The reactions of the Wolbok-dang members who saw me and the Black Cat were completely divided into two.

“Is the Lord really showing his eyes this openly?!”
“Oh my!”
“Is that guy really Ho Cheon-an?”
“They say he’s got a unique constitution that rivals the Lord?”

The members of the Wolbok-dang, split right down the middle, surrounded us. As I stumbled back from their eager gazes, the stout Black Cat clapped her hands.

Clap, clap!!
“Now, now, everyone, focus.”
The Black Cat started to skillfully control the Wolbok-dang members.
“As you can see, I’ve found a way to control my symptoms. They say once I reach Hwa-gyeong, I’ll be able to completely control my Qi. This was confirmed by the Poison Doctor, one of the three great masters of the Central Plains.”
“Wow…”
“Indeed!”
“I had a small realization recently that allowed me to reach the Peak Stage! Thanks to that, I’m able to contain the Qi in my eyes. However, in my current state, I can’t fully contain it, so keep that in mind.”
“Do you have any specific information about the Lord’s current situation?”
“We’ll find that out starting now. And I imagine there isn’t a single Wolbok-dang member who doesn’t know Senior Ho? Since he’s my invited guest, please treat him with respect.”
“Understood.”
“Well then, I’ll be heading up. We’ll have a gathering for dinner later.”
“I’ll prepare for it!”

With bright eyes, the Wolbok-dang members quickly dispersed. Once dozens of them had left, only the Black Cat and I were left standing.

“Quite the commotion, huh?”
“Um….”
The Black Cat loosened her scarf. A wry smile crept across her face as it became visible through the moving scarf.
“What should I say? Both the Wolbok-dang and I are a bit flustered, so it might be a bit chaotic for a while. The distance between me and the Wolbok-dang members is… um… should I call it special? They’ve witnessed my bare face, but since they’re acutely aware of the dangers involved, there’s a greater distance.”
“Is that so.”
Well, I suppose there’s some backstory between the Black Cat and the Wolbok-dang members.

“Eh, what am I saying! First, let me show you to your lodging!”
The stout Black Cat tapped her cheek and began to guide me to where I would stay. The underground space, although I couldn’t quite tell where it was, was well-organized. It didn’t seem like a space that had been created overnight.
“Actually, having a guest stay at the Wolbok-dang is a first, so… there isn’t really a concept of guest lodging. You can use this room.”
From what I could see, it looked like a row of rooms where the Wolbok-dang members lived. Just to avoid any mix-up, I decided to hang my Black Rib that I usually carried around on the door.

“Phew. Well, Senior, I suppose I should get going. Since I haven’t been back to the main hall in a long time, I have quite a few things to take care of. See you at dinner.”
“Alright, got it.”

As I closed the door and began to unpack, I heard a voice interrupt me.
“Ahem. Is anyone there?”
A visitor had arrived.

* *

“Nice to meet you! I’m Jin-seo from the Wolbok-dang.”
“I am Du-hwi.”
About ten members of the Wolbok-dang, including Jin-seo and Du-hwi, crowded in. Only the two of them introduced themselves—perhaps they intended to take the lead in the conversation?
“I’m Ho Cheon-an.”
“So you’re that outcast. I’ve heard nothing but ear-piercing rumors about you lately.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Indeed, as rumored, you possess the ability to convey the realization of a martial artist…”
“Ah, Jin-seo. That’s not what we came here to ask about.”
“Ahem. My apologies.”
“Right. What we want to hear about is… hmmm… the current situation of the Lord.”
“The current situation?”
“The reason the Lord can show his eyes openly and how long he can maintain that state. If you can provide us with any information about the Lord’s condition, no matter how trivial, it would be great.”

I hesitated for a moment before responding.
“Well, perhaps the Black Cat— the Lord— will talk about that at the gathering she mentioned earlier?”
“I think so too.”
Upon hearing Du-hwi’s answer, I fell deeper into contemplation. Did they need to know details about something that would be clearly addressed shortly?
As if sensing my doubts, Du-hwi stroked his chin.
“Are you aware that all of us have seen the Lord’s face?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, the conversation will move along quickly. No matter how much the Lord has been selective in interacting with the Wolbok-dang, do you think there wouldn’t have been any incidents?”
“Well…”
There must have been some. No matter what safety measures are taken, accidents are bound to happen.
“For the existence of the Wolbok-dang as an organization, the Lord and the members must be thoroughly separated. Having any of the members fall under the Lord’s demonic charm would be… not good for either side.”
“I see.”
The bitter smile the Black Cat had earlier came to mind.
“I don’t think the Lord is someone who would act recklessly, but we also need to exercise caution from our side.”
“Right. Accidents can’t be undone.”
It seems the Black Cat exposing her eyes without a veil was quite the shocking incident for the Wolbok-dang members.
“As for the Lord’s current state…”
To reassure them, I earnestly explained the Black Cat’s current situation. How she was able to control Qi now, and that she had confirmed her influence over shadowy figures by interacting with guests and members over a long period at the Inn.
I also recounted how people had reacted when they coincidentally encountered her while touring or visiting the Inn in Nangyang.
“Wow, I see.”
“Now the Lord should be able to travel a bit more freely.”
“Indeed. Her martial arts level has risen, and incidents with strange pests should be less frequent, so it’s a relief.”
Upon confirming the Black Cat’s safety (?), they sighed in relief.
“By the way, it sounds like a significant change has occurred.”
“Ha ha. Who would have thought I’d see the Lord’s eyes for the second time in my life!”
“Thank you. You must be tired after that journey too, so please rest.”
“I’m glad I could help.”

Watching the Wolbok-dang members swarm away, I reflected. What can I say? It was quite an indirect way to experience how twisted the Black Cat’s environment was.
For the Black Cat, the members of the Wolbok-dang were probably the closest people. The only ones who knew her true identity, hidden away from the world. And to maintain that relationship, she had to keep a thorough distance from them, even more than anyone else.
Thinking about various things, I finished unpacking, and it seemed evening was drawing near when the Black Cat knocked on the door.
It looked like the time for the gathering was approaching.

* *

“Greetings, Lord!”
“Greetings, Lord!”
“Thank you all for gathering here.”
The gathering seemed to refer to the act of the Wolbok-dang members and the Black Cat coming together to discuss matters. One noticeable difference from a regular meeting was that several layers of cloth meticulously covered the Black Cat.
“First, I’d like to talk about my current state…”
The Black Cat shared details about her condition. Thankfully, there were no discrepancies from what I had perceived. The Wolbok-dang members who hadn’t visited me earlier listened intently, their expressions full of shock and awe.
“Congratulations on your achievement!”
“It’s amazing that you’re overcoming your heavenly calamity!”
“Thank you, everyone.”
After the discussion about the Black Cat passed, the conversation shifted to the internal matters of the Wolbok-dang.
“The third branch in the Honam region…”
“The supply station for letters in Guangxi has…”
“The fair rate of the newly absorbed Sacheon branch is…”

Even as an outsider, it felt like important matters were pouring out, and it was clear that both the Black Cat and the Wolbok-dang members were deeply engrossed in the discussion. I could tell that even though I knew nothing about the Wolbok-dang’s affairs, they were large matters requiring the leader’s decision.
Once the important issues had been addressed, questions about me arose.
“How long do you and the Lord plan to stay?”
“I plan to stay until the New Year. That should be fine, right, Senior?”
“That’s fine.”
The New Year, huh? That would mean I’d be here for about a week. Since I’ve come to a place that can be considered the Black Cat’s home, it’s only natural to stay for a bit.
Noticing the formality in my speech made the Black Cat chuckle lightly.
“Ha ha ha. Using honorifics all of a sudden? Just feel free to speak.”
“Um… right.”
Even though she was the Lord and I was in front of the members, I tried to keep some decorum. Maybe I was trying too hard. As I glanced at the members, their expressions seemed envious.
As I observed their expressions, the gathering had unexpectedly fallen into silence.

“Lord, are there any specific commands you would like to give?”
Jin-seo, who had visited me earlier, looked at the Black Cat behind the curtain. It was as if he had some expectations tucked within his attitude. Now that I looked closely, not just Jin-seo, but most of the Wolbok-dang members seemed to be brimming with anticipation in their gaze.
Hmm.
What can I say? It was a curious sight.
The layers of fabric separating the Black Cat and the Wolbok-dang members. Those thin fabrics only barely revealing the Black Cat’s form would likely not allow her to clearly discern the shapes of the Wolbok-dang members either.
Did the Black Cat understand their desire to get closer to her?
“…I have no special commands. Do you perhaps have suggestions?”
The Wolbok-dang members exchanged hasty glances among themselves. After a fierce exchange of looks, the result was…
“None.”
Silence fell.
“Well then, we’ll conclude today’s gathering.”
With that, the gathering ended rather anticlimactically.
After the Wolbok-dang members flowed out like the receding tide, the Black Cat appeared from behind the curtain.
“The gathering wasn’t much, was it?”
“Not much? I’m not even sure if it’s appropriate for an outsider like me to hear all this.”
“Well, Senior, to be precise, shouldn’t you be considered an honorary Wolbok-dang member?”
The Black Cat stretched her arms, speaking.
“I’m quite tired after today’s events. You can find your room from here, right?”
“I’ll manage. You get some rest.”
“Thanks, Senior. See you in the morning!”
The Black Cat, trying hard to appear cheerful, nonetheless had her shoulders droop a little more than usual as she headed toward her room.
Well…
What can I say about the Black Cat and the Wolbok-dang members?
Right.
It felt like a father who knew no way to express affection except through scolding, and a son who had only known rebellion and conflict in communication with that father.
Both the Wolbok-dang members and the Black Cat have been making efforts to maintain distance. The relationship forged by that effort between the Wolbok-dang members and the Black Cat might have been even more distant than that of complete strangers.
But that was all in the past.
The Black Cat controlling her Qi completely after ascending to Hwa-gyeong is still a distant future.
“That guy is also quite unable to be honest.”
People live in the present. Chasing blind possibilities of the future or being anchored to events of the past prevents one from moving forward.
I had also done so.
I had blindly believed that I would remove all impurities from my body in the future, ignoring my current state, which led to a long period of stagnation in development.
The Black Cat’s inability to control her Qi was a thing of the past.
In a shaky manner, being able to govern her Qi was her present.
Then, should the Black Cat and the Wolbok-dang members not establish their relationship anew in line with their current situation?
It seems like this body can’t help but step in.
“I hope we become friends~”
From tomorrow on, I’ll have to move diligently.