Chapter 261

Chapter 261

The deliberations continued for a long time.

“If winning through combat doesn’t work, how about infiltrating? If we have Jeokyeol-nim’s concealment technique…”

“Not a bad idea, but well, I can’t guarantee definite success. Yokai with firmly established territories usually have tremendously superior detection abilities. I alone might be one thing, but with this many people, I can’t be confident my Eunjamsul can definitely hide us all, can I?”

“…Anyway, as long as we just reach the summit, everything’s resolved, isn’t it? Then there’s also the method of using full-power Qinggong to pass through the territories and reach the summit.”

“Co, commotion spreads quickly. We might pass through one or two yokai territories quickly, but we’ll soon be caught. If that happens, it’s truly the end…”

“Hmm.”

At every suggestion, one or two plausible counterarguments emerged, and the entire party wore troubled expressions as they fell into deep thought. And watching such a party, Wangpal blankly turned his gaze to the surroundings.

‘This is on top of a turtle’s back…’

Trees rooted in the shell grew endlessly, and hardened shell protruded everywhere like rocks. Except for the ground shaking slightly each time Sangwi itself took a step, one could even call it just a mountain with good scenery.

‘Creatures other than yokai seem to live here too.’

At a rustling sound, Wangpal turned his gaze and watched small animals like rabbits and weasels running between the bushes, harboring impressions, when a thought suddenly struck him and he clapped his fist into his palm. At that small sound, everyone’s attention gathered.

“What is it, junior brother? Did you come up with a good idea?”

“No, I wouldn’t call it a plan, but…”

“But?”

“Wouldn’t it work to follow animal paths…?”

“Hmm?”

At Wangpal’s words, Jeokyeol’s eyes briefly widened as she turned her gaze, confirmed something that caught her eye, and let out a groan. Something flashing in her mind.

“I see. There was such a method.”

“What method?”

“Exactly what Wangpal said. Following animal paths.”

“Animal paths?”

“Do you know how ordinary mountains generally operate?”

“…No?”

“Most mountains have strong beasts dividing territories and controlling them. Just as humans divide territories by faction and split profits.”

In this mountain lives a white tiger with a body the size of a house, in that mountain lives a black bear with a body length approaching one jang.

Beasts determine each other’s territories that way, like humans, and punish those who invade. Even for beasts with less intelligence than humans, the concept of hunting grounds exists, and if there’s someone who steals that hunting ground and intercepts prey, their own food decreases.

“What’s important is that these territories aren’t divided by clear lines like human factions but are ambiguous domains.”

“What do you mean?”

“Normally there’s something like a neutral zone that isn’t anyone’s territory. You can’t determine this place is someone’s territory and this place is someone else’s territory just by a difference of one jang.”

“Ah…”

Yokai have neither countries nor laws. Because yokai are most honest with their desires.

Therefore, yokai law resembles beast law. Like the law of the jungle, and their territories too. If they don’t have buffer zones between them, countless collisions will obviously occur.

“I understand there are buffer zones… but what does that have to do with the current situation? We have no way of distinguishing yokai territories.”

“That would be true. Yokai don’t completely exterminate all animals within their territories.”

“Then…”

“But let’s think in reverse. Even if yokai don’t completely exterminate animals, if there are cases where they do completely exterminate ‘certain animals,’ what would those cases be?”

“…Ah.”

“Right.”

Predators who become objects of fear. And thus steal the fear that should come to them.

“In yokai territories, it’s quite hard to find predators like tigers or bears. Then if we follow traces of such creatures in reverse?”

“We can avoid yokai territories!”

“Right.”

Yokai who diligently guard their territories will meticulously eliminate predators so it won’t be dangerous, and if they’re yokai who don’t eliminate predators, they don’t have great attachment to their territory, so Jeokyeol’s Eunjamsul should sufficiently avoid them.

“This method seems best. Any objections?”

“I’m good with it.”

“Tha, that seems best.”

“I agree.”

“Good. Then.”

After gathering the other three’s opinions and receiving unanimous approval, Jeokyeol nodded and turned her gaze upward.

“Let’s try climbing to the summit within two days.”

***

Just as there are no identical people in this world, yokai too each have their own personalities.

Some yokai live making it their pleasure to startle others, some prefer operating secretly from behind without revealing themselves, and some yokai live for the pleasure of raising small things.

Faithful to desire. Not accepting laws and judging for themselves—except for those ability-related aspects, yokai aren’t much different from humans. And.

“I’m going mad. Absolutely mad.”

Tuhui, a yokai living on Sangwi’s back, was a yokai that lived feeding on jealousy.

Having burned jealousy as fuel for a full ten thousand years.

Kaddeuk!

“It should be about time… time they should come…”

Sangwi’s back. The middle of a mountain range.

From inside a dark forest, Tuhui looked up at the sky through her thick hair and trembled while biting her nails. Surging anxiety.

‘What if it doesn’t flow according to celestial energy? What if I read it wrong…?’

Kaddeuk. Kaddeuk.

Confirming the anxiety steadily multiplying, Tuhui bit and crushed her nails. Because she simply couldn’t calm down.

Humans think all great yokai who have lived ten thousand years are proficient in magic arts, but in reality, such great yokai rarely use magic arts.

That’s because for great yokai who have lived ten thousand years, no such thing as a match exists. Born as a strong being from birth, living as a strong being for ten thousand years. No need to learn tricks.

Magic arts or martial arts—such tricks are needed ultimately because one feels insufficient in their innate strength. And great yokai don’t feel insufficient in strength. So normally, great yokai have no reason to learn magic arts.

This story didn’t apply to Tuhui.

Because the opponent she desperately wanted to overthrow was learning magic arts.

To follow even her footsteps, she herself had to learn tricks too.

“That bitch…”

Heukya. The darkest night among all yokai, the ominous star, and the fearsome fang.

When that yokai was gravely wounded by a mere human livestock one day and went into seclusion, Tuhui leaped with joy. When, not even fully recovered and with yokai energy completely removed, she committed the eccentric act of creating a massive Demon Realm called Sinseongok in Jungwon, Tuhui even held a feast.

Though she doesn’t match the former Heukya, Tuhui too is a great yokai who has lived ten thousand years. If she meets the now-weakened Heukya, she could tear her apart in one breath.

If that creature comes outside Jungwon, if only it comes outside Jungwon.

Thinking that way, she merely waited endlessly for humans to meet their end. Reading the celestial energy.

Until she properly observed the flow of celestial energy.

‘The world desires that bitch’s return.’

The world helps.

The future of Heukya that Tuhui read was literally such a situation. The flow of celestial energy heading toward Heukya’s return, Heukya recovering the power she abandoned herself, and standing above all humans, furthermore all yokai.

Humans fall back to livestock. Having secured quality fear, Heukya becomes the world’s nightmare again. And she herself can never surpass Heukya.

An intolerable future. Therefore Tuhui stood guarding the ‘crossroads.’

Because this place was the only divergence point.

“Come. You vermin…”

The humans coming here.

She just needs to carry those humans up to the top of Sangwi’s head. Since no humans currently know the yokai territories clearly, they can’t easily go up to Sangwi’s head, so they’ll need her assistance.

If she assists that way and sends this massive divine beast to human lands, no matter how great the flow of celestial energy, it can’t continue as is. All the schemes Heukya prepared will gradually twist.

“Come. Come quickly…”

If they engage the first yokai, a roar will surely echo. If she goes first before other great yokai establish their positions and meets them, she should be able to find them easily.

Thinking that way, Tuhui quietly waited for the time. And.

The second day.

—The signal came.

Kwaaaaang—!!!

“…?”

From the top of Sangwi’s head.

***

The Jungwon search party departed. Destination: Oyeon.

Having received that news, the Blood Cult decided to urgently dispatch most of its forces to Oyeon.

Hyeolgeom and Eungryong, Ambi, and Ilnachar and the Blood Cult Leader.

Five absolute masters were included in the search party, and if Eungryong’s scheme succeeds, not many masters will remain on the opposing side.

If things go according to plan, winning won’t be difficult. They’ll seize Oyeon and destroy the axis to expose the Great Seal.

Everyone thought so.

Except Ilnachar.

“Hmm.”

The Blood Cult’s front.

Ilnachar, who had stretched out her body in a palanquin carried by two Yachas, narrowed her eyes while observing Eungryong and his group walking ahead with her eyes. Somehow familiar faces.

‘The Baek Ri Family’s miss, Songbyeok Jinin, and Dokgo Cheon…’

They probably think they’ve hidden their faces well, but since all of Gahyang is her domain, there’s no way not to know who they are. Two people with strength rivaling Sipcheon. And Eungryong as well.

If Eungryong has turned, the teleportation formation won’t activate properly either, and furthermore, if those three start causing chaos internally, defeat is certain. Certainly, the Blood Cult will be defeated.

However.

“This will be interesting.”

Nevertheless, Ilnachar wasn’t taking any particular countermeasures. Because.

That was precisely what Ilnachar desired.

“I wonder how far the opponent has come.”

Spreading out the Daemak map on the palanquin and gauging the opponent’s position, Ilnachar hummed and estimated the time. At this rate, they’d reach Oyeon in about five days.

‘We’ll arrive a bit later.’

Generally, arriving late to the battlefield is disadvantageous. Though it’s hard to apply standard military strategy since it’s martial artists’ combat, anyway, installing formations and other strategically operable facilities would be possible.

However, even if the arrival time is later compared to the opponent, it’s merely a difference of a few shichen.

With this much time, preparing anything meaningful is difficult. And even if they prepare, it doesn’t really matter.

“When was the fifteenth night? Elder Il?”

“…Young Cult Leader. Why that suddenly?”

“Hm? Are you perhaps questioning me right now?”

At Ilnachar’s grinning appearance, Elder Il flinched and deliberately turned his head, answering with a trembling voice.

“It was ten days ago.”

“Right?”

The fifteenth night. The day when the moon is most vigorous.

Ten days have passed since that day. The moon’s vigor declines, and the sky gradually darkens.

“Five days from now is the new moon?”

“That’s correct. But why…”

“Just, I thought it’s perfect weather for killing people.”

That day, light won’t illuminate the earth. Truly the optimal time for sinister energy to run wild.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

How will these faces cry when dying?

Ilnachar looked around and wore a viscous smile.

Thinking the time to cull them wasn’t far off.