Chapter 915: So in the end.

“Who the hell are you?”

I asked, looking at Gu Bong, who had appeared out of nowhere.

“…”

The guy didn’t answer my question.

I scowled at him.

His face was terribly swollen, and his eyes were bruised a dark blue.

I didn’t need to say who did it. That wasn’t what I cared about.

‘He’s already walking?’

Gu Bong had recovered enough to walk already. That’s what I focused on.

‘I didn’t beat him that half-heartedly?’

I had been careful not to kill him, but that didn’t mean I went easy on him.

It was partly for stress relief, so I beat him like I was trying to smash him, pouring my emotions into my fists.

‘His regeneration speed is definitely fast.’

Seeing him standing there after recovering from all that, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“What. You’re up, wanna go again?”

I said, tilting my head.

“There won’t be a second time. Next time, you’ll really die. Got it?”

I’d let him live once, so there wouldn’t be a second chance. As I warned him with all sincerity, Gu Bong flinched.

He swallowed dryly, then…

“…I, I didn’t come to fight.”

He started speaking as if to clarify.

He didn’t come to fight? Then what?

“…I came to guide the honored guests according to the Sect Leader’s orders.”

“What?”

My frown deepened at his words.

‘Guide?’

Come to think of it, the old man mentioned assigning a guide or not. Was Gu Bong that guide?

“Is this old man really crazy?”

I was dumbfounded.

Of all people, Gu Bong? He wants the guy who held a grudge against me and got beaten up to guide me?

That old man must not be in his right mind.

Gu Bong flinched slightly at my words. Seeing that, I asked.

“What. Are you mad because I badmouthed the Sect Leader again?”

“…”

I said it mockingly, and Gu Bong bit his lip. Then…

“I apologize.”

He suddenly bowed his head and apologized to me. I stared blankly.

“What are you doing?”

What is this guy playing at? Why is he acting so weirdly out of the blue?

“…I was overcome by my emotions and committed a terrible act against the honored guest. I sincerely apologize.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing him apologize so deeply, bowing his head almost to the ground, I gave a slight nod.

I wondered if he had just come to his senses and was apologizing, but…

‘Noya must have done something.’

Life isn’t usually that smooth; it looked like Shin Noya had done something.

That’s probably why he was relegated to being a guide.

‘But it doesn’t seem like he’s completely insincere either.’

Tsk.

I sighed and clicked my tongue.

“It doesn’t really matter. I beat him up, after all.”

If we’re talking about terrible acts, I did more; he never did anything.

So, I didn’t mind accepting the apology. I had already gotten rid of any ill feelings when I beat him up.

So.

“Just keep one thing in mind.”

“Like I said earlier, there won’t be a second time.”

I spat it out, suppressing my killing intent, and Gu Bong’s shoulders trembled significantly.

“…I’ll keep that in mind….”

Hearing his reply, I withdrew my killing intent. Then, snorting, I approached him and said.

“So, what are you guiding me to?”

Asking what I was supposed to be guided to by Gu Bong, this time Gu Bong’s eyes widened slightly.

“What do you mean…?”

“You said you’d guide me. What are you guiding me to?”

“Did you perhaps not receive any explanation?”

“Yeah, they just kicked me out, didn’t they?”

“…”

Hearing this, Gu Bong wore a flustered expression. I could tell from his face.

‘No way, they kicked me out without any explanation? That’s what his face says.’

Yeah, that old man Noya really is strange, I tell you?

“You know what the situation is right now, don’t you?”

“…”

“Explain it as we go. Anyway… it seems unlikely we can go back in.”

Since it seemed impossible to turn back, I had to go somewhere first and then figure things out.

---

I walked with Cheonma, following Gu Bong.

The strange thing was that they were ignoring the clear path and taking a mountain trail.

Although the path was rough, I didn’t find it particularly difficult, given my stamina.

Crackle.

I moved the branches in front of me as I climbed.

Even so, Gu Bong kept talking to us nonstop.

“Right now, it’s the path we take once every fifteen days to get provisions.”

“Provisions?”

“That’s right.”

“I saw you doing farming. Do you have to go out and get them separately?”

“Most things can be obtained internally, but it’s difficult to get seasonings or certain other items.”

“Yeah. That makes sense.”

Remembering that the surroundings were all mountains, it would be hard to obtain everything, so it was understandable.

“Why are only three of us going for that…?”

If the purpose was procuring provisions, it sounded like a trade mission, but only three people are going? I didn’t understand that.

What’s more, they were going empty-handed for provisions. I thought they should at least bring a cart to carry things.

“You don’t need to worry about that. While it’s called procurement, the actual task is escorting.”

“Escorting?”

“Yes. It’s escorting the disciples who will prepare and return with the provisions.”

“…Ah. So, you mean…”

I said, holding my forehead.

“They kicked me out without warning, and the job is to protect the kids bringing back the food, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“Are they really insane?”

I wondered what great task they were assigning that they forcibly kicked out someone in distress, but the job is just that?

It’s absurd.

“That… first-generation disciple named Seolyeong? She said all the second-generation disciples were out and unavailable. Are they all doing that?”

Gu Bong’s expression darkened slightly at my question.

“That’s not true. Only some disciples are doing this job. Other disciples are assigned important tasks.”

“Hmm.”

So not everyone went to get food. That was somewhat fortunate.

However, as we came this far, one thought crossed my mind.

‘Being kicked out is one thing. Being told to go out and guard food is another.’

Whatever Noya’s intention was, I trusted he wouldn’t assign me something harmful.

The problem was.

“Where exactly are they getting these provisions from?”

If they can’t make them internally and procure them from elsewhere, where are they getting the necessary items?

Just as I wondered if there might be another village somewhere.

“Yagwol Palace.”

“Yagwol Palace?”

“It’s a country located to the north.”

I exclaimed aloud after hearing Gu Bong’s words.

…It really exists?

‘Yeah…. It’s funny that in this vast land, only Noya’s Hwasan Sect exists.’

I hadn’t thought about it. There was so much I needed to know that I hadn’t even considered it.

‘Right. There could be other places.’

It’s only natural, in a way.

Rather, it’s Shin Noya who’s strange for creating the Hwasan Sect in Mangye.

‘Let’s just assume he created it…. Then, what are the people gathered there exactly?’

The fact that all sorts of beings were gathered at the Hwasan Sect.

Even the fact that there were barriers or friction with that leader guy.

What on earth was Shin Noya doing living here, and what was his situation?

I suddenly became curious about that, but…

Anyway.

‘In the end, we’re heading towards another group right now.’

Another country in Mangye, not the Hwasan Sect.

-Go see it for yourself.

That thought and Noya’s words merged in my mind. If I said I wasn’t interested, regardless of the situation.

That would be a lie.

---

We walked for about half a day more after that.

We really just walked. Not even using Qinggong, we just walked.

No, why aren’t we running? I asked out of frustration, and Gu Bong replied.

-It’s a rule set by the Sect Leader to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

It was a rule set by Shin Noya himself.

A rule to specifically walk to other places? I found it quite odd, but I didn’t point it out.

Thinking back, I remembered that Noya also walked when he brought us to the Hwasan Sect.

There seemed to be a reason. Yes, there must be a reason.

Only then.

Squish-

Wouldn’t I be able to understand this damn ear too?

Feeling a touch on my head, I squinted and looked at Cheonma.

“…Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Who told you to touch me sneakily?”

“I’m caught.”

“Caught? You touched me openly, what’s this supposed to mean?”

This is ridiculous.

Did he think he wouldn’t get caught after stopping mid-walk to reach out and touch me?

“Get off.”

“Since I’m caught anyway, can’t I touch just a little more?”

“Get lost.”

“Okay.”

Cheonma retracted his hand regretfully and stepped back. What the heck is this?

“Haa.”

It’s so annoying. My tail and ears keep bothering me.

Do I really have to carry these around for three days?

If I could, I’d want to rip them off right now. No. Should I just take them off now?

Would it hurt if I tried to rip them off by force? Still, wouldn’t that be better? Just as I was genuinely contemplating it.

“We’ve arrived.”

I stopped my hand at Gu Bong’s words, as he was leading the way.

I looked straight ahead in that state.

Still a mountain path full of bushes, something was visible beyond it.

“…Huh.”

As soon as I saw it, I let out a hollow laugh.

When I saw the Hwasan Sect that Noya built, I thought, ‘It’s huge?’

Seeing this, I didn’t even have that thought.

‘Crazy.’

It was immense. Its scale was incomparable to Noya’s Hwasan Sect.

‘If you compare it, it might be similar to Hanam?’

It was so wide and massive that perhaps comparing it to the entire province would barely make it similar.

It was literally a country.

Such a thought naturally occurred to me.

As I was marveling at it.

“Honored guest. I’m telling you again, you must remember.”

Gu Bong said to me, sounding worried.

Hearing that, I replied as if I was sick of it.

“Ah, I know. You told me to keep my mouth shut obediently. Don’t worry, I’ll really stay put.”

I absolutely must not open my mouth unnecessarily.

That was what Gu Bong had said countless times on the way here.

“I’m doing everything you told me to, how many times do you need to say it? Look, I even changed my clothes properly.”

I had taken off my original clothes and put on the Hwasan Sect’s martial attire.

Cheonma had done the same.

They said I had to change into this to get in, right?

Changing clothes wouldn’t be a problem, so I didn’t mind.

Even though I was obediently following all instructions.

“…You must be very careful.”

Gu Bong kept repeating himself, seemingly very worried.

“I get it.”

“Really….”

“If you say one more word, I’ll hit you?”

“…”

Getting annoyed, I growled, and only then did Gu Bong shut his mouth.

Although his mouth was shut, his eyes were full of anxiety.

Seeing that, I clenched my fist, and Gu Bong turned his head and moved forward again.

After walking a little further like that, the entrance of a massive city wall appeared, and I could see countless people coming and going through the gate.

What I saw wasn’t much different from the inside of the Hwasan Sect.

Beings with ears and tails, like Gu Bong and Seolyeong, were particularly numerous.

The difference was….

‘It’s all them.’

At Hwasan, besides beast-men, there were many other unknown beings.

None of those were visible here.

Following Gu Bong, I observed this.

After that, Gu Bong approached the vicinity of the entrance and went towards the people standing in front.

They were beast-men holding spears.

As Gu Bong approached, they reacted.

They immediately gripped their spears and looked at Gu Bong. Gu Bong spoke to them.

“I’ve come to receive permission for entry.”

“Who are you?”

“Hwasan.”

“Hwasan?”

At the mention of Hwasan, the guards’ expressions changed. Seeing that, I frowned slightly.

Because their expressions bothered me.

“Purpose?”

“Procuring provisions.”

“Number of people?”

“Three.”

At Gu Bong’s words, the guards looked towards us.

They calmly scanned Cheonma and me from top to bottom.

For reference, Cheonma had covered his head entirely with the cloak Gu Bong handed him.

The spear-wielding guards checked my ears and Cheonma’s wagging tail, then said to Gu Bong.

“Permit.”

Hearing this, Gu Bong took something out of his pocket and showed it to him.

The guard checked it back and forth, then nodded.

“Enter.”

“Thank you.”

Gu Bong bowed respectfully and went inside.

Fortunately, it seemed to have been resolved without issue.

As I was about to slowly enter.

“Pfft.”

Suddenly, a chuckle brushed past.

At the same time, I heard the guard make a sound while looking at me as I entered.

“Morons.”

He definitely said that looking at me.

What’s with these guys?

‘Should I beat them up?’

I clenched my fist.