Please, don’t cause any trouble, Gu Bong’s desperate plea was ironically met with me naturally clenching my fists.

What the hell? What’s with that look?

‘Making me feel like crap, huh?’

My blood was boiling. Should I just rip his eyeballs out? Or maybe crush his face so he can’t make that expression again?

While I was contemplating that—

“What’s up? Got business here?”

The Gatekeeper frowned at me.

“Don’t like your expression.”

This little punk?

“If I don’t like it, what can I do…?”

“Didn’t you say the situation was urgent? Hurry it up!”

Just as I was about to charge, Gu Bong came and grabbed my wrist.

At the same time, he smiled slightly at the Gatekeeper and said, “I apologize. It seems the priest isn’t well today.”

“Priest? Who are you calling a priest—!”

“Get the priest here quickly.”

After that, he dragged me away.

Honestly, I could have easily shaken him off if I wanted, but I held back for now.

Then, like before, I heard a whisper near my ear.

“Those Hwasan bastards are so cocky. Tsk.”

Hearing that made me scowl.

This is definitely—

‘Seems like there’s something going on.’

It felt like something I didn’t know about was lurking just out of sight.

I was pulled inside by Gu Bong.

Once inside, it appeared there were way more people.

Could I really call this a crowd? I pondered for a moment, but I couldn’t find another word for it.

‘Anyway, there are a hell of a lot of living beings.’

If I had to compare it, it felt a bit like Hanam during a festival?

The bustling atmosphere was quite similar.

In other words, it was an incredibly uncomfortable and burdensome vibe.

After bumping through the crowd for a while, I exerted some strength to free my wrist.

“Let go.”

Thud-!

I forcibly broke free and twisted my wrist lightly.

As if loosening something that was slightly stiff, I spun my wrist while speaking to Gu Bong.

“Explain. What was that earlier?”

“…”

Gu Bong was making a displeased face at my question. He seemed to find it awkward to explain.

But—

“Not talking? Should I throw a tantrum?”

I wasn’t one to easily let this go.

“…Ugh…!”

Gu Bong flinched as if he was in trouble. He should know by now.

That I’m someone who does what he says.

Knowing that, Gu Bong, who had hesitated, finally sighed and opened his mouth.

“…Hwasan doesn’t have a very good standing outside.”

Not a good standing, huh? I made a strange face at that.

It was a prompt for him to explain more in detail.

“I’m not sure where the Noble Person comes from, but very few places in current Mankye see Hwasan positively. It might not exist at all.”

“Why is that?”

“…You truly don’t know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know! Why else would I ask?”

As I spat that out, I thought in my heart.

Ah, Shin Noya didn’t properly explain about me, huh?

That means—

‘Either he forgot to explain… or he intentionally didn’t want to explain. Or…’

Or it’s something that shouldn’t be explained.

It must be one of those three. From my perspective, the last reason seemed the most likely.

‘But you didn’t even explain that to me?’

What am I supposed to infer on my own?

I was genuinely taken aback. This really was an insane old man.

While I was inside my head, cursing Shin Noya—

“…A country can only exist with the master’s permission.”

Gu Bong started elaborating.

“Permission, you say?”

“Indeed. This Yawolgung could only be referred to as a palace because of the Master of Mankye’s permission.”

A country needs the master’s permission to exist as a true country.

‘So does that mean the master has more authority than the citizens? Or…’

What is needed is something even more complicated?

“But does that mean Hwasan Sect is not included?”

“. …Correct.”

“Why not?”

“…”

Why is Hwasan Sect different? When I asked in curiosity—

“…”

Gu Bong just stared at me for a while before speaking with a slightly stiff face.

“I can’t divulge that much.”

“What? You’ve been chatting until now, and suddenly you won’t?”

“It’s because the Noble Person isn’t a member of Hwasan Sect.”

“…!”

That definitive tone left me no choice but to close my mouth.

It wasn’t just a firm tone; his gaze and the conviction in his voice were unyielding.

“No matter how much of a guest the Noble Person is, as part of Hwasan Sect, there are things we cannot reveal to outsiders.”

“What if I say I’ll hit you if you don’t tell me?”

“Whether my neck is snapped or my heart is ripped out, this remains the same.”

“Hmm.”

I nodded at such a staunch remark. That was sincere.

Of course, my threat was sincere as well.

“Well then.”

Sure, I was curious, but I didn’t dig any deeper. Even if I did, they wouldn’t tell me anyway; I understood Gu Bong’s words.

‘Surely.’

I am an outsider.

I don’t know anything about the Hwasan Shin Noya spent over a hundred years building.

Even if I feel a sense of kinship and emotion toward Noya, it’s likely vastly different from what Gu Bong or the people of Hwasan feel.

This part was something I couldn’t dig into.

‘Moreover.’

Even if I don’t know now,

‘I feel like I’ll find out soon enough.’

Information can be found at any time. The reason I’m certain is simple.

‘Noya told me to figure it out on my own.’

The fact that that old man sent me here means I’ll know without having to search for it.

He probably thought it’d be easier this way.

“…”

Gu Bong seemed puzzled as I gave up without saying much. But for me, that was more than enough.

With a quickly lost interest, I asked Gu Bong.

“So, where to next?”

“…Follow me.”

He started guiding me again, and Heavenly Demon and I entered further into Yawolgung.

As we moved, I looked around.

The throng of people mostly consisted of those with Beast’s Ear or Tail.

Of course, there was a ratio among them.

How close they are to beast-like or how close they are to human. I suppose that’s the difference?

‘Interesting.’

Their outward appearance aside, the way they moved and the atmosphere were not all that different from the Central Plains.

Just like the streets created by Noya.

This place was also brimming with heat and vitality.

‘The buildings look a bit different, though.’

The buildings lining the streets were different in size and shape, and I’d never seen anything like them before.

Looking at this, I could definitely tell it was a different world.

‘…A different dimension, huh.’

That was something I hadn’t considered until now. This place truly is somewhere else.

The unfamiliar air, the sky, and the appearance of living beings.

Finally, it hit me more profoundly.

So now I had a question that came to mind.

‘How are we communicating?’

How does language work here? It was something I had never thought of before.

Even though it’s a different world, we can still converse…?

This was puzzling, but I didn’t think too deeply about it.

If it works, it works. That was my feeling.

We passed through the crowd and entered an alley.

There were significantly fewer people here than before.

Accordingly, the atmosphere changed abruptly.

‘Hmm.’

Unlike the bright street just a moment ago, a dark and damp vibe was rising.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like we were heading toward any normal space.

We walked for quite a while.

Eventually, an old-looking building appeared. Although it had cracks here and there, it seemed to be maintained better than the surrounding buildings.

“…Is our destination really here?”

“Indeed.”

I thought it was unlikely, but it turned out to be the case. What the heck is this?

I stared at the building with a puzzled expression when Gu Bong opened the door and stepped inside.

Creeeak-!

As the door creaked open, its old sounds echoed.

At that moment.

Whoooosh-!

‘Oh.’

The moment the door opened, I felt a presence inside. I opened my eyes wide at that feeling.

‘What is this?’

Until just now, I hadn’t felt any presence, but now with the door open, I sensed it.

‘It doesn’t seem like a formation. Is it sorcery as well?’

It started as an assumption, but gradually, I became more certain.

Could it be that I’m finally beginning to understand the subtle differences between formations and sorcery? The moment I witnessed the Turtle’s power, something clicked.

As I entered through the open door, I saw four people, just as I felt earlier.

As soon as they saw Gu Bong, their eyes widened in surprise and they bowed.

“Gu Bong Teacher…!”

“How have you been?”

Gu Bong greeted them with a smile. From their titles, they seemed to be the second generation disciples.

While they were exchanging greetings, they turned their gazes to us behind Gu Bong.

“Um, Teacher…. Who are these people?”

Hearing the question, Gu Bong smiled awkwardly.

“They are guests who came to help us today. They are Noble Persons of the main text, so show them respect.”

Upon hearing that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Funny, coming from someone who has the worst manners, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Ahem,”

Maybe Gu Bong heard our exchange, as he coughed lightly.

“Teacher…. About that face, what happened…. Ah, did Seol-Young hit you again…?”

“It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry about it.”

Since Seol-Young’s name came up, it seemed he often gets hit by her.

How interesting.

‘Gu Bong seems stronger than Seol-Young, though.’

But considering that righteous and fiery temperament, he might very well deserve it.

“Let’s skip this topic for now. Is everything ready?”

Gu Bong, making an effort to change the subject, brought up the matter at hand.

After all, the main topic wasn’t idle chit-chat, but the procurement of food supplies.

As soon as he brought that up, the expressions of the second-generation disciples suddenly changed.

After confirming their faces, Gu Bong immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Well, it seems….”

“Speak quickly.”

Under Gu Bong’s urging, one of the disciples spoke.

“Well… it seems there’s been a problem with the White Family during the purchasing process.”

“What…?”

Upon hearing the disciple’s reply, Gu Bong’s expression twisted in distress.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Currently, there’s been a bit of an issue during the purchasing process….”

“Guide me immediately.”

Gu Bong spoke before the disciple could finish, and the disciple hurriedly began leading the way.

‘What’s going on now?’

It seems like something went wrong from the very beginning.