Chapter 1022: The Divine Tree and the Master.

Judging by its size, the tree was several times larger than others.

It was more than sufficient even to be called a great tree. It was only smaller than the Sacred Tree established at the Hwasan Sect, but its appearance was such that one couldn’t think of it as a common tree.

Moreover.

‘What is it that’s so black?’

The tree was inexplicably black. Not just the leaves, but the entire thing, right down to the base of the tree.

It looked as if it had been burned once by fire.

Visually, it certainly seemed that way, but…

‘…Just because it looks that way doesn’t mean it really is.’

It wasn’t a dead tree, either. I was certain. Because if it were a tree burnt to death, it shouldn’t feel this alive.

Was it just vitality? This wasn’t just vitality.

Woowoong.

My heart was involuntarily resonating, feeling something refreshing and sacred from that tree.

This was something I had felt from the Sacred Tree at the Hwasan Sect, and also from the Sacred Tree I saw in Ya-wol.

So.

‘That’s the Sacred Tree. That’s what this means.’

It also meant that the black, murky tree was precisely the Sacred Tree of Maryeong Mountain.

Although it didn’t match the appearance of a Sacred Tree at all, as I learned in Ya-wol, Sacred Trees seemed unrelated to their appearance.

“…….”

Chul-bak.

I slowly moved my steps. My feet entered the lovely lake.

The water wasn’t very deep.

As if mesmerized, I approached the tree.

I just climbed straight up the hill. Seeing it up close, the Sacred Tree was even more enormous.

Looking at it, I reached out my hand. Just as I was about to touch the tree.

“……I first offer my apologies for making such an esteemed personage personally grace us with your presence.”

A voice was heard from near the tree.

Hearing that, I paused my hand for a moment. I shifted my gaze towards where the sound had come from.

It was right next to the tree. Perhaps it was because I was unconsciously mesmerized by the Sacred Tree. I hadn’t even noticed that someone was sitting there.

“Was your journey here without any inconvenience?”

The person cautiously addressing me. Looking at him, I asked.

“Yeongnyeong?”

In response to my question, the person who had been sitting slowly rose. The figure, staggering as they stood, shifted their position and knelt before me.

“This lowly one meets the great one.”

“Are you Yeongnyeong?”

“Yes……. It is an honor that you remember me.”

“…….”

I was momentarily speechless.

I had met the being who had referred to themselves as Yeongnyeong in the form of a butterfly, but…

‘It’s a kid.’

Now that I met them, they looked extremely young. How old are they? Visually, they looked no older than ten.

‘…No.’

Of course, one can’t determine age just by appearance, but still… Isn’t this a bit excessive?

The one who introduced themselves as Yeongnyeong looked to be barely past six or seven, wearing long white clothes.

And their eyes were covered with a white band, the same color as their clothes.

“……What in the world are you?”

I wondered what their identity was. What on earth was their identity, that they noticed me the moment I entered and approached?

When I asked about this, Yeongnyeong immediately answered me.

“I am the shamaness guarding this place’s Sacred Tree.”

“……A shamaness?”

If it’s a shamaness, is it the kind I know?

I had heard that in the past, there were often people who detached their souls and carried karma, but…

That too, it was known, had disappeared shortly after the birth of Magyeongmun. The reason for that must have been the decline of believers in gods along with the strange phenomenon called Magyeongmun.

‘But a shamaness.’

Do such beings still remain in Man-gye?

Then.

“How did the shamaness know about me and bring me here?”

With what intention, and how did this Yeongnyeong know to come looking for me? I was curious about that.

“The spirit of the Sacred Tree spoke…….”

“The Sacred Tree’s spirit?”

At those words, I looked at the black Sacred Tree. I didn’t think about anything else regarding the spirit Yeongnyeong mentioned. Because judging by the situation, anyone could see it was this guy.

“A Great Being has arrived, so greet them with utmost devotion…… the Sacred Tree said so.”

“…….”

That damned Great Being. It was an extremely awkward word.

‘…So the Sacred Tree informed them that I had arrived.’

Could that statement be true?

It was ridiculous enough that there was a shamaness at the Sacred Tree, but that this Sacred Tree informed Yeongnyeong that I would come! Should I readily believe this?

Around the time I was pondering this.

“Oh, Great Being.”

Yeongnyeong called me.

“That damned Great……”

“May I dare to ask a question?”

“……Ask away.”

Just hearing that, I decided I should ask them to use a different title. Thinking so, I waited for Yeongnyeong’s question.

Then.

“This lowly servant asks…… which world(s) the Great Being embraces. I wish to ask that.”

“……Hm?”

Hearing the words, I frowned.

What?

“……Embracing worlds? What does that mean?”

“Yes?”

To my question, the shamaness lifted her head. Strangely, even though her eyes were covered, I could feel a flustered expression.

“Because you are the master of other worlds, I wanted to know where they are.”

“……What?”

Hearing that, I widened my eyes.

“Master? Why me?”

Suddenly calling me Master? It was incomprehensible.

So when I asked again. Yeongnyeong tilted her head and said.

“I see that you possess wood (木) in your soul and have also contained worlds. Humbly speaking, I know well that only masters who embrace other realms possess such brilliance…….”

“…….”

Yeongnyeong lowered her head again and spoke. Judging by her demeanor, Yeongnyeong seemed to think I was testing her.

But.

‘…What is this talk?’

Naturally, from my perspective, there wasn’t even a shred of intention to test her. I was truly sincere.

‘Me, the master?’

The words ‘master’ that Yeongnyeong spoke. That began to stir up my insides, which had barely calmed down.

Suppressing my trembling eyes, I turned around.

It was to find Cheonma.

I wasn’t looking for an answer. I unconsciously, habitually turned my gaze. Damn it, it seemed I had developed such a habit.

So, as I looked at the place where Cheonma should be.

‘Huh?’

My body froze on the spot.

I couldn’t help it.

Cheonma, who had clearly been following me until just now.

‘Where did they go?’

Because they had disappeared without a trace.

---

Hwaaaaaa–!!

The highest place in Maryeong Mountain.

Because the altitude was high, it was a location where strong winds blew exceptionally. It was a place high enough to reach the clouds if things went slightly wrong, but…

Someone was sitting at the edge of such a cliff.

It was a woman with long black hair.

She quietly had her eyes closed, as if enjoying the blowing wind. Occasionally, she’d tuck a strand of her fluttering hair behind her ear, and that was about it.

After that, she continued to feel the wind with her eyes closed, and then, not long after, she opened her eyes and looked down.

Although it looked like an ordinary rocky mountain, in the woman’s eyes, the interior of the rock was entirely visible.

Focusing a little more, she saw the prepared hill, the black tree, and then a young man standing before them with a rather anxious face.

“Haha.”

Seeing that, the woman unconsciously let out a laugh.

That expression was so amusing. She burst out laughing without realizing it.

“Why doesn’t that face ever change?”

No matter how many times passed.

Or how many times flowed by.

Even after experiencing it countless times, again and again.

That expression doesn’t change.

Truly consistent.

It’s the expression made when flustered or bewildered.

It was also a face I never got tired of seeing, despite seeing it so often.

“It’s a relief.”

Because there was something that hadn’t changed, even though many things had changed and been forgotten. The woman thought that was truly fortunate.

Perched on the edge of the rock, she swung her dangling toes back and forth.

As much as I wanted to stay by their side a little longer, unfortunately, now wasn’t the time for that.

The allotted time was too short.

It would be exceedingly meager and insufficient to utilize for my own desires.

So, I wanted to take them in, even from afar, for a short while.

Although oblivion had shattered my heart and blinded my eyes.

As always, the woman found this enough.

“…….”

Thus, while continuously taking in the young man, the woman turned her head not long after and looked behind her.

Someone was standing in a place where there had been nothing right up until just before.

The woman was not surprised. Because she had expected this.

Seeing the person standing there, the woman stood up.

“Hello.”

The woman offered a greeting first, but the other party did not answer.

They were just gazing quietly at the woman, wearing a black mask.

At this, the woman smiled slightly.

“I’m like that too, but…….”

As she spoke, the woman approached. Even as the distance narrowed, the other party did not move.

“You really are too.”

White fingertips reached out and grabbed the other party’s mask.

Ttal-kak.

With a click, the mask came off the face.

The face inside was revealed to the world.

“You uselessly resemble my taste in men, which is why things ended up like this.”

The faces of the two people were identical.

The only difference was the color of their eyes and hair.

Other than that, everything was the same.

“What should I call you? What would you like me to call you?”

“…….”

The woman asked, even though she knew an answer wouldn’t come.

Actually, she didn’t even intend to hear the answer.

“Saying ‘Have we been well?’ feels too regrettable. Saying ‘It’s been a while’ feels absurd. We’re not even the kind of people who can apologize.”

And certainly not the kind to say thank you.

That’s how it was for each other.

“So, shall we just keep it casual?”

So there’s only one thing to say.

“Hello?”

Just like the first time the woman spoke to the other party, she uttered the same words this time.

“Younger sibling.”

“…….”

The woman offered a greeting to her other half, whom they had already killed and been killed by countless times.