deeper.
[Do you remember all the people you killed under the excuse of inevitability?]

I didn’t.
There were too many to remember. If I did, I wouldn’t have been able to bear it.
[Then what did you gain from that life? Even after killing your own father, what was at the end of it all? Nothing. That’s all your life was ever destined to be.]

Nausea rose in my throat. I swallowed hard to suppress it, but it wasn’t easy.
[So I’ll ask you again.]
Veins bulged on my neck as I tried to hold it together.

[Why are you still alive?]
Once again, I had no answer.
“…”

I tried to move my lips, but they wouldn’t budge.
No words came out.
That’s when I realized—I was gnawing on my own tongue.

The silence was heavy with killing intent.
After a few seconds, he nodded and said,
[You can’t answer.]

His tone was smug, as if he had expected this. It was infuriating beyond words.
And then—
[Fine. Then that settles it.]

WOOOOOM—!!!
“…!!”
The vibrations surged to an unbearable intensity, and then—

FWOOSH—!!!
A thick, nauseating black flame erupted from his body.
[If you can’t provide an answer—]

The moment I saw it, I moved.
[—then you might as well die here.]
The burning night rushed to consume me.

   ******************
   
“Sss….”
Roughly half an hour had passed since Gu Yangcheon swallowed the energy pill. Not a particularly long time, but long enough for the Poison King to be filled with worry, letting out shallow, uneasy breaths.

‘…Is it really okay to leave him like this?’
The source of his concern was Gu Yangcheon himself.
The moment Gu Yangcheon consumed the energy pill, he froze in place with his eyes shut.

For the next half-hour, he didn’t move—not even to breathe.
If he had simply been still, it might not have been as alarming. But he had stopped breathing entirely, which made things all the more concerning.
‘He did this last time, too.’

The first time Gu Yangcheon consumed the Dokcheon Pill, he had similarly stiffened up.
Back then, however, he regained his senses after a relatively short period. This time, far more time had passed.
Why was this happening now?

‘Could there be something wrong with the pill?’
It seemed unlikely. The Poison King had consumed the same pill and experienced a breakthrough, so it wasn’t a fault with the pill itself.
Then why was Gu Yangcheon the only one experiencing this?

Even as questions flooded his mind, the Poison King couldn’t act rashly.
Gu Yangcheon’s last words lingered in his memory:
"No matter what happens, don’t interfere."

Gu Yangcheon had made this request with a determined expression, and the Poison King had agreed.
But now…
“What in the world is happening?”

The situation was reaching a point where staying idle felt impossible.
Especially considering…
‘This energy….’

Even while standing completely still, Gu Yangcheon’s body radiated an aura that rippled with violent intensity.
That hadn’t happened last time.
‘And this amount….’

The sheer volume of energy was staggering.
Just by observing it, the Poison King could tell it rivaled his own total reserves.
Which meant Gu Yangcheon’s internal energy was several times greater than his own.

‘How is that even possible…?’
Such overwhelming energy was unprecedented. Not even the combined reserves of the Three Sovereigns could match this. It was enough to leave anyone in awe.
And that made it all the more worrisome.

“How can energy of this magnitude be so unstable?”
What was Gu Yangcheon doing that his energy fluctuated so violently?
It was like a raging storm, as if he were locked in an intense battle while standing perfectly still.

Occasionally, his body would flinch, as though reacting to an unseen attack. It resembled the movements of a martial artist engaged in combat.
If he was fighting… who—or what—could he possibly be fighting in this state?
The Poison King couldn’t make sense of it. He could only stew in his doubts.

‘Should I really leave him like this?’
Gu Yangcheon had asked him not to interfere, but could he truly stay hands-off in this situation?
The Poison King believed Gu Yangcheon to be a man of his word. If he’d said he could handle it, then he likely could.

Yet…
A thought of his daughter flashed through his mind.
Father…
His daughter, Tang So-yeol, who was so tied to Gu Yangcheon’s fate.

If something were to happen to him, she would fall apart.
Realizing this, the Poison King made his decision.
He couldn’t just stand by.

Approaching Gu Yangcheon cautiously, he braced himself. With energy in such a volatile state, any reckless interference could lead to disaster.
His plan was to first examine the energy up close.
As he neared Gu Yangcheon…

A sudden flash erupted.
FLASH!
“Gah!”

Gu Yangcheon opened his eyes.
Relief washed over the Poison King.
He’s awake. Finally.

“Gu Gongja, are you alrigh—”
Before he could finish, Gu Yangcheon clutched his chest and collapsed to his knees.
“Guhhhk!”

A violent cough racked his body as blood spewed from his mouth.
“Young Master Gu!”
The Poison King’s eyes widened as he shouted.

The blood spilled across the floor in copious amounts.
And it was black.