Chapter 61

I sat facing a man in his mid-thirties in the main hall of Hidden Cloud Pavilion.

He wore silver silk robes, with faint patterns traced over them in cinnabar.

With his appearance, anyone would have taken him for a sorcerer. He was Hwang Seung-hyu, eldest son of the Illusory Hwang Clan Head.

“Thank you for taking the time to meet me, Seventh Young Lord.”

Hwang Seung-hyu smiled gently, but his eyes moved busily.

As if he meant to capture every inch of this place in his gaze.

“There is no need for thanks. So, what brings you here? The Illusory Hwang Clan is quite a ways from Hidden Cloud Pavilion.”

“I heard that the Hidden Cloud Pavilion has a certain charm to it.”

“It is small and old, but you could say that.”

“Your retainers have increased, so it must be quite lively now.”

“That is also true, in its way…”

“As expected, when the number of people grows, the warmth–”

I simply stared at Hwang Seung-hyu in silence.

‘As expected of the Illusory Hwang Clan, he just keeps circling around.’

The Illusory Hwang Clan was famed for spell arts like illusion techniques, formations, and talisman arts.

The Demon Cult’s absolute formations and even the bizarre arrays of the Demon Inquisition Corps had all passed through the Illusory Hwang Clan’s hands.

Of course, for the absolute formations every spellcaster in the Central Plains had gathered, but the central pillar had still been the Illusory Hwang Clan.

Talented as they were, this clan had more than its share of people who were gloomy and twisted in one way or another.

For example, they might make a doll that resembled someone they bore a grudge against and curse it, or secretly attach a talisman to someone’s clothes so they would waste away and die.

Things along those lines.

Perhaps that was why.

I would have liked him to speak clearly like a proper martial artist, but he just kept circling about the edges.

‘Enough is enough.’

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to cut you off, but do you know what I was doing just now before coming here?”

“I am not sure.”

“A hellish training. I am holding myself back from collapsing on the spot right now. So just speak plainly. You came because you want to know what I am thinking and whether I will really be cooperative with the Illusory Hwang Clan, did you not?”

Hwang Seung-hyu’s face flushed red.

It seemed he was aware of his clan’s peculiar habits himself.

“You are exactly right. I will get to the point now.”

“Thank you.”

“In truth, the Clan Head sent me. The Four Great Forbidden Regions are the most dangerous places even within the Demon Cult, yet you refused a treasure and eagerly asked for permission to enter them, so your extraordinary boldness is truly–”

“…”

“Oh dear, I have erred again… In short, the Clan Head asked me to inquire whether you would be willing to visit our clan.”

I let out a small sigh.

Could he not have just said it like this from the start?

Still, I could not just chew him out.

This was simply how people of the Illusory Hwang Clan lived.

“When?”

“He said any time that is convenient for the Seventh Young Lord would be fine.”

In other words, he wanted me to come as soon as possible.

He must have been quite pressed.

“Let us go right now.”

But I was just as pressed as he was.

I got ready at once and got into the carriage.

Im Yeon, the guards, and Ak Mu-jin came along. I had told them to just stay in Hidden Cloud Pavilion, but they insisted on coming, saying it was an extremely dangerous place.

Nothing was likely to happen, but there was no harm in being cautious, so I let them.

“The scenery has begun to change, Young Lord.”

Im Yeon spoke while looking out the window.

The mountain ridges were perfectly straight as if drawn with a ruler, the river flowed so unnaturally straight it was almost eerie, and even the trees in the forest were planted at obsessively regular intervals.

Just as the Demon Cult was surrounded by an absolute formation, the Illusory Hwang Clan was the same.

This entire vast stretch of land was a gigantic formation they had constructed.

I had willingly stepped into their domain.

“We have arrived.”

The carriage halted just inside the main gate of the Illusory Hwang Clan.

As I stepped down from the carriage, there happened to be a thoroughly drunk man standing right there.

Hwang Seung-hyu sighed and muttered.

“Of all people, it had to be Seung-jong here…”

‘Seung-jong?’

It was my first time seeing his face, but it was a name I had heard many times in my previous life.

He was the third son that the Illusory Hwang Clan Head treasured most, and a powerful candidate for Little Demon.

He had been so talented he was considered the future of the clan, but because of a ‘certain incident’ he had lost all will to do anything and now lived by picking fights with others.

Then, like so many in the Demon Cult, he had met his end riddled with blades.

That very man was grinning stupidly as he looked at our group.

“Well now. Who are these people, swarming around someone else’s house?”

“Seung-jong, these are honored guests. Go elsewhere.”

“Go elsewhere? Who are you treating like some mutt off the street? You think being my older brother makes you everything?”

“You’re in front of the Seventh Young Lord. Mind your manners.”

At the words ‘Seventh Young Lord,’ a strange light flashed in Hwang Seung-jong’s eyes.

“Oh, so you are that famous Seventh Young Lord? The one who cut off Heuk Un-hwi’s arm? Shoo shoo!”

Hwang Seung-jong made sword-swinging motions and sliced the air with his mouth.

Ak Mu-jin spoke in a low voice.

“So it was true the Illusory Hwang Clan’s third son was a wretch.”

Hwang Seung-jong’s crooked gaze turned toward Ak Mu-jin.

He swept his eyes up and down Ak Mu-jin and let out a snort full of contempt.

“So I was wondering who this was and it is that filthy traitor. How is that damned Extinction-of-Life Cult or whatever doing? What is with that mask? It is truly hideous.”

Ak Mu-jin froze like a statue.

“My mask is hideous…?”

Seeing that, Im Yeon stepped forward.

“Excuse me, Third Young Lord. Are you not being a bit too harsh?”

This time Hwang Seung-jong’s gaze shifted to Im Yeon, and his eyes swept over her from head to toe.

“A woman who smells of powder has quite the voice. That sword looks like decoration. Why do you even wear it? Ever drawn it before? Ever even cut an ant?”

“W, what are you saying?”

Im Yeon stammered in confusion.

Inwardly, I was impressed by Hwang Seung-jong’s vicious tongue.

To toy with two people in an instant.

‘Is it my turn now?’

Just then, Hwang Seung-jong looked at me.

I struck first.

“You are one hell of a snide brat.”

“Hm? I misheard that. What did you just say?”

“I said you are a snide brat. You.”

The corner of Hwang Seung-jong’s mouth twisted.

“Oh, is that so? Then what does that make the man who entertains a snide wretch? The same type as me? Wait, if I say it like this, will you cut off my arm too?”

A thought came to me once again.

‘He really is the sort to get stabbed to death.’

Tsk. I clicked my tongue.

It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Especially since I knew the cause of this brat’s wretched fall, despite his extraordinary talent.

“What is it they call you these days? Was it Clipped Vermilion Bird or something like that?”

That is, the Wing-Clipped Vermilion Bird.

Three characters had been boldly cut away from his original title, Illusory Sea Vermilion Bird.

“You were upheld as the future of the clan, but so what. You did not even make it to Little Demon.”

“Oh, that is quite the jab.”

“And on top of that, you were pathetically crushed by Great Sahyung.”

“…!”

I whispered it quietly, so only Hwang Seung-jong could hear.

For the first time, all expression vanished from his face.

That Great Sahyung, whom I loathed to the bone.

Hwang Seung-jong was one of the countless victims he had created.

I knew all too well by what filthy methods he had broken his wings, because I had heard it straight from the man himself.

From Great Sahyung.

“No matter how crushed you were, to drown yourself in drink and throw tantrums, tsk tsk. Clipped Vermilion Bird my foot. You are a third-rate stray sparrow.”

Hwang Seung-jong glared at me for a moment.

I wondered how he would respond, and slowly, the corner of his mouth began to twist.

“A third-rate stray sparrow? That suits me perfectly. Hahahahahaha!”

Hwang Seung-jong burst into mad laughter, then staggered off toward the main gate.

Why did his retreating back feel so pitiful?

‘Maybe because we share a similar fate.’

Those who have not suffered under Great Sahyung cannot know.

Just how cunning and cruel he is.

Or how deeply those who oppose him are made to flounder in misery.

Calling Hwang Seung-jong a third-rate stray sparrow might have been something I was saying to my past self.

Because in the end I had never managed anything like true revenge against Great Sahyung either.

“Is he not truly rude? Does being part of the Seven Demonic Houses excuse everything?”

Im Yeon fumed as she glared at his back.

Hwang Seung-hyu cupped his fists and bowed so low it felt excessive.

“I truly apologize. I am ashamed to have shown such a disgraceful sight before you and your companions, Seventh Young Lord.”

He had done nothing wrong himself, so I did not hold it against him.

“It is fine. Let us go in.”

“I am sincerely grateful for your understanding.”

Led by Hwang Seung-hyu, we headed toward the deepest part of the Illusory Hwang Clan.

“If you go this way, you will reach the Clan Head’s Hall. You may soon be startled, so allow me to warn you in advance.”

“Startled by what?”

Unlike the puzzled Im Yeon, Ak Mu-jin and I were unfazed.

Because we already knew what would happen.

A moment later, my vision spun. The scene before my eyes wavered like ripples.

“W, what is this?”

“You have just stepped into the barrier.”

“The barrier…?”

“That is correct. Your bodies remain here, and only your consciousnesses go inside.”

Right, it was this.

“Something like that is possible?”

“It is possible.”

Hwang Seung-hyu continued his explanation calmly, as if their surprise was only natural.

“When you dream, does your physical body move together with you in the dream?”

“No, it does not.”

“It is the same principle. The difference is that while dreams are part of the unconscious, our Dream-Walking Formation lets you enter a world of mental images while fully conscious. Do you understand?”

“Yees…”

Im Yeon nodded with a look that said she had understood nothing at all.

‘It really is fascinating though.’

I had known there was a Dream-Walking Formation around the Clan Head’s Hall.

But this was my first time experiencing it. Aside from a few faint sensations, there was no difference from reality, which made it impossible not to find it strange.

“What happens to our bodies?”

“The clan’s warriors will keep them well stored, so you need not worry.”

Stored, he said. That choice of words.

After we walked a little farther, a huge hall appeared.

It was the Clan Head’s Hall, a place that radiated pressure and yet felt somehow unreal.

Hwang Seung-hyu stopped in front of the hall and spoke.

“There is much I would like to explain about this place as well, but I will ask that you speak with my father directly. And I must apologize to the other two of you, but you will have to wait here. My father is waiting for the Seventh Young Lord alone.”

“No, but…”

“Do as he says. Our bodies are already being stored anyway.”

“That is true.”

Leaving the two who had readily accepted this and Hwang Seung-hyu behind, I stepped into the hall.

In that instant, the scene before me changed.

“…!”

Instead of the inside of a hall, an endless night sky spread out. The Milky Way that embroidered this place was overwhelmingly surreal.

‘Is this another mindscape inside a mindscape?’

At the center of this space, an elderly man sat quietly with his eyes closed.

He was Hwang Si-mong, Clan Head of the Illusory Hwang Clan.

“Hello.”

As I gave a light cupped-fist salute, the elder’s eyes opened.

His blazing gaze was so bright it almost hurt to look at.

“They say a new star has risen over the demonic world.”

A voice that sounded neither old nor young echoed from all directions.

“Some stars shine so brilliantly they seize the gaze of all, yet they are nothing more than shooting stars that flare for a moment and vanish. Other stars glow gently but for a long time, becoming exceptional examples to follow. Seventh Young Lord, what sort of star do you think you are?”

I let out a deep sigh instead of answering.

Trust a clan head to be even worse than Hwang Seung-hyu.

Could he not start with the point?

Why bring up stars out of nowhere.

“I am sorry, but I am much busier than you seem to think, Clan Head. Can we go straight to the point?”

For a moment, it felt like the night sky rippled.

Was it my imagination?

Hwang Si-mong was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Hoho, this old man was being foolish. The time of the young and the time of the old are quite different things.”

“There is no need to go that far. I heard from the First Young Lord. You requested that I visit.”

“I did.”

Hwang Si-mong answered readily and continued.

“Can you guess the reason?”

“Because you need me.”

“Hoho, correct. And you accepted that request because you need us as well. Is that not so?”

I let out a short laugh.

“You got the right answer too, Clan Head.”

The Illusory Hwang Clan Head smiled much like I did.

“Before we compare our aims, there is a process that must come first. What do you think that might be?”

“Do not turn it into a riddle. Just tell me the answer.”

“Hm, very well. The path you have shown so far has truly been astonishing, Seventh Young Lord. Yet there have been times when I could not tell whether that was fortune or skill.”

“So you want to test my ability?”

“If I had to put it that way, yes.”

I answered in a deliberately displeased tone.

“It is troublesome to spring this on me all of a sudden. Should you not have asked for my cooperation in advance? I did not come here to take a test.”

Once more, the night sky rippled faintly.

This man might have a surprisingly weak backbone, despite how he appeared.

‘Although I had actually expected this.’

The Illusory Hwang Clan was a traditional powerhouse, while I was a newly risen late-generation prodigy whose name had only recently begun to spread.

No matter that I was a Little Demon, the weight we carried was different from the start.

So to form a smooth alliance, there was a need to show my true ability.

That was why I asked him.

“I will at least hear what kind of test it is.”

The faintly trembling night sky grew calm.

His emotions were very easy to read.

“You can learn the strength of one’s martial arts by crossing blades, but the depth of one’s vessel and potential are not so easily seen. This mindscape of mine is a space created precisely to confirm that.”

“And so?”

“In a separate mindscape that has been constructed within a separate mindscape, there is a space where five hundred and twelve phantoms exist. You must defeat them all.”

“That sounds like an awful lot.”

“If your potential is outstanding, you can finish in half a day. If it is lacking, you may never be able to defeat the phantoms, so I hope you will fall into the former case, Seventh Young Lord.”

I let out a short laugh.

Potential, he says.

There was probably no one above me in the Demon Cult besides the Heavenly Demon.

“Half a day is far too long.”

“That is long, you say?”

“I think fifteen minutes will be enough for me.”

Hwang Si-mong’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.

“Even for you, fifteen minutes will be impossible.”

“Who knows. I have gotten used to it.”

Hwang Si-mong was silent for a moment, then let out a low, hearty laugh.

“Hoho, I hope your potential proves as great as your confidence.”

As he finished speaking, Hwang Si-mong snapped his fingers.

With that, the scene before my eyes changed again.

---

Hwang Si-mong remained alone in the mindscape where Baek Su-gyeong’s consciousness had vanished.

He could not see the separate mindscape, but he could feel it.

He intended to wait leisurely until the test ended.

Even if it took half a day, no, even an entire day, that was fine.

What mattered was measuring the size of the vessel precisely.

‘Fifteen minutes he says. Youthful bravado is a fine thing.’

Just as a smile spread across Hwang Si-mong’s lips, ripples ran through his senses.

The first phantom had vanished.

‘Fast.’

Anyone could be fast at the start.

The phantoms grew stronger as you went, and the key was whether he could maintain this speed.

Yet.

Toong. Toodoong. Toodoodoong!

The sensation of phantoms disappearing surged in uncontrollable waves.

They were not vanishing one by one.

Dozens burst apart all at once.

“What is this…?”

The relaxed smile vanished from Hwang Si-mong’s face.

His eyes were wide open in disbelief.

As if a tremendous storm were sweeping through, the five hundred twelve phantoms vanished at high speed.

And at last.

Toodoodoong!

With the sensation of the final phantom disappearing, the storm came to a halt.

Silence fell.

Hwang Si-mong’s mouth hung open.

His senses were telling him.

The time from beginning to end had been exactly fifteen minutes.