The next day dawns.
'In the end, the owner of that voice didn't show up again.'
The being who suddenly appeared and spoke with me last night didn't show up again.
'Maybe it's fortunate for now. It's a presence that I couldn't even perceive. Perhaps...it's an existence beyond Sacred Vessel and Entering Nirvana, and in the True Immortal realm.'
For now, I decide not to think about that being.
'There's nothing I can do even if I dwell on it...I should focus more on what lies ahead.'
A little while later, when the sky fully brightens, my comrades wake up one by one.
"Wh-What is this!? Why are all my clothes torn!?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon panics and starts looking for something to cover himself with. Oh Hyun-seok takes off his outer garment and drapes it over him.
I'm in the same situation since my clothes were also torn yesterday when I overstrained my body, so Kim Young-hoon gives me his outer hiking jacket.
"First, let's check where we are. Everyone, take out your phones and see if you can get a signal."
Following Kim Young-hoon's instructions, we each take out what's called a smartphone, a device similar to a magic artifact, to check our location.
"Hmm, Young-hoon Hyung-nim. There's no signal..."
Oh Hyun-seok waves his communication device toward the sky with his thick fingers, but it's no use.
It's the same for Kim Yeon, Jeon Myeong-hoon, Seo Ran, and myself.
"No, wait, more importantly..."
Oh Hyun-seok looks around with a startled expression.
"Where's Hye-seo? Are we the only ones here? And what about our car..."
Except for Seo Ran and I, the other comrades seem quite confused.
'I guess it's time to let them start adjusting.'
I clasp my hands behind my back, hiding them, and lightly snap my fingers.
Tstststststs—
Then, the red snake I fought last night, the one named 'Twin-Head,' slithers toward the entrance of the cave in its true form.
After a night's rest, the severed head had somewhat recovered thanks to the unique regenerative powers of demon beasts.
"You humans! To dare cause a commotion in my forest, know your sins!"
I feel a bit sorry for my companions, but they need some shock therapy right now.
"A-A talking snake!?"
Are we dreaming right now?"
Kim Young-hoon trembles, pointing his finger at the snake, and the snake glances at me for a cue.
[May I proceed?]
The voice transmission from Twin-Head echoes in my ear.
I nod.
I had planned this in advance with Twin-Head last night to deliver some shock therapy to my companions.
The snake nods in response to my gaze and then opens its mouth wide, roaring.
"You insolent fool! How dare you not recognize the master of the forest and point your finger at me! Unforgivable!"
Gulp!
In an instant, the snake lunges at Kim Young-hoon, swallowing him whole in one gulp.
Glaring at the snake, I mutter in a voice loud enough for it to hear but too low for my companions.
"If you digest him, you die."
Twin-Head shudders and nods slightly, then resumes glaring at us.
Oh Hyun-seok stares blankly at the snake, then begins slapping his own face, while Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Yeon each hide behind Seo Ran and me.
"Now then, that was punishment for pointing at me. Next, I'll exact punishment for disturbing my forest!"
Jjeok!
The snake opens its mouth again, spewing out pitch-black poisonous smoke.
Jjiiiiiing!
Inhaling the poison, searing pain begins to spread through their bodies.
"Ke-keheok! Keeooogh!"
"Kuaaaaaaaak!"
"Kyaaaak! Ah, aaahk!"
"Ugh..."
Oh Hyun-seok and Jeon Myeong-hoon grab their throats and scream, while blood gushes from Kim Yeon's nose and she rolls on the ground. Seo Ran seems to be regaining her mental power as her memories return, and despite the cold sweat, she endures the pain.
Seeing my comrades lose their minds, I click my tongue.
"No, hold on. If they're in this much pain, they won't be able to do anything. This is the moment when you need to explain that this world is different...but if they're in so much pain that they're losing their minds...tch!"
Twin-Head looks at me cautiously and asks.
"F-Forgive me. But, this poison is strong enough to drive humans to the brink of madness. How is it that Senior is perfectly fine...?"
"This snake bastard...So you thought you'd have a chance if you poisoned me too? Is that why you deliberately released such a potent venom?"
"N-No, elder. It's a misunderstanding. I was just..."
I give Twin-Head a good beating to re-educate him.
"Heal my comrades for now. And know this, if you try any more tricks, I'll really cut off your head next time."
"Y-Yes, elder..."
Twin-Head releases white smoke onto my companions.
Only after being bathed in the white smoke do my comrades regain their senses and start breathing heavily.
Jeon Myeong-hoon vomits on the spot, probably due to the severe pain.
I move beside my comrades, pretending to be suffering alongside them, while glaring at Twin-Head.
"H-Hmph...Well, I suppose everyone has come to their senses now, right? If I wanted to, it'd be nothing to devour or kill all of you."
Watching my comrades, I step forward toward Twin-Head at the right moment.
"Snake Elder. We were in the wrong. However...could you at least return our Young-hoon hyung-nim whom you swallowed..."
The plan is that I plead with the snake to return Kim Young-hoon, and Twin-Head, impressed by our camaraderie, appropriately spits him out and offers to take us out of Ascension Path due to our displayed friendship.
Thud!
As previously agreed, Twin-Head spits out Kim Young-hoon and, pretending to be moved, tells us to ride on his back.
"As your friendship is so deep, I shall personally escort you outside of Ascension Forest."
"Thank you, Snake Elder!"
I support Kim Young-hoon, who is drenched in Twin-Head's stomach acid and saliva, and climb onto the snake's back.
As my comrades hesitate in confusion, I give Twin-Head's scales a poke.
"You humans! Do you intend to reject my favor? Should I just devour all of you after all...?"
"N-No! No, Sir Snake!"
As Jeon Myeong-hoon hurriedly climbs on, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, and Seo Ran also get on the snake's back.
Smack!
When I slap Twin-Head on the nape, the snake takes off at once.
Surururuk!
Sure enough, Twin-Head speeds along Ascension Path with incredible swiftness.
My comrades, overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, remain silent, clinging to the snake's back.
How long have we been racing along Ascension Path on Twin-Head's back?
Paaatt!
Finally, we reach the end of Ascension Path.
"F-Finally the edge of the forest..."
It's when Jeon Myeong-hoon excitedly starts to speak.
'Once I retrieve the 'item' entrusted to the Myeonrin Tribe's chief, I'll be able to fully display the power of the Core Formation stage.'
Kududuk...
I sense the energy of one sexagenary cycle flowing in my hand, my eyes gleaming.
'Ten years...It's but a fleeting moment in the time of a cultivator, but it's been a long time for someone living as a mortal.'
It's been long.
Enough to become the strongest in the East and reach the point of wielding Core Formation-level strength.
Now...it's time to seek out Cheongmun Ryeong again.
"Dear, are you inside?"
As I'm reaffirming my resolve about Cheongmun Ryeong, Kim Yeon peeks her head into the tent.
"...Didn't I tell you not to call me that when we're alone? Just call me Seo Eun-hyun."
"Hehe, but officially we're married, aren't we?"
"..."
This is the result of my mistake in choosing the East.
In the East, there's a tradition that warriors above a certain level must either marry or have their testicles removed.
They say it's to prevent strong individuals from arrogantly committing rape or other sexual crimes, relying on their strength.
The pain of having my testicles removed wouldn't have been an issue, but I couldn't handle the social stigma, so I decided to enter into a fake marriage with Kim Yeon.
Kim Yeon seems to like it, but I'm a little taken aback.
'If I'm going to get married, it shouldn't be done so impulsively like this but...forget it. There's no point in thinking about it now.'
I sigh, clearing my mind of unnecessary thoughts, and ask Kim Yeon.
"So, what's the matter?"
"Ah...Seo Ran Unnie is...having another fit."
"Huuu..."
I quickly leave the tent with Kim Yeon and head toward Seo Ran's tent.
Inside Seo Ran's tent, Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon are already there.
"Ah, are you here, Seo Eun-hyun."
"Oh, Eun-hyun-ah, hurry, hurry!"
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon, who have learned martial arts over the past few years, are holding Seo Ran down.
Her body is covered with self-inflicted wounds.
"Ugh, ugh...kuuuuuugh...!!!"
Seo Ran is crying tears of blood in agony, and I approach her, placing my hand on her head.
Then I slowly meet her eyes.
I send a voice transmission into her ear, one that no one else can hear.
[From now on, I'm going to kill you.]
"Huh, heok...!"
Finally, Seo Ran regains her senses.
I used a method where I pour my killing intent, which has reached the level of Void Shattering, into her mind, making her feel as if she's on the verge of death and forcibly awakening her mind.
"Ah...it was you, Senior."
Seo Ran looks up at me with eyes filled with fear and speaks weakly.
"I had another dream. In the midst of those strange jumbled memories...in a memory I don't remember...my [Mother] appeared."
Seo Ran hugs herself, her teeth chattering.
"[Mother]...[Mother] called for me. Even now, I still hear [Mother]'s voice..."
"Stop. It's okay."
I send a surge of killing intent to Seo Ran to calm her down and speak.
"There's no one like your mother here. It's okay. Relax."
Seo Ran recently mentioned that, for some reason, she's been having dreams where a being called [Mother] calls out to her.
She says that whenever she dreams of it, she feels an overwhelming fear, as if she's about to remember 'something horrifying' that she lost before.
"What I'm...afraid is that what I find beyond these dreams will eat away at me. If I listen to the whispers beyond these dreams...somehow, it feels like the 'Seo Ran' I am now will disappear, and I'll become someone entirely different."
"...Is that so?"
After calming Seo Ran down for a while, we step outside the hut once she is fully settled.
"Seo Ran's condition...seems to be quite serious."
"Tsk...it's troubling."
Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon both sigh, their faces darkening.
Looking at them, I speak.
"We need to head west as soon as possible and meet with the cultivators there. We should ask them to temporarily seal Seo Ran's memories."
"Tsk... Judging by Seo Ran's state, it would be best to go quickly, but when will the 'preparations' be complete?"
Kim Young-hoon glanced back at Seo Ran with a sorrowful expression.
"We have to wait until we get our hands on the 'item' from the Myeonrin Tribe."
"Once we get that 'item,' didn't you say we'll have to work on this land for another 10 years as paym—"
It's at that moment.
Sururuk!
From the darkness, a giant man wrapped entirely in black bandages appears.
"It's been a while, Hyung-nim. And Jeon Myeong-hoon, Seo Eun-hyun!"
"You've returned, Hyun-seok Hyung-nim. Any results?"
The giant man, Oh Hyun-seok, had spent the last ten years learning infiltration and assassination techniques of the East, becoming a full-fledged assassin.
Surprisingly, he has a great affinity for techniques that erases one's presence, and he quickly became the number one assassin.
'Once we leave this world, I'll have to teach him the Record of Transcending Cultivation and Exhausting Martial Arts.'
After chatting with us for a while, Oh Hyun-seok claps his hands as if he just remembered something.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Here's the item you asked for, Seo Eun-hyun!"
Oh Hyun-seok takes out a sword from behind his back and hands it to me.
The resplendent treasured sword of the desert!
"It's the 'item' from the Myeonrin Tribe!"
"That's right. It was quite a hassle to steal it."
I had asked Oh Hyun-seok, who learned assassination techniques, to steal the treasure sword of the Myeonrin Tribe.
This treasured sword possesses the highest strength in the Eastern martial world, boasting extraordinary capabilities.
Grinning, I hold up the treasured sword.
"Perfect."
With this, I can now fully unleash the power of the Formless Sword through the Heavenly Silkworm Controlling Ghost Art.
I turn to my comrades and shout.
"The 'preparations' are complete! Everyone, pack up your things! We're leaving the East today!"
Now, all preparations are done.
All that remains is to meet Cheongmun Ryeong!
And so, we stole the greatest treasured sword of the Eastern tribal states and fled under the cover of night, heading for the Western three nations.
Four months passed.
"So, this is...Byeokra."
We arrived at Cheon-saek City of Byeokra.
The reunion with Cheongmun Ryeong is imminent.