Chapter 957
Samana Valley lay deeply hidden within the tranquil embrace of the Anina Mountain Range.
Even at midday, a gentle mist enveloped the valley, making it seem as though heaven and earth were seamlessly connected.
Above the jewel-blue sky, flocks of eagles perpetually circled in flight.
The winds flowing through every corner of the valley scattered the clouds, weaving a soft melody.
After walking for some time along a path strewn with dancing flower petals, a slender waterfall cascaded like delicate silk through the trees.
Several people were meticulously cleansing themselves in its clear, transparent waters.
It was likely a waterfall revered as sacred by the tribe.
'Beautiful.'
Though the Central Plains too had no shortage of breathtaking scenery,
the landscape of Samana Valley was so mesmerizing it almost felt like stepping into another world.
'And to think priceless white sandalwood is scattered everywhere underfoot.'
Not only that, but white sandalwood trees were planted throughout Samana Valley.
This fragrant sandalwood, native only to India, exuded a rich aroma from its heartwood.
It was used not only for crafting prayer beads and incense but also as an ingredient in medicines and perfumes.
However, the heartwood required at least thirty to sixty years to fully mature,
and as time passed, its fragrance deepened, making aged white sandalwood far more valuable than gold.
'So they do have their own means of survival.'
The reason the Four Sacred Tribes had preserved their lineage for so long
was precisely because they possessed such resources, ensuring their livelihood remained secure.
'This is no time to admire the scenery.'
Hmm...
Even as he walked, Bu Eun-seol discreetly spread his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
According to A-wan, this was a place where an Absolute Boundary might be in place.
If so, the truth about the True Demon and the secret of his bloodline, as mentioned by the Saint, could be hidden here.
Buzz...
As Bu Eun-seol expanded his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, the men of the Vayura Tribe, including the middle-aged ones, widened their eyes and murmured in low voices.
They seemed to be sensing the energy, marveling at its profound subtlety.
'Nothing, it seems.'
Even after expanding the energy across thousands of feet, he detected nothing.
However, unlike usual, the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi spread unimpeded, amplifying its power,
suggesting that the natural energy flowing through this land was remarkably similar to it.
"Please come this way."
Just then, A-wan spoke.
Turning his head, Bu Eun-seol saw the group of middle-aged men gesturing with outstretched hands toward a temple built atop a hill beyond the forest.
After listening to their words, A-wan translated:
"They say they've guided us far enough and that we should proceed up there on our own."
She then added,
"The chieftain is said to be waiting in that temple."
Passing through the forest once more and walking along the hill path for a while, the scenery of a mysterious yet peaceful village temple came into view.
Around the large marble temple, numerous people strolled about.
All were clad in white and silver-adorned garments, with feathers or small bell-shaped ornaments pinned in their hair,
likely the temple's caretakers.
A-wan pointed to the temple and said,
"I'll wait here."
"No, you'll come with me."
"But I..."
"It's fine."
As Bu Eun-seol and A-wan stepped inside the temple, they saw mysterious paintings and treasures at its center.
In the middle stood an elderly man in white robes, waiting.
The old man pressed his palms together and bowed to Bu Eun-seol.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation."
His Han language was remarkably fluent.
"I am Anan-geuk, chieftain of the Vayura Tribe."
Fortunately, Hokason's claim that there was someone fluent in Han language turned out to be true.
"I am a wanderer, Seol So-yo."
"Ah, Lord Seol. Please, this way."
Anan-geuk led Bu Eun-seol and A-wan to a guest hall fit for receiving visitors.
"Please, partake."
He then had an attendant bring out wooden cups filled with a white liquid.
Taking a whiff, it seemed to be a blend of goat's milk, spices, and medicinal herbs.
"You must have heard by now..."
Anan-geuk glanced briefly at A-wan before speaking calmly.
"The reason our tribesmen lingered around the marketplace of Nashik City, observing travelers... was because of a prophecy given by the Divine Maiden."
"Divine Maiden?"
"Indeed. She foretold that in the future, a Wind Cloud Prince wielding the power of the wind would come from the Central Plains, and that he would surely recover our Sacred Artifact."
He then added,
"That is why we trained specialists to detect the power of the wind."
'So that's how it was.'
Though they had lost their power, being the Vayura Tribe—known as the Wind Tribe—they must have devised a method to sense the wind's energy.
"You mean to say you've stationed your tribesmen all this time, believing in such a prophecy?"
"The Divine Maiden's prophecies have never been wrong."
"Who is this Divine Maiden you speak of?"
"A benefactor who saved our tribe over two hundred years ago."
Anan-geuk spoke calmly.
"She was a prophet who could see all futures."
Two hundred years ago.
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
In truth, ever since he had heard the term "Divine Maiden," he had been wondering—
Could that prophet be my mother, Sa Ah?
But if it was two hundred years ago, the timing didn't match.
"Was this Divine Maiden a figure from India?"
"That, I do not know. The Divine Maiden descended from the heavens, you see."
Definitely not my mother, then.
Sensing there was some complicated backstory, Bu Eun-seol let out a heavy sigh and said,
"Then, is there some kind of prophecy left behind by this Divine Maiden that I could see?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Anan-geuk shook his head.
"Our tribespeople grew up hearing that story from childhood. And when they were on the verge of death, they passed it down to their children like a final testament."
Then, with a resolute yet solemn gaze, he added,
"We believe that one day, that legend will come to pass."
Bu Eun-seol sank deep into thought.
There are too many holes in this story.
Believing in a prophecy from two hundred years ago was one thing.
Even in the sects of the Central Plains, many Founders had left behind prophecies or final decrees, and often, they truly came to pass.
But stationing their tribespeople around Nashik City just to search for the Wind Cloud Prince of the Central Plains—who might not even come in their lifetime?
And the fact that the moment Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, they had immediately declared him the Wind Cloud Prince...
There were still far too many questionable aspects.
"Then what is it you want from me?"
"The lost sacred artifacts of the Four Sacred Tribes are said to be hidden in one of three places—Nashmi Forest, Vishuta Valley, or Sugapana Mountain, where both are located."
Anan-geuk spoke earnestly.
"But for two hundred years, we have searched tirelessly and still could not find them."
"So then—"
"We ask that you retrieve the sacred artifacts hidden in those three places."
Bu Eun-seol wore a blank expression.
Even if the locations were narrowed down, they were asking him to find some unknown relic whose exact hiding spot was a mystery?
"Though your circumstances are unfortunate, I don't have the time for such a task."
Bu Eun-seol refused firmly.
"I have my own matters to attend to."
But then, A-wan spoke up cautiously.
"Young Master. All three of those places match the conditions you mentioned earlier."
"Again with this?"
"Yes."
A-wan wore an awkward expression.
"Near Nashik City, the places you spoke of were only these four—including Samana Valley."
The very places he had intended to go.
Who would have thought they were the hiding spots of the sacred artifacts?
There's a possibility.
The Absolute Boundary would never be set up in an ordinary place.
If he thought about it carefully—
If it were near where these tribes' sacred artifacts were hidden, it was entirely plausible.
"If the Yona Tribe hid the sacred artifacts, wouldn't it be better to ask them directly?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Anan-geuk shook his head again.
"The Yona Tribe spouts nonsense, claiming they too received the Divine Maiden's prophecy, stole the artifacts, and placed them in some unknown location."
"The Divine Maiden's prophecy?"
"Indeed. However, they insist that after placing them there, the artifacts vanished."
He glanced at A-wan and added,
"The Iron Elephant King is also well aware of these tribal legends, which is why he's been eyeing the sacred artifacts greedily."
Once more, Anan-geuk spoke with deep sincerity.
"Our tribe's sacred artifact must never fall into the hands of evil."
The reason the Iron Elephant King's subordinates had been lurking around Nashik City—
They weren't just there to wreak havoc and extort money from the marketgoers.
They had heard the prophecy passed down among the Four Sacred Tribes and were also searching for the sacred artifacts—and the Wind Cloud Prince.
So they, too, sensed the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi and provoked me.
The exact situation was unclear.
But one thing was certain—the sacred artifacts must never end up in the hands of the Iron Elephant King, who ruled Nashik City with an iron grip and committed atrocities.
"Very well."
After a long moment of deliberation, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"I don't know if I'll be able to find these sacred artifacts, but I'll try."
"Thank you."
Anan-geuk bowed deeply, as if performing a formal salute.
"Our tribe's finest warriors will accompany you, Young Master."
"That won't be necessary."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at A-wan.
"Just the two of us will go."
"But—"
"If a large group moves, the Iron Elephant King's intelligence network will surely detect it."
"Still, we've heard you've already clashed with his subordinates."
Shhhhk.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's face transformed into that of an elderly man.
"What they're searching for is a young man from the Central Plains and the Yona girl guiding him."
He gestured toward the hat and outer robe hanging on the wall—Anan-geuk's own.
"Not an old grandfather setting off on a long journey."
"That is an incredible disguise technique."
Anan-geuk nodded in admiration.
"I understand. Then we shall place our trust solely in the Wind Cloud Prince."
Bu Eun-seol and A-wan departed from Samana Valley, heading first toward Nashmi Forest.
The two rode in a water buffalo-drawn cart, perfectly playing the roles of an elderly grandfather and his granddaughter.
Fortunately, Nashmi Forest wasn't far from here, and more importantly—this slow pace helped them evade the Iron Elephant Sect's pursuit.
This leisurely journey was all part of the plan.
"When we head to Vishuta Valley, we won't move this slowly. By then, the encirclement will have lifted, so we'll be able to use our Movement Technique," Bu Eun-seol murmured in a low voice from the cart.
"I'll compensate you thoroughly for accompanying me during this time."
"It's alright. You don't need to pay me any more."
A-wan shook her head.
"If I had known you were the legendary Wind Cloud Prince, I would never have asked for money in the first place."
As a descendant of the Yona Tribe, who had sinned against the three tribes, she was intimately familiar with the legends surrounding the Wind Cloud Prince.
Judging by A-wan's attitude, it seemed the Yona Tribe also revered the Oracle's prophecy as sacred.
"Don't concern yourself with that. I'm not the Wind Cloud Prince—just Seol-so."
Thudthudthud.
At that moment, a cloud of dust rose in the distance as several dozen martial artists soared forward with Lightness Skill, moving as if flying.
The warrior leading the charge spotted Bu Eun-seol and A-wan and narrowed his eyes sharply.
"Halt."
In an instant, the martial artists surrounded the cart, and Bu Eun-seol's eyes thinned to slits.
He had noticed the elephant-shaped emblem embroidered on their plain gray uniforms—these were warriors under the Iron Elephant King's command.
"Whoa, whoa."
Bu Eun-seol stopped the cart, bowing his head, then immediately wrapped a protective arm around A-wan's shoulder and trembled violently.
His gaze and movements were flawless—the perfect image of a grandfather shielding his granddaughter in fear.
"Where are you headed?"
The warrior's voice and eyes were anything but ordinary, and his qi surged like a mountain about to collapse.
He was likely a high-ranking master within the Iron Elephant Sect.
"Uhh—"
Bu Eun-seol let out a pained groan, gesturing weakly at his throat.
Beneath his chin, a pinkish wound clung as if melted into his skin, clearly indicating severe damage to his vocal cords.
"My grandfather isn't well, so we're traveling to Manacha for treatment."
The warrior ignored A-wan's words, staring fixedly at Bu Eun-seol.
Unfazed, Bu Eun-seol continued trembling in fear while casting warm, affectionate glances at A-wan.
Though unable to speak, he kept making soft, distressed noises while patting A-wan's back reassuringly.
'He's genuine.'
Judging by his weathered skin and gaunt physique—
This wasn't a disguise, but a real old man.
And above all, the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at his granddaughter—
That was something no young person could ever replicate.
"Move out."
Finally, the warrior turned abruptly and unleashed his Movement Technique like a gale.
His subordinates followed without hesitation, vanishing just as swiftly.
"Why did they leave? They didn't even interrogate us properly?"
As A-wan frowned in confusion, Bu Eun-seol replied flatly,
"Those with vast experience and keen instincts often overtrust their own judgment."
His gaze sharpened as he watched the Iron Elephant Sect warriors disappear into the distance.
"They've spent their whole lives confident in their discernment, so they never doubt their conclusions."
"So they thought interrogating us would be a waste of time."
"Exactly."
Bu Eun-seol had discerned that the leader commanding these warriors wasn't just highly perceptive—
He was a seasoned veteran with mastery in the Tracking Art.
All Tracking Art masters shared one common trait:
An unshakable faith in their honed instincts and experience, believing them infallible.
Without that conviction and confidence, one could never become a master of tracking.
Because the Tracking Art was, in essence, a battle against time.
Without one's own standards and absolute certainty, reaching the highest realm of mastery was impossible.
Bu Eun-seol had exploited that very weakness.
He maintained the guise of an old man—one the warrior would deem unquestionably real.
A grandfather's affectionate gaze toward his granddaughter. That was something no deception could replicate.
Because it was a sight he had witnessed and memorized long ago, in his childhood.
Nashmi Forest was an endless expanse of towering ancient woods and mountainous terrain.
The trees stood colossal and majestic, their rings holding centuries within, each branch adorned with glistening green dewdrops.
Sunlight pierced through the leaves, scattering fragments of light across the forest floor, while birdsong whispered softly from somewhere unseen.
It was truly a beautiful forest where one could simultaneously feel both the grandeur and tranquility of nature.
Whoosh. Swish.
Every time Bu Eun-seol passed through the forest, he unleashed the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi at full power, meticulously scouring every corner of Nashmi Forest.
But the place was so vast, with countless hidden spots, that even searching thoroughly took a full day and a half.
Just in case, he heightened his Empty Mind Spirit Communion and swiftly scanned the surroundings—
Yet he could find neither any trace of the sacred artifact nor any location bearing the Absolute Boundary.
"Let's move quickly to the next location."
Crunch. Clatter.
Bu Eun-seol dismantled the cart he had brought with him and remade it into a pack he could carry on his back.
Then, placing A-wan inside, he activated the Land-Flying Technique.
"Ah—!"
As the surrounding scenery began to shrink into mere dots, A-wan's eyes widened in shock.
Never in her life had she even imagined that a human could soar so high into the sky.
"Truly, the Wind Cloud Prince can command the wind itself!"
Strangely, the higher they ascended, the more exhilarated A-wan became, her voice ringing out brightly.
"If we go up any further, we might even face the sun itself!"
But as they climbed endlessly, her laughter vanished, and her face stiffened.
"I—I can't breathe..."
The higher they rose, the colder it became, and the fierce winds made it difficult to even draw breath.
Whoom.
Eventually, Bu Eun-seol formed a massive Astral Energy Barrier, about thirty feet in width, while maintaining the Land-Flying Technique.
Had any Murim Master witnessed this, they would have doubted their own eyes.
Not only was he carrying a person on his back while using the Land-Flying Technique—he could also manifest Astral Energy?
It was a feat only Bu Eun-seol, whose internal energy surpassed human limits, could perform.
"Where is Vishuta Valley?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, A-wan pointed eastward and answered:
"About four hundred li in that direction."
Four hundred li would take even the fastest master using Lightness Skill at least two to four hours.
But Bu Eun-seol arrived at Vishuta Valley in just half an hour—
Still carrying A-wan on his back.
"Indeed, this too is a sight to behold."
Vishuta Valley was like a heavenly garden, its vibrant green life force overflowing into the world.
A clear waterfall cascaded down the cliffs like strands of silver thread, weaving a mist of white fog,
While the tranquil pond below was blanketed in pure white lotuses.
"..."
Even Bu Eun-seol, accustomed to the breathtaking landscapes of the Central Plains, felt his heart stir at the beauty of this Indian vista.
Though his purpose was to uncover the True Demon's secrets through the clues left by the Saint—
Visiting one stunning landmark after another in India eased the suffocating weight in his chest, leaving his mind lighter than before.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's awed expression as he took in the scenery of Vishuta Valley, A-wan smiled warmly beside him.
"But it's too early to be amazed yet."
She walked ahead, gesturing toward a path.
Her steps were as natural as if this forest were her homeland, and her fluttering sleeves seemed to merge with the rustling leaves.
Though her skin was speckled with spots, A-wan's grace was as lovely as flower petals drifting from the sky.
"From here, there's an even more mystical place."
Following her gesture, they entered a narrow forest path, where a hidden stone staircase emerged between dense bamboo groves.
The steps were thickly carpeted in moss, revealing that no one had visited this place for a long time.
"They say this path was once a secret trail ancient monks used for meditation."
Her voice was soft, yet brimming with affection and pride.
As they ascended the stairs, the forest abruptly ended, opening into a vast expanse.
There, a natural observatory, encircled by boulders, came into view—
And below it, an endless sea of green trees swayed in the wind.
"This place..."
Bu Eun-seol's pupils shimmered endlessly as he gazed upon the boundless waves of green.
A faint, familiar sensation washed over him—
As if, in his earliest childhood, he had once beheld this very sight in his grandfather's arms.
—All philosophers throughout history,
Have gained profound enlightenment or grasped mysterious truths by observing the traces left by nature.
For a moment, Grandfather Bu Jan-yang's voice echoed clearly in his ears.
—Behold.
As frost descends at dawn and dew forms at dusk... There is nowhere untouched by nature's supreme principles.
'Have I... been here before?'
Huum.
Then, a strange light lingered over his body before flickering intermittently.
Just by witnessing this mystical and beautiful Indian landscape—
One that felt as though he had seen it in his childhood—
The principles of martial arts that had once only circled his mind, never fully realized, now surged forth.
Especially the teachings of the Way of the Beast, which expanded extrasensory perception, crashed over him like relentless waves, coiling and uncoiling in repetition.
Tzzzt.
Before he knew it, fine cracks like spiderwebs spread across Bu Eun-seol's skin, faint beams of light seeping through the fissures.
Zzziiing.
A peculiar vibration radiated from his body.
Transcending the limits of the Way of the Beast, the range of his extrasensory perception began to rise without end.