A new star shone, completing yet another constellation.
“Haa.”
A sigh slipped from the lips of Gaye, Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace, as she looked up at the ceiling.
Around the largest star at the center, several constellations had lit up.
“The speed at which he is breaking through it is growing faster and faster.”
Behind her, as she reported with trembling eyes, stood Hwa Mu-gyeong, Palace Lord of the Dark Palace.
“At this rate, he will break through the seal of the Seventy-Two Star Golden Soul Formation and emerge even sooner than expected.”
Hwa Mu-gyeong merely looked up at the ceiling in silence, without the slightest agitation. The layers upon layers of wrinkles on his face concealed his emotions completely.
On top of that, a faint aura of darkness enshrouded him, making it impossible to even guess what he was thinking.
And so Gaye had to ask him directly.
“Are you not afraid, Palace Lord?”
“I am afraid.”
His voice, resonating like the toll of an ancient bell, spoke the truth.
Gaye knew. The only person in the world this Dark Palace Lord feared was the one within that seal.
That was why this Sword Tomb plan absolutely had to succeed.
“This is our last chance. Will he be able to handle the Young Cult Leader alone? Moreover, are the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable not with him as well?”
At Gaye’s concern, Hwa Mu-gyeong said something unexpected.
“He is not alone.”
At those words, Gaye’s eyes gleamed.
“Whom did you send?”
“Someone trustworthy enough.”
There was one more important fact.
“He has completed the song.”
“!”
Gaye asked in a trembling voice.
“How? He should still have a long way to go before reaching Great Accomplishment.”
Then astonishing words flowed from Hwa Mu-gyeong.
“I gave him the Heavenly Will Divine Pill.”
Gaye knew. The Heavenly Will Divine Pill was the greatest elixir of the Heavenly Will Palace, kept by the Dark Palace Lord to use at the most crucial moment.
He had judged that moment to be now.
“We will recover all of the Six Paths Primordial Qi, and the Young Cult Leader will die this time.”
* * *
“The entrance to the Sword Tomb is through an underwater cave hidden beneath the pond.”
Taesu’s voice trembled as he spoke of the entrance.
Inwardly, he was tense. Now that he had revealed his final card, his life was naturally in danger.
Afraid, he did not dare say anything to test Geom Mugeuk.
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not about to miss the opportunity to tease him while he was so tense.
“You’re no longer needed, then.”
When Geom Mugeuk looked at him with cold eyes, Taesu flinched in surprise, then forced himself to show some nerve.
“Do you really think I told you the true location?”
“If it isn’t the lake on the left, we can try the one on the right.”
“What if it isn’t this mountain?”
“It isn’t this mountain?”
When Geom Mugeuk asked so bluntly, Taesu was momentarily at a loss for words. He had seen Geom Mugeuk all this way. Would saying it was not so at this point really work?
Instead of answering, Taesu let out a sigh.
“I’ll bury you in a sunny spot by the pond.”
“No, please bury me somewhere else. Every time I lie there and look at the pond, won’t I regret it? I’ll think, I should have run away back then.”
The playfulness vanished from Geom Mugeuk’s face.
“I’ll give you the chance now so that you won’t regret it.”
When Geom Mugeuk’s expression turned serious, Taesu tensed inwardly as well.
“From now on, think carefully before you decide. You know well that even if I don’t kill you, there is a high chance you will die in there. You may leave now. If you want to go, I’ll let you.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s offer, Taesu fell into thought for a moment. If he left like this, he could certainly preserve his life.
To begin with, he had meddled with a treasure map he should never have touched and still survived, so this was not a bad outcome at all.
If he abandoned his greed, he could live. Leaving when he was told he would be spared would be the wise choice.
“I… want to stay with you until the end.”
This time, he had a reason to remain until the very end.
The choice was not given only to him. Geom Mugeuk asked Jihan.
“What about you? There is no need to take unnecessary risks. You can wait for me in the village at the foot of the mountain.”
As if he had already thought about this part, Jihan answered at once.
“How could I alone remain somewhere safe when my lord is in a dangerous place? I, too, wish to attend you until the end. Instead, please promise me just one thing.”
“What promise?”
“Please treat me as though I am not there. Even if I fall into danger, there is no need to save me. You do not have to glance my way even once.”
He said it because he was worried that, with his inferior martial arts, he might become a burden to Geom Mugeuk.
His martial ability was by no means lacking wherever he went, but Geom Mugeuk’s skill was so extraordinary that such worries naturally arose.
“I wouldn’t have paid attention in the first place. But because you said that, now I’ll end up paying attention.”
“Ah! That was not what I meant.”
After enjoying the sight of Jihan flustered and at a loss, Geom Mugeuk said to him,
“Do not expect my help. If I have the leeway, I’ll help you, but when the situation is urgent, you must survive on your own.”
“That is only right. I will absolutely not become a burden.”
Seeing the resolve to face death in his eyes, Geom Mugeuk spoke words of reassurance with a gentle gaze.
“When you are with me, you don’t need to worry about that. If it is an enemy I cannot protect you from, then it is an enemy I could not defeat even if I fought alone anyway.”
Jihan was sincerely grateful that Geom Mugeuk was taking him along.
He did not know what sort of work he would come to do in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the future, but he thought this experience of being with the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would be both the first and last of its kind. And not only the Young Cult Leader. He would be with two Demon Venerables as well—truly, the greatest moment of his life.
He did not want to give up this once-in-a-lifetime event simply because he was afraid.
Geom Mugeuk gave orders to Taesu and Jihan.
“You two go to that village over there right now, rent a room at an inn, and leave the carriage there. Wait, unload this baggage first.”
Geom Mugeuk took his leather pack from the carriage.
At the sight, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked,
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to bring that baggage with you.”
“I have to. There might be a time when the two of you need to sleep in there.”
“We’re fine.”
“I’m not fine. When you’re away from home, you must be even more particular about where you sleep.”
After they unloaded the leather pack, Jihan and Taesu took the carriage and went to the village.
Now only Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Venerables remained there.
Geom Mugeuk took a small piece of leather from the pack and spread it over a rock.
“Please sit here.”
The two sat side by side. Whatever they said, their backsides were comfortable on the soft leather.
Just then, the sound of weapons clashing came from up the mountain.
Even on the way here, they had seen martial artists gathering in Zhejiang. Yet within this vast Zhejiang Province, they were heading precisely to this Mount Tianmu. It meant someone was guiding them here.
“This is a trap, isn’t it?”
At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s question, Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“Yes, it seems so.”
“Does setting such an obvious trap even work?”
At that, Geom Mugeuk looked up the mountain.
“It is working, isn’t it? Everyone has gathered here like this.”
The One Flower Sword Venerable, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Are those bastards behind the scenes involved in this as well?”
“It isn’t certain yet, but I believe so.”
Geom Mugeuk had only guessed, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon drew a conclusion.
“If you think so, then it must surely be their doing.”
That was how much the Blood Heaven Blade Demon trusted Geom Mugeuk’s judgment.
“You, did you perhaps know from the beginning when you came out here?”
“I anticipated that it might be so. That is why I brought Elder along as well. If my expectations are correct, this may become a difficult fight.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable exchanged glances.
“We should earn our keep for the elixirs, shouldn’t we?”
At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s words, the One Flower Sword Venerable smiled and answered,
“We should earn it handsomely. Both I and you, elder brother, have the results showing on our faces.”
A smile naturally formed at the corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth. The tremendous increase in inner power? It was not important. These days, nothing pleased him more than being told he looked younger.
Meanwhile, Jihan and Taesu returned.
“On the way back, I saw martial artists arriving here one after another.”
It seemed the rumor had been spread, and spread quite properly at that.
“Now then, shall we go search for treasure too?”
With Geom Mugeuk in the lead, they began climbing Mount Tianmu.
Amid the sounds of fighting coming from all around, Taesu spoke quietly.
“The treasure map said this was Mount Tianmu, but the fact that the entrance had to be reached through the pond on the western peak could only be learned by deciphering the coded message. As for me, my father trained me from a young age to decipher such codes, so I was able to solve it, but others will not find it easy.”
How long had they climbed the mountain like that?
Halfway up the mountain, there was a large clearing, and a great fight was taking place there. It was not a halfhearted skirmish; people were being stabbed to death by swords one after another.
“Hand over the treasure map!”
Astonishingly, even here, the reason they were fighting was the treasure map.
“I told you I don’t have it!”
“That bastard has the treasure map!”
“That’s a lie!”
It was a veritable hellscape. They killed people, searched their clothing for the treasure map, and then someone else framed another person.
Judging from the situation, it was clear that most of those here did not even know where the entrance to the Sword Tomb was and had merely been swept up by the rumor.
The true experts, however, did not join the fight and instead stood well back, observing the situation.
Geom Mugeuk’s group also stayed far away and waited for the fighting to settle down somewhat.
The killing and being killed continued.
Then someone spoke, infusing their voice with inner power.
“Everyone, stop fighting! I will guide all of you to the Sword Tomb!”
At those words, those who had been fighting all stopped at once and stepped back.
Guide them to the Sword Tomb? Who would have thought someone would say such a thing in this situation?
Everyone’s astonished gazes turned toward the person who had spoken.
Not only Geom Mugeuk, but also the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the One Flower Sword Venerable, Jihan, and Taesu all looked over in surprise.
The person who had stepped forward to guide them was wearing an iron mask over his face. Perhaps because he wore an iron mask, his voice sounded unusual. Because of that, it was not easy to guess his age.
“How do you intend to guide us there? Do you perhaps have the treasure map?”
As if to say indeed he did, the iron-masked man took something from his robes.
“That is correct. The treasure map to the Sword Tomb.”
A murderous greed surged in the eyes of those surrounding him.
The next moment, the iron-masked man spread the treasure map out before the people.
“Now, do not fight. All of you, look.”
The martial artists approached and looked at the treasure map. In their hearts, they wanted to snatch it and run, but the unique atmosphere and composure they felt from the iron-masked man up close did not allow it.
The location written on the treasure map was indeed Mount Tianmu, but the exact place was not marked, and instead there were incomprehensible characters and numbers written on it.
“As you can see, the precise entrance is written in code. Therefore, even if you obtain this, you cannot go there right away.”
Then someone shouted,
“How do we know that treasure map of yours is real?”
“The treasure map is real. I deciphered this code and discovered the entrance to the Sword Tomb.”
At those words, the martial artists murmured among themselves.
“And yet you say you will take us to the Sword Tomb?”
“That is right.”
Naturally, the martial artists did not believe him.
“Ridiculous. You expect us to believe that? This is a situation where even killing everyone here would not be enough, and you say you’ll take us all there?”
Among those present, there were many with hearts vicious enough to kill even the companions who had come with them. How could they possibly believe such words?
The iron-masked man revealed the reason.
“Because I cannot break through that place alone.”
At those words, everyone wore startled expressions.
“That place can only be entered if many people join forces. It was somewhere that absolutely cannot be passed through alone.”
Someone among the gathered heroes asked again,
“Who are you?”
“Rumors will spread later that someone obtained the treasure. Is there anyone here who wants to reveal who he is? Then you reveal your identity first. I will reveal mine as well.”
At that, no one asked who he was any further.
Just then, someone else stepped forward.
“This is a trap.”
The man who came forward this time was a middle-aged martial artist with a long sword scar running from his forehead down to his chin. It was a face one could not forget after seeing it once.
“Why is it a trap?”
He took something from his robes and spread it out before the gathered heroes.
“Because there is a treasure map here too.”
Those nearby checked its contents.
“It’s the same treasure map!”
Indeed, it was the exact same treasure map as the one the iron-masked man had shown. Not a single character was different; it was completely identical.
The scarred man said to everyone,
“What reason would there be to make several identical treasure maps? Is this not a conspiracy by someone to kill us all here?”
The martial artists murmured and wavered. Now that two treasure maps had appeared, it was a situation worthy of suspicion.
Then the iron-masked man asked in a loud voice,
“So? Will you not go in?”
The iron-masked man understood their desires more accurately than anyone.
“Whether there are two treasure maps, three, or even ten circulating, will you leave without confirming the place? If so, leave right now. Anyone who thinks it is a trap, leave immediately.”
Given the circumstances, there was a high chance that it was indeed a trap.
But no one left.
What if it was real? It was possible several treasure maps had been made, wasn’t it? What if he left and those who remained seized the treasures of the Sword Tomb? That was something they could not endure.
Someone said loudly,
“Someone must have made two treasure maps to make us think it is a trap and stop us from going to the Sword Tomb!”
Then the other martial artists shouted,
“I will not leave. Take me with you!”
“I will go too!”
“We will not leave.”
“We will follow you!”
Did they even know who the person beneath that iron mask was?
But everyone had lost their senses to the treasures of the Sword Tomb.
The iron-masked man said to the scarred martial artist,
“You say you think it is a trap, so why do you not leave?”
The scarred martial artist said nothing. But in the end, he did not leave this place.
Watching this, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon immediately suspected the iron-masked man first.
“That fellow is suspicious.”
At his quiet words, Geom Mugeuk looked at the scarred martial artist who had warned that it was a trap.
“By that logic, he is suspicious too.”
“Why?”
“The one who insists on taking everyone with him is suspicious, yes, but why did that man bother to step forward to stop them?”
Hearing it, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon found it plausible and nodded.
Looking around at the countless people nearby, Geom Mugeuk said quietly,
“Among them, there is surely an enemy of ours.”
It was at that very moment. Jihan inhaled through his nose with a startled expression.
“I smell something.”