Samana Valley was deeply hidden within the quiet embrace of the Anirasan mountain range.
Even in broad daylight, gentle mist enveloped the valley, making it seem as though heaven and earth were seamlessly connected.
Above the sky, blue as a jewel, flocks of eagles constantly circled and soared.
The wind flowing through every part of the valley scattered the clouds and created soft, melodic tones.
After walking for a long time along a path where flower petals danced and scattered as if in celebration, a small waterfall appeared between the trees, flowing like thin silk.
Several people were carefully washing their bodies in the clear, transparent waterfall.
It seemed to be a waterfall considered sacred by the tribe.
‘How beautiful.’
Although the Central Plains also had many magnificent landscapes, the scenery of Samana Valley felt so otherworldly that it created the illusion of having stepped into another world.
‘Moreover, expensive white sandalwood is scattered everywhere.’
Not only that, white sandalwood trees were planted throughout Samana Valley.
This fragrant tree grew only in Cheonchuk. Its heartwood emitted a pleasant aroma and was used not only for making prayer beads and incense but also as a raw material for medicine and perfume.
However, it required at least thirty to sixty years or more for the heartwood to fully form.
The older the tree, the deeper its fragrance became, so aged white sandalwood was far more expensive than gold.
‘So this is how they sustain themselves.’
The fact that the Four Holy Clans had managed to maintain their lineage for such a long time was thanks to possessing resources like these that could reliably support their livelihood.
‘This is no time to admire the scenery.’
Oooong.
Even while walking, Bu Eunseol secretly spread the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
According to Ahwan, this place might contain a secluded realm.
If so, the truth about the True Demon that the Holy One had spoken of, along with the secrets of his bloodline, might be hidden here.
Oooong. Oooong.
When Bu Eunseol expanded the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi widely, the Bayura tribe warriors, including the middle-aged man, widened their eyes and murmured softly.
They seemed to have sensed the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi and were marveling at its subtlety.
‘It doesn’t seem to be here.’
He spread the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi over a range of several hundred zhang, but felt nothing.
However, unlike usual, the energy spread without any obstruction and appeared to be amplified by the land itself.
It seemed the natural energy flowing from this place was extremely similar to the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
“Please come this way.”
Ahwan spoke at that moment.
When Bu Eunseol turned his head, the group of middle-aged men was pointing with both hands toward a temple built on a hill beyond the forest.
After listening to them, Ahwan spoke again.
“They say they have finished guiding us, so we should go up there ourselves.”
She continued,
“The chieftain is in that temple.”
After passing through the forest once more and walking along the hillside path for a while, the mysterious and peaceful scenery of a village temple finally came into view.
Many people could be seen walking around the large marble temple.
They all wore clothes decorated in white and silver, with feathers or small bell-shaped ornaments in their hair.
They appeared to be the people in charge of managing the temple.
Ahwan pointed at the temple and said,
“I’ll wait here.”
“No, come with me.”
“But…”
“It’s fine.”
When Bu Eunseol and Ahwan entered the temple, mysterious paintings and talismans were displayed in the center.
In the middle of the interior, an old man dressed in white was waiting.
The old man pressed his palms together and bowed to Bu Eunseol.
“Thank you for accepting our invitation.”
The old man’s Han language was extremely fluent.
“I am Anan Geuk, chieftain of the Bayura tribe.”
Fortunately, Hokason’s claim that there was someone who spoke the Han language well was true.
“I am a wanderer named Seolso.”
“So you are Young Master Seolso. Please come this way.”
Anan Geuk led Bu Eunseol and Ahwan to a guest reception area suitable for receiving visitors.
“Please have some.”
He had a servant bring a white liquid poured into cups carved from wood.
When Bu Eunseol smelled the aroma, it seemed to be a mixture of goat’s milk, spices, and medicinal herbs.
“As you have all heard…”
Anan Geuk glanced at Ahwan and spoke calmly.
“The reason our tribespeople stayed around the marketplaces of Napsageukseong and observed the tourists was because we received a prophecy from the Divine Priestess.”
“Divine Priestess?”
“Yes. She said that in the future, a Wind Cloud Young Master possessing the power of the wind would come from the Central Plains, and that he would surely retrieve the sacred artifacts for us.”
He added, “That is why we trained specialists capable of sensing the power of the wind.”
‘So that’s how it was.’
Although they had lost their power, since they were called the Wind Tribe, the Bayura had apparently found a way to detect the power of the wind.
“You believed such a prophecy and continued stationing your tribespeople there?”
“Because the Divine Priestess’s prophecies have never been wrong.”
“Who exactly is this Divine Priestess?”
“She is the benefactor who saved our tribe two hundred years ago.”
Anan Geuk spoke calmly.
“She was a prophet who could see all futures.”
‘Two hundred years ago.’
Bu Eunseol frowned.
From the moment he heard the term “Divine Priestess,” he had wondered whether she might be his mother, Saya.
But two hundred years ago… the timeline did not match.
“Is the Divine Priestess a person of Cheonchuk?”
“That, I do not know. The Divine Priestess descended from the heavens.”
‘Definitely not my mother.’
Sensing there was a complicated story involved, Bu Eunseol let out a heavy sigh and said,
“Then, may I see something like a book of prophecies left behind by this Divine Priestess?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Anan Geuk shook his head.
“Our tribespeople have grown up hearing that story since childhood. And when they die, they pass down the legend to their children like a final testament.” With resolute and solemn eyes, he continued, “Believing that one day that legend will come true.”
Bu Eunseol fell into deep thought.
‘There are too many holes in this story.’
It was fine to believe a prophecy from two hundred years ago.
In the Central Plains, many founding ancestors of sects had left behind prophecies or last wishes, and many of them had actually come true.
However, stationing tribespeople around Napsageukseong to find a Wind Cloud Young Master from the Central Plains whose arrival time was unknown, and the fact that they immediately became convinced he was the Wind Cloud Young Master the moment he used the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi…
There were still far too many suspicious aspects.
“Then what exactly do you want from me?”
“The lost sacred artifacts of the Four Holy Clans are said to be hidden in one of three places: Nasumina Forest, Bisuta Valley, or Sugapana Mountain.”
Anan Geuk spoke earnestly.
“However, we have searched endlessly for two hundred years and have been unable to find them.”
“So…”
“Please find the sacred artifacts in those three places for us.”
Bu Eunseol wore a dazed expression.
The locations were specified, but he was being asked to find sacred artifacts whose exact hiding spots were unknown?
“It is a pitiful story, but I do not have that kind of time.”
Bu Eunseol firmly refused.
“I have things I must do.”
At that moment, Ahwan spoke cautiously.
“Young Master. All three places match the conditions you mentioned.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
Ahwan said with an embarrassed expression.
“Around Napsageukseong, the only places that fit what you described are these four, including Samana Valley.”
The very place he had originally intended to visit turned out to be where the sacred artifacts were supposedly hidden?
‘There is a possibility.’
A secluded realm was never installed in an ordinary location.
If he thought about it carefully, the vicinity of where these tribes’ sacred artifacts were hidden was entirely plausible.
“If the Yona tribe hid the sacred artifacts, wouldn’t it be better to ask them?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Anan Geuk shook his head.
“The Yona tribe also claims nonsense—that they received the Divine Priestess’s prophecy, stole the sacred artifacts, and placed them in a certain location.”
“The Divine Priestess’s prophecy?”
“Yes. They claim they placed each one in its respective location, but afterward the sacred artifacts disappeared.”
He looked at Ahwan and said, “The Elephant King is also well aware of these tribal legends, so he has been eagerly eyeing the sacred artifacts.”
Once again, Anan Geuk spoke earnestly.
“Our tribe’s sacred artifacts must never fall into evil hands.”
The reason the Elephant King’s subordinates had been staying around Napsageukseong was not simply to rob people in the market.
They, too, had heard the prophecy handed down among the Four Holy Clans and had been searching for both the sacred artifacts and the Wind Cloud Young Master.
‘So they also sensed the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi and started trouble with me.’
The full situation was still unclear.
What was certain was that the sacred artifacts must not fall into the hands of the Elephant King, who ruled Napsageukseong with tyranny.
“Very well.”
After careful consideration, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I do not know whether I will be able to find the sacred artifacts, but I will try.”
“Thank you.”
Anan Geuk bowed deeply as if performing a formal bow.
“We will have our finest warriors accompany you.”
“There is no need.”
Bu Eunseol pointed at Ahwan and said,
“I will go with just her.”
“But…”
“If many people move together, the Elephant King’s intelligence network might detect it.”
“I heard you already clashed with his subordinates.”
Sluuuurp.
Bu Eunseol instantly changed his face into that of an old man.
“They will be looking for a young man from the Central Plains and the Yona tribe girl guiding him.”
Bu Eunseol pointed at the hat and outer robe of Anan Geuk hanging on the wall and said,
“Not an old traveler setting out on a long journey.”
“What remarkable disguise technique.”
Anan Geuk nodded in admiration.
“Understood. Then we will place our faith in you, Wind Cloud Young Master.”
***
Bu Eunseol and Ahwan left Samana Valley and first headed toward Nasumina Forest.
The two rode in an ox-drawn cart, pretending to be an old grandfather and his granddaughter.
Fortunately, Nasumina was not far from here, and above all, they were moving slowly like this to avoid detection by the Elephant Sect’s pursuit.
“When we go to Bisuta, we won’t move this slowly. By then the net will have loosened, so I will be able to use my movement technique.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice while riding in the cart.
“I will properly compensate you for accompanying me during this time.”
“It’s fine. You don’t need to give me any more money.”
Ahwan shook her head.
“If I had known you were the legendary Wind Cloud Young Master, I would never have asked for money.”
Because she was a descendant of the Yona tribe that had sinned against the three tribes, Ahwan was also well acquainted with the legend of the Wind Cloud Young Master.
From Ahwan’s attitude, it seemed the Yona tribe also greatly revered the Divine Priestess’s prophecy.
“Don’t worry about it. I am not the Wind Cloud Young Master—I am simply Seolso.”
Clatter, clatter.
At that moment, dust rose in the distance as dozens of warriors rushed forward at incredible speed using qinggong.
The warrior leading the group spotted Bu Eunseol and Ahwan and his eyes flashed.
“Stop for a moment.”
The warriors instantly surrounded the cart, and Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
He had noticed the elephant-shaped emblem embroidered on their martial uniforms.
They were warriors under the Elephant King.
“Whoa, whoa.”
Bu Eunseol stopped the cart, lowered his head, and immediately wrapped his arms around Ahwan’s shoulders, trembling violently.
His eyes and movements were those of a perfect grandfather trying to protect his granddaughter even in fear.
“Where are you headed?”
The warrior’s voice and gaze were far from ordinary, and his aura was powerful enough to overturn mountains.
He appeared to be a high-ranking expert within the Elephant Sect.
“Uhh…”
Bu Eunseol groaned and pointed at his throat.
A pink scar, as if melted, was visible beneath his chin, clearly showing that his vocal cords had been severely damaged.
“My grandfather is unwell, so we were heading to Manacha together.”
The warrior did not listen to Ahwan’s words and simply stared intently at Bu Eunseol.
Regardless, Bu Eunseol continued trembling in fear while sending gentle, warm glances toward Ahwan.
Although he could not speak, he kept making soft “uhh” sounds and patted the trembling Ahwan’s back.
‘Real.’
Judging by his skin tone and skinny build, this was clearly not a disguise but a genuine old man.
Above all, the gaze he directed at his granddaughter contained a kindness that no young person could ever fake.
“Move on.”
In the end, the warrior immediately turned around and once again unleashed lightning-fast movement technique like a gale.
His subordinates quickly followed behind him and disappeared.
“Why did they leave? They didn’t even interrogate us properly?”
When Ahwan looked puzzled, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Sometimes those with a lot of experience and sharp senses overconfident in their own judgment.”
Watching the Elephant Sect warriors disappear into the distance, Bu Eunseol’s eyes sharpened.
“Because they have always prided themselves on their judgment being correct, they are convinced they never make mistakes.”
“So they thought interrogating us would be a waste of time.”
“Exactly.”
Bu Eunseol had seen through the fact that the leader commanding the warriors was not only a man with exceptionally keen senses but also a veteran highly skilled in pursuit techniques.
Those who mastered pursuit techniques shared one common trait:
They firmly trusted the experience and senses they had accumulated and were absolutely convinced those senses could not be wrong.
Moreover, without such conviction and confidence, one could never become a master of pursuit techniques.
Because pursuit techniques were ultimately a battle against time.
Without one’s own standards and absolute confidence in them, it was impossible to reach the pinnacle.
Bu Eunseol had exploited that very weakness.
He had maintained the appearance of an old man that the warrior could absolutely believe in.
The kind gaze of an old man looking at his granddaughter—that was something that could never be faked.
It was a sight he had seen for a long time in his childhood and still clearly remembered in his mind.
Nasumina was an endless great forest and mountain woodland.
The trees were enormous and majestic, as if they held the passage of time within their growth rings, and green dew clung to every branch.
Sunlight pierced through the leaves, scattering small fragments of light across the forest floor, and the quiet chirping of birds could be heard from somewhere.
It was a beautiful forest that allowed one to feel both the grandeur and peace of nature at once.
Oooong. Whoooosh.
Every time Bu Eunseol passed through the forest, he spread the Wind-Cloud Divine Qi with full power and thoroughly searched every corner of Nasumina.
However, the place was so vast and had so many hidden spots that it took a full day and a half to examine.
Just in case, he raised his Void Heart Command and quickly scanned the surroundings, but he could find neither any sacred artifact nor any sign of a secluded realm.
“Let’s head quickly to the next location now.”
Crack. Clatter.
Bu Eunseol broke apart the cart he had brought and remade it into a container he could carry on his back.
He then placed Ahwan inside it and began using his Land-Flight technique.
“Ahh…”
As the surrounding scenery began to look like mere dots, Ahwan opened her eyes wide in shock.
She had never even imagined in her life that a human could fly so high into the sky.
“You really can control the wind, Wind Cloud Young Master.”
Once they rose high into the sky, Ahwan instead became excited and shouted brightly.
“If we keep going up like this, we might even face the sun!”
But as they continued rising endlessly, her smile completely vanished and her face stiffened.
“I-I can’t breathe…”
As they ascended higher, the cold grew intense and the wind blew fiercely, making it difficult to breathe.
Oooong.
In the end, while still using his Land-Flight technique, Bu Eunseol created a massive strong energy membrane three zhang wide.
If any martial expert had seen this sight, they would have doubted their own eyes.
Not only was he using Land-Flight technique while carrying a person on his back, but he could also generate strong energy?
It was a feat only Bu Eunseol could perform, thanks to inner energy that transcended human limits.
“Where is Bisuta?”
When Bu Eunseol asked, Ahwan pointed east and said,
“It’s about four hundred li in that direction.”
Four hundred li would normally take even the fastest qinggong experts one or two hours.
Yet Bu Eunseol arrived at Bisuta in just fifteen minutes while carrying Ahwan on his back.
“As expected, this place is also a famous scenic spot.”
Bisuta was like a heavenly garden, filled with the green vitality of life.
Clear waterfalls flowing down the cliffs hung like silver threads, creating white mist.
The quiet pond beneath the waterfall was covered with pure white lotus flowers.
“...”
Even Bu Eunseol, who was accustomed to the landscapes of the Central Plains, felt his heart race at the beautiful scenery of Cheonchuk.
Although his purpose was to uncover the Demon’s secrets using the clue given by the Holy One, visiting Cheonchuk’s beautiful famous sites one after another eased the frustration he had felt and made his heart feel considerably lighter.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
When Bu Eunseol gazed at the scenery of Bisuta with an impressed expression, Ahwan smiled contentedly beside him.
“It’s still too early to be surprised.”
Ahwan walked ahead and gestured to show the way.
Her steps were as natural as if this forest were her hometown, and her clothes fluttered in the wind as if becoming one with the leaves.
Although her body was covered in unsightly spots, Ahwan’s figure was as beautiful as flower petals falling from the sky.
“From here on, there is an even more mysterious place.”
Following Ahwan’s gesture, they entered a narrow forest path, and stone steps hidden among dense bamboo groves appeared.
The stone steps were densely covered with moss, indicating that no one had visited this place for a very long time.
“This path is said to be a secret trail that ancient monks used to climb for meditation.”
Her voice was low, but it was filled with affection and pride.
When they climbed the stairs, the forest ended and a vast open space suddenly unfolded.
A natural observation platform surrounded by rocks appeared, and below it stretched an endless sea of green trees swaying in the wind.
“Here…”
As Bu Eunseol gazed at the endless green waves, his eyes kept sparkling.
A faint yet familiar sensation arose—as if he had looked at this very scenery while held in his grandfather’s arms when he was very young.
―All philosophers throughout history have consistently gained great enlightenment or realized profound truths by observing the traces left by nature.
Suddenly, the voice of his grandfather, Bu Zhanyang, rang clearly in his ears.
―Look. Just as frost forms in the morning and dew gathers in the evening… there is no place where the ultimate principles of nature are not contained.
‘Have I been here before…?’
Oooong.
At that moment, a strange light lingered on his body and began to flicker repeatedly.
Just by looking at the mysterious and beautiful scenery of Cheonchuk that he felt he had seen in childhood, the principles of martial arts that had previously only circled in his mind without being fully realized—especially the teachings of the Beast Way that expanded super-senses—surged in like fierce waves, wrapping around him again and again.
Crack.
Before long, fine cracks spread across Bu Eunseol’s skin like a spiderweb, and faint rays of light leaked through the gaps.
Ziiing.
A mysterious vibration spread from his body.
Transcending the limits of the Beast Way, the range of his super-senses began to rise endlessly.
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