As we looked at the scenery of the Dragon Palace, Yong Jegun suggested something.
“Should we look at it from above? It looks much better than from here.”
Fwat!
Yong Jegun moved before we could answer.
With one gesture, a huge space was created from the floor.
The space slowly rose up as Yong Jegun wanted to show us the palace using his spatial and flight skills at the same time.
‘His condition is much better than when he used his spatial skill in the team building.’
Yong Jegun is strong even on the ground and could use this much power if he wanted to.
Still, the speed at which he created the space and the quality of his energy waves seemed much better here.
The teleportation itself was quite tiring, but he was more lively than usual.
Since we’re at the Dragon Palace, his powers as a dragon has become stronger, and I think he’s showing off because of excitement from having guests over.
“What do you think? Good, right?”
As Yong Jegun said, everything was really visible.
The palace, the mountain, the deep-sea scenery that wrapped around the subtly-colored clouds were fantastic.
“The Dragon Palace is a bit big and complicated. But if you remember the colors of the five palaces, you won’t get lost. Even if you do get lost, if you visit the Blue Dragon Palace or the Yellow Dragon Palace, you’ll find your way.”
The five palaces that Yong Jegun mentioned were arranged in five colors, and each had the name of the five dragons.
In the east was the Blue Dragon Palace where we were going to stay.
In the center was the Yellow Dragon Palace where the shamans and Hwangryong live.
The west has the White Dragon Palace, the south has the Red Dragon Palace, and the north had the Black Dragon Palace.
Just as Yong Jegun said, even if we do get lost, we could know which direction we are in just by checking the color of the palace.
“I heard that the White Dragon, Red Dragon, and Black Dragon palaces aren’t usually used, but I can feel power there as well.”
Jeokho was right.
Power and light were also flowing out of the empty palaces.
Yong Jegun turned his blindfolded face.
“It’s because of the influence of the dragons who became superior beings. We’re close to the divine world. The power of the ascended dragons can be felt here. The only one who can easily visit is the Dragon King though.”
“Baekryong, Jeokryong, and Heukryong haven’t appeared back here in a long time. Don’t tell me…”
“They’ve ascended.”
At that, Kim Shinrok took his eyes off the five palaces and looked at Yong Jegun.
At his blindfold, to be exact.
Although Yong Jegun might’ve noticed the gaze, he said something to reaffirm what we already knew.
“The three palaces will be opened while the shaman test is being conducted. The more they are exposed to dragon energy, the easier it will be to identify them.”
Even Jeokho, who sometimes asked questions, became speechless, but Yong Jegun didn’t pay attention and just kept talking about the palace.
Yong Jegun floated a space and formed it into a map of the Dragon Palace.
“You may not have seen it well since we came through teleportation, but the Dragon Palace is between West Korea and East China. By Korean standards, it’s the West Sea or the Yellow Sea.”
Yong Jegun asked me.
“You know that our power is affected by the country we stay in, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why?”
“There are two main reasons. First is the earth power in each country. The second is the difference in the royal lineage source of different countries. Crossing borders is usually affected by those two things.”
There were other reasons too, like the difference in the type of order one has.
A primary example is Hwang Jiho.
The Myth of Gaecheon has the following passage;
[The sky opened up and Cheonshin came down, asking for the tigers’ wishes.]
[Hwangho wished to exist anywhere.]
Cheonshin granted Hwangho’s wish and gave him an order that lets him create and control alter egos.
Hwang Jiho is free to handle his alter egos within his and Cheonshin’s power.
In other words, he can exist anywhere in any land that is protected by Chonshin.
If Hwang Jiho leaves the border, his power can’t be used properly.
“Correct. As expected of our school’s pride.”
Yong Jegun replied with satisfaction at my answer.
He seemed like a teacher when he said that.
I sometimes forget it, but Yong Jegun is our second homeroom teacher.
Anyway, although I was praised like that, the real geniuses are Joo Soohyuk, Ahn Dain, Cheon Dongha, Yeom Junyeol, and Do Wonwoo.
“You also know that the boundaries of the sea are more ambiguous than those of the earth.”
I know that much.
Compared to land borders, sea borders are much more ambiguous.
Territorial waters are determined by the United Nations Convention, but international disputes are rampant.
The Korean Peninsula couldn’t escape that conflict.
Until recently, there has been friction between Korea, China, and Japan over maritime boundaries and sovereignty.
“Yes, the location of the Dragon Palace is not included in the territorial waters of either Korea or China.”
“Yes, the Dragon Palace is in the South Korea-China Provincial Action Zone. As I explained last time, the Dragon Palace is divided between Korea and China depending on how you look at the countries’ economic zones and how the EEZ is set up.”
Exclusive economic zones, strictly speaking, are part of international waters.
In other words, the Dragon Palace does not belong to any country.
However, the people of royal lineage depend on territories.
Depending on how the EEZ is measured, the location of the Dragon Palace can be either in Korea or China.
Although it is international water, economic sovereignty, development rights, management, and obligations are determined by the establishment of EEZ.
“From here to there is Korea, and it’s China from here. Think of it in terms of the Dragon Palace.”
Yong Jegun said as he drew a line on the map.
I listened to his explanation as I looked at the line and the location of the five palaces viewed from above.
Most of the explanation I heard before we left, but I felt like I grasped it better while seeing it with my own eyes.
After Yong Jegun’s explanation, he landed us in front of the Blue Dragon Palace.
“This is the Blue Dragon Palace. It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
The Blue Dragon Palace’s garden.
A huge dragon statue modeled after Cheongryong was welcoming us.
It was dark in the deep sea, but the blue energy shone like a firefly and lit up the surroundings, letting us see the scenery of the Blue Dragon Palace.
As I slowly looked back at the garden to learn the geography, I saw a yellow light in the distance.
When we arrived at the main gate, I saw the identity of the light.
It was a yellow dragon the size of a palm riding a cloud.
“It’s Hwangryong’s minion. Huh, and he said he’d leave it up to me to guide you.”
Maybe he’s worried that Yong Jegun was too excited about the guests.
Hwangryong is well aware of Yong Jegun’s nature so he came prepared.
Hwangryong’s minion looked at us in curiosity.
‘It must be a similar existence to Baekho-gun’s Shadow Tiger or the tiger paintings in Hwang Jiho’s mansion.’
Perhaps influenced by Hwangryong, his minion showed great interest in Kim Shinrok.
He must be very curious about what kind of tiger Yong Jegun’s close friend is.
“Alright, guide us then.”
Hwik!
Yong Jegun may be annoying, but Hwangryong’s minion silently rode the cloud and began to guide us.
It didn’t ignore Yong Jegun when he spoke, but the little dragon responded by fluttering her tail or flying pieces of clouds.
It seemed like dragon language, but Hwangryong’s minion didn’t make a sound.
‘Does Yong Jegun understand?’
Hwangryong’s minion doesn’t speak but only reacts.
I don’t know if Yong Jegun is just talking to himself.
Hwiyooo…
Then, Hwangryong’s minion exhaled loudly.
The cloud that he sighed hardened and scattered in the form of Hwangryong’s seal.
Seeing that, Yong Jegun spoke.
“I think we should go to the Yellow Dragon Palace right after checking our rooms.”
“What’s going on?”
Yong Jegun answered Jeokho’s question, his face full of expectation.
“The candidates have arrived.”
Yoon Yeorang has arrived at the Dragon Palace.
***
Red Lion Team Building.
After confirming that the guests and the candidates had arrived at the palace, Cheongryong, the shamans, and the other dragons were preparing to teleport.
The traitors were checking the power to the Dragon Palace while helping with the teleportation.
This time, the traitors moved carefully to ensure that there were no missteps in their work.
[Everything is as expected except for the guests.]
[Among the guests is Cintamani’s close friend, a descendant of the Bear Clan. Not bad.]
[We could’ve gotten the Cintamani if we used that kid well last time.]
[That’s what I’m saying. We messed things up on Christmas Eve so things became difficult.]
[Shouldn’t Cintamani be weaker under that teacher’s contract?]
[There must’ve been a mistake. But luckily, Cintamani became weak because of granting a big wish to protect the students from the snow. It was a good chance but we missed it.]
[It would’ve worked out well if we captured that descendant and took him hostage.]
When the power-connected shamans exchanged thoughts and lamented, the eldest Yoohwang soothed them with a soft tone.
[Let’s not cry over spilled milk.]
The other shamans who heard Yoohwang turned quiet.
Then, Yoohwang asked softly again.
[Did you check Junyeol’s schedule?]
[…I’m sorry. I didn’t find out who is in charge of Junyeol’s security.]
[Damn it.]
Since the broadcasting station incident, Yeom Junyeol’s schedule management has become more thorough and his security has been strengthened.
It has become difficult since the guards assigned to him are equipped to at least protect Yeom Junyeol from dragon slayers.
Still, since the shamans had been with them for a long time, they could find ways to cope if they knew the guard’s name and abilities, but it wasn’t easy to find out who was in charge just before his schedule.
[I thought they were going to let Junyeol go first, but they changed their mind.]
[I know.]
Yoohwang said sadly.
The other traitors also sympathized and felt sorry.
[I should let them know that the Bear Clan descendant is at the Dragon Palace. They may have already figured it out though…]
[I will tell them that the red tiger and the human are there too.]
[And the list of the dragons who will go to the palace.]
While the shamans exchanged telepathic messages, Cheongryong was moving busily.
Yoohwang was looking at Cheongryong’s back as he talked to Yeom Bangyeol.
They seemed to have no idea what the shamans were doing, but Yoohwang was not relieved.
‘I don’t think there’s any problem, but something’s strange.’
Yoohwang, who has been with the dragons the longest, became wary.
She thought hard and decided to report additional things.
After organizing the content of her report, Yoohwang and the other traitors put their thoughts into the butterfly scales that they were handed and broke them.
The scattered pieces of the scale were mixed with the shamans’ five colors and disappeared.
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