Chapter 236

Chapter 236

“Your decisive judgment is needed, young benefactor. When your thoughts are organized, let me know.”

“…I understand.”

Seeing Songbyeok Jin-in, who finished speaking and went to a corner of the sand dune to sit cross-legged and rest, Baek Risan quietly turned her gaze to look directly at Nakcheon beyond the sand dune. The sight of Nakcheon feeding bugs or something to the fluffy fur bundle yokai whose names were unknown.

‘To take him and search for survivors…’

Would it be possible? More than that, would there be enough time?

Feeling her thoughts grow complicated, Baek Risan sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, which had become crumbly with sand stuck between the strands. To review the conversation they’d just had.

—Based on what you’ve said, young benefactor, I believe your companions were likely dragged to the Demonic Cult’s main base.

—…I thought that might be the case too, but… you’re quite certain. Couldn’t they be with people from another settlement? I heard there are settlements where people live in Xinjiang too.

Songbyeok Jin-in, who paused briefly, slowly continued.

—Information about Xinjiang is unfamiliar to Central Plains people. So you’re mistaken…

—It’s true there are settlements where people live. However, the people there never leave their settlements. Do you know why?

—Why?

—Because this is literally land from the Age of Myths.

—Land from the Age of… Myths?

—That’s right.

The story Songbyeok Jin-in proceeded to tell was shocking. Because endless secret histories of the Age of Myths flowed out—how humans lived in the past, what the world outside the Central Plains was like, things Central Plains people didn’t know.

—This is a fact known by extremely few even in the Central Plains.

—The heads of the prestigious Nine Sects and One Gang and Five Great Families. The Murim Alliance Leader and Evil Path Alliance Leader. And it’s only revealed to those who enter the Ten Heavens. The Seven Gates and Two Families of the Unorthodox Path have short histories and haven’t heard the news, and even Haomun, only the Gate Master knows this fact.

—…Why are you telling me this?

—Because before falling here, I heard that you are of the Divine Maiden’s bloodline, young benefactor.

—The Divine Maiden’s… bloodline.

—If this is the Demonic Cult’s scheme, and they’re trying to find the Divine Maiden’s bloodline, as long as you exist, the probability that your captured companions will be harmed is extremely low. Because they need to use them as bait to lure you into the main base. Do you understand?

—…Yes.

—Rather, not finding the Demonic Cult’s main base for a long time might be good for those companions. Moreover, if you enter inside the Demonic Cult, you’ll certainly be confined.

Once confined in the Demonic Cult’s main base, it’s the end. No matter what Baek Risan does, escaping the Demonic Cult’s main base by herself would be impossible.

Then what should she do?

—Create a debt.

—A debt…?

—That’s right. Create such a great debt to the Central Plains martial world that they cannot avoid repaying it.

Save people. To save your own life.

Saying that, Songbyeok Jin-in cut off his words.

It led to now.

“…To create a life-saving debt.”

What are all these things about the Age of Myths, Divine Maiden, yokai, and Demonic Cult?

Her head throbbing from stories she’d never heard in her life, Baek Risan sighed deeply and fell into contemplation. A situation requiring a decision.

‘Songbyeok Jin-in is right.’

Just as there’s no one fishing in a well, bait is meaningful only when there’s a target to hunt. Didn’t the ancient Grand Preceptor Jiang Taigong fish without even bait to catch not fish but an emperor… or time?

For them, the target they want to catch is Baek Risan—herself. Then as long as she isn’t captured by the Demonic Cult’s main base, the bait’s safety should be secure.

‘To create a life-saving debt…’

Would that really work?

She doesn’t know how many were transferred, but just a few, a few dozen saved wouldn’t be enough to move the Central Plains martial world. If what she heard is right, trying to rescue her from the Demonic Cult’s main base is no different from fighting the entire Demonic Cult.

She doesn’t know how many were transferred to Xinjiang, but she needs to save almost everyone for justification to stand. And even if justification stands, she’s not certain they’ll come rescue her based on that justification alone. Because engaging in all-out war with the Demonic Cult means the Central Plains martial world must accept tremendous damage.

What should she do?

—What are you thinking so deeply about?

At the sight of Nakcheon, who had quietly approached while she was hugging her knees and worrying, Baek Risan flinched and shifted her hips slightly to make room beside her. Nakcheon naturally sat down next to her.

“Just worrying a bit…”

—It seemed you were conversing. Are you contemplating that old human’s words?

“…Yeah. He asked me to help rescue people who fell into this Great Desert.”

—Rescuing humans.

Nakcheon, who muttered briefly, picked up a dried wooden block from somewhere and kindled flames. A primitive campfire quickly improvised.

—You seem to want to save people.

“Don’t you… save yokai if they’re in trouble?”

—Yokai have no kinship. And I hate yokai.

“You hate yokai? You’re a yokai yourself.”

—Yokai are detestable things. Including myself, without exception.

Primitive, one-dimensional, yet infinitely cruel and inconsiderate.

—Do you know? When yokai surpass a certain level, the higher their rank becomes, the less they attack humans.

—Those who haven’t surpassed that level are just lowly things swallowed by instinct. Even yokai who have surpassed that level are just types who think they can manipulate this world as they please. But humans are different.

Are they faithful to instinct?

Yes. Human nature is made that way. To be faithful to instinct. Naturally eating when hungry, sleeping when sleepy, embracing women when lust rises.

—Humans don’t do that.

Also, humans formed societies, formed groups, and established norms.

Saying one shouldn’t live only according to instinct.

—Law and rules are important things. Discipline in living is the heart. The reason human life evolved in various ways unlike the uniform life of yokai is for such reasons.

“…You use difficult words well.”

—…I’m a smart yokai.

Nakcheon, who curtly cut off his words, shook his head and continued.

—This doesn’t apply only to rules established by human society. Living according to the life rules you’ve set for yourself is also important. Why are you worrying?

“Well, because great sacrifice might occur because of this.”

—Can you be certain?

—You can’t be certain of anything. Then act according to your own rules. Do what you want to do the way you want to do it.

Looking at Nakcheon speaking curtly, Baek Risan, who maintained her silence, clenched her fist. What she wants to do now.

“…I want to return to the Central Plains.”

—If you want to return, then do so.

“But I also want to save my companions.”

—If you want to save them, then do so.

“This is the only method.”

A method to return to the Central Plains while also saving her companions.

There’s only one such method.

“I want to save people.”

—Is that your rule?

A moment of silence.

Baek Risan, who raised her gaze at Nakcheon’s words, looked directly into the man’s eyes visible between the black energy swirling in the cloak. Eyes that were deeply sunken yet crystal clear.

“This is my rule.”

Not giving up anything, not sacrificing herself, and ultimately reaching the best ending.

“Because I’m greedy.”

It’s a spirit inherited from Baek Riyun, perhaps from her mother who might have been the Divine Maiden’s successor, and from everyone in the Baek Ri Family.

—If that’s what you want, I’ll help.

At Baek Risan’s answer, Nakcheon, who nodded, turned his back. A gesture showing consideration for her to rest comfortably.

“Wait.”

But Baek Risan called out to stop Nakcheon.

“…I have something to ask.”

—What is it?

“What’s your rule?”

If he emphasized rules so much despite being a yokai, Nakcheon must also have a rule and act accordingly.

At the question flowing from such fragments of thought, Nakcheon briefly fell silent. And the answer that followed.

—Protecting.

—Protecting you.

“Do you mean protecting humans?”

—Well.

A bit different.

Nakcheon, who finished speaking, quietly disappeared beyond the sand dune.

Leaving only a strange bitterness.

From ancient times, Xinjiang has been rumored to be uninhabitable, but that doesn’t mean Cheongha, adjacent to Xinjiang, is easy for people to live in either. Cheongha also has many places with extreme environments.

Endlessly soaring mountain peaks and cliffs extending without end. High mountain regions where even air is sparse.

Because such environment is Cheongha’s basic foundation, there aren’t that many villages where people live in Cheongha. To begin with, it was a place with extremely few environments where people could live.

However, isn’t it said that humans are animals of adaptation?

Despite being a region difficult to survive in, people who gather in this extreme region definitely exist. Chidahyeon, located at Cheongha’s center and extending its mountain range to Kunlun, is such a place.

Just as the saying goes that where people gather, there are also Haomun members, the Black Market’s secret doors exist here too.

What does that mean?

“Is this Cheongha?”

It means this.

No matter where in the Central Plains, if you can get Haomun’s cooperation, you can easily come here through the Black Market.

“Mm.”

The Sword Sovereign, who let out a deep contemplative sound, took a step outside the Black Market and covered her nose bridge with her sleeve. Breathing that went a bit deeper and more solemnly than usual.

“The air is sparse. Though internal power is more abundant…”

“Is this your first time coming to Cheongha, Sword Sovereign?”

“Yes. The Sword Pavilion is located in the South Sea, after all. There’s rarely any reason to come this way.”

The Sword Sovereign, who finished speaking and looked around, let out a small exclamation. Because the scenery visible outside was extraordinary.

“This is… Cheongha…”

Most people, when asked to picture a ‘mountain’ in their mind, imagine a form steeped in green foliage. Because that’s all they’ve encountered that could be called mountains.

That’s not to say it isn’t a mountain. Trees grown thick, foliage abundant—that can certainly be called a mountain. Famous mountains, mountains rumored to be quite high—they don’t deviate from that. However.

Cheongha’s mountains are different.

“Pale… isn’t it?”

Cold all year round, environment where air is sparse and trees can’t easily grow.

Overwhelmed by the pale scenery unimaginable as part of a mountain range, the Sword Sovereign briefly appreciated the surrounding landscape before turning her gaze to me.

“Does it suit your taste?”

“I don’t know yet whether it suits my taste or not… I didn’t think it would be this kind of place. It certainly seems like it will be a good experience. Uicheon Sect Leader.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

At my light answer, the Sword Sovereign, who smiled bitterly, shook her head. The question that followed.

“Well, we seem to have properly arrived in Cheongha, but what happens after this? Do we rush straight to Xinjiang? Or rest?”

“Since we came through the Black Market, there shouldn’t be fatigue. I plan to start moving immediately.”

“Then we’re going to the Demonic Cult after all.”

“No.”

Seeing the Sword Sovereign steeling her resolve along with her words, I grinned and shook my head. Because there was something to do before going to the Demonic Cult.

“Have you heard this saying?”

“…What saying?”

“That a martial artist can protect the world, but a sorcerer can change the world.”

Though this martial world has stories passed down that one can become an immortal by cultivating the martial path, originally becoming an immortal was the exclusive domain of sorcerers. It means reaching the extreme of sorcery, shedding the human body, and ascending to immortality was the sorcerer’s realm.

“There’s one sorcery lineage in Cheongha.”

“A place whose mountain majesty was so deep from ancient times that it was called the mountain where immortals live. A place whose Daoist origins might be the oldest.”

“Ah……”

Seeing the Sword Sovereign, who seemed to understand what I meant and nodded blankly, I grinned.

Yes.

“We’re going to the Kunlun Sect.”

It’s time to seek cooperation.