Chapter 91
“‘They’re keeping up much better than I expected.’”
Though retired, it seemed the Green Forest origin still showed.
They literally kept pace. The speed on the mountain path was exceptional.
If I hadn’t subtly used my divine power to cleverly hamper their ankles, I would have been caught in no time.
The danger continued even after leaving the mountains and entering the main road.
Unlike the mountains, there weren’t many opportunities to slow someone down here.
And directly using divine power against someone who could also employ it at full speed could turn a threat into real danger.
“‘I should’ve stationed Chupung in advance.’”
I glanced at the sleeping child in my arms.
I had expected them to be around seven years old—but my guess was wrong.
They looked about ten.
It was only that they didn’t appear so. The poisoning by the Millennium Golden Snake had stunted their growth compared to other children of that age, causing my misjudgment.
The child’s condition didn’t look good, but the most concerning part was the hair.
It wasn’t just black—it was streaked with green.
I remembered something.
Children poisoned by the Millennium Golden Snake gradually have their hair turn green, and if the black completely disappears, they die within a few days.
That was probably why Mubak had mentioned three months.
But Mubak was wrong.
“‘Even with generous estimation, only half a day remains.’”
That was the time left for Mujin, as revealed by Myung-an.
It was also why I had given up persuading Mubak and instead ran toward the Golden Flower Guild with Mujin, almost as if kidnapping them.
“‘Even if I rush, it’s too late at this rate.’”
Even as Mubak gradually closed the distance behind me, I thought coldly.
I was giving it my all, but I had no confidence that we could reach our destination within half a day.
Even if I managed to retrieve Chupung from the residence of the Zahowang, it would be the same.
There was only one solution.
“‘I need a divine technique faster than what I have now.’”
The technique I was currently using was Guihebo, a refined divine technique of Muyeong Shintu, created by Jincheon and coveted by Haomun.
Guihebo emphasized versatile changes within a given space.
It wasn’t ideal for covering long distances.
“‘It’s similar to the Huashan Sect’s refined techniques.’”
They dazzled with unpredictable movements, but except in rugged mountains, they were less effective on main roads like this.
“‘Anyway, I’m not planning to use Huashan martial arts publicly, so I’ll skip that.’”
A non-disciple using Huashan techniques? Publicly? That could easily cause trouble.
So only one choice remained.
“‘In my memory are various refined techniques collected by past Huashan Sect masters.’”
Learning a new refined technique. Not just refined techniques—my mind held countless secret manuals.
Among them were countless called Shin Gong Jeolhak, and refined techniques were included.
One name resurfaced in my mind:
“‘Ilbo Simni.’”
A grand technique, said to cover ten li in a single step.
I had ranked the martial arts I knew back in my swordsman days.
Honestly, Ilbo Simni wasn’t first among the refined techniques I knew.
At best, it was tenth. In fact, it barely covered even thirty steps, let alone ten li.
Yet I thought of it first because, despite the grand name, it was incomplete.
Being unfinished, it had more room to develop than any other technique.
A fully perfected technique is hard to alter, but an incomplete one gives me room to intervene.
“‘Mix it.’”
I extracted only the essence of speed.
Centering on Ilbo Simni, I began fusing the fastest techniques I knew into one.
Running at full speed while protecting the child and simultaneously combining multiple techniques in real-time wasn’t easy.
My whole body screamed. Overloaded, my head hissed like air escaping, and white steam rose.
The liquid running down my nose wasn’t mere mucus.
It was a dangerous tightrope walk that could have ended in possession, but I didn’t stop.
In my mind, dozens, hundreds of flows of qi formed and shattered repeatedly.
It was like trying to weave hundreds of different threads into a single silk cloth.
Sharp threads cut soft ones, explosive qi swallowed smooth flows, clashing violently.
Twisting, tearing, forcing flows together—they finally began to merge into a massive current.
How far had I run along the road?
Chaos harmonized. My steps felt entirely different.
The colliding qi had finally found a majestic path.
A speed unlike any before enveloped me.
The scenery blurred as if brushed backward.
I smiled faintly.
“‘The name should be Ilbo Gyeongcheon (一步驚天).’”
One step that astonishes the heavens.
It still couldn’t cover ten li in a step, but it was enough to reach the Golden Flower Guild within the remaining time.
“Master Sogaju! The child?”
Without even checking the remaining time, we arrived at the Golden Flower Guild and encountered Songgok on patrol.
Seeing Mujin on my back, he tilted his head, puzzled.
“There’s no time for a long explanation.”
His eyes widened as he understood, and he shouted to the guards at the main gate:
“Bring the Divine Healer!”
I nodded and finally set Mujin down.
I checked the remaining time—it seemed they could endure until they met Geomyeong Shinui.
But that wasn’t exactly good.
Time remaining meant Mujin’s fate hadn’t changed yet.
But I couldn’t give up now.
“Show this child to the Divine Healer and tell them they’ve been poisoned by the Millennium Golden Snake.”
Handing Mujin to Songgok, I also took out some Imugi meat from my bag.
“It’s not certain, but if it might help with the cure, the Divine Healer will know what to do.”
“Yes! I’ll deliver it immediately!”
Songgok, surprised at the mention of the Millennium Golden Snake, immediately took the meat and rushed off.
I turned back along the path I came, intending to persuade Mubak or buy time in case of failure.
Although I intended to treat Mujin, from Mubak’s perspective, his child had been kidnapped—so his reaction was unpredictable.
In the worst case, he could have caused chaos inside the guild.
To prevent that, I needed to speak with him before entering the guild.
About half a si-jin after traveling back using Ilbo Gyeongcheon, I finally encountered Mubak, charging desperately with his divine technique.
I had left traces to avoid losing him, and fortunately, he found me.
“Where is Mujin?!”
He seemed ready to tear me apart. His eyes burned with the rage of a lost child.
Yet, unexpectedly, he didn’t attack recklessly.
Instead, he raised his full strength, watching me warily.
The reason was clear:
It was my use of Ilbo Gyeongcheon on the return.
Even now, he maintained his composure.
“‘So the Green Forest rumors were true,’” I thought.
In a battle with an expert, reckless excitement is death. Mubak knew this.
Thus, even amidst the frozen hostility, a sliver of opportunity for dialogue emerged.
“Mujin is currently receiving treatment from the Divine Healer at the Golden Flower Guild.”
His eyebrows twitched. I continued calmly:
“Honestly, the results aren’t guaranteed. But…”
I paused, meeting his blazing gaze.
“They say it’s over the moment you give up. But if you don’t, it’s not over yet.”
In a way, I was living proof.
When my Zahashin sword broke, I should have died—but I survived because I didn’t give up.
Of course, I didn’t intend to tell him that.
Instead, I told him something cruel, yet effective in this situation:
“If you waste time fighting me here, you might miss the child’s last moments. Are you willing to risk that?”
“…What do you mean?”
His pupils shook violently. Last moments? To someone who believed three months remained, this was a shock.
I told him the truth.
“Mujin has at most two si-jin remaining. That’s the life I confirmed for the child.”
“Nonsense! How could you know a child’s life?”
Here, talking about clairvoyance or life visions wouldn’t make him believe.
“Insufficient, but I learned from the Divine Healer.”
Now, he had no choice but to believe.
The power contained in a reputation. If the reputation belongs to the Divine Healer, one bandit is easily persuaded.
Mubak’s face, doubting and distrustful, froze at the mention of the Divine Healer.
“Only… two si-jin left?”
The murderous aura that had radiated from him vanished.
Tears soon streamed down his face.
“…Do whatever it takes. Let me meet Mujin.”
His attitude changed.
He realized there was no other choice. Killing me wouldn’t bring the child back, and if my words were true, he’d live in regret forever.
“I’ll move at full speed. Follow me.”
I said briefly and turned toward the Golden Flower Guild.
I felt Mubak silently following behind.
So far, things were settled.
“‘Now, the question is whether the Divine Healer can truly cure Mujin.’”
I recalled the remaining time seen through clairvoyance.
It wouldn’t be easy, especially if I didn’t intervene.
Of course, I had no intention of just watching.
Suddenly, one possibility came to mind.
I moved to check it.
“‘Sahyun, are you there?’”
