Chapter 78

Kidogun is brutal, huh.

As soon as he came back, he ground up humans for breeding and turned them into pills.

Of course, he didn’t just throw them into a grinder and mash them; instead, he put them in some strange jar and closed the lid. The harvester went inside without resisting, as if it were completely normal, and died quietly.

I brought warmth.

When harvesters are supposed to become stronger with their distorted bodies, this one not only didn’t grow stronger but felt like it died much faster.

Human bodies are tougher than they look, and harvester bodies are even tougher. But the brain remained shrunken as it was.

Judging from this, it’s an ability.

Abilities appear to fulfill wishes that can’t be achieved through physical enhancement alone—at least, that’s my guess.

Since harvesters are originally meant to live to die, when they became harvesters, they gained the ability to die more easily.

A life stripped of all rights from the start will die even after becoming a harvester.

I can’t see outside through the eyes of the dead.

Then, the next person.

The odd-job worker started learning martial arts. Considering Kidogun ordered him to learn martial arts, this must also be an experiment.

As for the last person—Kidogun’s law enforcer—explained to Kidogun how his internal energy had changed while checking his own powers.

I already knew about the improved physical abilities.

But something new came up.

He grinned widely, explaining that his internal energy had become incredibly easier to control, flowing smoothly through his channels as if he’d undergone a complete transformation. The pathways were cleaner.

Still, even though I saw things through his perspective, I couldn’t sense any energy at all. There was no special channel in the part of the brain that recognizes such things.

Maybe this isn’t a physically existing organ.

Or perhaps it’s an organ I can’t comprehend.

Even so, shouldn’t it be connected to the brain? Is this special power something I can’t reach?

I don’t know.

I believe someday a world will come where I can understand this.

By the way, Soo-oh keeps clinging to me and won’t let go.

When I ask why, she shakes her head. Is it because it’s getting colder?

It doesn’t seem like she’s scared of someone since we exercised together earlier today. So I don’t think she’s scared now.

Another day passes.

Even though the moon hangs high, nothing special happens.

So during the night, I check out other harvesters.

Eunchun got up from bed after a few days and resumed practicing martial arts.

Gapjae stumbled upon a harvester by chance while passing by, clenched his fist, and trailed the harvester until he saw him enter the Celestial Palace Hall.

Gapjae immediately went to Jigwandang and explained what he saw to the hall master.

The Jigwandang master said he already knew and dismissed Gapjae. Outside, Gapjae sighed, muttering that he might get expelled and clutching his head.

But I know.

No matter how much someone hides their expression, I can read it.

The Jigwandang master was flustered.

There’s a high probability he didn’t know the Celestial Palace master had created a new harvester.

I figured that much out, but I don’t know why he claimed he did or why he sent Gapjae away.

Nor do I know what to do next.

Sometimes I wish I were smarter. If I could figure out what these people are thinking and predict their future actions, it would be great…

Hmph.

Wishing for abilities I don’t have is pointless.

I ponder what I can do with what I’ve got.

For instance, Byungil, who’s rapidly growing stronger by consuming pills.

The pill Gapjae obtained last time allowed entry into the Decision Realm, but Byungil received a gift—a pill granting access to the Metal Barrier Realm—and consumed it.

When the harvester took the pill a second time, I learned more than I did the first time I saw it.

Pills add light.

It’s not about expanding the original light.

But since it increases, it quickly overwhelms everything else—still, harvesters are harvesters.

That’s how I understood the effects of the pills.

And I also figured out why people are needed to make them.

If light is the soul, then they coat it with a new soul to greatly expand their own—like human sacrifice technology.

I wonder what happens if you eat a harvester. But I can’t find out right away.

I can’t see through the eyes of a harvester once they turn into a pill.

But since I brought warmth, I’m curious to see how it’ll mutate. Will eating the pill turn someone into a harvester, have no effect, or make no difference at all?

Meanwhile, Jeonyang is training with the Heavenly Horse.

Unlike others, Jeonyang isn’t taking any special medicine.

At the level of a Heavenly Horse, you’d think they’d give him the best stuff.

Is it because he’s not ready yet? To me, Jeonyang seems strong enough already.

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, chaos erupted throughout the Thousand Horses Sect.

Fire!

People ran around shouting that there was a fire.

Eunchun and Byungil immediately grabbed their swords and rushed outside—but neither could leave the places they were staying.

The woman Eunchun slept with every night blocked her path, and the Bamboo Master of the Ten Eternal Lifespans blocked Byungil.

The people stopping them explained the situation.

The sect leader has returned!

Huh?

Does that mean the daughter of the previous sect leader is becoming the new leader? Not understanding, I listened closely to their conversation.

Juggan, the master, didn’t seem inclined to explain further. He told Byungil that our sect leader had returned, adding that the current Heavenly Horse stole the position using underhanded methods and the original leader, who survived, had returned.

Upon hearing this, Byungil completely stopped trying to go outside.

He asked if he should just watch, and Juggan replied that yes, that would suffice. He invited Byungil to drink tea while things settled down and led him back inside.

Byungil followed.

On the other hand, Miro, the woman holding onto Eunchun, said that the one who truly belonged at the top of the Thousand Horses Sect had returned.

When Eunchun asked if it was Seong-go, Miro shook her head, denying it and saying it was the return of the Healing Lord.

Interpreting their words: the Healing Lord is the previous sect leader, and Seong-go is the daughter of the previous sect leader.

The word “Healing Lord” was enough to stop Eunchun in her tracks.

Eunchun completely halted her movements and asked Miro what Mirok, the master, had said.

The Deer Master of the Ten Eternal Lifespans.

Oh ho. I thought Eunchun wasn’t paying attention, but she knows who’s trying to bind her.

Miro responded to Eunchun like this:

She wasn’t there on orders from anyone but to stop Eunchun herself. She warned that going outside to fight now would only get her hurt.

Yeah.

It’s a lie.

Despite creating a pitiful atmosphere, Miro clearly didn’t care about Eunchun—I can tell. Emotions are hard to hide.

As Eunchun was about to lose interest, she suddenly swung her sword and cut off Miro’s head.

Whoa?

While staring down at Miro’s severed corpse, Eunchun spoke.

“No matter how strange things look, the person who made me a master is the current Heavenly Horse. Lady, I’m not some ungrateful idiot.”

With that, Eunchun opened the door and stormed out.

What an interesting choice.

Once outside, Eunchun saw flames rising from a few buildings.

Looking around, she muttered softly to herself—if the previous sect leader, the Healing Lord, had returned, then the target must be the current sect leader.

Ignoring the sounds of people running around, she immediately headed toward where the Heavenly Horse was staying.

While Eunchun ventured deep into the Thousand Horses Sect, Gapjae looked at the burning sect and, for reasons unknown, headed outside—or rather, near his room outside.

He returned there and simply did what a law enforcer should do in this situation.

He picked up a water bucket and blended in with the crowd.

Maybe this is the best choice.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Horse entered Jeonyang’s room. When Jeonyang asked what was going on, the Heavenly Horse shouted that it was just a fire in the sect and told him to rest.

Jeonyang bristled.

Ah. A rift appears. He probably thinks he’s being ignored.

Perhaps this is an opportunity.

I woke up Soo-oh, who was almost asleep in my arms.

Soo-oh blinked wide awake when I pointed to the building of the Thousand Horses Sect, which was blazing with fire.

I don’t need to see her face to know her expression and that she’s fully awake.

“Soo-oh, I’ll be back shortly. Wait here, okay?”

Soo-oh hesitated and clutched my sleeve.

“Can’t… can’t you stay?” she asked timidly, looking up at me with fear. I don’t know why she looks like she’s been abandoned,

but I decided to leave her behind anyway. After all, I’ll return, and I’ve said everything I needed to say.

Then the faded man’s memory flashed through my mind again.

She’ll secretly follow and cause trouble?

No, I know kids can be unpredictable, but has she really grown so attached in just one week? I never even tried to win her affection.

Though memories aren’t always reliable, I have no reason to doubt the faded man’s recollection.

So what should I do?

Hug her?

Following the memory, I hugged Soo-oh. She was startled.

“I’ll be back, so guard the house for me. Got it?”

At my words, Soo-oh’s eyes widened before she vigorously nodded and sat down with determination.

Surprisingly simple.

I waved goodbye to Soo-oh and left the house. It’s quiet around this cottage, but far away, the area around the burning building is bustling with people. I need to hurry.

The most important event is happening there.

Of course, the building is full of Thousand Horses Sect members, so if I just walk in, I might get caught. That’s why I’ll use the secret passage Jeonyang remembers.

If I’m lucky, I might get my hands on the harvester called Heavenly Horse.

Hehe.

I headed toward where Jeonyang was.

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