When Jaekyung came to his senses, the world of light had vanished, and something like smoke filled the surroundings.
‘No. Is it not smoke, but fog? Or perhaps clouds?’
Whatever it was, it completely blocked his vision. Jaekyung could see nothing, nor could he hear anything.
‘Huh? Seeing and hearing?’
It was a thought that had surfaced naturally, without thinking. He had always relied mainly on those two senses to understand his surroundings, so he did the same this time. But soon, Jaekyung realized that the senses he had used were not those two.
For in his current state, he had no body.
“A rare newcomer, I see.”
Just before confusion could find him, someone emerged from within the mist. The reason for using the word ‘someone’ was that Jaekyung could not discern who it was. He couldn't even tell if it was a person or a beast.
Its form was like a vast, indistinct silhouette. He knew it was clearly present before him, but he could not grasp its measure.
“You are.”
“You must be confused. You must have many questions as well.”
He didn't know how it was possible, but they could communicate. The communication was smoother than one through a shared language.
“Ask what you wish to ask. I will tell you all that I know.”
“You… who are you? Did you invite me?”
Jaekyung’s demeanor was extremely cautious. Although he judged that there was no malice in the invitation he received, he naturally shrank back in the presence of a being he could not fathom.
“I am a guide. To be precise, the current guide. And it was not I who invited you.”
Jaekyung recalled that the being had just called him a ‘newcomer’. It seemed this ‘guide’ had the role of welcoming newcomers like himself.
“The one who invited me called me kin. What does that mean?”
“Do you not have an inkling yourself? They are those who have left their past lives behind.”
“Are you speaking of reincarnation?”
“Reincarnation? To die and be born again? Well, it’s not exactly the same, but it’s quite similar. It’s fine to understand it that way.”
In this moment, Jaekyung’s feelings were complex. Along with the joy of no longer being alone, he also felt a slight sense of loss.
‘So I wasn't the protagonist of a novel after all.’
Jaekyung mocked himself. Had he been harboring some hope deep inside, even as he struggled to survive day by day? A protagonist was something that existed only in novels, games, and comics.
This was reality, and in reality, of course, there was no such thing as a protagonist.
“Do you have any more questions? A piece of advice, it is best to ask as much as you can. An opportunity like this is rare.”
The guide was friendly toward him.
Why?
Because they were kin? Or was he generous to newcomers because he was the guide who welcomed them?
“Where is this place?”
“This is a minor world adjacent to the Azure Abyss Realm. It is called the Garden of Remembrance.”
“Azure Abyss Realm?”
“It refers to this world we live in.”
“This world… are there other worlds as well?”
At those words, the guide laughed. Although Jaekyung could not see the corners of its mouth lift, nor did he hear the sound of laughter, it was clearly laughing with amusement.
“Of course. Is there not the world you lived in during your past life, for one?”
Jaekyung was at a loss for words for a moment.
“There are countless worlds in this universe. Some say the Great Thousand World is at the apex of the universe, but I do not believe it. Who can know without going there themselves? In the end, we are all just looking up at a sky the size of a well’s mouth from within our own wells.”
Jaekyung did not fully understand the guide’s words. But even without understanding, it did not hinder him from feeling the vastness contained within them. They stood here facing each other, but what they were looking at and thinking about were entirely different.
The guide had called him ‘kin’, but Jaekyung dared not think of himself as such.
“I do not know of your previous life. I do not know what you remember, nor what you think. But now that you have opened your spiritual awareness and entered this place, you have set foot on the boundless Immortal Path. In a manner of speaking, we are kin and fellow travelers on the path.”
“It’s hard to take in.”
“Most who first came here were like you. I was the same. But you will adapt soon. Just setting foot in this place means you have seized great fortune, but for you, it is especially so.”
At the guide’s subtle hint, Jaekyung asked with curiosity.
“Why is that?”
“Because you are not one of the humans.”
“Uh…”
Jaekyung was about to ask how he knew, but he quickly realized it was a foolish question and swallowed his words. Although he was not the one who had invited him, just the fact that he held a position in this Garden of Remembrance gave a rough idea of how formidable a being he was.
So even if his current state was a strange form without a body, something like a soul or a spirit, it would be meaningless before the guide.
“You were human in your past life, weren't you?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. Ones like you are rare.”
“You mean those who were human being reborn as beasts?”
“Yes. And your case is even rarer. Though I have not seen many whose spirit and flesh are mismatched, you are the first I have seen who is so stable. It is very impressive.”
“Is that so…”
He received a compliment, but he wasn't particularly happy. It was probably because it still didn't feel real. From being invited to the Garden of Remembrance to the conversation he was having now with the guide, everything just felt bewildering.
“But why is it fortunate that I am not human? Also, are there many other races besides humans in this world?”
“A good question. Seeing that you ask such a question, it seems your area of activity is not a conflict zone.”
The guide seemed somehow satisfied.
“That’s right. In this Azure Abyss Realm, countless races are rampant. The humans are a representative race. Next are the demon races. Besides them, there are other minority races, but these two, the humans and the demon races, are currently vying for supremacy in the Azure Abyss Realm.”
Does conflict exist in every world? Compared to the world of his past life, the conflict in this Azure Abyss Realm seemed more intense. A dispute between races, no less.
“What are the demon races? Do you mean demons?”
“That’s part of it. In truth, the term demon races is not precise. It’s a name that lumps together all sorts of beings like demons, spirit beasts, and monsters. For reference, you are also classified as one of the demon races.”
“Then, you are.”
“I am one of the humans.”
He had guessed as much, but his heart still grew heavy. As Jaekyung paused his stream of active questions for a moment, the guide spoke with a ‘laugh’.
“I can guess what you are worried about. But you need not think so seriously about it. It is true that the humans and the demon races are in opposition, but that opposition is not so thorough. On a racial level, they confront each other without backing down, but on an individual or small group level, they interact frequently. It’s not uncommon for them to even fall for each other.”
“Ah…”
Was that last part a joke? It must be a joke, right? Love that transcends races.
In any case, ignoring the final jest, the words were quite comforting. The guide’s words meant that he and Jaekyung could interact regardless of race, and that he was willing to do so.
“That is why I said you are fortunate. Interaction with other races is of great help to both sides, under the premise that mutual trust is not broken.”
“Even if you say that, I can’t understand a thing.”
Jaekyung shook his head with a bitter smile. Of course, he had no body, so he could neither smile nor shake his head, but such feelings were surely expressed in some form. The guide could clearly sense such an expression.
“It is something you do not need to know for now. You have only just opened your spiritual awareness. For now, just think about surviving and growing stronger, no matter what. Hmm. Judging by your form, are you a snake? I would like to offer some advice, but the cultivation of a spirit beast relies heavily on its bloodline, and its characteristics vary so widely depending on the environment it grows in that there is not much I can say.”
“Bloodline? What is a bloodline?”
“It is power, and a type of talent. Take the humans, for example. If the parents are outstanding, isn't it often the case that the children are also outstanding? But for the demon races, the inheritance of such talent is far more powerful than for humans. The stronger the ancestors and parents, the more powerful the bloodline passed down to the next generation.”
Was he saying it was a race that specialized in an inherited gift? If the human's inherited gift was copper at best, did the demon races' go beyond gold to diamond and even further? Just hearing it made his stomach churn.
Jaekyung thought that his own ‘inherited gift’ was not dirt, but it was not at the incredible level the guide was talking about either. If his bloodline was as amazing as the guide said, he would not have trembled at the sight of those two monstrous birds. He did not harbor any such expectations.
Where there is no expectation, there is no disappointment. Jaekyung intended to be faithful to reality rather than cling to empty hopes. Being invited to the Garden of Remembrance, and being able to ask questions before the guide, were all incredible opportunities he hadn’t expected.
Jaekyung wanted to make the most of this opportunity. But to do so, he had to be somewhat honest, which was a risk for Jaekyung. He still hadn't forgotten that his parents had been dragged away by two humans.
Although this guide seemed so great as to not even care about someone like him, one never knew, right? What if he suddenly decided to make snake soup? What if he suddenly changed his attitude now and tried to harm him?
But on the other hand, Jaekyung knew that such worries were meaningless and futile. Would he be in danger if he opened his mouth, and safe if he kept it shut? Not a chance.
From the moment he received the invitation to the Garden of Remembrance, his safety was already out of his hands. If you’re already riding on a tiger’s back, isn't it better to keep your wits about you and gain something, rather than just closing your eyes and burying your face?
“As you said, I am a snake.”
Jaekyung revealed a certain amount about himself. From losing his parents not long after hatching from his egg, to the shock he felt seeing the two monstrous birds, and swallowing the lotus and receiving the invitation to the Garden of Remembrance.
He thought it had been a rather turbulent life, but when he tried to tell it as a story, it ended in an instant, almost blandly.
“You said to survive and grow stronger. I want to do that as well, but I don’t know how. I don’t even know if I am a spirit beast or not right now. If I am not, what must I do to become one?”
“Hmm. I cannot tell whether you are a spirit beast or not. Since you have just set foot in the Garden of Remembrance for the first time, your spirit is not properly formed. Moreover, the cultivation of the demon races is generally inclined toward the body rather than the spirit. Therefore, it is not easy to tell until one’s cultivation reaches a certain level. That is why I cannot see through your cultivation right now. Although you opened your spiritual awareness after eating that lotus, spiritual awareness is separate from one’s level, so it cannot be a reference.”
The guide thought for a moment, then spoke again.
“The way to become a spirit beast is simple. Strengthen your vital energy, and based on that, resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Since you have already opened your spiritual awareness, it will be easy to resonate with spiritual energy; the key is to build up your vital energy. In other words, it means you should consume many good things.”
“Oh…”
If he had come to this place with his body, Jaekyung would have just blinked his eyes. Consume many good things? So, does that mean he just needs to eat a lot and sleep well?
It’s that simple? That… is no different from what he had been doing until now, is it?
“I know it may sound a bit ridiculous. But that is how the cultivation of the demon races is. As they have virtually no systematized traditions, their methods of cultivation are extremely simple. In fact, even the expression ‘cultivation’ is awkward. It’s just that they engage in a struggle for survival according to instinct, and among them, a few outstanding ones make a name for themselves.”
No ill will or intention to belittle could be felt from the guide. His tone was calm, and he was simply stating facts. At least, it seemed that was what he truly thought.
Jaekyung suddenly became curious. If the cultivation methods of the demon races were so insignificant, how could they contend with the humans for supremacy in this world? Could it be because of their sheer numbers?
“Another piece of advice: find a place where the spiritual energy is dense. Although you cannot use the spiritual energy directly for cultivation without cultivation techniques, just coming into contact with more dense spiritual energy can bring various positive effects. The demon races, who are born with strong bodies, can enjoy those effects to a greater extent.
But be careful. Even a beast that has not awakened its spiritual wisdom has the instinct to seek out good things, so there is a high probability that a spiritual land with dense spiritual energy will have an owner.
If you can handle it, that’s fortunate, but if you cannot, you could be needlessly walking into trouble, so you must be as cautious as possible when looking for a spiritual land.”
“Thank you for your teachings. I will keep them in mind.”
After that, Jaekyung asked about everything that came to mind. Later on, there were not a few questions that could be called trivial, but the guide did not show the slightest annoyance and answered kindly and in detail. Jaekyung couldn't help but admire his thorough professionalism.
He was truly a man worthy of the title of guide. As he savored the feeling of his mind filling with knowledge, Jaekyung suddenly thought that quite a lot of time seemed to have passed. According to the guide, it was his spirit that had come to this place.
This meant his body was still coiled up in front of that pond, left in a completely defenseless state. Jaekyung expressed his concern about this to the guide, saying that he was sorry, but he thought he should go back. The guide readily agreed as if he understood.
“Then, you may return. I will not come out to greet you next time, so you will have to explore the Garden of Remembrance on your own. But there is no need to worry. Everyone here is kin, so even if they are not particularly friendly, they will not cause you harm. Fighting is strictly forbidden here, after all.”
“Thank you. But… how do I come back here again?”
“You must have seen the gate?”
A gate?
Was he perhaps talking about that giant celestial body, no, the eye? When Jaekyung asked, the guide affirmed it.
“Originally, you just need to extend your divine sense toward the gate. But you have only just opened your spiritual awareness, so try to open your spiritual awareness as much as you can. If you can sense the gate, you will be able to come, but if you cannot, you will have to wait until you acquire divine sense.”
The guide kindly told him about divine sense as well. According to his explanation, the so-called divine sense was a spiritual sense manifested through mental power. Once one could use divine sense, one could basically perceive everything within the range of the divine sense, and it had various other abilities as well.
Hearing that, Jaekyung thought of the frog that had sensed enemies who entered the mist through the mist itself.
‘It’s a higher-level ability than that.’
In any case, divine sense was a prize that the current Jaekyung could only look at from afar. If he could not reach the gate by opening his spiritual awareness, it was highly probable that a long time would pass before he could enter the Garden of Remembrance again.
“I hope to see you again soon. I assure you, you will come to like this place too. Diverse interactions give birth to diverse benefits. You might even meet someone from your old world here.”
Someone from his old world. Jaekyung silently bowed his head. Of course, in his state as a spirit, he had no head to bow, but the respect and gratitude he wanted to express would have surely been conveyed.
“May I ask for your esteemed name?”
Jaekyung could feel the guide's goodwill. Whether that goodwill was applied uniformly to all kin, or was a manifestation of a thorough professional consciousness, what was appreciated was appreciated.
“My name is Yoo Jung-gyeom. Well then, take care until we meet again.”
As soon as the guide, Yoo Jung-gyeom, finished speaking, Jaekyung’s consciousness was sucked away somewhere without resistance. After a dizzying moment that felt like being swept up in a powerful vortex, Jaekyung’s body trembled as if having a seizure.
“Huh?”
That’s right.
His body trembled. He was, at some point, back in his snake form.
“Jaekyung! Were you sleeping with your eyes open?”
And above his head, Cheong-o, who seemed quite annoyed, was chirping away.