Chapter 46: Everlasting Flame of Calamity (1)

The calamity fire continued.

‘Where is this place?’

Gugwi slowly looked around.

A strange landscape caught his eyes.

After desperately moving to avoid the Heavenly Sound Cult and the Blue Blood Unit, he found himself in a place he had never visited before. A valley where dense forests blended with bizarre rocks. The distant mountain peaks had unfamiliar shapes.

He could not figure out where he was.

He had lost all sense of direction—whether he had gone south or north, he could not tell. With the sun high in the sky, it was difficult to determine east, west, south, or north.

‘At least no one is chasing me.’

Gugwi let out a sigh of relief.

Even when he listened carefully, he could not sense any pursuers.

He leaned back against a rock and sat down. Stretching his weary legs, he loosened his body. His entire body was drenched in sweat.

The soles of his feet stung. Perhaps because it had been a long time since he had run such a distance, blisters had formed.

“Whew…”

He drew in a deep breath. Fresh air filled his lungs. The atmosphere here was entirely different from Silver Moon Valley.

Birdsong echoed. It was a peaceful sound.

It was a fleeting moment of respite after a life-risking escape.

Gugwi pulled out his waterskin and wet his throat. The cool water moistened his parched throat.

‘Everyone must be safe, right?’

It had been half a day since he parted from her.

‘She must have managed to escape well on her own.’

Gugwi muttered inwardly. Who was he to be worried about anyone?

And yet, somewhere in his heart, he was worried. Yeon Sohye’s face kept surfacing in his mind.

What if she was captured by the Heavenly Sound Cult? If it was the Blue Blood Unit, the treatment would be even harsher.

“No, she’s strong.”

Gugwi shook his head.

He recalled Yeon Sohye’s Silver Spirit Sword Technique and Gale Spirit Guest. With skills like those, she should be able to shake off most pursuers.

Still, unease lingered.

He felt guilty for leaving her to face such danger alone. For that reason, he couldn’t allow Yeon Sohye to become a fugitive chased by the Cold Wolf Sect just because of him.

The wind rustled the leaves. At the sound, Gugwi flinched.

‘I’m on edge.’

The tension had not completely left him. His body rested, but his mind was still sharp and alert.

At that moment, Yeon Sohye appeared without a sound.

“Your hiding skills have improved.”

She spoke with a mocking tone, having approached like the wind with the Gale Spirit Guest’s movement technique.

Startled, Gugwi turned around.

“Wha—! How did you get here?”

“Exactly where I expected you to be.”

Yeon Sohye spread the Silver Spirit Technique. A silvery mist surrounded them, cutting off any traces from pursuers.

“I told you it’s dangerous to go alone.”

Seeing her, Gugwi felt relieved but still grumbled.

“You didn’t need to follow me.”

“Look at yourself.”

Yeon Sohye pointed to his sweat-soaked clothes.

“You don’t even know how I tracked you down, do you? Do you think I’m the only one following you? The Blue Blood Unit is chasing too.”

“Tch! Like ghosts.”

“It’s not because their tracking arts are good—it’s because you left traces while running. Do you even know your body is marked with Spirit Powder?”

“Spirit Powder?”

“It’s the remnant of soul energy from the Blood Spirit Cave. Used for tracking.”

Gugwi’s expression hardened.

“Then until now…”

“You’ve been exposed. Fool.”

Yeon Sohye pointed toward the valley.

“Go wash yourself there. Change your clothes too.”

“Here?”

Gugwi’s face reddened.

“Why? Embarrassed?”

Yeon Sohye giggled.

“Once Spirit Powder sticks to clothes, it never comes off. Luckily, the traces on your body will wash away. Clean yourself properly and put on fresh clothes.”

She turned her back and urged him.

Gugwi had no choice but to submerge himself in the cold stream.

As Yeon Sohye had said, the water faintly turned blue as the Spirit Powder dissolved.

“Strange. Was that much on me?”

“The Blood Spirit Cave is like that. Condensed soul energy clings naturally.”

Yeon Sohye took out a farmer’s outfit from her satchel.

“I stole this on the way. Try it on.”

Gugwi emerged from the water and changed into the coarse hemp clothes. The loose sleeves and rough texture felt awkward.

“What is this?”

“Farmer’s clothes. But they look great on you!”

Yeon Sohye laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.

“Don’t make fun of me.”

Gugwi turned his head with an embarrassed expression.

“No, really. You look good. No one will think you’re a disciple of the Cold Wolf Sect anymore.”

Yeon Sohye buried his old clothes under dirt.

“Spirit Powder scatters even in the wind. No more tracking now.”

“But…”

Gugwi spoke firmly.

“You should go back. You shouldn’t be with me. It’s too dangerous.”

“Without me, you wouldn’t last ten li before the Heavenly Sound Cult or Blue Blood Unit caught you.”

Yeon Sohye declared confidently.

“You’ll never escape alone.”

“Still…”

“Your Spirit Flow Core is truly mysterious. When I’m near you, my Soul-Summoning Arts grow stronger. Honestly, I want to stay close for that reason too.”

Yeon Sohye spoke seriously, then rolled her eyes playfully.

“It’s not because I like you, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

Gugwi froze for a moment.

Of course, he knew she was joking. But what troubled him was whether it was wise to keep traveling with her.

‘She doesn’t look like she’ll leave anyway.’

Truth be told, Gugwi felt at ease with Yeon Sohye by his side.

“Thanks.”

He didn’t say more. The fate of the Cold Wolf Sect, what would happen if they clashed with the Blue Blood Unit—all of that seemed meaningless now. Since Yeon Sohye had decided to move with him, there was nothing left to say.

“Alright, then let’s move.”

Yeon Sohye smiled brightly.

On the outskirts of Black Forest Fortress, a hawk suddenly dove from the sky.

Caw!

The black hawk dropped a carrier message and flew away.

A spy quickly picked it up and unrolled it.

‘Owner of Spirit Flow Core, Gugwi, escaped from Silver Moon Valley. Capture or eliminate….’

The spy’s face stiffened.

“Even the Eleventh True Army was dispatched, and still… he escaped? Damn!”

He muttered in a tense voice.

The higher-ups’ movements were unusual. Surely, this message wasn’t sent to him alone. All Heavenly Sound Cult spies hiding in the northern capital of the Central Plains must have been notified as well.

The spy returned to his routine. But his eyes grew sharper.

The Black Blood Unit moved swiftly.

When they activated Soul Transformation, Living Spirits crawled forth from the darkness.

Grrrrrr!

Living Spirits with glowing red eyes chased after Gugwi’s scent. But something was strange.

“Why did the trail disappear?”

Bloodscent Fiend rolled a blood orb and tilted his head. He had clearly come this way, yet the traces had vanished.

Even if the Spirit Powder had been completely washed away, the aura of a Soul-Summoner should have remained.

“Nothing’s caught?”

Heuk Yeomjo asked.

“No. Nothing at all.”

“My Blood Poison Demon Spirit is the same. It can’t detect anything. Did we go the wrong way? Could it be not this direction?”

“I’ll search further.”

Bloodscent Fiend hurriedly sent the Living Spirits to scout.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit scoured the mountain villages.

The first thing someone covered in Spirit Powder would do was change clothes. Unless they carried three or four spare sets, there was only one option.

Am Ilho stepped out of a farmhouse.

“Captain, there’s a report that a farmer’s clothes were stolen.”

“So Gugwi disguised himself as a farmer.”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Then did we completely lose him? Ha! The Blue Blood Unit, fooled by a child’s trick?”

“He couldn’t have gone far. I’ll search right away.”

Am Ilho clasped his fists.

“No, first send a carrier message to the main alliance.”

“A carrier?”

“Send this message: Request control over Black Forest Fortress. For pursuing Gugwi, request authority over the Cold Wolf Sect, Dark Stream Sect, other soul-summoning sects, and six northern Murim sects.”

“Understood.”

Am Ilho bowed deeply.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit turned away and gave orders to his subordinates.

“I’m issuing a First-Class Realm of the Threshold Order. The target is Gugwi! Keep tracking his traces! Until we receive control authority, find out which direction he disappeared. Move!”

Un Hojin also moved swiftly.

Seeing how the situation was unfolding, he thought it would be foolish to miss this chance. If things went well, he might actually seize the Spirit Flow Core. If so, even the Murim Alliance would no longer be intimidating.

He immediately sent word to Cold Wolf Sect branches and allied sects.

“A Recall Inducement Sign… Nothing would lure Gugwi more than that. Heh heh!”

Signs were erected everywhere.

「Fugitive Gugwi, return. On the honor of the Cold Wolf Sect, we will clarify the truth completely. If there are grievances, they will be investigated without fail.」

Below the sign was a seagull-wing-shaped seal, seemingly the official mark of the Cold Wolf Sect.

But those of the Cold Wolf Sect knew. The mark was a code—signifying that they would not follow the will of the Murim Alliance and would instead absolutely protect Gugwi. It was a secret message telling him to return quietly, as the Cold Wolf Sect was currently the safest place.

Yeongso muttered as she looked at the sign.

“The Sect Leader? No… This isn’t to protect Gugwi… It’s to seize the Spirit Flow Core.”

Suspicion flickered in her eyes.

The Blue Blood Unit, however, took this as cooperation from the Cold Wolf Sect. But if they had known the meaning of the seagull-wing seal, they would have immediately torn the signs down.

“Hmph! The Sect Leader even requested signs be set up… He must be very impatient. He must be dying to rush out, but sitting still in the Cold Wolf Sect must be unbearable… Hoho!”

Yeongso knew Un Hojin’s true intent. It was a scheme to lure Gugwi in and seize the Spirit Flow Core.

Ssshhhhh!

Gugwi and Yeon Sohye headed toward the rugged mountain range. They moved cautiously along the rocky path.

“Lower your presence!”

Yeon Sohye whispered.

She led the way like the wind with the Gale Spirit Guest’s movement technique.

Gugwi unfolded Cloud Flow Step. His footsteps grew as light as the breeze as he skimmed over rocks.

From afar came the wails of Living Spirits.

Screeeech!

“The Heavenly Sound Cult is pursuing us.”

Yeon Sohye cast the Silver Spirit Technique. Silvery mist wrapped around them, clouding their pursuers’ vision.

Bloodscent Fiend rolled his blood orb as he drew closer. Gugwi controlled his breath with Cloud Flow Spirit Heart to erase his presence.

“Hide!”

Yeon Sohye slipped into a crevice between rocks. Gugwi followed, lowering his body behind a boulder. Bloodscent Fiend passed by, rolling his orb, while the Living Spirits growled and turned another direction.

“That was too close.”

Gugwi wiped his sweat.

“Stay calm. Trust the Spirit Flow Core. It’s erasing all traces—not just yours, but mine as well. We won’t be discovered.”

Yeon Sohye reassured him.

As they moved, Gugwi continued to practice Cloud Flow Step. The blue light of the Spirit Flow Core flowed harmoniously from his Dantian. At times he felt bursts of instability, but with Cloud Flow Spirit Heart he managed to control it.

As the blue light stabilized, his confidence grew.

“You’re getting stronger.”

Yeon Sohye gazed at him seriously.

Inside a rocky cave of the mountain range, Gugwi unfolded the Soul Echo Manual.

The truth was… he wanted to know exactly how the Spirit Flow Core erased traces. Even when Bloodscent Fiend or Blood Poison Demon Spirits passed right by, they could not detect him, and that fascinated him.

The Soul Echo Manual glowed with the blue light of the Spirit Flow Core, and words appeared.

「Dark Spirit Sect, western ruins of Black Forest Fortress, secret of Cloud Flow Sect.」

Gugwi’s heart pounded.

“This is—!”

“Dark Spirit Sect? That’s the sect you mentioned before, right? The one that annihilated the Cloud Flow Sect.”

Yeon Sohye asked curiously.

“For this to appear now… Hm! Even if only ruins remain, it seems to be telling us to go.”

Yeon Sohye was wary.

“It’ll be dangerous.”

“But I feel like we must go.”

Gugwi’s voice was firm with resolve.

“Western side of Black Forest Fortress, it said? Fine. Let’s go together. Honestly, I was also wondering where we should head next.”

“Thank you.”

Gugwi tucked the Soul Echo Manual away.

For now, they needed to vanish from everyone’s reach… luckily, they had a destination.

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