Chapter 204: Misty Mountains (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: Misty Mountains (2)
I sighed as I glanced back at Namgung Bi-ah, who stood behind me avoiding my gaze.
Even though she knew the right way, her stubborn insistence on taking a different path was giving me a headache. To make matters worse, the route she suggested was in the complete opposite direction. If I’d actually listened to her, I’d probably be stranded on some nameless mountain in the middle of nowhere by now.
“I told you this is urgent,” I said flatly.
“…Sorry.”
“If you’re just going to cause trouble, go back to the Gu Clan and wait.”
I pointed back the way we came, but Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.
“…I don’t want to,” she murmured, a rare frown gracing her features.
Seeing her like that, I sighed again. “Like I said, you wouldn’t be much help even if you came along.”
The words were cold, but necessary.
“…”
In response, Namgung Bi-ah quietly drew her sword, as if preparing to challenge me. I felt the faint brush of Lightning Qi pass by my cheek and instinctively lowered my head.
How had things come to this? It was almost laughable.
All I could think was…
…Damn it.
This must be my karma.
* * *
Two days had passed since we’d begun racing through the Misty Mountains, drenched by a cold spring rain. I pressed on, trusting my memory of the path.
How many more mountains do I have to cross?
I hadn’t been counting, but there were at least five more peaks ahead. This land was absurdly vast—unreasonably so.
Is the marble still not ready yet?
I glanced at the Marble of Celestial Captivation, but its light hadn’t fully returned since I’d used it yesterday. After some research, I’d learned a few things about the artifact: it could only be used once per day, and its effects lasted only a short time. Its color indicated whether it was ready—I needed to wait until it glowed orange again.
Satisfied with my check, I tucked the marble away and looked up at the sky.
Hah. Camping in this rain won’t be easy.
I’d left in such a hurry that I hadn’t brought any proper travel supplies. I didn’t even have a Demonic Charm—a device that warned of nearby Gates of Demons. Any danger that came my way was mine to face alone.
I’d already run into a few demons lying in ambush, but they were only Green-Grade—hardly a threat.
Then again, even they gave me trouble last year.
Green Gates were the lowest grade of demonic incursion. Unlike last year, when I’d had to exert myself to deal with them, I could now simply summon flames and reduce them to ash. Of course, anything above Green-Grade would be tougher. Blue-Grade demons were practically natural disasters, but they rarely appeared. At my current level, I could probably handle one alone, but…
A Red Gate is still beyond me.
Then again, a Red Gate hadn’t appeared in centuries—not since the last True Gate of Demons. And according to history, Red Gates only emerged after the Heavenly Demon descended.
I need to pick up the pace.
There was still a long way to go, and time was running short. Gu Huibi might have been sitting safely in a cell just moments ago, but in the hours I’d been away, anything could have happened. This was the Black Palace we were dealing with—I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Those bastards were almost certainly tied to the Demonic Cult.
I had no time to waste.
As my thoughts raced, I stirred my Inner Qi and accelerated, leaping through the air with renewed speed.
[Do you have enough Qi left?] Elder Shin’s voice echoed in my mind.
I’m fine for now.
I’d absorbed so much energy that I doubted any martial artist in my realm—or even those above—could match my reserves.
[Still, you should save some for emergencies.]
Don’t worry. Do you think I don’t know that?
[Oh! Is that why you drain your dantian every time you fight?]
…
[Keep that up, and you’ll end up dead.]*
I knew that. But if I replied, he’d just scold me for being reckless despite knowing better—so I kept quiet.
…I hope we find a town soon.
[Tsk. Changing the subject, are we?]
He wasn’t wrong, but I really did need a town. I couldn’t keep hunting beasts or demons just to eat. Even though my Peak Realm body could go days without food, it was better to have a proper meal. More importantly…
I need to get a Demonic Charm.
The charm, crafted by the Wudang Sect, signaled when a Gate of Demons was about to open. These days, it was essential for any journey, long or short. It gave travelers time to prepare or escape—a lifesaver for everyone.
But that’s not why I need it.
Truthfully, I wanted to encounter more Gates of Demons.
I need to absorb more.
I had to stockpile more Demonic Qi. In the past, I’d avoided it because it was the Heavenly Demon’s power, but now I couldn’t afford to refuse. I needed it to stabilize the conflicting energies inside me. And since I’d decided to embrace it, the amount I currently had was too meager to wield my strength properly.
[Just be careful not to shatter the vessel that is your body.]
I know.
Elder Shin had taught me how to compress and use Qi efficiently, but my martial arts still consumed a staggering amount. Without Demonic Absorption, I couldn’t prepare for the calamities ahead—nor could I hope to confront the Black Palace as I was.
Absorbing a few more demons won’t boost my strength much.
I’d already absorbed so much that a Green-Grade Demonic Stone would barely make a difference. Still, something was better than nothing.
Even after running through the rain for what felt like an eternity, I still hadn’t found a town. These mountains were endless, and few people ventured here. With demons roaming freely, settlement was nearly impossible. It looked like I’d have to make do.
I still need to build up my strength.
Tsk.
It seemed I’d have to hunt demons for food. Though I grimaced at the idea, I didn’t really mind. At least I had that option—in my past life, things were far worse. I knew what a blessing it was to find an edible demon back then, so this was nothing.
After running a while longer, I finally crossed another mountain. The rain continued to fall; the only difference was that the sun had set, and night had arrived. Still, I pushed on, burning through Qi at a prodigious rate.
I landed softly after leaping over a tree and paused to catch my breath.
Phew…
I still had plenty of Qi and stamina left, but a new problem had arisen.
Who’s there?
I sensed a presence that had been tailing me since sunset. When my senses were dulled, it was barely noticeable—but now, sharpened and expanded, I could feel it clearly. Someone was approaching me, and moving fast.
It’s not a demon.
Demons moved like beasts—this was too fluid.
Then who?
If not a demon, it had to be a person. They were still too far away to identify.
Could it be someone from the Black Palace?
Or maybe the ones who’d ambushed me before. The First Elder was dead, but that didn’t mean their schemes were over.
Squeeze.
I gradually stirred my Combat Qi. I could try to lose them by putting more distance between us, but it was better to eliminate the threat now. I compressed Inner Qi into my fist, ready to strike as soon as they came within range.
Just as the mysterious figure was about to enter my territory, they abruptly accelerated—doubling their speed in an instant, as if they knew exactly where I was.
What—!
They were faster than I’d expected. I immediately dropped into a battle stance. Not only had they concealed their presence, but anyone moving at that speed had to be a Peak Realm martial artist. I couldn’t afford carelessness.
Blaze-!
Heat bloomed beneath the rain. My hair flushed red, and I poised myself to summon flames at a moment’s notice. Their trajectory was a straight line—they weren’t even trying to hide anymore, charging blatantly toward me.
But before I could process it, they were already upon me. Instinctively, I unleashed a burst of flame toward the presence.
Zap.
“…?”
A familiar Lightning Qi brushed past my eyes.
Step.
They landed smoothly, despite their speed. I stared in shock at the figure now standing before me.
Their clothes were soaked and clung to their body, outlining their form. Their bluish-white hair, wet from the rain, seemed to shine with an almost ethereal light. Soon after, her gem-like blue eyes met mine.
“…You.”
“Hi.”
It was Namgung Bi-ah—who should have been back at the Gu Clan. I stared incredulously.
It wasn’t just her sudden appearance that shocked me—though that was startling enough. Something else was far more important.
“You broke through your wall?”
The Qi radiating from her was unmistakably that of a Peak Realm martial artist. A faint leak from her middle dantian confirmed she’d only recently advanced.
“Yeah,” Namgung Bi-ah nodded, her face expressionless.
“…I did.”
But this shouldn’t have been possible. How?
I was sure Yung Pung or Muyeon would be first.
It had been a while since I’d seen Yung Pung—Mount Hua’s greatest prodigy, the Sword Dragon—so I didn’t know his current state. But Muyeon had been on the verge of a breakthrough; I’d expected him to advance before Bi-ah.
She hadn’t been nearly as close to the wall as him. The enlightenment she’d gained was helping, but I thought it would take her at least a year…
And she just broke through like that?
Did she have another enlightenment? It didn’t seem like she’d received any extra Qi.
Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head at my question. “It just… happened?”
“…”
Her answer made my head throb. If it were that easy, no one would struggle so much, you idiot.
I kept my thoughts to myself. “…I see. Congratulations.”
“Eung.”
I acknowledged her monstrous talent once more, then moved to the next issue.
“How did you get here?”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah fell silent. I could already guess the look on her face.
She’s angry.
Her eyes had narrowed slightly, and I could feel a serious intensity in her gaze.
“…Did you come after me?”
She nodded. Of course she had—why else would she be here? But how?
“How did you know where I was?”
“I just did.”
An absurd answer. The distance alone should have made it impossible, not to mention her famously terrible sense of direction. I checked my clothes in case she’d planted something on me, like Gu Huibi once did, but found nothing.
Then, suddenly—
Zap.
A surge of Qi made me turn back to Namgung Bi-ah. Lightning Qi enveloped her sword—not the translucent energy I’d seen before, but a perfected, visible form. Another confirmation of her new realm.
Releasing the dense, unique aura of the Namgung Clan, she spoke firmly. “Take me with you.”
She didn’t question why I’d left alone, or why I’d abandoned her. She simply demanded to accompany me.
This wasn’t a request—it was an order.
Through the haze of rain, I asked, “…Do you even know where I’m going?”
“I don’t… and honestly… I don’t care.”
“What do you mean, you don’t care? It’s dangerous—you should—”
Thud—
Before I could finish, Namgung Bi-ah flared her Qi, ready for a fight. “Take me with you.”
Her words were the same, but this time, her sword was pointed at me.
“If you refuse, I won’t let you go.”
I could tell she was dead serious. If I didn’t agree, she might actually attack. The Peak Realm Lightning Qi began to dominate the surrounding forest. She wasn’t backing down.
I had no time to argue. A decision had to be made—now.
* * *
And that’s how we ended up like this.
As I watched Namgung Bi-ah spacing out behind me, I regretted my choice.
Sigh. I should have just overpowered her and left.
Even at her new level, she wasn’t someone I couldn’t handle if I fought seriously—it would just take time. But even if I did, I couldn’t leave her alone in a forest at night. And she’d only chase me again. In the end, I had no choice but to bring her along.
“…I can’t see… anything.”
Unaware of my thoughts, Namgung Bi-ah seemed fascinated by the thick fog surrounding us. Even after reaching the Peak Realm, her personality hadn’t changed a bit.
“Don’t wander off. We could lose each other.”
This was a dangerous area. The Alliance had forbidden entry because people had vanished here, lost in the fog. It wasn’t ordinary mist—enhancing your senses didn’t help.
At my warning, Namgung Bi-ah paused…
Sniff sniff.
…and began sniffing the air.
“…What are you doing?”
After a few sniffs, she nodded confidently.
What was wrong with her?
“…I won’t lose you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I know your smell.”
I shook my head. Did she think she was a dog? Tracking me by scent…
Just to be safe, I reached back and grabbed her arm. With her terrible sense of direction, she’d never find me in this fog if we got separated.
Sigh. My priorities are all wrong. This isn’t what I should be worrying about.
Uncertainty gnawed at me. I’d come all this way, but finding the Black Palace in this fog seemed doubtful.
Hmm. They wouldn’t rely solely on the fog for protection. They must have set up formations too.
It wouldn’t be easy to locate them.
“What should I do…”
If the Marble of Celestial Captivation was accurate, the Black Palace was somewhere on this mountain. But even if the mountain wasn’t huge, searching through this thick fog was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
If only I could clear this…
Frowning, I scanned our surroundings for a long time, one hand still gripping Bi-ah’s arm.
Ring—
Suddenly, I felt a vibration at my waist—from the charm pocket holding the Marble of Celestial Captivation. I took it out, thinking it might be ready.
“…!”
But instead, the marble flashed brightly in my palm and shot a beam of orange light through the fog, pointing toward a specific direction.
Staring at the light, I wondered, “Is this…”
Was it showing me Gu Huibi’s location?
Before the thought even fully formed…
My feet were already carrying me forward, following the light.