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Eungwang High’s landscape, around Cheongrang Lake.
The Tiger Clan who finished dealing with enemies at the locations designated by Cheon Dongha were resting.
Baekho, who stood at the forefront of the knocked-down bear, was looking toward Mt. Cheonik as he held the Ungryeobjo.
Behind him were the other people of the Tiger Clan in doll clothes.
They were the ones who dealt with the Cow Clan and joined Baekho after their mission.
Among them, of course, was the tiger who dealt with Class 3-0 on Mt. Cheonik.
‘All the tigers withdrew from Mt. Cheonik as ordered… is it really okay to do this?’
They didn’t intend to violate Hwangho’s orders but were still worried.
On first thought, it seems to be because they heard that the Tiger Clan’s benefactor was left alone on the mountain.
However, they couldn’t put their words on the fact that the mythical Tiger Clan actually agreed to it.
While the tigers stood silently behind Baekho…
Fwaaat!
Baekho suddenly summoned the White Fang instead of the Ungryeobjo he was holding.
Seeing Baekho take out his main weapon, the tigers became wary of the surroundings, wondering if enemies appeared again.
But there was no one around.
One of the tigers spoke cautiously to Baekho.
“Baekho-nim…?”
Before Baekho could speak, a red fog appeared before their eyes.
Fwaaa…
Seeing the fog of a familiar color, the tigers loosened their guard.
It was a sign that Jeokho was around.
Baekho took his eyes off Mt. Cheonik and looked at Jeokho beyond the red fog.
“I heard from Cheon Dongha.”
Jeokho must’ve stopped by the Silver Hall.
Although Cheon Dongha communicates to the tigers through Hwangho’s secretary and carrier pigeons, communication doesn’t go smoothly and quickly.
So, when the mission was complete to some extent, Jeokho visited personally to hear what Cheon Dongha saw.
“Cheon Dongha has been using his ability for a long time. His energy waves are greatly consumed, but I think the mental exhaustion is getting to him first.”
Safe in the haven of the Silver Hall, Cheon Dongha wasn’t physically injured.
However, since he had to look over the entire EUngwang High, his head was overloaded.
On top of that, he had to watch his peers and teachers fight while he was safe in a secluded place.
It consumed a lot of Cheon Dongha’s mental strength, but he accomplished his mission perfectly.
After Cheon Dongha deactivated his light skills, he was so tired that he couldn’t even say that he’d join the other students in the central area.
He explained what he saw in a reasonable and easy-to-understand manner, but his voice was devoid of spirit.
“Cheon Dongha’s light skill, Eye Embracing Heaven and Earth, literally means that he can see over the skies and lands. Cheon Dongha said that he observed the sky too.”
The people of Tiger Clan were on high alert at Jeokho’s mention of the sky.
They heard about the possibility of Pungbaek and Usa being involved.
Although there weren’t a lot of them, Hwangho personally called the people of Tiger Clan who remembered the mythical age and oriented them.
It was to prevent them from being shocked once they sense Pungbaek and Usa’s energies in the snow, just like Jeokho did in the replay.
Although the Tiger Clan followed the heavens and gods well, for them, Hwangho and Baekho deserve the same respect.
It was unimaginable for them to have those beings as enemies when they had been close before.
More than the betrayal of the Bear Clan, the tigers felt more slighted by Pungbaek and Usa.
Jeokho’s explanation continued.
“The sky was covered with clouds and snow was pouring all the way through. He said there was no sign of anything appearing in the clouds.”
Some of the people of Tiger Clan had their hopes up.
“Maybe it isn’t Pungbaek and Usa up there,” is their thought.
However, Jeokho was completely sure that it was them based on his replay experience.
“They seem to be hiding tenaciously. From what I remember, Pungbaek and Usa were capricious, but they were very persistent in their attempts. Once I play a simple joke, they spare no patience and effort to retaliate double what I did.”
Jeokho said, a hint of longing for friends in his voice.
The tigers who heard it couldn’t resist.
Although Jeokho has committed a great sin, it remained unchanged that he was one of the tigers in the myth, and they knew that he had atoned for everything except his son.
It was hard for them to think that Jeokho was exaggerating or telling a lie.
And Baekho also added a word.
“I remember too. If Pungbaek and Usa really turned their backs on us, they wouldn’t show themselves recklessly in our territory.”
No one could refute Baekho’s agreement.
After hearing that, all of the tigers began to worry about Jo Euishin.
After all, the Tiger Clan’s benefactor will be facing Pungbaek and Usa alone.
‘And the bears didn’t mention Unsa-nim.’
One of the tigers thought about the information relayed by Jeokho.
Before he was caught, the careless Beonmin said this;
— Unsa will follow soon. Then you can introduce your son.
If so, that means that Unsa is alive and fighting against the Tiger Clan’s enemies.
The tigers were worried about how the human benefactor would deal with such great threats.
In the end, one of them couldn’t stay quiet.
“I heard that the benefactor is working to get rid of those who are making it snow. Are you not worried?”
“I am.”
They thought that Jeokho would answer, but Baekho responded first.
“I will not intervene when Jo Euishin deals with the culprits of the snow.”
“That’s…”
At first glance, Baekho’s words seemed cold.
But what followed utterly changed its meaning.
“I trust Jo Euishin and my friend.”
***
Mt. Cheonik, in front of the Cheondansu.
I borrowed two of my playable characters’ powers and performed a ritual.
I swung the White Fang to cut the Sagi (evil spirit), and the five-colored fan to eliminate the Jin.
It was very slight, but the nature of the sleet that covered Yong Jegun’s space had changed, and the blade of the White Fang was slowly reaching the evils that pervaded.
The ritual still had a long way to go, but my energy waves had already been severely consumed.
My shoulders that carried the fan and the sword felt heavy.
‘The snow stopped, but I couldn’t clean up all the accumulated snow. I can’t afford to stop now.’
And I haven’t reached the goal yet.
‘He must be watching by now, right? Come out if you’re watching.’
I smiled like I was looking under the crow mask.
He must be moving the clouds to find the cause of the abnormality by now.
Indeed, not long after it crossed my mind, I felt a strange gaze.
In response to the gaze, I swung the White Fang that contained my energy waves.
Shwiiik!
I swung at the air, but there was a presence that the White Fang seemed to have cut something.
The White Fang reached Pungbaek and Usa.
The air began to change soon, and the clouds opened up.
‘They’re coming…! They must be coming by now.’
It’s all about bringing Pungbaek and Usa to the ground, but those two know the Tiger Clan well.
The same is true of the Tiger Clan though.
So long as the Tiger Clan is visible, those two will not show themselves.
After Jeokho’s death in PMH, Ungnyeo intervened in their plans.
Ungnyeo did everything to bring Baekho-gun to Eungwang High.
The moment Baekho-gun crossed the boundary, the snow suddenly stopped.
‘I was relieved then, but I thought it was weird. I understand them though. They stopped because they were afraid that Baekho-gun would figure it out.”
Jeokho recognized Pungbaek and Usa from the snow right away, therefore the same would be true of Baekho-gun.
However, since Baekho-gun’s power is superior, there’s no guarantee that they’ll survive if they get caught.
In addition, Baekho-gun was accompanied by Ungnyeo, making it more difficult to kill for silence.
That’s why Pungbaek and Usa chose to retreat.
However, by that point, victims were already piled up and the Blac Screen succeeded.
‘But I’m not letting them escape this time.’
Right after the clouds parted, a thunderous drum was heard.
Duuung!
“…!”
I almost dropped the White Fang and covered my ears without realizing it.
My ear became hot as if a needle had gone through it.
I realized that it was bleeding.
The malicious sound aimed at me went beyond my shield of energy waves and damaged my ears.
‘Their power from that distance is this much!’
The blood from my ear flowed down my shoulder and to the five-colored fan.
I haven’t properly pulled them down and purified all the evil they sent yet.
If I stop here, snow will fall into Eungwang High.
‘I have to endure!’
I ignored my bleeding ear and proceeded with the ritual.
Then, the clouds opened even wider.
Pungbaek and Usa seem to be coming down after the warning shot.
I’m defenseless, and there are no tigers to come to my aid.
When I first proposed that I’d do the ritual alone, Hwang Jiho said this;
— I see. It’s as you say, Jo Euishin. Pungbaek and Usa would be wary of Jeokho’s fog. They must’ve thought of a way to destroy it, but it’s impossible for Jeokho to protect you on his own.
It wasn’t a plan without contingencies, of course.
I’ll have to suffer a little and I need Hwang Jiho’s permission, but I’ll be able to deal with Pungbaek and Usa on my own.
Upon hearing my explanation, Hwang Jiho replied.
— I see. That plan is okay, but there are others. You’ll be doing the ritual in Mt. Cheonik, right?
I thought Hwang Jiho would refuse, but he readily agreed for me to borrow Cheondansu.
But what’s up with Mt. Cheonik?
Hwang Jiho looked very happy at my confusion.
— I can do one thing here, Jo Euishin. Jeokho might not be able to hide on Mt. Cheonik, but I will have other ways.
— What’s that?
— Hahahaha! You can’t think of it right away, Jo Euishin. It’s worth offering then. Are you curious? If you’re really curious, I can tell you and—
— Nevermind.
If anything, I can solve it without the old man’s help.
So I didn’t ask Hwang Jiho.
However, Pungbaek and Usa are coming down, and whatever Hwang Jiho appeared hasn’t shown up yet.
Deung, dung dung…!
The thunderlike drum grew closer.
I hurriedly lifted my collar to protect my ear when…
Krrrr…!
The sound of a wild beast crawling up from hell engulfed the sound of the drum.
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