The Two Travelers of Mount Tian

The journey to Mount Tian for the cult leader and Eom Soyul was anything but easy. While they didn’t encounter any martial artists from the righteous sects blocking their path, they faced a problem they had anticipated.

The obstacle in their journey wasn’t an outsider but the cult leader himself. He would walk perfectly fine one moment, only to suddenly be seized by a fit. It wasn’t unusual for him to attack passersby, and even when alone, he would often start fighting with imaginary foes.

After causing chaos for several hours, the cult leader would abruptly regain his senses as if nothing had happened.

”······.”

Unlike others with mental afflictions who typically forget their episodes, the cult leader remembered everything. He was painfully aware of his actions, thrown into the harsh reality of his consciousness.

Each time this happened, he would look at Eom Soyul with eyes filled with a mix of shame and self-loathing. Just like now.

With his head hung low, he muttered, “···I’m sorry.”

A few months ago, or even at the start of the Great Demon War, Eom Soyul never imagined he would hear an apology from the cult leader. The leader was a near-perfect figure who had lived a tumultuous life, someone who never found himself in a position to apologize. The people of the cult idolized him, and Eom Soyul was no exception.

‘I’m probably the only one who has seen this side of the cult leader…’

The cult leader had been running tirelessly for half a day, insisting they needed to rescue the children. His speed was such that Eom Soyul struggled to keep up.

By the time Eom Soyul caught his breath, the sun was setting in the west, painting the sky a fiery red. The day had ended just like that.

It would have been nice if it had been just a wasted day, but it wasn’t. After running east for half a day, they had to retrace their steps, having covered a significant distance.

The cult leader, sensing Eom Soyul’s frustration, spoke gently. “If there were a way to recognize the signs, I would stop it at any cost. But it comes without warning… I’m sorry. I’m making things difficult for you.”

Listening to the cult leader’s explanation, Eom Soyul’s heart simmered with emotion.

Yet, he didn’t feel anger towards the cult leader. Instead, his fury was directed at the world. A world that had burdened the leader with madness, a world that wouldn’t even let a madman forget.

‘Damn this world…’

Eom Soyul muttered a curse under his breath, then put on a gentle, understanding expression. Whether the perceptive cult leader would be fooled by this act was uncertain, but Eom Soyul figured it wouldn’t matter much if his true feelings were revealed. After all, he wasn’t angry with the leader.

“It’s alright. It’s not like you did it on purpose. Everyone goes through tough times. Yours just happens to be now.”

Why he wasn’t angry with the cult leader, Eom Soyul couldn’t quite understand himself. But after some thought, he found a plausible answer.

As he observed the cult leader’s reaction, Eom Soyul wondered how the leader saw him. As a departed wife, a daughter, a reliable subordinate, or a trustworthy companion? Perhaps a mix of all these, for the human heart is a complex thing.

Eom Soyul held the cult leader close, gazing at the stars for a long time before speaking softly.

“Leader.”

The cult leader, still awake, responded from within Eom Soyul’s embrace.

“Speak.”

The night air stirred emotions, even in the pragmatic Eom Soyul. There were many things he wanted to say, many questions he wanted to ask. Deep conversations, stories of the past, both his and the leader’s…

But sensing it wasn’t the right time for such talks, Eom Soyul spoke calmly.

“Take good care of me from now on.” “···Alright.”

Eom Soyul smiled faintly, holding the cult leader a little tighter. It wasn’t for the leader’s sake; he simply wanted to.

The cult leader’s madness grew more severe, leading to a series of chaotic events. Yet, after much hardship, Eom Soyul and the leader finally reached the outskirts of Mount Tian.

“We’re here…”

They arrived at the entrance of the mountain, at the outer hall, which was deserted.

“It seems they’ve stepped out for a while.” “Indeed.”

They lingered at the outer hall, waiting for the cult members to appear. But even after a considerable time, no one came to greet them.

“With so many people leaving, it seems they couldn’t maintain the place.” “True, it’s not easy to keep watch when you don’t know when someone might descend.”

The cult leader and Eom Soyul moved past the outer hall, heading towards the base of Mount Tian.

Before long, they stumbled upon buildings charred black. It wasn’t just one or two; nearly every structure in sight was burned. This wasn’t an accident; someone had deliberately set them ablaze.

”…What happened here?” “We need to find out.”

They cautiously explored the interior of Mount Tian.

Soon, they encountered a group of strangers. With sacks slung over their backs, they rummaged through the burnt remains, so engrossed that they didn’t notice Eom Soyul and the cult leader approaching.

Eom Soyul finally grabbed one of them by the shoulder.

“Hey.” “Why… Ah!”

The man was startled, first by the unfamiliar face, then by the sword at Eom Soyul’s waist. The others, realizing they were discovered, scattered like rats, but Eom Soyul remained unfazed, questioning the man he held.

“Who are you, and why are you snooping around here?” “I-I found it like this when I arrived!” “I’m not here to harm you. I’m asking what happened. You’re just stealing clothes, so what’s going on?”

The man hesitated, his eyes darting around before settling. He realized he couldn’t stay silent in front of these formidable figures. Acting cooperatively was his only chance for survival.

The man with the sack began his explanation.

“Let me be clear, we didn’t do this to Mount Tian. We just came because we saw the flames from the base and thought help might be needed…”

Eom Soyul wasn’t entirely convinced by the man’s story, especially since his sack was filled with valuables. As Eom Soyul’s gaze lingered on the sack, the man quickly added,

“We only took things because we thought there were no survivors! And there’s nothing particularly valuable here. The really valuable stuff was taken by those who came before us.” “Those who came before?” “They said it was some orthodox sect members. They secretly killed everyone, took all the valuables, and then set the place on fire…”

Eom Soyul turned to look at the cult leader, whose eyes were trembling slightly. Eom Soyul embraced the cult leader tightly. The man with the sack watched, somewhat perplexed, but Eom Soyul couldn’t help it.

The cult leader took several deep breaths before asking the man,

“So, are there no survivors?” “I can’t say for sure, but not everyone is dead. Some must have escaped… Most of the children are definitely alive.”

The cult leader’s voice was low as he spoke.

“I’m sorry. I’ve put you through so much hardship and given you nothing in return. And I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do for you in the future.”

“Master.”

“Leave. Leave the sect and head west. Whether you go west or to Saemyulang… with your skills and savvy, you’ll be well-received wherever you go. Even the Blood Rain Assassins won’t be able to track you there.”

Eom Soyun had spent time in the sect, speaking with traders who traveled to and from the Western regions.

Every trader would say the same thing: the Central Plains are vast, but the world beyond is immeasurably larger. Just as the master said, no matter how relentless the Blood Rain Assassins might be, they wouldn’t reach Saemyulang.

At that moment, the master’s eyes began to dim.

He had lost hope, realizing he couldn’t offer any more strength to Eom Soyun. His already fragile spirit was on the brink of collapse. With a voice that rumbled like a growl, he shouted at Eom Soyun.

“Leave!”

“Master! There must be another way.”

“Leave, now!”

With that, the master drew his sword and swung it at Eom Soyun. She barely managed to draw her own blade in time to block his attack. Clang—

Eom Soyun realized then that the master’s strike wasn’t just a threat. It might not have been his full strength, but it was certainly a lethal move.

Yet, he didn’t swing again. He simply stared at her with eyes gleaming with a beast-like ferocity.

But the threat of another strike loomed, and she wasn’t sure she could withstand it. With her sword still pointed at him, Eom Soyun stumbled backward, retreating from the underground chamber.

I’m sorry, I can’t help with that.

Eom Soyul gazed at the master for a long moment, then wiped her tears with her sleeve. She placed her hands on her knees and stood up. It was time to leave Cheonsan.

However, Eom Soyul did not follow the master’s instructions to head west toward the outer martial world.

Instead, she turned east, retracing the path she had once walked with the master, now alone, her steps heavy and slow.