When my name was called, Nari’s gaze, which was already tense, turned cold.

Even though she used sensory distortion to remain unseen, the woman in front of her was still looking straight at her.

Nari bit her lip tightly. The woman continued speaking.

“That’s right. It’s you, Nari. There’s only one friend with a soul like that – Ha Na’s daughter. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you.”

Nari let out a deep sigh. Sensing that she could no longer deceive the woman before her, Nari slowly undid the sensory distortion.

Her psychic energy scattered in the air like dust. Nari and the woman faced each other. Nari spoke first in a grumbling tone.

“Hello. I’m sorry for entering without permission.”

“…You’ve grown a lot, Nari.”

The tone was brusque but polite.

Nari was always weak to grandmothers and grandfathers. Wasn’t the only person who took care of her when she was living alone the convenience store owner?

That’s why she couldn’t be rude to Min Jaewon, and she also couldn’t behave too rudely to the grandmother in front of her.

“Even if you say that, I don’t remember. I don’t remember a person named Nan or you.”

At those words, the woman laughed. She slowly approached Nari.

Looking closer, a faint green spiritual energy was emanating from her entire body. Nari quizzically raised one eyebrow.

‘Isn’t it bad to just spew that out?’

Spiritual energy, the higher tier of psychic energy. While psychic energy can create illusions, spiritual energy can convert one’s power into energy for use.

However, unlike psychic energy which uses the power of the mind, spiritual energy is said to use the power of the soul, so the limit of the vessel is set.

“…Then, I’ll have to introduce myself again.”

Each time she took a step, spiritual energy leaked out and green lotus-shaped jewels bloomed, shattered, turned to smoke, and repeatedly disappeared.

Nari stared at the sight as if it was fascinating, and the woman smiled. Then, she held out her hand. It seemed to be a handshake signal.

“I’m known as an Arhat, the disciple of the Shangdi’s incarnation, Kang Hana. You can call me Nahan.”

“Disciple?”

Nari looked at Nahan with wide eyes upon hearing those words.

She had only heard about a connection, but never thought she would be a disciple.

Not just someone who had an influence, but a disciple. Nahan laughed loudly at the sight of Nari who was surprised and dazed.

“Yes, I awakened at the same time as your mother 20 years ago and learned a lot by her side. From how to handle this power to one’s attitude.”

After hearing Nahan’s words, Nari hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand.

She felt rough wrinkles and cool spiritual energy. Feeling the unfamiliar sensation, Nari blinked her eyes and soon shook her head as if trying to come to her senses.

“By the way, what is this space?”

“This place is a memorial hall dedicated to your mother. And it’s also where I happen to live.”

“Here?”

Nari looked around. It was just an endless hallway and a feast of picture frames.

Was she homeless in the hallway? Or did she have another room to reside in?

“Don’t worry, I live well. I don’t sleep in the hallway. This is the optimal environment to fully preserve my life.”

“You’re reading my mind too?!”

When her thoughts just now came out of Nahan’s mouth, Nari quickly backed away.

If she could not only break through her skills but also read her mind, wouldn’t that be a bit dangerous?

The Ruler of Chaos was said to have cast several layers of protective barriers to safeguard the mind.

Nari, who had been relieved by the protection of the highest-ranking constellation in the mental realm, looked at Nahan in genuine bewilderment.

Seeing Nari like that, Nahan laughed again.

“By observing your behavior, I can see your thoughts. I’ve never tried to invade your mind.”

[The Ruler of Chaos pats your head, saying the barriers are still strong so don’t worry!]

With the added assurance from the Ruler of Chaos, Nari grumbled, feeling a little relieved.

As soon as she thought she wasn’t careless enough for her thoughts to be revealed through her actions, Nahan spoke as if she had read that as well.

“It’s not that you’re careless. I have flesh mastery, so my senses are quite keen.”

“…You really know everything.”

Nari, who had been swallowing her complaints while thinking she couldn’t carelessly think anything, raised her eyes and mumbled.

Seeing that, Nahan burst into laughter.

“Ahaha, you’re really just like your mother.”

“I’m the spitting image of my father.”

“Doesn’t that mean your souls are similar? I was surprised because it’s really similar. My son would have recognized it instantly too.”

Souls are similar. She had no idea what that meant. It’s not even saying their personalities are similar, but their souls.

“Does that mean our personalities are similar?”

“You could say that too. Both your mother and you have the appearance of wrapping a very beautiful and fragile glass craft in sturdy packaging.”

“My mom has a better personality than me. I saw the pictures too, but I can’t treat a stranger like that the first time I meet them.”

“What you see isn’t everything. Inside, your mother was also filled with emptiness and suspicion. And deep inside that, there was a jewel-like heart.”

Turning abruptly, Nahan looked at the picture frame. The photo was still there. Nahan spoke with narrowed eyes.

“It seems my son saw the frame of your mother talking.”

“Yes, but…”

“Whatever you saw…”

Whatever? Nari briefly touched her chin and answered as she saw it.

As Nari rambled on about how her mother helped or seemed to have a good personality, Nahan said to her.

“What did you think of my son’s gaze?”

“His gaze? I don’t know. I didn’t pay close attention…”

Nari looked at the frame as if she didn’t know and twisted her hair. Nahan smiled wryly at Nari.

“Your mother was also very dense when it came to romance. Most people would notice that first. That’s why your father disliked my son.”

“…It was that kind of gaze?! Eww!! I hate it!!”

Nari wrapped her arms around her shoulders as if she had goosebumps.

Gossip about other people’s love life is delicious, and gossip about parents’ love life is aged honey, but this was not pleasant at all.

‘Uh, I thought what that man said last night was a joke. I guess it was serious. What do I do…’

Nari made a horrified expression as she had that thought. Nahan laughed out loud and said.

“Don’t worry, your mother and father never committed adultery. They both had honey dripping from their eyes. My son never crossed the line either.”

“But still!! It’s a bit much!! Li…ne… It’s a relief they didn’t cross it, but…”

Nari finally calmed down at the words that they never committed adultery. Yes, people’s hearts are unavoidable.

Moreover, her mother was originally pretty, kind, and that much strong, so it was perhaps inevitable that other people gave their hearts to her.

“Anyway, being very dense in that aspect is a characteristic of you two. You have the same taste in men as your mother, right? You dislike bad men, and they have to be submissive and blind to you while being skilled at treating you like a jewel.”

Nahan giggled in a teasing tone. At those words, Nari suddenly thought of Kang Ihyeon and stammered with even her ears turning red.

“Ugh…! Wh-what does that have to do with anything! You mean we’re both dense?!”

“It seems there is someone like that around you?”

“Mi-mind your own business!! I-I-I’m not like that?!”

As the agitated Nari panted, Nahan laughed heartily again and pressed down on Nari’s shoulder as if to calm her.

“Ah! I-I’m s-sorry.”

Nari belatedly realized that her previous words could be read as rude and mumbled an apology.

Nahan smiled at the sight of Nari suddenly becoming submissive.

[Nari… Why did you become so soft. The Ruler of Chaos looks at you.]

‘I-I don’t know. That grandmother is very perceptive…’

Continuously getting swept up in Nahan’s pace and repeating surprise and composure, the usually sharp-tongued Nari had long disappeared.

Nahan looked at such Nari and grinned.

“Because you’re a vessel of god. You were born to not take such emotions felt by others too seriously. There’s a lot you have to do.”

“…Vessel of god?”

Nari slowly asked at Nahan’s words.

“People with a vessel large enough to be bestowed a heavenly mandate. You probably have it too. You will also leave something in the world on behalf of your constellation.”

“…I don’t have that.”

At Nahan’s words, Nari tightly grasped her hooded sweatshirt. And averted her gaze.

A long silence followed.

Unable to endure the awkward atmosphere, Nari finally threw out a question.

“Did our mother have that too?”

“Yes. She probably did.”

“What was it? The thing our mother left behind.”

She hoped it wasn’t the failure of the East Sea Gate No. 1. Nahan looked at Nari like that and grinned.

“Rather than me, someone who directly saw your mother by her side for a long time would know better.”

Abruptly, Nari’s hands that had been roughly handling the jacket stopped at those words.

Because she had a hunch about who Nahan was talking about. Nari’s expression crumpled terribly.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Do you know what that jerk did to me after my mom died? And he remarried right after mom died. He has no interest in our mother anymore. But you want me to contact that man?! I… will never see him again. Never!”

Nari’s words sped up. Nahan, who had been quietly listening to the machine-gun-like outpouring, suddenly placed her hand on Nari’s head with a tap.

And patted it a few times.

The cool power of spiritual energy permeated her whole body. Feeling slightly more at ease, she only clenched her fists. Nahan spoke calmly.

“Didn’t you come here wanting to find traces of your mother?”

“…Yes.”

“There are things about your mother that even we don’t know. Only your father would know that. Carefully weigh it. Whether burying it or digging it up despite the pain will give you more peace of mind.”

At those words, Nari just stared at her own shoes.

Digging it up despite the pain, or just burying it. It was clear that Nari herself wouldn’t be able to stand the latter.

Nari abruptly raised her head and said.

“I… I haven’t fully trusted you yet. I haven’t decided about being a disciple or whatever.”

“Yes, you’re a child full of suspicion.”

“Is that necessarily a bad thing?”

Nahan looked down at Nari. She was standing upright with her black eyes raised.

Nahan, thinking this aspect was really similar to Kang Hana, smiled and patted Nari’s head again.

“No, suspicion and verification are a hair’s breadth apart. Rather, blind faith without suspicion doesn’t allow one to stand upright.”

“That’s… a bit unexpected for you to say that. Everyone else dislikes being doubted.”

Nari narrowed her eyes upon hearing those words. Nahan looked at Nari like that, then snapped her fingers with a click.

“Suspicion itself isn’t bad, it’s the survival skill that has kept you alive until now, isn’t it? It’s always a matter of how you use the skill.”

Following Nahan’s finger, a dimensional gate connecting to the outside of the pagoda could be seen.

It was already close to morning, and the temple bell was ringing.

After pondering for a while, Nari sighed deeply and headed towards the dimensional gate.

“Then, I’ll go verify. That’s the only way I’ll feel a bit at ease.”

“If you find an answer, come back here to greet me. I can’t leave this place.”