Chapter 923: So in the end.

The return trip to the Hwasan Sect took a bit longer than the way there.

Not only because the number of people had increased, but also because we had to pull a cart.

It felt like it took roughly twice as long as the trip there.

Time had long since passed sunset, and night had fallen. Just like the first time, two moons, crimson auroras, and stars were spread across the sky.

I glanced up at the sky for a moment. No matter how many times I looked, it was still amazing.

How could such a sky unfold?

Watching it with wonder, I lowered my head again.

I could see the disciples pulling the cart.

“Hoo-!”

For some reason, their speed seemed to have increased.

No, it wasn’t just a feeling; it was actually happening.

They were much faster than when they first started pulling it.

Since they hadn’t slowed down or rested, it was hard to understand why they were getting faster instead of slower.

‘It’s because of the moon.’

I knew the reason immediately.

Most of them were beastmen called the Moonlit Tribe.

They said their physical abilities strengthen at night, so it must be thanks to that.

“We’re almost there.”

At Gu-bong’s words, the disciples’ legs gained strength.

I walked with Cheon-ma, watching them from behind. I wasn’t just watching, though.

I was observing them to gather information.

‘It seems the increase in abilities varies.’

Their strengthened states were different.

Looking just at Gu-bong, he seemed to have gotten more than twice as strong. But the others weren’t quite like that.

Some went from looking like they were about to die from exhaustion to looking only slightly better.

Others didn’t seem to have changed much at all.

And some seemed to have gotten considerably stronger, their faces looking much more relaxed.

Seeing this, it wasn’t like everyone became incredibly strong just because it was night.

Perhaps there were individual differences?

I wasn’t certain, but that’s how it looked right now.

‘Hmm.’

Interesting. It was fascinating that there were individual differences, making it hard to see it as just a mere power or blessing, and also…

‘I should try this again sometime.’

The sparring match with the three senior disciples I had last time, partly out of frustration.

The thought occurred to me that it would be good to try that at night too.

How.

And by how much.

How would the application of energy differ, and what exactly would change because of it?

Since experiencing it firsthand would be the fastest way to clarify these things, I figured that would be the best justification.

“Your expression is strange.”

Cheon-ma looked at me, narrowed her eyes, and spoke.

“What’s strange? I look normal.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

“The darkness born of the sky is wrong.”

“You… can’t you just stop?”

Seeing them butt in so casually, I ground my teeth.

This lunatic has been provoking me since earlier.

Of all things, they had to see that.

‘Damn it.’

Where on earth did they even start watching?

The fact that they saw me acting like a crazy bastard while wearing a mask means…

‘They knew I used the Body Translation Technique too.’

If they knew that, then acting like they knew after I deactivated it means they watched me both activate and deactivate it.

‘Shit.’

Of all people… of all people, to be caught by Cheon-ma.

‘To be caught pretending to be Cheon-ma by Cheon-ma herself…?’

It was a fucked-up situation I’d never even imagined.

For now, since it’s a different world, I doubt any problems will arise, but what if I return to my original world?

Will there really be no issues then?

It’s not just anyone; it’s the actual Cheon-ma.

Will there be problems when I go back?

Embarrassment aside, many problems come to mind.

I was already contemplating it.

‘What should I do about her.’

What should I do about Cheon-ma?

It’s strange to keep bringing her around like this.

Whatever the case, it was time to make a decision. Even if not, the answer was probably already decided.

“…”

Ironically, I did nothing while keeping Cheon-ma beside me.

I was hesitating.

Whatever that decision might be, I was hesitating to carry it out.

‘Why?’

I asked myself.

Why was I hesitating?

The answer came to me immediately.

Perhaps I already knew.

I wavered.

Looking at Cheon-ma, I was recalling feelings I shouldn’t have.

Am I an idiot?

‘Don’t get the wrong idea.’

Even if that person looks exactly like Wi Seol-ah, she is not Wi Seol-ah.

This must be a problem stemming from her appearance.

I had to pull myself together somehow.

Just as I was trying to regain my focus and turn my gaze back to Cheon-ma.

“Hmph.”

Cheon-ma gave me a short chuckle and then walked ahead.

“…What?”

What was that laugh all of a sudden…?

Was it mockery?

No, it wasn’t.

It felt different from mockery.

“Why did you laugh?”

I asked Cheon-ma, but she just kept walking ahead without answering.

“Hey.”

I called out again, but it was the same.

Cheon-ma ignored my question and kept walking.

“…Ha.”

Watching her, I let out a hollow laugh.

“What is that?”

Irritation flared up.

However, this irritation wasn’t because Cheon-ma was ignoring me.

It was because I felt like my inner thoughts had just been exposed.

That’s why I was annoyed.

---

We walked for quite a while longer.

Thanks to the increased speed, we arrived faster than expected, but it was still late.

“Halt.”

When Gu-bong raised his hand, the group stopped all at once.

“Secure the perimeter.”

As soon as the order was given, the second-generation disciples spread out slightly. And then.

Hwaaaaaa.

Each of them extended their Ki sense to check the surroundings.

Feeling the densely spread Ki senses, I nodded inwardly.

The execution wasn’t bad.

Their proficiency was considerable.

They resonated their Ki senses, extending them wider than their individual limits.

It’s a method used by seasoned Sword Brigade members.

It was obvious who taught them this.

‘Speaking of which.’

While the resonance of Ki senses was admirable, there was one problem.

‘…Why are we here?’

I looked around.

It was still a field where nothing was visible, just like last time, but something was different.

It wasn’t just slightly different.

‘I don’t think this was the place.’

It was different from the location we’d visited before.

It looked similar at first glance, but it was definitely different.

‘Did the entrance change?’

I wasn’t sure.

So, I used my Mind’s Eye to gaze into the void.

Only the night air brushed lightly against the seemingly calm void.

Nothing was visible.

But there was definitely something there.

I felt certain. The reason being.

‘It was like this last time too.’

So, there must be something this time as well.

It was that simple a thought.

And.

‘Something so subtle it couldn’t be seen.’

It was likely something set up by that old man called Turtle.

I was trying my best to see it somehow.

‘What on earth could it be.’

How could one make something completely invisible like this?

What was its purpose, and how was it used?

This wasn’t martial arts or a formation.

This was…

‘The realm of sorcery.’

A high level of sorcery I’d never encountered in the Central Plains.

It was a level that even the Northern Sea, let alone the Shin family and the Zhuge family, couldn’t achieve.

I couldn’t forget it no matter how hard I tried.

The more I looked, the more I wanted to indulge in it and explore it.

I hoped to see even the slightest trace of it somehow.

Thinking that, I peered into it, but…

‘…Ssk.’

As expected, nothing was visible.

Just as I was lamenting this with a sigh.

“If the check is complete, we proceed.”

Gu-bong spoke from amidst the Ki senses.

At that moment, the disciples who had spread out reached into their robes and pulled something out.

‘What is that now?’

I frowned.

It was a small object that looked like a gourd flask.

They took it out and suddenly…

Tak-tak-.

They started sprinkling it on their bodies.

Each shake caused white powder to stick to their bodies.

What were they doing?

Unable to understand, I watched them quietly, when suddenly my eyes met Gu-bong’s.

“…What are you doing?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you?”

What am I doing?

It was the very thing I most wanted to ask.

Hearing my words, Gu-bong scrunched up his face.

It was an expression I’d seen before.

When was it?

Ah.

‘When the old man told me that he hadn’t given me any explanation.’

It looked quite similar to the expression he made then.

This meant…

“Did I perhaps need to receive something too?”

“…”

As if confirming my words were correct, Gu-bong pinched the bridge of his nose.

Then.

“Sprinkle it…”

He handed me the gourd flask he was holding.

“Sprinkle this?”

Tuk-tuk.

Saying that, I lightly sprinkled some powder on my arm.

At first glance, it looked like salt…

Or maybe something else.

“What is this?”

“It’s the shell powder of Elder Sul-nim.”

“What powder?”

The explanation was terrible.

What on earth is that?

“Haven’t you seen the Elder?”

“Of course, I haven’t…”

I stopped myself before saying, ‘Of course, I haven’t.’

The word ‘shell’ grated on my ears.

“Is that… perhaps that fellow called Turtle or something?”

“…That’s right. He is Elder Sul-nim.”

“Ah…”

Was Turtle’s name Sul?

Because the old man kept calling him Turtle, I didn’t even know he had a name.

‘He’s even an Elder?’

He doesn’t even wear the Hwasan Sect uniform and seems to live separately in the countryside.

Yet his title is Elder.

It’s utterly strange.

And on top of that.

‘…This is shell powder.’

They ground that old man’s shell into powder and sprinkled it on my body.

I had to frown at the unpleasantness that came with it.

“So why are we sprinkling this?”

Why sprinkle this strange powder on our bodies?

In response to my question, Gu-bong took back the powder and said,

“It’s a necessary procedure for passage.”

“This?”

“Yes.”

A necessary procedure to return to Hwasan?

Then there was something strange.

“You didn’t do this last time?”

When I returned to the Hwasan Sect following the old man, we hadn’t done anything like this.

Didn’t he just glance around the void and sort things out quickly?

But there was such a procedure?

When I briefly explained the situation back then to Gu-bong, he avoided my gaze slightly and replied.

“…This is the original procedure.”

“No, I mean, you didn’t do it then…”

“The Sect Leader simply didn’t do it…”

“…Huh?”

I tilted my head at Gu-bong’s mumbled words.

Then something occurred to me.

Didn’t Turtle get angry at the old man, asking why he had to fix it already? Could it be…

‘…Because this old geezer just ripped it open without doing this?’

Did a problem arise because he ignored the procedure and just forcefully broke through?

That made sense.

‘Or perhaps.’

The old man also had it,

And maybe a problem occurred because I messed with it without permission.

Anyway…

‘At least this means I can enter if I do this.’

Suppressing my unease, I lightly brushed myself off.

Cheon-ma seemed to have sprinkled it on herself at some point too.

Gu-bong confirmed this and said,

“Proceeding.”

At his words, the group slowly moved forward.

As soon as I took a few steps,

Hwaaaak—!!!

Light poured down.

I slightly opened my eyes, which I had closed for a moment.

“We’re here.”

Just like last time, I found myself inside the area where the Hwasan Sect was located.