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The black sight continued.

A pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen, creating a suffocating feeling.

As the suffocation turned to irritation, I felt my temper rising.

Crack.

A crack appeared in the black vision.

It was similar to the shape when the Master attacked the barrier of the Abyss.

The crack, gradually stretching like a spider web, filled my entire field of vision.

Before long, it shattered away and restored my sight.

Crack, crack!

Like crushing coals or breaking eggs, light seeped into every shattered place.

“Ugh…”

It was blinding. So bright that my eyes instinctively shut in discomfort.

“What the…?”

Barely managing to adjust my sight, I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and propped myself up.

As I tried to rise with one hand on the ground, a strange sensation hit me.

Looking down, I saw weeds.

Upon confirming this, my dulled senses quickly awakened.

The smell of grass all around.

The texture of the weeds on the ground.

The faint fragrance of the forest and the sounds of birds. Plus, the sunbeams descending from the sky.

The peaceful scene felt almost shocking.

“What the…?”

What was this situation?

I was suddenly in a forest. What in the world was happening?

‘Where is this again?’

I was clearly the Master of Mankye. I had faced my mother, just moments before my neck was about to be severed by her hands.

Yet when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a forest.

Moreover…

‘This doesn’t seem to be Mankye?’

It was an all-too-familiar forest. Not the strange-shaped trees and grasses from Mankye, but an ordinary forest with an ordinary atmosphere seen in the Central Plains.

‘Is this an illusion?’

Or a fleeting image.

There was a good chance of that. If not…

‘As my ancestor said, something happened.’

I recalled what my ancestor had said before my vision was enveloped in black.

‘Anticipation.’

This must be the preparation my mother made for me.

‘Was gathering the Divine Trees part of the plan?’

I had no idea.

An incomprehensible situation, but I couldn’t just stay still.

First, I needed to fully rise and scan the surroundings.

‘The body comes first.’

As I tried rolling my energy to check my physical condition…

‘…Huh?’

I felt something strange.

The things that had been filled were somewhat dulled.

There was a significant amount of energy missing.

Other energies seemed to remain the same, though…

‘The energies of the Divine Trees have disappeared.’

Of course, that which was called Divine Status had vanished.

‘…And, my condition seems to have changed a bit too.’

I could feel a difference in my body. I clenched my fists a few times to gauge it.

‘I’ve become weaker.’

It was clear that my body had weakened. Fortunately, the realm part remained unaffected.

Wooong.

‘The powers are still intact.’

The powers I owned in my body were still there.

‘…This is absurd.’

What kind of messy situation is this? Just as I was getting more curious, I sensed a presence.

Crackle!

“…!”

I felt a presence. I heightened my Qi Perception and immediately suppressed my presence to hide my body.

Before long…

“Is this the right place?”

“Yes. I was told it was around here.”

It was the voices of people.

Moreover…

‘Is that the language of the Central Plains?’

Not the language I had heard in Mankye, but the language I understood from the Central Plains. I opened my eyes wide to examine the approaching individuals.

‘Huh?’

Surprisingly, they were humans.

“…There’s nothing here.”

“No… I clearly heard someone collapsed around here…”

And not just any humans. Those clothes are…

‘Isn’t that Martial Alliance clothing?’

It was obvious from the unique colors and styles. Could it be that…

‘…I’m in the Central Plains?’

Does this mean I’ve suddenly returned to the Central Plains? I couldn’t comprehend it.

Cautiously observing the men, they continued to examine the place where I had collapsed.

“There’s nothing here.”

“…This is strange.”

“Probably someone reported something strange again. Ugh, I’ve been stressed lately with all the demon beasts around.”

The irritated man turned his back first.

“Let’s go. If we delay our return, we’ll be the ones in trouble.”

“But Senior…”

“Let’s just go back quickly. Did you forget what event is happening today? What do you think will happen if the Deputy Lord finds out?”

“…Understood.”

The subordinate, seemingly reluctant, glanced back at me, but before long, the two of them left.

“…”

After sensing the two’s presence had completely disappeared, I pulled my hidden body out.

“What the hell is this?”

What kind of ridiculous situation is this?

I suddenly returned to the Central Plains?

‘Then what about Mankye?’

What would happen to everything in Mankye?

‘The Heavenly Demon and Shin Noya… not to mention the Divine Sword situation.’

Am I just returning like this?

I grimaced.

‘It can’t be.’

That wouldn’t happen. There’s no way things would resolve like this all of a sudden.

So I thought.

Rolling my eyes, I glanced at one side.

The location where the men had just exited.

‘Given this, for now…’

I need to clarify what exactly happened.

That seemed to be the priority of what I needed to do now.

*

I exited the forest. Although I said I had weakened, it didn’t matter much since I had still reached transcendence, so leaving was not hard.

As I moved with the presence, I soon realized there was a city in the distance.

And seeing that, I recognized my location.

‘Hanam.’

The space where I once was.

This was the district of Hanam, where the Main Sect existed.

With this, I could tell that this place was indeed the Central Plains, but…

‘Something feels off?’

As I stepped into the district and surveyed my surroundings, I noticed significant differences.

‘The buildings are completely different.’

It was indeed the district I knew, but it was far too different.

The district had once been ruined by an attack from the Zhuge clan. They had thoroughly cleaned it up and rebuilt it, so it had been a long time since everything had changed.

‘This is…’

This was an old version of the district. In fact, it was filled with buildings that looked even older than that.

“Hey! Try this!”

“Just hang around and take a look!”

The atmosphere was different too.

The original district of Hanam was famous for its hustle and bustle, but this was even more peaceful.

Too many things were different from what I knew.

‘…Is this perhaps?’

Just like my old senior said, could I have come to a different world line?

There was a high possibility. If this place was entirely different from what I knew, it would be more appropriate to view it as an unknown Central Plains.

‘What on earth am I supposed to do now?’

If that’s the case, what should I do here?

‘My mother said something about preparation.’

Does that mean I need to gain something from another place? I frowned at the utter uncertainty.

‘Sigh.’

As I casually glanced around…

‘Hm?’

A fragrant scent brushed past my nose.

‘Oh, this is…’

I opened my eyes wide. It was an all-too-familiar smell.

Turning my head, I noticed an inn.

‘Huh.’

The inn was a place I knew well. It was where I often visited back in the old Central Plains, praised for its excellent dumplings.

“Is this place also here?”

Could this inn exist in a different world line?

Even amidst this chaotic scenario, I felt a wave of nostalgia.

Is that why? My steps moved as if enchanted, heading toward the inn.

I wasn’t really hungry. I wasn’t possessed by a ravenous hunger, and in such a situation, it was unlikely I would be starving.

Yet, I found myself drawn there, truly because of that familiarity.

“Oh! Junior, welcome!”

As soon as I reached the entrance, Jeomsosoi greeted me with a bright smile.

Before I knew it, I was guided to a table and took a seat.

Before long, Jeomsosoi came back and asked.

“What can I get for you?”

“…Do you have dumplings?”

“Oh, of course! Our inn’s most popular food is dumplings!”

“Then I’ll have one, please.”

“I’ll bring it right away!”

With a cheerful smile, Jeomsosoi dashed off to get the dumplings.

Sitting there dazed, I turned my thoughts inward.

‘What is going on?’

Am I just a fool?

I just walked in to eat dumplings all of a sudden? While it was instinctive, it was an unfathomable act, even to myself.

‘…Is this right?’

It can’t be. No matter how I thought about it, this wasn’t it.

There’s too much to understand, and this isn’t the time to be eating dumplings!

Just as I was about to snap out of it and immediately rise as if to act…

“I heard that Shin Ryong has become the Deputy Lord now.”

“Oh. You mean Shin Ryong?”

I froze.

The voice coming from the inn stopped me in my tracks.

‘Shin Ryong?’

That nickname sounded all too unfamiliar.

If it’s Shin Ryong…

‘Did that guy become the Deputy Lord?’

The Shin Ryong from Shaolin. It seemed like he was indeed someone to listen to more closely.

Even if the world line is different, it remained a story about someone I recognized.

“That’s right! They say he’s the youngest Deputy Lord.”

“Haha, not only did he join the Blue Dragon Clan at that age, but now he’s the Deputy Lord too. At this rate, will he become the Great Lord later?”

“Who knows, it could happen.”

The Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon Clan?

That was slightly strange.

‘Why did that guy go there?’

If it’s Shin Ryong, he should naturally belong to the Divine Dragon Clan, but he went to the Blue Dragon Clan instead?

From what I’ve heard, it seems the Divine Dragon Clan does exist here.

‘Is there none of that here?’

Seeing as it’s a different world, it was possible, so I tried to think simply.

“That would indeed be a miracle. An outstanding talent emerging from a relatively unknown place.”

“…?”

That was even stranger.

If Gu Paibang isn’t famous, then what is considered famous?

“Not famous? By that standard, it’s quite well-known.”

Fortunately, another person spoke up, as if they didn’t get it either.

“Isn’t that a considerable position in the Mount Shan Clan?”

‘Huh…?’

As soon as I heard that, I stared at the man.

…What did he just say?

 

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