Chapter 671

The place where I’m staying now, Murim, has none of the dazzling scientific civilization, mechanical engineering, or magic of the modern world.

But even in this world, there are things everywhere that are no less extraordinary than magic.

Martial artists who accumulate internal energy to unleash power surpassing hunters. Countless martial arts and mysterious, bizarre spiritual beasts and elixirs you’d never find in the modern world.

And… tracking incense was one of them.

Ding.

– A sudden quest, [Yohee’s Scent of Pursuit], has been created!

– Would you like to open the quest window to check the details? Y / N.

A sudden system alert echoed. Taken off guard, I instinctively nodded.

Ding.

【Yohee’s Scent of Pursuit】

A new path appears before you as you flee from pursuit.

Now you must once again make a choice.

But no one knows what lies at the end of these two branching roads before you—only the consequences and responsibilities of your decision exist.

Grade: Supreme Peak

Restriction: Jin Taekyung

Objective: Choose the direction to travel (Incomplete)

Reward: Linked Quest ???

Failure: ???

Damn it. What now.

A hologram window filled the air.

At the same time, memories from just a day ago flashed through my mind like lightning.

‘Looks like they really fought it out.’

‘By the time I received the report, it was already over. What remained in the Western Yao Tribe were blood and corpses. And… only those things.’

I remembered everything from that day clearly. Those were the only clues left by Heukung and Yohee, who had vanished without a trace.

‘Heukung’s wrist was severed, and Yohee…’

Right, she left behind a sachet.

But when I had just arrived at the Western Yao Tribe, I focused on Heukung’s wrist rather than the sachet.

By examining the marks left on the severed wrist, I could roughly guess the opponent’s martial arts and level.

‘Compared to that, Yohee’s sachet didn’t seem important.’

The sachet wasn’t even intact. The silk was already damaged, and fragrance had leaked out through a long tear, making it nearly scentless.

But I didn’t know. No—none of us had the time to care, with everything that happened afterward.

That sachet was the most important clue in the Western Yao Tribe, and it was the tracking incense Yohee had left behind so someone could find her.

‘The scent didn’t leak. It was like that from the start.’

As far as I know, tracking incense is exactly what the name implies—an artifact created to trace someone’s trail.

Not something commonly found, but not unheard of either.

In orthodox factions, groups like the Hao Clan or Gong Gi-bang, for example.

And having spent considerable time with Gong Gi-bang’s Hougae, exchanging many stories, had been an unexpected stroke of luck for me.

– ‘Tracking incense. Effective, but incredibly rare. The recipe is highly secretive, and very few in Murim can make it.’

– ‘Like the Ten-Thousand-League Tracking Incense?’

– ‘Ten-Thousand-League Tracking Incense. Hah, guess you’ve picked up something somewhere.’

– ‘If you don’t shut up, about five of your teeth are going to fall out. Should I pick them up for you too?’

Ah…

– ‘Fine, keep running that mouth.’

– ‘Ahem. Truth is, I’ve never actually seen Ten-Thousand-League Tracking Incense. The name sounds fancy, but the idea that a scent lasts over such a distance feels unrealistic.’

– ‘So it was a scam?’

– ‘Not necessarily. Even if it’s not Ten-Thousand-League level, Murim does use many types of tracking incense. Among them, the highest grade is commonly called Thousand-League Tracking Incense.’

– ‘Thousand-League Tracking Incense?’

– ‘It has characteristics. One, the manufacturing method is absurdly complicated. Two, it costs a ridiculous amount to produce. Three—getting your hands on it costs even more gold.’

– ‘Wow. You say “ridiculous” every other sentence, beggar.’

-‘As filthy as I am, at least I’m not as bad as your—my apologies. Slip of the tongue. Anyway, top-tier tracking incense is worth dozens of times its weight in gold. And its effect is guaranteed.’

– ‘For example?’

– ‘Unlike the unverified Ten-Thousand-League kind, Thousand-League Tracking Incense really does last for about a thousand leagues. And it’s nearly scentless—undetectable even to beasts with extremely keen noses. Humans don’t stand a chance.’

– ‘Sounds like once you apply it, it’s game over.’

– ‘But its duration is at most seven days. If the target burns their clothes or submerges themselves in water, the scent won’t disappear entirely, but the duration will shorten.’

– ‘Still, you’d have to know you were marked first. If beasts can’t smell it, then who can?’

– ‘Correct. But spiritual beasts are different.’

– ‘Ah.’

– ‘So there are only two ways to track someone with tracking incense. One, someone trained in high-level tracking arts. Two, using a spiritual beast whose senses are sharp enough to detect it.’

Recalling my conversation with Gong Gi-bang, I had no choice but to admit he was right about everything.

Grr. Sniff sniff.

A wet nose nudged my palm, twitching.

I looked at the white tiger licking my fingers with a rough tongue.

‘…Right. You’re here.’

A spiritual beast capable of detecting tracking incense.

Just like Gong Gi-bang said. And this white tiger, Muyaho, had been intelligent enough from a young age to understand human speech and communicate.

‘The intelligence of a spiritual beast, and senses sharper than any ordinary predator.’

Thinking back, that almost-scentless sachet was likely Thousand-League Tracking Incense.

If the target is within a thousand leagues, and if no special conditions interfere, it lasts for seven days.

Even the two tigers standing there absentmindedly hinted at this fact.

Grr. Grrr.

Muyaho let out a low rumble, as if asking me.

Asking which way he should go. Asking me to choose the path.

His large, snow-white head kept shifting between two directions.

One was northwest, where the scouting party headed. The other—

‘…Southeast.’

Crack.

My fist trembled without me realizing. Taesan blinked his big round eyes at me.

“Captain. What’s wrong?”

I wanted to answer Taesan. To say it was nothing. That we should keep going.

But no voice came out.

‘Shit.’

The curse I couldn’t say out loud churned inside my mouth.

There was no reason to hesitate. The path was already determined, and the beasts moved faster than I expected.

Even if Heaven’s Net was deployed after sunrise, at my current strength, I could escape Southern Barbarian Region.

But… why was I hesitating?

‘If I leave Southern Barbarian Region with them now, then what happens after?’

I already knew the answer. Maybe even from the moment I climbed onto the tiger’s back.

‘Even if I return later… it’ll be too late.’

Even if we shake off the pursuers at full speed and escape Heaven’s Net, it’d take days. Including the return trip, seven days.

Would the people who set out to save us still be alive then?

And if this incident endangered the Beast Miao King as well, why would Dark Heaven hesitate to act?

‘They’d die. Dozens, hundreds. Maybe even thousands.’

I slowly blinked. Darkness still blanketed the world—no sign of dawn.

‘Damn it. It was like this when I first entered the training camp.’

A sudden thought made me let out a hollow laugh.

In hindsight, training camp had been better.

Back then, no matter what mess I caused, I could be forgiven. But now, everything was different.

I’d survived countless brushes with death, left dying comrades behind, and lived on.

I’d spent days shut in a room, crying like an idiot, swearing never to lose my people again.

Then one day, I gained the system. And when I came to my senses, I had too much responsibility.

Everything felt like my fault. And every time innocent people died, I felt miserable.

And each time, I thought:

‘If only I were there.’

But now? Now it just felt laughable.

Those thoughts were all hypocrisy. A hero cosplay I forced on myself.

Yeah. I wasn’t a chivalrous warrior, nor a hero from some movie.

But today, the ones who watched my fleeing back—they were the real warriors. The real heroes.

‘No need to thank us.’

‘Right. Southern Barbarian Region is merely repaying its debt to you.’

‘My older brother was in Mount Aino. Thanks to your grace, I could see him again.’

‘Please protect the young mistress.’

Faces flashed through the darkness—young men, middle-aged men.

Their skills? If I tried, I could wipe them out in seconds.

Which made it even more incredible.

They didn’t stay to win. They stayed to die.

Even if it was like striking a rock with an egg, they wouldn’t retreat. Even if their bodies shattered upon impact.

‘Even now, they might be fighting.’

And I… left them behind. Even while sensing their fate, I left with a futile promise to return.

Hoo…

Just moments ago, the air felt hot. Now a single breath escaped my lips as white frost.

Southern Barbarian Region really was a shitty land. Just like my mood.

– Select the quest objective.

Staring silently at the floating hologram window, I finally spoke.

“Taesan.”

“Hm?”

“From now on…”

As my voice continued, Taesan’s eyes widened.

The old man awoke with a start.

How long had he been unconscious? Every bone ached, and his body, bound atop a massive beast, shook endlessly with its movements.

‘A tiger?’

Fwap fwap fwap.

Looking around, the old man, Nam Ho, realized Yal Mok’s plan had worked. Then he noticed something strange.

“…Why. Why is that bastard not here?”

At the elderly voice filled with suspicion, Taesan turned his head.

“Nam Ho. You’re awake?”

But Nam Ho asked again instead of answering. A foreboding sense crushed his chest.

“Where is he.”

“…Nam Ho.”

“Where is Jin Taekyung!”

Seeing Taesan’s darkening expression while the eastern sky brightened, Nam Ho understood.

The unease he had felt… was not unfounded.