Are you ready to depart soon?
It was early dawn. As always, climbing the mountain, the elder spoke to before I could even start a conversation.
Yes.
Probably tomorrow, or even imdiately, the assault will begin.
Ti really flies disgustingly fast. All this fuss just to kill one young man.
Now that the opponent had shown movent, there wasnt much for us to do.
It was natural for us, at a disadvantage in an organized squeeze, to lose.
Any chance of winning?
Impossibly none.
According to the elder, there seed to be one hermit with skills enough to match Cheonma.
I cant win, so I die to buy so ti.
After all, I was the target of their mission.
If I died, this situation would end, so I would rampage around like a madman, and when my strength was gone, Id pretend to be dead.
Then, I return to the present day. I would beco a dead man without any farewell.
But doesnt this not make sense in terms of cost and benefit?
What do you an?
To die for the re delay of annihilation, not even to prevent it.
Its not like youre truly dying, is it?
[Hit the nail on the head, didnt he?]
Shut up.
The World Tree of Ti appeared sporadically to talk to .
After more than two months, we no longer avoided aggressive speech towards each other.
You think youre making a great sacrifice right now.
The elder mockingly ridiculed my great undertaking.
From the beginning, I was ready to accept my end. It was you who decided to delay it unnecessarily.
Think beyond yourself. The kids are too young to lose their father.
Haha, is that sothing for you to say? You still dont know who you are.
The elder emphasized each word with force.
Tree Spirit King, Cheonma. Among villains, youre the successor of only the worst.
I knew.
No matter where I shot, I couldnt help but beco a bad guy.
I had long accepted and understood this.
Too young to lose their father? Ridiculous coming from the axis of evil. Its laughable. A pointless effort.
The elder, sitting on a rock, turned his back.
The World Tree of Ti comnted on such an elder.
[Hes not being honest.]
Admit it, admit again.
That person does have a bit of that aspect.
Tsundere, perhaps?
Despite all the harsh words, he took care of things behind the scenes, and when it ca to his daughters, he pretended not to care while listening closely.
After spending two months together, I got a rough sense of the elder.
Despite all the harsh words poured out, he must be thankful at heart.
So, what do I have to do?
Wait until the opponent arrives.
Was I on standby then?
Ti would pass slowly, but it was inevitable.
The mont movent was detected, I must go and offer my neck.
Then I wont be able to see the kids anymore.
I will speak to them. To Hongyeon as well.
Hongyeon.
Hearing that na brought a smirk to my lips.
She was one of the people I wouldnt be able to et after I returned.
Different from Cheondo. Even after I return, Cheondo would be alive.
But with Hongyeon, I couldnt even share a proper farewell.
I deliberately tried not to get attached.
Its impossible to completely ignore soone if they were human.
I thought its better not to leave any room by going to say goodbye.
Even knowing was a problem.
If I went now and significantly hinted that I was going to die, what then?
Its not like were going to suck and chew on each others feelings.
Its better for to cleanly make my exit.
Cheondo is ah, I dont know.
I knew because I had experienced it.
The kid I thought I could et tomorrow died.
It may sound like a joke now, but it wasnt at the ti.
Cheondo, too, would have a hard ti getting over this experience as usual.
But I still believed.
She was my master, after all; she should be able to overco this by herself.
It was inevitable to feel heartache.
Understood. From now on, Ill just wait here. Please speak well to the kids who know .
As my response landed, the elder rose and started descending the mountain.
His slumped posture, more pronounced than usual, left a lasting impression.
Despite his decline, he was Cheonma.
It could be the first ti hes felt powerless, unable to shake off those who have cornered him.
The stories of his once-mighty strength were now a thing of the past.
Perhaps I was rely a fleeting presence in soones life story, right at the very end.
I settled down seriously on the rock where the elder had been seated.
The sunrise was truly breathtaking.
This marks the end.
Finally, I could embrace the present.
I was not thrilled, but that reality awaited .
[You cant dwell in the past forever.]
I beg to differ. Isnt there a future, after all? Isnt it just that the era Im in is different?
Fatalism. A term I abhorred.
It belittled everyones efforts.
No matter how diligently you strived for success, it was fated to be so.
You made wise choices, yet destined to fail nonetheless.
Its disheartening to hear, for both the unsuccessful and the accomplished.
But being thrust into the past directly, I had no option but to believe in that fate.
[Its a tad distinct. My abilities are unique, but its evident that ti progresses linearly.]
Do you realize the contradiction in your words?
[Your actions can indeed shape the future. However, altering the present is beyond reach. Its already a fixed reality.]
Each ti I hear that, Im tempted to ask can we influence it, or not?
Initially, it was asserted that nothing could be altered.
No matter what antics I pulled, the present remained unchangeable, so just carry on.
Yet, residing here, I discovered that many aspects of my actions were intertwined with the present.
My identity, my abode. Perhaps even the kindness my ntor extended to was influenced by that.
[Its already happened Thats all I can say now.]
Its complicated.
Cheondo, Baekdo, Hwangdo, I really didnt understand those three.
Assuming my actions could have an influence.
If the ho and identity I settled into when I ca to this world were prepared by , then my actions could influence the present.
Then in my masters mory, there must remain an image of .
Definitely not.
Those three showed no signs of knowing .
Unless for so reason they lost their mory. In that case I get the gist.
Sitting quietly, I reflected on the past.
I was fortunate to have plenty of ti. More than enough ti to organize my thoughts.
[No. The present will not change.]
It was said that the present could not be changed.
The World Tree of Ti ntioned it was a complex issue to explain.
And you said before.
[My authority can interfere with the past. However, its only very faintly only traces remain. Just as I thoughtlessly begged for your rcy without any basis.]
The present could not be changed, but interference was possible.
It couldnt be more contradictory.
No matter how I spin this, it sounds like it can have an influence. Right?
[.]
She couldnt speak now.
The World Tree of Ti maintained that attitude.
Thus, I could only co to a conclusion internally.
That ans its dood in the end. Dowon and even Cheonma die.
Its disheartening to think that all the effort until now had been in vain.
But when I broadened my perspective, thats not the case.
[There was nothing unnecessary in your actions.]
The causality was too tangled to properly sort out.
Honestly, I believed I contributed to Dowons developnt and made Cheonma open his heart to .
I worked diligently even for Dowon, which was dood to fail anyway, with no relation.
But thats overthinking it.
The words of the World Tree of Ti were correct.
The impromptu things I did, I had no regrets about any of it.
So, the reason I ca here was to die?
Its for extending the lifespan of Dowon and Cheonma.
I ca here on a request, but upon realization, the matter had grown in importance.
[But thats not all Ill explain later.]
Well see.
The ti would co when I would know.
What I had gained here was more than enough.
Not just stopping at how Dowon was destroyed, but also learning how those under the World Tree acted, and who opposed Cheonma.
Not to ntion the skills.
Even if I were to return, Id be willing to interact with the World Tree of Ti again.
I stretched my arms wide and yawned.
Ugh!
A crackling sound ca from my back.
It felt much better to make so noise.
Its ti to go!
I shouted loudly towards the cliff below.
Whats left now was to prove the past training to the adversary.
And to wait here until the ti ca.
Hongyeon dressed herself in a bright red undergarnt, adorning her appearance.
The beauty reflected in the mirror.
Her skin was white and without a single scar.
Though there were no scars on her hands, the calluses from holding a pen for a long ti made them look less pretty to her.
Others would call this a flaw in the gem.
Her ample chest, muscles toned from long training.
But lately, she had been doing a lot of paperwork, and it seed she had gained weight.
Did I gain too much weight?
Looking at her overly thick thighs, Hongyeon expressed her dissatisfaction.
Her wrinkle-free face scrunched up cutely.
-Click!
Thats when the door opened.
Ah, you startled ahem. Who is it?
Hongyeon unnie?
The one who opened the door was Hwangdo, with her auburn hair.
The girl, mature beyond her years, gaped at Hongyeon.
Are you getting ready? Oh my, oh my.
An unexpected adornnt.
Hongyeon quickly pushed the makeup items on the table into the drawer.
Why? What? Why? Cant I adorn myself?
Her complaints ca naturally. Young ones didnt understand their troubles.
She had just turned twenty, but it was ti to start paying attention to wrinkles.
You sounded just like our older brother just now.
Older brother? Ah Are you talking about the Young Demon?
Having been criticized so much, it stuck in her own speech.
When scolding the juniors, that persons habits would sotis slip out.
So, why did you co here?
I ca because my allowance is a bit short~ But now Im more curious about why Hongyeon unnie is getting dressed up.
Short on allowance?
Hwangdo wasnt one to waste much. It must have been Baekdo who told her to co get it.
-If you bring it, Ill do the cleaning instead.
-Really? For real?
-Yes, yes.
Hongyeon rembered Baekdo later pretending not to know anything about it and sighed.
Do I need a reason to get dressed up?
Well, not really~ But you put a lot of effort into it this ti.
Hwangdo smirked mischievously as she approached.
Despite her youth, her burgeoning chest swayed with each step.
A child with a frightening future.
Dont tell . Unnie, have you fallen for soone?
Fallen for soone?
The face of a frivolous man popped into her mind instantly.
Hongyeon shook her head sternly.
Its not like that, I just want to look good.
So theres another one like Cheondo.
As if tired of it, Hwangdo stuck out her tongue.
Hongyeon changed her clothes, puzzled by Hwangdos behavior.
Still, red undergarnts are sexy, unnie. You might get praised tonight.
Be quiet! Take the allowance yourself, I must go now; Cheonma has summoned .
Okay~
Presumptuous little thing.
Hongyeon sighed deeply as she looked at Hwangdo.
Whos there to praise, saying such nonsense.
She pouted as she reached Cheonmas room.
-Knock knock knock.
Standing in front of the door, she knocked politely and knelt down.
It was always required when facing Cheonma.
-Who is it?
Its Hongyeon, the sect leader.
-Co in.
The door swung open.
Hongyeon kept her head bowed for a mont.
Normally, he would instruct her to raise her head. But for so reason, that directive did not co.
A prolonged silence enveloped the room.
Lift your head.
When he finally spoke, Hongyeon lifted her head, feeling a sense of unease.
The face of Cheonma, her adoptive father, appeared weary.
Cheonma?
Theres sothing I must tell you today. Close the door and co in. Unless you want trouble.
The addition of a curse word hinted that it might not be too serious?
However, the atmosphere felt notably different from the usual.
-Click.
She shut the door and knelt in the center.
Do you know about Dowon?
If you an the Young Demon, yes. I have always collaborated closely with him.
Yes, that guy you strongly opposed. Initially, I planned to inform you after it was all settled, but it seems appropriate to tell you now, given your growing influence.
Recalling that incident only brought sha.
Opposing the Young Demons rise was undeniably risky, but it had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Everyone now held him in high regard.
What are your thoughts?
If thats what hes asking.
Hongyeon did not hesitate to reply.
He is an extraordinary talent. Such a remarkable individual may not erge again in a lifeti.
It was Hongyeon who had opposed such talent.
Regardless of the reason, it was ultimately her fault for not trusting Cheonma.
Under normal circumstances, it could have led to execution.
The fact that she was essentially his adopted daughter was the sole reason she was still here, but she knew it was not sothing to be taken lightly.
Is that so?
Cheonma spoke with a grave expression.
It seems my daughter has indeed chosen a worthy disciple.
A voice tinged with bitterness yet a hint of satisfaction.
Hongyeon could only widen her eyes, perplexed.
Hongyeon.
Yes.
But what about that man? What will he say?
Hongyeon bowed deeply, curious within.
Dowon.
She occasionally thought about that man.
What if I had accepted him from the start?
Perhaps their relationship would have been warr than it was now.
Its an impossible thought now.
She smirked inwardly, waiting for Cheonmas words.
Eventually, the old man spoke.
That bastard will die in a few days.
It was a bolt from the blue.
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