Chapter 204: Misty Mountains (2)
Letting out a sigh, I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, who was standing behind me and avoiding eye contact.
I knew the correct path, but her persistent suggestions to head in another direction had been driving me insane.
She would just casually suggest we go the opposite way.
If I had truly followed Namgung Bi-ah’s directions, I would probably be standing on some mountain I had never seen before.
“Seriously, I mentioned before that this is an urgent situation.”
“…Sorry.”
“If you keep causing trouble, just go home and wait there.”
I pointed toward the Gu Clan, but Namgung Bi-ah shook her head emphatically.
“…I don’t want to.”
With a rare frown etched on her face, she murmured her response.
Seeing her like that made me sigh again, and I added, “I told you, you wouldn’t be of much help even if you went.”
It might have sounded harsh, but it was something I had to say.
“…”
In response to my words, Namgung Bi-ah quietly drew her sword, as if she were ready to fight me.
Feeling the electric energy brush against my cheek, I instinctively lowered my head.
How did I even end up in this mess? It was utterly ridiculous.
What could I say?
…Damn it.
This was all just my karma.
It had been two days since we set off toward the Misty Mountains.
Spring rain was drizzling from the sky, and I was relying solely on my instincts to keep moving forward.
How many more mountains do I need to cross?
I hadn’t counted, but I guessed there were at least five more to go.
This crazy expanse of land must be ridiculously vast.
Is the marble… still not ready?
I briefly checked the Marble of Celestial Captivation, but since I used it just yesterday, its light hadn’t fully recovered yet.
If someone were to ask why I was checking the marble’s color, it was because I’d learned a few things from my research.
The Marble of Celestial Captivation could only be used once a day, and its duration was pretty short.
The color of the marble determined whether I could use it again or not.
I had to wait until it shone a bright orange again.
After checking, I put the marble back and looked up at the sky.
Hah, camping won’t be easy with all this rain.
In my hurry to leave, I hadn’t brought any proper travel gear.
In fact, I hadn’t even brought a Demonic Charm, which would alert me to the opening of any nearby Gates of Demons.
So, I naturally had to handle any threats that came my way all on my own.
I had already faced a few demons attempting to ambush me, but it wasn’t a big deal since they were just Green-Grade Demons.
Well, even that was tough for me last year.
The Green Gate was the lowest rank among all the Gates of Demons.
Unlike last year, when I had to exert considerable effort to deal with them, now I was at a level where I could simply unleash flames around me and burn them all to ashes.
Of course, things would become trickier if demons of a higher grade showed up.
But Blue-Grade Demons were almost never seen anyway.
From that point onward, they were practically classified as natural disasters.
At my current level, maybe I could handle Blue-Grade Demons solo, but—
The Red Gate is still beyond my capabilities.
Excluding the true Gates of Demons, a Red Gate hadn’t appeared in centuries, so I figured I was safe for now.
The last time a Red Gate appeared was only after the Heavenly Demon showed up in this world.
I really need to pick up the pace.
There was still quite a distance left to cover.
And more than anything, time was running out.
While Gu Huibi might have been sitting idle in a cell just a moment ago, no one could predict what could happen to her in the time I was gone.
Let alone the fact that if it was the Black Palace, I had even more to worry about.
Those bastards were definitely connected to the Demonic Cult.
I had no time to waste.
As those thoughts raced through my mind, I drew upon my Inner Qi again and leaped forward.
That boosted my speed significantly compared to earlier.
Just as I was nearly soaring through the air—
[Do you have enough energy left?]
Elder Shin asked.
I’m still fine, at least for now.
Having absorbed so much energy, it would be tough to find anyone in the same realm who had more Qi than me.
Most likely, even those in realms above mine would be few in number.
[Still, it’s good to leave a little just in case of emergencies.]
Don’t worry, do you think I don’t know that?
[Oh! Is that why you drain your energy every time you get into a brawl?]
…
[Keep that up, and you could end up dead.]
I was aware of that as well, but I knew if I opened my mouth now, I’d just get scolded for being an idiot—so I kept my mouth shut.
…I hope we run into a town.
[Changing the subject, huh? Tsk tsk.]
He wasn’t wrong, but the need for a town was genuine.
I couldn’t keep hunting beasts or demons to fill my stomach forever.
While my body was at its Peak and could withstand a few days without food, I still preferred to eat something.
Most importantly,
I need to get a Demonic Charm.
The charm crafted by the Wudang sect would alert me to the opening of any Gates of Demons.
In this era, it was an essential item for any kind of travel, whether long or short.
Not only did it prepare you for the gates, but it also helped escape from danger.
So, it was an item that anyone traveling would definitely need.
Though, that’s not the reason I want it.
In reality, I was looking to encounter more Gates of Demons.
I need to absorb more.
I had to gather more Demonic Qi.
In the past, I hesitated to accept it because it was the power of the Heavenly Demon, but at this point, I couldn’t afford to keep avoiding it.
I needed it to stabilize the conflicting energies within me. And having decided not to reject Demonic Qi any longer, the amount I had was woefully inadequate to properly wield my powers.
[Just be careful not to break your vessel—i.e., your body.]
Yes.
Although Elder Shin had imparted vital knowledge about compressing and utilizing my Qi correctly, my martial arts still consumed an immense amount of energy.
Thus, without the use of Demonic Absorption, I couldn’t prepare for the calamities that awaited ahead.
Let alone deal with the Black Palace in my current state.
I doubt consuming a few demons will significantly increase my might.
Having absorbed a ton of energy already, even a Demonic Stone from a Green-Grade Demon wouldn’t do much for me.
Still, better than nothing, right?
Despite running through the rain for a considerable time, I still hadn’t spotted a single town.
The mountains stretched endlessly, and few dared venture here.
With so many demons roaming about, making it a challenging place for anyone to reside.
In the end, it seemed finding anything was not going to happen.
I really need to build my stamina, though.
Tsk.
It seemed I’d just have to catch and eat some demons.
Although I felt a bit sour thinking about it, in all honesty, I didn’t mind it too much.
At least I have that option. In my past life, it was far worse.
I knew how blessed it was to encounter an edible demon during my previous life.
So something like this didn’t faze me at all.
After a lot more running, I finally crossed a mountain.
Even after crossing an entire mountain, the rain continued to pour.
The only change was that the sun had set, and night had descended upon us.
After a considerable while, still utilizing a generous amount of my Qi, I jumped over trees, landing on solid ground to catch my breath.
Phew…
I still had plenty of energy left, and my body felt fit, yet I stumbled upon an unexpected issue.
Who’s there?
Since sunset, I had sensed a presence trailing me.
It had barely registered when my perception wasn’t alert, but as soon as I heightened my senses, I could distinctly feel it.
Someone was getting closer.
And fast.
It’s not a demon…
If it were a demon, it wouldn’t have such smooth movements.
Demons were no different from beasts.
Then, who is it?
If not a demon, it had to be a human.
Still a little far away, making it tough to gauge accurately.
Maybe it’s one of those guys from the Black Palace?
If not, perhaps it was those attackers from before.
Even with the First Elder dead, it wouldn’t be strange if their plans weren’t entirely concluded.
Crack.
I gradually gathered my combat energy.
Sure, I could have just increased the distance to lose them, but I felt it would be best to deal with this matter promptly.
So, I concentrated my Qi in my fist, preparing to retaliate as soon as I figured out who was approaching.
Just as the enigmatic figure was about to cross into my territory, they suddenly accelerated, racing toward me.
What the…!
Their speed surged, as if they already knew my location.
They must have been at a much higher level than I anticipated.
Caught off-guard, I rapidly shifted into a combat stance.
Not only had they hidden their presence from me, but the speed at which they approached screamed Peak Realm martial artist.
I couldn’t let my guard down.
Whoosh!
A rush of heat surged through the rain.
My hair lit up a bright red, aligning me to unleash flames at any moment.
Their agile movements were sharp—almost like straight-line charging.
Despite hiding their presence, the approach was strangely straightforward.
Just as I thought that, before I could even consider anything else, they were practically upon me, and instinct took over as I released my flames.
Zzzt.
…?!
If it hadn’t been for that familiar electric energy flying past my face…
Thud.
The landing was surprisingly light despite their velocity.
I blinked with astonishment as I faced the figure appearing before me.
Soaked from the rain, their clothes clung to their body, revealing their silhouette.
Her wet, bluish-white hair sparkled, brilliantly illuminated by the droplets.
In an instant, her gem-like blue eyes locked onto mine.
“You.”
“Hello.”
Namgung Bi-ah, who should have been at the Gu Clan, stood in front of me.
I stared at her in sheer disbelief.
It wasn’t that I was shocked at her sudden appearance.
Sure, that was surprising too.
But something far more significant weighed on me.
You broke through the wall?
The energy radiating from Namgung Bi-ah was unmistakably that of a Peak Realm martial artist.
Moreover, because it seemed she had just recently surpassed her wall, some of her energy spilled from her middle dantian.
That was a distinguishing feature of someone who had just crossed over.
“Yep.”
Namgung Bi-ah nodded in affirmation of my question.
“…I did.”
Her expression remained as eerie as ever, but it simply didn’t make sense.
How did she pull it off?
I thought for sure it would be Yung Pung or Muyeon who would go first?
It had been quite a while since I had seen Yung Pung—the ultimate prodigy of Mount Hua and the Sword Dragon. I had no idea what his status was now.
But I honestly believed Muyeon would surpass the wall before Namgung Bi-ah did.
Muyeon had been right on the edge of breaking through, so of course, I expected him to achieve it first.
So how did you suddenly leap over it?
Namgung Bi-ah hadn’t been nearly at Muyeon’s level before.
Sure, she must have gotten closer due to her recent insights, but I anticipated it would still take her at least a year to break through.
But to leap over it out of nowhere?
Did she have another epiphany?
Because I doubt she acquired more Qi.
Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head in confusion at my question.
“It just… happened?”
…
Hearing her reply made my head throb.
If it were that simple, others wouldn’t struggle so hard, you idiot.
I masked my inner thoughts and replied, “I see, congratulations.”
“Yep.”
Recognizing her remarkable talent once more, I congratulated her.
And having settled that, I needed to address another issue.
“How did you get here?”
Namgung Bi-ah fell silent again. At this point, I felt like I could guess her expression.
She’s angry.
Her narrowed eyes conveyed a firm emotion as she glared at me.
“Did you come to find me?”
She nodded in affirmation.
Of course, she had—her mere presence here suggested that.
But how in the world?
“How did you know?”
“I just knew.”
That was a ridiculous answer.
Given the distance, it seemed impossible for her to know where I was, especially considering her previous poor sense of direction.
Shuffling around my body like Gu Huibi might have concealed something from me. I checked but found nothing amiss.
Suddenly—
Zing.
The energy brushed past me, causing me to turn towards Namgung Bi-ah.
Lightning Qi was clinging to her sword.
This wasn’t the faint electric energy I had seen before; it was a solid, perfected Lightning Qi.
It served as clear evidence that she had advanced to a new level.
Emitting a profound presence typical of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Bi-ah spoke, “Let’s go together.”
So she was questioning why I’d gone off alone and why I’d left her behind.
But she only asked to accompany me without addressing those issues.
This wasn’t a request; it felt more like an order.
I looked at her piercing gaze and asked, “Do you even know where we’re heading?”
“I don’t… but that doesn’t matter…”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter? It’s dangerous, so I—”
Boom.
Before I could finish my sentence, Namgung Bi-ah released her Qi, almost as if ready to engage me in combat.
“Let’s go together!”
Her words were the same, yet this time the sword was aimed directly at me.
“If not, I won’t let you go.”
The determination in her demeanor was crystal clear. If I didn’t comply right away, she seemed ready to swing her sword.
The Lightning Qi she emanated was gradually asserting dominance over the forest.
As such, Namgung Bi-ah showed no signs of retreating.
More importantly, time was of the essence.
In the end, I had no choice but to capitulate to her demands.
And that led us to this situation.
Looking at Namgung Bi-ah, who stood blankly behind me, I regretted my previous choice.
I should have just subdued her and left.
Now that Namgung Bi-ah had improved her level, she was undoubtedly becoming a tricky opponent, but she wasn’t beyond me if I truly fought her.
It would take some time, but I could handle it.
Even then, leaving her in the forest at night wasn’t an option.
Plus, I knew she would just chase after me anyway. So ultimately, I had to acquiesce to her.
“I can’t see anything…”
Whether she understood my thoughts or not, Namgung Bi-ah merely appeared fascinated by the fog enveloping us.
Even reaching Peak Realm, her character didn’t seem to have changed at all.
“Don’t wander off too far. We might end up losing each other.”
This is a disaster area.
It was a place the Alliance strictly prohibited people from entering.
In fact, those who happened to step in the wrong way often got lost and disappeared entirely.
The fog surrounding this area was no ordinary mist.
I couldn’t raise my senses and properly survey the surroundings.
Upon hearing my warning, Namgung Bi-ah froze for a moment.
Sniff sniff.
Then, she began to sniff around.
“What’s going on?”
After a few repetitions, she nodded to herself in agreement.
What was that about…?
“I won’t get lost!”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I can smell you.”
I shook my head at her declaration.
Did she think she was a dog or something, relying on a scent to find me?
Going back a step, I gripped Namgung Bi-ah’s arm tightly.
There was no way I could let her go, risk of genuinely losing her was high.
Even with her impeccable sense of direction, there was no way to find me amid this thick fog.
Sigh.
I felt like my priorities were all mixed up; I should be focusing on more pressing matters.
I had made it this far, yet I was doubtful I would find the Black Palace in all this mist.
Hmm, though the fog might provide some protection, there’s a chance they weren’t foolish enough to leave their palace out in plain sight.
It was highly probable they’d set up some formations around, making finding it no easy feat.
What should I do…
If the Marble of Celestial Captivation was showing me the correct position, then it should definitely be here somewhere in the mountains.
However, while the mountains might not have been that large, searching through this mist would be nearly impossible.
If only I could find a way to clear this…
Furrowing my brows, I searched around, holding tightly to Namgung Bi-ah’s arm.
Rumble…
Suddenly, I felt a vibration around my waist.
It was from the pouch holding the Marble of Celestial Captivation.
I took it out, anticipating it was about to be usable.
…!
The marble suddenly dazzled brightly in my hand and started beaming light in a particular direction, shooting straight through the fog.
As I stared at the glowing orange light, I contemplated.
Is this…
Could it possibly be directing me toward Gu Huibi’s location?
Before I could even finish that line of thought, my feet began to follow the light.
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