Chapter 223: Omen. (10)

As I came out of the prison, the sunset was slowly beginning to paint the sky.

The conversation with the Hao Mun Lord wasn’t particularly long.

Right after I brought up the White Horse Stone, the conversation flowed like water.

By the end of the talk, I had achieved what I wanted.

I had wrapped things up nicely to prevent any lingering issues, but…

‘Why is that.’

It was a situation that only brought more worries.

-You are the owner of the ancient book.

Old Man Muk definitely said that while looking at me.

Was that the turning point?

Old Man Muk, having uttered those words, avoided his gloomy expression and gave me the answer I wanted.

-The Palace Lord is searching for the gate.

After resisting so much, why is he suddenly speaking so readily now? What kind of change could have happened?

I asked Old Man Muk again, looking at him.

-The gate… you mean?

-Yes, the Palace Lord is looking for the gate leading to the Upper Heaven (상천).

Upper Heaven.

Old Man Muk’s words made me flinch for a moment.

The Upper Heaven is the third demonic realm opened in the Central Plains.

It was a place I had visited countless times in my previous life.

That’s understandable, because the demonic realm of the Upper Heaven was a world the Heavenly Demon often frequented.

Although the main base of the Demonic Cult was established in Xinjiang.

Most of the places the Heavenly Demon stayed were within the demonic realm of the Upper Heaven.

As thoughts of that surfaced, I had to fall into contemplation at Old Man Muk’s words.

‘Why.’

If Old Man Muk’s words are true.

Why would the Palace Lord specifically seek the gate leading to the Upper Heaven?

And also.

Is that why they tortured the Hao Mun Lord, Old Man Muk, to find this out?

-The place leading to the Upper Heaven is something only I know, so that must be why.

-…Only you know, Elder?

-Yes.

It was an incomprehensible story.

According to what’s known, there are a total of four gates leading to demonic realms.

The demonic realm gates that tear through the void and spew out monsters…

They only spit out monsters; conversely, one cannot enter through them.

Of course, there are rare occasions when an anomaly occurs and a demonic realm gate devours humans, but…

This is an extremely rare occurrence.

Excluding the ones on the front lines that have remained open for ages, continuously spewing out monsters.

The True Heaven (진천), Azure Heaven (태천), Upper Heaven (상천), Ghost Heaven (귀천), etc.

There were a total of four gates that could lead to demonic realms.

‘…Technically, there are six, if you want to be precise.’

Other demonic realms unknown to the world.

One of them is a demonic realm I was sucked into in my previous life thanks to that bastard Jang Seon-yeon’s bullshit.

However, that place had to be excluded.

It was practically a created world in the first place.

In the end, there are four gates leading to the demonic realms that exist in the world.

And.

Most of these four gates are places directly managed by major powers.

Even the Martial Alliance manages the gates leading to the Azure Heaven and True Heaven.

They also block the Upper Heaven and Ghost Heaven gates to prevent other forces from entering or exiting.

This means.

That the location of the Upper Heaven is known in the Central Plains without needing to search for it specifically.

‘Why did Old Man Muk say he was the only one who knew information about the Upper Heaven?’

Moreover, is that why the Black Night Palace Lord kidnapped Old Man Muk?

There were obvious flaws in blindly believing his words.

-The Upper Heaven known in the Central Plains is not the real one.

-Not the real one?

-Yes… If anyone knew what was there, they wouldn’t take it lightly unless they were a complete idiot.

Old Man Muk said so, but…

‘What is he even talking about.’

I couldn’t just believe this either.

Especially considering Old Man Muk’s identity.

‘Why would such an old man suddenly act like this towards me?’

As I recalled Old Man Muk’s attitude just before leaving the prison, I bit my lip.

-It doesn’t matter whether you believe my words or not. If you are truly the owner, you will find out eventually anyway.

You will find out eventually.

That’s the phrase I hate the most.

If I’m going to find out eventually, what’s the harm in telling me now?

-What owner are you talking about? Please explain it so I can understand.

As I asked with a frown, Old Man Muk paused in silence for a moment, then extended his palm towards me.

I stared, wondering what on earth he was doing.

Ssssuuuu….

-…!

A subtle energy began to creep up from Old Man Muk’s shoulder.

Soon, the energy started to gather on his palm.

-What is that…

Then, it gradually began to change into the shape of an object.

-…How?

Right now, Old Man Muk, just like Gu Huibi, is unable to use his internal energy (내기) due to demonic energy (마기).

It’s normal for even the Sword Empress of the world, let alone Gu Huibi, to be unable to use internal energy when bound by demonic energy.

It was simply strange that he was manipulating energy in such a way to do something.

‘…Is it not internal energy?’

But it didn’t seem like demonic energy either.

It didn’t seem like vital energy (혈기) either.

Putting my confusion aside, the energy eventually solidified into a complete object.

Although I didn’t know what the object was for.

If I had to say, it was close to a seal.

As I watched with surprised eyes, Old Man Muk spoke to me.

-If you’re curious, take it.

-You mean me?

-Yes.

-What is this that you’re handing over to me?

-That’s something you’ll have to find out.

-Huh?

What is this old man saying now?

As I looked at him dumbfounded, the corner of Old Man Muk’s mouth slightly lifted.

-I’ve given you this much, are you asking me to spoon-feed you? A man should live proactively.

-What are you suddenly talking about? This is a transaction…

-A transaction… You mean the White Horse Stone you mentioned?

-…Yes.

-Yes, I need it. The White Horse Stone… I needed it.

Why I knew about the White Horse Stone.

Or how he knew I needed it and brought it up as a transaction.

Old Man Muk didn’t ask me.

His reaction suggested he didn’t need to.

-However, I no longer need it.

-Huh?

-So, whether it’s the White Horse Stone or the Platinum Stone, just pick it up and use it yourself.

I had intended to do that anyway, but hearing him say it like that caught me off guard.

And that was the end of his words.

Believing his words.

Or searching for it.

As if it were my responsibility, the old man completely tuned out.

After finishing his words, he lay down on the floor again, just like before, preparing to sleep.

-…’Elder?

What, he’s going to sleep like this? Seriously?

-We haven’t finished our conversation…

-I’ve told you everything I needed to tell you. What remains is up to you.

-You say you’ve said everything and now I have to figure it out myself? What kind of irresponsible statement is that?

-If I’m going to shit myself with my own mouth, do I also have to take responsibility for it?

I’m going crazy.

This guy gives off a strange vibe.

If I had to compare, it’s similar to the people Elder Yi (이장로) is close with…

Ah.

-Elder.

-Stop calling me that…

-Are you perhaps close with our Elder Yi?

-….

At my words, Old Man Muk shut his mouth.

It was a truly uncomfortable silence.

-That’s unpleasant. To think I’m close with that ignorant brute.

-So you are close.

-Didn’t I just say we’re not close!

He is close.

What on earth has Elder Yi been doing outside for all the people he knows to give off this kind of vibe?

It made sense why his reaction was strange when I asked him if he knew Elder Yi last time.

Old Man Muk then stretched out as if he didn’t want to talk anymore and quietly started snoring.

It really seemed like he had no intention of talking further.

Just as I was wondering if I should just leave him be.

-Ah.

Old Man Muk, who had been snoring loudly, suddenly sat bolt upright and said, looking at me.

-When you leave, tell your father I have some business and want to see him.

His voice was perfectly fine, as if he hadn’t been asleep at all.

-And that thing, don’t lose it and keep it safe. It’s expensive and you can’t get it anywhere else.

At Old Man Muk’s words, I examined the seal in my hand.

It was covered in rust and cracks here and there, full of the marks of time, making it hard to believe it was expensive.

-What on earth is this thing…

-Snore.

-….

I really, truly considered burning off not just my eyebrows but my hair.

But I barely managed to hold back.

After that, I quietly observed Old Man Muk.

After relaying Old Man Muk’s request to the warden (총관), I left the prison.

Along with the request not to provide Old Man Muk with food starting today.

And now.

I had made promises to Tang Soyeol (당소열) and Namgung Bi-ah (남궁비아), so I immediately came out to the county (현).

It was a street I always saw, and I had often come out here recently with Wi Seol-ah (위설아), so there was nothing particularly special about it.

From my perspective, I was just walking along because the ones who followed me seemed to like it.

The problem was, now that we were actually in the county, I was pushed to the background while the three of them stuck together.

“Unni! Over there… over there!”

“Hm…?”

“Let’s go check that out too!”

Maybe it was because they had come out of the sect grounds three times in a row.

Wi Seol-ah seemed particularly excited.

Thanks to that, Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah were being dragged along with quite exhausted expressions.

Seeing the state of those women…

[Why didn’t you ask more?]

Shin Noya (신 노야) asked me.

‘About Old Man Muk?’

[Yes. If you wanted to ask more, you could have, couldn’t you?]

That’s true.

Whether it was the mysterious mention of the ancient book (고서), or why the Hao Mun held some other secret about the gate to the Upper Heaven.

[Then why didn’t you ask?]

‘…’

At Noya’s question, I had no choice but to fall silent.

It wasn’t because I couldn’t answer.

It was because, for some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t have.

An unknown sensation, like I shouldn’t ask any further.

‘…Did the Hao Mun Lord do something to me?’

Perhaps.

After all, he’s someone who could use an unknown power even when his internal energy was blocked by demonic energy.

However.

‘I don’t think that’s it.’

My intuition told me it wasn’t.

Besides, it was strange enough that an old man capable of using such abilities was quietly confined in prison.

[…And you find it believable that he created an object with energy?]

‘He did it right in front of my eyes, so I have no choice but to believe it.’

Moreover, having experienced so many absurd things in this life, I had become somewhat numb to it all.

Talking snakes the size of houses.

Incidents involving ghosts inside demonic objects (귀물).

Talking carps…

I’d been through all sorts of bizarre events, so I wasn’t greatly surprised by this.

‘After all, I’ve even regressed through time; what else could be more surprising?’

If anything, that was the problem.

Even though I had gone back in time and regressed.

It was absurd that there was still more I didn’t know than what I did know.

‘Did I really live that carelessly?’

I should have lived more diligently.

It was a moment of pointless regret.

As I swallowed dryly, Wi Seol-ah, who was some distance away, came running ‘dodo-do’ and hugged me tightly.

“Young Master!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to run?”

“Heehee!”

Wi Seol-ah, after rubbing her face against my chest a few times, gestured for me to look behind me.

Following her fingertips, my gaze shifted to Namgung Bi-ah.

“What is it?”

She had her hair tied up strangely.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

Wi Seol-ah said it with a triumphant voice, as if she had done it herself.

What should I do about that?

Pigtails…

It was a hairstyle that was somewhat burdensome to look at for long, but…

“…She’s fine no matter what you dress her in, even rags.”

Namgung Bi-ah had a face that showed no concern, even with her hair done like that.

Then she looked at me and asked.

“Is it weird?”

“It’s not… weird, right?”

Regardless, her face is the kind that can’t look unattractive no matter what.

Perhaps satisfied with my answer, Namgung Bi-ah nodded.

Swish.

“Hm?”

She extended her hand towards me.

Is she asking me to hold it?

As I reached out and took Namgung Bi-ah’s hand, she pulled it back as if that wasn’t it.

This isn’t it?

[Looks like you’re used to holding hands; you grab it as soon as it’s offered.]

‘…Are you picking on me only at times like this?’

[Because I hate seeing it, that’s why.]

‘Then why don’t you hold Noya’s hand too?’

[…What, you bastard?]

Noya, unable to take it, flew into a rage and started cursing, but…

My ears, accustomed to hearing it so often, didn’t really register it.

“What’s with this hand.”

“Buy it for me.”

“…What?”

What is that confidence?

Namgung Bi-ah had asked me for money so brazenly.

No, I could buy something like that for her, but why was she suddenly asking me to buy it out of the blue?

“…I didn’t bring any money…”

“Then you should ask to borrow it, why ‘buy it for me’?”

“…It feels… better to be given it.”

At Namgung Bi-ah’s words, I let out a ‘pick!’ sound and laughed.

“You’ve gotten a bit shameless lately, haven’t you?”

“…You don’t like it? If you don’t like it…”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

I walked past Namgung Bi-ah and approached a street vendor.

As I was about to pay, I suddenly shifted my gaze to Tang Soyeol.

“What about you?”

“Y-Yes?”

When I asked, Tang Soyeol reacted with startled surprise.

I asked because I knew she had been looking with envy.

“Don’t you want something too?”

“No, it’s not… like that… No, that’s right. I want something too.”

She tried to deny it, saying it wasn’t like that, but then, unable to contain her desire, she nodded.

Seeing that, I had to harbor a small doubt.

‘Why do all these kids lack money?’

Wi Seol-ah might be like that.

But it was strange for Namgung Bi-ah or Tang Soyeol to be without money.

“What do you need.”

I asked, glancing over.

Tang Soyeol quickly ran over and picked one out.

It seemed she had already chosen it.

It was a hair accessory that seemed to represent white flower petals.

“Is this okay?”

At my question, Tang Soyeol nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, I noticed her ears had turned red.

It seemed she was quite embarrassed to ask me to buy it.

“These two, please.”

“Oh my, you have a good eye! That’ll be fifty ‘pun’ for both.”

“…These two cost fifty ‘pun’?”

I paused as I took out the iron coins (철전) from my pouch.

The price was higher than I expected.

For a moment, I considered not buying them, but since I had already promised to buy them.

I clenched my teeth and paid the price.

Although the unexpected expense stung my wallet.

Seeing Namgung Bi-ah smile slightly.

And Tang Soyeol trying to suppress a smile that crept up her lips was enough.

For reference, I asked Wi Seol-ah too.

“I was fine with that thing from last time!”

She refused, saying.

---

Soon, night arrived.

Being tormented by the three women all day was twice as exhausting as training at full power.

Truly.

However, I couldn’t show that I was struggling.

I just had to keep my mouth shut and endure it.

I had at least that much sense.

Since I had to enter closed-door training (폐관) the next day.

I was just about to organize the day’s events and get some rest.

Just as I had changed my clothes and was about to lie down on my bed.

A guest arrived.

It was someone I had completely forgotten about while running around here and there.

“Hello, Young Master Gu.”

A voice imbued with a strangely alluring, sticky atmosphere.

A woman more suited to dawn than night.

Moyong Hi-ah (모용희아) had come to find me.

“I apologize for the late hour. If it’s not too much trouble, may I come in?”

Seeing Moyong Hi-ah speak to me cautiously, I replied reluctantly.

“…If you’re sorry, why don’t you just turn back?”

“No. I’m just sorry, so I’ll be coming in.”

“…”

Then why did you ask, you crazy woman?