"Change the general."

Hearing those words, Yarang stiffened—something that rarely happened.

Change the general?

There was no need to decipher its meaning.

It was exactly as it sounded.

Someone among the current generals was going to be replaced.

“...”

A face immediately surfaced in Yarang’s mind.

One of the generals.

If what her mother had just said was true, then the most likely candidate was him.

But that was merely Yarang’s prediction.

Ultimately, what mattered was her mother’s will.

“Hm~”

Whether she knew what Yarang was thinking or not, the woman hummed a light tune, simply looking around at the scenery.

Was she... enjoying herself?

Yarang stared at her back.

No.

She was not enjoying this.

She was merely acting as if she was.

The view before her eyes held no meaning whatsoever.

“These flowers are quite beautiful, aren’t they?”

She held up a red flower, smiling softly.

A beautiful smile.

Had she not been veiled, her face alone could have entranced everyone around her.

And yet—

Could a smile with no sincerity truly possess such power?

The thought made Yarang uneasy.

“...Daughter?”

“...”

At her mother’s call, Yarang simply nodded.

“Come here.”

Slowly, she stepped forward.

Just then, her mother reached into the foliage and plucked another flower.

This time, it was pale blue—

Unlike the red one she had taken earlier.

Was it okay to pick flowers so freely?

That question was meaningless.

As Yusa had said—

There was nothing on this land that she was not allowed to do.

“How about this one? Do you think it’s pretty?”

She gazed at the flower as she spoke.

Yarang merely nodded.

“Hm. You don’t seem convinced.”

Even as Yarang shook her head in denial, the woman did not believe her.

Instead, she reached toward the grass once more.

Should she stop her?

Yarang hesitated.

There was no real need to stop her—

But there was also no need to be so fixated on these flowers.

Perhaps she should intervene first and think later.

Just as Yarang made her decision and stepped forward—

“Oh. This one.”

The woman had already plucked another flower.

Neither red nor blue this time.

A pure white flower.

As white and delicate as freshly fallen snow.

Seeing it, Yarang’s fingers paused.

“...”

It was familiar.

Why?

Why did this flower feel so familiar?

Her eyes wavered as an inexplicable sensation surged within her.

“Daughter? Why do you—”

Noticing Yarang’s reaction, her mother turned to look at her.

And at that very moment—

Snap—!

“...?”

Someone suddenly grabbed the woman’s wrist.

Both Yarang and the woman widened their eyes in shock at the unexpected touch.

“...”

The woman slowly turned her head to see who had dared to grasp her.

There, standing stiff—

His expression twisted into a grimace—

Was Gu Yangcheon.

*****************

Atop a high building in Yahwol, Gubong and Shin Noya stood watch over the scene unfolding below.

“...Ah, that fool... He actually did it.”

Observing the situation, Shin Noya let out a quiet sigh.

He had explicitly warned him not to do it.

He had tried to stop him.

Yet there he was, making a mess of things.

How could he not sigh?

“Good grief...”

Exhaling in exhaustion, he rubbed his face with his old, weathered hands.

This sigh was not only directed at that reckless brat—

It was also directed at himself.

“...Sect Leader....”

Gubong called out to Shin Noya, his tone hesitant.

Hearing this, Shin Noya looked at him with a wry expression.

“Are you alright? The wind is cold.”

“Haha.”

At Gubong’s concern, Shin Noya let out a dry chuckle.

“Who’s worrying about who here? Do you think a little wind is enough to shake me?”

“But still...”

“Don’t worry. Even if a storm comes, I won’t budge.”

He waved his hand dismissively, but Gubong’s expression didn’t change.

He knew why Gubong was looking at him like that.

That was precisely why he didn’t say more.

Right now, what mattered was something else.

“...Hmm.”

Just what was that foolish brat planning?

That was what Shin Noya was curious about.

‘Yangcheon.’

He could understand why he was getting swept up in his emotions.

After all—

It was his mother.

The woman he had longed for.

Of course, he would react that way.

But the problem was—

‘...That is not your mother.’

That thing.

Or rather, that being—

It was something indescribably monstrous.

Something far too powerful.

If he mistook that for his mother and recklessly approached—

He would be consumed by the consequences.

That was what worried Shin Noya the most.

‘Please...’

Let the wound not be too deep.

With that thought, Shin Noya kept his gaze locked on Gu Yangcheon.

Then—

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes.”

Gubong called out to him from behind.

“May I ask you something?”

“What if I say no?”

“...Then I will remain silent.”

“Haha... I was joking. Go ahead.”

Even as he replied, Shin Noya didn’t look away.

Taking a brief moment, Gubong finally asked,

“Is he... the one you’ve been waiting for all this time?”

“...”

Shin Noya slightly turned his head to look at him.

How should he answer?

After a moment’s thought—

“Yes.”

He chose to be honest.

There was no reason to hide it.

“That brat... is him.”

“...”

“Why? Does that disappoint you?”

“...No.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed.

But Gubong wasn’t someone to dwell on such emotions.

He had known this truth for a while.

His feelings were far more complicated than mere disappointment.

Jealousy.

Frustration.

Sorrow.

A storm of emotions raged within him.

But above all else—

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes?”

“Does this mean... you are planning to leave?”

It was fear.

“...What?”

At those words, Shin Noya’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

His face seemed to ask, What are you talking about?

But Gubong pressed on.

“If you have found what you were looking for... doesn’t that mean ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) you are planning to return?”

“...”

What was amusing was that Shin Noya did not answer immediately.

That alone made Gubong wonder—

Was he choosing not to answer?

Or was he unable to answer?

A suffocating silence settled between them.

Just as Gubong bit his lip, trying to change the subject—

“Don’t worry.”

Shin Noya finally spoke.

“I have no intention of going anywhere.”

“...But...!”

“The reason I didn’t answer right away... was because I needed a moment to understand your heart, Gubong.”

“...”

“If I could... I would take my time and have a proper conversation with you about this.”

Swish.

Shin Noya stopped looking down and straightened his posture.

“But unfortunately—

We don’t have that kind of time right now.”

“...Sect Leader? What do you mean?”

Gubong was confused.

Shin Noya ignored his question and instead—

“Come out.”

He spoke to the empty air.

At that moment—

“Honestly.”

Thud.

Something landed on the rooftop.

“Hah...!”

Seeing it, Gubong trembled in shock.

“You’re still as sharp as ever.”

A young man with light green hair.

The ruler of Yahwol—

One of the four generals who existed within Mangye.

Yusa.

“G-General...!”

Gubong was so startled he couldn’t even close his gaping mouth.

Meanwhile, Yusa narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at him.

“Child of Wolya... what is with that disrespectful behavior?”

“...!”

Yusa’s words sent a shudder through Gubong’s body.

A primal instinct—

An innate submission toward the greater predator.

His body wanted to kneel before Yusa—

But—

“Not happening.”

Shin Noya stepped between them.

The oppressive weight in the air vanished instantly.

Gubong felt his trembling subside.

“Tsk. Are you truly unaware of how pathetic it is to bully a child?”

“I was merely teaching him proper manners.”

“...Hah.”

Shin Noya chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“If it’s funny, shouldn’t I laugh?”

“Your tone is as irritating as ever.”

“We both know we have no time for meaningless conversation.

Why are you here?”

“Who the hell do you think you are to ask me that question?”

Crack.

Yusa ground his teeth as he glared at Shin Noya.

“If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed it entirely.

What the hell are you doing here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?

I came here for a leisurely walk with my disciple.”

“Leisurely walk, my ass.”

Rumble—!

The roof beneath Yusa’s feet cracked apart.

“Have you forgotten the oath?”

A deep growl echoed from within Yusa’s body.

“No. I haven’t forgotten.”

“You haven’t forgotten? Then why the fuck are you here?”

Veins bulged along Yusa’s temple as his anger boiled over.

“You and your so-called Mount Hua...

The only reason your pathetic disciples are even allowed here is because of the oath our master made with you.

That oath must be upheld—

And the most important rule of that oath—”

“Was that you, Shin Noya, were never to leave Mount Hua.”

That was the price of their peace.

And yet—

Shin Noya had broken it. Twice.

“Perfect. I’ve been meaning to settle my debt with you.”

Yusa’s arm expanded, his muscles swelling.

Just as he prepared to attack—

BOOM!

“...Kuh.”

Yusa collapsed instantly.

Shin Noya had already punched him in the face.

Twitch.

Yusa crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Tsk. Barking like a mutt when I’m busy as hell.

Fucking annoying.”

With zero hesitation, Shin Noya grabbed Yusa and tossed him aside before returning to his spot.

“...”

The entire situation had unfolded in an instant.

Gubong was left utterly stunned.

A general, knocked out in one hit.

A Sect Leader, completely unfazed.

And Gubong, standing frozen between the two, his mind blank.