The moment Seolhwa brushed past Gwangcheon, every meridian in her body was sealed shut.

She tried to circulate her qi, but the power that once moved at will didn’t so much as stir, as if it had been locked away completely.

She looked up at Gwangcheon, startled.

His finger tapped lightly against the paper she was holding.

Only then did Seolhwa notice the picture on it.

It was a single flower—snow-white petals with violet stamens.

When she looked back at him, Gwangcheon was pointing into the distance.

His finger was aimed at the peak of a faraway mountain.

Glancing between the peak and the drawing on the paper, Seolhwa asked,

“You want me to find this flower?”

Gwangcheon gave a slow, silent nod.

From within his robes came the rustle of paper—what she had been waiting for: his reply.

So... I’ll only get the reply if I find this flower.

Find a blossom on a mountaintop without being able to use her qi.

The sensation of her overflowing strength vanishing in an instant was unnatural.

Her hand trembled ever so slightly around the paper, unsettled by the alien feeling.

It was then—

Whatdoyouthinkyou’redoing?!Howdareyoulayahandon∗my∗human?!What do you think you’re doing?! How dare you lay a hand on *my* human?!Whatdoyouthinkyou’redoing?!Howdareyoulayahandon∗my∗human?!

The Imugi suddenly appeared, charging straight at Gwangcheon.

But—

Snap.

It was caught by the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) neck in the hand of Guyangdo, who had followed Gwangcheon out.

The Imugi dangled and thrashed in Guyangdo’s grip.

Letmego!Youinsolenthuman!Let me go! You insolent human!Letmego!Youinsolenthuman!

“Wait.”

YousawwhatthatbastarddidtoSeolhwa,andyoustilltellmetowait?!Letgo!You saw what that bastard did to Seolhwa, and you still tell me to wait?! Let go!YousawwhatthatbastarddidtoSeolhwa,andyoustilltellmetowait?!Letgo!

“I asked Gwangcheon to do it.”

What...?Areyousoeagertoforcemeintoafighttothedeath?!What...? Are you so eager to force me into a fight to the death?!What...?Areyousoeagertoforcemeintoafighttothedeath?!

While the Imugi fumed, Seolhwa’s gaze returned to the flower on the paper.

So this is Elder Guyangdo’s idea.

Guyangdo was favorable toward her.

He had ties to Namgoong Mucheon and the Imugi, and had taken in Yugang after he left Mount Hua.

She still didn’t fully know what kind of man he was, but she was sure he wouldn’t harm her.

There must be a reason.

A Hyeongyeong-level master was a realm she had never reached, even in her past life.

If stepping into Hwagyeong alone broadened one’s view of the world, how much wider must the sight of a Hyeongyeong master be?

After tucking the paper into her robes, Seolhwa clasped her fist toward Gwangcheon.

“I cannot fathom the depth of your intent, Master Monk, but I will obey.”

Gwangcheon smiled faintly and nodded.

Seolhwa turned and left the hermitage at once.

All she had was a body unable to use qi, a single sword, and Gwangcheon’s drawing.

“Seolhwa...!”

“If you care for that child, don’t interfere.”

Guyangdo stopped Yugang as he moved to follow her.

Yugang turned to him, clearly not understanding.

“She’s too vulnerable without her qi!”

“Do not worry. Gwangcheon has already gone after her.”

Only then did Yugang realize Gwangcheon had vanished, slipping out right after Seolhwa.

Youwretches!Howdareyoulayahandon∗my∗—You wretches! How dare you lay a hand on *my*—Youwretches!Howdareyoulayahandon∗my∗—

“This is partly your fault as well.”

Whatnonsenseisthatsupposedtobe?!What nonsense is that supposed to be?!Whatnonsenseisthatsupposedtobe?!

“I told you not to underestimate humans. Did you truly think hiding yourself could fool the eyes of a Hyeongyeong-level master?”

...!...!...!

“By trying to conceal yourself so poorly, you forced my hand.”

After receiving the Shaolin Abbot’s letter and inspecting Seolhwa, Gwangcheon had faintly sensed the Imugi’s presence on her.

It wasn’t blood qi, but he couldn’t send a child with some hidden power down to Shaolin without knowing more.

So he had sent a message pigeon to Guyangdo.

Knowing of Guyangdo’s connection to the Imugi, it was to confirm the truth.

Andonceyouconfirmedit,whysealhermeridians?!And once you confirmed it, why seal her meridians?!Andonceyouconfirmedit,whysealhermeridians?!

“The child isn’t using your power properly. How can it be that an Imugi like you can’t even break free of my grasp?”

Back in Mount Hua, Guyangdo had crossed strength with the Imugi countless times.

As a spirit beast of great age, the Imugi possessed power even he couldn’t overcome at full force.

Yet here it was, trapped inside a young girl, reduced to the form of a fat snake, unable to break free of his hand.

“If you gave her your strength, you should have taught her how to use it. Since you didn’t, we must.”

I∗did∗teachher.Realizingitisherresponsibility.I *did* teach her. Realizing it is her responsibility.I∗did∗teachher.Realizingitisherresponsibility.

“Likely in passing, without proper guidance.”

She’scleverenoughtofigureitout.She’s clever enough to figure it out.She’scleverenoughtofigureitout.

“Perhaps. But...”

Guyangdo trailed off.

After a long silence, he spoke again.

“There isn’t much time.”

Timeforwhat?Time for what?Timeforwhat?

“The child you chose is of the Namgoong Clan. Since you’ve taken their side, we’ll need your power.”

The day would soon come when the Imugi’s strength would be necessary.

“This is also for the sake of preserving your vessel. Don’t be so indignant. If not now, there may never be another chance.”

Youspeakasifyou’reabouttodie.You speak as if you’re about to die.Youspeakasifyou’reabouttodie.

Guyangdo gave a short laugh.

“Let’s just say there’s something that demands such resolve.”

Thenwhyisthatmonkteachingherinsteadofyou?You’restrongerthanhim,aren’tyou?Then why is that monk teaching her instead of you? You’re stronger than him, aren’t you?Thenwhyisthatmonkteachingherinsteadofyou?You’restrongerthanhim,aren’tyou?

“Gwangcheon rose there on his own.”

Unlike himself, who reached Hyeongyeong through the insight gained from countless bouts with the Imugi, Gwangcheon had climbed to that realm entirely by his own strength.

It had been only fifteen days since his breakthrough, but enlightenment won by personal struggle was inevitably deeper than one gained otherwise.

Guyangdo had no doubt Gwangcheon could teach Namgoong Seolhwa better than he could.

“I’ve never been the masterly type.”

Soitseems.Justlookatyourdisciple—ignoringhismaster’swordswithoutamoment’shesitation.So it seems. Just look at your disciple—ignoring his master’s words without a moment’s hesitation.Soitseems.Justlookatyourdisciple—ignoringhismaster’swordswithoutamoment’shesitation.

Guyangdo’s eyes drifted toward Yugang, now a distant figure.

The boy hadn’t been able to restrain himself and had run after Namgoong Seolhwa.

Watching him vanish into the forest, Guyangdo murmured,

“Namgoong Seolhwa...”

So that was the owner of the name his impudent disciple even muttered in his sleep.

She met my eyes without shrinking, answering me with full confidence... not bad.

Hmph. Namgoong Seolhwa.

****

Huff... huff... huff...

The mountain Gwangcheon had pointed to was a steep wall of stone.

Seolhwa had to rely entirely on her external strength to climb the sheer cliff.

I thought I hadn’t neglected my external training...

Yet here she was, short of breath after only this much.

Crack—

“!”

The rock she gripped crumbled in her hand.

Her body lost its hold and slid down.

Scrrrape—!

Her hands scraped along the cliff face in a desperate bid to stop her fall.

Her nails tore, blood welling as every joint screamed in pain.

But she clenched her teeth and endured.

When the sliding finally slowed, she kicked off a foothold and caught hold of a nearby tree.

“Ha... haah... ha...”

Hanging from the tree, Seolhwa looked down.

Beneath the cliff was only bottomless darkness.

“Ugh...”

Her scraped hands throbbed.

Whether from broken bones or worse, her fingers wouldn’t move.

She raised her gaze toward the summit.

It was just as far above—its end nowhere in sight.

Tap. Thud—

Finding another foothold, Seolhwa anchored herself and tore a strip from her robe to bind her right hand.

Even the slightest touch sent stabbing pain into her skull.

Pain so sharp her tightly pressed lips trembled.

“....”

Once her fingers were bound and fixed in place, Seolhwa looked again toward the summit.

Seop Mugwang came to mind.

Was this how Master felt when he lost his qi?

She’d never imagined the places she once leapt to so easily could feel so impossibly far.

Fighting a spirit beast in that state... truly incredible.

She respected him all the more—her master.

Thunk— crack.

She began climbing again.

She had no idea when she’d reach the top of that cliff, but there was no thought of giving up.

Just as Seop Mugwang’s blade had at last severed the spirit beast’s neck, she too would reach the summit no matter what.

Resolving herself once more, she climbed.

****

“I... have returned...”

Seolhwa extended her hand toward Gwangcheon.

Resting in her palm was the very flower from his drawing.

It was a morning of dazzling sunlight.

Guyangdo stood off to the side of the courtyard, the Imugi coiled on his shoulder.

Yugang, too, stood to the side, his gaze fixed on her with worry.

Leaves and broken twigs clung to his robe.

Gwangcheon accepted the flower, then placed another sheet of paper in her hand.

This time, it bore the image of a branch laden with small red berries.

He pointed toward another mountain in a different direction.

Without a word, Seolhwa tucked the paper away.

“Then, I’ll—”

As she turned to leave, Gwangcheon’s fingertip touched her forehead.

Fwoosh—

“!”

Darkness swallowed her vision.

“You may use the Imugi’s power,” came Gwangcheon’s voice in the blackness.

“But you will neither see nor hear.”