Myeonggung (明宮).

The chamber of Cult Master Dokgo Cheon.

Behind the long white curtains that hung like a five-colored canopy in the northern sky, the shadow of the Cult Master could be seen.

The inner sanctum of Myeonggung where even servants are not allowed.

Only four people in the entire cult were permitted to enter that place.

“Master, I’m here.”

Relaxed footsteps. Relaxed attire. And even a relaxed voice.

This man, who was relaxed in every way, sat down sprawled in front of the Cult Master with an equally relaxed gesture.

It was an incredibly disrespectful behavior in front of the Heavenly Demon, but everything was allowed for him.

The Guardian of the East. Gong Son Wu of the Earth Realm.

“You’re late.”

The Cult Master’s voice echoed low and cold.

Though he couldn’t help but know it was a rebuke, Gong Son Wu’s attitude remained utterly nonchalant.

“The swallows died.”

Swallows. The name of Gong Son Wu’s personal troops and the search team deployed for covert operations.

Though their martial arts were practically nonexistent, their ability to gather information was so outstanding that even the Dark King would covet them.

Gong Son Wu opened the gourd bottle at his waist and took a sip of alcohol, as if tasting something bitter.

“Tch. I did catch one bug, but the bastard died before interrogation. I brought the body just in case, but I’m not sure if it’ll be of any use.”

“Contact the Blood Demon Palace. If they extract the blood and reflect it in a mirror, they might be able to glimpse a memory or two.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Gong Son Wu fell silent for a moment and took another sip of alcohol.

It was because he found it awkward to speak the words that followed.

“Still, the same?”

Though it was a question with much omitted for how difficult it was to ask, the content was sufficiently conveyed.

Dokgo Cheon lifted the white curtain separating him from Gong Son Wu and revealed himself.

White hair cold as an ice waterfall and purple eyes filled with the madness of the Self-Rotation Demonic Technique.

A pale skin that could be mistaken for a scholar’s at one glance, yet also gave off a decadent and depraved feeling like a playboy prince, with dark red lips.

The Heavenly Demon of this era. Dokgo Cheon.

“If you’re talking about the five desires and seven emotions, yes. It’s still the same.”

“……”

The Guardian of the Earth Realm kept his mouth shut and looked away from Dokgo Cheon.

It would be a lie to say he didn’t feel responsible, but he didn’t have the ability to take responsibility.

‘For emotions to disappear from a person.’

Those who don’t know praise Dokgo Cheon, who has lost his emotions, saying he has awakened to the ultimate demon path or transcended human limits to reach the realm of gods.

But to Gong Son Wu, his friend and milk brother, all of that was utter nonsense.

Dokgo Cheon was deficient. Due to a terrible curse.

“What about Wol Yeong?”

“……”

“Has the feeling of thinking about her completely disappea… No, nevermind. Don’t answer. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Gong Son Wu realized he had lost his composure.

On the other hand, Dokgo Cheon maintained his cold expression, seemingly unable to feel anything even at the sight of his friend’s distress.

“I’ll look into it more. I’ll find out more and try to find some solution.”

Until then, please hang on just a little longer.

The hidden meaning at the end of his words was conveyed without words, but Dokgo Cheon’s state of mind was like a frozen lake, where no matter how many stones were thrown, not a single ripple could be created.

A month had passed since Na Rin entered Daeseong Academy.

At the age of four, she was very young even among the students at the academy, so the only class Na Rin could attend was the Thousand Character Classic.

‘To think that at this age, I have to learn “Heaven” and “Earth” from the Thousand Character Classic.’

Of course, learning characters is important, and the Thousand Character Classic deals with profound content for a beginner’s textbook, but there’s no need to learn such deep meanings at this age group.

In the end, Na Rin spent her days constantly distracted during class hours and continuing her personal studies by visiting the reading room after classes ended.

And that meant…

“In the end… I came.”

“To Daeseong Academy 1st Year Ju Na Rin – from the Sun Moon Goddess”

It also meant that she hadn’t gone to the Sun Moon Gate even once for a whole month.

Na Rin let out a deep sigh.

If she attended the Thousand Character Classic class in the morning and went to work at the Sun Moon Gate in the afternoon, when was she supposed to do her real studying?

‘If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have taken the down payment.’

At that time, she was an orphan commoner desperate for even one silver tael, but now she was an orphan commoner receiving ample scholarship, so Na Rin wasn’t particularly in need of money.

“Sigh.”

Na Rin reluctantly opened the letter.

The letter, folded three or four times and simply sealed with candle wax, was easily opened.

“Na Rin, are you well? I hear you’ve entered Daeseong Academy, but it seems you can’t find time due to your busy studies, so I’m writing you this letter.

I hear children’s classes end at the hour of the snake? I’ll send a carriage at that time, so you can do your homework at the Sun Moon Gate if you’d like. I’ll be waiting. Good tea and snacks have arrived.”

A scent of coercion deeply permeated the concise content without any excess.

‘I think the pressure level might be higher than Grandfather Elder Seven.’

Moreover, the Sun Moon Goddess didn’t even mention the down payment.

Still, it was fortunate that she could do her homework, given that she was going there on the condition of helping with chores.

“Na Rina~. Someone’s looking for you outside~.”

“Oh, alright.”

Yu Ri, a peer student a year older than Na Rin, came running to deliver the news.

As Na Rin packed her things and gave a casual reply, Yu Ri pouted her lips.

“Don’t use informal speech to your unni!”

“Whatever, Myeongshim Bogam~.”

“Well then, Saja Sohak~.”

Na Rin opened her eyes wide and exclaimed “Oh~” as if surprised that Yu Ri could respond.

Yu Ri puffed out her chest proudly with an “Ahem!” How cute.

“But Na Rina, where are you going?”

“To work.”

“Gasp!”

Yu Ri covered her mouth with both hands.

“You work? Like adults?”

“Yeah. I earn money too.”

“Wow~. That’s amazing~.”

So cute.

Na Rin thought she should buy Yu Ri some sweets on the way back when she receives her daily wage.

“Where? Where are you going to work?”

“Sun Moon Gate.”

– Is Na Rin inside?

“Ah!”

Yu Ri turned to Na Rin as if asking, “What should I do?”

Apparently, she had been sent to call Na Rin but had forgotten and gotten caught up in chatting.

Na Rin answered while slinging her packed bag over her shoulder.

“I’m coming out now! Yu Ri unni, I’ll be back later.”

“Okay, good luck!”

Na Rin boarded the open-top carriage waiting for her right in front of Daeseong Academy.

The coachman said,

“So you’re the child called Na Rin that the Goddess is looking for.”

“Yes. Hello.”

“From now on, I’ll come at this time every day, so be prepared and get on the carriage without forgetting.”

“Yes.”

“Giddy up!”

The carriage departed.

Since it took less than half an hour by carriage from Chilseongwon to the Sun Moon Gate, Na Rin could leisurely enjoy the scenery around her without rushing.

‘This area is certainly bustling.’

While students like Na Rin stay in dormitories, Chilseongwon isn’t just home to Daeseong Academy.

Teachers, scholars, academics, and even officials like Chief Commander Jang and servants who work for silver taels.

And even their dependents are part of Chilseongwon. It’s human nature that where people gather, money gathers.

Elder Seven’s actions, which prioritize learning, had ended up stimulating the local economy.

‘Huh?’

At that moment, Na Rin saw a familiar face in a corner of the bustling marketplace.

‘Isn’t that Uncle Bi Cha?’

The skinny Bi Cha, who had the best way with words among the three guides who brought Na Rin to the demon cult.

He was walking somewhere with a face as pale as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

“Bi…!”

She wanted to greet the welcome face she hadn’t seen in a long time, but while hesitating due to his appearance so different from usual, Bi Cha’s figure disappeared, swept away by the crowd.

“I see.”

But what was that face?

Though they had spent half a year together, she had never seen Bi Cha with such an expression.

The Bi Cha that Na Rin knew was a slightly cheeky but energetic and likeable person, like a long-armed monkey.

‘I should ask Dae Heung or Ma Jung later.’

Na Rin made a mental note and set aside thoughts of Bi Cha for now.

And a moment later, Na Rin’s eyes widened like lanterns when she arrived at the Sun Moon Gate.

Although it wasn’t her first time here, the sight before her was so unfamiliar.

“Is there, something, special today?”

Na Rin looked around in confusion at the crowd of people blocking her way and the sounds of hawking and bargaining hitting her ears.

The coachman, who had already gotten off the carriage, lifted Na Rin’s body with both hands and set her down on the ground as he answered.

“A caravan has arrived, so a market has opened.”

“Caravan?”

“Haha. It’s a Persian word, so it sounds unfamiliar? In Chinese, it’s also called large-scale merchant trade, but simply put, it’s like a very large traveling merchant.”

Come to think of it, there were many people in exotic clothes.

Semu people, rarely seen in China, were casually setting up stalls and selling things like precious metals and spices with great vigor.

“It looks nice.”

“Right? You should beg the Goddess to let you look around too. She seems to adore you a lot.”

“I will.”

The coachman gave a brief greeting and disappeared again with the carriage.

Na Rin carefully avoided the crowded marketplace and headed towards the Sun Moon Goddess’s residence inside the Sun Moon Gate.

“It’s been a while.”

The Sun Moon Goddess was drinking tea in attire twice as splendid as what Na Rin had seen before.

Perhaps because of this, even an ordinary greeting created an oppressive atmosphere as if blaming a subordinate.

A normal person would have bowed their head saying, “I’m sorry! I should have visited more often!”

“Yes. You’ve become even prettier since then.”

Of course, this was far from enough to match Na Rin’s pressure level.

“Hoho. Thank you. You’ve grown a lot in a month too.”

“Thank you.”

“Come, sit down. Let’s enjoy the good tea and snacks I mentioned in the letter.”

The Sun Moon Goddess used small tongs to pick up a few dried red flower stamens and float them in a tea bowl filled with warm water.

Unlike the usual green tea, it was quite interesting to see the water change to a yellowish color with a red tinge.

“What kind of tea is this?”

“It’s saffron tea. It has beneficial effects for women. It’s too early for you to know about that, right?”

While Na Rin was enjoying the pleasant aroma rising from the tea, the Sun Moon Goddess took out a wooden box from somewhere.

Judging by the sweet scent wafting out even before opening the lid, it was clearly filled with sweets.

“This is what I got for you.”

Click.

The moment the lid was opened, Na Rin’s mouth fell open.

This might be as expensive as its weight in silver.

“Is this rice cake? Or confectionery?”

“It’s called lokum from Rumi (Ottoman Empire). The texture is chewy like rice cake, but it’s very sweet like confectionery. When paired with warm tea, it melts in your mouth like honey.”

Just from the Sun Moon Goddess’s description, it sounded almost like the food of immortals.