She couldn’t see.
She couldn’t feel her arms either.
There was a constant ringing in her ears, and her body was feeling heavy like it was a lump of iron.
‘I don’t remember how long it’s been since I washed and changed my clothes.’ , Baek Sogo thought to herself as she was currently undergoing the trials of Mush for the second time.
For a long time there were no conversations, no sound in her voice either.
She was afraid to sleep.
Nightmares continued in different forms every day. Everything that came into her mouth tasted terrible enough to be creative.
It all smelled the same.
Baek Sogo added several more restrictions since coming to the Mountain of Mush for the second time.
Burning pain was searing throughout her body. Baek sogo was feeling pain even though she wasn’t doing anything.
It was a pain that made your leg muscles break and tear whenever she walked, and her lungs pop whenever she took a breath.
There was also a restriction on involuntary breathing.
She had to be conscious of her own breathing at all times. Sleeping became more difficult if you had to be conscious of your breath while sleeping.
In addition, minor restrictions were added.
It made life itself impossible, but the ‘Silent Flare’ Baek Sogo kept moving.
She had a feeling that she was breaking.
Was she broken or going insane? Maybe it was both.
But she was still alive.
It was clear that she was alive. The constant pain was painful enough to die, but it nevertheless gave evidence that Baek Sogo was still alive.
[You’re crazy.]
The only voice she could hear besides her own. The god, Mush.
While she didn’t respond, she looked at the golden eyes she was seeing staring at her mysteriously. She was having a hallucination.
Baek Sogo rather liked having the addition to the hallucinations as a restriction. That way she wouldn’t just see complete darkness and feel lonely.
[No… you’re both crazy.], Mush said, retracting her earlier statement.
Mush had become Baek Sogo’s only companion during the time she spent here.
Was it because of boredom or simply interest? Baek Sogo didn’t find it appropriate if she asked Mush, a living god, why they were conversing with a human like herself.
She moved her body, conscious of continuing her breathing. Her steps felt weighted with every step she took.
[I don’t know why you’re doing this. The kid from before……Lee Sungmin. He’s crazy too, but you’re worse than even him. You are the first human… no being to ever survive this many punishments and restrictions of this mountain since it was even made.]
Should she take it as a compliment? Baek Sogo didn’t know. She’d been losing track of her thoughts lately. Was it because her fatigue had reached its limit?
[It would be much better to die. What are you trying so hard to pursue?], Mush asked pensively.
At one point in time, Baek Sogo deemed that she was a warrior who upheld the righteous moral values while fighting for the Orthodox’s Faction.
But now she couldn’t tell if her actions up till now were the right ones.
She knew what she wanted. She had her own morals and stuck to her code. But, her partnership with the Orthodox… were they really holding the same values?
Baek Sogo felt muddled about the situation. She was incredibly lost on her goals and perspectives and needed time to rethink everything over.
So she came out to the Mountain of Mush.
Power
That was her answer. She wasn’t going to be pushed around. She needed to make her own decisions and she would do that if she was strong enough to do so.
She was now aware of what she wanted to do.
A great philosopher once said, “The rules have consequences if you break them. Either follow them and stay in line, or be strong enough to make your own”. (T/N : Any reader that can reference who said this I will paypal 20 dollars deadass go to centinni discord and dm me if you do
It wasn’t just that. She couldn’t stand being weak. She thought she was strong, she thought the world would work the way she knew it would. But she came here after being saved by the young man she had taught her techniques to. She didn’t expect to be saved by someone weaker than her. But no. He was stronger than her, and it was clear.
Baek Sogo recalled the old memories.
When she first met Lee Sungmin on this mountain. The young boy, at 14, was pitiful. He wasn’t talented at all, yet he still acknowledged his shortcomings and asked her for help.
He was a genuinely good person.
It was a relationship that was like that of a mentor and a student, and yet it blossomed to one between close comrades and friends.
That’s how she had thought it would stay.
Such a connection was incredibly precious. Especially while being on this hell of a mountain. But, he never gave up. His tenacity was unparalleled between the others there, including herself.
She came down the mountain before him and……when she met the boy again, she didn’t express her feelings, but she was happy to see how much he had improved.
And then, when they met once more, it was in that dungeon.
It was heartbreaking to see him so grown up.
But she felt even more ashamed at the fact she had been saved by him, yet fled without a word.
So she wanted to be strong.
For when she would meet him again, if he was in danger like she had been. Like the boy did, she wanted to throw her pride aside and save him like he had done to her.
Baek Sogo couldn’t think of any other way.
She wasn’t conscious of it.
She was a desperate woman. Desperate enough to lay down her pride and search for any method she could to get stronger as long as it would let her stay down the path she wanted. But that path was not with the Orthodox.
[Desperation], Mush muttered.
[But, also out of necessity]
Those are the circumstances of what most of the practitioners who enter the mountain had.
However, Mush had never seen the tenacity and desperation as deep as it was in Baek Sogo. Not even that odd boy, Lee Sungmin had been this tenacious. And when Mush saw him she thought there would never be another like him. But to have someone even more desperate than him? She couldn’t help but be interested.
Pursuing strength was all the same for anybody who came to the Mountain of Mush.
However, in the case of Baek Sogo, the fundamental reason for her pursuit of strength was different. As it was not strength for herself, but rather for others.
[I like you.], Mush spoke to her.
Mush had changed her thoughts about her.
Mush had been watching Baek Sogo ever since she entered this mountain.
When she said she would come back to this mountain and resume training, she thought little of it.
It’s not like Mush hadn’t seen people return for more strength. Such people who did however, couldn’t handle adding even more restrictions on top of the prior restrictions they had before.
But Baek Sogo didn’t stop. She had continued, and continued for years.
[When you decide to leave this mountain… I will give you my blessing myself] Mush spoke to Baek Sogo.
But Baek Sogo didn’t even hear it.
She just missed Lee Sungmin.
—
Aladdur had now taken the lead in guiding the party.
As he said earlier, he was confident in locating the tribe through the Crazy Heavenly Demon’s bracelet.
After 3 days, Aladdur stopped suddenly and raised his hand.
“First of all, that forest.”, Aladdur opened his mouth.
Lee Sungmin had seen many forests as they traveled to the South and he didn’t see much of a difference between them at this point at first glance.
“I’ve followed the location I found in the bracelet, but there’s no guarantee that what you’re looking for is in that forest.”
Lee Sungmin had already heard this from Aladdur beforehand.
The owner of the bracelet may be in that forest, but there was no guarantee that the entire tribe would be there.
Even so, this is the only lead they had right now.
“There’s no guarantee that they will be alive either.”, Aladdur grumbled.
Lee Sungmin just listened to the words.
Maybe they were already dead and buried. The Crazy Heavenly Demon’s expression turned gloomy when he heard the words.
Even though it was something that was personal and happened 10 years ago, The Crazy Heavenly Demon did not forget those memories.
“Even if it’s a dead body, it’s not like the chances are high that they’re crippled or anything. If they kicked the bucket already then it’s whatever, It’d be more useful if you had a piece of their bones so I could gather more information.”, Aladdur spoke with an irritated tone.
“What a piece of their bones?! do you want to die?!”, The Crazy Heavenly Demon spat out with a surge in anger.
He opened his eyes, jerked away, and shot back at Aladdur.
“And why are you talking nonsense about a corpse or something? You don’t know jackshit you black motherfu**er!”
“Oh, come on… …it’s not like you’re a nigg** facing constant looks and bullshit remarks everywhere you go. Why are you so angry about this? If you want me like this right now, give it a try! Who’s gonna show you the way when I die? Huh?!”, Aladdur rather put his chest forward at the threat of The Crazy Heavenly Demon, showing his nerve.
The Crazy Heavenly Demon quelled his anger by shaking his clenched fist.
The Crazy Heavenly Demon knew he could not kill Aladdur if he wanted to find the information he wanted.
Rubia clicked her tongue as she watched the two quarreling, and Lee Sungmin, who was staring at the forest, opened his mouth.
“Stop it. Let’s go in.”, Lee Sungmin said rather authoritatively.
“Look, this old man was screaming for no reason!”, Aladdur protested.
“You fucking sl*ve bast*rd……!”
As Aladdur teared up, the Crazy Heavenly Demon trembled with anger.
Lee Sungmin ignored the scuffle between the two and stepped forward first. Aladdur quickly approached Lee Sungmin’s side to get away from the Crazy Heavenly Demon.
Lee Sungmin entered the woods. Having passed through many forests on the way, the forests were now getting a bit familiar for him.
Other beings were wary of the strong energy levels of the group and refrained from approaching.
It was questionable whether the ones that did approach would have reason, but they did not approach Lee Sungmin and his party easily. Thanks to it, the speed of traversing through the forest increased.
“It’ll be coming up soon now.”, Aladdur said in a quiet voice.
It was as he said. Lee Sungmin could see a small village not far away. The Crazy Heavenly Demon got quite excited as he saw the village himself.
It was the same for Lee Sungmin though.
The reason he came all the way South was to meet a tribe that knew how to handle the forces of Heoju and possibly learn how to breakthrough to the next realm.
“Uh…….”
However, there were few signs of the lack of population in the village that they arrived at.
The Crazy Heavenly Demon looked around with a blank expression. Lee Sungmin didn’t feel too good about it.
The atmosphere was rather dreary.
“Who are you?”
The party heard a voice speak out from nearby.
Aladdur looked in surprise in the direction of the voice. A haggard old man stood there.
The old man was staring at Lee Sungmin and his party with wary eyes.
Before Aladdur said anything, Lee Sungmin came forward first and opened his mouth.
“Who are you?”, Lee Sungmin asked.
“I’m a resident of this town.”, the old man replied with a frown.
Lee Sungmin could see clearly the faded brown tattoos covering the man’s body.
The Crazy Heavenly Demon who was looking at the old man’s face made a cry and walked forward.
“Pervas? Isn’t that you Pervas?”, The Crazy Heavenly Demon stuttered.
“……huh?”, The old man said with eyes full of shock.
Pervas, who had been looking at the group for a while, nodded his head with a startled movement as he heard Byuk Won-Pae.
“You’re… …yes, I remember. It’s been 10 years or so……?”, the old man said in a pensive tone as he recollected his memories.
“You remember me? Pervas, you’ve gotten very old…….”, Byuk Won-Pae spoke.
Recognizing the Crazy Heavenly Demon from ten years ago, the old man nodded his head.
“I never thought I’d see you again. What brings you here?”, Pervas said.
“I’ve come for you. I wanted to ask you something.”, spoke the Crazy Heavenly Demon.
Lee Sungmin had heard the stories of the Crazy Heavenly Demon and Pervas.
Pervas chuckled at Byuk Won-Pae’s words in nostalgia.
“I don’t know what you want to ask, but I don’t know if I can answer.”, Pervas said with an almost inconceivable sense of secrecy in his eyes.
“The breathing method you taught this old man.”, The Crazy Heavenly Demon asked.
The moment Pervas heard that, his face stiffened.
The Crazy Heavenly Demon continued his words, looking at his expression.
“… …and the spirit you gave to this old Heavenly Demon. And… …that’s…….”
The Crazy Heavenly Demon hesitated slightly and what he wanted to ask.
“……Where is Dersia?”
“She’s dead.”, Pervas replied with a troubled look.
The words left The Crazy Heavenly Demon blank. He almost collapsed because his legs were weak, but he supported himself by giving strength to his legs, which were about to fall.
That’s what Aladdur had said earlier, but he didn’t really mean it. But now that it was true? Aladdur almost choked.
“……why the hell……?”, The Crazy Heavenly Demon asked in a solemn voice.
“Most of the tribesmen are dead.”, Pervas murmured in a small voice, as he looked around the shabby village.
“Now I’m the only one left in this town.”, Pervas added
“Who the hell did… No, why has it become this way?”, The Crazy Heavenly Demon asked trying to hold back his flustering emotions.
“It’s because of that breathing technique you’re talking about.”, Pervas’ face distorted as he said the cold hard truth to The Crazy Heavenly Demon.
“In the first place, this tribe was wrong in its beliefs and origin. The monster… …who died a long time ago that was considered a god and a tribal faith. I had hated it as I realized what it really was. It was just like any other monster. In the sense that it ate humans.”
[Pft.], Heoju chuckled at the expected outcome.
Lee Sungmin didn’t think he would face this situation and reaction, so he coughed in vain as if he were embarrassed.
In fact, Heoju had high expectations until they came to this forest.
He wondered what kind of people they would be because they were a tribe that thought of themselves as gods and believed in them 400 years ago since it was completely contradictory.
“and you paid the price. No wonder you believed it was the spirit…….”, Pervas smiled bitterly as he spoke.
“What do you mean?”, Lee Sungmin suddenly asked.
Pervas gave an odd look to Lee Sungmin.
“Three years ago, this town was attacked by a monster. A terrible… …monster.”, Pervas said in a quivering voice, his shoulders trembling slightly.
“What kind of monster was it?”, Lee Sungmin asked once more.
“That’s… …I don’t know. But I’ve never seen such a monster. It was huge, and it… breathed fire….the tribal warriors tried to resist, but it was useless. Rather, the warriors of the nearby tribe were almost burned to death from just the aftermath.”, Pervas replied with his head down.
“I don’t even know the monster’s name. The techniques we were using…… most of the tribal fighters and residents who were using that damn power were killed.”, Pervas continued in a downcast tone.
“……why didn’t you die?”, asked Lee Sungmin.
It was a question that might sound a little rude, but Pervas answered with a sigh, “I don’t think I have the energy to be angry.”
“When the monster was about to finish killing us. Another monster appeared.”, he continued his story.
“Another monster?”, Lee Sungmin muttered.
“It was the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kumiho.”, Pervas said as the group fell silent.
Pervas couldn;t even begin to describe Kumiho. It was true that he hated monsters, but he was alive now because of one of them after all.
“……The savior Kumiho. When Kumiho appeared, the monster who was slaughtering the villagers ran away. Kumiho told the remainder of us who survived that the monster that attacked would never come back again to the forest. And… …they left the forest with those who wanted revenge among the surviving tribesmen.”
Kumiho. Lee Sungmin naturally recalled the Nine-Tailed Fox, who was controlling the elders of Predator behind the scenes.
He had never seen the fox before, but had heard several stories of it.
“I’m the only one left in this forest. All the other survivors went out of the woods along the lake.”, Pervas finished with a sigh.
“……why do you…… what’s left of this forest?”, Lee Sungmin asked this time a bit more politely.
“Because I’m scared.”, Pervas started to tremble once again.
“There hasn’t been a single monster left in this forest since that day. Maybe that’s because of what Kumiho did. I can hunt, so there’s no problem with living…… but once you’re out of the woods, what if that scary monster might come and kill me……?!”, Pervas stammered his words with a frightened face.
Lee Sungmin noticed that Pervas’ mental state was not intact.
Perhaps it was because it had become a trauma for him, Pervas held his head in both hands and murmured a series of words that couldn’t be made out.
“I can’t believe Dersia’s dead…….” The Crazy Heavenly Demon, collapsed on his knees and muttered.