“Wild beasts don’t get caught by instinct.”

Jinbeop is a method of setting traps using natural materials, making them unnoticeable to human eyes. Simply put, Jinbeop can be something as simple as concealing a pitfall, but it can also create more complex traps like a forest that leads one around in circles forever.

Surprisingly, while human senses can be deceived, animals are not fooled by these traps. It is as if they are part of nature themselves.

“And as we get closer, there are fewer signs of animals.”

Now, not even small birds could be seen. Even if they tried to use lightness techniques to move upwards, it would be useless.

“I can’t even imagine how meticulous this is.”

That’s what Jegalmin was thinking as he swallowed his dry saliva. Namgung Ryeo scratched her head and said,

“If you set up many mechanisms, it’ll only be hard for you. Imagine having to carry a sack of rice up and having to avoid all the mechanism triggers.”

Frankly, Jegalmin and Namgung Ryeo didn’t get along well. If Jegalmin was cautious and calm in everything, Namgung Ryeo was always lighthearted and not serious. After only one day of traveling together, Jegalmin had realized this and rarely engaged in conversation with her.

However, that didn’t mean he was the type to ignore others’ words. At Namgung Ryeo’s casual comment, Jegalmin was preparing to reply earnestly when his eyes widened, and he became rigid.

“That’s… No, now that I hear it, you’re right. You are correct in what you say.”

“What?”

Namgung Ryeo, who never expected Jegalmin to readily agree with her, blinked her eyes. Jegalmin, who had pondered her words several times, turned to Namgung Ryeo with a bright face and exclaimed,

“Why didn’t I think of that!”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Danmokbi, who was a step away from them, asked Jegalmin. Jegalmin answered in a slightly excited and fast tone,

“There must be a safe path that they commonly use. The mechanisms set up in these mountains are so sophisticated that even experts find them hard to detect, but the laborers can’t possibly avoid them all.”

In this case, there are two possibilities: either there’s an entirely different path, or there’s a way to temporarily disable the mechanism triggers.

Jegalmin thought it was the latter. The terrain of Hong Mountain seemed too rugged to create another path.

“So there must be a way to disarm them all at once…”

“Huh? Look over there.”

It was when Jegalmin was looking around. Namgung Ryeo pointed somewhere.

There stood an elegant cat with white fur and black stripes.

“Isn’t that the cat Yeoni wore around?”

“It looks as mighty as a tiger in the mountains.”

Everyone stared at the cat at that moment. It slapped the ground with its tail and bounded away.

But astonishingly, no mechanism was triggered!

“Is it telling us to follow?”

“Animals must not trigger them.”

But to merely follow, the cat was too fast. Danmokbi realized that the cat was assuring that it could lead the way. Danmokbi clicked his tongue.

“That cat, you know.”

But its guidance was certainly helpful at that lost moment. The group had walked up enough to follow the tiger’s tracks.

And after that, it was again the start of tedious repetition. They stepped forward one step at a time, carefully examining for traps, until the dense forest suddenly opened up, revealing a large red gate.

The entrance was also hidden by Jinbeop!

And in front of that entrance, there were armed members of the Blood Sect waiting for them.

“You disciples of the orthodox sect must have no fear. To come with only that many.”

The man in the middle, with a scar, sneered, and the modelstudentlooking man next to him, holding a sword, spoke.
“If you have come to receive the teachings of our leader, we will graciously accept you. So, state your purpose.”

At that, the aggressive Danmokbi yelled back at the warrior.

“Who would fall for a cult doctrine like yours!”

“A cult, you say! You must be babbling because you haven’t witnessed the miraculous power of our leader to raise the dead!”

Raising the dead as a miraculous power. Namgung Ryeo’s face crumpled upon hearing this story. Namgung Ryeo whispered to Jegal Min.

“……What’s with the atmosphere here?”

Suddenly leaning in close, without time to evade, Namgung Ryeo’s scent was felt by Jegal Min. It was not the usual floral fragrance of women, but a strangely refreshing scent like that of grass leaves.

In her flawless white face, a faint blush appeared. Jegal Min, while pressing her pounding heart with her palm, answered sincerely.

“The Blood Cult is originally a religious group. They aim to become immortals, never to die.”

At Jegal Min’s explanation, Namgung Ryeo openly scowled.

“What’s so good about living forever. Those people must have been happy their whole lives.”

“What do you mean……?”

Jegal Min raised her head at the lingering murmur, but there was no time to figure out Namgung Ryeo’s feelings. Because swords were about to clash, Danmokbi glared at Namgung Ryeo with a fierce look.