Chapter 649: Black snow (2)

Eungwang High, around Lake Cheongrang.

The tigers were watching earth power move and shoot up to the sky.

Even if they didn’t say it, everyone knew who was using the power.

The center of the light was Mt. Cheonik, and the only one there was the Tiger Clan’s benefactor.

“Shinsoo was also there, but this is the benefactor’s…”

“The Tiger Clan’s benefactor stopped the sleet on his own!”

The Tigers, who were extremely worried about Jo Euishin’s safety just now, lost their words as they looked up at the sky.

Soon, black snow began to fall.

Some people were wary of its unusual color, but they soon recognized that it was the color of Jo Euishin’s energy waves and welcomed it on their skin.

There was no evil energy from the snow.

It wasn’t cold or sticky as the black snow didn’t melt even when it touched the skin.

Rather, it disappeared along with the energy waves.

The tigers enjoyed the unfamiliar snow and the scenery.

“It went according to Jo Euishin’s plan, Baekho.”

Jeokho spoke to Baekho.

As if he knew it from the start, Baekho stood still as he let himself get hit by the black snow.

From his appearance, he felt Baekho’s firm faith in Jo Euishin.

‘I also believed in Jo Euishin, but not so much that I could be as calm as Baekho. I should reflect on myself.’

While Jeokho reflected, a sudden sense of incompatibility suddenly rose.

It was from Baekho’s face.

The corner of Baekho’s mouth was very slightly raised.

‘What, is Baekho smiling right now?’

Baekho was his good friend, but it was easy to misunderstand his demeanor as arrogant since he didn’t speak much.

In the distant past though, it was true that Baekho was arrogant, but he’s changed a lot now.

Although it might be the effect of being their territory’s prisoner, Baekho didn’t show his feelings very well.

He acted as if he lacked all kinds of emotions, even his previous arrogance.

Jeokho was then surprised to see him smiling, and without realizing it, Jeokho smiled too.

But Baekho’s smile was only for a moment.

‘Oh?’

Baekho, who returned to his expressionless face, turned his head.

He took his eyes away from the sky and looked at the mountain.

He couldn’t tell what Baekho was thinking, but Jeokho talked to him first.

“Now we have to move to the next part of the plan. Now that Hwangho is free to act, we’d better match that.”

“Jeokho.”

Baekho’s voice was solid.

Before Jeokho could respond, Baekho spoke again.

“I’ll move separately for a while.”

“What? Where will you go?”

“…”

Baekho flew away without answering Jeokho’s question, his white shadow disappearing through the black snow.

* * *

In front of the Cheondansu, right after I shot earth power with the White Fang.

I thought about the possibility that the surroundings would be devastated as an aftermath, but not even the weeds rotted around the mountain.

If it were a regular energy wave, the aftermath would’ve remained.

As expected, earth power was different.

The earth power was driven by my will and aimed only at what I wanted.

The subjects were Pungbaek, Usa, the cloud, and the accumulated snow.

As a result, Pungbaek and Usa collapsed, the cloud scattered, and the sleet turned black and purified.

‘Pungbaek and Usa are caught with this.’

The two boys fell unconscious around the Cheondansu.

Only their bodies were hit, the knife with their names engraved surviving.

Hwiiik!

I took off the five-colored fan and released my energy waves.

Then, the five colors moved and tied the two tightly.

It will be difficult for the two to shake it off and run away.

‘By the time they open their eyes, they would be stuck in the tiger’s den.’

Seeing the young appearance of the twin boys made me feel complicated.

But appearance doesn’t mean much to superior beings or royal lineage.

After all, even Hwang Jiho can look like the nice and young child Hwang Yuho.

But Pungbaek and Usa…

They look similar to the age of my younger siblings.

It didn’t make me feel good.

Of course, apart from my bad feelings, the trap was firmly set.

‘I shouldn’t forget that those kids sprayed snow on Eungwang High.’

I came to my senses when I recalled the playable characters who died because of their snow.

I took my eyes off the twins and looked up to see the black snow pouring from the sky.

‘The cloud is gone. Is it all scattered?’

Only the snow that was purified with my energy waves was visible.

The clouds called by the Dragon King’s shamans were gone.

It seems like they quickly regained strength and ran away before they were reached by the earth power again and their identity was revealed.

‘Still, those traitors couldn’t have completely withdrawn from this great force.’

Yong Jegun found the five colors in the sky.

The shamans who thoroughly concealed their identities recovered the pieces of Cintamani when he died.

Yong Jegun said he saw all five colors.

— The shamans have their names derived from the ogansaek. The color of their energy waves is the same as their names. When dealing with clouds, they usually have the same color. but …

— Shamans can handle clouds located in adjacent colors. For example, Byeok (Jade) can make jade clouds but also green and red.

— There are at least two traitors. One person can make up to three colors of clouds, so it takes at least two people to make five colors.

To put it simply, two of the five shamans were traitors.

I decided to catch at least one of them during the ritual.

In order to do that, I used Yoon Yeorang’s power, the unfortunate playable character who lost her life because of the traitor.

I have revealed malice with this power before when I helped Jang Namwook with Do Sihoo.

— What are you doing, Jo Euishin?

— I used Jinryeong. I’m going to relieve the spirit and reveal the truth.

Ryeong is the generic term for spirit, ghost, and other spiritual things.

It also includes malice.

I found the seal of Avaritia and revealed the face of the man who seeks Do Sihoo.

And in this ritual, I used two types of forces — Byeoksa and Jinryeong.

Getting rid of the evil energy and identifying its cause.

I wanted to achieve those two things, so it was necessary to use those two powers.

Fwaaang!

The fan that I used for Jinryeong, the Sun-Moon Blue Dragon Fan, opened wide.

Then, the tip of the fan shook and the blue dragon in it wriggled loudly.

The blue dragon’s mouth caught the clothes that were beyond the cloud.

The pieces were fleeting as if they were about to run away, but the blue dragon clung to them with its teeth.

‘I wouldn’t have gotten this clue if I let my guard down.’

I could feel the tenacity and prudence of the Dragon King’s shamans.

I kept my eyes on the fan and…

“Show me.”

Fwwoooo…

The blue dragon opened its mouth and a piece of clothing mixed with the cloud came out.

The color of the cloth was sulfur.

‘The oldest, Yoohwang was one of the traitors!’

The piece released freely from the blue dragon’s mouth, the cloth disappearing into ashes as if it was burned.

But I saw it clearly.

One of the evidence points to Yoohwang as the traitor.

‘It’s complicated now… it would be difficult to confirm whose mind he changed and how.’

It would’ve been easier to seek help if the eldest wasn’t the traitor since she’d been the shaman for the longest, therefore knowing the other shamans very well.

‘There’s no other evidence apart from what I saw. Can I convince the Dragon Clan and Yeom Bangyeol?’

While I was thinking about it, something warm touched my shoulder.

I turned my head and saw the genius warrior.

My Olmu, who was dashing head-on against the enemy, was leaning his head on my shoulder!

He couldn’t even reach my knee when he looked like Cotton Wool, but now Olmu has to bend his head to reach my shoulder.

At that moment, I realized that what I had to do now wasn’t to worry about the traitor.

I had to apologize to my angel and genius and hope to be forgiven.

“I couldn’t imagine that you had another form of genius that I didn’t know about, Olmu. My expectations and imagination were lacking. Sorry, I didn’t recognize you right away, Olmu.”

Keuuung…!

“Are you forgiving me?”

Grrr!

Olmu answered by putting his chin on my shoulder, then the back of his head on my back.

The surroundings shook with every answer from Olmu, a testament to his genius as a great warrior.

Maybe it’s because Olmu got bigger, but every time he leaned his head, my shoulder and back got a little stiff and hurt.

I felt again my lack of discipline.

I was so vulnerable that my body couldn’t even deal with a little tap from Olmu!

I knew that I should work on my physical training from then on.

I apologized to Olmu, but I tried with all my strength to keep up with him.

However, the dreamlike time was very short.

I still had a job to do.

“Can you watch these guys so they won’t run away, Olmu-yah? They’re tied up, but someone could come and untie them.”

Keuung?

Olmu’s whimper reached my injured ear.

Blood was still flowing, but I was more surprised that I flinched in response to the sound.

Olmu bowed his head and lowered his tail.

The ear injury was from Pungbaek and Usa, and it was my fault for failing to stop it…

Olmu was at no fault!

If I acted like it hurt, Olmu would think that it was because of him!

I apologized to Olmu and appeased him again.

He didn’t seem to want me to go, but it couldn’t be helped.

“I still have more to do.”

Christmas wasn’t over just yet.

I remembered the conversation I had with the silver hero.

— I know you’re working to stop what’s going to happen on Christmas. If things go according to plan, we’ll be able to stop it but…

— Hwangho-nim will be in danger.

I didn’t forget the silver hero’s warning and the promise I made to her.

I lowered my eyebrows and spoke to the disappointed Olmu.

“I’ll be back.”