DEB 133

“…So that’s the Fountain of Souls.”

“…That is the… Fountain? Of Souls?”

There was no divine aura that could purify all the world’s impurities. 

No mystical power that hinted at awakening all wisdom in a single sip. 

For a lake spoken of in legends, for a place reached only after enduring such harrowing trials, it was a rather underwhelming sight. 

Ash tilted his head at the unimpressive sight.

“Yasha, are you sure this is the right place? Did we take a wrong turn?”

“Yeah. It just looks like… a regular spring. Like something you’d find anywhere.”

Vita and Ash exchanged puzzled glances, shielding their eyes as they scanned the area for another spring. 

Seeing his disciples search so earnestly, Huiyun chuckled softly.

“What you see isn’t always what you get. You’ve come all this way, yet still let appearances deceive you?”

It may have looked plain, but this was undoubtedly the legendary Fountain. 

The trials they’d faced to reach this point proved its authenticity. 

The forest itself had guided them here. 

There was no room for doubt.

“Now go. There’s one final trial left for those of you who seek to raise your soul’s rank through the Fountain.”

The Fountain bestowed three trials.

They had passed two on their journey here.

The final one would be encountered within the Fountain itself, during the process of gaining its power.

Huiyun had to stay behind and protect his disciples while they received its blessings.

“Master Yasha, you’re not coming in?”

“I have no need. It’s not me who needs further awakening through the Fountain, you do. Ah, take Huigang with you as well, would you?”

Huigang was still unconscious. 

His strength likely couldn’t withstand the pressure of the clash, much less Huiyun’s overwhelming aura. 

Rumors said the Fountain had healing properties. 

If Huigang entered with the disciples, his internal injuries might heal, raising his class and recovering his body in one stroke.

Vita readily agreed and slung Huigang over his back as he looked around the Fountain.

“…Should we go in separately, just in case?”

“No. Time is of the essence. If you waste time splitting up, and the Fountain only grants one miracle before vanishing… are you willing to gamble on that? Go in together.”

They had faced the trials together, entering the Fountain should be no different. 

If they divided and the Fountain disappeared after a single miracle, the loss would be immeasurable.

It would be the worst possible outcome. 

So Huiyun firmly shook his head, though his disciples hesitated.

“But… Yasha, you’re in bad shape right now.”

“If you push yourself more, it could be dangerous.”

“…If I lose consciousness, my puppets stop functioning too.”

His disciples voiced their worries. 

Huiyun looked down at his body.

Currently, he was so weak it could barely walk without support. 

If not for Hyeon holding him up, he would’ve already collapsed.

But a master could not appear weak before his disciples.

“I’m fine. Do you not trust me?”

“…It’s not that.”

“How could we not trust you?”

“Then go. You’re wasting more time here. I’m alright. I can still fight, and besides, Hyeon and Siho will stay with me.”

If he were truly alone, he might have been worried. 

But with Hyeon doing his part and Siho always stepping up when it counted, he felt secure. 

His disciples finally began stepping toward the Fountain. 

Vita was the first to act.

“So we just dive in, right? I’ll be back soon, Master Yasha!”

Waving overhead, he stepped into the spring with Huigang on his back. 

The others followed. Watching them, Huiyun called out,

“There’s still a final trial! Stay vigilant to the end!”

The third trial of the Fountain: “Your soul will be tested.”

It was likely a spiritual ordeal, designed to strike the heart.

Wishing for their safe return, Huiyun warned them, and they answered with confident voices before plunging into the water. 

As they vanished, the Fountain emitted an aurora-like veil, seeming to protect those undergoing the trial.

“…It really is the legendary spring.”

Revealing its hidden powers only after they entered, the Fountain shone with mysterious light. 

Leaning against a tree, Huiyun exhaled in awe. 

Hyeon, helping him gently lower himself to sit, groaned.

“This is insane. If I knew it would be this rough, I wouldn’t have come.”

“The one who didn’t flinch when the Demon Lord appeared is now whining?”

Hyeon, too, was a guardian and ruler in his own right. 

When the Demon Lord appeared, he hadn’t truly been afraid, he only pretended, so as not to reveal his identity or powers. 

He had acted instantly, instinctively playing along for the sake of the others. 

That was the kind of man Hyeon was.

Clicking his tongue in a mix of admiration and reprimand, Huiyun muttered. 

Hyeon scratched his head with a grin.

“If they knew I was the one managing the Black Swamp, it wouldn’t do anyone any good. Compared to their strength, I’m still weak. So when you all return with your powers restored, I’ll just hitch a ride and get my revenge alongside you.”

“Not the best word choice. But even if it doesn’t look like you’re doing anything, you’ve still done more than your part. Be confident.”

“Even so, I think the time has come for me to actually be useful. Looks like they think so too.”

They’re coming, after all.

Dusting off his hands, Hyeon turned back the way they came. Huiyun sensed them too—hundreds of creatures pulsing with demonic energy.

“Of course. Those damn primordials. No matter how far we come, they never bother to protect anything.”

“You do know you’re one of them, right?”

“Of course. I meant myself too. So quit complaining and stay sharp.”

There were a lot of them.

Pushing off the tree with effort, Huiyun stood. 

The aftermath of using his prime power hadn’t vanished. 

Even with Zenith and Verita’s best efforts, all he could do now was stand. 

Cold sweat drenched him like rain.

Far from ideal for battle, but what choice did he have?

He had bragged to his disciples. 

He had the pride of a Guardian to uphold. 

He had to do this.

After all, walking the hardest path was what Huiyun knew best.

“…They’re coming.”

And then—

KEEEEEEHHH!

A wave of shrieking monsters followed. 

From between the trees, demons leapt. 

Hyeon drew the blade from his waist.

SHRRRK!

One slash split a creature clean in half. 

His blade traced a figure-eight through the air, cutting down nearly ten more in seconds.

His eyes turned to the army of demons surrounding the lake.

“Where did they even come from…”

“Monsters follow the Lords by nature. The Lord of Wrath manifested here, even briefly, so all nearby creatures are converging. And the Fountain didn’t block their entry.”

“What a lousy spring. We had to fight through hell to get here, but they get in for free?”

“…Where did you even learn to talk like that?”

“Your disciple taught me.”

“…”

Huiyun could already guess which one.

He took a deep breath, hand over his chest still wracked with pain. 

He channeled Domination through it.

Thump. Thump.

His heart—already strained to the brink—reacted violently. 

Carefully coaxing it, he forced more power through. 

Siho, perched on his shoulder, let out a yip! 

The blue spirit beast’s tail flicked as a subtle pain faded from Huiyun’s chest.

Staring at the swarm of enemies closing in, Huiyun twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

“…Enough talking. Don’t let a single one into the lake. If the Fountain is contaminated, we’re in trouble.”

There was no room for error. 

Though he wasn’t a frontline fighter, even Hyeon felt the weight of that order and sighed.

“…I really should’ve just stayed in the Swamp.”

With that final complaint, the monsters surged forward.

By now, his disciples were surely undergoing their own trials within the Fountain.

This was his final trial.

A test to determine if he, their master, had the strength to protect his disciples.

Everything happens for a reason.

Yes.

“Let’s do this.”