The party walked side by side down the streets of Jebuseong.

The most obvious way to spot an outsider is to see if they’re looking around with wide-open eyes.

In that sense, Cheonghwi was unmistakably an outsider. He was busy looking around and taking in the sights. But the meaning was slightly different.

Having briefly lived as a guest of the Nangong household, Cheonghwi had already adapted to the architectural style of the Central Plains. There was nothing new to be surprised at.

It was a look of excitement and exploration.

Cheon Gyeongho.

He had to find an underwater cave at the bottom of a lake he only knew by name. Was the elixir still safe and sound, or was someone digging it up at this very moment? Such light anxiety and,

The excitement of someone who had set their resolve and embarked on an adventure for the first time.

After being betrayed by his brother, he wandered all day long, and now he had finally started moving forward with a clear purpose. It felt as if the hazy veil that had obscured his vision had been lifted, and he couldn’t contain himself.

Nangong Myeong was also overjoyed by the unexpected journey.

On the other hand, Heeyeonghyeon, the leader of the Open Sect, was calm and composed. It was a natural calmness that emanated from her, rather than a forced one.

Perhaps, she had lived here for a long time.

There was another clue. The party had safely entered Jebuseong with her help, and considering how she naturally exchanged a few words and then led the party inside, it seemed likely she had connections with the guard warriors.

Heeyeonghyeon walked ahead, guiding them, dressed like a village woman but with a seductive sway in her step.

A courtesan’s movement, swaying her hips from side to side as she walked.

Nangong Seunga quietly covered Nangong Myeong’s eyes.

“…Sister, I can’t see in front of me!”

“What’s gotten into your eyes. Just stay still.”

Cheonghwi spoke to Heeyeonghyeon.

“Thanks to you, we’re alive. We almost couldn’t enter the city… Just one word from you, and the city gates opened.”

Heeyeonghyeon’s eyes fluttered.

“I helped because I had connections. And stop calling me ‘miss.'”

“What brings you to Jebuseong, miss?”

“I have no reason to tell you… But let’s just say I’m here for an investigation. If you’re going to cling to the shadows of Haomun, you have to do some odd jobs, right?”

The current openness is a situation where they have entered under Haomun for survival. It seemed like a kind of employer-employee relationship, and Haomun seemed to have entrusted her with a commission.

Nangong Seung-ah seemed to have guessed something, pondering deeply before asking casually.

“Didn’t the guard warrior say earlier that there has been a disappearance in the castle?”

“So they said they wouldn’t let in suspicious people. Is this related to that?”

“…Yes. But you have your own matters, and I have mine, so let’s not take unnecessary interest in each other. Isn’t it enough that you’ve let me into the castle?”

Hee Yeong-hyeon answered petulantly, then waved her hand as if to say farewell. Cheonghwi nodded. Certainly, he had other matters to attend to.

Unless time became available after restoring Nangong Myeong’s dantian, there was no room to get involved in such matters. Still, he left some possibilities open.

After all, he had to return the Tagubongbeop to her.

“If you’re short on hands, come find me. I might have some time after everything is done, so I’ll help.”

“Even empty words are appreciated. But let me give you some advice in return: for the time being, don’t get involved in troublesome matters. Like getting into disputes with martial artists of the black path, or sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Well then, goodbye.”

Cheonghwi quietly watched Hee Yeong-hyeon’s retreating figure. Swaying gently. Her bewitching movements held a strange charm that captivated the gaze.

He worried she might get entangled in some needless dispute, but Hee Yeong-hyeon seemed to be a considerable master, so it was probably an unnecessary concern.

After she disappeared somewhere down the alley, Nangong Seung-ah finally released Nangong Myeong’s covered eyes. Myeong seemed curious about the reason for the physical censorship.

“Did the leader of Gaebang use some kind of hypnotic technique…?”

“Something like that. First, we’ll find lodging, clean our dirty bodies, and then head to Cheongyeongho. There, I will heal Nangong Myeong’s body.”

“Is it a ritual performed with the power of water?! I’ve heard that invisible forces flow through water and earth… Or maybe you’re planning to ask for help from the immortal who lives in Cheongyeongho!”

“Maybe we’ll perform a ritual to the heavens. Zhuge Liang also prayed to extend his life, didn’t he?”

“……..”

The Nangong siblings seemed to expect a grand performance from the Taoist, so Cheonghwi was slightly embarrassed. He was just planning to fetch an elixir from an underwater cave…

But to tell them the unromantic truth when their eyes were sparkling with anticipation? Cheonghwi quickly racked his brain. He would have to think of an appropriate performance before reaching the lake.

—

The three of them washed up neatly and stepped out onto the street again.

If Cheonghwi had been alone, he might have gotten lost, but thanks to the Nangong siblings, he was relieved of that worry. They walked past various buildings and streets, heading towards the place that smelled of water.

The view opened up, and a vast lake revealed itself.

Several pavilions were built along the lakeshore, and quite a few people were enjoying boat rides. Also, the sight of guard warriors patrolling was noticeable.

Nangong Myeong introduced the place with an excited voice, his heart swelling at the beauty bestowed by the expansive natural landscape.

“This is Cheongyeongho, Taoist Cheonghwi! The lake water is clear and calm, like a mirror reflecting the sky, hence the name Cheongyeong. Look, there are lovers enjoying the scenery and fishermen too!”

“…A lake is supposed to be, well, a bit smaller than this, isn’t it?”

“What? Hahaha! It has to be this big to be called a lake. Anything smaller would just be a puddle, right?”

“……..”

In contrast, Cheonghwi broke out in a cold sweat, overwhelmed by the size of the lake. It was no time for laughter or enjoyment.

It was wider than expected. Much wider.

Within this vast lake, he had to find an underwater cave whose location was unknown, armed only with vague clues. The mere thought was dizzying.

Certainly, as the beggar master had said…

While rowing out to the middle of Cheon Gyeong Lake to fish, he grew frustrated with the lack of bites and decided to dive in himself. As he swung his staff to catch fish, he spotted a hole at the bottom of the lake.

There was a swallow-shaped rock nearby, making it easy to remember.

At first, he thought it would be easy to find, just groping around the middle of the lake, but seeing it in person, he realized it was no ordinary task.

On the bright side, the chances that someone else had already discovered the elixir were extremely low. That was the only consolation.

“Hmm… I will use my magic to search for treasure in this place.”

“Treasure! Are you saying there’s treasure hidden in the lake, Master Cheonghwi?!”

“Yes. I have, um… ah… observed the moon, and the flow of… magical energy. Looking at the position of the stars and the shape of the clouds… Yes, astrologically. I have deciphered the heavens’ will that there is treasure in Cheon Gyeong Lake.”

“Wow!”

Nangong Myeong was terribly excited, but Nangong Seung-ah subtly changed her expression at his awkward appearance, no matter how she looked at it.

Cheonghwi pulled out a light scroll from his bosom. It was a scroll commonly used for dungeon exploration, which emitted light that floated above his head when torn.

“Light, oh light… Shine upon the place where the treasure lies!”

Swoosh-!

Boom!

A sphere of light floated up gently. Cheonghwi pretended to close his eyes and chant a spell, and when the scroll’s duration ended, he said,

“…At the bottom of Cheon Gyeong Lake, near the swallow-shaped rock, there is a cave. There lies an elixir aged about 30 years, and if Nangong Myeong takes it… his energy center should heal.”

“That was truly amazing magic! Master Cheonghwi, you’ve seen all the way to the depths of the deep lake from where you sit! Is that the legendary clairvoyance, or-“

“…Master Cheonghwi, did you really use magic?”

“Well, yes. Anyway. That’s not important. We have to search beneath the lake.”

Now, only action remained.

Swimming from the shore to the center of the lake was not efficient, so it would be good to rent a rowboat. Cheonghwi looked around and sought a way to get a boat.

From noble mtl dot come

Nangong Seung-ah pointed her finger at a certain dock.

“It seems that building rents out rowboats, Cheonghwi.”

“Indeed. Then let’s head there first… But why did you take off the ‘Master’ title?”

Nangong Seung-ah diverted Nangong Myeong’s attention and whispered quietly.

“You recite spells like reading an instruction manual. It’s fascinating to see the light being emitted… but the person casting it is so clumsy. Tell me honestly, just between us. You’re not a real master, are you?”

“…I didn’t intend to pretend like that. They started calling me that, so I didn’t want to shatter the illusion. Keep it a secret from Myeong, please.”

“…”

Even if there’s no reason to deceive, shouldn’t we protect the dreams of a child? They’re so delighted by the magic.

Thanks to the money pouch brought by the Nangong siblings, there was enough to rent a small boat.

The group huddled together on the tiny vessel, rowing forward. Though it was their first time, three martial artists had no trouble with the oars.

“Ah… darn it!”

“Sister, I think rowing in a curve might allow us to move more smoothly…”

Even with clumsy movements, sheer force propelled the boat forward.

Ssshhh…

Reaching the lake’s center, creating ripples on the tranquil surface, Cheonghwi looked around cautiously. If someone repeatedly diving seemed suspicious, it would undoubtedly raise doubts.

Fortunately, no one seemed to pay them any mind, so Cheonghwi prepared to explore the lake, taking off his outer garment.

“I’ll find the exact location of the cave and return. Then, the three of us will enter it together.”

“If there’s something inside that can heal Mingyi’s injuries, couldn’t you just bring it up, Cheonghwi? There’s no need for us all to go down.”

“The best elixirs must be consumed right where they’re found to enjoy their full effect, I’ve heard.”

“So the treasure is an elixir… Wait, Master Cheonghwi. In that case, shouldn’t you be the one to take it, not me…!”

Nangongming grabbed Cheonghwi, who was about to dive.

“Master Cheonghwi, you too aspire to martial arts, and inner strength is important for a Taoist, I’ve heard. So, it would be better for you to use the elixir than me, whose energy center is already damaged…”

“Stop with the nonsense.”

“But it’s strange, Master Cheonghwi. You’ve saved my life twice, and now you’re even willing to feed me this precious elixir. I’m confused. It’s an overwhelmingly heavy kindness…”

Cheonghwi smiled faintly.

It was a fortuitous opportunity in a situation where his energy center was shattered. How could he not be proud of pursuing righteousness over personal gain?

Nangongming was a good child. With his exceptional talent, if he grew up right, he would surely become a great hero.

With such a nature, he would undoubtedly remember the help Cheonghwi had given him and extend it to others.

Cheonghwi suddenly thought of a farmer planting seeds.

If you sow the seeds and tend them well until they bear fruit, future generations will enjoy the sweet harvest, and the seeds will spread even further.

Thus, they will remain, far into the future.

“I think I’ve found the answer. Hee-yeonghyeon must receive the Tagoobong method.”

“…?”

“Nangongming, don’t worry about it. This isn’t pure kindness. All of this is for my own peace of mind…”

Even if it wasn’t for a great cause, Cheonghwi sincerely hoped for Nangongming’s recovery.

I do not wish to leave another Ember Redburn in this world. I hope no one has to feel the sorrow I’ve experienced.

By changing Namgung Myeong’s fate, I want to find solace and certainty that my own destiny can change as well.

Moreover… wouldn’t it feel quite good to do so? Like the beggar bound to the Tower of Trials, who took Ember as a disciple out of the blue to pass on martial arts. I think it might feel similar.

Cheonghwi spoke softly yet with resolve.

“Just eat what’s given to you for now. Get better quickly, so you can prosper the family with your brother, right?”

“…Then, shamelessly… I will accept it. Taoist Cheonghwi. But, I will surely repay this kindness someday!”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Splash-!

Cheonghwi gently released Namgung Myeong’s hand, patted his head, and then plunged into the lake. He descended below, parting the blue ripples.

Bubbling. Watching the bubbles rise to the surface, Namgung Myeong clenched his fist and made a vow.

Taoist Cheonghwi may not see what he reflects in me. I don’t know what the occasional regret in his eyes signifies. Why he cherishes someone he barely knows.

But isn’t the martial world clear about gratitude and grudges?

Someday, I will repay what I’ve received. I will definitely do so.

—

Cheonghwi found the underwater cave faster than expected. Three dives were enough.

The entrance of the cave was next to a rock resembling a frog.

“……”

A swallow-shaped rock, they said.

I had deliberately passed it by during previous dives because it didn’t look like a swallow, but upon checking just in case, it was right beside it. I felt a strange sense of betrayal.

Carefully removing stones with my hands, I widened the entrance. I briefly stuck my head in to look inside, and it was wide enough for two people to pass side by side.

The problem was breathing.

The beggar said he found an elixir at the end of the cave, so there should be a space to breathe at the end of the underwater cave. But reaching it was the issue. My lung capacity was barely sufficient.

Moreover, I had to take Namgung Myeong into the underwater cave. His young body hadn’t even started growing properly. His lung capacity would be low.

If I wasn’t going to bring air in a barrel, I had no choice but to increase my swimming speed.

A way to speed up underwater…

Cheonghwi first climbed onto the ferryboat and consulted the Namgung siblings about such a problem.

Namgung Myeong suggested bringing a large, sealed iron barrel full of air, but it was rejected due to the time it would take to make and the fear that rumors would spread all around.

If you go to a hardware store and ask for an oxygen tank, wouldn’t it obviously look like an attempt to explore the lake?

Namgung Seung-ah looked down at the lake and thought quietly before saying,

“Cheongunchoo, would you like to learn it?”

“What is ‘Cheongeunchu’?”

“It’s a technique that uses internal energy to press down the body. It’s used when you need to land quickly from mid-air or when you need to firmly grasp your center of gravity.”

“Cheongeun… that’s about 600kg, right?”

A shiver.

Suddenly, Cheonghwi felt an ominous sensation, as if a bolt from the blue was about to strike him, and he swiftly looked around.

“……??”

“Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

Some words were known to provoke anger. Cheonghwi kept his mouth shut and silently learned Cheongeunchu.

“Whoosh!”

It felt as if the sky itself was pressing down on him.

There was a commonality with the explosive force technique in that it used internal energy to generate propulsion. However, Cheongeunchu was about generating a gentle, continuous force.

Due to a malfunctioning magical engine, the control was tricky, fluctuating between ten and a hundred ‘geun’ of force.

Using Cheongeunchu, the diving speed significantly increased.

With ample oxygen, Cheonghwi reached the bottom of the lake and swam into an underwater cave. After following the winding path, he emerged into a connected underground cavity.

“Huff, hoo…”

Breathing in, there was no problem with his respiration. It was a place where oxygen flowed.

It was dark and hard to see ahead, so Cheonghwi tore open the glowing scroll he had brought. The scroll was damp from the water but worked perfectly.

Whooosh!

A sphere of light gently rose.

And then, Cheonghwi saw it—a giant eyelid as big as his own body.

And the massive, scaled body that filled the cavity.

“……!!”

Cheonghwi frantically tried to scatter the sphere of light, but without the ability to materialize magic, he couldn’t possibly strike at the spell.

“……”

He froze, unable to breathe.

After what seemed like an eternity, ten seconds passed, and seeing that the giant Imugi’s eyelid remained closed, Cheonghwi let out a silent sigh of relief.

Perhaps due to living in the dark underground for so long, even though he had shone such an amount of light on the sleeping eyelid, the Imugi didn’t stir, suggesting that its light-sensing organs had degenerated.

He checked to see if it was dead, but he could feel proper inhalation and exhalation from the large nostrils. It was asleep, but certainly a living being.

And then…

Cheonghwi saw a small flower emitting a pale blue light.

The amount of magical power was palpable even from afar. It was undoubtedly a spirit medicine.

Swallowing hard, Cheonghwi quietly returned to the underwater passage. Having confirmed the existence of the spirit medicine, it was time to devise a plan for dealing with that Imugi.

—

“…So what you’re saying is, because we need to study how to catch an Imugi, you want me to imitate a dragon and attack while crawling on all fours?”

“There’s also a tail here.”

“Are you insane?”

It was the beginning of the Imugi subjugation.