Chapter 1251: Scorched World

A large wall.

It was a wall so blatantly obvious that the term ‘hiding place’ felt like a joke.

The huge wall, which made me wonder just how high it was, was so distinct it could be seen clearly even from afar.

“……That’s a hiding place?”

No matter how I looked, I couldn’t understand. Could that possibly be called a hiding place…? As far as I could see, it wasn’t a hiding place.

As I looked at Poison Phoenix with that question in mind.

“They probably knew we were coming.”

She uttered the doubtful words.

“Knew?”

“Yes. Normally, it shouldn’t have been visible.”

“……Hmm.”

Hearing that, I nodded.

‘Indeed.’

I did feel eyes on me on the way here.

I didn’t particularly want to exert myself, and there was no hostility, so I just let it be.

‘Is that why.’

The fact that the large wall is visible now. And.

‘The fact that it wasn’t visible originally.’

It also meant that something existed which could hide its nature.

‘It’s probably a formation, with high probability.’

I was curious about how they were using a formation capable of covering all of that.

“…Let’s go for now.”

Poison Phoenix said with a tense expression. It wasn’t just her; all the companions who came together had grim expressions.

Why?

I wondered what on earth the circumstances were that made them act like this.

“Poison Phoenix.”

As I approached the building, someone came towards us.

“Welcome.”

“…It’s been a long time.”

Poison Phoenix accepted the man’s greeting. Looking closely, it was a face I felt I’d seen somewhere before.

‘Who is it?’

I really didn’t know? As I squinted my eyes, looking at the man’s face for a long time.

‘Ah.’

I remembered.

‘He’s a warrior from the Cheollyong Corps.’

He was a warrior who belonged to the Cheollyong Corps. I didn’t remember his name. He didn’t seem like someone worth remembering.

“…I heard talk that you were coming. The Young Master is looking for you. The others, come inside too.”

Everyone started entering the wall like that. As I was about to follow them in.

“Wait.”

The man stopped me.

“You’re not in the information we have. Who are you?”

He asked suspiciously. At his words, Poison Phoenix came forward and stood in front of me.

“He’s someone we brought in recently. Young Master Baek Yangcheon.”

“…Baek Yangcheon? Hold on.”

Hearing the name, he looked at me.

“No way.”

“That’s right. He’s the disciple of Elder Paejon.”

“Huh. You were alive?”

His eyes seemed to ask where I’d been for the past year.

“I’ll vouch for his identity. Will that be okay?”

“That won’t do. The Young Master ordered that any new individuals must go through confirmation procedures. If not…”

He left the rest unsaid. However, I could tell that meant ‘get out’.

“I’m sorry to say, but it’s impossible without confirmation. And even more so if there’s any reason confirmation can’t be done.”

“…”

Poison Phoenix frowned. It meant this wasn’t the time to force the issue.

Just then, I cut in.

“Then we can just do the confirmation procedure. What do I need to do?”

If it wasn’t allowed, couldn’t we just get confirmed? At my words, Poison Phoenix hesitated.

“That’s right. If so, first, I’ll ascertain whether you’re a Sado.”

After saying that, the man abruptly drew his sword.

Shing–

Just as I wondered why he drew his sword.

“Give me a wound. I need to see blood.”

“Blood?”

As I wondered why he suddenly needed to see blood.

“-Sados don’t shed blood.”

“…Ah.”

Poison Phoenix explained. Sados don’t shed blood?

‘Did Chu Yeongyeon do that?’

Thinking back, when their arm was torn off or when they were hit by attacks, it seemed like they didn’t shed blood.

How curious?

“-Young Master. Given your current state, it might be better to just leave-“

Poison Phoenix said, sounding worried, but…

Slice.

Without hesitation, I brought the back of my hand to the sword and slashed it.

Drip…

Blood flowed. Bright red blood dripped onto the floor.

“Huh?”

Tang Cheongi, who was watching, exclaimed. Then he covered his mouth with his hand. It seemed he’d blurted it out unintentionally.

The man didn’t seem particularly surprised. His expression showed he hadn’t even considered the possibility of me being a Sado or a monster in the first place.

“The first step is done. Then…”

He seemed to intend to do something else as a second step, pulling something out from his pocket. That’s…

‘Handcuffs?’

They were handcuffs. Specifically, the same ones Tang Cheongi had put on me. Seeing this, I hesitated for a moment.

I felt like I shouldn’t accept these. Because I had a feeling that whole mess would happen again.

‘But.’

If I don’t accept them now anyway, isn’t it the same result? Oh. Right.

‘I’m screwed.’

As I figured out the situation, I swallowed dryly. Why is that damn thing so common?

Just as I hesitated, seeing the handcuffs slowly approaching.

“Squad Leader Moon.”

Someone appeared from behind and spoke to the man. He seemed to be another warrior.

“What is it?”

“The Young Master sent word telling me to send you up immediately.”

“…Immediately?”

The man frowned. He told you to send them up when the confirmation procedures weren’t even finished?

“Is it true the Master said that?”

“Yes. He said to just send you up.”

“…Huh. Well, this is something.”

While showing a reaction of incomprehension, the man gestured.

“…Go on up.”

At his words, Poison Phoenix let out a tiny sigh beside me. Seeing that, I too released the energy I had gathered in my hand. I had prepared it just in case. Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn’t need to use it.

“Follow me.”

Following the guide, we entered the interior.

---

As I stepped inside the wall, I could see.

‘It’s a small town.’

It felt different from the start compared to the hiding place Poison Phoenix was in. It wasn’t just crudely set up to barely survive; it was a whole town. Perhaps even a city. If comparing it to Hanam, it looked like the level of a secluded spot in a county.

‘This…’

Could they really have accomplished this in just one year? I could hardly believe it. Moreover, there were quite a few people.

‘There are so many people.’

“What’s with this number of people?”

‘…Are there this many people who were transferred?’

Quite a few people were needed to form the town. Even so, could this many people really have been transferred?

‘Back then.’

Were the people in the audience seats transferred, not just those around the martial arts stage?

‘The probability is high.’

If calculated that way, it would have been hundreds, at the very least. Since the number of people within the Murim Alliance would have been large.

Then.

Vooooom—!!!

‘What’s that?’

Making a vibrating sound, something began to be cast around the wall. As the space distorted, I saw something like a curtain being set up.

‘It’s a formation.’

So that’s what it is.

‘The thing that makes this area invisible.’

A screen hiding a hiding place of this size. That seemed to be exactly it.

As I walked, staring intently at the formation being cast.

“We’ve arrived.”

The person guiding us said, looking at us.

“Go inside. The Young Master is waiting inside.”

Along with his words, he pulled open the iron gate.

Creak–!

As the gate opened, the space inside came into view. The ground wasn’t decorated much, and weeds were overgrown. It was obvious the path had only been barely cleared. Whether they managed it carelessly, or simply lacked the leeway to do better.

‘As far as I can see, it’s the latter.’

If I were to assess it, it was the latter. That is, if I were to grasp the personality of the person who owns this place.

I walked slowly along the dilapidated path. After walking a bit further.

“That’s far enough.”

A sharp voice stopped us in our tracks.

“Further approach is forbidden.”

I looked up at the warning. The owner of the voice came into view. This time, it was definitely someone I knew.

That man…

‘It’s the Cheollyong Commander.’

The Commander of the Cheollyong Corps. He was the person in charge who came to the martial arts tournament.

“…Commander.”

“It’s been a while.”

Tang Cheongi called out to him, and the Cheollyong Commander acknowledged him.

“I thought you wouldn’t come back again. You’ve returned.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Poison Phoenix also greeted him. The Commander cast a brief glance at Poison Phoenix before looking at me.

“…Baek Yangcheon.”

“Hello.”

He seemed to remember me.

“I thought you were dead. You were alive.”

“Yes. I managed to stay alive somehow.”

“…Hmm.”

The Cheollyong Commander looked down on me with a rather disdainful gaze.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Um…”

I scratched my cheek in response to the question.

“Is this something I need to answer?”

“What?”

“No, I just thought it would be more appropriate to speak to the person in charge.”

The person in charge wasn’t the Cheollyong Commander anyway. Mentioning that caused his brow to furrow. However.

“You’re right.”

Afterwards, he nodded calmly.

“Right, it’s correct to explain to the person in charge.”

The Cheollyong Commander moved slightly aside. Then.

Thump, thump.

Footsteps were heard from inside. A familiar presence and senses came alive, and an alluring floral scent brushed against the tip of my nose. Afterwards, a woman appeared from beyond the darkness within the quarters. With features as cold as the world and hair tied up carelessly. Though not adorned, she gave off a strong, unique aura.

Mi Hyoran.

It was her.

As if familiar with the place, she sat down on the chair placed before them, and then.

“Glad to see you.”

She greeted us with a nod.

“…Young Master.”

Poison Phoenix frowned as she looked at her.

“Poison Phoenix. I seem to recall you boasting you’d never come back… So what brings you here again? What happened?”

Clench.

At Mi Hyoran’s words, I could see Poison Phoenix clenching her fist. She looked utterly resentful.

“A Sado attacked us…”

“An attack…? Who?”

“It was Chu Yangyeon.”

“Hmm.”

Mi Hyoran’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Chu Yangyeon’s attack.

“But how did you survive?”

The unspoken implication – ‘You couldn’t possibly have survived on your own, could you?’ – was clearly felt. Seeing that, Poison Phoenix looked at me without denying it.

“Young Master Baek saved us.”

“Young Master Baek.”

Mi Hyoran’s gaze turned to me. I hesitated for a moment after meeting it.

‘Her eyes.’

They were chilling. I felt no emotion whatsoever. She was always like that, but strangely, that feeling was more intense now.

“I see. It’s that person.”

Truly emotionless. She seemed unable to recall anything, even looking at me.

Why did she feel like that? Before Mi Hyoran could say anything further.

“I have just one question.”

I cut her off. I had something I was curious about.

“What is it?”

“Where is our Commander?”

Father. I thought Father would be with Mi Hyoran. Of course, Mother too. Or rather, I thought Mi Hyoran might know his whereabouts. I asked with that intention.

“Young Master Baek…”

Poison Phoenix and the others hesitated too. What was it? Was it something I shouldn’t have asked? Just as confusion dawned.

“That person?”

Mi Hyoran said.

“He’s dead.”

“…What?”

Hearing the answer, I froze.

“Dead?”

Father’s dead?

The moment I heard that.

“Haha.”

Along with laughter.

“What bullshit.”

WHOOSH—!!!

I involuntarily unleashed my killing intent.