Namgoong Seolhwa stood alone in the middle of the forest.

Since Seop Mugwang had even taken her sack, it was clear he did not want her to follow.

He had not looked to be in a good mood.

Was her Thunder and Wind Divine Sword not satisfactory?

Was referencing the unique martial art of Thunder and Wind Divine Art the problem?

Did he feel used?

What exactly had gone wrong?

He had looked far more displeased than when she had accidentally ruined the roots of the herb earlier.

Even Seolhwa, who was dull to emotions, could clearly perceive that.

“Perhaps I should not have shown him my swordsmanship.”

[Tsk, tsk. Do you really think it is that simple?]

“...?”

The imugi slithered quietly beside her.

The snake’s eyes narrowed.

[You still have much to learn.]

“Do you know why the Division Commander reacted like that?”

[Of course.]

“Then tell me.”

[Figure it out yourself.]

The imugi clicked its tongue, tsk-tsk, and crawled off.

Once again left alone, Seolhwa tilted her head.

“That damn brat...”

Hoo....

Seop Mugwang, who had been walking aimlessly, only managed to calm his breath once he returned to the stream where they had eaten.

He set down the sack and sat on a rock, wiping his forehead.

But his hand was still trembling.

He had thought he was enduring well.

Even though he could no longer use his internal energy, his arms and legs could still swing a sword.

He had convinced himself that as long as he did not neglect his training, this life was enough.

He had forced himself to ignore the regret.

He had convinced himself.

That he was fine.

But that brat had shattered that illusion just now.

“Damn it... Damn it...”

Damn it all....

He was not fine.

He too wanted to wield such free, refined martial arts.

He wanted to exchange blades.

He wanted to soar freely.

It had once been possible, but now, trapped in his current condition, it was unattainable.

Astonishment had turned into envy, and envy into resentment.

That was why he could no longer stay there.

If that resentment were to spill over onto Seolhwa, he would never forgive himself.

“...Hoo.”

Slowly, his pounding chest began to settle.

Seop Mugwang gazed at the flowing stream for a long while, suppressing his swelling fighting spirit.

[Namgoong Seolhwa. Come here.]

While wandering the mountain alone, the imugi called to her.

Following its lead, she came to a massive tree, so large that it would take three people holding hands to encircle it.

The dense foliage barely allowed sunlight to filter through.

Seolhwa looked up at the faint dots of light sneaking between the leaves.

“It is enormous.”

[This way.]

The imugi led her around to the other side of the tree.

As she followed, Seolhwa’s expression shifted to surprise.

“This...”

[There is a beast in this forest.]

The tree trunk bore deep claw marks from some beast.

The problem was, the marks were far too large for an ordinary animal’s claws.

It looked as though a massive axe had hacked at the thick trunk repeatedly.

“A tiger?”

[Could be a bear.]

“I do not sense demonic energy.”

[It must be a spirit beast.]

Rustle, rustle....

The leaves trembled under the passing breeze, brushing together like a warning.

Seolhwa heightened her sensory perception to the limit, scanning for nearby presences.

But there was nothing within range.

“I should capture it.”

This mountain was the domain of Seop Mugwang and Choryeon.

If it was a spirit beast, it would not attack unless provoked, but still... one could never be certain.

It was better to eliminate potential dangers.

Seolhwa scoured the mountain until sunset in search of the spirit beast.

But even with the imugi’s help, she could not find it.

“This is strange...”

[If spirit beasts were so easily found, would they be called spirit beasts?]

“But there were plenty of traces. Do spirit beasts usually leave this many signs?”

The tracks continued, yet the owner of those tracks was nowhere to be seen.

It almost felt like someone was intentionally luring them in.

[For now, it is getting late. Let us return. Tomorrow, we will focus on finding dens where a spirit beast might ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) reside.]

“Alright.”

Seolhwa and the imugi returned to their lodgings.

“Young Miss!”

Choryeon, who had been waiting for her, greeted her warmly.

“You must be hungry. I prepared food, come inside.”

“Where is the Division Commander?”

“He returned a while ago. He always comes back before sunset.”

“Did he not look for me?”

“He did not ask out loud...”

Choryeon lowered her voice conspiratorially.

“But he had the look of someone searching for you. I told him you had not returned yet.”

Then she chuckled knowingly.

“But what were you doing to be so late?”

“Just... training.”

“My, our Young Miss is so diligent.”

Choryeon urged Seolhwa inside.

After washing and eating, Seolhwa lay down to rest.

It had not been long since the sun set, but the entire village was already quiet.

“You are already lying down?”

Choryeon entered the room.

There were only two rooms—theirs and Seop Mugwang’s—so Seolhwa shared with Choryeon.

“You are not cold?”

“It is fine.”

“So warm...”

Choryeon slipped under the covers beside her.

“It feels much warmer than usual, perhaps because you heated the blankets.”

Her gentle laughter was pleasant to hear.

“Is it comfortable here? There is not much to do in this town, so I was worried you might be bored.”

“It is fun. It has been a while since I spent time with you and the Division Commander.”

“Oh my... what a sweet thing to say.”

Choryeon brushed Seolhwa’s hair aside.

Her slender fingers brushed over the faint scar on Seolhwa’s forehead.

“Your face is so pretty... I worry someone might try to steal you away.”

“You are the only one who would say something like that.”

Who would steal her away?

She would sever their hand before they could even touch her.

Choryeon chuckled knowingly.

Seolhwa asked quietly.

“Did the Division Commander look angry to you today?”

“Angry? Hmm... Now that you mention it, he did slip away without saying a word. Why? Did something happen on the mountain?”

“I showed him my sword technique, but he just left.”

“Oh my...”

“It felt like he was angry. The atmosphere was strange.”

“Hmm...”

Choryeon thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“I do not think he was angry.”

“Then what?”

“Well... probably...”

There was a tinge of bitterness in her smile.

“He was upset.”

“Upset?”

“He was a martial artist, after all.”

The bitterness deepened into sadness.

She looked sorrowful.

It was the same expression Seop Mugwang had shown earlier at the stream while speaking about Choryeon.

“He probably felt jealous seeing you demonstrate your martial arts. That is why he was upset.”

“....”

“I know. He pretends not to care, but he still cannot let go of the sword.”

“You knew?”

That Seop Mugwang was secretly training?

“Of course. His hands still have calluses. Not the calluses you get from harvesting herbs—but the calluses of a swordsman.”

“....”

“His sword is gone too, is it not?”

Even if he had lost his internal energy, it was strange to not care after losing the sword he cherished.

From the moment the sword vanished, Choryeon had known he was secretly continuing his training.

“He is trying. Working hard to regain his power. He wants to return to the Namgoong Clan more than anyone.”

It was not that he refused to return, but that he could not.

In his current state, he was nothing but a burden.

“If only my medical skills were better... he would not have to suffer like this.”

“Choryeon, you are already an exceptional physician.”

The Head of the Namgoong Clan’s Medical Hall was not a title given lightly.

In her previous life, she had also been the Head of the Blood Demon Cult’s Medical Hall.

Her medical abilities were outstanding.

“But if I were the Divine Physician, I could have cured him.”

“Divine Physician?”

“Yes, Baekyak Seonsaeng. Have you heard the name?”

“I have.”

She remembered hearing of it in her past life.

The physician known as Baekyak Seonsaeng, famed for mastering all the herbs under heaven.

Rumored to revive the dead, called the Divine Physician—but the problem was, his whereabouts were unknown, making him impossible to meet.

Even the Blood Demon Cult had searched for him, only to fail repeatedly.

Instead, they had brought in Choryeon.

‘There were even rumors that he might not exist.’

Come to think of it, when did the Blood Demon Cult start searching for the Divine Physician?

When did Choryeon join the Cult?

‘It was around this time...’

A year before the Blood Demon Cult’s rise—this period.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of unease passed through her.

The traces of the spirit beast in the mountains resurfaced in her mind.

‘The Blood Demon Cult had a Blood Lord who controlled demonic beasts.’

What she saw in the mountain was a spirit beast, not a demonic beast.

But if they were connected?

“Haaam...”

Choryeon’s yawn interrupted her thoughts.

Choryeon turned over beside her and mumbled softly.

“If I had been the Divine Physician... I could have helped him...”

Her voice gradually faded.

Soon, quiet, steady breathing signaled she had fallen asleep.

Seolhwa closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

Even a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.

Lying here worrying would solve nothing.

‘I must find that spirit beast tomorrow, no matter what.’

As soon as the sun rises, I will head to the mountain.

Seolhwa forced herself to sleep.

Seolhwa’s eyes opened instinctively.

It was still pitch-black dawn, long before sunrise.

Urgent footsteps approached rapidly.

The moment she sat up—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Mister! Please, come out! Please come out! Please save my child! Please!”

A desperate voice shattered the silence of the night.