Journey to Yunnan
The next morning, at dawn.
Rustle.
"Are you really going?"
Canteas shook his head as he watched Do-ha packing clothes from the crack of dawn. The moment Do-ha had heard about the Eternal Ice Crystal the day before, he had become this frantic.
"I only heard about it ages ago. It might not even be there anymore."
"I can't just sit around doing nothing. Spirit herbs are something you go out and find with your own two feet."
"Fine. If you're set on going, I guess I have no choice. But I've got a question."
"What?"
"Why are you dragging me along?"
Canteas, who had been forced to get dressed right alongside him, let out a long sigh. He had been sleeping perfectly well until he was hauled out of bed at this ungodly hour yet again.
"You told me the location."
"If we get there and it's gone, I'm selling you off on the spot. Or better yet, I'll just bury you right there and leave. Who knows? Plant a Lich and maybe it'll grow into a spirit herb someday."
"Have you ever seen a lunatic like this?! I only heard it as a rumor! Why am I the one getting buried?!"
How was this fair?! Even if the Eternal Ice Crystal had once existed, someone else might have already taken it. Why was he being held responsible?!
Damn it, I never should have opened my mouth.
Maybe this was why people said silence was golden.
"I'm joking."
"…"
Canteas knew better. That had not been a joke at all.
"Before we leave, let's double-check one more time."
Whoosh.
Do-ha pulled a map from his bag.
"Just as I thought. This is a map of China, right?"
"Yeah. For some reason, the East Continent in Belhart is identical to it—land size, regions, even the territorial borders."
It was as if someone had simply cut China out of Earth and transplanted it straight into Belhart. The landmass matched perfectly.
Yet the East Continent was not China. On Earth, China's territory connected directly north of the Korean Peninsula, allowing passage into other countries. In Belhart, every edge of the East Continent ended in ocean. The place names were different as well. Only the overall shape of the territory was the same; the regional boundaries and the history were entirely separate.
"Is there any land on Earth that matches the West Continent?"
"No."
The West Continent was the largest landmass even within Belhart—roughly the combined size of Russia and China. The East Continent came next, followed by the North and South Continents. No territory on Earth shared the West Continent's shape.
"So is this really that parallel-universe stuff people keep talking about online?"
"A parallel universe only works under identical conditions to our own. This is closer to a multiverse."
"True. Earth is similar to Belhart, yet different."
"Anyway, it's here, right?"
"Yeah."
Do-ha pointed to the Yunnan region. It was a border zone where the land met, a place of towering mountain ranges that scraped the sky, densely blanketed in trees. Normally, peaks that high had no trees—just bare, jagged stone. Yet here the forests grew thick and lush. That was why Yunnan had developed so many villages and tourist spots. People came one by one to see the strange scenery, and eventually entire tourist towns took root.
"You're really going?"
Canteas tapped the map and looked at Do-ha. As he had said, the region's unique features drew crowds. Would a spirit herb like the Eternal Ice Crystal still be left? Wouldn't someone have found it long ago? He himself had only heard the story centuries earlier.
"We still have to go look."
"If it's not there, it's not my fault, right?"
"…"
Without a word, Do-ha packed the map away and stood.
"What?! Why won't you answer? It's not my fault, right??"
"…"
"Hey!"
In the end, Canteas followed after him, trembling with unease.
Rattle-rattle.
"Aigoo, my apologies. The road's suddenly gotten rough."
The coachman driving the carriage offered an apology to the passengers behind him. The ride had been smooth until now, but the uneven path made the carriage jolt hard.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it and just keep going."
"Thank you for saying so."
Another passenger raised a hand and spoke. Across from them, Do-ha and Canteas sat gazing at the distant mountains.
Ugh, this is so uncomfortable. Let's just teleport already.
You know what happens if you teleport inside the Wulin, right? Instant death.
Dragons had laid a curse over the entire East Continent that made teleportation impossible. In the distant past, dragons had teleported in so often to cause chaos that the furious dragons of the East finally sealed the whole continent against it.
If the coordinates glitch and you pop up underground, you're dead on the spot. If you're that eager to go underground, I can arrange it. You'll end up planted there anyway if the herb's gone.
Wow… have you ever seen a lunatic like this?
While Do-ha and Canteas bickered through sound transmission, someone sitting near the coachman fixed a quiet stare on them. It was the same man who had just reassured the driver.
"Where might you two heroes be headed?"
"?"
At the sound of the voice, Do-ha pointed to himself. Was the man speaking to him?
"Yes, that's right. I take this carriage often, yet I don't believe I've seen either of you before."
The carriage was stable and comfortable, but the fare was high, so few people used it.
"We're heading to the Yunnan region. Thought we'd take in the scenery."
"I see. Since fate has brought us together like this, allow me to introduce myself."
The man removed the hat that had completely hidden his face. When martial artists wished to conceal their identities, they usually wore hooded cloaks just like that.
"A pleasure. I am Namgung Hak."
"Ah, I'm just Baek. No real name or moniker to speak of. The guy next to me is my servant."
"Why am I a serv—"
Thwack.
Canteas took a hit that shut him up and shuddered.
Tsk… why does it have to be this kid riding with us?
Do-ha sighed inwardly as he looked out at the scenery.
Namgung Hak. The only son of Namgung Je-u and Young Master of the Namgung Family. Do-ha had last seen him when the boy was ten years old—right before Do-ha set out to confront the Demon God. This was their first meeting since.
Fifteen years have passed, so he must be twenty-five now.
With the cloak off, the boyish features of his childhood were still faintly visible. His realm, however, was impossible to gauge.
That means he's at least a fully mature Super-Peak… or higher.
Spreading his Qi sense would reveal the truth at once, but Namgung Hak would notice immediately. If Do-ha had already reached the Environmental Realm, the young man would never have sensed it. As it stood, Do-ha himself was still only a fully mature Super-Peak.
"You two don't seem to be from the East Continent."
"That's right. We're from the West Continent."
Illusion magic had altered their appearances, but their speech still differed greatly from that of the Central Plains. Of course, Do-ha had spoken this way even during his years in Belhart.
"So, Young Master, where are you headed that brings you outside like this?"
"You know who I am?"
"The Namgung surname, the name Hak… there's only one person who fits that description, isn't there?"
"Haha, true enough. I'm also heading to Yunnan."
"What? Why?"
Damn it. Why does Namgung Hak have to be going to Yunnan of all places?
Overlapping routes would only make moving freely a pain…
"Our family has a branch household there. It seems some trouble has arisen, so I'm going to check on it."
"Ah…"
Do-ha nodded at Namgung Hak's words.
There used to be no Namgung branch household in Yunnan.
Fifteen years must have been enough time for one to appear. It made sense. Once Namgung Je-u became Leader of the Martial Alliance, the family's influence would have grown considerably. Nothing strange about it.
"But… is it really all right for the Young Master to travel alone like this?"
Right now the carriage held only three people: Namgung Hak, Do-ha, and Canteas.
"I'm not going to fight—just stopping by the branch household briefly—so I came alone. If others followed me, the family would have to mobilize unnecessarily. They deserve rest as well."
"Hmm."
That was what he said, but the real reason was probably simple confidence that he could handle himself. From childhood, Namgung Hak had been far stronger and sharper than his peers. Most sects produced one or two promising juniors, yet among them Namgung Hak had stood out as exceptionally powerful. Whether it was the blood of his father Je-u or simply innate talent, among those called geniuses he had always ranked first. That was how he had reached Super-Peak by the mere age of twenty.
And from the faintly sharp aura leaking out of him…
He had likely reached the extreme of Super-Peak. If he were only at the mature stage, Do-ha would have sensed it clearly.
"Heroes, we will soon be entering the Yunnan region."
The coachman guided the carriage steadily and informed his passengers.
"Then I'll take my leave here. May your journey be a safe one."
Once they stepped down from the carriage, Namgung Hak offered a gentle smile, gave his farewell, and immediately set off.
"Luckily the branch household is in the opposite direction from us."
Do-ha had worried their paths might overlap. Instead, the young man headed the other way.
"Damn, he grew up well."
Watching Namgung Hak's retreating back vanish into the distance, Canteas let out an admiring whistle. He had only seen the boy once or twice as a child, yet now he had grown into a solid, impressive young man.
"He's twenty-five, right?"
"Yeah."
"Totally different from how you were as a kid. You were basically a full-blown madman—"
"…Did you momentarily forget that the madman is standing right next to you?"
"Haha, I meant a radiant madman—you know, the shining kind…"
Whack!
Canteas clutched the back of his head and shuddered after taking another hit.
That damn bastard. Why does his hand get heavier every single day??
"Or maybe it was always this heavy."
Rustle.
"Pii!"
Yong-yong poked his head out of the subspace bag, clearly fed up with being cooped up. He had not come out even once during the entire journey here.
"No."
"Pii…"
"I only brought you because you promised to stay inside. Keep this up and I'm leaving you at home next time."
"Pii-pii!"
At Canteas's words, Yong-yong shook his head vigorously.
"So his name really ended up being Yong-yong."
"Pii…"
The hatchling drooped his head at Do-ha's remark. He truly hated that ridiculous name, but what could he do? Canteas liked it.
Stroke-stroke.
"You can't come out here. People in the East Continent go berserk at the mere mention of dragons."
There was a reason the dragons had sealed the entire East Continent with magic. From ancient times, the dragons' misdeeds had inflicted enormous damage on the region. Thanks to Do-ha, Je-u, and Depnius, the East Continent's view of dragons had improved somewhat…
But Depnius betrayed us, so relations must have hit rock bottom.
They already hated dragons. For one to join the Demon God Cult and help conquer other continents? That was driving a final nail into the coffin.
"So even if it's a little stuffy, stay put."
"Pii!"
Yong-yong nodded as if he understood and retreated back into the bag.
"All right. Let's move."
Whoosh.
Do-ha immediately launched into a lightness technique. Canteas let out a long sigh.
"This is why I hate martial artists. There's a perfectly good teleport, so why do they insist on running everywhere?"
Whoosh.
In the end Canteas cast Haste and Strength magic on himself and chased after Do-ha.