Bu Eunseol, who had disguised himself as an ordinary man using a dark secret art, headed toward Jiaozhi, where Pahon was said to be staying.
Jiaozhi was a place where all sorts of foreign cultures were mixed together.
It was also a place with a tropical climate featuring jungles and elephants, where various religions and numerous ethnic minorities coexisted.
Upon arriving at the deepest border in the northwest of Jiaozhi, a massive snowy mountain appeared before his eyes.
To the east, rugged mountain ranges soared like a giant barrier, as if trying to block those who attempted to enter.
Whoooosh!
Bu Eunseol moved near a river that coiled around the mountain ranges like a snake.
The current was rough and the width of the river unpredictable, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to approach by boat.
Thud.
The place he finally arrived at.
Was an isolated land, seemingly trapped in a massive natural prison.
Most people of the Central Plains were completely unaware of its existence.
Even if they did know, they simply dismissed it as a place where uncivilized people no different from beasts lived.
'Fascinating.'
The villagers here had grotesque patterns drawn on their faces.
The women, in particular, had patterns that resembled butterfly wings.
Patterns resembling tightly woven nets covered them from their foreheads to their noses, cheeks, and chins.
Rather than beauty, they exuded a sense of eeriness and intimidation.
'Did they intentionally tattoo themselves to look hideous in order to prevent women from being kidnapped?'
Nod.
Bu Eunseol gave a light nod to the tribe members he encountered as he entered the gorge.
Then, a mist heavily laden with moisture wrapped around his body.
The thick scent of earth, the smell of rotting leaves, and the sweet fragrance of unknown flowers mixed together, making him dizzy.
The village was sparsely scattered along the valley.
The houses were not built on the ground, but rather loosely woven together about a jang above the ground by driving several thick log pillars.
'It must be wisdom to avoid frequent rain and wild beasts.'
The roofs were covered with layers of broad leaves or tree bark.
Between the houses were perilous single-log bridges or suspension bridges woven from arrowroot vines connecting them.
'How strange.'
Bu Eunseol stroked his chin.
In this place where a primitive tribe lived.
Could Pahon, who had become the Three Attendants but refused it and hid away in seclusion, really be here?
In the empty lot at the center of the village, there was a large fire pit, and acrid smoke rose from the unquenchable fire.
Women with blue tattoos on their faces walked barefoot on the muddy dirt path, carrying water jugs on their heads toward the river.
Naked children were rolling around and playing entangled with dogs.
Men with bows slung over their shoulders and swords at their waists seemed to have just returned from a hunt.
Carrying boar legs on their shoulders, they expressionlessly scanned the unfamiliar stranger, Bu Eunseol.
Their eyes were full of wariness.
'I don't see the Mercenary Market.'
When his internal energy was completely intact, he didn't need a map.
He could simply look down from the sky.
But since he couldn't do that now, he unfurled qinggong day and night, sweating profusely.
Since he couldn't obtain a map of Jiaozhi, which was covered in jungles, he had to ask around to find the Mercenary Market.
"Child."
Bu Eunseol took out a silver tael from his pouch and held it out to a passing boy.
He then asked for the location of the Mercenary Market using hand gestures and body language.
The boy remarkably understood the gestures, pointed at the Silent Tiger Soul Sword Bu Eunseol wore, and then pointed west again.
It seemed the Mercenary Market was over there.
"Thank you."
Showing a smile, he moved west again.
After traveling for a while, a large village that quite resembled a city came into view.
There were martial artists dressed quite like those from the Central Plains, mixed with people sporting unique tattoos or wearing bizarre clothes.
Screech. Creak.
Carriages constantly passed by around him.
Watching the sight, Bu Eunseol couldn't hide his surprise once again.
Weren't there people bound in chains and crammed into the cargo holds like livestock?
'Are there slaves?'
Going further into the city, he saw several people with shackles on their arms or legs.
They were all performing manual labor or serving others.
"A Han person."
But at that moment, a group of armed men flocked to Bu Eunseol like constables interrogating an outsider.
"For an outsider to carry weapons here, you must register as a hunter."
"Hunter?"
"It's similar to a wanderer."
"Where should I go?"
"Follow me."
They led Bu Eunseol to a large building on the outskirts of the city.
Although its style was slightly different from that of the Central Plains, it certainly looked like a pavilion established in a Mercenary Market.
"Thank you."
When Bu Eunseol offered his thanks, they held out their hands.
"You have to pay an introduction fee."
They said with arrogant expressions.
"If you want to settle down here safely, that is."
They seemed to have judged that Bu Eunseol had committed some great crime and was trying to live a hidden wanderer's life here.
"Take it."
Bu Eunseol took out his pouch and tossed it to them.
"How refreshing. You seem to have quite some nerve."
The group, seemingly pleased with Bu Eunseol's confident attitude, spoke generously.
"If you go to the side of that building, there is a servant who speaks fluent Han language. Go there."
Bu Eunseol nodded and headed toward the Mercenary Market.
At the entrance were illegible letters, and next to them were the characters for Black Snake Pavilion.
It seemed that the people of the Central Plains who were here had written down its meaning.
The moment he entered, the pungent stench of beasts, cheap alcohol, and sweat-drenched humans stung his nose.
Passing the entrance, crudely built shacks, bamboo huts, and tents loosely woven from animal skins stretched out in disorder.
However, far in the center, several decent buildings were situated.
That place was likely the Mercenary Market.
As he took large strides, Yi tribe merchants with colorful feather decorations in their hair were selling furs, medicinal herbs, and rare birds.
Between the alleys, Central Plains people with deep sword scars on their faces or those wearing bamboo hats pulled down low to avoid wanted posters could be seen.
'They said it was a hideout for scumbags.'
Most of the Central Plains people who had come all the way to this remote foreign land were criminals who had committed heinous crimes like human trafficking.
Murmur, murmur.
Different languages mixed from all sides, becoming an incomprehensible noise.
The exterior of the Black Snake Pavilion looked like a tavern selling food and alcohol.
In reality, it was the headquarters of the Mercenary Market where all the jobs for the wanderers in the area gathered.
And it was also the name of the Jiaozhi Mercenary Market.
Creak.
As he entered the entrance, stale and damp air pierced his lungs.
Wanderers in various attires were reading the jobs written on a wooden board on one wall.
They weren't going to do any specific jobs, but rather gathered in groups of three or five, just chatting.
'It's like they're waiting for something.'
Wanderers did not loiter around the Mercenary Market except to pick up jobs.
Yet, the Black Snake Pavilion was bustling with an enormous number of people, as if all the wanderers from the vicinity had gathered.
"How may I help you?"
A servant, noticing Bu Eunseol's attire, spoke fluent Han language.
"I came to register as a hunter."
"Now?"
As the servant made a flustered expression, Bu Eunseol's eyes gleamed.
"Did something happen?"
The servant scratched his head and spoke in a low voice.
"It must be your first time here."
When Bu Eunseol nodded, the servant continued his explanation.
"Around this time every year, the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede appears in the forest. That's why all the skilled hunters gather in Jiaozhi."
"The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede."
In the Central Plains, it was said that the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang, had hunted all the spirit creatures and spirit beasts, wiping out their lineage.
But in this remote foreign land, mysterious spirit creatures like the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede still existed.
"You came without knowing anything at all."
At the servant's words, Bu Eunseol nodded.
"I merely came to register as a hunter and play the part of a wanderer here."
"I see."
The servant nodded.
"To register as a hunter at our pavilion, you must prove your ability by completing one of the jobs listed over there."
It was a simple and clear method to immediately ascertain one's skills.
"Fine."
Bu Eunseol headed toward the wooden board where the papers listing the jobs were stuck.
Bu Eunseol's eyes turned peculiar as he closely observed the letters stuck there.
'There really are spirit creatures here.'
Though the lineage of spirit creatures in the Central Plains had been wiped out.
Spiritual creatures were abundant in the forests of Jiaozhi, and most of the jobs were requests to capture them.
'The Death Spirit Corps' intelligence network couldn't possibly reach a place like this.'
Jiaozhi was a distant foreign land.
Furthermore, there were almost no forces that could threaten the martial world of the Central Plains, and because it was a place where various ethnic groups and tribes lived.
It was a place that neither the Central Plains nor foreign factions paid particular attention to.
'The Golden Spirit Snake King.'
Looking at one of the letters placed on the wooden board, he picked it up.
―Hahaha.
Then, laughter erupted from all directions.
As Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow and looked around, the servant spoke with an embarrassed expression.
"Sir, that is a job that is difficult to accomplish even if three or four experts with outstanding movement techniques go together."
The Golden Spirit Snake King was not an incredible spirit creature, but it could sense human presence from dozens of jang away.
And because it fled underground, it was extremely difficult to capture.
"Sounds entertaining."
Bu Eunseol casually left the Black Snake Pavilion.
Then, giggling sounds could be heard for a while.
"He'll wander around all day and come back empty-handed. Going to catch the Golden Spirit Snake King alone."
"By the looks of it, he won't last long."
The wanderers inside the Black Snake Pavilion each harbored sneers.
How much time had passed?
Click.
The doors of the Black Snake Pavilion opened again, and a shadow wearing old gray clothes slowly revealed itself.
It was Bu Eunseol.
―Hiss, hiss.
Coiled around his arm was a single snake with golden scales.
It was the Golden Spirit Snake King.
"Is this correct?"
When Bu Eunseol held out his arm, the servant spoke, startled out of his wits.
"C-captured spirit creatures must be taken to the Butcher Pavilion across the street!"
"Understood."
When Bu Eunseol left it at the place marked Butcher Pavilion across the street, they gave him a piece of paper with the spirit creature's name written on it.
When he brought it back to the servant.
He was handed about five silver taels.
'It truly is an unprofitable and difficult mission.'
It was only because Bu Eunseol possessed the power of the Poison Saint that he was able to catch it in a single breath as soon as he entered the forest.
If it were ordinary wanderers?
It would have taken five or six people combining their strength and tracking it continuously for about ten days to catch it.
But since no one would do all that just to earn five taels, the request for the Golden Spirit Snake King had remained.
"Please take this."
The servant handed Bu Eunseol a tassel dyed in black.
"It is a token signifying you are a wanderer of our pavilion. If you carry this around, no one will say anything about you bearing weapons."
"Without the token, I cannot carry weapons?"
"That is correct. It is the rule here."
The servant smiled and offered a bow.
"I hope it was a pleasant transaction. Please visit our pavilion again anytime."
Contrary to the fierce atmosphere, the servant was very kind.
Bu Eunseol nodded, walked out, and entered a large inn within the Mercenary Market.
The place was bustling with wanderers, most of whom were drinking sour-smelling alcohol with peanuts as snacks.
The clerk didn't speak the Han language, but upon using hand gestures and body language, he remarkably understood and brought the alcohol and snacks.
"Excuse me."
But at that moment, a group of four approached him.
A massive man with the tattoos of Jiaozhi's primitive tribes engraved on his face, a young man wearing a Central Plains rapier.
A man with a leather pouch full of hidden weapons on his waist, and a woman dressed in Miao people attire carrying a whip.
"I saw earlier that you caught the Golden Spirit Snake King alone in a single breath. How on earth did you do it?"
As the man with the leather pouch approached him affably, Bu Eunseol showed a wary look.
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't ask with bad intentions."
The man smiled warmly and bowed.
"I am Jeong Jinbang. I am the team leader leading the Thunder Strike Team. And you are..."
"I am Geomso."
"So it's Young Hero Geom."
The man approached and asked.
"By the looks of it, it seems you have learned poison arts, are you from a poison sect in the Central Plains?"
'They're here.'
Bu Eunseol smiled inwardly.
The reason he had intentionally caught the Golden Spirit Snake King so quickly.
Was to instantly draw the wanderers' attention and join a group.
"I have no intention of revealing my background."
"Right, I asked a useless question."
Jeong Jinbang, misunderstanding Bu Eunseol's contemplative look, made an apologetic expression.
"Who comes to Jiaozhi without their own story? I was just curious about your skills."
Jeong Jinbang was eloquent and had a demeanor that put people at ease.
"To be frank, you cannot continue living as a wanderer alone here."
He sat down opposite Bu Eunseol and spoke before Bu Eunseol could say anything.
"It seems like it's your first time in Jiaozhi. How about it? If you plan to make a living here, why not join our group?"
He spoke in a low voice.
"There is no such thing as loyalty among wanderers here. If you travel alone, you're highly likely to be ambushed by other wanderers and stripped of what you have."
He then pointed to his companions and said.
"But our Thunder Strike Team is different. We have loyalty, and none of us are from criminal backgrounds."
"I see."
"By any chance, did you apply for the Black Centipede subjugation this time?"
When Bu Eunseol shook his head, Jeong Jinbang looked delighted.
"If you intend to do it, you absolutely must join a team. They don't accept solo participants."
And he cleared his throat.
"How about joining us? We will divide the profits equally."
When Bu Eunseol gave no reply, Jeong Jinbang spoke in a persuasive voice.
"We usually don't make such offers, but it's because we couldn't find a wanderer skilled in using poisons."
Since Bu Eunseol caught the Golden Spirit Snake King in a single breath, Jeong Jinbang had judged that he had professionally learned poison arts.
And was trying to recruit him for the Black Centipede subjugation this time.
'If I bite immediately, they will grow suspicious.'
From Bu Eunseol's position, he needed to join a wanderer team as quickly as possible.
However, if he revealed such intentions, he could instead arouse their suspicion.
"I have a condition."
"Speak."
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
"First, please tell me information about this place in detail."
"That's easy."
Jeong Jinbang explained the situation in this place, Jiaozhi.
He said that spirit creatures had gradually started appearing in the forest suddenly about ten years ago.
Along with the ridiculous rumor that there was a 'Demon of the Forest' creating the spirit creatures inside the forest.
In any case, thanks to the appearance of spirit creatures.
Not only the local tribe members, but also the numerous criminals living as fugitives here, began to make huge sums of money by catching those spirit creatures.
As the spirit creatures continuously emerged in this way.
Wanderers from all over flocked here upon hearing the rumor, eventually forming the massive Mercenary Market known as the Black Snake Pavilion.
And in the forest, the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, an invaluable, precious spirit creature that could be considered the boss of the spirit creatures, was said to appear every year on the day of the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
That was why the wanderers gathered here in such large numbers every year to catch the Black Centipede.
'Spiritual creatures couldn't have just suddenly appeared.'
"Has anyone seen this Demon of the Forest who is said to create the spirit creatures?"
"Someone must have seen it. That's why such rumors are circulating, isn't it?"
Jeong Jinbang shook his head.
"However, no one has actually seen the Demon of the Forest. And they probably wouldn't want to see it either."
"Why is that?"
"Because the moment it appears, the forest becomes an inescapable prison for ten days."
If the Demon of the Forest revealed itself.
An unknown force would occur inside the forest, preventing anyone from leaving for ten days.
'I found him.'
Upon hearing the whole story, Bu Eunseol instantly knew via intuition.
'Pahon.'
The Demon of the Forest.
The hermit who was born with the destiny to become the Three Attendants, but rejected that fate and hid his body within the world.
It was highly likely that he was Pahon.
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