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Chapter 204: Mudong Mountain Range (1)

Mudong Mountain Range. (1)

Oily.

This is the end of the time sent by Gu Huibi from the underground prison of the Main Palace.

Over the past few days, Gu Huibi had to endure a painfully useless time.

Due to the Demon Lord’s tricks, the bet still remained unresolved.

As a result, there was nothing that could be done for Gu Huibi, who had returned to a frail physical state without any betting power.

Such aspects approached Gu Huibi with immense deprivation.

Bang—

Bang—

A strange sound resonated from the iron bars.

After repeating since last night, the sound finally caused Elder Muk, who was sitting against the wall, to shout.

“Ah, would you keep it down!”

Bang…. Bang…..

Elder Muk’s shout silenced the noise.

The source of the sound was none other than Gu Huibi.

It was the sound of Gu Huibi repeatedly banging her head against the iron bars.

“Do you really think that by doing that, the bars are going to bend? It’s annoying, so just sit still.”

Elder Muk’s words made Gu Huibi, who was radiating gloom, turn her head with a clatter.

She appeared half-crazed.

And all of that only after a mere five days.

Elder Muk chuckled at her condition.

“It’s quite a sight, if someone saw this they’d think I was the one being tortured.”

“Why are you babbling?”

“If you don’t want to hear things like that, just sit still. Or lie down and waste your time.”

Gu Huibi wasn’t even sleeping and was refusing the meager meals provided.

Of course, Elder Muk had gobbled up all the leftover food.

“…Will it ever bend?”

“Do you think a rock will shatter just because you keep hitting it? The descendant of a renowned clan is spouting nonsense.”

Surely, she looked somewhat alright when I first saw her.

What exactly happened to her?

“What on earth has got you so distressed?”

“Being locked up and thrown into a prison, isn’t it strange to be normal?”

“Ha, girl, it’s clear that you’re in that state for reasons other than that. Where are you spewing such nonsense from?”

When it comes to matters like this, the elder is an expert.

Reading situations.

Grasping the atmosphere.

Finding emotions hidden in voices.

The elder could confidently claim that this was the one thing he was better at than anyone else in this world.

Even from a silly stray dog, he could extract dozens of pieces of information; lies don’t work on him.

Watching the grumbling Gu Huibi, Elder Muk ultimately landed a decisive blow.

“Is your frustration really because the orb won’t listen to you?”

“ ”

“Who were you watching that you’re falling apart over not seeing?”

Gu Huibi didn’t utter a word in response to the elder’s question.

In fact, the Orb of Heavenly Road wouldn’t activate at Gu Huibi’s command.

The orb that fed on blood to brand its master and required the master’s betting power had become just an ordinary orb since Gu Huibi lost her betting strength.

As a result, Gu Huibi was unable to grasp the situation of her brother, which she used to check daily using the Orb of Heavenly Road.

‘…This can’t be.’

Not being able to see was not the real problem.

No, it was a problem, but that’s not what mattered.

The important thing was if Gu Yangcheong got to know about the orb and possibly learned how to use it.

‘If there’s a chance he finds out about our location or situation, that would be good, but…’

What mattered was for Gu Yangcheong to not come rushing here immediately due to that sense of distance he usually held towards her.

Gu Huibi constantly wished for that.

There should never be a situation where her brother could be put in danger because of her.

“Stop banging the orb and hide it again. If they notice, it’ll be troublesome.”

At Elder Muk’s words, Gu Huibi concealed the orb once more.

Even while listening, there remained an odd part of her.

‘What exactly is that old man?’

During the few days he had been here, Elder Muk was one of the things Gu Huibi could understand the least.

It was odd that he had been alone in this prison until she arrived.

And acting as if he could see without being able to see was also strange.

No matter how she viewed it, he was no ordinary old man.

On the second day, glancing at the orb Gu Huibi held, Elder Muk said.

—The Orb of Heavenly Road that vanishes from blindness was in the Gu Clan. No wonder it was unnoticed.

He spoke without hesitation about information that should be confidential.

—If the orb is there, does that mean Myeong Jeong-hee is also in that location?

Spitting out information a few could know freely, including the clan leader.

Gu Huibi tried to feign ignorance.

—Oh… I see. I feel like some frustration has been lifted, thanks.

Certainly, he had said he didn’t know, yet his reaction seemed to imply the opposite, and the elder smiled with delight.

‘Without a doubt… he’s a crazy old man.’

No matter how she looked, he was surely not normal.

However, that didn’t mean she could just disregard the elder.

He definitely possessed something.

Gu Huibi’s instincts told her so.

Trying hard to think, Gu Huibi let out a sigh as she looked at the spear-like bars.

Both Gu Yangcheong and the elder behind him were problematic in the end.

‘I need to know the reason.’

Gu Huibi was curious.

Why the Demon Lord threw her in here like this.

Even after a few days, Gu Huibi couldn’t guess this.

No wonder, the Demon Lord had not made any appearance.

Left in the prison to that degree, Gu Huibi still had no idea why she had come here.

As questions continued to swirl in her head, Elder Muk spoke to her from behind.

“If you keep acting like a desperate dog, do you think you’ll discover something?”

“Elder Muk, you seem excessively carefree.”

“Well, it has been a while since I’ve been here. Hehe.”

Hearing that, Gu Huibi inwardly sighed and closed her eyes again.

Just when she was about to slip back into her thoughts.

“Zzzt…”

“Here they come.”

Elder Muk clicked his tongue as he spoke.

Wondering what he meant, Gu Huibi was about to ask him.

But at that moment, from beyond the iron bars, a powerful energy made her shoulders shudder.

This was an instinctive feeling of dread.

Creeeak—

The door opened, and someone stepped in.

One was an old man with a face full of age spots, looking fierce and ferocious.

The other was a face Gu Huibi recognized all too well.

How could she forget?

The one who brought her here.

Black Night Princess.

The number one of the Samao Clan, the master of the Black Night Palace had appeared.

“You finally woke up.”

The Demon Lord calmly accepted Gu Huibi’s glaring gaze and spoke.

“After being tossed around for a few days, how could you not wake up?”

Putting in an effort to suppress her fear, Gu Huibi managed to reply with a sarcastic smile.

At this, one of the Demon Lord’s eyebrows rose.

“Gu Tae, as expected, your mouth is as sharp as ever. It has been that way since ancient times.”

As the Demon Lord approached step by step, Gu Huibi felt a slight tremor in her body.

However, not wanting to show that aspect, she bit her lip and endured.

“Why did you bring me here?”

Gu Huibi growled but the Demon Lord directed her gaze toward Elder Muk instead.

“Are you finally willing to talk?”

The Demon Lord’s emotionless voice created an unsettling feeling.

It was only natural to feel an unknown presence from a martial artist who had reached a certain realm.

Yet for some reason, the Black Night Princess in front of her gave an even more inexplicable feeling.

At the Demon Lord’s question, Elder Muk chuckled.

“Didn’t I tell you, it would be better to just kill me.”

“That’s out of the question. You are my hope.”

“You young brat better stop saying disgusting things.”

“You still cling to hope, I see.”

The Demon Lord’s words left Elder Muk silent as he merely leaned deeper against the wall.

“So, you’re not ending your own life, then.”

“Do you want me to bite my tongue and die? The young ones have no respect for their elders at all.”

Chuckling, Elder Muk replied, but the Demon Lord no longer continued the conversation.

She merely gestured toward the old man beside her.

Then the old man approached and touched the iron bars.

To everyone’s surprise, a clanking sound came from the door, and it opened on its own.

“Come out.”

It wasn’t a call for anyone specifically, but Gu Huibi knew those words were directed at her.

Creak.

Gu Huibi bit her teeth and glared at the Black Night Princess.

“Why did you bring me here?” she questioned.

The Demon Lord silently stared at Gu Huibi, dark eyes filled with deep shadows.

Gu Huibi felt cold sweat trickling down her back.

The Demon Lord, while continuing to gaze at Gu Huibi, finally spoke.

“Because I need you.”

“…For what?”

“Because the Great One needs you.”

The Great One?

Does this mean that among the absolute beings known as Samaoje, there’s indeed a powerful entity recognized?

“That is why this Demon Lord, having such trivial small talk with you, is allowing you to live despite knowing you should be put to death.”

So don’t provoke my patience any further.

Although the last words were unheard, Gu Huibi felt as though that was what the Demon Lord meant.

“Follow me.”

With that, the Demon Lord turned her back.

What would happen if she didn’t follow?

With a physical state void of any betting power, if the Demon Lord wanted, she could easily drag her off.

The Demon Lord was offering her two choices: either come along voluntarily or be forcibly dragged.

Inferences regarding whether there was really a choice or not swirled in her mind. Glancing steadfastly at the Demon Lord’s back, Elder Muk spoke in a steady voice.

“Are you alright?”

Suddenly, the Demon Lord, who was leisurely walking, stopped in her tracks.

“You seem not at ease.”

“Not at ease?”

Gu Huibi glanced at the Demon Lord’s condition, but she appeared perfectly fine. What part made her seem that way?

“Have you caught a beating somewhere? If you’re in pain, you should rest. You look like you’re in quite a bind.”

While Elder Muk teasingly spoke, the Demon Lord turned her head away and continued to look forward.

Watching from the side, Gu Huibi bit her lip, following the Demon Lord.

It was truly a long corridor.

Just as it had been in the prison, the building was almost devoid of light.

Standing upright and following the Demon Lord, Gu Huibi recalled the Elder’s words.

—You seem not at ease.

—Did you get beaten somewhere?

At that moment, the silence could be seen as positivity, and anyone could tell that the Elder’s words had some truth to them.

‘Could it be?’

Finally realizing that if the Demon Lord’s condition was poor, it might be due to her confrontation with Elder Lee.

Elder Lee, who suffered grievous wounds and fell after clashing with the Demon Lord.

Although it seemed that the Demon Lord had crushed Elder Lee with overwhelming power.

It seemed that was not the case.

‘Then perhaps that’s why she hadn’t appeared for days…’

Was she in need of rest to walk normally?

Gu Huibi merely came up with a guess spurred by Elder Muk’s words, but she sincerely hoped so.

That way, Elder Lee’s sacrifice wouldn’t have been in vain.

There might be a chance, however slight.

‘Elder Lee…’

Back then, Elder Lee had sustained fatal injuries, placing himself on the edge of life and death.

There was a possibility that he might not be on this land any longer.

Gu Huibi hoped with all her heart that Elder Lee was still alive.

As she bit her lips tightly while walking, she saw another door in the distance.

Similar to the door in the prison, but slightly larger.

A bit darker as well.

And.

“.••!”

A door that sent a bone-chilling feeling throughout her.

“•••Hooh.”

Seeing Gu Huibi freeze, her face completely drained of color, the Demon Lord expressed a look of fascination.

“You were right in saying that your instincts are sharp among those known as the late-comers, indeed.”

Gu Huibi couldn’t respond to the Demon Lord’s words.

What was beyond that door?

What lay ahead was an unfathomable feeling that could not even begin to compare to facing the Demon Lord.

Thud.

Just facing the door caused Gu Huibi’s legs to lose strength, and she collapsed to the ground.

Trembling lips.

A wavering vision.

Even her breathing was erratic.

Gu Huibi couldn’t understand why this was happening.

However, she was fully aware that the emotion she felt was fear.

As Gu Huibi, who had stiffened in place, was quietly observed by the Demon Lord, she waved her hand briefly.

Instantaneously, Gu Huibi’s body lifted off the ground.

With the Demon Lord’s might, Gu Huibi’s powerless body was easily raised.

Despite wanting to struggle, Gu Huibi’s now-rigid body wouldn’t listen.

“I’m thinking you have a good instinct, so perhaps you might also grasp the greatness of that being.”

“Greatness…?”

The cold sweat of fear streamed down Gu Huibi’s cheek, trickling down her jawline.

“I believe you could surely ascertain the respect for a being of a higher caliber.”

Was it a mere illusion?

The faint smile forming on the Demon Lord’s otherwise expressionless face bore the attributes of a madness.

“If you can comprehend it, you may gladly become a part of that greatness.”

The massive madness engulfed the Demon Lord’s dark eyes as she began slowly leading Gu Huibi towards the door.

The door was adorned with purple jewels.

The Demon Lord reached out her hand.

Clang!

A mysterious noise emitted from the door.

Shortly after the sound faded, the Demon Lord pressed down on the door and opened it.

Inside the door was nothing but overwhelming darkness.

Yet Gu Huibi could understand.

That beyond that darkness lay something.

The fear felt in her body.

The darkness that filled the surroundings all stemmed from something beyond it.

“May your flame shine even brighter for that being.”

Swish!

In an instant, a gust of wind blew, and Gu Huibi was thrown into the darkness beyond the door.

“Cough…!”

As Gu Huibi’s body flew in, she tumbled to the ground.

Even though she had consistently practiced physical training, it wasn’t merely her betting power that was caught; it was as though her body was beyond her control.

Finally steadying herself, Gu Huibi felt something approaching her from ahead.

Step.

Small, faint footsteps.

The darkness enveloping her made it impossible to see even a single step ahead.

.

..

But instead, her other senses developed, comprehending the situation around her.

Step.

With each advancing step, Gu Huibi’s body trembled even more.

This feeling was instinctive.

An instinctual fear invoked by confronting a surreal existence.

Flame Burst!

When the sound of footsteps drew near, flames erupted into the room.

The flames were tiny but bathed in a purple hue.

That small flame was bright enough to illuminate the room.

Gu Huibi knew that the figure standing before her had ignited that flame.

Straining to lift her head, she managed to catch a glimpse of the figure.

“.••!”

It was a child.

With dark hair hanging low.

Bare as a newborn, and appearing almost skeletal from lack of nourishment.

Gu Huibi couldn’t help but be surprised upon seeing the child.

The identity of the being that awoke her instincts was this small child.

The tale the Demon Lord told about an entirely different existence was no longer significant to Gu Huibi.

What mattered was.

The child stood, hand raised with the purple flames flickering, gazing at Gu Huibi, revealing a face identical to someone she knew.

The child approached Gu Huibi, extending a hand towards her.

As Gu Huibi instinctively flinched back, the child uttered.

“Book.”

“What…?”

“Book.”

The child repeated that single phrase.

Only then did Gu Huibi notice that in the child’s grasp lay an old, worn book.

As Gu Huibi confronted the unexplainable being, someone arrived in the mist-covered Mudong Mountain Range.

“…It’s filthy and hard to see.”

A boy in a red martial robe with a fierce demeanor.

Gu Yangcheong grimaced as he looked out toward the dense mist covering the other side.

The fog was much thicker than he’d expected.

As Gu Yangcheong surveyed the mountains, he turned and shouted behind him.

“Ah, why did you insist on the left! It should be right, right?!”

“…”

“If you had listened to me, we would have arrived twice as fast. Got it?”

“…Sorry.”

The one who unexpectedly accompanied Gu Yangcheong, who should have been alone, was a striking beauty with blue and white hair.

“Still…. if we’d gone left, we might have been closer…”

“…I give up.”

Nangong Bi-ah.

 

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