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**

My exhausted body swayed. As I closed my eyes due to lack of sleep, it felt like I could faint at any moment.

But I held on. I took deep breaths and checked on Yeon Guang’s condition.

Just after hearing that it wasn’t too late, his body had completely relaxed. The body that had worked hard against the wind suddenly collapsed to the ground.

I supported his body. After slowly laying him down, I began to unpack our gear.

“Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine, Seonbaenim.”

Goon Cheon-gyeong handed me something. A colorless, transparent liquid.

“First, the mountain poison…!”

Is this an antidote?

I tore it open and swallowed it. After tossing it into my mouth, I wiped the corners of my lips.

I felt somewhat queasy. However, I could sense Cheongeop reacting immediately.

But it was not a welcoming reaction. Instead, it seemed to absorb everything, as if it intended to devour this too.

Like…

As if it had been managing just fine on its own, why was I butting in?

Cheongeop rebelled vigorously. The mountain poison and the antidote mixed together inside me. It was an odd sensation, like my stomach acid was flowing back up.

I clasped my mouth shut. Goon Cheon-gyeong supported me.

“Are you okay?! What the hell?! What kind of bandage is this?! Get back right now…!”

“I’m… fine… Seonbaenim.”

I took a breath. I focused on my body to shake off the nauseating sensation.

Cheongeop, which had been rampaging wildly, was now starting to settle down little by little. After begrudgingly swallowing the antidote, it quickly began breaking down the mountain poison I had just ingested.

The poison gas. The energy, now broken down into a form of mastery, naturally mixed into the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique.

Ironically, the dreadful poison had transformed into my inner energy.

The remaining useless energy crawled up with my saliva. Since the amount was small, I turned my head to spit out the remaining poison.

The Leader of the Fokma Clan looked at me with interest.

“You’re quick. Do you have knowledge of poison?”

“I just circulated the antidote quickly.”

“Even so, that’s too fast. How are your wounds? Can you walk?”

“I can walk.”

The wound was wrapped up in a bandage, barely visible. But I could feel Cheongeop awakening again and quickly regenerating.

The damaged body was soon restored. After exhaling a sigh filled with accumulated pain, I sat next to Yeon Guang.

“…May I rest for a moment?”

The Leader of the Fokma Clan smiled.

“After all, our departure is in the morning. You can rest well until the sun rises…”

“That’s absurd! Leader-nim!”

Someone shouted. I turned my head.

There was someone glaring at us with fiery eyes.

Jin Wi-lyang.

He was spitting like he was frothing at the mouth.

“You must have used some strange trick! These people can’t possibly qualify! You want to carry those who were barely crawling? This is simply nonsensical…!”

“Weren’t you the one making noise? Jin Wi-lyang. If you meet the time, I’ll acknowledge their qualifications.”

“Y-yeah, but…!”

“Shut your mouth.”

Na So-wan, the Leader of the Fokma Clan, bared his teeth.

“Are you the responsible leader of this tour group? Don’t spout nonsense. If you’re part of this group, act like it. You keep crawling endlessly. Not only are you picking fights, but now you want to challenge my decision?”

“Th-that’s not the point…”

“They followed us using their own methods. Do you see them as having used sorcery? Does that pitiful collection of rags, who clearly didn’t even get a nap, appear amusing to you? Moreover, considering your absurd arguments, they even fed the mountain poison to that Fokma member.”

“…….”

“I listened to everything you wanted, but now you come late and refuse to acknowledge it? Jin Wi-lyang. My patience has limits. If you don’t want your mouth torn apart, back off.”

“…Ha! That’s a valid point! Are you intending to defy the will of the Manma Sect…?”

“Were you someone that could manipulate the Manma Sect as you please?”

Na So-wan’s hand turned black. Proving the nickname Hak Su Gwi, dark energy flickered at his fingertips.

“At most, a late-stage master. Handling you would be trivial for me. Above all, you seem to be under a misconception. The reason I listened to you is not because I was intimidated, but because I could understand it to a certain extent. Does the position of the Leader of the Fokma Clan seem trivial to you? Stay quietly against the wall. Before I throw you down that mountain.”

“……!”

Jin Wi-lyang glared at him. But he retreated without any further reply.

A chilling gaze brushed past me and Yeon Guang. As if to hold him accountable for collapsing his own pride in front of everyone, he even placed a hand on the sword hilt.

However, a feeble resistance was subdued by Na So-wan’s heavy voice whispering softly.

“I told you to get lost.”

“…Yes.”

No matter how high-ranking a late-stage master was, it was impossible to win against the Leader of the Fokma Clan.

Jin Wi-lyang backed down. The late-stage masters of the Manma Sect, who had been fidgeting behind him, followed suit.

The eyes gathered in one corner of the wall, looking this way, were not ordinary. Just in case, I pulled out my sword from its sheath and held it close.

I was sleepy.

It felt like I could collapse any moment.

“Come here, junior. Use this as a mat to sleep on. You won’t be able to sleep long, but it will reduce the fatigue somewhat.”

I did not refuse Goon Cheon-gyeong’s kindness in offering his sleeping bag.

I just buried it deep within my heart, thinking I would pay him back next time in some form.

“Seonbaenim.”

“What?”

“Water. I drank well thanks to you. I was able to get this far. Thank you.”

“…You little.”

Goon Cheon-gyeong smiled slyly.

“Are your wounds okay? Do you need me to apply some medicinal powder? It seems like we should change the bandage.”

“I’m fine, Seonbaenim. I just replaced all the bandages and medicine recently, so I think I won’t need to change them for a while.”

“…You aren’t going to die in your sleep, are you?”

“There’s no way that would happen.”

I lay down in the sleeping bag. The moment I closed my eyes, drowsiness washed over me.

Proper sleep after a long time.

My consciousness fell into darkness in an instant.

. . .

When morning came, my body felt incredibly light. The poison’s energy had completely dissipated, and my control over my internal energy had become free again.

Not only that. It seemed that what happened last night was not a delusion; the energy of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique accumulated in my dantian had visibly increased by about 10%.

Should I say that the poison, after pushing through the pain, had been beneficial instead?

Yeon Guang, who had slept deeply, stumbled but followed us again. His feet were scraped, and he was suffering from muscle pain, but with the finish line in sight, he gritted his teeth and chased after us.

“Mu…sahnim.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s not rude… um…”

He cautiously asked me.

“Can I call you hyung?”

“…What did you just say?”

“Uh, is that not okay?”

The pleading look in his eyes made me sigh.

Calling me “hyung” just like that. What the…

“You little brat.”

Suddenly, Smaak from the Sma Clan came to mind. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of our relationship.

…It wouldn’t be a problem. Didn’t I think he looked pretty cool while gazing at Yeon Guang’s back?

He was a similar type to me.

Even if I disregarded the slight shrinking from earlier.

“What’s your age?”

“I’m, um, twenty-four.”

“I’m older than you. Feel free to call me that.”

“Th-then… You can speak casually…”

“Speak casually, you say.”

I thought about it for a moment but realized I hadn’t spoken casually recently.

Not to Baekmae, not to Ilma, not to Eun Seol-ran, not to Cheonma, nor to Smaak…

I hadn’t spoken casually to any of them, had I?

The only times I had spoken casually were when facing my enemies. But since that wasn’t entirely wrong, I stumbled over my voice.

It was awkward, but I endured.

“…Is that alright?”

“…….!”

Yeon Guang smiled.

“Hyung! If you ever need anything, please let me know anytime!”

“I told you to be cautious. The Fokma Clan tour hasn’t ended yet. Until then, don’t use that title for me; it could cause unnecessary trouble.”

“Trouble? What do you mean…”

“There’s that guy in front of you who’s itching to eat you up.”

I pointed at the suddenly quiet Jin Wi-lyang.

“Let’s not give him a chance to catch us. Until this tour ends.”

“…As expected. Hyung!”

“Title.”

“Mu, Mu-sanim…”

The large, simple-minded bear-like figure shrank back.

The Leader of the Fokma Clan, who had been walking ahead, came to a halt.

“We’ve arrived.”

Before us was the first properly flat terrain after what seemed like an endless difficult journey.

What lay ahead was an inexplicable mist. Alongside it, an incongruous refreshing forest and river existed.

A strangely structured place, deviating from the natural order itself.

The boundary line of the clouds and fog was distinct, as if a line had been drawn erasing only parts of the terrain.

This must be… a formation.

Utilizing the flows of heaven and earth, they altered the space itself.

Aside from that which I had briefly glimpsed through the back door of the inn, this was my first proper look at a formation.

I couldn’t see beyond the mist. Even with my inner energy in my eyes, I couldn’t penetrate through.

A late-stage master reached out his hand. Na So-wan grabbed him by the nape of his neck.

“Don’t act on your own. Unless you want to die.”

“Y-yes…!”

“The bodyguards will wait here. The Fokma members will also…”

As Na So-wan was speaking, his eyebrows twitched.

He examined the formation.

“…Goon Cheon-gyeong.”

“Yes?”

“Under the right rock, the entrance to Fengma Cave is hidden. Bring it.”

After Goon Cheon-gyeong moved the rock, he returned holding a book.

The Leader of the Fokma Clan examined the entrance.

“Aside from the regular supply lines… there’s nothing. Not a single person. This is a place where no one should have come, so why…?”

Na So-wan covered the entrance.

“There are signs of intrusion, right?”

. . .

Na So-wan said.

“Someone has forcibly attempted to open the entrance of Fengma Cave. This is a state of emergency. Excluding the intruder is the priority. Everyone, stay here.”

“Y-yes?! But if we do that…!”

“I won’t accept any objections. Stay quiet until I return after checking inside.”

“But wouldn’t coming all the way here turn out to be in vain?”

The one who spoke up again was Jin Wi-lyang. Right after the incident the night before, he had kept glaring at the Leader of the Fokma Clan, and now he was speaking smugly.

“If there’s an intruder, shouldn’t we catch them ourselves? Including the bodyguards, isn’t there an elite force of 45 here? What are we afraid of that we need to wait?”

“Jin Wi-lyang. Shut up. You wouldn’t understand. The inside of that formation is no joke. It’s an area that no one can casually pass through.”

Na So-wan’s eyes grew cold.

“If you act all high and mighty one more time, I’ll throw you down there without warning. You’ll fly for a while. If you don’t want your miserable body to be smashed, don’t speak out.”

“…….”

Jin Wi-lyang gritted his teeth and sat back down. Na So-wan tightened his outer garment and stepped toward the formation.

“I will punish anyone who follows without permission. No matter what lies ahead, you won’t be able to stop me. Don’t make any sudden moves. Absolutely.”

“…….”

Na So-wan’s figure quickly vanished into the mist.

Goon Cheon-gyeong immediately stood up and began to set up a temporary campsite on the flat land.

“Junior. Sit tight. Don’t move for no reason.”

“I’m fine, Seonbaenim. I’ll help.”

“You really don’t know when to quit.”

I placed my hands on the campsite. By working diligently, I was able to create several tents that looked decent enough in less than half a day.

That’s all we needed to do for now. But Jin Wi-lyang suddenly opened his mouth.

“It seems the Leader hasn’t returned. Shouldn’t a few of us check inside?”

“…….?”

“Aren’t we in a state where someone needs to assist the Leader if he’s in any danger? If we just waste time like this, we could miss out on an opportunity to act.”

His sudden nonsense.

But no one stepped up. Everyone was just watching the room.

Knowing that there were late-stage masters of the Manma Sect behind him, I chose silence instead of stepping forward.

Goon Cheon-gyeong cautiously spoke up.

“Jin Gongja. So what do you propose?”

“It’s simple. If everyone moves, it could be dangerous; thus, only a few should enter.”

“The Leader made it clear that no one should enter.”

“But if we just sit here doing nothing, what if something happens to the Leader? That would be quite peculiar, wouldn’t it? The Leader wouldn’t be overly angry at those who followed out of concern for him. Surely, he wouldn’t easily dismiss them. Someone should go in. Isn’t it better than just sitting idly here?”

“No, then who would…”

“There are two who have just been recognized by the Leader, aren’t there? They would certainly…”

Jin Wi-lyang grinned.

“Surely, the two of them would do well.”

“……”

It was obvious who he was pointing at. Me and Yeon Guang.

Unable to endure his blatant scheming any longer, I gripped my sword. If anyone was going to die in there, it would be the exhausted Yeon Guang, not me.

It was no different than pushing him to his death, so I wanted to step up for him.

But someone else stood up before me.

“…I really can’t overlook this any longer.”

A sudden sharp energy, dark and potent, burst forth. A sharp voice whispered as if to strike a dagger into the ground.

“Enough. Jin Wi-lyang. There is a limit to how patient one can be.”

Eun Seol-ran.

She stood up. Several late-stage masters gasped at the swaying energy.

“What’s this terrifying…?!”

“Kuh… I can’t breathe…”

It was overwhelming energy. It felt as if Sma had piled every good elixir onto her; the amount of pure mastery was utterly staggering.

Her appearance was entirely different from the last time I saw her. The pinnacle of that strength was slightly obscured, causing beads of cold sweat to form.

Time is fair to everyone… or so they said.

She must have walked her own path just as I had mine.

Like flying through the sky.

“…What… is this?!”

Even Jin Wi-lyang was sweating coldly, retreating. He looked at the disciple of Sma in disbelief and turned away as if giving up.

“Lower your energy… Lady So…!”

“…Hmph.”

Eun Seol-ran turned her head. The threatening energy that filled the surroundings disappeared in an instant.

Jin Wi-lyang exhaled a sigh. But in that moment, as if he wouldn’t give up, his hand shot out like lightning.

He targeted Yeon Guang.

More specifically, the sword that he was holding.

Yeon Guang’s hand, having reacted belatedly, tried to clutch the sword. But a vastly superior hand snatched it away first.

“What a foot…!”

Pretending to fall clumsily, the stolen sword from Yeon Guang rose. The sword that he had deliberately dropped rolled past his hand and fell into the formation.

For a moment, silence fell. Everyone turned to face the direction of the formation upon hearing the strange sound.

The distorted space was writhing. The entire mist was trembling, as if the boundary of the endlessly rolling mist were about to collapse.

Jin Wi-lyang’s expression changed. His smirk turned to a rigid face. He slowly drew back his foot, filled with inner energy.

I too gripped my half-drawn sword, trying to prepare for the unknown.

But even more…

—Wooosh!!!

The mist burst forth even faster.

“What?!”

The fog and clouds swept past me. I tried to slash with my drawn sword, but it was useless.

My feet left the ground. My body was swiftly pulled in.

When I finally opened my eyes…

Everything had already changed.

 

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