Chapter 613: Biwoegun.

What is it? Why the reaction?

“A fiancée…? Do you even know who she is?”

“How would I know that? I just heard she exists.”

“Ah…”

You don’t look so good.

I don’t know why, but it’s certain he didn’t even know he had a fiancée.

Does that guy really exist?

“This isn’t important, so let’s move on.”

“No, I think we still need to talk more…!”

“Still no one you suspect?”

I asked, picking up the pace a little.

At this, I felt Yuri’s grip tighten on his collar.

Suspicion. It was something I’d asked Yuri about when I first came to the Northern Sea.

If things have gotten this tangled, it seems likely someone among the blood relatives participated in the rebellion. Isn’t there anyone you suspect?

When I asked that, Yuri answered no.

“Things might have changed by now, right?”

“…”

Now, it’s certain that someone among the blood relatives plotted rebellion.

So, I asked again.

“…Well.”

Yuri’s reaction was strange.

“It seems someone comes to mind, doesn’t it?”

It looked like there was something.

“…No.”

“I’m serious this time. If you don’t tell me, I’ll really leave you behind.”

“…”

This time, I really mean it.

If you won’t even say this, it’s right to just get rid of you.

“Hmm.”

Still, no answer came.

Just as I was about to release the strength I was exerting and toss him aside carelessly.

“W-well, it’s not a definite story.”

Only then did Yuri speak up.

“It’s just… a suspicion…”

“What are you trying to sugarcoat? I’ve been asking since earlier. Isn’t there anyone you suspect?”

Who asked for the answer? I asked for options from the start.

“…”

At those words, Yuri hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke to me.

“…Second Young Master.”

“Second Young Master?”

Is that the person who’s supposed to be the Palace Lord’s second child?

“The reason?”

“Because he’s the most likely candidate…”

Hearing Yuri’s words, I nodded slightly.

It was a reason sufficient for understanding.

By generation, the successor is usually the eldest son.

The story of the second son drawing his sword to gain that position.

It’s a story told far too often.

Second Young Master, harboring resentment over such matters, helped the rebellion.

In a way, it’s the most plausible story.

“You’re not suspecting him based on that alone, are you?”

“…”

Seeing Yuri’s reaction, it seemed it wasn’t just that.

When I asked with that intention.

“…Second Young Master brother always had many complaints.”

Right.

As expected, Yuri added the reason.

“First Young Master brother was already set to be the Young Palace Lord, but… in terms of talent, Second Young Master brother was more outstanding.”

“So he had many complaints.”

“Yes. He always lamented not being able to become the Palace Lord due to the position being decided from birth.”

Seeing that, you immediately thought of Second Young Master upon hearing that a blood relative was involved in the rebellion?

‘It’s enough reason to be suspicious.’

The talented second son.

The first son, relatively less capable but secured the position due to being the eldest.

Thus, the second son harbors resentment and starts a rebellion.

‘It’s a story I’ve heard too many times.’

I nodded.

It’s information worth keeping in mind.

I slightly tightened the hand that was loosening.

“Haa…”

Then Yuri let out a sigh.

He probably realized he was in danger.

I felt it last time too, he seems quick-witted.

We have at most half an hour left.

As the energy grew denser, I increased the speed a bit more.

“…May I ask something too?”

In that moment, Yuri asked me a question.

“What is it?”

Is he going to ask about the fiancée matter from earlier?

Just as I thought that.

“How did you get out of the hideout?”

“What?”

My concentration almost broke at the rather abrupt question.

“What do you mean, ‘how did I get out’?”

I just came out, what do you mean ‘how’?

As I said, sounding incredulous, Yuri replied with a strange look.

“The hideout… has a high-level sorcery placed upon it. Unless you’re of the bloodline and know the designated path, you wouldn’t be able to enter or move around easily…”

“…What?”

I had to frown at Yuri’s words.

Sorcery? Not a formation, but sorcery.

‘That’s what the Divine Doctor used.’

A few years ago. It was a technique I saw when treating Zhuge Hyuk with the white horse stone.

I remember it being something similar yet different from the formations others use.

It didn’t use complex calculations like formations.

Using it involved waving hands a few times, conjuring a mystical sight along with energy.

Immediately after, the white horse stone used as a sacrifice disappeared, and Zhuge Hyuk regained his speech.

Although the Divine Doctor was unconscious for over half a month afterward, it was undeniably a wondrous power.

How could that be? Even when I asked, the Divine Doctor didn’t answer.

Such power.

‘Was in that cave?’

I didn’t feel anything at all?

Far from being difficult to navigate, I moved around quite easily and even found the entrance without trouble, didn’t I?

‘…Wait.’

As I was recalling that, the moment I parted ways with the White Lotus Sword came to mind.

Looking at me as I left that day, the White Lotus Sword seemed not to follow for some reason.

At the time, I thought it was just because I didn’t intend to hold onto it.

‘What if it just missed?’

If it missed because it couldn’t catch me, that made sense.

Moreover.

‘It felt like there were too few guards around.’

I felt the number of sentries inside and outside the hideout was significantly low.

At first, I thought maybe the reduced manpower was due to the urgent need to evacuate.

If this was also possible thanks to the sorcery, it fits roughly.

The problem is.

‘Why couldn’t I feel it?’

If Yuri is right, I should have felt something.

How could I not have felt anything?

As the question crossed my mind.

Tak.

I stopped my running steps.

“Gu Gong–?”

“…Be quiet.”

I cut off Yuri’s question.

“I think we’ve reached the destination.”

“Yes?”

Hearing my words, Yuri’s eyes widened.

“…Here?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s… nothing here?”

The blizzard was still raging under the black sky.

It obscured vision, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Amidst that, it was a vast plain covered only in snow in all directions, so it was natural for Yuri to look strangely at me.

“No, this is it.”

I could tell.

Seuk.

I reached out my hand.

As I swiped through the air a little ahead.

Woong-!

Something was felt at my fingertips. At first, I thought it was a barrier, but unlike that, it felt like ripples.

Is it a formation?

Or something else.

I don’t know that much yet, but what’s certain is.

‘I can feel this?’

The fact that a subtle sensation, which I wouldn’t normally have felt, is being perceived throughout my entire body.

Instead, I should be looking at Yuri with wonder.

How can he not feel such a dense and clear sensation?

No, normally, I wouldn’t have felt this either.

Even when Namgung Bi-ah split the Black Night Palace’s formation.

And when Woo Hyuk found the entrance to the Dragon Vein Pavilion’s secret passage.

Unlike them, I couldn’t feel such things.

Then, the fact that I can feel this now…

‘It seems.’

Tsk…

Simultaneously with awakening the Heart Fist, it seems some change has occurred within me.

How strange.

‘Is this the feeling?’

Hearing things from formations, smelling things.

I couldn’t understand what kind of bullshit that was. But now, a little…

‘No, I still don’t get that part.’

Smells and sounds were still things I didn’t understand.

But at least, I can vaguely understand now.

I immediately looked at Yuri and asked.

“Do you know where this is?”

“…I don’t know.”

To my question, Yuri shook his head.

With nothing but a snowfield in all directions, there was no way to know the location.

Moreover, since we walked relying only on energy, it’s only natural he wouldn’t know.

“Really, this is the destination?”

“Yeah.”

It’s beyond this.

Woong-! Woong-!

I can clearly feel vibrations from beyond this.

Whoook-!

I released energy, spreading it around the surroundings.

I did it just in case there were enemies, but unfortunately, I didn’t sense any.

I swiped my hand through the shimmering ripples a few more times.

I tried to delve a little deeper after that.

Pajijik-!

My hand was pushed back by an unknown pressure.

“Hmm.”

What should I do?

It seems I can’t just enter.

‘Can’t I find a gap like those guys did?’

Like Namgung Bi-ah or Woo Hyuk did. Can’t I cut through it with my sword?

I looked at the ripples ahead with that intention.

‘No matter how I look, I don’t see anything like that…’

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see anything like that.

So, what should I do?

I can’t just pass through.

I don’t see any gaps to break through.

Should I even try to dismantle this?

I was certain. If I tried something like that, let alone succeed, it would be impossible within tonight.

So, what should I do?

Should I just go back like this?

‘I can’t do that.’

Having come this far, I won’t turn back.

Moreover, how can I turn back when I can feel vibrations from beyond?

My brain feels it beyond this barrier.

Knowing that, and then turning back?

There’s no way I can do that.

“Gu Gongja…?”

I twisted my waist slightly.

I clenched my fist.

‘Will it work?’

I don’t know.

Even as I took the stance, I was filled with doubt.

How to use it. Whether I can use it again. I’ve never even properly grasped it after regaining my senses.

I just have to believe.

That I can do it.

That’s all I could do, believe.

“When there’s no other way.”

You just have to choose the simplest method.

If you can’t figure it out with your head, just break it first.

That was the method that suited me best.

Woong-!

Something emerged from my heart and wrapped around my fist.

In an instant, an immense emptiness washed over me.

Feeling that.

“You just have to go at it primitively.”

I thrust my fist towards the ripples.

Heart Fist (心拳).

Hwaahwak-!

---

Kuwung—!!

For a moment, immense vibrations were felt all around.

Because of that.

“…!”

Namgung Bi-ah, who had barely fallen asleep, opened her eyes.

And she shot upright, looking somewhere.

“Ah…?”

In an instant, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t help it.

The stench that had started emanating again after losing its ‘mask’.

Was no longer felt.