Mysteries on the Road to Mount Mosan
It took quite a while to travel from the small village in Hebei where I lived to the Murim Alliance headquarters in Shaanxi. A lot had happened along the way. The road to Jiangsu Province, where Mount Mosan was located, was about the same distance, so I'd steeled myself and set out... but.
"No incidents at all?"
"No incidents whatsoever."
"We made it without a single hitch."
We arrived faster, more comfortably, and safer than expected. As the peaceful rural scenery passed by outside the carriage—drawing ever closer to the small village at the foot of Mount Mosan—I spoke up.
"Well, thinking about it, that's only natural."
"Mm-hmm. You're right, my dear. With this flashy carriage and our fine attire, even the riffraff steer clear on their own."
"Plus, while you were training in the Tiger King Art at the Paeng family estate, rumors from the Yongbong Tournament spread far and wide."
"...I have no idea how word spreads that fast."
I could understand lowlifes backing off at the sight of our getup. But even decently skilled martial artists whispering about our nicknames—Three Talents Sword Dragon and Alliance Blazing Phoenix—and giving us a wide berth? When did the rumors reach this far?
Paeng Soso, who'd been listening, shrugged her shoulders.
"Nicknames from the Yongbong are special in all sorts of ways."
"Ah."
Nicknames usually arise gradually from others' gossip. But Yongbong ones are the opposite—they're coined first, then spread through rumors. That's why they mobilize Beggar Clan disciples to scatter tales of the Yongbong Tournament everywhere. In this era with few entertainments, juicy rumors are the most popular pastime, so it works like a charm.
I knew that... but.
"Still, isn't it spreading too fast? Shaanxi to Jiangsu isn't a day's trip."
"My dear, do you know what the Beggar Clan excels at most?"
"Hmm... staff techniques? Or palm strikes?"
"That'd be true for elite disciples beyond the Five Conclusions, but ordinary ones specialize in lightness skills."
Wasn't the Beggar Clan's signature the Striking Dog Staff Method and Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms? As I tilted my head in confusion, Paeng Soso picked up the explanation from beside me.
"The Beggar Clan is the largest and everywhere, but not every disciple trains in martial arts."
"Indeed. At its core, it's a gathering of beggars. Most learn only footwork and lightness skills to dodge beatings or escape when trouble brews—only a few master actual combat."
That made sense.... I nodded blankly, and Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso beamed at me. Their builds, speech, upbringings—everything differed, yet when they smiled at me like this, their expressions were uncannily similar. Staring in fascination, a sudden question popped into my head.
"I've brushed it off as coincidence till now, but isn't your world, Yeonhwa, way too similar to this one?"
"Eh? What do you mean? This lady finds this world far more peaceful and livable...."
"No, not that."
I poked the tip of Hong Yeonhwa's small, cute nose and continued.
"History, geography, factions, martial arts—the works. Sure, details differ. Like the people involved. Among the Murim Alliance experts you took down in your world, have you seen any here?"
"...None indeed. All were strangers."
"If memory serves, even their names were different, right? Isn't that super weird?"
Paeng Soso, pondering, tilted her head and chimed in.
"Is it? I've never really imagined another world in detail...."
This time, I tapped Paeng Soso's nose.
"Think about it. Even just changing countries shifts the vibe completely. The Western Regions feel alien compared to the Central Plains, and the far west has stuff that's hard to grasp."
"Yeah, I heard in the Western Regions, religious leaders reign above kings."
"Exactly! Civilizations change drastically with borders alone. Now imagine whole worlds. Some without martial arts, or with different tech instead. Maybe even uninhabitable by humans."
Questions only someone reincarnated from a modern world without superpowers like hers could have.
"Even accounting for folks like the Fengyu Merchant Group's head who crossed worlds, it's too alike."
Different people mean different actions, which stack into different histories. Yet Hong Yeonhwa's world and this one diverged only after the imperial collapse—before that, everything matched.
"...Hmm. Never thought of it, but that's definitely odd."
Hong Yeonhwa raised her slender arm straight in front of her eyes, propped her elbow, and slowly slid her hand upward.
"Worlds similar enough to link like this."
As her fingers reached her hand's back, she suddenly clenched a fist, then spread index and middle into a V, tilting her head.
"But splitting like this outta nowhere? That's suspicious indeed."
"I meant the similarity itself is weird... but yeah, that split's odd too."
There had to be a reason for the resemblance between Hong Yeonhwa's world and this one. And whatever spanned those millennia had broken recently?
As I nodded inwardly, Hong Yeonhwa entered my view—still holding one hand up in a V, face serious.
"Ah, Yeonhwa."
"Mm?"
"Something just occurred to me—do the same with your other hand."
"Like this?"
"Yeah. Now stick out your tongue."
"???"
Unsounded but obedient—thinking I'd found a clue?—Hong Yeonhwa followed along.
"Good. Now look up at the ceiling without moving your head."
"Ihi hi mahiya?"
"Kh... Yeah, that's it."
Suppressing any outward sign, I savored the sight. Arms spread shoulder-width, V-fingers, tongue out to the root, eyes rolled back like in bed sometimes.
Perfect ahegao double peace. Just... bed vibes were different. Probably 'cause she had no clue what face she was making. That innocent aura clashing with the lewd expression was mind-melting.
Come to think of it, higher realms boosted not just stamina but senses too. Brain's part of the body, after all. With focus, I could snapshot this eternally!
I glared intently... but my perfect plan ended before takeoff.
"Eek! Oppa, you're making Hong unnie do something naughty!"
"What?! No, no indeed. My husband wouldn't tease this lady like this."
"For real! She just made that face—ahe—"
"No...!"
Hong Yeonhwa, seeing Paeng Soso's mimicry, trembled with betrayal.
"What was that for—to mock this lady?! I thought you'd hit on something profound!"
Pat pat. Hong Yeonhwa pounded my shoulder with sulky force—not painful, just right to loosen knots. Awkward grin as I took the near-massage.
"I started it, sure... but after mulling, it seems irrelevant."
"Hweh?"
Our goal was returning Hong Yeonhwa home if possible. Answers to that—and the worlds' link—might come soon. If Mount Mosan knew nothing, the palace was last resort.
Clunk. The carriage halted—arrival.
Pointing outside at the village, I asked, "Straight up Mount Mosan? Or lunch first?"
"We've come far enough. No more delays—climb, finish quick, then eat. This lady craves beef noodles and dumplings. What say you, Soso?"
"True, we've been eating pricey stuff with all the money. Long as it's not my bun-head, I'll go with you, unnie."
Paeng Soso smirked, shaking her bun-hair.
How long since we started up Mount Mosan? The sun had dipped halfway, sky purpling into dusk.
"Weren't they supposed to come greet us?!!"
...And we were still lost on the mountain.