Currently, at the hotel room.
When I opened my item window, changed my clothes, and wore a crow mask, I heard a knock on my balcony window.
Knock, knock.
The rooms rented by the Year 2 Class Zero students were on the 32nd floor.
The act of knocking on the balcony window of a room on the 32nd floor would’ve been unusual, but we discussed this in advance.
“It’s open. Come in.”
Creaaak.
Hwang Jiho entered through the balcony window.
No, I don’t think it’s appropriate to call him Hwang Jiho at the moment.
His current appearance is not his teen self, but the Yellow Tiger’s appearance in his 30’s. The same appearance he used at Kwon Jein’s concert at the Hoyeon Hall.
“Excuse me.”
Hwang Jiho, dressed in a suit made of seersucker material, neatly swept his hair backward.
If I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t have recognized him as Hwang Jiho.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Jiho wanted to leave the hotel right away, but he decided to give me a few more moments to complete my disguise.
As soon as Hwang Jiho arrived at Chengdu City, he immediately ordered his subordinates to rent some hotels. The original plan was to stop by there first, and that’s where we were supposed to dress up with our disguise.
‘Well, it’s a good decision to prepare in advance at the hotel because we don’t know what type of fools were hanging around in Icarus.’
If Hwang Jiho encounters some inconveniences, he’ll be sure to take care of it on his own, but there’s nothing wrong with preparing in advance.
Standing on the balcony and looking around, Hwang Jiho asked me something.
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw a shadow hanging around the window last night in Icarus.”
“On the top floor of the east wing where we were staying? When did you see it?”
“When we were moving to the lounge after dinner. Maybe it was just Geum Chansol or Wang Chansol sunbae. Maybe they were just doing something weird outside, or planning something like giving a gift or surprises to Professor Jegal.”
When Jiho heard me mention the names of the Year 2 students, Jiho said something firmly.
“If those two were outside, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.”
Is he saying that it’s not the Year 2 students?
But why did he say that there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed them?
Of course I thought Hwang Jiho knew about the shadow, but I assumed he didn’t pay it any mind because he didn’t sense any danger.
“At that time and place, I can guess someone who can deceive my senses.”
Hwang Jiho looked explicitly annoyed.
“Who?”
“You know, birds listen at daytime and rats listen at night.”
I saw the shadows at night.
Does that mean that a ‘rat’ was listening?
“Let’s move before that bastard catches up.”
Don’t tell me they followed us to China.
No, if Hwang Jiho is reacting this way, then it’s completely possible.
Fwaaaaaa…!
When Hwang Jiho finished applying a disguise boundary skill on my clothes, I asked something to confirm.
“How are we going to move?”
“We’re using leap skills. Do you want me to carry you?”
“No.”
I ignored Jiho’s mischievousness as he gave an odd smile.
<Using Light Skill, ‘Player Identity’>
I summoned a character card that I’ve used several times now in this world.
Hwang Jiho stared at the card with twinkling eyes, trying to read what was engraved on it.
“You know I can use leap skills of the Tiger Clan too.”
The Tiger Clan shared some common skills.
The first one was ‘Glare’.
The second was ‘Roar’.
The third one was ‘Leap’.
I used the White Tiger’s character card, so of course, I’d be able to use the Leap skill.
“Hahahaha! Alright then, follow me closely.”
Hwang Jiho reached out his hands towards the air, and in one motion, sprang up in the air as if stepping on a boundary.
Hwang Jiho jumped into the night view, stepping on the narrow boundary he creates with every step.
It looked like he was flying in the night sky, because the boundary that he was stepping on looked almost invincible, and his every leap takes him to a far distance.
I used the skill of my playable character to keep up.
<Using Character’s Light Skill, ‘Leap’.>
Following Hwang Jiho, I also began to fly amid the night sky.
As a large city with a population of more than 16 million, the night view of Chengdu City was spectacular.
I appreciated every skyscraper with every leap that I took.
After a few minutes, I had to decrease the altitude of my leaps.
We seemed to have arrived at our destination.
“I see you’re still here.”
Hwang Jiho muttered something to himself as we stood in front of a huge circular wooden building.
The wooden building with thousands of red lanterns had four entrances and was more than 5 meters in height.
However, even with its noticeable appearance, passers-by didn’t seem to give it a single glance.
“People without energy can’t see this building. It’s not an area of restricted access, but people who get curious about it and check it out usually get hurt.”
Jiho pointed to the black door and explained further.
“There’s a Yashi up north, and this opens up to that space. Let’s go.”
“Yashi? You mean a literal night market?”
“Yes.”
Jiho stood in front of the door and slowly opened it. Looking at the door closely, I saw patterns of Hyunmoo engraved on it.
(T/N: Hyunmoo, regarded as the god of the north. It is said that it is shaped like a hybrid between a turtle and a snake.)
I could barely see anything inside, but Hwang Jiho stepped in with no hesitation.
After taking a few steps, I heard a voice reciting a poem against the backdrop of the sound of someone playing a pipa.
(T/N: Pipa is a traditional Chinese musical instrument.)
[When the Son of Heaven summoned him to a boat, he refused to go aboard, and he proclaimed himself to be the God of Wine.]
It was a poem written by Du Fu, one of the greatest poets in China known to have lived in Chengdu.
Listening to the words carefully, I think it’s a verse from his work ‘Ode to Eight Wine Immortals’
By the time the poet sang the next verse, the scenery in front of us had completely changed.
Dozens of shadows moved busily here and there, and colored hanji-shaped lanterns were floating in the air.
“I’ll buy you anything you like.”
“No need.”
Against the background of the poet singing, I could see merchants inviting customers here and there.
They were wearing masks, and many of them even disguised their bodies to look like beasts
Some of these people were dressed up to lift the spirits and excitement of the night market, but among them is someone of royal lineage.
“This is the meeting place?”
“Yes. He told me he won’t meet with me unless it’s here. We agreed to meet at the central pavilion.”
Hwang Jiho was referring to the pavilion built on the central lake.
In the open pavilion, I saw the poet singing along with the musicians playing the pipa.
When we arrived at the pavilion by crossing the bamboo Jukryanggyo Bridge, the poet stopped singing and bowed politely toward Hwang Jiho.
The poet’s hand was pointing to a door that seemed to lead to a lower basement.
“Please continue singing.”
When Hwang Jiho said those words, the poet stood back up and continued to sing.
Although the song stopped midway, the poet was able to pick up the performance naturally from where it was left off thanks to the musician that kept playing the instrument.
As the song continued once more, we went down to the basement of the pavilion. A long corridor met us inside.
“I see the Hyunmoo has worked really hard. The hallways were almost only built off of stones in the past.”
Hwang Jiho admired the wall decorated with patterns of Hyunmoo embroidered in black silk.
The embroidery patterns on the wall looked like an image of a turtle, but its neck and tail delicately expressed a snake-like appearance.
“This is the base of the Hyunmoo?”
“To be precise, it belongs to the Four Auspicious Beasts; Baekho (White Tiger), Cheongryong (Blue Dragon), Jujak (Vermillion Bird), and Hyunmoo (Black Tortoise). It was built by those who served the four. The Jujak and Hyunmoo often stayed here, opening the Yashi whenever they please.”
(T/N: The Four Auspicious Beasts mentioned are mythological creatures that appear in Chinese constellations. They are viewed as guardians of the four cardinal directions.)
I knew that the concept of the Four Auspicious Beasts also existed in this world, but I’ve never encountered the Jujak nor the Hyunmoo, so I never thought that they are part of royal lineage.
Unlike what I thought, the Hyunmoo and Jujak must’ve been active in China.
“And what about the others?”
“The Blue Dragon has been away since his descendants were born, and White Tiger is… Well, he’s unable to leave the Korean Peninsula.”
Hearing Jiho say that, it seems like there’s no means of communication between the Four Divine Animals. Or maybe just minimal communication between them.
The Hyunmoo, who seem to be related to the player who uses the light skill of Yeomje Divine Farmer, may have been contacted through White Tiger.
Just then…
<Skill ‘Destiny’ is activated.>
A system message I haven’t heard in a long time has appeared.
At the same time, Hwang Jiho who was walking ahead of me stopped suddenly.
“Jo Euishin, this power is…”
Come to think of it, I think Jiho also kind of noticed the Destiny skill back in the last chess tournament.
‘Why did it activate now when there’s just the two of us…’
Rather than thinking of excuses, my priority now is to deal with the Destiny skill.
Fwaaaa!
As I looked around the surroundings, I saw something flash.
In the long corridor, one of the countless embroideries of Hyunmoo was shining.
I pointed to the embroidery and asked Hwang Jiho.
“What can you sense from this?”
Hwang Jiho gathered golden magic in his eyes and looked to where I was pointing, but he didn’t say anything.
‘Perhaps Hwang Jiho can only detect the moment when the Destiny Skill is activated?’
Then I have no choice but to step up.
When I touched the embroidery, energy wave began to wrap my fingertips.
Keuuuuu…!
The stone wall behind the silk moved.
I blinked my eyes once, and Hwang Jiho was suddenly in front of me.
As soon as the stone wall opened, it seems like it activated a boundary and it started to move towards me.
I heard a voice over Hwang Jiho’s shoulder.
“I was going to let you pass if you didn’t discover this door. Unbelievably, you were able to open it.”
The man spoke in fluent Korean.
As I took a step to the side, I saw someone whose eyes were covered in black cloth.
“Hyunmoo, what are you doing here?”
“You came here from a distant place yet I’ve decided to test you. I apologize for that. I was wondering if I can meet and talk with the guest that you’ve brought along with you.”
“Is it because your divinity has increased?”
“Yes. Although White Tiger and Blue Dragon remain in this world as people of royal lineage, I and Jujak are different. But I’m still thinking about it. I can’t talk to humans easily because my divinity increase with every passing day.”
This world’s higher beings have limited powers to interfere with the present world, but they still intervene in the present in several ways.
However, some humans lose their minds just by facing higher beings head-on, so it was an unwritten rule to cover their eyes whenever they encounter humans.
This was true of both the Taesang Nohgun and Akea and even the other higher beings.
“That’s why I looked into you before you arrived. I wanted to meet the guest you brought, but in case he couldn’t handle to face me, I prepared to face him using an energy technique.”
“What a hassle. Have you decided now on how you want to face my guest?”
“Life as a higher being is interesting indeed. But some turtles follow in my footsteps, and there are humans who still need my wisdom. I’m still thinking about it.”
Hyunmoo spoke softly and then glanced towards me.
“Do you know what will happen if you keep wearing that crow mask?”
I nodded my head.
The moment I saw a coin engraved with the image of the crow back at the Hwanmong Auction, I decided to use the crow mask.
“…That’s right. I think the crows already took notice of you, so be careful.”
I felt a bit of a sting from Hwang Jiho’s side glance, but I feigned ignorance.
“I have a child I want to introduce to you.”
When Hyunmoo turned up his long collar, something began to appear in the air.
Someone wrapped around silk and seemed like it was a skinny person.
“Take this kid with you. I met him by chance and protected him since then.”
Take this kid with us?
What was he on about all of a sudden?
Hwang Jiho replied first while I was left confused on how I should react.
“Why is he here?”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes. You know him too.”
It’s my first time seeing this guy though.
Hwang Jiho briefly introduced it, as if he read my mind.
“This is Mok Wooram, a student of Year One Class Zero.”
