Unlike most scholars of Huashan, who usually wake up with the sunrise.
She preferred to wake up earlier to wait for the sunrise.
Guleunghwa changed into neat clothes and carefully went outside, wary that her teacher might wake up from the slightest sound.
On most days, she would go to the nearby forest for some practice, fetch water, or do some cleaning and housework.
But today, she had to go to the town.
It was a task given directly by Shin.
With the silver coins given to her along with the instruction to buy a few ingredients for making medicine, Guleunghwa set off.
Usually, when buying medicinal materials, if the buyer is naive or young, the seller might give poor quality goods or overcharge.
But things are different when wearing the plum blossom robe of Huashan.
Not only would they not dare to cheat a disciple of Huashan, who bears the plum blossom emblem, in Huayin County, which is under the jurisdiction of Huashan Sect.
Perhaps Shin had that in mind.
Holding the paper with the necessary medicinal materials listed by Shin, Guleunghwa went to the herbalist's shop to make her purchases.
"...The smell is too strong."
She held tightly to the box containing plants she had never seen or heard of before and stepped outside.
As soon as she returned to the street, the air was filled with the enticing smells of food being sold everywhere.
The sun was just starting to rise, and people were preparing for business.
Although her steps slowed at the sight of the fragrant and delicious-looking food, she did not stop.
Her teacher was more important.
"I need to hurry...!"
Is the teacher awake yet?
Since her body weakened, she has been sleeping more, but I'm worried she might have woken up by now.
By the time I arrive, the meal preparation should be almost done.
The boy, who is half-living with Shin and is Shin's grandson, is a very inconvenient presence for Guleunghwa.
However, he is an incredible cook.
Though he is a person whose thoughts are completely unreadable, he is quick to notice things and can handle household chores with ease, which is quite impressive.
"...I should be able to do that too."
To be able to help her teacher until she fully recovers, I need to be able to do more things.
This thought made her steps, which had been moving briskly, stop on their own.
- She won't make it through this year.
Shin's firm voice kept echoing in Guleunghwa's ears.
Thud.
Guleunghwa hastily wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks with her sleeve.
Even if she cried and calmed down secretly, her teacher would somehow notice, so she didn't want to worry her.
Still, the tears wouldn't stop easily.
Once the crying started, it was hard to stop.
Guleunghwa hated crying.
Wiping away the tears streaming down her face, she thought.
"...When the teacher passes away..."
What will be left for me, who will be left alone after the teacher is gone?
Nothing will be left.
Guleunghwa was certain of this.
Family?
"Disgusting..."
The chilling word that suddenly came to mind made Guleunghwa shudder.
Guleunghwa still remembered that dark night.
The vague yet clear memory still bound her.
The day the light was lost.
Her crying mother, her father looking down with a cold expression.
And the kneeling Gouyang Qian.
Guleunghwa could not forget.
It was the last day of her mother's life, the day everything fell apart.
What about Huashan Sect?
Even that, Guleunghwa could not be sure, so she just shook her head.
Whenever she tried to connect with someone, she would growl.
Moreover, as a late-entry disciple, Guleunghwa did not get along with the third-generation disciples.
After the teacher is gone, will Huashan Sect still accept me?
Even if they do, can I endure it?
Guleunghwa continued to wipe away the tears streaming down her face.
Before she knew it, she had arrived at the place where the cottage was visible.
She needed to quickly compose herself and show a normal appearance.
As a disciple, she thought it was the minimum duty.
As Guleunghwa, who had calmed her mind, took a step towards the cottage, the Guleunghwa seen from outside disappeared in an instant, as if she had turned into smoke.
Perhaps because of this.
The men who had been quietly watching Guleunghwa continued their conversation with strange expressions.
"...Where did she go?"
"Was she discovered?"
"Did she get caught by a second-rate girl? It would be more realistic to say the Plum Immortal turned into that girl."
"Shut up and keep looking, it seems like you found something."
A small man in a black hood began to examine the area where Guleunghwa had disappeared.
There was nothing particularly unusual, but he felt a strange sensation.
'Is it an array?'
If so, why would someone set up an array in such a remote mountain village? He reached out his hand unconsciously.
Thud!
"…!"
His hand was repelled by a dull sensation in the air.
It was a strong repulsion.
Massaging his tingling hand, the man corrected himself.
'It's not an array.'
Although it seemed like an array that obscured the line of sight, in essence, it was a simple energy barrier.
Moreover, it was a solid energy barrier, as if filled with inner energy.
"...Is this the work of the Plum Immortal?"
It might not be, but among the martial artists in Shaanxi who could set up such an energy barrier, only the Plum Immortal came to mind.
Even the branch leader, who looked more like a monster than a human, couldn't set up such a level of energy barrier.
"Seems like we found something..."
Is there really someone we're looking for inside?
'I should return to the branch first.'
Not only could he not deal with the energy barrier immediately, but acting rashly would draw the attention of Huashan Sect.
"We're going back."
Behind the man's question, a bulky giant sighed regretfully.
"Just going back...?"
Grinding his teeth at the giant's regretful sigh, the man thought.
It's definitely because of the girl who disappeared into the energy barrier just now.
"What's the problem, Doushan?"
"...About the girl just now. She was pretty. Can't we just taste her, Chief?"
Doushan's words made the man's brows furrow.
"Please, you damn fool, I told you not to cause unnecessary trouble. Is that what you call words?"
Despite the man's scolding, Doushan only smacked his lips regretfully.
"...But, it's been so long since I've tasted anything... Chief, wouldn't it be nice to enjoy it?"
"Stop saying disgusting things, you damn brat. What pleasure can you get from tasting a kid who hasn't even fully grown up? Please, get your head straight, brat."
"By the way, the girl was wearing Huashan Sect's clothes. If we catch her and bring her back, wouldn't the branch leader be happy?"
"What energy can a kid have...! Damn, please, just leave the kid alone!"
"Right, we shouldn't mess with kids."
"Right, let's just go back..."
The man started to speak but then closed his mouth.
At the same time, the actions of the men who were pacing in front of the energy barrier stopped.
Because they heard a voice for the first time in their conversation.
The hesitation was brief.
The man immediately drew his sword and swung it in the direction of the voice.
Swoosh!
Despite the sword being swung with full force, it only cut through the air.
Clearly, there was a presence here, but...
Crack!
"Grrr…!"
The sound of bones breaking and Doushan's choking sound were heard.
The man turned his gaze to see Doushan's massive body slowly collapsing.
Although not as huge as the branch leader, he was almost as big.
Boom!
The giant fell with a heavy thud, his neck twisted in a strange way, clearly dead.
"Who are you?"
The man asked.
A boy stood majestically behind the fallen Doushan.
His hair was a very light shade of black, and his eyes were red as if filled with blood.
The red martial robe and upright posture made it clear that the boy was no ordinary martial artist.
The boy's gaze turned to the man.
With a mocking smile, the boy answered the man's question.
"What do you want to know, you bastards?"
With a rough curse, sparks flew.
******************
The quiet forest turned into a chaotic scene in an instant.
Crack!
Fierce flames engulfed the surroundings.
The man, Baizong, could not understand this bizarre situation.
What is that crazy monster?
He had only gone out to check the area, but this was unexpected.
He thought he had moved safely, avoiding the movements of Huashan Sect, but to encounter such a creature.
He glanced at Doushan's corpse.
Apart from the broken neck, there were no other visible injuries.
It was that instantaneous.
'No hesitation in killing.'
A quality that a boy of his age should not have.
Especially for a martial artist who mainly uses their hands, it was even more difficult.
How could a boy who hasn't even reached adulthood do this?
'Furthermore.'
Rustle!
"Damn…!"
He barely blocked the flames coming from all directions with his sword and dodged.
What is this crazy, swirling flame?
'Fire technique...? There are no sects in Shaanxi that use fire techniques...!'
The flames, which seemed hot and chaotic, had a clear pattern.
Baizong could tell that all the flames were moving according to the caster's will.
Just from that, he could tell that the boy had reached a level he could not match.
A first-rate martial artist like himself could not handle this young boy.
'Is this a monster in human form?'
Just as Baizong clenched his teeth.
"Kaaaaaah!"
One of his companions was grabbed by the boy.
The boy wrapped his hand in flames and burned him alive.
"...H...Haaaaa!"
The screams of the burning man echoed through the forest, but the boy's sharp eyes remained emotionless.
"I made a slight mistake."
The boy's words.
Baizong felt a chill run down his spine at the sound of his voice.
A bottomless abyss.
He felt as if he had entered the depths of it.
"I should have burned that pig from the inside, but it's been a while since I've killed anyone, so I made a mistake."
The casual way he dusted off his hands was so familiar.
Moreover, it suited him.
Baizong, trying to hide his cold sweat, asked.
"...Who are you?"
"Didn't you hear me before? I said, 'What will you do with that knowledge?'"
"Who do you think we are...?"
"Who else? Just some lackeys of the palace lord."
"…!"
The boy's answer made Baizong freeze instantly.
"How do you know that..."
The boy took a step towards Baizong with a smile.
The scorching flames were still burning, and the boy caught and killed another of his subordinates who rushed at him as he approached.