Chapter 96

For your information, there’s nothing left in his body now.

But judging from how his entire body is dyed blue, it seems like he was really on the brink of death. When the bugs inside a person go wild, it’s nearly impossible to survive.

These guys had those bugs implanted to control people.

“N-no! There’s no way I could have betrayed Him!”

Rensin-won denies his own actions. Then suddenly, he stands up and charges at me.

“You! What have you done to me?!”

I raise my hand to calm Tianma down before they slice him apart. Rensin-won grabs my collar and shouts loudly. He can’t seem to handle what he’s done.

We already gathered enough intel; even if this guy dies, we’re good.

But we should conserve resources.

I place my hand on the shoulder of the man gripping my collar.

“That person abandoned you to die. You were discarded. That’s why I decided to save you.”

They probably didn’t intend to abandon him. They gave him strength to desperately cling to that light, but he ended up giving it up to survive.

In truth, the one who abandoned everything was Rensin-won himself.

“No! Return me to the way I was! Back to His embrace! Do it! Please! No… If it’s too late, I’ll surely be punished. I must return before then!”

He starts shouting frantically. His face is full of terror as he panics, fearing the punishment for not returning.

Ah, right. Members of the Tianma Sect have parasites in their bodies that allow them to control them. Torturing someone from a young age leaves scars that never heal.

There are experiments too. If you torture a dog with electric shocks in an enclosed space, even when you later open a door allowing escape, it won’t run away—it just sits there suffering.

It’s called learned helplessness, right?

Tianma Sect just twisted that concept slightly. Disobey and they inflict pain, making examples out of some by killing them.

Over time, even if someone has the strength to break free, they lose the will to rebel.

Because deep down, they believe escape is impossible.

So I told him one thing.

“Now, there’s nothing left in your body to torment you. From here on, you’re free to live however you want.”

He looks at me with disbelief, but the grip on my collar loosens.

He knows, doesn’t he? That there’s nothing left inside him.

“Rensin-won.”

I ask him.

“Is there anyone you want to save?”

Yes.

Even he has someone precious to him—someone I wouldn’t know about. It’s natural for important things to appear once someone rises to power. Luckily, this person values people above all else.

Not that they had much choice. In a place where the only valuable thing is people…

Due to dress code regulations, personal belongings aren’t allowed. Not to mention, private property doesn’t exist. The only thing you can gain is rank, which requires undergoing horrifying procedures.

After enduring all that and climbing to the top, you end up with nothing but your name. Your only attachment becomes people.

Maybe that’s why Tianma fixated on Jeonyang.

Anyway…

When I asked Rensin-won, he clutched his head in agony. After a brief moment of thought, instead of speaking, he raised his head and covered his lips with his finger.

Then he pointed at three specific spots on the ceiling and walls.

Meaning: There are spies hiding.

“Let’s take care of them.”

“Alright.”

As Tianma stomped their foot, crushing sounds echoed around the room.

Huh?

Wait, I expected them to either swing a sword or use something similar to earlier, maybe involving me.

Though technically, did they even use me?

Blood starts flowing from places other than where he pointed.

Out of curiosity, I walk toward the source of the blood and open the door. Inside, I’m greeted by a shattered corpse.

The body still resembles a human, but it’s filled with impurities.

Bizarrely deformed arms, multicolored rotten innards, and insect-like creatures with legs sprouting from the spine.

Yet none of them survived Tianma’s single stomp. Of course, they killed quite a few, given the amount of warmth drained.

“Parasites are the main host.”

Tianma, who followed behind, gazes down impassively.

“I knew this was common in the Tianma Sect, but I didn’t expect so many to be infected.”

I return to Rensin-won.

I grab his hand, bring it close to his face, and smile.

“The person you wish to save—they can live.”

If this were said after casually killing someone, it might sound like a promise not to kill next time. But judging by his pale complexion, he understands my intent.

Only I can save him.

That’s how it appears.

He nods obediently and whispers timidly.

“What do you want from me?”

I reply in a similarly quiet voice.

“Take me to your master.”

He hesitates, biting his lip, then looks straight at me with determination.

“Save her first.”

“Fine.”

He seems surprised that I agreed so quickly.

Confused by his reaction, I ask.

“Why are you so shocked? Shouldn’t finding someone worth saving come before dealing with enemies?”

Tianma chuckles from behind. Sure, I get that my words could sound altruistic…

But isn’t that meaningless among people who know what I truly am? Rensin-won knows exactly who I am.

There’s a reason he screamed at Tianma earlier. Every attempt to harm me through strange magic failed utterly.

Though I didn’t feel anything, they tried cursing me or using secret sect techniques to test me.

All of it failed.

Not only did it fail to activate, but it vanished meaninglessly, like throwing an egg against a wall. Rensin-won remembers this clearly.

Even if it had been an attack, I would’ve felt it. Apparently, using my Harvesting System to curse bypasses any attack detection.

Too bad.

Anyway, misunderstandings work in my favor. Accompanied by Tianma, I walked with Rensin-won through the Yuezhidang. No one interfered. Soon, he found the person he sought.

A girl.

She’s not his lover. Nor his daughter. Just someone he met casually, sharing meaningless conversations.

Everyone finds this touching.

How do people give their hearts so easily just because they made a friend?

Unfortunately, we were too late.

“To punish thee for betraying me.”

From her face bursts a grotesque worm-like creature.

Simultaneously, the girl’s body swells, her forehead widens, and scales protrude. However, her body can’t handle the transformation, exposing raw muscles beneath torn flesh.

Her body is collapsing under the strain of the change.

“You, disguised as a human.”

The monstrous thing atop her head, resembling a lanternfish, speaks to me.

“Though I don’t know your true nature, since you’ve entered the territory of Hedaopai, don’t think you’ll leave unscathed.”

Hedaopai?

Ah. So this involves Fengshen Yanyi? Quite the mix, isn’t it?

Or perhaps part of this world seeped into the one I know. Doesn’t matter much.

“Are you the one in charge?”

At my question, it laughs.

“Yes. I am Tongtian, the leader of Juejiao Sect. Are you trembling yet?”

So that’s the title. And Tongtian, the leader here, seemed almost godlike.

“If you’re a god, I might be afraid.”

This makes it burst into laughter. The poor girl below groans in agony, contrasting sharply with its amusement.

“Ah, yes. I am the very god you fear.”

Ke he he.

“Yes. Understood.”

So you’re a god, huh?

Does this mean you’re the deity responsible for this bone-chilling cold?

Regardless, it’s fine.

I just need someone to vent my frustrations on.

“Tianma. Just stay alive.”

Tianma steps forward. The worm-like thing atop its head addresses them.

“You resemble a corpse. Did you resurrect using the Reverse Sky’s Technique? Though Tianma Sect has an alliance with our sect, breaking it means severing all ties today. Don’t regret losing everything you enjoy on this land.”

But Tianma just swings their sword at the worm.

Instantly, the transformed girl’s limbs disintegrate into black dust.

Literally. Her limbs turned to ash, scattering black particles.

Rensin-won stares at Tianma in utter shock. His look of reverence is hilarious.

Tianma approaches the fish speaking from atop the monster’s head.

“We know about that outdated contract. Consider this your final warning before we tear it up, Immortal.”

The fish wriggles amusingly.

“Warning? From a mere reanimated corpse? Go ahead and try.”

With supreme confidence, Tianma smirks strangely.

“Run. If you can.”

And with a flash, the fish turns black and vanishes.

Tianma turns back to me, pointing at the limbless monster.

I approach and form a contract.

Can’t communicate?

Brain destroyed, unable to think?

Do you think that stops a contract?

Nope.

Direct exposure to light can repair severe physical damage. Haven’t I already spoken to others like this before?

I recite the contract document.

As her porcelain-like body shatters, a pale-skinned girl emerges from within.

I step toward the sobbing Rensin-won.

“Let’s meet God now.”

As he bows his head to the ground, I stop him and say these words.

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