Hwa Ryeon made a troubled expression but soon nodded her head.

She didn’t like the idea of falsely reporting the mission situation to Bo Ju, but she also thought it would be too harsh for her peers to never be able to take the test again.

“I’m really grateful. I won’t forget your kindness.”

“So where is the path?”

“Ah, right. Of course. I’ll let you know right away.”

Tae Neung guided the two to where the next test would take place.

After walking a short distance, the end of the cave passageway led to a vast space, and the ceiling of that space was embedded with blue night-shining pearls, the light of which, seen for the first time in a while, pierced Na Rin’s eyes.

“How is it? Don’t you think you made the right choice accepting my proposal?”

Na Rin readily nodded her head.

A huge rock wall that looked to be over 10 zhang (about 30m) high even at a glance.

And the hundreds of passages densely filling that rock wall.

‘This is like a beehive.’

Seeing the multiple layers of passages stacked on top of each other, Na Rin felt grateful for Tae Neung’s proposal.

If they had to directly find the real one among these, it would have been quite an arduous task.

Tae Neung said,

“Among these, there are three passages that lead to the right path. You won’t be able to trust me, so listen to the explanation and choose the path you want first. I will take the remaining path.”

“Alright.”

Hwa Ryeon also nodded.

“First, the initial path is in the sixteenth section of the fourth floor. There are many traps installed, but it is the shortest and fastest route. The second is in the sixth section of the thirteenth floor. It takes a long detour but is a flat and safe path.”

“I see.”

“The last one is in the second section of the fifth floor, with a moderate distance and no traps, but the terrain itself is a rough path. They say you have to climb up cliffs or grasp stalactites on the ceiling to cross over. Now, go ahead and choose.”

There’s no need to even choose.

Na Rin made up her mind right away. For the impatient Na Rin, the first path was the most appealing.

Besides, no matter what great traps appeared, they couldn’t threaten Na Rin.

“Then I’ll take the first-”

“No.”

There was a variable.

Hwa Ryeon spoke in a calm yet resolute tone.

“I heard you don’t have any internal energy. There’s no need to vie for urgency, so I can’t let the person under escort take on risk.”

This feels strict.

“It’s not necessarily like that…”

“No.”

“No, hear me out!”

“No.”

Hwa Ryeon blocked Na Rin in a plain yet unyielding manner like a doll that only knew how to say ‘no’. To think she’d be caught up here.

‘My eloquence can’t persuade her.’

In front of Hwa Ryeon’s iron wall, taller and more solid than the ten-zhang rock wall, Na Rin had no choice but to change her mind. Right. I can just run fast. As long as no one sees, I can use lightness skill.

“…Fine. I’ll take the long and safe path.”

“I will take the close and dangerous path.”

“Then I get the rough path. Let’s do that.”

The three finished their discussion and went their separate ways.

Hwa Ryeon said to Na Rin,

“Then let’s meet again at the destination. Be careful.”

“Okay. You be careful too, elder sister.”

Using lightness skill to make her body nimble, Na Rin lightly jumped up, grasping the ceilings or floors of each passage with her hands, and arrived at the thirteenth floor.

The other trainees watching her thought Na Rin’s movements were like a baby monkey.

And one, two, three, four, five, six.

‘The sixth section.’

Na Rin slipped right into the crescent-shaped passage.

The height was such that an adult would have to crouch and barely crawl through, but it was no problem for Na Rin to walk.

After confirming that Na Rin and Tae Neung had entered their passages, Hwa Ryeon also crawled into the passage she had chosen.

‘Strangely, I feel uneasy.’

It was probably because she had let her escort target go alone.

Hwa Ryeon headed inward with that thought.

About one sik (around 30 minutes) later.

“Elder brother, are you coming now?”

Tae Neung reappeared.

Not at the destination, but at the starting point.

“Did everyone rest well?”

“Yes. As you instructed, we gathered our internal energy to the fullest while circulating our breath.”

“Well done.”

Tae Neung smiled with satisfaction.

Since the examinees were guarding the front, it was clear that Na Rin and Hwa Ryeon had gone deep inside along the path.

‘Think of it as a small sacrifice for the greater good.’

From the beginning, Tae Neung had no intention of offering a negotiation to Na Rin and Hwa Ryeon.

He also did not believe Hwa Ryeon’s promise to match her words.

How could he first give up the cards in his hand, relying on such uncertain things?

It was merely a ploy to drive the two into that cave.

“But will that really work? We have never learned sound techniques.”

Seeing the worried expression of an examinee, Tae Neung tapped his shoulder as if encouraging him.

“It’s enough.”

Enough to cut off the breath of those two wenches, that is.

“Then start right away.”

“Yes!”

Tae Neung and the four examinees stood in front of the rock wall with the passages.

No matter how solid the rock, with hundreds of holes drilled, the bedrock was bound to weaken, and this was a strategy taking advantage of that fact.

They placed their hands on their lower backs, drew internal energy from their dantian, and with all their might, infused their voices with internal power.

“Aaaargh!!!”

At the same time, on the long and flat path.

The path Na Rin had chosen.

It should have been.

Rumble!

“What is going on!”

Did an earthquake suddenly strike?

It was completely incomprehensible.

What was certain was that even as Na Rin used her night vision and ran with all her might, the collapsing ceiling and gray rock dust were right on her heels.

‘At this rate, I’ll be buried alive!’

Death wasn’t scary, but the ‘Child Rebirth’ that had 10 years remaining concerned her.

She couldn’t die before resolving that!

Na Rin carefully circulated internal energy to her legs. Very little at a time. Really just an ant’s piss worth.

“Woah!”

Swoosh!

With a sound like a bowstring pulled to the brink of snapping being released, Na Rin’s body shot forward.

Despite circulating internal energy weakly, almost suppressing it, her speed increased dramatically. It’s really damn hard to control.

‘But this is rather fortunate.’

At this speed, she might be able to escape Bongma Cave before it collapses.

The moment Na Rin thought that.

“Crazy!”

It was a dead end.

A situation with the collapsing ceiling like a wave behind her and a solid wall blocking the front.

It was already too late to turn back her arrow-like shot body.

‘All or nothing!’

While flying, Na Rin’s body took the sword technique she was most confident in.

Because for one driven into a corner, hesitation was a luxury.

“This isn’t the first or second time!”

Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.

Plum Blossom Blooms and Sharply Leads.

A purple energy divided into five branches like the petals of a plum blossom swirled like a vortex, enveloping Na Rin’s fist.

It was not sword energy, but fist energy.

“Pierce through!”

Destructive power that could dig one more new tunnel was poured into the dead end.

Clang!

“Huh?”

It wasn’t just rock?

It had only dug in about 2 ja (around 60cm), but an unheard-of sound unpleasantly scratched Na Rin’s eardrums.

It seemed that beyond the rock wall, it was not soil but something else, and it was made of a considerably strong metal that could not be cut with fist energy.

Most likely, black iron.

Was it over?

“No way!”

If fist energy doesn’t work, there’s only one option left.

‘Cut it with fist strength!’

A method that could not even be imagined unless one was an absolute master.

Of course, it was much stronger than fist energy, but the internal energy consumption was fa-a-ar greater, so even if one reached the realm, recklessly using fist strength would quickly drain one’s energy and lead to death.

However, fortunately.

“Take this, Jeok Gun Ak!”

Na Rin’s internal energy was of the Fourth Master level.

At the same time. Myeong Palace.

What would a blind person answer if you told them the color of azaleas?

Perhaps they would answer: The sunlight of a spring day. The skin of a newborn baby. A color like the clear laughter heard from the riverside during a boat ride. Wouldn’t they answer like that?

“But all of those are different from the color of azaleas.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Ju Na Rin.”

Dokgo Cheon’s gaze turned to the center of the cooled teacup.

As if Na Rin’s face was reflected in it.

“That child showed me the color of azaleas.”

“You mean you’re happy? Why say it so difficultly?”

Happiness.

Dokgo Cheon rummaged through his faded memories like wandering a misty mountain ridge in search of similar emotions. And slowly revived them as if dusting off accumulated dust.

“…Right. Perhaps.”

“This isn’t the time to drink tea or anything.”

A bright smile appeared on Gong Son Wu’s easy-going face.

Thud!

A wine bottle was placed on the table.

It was the gourd bottle Gong Son Wu always carried at his waist.

“It’s a celebratory drink. I’ll say it in advance, but it’s not good alcohol.”

“Is your salary lacking?”

“It’s more a matter of taste. I’m of commoner origin.”

Dokgo Cheon briefly thought, ‘Ah, was that so,’ and accepted the gourd bottle.

Putting his mouth to the spout and tilting the bottle, a strong fire wine flowed into his lips like its name suggests, as if it were fire.

“Do you like it?”

The sensation of the hot energy going down the throat and staying in the chest area.

This also resembled emotion.

Dokgo Cheon gazed at the sun slowly setting through the open window.

‘Do I like it?’

It took some time to realize what this emotion, resembling the feeling of swallowing low-quality fire wine, meant.

“The Four Heavenly Kings.”

Dokgo Cheon’s eyes sank downward.

“Why hasn’t Ju Na Rin returned?”

Because this feeling boiling up at the youngest disciple’s late return simply could not become pleasant.

‘Oops.’

Gong Son Wu cleared his throat and closed the window.

These days, it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate Na Rin from Dokgo Cheon. He had come to Myeong Palace today with a slight hope, knowing it was the day Na Rin was taking the Bongma Cave test.

Gong Son Wu nonchalantly played dumb.

“We gave her a vacation. Did you forget? Let’s play a round of mahjong instead. My skills have improved a lot in the meantime.”

“But it’s time for dinner.”

Was he pretending not to hear the suggestion to play mahjong?

By the looks of it, there seemed to be nothing in Dokgo Cheon’s head except Na Rin.

Gong Son Wu let out a deep sigh and replied,

“Even so, it’s still shen shi (3-5 PM). It’s too early to eat dinner.”

“……”

Dokgo Cheon closed his mouth, furrowing his brows.

He knew Gong Son Wu’s words made sense, but the unresolved frustrating feeling tormented him. It’s not agreeable. It could also be expressed as ‘it’s concerning’.

However, Dokgo Cheon was too clumsy to know that the underlying emotion was ‘worry’.

‘Things become clear when Ju Na Rin is here.’

Not knowing the nature of the emotion he was feeling now, there was no way he could know how to resolve it.

He was just distressed, confused, and frustrated.

“Sect Leader.”

At Gong Son Wu’s call, he barely raised his gaze.

“If you don’t like mahjong, how about janggi? Baduk is fine too. If we just play one game, Na Rin will return.”

Dokgo Cheon was reluctant but nodded his head.

Because he liked the words that Na Rin would return after one game.

“…Let’s do baduk.”

Gong Son Wu inwardly sighed with relief.

He bought one si chen (around 2 hours). But what should he do next?

‘What is that kid doing that it’s taking so long?’

For Na Rin as well, it was a question with a lot to say this way or that.