Chapter 16

Feeling preemptively guilty at Meisa's words, Turan rolled his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

Of course, no one here was paying attention to him.

Before the topic of a great family's heir almost being assassinated, the status of their young master's benefactor naturally took a back seat.

"An assassination at the main house? With how solid their defense system is…"

"There must be an informant. And there's no shortage of people who dislike me."

Heavy fatigue was evident in her voice answering Asiz's words.

It seemed life wasn't necessarily easy just because one was born with exceptional talent and superior status.

Brushing back her hair with bony fingers, Meisa spoke softly.

"Well then, I'm tired so I'll go to bed first. Good night everyone."

Having wrapped up the situation so quickly, the Arabion princess flew straight toward the castle without even waiting for a response.

Literally, she slightly levitated with floating magic then created wind for propulsion to fly away.

Watching this, Asiz's mother Midela gave instructions to an elderly maid standing nearby.

"Ena? Prepare our second-best guest room for Turan."

Apparently, regardless of second cousin or whatever, they couldn't refuse the heir's orders.

* * *

Early morning, Turan opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.

As his sleep-addled mind cleared, he remembered this was the Berk family mansion, where he had come as a guest last night.

His first action was to go to the 'washbasin' placed in one corner of the spacious room.

As the maid had explained last night, pulling a long rod produced a trickling stream of water.

After blankly observing this, Turan used the soap placed beside it to wash his face clean then dried it with a towel.

Perhaps imbued with dehydration magic, just one light rub immediately removed all moisture.

'Is this because they're an enchanter family?'

The Berk family's stronghold was nothing less than a treasure house of magical devices accumulated over hundreds of years.

In terms of convenience, it wasn't necessarily better than other families where servants visited every morning to wash faces directly, but wasn't it novel and interesting?

Originally, the privileged class derived pleasure from monopolizing things others couldn't use.

Stepping into the corridor after donning a provided guest robe, he saw white radiance hanging from the ceiling.

White light completely different from torches or lanterns.

That pale light was embedded seamlessly above the long corridor, not allowing even a single shadow to form.

Though Turan, now with quite strong magic power and high stealth proficiency, could maintain complete concealment for hours in dark places, here he would be limited to about two minutes at most.

If a Zahar assassin tried to infiltrate here, they would either have to find and kill their target quickly or meet a miserable death being discovered while wandering the corridors after depleting all their magic power.

And this was without even considering the intruder detection and interception magical devices surely hidden somewhere in the mansion.

"Turan! Still an early riser! But what are you doing alone in the corridor?"

While blankly observing the corridor's magical devices, he heard someone calling him.

It was Asiz, looking refreshed perhaps from returning home after a long time.

"This is fascinating."

"This? Ah, the magic lights? It's something we make for practice when learning enchantment magic as children… Want one? We have extras in storage."

"No, not to that extent."

Turan could create such light himself anyway.

One of the first magics he learned from Keorn was shaping light into simple weapons.

He just hadn't used it since physical attacks were handled by his sling and he didn't need illumination thanks to night vision.

"Are you hungry? Mother will probably invite us for breakfast soon."

"I can wait plenty. But there's something I wanted to ask."

"Hm?"

"That Arabion lady from yesterday, is she perhaps ill? If it's difficult to say, you don't have to tell me."

Since a great family heir's health condition could be considered military information, Turan approached carefully.

Fortunately, Asiz just gave a bitter smile without suspecting him of being a spy or something.

Indeed, it would have been more suspicious not to be curious about such an appearance.

"Pretty severely thin, right? She wasn't like that when young, but at some point she started eating only water and salt. Saying being thin is better for flying… I heard several people tried to copy her but all gave up. Saying they'd really die at this rate."

"It certainly looked unhealthy."

Though magic power evolves the body to exhibit superhuman abilities, nobles were still living humans in the end.

Logically, if there's only consumption with nothing going in, problems are bound to arise.

"Still, she seems more or less fine. Besides, what can we do if she insists? Even as close relatives, they're still the boss family after all."

Though they seemed to treat each other casually like cousin siblings at a glance yesterday, apparently there was still some barrier.

After such chat, Turan joined the Berk family's morning formal breakfast together with Asiz as expected.

The family head couple, Asiz's brother, and about three relatives attended, but the Arabion lady wasn't present.

It would have been awkward to eat just water and salt while others enjoyed their meal.

She would probably be quite conscious of others' gazes too.

"Though we haven't prepared much, please eat plenty."

Looking at the food laid out on the table, Family Head Midela's words were pure deception.

Not to mention common soup and bread, various dishes he had never seen before were spread out like the Dakein Plains' wheat fields.

This was crab meat wrapped in flour dough and steamed, that was boiled potato dough topped with truffles…

Asiz, kindly explaining beside him, spoke incredulously.

"Why such an elaborate spread? There are things I haven't seen even on my birthday, someone might think the Arabion family head was visiting."

"Be quiet."

Apparently this wasn't a normal meal even in this household, but rather special treatment due to him being Asiz's benefactor.

After indulging in such luxurious fare – honestly some were too unfamiliar to suit his taste – and finishing with sweet bread and bitter tea, Midela brought up business.

"Then continuing our conversation from last night, my son promised a powerful magical device as payment for his life."

"Yes, that's correct."

"Do you have anything specific in mind?"

"I want something that helps with defense. It's easy to harm others with magic but difficult to protect oneself. Preferably something that can deal with surprise attacks."

This was the conclusion he had reached after much consideration.

Even if his other half bloodline turned out to be defensive, wouldn't more defense added to defense make better defense anyway?

Especially after seeing how helpless the dark elf necromancers were against surprise attacks.

Imagining himself receiving such attacks, he didn't really have any countermeasures.

Relying solely on superior reflexes and movement was too unstable a defensive measure.

"It's not difficult since we've made such things often. But we don't have any ready-made ones right now."

"Then may I make it?"

"Unless you're trying to drag the Berk family name through the mud, don't."

At Asiz's suggestion, his brother Melo, who hadn't spoken a word yesterday, said sarcastically.

He turned to his parents and slightly bowed his head as if seeking permission.

"I'll make it. My hands are free since I just finished the item commissioned by the main house recently."

"How do you plan to make it?"

"For dealing with surprise attacks, it should be something always carried. I'll inject magic into a ring, earring, or necklace form to add the function of drawing out guardian bloodline's defensive power."

"Not bad. How long?"

"One month."

He had read about guardian bloodline in books.

Unlike other bloodlines that preferred ranged magical attacks, this bloodline specialized in close combat based on superior physical abilities.

Particularly strong in terms of body durability, wasn't it?

If he could temporarily borrow that power, it would certainly be unmatched as a defensive ability.

"Though nothing is more unsightly than parents bragging about their children, Melo's skill isn't far behind even me, the family head. It means essentially a family head-class enchanter magician personally dedicating a month to create a magical device."

"I'm grateful, but… isn't this too much?"

The Berk family's offer left even Turan somewhat dumbfounded.

Combining knowledge from books and information from Asiz, the quality of magical devices made by enchanter bloodline magicians varied according to time invested in infusing power.

Of course, investing unlimited time wouldn't create something tremendous, and the efficient production time varied according to magic power and talent, but a month was nearly the limit for ordinary enchanters.

Considering the backlash from creation, they couldn't make powerful magical devices for about half a year after.

It essentially meant monopolizing a family head-class magician's half year.

"If this is too much, wouldn't that mean my son's life is worth that little? No, absolutely not. Well then, you'll need to stay as our guest for the next month."

"I'm worried about imposing for too long."

"Please don't think of it as a burden and stay."

* * *

"I think Mother has taken a liking to you."

As soon as they left the feast, Asiz spoke with a serious expression.

"To me?"

"Yeah. Actually, I talked more about you with Mother before bed yesterday. From how your magic talent isn't inferior to Meisa's to how you never neglect training despite that. Originally it was to prevent Mother from looking down on you as a wandering noble without proper backing, but…"

"Hearing all that made her want to recruit me into the family, right?"

Turan first recalled Izela of the Baltas family.

Though he was put off by how casually she used knights as shields, even excluding that she was far from his ideal type.

Broadly speaking, it wasn't different from Family Head Rug trying to sell off his daughter.

The only difference was between a rural frontier family and a great family's direct vassal family.

"Right. Give lavishly to create obligation, then try to entice with introduction to a pretty lady. Actually, there are several adults who joined the family that way."

The guardian bloodline noble who would help make the magical device was apparently one of them.

He hadn't known, but to imbue a bloodline magic ability into a magical device, a noble of that bloodline had to assist in creation.

Learning this, Turan's mental burden doubled.

"This is troublesome."

Asiz waved his hand with a smile as if saying not to worry.

"Well, don't worry too much. They're just giving you something good to curry favor, not forcing marriage in exchange for accepting it. My mother isn't that unreasonable."

"Is that so."

For Turan, that was even more uncomfortable.

If they demanded joining their family to receive this, he could steal the item and run away without guilt.

Some people find unreturnable kindness more burdensome than hostility, and Turan was one of them.

Of course, actually staying and marrying into the Berk family was absolutely impossible.

How would he explain if any children born later awakened the Zahar bloodline?

"That's what I'm saying. Ah, do you have anything planned now?"

"Why?"

"Let's go out and have fun. Though Zabilin isn't the capital, there's still quite a lot to enjoy. Surely you're not planning to stay cooped up practicing magic like in other cities?"

"Actually I was."

"Oh please. Let's try enjoying life a bit, friend!"

At the word 'friend', Turan finally let himself be led out of the Berk family mansion by Asiz.

He could see the daytime city scenery he hadn't properly observed last night due to curfew.

Some passersby reacted slightly seeing Turan and Asiz's attire, but unlike in other cities, they didn't deeply bow or prostrate themselves.

They just lightly bowed their heads to show respect while passing.

After walking about ten minutes, they saw a bustling street lined with various shops.

"So, what are we going to do for fun now?"

"Well, that depends on what you like. Drinking, gambling, women. Which do you prefer?"

"Library."

"I'm realizing anew just how old-fashioned your tastes are."

"I haven't had many chances to properly enjoy myself. But none of those three options appeal to me."

He had tried alcohol several times when invited to various families but found it just okay, and gambling was something his mother had repeatedly warned against in childhood.

And as for women, even without his mother's or Keorn's restraints, there were several concerns.

Especially coming to a region where his inherited bloodline was despised.

"Hmm, all no good… Then how about theater?"

"Theater?"

He had glimpsed explanations in books.

Something about acting out certain events or folk tales on stage.

Though he had never actually seen one.

Hearing this, Asiz's eyes went round.

"What, you've never seen a play?"

"No."

"Then I must guide you again. There happens to be an amazing theater not far from here in Zabilin. They even have knight actors, I tell you."

Though he didn't know much, Turan, who knew actors were similar to jesters, found it astounding.

Those considered almost mythical beings near Hisaril Hill were here performing antics before the public…

Indeed, the realm of great families was like a completely different world from other regions.

"Welcome, guests!"

Upon arriving at the theater shortly after, a small boy deeply bowed to the two.

Asiz grinned and pointed to performance advertisements placed to one side.

"Look over there for what you want. It should show titles and brief content."

After briefly looking at the advertisements without much thought, Turan froze upon seeing one particular performance advertisement.

Asiz approached from beside and said, looking at it.

"'Hero Keorn'? Want to see this?”

Chapter 16: Into the World Beyond (1)

Dam Ho rose at dawn.

The sky had not yet brightened. Dam Ho set to work briskly. First, he washed the rice and set it to cook.

At that moment, Yeon So-ha approached him.

"You are up early. Is there anything I can help with?"

"There is not."

Dam Ho's reply was curt. His firm refusal left Yeon So-ha looking faintly embarrassed.

Dam Ho paid her no mind and took out the preserved vegetables, beginning to season them with care.

Yeon So-ha watched him work, fascinated.

Since joining the Wudang Sect, she had never once cooked a meal.

She was not an outer disciple or a Second Generation Disciple—she was a First Generation Disciple.

Moreover, she was Sage Cheong-heo's disciple. It was better for the Wudang Sect that she spend her time practicing martial arts rather than preparing food.

Dam Ho was likewise a First Generation Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. For one of his standing to cook personally could only seem remarkable.

Dam Ho's feelings about cooking were also unique.

When he had begun in earnest to study martial arts, cooking had fallen entirely to his Master, Sage Hyeon-so. It was his Master's consideration—so that Dam Ho could spend that time training.

Now that he was about to resume his training, there would be even less time to cook for his Master. Before descending the mountain, he wanted to prepare a meal for him, even if only once.

Thus Dam Ho cooked with the utmost care. His manner was so solemn that Yeon So-ha could only watch in silence.

When the meal was nearly ready, Sage Cheong-heo returned. Having risen earlier than Yeon So-ha, he had gone on a walk to absorb the spiritual energy of Mount Hua.

"That smells wonderful."

Dam Ho bowed his head to Sage Cheong-heo.

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-so emerged from the room.

"Ooh! My head…"

"Master."

"You are up already? No—I am the last one?"

Sage Hyeon-so pressed his temples as though his head still ached. At his appearance, both Sage Cheong-heo and Yeon So-ha smiled.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I am… fine. No, I do not think I am."

Sage Hyeon-so shook his head and slumped onto the platform. His candor drew smiles not only from Sage Cheong-heo but from Yeon So-ha as well.

Dam Ho carried the tray of food to the platform.

"Eating this should settle your stomach."

"Mmm! Thank you, Ho-ya. Everyone, please eat."

"A guest can only be grateful."

Sage Cheong-heo took his seat first, and Yeon So-ha settled beside him. The platform where the two of them had always eaten now held two more.

Though only two additional people had joined, the atmosphere was incomparably more lively.

Dam Ho lifted his chopsticks, then paused, staring straight ahead. The others' gazes followed his.

Plum petals danced upon the wind. They drifted down to the platform where Dam Ho sat.

"The finest scenery under heaven! The finest meal of my life!"

Sage Cheong-heo's hearty laughter rang out.

***

After the meal, it fell to Dam Ho to wash the dishes as well. Without a word of protest, he set to the task.

Yeon So-ha watched him closely.

'Ten thousand hammers? Does that mean he has been forged ten thousand times?'

These were the words of her Master, Sage Cheong-heo. There was no reason for him to speak nonsense to his own disciple.

Sensing her gaze, Dam Ho raised his head and looked at her.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No."

Yeon So-ha shook her head. Dam Ho returned to his washing. His manner reminded her of someone.

'He reminds me somewhat of Senior Brother Jin…'

In that instant, Yeon So-ha shook her head.

'Nonsense. They look nothing alike, and their temperaments are entirely different. It must be a figment of my imagination.'

She denied her own thought.

Just as a talent named Myeong-gyeong had appeared in the Mount Hua Sect, carrying forward the insights of Grandmaster Hyeon-geom, so too had a once-in-a-century genius emerged in the Wudang Sect.

His name was Jin Mu-ying. He was spoken of as the greatest talent the Wudang Sect had produced in a hundred years, excelling in every respect—ability, instinct, and gift.

Why else would all the Wudang elders crowd around him, each eager to pass on their martial arts?

Jin Mu-ying absorbed everything he was taught and elevated it even further. His terrifying talent left the Wudang Sect trembling.

The consensus among the Wudang elders was that with Jin Mu-ying's arrival, the Wudang Sect's position in the martial world would remain unshaken for the next hundred years.

Jin Mu-ying was the opposite of Dam Ho in every way.

He was not taciturn like Dam Ho, but always wore a smile. He was courteous to everyone, never overstepped his bounds, and faithfully performed his duties.

For this, many people liked and followed Jin Mu-ying. Yeon So-ha was one of those who respected and admired him. She could therefore claim to know Jin Mu-ying better than anyone.

Certainly, Jin Mu-ying bore no resemblance to Dam Ho before her eyes. And yet, as she looked at Dam Ho, he inexplicably came to mind—strange indeed.

Her gaze suddenly fell upon Dam Ho's hands as he washed the dishes.

Those rough, scarred hands came into view. The backs of his hands, far larger and coarser than an ordinary man's, and calluses thick as stone.

'Why did I not notice such obvious signs before?'

Generally, when meeting a martial artist from another sect, one observed carefully. From the shape of the muscles, the form of the fists, and the build, one could infer the type of martial arts practiced and the level of attainment.

Yeon So-ha was among those who had developed this habit. Yet even she had neglected to observe when she first saw Dam Ho.

After some reflection, she realized the reason.

'Because I was focused only on his limp. Because I pitied him, I unconsciously forgot that he was a martial artist of the Mount Hua Sect.'

Yeon So-ha blamed herself for letting her guard down based solely on appearances. It was an error born of insufficient experience.

Now she understood why her Master had brought her here.

'My Master is filling in the gaps in my experience.'

Yeon So-ha felt anew the depth of Sage Cheong-heo's consideration. She realized how fortunate she was to have such a man as her Master.

The unexpected trip to Mount Hua had given her much.

"Young Hero Cheong-gyeong."

"…"

At the sound of her voice, Dam Ho raised his head and looked at her. Even beneath his indifferent gaze, Yeon So-ha smiled.

"It is truly beautiful here. Mount Hua…"

Dam Ho nodded in silence.

By the time Dam Ho's party arrived at the Cloud Mist Palace, the sun had already risen to its zenith. Before the palace, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were already lined in formation.

"Martial Uncle, we will escort you."

Mu-gyeong approached Sage Hyeon-so. Behind him, Un-gyeong and thirty disciples stood in rows.

"They are all coming as well?"

"Yes."

"At the Grandmaster's behest?"

"Yes."

Sage Hyeon-so gave a rueful smile.

The disciples accompanying Un-gyeong were among the most promising talents the Mount Hua Sect had to offer.

'The Grandmaster has truly staked everything. To send the sect's most promising talents on a journey of uncertain danger.'

They were none other than the future of the Mount Hua Sect. From their inclusion in this expedition, Sage Hyeon-so could discern how the Grandmaster viewed the current crisis.

'Turning crisis into opportunity. And using the Wudang's protection to give the Mount Hua Sect's disciples as much experience as possible.'

Sage Hyeon-so shook his head, dispelling his wandering thoughts. Whatever the truth, this was the expedition to which he had been assigned.

He bore responsibility for protecting the Mount Hua Sect's disciples as well.

Sage Hyeon-so beckoned.

"Come here, Ho-ya."

Dam Ho, who had been standing at a distance, approached. At that moment, Un-gyeong spoke:

"Cheong-gyeong is joining as well?"

"He is."

"It is too dangerous, Martial Uncle. For Cheong-gyeong's sake, it would be better to leave him at the Mount Hua Sect."

Un-gyeong's blunt words made Sage Hyeon-so frown for a moment.

"It is fine."

"We are already strained protecting you alone, Martial Uncle. If anything were to happen, we might not be able to attend to Cheong-gyeong."

Un-gyeong's tone was utterly cold and dry. His emotionless manner made Mu-gyeong break into a cold sweat.

"Rude boy, what kind of talk is that before your Martial Uncle?"

"I am speaking the truth, Senior Brother."

"The Martial Uncle has his reasons. That is enough. Drop it."

"Understood."

As Mu-gyeong's voice hardened, Un-gyeong quietly withdrew. But his eyes held no concession.

Mu-gyeong looked to Dam Ho.

"It is only the Second Brother's concern speaking. Do not take it to heart."

"I am not concerned."

Dam Ho's words were sincere. Yet Mu-gyeong still could not conceal his apologetic expression.

He bowed his head to Sage Hyeon-so.

"I am sorry, Martial Uncle."

"Hah!"

Sage Hyeon-so sighed in lieu of a reply. Mu-gyeong's expression grew even more awkward.

Mu-gyeong called out to the blameless disciples:

"Everyone is ready, I trust?"

"Yes!"

The disciples' voices echoed across Mount Hua.

Their spirit pierced the heavens.

"It appears all is prepared. Shall we descend, then?"

Sage Cheong-heo stepped forward. Mu-gyeong nodded.

"Everyone, move out."

"Yes!"

Led by Mu-gyeong, the Mount Hua disciples began their descent.

Sage Hyeon-so was about to follow when he suddenly turned to look back at the Cloud Mist Palace. In the second-floor window, a familiar face was visible.

'The Grandmaster.'

Sage Hyeon-cheon gazed down, his eyes so deep it was impossible to read his thoughts.

Sage Hyeon-so offered a fist-and-palm salute to Sage Hyeon-cheon, then descended the mountain.

Sage Hyeon-cheon stood motionless in that spot until his disciples' forms had vanished from view.

He had climbed and descended Mount Hua every day. There should have been nothing remarkable about it. Yet today was different.

Dam Ho looked back at the path he had descended with new eyes.

He could see the treacherous trails represented by Hundred Fathom Cliff and Thousand Fathom Hall. Upon those near-vertical stone stairs, his blood and sweat were steeped.

Dam Ho committed every sight, one by one, to his memory.

At that moment, Mu-gyeong approached, smiling.

"Why the long face? As if you were never coming back."

"…"

"I was joking, joking. Come now."

Mu-gyeong draped an arm over Dam Ho's shoulder. His gaze turned to Mount Hua.

"Isn't it magnificent? Mount Hua when the plum blossoms bloom… How could one not love such a mountain? So do not worry. We will return safely. And when we do, Mount Hua will welcome us once more, blanketed in plum blossoms."

Dam Ho did not reply. But Mu-gyeong believed he felt the same way. That was why he did not notice the coldness that entered Dam Ho's eyes.

'I do not love Mount Hua for its plum blossoms. No matter how full they bloom, a Mount Hua without my Master is not so important a place to me.'

Gwak-o glanced at Mang-ryo’s face, but quickly turned away when he saw him smiling.

“N-no, of course not. As you said, Elder, he must be alive.”

Mang-ryo laughed with satisfaction.

“Heh heh, you see? This friend, who knows that child better than anyone, says he’s alive.”

Mang-ryo patted Gwak-o’s shoulder.

“You’re truly a bright fellow. If you had spoken so wisely earlier, your face would still be intact. Tsk.”

Mang-ryo clicked his tongue as he spoke.

“How is it? Not painful? Are you applying the medicine properly?”

“Ha, haha. I’m fine, thanks to your concern, Elder.”

Gwak-o smiled with his disfigured face. Because of the hot stone Mang-ryo had used, half of his face was covered with severe scars. Of course, he had also lost an eye.

“Good, good. People need to experience hardship to grow. Look at me. Just look at me—when I lost one leg and couldn’t pull myself together, I ended up losing an eye too and becoming like this. Compared to that, you’re adapting very quickly. You’ll go far.”

Gwak-o’s face twisted with indescribable anger and despair.

Would he ever amount to anything in the future? Reduced to cleaning garbage, with his face in this condition…

But cowardly as he was, he could only continue smiling and saying, “Hehe.”

“Hehe. Th-thank you.”

“Well, we’re almost there now, aren’t we?”

The place Mang-ryo had come to was none other than the waste disposal site.

The very place where Gwak-o had thrown Jin Ja-gang away.

The cliff above the Mixed Spring Ground.

Several warriors from the Extreme Poison Sect, along with Gwak-o and Mang-ryo, stood in order at the cliff’s edge.

“Put it down.”

At Mang-ryo’s command, Gwak-o struggled to release the cart handle, and the warriors pulled out a young boy wearing shabby clothes from inside. The boy’s acupoints had been sealed, so he couldn’t move or speak. He could only roll his eyes anxiously.

“Stand him up.”

Mang-ryo released the acupoint that had sealed the boy’s mouth, allowing him to speak again. The boy immediately cried out to Gwak-o in a shrill voice:

“Brother! Save me, Brother!”

Gwak-o’s face hardened, and he turned his head away.

Mang-ryo grabbed Gwak-o’s face, forcing him to look directly at the boy.

“To become great, one must not be concerned with trivial matters. What happened to that boldness you showed when denouncing the tragedy of Hundred Flower Valley at the Martial Arts Alliance branch?”

The boy glared at Gwak-o with a face flushed red with anger and shouted:

“Traitor!”

Gwak-o could only hang his head again.

Mang-ryo chuckled as he approached the boy. He grabbed the boy, turned him to face the cliff, and gently stroked his head.

“Don’t worry. Someone who was thrown here before you survived. Did you tie what I told you to tie to his waist?”

“Yes, so p-please spare my life.”

“Spare your life?”

Mang-ryo’s hand, which had been stroking the boy’s head, tightened its grip.

Mang-ryo squeezed the boy’s head so hard that veins bulged on the boy’s forehead.

“Ugh! S-stop…”

“Why do these brats keep asking me to spare them? Do you think I’ll fall for it again? If you want to live, survive on your own!”

After shouting in the boy’s ear, Mang-ryo took an arrow from the quiver carried by a warrior beside him and stabbed it directly into the boy’s back.

“Aaaaargh!”

As the boy screamed, Mang-ryo ruthlessly pushed him over the edge.

The boy fell straight down into the Mixed Spring Ground below the cliff.

Mang-ryo watched the boy fall and muttered with a smile:

“If you survive, be sure to tell him that this old man is getting tired of waiting and is bored to death.”

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Jin Ja-gang spent all his time outside of eating and sleeping concentrating on observing his internal body.

He wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the tremendous energy that had developed in his body.

Thanks to this, he could now clearly sense the energy that had settled in his dantian. After practicing a few times, he became proficient enough to move and extract the poisonous energy from his dantian at will.

Although he hadn’t yet decided how to use this power, Jin Ja-gang thought it might be time to leave.

‘I should go up soon. I’ll escape from here, build up my strength, and then come back.’

For now, that seemed like the most reasonable course of action. Of course, whether he could safely escape the Extreme Poison Sect’s territory was another matter.

When night fell, Jin Ja-gang went to the cave entrance again to get some fresh air.

He dipped his hand into the hot spring water.

It was intensely stimulating but no longer had the severe burning pain that felt like it would melt his skin. Even when he swished his hand around in the hot spring water, his hand remained intact. Even if his skin peeled off or was slightly damaged, it would heal completely within a day.

Swoosh.

The sound of rising steam could be heard, and as always, chunks of sulfur and sulfurous water from all directions began to fall into the hot spring with splashing sounds.

Jin Ja-gang examined the hot spring.

Sometimes sulfur would melt at the edge of the spring and hang down like icicles, and if the shape formed properly, he could use them to climb up at dawn.

Now that the hot spring water didn’t affect him much, he could also swim across. He just needed to wait for the icicle ladder to form at the edge.

However, things don’t always go according to plan.

Jin Ja-gang dozed off while watching the sulfur chunks falling into the hot spring from the cave entrance.

Splash!

Suddenly, a heavy object fell into the hot spring with a loud noise.

Jin Ja-gang woke up startled. He was even more shocked when he identified the fallen object.

It was a boy about Jin Ja-gang’s size. He was wearing shabby, tattered clothes, was covered with wounds all over, and even had an arrow stuck in his back.

Considering that this place was where all the waste from the Extreme Poison Sect was dumped, it wasn’t strange for a person to be thrown away here too.

But why had he been shot with an arrow? Perhaps he wasn’t thrown away but had been shot while trying to escape and had drifted here after falling?

All sorts of thoughts ran through Jin Ja-gang’s mind.

For a moment, he was conflicted about what to do. He couldn’t even tell if the boy was dead or alive. It was hard to believe he could be alive, but there was always a possibility.

As the boy began to sink slowly, Jin Ja-gang had no time for further deliberation.

Jin Ja-gang quickly descended into the hot spring using the cow bone as a ladder.

Having regained much of his strength, he could move with relative ease now.

Standing on the cow bone and gripping another part of it, Jin Ja-gang stretched out his arm. Since the pool wasn’t very wide, he was just barely able to reach the boy’s body.

‘Got him!’

Jin Ja-gang pulled the sinking boy toward himself.

The boy was emaciated and not very heavy, but what couldn’t handle the weight wasn’t Jin Ja-gang but the cow bone. The bone he was holding snapped with a crack.

“Ah!”

Splash.

Jin Ja-gang fell in too.

He had seen several chunks fall into the hot spring water before. Once they sank, they never came back up. After some time, they dissolved completely, leaving no trace behind.

He could let go of the boy and swim out by himself, but he couldn’t do that.

Jin Ja-gang gritted his teeth. With all his might, he drove the broken cow bone he was holding into the sulfur wall. Fortunately, the wall had softened slightly from melting, and the bone penetrated it.

While holding onto the broken bone stuck in the wall, he used his feet to step on another bone. With all his strength, he pulled the boy out and pushed him into the cave. Then he climbed up himself.

“Huff, huff.”

The hot spring water made his skin feel hot where it had touched. It wasn’t as painfully unbearable as before. His skin had definitely become stronger as new flesh had grown.

After catching his breath for a while, Jin Ja-gang examined the boy. Unlike Jin Ja-gang, the boy’s skin was completely red.

Looking at his face, Jin Ja-gang was surprised to find it was someone he knew.

“Yang Il!”

He was a friend of the same age who had lived with him in Hundred Flower Valley.

Jin Ja-gang put his ear to Yang Il’s nose and pressed hard on his heart several times. But Yang Il had been dead for some time. No matter how much Jin Ja-gang shook him, there was not the slightest movement.

Jin Ja-gang was deeply shocked and remained in a daze for a long time.

He could clearly remember how Yang Il used to laugh when they played together. But now he was facing his dead body, and tears kept flowing.

Jin Ja-gang sobbed for a while before gathering his strength. He searched Yang Il’s body to see if there was anything else to find.

Yang Il was wearing shabby clothes, but his abdomen was bulging. When Jin Ja-gang removed the upper garment, he saw that the stomach was tightly wrapped with cloth.

Jin Ja-gang unwrapped the cloth from the abdomen.

Thud.

Something like dried jerky fell out.

Looking at the cloth that had wrapped the jerky, he saw characters written on the inside. It wasn’t ink but writing in blood. The cloth wrapping the jerky was essentially a letter.

How desperate must he have been to write a letter in blood?

Jin Ja-gang suppressed his anger and read the letter.

“The survivors of our Hundred Flower Valley are being held captive by the Extreme Poison Sect, imprisoned in a certain location. If any heroes from the Martial Arts Alliance read this letter, please save us. Please, before it’s too late…”

Though crooked, it was Yang Il’s handwriting.

Below was even a simple map. The place where the survivors were supposedly imprisoned was a bit away from the main mountain of the Extreme Poison Sect, just beyond one peak from the Mixed Spring Ground where Jin Ja-gang was located.

Jin Ja-gang clenched the blood-written letter and swallowed his tears of anger. He was upset knowing that the place Yang Il had risked his life to escape to was none other than the Martial Arts Alliance.

“Yang Il, you were about to waste your efforts. I’ve already been there. That place isn’t as righteous as we thought…”

With Yang Il’s corpse in front of him, Jin Ja-gang couldn’t bring himself to finish by saying “it’s not the place we should go to.”

His emotions welled up.

“Aah…!”

Even at this moment, the surviving members of Hundred Flower Valley might be waiting for Yang Il, thinking only of the heroes of the Martial Arts Alliance. If Yang Il doesn’t return, they might try to escape again and head for the Martial Arts Alliance.

But even if they successfully escaped to the Martial Arts Alliance, it would be in vain. Since the Martial Arts Alliance was backing the Extreme Poison Sect, they were essentially on the same side.

Jin Ja-gang resented himself for knowing all this yet being unable to do anything immediately.

He couldn’t go rescue those who had been like family to him, nor could he warn them not to go there.

He had no power at all.

After feeling helpless for a while, Jin Ja-gang slammed his head hard on the ground in front of Yang Il’s body.

Thud!

Thud, thud!

When he raised his head again, there was a fierce, venomous light in Jin Ja-gang’s eyes that was difficult to recognize as belonging to a child.

“No, I can do it. I will do it! Yang Il, I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain!”

* * *

At dawn.

Jin Ja-gang stripped Yang Il’s clothes and wore them instead, then pushed Yang Il’s body into the hot spring.

For a while, he watched the body sink and prayed for his soul.

His escape plan had been modified.

Although he couldn’t get help from anyone, Jin Ja-gang decided to rescue the remaining survivors of Hundred Flower Valley with his own strength.

After waiting for some time, the morning finally came when the sulfur chunks falling into the hot spring decreased and began to harden.

Jin Ja-gang tucked the broken, sharp-edged cow bone into his waist and jumped into the hot spring. He swam to the sulfur chunk that was hardening like an icicle on the opposite side, and stood up on it.

His body felt a bit hot, but it was tolerable.

‘Finally…’

For the first time in over a month, he set foot on the ground above. Although it was ground made of sulfur.

He surveyed his surroundings. Thick smoke obscured his vision, making it difficult to discern his location. Smoke continuously rose from the ground, making his eyes sting.

However, finding the way wasn’t impossible. The ground, which was just beginning to harden, retained traces of the flow from the previous night. Like wave patterns left by the tide on a sandy beach, the direction of movement remained etched in wave-like patterns.

Jin Ja-gang decided to trace these ground patterns in reverse. But as soon as he took a step, he felt discomfort.

‘Ugh!’

The leg that Mang-ryo had broken multiple times hadn’t healed properly. Since it hadn’t received proper treatment, it had mended crookedly. He had no choice but to limp.

Jin Ja-gang was devastated but had to take comfort in the fact that at least he could walk.