<Do not participate.>
“Hmm? Is there any reason why?”
Asked the Earth Demon asked when Seol-Hwi refused
“There are some things I need to prepare first before we start.”
“Start in the sense…”
“That, I am sorry… but can I get an elixir?”
Seol-Hwi scratched his head.
Even if they thought about it more deeply, it was just a simple question. Was it not enough to provide them with it?
“Hehehe!”
Fortunately, the Earth Demon’s reaction was not so bad. It might be so since he was laughing out loud.
So he continued to keep an eye on him.
“An elixir huh… right. It is natural to want one before such a fight. There were things I have been meaning to give you.”
Fortunately, the Earth Demon gestured and naturally turned around.
“Follow me.”
The place where the Earth Demon headed to was the small house attached to the back of his office.
When he opened the door, there were pills and herbs he had not seen before hanging on the wall and numerous weapons had been placed in front and to the side.
“You can take anything you want.”
“Ah…”
Seol-Hwi hesitated.
Looking at the weapons and such all on the wall laid before him, regardless of the performance, they all looked amazing.
This was probably a special gift from the Earth Demon. But could he really take whatever he wanted?
When he asked with his eyes, the Earth Demon smiled.
“Normally, when you become a disciple to the Heavenly Demon, there are people who come here and there with gifts. I appreciate them but they do not do anything for me. So… if you think they will be of use, take it, it would make me feel glad they’ll be put to use.”
“… I see.”
Seol-Hwi understood what he meant. Come to think of it, to the Earth Demon these pills and weapons were useless to him.
If he wanted to fight, even a normal weapon could match the best of them as his body was the best weapon out there. And if he chose to use his body as the Heavenly Killing Star, it would not need anything else to crush his enemies.
It was an unfortunate fate where his own victory could not be appreciated with his own eyes.
“Then…”
Seol-Hwi did not hesitate and walked around, looking at the weapons one by one.
In his mind he wanted to pack a lot of them into the toolbox, but that remained in his thoughts. Even if the Earth Demon gave him permission, he could not do something like that.
“Not this… this is…”
Simple herbs could be identified at a glance. Most of them did not have a good appearance nor much energy within. A few stood out and he put them into the toolbox, and all of those were for immediate use.
He almost robbed the place.
<Heaven and Land Golden Phoenix Pill> Description: A sweet medicine made by grinding yellow fruit which contains the yang energy of the land. Effect: Dispels yin energy from the mind and body.
Nice?
Not just the body, but the yin qi is repulsed from affecting the mind as well?
When one’s mental strength was exhausted, it seemed like a single use item to purify any yin effects.
I will take one of these.
<You have taken the Heaven and Land Golden Phoenix Pill.>
One he put it into the box, he went and picked another he liked. Unfortunately, there were no special pills, but he managed to get a couple good ones.
<You have taken Demon Spirit Blood.> <You have taken the Safeguarding Heavenly Pill.>
Then, he wondered if there would be more
Uh?
There was a medicine that gave off a faint glow like it was shining and giving off a pulse. Atthat, even without putting it in the toolbox, the information came.
<Purple Cloud Confusion> Description: An orchid with the energy of the Purple Cloud. Effect: Empowers growth.
What is this one?
Purple Cloud in the sense of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts of Mount Hua?
Then, if this herb was used, they might be able to use the energy of Mount Hua. He was a bit unsure, but Seol-Hwi wanted to take this one just in case.
I will take this for now.
<You have taken the Purple Cloud Confusion.>
“Did you get everything you wanted here?”
“Ah, yes.”
After he took the pills, the Earth Demon nodded.
“Then head over there and choose a weapon too. I don’t know if I have ever even seen a proper weapon…”
“That…”
Seol-Hwi thought of the Sword of Reverence which the Earth Demon had given him once, and then shook his head.
Come to think of it, he took a different path this time. And this was not the time for that now.
“Then…”
Seol-Hwi turned around and this time stood where the weapons were.
There were five or six sets of armor and knee caps along with knives, swords, blades, clubs, and spears. There was nothing missing.
“Hmm…”
All the weapons were here and there, but they seemed to be good weapons.
The Sword of Reverence which he used before was nowhere to be seen, but they were all still weapons which were better than normal ones.
Not just a sword, other secondary ones would be better.
Concerned, Seol-Hwi stretched out his hands. And it was to test if there was a special weapon around. He went through a few and—
<Waterfall Sword>
Words appeared in front of him.
<Waterfall Sword> Description: A treasured weapon made by a blacksmith. The sword holds lightning energy within. Special Ability: Can draw and use lightning energy.
“I got that from Elder Su Young. They say it is a treasured sword stolen from the Namgung Family a long time back.”
“Ah, I see.”
He was interested in the text that said it held lightning energy. Seol-Hwi picked it up without hesitation and then looked at other things.
<Final Blood Dagger>
Ah!
Seol-Hwi waited for the explanation to come.
<Final Blood Dagger> Description: An assassination weapon similar to a regular dagger. Thousands of blades are inlaid within the tip of the blade so, if the enemy is hit with a single blow, you get the effect of it digging into the body, arms, and legs. It is a deadly assassination which makes one sick and die within a few days. Special Ability: Increases normal assassination speed by 50%.
Hmm.
Seol-Hwi carefully noticed this. It held an odd faint green light.
“I got that from the Tang family.”
“I see.”
At theEarth Demon’s words, Seol-Hwi took it with him. He thought that if he took something good, it would somehow help him in the future when he was in danger. After passing by the assassination weapons, he touched each one of those by sneaking up on the side where the blades were hung.
<Home Curved Blade>
What now?
Seol-Hwi was curious. It had a curved blade similar to scythe, a little different from those of regular swords and blades.
Other than the blade which looked extraordinarily sharp, the blade was not that eye-catching.
He glanced back, but the Earth Demon said nothing. He did not seem to know much about the weapon either.
So, he looked at the information first.
<Home Curved Blade> Description: This is an item made in China, and has the meaning of ‘Home’ which means to return home. Special ability: When one kills an enemy with this curved blade, you recover 10% of your attack power and stamina.
“Ha, this…”
Seol-Hwi was shocked.
Right, this was it. A weapon which used a great or special skill was nice, but it was different from the ability the weapon holds.
This would be of great help in melee fights.
A weapon which helps recover with each kill. It was not a weapon which was advantageous in a one on one battle but one against many enemies.
Seol-Hwi took it and then turned to the side—
To where the armor was.
After a long time, Seol-Hwi waked to the door, and the Earth Demon asked looking at the weapons in his hands
“You finished picking the ones you wanted?”
“Yes.”
“That is everything you wanted?”
“Yes.”
“Understood, then call me when you want more.”
“Thank you.”
Seol-Hwi bowed to Earth Demon and said,
“Can I say one more thing?”
“Of course, speak.”
“Do you have the map I handed to you before?”
“It is a map… you mean the Mount Hua one?”
“Yes.”
The Earth Demon thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Of course.”
“Ah, can you leave it with me for a bit?”
“Hmm.”
Without further questions, the Earth Demon nodded.
Thank goodness.
With this, the Earth Demon presented three lives. If he chose to die later, he could start from there and come back up.
Because I don’t know…
Seol-Hwi started to insert the pills he took earlier into the Golden Belt. It was to prepare for the upcoming scenario.
After a little while or so, the Earth Demon handed over the map.
<Will you put it into the toolbox?>
He put it in his storage.
“Now. All ready to go?”
Seol-Hwi nodded at the question
<Do you want to participate?>
As soon as he agreed to it, pure white light shone in front of him. Seol-Hwi entrusted himself to the flow of time.
Flash!
His vision went black and the white light with darkness continued to intersect.
After a while, the light and darkness shook violently like waves, and it completely turned to dark.
By the time hissenses came back again—
Shshshs
The first thing which came back was sound.
Tststs
The sound of stepping on the grass. He heard the soft sound of steps on the ground, and when his vision returned—
Wheik!
There was light visible in the distance.
With concealing skills around and things usable as cover, the steps moved faster.
And—
“…!”
“Eup!”
Escaped the sound and the hands felt around. His senses began to return one after another and soon he could move.
“This…”
What caught his eye was not the normal building—
But one which seemed to be a prison cell, old and surrounded with earthen walls.
Seol-Hwi, who had been looking around the ceiling and walls, looked down.
“What…”
There were two men who had collapsed in front of him.
Tuk
He lightly kicked them and there came no response. No breathing or pulse, just cold corpses.
And in his hand…
Huh.
This time, the curved blade obtained from the Earth Demon’s place was there.
“Did I kill them?”
He remembered nothing.
He did not recognize the curved blade for a second, and he could not tell if he did the deed or not.
In the past, there were lots of troops around which helped him understand the situation, but they were not around this time nor was there anything else to help.
Seol-Hwi looked at the curved blade in his hand again with a frown.
<Your realm is forcibly lowered (Peak Demon).> <After half an hour, it will return to its original state.>
What is this?
Words which came to his vision.
Along with the information displayed on the window, he had the unpleasant feeling of strength being lowered in his body.
Like the last time, the decrease was forced.
<Escape the first crisis.>
3,600… 3,599…
There seemed to be a time limit.
When Seol-Hwi turned the head to find space to run
Thud
“What? Why is the door locked here?”
Voices could be heard from the door to exit from. It was a situation where his presence would be discovered without fail.
