Chapter 901: Man-gye (Ten Thousand Worlds).

I couldn’t utter a single word.

The wind flowing in passed by Elder Shin and blew towards me.

The plum blossom scent carried by the wind was fragrant, but somehow it held a touch of sadness.

It’s empty. And chilly.

I kept my eyes wide, gazing only at Elder.

I was so busy trying to understand what I’d just heard that I couldn’t say anything.

‘The demonic beasts emerging from the Demonic Gate….’

Beings from worlds that vanished when a new master appeared? The information was completely unheard of, making my head spin.

When a world’s master disappears and a new one appears, the living beings of that world perish.

That was the law of this world as I knew it, the information I possessed.

However, that was it. I thought that was all there was.

‘This was connected to the Demonic Gate?’

Vanished beings don’t just disappear; they are expelled through the Demonic Gate as demonic beasts. And that…

‘We hunt them.’

The swordsmen of the Central Plains would hunt and deal with the Demonic Gates that appeared.

I had never once deeply considered what this Demonic Gate was, or what demonic beasts truly were.

The reason was simple.

‘Because there was no need to.’

It wasn’t something that required deep thought.

It was just common sense.

Although the Murim Alliance or other sects occasionally tried to observe this process in detail.

Even so, the information they obtained was minimal.

At best, it was only enough to understand the demonic beasts a little better.

In such a situation.

‘Just how deeply is this all intertwined?’

Where do the events unfolding begin and end in this entanglement?

Why do vanished beings appear as demonic beasts?

And.

‘If Elder’s words are true.’

What were those beings Elder just mentioned, the ones that almost became demonic beasts?

Also, what is this place I’m in now? The flood of information and questions made me frown.

As I was lost in all sorts of thoughts.

“Snap out of it and move. It’s not time to stop yet.”

Elder’s words made me widen my eyes. Elder Shin was already walking ahead.

I quickly followed and asked.

“If what you said, Elder, is true. What were those guys earlier?”

“I told you. They were beings that almost became demonic beasts.”

“That’s hardly an explanation that makes sense.”

If that’s all he’s going to say, what am I supposed to understand?

“If they were supposed to perish or become demonic beasts, then that leader fellow is quite strange.”

“Strange?”

Elder looked at me at my words.

“You’re wrong.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not strange. It’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“What the…”

“To have almost become a demonic beast means they aren’t demonic beasts. Therefore, wouldn’t it be right to assume that form is what they originally possessed?”

“…!”

Hearing that, I widened my eyes.

What he meant was…

“…Are those guys beings from another world who didn’t become demonic beasts?”

“That’s right.”

“Didn’t you say beings whose masters disappear become demonic beasts?”

“Apparently, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“Then how…”

Why are they here without becoming demonic beasts? As I was about to ask that.

“We’ve arrived.”

Elder cut off my words and turned his head. His attitude seemed intentionally dismissive. I frowned at this, but.

At that moment.

“…Huh?”

I let out a gasp at the sight before me. What was that now?

‘A tree?’

A huge tree appeared before my eyes.

It was so large, it felt like if it were just a bit taller, it would touch the clouds; truly a magnificent specimen.

Moreover, what were those blooming leaves?

‘Aren’t those plum blossoms?’

The specimen, filling the surroundings with its unique color, was definitely a plum tree.

Why is there a plum tree like that here?

It wasn’t just the tree. Something was set up beneath it. What was it?

‘A barrier?’

Could that really be a wall? A tree is strange enough, but what’s with the wall?

As I stood there letting out a hollow laugh at the absurd situation.

“Let’s go in.”

Elder Shin walked towards it as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you going in?”

“…Is that our destination?”

“Of course. We can’t just talk on the ground, can we?”

“…”

It didn’t really matter if it was the ground or not. The important thing wasn’t that.

Why would something like that be in a place like this? As I was about to ask that.

“I’ll tell you what you’re curious about once we get inside.”

Elder’s words made me shut my mouth tightly.

I obediently followed his broad back. However, it was too much to ask that I not ask anything at all.

At the very least, I had to ask one thing.

“Elder.”

“Hmm?”

“So, what exactly is that place?”

What kind of place was this destination?

To this question, Elder Shin chuckled and answered me.

“The Mount Hua Sect.”

“…What?”

My expression crumpled upon hearing the answer.

---

Following Elder, I approached the barrier.

It was a large wall built of stone.

I examined the wall with a strange expression.

“…Hmm.”

It really was just a wall.

I wondered if something was set up like before, but nothing was visible. It was truly a simple wall.

Would it break if I hit it? I pondered for a moment.

“You seem to be having strange thoughts? Just in case I need to say it, don’t do anything useless.”

“No, I’m not. Don’t frame me.”

I was caught.

“Tsk tsk.”

Elder clicked his tongue and looked up at the barrier.

“Open it.”

Who was he talking to? I tried to raise my senses to check.

-Oh.

Someone from above reacted to the voice. I saw a head peek out.

Their gaze briefly fell on Elder, then looked at us behind him.

-What is it? Have you brought another disciple?

Elder Shin scowled at the person’s words.

“Disciple, my foot. This colt-like fellow is far too lacking to be my disciple.”

“I have no intention of becoming one, so why are you verbally assaulting me?”

This is absurd. Who said I would?

As I wore a face like I’d eaten something foul, a vibration was felt right in front of me.

Ku-gu-gu-gong—!!!

The large gate of the barrier began to open.

It seemed quite thick, as it took a long time to open.

After waiting for a while, the iron gate finally opened, and someone walked out from inside.

‘Hmm?’

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the person who appeared.

They were quite small. If anything, their stature reached about my waist.

Seeing they had a beard on their chin, they didn’t seem like a child…

As I watched without showing it as much as possible, the small old man spoke to Elder Shin.

“Sect Leader, you’re later than I expected.”

Sect Leader?

The unexpected word made me furrow my brow. That’s not something I expected to hear here?

At the old man’s words, Elder Shin snorted.

“It was because I had to bring some foolish fellow.”

“Are you perhaps talking about me?”

“Then who else would I be talking about?”

“Well, I certainly hoped it wasn’t me.”

“You have higher expectations than I thought.”

“Your words are getting harsher.”

Just as we were about to start arguing like growling beasts.

“Well, I have a question.”

The old man tilted his head and said.

“Are you two family? You look quite alike.”

“Want to die?”

“…Don’t annoy me on our first meeting.”

“Ah, if not, then not, why are you getting angry…”

It was truly an unpleasant remark.

What could I possibly resemble about that ill-tempered old geezer?

“Comparing me to that ill-tempered brat…”

“…At least you should be cursing inwardly like me, shouldn’t you? Look, even I’m better than him-“

Kkang-!

“…Gulp!”

Shit. I got hit in the same spot again.

“This crazy old geezer…”

“What, punk?”

“…Aren’t you going inside?”

Just as we were about to ignite, the old man intervened.

“We’ll be here till dawn at this rate. The young lady over there probably thinks so too, right?”

He pointed at Cheonma. In response, Cheonma nodded with a stoic expression.

“See? Let’s go inside for now.”

“…I’ll deal with you later.”

“I won’t be looking. Why would I want to see that terrifying face?”

“Huh?”

“…Please.”

He pulled me along as if begging earnestly, so I could barely stop.

Finally, we entered the barrier.

The interior was quite spacious. Moreover, there were many people.

It was bustling everywhere.

Judging by the laughter heard here and there, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

‘This feeling is strange.’

Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes. It was because I had felt this atmosphere somewhere before.

Where did I feel this?

After pondering for a moment, it came to me.

‘Ah, that’s right.’

Shaanxi.

It felt exactly like when I arrived at the county in Shaanxi.

Back then too, I thought the bustling atmosphere wasn’t bad.

‘It’s similar.’

It’s strikingly similar to how it was back then.

That was the problem.

‘Why am I feeling this here?’

Not in the Central Plains, but the Central Plains. And the scent of Shaanxi at that. What in the world could this possibly mean?

What was even more absurd was.

‘Everyone’s small…?’

Most of the people walking around were small, like the old man earlier.

There were exceptions, but even those weren’t human.

At the very least, they were completely outside the scope of people I knew.

No, wait.

‘Actually… if we’re talking about humans, Elder is the only one.’

It was practically fine to say Elder was the only human. Because I and Cheonma didn’t seem human either.

“…Wait.”

I stopped thinking and looked around.

“Where did she go?”

Cheonma, who had been following, was nowhere to be seen. Did she run off?

‘If so, that would be fortunate.’

It would be better since I wouldn’t get involved, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

I saw a woman with black hair in the middle of the street over there.

It was Cheonma.

“What are you doing?”

What was she doing there? As I approached, she was holding something in her hand.

Was it a skewer? It looked like some kind of food.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“This.”

Instead of answering, Cheonma showed me the skewer. No… would I know just by looking at it?

“What is this? What am I supposed to do with it?”

“Eat it.”

“What?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Do you even know what this is?”

I didn’t know what kind of food it was.

It looked like an ordinary skewer, but this was undeniably a different world.

The stall owner in front reacted to my response. As expected, this person was also small.

“Since you kept staring, I gave you one to try. Just eat it. It tastes fine.”

“…No, but.”

“He says it’s delicious.”

“Hey, you haven’t eaten it, so why do you keep saying it’s delicious?”

From what I saw, it seemed like it was just given to her.

Why was she trying to give it to me first without eating it herself? When I asked that, Cheonma answered.

“Because it’s delicious. You eat first.”

“…”

What did this mean?

Was she asking me to check if it was poisoned or just normal food?

Or, was she genuinely saying it’s delicious, so I should eat it first?

Just as I was flustered, not understanding her intention.

“What are you hesitating about?”

Elder Shin had approached us before I knew it.

Seeing that, the stall owner smiled brightly.

“Oh, isn’t that the Sect Leader? It’s been a while.”

They seemed to know each other. Hearing that, Elder Shin asked calmly.

“Are you doing well?”

“Thanks to you, always well. Ah, would you like one? It’s free for the Sect Leader.”

“Sure.”

Elder casually took the skewer and took a bite. After chewing a few times, he smiled and said.

“It’s good. Try it. Just like this fellow said, it tastes quite good.”

“Aren’t you eating?”

Cheonma kept pushing the skewer towards me. Sighing, I took a bite.

It was a taste I’d never experienced before, but it was indeed good.

Only after seeing me eat did Cheonma start eating the skewer as if she’d been waiting.

‘…Was she really checking if it was okay to eat?’

Seeing her eat it right away, it seemed highly likely, but.

‘It probably wouldn’t matter anyway.’

In the first place, I have immunity to all poisons, so I wouldn’t die from eating something strange, and I’d never seen Cheonma suffer from poison in her past life either.

“It’s delicious.”

Cheonma nodded. Her expression remained unchanged, but her reaction suggested satisfaction.

Seeing that, I immediately pulled down the corners of my mouth.

Her enjoying the food reminded me of Wi Seol-ah, and I almost laughed involuntarily.

After finishing the skewer, we started moving again.

Elder Shin walked down the street at a noticeably slower pace than before.

“Sect Leader!”

“Oh! Sect Leader! Have you been well?”

“Look who it is!”

Everywhere we walked, people were busy greeting Elder Shin.

Despite those reactions, Elder Shin continued walking with a nonchalant expression.

He occasionally waved, but that was it.

‘What is this, really.’

What could this possibly be? This felt truly…

‘It feels like I’ve come to the Mount Hua Sect.’

Just as Elder said, it felt like Mount Hua. If there were martial artists here, it would be perfect-.

“Haaap!”

“Hooook!”

“Keep your lower body straight!”

“…”

…There are martial artists.

As soon as we went a bit deeper, I discovered them.

Surprisingly, martial artists existed here too.

Just like in the county, various beings were wielding wooden swords.

Moreover.

“Crazy…”

The sword techniques they used were particularly familiar. It couldn’t be helped.

Because that was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

‘Why am I seeing that here?’

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, so I asked Elder.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean?”

“What is this situation? Why… why here…”

“Are you asking if the Mount Hua Sect is here?”

“…Yes.”

Hearing my answer, Elder let out a low chuckle.

“Tsk tsk. Seeing your reaction, it’s fortunate. It seems to look similar enough.”

“This isn’t just ‘similar’…”

No matter how I looked at it, it was just the Mount Hua Sect.

The scenery I felt when I went to visit it was still present; how could I not know?

What I was curious about here was why such a space existed in this world.

Could it be?

“Did you do this, Elder?”

Did Elder Shin create this scene? Thinking that, I asked.

“Yes.”

Elder Shin answered calmly. I let out a hollow laugh.

Honestly, I asked it as a question, but I was certain.

‘If not for that guy, who else could do this?’

Suddenly, the Mount Hua Sect in another world.

In my eyes, only that old man could create something like this.

However.

“How on earth… how did you create this in just a few months?”

It was a sight that should have taken decades at the very least, yet creating it in mere months? That part was the most absurd to me.

It was because of that that I reacted with surprise.

“Months?”

Elder laughed even louder at my words than before.

His laughter made me frown. What was so funny?

“Elder?”

“Kid. How could I possibly create this in such a short time?”

“Then what is it? Did it exist originally?”

“That’s impossible. Do you know how much effort I put into creating these?”

“So, it didn’t take long in the end…”

“It took at least a hundred years.”

“…What?”

Elder’s words made me freeze.

“…What did you say?”

I thought I might have misheard, but.

“Rebuilding it from nothing, slowly establishing the foundation, setting the pillars to reach this point. That much time has passed.”

That didn’t seem right. A hundred years? What kind of nonsensical talk was this?

“That’s impossible. You disappeared for…”

“How many months did you say that was?”

Elder looked at me.

For some reason, his gaze held a sense of relief.

“Fortunately, not much time has passed.”

“…Elder?”

“Even if it was months for you, it wasn’t for me. What this means is.”

Elder reached his hand towards the sky.

With that hand, he picked up a plum blossom petal slowly falling from the sky.

The petals had been falling continuously since earlier.

They were probably falling from that giant specimen.

Elder, looking at the plum blossom petal he held, said to me.

“It means it’s been over a hundred years since I arrived here.”