Shadows of Madness
Last time, the Delusion Pouch had been swallowed up by the Heavenly Wood in my right palm, and I fell into thought for a moment.
I'd already suspected that something fishy was going on in True Truth Village… but this was the result of their actions. That was the problem.
Was it something they stumbled into by accident? Or did they know exactly what they were doing?
If it was the former, no need to worry. But if it was the latter… I'd have to pay attention.
Like mold that doesn't show at first but suddenly spreads in an instant, acts filled with malice affect not just ordinary humans, but spirits too.
I'd heard that even in the Dark Heavenly Realm, this kind of thing had caused quite a bit of trouble for the Immortals.
When I was summoned to the Dark Heavenly Realm, pretty much everything had been smashed or corrupted by the Aberrations, so only the Immortals and Great Immortals were holding out, fighting them off. But before the Aberrations came, there had been various races in the Dark Heavenly Realm.
To those who spent their lives with feet planted on the ground, the Immortals and Great Immortals seemed like noble beings who frolicked above the clouds, leisurely transcending the mortal world.
Some would gaze up at the sky in longing, dreaming and aspiring to become Immortals themselves.
After enduring untold hardships—crossing towering mountains, fathomless oceans, frozen blade-like lands, and rivers of boiling lava—they finally reached their goal, knelt before the Immortals, and begged.
"Please teach us. We want to become Immortals too."
It wasn't the first time something like that had happened. But the Immortals and Great Immortals, having seen countless cases where they'd taught cultivation methods directly to those who only admired their outward appearance—and the disasters that followed—didn't hand out teachings lightly.
Trials tested the sincerity and desperation of their desire to become Immortals, as well as their righteousness and integrity to avoid corruption. Those who gained enlightenment passed; those who didn't, failed.
Among those who failed, some wailed in injustice, screamed in rage… and in short, "went off the rails," engaging in bizarre acts.
They resorted to every means to forcibly gain enlightenment. Especially those seeking it through human madness and suffering—they were the worst.
When I heard that story in the Dark Heavenly Realm, I thought of the strange cults back on Earth.
Whipping themselves until skin tore off, slashing with knives, burning with fire, eating disgusting things, taking hallucinogens… How could a normal person understand the logic of lunatics who thought such acts would make them great beings? But I figured extreme desire, envy, jealousy, anxiety, fear, terror—all those emotions twisted and mixed together—must have led to it.
Anyway. The memory I'd just seen through the Delusion Pouch was like that.
People there, trying to become transcendent beings through madness and suffering.
「Just now. Humans. Weird. Why. They. Rip. Their own. Backs. To shreds? Why. Make. Holes. In. Their bodies?」
「Hurts. Probably. But keep. Doing it? If hurts. Stop.」
「That. Woman. Resentful Spirits. Evil Spirits. Covered. In them.」
「Just. Looking. Smells. Filthy.」
The refined spirits were stuck to both sides of me, chattering as they vented their disgust.
I felt some displeasure too, but it wasn't so horrific I had to look away. I'd seen all sorts fighting Aberrations endlessly.
By my standards, what I'd seen was just people gathered in a dim cave-like place, high on hallucinogens, self-harming and bleeding.
Not like prying open their own skulls to mush their brains or chopping off limbs to eat raw. This was nothing.
Still, I needed to investigate exactly what was happening in that cave.
Tsk. So much else to do, and now these cult weirdos were nagging at me.
As I didn't hide my irritation, the spirits glanced at me warily, then Gwang-jeong and Su-jeong spoke up.
「We. Go. Check. And come back?」
「Go. Right now?」
They figured since I looked upset, if they performed well, they'd get a good reward.
Spot on. Plus, if something felt off or suspicious, better to handle it now.
Something you brush off for later could roll down from a mountaintop like a snowball and bury dozens or hundreds. I had no intention of turning a hoe job into a shovel one.
It could be dangerous. Move as one body. Don't separate. If anything feels off, flee without looking back.
「Do. That. We. Run. Fast. Don't wanna. Be near. Those humans.」
「But. Run. Feels. Bad. We're. Different from. Before. Stronger.」
Gwang-jeong pouted.
Hm. Probably stung their pride after bursting that Evil Spirit last time.
Then call it a strategic retreat.
「O! Strategic. Retreat!」
「Strategic. Retreat. Good. Word. Remember.」
Gwang-jeong and Su-jeong grinned.
「We. Stay here. Wait?」
「Master. Master. Guard. Family?」
And handle other things.
「Other. Things. Whatever. We do.」
「Leave it. To us!」
Hwa-jeong and Pung-jeong shouted spiritedly, and I turned my gaze back to Bin-i's stream.
They'd eaten well, drunk heartily, and had fun. Now it was time for some to leave and others to stay.
A pleasant parting atmosphere.
Merchants who had to head out early tomorrow with her for business stood first, viewers with schedules tomorrow rose to say goodbyes.
Those without plans tomorrow, nicely drunk, were being shown beds by Hwang Beom-yong.
The Physics Fairy, Gak Il-sik, face flushed red, had decided to crash overnight and leave tomorrow afternoon.
Musclemen bonding quick? Drunk Gak Il-sik and equally red Hwang Beom-yong hugged laughing, slapping and groping backs. Their fingers moved oddly.
What were they doing? Checking muscles?
Wait. I blinked.
It hadn't been there before. Behind Gak Il-sik, something wavered.
* * *
"Aigoo, that was delicious. Tell Bin-i we ate great thanks to her."
"Heavens, who knew Bin-i had such skills. My husband fishes every Sunday here and there, told him and he nearly fainted. Asked where and started packing right away."
"Yeah yeah, Park lady, go to that breakwater and you'll be shocked. So many people flock there, they line up at the spot Bin-i caught the hogfish! Even sprayed a circle marking it—'caught it right here'."
"Aigoo, and some even stand in line for you, paid hourly. Locals say they're planning a sign: 'Streamer Coronodon's Hogfish Spot!'."
"Street vendors'll line up too. Already folks eyeing spots with carts for coffee, instant noodles, that stuff. Since people sit waiting for hogfish bites."
"But hogfish is rare, feels wrong eating free… here."
The eldest pulled a thick envelope from her bosom as rep.
Seeing it, Park Young-sook paled and waved hands frantically.
"Ayu no! I told you. Gratitude for your help all this time, but been too busy surviving to properly thank you, so this party's for that."
"Eii no! Fellow merchants, what's this repayment? Take it, take it. Or we feel bad."
"It's fine! Just your hearts. Hearts only!"
"What hearts, take the money!"
Bickering playfully awhile, merchants sighed 'Aigo Park lady's stubborn as whale tendon!' pocketed it smiling.
"Bin-i grew so well, son woke up, hogfish too. Good things only for Park house now. Lucky."
"Sure is. Has to be."
"Yeah. Good befalls good people. Ate well, go now. And this too. Hubby'll whine!"
"Right, mine too. Probably drooling buckets, table set already!"
"Kids who learned sashimi taste lately same. Hated fishy before, now hogfish? Eyes roll back. Begged 'bring some for us, even cut mine'. Eii, no raising kids then!"
Merchants beamed holding hogfish sashimi lunchboxes. Huge hogfish, plenty fillets; Hwang Beom-yong packed extras.
"They're waiting eagerly. Gotta go."
"Watch words, sis! Not waiting for you, the sashimi!"
"Eigu yeah! I know! Gotta say it?"
"Okay okay, quit yapping, go. Park lady worked hard today, clean up and rest."
"Ayu yeah. See ya tomorrow Park lady. Ate great."
"Ate well!"
Chattering under Park Young-sook's send-off, merchants trickled home. Far off, Kang Seol-bin bid farewells to fans.
"Sorry, too many today, couldn't tend better."
Bowing, they jumped waving no.
"Aigo no no! Plenty! Used all my luck this year! Delicious!"
"Yup fun! Thought I hated rowdy crowds, but with like-minds? Nice haha. Hope see often!"
"I'm light eater like Coronodon, but today's food so good, stuffed to throat. Sashimi, spicy stew… kyaa… sober without hangover?"
"Hwang boss's hogfish gallbladder service? Kuu~ real tonic!"
"Yeah best. Booze vanished whoosh!"
Grinning at their chatter, Kang Seol-bin smiled warmly, then to camera.
"Thanks everyone for today! Of course, more fishing, catch cool fish, do this again! See next time! Sweet dreams! Happy!"
Beaming at the flood of goodbyes, waving wildly, Kang Seol-bin ended the stream.
"Huaaah—"
Sighing, slumping limp, then lightly slapping cheeks, she stood.
Hours bustling, chatting, clearing dishes—
"Sis, rest. Saw you running around except mukbang."
"Hard sitting still. But you, something on way here?"
"Huh? N-no?"
Oh Hyun-jun denied sharply, but Kang Seol-bin approached, staring piercingly.
"No? Looks like it. What?"
"Something… but fine now."
"Hm. Really?"
Under her gaze, Oh Hyun-jun shrugged, changing subject.
"Anyway sis, add new content?"
"Huh?"
"Gains content."
"Gains? Ah, Gak Il-sik checked your back arms, said stuff. That?"
"Yeah. Said bulk up… Il-sik uncle, searched, he's huge deal."
"Yup, chat said. So gains content?"
"Yeah. Sis never trained seriously?"
"No?"
"Then vids'd be fun… Try this time. Main fishing hogfish hook, side gains."
"Hm…"
Gains. Kang Seol-bin eyed slim arms, thought of brother in hospital.
Now just fingers toes twitching, but rehab soon, family help key from old research.
Bend joints, massage muscles.
"Learn exercise, good for bro?"
"Sure? Get cert too?"
"Mmm. Good. Think on it. You prep okay?"
"Yup."
Oh Hyun-jun glanced Gak Il-sik, thumbs up grinning.