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The Red Demon Gate turned white. The color of the Demon Gate that existed on the hill had changed. No, it had already changed.

While everyone was panicking at the sight of it.

“Great Lord!”

Nangong Jeohwi immediately called out to someone.

At the shout, a man nearby came running in a flurry.

“Lord Changcheon. What on earth is going on?”

The representative sword team of the Nangong Clan, the Changcheon Sword Team. Their Great Lord, Cheon Il-hon, hastily knelt down.

“…My apologies. I will urgently assess the situation.”

“Assess? You mean this wasn’t there when you were guarding yesterday?”

Since the Demon Gate existed on the hill, the martial artists of the Nangong Clan had already set up camp and were on guard.

So if there was a change, it should have been reported immediately.

“…Yes. It was definitely maintaining a red hue until just now.”

At best, it was only a short while ago. Meaning, something happened in that brief time.

‘What’s going on?’

Of course, everyone else was panicking, and even I, who was watching, was stunned. What is that?

‘A white gate?’

I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

I’ve never even heard of such a thing. A white Demon Gate?

‘Of all times…’

According to the records of the Central Plains, there is no record of a white Demon Gate erupting except during the Blood Demon War.

Even during my active years, the Red Demon Gate was the end of it. I’ve seen white demon beasts, but…

‘I’ve never seen a white Demon Gate.’

There had never been an occurrence of a Demon Gate itself. And now, the Great Demon Gate has turned white?

This means.

‘White demon beasts could appear.’

The fact that the Demon Gate’s grade has turned white means that white demon beasts could burst out from within.

‘Damn it.’

I bit my lip. The Red Demon Gate was already a problem, but now the Great Demon Gate has turned white?

‘Is this my fault too?’

It must be. Most of the anomalies that have occurred in this era are probably my fault. The problem is.

‘Why on earth…’

Why has the situation changed so drastically? What is this white Demon Gate?

‘I’ve never experienced anything like this.’

What, did the difficulty level just skyrocket like this?

I could feel the people around me getting restless.

“…White, you say?”

“Not red, but white. White means… could it be that white demon beasts are coming out?”

“How…! Why now of all times…!”

Anxiety swept over everyone. Shadows were cast over their faces. It was understandable. Even the Red Demon Gate had made them tense and fearful.

But now, it’s white.

“Damn it… How are we supposed to-!”

“This is… this is…”

Just as everyone was engulfed in chaos.

“Gah-!!!”

Whoooosh-!!!

A tremendous sound and a gust of wind swept through. The wind brushed past in all directions.

The sudden gust carried a faint heat.

It was a wind pressure emitted by energy. And the owner of this wind pressure was none other than.

‘Father?’

It was Father.

Father, with his robe fluttering, had emitted his energy.

“Calm down.”

With a heavy voice, he instantly subdued the surroundings.

After taking control of the situation with his words, he glanced around with a flash of red light in his eyes.

Then, he looked at Nangong Jeohwi. Even Nangong Jeohwi seemed to flinch under Father’s gaze.

“Ah…”

He was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure and spoke.

“…We will assess the situation. Everyone, do not panic and follow orders. Great Lords, carry out your respective duties.”

“Understood!”

Immediately, formations were created, and camps were set up around. After all, this was a renowned Great House, not a gathering of amateurs. Even in their anxiety, everyone moved swiftly.

Not long after, several barracks were erected, and personnel were deployed accordingly.

Given that the terrain was a mountain peak, not many people had come up.

The remaining personnel were probably stationed around the mountain, waiting for future battles.

Shortly after gathering, Nangong Jeohwi summoned the personnel.

“Deputy Lord Cheongryong.”

“Yes.”

In response to Nangong Jeohwi’s question, Father answered.

“…What do you think of this situation?”

As Nangong Jeohwi asked with a sigh, Father maintained an expressionless face.

“It seems the White Demon Gate has erupted.”

“…”

He stated the reality without any hesitation.

At his words, everyone in the barracks—Clan Leaders, Great Lords, and even us—had worry etched on their faces.

“…White, you say? Truly…”

Nangong Jeohwi spoke with a troubled tone, and So-i, standing beside him, frowned slightly and said.

“Wasn’t it said that it hasn’t appeared since the Blood Demon War…? Why now?”

“Given that the Red Demon Gate has already appeared, it’s not strange for the White one to appear now.”

“…”

Father cut off So-i’s words immediately. That’s right. We had already confirmed the Red Demon Gate earlier.

So why would it be strange for the White one to appear here? It’s just that a calamity has occurred.

“The important thing is how we handle it. If a White Demon Beast truly emerges from within, no one knows what will happen.”

Red Demon Beasts were the size of houses and possessed power incomparable to Blue Demon Beasts.

Moreover, they were known to have the ability to summon lower-tier demon beasts.

And that fact had been proven in Hanam.

If so.

“Does that mean the White Demon Beast could be… as the records say?”

The White Demon Beast was literally referred to as a calamity.

A being whose mere existence could affect the surrounding natural world.

Turning midwinter into summer.

Or creating a vast river on dry land where there was nothing.

That was the White Demon Beast known in the Central Plains.

Of course.

‘They’re not wrong.’

From my own experience, I knew their words were true.

“Then, with our current forces, we have a problem, don’t we? Shouldn’t we call for reinforcements…?”

“Calling for reinforcements is the right thing to do, but I’m not sure if it will help.”

“…”

So-i closed her mouth. Because that statement was also true.

If a White Demon Beast truly appears as the records say…

If it’s like the truth.

“Martial Artists below the Peak Realm are pretty much useless.”

They just throw their lives away like dust.

No one speaks. They haven’t experienced it, but since they’ve encountered the Red Demon Beast, they all know the severity of the situation.

“Clan Leader Nangong.”

At that moment. Father called Nangong Jeohwi, and he looked at Father with trembling eyes.

“Can we ask the Heavenly Lord one more time?”

“…You mean Father?”

“Yes.”

It’s not a Red Demon Beast, but a White Demon Beast.

At this point, the Heavenly Lord’s power was needed.

“This isn’t just a problem for the Nangong Clan, but it could become a crisis for the entire Anhui Province.”

“……”

Even after Father’s words, Nangong Jeohwi hesitates, biting his lip.

‘What the hell.’

Even in this situation, he’s reluctant to speak? What kind of messed-up situation is this?

“Clan Leader.”

Father frowned and spoke again, and Nangong Jeohwi clenched his teeth tightly.

“…I’ll send a letter immediately.”

Perhaps realizing there was no other way, he prepared to send a letter again.

‘Well, at least that’s something.’

I was worried they might take the White Demon Beast lightly, but since they’re knowledgeable, their reactions were clear.

‘The problem is…’

Even so, there’s still an issue with our combat strength.

‘If the Heavenly Lord comes, it might be fine, but…’

That’s assuming the Heavenly Lord is in a state where the Evil Spirit is released. The current Heavenly Lord likely can’t unleash the same power as before.

‘Hmm…’

In this case.

‘Should I step up?’

While pondering, tapping my waist with my fingers.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“…Yes?”

Father suddenly called me. Startled, I responded, and a pair of red eyes approached me.

“Do you know something?”

“Uh…?”

I was caught off guard. Do I know something? Suddenly?

“Well… I’m not sure. This is my first time experiencing something like this.”

What was he getting at? I answered nervously, and Father nodded.

“I see. Understood.”

And he didn’t ask again.

‘What’s going on?’

What was that reaction? I couldn’t understand.

Did he think I knew something? How?

I got goosebumps. What? Did Father sense something from me?

Just as I was about to say something about it.

“Over there–.”

“Clan Leader–!!”

Someone rushed into the barracks.

“The Demonic Gate is acting strange!”

“What?”

Another incident just happened.

A real messed-up situation.

* * *

“Move carefully!”

Countless people hurriedly took to the road. Horse carriages and heavily loaded carts lined up and began moving.

The crowd was so dense. It was like a mountain of people.

Everyone was moving toward evacuation.

The destination was the Martial Alliance branch near Anhui Province.

The faces of those suddenly forced to evacuate were filled with anxiety and fear.

Among them.

“Keep your veil on. Don’t take it off, even if it’s stuffy.”

“Got it!”

Mi Hyo-ran spoke to the woman beside her.

A silver-haired woman smiled brightly and adjusted her veil. Mi Hyo-ran, seeing her cheerful appearance, almost let out a sigh.

“Do you want one of these too?”

The beautiful woman next to her.

Hyun So-yeon handed a rice cake to the smiling woman.

“Yes, please!”

“Hahaha.”

Hyun So-yeon laughed, finding her reaction cute. Mi Hyo-ran frowned at the sight.

‘What’s so funny?’

How can you laugh in this situation? It’s ridiculous.

‘Sigh.’

How did I end up like this? And now I’m doing this again.

I feel so pathetic, it’s almost laughable.

‘This is all…’

Because of that jerk.

That selfish, rotten guy. Because of him, I even cried.

I’ve never been this embarrassed.

And even.

‘You’re doing this again because he told you to?’

Even taking care of other women because he asked.

It’s just so absurd.

“Sigh…”

Mi Hyo-ran let out a deep sigh and reached out her hand. Even though she was annoyed, she had to do what needed to be done.

“What are you doing? Hurry up…”

Just as she was about to grab the woman who might run off anywhere.

“…Huh?”

Mi Hyo-ran paused, looking at the woman.

Because she was staring intently behind her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Over there.”

In response to the question, the woman pointed somewhere with her finger. A massive mountain in the distance. Probably where he was right now.

“What about there? That’s…”

At that moment.

Kwaaaaaaa—!!!

“—!!!”

“Eeek!”

“Ugh!”

The ground shook violently, and an earthquake erupted.

“What the–!!”

Mi Hyo-ran was startled and quickly adjusted her stance.

At the same time, she tried to move to protect the woman.

“Huh…?”

But Mi Hyo-ran froze, staring at the mountain in the distance.

“What is that…?”

Right above the mountain.

A strange phenomenon was occurring.

“The clouds…”

The clouds in the sky were swirling together in a vortex.

It was eerily bizarre.

 

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