“At least he seems confident he can hold out for ten days.”
Whatever he felt inside, the Fist Demon did not show any worry outwardly.
The same was true of the Ilhwa Sword Venerable.
“I don’t know what sort of enemy he’s facing, but it won’t be easy for anyone to spend ten whole days with the Young Cult Leader either.”
At her joke, the Fist Demon and Ian smiled together. Yes, Geom Mugeuk was the kind of person who could make people laugh even in a situation like this. That was why he and the Demon Venerables trusted the Young Cult Leader.
“Since Mugeuk set a deadline, why don’t we wait?”
At the Fist Demon’s courteous suggestion, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable readily agreed.
“Let us do that.”
From the circumstances, it appeared that Geom Mugeuk had gone underground together with the enemy.
Of course, that did not mean the Fist Demon would simply sit back and wait. He said to Ian,
“Instead, send word to Tongcheon Pavilion and tell them to report every movement related to Yellow Dragon Martial Academy. Also confirm that Mugeuk is not at the academy or anywhere nearby.”
“Yes, I will.”
Not only Tongcheon Pavilion but even Silver Moon had already mobilized every information network for this matter. If even the slightest strange sign appeared, word would come here at once.
The Fist Demon did not let down his guard. He spoke again to the Ilhwa Sword Venerable.
“We should also keep in mind the possibility that other powerful enemies may come to aid them.”
If the opponent was someone strong enough to make Geom Mugeuk wary, then they might have exceptional subordinates, or they might call in another enemy.
“They may try to conduct a drive hunt.”
He meant they could have driven Geom Mugeuk underground and then come swarming in as a group.
At the Fist Demon’s words, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable answered politely.
“I will make preparations as well.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable knew. The Fist Demon was not merely a man with a frightening face. Since his youth, he had gone through every kind of hardship in the martial world alongside the Cult Leader. When the situation was urgent, his judgment could be trusted.
Only after the conversation with the Ilhwa Sword Venerable ended did the Fist Demon finally attend to his daughter.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable stepped away so the father and daughter could speak comfortably.
“Then I will go in first.”
Ian quickly said to the Ilhwa Sword Venerable,
“Sword Venerable, if anything is inconvenient or if there is anything you need done, please tell me.”
“I will.”
After hearing her consideration, before turning away, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable added a word.
“Unit Leader Ian, you’ve made progress in your martial arts, haven’t you?”
As expected, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable had noticed Ian’s achievement. Having reached great accomplishment in the Flying Heaven Sword Art and greatly increased her internal energy as well, there was no way the Ilhwa Sword Venerable would fail to notice her change.
“I was fortunate.”
“Congratulations. Considering your age, it is a remarkable achievement. Even I had not reached that level at your age.”
“You praise me too highly.”
Ian cupped her fist and bowed her head politely. She did not want to miss this good opportunity to meet the Sword Venerable.
“I still have so much to learn. If you could spare even a brief moment to teach me when you have time, I would be truly grateful.”
It was a difficult request for her to make, but the Ilhwa Sword Venerable readily allowed it.
“That is precisely what I would hope for.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable was not merely saying so out of courtesy; she meant it sincerely. She knew well that the enlightenment gained while teaching could be just as great as the enlightenment gained while learning.
In that sense, there would be no better person than Ian. She was still thirsting for training.
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable walked toward the building.
After entering the building and walking down the corridor, she saw the Fist Demon and Ian conversing far beyond the window.
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s gaze turned toward the smiling Fist Demon.
‘Can he really be that happy?’
In all the years they had served together as Demon Venerables, had she ever seen the Fist Demon make such an expression? Even on the way here together, she had not seen him smile once.
Suddenly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to mind. Now he cherished Geom Mugeuk like a son and was fond of him, but there had also been a moment when fate could have granted him a child of his own. And herself as well.
She did not regret it. At the time, she had lived believing that was the best choice.
But today, as she watched that smile bloom on the Fist Demon’s face—a smile rarer than a spirit herb—she found herself wondering, for some reason, what it might have been like to live a different life at least once.
* * *
The mechanism arrived underground.
When the door opened, a young man was waiting in front of them.
“You’ve come?”
The man, who had bowed politely to the Sword King, glanced at Geom Mugeuk.
“Take in the new recruit.”
At the Sword King’s words, delight flashed across the man’s face. But that delight soon turned into disappointment.
“Only one this time?”
“Is that not enough?”
“No, sir.”
They had rested for a while, but everyone was very exhausted. He had thought the Sword King would bring down at least five or six people this time.
The Sword King took off his shoe and smacked the man on the rear with it.
“Fix your expression! He may be one person, but he’s worth a hundred.”
As soon as he came down here, the first thing he did was take off his shoes.
“This place is so rough that shoes tear up in no time.”
After tying the shoes at his waist, the Sword King walked off first.
The man’s eyes, as he looked at Geom Mugeuk, were filled with doubt.
You’re really worth a hundred?
The handsome fellow before him looked far too removed from the rough work done here.
The man turned around and followed the path the Sword King had taken.
“You have to step exactly where I step and follow me. If you step wrong, you die!”
The path inward was as complicated as could be. They had to pass through places where mechanisms had been dismantled, and even the floor they had to step on changed frantically from yellow to red, then to blue.
“Don’t even think about coming out alone.”
The man was certain no one could memorize the path after following it only once, but in truth, an exact map was being drawn in Geom Mugeuk’s mind. Since there might come a time when he had to escape this place, Geom Mugeuk committed the path to memory with all his might.
This place was truly dangerous. Everywhere was filled with mechanisms that had not yet been completely dismantled, and blades jutted out here and there in every direction.
“You have to jump over there in one go. You can do it, right?”
“Wait a moment. Let me catch my breath.”
Geom Mugeuk put on an exaggerated show of weakness. It was because he wanted to talk to the man for a moment.
“My name is Geom Yeon.”
“I’m Hong In.”
Hong In asked Geom Mugeuk with a slightly pitying look.
“What do you need money for that you came in here?”
“I came in because of… the Instructor.”
“The Instructor? You mean Eldest Brother?”
The Sword King was being called Eldest Brother by them. Then again, since he probably had not taught them before, he would never have been their instructor. Eldest Brother. From that title, one could guess how the Sword King treated them.
“There’s something about him that pulls people in.”
As if he agreed with that point, Hong In nodded.
“Still, if he’d said he wouldn’t pay you, you wouldn’t have come, would you?”
At the look that said, In the end, you came for the money, so don’t say pointless things, Geom Mugeuk obediently acknowledged it.
“That’s right. It’s because of the money.”
“Now, jump.”
With an expression that said, I knew it, Hong In lightly launched himself forward. Geom Mugeuk jumped after him.
“You jump just fine, yet you put on that act!”
Hong In opened the way again. Geom Mugeuk realized there were far more mechanisms installed here than he had imagined. There must have been countless sacrifices in the process of breaking through this place.
Then the two arrived in a broad space. The martial academy members had gathered around the Sword King, who had arrived first.
Their gazes naturally turned toward Geom Mugeuk. Their eyes were wary as they wondered who this person joining them could be.
Geom Mugeuk also slowly looked them over.
First of all, they were exhausted. Fatigue could be felt throughout their entire bodies.
But there was passion and heat in their eyes.
They were all people who had come voluntarily to earn money. They were all dreamers.
But Geom Mugeuk read something else in them as well.
It was madness.
These youths were enduring in this stifling place, in this perilous place where their comrades died around them, thinking only of money. How could they possibly endure without going mad?
They probably thought they were holding up well, but Geom Mugeuk could feel that the look in their eyes was not normal. Since they were gathered among people just like themselves, they would not know what state they were in.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King.
‘Can you not see that exhausted madness?’
Was he pretending not to see it for the sake of his goal, or was he unable to feel it because he was among them as well?
Geom Mugeuk greeted them loudly and brightly.
“I’m the new recruit, Geom Yeon, from the White Dragon Class. I look forward to working with you!”
At the mention of the White Dragon Class, everyone began murmuring. It was the first time someone from the White Dragon Class had come here.
Even though the Sword King was present, one of the academy members could not hold back and asked,
“How did someone from the White Dragon Class come here?”
“Exactly. Just how smart and strong in martial arts do you think I must be? Ah, you’re asking why someone with that kind of skill entered the White Dragon Class?”
Under the gazes focused on him, Geom Mugeuk remained relaxed.
“There were circumstances.”
“What circumstances?”
“When a man makes a choice other men can’t understand, what reason could there be? It was a woman problem.”
At that moment, several academy members laughed. Some laughed in disbelief, others in sympathy.
It was the first time he had seen their expressions loosen. When they laughed like this, they looked similar to the academy members aboveground.
In any case, the Sword King had brought him, and the fact that he spoke so boldly in the Sword King’s presence made them think, at the very least, that he was not deceiving them.
“Where do I sleep? Where’s my spot? Ah, I came down in a hurry, so I couldn’t bring anything with me.”
The Sword King did not order a subordinate to do it, but personally stepped forward to guide him.
“Follow me.”
The Sword King first took him to the sleeping quarters.
A large room had been carved into the wall, and shabby wooden beds were lined up inside. As if everyone here was on equal footing, there were no better spots and no worse spots.
“The beds are too small and too hard.”
Geom Mugeuk sat on a bed and bounced his hips a little.
“If they’re too comfortable, you only get more idle thoughts.”
“Isn’t that the thinking of the side making people work?”
“I sleep here too.”
“That isn’t a reason it’s fine for them to be uncomfortable.”
The Sword King stared at Geom Mugeuk and gave another reason.
“Thanks to this, they’ve become much stronger.”
“Ah! Then I should lie down.”
Geom Mugeuk flopped onto the bed.
The Sword King stood beside him, looking down at him. Geom Mugeuk lay on the bed and silently looked up at the ceiling.
“As expected, coming underground already feels stifling.”
The Sword King began walking again, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind him.
Even while walking, one had to be careful. Blades jutted out here and there throughout the living space. He felt they had been left as they were to remind everyone not to let down their guard.
Drip, drip, drip.
Following the sound of water, they arrived at a place where underground water flowed down.
“If you need to wash, wash here.”
The Sword King took out basic necessities from a wooden box in the corner and gave them to him. He knew where everything was in every corner of this place.
The final place he guided him to was where the excavation had stopped.
An iron wall blocked the way ahead inside the cave.
The Sword King had described it as digging through the ground, but to be precise, they had to dig through this iron wall. The wall was covered in unknown characters and patterns, and for some reason, it gave off a dangerous feeling.
“This is the final barrier.”
“How do you know it’s the final one?”
“Because I’ve done enough. Because I don’t want to do any more.”
Since it was a joke filled with sincerity, Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.
After staring quietly at the iron wall, Geom Mugeuk placed his palm against it. The cold energy seemed to warn him like this.
Do not come any farther.
This wall would not be everything. A dangerous final barrier would be waiting.
‘What lies at the end?’
The Sword King had said it. That he could become stronger here. Just what was there?
“Who made this place?”
“I don’t know either. I only know it was made a very long time ago. But I’m certain there is a peerless divine art and incredible treasure inside.”
You’re not after that, are you? You’re someone who handed me the enormous sum of three hundred thousand nyang without hesitation.
Geom Mugeuk turned with his back to the iron wall.
“Now that we’ve come this far, please tell me. Why do you need me? It isn’t as if I have some special talent for breaking through this barrier.”
The Sword King’s answer was unexpected.
“To tell the truth, I’m tired too. This final barrier will be truly dangerous. Many sacrifices will occur.”
As if that was all, he said nothing more.
Startled, Geom Mugeuk asked,
“Don’t tell me you mean for me to save the academy members?”
Surprisingly, the Sword King nodded.
“It would be too much for me alone. It’s one of the biggest reasons I called you.”
As if he had said all he needed to say, the Sword King turned and began walking away. Then Geom Mugeuk asked from behind him,
“Do you truly intend to let these academy members live?”
The Sword King’s steps stopped.
“When the treasure vault containing a peerless divine art and all manner of treasures opens, the academy members will see it too. Of course, with you present, Instructor, they wouldn’t dare covet it. But once they return to the world, they will spread rumors someday. That you obtained a peerless divine art and treasure here, Instructor. That they were there.”
Then the Sword King answered,
“So what?”
Yes, if it was the Sword King Geom Mugeuk had seen so far, he might truly not care, just as that answer suggested. What if rumors spread? He possessed the skill to keep anyone from taking it from him.
But there was one reason Geom Mugeuk had brought this up.
Before his regression, there had never been any rumor that such treasure had been discovered. Nor had he ever heard that the person who spread such a rumor was a member of the martial academy. Had all these people kept the secret?
‘Or did you kill them all?’
The Sword King turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
“So? Are you saying I should kill them all to silence them?”
Frightening words were exchanged, but the taut tension between the two men actually disappeared.
“Then you take charge of that as well.”
The Sword King laughed, and Geom Mugeuk laughed along with him.
“I was joking. You know my reputation, don’t you?”
The Sword King gazed at Geom Mugeuk and said,
“Yes. If you are the Young Cult Leader of the rumors, you will save those children.”
Their gazes intertwined in midair.
How much was truth, and how much was falsehood?
Geom Mugeuk felt that as long as the Sword King stood barefoot before him, and as long as they did not go all the way beyond this wall, he would not be able to find the answer.
Geom Mugeuk turned back around and looked at the iron wall, then this time quietly pressed his ear against it.
“Do you hear something?”
“I do.”
The Sword King asked in surprise,
“What sound?”
“If we are to complete the work safely…”
Geom Mugeuk even gently closed his eyes and concentrated.
“It says we need good beds and soft bedding.”