Book 16 Chapter 1

The Unseen Journey of the Old Scholar

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

The torrent of curses and grumbles, erupting from the very depths of his heart, showed no signs of ceasing.

Nohak was burning with anger. This anger, which had cowered before the 'party directly involved' – the cause and effect of the current situation – now seized this golden opportunity when no one was watching or listening.

"Kuroooooo! What kind of karma did this humble scholar accumulate in his past life to be left stranded in such a place at such a time! Why!"

Nohak growled like a wolf.

Fragmentary remnants of the 'moon-blade,' gnawed away by darkness, and the celestial movements indirectly suggested that most people in the world were now cradled in sweet slumber.

Missing the opportune moment, being alienated from the cyclical flow called 'daily life,' was a profound misfortune. Especially when it was due to the actions of others, not one's own will!

"Why?"

He didn't care if his voice went hoarse. It didn't matter if it tore. It was a natural right. He wanted to cry out in lament. But the situation that bound him did not even allow for such meager self-consolation.

Why? Damn it! He knew the reason. It wasn't because he was a beggar. It wasn't because of his age. It was because his dry, parched heart couldn't muster the courage. He lacked the courage to confront his Eldest Brother, the resolve to defy and resist. The very courage that his comrades would have shaken their heads at, calling it 'foolhardy valor'!

"But…"

He knew well that he wasn't the only one who had harbored such 'thoughts' for the past three years.

Liberation from the Eldest Brother! Infinite freedom stemming from it!

The pleasure, as if drugs were being secreted into his brain from mere imagination, enveloped his body and mind. However, this resentment, layered seamlessly across the entirety of his mental landscape, had yet to breach the surface and see the light of day.

It wasn't that there were no methods.

That day, the selection of a scapegoat proceeded with solemnity, reverence, and meticulous care. The members of the Vermilion Bird Sect, gathered before the gates of hell, exchanged glances with solemn vows of silence. A grim aura settled upon their faces.

"Shall we begin then?"

Hyun's words marked the starting point.

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

"Paper!"

After thirty-six repetitions, painstakingly executed, a scapegoat was finally chosen. Namgung Sang was designated as the one to first knock on the gates of hell and face Yama's wrath. His comrades, mourning their friend, recited long elegies in their hearts and contemplated epitaphs for his tombstone.

"You scoundrels, try to control your expressions! It's all written on your faces!"

Namgung Sang, unable to contain his laughter born of relief and liberation, had no loyalty to his friends whose faces were twitching. His stomach churned as if it were being turned inside out. He gazed at the gate with extreme displeasure. It felt as if a mere touch would cause a burn. But behind him, his friends, wearing the masks of betrayal, were pushing his back with their eyes.

Knock, knock!

Finally, Namgung Sang, mustering his courage, knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

From the other side of the room, the voice of Eldest Brother Bi Ryuyeon echoed. Fortunately, he didn't get burned, but his heart felt as heavy as a thousand-pound rock.

"Hmm… hmm… Hmmm……. Interesting, very interesting."

Bi Ryuyeon muttered to himself, turning various thoughts over in his mind. Namgung Sang, Hyun, Jinryeong, Tang Sam, Tang Munhye, Il Gonge, Cheongmun, Jo Cheonwu, Yi Jaryong, Geum Yeongho, Danmok Susu, Hwa Seolok, Hwangbo Wooyeon, Nohak, Namgung Sansan, Moyong Hwi. Each possessed a status and background envied by others, yet before Bi Ryuyeon, their faces were stiff with tension. They perhaps thought they might be devoured if they let their guard down. While they usually tried to avoid Bi Ryuyeon's summons, today, they had no choice but to visit as a group due to a certain matter that bound them together.

Namgung Sang, representing them, conveyed their request. After hearing it, Bi Ryuyeon began to pace, stroking his chin, as if savoring the words he had just heard.

"Hmm, so in 'simple' terms, you wish to prove that you are each an independent self?"

'They must have meant 'difficult' instead of 'simple'!' he thought, but wisely, they didn't voice it.

"Yes!"

All the Vermilion Bird Sect members, huddled together, nodded their heads. While they were objects of admiration for other Heavenly Hall disciples, they felt utterly insignificant before Eldest Brother Bi Ryuyeon. Unable to endure this discrepancy any longer, they had finally taken action. "Acknowledge us!" This was their collective demand. However, the fact that all sixteen of them had come as a group, rather than offering just one scapegoat to the altar, suggested they hadn't fully overcome their subconscious fear.

"Hoo, hoooom……."

Bi Ryuyeon's gaze, filled with intense interest, swept across the faces of the sixteen Vermilion Bird Sect members. Was the time finally here? A true disciple should possess the instinct to break free from their master's embrace. Such a spineless fellow, lacking that spirit, should be dispatched or excommunicated. However, it was also the duty of a master not to readily tolerate it! A master is one who pushes a disciple off a cliff, not one who pulls them up. Do they have no hands, no feet? Even if they are beaten to a pulp, even if they are patched up and tattered, it is the disciple's own responsibility to claw their way back up. Of course, Bi Ryuyeon's current status was not that of an old master, and the hidden intentions of these disciples were not in that direction. Nevertheless, he had an obligation to actively support the intentions of his disciples and fellow disciples.

Bi Ryuyeon nodded his head, surprisingly easily.

"Alright, I'll grant it!"

At that moment, the taut tension exploded into a surge of exuberant joy. However, Bi Ryuyeon was not so merciful as to let their joy linger for more than a fleeting moment.

"But!"

A single, resolute voice halved their jubilant delight.

"There is one condition."

"A condition…?"

Namgung Sang asked on their behalf.

"Of course! Do you think anything in this world is free? To gain something, you must pay a commensurate price. Isn't that the law of cause and effect, the law of equivalent exchange, as spoken of in Buddhism?"

*Smirk!*

An ominous smile bloomed on Bi Ryuyeon's lips.

The sixteen Vermilion Bird Sect members, led by Namgung Sang, wished, 'If only we could,' 'If at all possible,' that they wouldn't have to know the condition.

Namgung Sang had never willingly volunteered for the representative role. It was only because everyone kept pushing the duty onto each other that his inferior rock-paper-scissors skills had landed him in this predicament. Everyone seemed to regard the representative role as a guaranteed ticket to the underworld, and honestly, it wasn't far from the truth. He cast a displeased glare at Hyun, the eccentric, who had abandoned his virtue of shared responsibility, just like himself, one of the Nine Dragons. He pondered the question of whether he should add the word 'former' before the word 'friend'……

"Wh-what is the condition?"

Jinryeong, Namgung Sang's lover, sensing his struggle, asked on his behalf. However, the power of love was insufficient to overcome such immense wickedness.

"You must show proof!"

He spoke as if it were absurd to ask such an obvious question.

"Proof?"

"Yes, proof!"

The smile vanished from his smiling face. His formerly light demeanor suddenly became as heavy as a rock. Bi Ryuyeon asked.

"Can you prove that you are you?"

A voice of profound resonance, like that of a high priest conducting a ritual, flowed from Bi Ryuyeon's lips. It was a voice of immense solemnity, unimaginable from his usual tone.

"Do you confidently assert that you have established your individual identities?"

Once again, everyone nodded. It was clear their answers were not the result of deep thought. Nevertheless, they were young and full of confidence. Bi Ryuyeon had to douse this fiery youthful passion. As if he had forgotten his own youth.

"You answer well! But! Words are fleeting things, spoken only by the vibration of the throat and the movement of the tongue! On the other hand, actions are not something anyone can do. Very well! If you are so confident, then prove it. Prove that you have established yourselves, that you can stand alone without relying on anyone!"

Proof!

Conveniently for a martial artist, there was only one means of self-proof. By this point, the Vermilion Bird Sect members had realized this fact.

"Eldest Brother! Th-that method is too disadvantageous for us!"

Jinryeong protested. The others clearly agreed with her opinion. In truth, if they had the ability to subdue Bi Ryuyeon by force, they wouldn't have reached this situation. There was no hope of victory, no matter how they looked at it.

"I'll give you a chance! I don't want to be called unfair."

If that was his intention, it was already too late. Even if it hadn't reached his ears, it had likely been said countless times.

"A chance?"

"Yes! You can all attack me at once!"

"All of you?"

"Yes, all of you! If anyone is sick, you can wait until they recover. I don't want to hear flimsy excuses after the job is done."

"With real swords?"

For that question, Namgung Sang earned a warm bump on his head.

"Are you kidding me? Of course, it's a real sword fight. How can you show your true abilities with toys?"

It seemed he was serious. That reckless confidence, appearing absurd to others. He was truly the embodiment of brazenness.

Then, it was worth a try. Despair, which had sunk to the lowest depths, transformed into hope without shame and crawled back out. It was different from three years ago. They too, through strong external pressure and active self-will, had undergone rigorous training for the past three years. They had faced countless life-or-death situations. They couldn't be considered the soft fledglings of that time. It was time to show how much they had changed. With a hint of bitterness!

"Alright, Eldest Brother!"

They agreed. They believed there was a chance with such conditions.

"But, there is a condition."

Bi Ryuyeon spoke again.

"Another condition?"

Complaints immediately erupted. However, their voices were already trembling with anxiety. The premonition was not good.

"Sixteen against one is too unfair. So, I'll need an assistant. Besides, that person is like a master to you too. So, shouldn't you also surpass that master?"

"Y-you mean… is that assistant, by any chance, Master Yeom?"

Namgung Sang's question, a mix of anxiety and impatience, mirrored the faces of the other disciples. Such a worst-case scenario was unacceptable. Everyone clearly felt that way. Such a development was a nightmare that drained one's vitality just by imagining it.

"No, it's that person."

However, Bi Ryuyeon nodded his head unhesitatingly and innocently, shattering their hopes.

"Who else would it be? Right?"

'I wish he were just a loudmouthed braggart…'

Contrary to his reputation within the academy, which seemed to set new records for the worst daily, their Eldest Brother was not an empty shell. And for them, that was a bigger problem. They were in no position to rejoice at the falsity of the rumors.

Self-proof.

The outcome was too dreadful even to recall.

'Eldest Brother Bi Ryuyeon! Age twenty-one! Martial arts unknown. Sect unknown. Internal energy unknown.'

Although they had known him for over two years, they had learned almost nothing. Except for the fact that he was an absurdly dangerous man. He was a prime example of how far rumors could stray from reality.

While his colleagues were bound hand and foot, Prince Gong and the eccentric scholar Hyun, after rushing in with their secret combined techniques, were hospitalized for three and a half weeks. The rest were lucky enough to only suffer two weeks of recovery.

Why bother calling in Old Master Yeom if it was too troublesome? Isn't that cheating? But they say the vanquished have no right to speak, so they dared not complain.

Proof failed. Certification denied. And…

Decided to remain subordinates!

That was the conclusion. Unfortunately, they had never proven themselves through action. And the small revolution had failed.

Nohak wasn't sure which was worse: his current situation or a stone rolling on the street. It was a truly sad and pathetic state of affairs. He felt utterly pathetic.

'If I didn't have that much spirit or ability, I'd be standing guard for those guys at the Sky Pagoda right now.'

This was his job for two weeks now. So far, there had been no sign of anything.

*Click!*

At that moment, his exquisitely sensitive ears caught a faint sound.

'Huh? What's that sound!'

Nohak quickly cut off his thoughts and turned his gaze back towards the dormitories.

*Screeeech!*

The door, which hadn't opened in two weeks, was cautiously emitting a secret groan.

'Finally, it's moving!'

Two people cautiously emerged from the door. They were likely members of Squad 1, to which Grand Prince Bi belonged.

'Come to think of it… I was in Squad 1 too…'

Nohak casually reminded himself and focused his attention.

Grand Prince Bi, indeed, was a monster. Perhaps he was of the same ilk as Bi Ryuyeon. Well, at least that one seemed to have substance compared to this side… In terms of being inscrutable, they were identical.

'Tch, too far.'

The distance was too great to confirm who they were. All he learned was that they were both men, a useless piece of information. But that was something he could slowly peel away layer by layer and find out from now on.

'Am I finally going to be able to sleep in a warm room!'

Dreaming of his exceedingly humble wish, Nohak hid himself in the shadows of the night and stealthily followed the two men.

'How far are they going?'

They moved with great caution. It was clear they weren't so foolish as to make noise while moving. Every twenty paces, they didn't forget to survey their surroundings. When they stopped, they chose places where they could efficiently conceal themselves from their surroundings. It was clearly a skill honed over days and nights. Nohak, who had always received top marks in stealth and evasion, knew this for sure. Those two were seasoned professionals who had received specialized training.

'Huh, what about this way?!'

They seemed to have no intention of stopping and continued to move forward, passing through the densely packed residential area and entering the western forest. The night forest was full of obstacles. Nohak had to exert immense effort to avoid making noise. A moment of carelessness could expose him.

What if he were exposed? He was not so reckless as to fight regardless of the unfavorable odds. His mission was not to annihilate the enemy, but to scout. His task was to creep up like a cat, peek, and then stealthily withdraw. He had neither the obligation nor the authority to do more.

If the opponent were armed with malice, two outcomes could be hypothesized. First, if his legs were faster than the opponent's, he would be able to save his life. Second, if he were slower than the enemy, he would likely not see the sun rise today or the moon set tomorrow. Still, one fortunate point was that he was confident in his running ability, second to none.

His heart pounded wildly with tension.

'Is this a new character?'

The bad children who didn't go to bed early and wake up early weren't just the two of them. Another one was waiting at the place they arrived.

"潛龍勿用 (qian long wu yong)." (A dormant dragon is useless.)

"後雨昇龍 (hou yu sheng long)." (After the rain, a dragon rises.)

The suspicious trio exchanged simple passwords from a distance of three feet and confirmed each other. The two, presumed to be members of Squad 1, had worn masks after entering the western outskirts of Hongmae Valley, so the other party had to use a different method of confirmation. Fairly, the waiting individual also had his face hidden by a mask. He was as big as a bear. The two who came from the Squad 1 dormitory were also sturdily built and not short, but this giant seemed two heads taller than them.

'Was there someone that big in Hongmae Valley?'

Nohak remembered the faces and names of all the participants of the Huashan branch. To take on the crucial responsibility of overseeing more than a third of the martial arts world's information in the future, such a talent was basic. However, flipping through his memory, that physique didn't appear.

'Then… could it be… a caretaker?'

The caretakers, who managed all aspects of the Huashan branch's operations and maintained order and security here, called themselves the Rule Enforcers.

'Could it be that they were connected to the inside? No, no. Given the location and the damage incurred so far, they wouldn't use someone of uncertain identity. Besides, contact with the outside is also kept to a minimum…'

Most Rule Enforcers are said to be born in Huashan and die in Huashan. This was their homeland and their living place. They bore only one mission and hope: the birth of a true martial artist. They dedicated their only lives to that purpose.

'But if, by any chance, that unlikely possibility were true…'

A truly dangerous situation might arise.

'Gulp! This might get troublesome…'

The impenetrable darkness, the faint moonlight, and the almost useless dark night sky all contributed to a bad premonition.

"Where is the last one?"

When the masked giant asked, the two shrugged their shoulders and countered.

"That's our boss's business! Why are you late for the appointment?"

The taller of the two spoke, not hiding his displeasure. He clearly had a hot-headed temperament, far from being cautious.

'There was another person?'

Nohak pricked up his ears and listened to their conversation. The giant seemed slightly annoyed by the tall man's rude question. He had responded very curtly to the giant's question.

"I don't know. You know that our affiliations are all different, right? We only know roughly who we belong to, but we don't know the exact identity of each person, have you already forgotten that? Therefore, don't forget that your statuses are equal when carrying out missions. I am not a subordinate to be commanded by you! Therefore, do not think of giving orders. I only receive orders based on the authority of the 'Blood Jade Token,' not from the words of mere younglings!"

"What! Are you trying to fight me now?"

The giant's response was enough to provoke the already impatient man. If the other person hadn't mediated the tense atmosphere between them, it would have escalated into a fight.

'So, the story is, at least these people belong to different factions. Where exactly are they affiliated? And what are they planning to do by gathering here? Why?'

However, Nohak's thought process didn't last long. At that moment, a rustling sound echoed faintly from the forest. It was enough to make the honed ears of the masters tense.

*Swish!*

Without confirmation, the bear-like giant immediately threw a hidden weapon into the darkness. It was a surprisingly swift action for his bulky frame. Moreover, as if feeling sorry if it didn't kill in one shot, he kindly threw five at once. The giant was undoubtedly a remarkably agile bear.

"Who is it?"

The giant asked into the dark bushes. His voice also resembled a bear's. He seemed to have confirmed through sound and presence that someone in the darkness was still alive. The tension of the three people could be felt even from twenty feet away.

*Rustle, rustle!*

With another rustling sound through the bushes, another masked man sauntered out. Unlike the tense three, he seemed quite relaxed.

"That's a rather flashy welcome. I almost died."

The new man's voice, despite being a man's, was so effeminate and unpleasant that it was quite sickening.

"I threw it to kill you."

The giant responded to the new masked man's jesting with a tone that suggested it was obvious.

"Yes, I see. Anyway, please take this back. Shouldn't you use it for your next meal? Be careful next time. I almost really died."

The 'voice' reached out to the 'bear' and handed something over. It was clearly the hidden weapon the bear had thrown earlier. Judging by the giant's grim expression, he had caught all five. The bear trembled slightly with a sense of defeat but did not roar.

"You're late."

The shorter one spoke.

"I was held up until now. For work. At this late hour. Isn't that too much? Working overtime until the crack of dawn… They really overwork people. Without even raising the salary."

He rambled on. He was clearly a carefree person. Nohak would bet his entire fortune that the other three absolutely did not like this talkative last man. His ramblings continued endlessly.

"It's really too much. Isn't it really too much? Who would be doing night raids at this ungodly hour? Yet, those in charge have to patrol at night for the safety of the travelers, is someone targeting their lives?"

'Except for you guys…'

"That 'Ice-Tag' uncle is truly cold-hearted, like a man without blood or tears. He overworks people too much."

'Gasp! 'Ice-Tag'?!'

Nohak could not dismiss that remark lightly. Suddenly, goosebumps prickled all over his body. A chill began to set in. In this context, there was only one person who could fit the nickname 'Ice-Tag'.

'Ice-Tag', night patrol, responsible position… Based on these clues, it was clear who he was referring to.

'Is it… by any chance… among our group?!'

This was a fact that could not be overlooked. Nohak strained his ears to find out who he was. All he could ascertain at that moment was that this person was not Binggeom Gwancheolsu, one of the fifty-odd members of the Cheonmu Academy. It was a relief to have found even that out… Oh my god! Sleeping with the enemy! It couldn't be a pleasant feeling.

'Then who is it? A gloomy uncle from a prestigious orthodox sect? Or a grumpy loner with a past in the dark arts?'

Either way, it wouldn't be an interesting story.

'Ah, I hate this. The story is getting more and more dangerous!'

Knowing too many dangerous things meant an increased threat to one's life. It wasn't something to be happy about.

'Sigh, my fate. It seems impossible to back out now!'

The fourth man, who arrived last, was quite talkative for someone engaged in such activities. He seemed to pay little heed to the importance of silence in his profession. So, Nohak decided to conveniently call him 'Chatterbox'. For himself, who had to rely solely on listening from afar, he was a very grateful existence. And he decided to categorize the large one as 'Bear', and the two he followed by their height difference as 'Tall One' and 'Short One'.

Just as the other three, excluding Chatterbox, reached a silent agreement on the most effective and simple way to shut Chatterbox up, the man stopped talking. Had he said one more word, his teeth might not have remained. The other three, having reached their limit of patience, would have surely pulverized his mouth. Nevertheless, with Chatterbox's speech halted, they could finally get down to business.

"His Master wants to know. When can the Dragon take flight?"

"When the rain becomes a waterfall."

'Bear' replied. It was a cryptic, riddle-like answer.

How nice it would be if they clearly explained their conspiracy! Then, spies like himself could work much more easily. Nohak couldn't help but grumble about their lack of helpfulness.

"Is the rain falling smoothly?"

The 'Short One' of the two Nohak followed asked 'Bear'.

"It will soon become a waterfall."

"The date?"

"About three more weeks?"

"Too long. Can't it be shortened? Why does digging in the earth take so much time?"

The 'Tall One' complained.

"Don't act rashly!"

Surprisingly, the 'Short One' stopped the flippant 'Tall One' with a single word. It seemed that despite his large size, his authority was inferior to the 'Short One'.

"Don't rush. it's not easy, as it requires secrecy."

"How are things on your end?"

This time, the 'Short One' asked Chatterbox.

"We have acquired a good tool. It's a used item that we used once before, but it will be useful."

"Isn't the used item one that has already failed once?"

Chatterbox nodded.

"Still, it's rare to find someone as convenient to use as someone harboring resentment! Moreover, someone blinded by jealousy is even better. I truly love people whose reason is paralyzed by emotions."

"Indeed."

The 'Short One' agreed.

"In any case, let's hurry. While there haven't been any special movements yet, don't forget to ensure absolute secrecy. This is also His Will."

When the word 'His' came out, the unruly Bear and Chatterbox suddenly became as docile as lambs. It was likely due to the power of that word.

"As per His Will!"

The two replied in unison as if in a chorus.

"Then, regarding the next rendezvous…"

"Ah, wait! Before that…"

The 'Short One' stopped the two.

"What is it?"

"Ah, it's nothing much, it's just that there seems to be a little mouse hiding!"

The 'Short One' signaled to the 'Tall One' next to him.

"Who's there!"

*Chwararararak!*

As 'Tall One' reached for his waist, something was swung, and a silver chain flew with a sharp speed towards where Nohak was hiding.

The chain, like a silver snake, gleamed ominously and pierced the air. The silver snake stretched out endlessly like an unfurling thread. The cruel snake, clad in cold silver steel scales all over its body, flew fiercely towards the tree where Nohak was, imbued with poison in its sharp fangs, savagely and violently, and even more ferociously. It was as fast as a living creature and powerful enough to vibrate the night air.

'Gasp!'

Nohak gulped in alarm and terror. In a moment of 'oops', the chain had already wrapped around his entire body. *Swish, swish*, the chain moved intelligently, making a threatening sound. As if it possessed its own will.

*Chwararararak!*

The extended chain coiled around the entire tree like a giant dragon. Nohak, unable to escape, shivered, feeling the cold touch of the chain.

"Hap!"

'Tall One', who had released the chain, pulled it with a short grunt.

*Chwararararak! Wheeeeelick! Shiri-ri-rick!*

*Quajijijik!*

With a fierce friction sound, the silver chain instantly ground away the sturdy tree it had bound. Sharp and ferocious as a beast's fangs! Along with it, shattered pieces of wood rained down like hail, piling up instead of scattering.

*Clang!*

With a loud impact sound, the man's cheek snapped sharply to the left.

'Short One' had slapped 'Tall One'. For a martial artist, it was a greater humiliation than death, but 'Tall One' dared not resist.

"You're not careful, Fifth! Do you already forget how much secrecy our work requires? This could attract the attention of the Rule Enforcers. I don't believe they are so lazy and incompetent that they won't wake up even if they hear thunder!"

'Short One' severely reprimanded 'Tall One's carelessness. He was told to catch a mouse, not to wake up the entire mountain's inhabitants as a bonus. This would inevitably draw the attention of the administrators of this place.

"S-sorry, Captain."

Even his wild nature, which was like a wild horse before this person, failed to exert itself. He transformed into a docile and devoted pony.

"So, what do we do now, Captain?"

'Bear' asked.

"If we get caught, we'll just say we were practicing martial arts. If we can't find a plausible excuse. But before that, I recommend we leave this place."

'Bear' said.

"Be careful next time. Next time, it won't end with just a slap!"

'Tall One' dared not reply.

"Speaking of which, what kind of mouse was it? Let's see its face."

'Bear' said, walking over the wreckage of the destroyed life.

"Hmph, useless. It's probably already turned to dust?"

'Tall One' boasted.

"Yes, it's truly useless now."

Chatterbox sighed, sneering as he examined the debris. But he couldn't just mock forever.

"It missed."

'Short One' said with a cold voice.

"N-no! That's impossible. My strike cannot fail…"

"Then how do you explain this empty chain?"

'Short One' pointed to a spot. The thing that the silver chain was gripping tightly and not letting go of was a tattered outer garment. But there was no content inside.

"I-is this possible…"

A voice of bewildered disbelief escaped 'Tall One'.

"Hoo, what kind of brats are so ferocious…"

Nohak hurried his steps to get away from that place as quickly as possible.

He had narrowly avoided becoming a well-prepared lump of meat. Thinking back to a moment ago, his insides turned cold. Even now, his body still felt as if it were burning from the lingering shock.

Beggars, while begging or gathering information, were often caught and tied up. Therefore, techniques to escape such situations naturally developed within the Beggar's Sect, and this time, those expert binding-release methods proved their worth. At the moment of life-or-death crisis, Nohak had dislocated his shoulder joint like lightning, shrunk his body, and escaped the chain's restraint, thus narrowly avoiding the danger. If he had been a moment slower… his life would have already rolled into the wheel of reincarnation.

*Achoo!*

A sneeze naturally escaped him as the cold wind hit his half-naked body. He wanted to get into a warm room and warm himself up as soon as possible. He hated colds.

"Now what?"

'Bear' asked, standing on the grave of piled-up tree corpses. The gathering had been revealed. Whether the mouse had heard anything, or how much it had learned, they didn't know, but they had to silence it. Security was paramount for this matter.

"This plan has been ten years in the making! We cannot afford to drop out midway for something like this!"

'Bear's voice naturally became rougher.

"Since we are responsible for losing the mouse, we will take responsibility for this matter."

"How? It's too late to chase after it, isn't it?"

'Short One' looked at the tattered outer garment with a cold gaze. A rag patched up here and there. But the garment didn't become that way because of the chain. Before it was torn to shreds by the chain's storm, it must have been a patched-up rag. 'Short One' carefully picked up the piece of cloth. Although it was roughly torn in various places, the irregular quilting here and there remained clearly in his memory.

"It's rare for people to wear rags like this, perfect for begging!"

'Short One's eyes shone like a cold dagger in the darkness.