〈Episode 205〉 Mudong Mountain Range. (2)
Mudong Mountain Range. (2)
I let out a sigh as I looked at Namgung Bia, who was standing behind me, avoiding eye contact.
We had a path that we had already figured out, but she kept insisting on going somewhere else, so I was absolutely fed up with it.
At every turn, she would say we should go the opposite way.
If I had actually followed Namgung Bia’s directions, I probably would have ended up standing on some completely unknown mountain.
“Seriously, I told you this was an urgent situation.”
“...Sorry.”
“If you’re going to keep causing trouble, go home and wait.”
I pointed my hand toward the path leading to Guga, but Namgung Bia shook her head vigorously.
“...No.”
At that, Namgung Bia—rarely—scrunched up her face as if in disgust.
At the sight, I let out another sigh.
“I told you, you wouldn’t be much help even if you came.”
Depending on how you looked at it, it was a cold thing to say, but it was also something I had to keep saying.
At my words, Namgung Bia quietly drew her sword.
As if she were ready to fight me.
At the numbing lightning qi brushing past my cheek, I eventually hung my head low.
How had things come to this? It was endlessly lamentable.
What was there even to say?
‘...Damn it.’
It was all my own karma.
It was the second day since we had set out on the road to the Mudong Mountain Range.
Spring rain was falling steadily from the heavens.
I was running onward, trusting only the direction.
‘How many more mountains do I have to cross?’
I hadn’t counted exactly, but there had to be at least five more.
This crazy stretch of land was absurdly vast.
‘The bead... is it not ready yet?’
I stealthily checked the Bead of the Heavenly Path, but because I had used it just yesterday, its light had not yet fully recovered.
If you were wondering why I was checking the bead’s color—
I had discovered a few things about the bead through several experiments.
The Bead of the Heavenly Path could only be used once a day.
And its duration was quite short.
The color of the bead was what determined whether or not it could be used at the moment.
I had to wait until the murky crimson glow shone brightly again.
I put the bead away and surveyed the sky.
‘With rain coming down like this, camping won’t be easy either.’
We had left in such a hurry that we hadn’t been able to pack any proper travel supplies.
We hadn’t even brought a demon-detection talisman, which was considered an essential item for travel, so naturally, I had to face any approaching threats alone.
I had actually encountered demonic beasts attempting to ambush me several times.
They were, at best, green-grade, so it wasn’t a big deal, but still.
‘Last year, even this much was a struggle.’
The green gate, the lowest grade of demonic portal.
Unlike last year, when I had struggled to hunt down the creatures that leaped out of there.
Now, I had reached a level where I could resolve such things by spewing flames around me.
Of course, once the grades went higher than that, it would get difficult.
In the first place, blue-grade portals hardly ever appeared.
From that point on, they were on the level of natural disasters.
At my current level, I might somehow be able to handle up to the blue grade alone, but.
‘A red gate would be impossible.’
Except for the true demonic portal, a red gate had not opened in the past several centuries.
It should be fine for now.
The reason a red-grade demonic portal opened later was because the Heavenly Demon had appeared in the Central Plains, that’s all.
‘Anyway, I need to pick up the pace.’
There was still quite a distance left.
More than anything, time was tight.
For now, Gu Huibi was spending her time quietly in prison, but no one knew what might happen to her while I wasn’t looking.
Especially if it was the Black Night Palace.
They were clearly a place connected to the Demonic Cult.
There was no time to dawdle.
Thinking that far, I pulled up the internal energy in my dantian once more and leaped.
Thanks to that, my speed was now much faster than before.
Just as I was running as if I were almost flying—
[Is your remaining energy alright?]
Noya asked me.
‘It is still fine.’
I had consumed so much that it would probably be hard to find a martial artist with more internal energy than me at the same realm.
Even if they were at a higher realm than me, it would not be easy.
[It is best to leave some in reserve for unforeseen circumstances.]
‘Do not worry. I am not at a level where I would be unaware of that.’
[Is it not the one who knows this well who exhausts every bit of his energy, whether there is any or not, each time he gets into a scrap?]
‘...’
[Keep that up, and you will be unable to handle the aftermath and might drop dead.]
I knew that as well, but if I said anything now, it was obvious I would only hear, “If you know that, why do you do it?”
So I simply kept my mouth shut.
‘...I wish there was a village nearby.’
[Changing the subject... Tsk, tsk.]
It stung a bit, but I really did need a village.
I couldn’t keep catching wild animals or demonic beasts to eat forever.
My body had reached the peak, so going without food for a few days wouldn’t be a problem.
Still, it was better to have food than not.
More than anything.
‘I need to get a demon-detection talisman.’
A signaling device made by the Martial Alliance that notified you when a demonic portal was about to open nearby.
Whether it was long-distance or short-distance travel, in this day and age, the demon-detection talisman was an essential item for travel.
Not only did it allow you to anticipate and prepare for a demonic portal.
It was an item that could help you escape danger.
Anyone who traveled absolutely had to carry one.
‘But that’s not what I need it for.’
From my perspective, I actually wanted to find demonic portals.
‘I need to absorb more.’
I needed to stockpile a bit more demonic energy.
In the past, because it was the Heavenly Demon’s power, I had psychologically rejected it and tried to avoid it.
Now, I was in a situation where I could not avoid it.
I needed it to pacify the conflicting energies within my body.
From the moment I resolved not to reject demonic energy,
to properly wield power, my current amount was woefully insufficient.
[Just be careful not to break the vessel.]
‘Yes.’
Even though I had gained an important enlightenment from Noya regarding how to compress and apply my internal energy,
the martial art I used required an enormous amount of internal energy to begin with.
Without using the Demonic Heavenly Absorption Technique, I could not prepare for the blood tribulations ahead.
At the very least,
even the Black Night Palace was in a situation where they couldn’t do anything right now.
‘I don’t think slowly nibbling away will cut it, but.’
Having continuously gone through large quantities of fortuitous encounters, a green-grade demon stone wouldn’t even register, but.
It was better than nothing.
After that, I ran through the rain for a long while.
But still, I could not find a village.
The mountains stretched on endlessly, and it was a region that human hands hadn’t properly reached.
With so many demonic beasts about, it was probably difficult for people to live here.
In the end, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to procure anything.
‘I need to conserve my stamina.’
I would have to catch and eat a demonic beast, whether I liked it or not.
I wondered if I would feel bitter about it, but honestly, I didn’t think much of it.
‘I should be grateful for even that. It was worse in my previous life.’
Having learned all too painfully in my previous life what a great blessing it was to eat a demonic beast that was ‘edible,’
something like this didn’t bother me at all.
After running like that for a long while, I finally managed to cross one mountain.
Even after crossing a mountain, the rain continued to fall.
The only thing that had changed was that the sun had set and night had fallen.
After that, I spent my internal energy extravagantly for quite a while to close the distance.
I climbed over a tree, landed on the ground, and caught my breath.
‘Hoo...’
My internal energy was still plentiful, and my body still had more than enough strength to move, but.
I was faced with a different problem.
‘Who is it?’
I had sensed a presence following me since around sunset.
It had been faint when I hadn’t expanded my senses.
The moment I felt it and spread my perception, it became distinct.
Someone was gradually approaching from this direction.
And at a very fast speed, at that.
‘A demonic beast... no.’
A demonic beast wouldn’t approach with such fluid movements.
They were no different from wild animals.
‘Then who?’
If so, it had to be a human.
Perhaps because there was still some distance, it was hard to properly grasp the presence.
‘Could it be a Black Night Palace bastard?’
If not, could it be someone like those who had attacked us recently?
Even though the First Elder had died, it might not be over.
I focused.
I gradually raised my aura.
Widening the distance to shake off pursuit was also an option.
But I thought it would be better to eliminate this beforehand.
Once I reached a level where I could grasp the presence, I condensed internal energy into my fist with the intention of launching a counter-ambush.
Just as the unknown figure was slowly entering my range.
Right before entering my zone, the bastard suddenly accelerated sharply.
“What...!”
As if he already knew exactly where my domain was, his speed instantly increased.
It seemed his realm was much higher than expected.
Because it was unexpected, I immediately switched stances.
He had hidden his presence so that I couldn’t properly grasp it.
The speed at which he approached this place in such a state was clearly that of a peak-level martial artist.
This was not something to be taken lightly.
....
...
....
....
Hwaarak—!
Heat escaped between the raindrops.
My hair was dyed red in an instant, and I took a stance ready to envelop myself in flames at any moment.
For all that fluidity, it was almost a straight line.
Moreover, for someone who had hidden their presence, it was an incredibly straightforward charge.
But there was no time to think, as they were already right before my nose.
Without hesitation, I tried to unleash flames toward my opponent.
A tingle.
If only the familiar lightning qi hadn’t brushed past my eyes.
Tap.
Unlike the speed of approach, it was an extremely light and soft landing.
I looked at the figure who appeared before me with wide eyes.
Her clothes were completely soaked from the rain, clinging tightly and revealing her figure.
Her wet hair was somehow bewitching.
Her brilliantly blue-white hair, perhaps because it was wet,
was shining even more brightly.
Soon, the woman’s jewel-like blue eyes turned toward me.
“...You.”
“Hello.”
The figure was none other than Namgung Bia, who should have been at Guga by now.
I looked her over with an expression of near shock.
It wasn’t because she had appeared here that I was surprised.
Of course, that was also a surprising matter.
But there was something far more important than that.
“Did you cross the wall?”
The energy I felt from Namgung Bia was clearly that of a peak-level martial artist.
Moreover, perhaps because she had broken through not long ago, she couldn’t control her middle dantian and her energy was leaking out.
This was also a characteristic of a martial artist who had just crossed the wall.
Namgung Bia nodded her head at my words.
“...I crossed it.”
She answered expressionlessly, but this was an absurd tale.
How on earth had she done it?
‘I thought Yeongpung or Muyeon would be first.’
Yeongpung, the greatest talent of Hwasan who bore the nickname Sword Dragon—I hadn’t seen his face in quite some time, so I didn’t know.
But I had thought Muyeon would cross before Namgung Bia, at the very least.
Muyeon had the wall right before her nose.
She was in a state where she truly just had to cross it, so I had naturally expected her to.
“...What happened? Crossing the wall so suddenly.”
At the very least, Namgung Bia hadn’t been at a level with the wall right before her nose like Muyeon.
She had been progressing quickly, as if she had gained some enlightenment.
Still, I had thought she would need at least a year to cross the wall, but...
‘To jump over it so suddenly like this?’
Had she gained some other enlightenment?
It didn’t look like she had simply obtained a fortuitous encounter.
Namgung Bia tilted her head at my question.
“...It just... happened?”
“...”
Just hearing it made my head throb.
If it just happened, then other people wouldn’t struggle so much, you wretched girl.
I spoke while hiding my true feelings.
“...Yeah, congratulations.”
“Yeah.”
Realizing once more how outstanding Namgung Bia’s talent was, I offered her my congratulations.
Now that I had done that.
It was time to ask something else.
“How did you get here?”
“...”
At my question, Namgung Bia fell silent. Only then did I think I understood a little of what expression she was making now.
‘She’s angry.’
In her slightly narrowed eyes. I felt a resolute emotion from the gaze looking at me.
“...Could it be, you came looking for me?”
This time, she nodded.
Of course. The very fact that she was here meant that.
But how?
“How did you know?”
“I just knew.”
It was an absurd thing to say.
The distance was one thing.
That idiot with no sense of direction could never have known the right way.
With a feeling of disbelief, I patted down my body.
I had wondered if Namgung Bia had hidden something on my body like Gu Huibi had.
But there was nothing of note.
Then.
A tingle.
At the energy brushing past my body, I turned my gaze toward Namgung Bia.
Her sword was wrapped in an abundance of lightning qi.
It wasn’t the shallow lightning qi I had seen before. It was a perfect, complete lightning qi showing a distinct form.
That was also definitive proof that Namgung Bia had reached a higher realm.
Exuding the unique presence of the Namgung family, Namgung Bia spoke to me.
“Let’s go together.”
Setting aside the countless rebukes that would pour from Namgung Bia’s mouth—why did you go alone, what was your reason for leaving me behind, why did you make such a choice—she was telling me to go with her.
This was clearly an ultimatum. A notice Namgung Bia was sending me.
Looking past such a gaze, I asked her.
“...Do you know where I’m going right now?”
“I don’t know... but it doesn’t... matter.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter? I’m not taking you because it’s dangerous—”
Before I even finished speaking, Namgung Bia raised her momentum.
As if she would fight me.
“Let’s go together.”
It was the same words as before.
However, the tip of her drawn sword was pointed toward me.
“If you don’t, you can’t go.”
She looked so sincere that I could tell all too well she meant it. If I didn’t give my permission right here,
she looked like she would swing her sword at any moment.
The lightning qi that had reached the peak level was gradually dominating the forest.
At this, Namgung Bia didn’t show an inch of retreat.
Moreover, the situation was extremely urgent.
In the end, faced with that sight, I had no choice but to make a decision.
And so, the current situation came to be.
Looking at Namgung Bia, who was blankly standing in the back, I regretted that moment.
‘I should have just subdued her and left.’
Namgung Bia, whose level had risen, was indeed a tricky opponent even for the current me.
However, if I had fought her seriously, she wasn’t at a level I couldn’t subdue.
It would just take some time.
If I had done that, I couldn’t have left her behind in the forest at night.
And it was obvious she would follow again, so in the end, I had no choice but to agree.
“...I can’t... see anything.”
Whether she knew that or not, Namgung Bia was simply fascinated by the thick fog filling the surroundings.
It seemed her dense personality hadn’t changed even after reaching the peak.
“Don’t wander off carelessly. If something goes wrong, we might not be able to find each other.”
This was a disaster zone.
It was also a place the Alliance had forbidden entry to.
In fact, it was common for those who wandered in here by mistake to get lost and simply disappear.
The fog spreading around wasn’t ordinary fog.
Even the method of raising my senses to probe the surroundings couldn’t be used properly.
At my warning, Namgung Bia stopped still.
Sniff, sniff.
She was looking around here and there, sniffing.
“...What are you doing?”
After repeating that a few times, she nodded to herself as if convinced.
What is she doing...?
“...I won’t lose you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I can smell you.”
At Namgung Bia’s words, I shook my head vigorously.
She’s not a dog. What is she going to find by smell...?
I stepped back and grabbed Namgung Bia’s arm.
If I really lost her by mistake, there would be no solution.
Namgung Bia already had no sense of direction, so there was no way she could find her way straight in this thick fog.
‘What I really need to find is something else.’
I sighed inwardly.
She had followed me recklessly, but I wondered if we could find the Black Night Palace’s main base in this fog.
‘They wouldn’t have just left it to the fog alone.’
There was a high chance they had even set up formations in the surrounding area.
So it wouldn’t be easy to find.
“What should I do...”
If the scene shown by the Bead of the Heavenly Path was correct, it had to be somewhere in this mountain range.
However, while the mountain range wasn’t that large, finding something in this fog was difficult.
‘If only I could somehow do something about this...’
Holding Namgung Bia’s arm and frowning, I looked around for a while.
Vrrm.
Suddenly, I felt a vibration at my waist.
The vibration was none other than the pouch containing the Bead of the Heavenly Path.
Wondering if it was about time it could be used again, I took out the bead.
“...!”
The bead in my hand flashed brightly once.
Then it began shooting a straight beam of light in one direction.
Through the fog, toward somewhere.
Looking at the crimson light shooting out, I thought.
“This...”
No way, is it showing me Gu Huibi’s location?
Before the question could even be resolved.
My feet were already moving, following the light.