episode_0093

Flap~!

The red flag flutters wildly due to the strong wind.

This red flag, with a pattern reminiscent of flames, is the flag of flames symbolizing Yeomga.

And under this flag of flames, flags of various sects scattered throughout the Yeom Country gathered.

This is Thousand Mountains.

In order to uproot the Human Alliance that has established itself here, all of Yeom Country’s forces have moved.

The sight of numerous sects’ and families’ flags gathering under the flag of flames was truly a spectacle.

Perhaps at this strategically important battlefield in Yeom Country’s history, Leon and his party arrived.

* * *

The great army of Yeom Country is stationed at Thousand Mountains.

I, positioned slightly away from where they were, watched the great army and widened my field of vision to the surroundings.

“So this is Thousand Mountains.”

Even excluding the appearance of Yeomga and the various sects, the scenery of this Thousand Mountains was quite unique.

‘In “The Incompetent Hero’s Success Story,” there’s no reason to come to Thousand Mountains. The story ends before that.’

To put it simply, the scenery of Thousand Mountains was the kind you’d see in Xianxia rather than Wuxia.

Certainly, many mountains came into view to the point that it was called Thousand Mountains (千山), but what stood out even more were the mountains floating in the air.

What’s more, they didn’t seem to be fixed in one place, but slowly moving with the wind.

How are they floating like that?

As I was marveling and looking around at the scenery, Lucy came running with quick steps.

“Are you amazed?”

“Yeah. It’s amazing. It’s a landscape I’ve never seen before. Especially those rocky mountains floating in the sky, what are they?”

“Those are called floating islands.”

It was White Tiger who answered my question instead of Lucy.

“Floating islands?”

“Yes. Literally, islands that float around. Basically, those are clumps of rocks or metals.”

Hmm….

Floating islands….

There wasn’t just one of the things called floating islands.

Several large and small floating islands were drifting around mysteriously.

“This place has a unique form of continental energy flow, causing many unusual phenomena to occur. So in the past, humans called this place where the gods reside, the Immortal Realm. The floating islands mentioned earlier are one of the unique phenomena that occur here.”

“Immortal Realm…. Interesting.”

Certainly, if I saw such a large rocky island floating in the sky, I would have been surprised too.

“Then I have a question, do those floating islands ever fall?”

“They do fall. However, the places where they fall are fixed. As I said before, since those floating islands are phenomena caused by the flow of continental energy, the movement of the islands also follows the flow of energy. In the flow where energy descends to the ground, the floating islands also fall downwards, and in the flow where it rises upwards, the floating islands likewise head upwards.”

I think I know what that is.

Like a superconducting train?….

“Then can’t you make them fall in places other than the fixed locations?”

“Hmm…. I think I know what you’re thinking. To make them fall artificially…, it’s not impossible, but it would be quite difficult.”

White Tiger, who had been pondering, said cautiously.

“If you break the flow with a force much stronger than the flow of the continent that makes those rocky islands float, the floating islands will also lose the power to fly and fall.”

“A force much stronger than the flow. With such a strong force, you wouldn’t be able to generate it without any warning, right?”

“I guess not.”

Since White Tiger guarantees it, that must be the case.

I can assume that there’s no chance of a surprise attack by dropping a floating rocky island, or being attacked in reverse, right?

‘No. Either way, all you have to do is break the flow. If you have a means to break the flow without anyone noticing….’

“Who’s there!”

“?”

Just as I was contemplating, some martial artists, who seemed to be patrolling the area, discovered us and drew their weapons, approaching us.

Then, after confirming White Tiger’s appearance, they hardened their expressions and shouted.

“B, beast-person!…. The Human Alliance!”

“Drop your weapons and surrender!”

“…Ugh. Annoying….”

Well….

Even if someone who doesn’t know anything sees White Tiger, who would think he’s a divine beast?

They’d just think he’s a beast-person.

“Hey. We’re not enemies.”

“How can we believe that?”

“That’s…, true.”

Even if they ask me to prove it, what can I do?

I’ll show them something…. Ah, right. I rummaged through the inventory and took out the Zhaolong Badge.

“It’s a badge symbolizing that I’m a member of Zhaolong.”

“Zha, Zhaolong?”

“If it’s Zhaolong, could it be….”

I don’t know what rank the opposing martial artists are, but since Zhaolong is a fairly well-known group directly under Yeomga even within Yeom Country, it seems to be working on them. The martial artists, who received the Zhaolong Badge I handed them and examined it, looked at me with slightly darkened expressions.

“Th, this is certainly similar to the Zhaolong Badge, but we can’t know for sure whether it’s genuine, so we need to confirm it.”

“So, I’m sorry to say, but we’ll have to detain you for a while and take you to the main camp.”

“Okay, whatever….”

Either way, I was planning to head to Yeomga’s main camp after touring Thousand Mountains.

Sooner or later, it’ll be the same in the end.

“We’ll take away your weapons to prepare for any possible situation.”

I always put the Holy Sword in the inventory, so of course there are no exposed weapons.

White Tiger and Lucy aren’t the type to carry weapons either, so they’re excluded. In the end, all that’s left is the sword that Baekryeon wears on her waist, so Baekryeon handed the sword to the martial artists with a subtle expression.

“Am I the only one handing over a weapon….”

“Because Baekryeon is the only one holding a weapon.”

“Because for a swordsman, a sword is part of their body, isn’t it?”

That’s…, true.

But what can I do? Baekryeon is the only one who has a weapon. It’s uncomfortable and cumbersome to keep carrying a sword on your waist.

It’s more convenient to put it in the inventory.

* * *

Yeom Country’s main camp where red flags flutter.

This place, facing a war with the Human Alliance, was naturally filled with a very tense atmosphere.

In that situation, we were a rather noticeable combination who had been caught, so I could tell what the people around us were thinking without even looking.

“Oh? Aren’t you Great Warrior Jang Cheon-woo?”

“?”

“Hahaha! It’s indeed Great Warrior Jang Cheon-woo! It’s been a long time!”

In that situation, a man wearing a robe with a proper mix of white and blue, walking with a slightly light gait, without hiding his confident smile, appeared.

Where did I meet him? I don’t remember meeting him?

As I didn’t know who the other person was, Baekryeon subtly hinted to me.

“Young master. You know, when we first came to Yeom Country.”

“When we first came to Yeom Country?….”

“Isn’t he the young master of the Namgoong family who we met at the end of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”

“Was that…, so?”

It’s so long ago that I don’t even remember.

Besides, if it’s about the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, it’s annoying, and I’m not thinking deeply about it, so I don’t remember anything.

Ah, if it’s the guy from the Shaolin Temple who suddenly came to the lodgings, I remember his face, but not his name.

“So his name is….”

In addition, Baekryeon also knew his face but couldn’t remember his name, so she didn’t mention the name.

However, as soon as that man appeared, the two martial artists who were escorting us tensed up and said.

“G, Great Warrior Do-gun!”

“Greetings!”

“Hmm. You are clearly martial artists from Kunlun who were assigned to the search team. Nice to meet you.”

So they were martial artists from Kunlun.

And that guy’s name was Do-gun. Since he’s from the Namgoong family, his name must be Namgoong Do-gun, right?”

“Wa, was it Namgoong Do-gun?”

“Haha! I’m honored that you remember! Nice to meet you! I heard about you from the family head. You even matched blows with the previous head of the Tang Clan, who was called the Solitary Revered. Your skills are not something I dare measure. It was a good stimulus for me to realize the breadth and depth of the world once again.”

“Ah…, yeah, whatever….”

Ugh, it’s uncomfortable.

Whether he noticed that I was uncomfortable or not.

Namgoong Do-gun slightly changed his gaze and turned his gaze to the two martial artists who were escorting me.

“By the way, why are you here? What’s more…, if I see correctly, it looks like you’re escorting him.”

“Th, that is….”

“That’s enough. Hey. This should be enough for the verification about us, right?”

He lightly cut off their words and shrugged his shoulders.

“Y, yes! It’s okay!”

“Then give Baekryeon’s sword back.”

“Here it is.”

He hurriedly handed me the sword and turned back.

Namgoong Do-gun, who stared at the figure for a moment, turned his gaze back to me.

“Well, you don’t seem to care much, but let me tell you in advance. Don’t worry too much. There was a battle recently due to contact with the Human Alliance. It’s just that everyone has become sensitive because of that.”

“I understand, so you don’t have to make excuses.”

“Haha! You’re indeed a great warrior. If you had come to the Namgoong region, I would have invited you to our family. It’s a pity.”

I lightly brushed off those words and handed the received sword back to Baekryeon.

Only after Baekryeon wore the sword on her waist did she smile contentedly and nod her head.

“By the way, who are these beauties? They are a bit different from the ones I saw at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”

“It just happened that way.”

“That’s good. The heads of each family and the sect leaders were gathering to discuss future plans, so I’ll guide you there.”

“Please.”

After that, following Namgoong Do-gun’s guidance, we arrived in front of a tent that anyone would think was special.

“I can feel the energy of the Vermilion Bird inside this.”

“Then this is definitely the place.”

The Vermilion Bird seems to be staying by the side of the Flame Emperor, so this must be the right place.

“Namgoong’s young master, Namgoong Do-gun. Great Warrior Jang Cheon-woo of Zhaolong has arrived here and I have brought him.”

“Come in.”

With the permission from within, I entered the tent.

And there, the sect leaders and family heads who support Yeom Country were gathered, and the young Flame Emperor and the Vermilion Bird with impressive red hair were visible at the head seat.

“…White Tiger.”

“It’s been a while. Vermilion Bird.”

“Hmph.”

The gazes of the two divine beasts met, and I lightly spoke.

“I’m Leon, a hero from another country and currently working as a member of Yeomga’s Zhaolong. Nice to meet you all.”

The time to be polite has passed.

Now I will definitely take control of this situation.