Chapter 20: The Domain of Wolves (1)

Flash!

Lee Cheon-sang opened his eyes.

Thud.

The women who had been massaging his shoulders and legs groaned and fell, shocked by the sudden burst of demonic aura from Lee Cheon-sang.

"Hmm."

Lee Cheon-sang gazed into the air with an inscrutable look.

A moment later.

"Shin-gyo-bul-pae Man-ma-ang-bok. The Great Law Enforcer of the Divine Sect responds to the Supreme Leader's call."

"Great Law Enforcer."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"When I entered seclusion, was there anyone among the Law Enforcers who entered the deep inner regions of Gochulim?"

Mudam's eyes widened slightly.

"No such thing happened."

Lee Cheon-sang's eyes deepened.

If it were something important, Mudam would have reported it long ago. Moreover, the Law Enforcers' skills were not enough to even enter the middle regions, let alone the deep inner regions.

'Then?'

Mudam's confusion deepened as he looked at Lee Cheon-sang's stern face.

After a while, Lee Cheon-sang broke the silence.

"You said you sent the third son with the third squad leader."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"I heard he's quite a capable young man."

"Yes. Though young, he is one of the top ten experts in the Law Enforcement Hall. He is talented, experienced, and diligent, making him a suitable companion for the third prince."

"Is that so."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

One of the top ten experts in the Law Enforcement Hall.

Impressive, but to Lee Cheon-sang, he was just one of many.

'Eight months... Even if he obtained a great fortune, there would be limits to his growth. Then, what about the third son?'

A hint of interest flickered in Lee Cheon-sang's otherwise indifferent face.

"What day is it today?"

"The day before the full moon."

"A day before... I see."

"..."

"I understand. You may leave now."

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

As Mudam left, the corners of Lee Cheon-sang's mouth twitched into a faint smile. It was so subtle that if Mudam had seen it, he would have been surprised again.

"Blinded by greed, heading towards death."

Swoosh.

Lee Cheon-sang closed his eyes. At the same time, the women regained consciousness.

They might have been startled to suddenly faint and then regain consciousness, but they showed no such signs. Instead, they greeted Lee Cheon-sang as if it were routine and resumed massaging his shoulders and legs.

The smile on Lee Cheon-sang's face had already faded.

'Or did he touch the heavens and run along the ridges of Mount Tai?'

The deeper he delved into martial arts and demonic arts, the more he shed his human form. The actions of the third son, Seo Ryang, gave him a small sense of pleasure.

* * *

"Damn it! What the hell is going on?!"

Ma Dong-pil couldn't respond to Seo Ryang's question. He was equally shocked.

Seo Ryang quickly examined the corpse of a strange creature.

A majestic horse-like body with tiger stripes. Its white head and bright red tail were bizarre.

It was a Green Horn. The same Green Horn that Seo Ryang had killed in a fierce battle not long ago, now lying dead with blood spilling from its mouth.

'No wounds?'

He looked around.

'Blue Lotus, Dove, Orangutan...'

There were also corpses of creatures he had never seen before.

A leopard with a white body and a strange pattern on its forehead, indescribable in words. Its fangs were incredibly long, extending down to its chin.

Ma Dong-pil groaned.

"Maeng-geuk?!"

"Do you know this one?"

"Yes, Young Master. I've only heard of it; I've never seen it in person. Even the seniors said they've never encountered it... I never thought I'd see it..."

Suddenly, something occurred to Ma Dong-pil, and he began to pace around.

"Why are you doing that?"

"Maeng-geuk is said to rarely leave the center of Gochulim. Despite its appearance, it is known to be gentle and prefers solitude."

"So?"

"Still, Maeng-geuk is considered one of the top creatures in Gochulim. It is said to be the most powerful and difficult to deal with, except for one creature."

"One creature?"

"Yes. The name of that creature is..."

Suddenly, Ma Dong-pil stopped.

Next to the entrance to the deep inner regions, there was a bamboo that had been completely drained of moisture, cracked and withered. At the base of this withered bamboo, there was a red snake, its body split in two.

Neither too large nor too small. Even though it was dead and lifeless, its eyes were as bright as a human's.

"...Fei-yi."

"Fei-yi? Is that the name of the two-headed snake?"

"Yes. I've never seen it, just like Maeng-geuk."

"Is this the most powerful creature in Gochulim? It looks so small."

"That's what I've heard."

"It doesn't look that strong at all. It doesn't even look like a venomous snake. But why is the bamboo withered...?"

Suddenly, Seo Ryang's face turned blank.

Ma Dong-pil tilted his head.

"Young Master?"

"..."

"Why are you like that? Is there something wrong...?"

"Drought."

"Excuse me?"

"Fei-yi is a two-headed snake. When it appears, a great drought will come to the country. That's why in a village in a flooded area, they bury a picture of Fei-yi in the ground, hoping for the water to dry up quickly."

"..."

Seo Ryang sighed.

"Crazy, I wondered why these names were so bizarre."

"What do you mean...?"

"Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas)."

"...?!"

"They're all mythical creatures from the Shan Hai Jing."

Ma Dong-pil's eyes widened.

"The Shan Hai Jing, the mythological collection by an unknown author...?"

"The author is unknown, but it's more than just a mythological collection. It can be seen as a geographical text, but it's full of absurd explanations. It's almost like a child's scribbled doodle."

"I've only heard of it; I've never actually seen it..."

"Me too. I saw it once, but I gave up after a few pages because it was too fanciful."

In the first place, it would be difficult for the demons of the Heavenly Horse Sect to even come across a book like the Shan Hai Jing, let alone read it.

They have their own gods and scriptures. Books like the Shan Hai Jing, which are considered strange and heretical, are believed to harm faith and doctrine. This is true for other religions as well.

"Still, it's not all nonsense. There are a few records that match actual history and ancient inscriptions. The famous Xi Wang Mu and Kunlun Mountain are also mentioned in the Shan Hai Jing."

"Is that so."

Seo Ryang scratched his head.

"Even so, this is a bit much. Even if the Shan Hai Jing is real, it's impossible for all these mythical creatures to gather in this small bamboo forest..."

Suddenly, Seo Ryang's eyes widened.

Whoosh.

A cool breeze brushed past his face.

Clank.

Seo Ryang, who had slightly drawn his sword with his thumb, tensed and stared at the entrance to the deep inner regions.

Ma Dong-pil tilted his head.

"Young Master..."

"Shh."

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Ma Dong-pil followed Seo Ryang's gaze to the entrance of the deep inner regions.

'Why?'

The cool breeze was blowing, but he didn't feel any particular sense of danger.

Just as he turned his head back to Seo Ryang...

Zap!

'Ah!'

Ma Dong-pil instinctively ducked his head. He stumbled back a few steps as an afterthought.

His face was pale with fear.

'What, what is this?!'

His head spun, and his legs felt weak. Goosebumps ran down his body, and his heart raced.

After clenching and unclenching his fists several times, he slowly raised his head.

'...!!'

Ma Dong-pil involuntarily swallowed.

He didn't know how to describe it.

Seo Ryang's face was clearly expressionless, but it didn't look expressionless at all.

It was as if he was wearing a transparent demon mask that didn't exist in reality. His eyes, neither wide nor narrow, were more ferocious than any gaze Ma Dong-pil had ever seen.

Seo Ryang, who had abandoned his past as a killer but retained his identity as a death god, showed his true self.

Frozen in extreme tension, his face was that of a beast, instinctively stirring the desire to kill.

"Dong-pil."

"...Yes, Young Master."

"Stay here."

Thud, thud.

Without waiting for a response, Seo Ryang walked steadily into the deep inner regions.

Ma Dong-pil wanted to stop him. He wanted to shout that he should go in together.

But he couldn't say anything. Seo Ryang's words had become a deep imprint, controlling his actions and words.

Rustle, rustle.

The bamboo leaves crumbled and scattered with each step Seo Ryang took.

With each step, a powerful demonic aura was released. The air seemed to heat up from the unconscious emission of demonic energy.

Sssss!

The cool, dry wind from the deep inner regions of Malim clashed with the hot, humid wind Seo Ryang created, creating a sharp tension.

Seo Ryang's eyebrows trembled.

'What the hell is in there?'

He didn't know. He had no information about it.

'What is this terrifying energy mixed with the wind?'

It was overwhelming. An energy he had never encountered before.

'And this sense of unease?'

It was intense. A foreboding he had never felt, even in the intricate traps of the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Iron Blood City.

'It's like...'

Seo Ryang's eyes widened.

'Yes, it's similar to that time.'

The first time he met Lee Cheon-sang.

He was shocked by the overwhelming presence of the demon god, whose might even the Ten Great Martial Masters looked up to. He had no information or knowledge about such a realm.

The person emitted an overwhelming aura without even a hint of energy. It was an aura he had never encountered before.

Moreover, the sense of unease Lee Cheon-sang exuded was beyond imagination.

An aura so overwhelming that it made him think of death.

Yet, he had to go to Lee Cheon-sang. He chose to call him for his own purpose.

This time was no different.

The wind blowing from the depths. It contained an overwhelming energy, but no discernible intent.

It was dangerous, like Lee Cheon-sang, but there was a treasure he needed to obtain, just like when he met Lee Cheon-sang. Seo Ryang instinctively knew this.

Whirr!!

His extrasensory perception sounded the alarm. His heart's eye, which instilled both foreboding and anticipation, looked at the world.

Swoosh!

The pressure grew stronger the deeper he went into the inner regions, making his skin tingle.

Cold sweat formed on Seo Ryang's forehead.

'I can't. I can't withstand it.'

Rumble.

Instinctively, he activated the Dark Shadow Demon Art. The demonic aura unconsciously emitted became even denser.

But.

Boom!

'Gah!'

Seo Ryang's steps halted.

Drip.

A stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Despite emitting a strong demonic aura, he had suffered internal injuries from the backlash.

'Damn it! How strong can the energy be that even my current demonic aura can't handle it?!'

At this rate, he would die before he could even approach.

'I have no choice. I have to use it now.'

Seo Ryang took out a Zhetakcao from his robe and poured a dose into his mouth.

Bubble, bubble.

The medicinal power spread at an incredible speed.

Seo Ryang's eyes widened.

Swoosh.

The intense demonic aura that had been violently emitted disappeared as if by magic.

Whoosh.

The wind blowing past Seo Ryang's body seemed to pass through him.

The Dark Shadow Art's Dark Spirit Body Technique unfolded in an instant.

The ultimate stealth technique boasted by the King of Assassins, who stood at the pinnacle of assassins, was now in play.

Seo Ryang closed his eyes.

Rustle.

The bamboo leaves brushed past Seo Ryang's body.

Despite clearly brushing against his skin, it felt as if they had passed through him. He couldn't see or sense anything with his senses, hear any sound, or smell any odor.

He had become a ghost, in every sense of the word.

'Let's go.'

One step, two steps, and three steps.

'Good. The pressure is fading.'

Ten steps, twenty steps, and thirty steps.

'If I keep going...'

Suddenly, something tripped his foot.

"Whoa!"

He almost fell but managed to regain his balance. Tripping over a rock-like object was a disgrace for the King of Assassins.

Seo Ryang involuntarily cursed.

"Damn it! What the...?"

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

"...What? This brat?"