The Place Where No Snake Can Be Found (3)
“Welcome to Cheon-eumseong!”
I felt a twinge of unease as the attendants greeted us in front of the settlement that had once borne the name “Cheon-saekseong” in my original world.
“Cheon-eumseong? That’s what it’s called now?”
“Ah, the name has changed.”
I offered an awkward smile and arranged the spirit beasts we had ridden upon.
Thunk… thunk…
The Dabcheon Desert was so vast that crossing it on foot was impossible. Those who did so relied on these spirit beasts to race across it at breakneck speed.
The ones we had brought were desert-crossing pets—Dong-mak-ak, excellent mounts stolen from the Eastern tribes.
“Secure the crossing spirit beasts here! Ah! Are you selling them outright?”
Along the extreme southern edge of Byeokra Kingdom, where the desert met Cheon-eumseong, one could easily spot spirit-beast herds and the monks who raised them.
‘Most are at least Qi Condensation, layer two or three.’
After selling the Dong-mak-ak we had ridden, I surveyed the surroundings.
“This place is dressed far better than the East.”
“Ha ha, Myeong-hun will be disappointed. Or rather… many here have fairer skin. Do you think that’s a plus?”
Kim Young-hoon let out a hearty laugh while glancing around Cheon-eumseong. Oh Hyun-seok chuckled and teased Jeon Myeong-hoon mercilessly.
Yet Jeon Myeong-hoon reacted with surprising indifference.
“Hmm… not much.”
“Really? No emotion at all?”
“Well… everyone is pretty, but somehow it doesn’t quite pull me in… No, more like every time I look at a woman my heart gives a little jolt… I suppose that’s what it feels like.”
I stole a glance at my companions.
Even now, aside from Seo Ran and myself, the others still hadn’t shaken off their confusion.
“Whoa, is that the Earth’s Jeon Myeong-hoon?”
“Don’t know. Maybe the man who was destined to become his wife…?”
As Oh Hyun-seok kept poking fun, Jeon Myeong-hoon shot back with irritation, and I offered him a bitter smile.
The memory might be gone, but the feelings for Geum So-hae remained intact.
Still, that was not the pressing matter at hand.
I led my companions into one of the narrow alleys of Cheon-eumseong.
In my original world it had been the White Law Pavilion.
“…It’s gone.”
Yet the White Law Pavilion was nowhere to be found.
I frowned.
‘This is odd.’
I had known this world was different, but arriving in Cheon-eumseong only made the strangeness clearer.
‘Ten thousand years have passed, yet the buildings and even the alley layout are identical?’
I had chalked it up to Deungsunhyang.
The language of the Eastern Ten Thousand Kingdoms was the same now as it had been ten thousand years ago.
The power structure of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms, the Northern Grasslands, the Holy Empire, Yeon Kingdom, and Byeokra Kingdom was also identical.
That made sense. Those things could endure for tens of thousands of years.
But…
‘Not just the appearance of Cheon-eumseong and Cheon-saekseong, but the alley structures are completely the same too?’
For an entire kingdom to look unchanged after ten thousand years defied understanding.
‘And if the kingdom’s appearance is the same, why isn’t the White Law Pavilion still here?’
My head spun.
I rubbed my temples and left the alley.
“Why did we enter the alley?”
“Ah… I thought there was something there, but I must have misread.”
I shook my head at Jeon Myeong-hoon’s question and went to seek information from the Cheon-eumseong monks.
“Cheongmun Ryeong? Are you asking about the martial artist Cheongmun Ryeong?”
The Qi Condensation, layer-one monk pondered for a moment before replying.
“From my memory… I believe there are rumors that he is now operating somewhere in the Holy Empire.”
“The Holy Empire… Thank you.”
“He seems to be gathering disciples with his lectures… Be careful. There are many roughnecks around him, so it’s dangerous.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you for the warning.”
I bowed and turned to leave, then realized something strange.
‘…Why is a monk warning a martial artist?’
Cheon-saekseong—now Cheon-eumseong—was a city where monks and martial artists coexisted, but that didn’t mean the monks were any less arrogant.
Even in the Water Realm, aside from Buk Hyang-hwa and Buk Jung-ho, the Cheon-saekseong monks had always looked down on martial artists in secret.
In the East, with its scarce manpower, kind monks existed, and my name carried weight, so my treatment was good.
But here in Byeokra Kingdom I could never have imagined being treated this way by a monk.
I hid my surprise and set off toward the Holy Empire.
***
We passed through Yeon Kingdom and reached the Holy Empire.
Throughout the journey I heard many rumors about Cheongmun Ryeong, making it easy to pinpoint his location.
I also learned his current situation.
‘He sometimes sets up camp in quiet valleys to deliver lectures… and wild groups of those eager to become his disciples swarm around him, yet he doesn’t stop them…’
His disciples were apparently keeping the roughnecks in check and turning him into a nuisance without any intervention.
‘Good. I’ll meet him as soon as possible.’
We headed to the extreme western edge of the Holy Empire.
Beyond Shattered Heaven Peak, along the coast facing the martial-artist territory.
***
The coast of the Holy Empire’s far west.
Famous for its clear skies, the region had grown prosperous from trade with ships sailing from the west.
And today, already bustling, the harbor was even more crowded.
“Hey, did you hear the rumor? The martial artist is recruiting disciples!”
“Is it that continent’s number-one current master, the one who has the deepest understanding—Teacher Cheongmun Ryeong?”
“Exactly! Let’s hurry to the lecture hall!”
“Tsk tsk. This man’s disciple recruitment isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. He’s always been recruiting! But only one disciple has officially become his in all this time, and everyone else is just a follower. Even they have been behaving worse lately, and they’re being called roughnecks… The test will be tough, and if you fail, you might get robbed by those terrible followers!”
“Whoa, what nonsense! You’ll just have to take the test and see. And even if they’re roughnecks, making friends with them gives you a powerful group to rely on—sounds great!”
Countless people gathered at the lecture site, chasing dreams and hopes.
The place where the martial artist delivered his lectures was on the coast of the westernmost region, on a derelict ship.
Cheongmun Ryeong stood on the deck, gazing at the sky and letting the sea wind buffet him.
“Master, the wind is cold. Please put on thicker clothes.”
A voice approached from behind him, offering a heavy robe with perfect manners.
Cheongmun Ryeong smiled faintly.
“The wind tells me today will bring more proper disciples. Perhaps my son or daughter will appear.”
At those words the newcomer clenched his teeth silently and asked.
“…Will I be able to inherit Master’s robe?”
“What nonsense. I want as many people as possible to understand my will. Anyone who accepts it shall receive my robe. You are no exception.”
“…Understood. I shall prepare for the lecture…”
He set the clothes he had brought before Cheongmun Ryeong and withdrew.
Cheongmun Ryeong glanced at the bundle left behind and let out a bitter smile.
“…What am I to do with that boy…”
***
Cheonha-hyeon, a town in the Holy Empire’s western extreme.
We arrived at Cheonha-hyeon, where we learned the martial artist’s lecture was about to begin.
“Seo Ran, are you all right?”
“Yes, after the episode yesterday he calmed gradually, and today he is completely calm.”
“I see… Good.”
I thanked Kim Yeon for nursing Seo Ran at the inn and hurried toward the martial artist.
“Then I’ll be off.”
I bid farewell to Kim Young-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, and others, and left the inn.
Outside, Jeon Myeong-hoon was fidgeting, looking strangely empty.
‘That idiot always had Geum So-hae’s hand at his side. Now it’s gone… he looks lost.’
He would probably remember everything soon.
“What are you staring at? Hurry up and go.”
He waved irritably.
‘Right now, with no memory, I can’t scold him properly. Once he remembers, I’ll have to punish him.’
I smiled bitterly at his attitude and dashed toward the lecture site.
How far did I run—across the mountains and valleys?
Far ahead I saw a dense crowd.
‘Good. I’ll sit as close to the front as possible…’
Just as I headed toward the lecture’s front rows, hoping to meet Cheongmun Ryeong sooner.
“Hey, who are you?”
Qi Condensation, layers four or five monks and burly martial artists blocked my path.
“The regular seats for Teacher Cheongmun Ryeong’s lecture are all full. If you want to see his honorable face, do so from nearby.”
“Hmm, how do I get into the regular seats?”
“Obviously first-come-first-served. After the lecture Teacher Cheongmun Ryeong will hold a disciple recruitment test for those sitting in the regular seats, so competition is fierce.”
“First-come-first-served…”
I looked at the people sitting in the regular seats.
They were all either arrogant, martial-arts strong, or possessing high spiritual power.
I heard the clink of coins from my pouch and glared at them.
“Are you selling Teacher Cheongmun Ryeong’s lecture opportunity for money?”
“Sell? You talk short. I am your friend…”
As he reached out, I was suddenly yanked backward by a powerful grip.
I turned and bowed gratefully.
“Thank you for stopping him…”
And then a hand landed on my shoulder.
“Do not cause trouble at Teacher’s lecture.”
I glanced up at the intruder who had interrupted our argument.
‘He’s quite tall.’
His entire body was wrapped in ragged cloth, so I couldn’t tell if he was male or female, and white bandages covered his face and every inch of his skin.
‘Not a single speck of skin exposed. How does he breathe… And he called me “Master.”’
That meant he was the only disciple Cheongmun Ryeong had at this moment.
I smiled and gave a deep bow.
“Hello, senior. Or… sister? I’m not sure, but anyway, I was not causing trouble. It seems these people are buying seats to Teacher Cheongmun Ryeong’s lecture, so I simply…”
“You were trying to rip that guy’s arm off.”
“….”
At his words I stopped and studied the bandage-wrapped man.
The only visible part of his bandaged face was his eyes.
His pupils were small, giving him a four-eyed appearance, and his gaze was piercing—viscerally unsettling.
“Do not add screams to Teacher’s lecture to disturb him. If you disturb him, I will not forgive you.”
Crunch!
He tightened his grip on my shoulder.
‘This…’
I locked eyes with the bandage-wrapped man—Cheongmun Ryeong’s disciple.
‘Foundation Establishment. And he’s mastered outer energy at a high level.’
I grabbed his wrist, pried him off my shoulder, and said.
“…It is rude to touch someone else’s shoulder without permission, senior.”
“I am not your senior. The seats are full anyway. Come back later. Get out.”
“Ha ha, that won’t do. I have business I need Teacher’s help with… and I have decided to become his disciple.”
“…You.”
Cheongmun Ryeong’s disciple twitched at my words.
It seemed my statement annoyed him.
Instantly murderous intent flooded his eyes.
“Get out now. Before I kill you.”
“You said not to add screams to Teacher’s lecture?”
“Can’t kill someone who can’t scream?”
I laughed dryly.
“I suppose not.”
“….”
The next instant he kicked me.
Boom!
The sound of an exploding cannon echoed as I rocketed into the sky. At the same time law techniques bound me, muffling any sound.
‘He’s mastered outer energy to this level? That’s not even outer energy—that’s just a body technique. Wait, maybe he’s learned the Piercing Heaven Sword Art.’
I pulled out my weapons and watched my body climb to cloud height with a single kick.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The bandages unravelled and dozens of irregular weapons I had brought flew into the air.
Flash!
I saw the bandage-wrapped man casting a flight technique and charging at me.
“Let’s spar…”
Blink!
Just as I tried to speak—
He kicked off the air and punched me straight in the face.
Thud!
I shot across the harbor sky and landed far from the coast, right in the middle of the ocean where the lecture was supposed to be.
“What kind of strength…”
I twitched and clicked my tongue.
I remembered the kick off the air.
It wasn’t Void Step—reading the air’s flow with the skill of Five Qi Consorting with the Origin.
It was pure raw power, kicking the air to launch himself upward.
A monster that used law techniques to nullify shockwave sounds and achieved the same effect as Void Step.
That was the bandage-wrapped man.
Whoosh!
The bandage-wrapped man charged.
Boom!
He threw a punch at me. Shockwaves exploded, splitting the nearby sea and sending waves crashing.
Crack!
Without my consciousness domain I could no longer read the air perfectly, but I still took flight on the air and shouted.
“Hey, wait! Why are you trying to kill me?”
“I have enough disciples.”
I formed a pseudo-Invisible Sword with the Heaven-Quiet Demon Turtle Art and blocked his blow, puzzled.
“There must be many others who want to become his disciple.”
“That’s true. But with you, I can remove you now.”
“You bastard…”
It felt strange.
‘I had planned to rip that guy’s arm off, but I didn’t release killing intent or even think about it. He noticed. I didn’t charge at him in a burst of confidence that I would become Cheongmun Ryeong’s disciple. What kind of guy is he?’
I honestly had no idea.
No one else seemed to be guessing either.
I clashed with him and flew over the sea using the Heaven-Quiet Demon Turtle Art.
His attacks were overwhelmingly brutal, so I was forced to retreat at first.
While I dodged his fists and strikes—
“Hmm? Sang-seon?”
A ship passing below caught my eye.
And just then I glanced at it.
“Concentrate! You useless thing! You can never become Teacher’s disciple! Understand?!”
Suddenly the bandage-wrapped man roared and rocketed toward the ship.
I startled and shouted.
“Wait, you crazy—”
Kwa-kwak-gwang!
The bandage-wrapped man slammed into the ship and shattered it into splinters.
I gaped in disbelief.
‘While fighting, I glanced at the ship and it got destroyed?’
Looking at his eyes, it was clear he wasn’t focused on battle or enjoying the fight.
It was simply a mad act because my mood was bad.
I stared at the bandage-wrapped man, unable to understand him.
And then—
“Help… help… ugh… ugh…”
The ship’s sailors began swimming to the surface.
I called out to them.
“Wait a moment. I’ll catch this madman and save you…”
Clink!
It was the moment I reached into my pouch for the Eastern medicine.
“Wait.”
I stopped focusing on the bandage-wrapped man and glanced at the ship’s flag.
“…What is that…”
The drawing on the ship’s flag.
It was the royal banner of the Bongrae Kingdom.
I immediately attacked the bandage-wrapped man, then descended to the sea in the blink of an eye and asked one of the sailors.
“You! Which ship do you sail on? Who is the owner?!”
The sailors grabbed driftwood and shouted.
“Walking on the sky… are you a celestial? We are sailors of the Royal Trading Ship from the Bongrae Kingdom! Sailors of the ship that trades with the Holy Empire from the Bongrae Kingdom. The owner of this ship is Her Highness, the Queen of the Great Bongrae Kingdom!”
“….”
I was stunned into silence, then asked.
“…What direction is the Bongrae Kingdom from the Holy Empire?”
The sailor pointed west.
“If you sail west endlessly, you will reach the territory of our Bongrae!”
“…No. That’s nonsense… From the Holy Empire, sailing further west leads to ‘the edge of the world’ and the World Patrol that protects this world. This world is flat, so if you go to the end of the sea there is only the edge of the world…”
As I muttered in confusion—
Thud!
The bandage-wrapped man fell from the sky onto the sea where I stood.
Splash!
A massive water column shot into the sky.
I barely dodged, but the sailor I had been talking to was halved by the attack and killed.
The bandage-wrapped man laughed.
“You fool. You think the world is flat? Roundness is basic knowledge. The country opposite this continent is the Bongrae Kingdom. You idiot…”
From his words I learned an incredible truth.
This world was connected to the Bongrae Island world.
And…
“The world… is round…?!”
Overwhelmed by confusion and terror, I shouted at the sky.
“The Water Realm is round?! That’s impossible! It can’t be… This world is flat!”