Chapter 21

Even after Meisa and the dark elf subjugation force departed, Turan's daily life didn't change much.

Building his body with Haram, learning weapon skills and martial arts, resting, practicing magic…

The only difference was losing one friend to practice magic with in the evening.

That just made that time feel a bit lonelier.

On the thirty-second day of staying with the Berk family.

In the workshop on the highest floor of the mansion, cluttered with various magical devices, Melo, Asiz's brother, handed Turan an item.

His face had grown pale from being shut in for the past month to make this.

"Here it is."

The magical device was in bracelet form, made by braiding several long, thin leather straps and wrapping them in a non-luminous blue metal.

This metal, originally found only in some eastern mountains, was said to be a material that could more easily hold magical power.

"Just wearing it slightly increases physical durability, and infusing magic power increases it further. Ultimately it reaches a level similar to guardian bloodline nobles, but magic consumption is severe so it's best not to maintain it long."

"This… is truly an amazing treasure."

It was truly powerful performance considering that magical devices recreating bloodline abilities typically had daily usage limits.

At Turan's exclamation, Melo smiled proudly and said.

"Such items would be rare even in great families. It turned out exceptionally well."

While a craftsman's skill and production time have absolute influence on magical device creation, quality could differ even with the same skill and time invested.

Among these, this item was top quality worthy of presenting to someone like the Arabion family head, Melo emphasized several times while praising his creation, and finally added.

"Though Asiz is a dim-witted fool, he's still my brother. I couldn't be careless with this repayment."

Though his first impression of criticizing Asiz made him seem cold, it seems he too was a brother who loved his sibling.

After receiving the magical device and saying farewell, Turan next headed to Midela, the Berk family head.

As expected, she proposed that Turan formally join the family when he came to bid farewell.

"I'm truly grateful for the offer, but I'm afraid it would be difficult."

"I see…"

Surprisingly, instead of persistently pushing the offer, Midela immediately gave up.

Her following words revealed why.

"Actually, I heard from Asiz. That you're someone with many things to do, so it would be hard to settle here. Please consider it an old person's lingering attachment to make the offer even knowing it wouldn't work."

It seemed Asiz had given the family head advance notice.

Turan bowed deeply in gratitude.

"I won't forget the hospitality I received from the family head. Asiz and the Berk family will forever be my friends."

"Yes, that's enough."

Though she knew, there seemed to be some disappointment as traces of regret showed on Family Head Midela's face.

After the meeting, other Berk family members, especially those who had become close to Turan, were waiting.

"Take it."

Haram abruptly handed over a dagger.

It was a convenient size that could be carried easily as a daily tool or used as a weapon if needed.

"It's a magical device. No special functions, but it's sturdy and sharp."

Though not particularly valuable for a magical device, being only slightly better than the magic lights common in the Berk house, it was still too generous a treasure to give to a disciple taught for just a few weeks.

"…Thank you."

Turan knew why Haram took such care of him.

Among nobles who mostly looked down on close combat, Turan had faithfully absorbed the teachings Haram had pursued his whole life.

To show respect, Turan used a title he normally didn't use for the last time.

"Master."

Haram's lips twitched once before he turned and left.

Probably because he didn't want to show his inability to control his expression.

Next, Asiz grinned and held out a well-maintained set of shirt, pants, and cloak.

The sturdy material without cumbersome decorations looked comfortable to wear.

"What's this?"

"Didn't you say you envied my clothes before? I prepared it in my spare time. It won't get dirty easily, and small tears repair themselves."

Turan finally understood what he meant when he said earlier that it was good they made it bigger.

Considering how often he went out with Turan in the afternoons to watch plays, he must have prepared this in bits of time morning and evening.

Thinking of that dedication made it hard to simply say thank you.

"Asiz…"

"You're a good friend, Turan. Not just for saving my life, but watching how you live while staying together made me think a lot."

Asiz confessed honestly to Turan.

How he had initially felt jealous of his outstanding talent, but came to admire how despite having such talent, he never wasted time and constantly worked on self-improvement.

He said he felt he had lived too lazily until now, so starting with making these clothes, he would diligently practice making magical devices again.

"Plus, I'll go on pilgrimage again once the dark elf situation calms down. From somewhere safer."

Turan nodded and mentioned Asiz's other friend.

"Don't forget to take Tilly when you leave again."

"Of course!"

The horse monster Tilly was as smart as any person while having strength to rival nobles.

Unless another extreme situation like last time occurred, Asiz shouldn't face any serious crises.

"So, where are you thinking of going now?"

"East first."

"Karmaine?"

"Yeah."

Going straight east from the Dakein Plains led to the port city ruled by the Karmaine family.

Though smaller than Arabion or Zahar, they were a great family with considerable history and power, famous for their bloodline ability to control water and ice.

"I've been there once before too. Try not to take a ship if possible. I tried it once out of curiosity but the waves were really terrible."

At Asiz's warning, Turan shook his head with a meaningless smile.

Unfortunately, he had to take a ship through those waves.

His destination was the Enril Desert, Zahar's land, reached by sailing southeast for quite a while.

"Well, you're not a child- no, you are young, but anyway you're more mature than me so you'll be fine. Take care. Don't die."

"Right."

Turan embraced Asiz one final time before walking out of the mansion.

It was truly time to leave the cradle now.

* * *

Leaving Zabilin City, Turan felt the chilly autumn wind wrap around his face.

The wheat fields of the Dakein Plains, once spread out in golden color, had already been harvested leaving only stubble.

It must have been late summer when he first came down to the world, but now winter was just around the corner.

Turan ran east using the breathing method suitable for long-distance running that Haram had taught him.

Two big exhales and two inhales matching the rhythm of his steps.

Thanks to the leg strength from his now much thicker thighs, his body shot forward as if the ground was pushing back on its own.

The speed was such that no one could dare catch up unless they were Arabion nobles flying through the sky or had similar movement abilities.

Travelers passing through various parts of the plains or patrol teams of magicians couldn't even ask what he was doing after spotting Turan, unable to keep up.

Running like this for half a day, then resting briefly, then running again.

Only stopping in the evening, he boiled porridge by steeping prepared hardtack, jerky, and some dried vegetables.

He had worried his palate might have grown accustomed to fancy food, but fortunately the travel food he hadn't eaten in a long time suited him well enough.

After filling his stomach adequately, he lay down in the middle of the plains covering himself with his cloak, and for some reason felt like laughing.

He realized he had once again become a loner without a home to stay in, just like when he first came down from the hill.

But unlike then, the difference was that Turan's heart wasn't empty anymore.

Newly made friends, teachers who taught him many things…

That alone made coming down to this world worthwhile.

Spending days and nights like this, running for two days.

Finally, the plains ruled by Arabion ended and several protruding mountain peaks appeared, with dense forests above them.

Like the area where he had encountered dark elves before, it was under Arabion's influence but not formally ruled by them.

Turan first activated the detection magic he had sealed since entering Arabion territory to search for monsters.

By targeting all kinds of animals – wolves, deer, lynx, raccoon dogs – and searching for traces of individuals significantly larger than their kind.

After a few minutes, he could find one target.

'A wild boar.'

The monster he encountered following the traces was snorting and prowling around, its tusks unusually long.

Those long tusks were probably specialized for piercing things.

When he shouted "Hey!", it quickly turned its head and charged angrily.

[Squeeeeeal!]

Turan carefully observed the charging boar and used magic to accelerate his thoughts.

The world instantly slowed.

Stepping once to match the timing was enough to escape its trajectory, then precisely stabbing the dagger from the side caused the boar to collapse with its brain pierced.

'So this is how it feels.'

He hadn't known when always getting one-sidedly beaten during sparring with Haram, but using his body to hunt was quite fun.

Of course, this boar was an opponent he could kill with just one stone throw.

Since he'd need fare for the ship anyway, Turan absorbed the dead boar's magic power – as expected, it was small fry – then butchered it and skinned it.

Taking some time to leave it with a tanner, or even selling it whole, should fetch a decent price.

"Ugh."

The unexpected point was that the fully skinned hide was as big as a person, making it inconvenient to carry.

Despite having sufficient strength, he had to use both hands to balance it, and its excessive bulk obstructing his vision was quite annoying.

So contrary to his original plan of selling it upon reaching the port city, Turan stopped at a fairly large village nearby and immediately sold off the hide.

There was some commotion selling a hide clearly from a monster, but somehow he managed to get rid of the cumbersome luggage and obtain twenty gold coins.

Running for two full days with his now lightened body, passing through two cities.

Just as he thought the Karmaine family's territory must not be far, Turan's sense of smell caught an out-of-place scent.

'Hm?'

The first thing detected was the smell of burnt ashes.

If that was all, he could have dismissed it as a passing traveler lighting a campfire, but the degree of smell was excessive.

If this was a campfire, it would be believable even if told dozens of houses were burned.

Moreover, not just plants but the stench of burnt animals made him wonder if there had been a forest fire, but approaching, an even more horrific sight than expected awaited him.

"This is…"

Inside a half-burnt collapsed palisade, he saw the ruins of what looked like an ordinary village.

Could it have been attacked by monsters?

Going inside, he could tell that wasn't the case.

Because there were burnt corpses tied up in the village square.

This was clearly a trace left by humans or a race with comparable intelligence acting with malice.

'I didn't hear that dark elves had advanced this far.'

If so, Asiz, who knew Turan was heading east, would surely have tipped him off about it.

While pondering how to deal with this mess, Turan detected the scent of living people through the stench.

Sweat, tears, urine…

'Is it here?'

Following the trace of scent, Turan found a trapdoor hidden under a table in one of the half-burnt log houses.

When he forcibly tore open the door locked with a bolt-

"Kyaaaah!"

A girl screaming as if being torn apart was seen crawling backwards.

How old could she be, maybe eight or nine?

White tear tracks were clear on her grimy face blackened with soot.

"Calm down. I'm not your enemy. I came to help."

The trembling girl asked after Turan repeated the same words several times.

"Really…?"

"Yes. Do you know what happened to this village?"

"Th-they all died. That magician-"

"Magician?"

"Yes…"

The girl collapsed after saying that much.

She must have been exhausted mentally and physically from being trapped in this basement for quite a while.

Turan carefully carried her and came up from the basement.

For now, if he fed her well and let her rest, then took her to another nearby village…

"Found you!"

Four men and women semicircularly surrounding the log house entrance.

The woman holding a pure white ice bow who looked like their leader aimed an arrow at Turan and said.

"Kneel, you murderer!”

Chapter 21: Rising Where You Fell (3)

Dam Ho's robes fluttered violently.

The devastating impact that pierced through his entire body drove Dam Ho backward, his feet carving deep furrows into the earth as he slid for a considerable distance.

Trickle!

Dam Ho circulated the Heavy Heaven Heart Method to endure the force. Only after the weight of his energy took root in the ground like a massive boulder did his body finally come to a stop.

Only then did his face, momentarily distorted by the pressure of the wind, return to normal, and he felt pain in his palms.

"M-Martial Uncle?"

Woon-ho's startled cry reached his ears, but Dam Ho did not answer.

His attention was wholly fixed upon the masked attacker.

Through the gap in the mask, he caught sight of two eyes that wavered for an instant. The expression suggested she had never expected her strike to be blocked.

"How dare you!"

The voice that flowed from behind the mask was as pure as jade.

'A woman?'

In that instant, the attacker struck again.

Swish, swish, whoosh!

In a blur, her hand multiplied once more into dozens of afterimages.

"Be careful, Ho-a. That is the Demonic Cult's Dark Heaven Blazing Palm."

From behind him, Sage Hyeon-so's desperate voice rang out.

Though more than twenty years had passed, Sage Hyeon-so remembered it clearly. Countless martial artists of the Mount Hua Sect had perished at the hands of the Dark Heaven Blazing Palm.

'The Demonic Cult, then. It is true.'

A tremor ran through Sage Hyeon-so's body.

Crack-boom!

As the palm swept forward, a thunderous explosion erupted. It was the phenomenon that occurred when the Dark Heaven Blazing Palm was deployed.

Sage Hyeon-so flinched, for it seemed as though Dam Ho's body would be torn asunder.

But Dam Ho did not waver.

His left foot was driven deep into the earth up to the ankle, and the image of him standing there recalled an unyielding ancient tree.

Woon-ho and the Second Generation Disciples beheld the sight with astonishment.

"How is this possible?"

Their surprise was momentary, and soon gave way to confusion.

The Dam Ho they had known was a cripple. Because of his disability, he had failed to properly learn martial arts and was cast aside even within the Mount Hua Sect.

Had he not been Sage Hyeon-so's disciple, he would not have received even the barest respect. Such was the insignificance of Dam Ho's presence within the sect.

Yet the sight Dam Ho now presented shattered every preconception and prejudice they had ever held.

Thud-thud-thud!

With both hands, Dam Ho deflected, deflected again, and met the Dark Heaven Blazing Palm head-on.

"Could it be… the Bamboo Leaf Technique?"

Woon-ho's eyes trembled.

The Bamboo Leaf Technique was a skill practiced by every Outer Disciple and above of the Mount Hua Sect. Woon-ho himself had learned it, even if only superficially, and knew it to some degree. But the Bamboo Leaf Technique he knew was nowhere near powerful enough to contend with a supreme art of the Demonic Cult.

Woon-ho and the Second Generation Disciples stood with their jaws agape.

"Has Martial Uncle been hiding his true strength all this time?"

Tap-tap-tap-tap!

Dam Ho's hands and the attacker's hands tangled together in a furious exchange.

Blood trickled from the corner of Dam Ho's mouth. As Woon-ho had guessed, the martial art he was employing was indeed the Bamboo Leaf Technique.

But using the Bamboo Leaf Technique to stand against the Dark Heaven Blazing Palm—a supreme art counted among the Demonic Cult's finest—was from the outset an impossible task.

Every time their palms collided, Dam Ho's internal organs shuddered. The shock that reverberated through his insides was inflicting grievous internal injuries upon him.

Yet Dam Ho would not retreat, for behind him stood his Master, Sage Hyeon-so. If his defense broke through, Sage Hyeon-so's life would be in mortal danger.

'Master!'

"Hmph!"

The opponent tilted her head and leapt back a considerable distance. Only then could Dam Ho catch his breath.

"Martial Uncle!"

Woon-ho and the Second Generation Disciples moved to approach, but Dam Ho raised his hand to halt them.

They did not yet understand the opponent's true strength. But Dam Ho, who had clashed directly with her, knew.

Her true power was far beyond what she had shown. Until he knew the full extent of her capabilities, drawing others into the fray was far too dangerous.

"Take Master and fall back."

"But…"

When Woon-ho hesitated, Dam Ho's gaze turned cold.

"As a First Generation Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, I give this order—my first and my last. Leave this place at once."

Woon-ho and the Second Generation Disciples flinched.

Dam Ho, once known by the mocking nickname "Runless Hound"—the dog that could not run—had been the laughingstock of the Mount Hua Sect's disciples.

But in this moment, the oppressive authority and commanding presence he displayed were enough to steal their very breath.

"Martial Uncle!"

"No, Ho-a. I will never abandon you."

Sage Hyeon-so's voice echoed through the gorge.

"I know, Master. I know you would never abandon me."

"Just hold on a little longer. The other disciples will come to help."

At Sage Hyeon-so's desperate plea, Dam Ho shook his head slightly.

The battle was evenly matched. No one had the capacity to spare attention for this place. Not Cheong-heo the Sage, not Mu-gyeong…

Protecting Sage Hyeon-so was his burden alone.

"I will follow shortly. Please go ahead."

"Ho-a."

"I promise."

"You are certain of your promise?"

"Yes!"

"Then I will go. You are not the kind of child who breaks his word."

Sage Hyeon-so turned his body with no strength in his limbs. Escorting him, the Second Generation Disciples withdrew through the gorge.

Even as he walked, Sage Hyeon-so could not tear his eyes away from Dam Ho's retreating figure.

'Ho-a!'

Unbidden, tears welled in his eyes.

The masked figure launched herself toward them. In that instant, Dam Ho shifted one step to the side.

Flinch!

The masked figure's eyes narrowed.

Dam Ho was riddled with openings. Yet there emanated from him a solidity that more than filled every gap.

It was the unyielding will found only in one whose resolve was set like iron.

"Hah!"

The masked figure let out a long sigh.

Blood flowed throughout the gorge, and death had descended upon it.

Then, suddenly, she removed her mask. The true face that had been hidden beneath was revealed.

In that instant, Dam Ho's pupils trembled.

For the face concealed behind the mask was, unexpectedly, that of an extraordinarily beautiful young woman.

Jet-black hair that fell like silk in three cascades, set against a strikingly pale complexion. Delicate, refined features and eyes that felt colder than ice.

She spoke.

"Are you a disciple of Mount Hua?"

Dam Ho nodded silently. At that, the light in her eyes turned frigid.

"Fate has made us enemies, then."

"You are from the Demonic Cult?"

"The world calls us that, but we call ourselves the Divine Cult."

"The Divine Cult?"

"A far more pleasant name, wouldn't you say?"

"What is the Divine Cult doing in this place?"

"This place is called the Thousand Gold Demonic Prison. At the end of this gorge lies a colossal prison where the Divine Cult's sinners are held. That is our dwelling."

"The Thousand Gold Demonic Prison?"

"With no place left to hide on the surface, it was the last refuge we could find. And today, you have discovered us."

Dam Ho's brow twitched. The young woman's eyes grew colder still.

After fleeing from the war with the Central Plains, the Demonic Cult had hidden themselves here. And they had nurtured their strength. When supplies ran short, they raided merchant caravans passing nearby. Thus had they lived for twenty years.

"Do you dream of vengeance against the Central Plains?"

"There are those who do."

"And those who do not, from the sound of it."

"Think what you will."

The young woman assumed a combat stance toward Dam Ho. Killing intent billowed from her entire body.

"What is your name?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because you will be the first person I kill. I ought to remember your name, at least."

"My gratitude! Dam Ho. My name is Dam Ho."

"I will not forget it, Dam Ho. My name is Eum Yu-gyeong."

Snap!

In that instant, the young woman who had introduced herself as Eum Yu-gyeong launched herself at Dam Ho. She deployed the final technique of the Dark Heaven Blazing Palm—White Lotus Floating Snow.

The void was filled entirely with the shadow of her hands.

Simultaneously, Dam Ho's body shot forward.

His footwork resembled a battering ram charging at a city gate—Charging Step.

Crack!

A deep footprint was gouged into the earth as Dam Ho's body shot forward in a straight line. The disability of his left leg was no longer any hindrance.

The internal energy gathered through the Heavy Heaven Heart Method concentrated in his right fist.

Craaack!

What followed the Charging Step was the Fortress Breaking Fist.

Everything he had was poured into this single blow.

BOOM!

The Fortress Breaking Fist and the White Lotus Floating Snow collided head-on.

"Kugh!"

In that instant, someone was sent flying backward, spewing a fountain of blood. The figure that tumbled across the ground, drenched in crimson, was Dam Ho himself.

Countless wounds gaped open across his body, as though he had been slashed by a dozen blades. Some were so deep that bone was visible.

Dam Ho struggled, fighting to rise. That he still lived with such injuries was nothing short of miraculous.

But Eum Yu-gyeong's expression was far from comfortable.

Her gaze drifted to her left shoulder. The shoulder hung swollen and limp. Dam Ho's strike had dislocated it.

A chill ran up the back of Eum Yu-gyeong's neck.

'Had the force behind his strike been even a fraction stronger, my arm would have been torn clean from my shoulder.'

Her internal organs trembled. It was the precursor to internal injury. No—she was already injured. Her trembling legs proved as much.

'This man…'

Eum Yu-gyeong's gaze deepened.

Dam Ho was the first man to ever send a shiver through her body. The knowledge that she must kill such a person with her own hands filled her with sorrow.

"I'm sorry. Truly, I am sorry."

"Don't treat me as dead already. I'm still very much alive."

Dam Ho spat a mouthful of blood-tinged phlegm and glowered at Eum Yu-gyeong. Though he was utterly broken, the light in Dam Ho's eyes remained unbroken.

Though his wounds were so severe that even moving his body was a feat, Dam Ho's will was not so fragile as to be shattered by this alone.

It was then.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the entire gorge trembled, as though an earthquake had struck.

Eum Yu-gyeong let out a sigh.

"It has begun already."

"Begun?"

Swish!

While Dam Ho wore a look of confusion, a long cord suddenly flew forth and coiled around Eum Yu-gyeong's waist.

Eum Yu-gyeong was yanked into the air like a fish caught on a line, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The speed of it was such that Dam Ho could only stare blankly.

BOOM!

Immediately after, an explosion erupted on one side of the gorge.

At the sudden blast, Cheong-heo the Sage's expression changed completely.

"Heavenly Thunder Bombs?"

"Heh heh! We all die here together. Farewell!"

Cheong-heo's opponent let out an eerie laugh.

His eyes already bore the resolve of one prepared for death.

"Don't tell me—mutual destruction?"

"There is no longer a place for us in this world. If so, then we must all perish together. O Sacred Flame of Eternal Ages, look down upon us. We shall burn our bodies to come to your side."

"O Sacred Flame of Eternal Ages, look down upon us."

The demonic cultivators locked in battle with the righteous sects began chanting in unison, following their leader's lead.

At their disregard for death, Cheong-heo the Sage let out a mighty roar.

"They mean to destroy us all! Get out of the gorge at once!"

The righteous sect practitioners fled in terror, deploying their lightness martial arts in unison.

The Wudang Sect practitioners employed the Cloud-Riding Art. The Zhongnan Sect practitioners used the Floating Cloud Step.

Mu-gyeong, too, grasped the severity of the situation and cried out to his disciples.

"Everyone, use your lightness arts and get out of here!"

"Waaah!"

The Mount Hua Sect disciples poured their full strength into their lightness arts, and Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong followed close behind.

"Ah!"

In that moment, Mu-gyeong paused his lightness art briefly.

"What is it?"

Following Mu-gyeong's gaze, Un-gyeong's expression hardened.

On both sides of the gorge, an enormous volume of earth and boulders was collapsing inward, and at the center of it all stood Dam Ho.

Dam Ho could only breathe in ragged gasps, unable to move easily. The injuries sustained in his battle with Eum Yu-gyeong had taken their toll.

Un-gyeong cried out.

"We must save Cheong-gyeong!"

"It is too late."

Mu-gyeong shook his head firmly.

"Senior Brother?"

"If we try to save Cheong-gyeong, we will die as well. We must abandon him."

"Cheong-gyeong is our junior brother as well. And you, Senior Brother, are our eldest senior brother. We absolutely cannot abandon him!"

Un-gyeong glared at Mu-gyeong. But Mu-gyeong was resolute.

"There is nothing I value above Mount Hua. Cheong-gyeong is important, but his worth is not greater than that of the other disciples."

"Senior Brother!"

Un-gyeong cried out as though vomiting blood, but Mu-gyeong did not so much as blink.

"I give this order as the Grand Senior Brother. Junior Brother Un-gyeong, use your full strength in your lightness art immediately."

"I… understand."

In the end, Un-gyeong obeyed Mu-gyeong's command.

He deployed his lightness art while following Mu-gyeong, casting one last look at Dam Ho. His eyes were filled with nothing but self-reproach.

'Forgive me, Cheong-gyeong. That is why I tried so hard not to bring you here. Do not forgive me for failing to save you.'

His figure, along with Mu-gyeong's, vanished among the collapsing boulders.

Dam Ho watched their receding forms in silence.

Though the roar of destruction was deafening, their conversation had reached his ears with perfect clarity. Perhaps the brush with death had sharpened his senses.

Cheong-heo the Sage had passed him by. His tightly bitten lips stood out with striking clarity.

He caught sight of Yeon So-ha gazing at him with a look of anguish. But she, too, did not dare approach him. After a moment's hesitation, she threw herself out of the gorge.

'I'm sorry.'

The Wudang Sect practitioners vanished, and the Zhongnan Sect practitioners receded into the distance. And finally, the Mount Hua Sect's members fled the gorge.

Some escaped unharmed, while others were crushed beneath the cascading rock and screamed. But their cries were quickly buried beneath the torrent of earth and stone.

Thus was Dam Ho left alone.

"Master…"

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Witnessing Gwak-o’s end was very uncomfortable, but it provided Jin Ja-gang with valuable information.

It seemed true that people were being transported elsewhere tomorrow. Gwak-o had called them people of the Medicine King Sect.

If he went there now and secretly hid among them, he might somehow be able to escape from the Extreme Poison Sect.

However, Jin Ja-gang hesitated.

It was because of the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture tucked in his garment. Even knowing it was fake, he couldn’t bring himself to discard it—reflecting his inner sentiment.

After wavering, Jin Ja-gang made his decision.

‘I need to find the authentic version. Leaving comes after that!’

Survival is important. Truly important.

But if the lineage of Hundred Flower Valley were to end here, Jin Ja-gang would have no meaning beyond mere survival.

Finding the authentic Hundred Flower Secret Scripture might be the last mission remaining for Jin Ja-gang.

Now that he knew of its existence, and who possessed it, he couldn’t ignore it.

Jin Ja-gang left Gwak-o’s house.

He didn’t set out blindly to find the authentic Scripture. Jin Ja-gang had his own plan.

‘First, let’s find where that old monster is.’

Jin Ja-gang excluded the place where he had been held captive and experimented on by Mang-ryo. He had rarely seen Mang-ryo reading books there.

That meant he was either carrying it on his person or had placed it where he resided.

Jin Ja-gang kept the fake Scripture close and followed the side path used by waste carts, moving uphill.

The Extreme Poison Sect had built its pavilions along the mountainside. Fortunately, the buildings weren’t clustered together, giving Jin Ja-gang some room to maneuver.

He hurried along, constantly surveying his surroundings. Since it was deep into the night, only occasional torches were lit, and warriors patrolled the paths.

Jin Ja-gang chose a suitable spot.

Two warriors stood with swords, looking bored.

Jin Ja-gang took a deep breath. Then he drew a drop of poisonous energy from his dantian and extracted it through his right little finger.

Next, he coated the edge of the broken dish fragment with the poisonous energy from his little finger, then scratched his own face with it.

He didn’t need to cut deep enough to draw blood. Just grazing it in a couple of places was enough to cause a tingling pain. Soon his face became swollen.

After confirming his face was swollen, Jin Ja-gang rushed forward.

“Woooo! Wooooo!”

The two warriors who had been yawning by the torches were startled and stared at Jin Ja-gang.

“W-what!”

Jin Ja-gang held out the handwritten copy of the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture and shouted in a hoarse voice:

“To Elder Mang-ryo quickly…!”

Then he collapsed forward.

The warriors looked at each other, trying to pass the responsibility, until finally the warrior with the diamond-shaped face approached. With a disgusted expression, he tried to take the Scripture that Jin Ja-gang was holding out.

“Ugh.”

Jin Ja-gang pretended to hand over the Scripture while using the broken dish fragment hidden beneath it to scratch the warrior’s fingertip.

“Ah, that hurts!”

The warrior jumped in surprise. His companion, standing at a distance, was also startled.

“What’s wrong?”

“The book cut my—”

Jin Ja-gang interrupted the warrior.

“Kkuk, kkuk. Elder Mang-ryo quickly!”

“No, that’s…”

The diamond-faced warrior couldn’t finish his sentence as he stared at his own hand. His finger was severely swollen.

“Ahhh!”

The diamond-faced warrior lost strength in his legs and collapsed. Soon he fell sideways, foaming at the mouth. Immediately, his limbs began to shudder and convulse.

Perhaps because the poison entered through blood, it worked faster than expected.

“Hey! Hey!”

The remaining warrior looked back and forth between Jin Ja-gang and the diamond-faced warrior.

Jin Ja-gang’s face was swollen, and the diamond-faced warrior’s hand was swollen, foaming bloody bubbles from his mouth.

Anyone could see they were poisoned.

“Ugh…!”

Jin Ja-gang still held and waved the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture, but the remaining warrior dared not approach. He was so panicked that he couldn’t even think about why Jin Ja-gang, who seemed equally poisoned, was still fine while his companion was dying.

“Y-you wait here!”

The warrior just said that to Jin Ja-gang and ran back along the path.

Jin Ja-gang, who remained behind, had gleaming eyes.

‘Success!’

Jin Ja-gang rose to his feet.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

The warrior ran past a couple of forks in the road toward a single-story house in sight. It wasn’t far from where Jin Ja-gang had been held captive.

On the way, whenever he encountered guards, he pointed behind him and shouted:

“Go that way. Hurry!”

Thanks to this commotion, Jin Ja-gang, who was following behind, had ample time to hide. The guards were so startled and rushed by that they passed right by Jin Ja-gang, who was hidden behind a nearby rock.

The warrior ran into the courtyard of the single-story house and knelt outside the door, calling out:

“Elder! Something terrible has happened. Please come out quickly!”

Mang-ryo emerged, leaning on his cane with a scowling, disheveled face as if he had been sleeping.

“What is it?”

“Someone appeared, poisoned and disfigured, asking for you, Elder.”

“Who was it?”

“His face was so disfigured from poisoning that I couldn’t recognize him, but he looked like one of the menial workers.”

“And?”

“He was holding a book, but something seemed strange about it.”

“Where is the book?”

The warrior quickly continued:

“I tried to take it, but it must have been coated with poison, because whoever touches it gets poisoned. One of our men tried to take the book and was poisoned! You must come quickly, Elder.”

Mang-ryo scratched his ear with an irritated expression.

“To disturb me for such a trivial matter…”

Mang-ryo paused mid-sentence, as if suddenly remembering something, and turned to the warrior.

“What kind of book was it?”

“It had ‘Hundred Flower Secret Scripture’ written on it!”

Mang-ryo’s single eye widened.

“What did you say!”

Mang-ryo unconsciously glanced back toward his room, then turned his head again.

“Where exactly is this person?”

“Just down there below!”

“Let’s go!”

Mang-ryo immediately came down to the courtyard. Though he limped, he had grown accustomed to his cane and moved surprisingly quickly.

After Mang-ryo and the warrior rushed off, Jin Ja-gang immediately sprang out from the shadow of the thick tree at the edge of the courtyard.

When the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture was mentioned, Mang-ryo had glanced back at his room. It was certainly there.

Mang-ryo had been so distracted that he’d left the door open. Entering the room, Jin Ja-gang saw that one wall was filled with a bookcase packed with books, while the other side had a bed and various medicinal ingredients.

‘Where is it? Where?’

Jin Ja-gang grew anxious. Even though his eyes had adapted to darkness, finding one volume of the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture among so many books wasn’t easy.

There was no time.

‘No, it’s not there!’

Though Hundred Flower Valley might be treated as a third-rate sect, it had maintained its lineage for centuries. No matter what, it was unlikely that the Secret Scripture of such a sect would be casually placed among ordinary books. If Mang-ryo had given Gwak-o a handwritten copy rather than the original, it meant the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture was quite valuable.

Jin Ja-gang recalled how Mang-ryo had unconsciously looked back when he heard about the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture, then quickly turned his head.

‘He realized the Scripture was in a safe place.’

A safe place.

Where could it be?

Jin Ja-gang frantically scanned the room. Suddenly, he noticed a box placed beside the bookcase.

It was a suspicious-looking box even at first glance. It seemed too obvious a place, but there was nowhere else that could contain a book.

The box was closed but had no lock.

Mang-ryo disliked inconveniences. He probably hated the hassle of opening and closing locks. But there would surely be something else instead.

Jin Ja-gang steeled himself and grabbed the lid of the box.

Sure enough.

At that moment, something sharp shot out and pierced Jin Ja-gang’s palm.

‘Ah!’

Jin Ja-gang quickly gritted his teeth and swallowed his groan.

A needle was embedded in his palm.

It must have been a poisoned needle. The moment it pierced him, his palm felt numb. The poison was so potent that his head spun.

‘It’s okay. It’s okay.’

Before his hand swelled further, Jin Ja-gang pulled out the needle and firmly grasped the lid to open it again.

Ping!

Once more a needle shot out, but this time it flew over his head and embedded itself in the ceiling.

The mechanism was probably designed for an adult’s height, which is why it missed. Still, Jin Ja-gang felt a chill down his spine.

‘Whew.’

He removed the lid.

Inside were two books.

‘There it is!’

The second book from the top was the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture. To be sure, he checked the contents and found it filled with text and illustrations. He couldn’t confirm if it was the original, but it certainly wasn’t a handwritten copy.

As he retrieved the Hundred Flower Secret Scripture, his eyes caught the book beneath it.

Without hesitation, Jin Ja-gang took that book as well.

‘Herbal Cultivation Method.’

Though the title was unfamiliar, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t out of greed for someone else’s secret manual, but to prevent Mang-ryo from using it.

He tucked both books inside his clothes against his stomach and tied them securely. Then he placed the fake Hundred Flower Secret Scripture in the box.

He was about to just leave it there, but then took the poisoned needle that had pierced his hand and discreetly inserted it into the cover of the fake Scripture.

He closed the box lid again.

‘Done.’

He had finally found the authentic sect manual. His heart swelled with emotion. But it wasn’t time to rejoice yet.

Jin Ja-gang cautiously checked outside before leaving the room. He went around the back of the house and headed toward the waste pit. The path there was used by waste carts and had much fewer people.

It smelled terrible, but this was no time to be picky.

‘Now I need to find the carts where the Medicine King Sect people are held.’

Jin Ja-gang patted his stomach where he had secured the secret manuals.

Though still tense, thinking about how upset Mang-ryo would be when he found out improved Jin Ja-gang’s mood slightly.

* * *

By the time Mang-ryo arrived with the warrior’s guidance, more than a dozen warriors had already gathered in a circle, buzzing with conversation.

Mang-ryo pushed through the warriors.

One warrior lay dead on the ground. Mang-ryo put on deerskin gloves and shouted:

“The book!”

“When we arrived, there was nothing here, Elder!”

“Fools.”

Mang-ryo gritted his teeth. Still, his hands were already moving. He checked the dead warrior’s eyes, turning them over, and even pulled out his tongue.

Suddenly, he removed the warrior’s shoes to examine his toenails.

He also closely inspected the hand that had supposedly been cut by the book.

Then an incredulous exclamation escaped Mang-ryo’s lips.

“What is this…?”

All the warriors turned their attention to Mang-ryo.

“You said he was poisoned just now?”

“Yes.”

“But blisters have already formed on his tongue, and his fingernails and toenails have turned dark blue. These symptoms usually require at least ten bowls of arsenic to develop such acute signs.”

The warriors murmured among themselves.

By now, some of the Extreme Poison Sect’s masters had also arrived.

“Elder Mang, what’s happening?”

Mang-ryo didn’t answer, just frowned and looked around at the Extreme Poison Sect masters, his eye widening.

“Where is Bloody Hand?”

One of the Extreme Poison Sect elders asked in confusion:

“Didn’t you insist on having Bloody Hand guard somewhere?”

“That’s why I’m asking where Bloody Hand is now! Didn’t you agree to take shifts over several days?”

A master of the Extreme Poison Sect named Ju Song responded awkwardly:

“I was supposed to take over the shift starting tonight, but I’ve been waiting for word from Miao Weng.”

Hearing this, Mang-ryo’s shoulders trembled.

The Extreme Poison Sect masters looked at Mang-ryo with concern.

“Elder Mang?”

But there was nothing wrong with Mang-ryo. Instead, he was smiling.

Mang-ryo was grinning with his mouth stretched to his ears, his single eye filled with killing intent!

“It’s him. That brat has returned!”