The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Chapter 398

Inside a workshop located in Khan’s capital, Hong Yeon, secretive activities were taking place.

"How are the preparations for the Crowd Road going?"

"Ah, it's in its final stages. We just need to engrave the final marks, and it will be finished."

A massive iron object lay in front of men who had sinister expressions.

"Haha… my life's masterpiece is about to be born."

One man laughed grotesquely.

The Crowd Road was meant to be a test for the Dragon's Flower. Yet these people, who weren't even Dragon's Flowers, were talking about preparations for it.

"Using shamanic spells to blind their eyes and deafen their ears… I wonder if they're right in their minds."

"They're eccentric, but when have those bastards of the Dragon Palace been sane?"

A man touched the iron object and then said.

"We won't be able to transport this with an ordinary cart."

"I've already made arrangements for it. It's custom-made."

"That's good to hear."

The two men looked at each other, their gazes sharp and dangerous.

"Haha… Let's make this a grand spectacle."

"The day of the Crowd Road will be unforgettable."

"Yes. For us and for her."

"We will choose the Dragon…"

* * *

The day of the Crowd Road was right around the corner.

Seol Hong looked for Cheon Ju, her oldest attendant.

Although called an attendant, she was more like a mother to Seol Hong—no, she became her mother since she had never seen her mother before.

Now, Cheon Ju was suffering from old age.

It had been long since she retired from her duties.

"Why did you come at such an hour? You don't need to worry about this old lady."

"They say time flies for the elderly. The kids have been asking me to pay a visit…"

Hwa Ah, Hwi Ah, Cheong Ah—the children sent by Gwak Seong had now taken over the role of Cheon Ju.

The three of them worked well together. Seeing that, Cheon Ju decided to retire.

"Those mischievous brats did something pointless…"

"It isn't pointless."

"…"

"Cheon Ju, you're important to me."

"Did you come here during such an important time to say such a thing? The most pointless thing in the world is a young person worrying about an old person's life."

"Hmm… Is that so?"

Seol Hong plopped down on Cheon Ju's bed, her neat clothes spread out.

"You resemble Lady Yu Hwa a lot…"

"Everyone says that. Do I really look like her that much?"

After returning from the Ghost Realm, Seol Hong regained her original form. However, as if her smaller form had been an illusion, she had rapidly grown over the past few years.

Now, even if people were told that Yu Hwa had reincarnated, two out of ten people might believe it.

"Yes. So beauty is inherited."

"Have you heard about the next test…?"

"The Crowd Road?"

Cheon Ju lay down beside Seol Hong.

The two of them gazed at the ceiling as they talked.

"I've heard. They say it's a harsh test."

"They say my eyes, ears, and even nose will be taken with shamanic spells. And I must only rely on a single rope to walk past the people all the way to the Dragon Palace."

"Whoever thought of this test must truly be a nasty person."

"Haha… I agree."

"The burden must be heavy for you…"

"I would be lying if I said it isn't…"

Seol Hong trailed off.

"Because I could die."

The possibility of death.

Walking among people with only a rope for guidance, without any guards, was an immense burden for the Dragon's Flowers.

"Will you stop me?"

"Why would I?"

"It's dangerous. You've always stopped me from doing dangerous things."

"That guy messed everything up. He shattered my rigid way of thinking… Now, I believe that to achieve something great, you must face danger."

"That guy…"

"That damn guy who disappeared…"

Grin…

Cheon Ju was probably the only person with whom Seol Hong could have such conversations.

"It's a path you must walk to become the Dragon."

"There will be people who hate me, right?"

"There might be a few in the world."

"Those people will also probably be waiting for the Crowd Road to start."

"But they won't just stab you in broad daylight… Ah, was that a bit too harsh?"

"A little bit too much…"

"Anyway, the Lady Seol Hong I know is kind. So nothing major will probably happen."

Just being with Cheon Ju provided Seol Hong with great emotional support.

"Cheon Ju, will I be able to become the Dragon?"

"If you truly desire it. But, Lady Seol Hong…"

"Yes. I've lost confidence."

"That's serious… This is all because of that damn guy."

Seol Hong smiled faintly.

"He made me think I've achieved everything on my own and made me rely on him. And then, he suddenly disappeared."

"Lady Seol Hong…"

"The big tree that provided shade is gone."

Seol Hong hesitated as she spoke.

"I'm a person with many flaws, and I know I didn't reach this position solely because of my own strength. How can someone like me be worthy of becoming the Dragon…"

"Lady Seol Hong, the one who was born a dragon is still buried underground."

"Huh…?"

"Hwagmu. The one with scales and breathes fire."

Seol Hong let out a hollow laugh at Cheon Ju's words.

"For a person to become the Dragon, one must clash with other people. And only those who have overcome such things…"

Cheon Ju's aged hand brushed through Seol Hong's hair.

"Can challenge the position of the Dragon."

"…"

"That man, too, was just someone who clashed with you. Dragon's daughter, please…"

Cheon Ju showed her worn smile.

"Become the Dragon."

* * *

The afternoon before the Crowd Road.

By this time tomorrow, the ten Dragon's Flowers would be scattered, each walking their own path.

As it was the Dragon War, many interfering tactics could take place behind the scenes.

Since the Dragon's Flowers were putting everything at stake, the likelihood of interference was high.

That's why safety measures had to be put in.

The ten Dragon's Flowers had sworn an oath not to harm each other, enforced by a shamanic spell.

Breaking this would result in the loss of their position and burning of their family's history, regardless of the competition's outcome.

Those who ascend the Crowd Road would solely be judged by the people, and if someone exceeding a certain level of strength approached, the archivists would stop them from getting close.

In other words, only those without much power could get close to the Dragon's Flower walking the path.

Of course, actions like pulling the Dragon’s Flowers' hands or guiding their way were forbidden.

Everything was for the human river to wash away past sins.

Those who bear grudges, come close. The Dragon will embrace everything. If they cannot overcome it, they will be swept away by the river.

This was why the Crowd Road was chosen as the final test.

"Then, please check the assigned route for the Crowd Road."

Swoosh…

The Dragon's Flowers checked the routes drawn on palm-sized papers.

At that moment, Seol Hong's expression darkened.

Everything had been decided.

"Then, the final test of the Dragon War, the Crowd Road, will start tomorrow at the designated locations. I wish you all luck."

The Dragon's Flowers dispersed.

Each was busy chatting.

"Seol Hong…"

Chi Woo approached Seol Hong, who was alone. For some reason, she hadn't left her spot.

"Did you check your route?"

Nod…

"Can I see?"

Nod…

Chi Woo took Seol Hong's paper and checked the route. Just like Seol Hong, he closed his eyes.

"This… is absurd… This… this is wrong."

"Hehe… It somehow turned out like that."

"I'll fix this. This… It goes through the slums."

The slums…

Although a light called Yu Shin had raised the children there, they were still at the bottom of society.

No matter how much influence Yu Shin had, he couldn't control all the darkness.

And thus, it was a place riddled with problems and dangers. Among the Dragon's Flowers, only Seol Hong's route passed through those streets.

"Seol Hong, there's still time, so…"

Tap…

Seol Hong grabbed Chi Woo's hand.

"Chi Woo, don't."

"Why! It's unfair! The other Dragon's Flowers are walking through proper roads! Why is it only you who has to walk through filth?"

"It's not unfair. They… didn't choose to be born there either."

"That…'

She was right.

Those living in the slums didn't choose to be born there.

So you couldn't say it was unfair to them. That wasn't something you could do.

"But sections one and three are straight ones. It's fine. I can do it."

"Seol Hong…"

Grin…

"I'll definitely do it. No matter what."

Tomorrow, she would pass through the slums.

Without having any protection or weapon, she would have to walk through the most dangerous area of the capital, Hong Yeon.

You couldn't choose your trials.

Just like the lives of those in the slums, those who walk the path had no choice either.

One day was given.

She could give up.

However, she could only decide now. And only those who walk in silence would grasp it.

Whether it's disgrace or glory.

That night, Seol Hong gathered with two others—Tae Yul and Shin Yo—the ones closest to becoming the Dragon.

"It's a gathering that wouldn't be strange if tomorrow, one of us goes missing."

"Elder brother, why are you saying such grim things?"

"It was a joke."

"It seems your subordinates haven't taught you how to make a joke…"

"I'll learn it if necessary…"

"Never mind. But anyway… Have you seen your routes?"

"Yes."

It seemed that Tae Yul and Shin Yo had both been assigned straight paths.

However, any path was better than Seol Hong's. Since Seol Hong had drawn the worst, the others were for sure better than hers.

"Elder brother and Seol Hong… both of your faces look serious…"

It was at that moment.

When she got an unexpected offer from Tae Yul.

"Seol Hong, shall we switch paths?"

"What…?"

"I asked if you want to switch paths with me."

"Are you serious…?"

"Yes."

Why did he want to switch?

Did he have some hidden intention?

Seol Hong pondered about the hidden meaning behind Tae Yul's words for a moment, then shook her head.

Tae Yul wasn't that kind of person. He was always upright and gave his all. He wasn't the type of person who would scheme something, so it must be of pure goodwill.

Perhaps he was the one most suited to be the Dragon.

"It's fine."

"Hmm… Why? Considering how you've helped me, I'll gladly…"

"Walking the given path is what matters—not avoiding it."

Even the expressionless Shin Yo let out a laugh at her answer.

"Well said."

Nod…

Tae Yul agreed to Seol Hong's words.

"The assigned path doesn't matter. What matters is the resentment."

How much resentment has Seol Hong accumulated in her life? Could she break through the chain of hatred in the Crowd Road? If there was something she could change, it's probably the past, so regrets wouldn’t come.

"It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid. Especially since I've committed many wrongs."

"Elder brother, you've always done your best. Even I know that."

"Even if one does their best, a poor result will leave regrets."

Tae Yul gazed into the distance as he spoke.

"Perhaps tomorrow, it might be me who isn't here."

He might die—no, many Dragon's Flowers would die.

"I've ordered my subordinates to at least protect my life…"

Tae Yul shook his head.

"I'll put everything on stake. It's the final test, after all. Since it's the last, I want to see how much I'm capable of."

Tae Yul was such a kind of person.

"Step by step, I'll pour everything I have into walking the human river and become the Dragon. Shin Yo, what about you?"

"I'm the same…"

A righteous person.

A wise person.

Someone benevolent or a wanderer.

On the day of the Crowd Path, the number of Dragon's Flowers had been reduced from ten to eight.

Overnight, two had given up on the test.

Those two were Dragon's Flowers who had done many reckless things during the Dragon War, so the resentment of others had piled up like a mountain.

They would for sure die shortly after starting, so perhaps it was a wise decision.

The archivist said.

"Death Flower, please take a look. Because this might be the last time you see the world."

"So you're trying to scare me…"

"I say this out of concern for you. Now, I'll put on your blindfold. Only the sensations transmitted through your skin will remain, and your eyes, ears, and nose will be taken away. Ah, to make sure you can make a wise decision, you'll be informed of the other Dragon's Flowers situations."

If other Dragon's Flowers gave up, many might follow. Perhaps that was the plan.

"If you feel a push on your back, it's a signal for you to start walking."

"Yes…"

"And lastly… never let go of the rope. No matter what! If you let it go, you might not reach the Dragon Palace in time."

Swoosh…

The blindfold was placed over her eyes.

"WOAAHH…"

"Lady Seol Hong! Look over here…"

Beep...

At that moment, in a world that went dark, Seol Hong was left alone.

The only thing she could rely on was the rope that would guide her forward.

Thud…

At that moment, she felt a hand push her from behind.

The Crowd Road had begun.