◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 515: Into the Darkness (10)
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I had not reacted much when Do Gwangsu said he was good at finding his way, but I already knew.
Do Gwangsu was good at finding paths.
Especially when he had to find a place that was not marked on a map.
When it was night, darker than day.
When he had to find a new path to survive, he was even better at it.
He could not match my accuracy, but Do Gwangsu’s keen survival instincts had saved the Sojeong Unit several times when we were lost in desperate circumstances.
Time and again, he had escaped death by staking everything on the insight people loosely called instinct.
That was why I had entrusted him with guiding us.
“…S-So.”
Do Gwangsu’s eyes spun.
He had turned his head away to avoid our gazes, so I could not see his face.
I looked again at where his fingertip had pointed.
“Gwangsu.”
The place Do Gwangsu pointed to was a blank wall.
“What exactly is going on here?”
“W-Wait! Just wait! There is no way this can be… Ghk!”
For some reason, Do Gwangsu’s reaction was remarkably dramatic.
As if his life depended on it.
“T-This is the right place! This is the path I came through.”
Dang Seohui, holding something sharp in her hand, slowly tilted her head.
“Then why is it a wall?”
“Th-That is… that is…”
According to the map, the cave Yong Soa mentioned should definitely be beyond this point.
Then why was there a wall here?
‘Either Do Gwangsu is mistaken… or something else happened.’
The first possibility was more likely, but I knew his instincts from my past life.
‘Which means the second possibility is still possible.’
Could the original path have vanished completely and been replaced by a wall?
I began searching through the library in my head.
Reports related to the Heavenly Demon Tomb that I had crammed into my memory in my past life.
Among those miscellaneous reports, I picked out several that stood out.
※ Class C
– Martial artists were found gathered against walls and dead in groups within certain sections of the Heavenly Demon Tomb.
Some appeared to have tried to break through blocked caves.
It was presumed they had suffered group seizures after losing their reason to Mushim Illusion Powder.
※ Class B
– A large number of people who had starved to death were found inside the Heavenly Demon Tomb.
They were mainly found in locations completely different from those marked on the treasure map. It was assumed they had lost their sense of direction, wandered, and died.
Further research was needed into Mushim Illusion Powder and its effect on directional sense.
※ Class A
– A discrepancy was found between the structure reported by the first investigation group and the cave’s actual structure.
Reconfirmation required.
Once the seemingly unrelated reports were gathered together, they led to one conclusion.
‘The Sword Tomb’s structure is changing.’
Leaving Do Gwangsu behind as his lips trembled, I approached the sealed wall.
“Eek! Hero Jin! Please, please spare me! I’ll do anything!”
“…”
I had no idea what game Do Gwangsu was playing, but I did not feel like responding.
“Aaaah!”
Ignoring Do Gwangsu as he screamed and squeezed his eyes shut, I examined the wall.
Tap, tap.
Even from a simple knock, I could tell it was solid all the way through.
‘Ha…’
Those lunatics had clearly built a mechanism using actual rock.
Hummm.
I wrapped my fist in qi force.
Booom!
Then I struck the wall with enough power to shatter ordinary Azure Steel Stone in one blow.
Rumble!
The entire cave shook violently, starting from the wall.
“Huh. Interesting.”
The force stopped short.
They had clearly used stone stronger than Azure Steel Stone.
No matter how hard or thick the stone was, aside from a deep groove carved into its surface, it had not budged.
“H-Hero Jin! If you keep causing impacts like that…”
The Myriad Blossoms Invincible Fist did not suit this situation, so I simply poured more internal energy into my fist and struck harder.
Boom!
My full-powered fist sank deep into the wall.
Crack!
The wall caved inward for half a zhang around my fist.
Rrrrrrrrrr.
An uneasy tremor spread through the entire cave.
“H-Hero Ji… Ghk! Jin Sowoon, you dog… no, Y-Young Master Sowoon!”
A sound like tearing rock echoed throughout the cave.
Crack!
Thud, thud, thud!
Boulders as large as houses began falling from the ceiling.
“Jin Sowoon, you crazy bastard!!!!”
Just before Do Gwangsu could be crushed into paste, Dang Seohui leaped above him and lightly kicked the falling boulder.
Whoosh! Boom!
The boulder that had been falling with savage force flew horizontally and embedded itself in the wall with a massive crash.
“…Ugh.”
Do Gwangsu finally opened his eyes and collapsed onto the floor, as though his legs had given out.
“I-I do not want this anymore…”
Ilgak, who had knocked away falling rocks just as Dang Seohui had, spoke with a grave expression.
“Benefactor Jin, if you cause a greater impact, the entire cave may collapse.”
“…”
Unless I had a martial art capable of piercing straight through without dispersing the force, I had no way of knowing what effect using all my strength would have on the Sword Tomb.
‘If the Sword Tomb collapses…’
No ordinary human could withstand the immense weight of the Great Snow Mountain.
“What about the Shangguan Art or the One-Finger Divine Art?”
Would Shaolin Sect’s Seventy-Two Supreme Arts be different?
“The Shangguan Art spreads its force in every direction at the final point of impact, while the One-Finger Divine Art…”
“Digging through with a finger would take forever.”
How long would it take to open a cave wide enough for people to pass through with a finger art?
Even if we could break through the wall with a palm or fist art, it would only waste time if we could not judge the wall’s thickness.
I walked over to Do Gwangsu, who was curled up with his head in his hands and trembling.
“Hey. Get up.”
“No… I said no… Let me out…”
He had completely lost his wits.
I bent down and whispered into his ear.
“You called me a crazy bastard earlier, didn’t you?”
“…W-What are you talking about?”
“I clearly heard you start to say ‘dog…’ too.”
Do Gwangsu snapped his head up.
His eyes were brighter than ever.
“Hero! How could I possibly do such a thing?”
After rolling his eyes around, Do Gwangsu hurriedly changed the subject.
“M-More importantly, isn’t the esteemed Hero trying to get through that wall?”
“That’s right.”
“Then may I find a way in using my method?”
“Your method?”
“Yes. I think I can figure out a way.”
I had no idea why, but I liked seeing Do Gwangsu act so eagerly.
“Fine. Give it a try.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
[They died.]
Yong Soa’s unpleasant prophecy came to mind.
Would the Moyong Seol I found beyond this wall be alive, or dead?
I added one more thing to motivate Do Gwangsu.
“Your future depends on what lies in there, so you had better work hard.”
“Eek!”
For some reason, his face had gone utterly pale.
#
Moyong Seol was exhausted.
Her body was badly worn down, but what troubled her more was her mental fatigue.
‘When did it begin?’
Had it been after they obtained the Tyrant King Divine Fist?
The clan members began acting differently, speaking and behaving unlike themselves.
Even then, she thought it might only be her imagination.
They had been inside the Sword Tomb too long, and everyone was exhausted.
But after they encountered the Yuhyang Sect…
“Aaaaargh!”
Everything changed at once.
The Yuhyang Sect had launched a surprise attack without warning.
Half the Moyong Clan members died in that incident.
Moyong Seol had barely escaped death herself, but at the cost of injuring her left shoulder.
When she finally pushed Jang Unhyeon’s corpse aside and got to her feet, she realized something was definitely wrong.
Among the surviving clan members…
“What a nuisance. Why was he clutching this so tightly even in death?”
“This one’s in decent condition.”
No one cried or looked distraught.
They were only going through their dead companions’ belongings.
“Miss, are you all right?”
The Group Leader’s question was dry.
“If you are, we should leave. I do not think we can stay here long.”
“Group Leader… what are you doing right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“What are those people… doing?”
The Group Leader looked over the clan members searching the corpses and answered without concern.
“The dead do not need food or water.”
It was as if Moyong Seol was the strange one.
Everyone who had survived acted that way.
It felt as though only Moyong Seol had been dropped into a world where something was terribly wrong.
“Let’s go. I’ll support you.”
“Ah, wait…”
The Group Leader’s rough grip, unlike usual, forced Moyong Seol to move.
They had no medicine to properly treat her injury, so they could only provide first aid. As time passed, the wound worsened.
Yet no one in the clan paid any attention to Moyong Seol.
“Seriously, how long do we have to move this slowly?”
“Her legs are not even hurt. Isn’t she just pretending?”
They complained loudly enough for her to hear, as if she were a burden.
“…!”
Whenever she happened to turn around, their eyes would be fixed on her before quickly scattering.
More than anything else…
“Heh heh heh…!”
Whenever battle broke out, they transformed like evil spirits thirsting for blood.
There was no longer any effort to subdue or incapacitate their opponents.
One sword, one kill.
They killed without fail and did not spare even those who surrendered.
Moyong Seol moved her injured shoulder and tugged on the Group Leader’s sleeve.
“Group Leader! What are you doing? That person surrendered!”
But…
“Miss, did you learn nothing from what happened with the Yuhyang Sect?”
“…”
“Grow up.”
The response she received was one of annoyance and rejection.
‘This is not the spirit of the Moyong Clan.’
What would teachings mean if everything changed whenever circumstances did?
But Moyong Seol could not forcefully stop them. She was injured and had to rely on them.
As this continued, Moyong Seol’s mind gradually became more worn down.
‘What is this? Are they the ones who are wrong? Or… am I the one who is wrong?’
Her untreated wound began to fester, and the infection made heat rise through her whole body.
No matter how much qi-regulating breathing she did, her mind remained clouded as though shrouded in fog.
“G-Group Leader…”
Even as Moyong Seol hovered at death’s door, the Moyong Clan members only stared blankly at her.
No one from the Moyong Clan cared for her any longer.
‘I’m tired…’
As she stared blankly into the darkness, she heard regular footsteps.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The figure making the sound leaped in the darkness, then landed, over and over.
‘What is that…?’
With blurred vision and a hazy mind, she looked toward the end of the cave.
She could faintly make out the figure rising and falling repeatedly in the darkness.
Then she saw both arms stretched straight out in front of it.
“G-Group Leader…”
“I told you, we have no food to share.”
“Th-That is not it… that thing… Am I seeing it wrong?”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Unlike the other illusions, its shape became clearer the closer it got.
Both hands stretched forward.
Long black nails extending from them.
A pale face, as if drained of all blood.
Fangs protruding through its expressionless lips.
That was clearly…
“J-J-Jiangshi?!!!”
The Group Leader’s reaction confirmed it.
‘It’s not an illusion!’
Moyong Seol quickly rose to her feet.
“Everyone, run…”
Crack!
Before Moyong Seol could finish speaking, the jiangshi’s body shot forward like the wind.
——!
With a small burst of sound, the part where the Unit Leader’s head should have been vanished entirely. Blood sprayed like a fountain from the cleanly severed neck.
“Aaaah!”
“Aaaah!”
The clan members fell into panic in an instant at the sudden appearance of the monster.
“N-No!!!”
Even with her clouded mind, Moyong Seol understood after seeing a single move.
She did not know where this monster had come from, but they could never face it if they scattered.
But…
“Gather…!”
“Aaaah!!!!”
Moyong Seol’s cry scattered uselessly like sand.
The others pushed down their companions and ran, caring only for their own safety.
“Get away!! Get away from me!”
The fallen martial artist unleashed sword qi with all their strength to stop the jiangshi.
The jiangshi’s long black nails easily cut through the sword covered in sword qi as if it were a piece of wood.
“A-Aaaah!”
The martial artist whose heart was pierced died with their eyes still open.
The jiangshi immediately leaped toward its next target.
“N-No!”
A shattering impact burst against the jiangshi as it rushed toward another martial artist.
Boom!
Crack!
The jiangshi’s neck bent to the side, making it look even more grotesque.
“M-Miss!”
“I’ll buy time, so gather everyone!”
Moyong Seol’s face had turned pale as she gathered all her strength into one strike.
She had pushed her internal energy too hard in her terrible condition.
Still, she had no choice.
With the Group Leader dead, Moyong Seol was the only one who could face this monster.
“Haah!”
A stream of sword qi shot from her sword toward the jiangshi’s heart.
Clang!
She thrust past the jiangshi’s fingers, but it felt as though she had struck iron, producing a useless sound and a powerful rebound.
She had no strength left to prepare the next move.
The opponent had not even tried to defend.
Slash!
She barely twisted her head away, but a small wound opened beside her ear.
To escape the jiangshi’s range, she swung the Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword.
Though she did not wield two swords, one sword was enough. A fierce sword wind rose and twisted one of the jiangshi’s arms where it was never meant to bend.
Crack. Crack. Crack!
Moyong Seol thought she had completely disabled one arm, so she immediately used the Flashing Light Cloud-Parting Sword to cut off its head.
The jiangshi casually raised its other hand and blocked her sword.
Boom!
It settled into a horse stance, stared briefly at its broken arm, then…
Crack. Crack. Crack!
The bent arm returned to its proper place and resumed its original shape.
‘At this rate…’
For a moment, Moyong Seol thought how nice it would be if she were in good condition, but she knew it was nothing more than an excuse.
‘It would be better to slowly retreat and widen the distance.’
She made a quick decision and turned toward the clan members to tell them.
“Deputy Group Leader?”
There was not a single living person left inside the cave.
“Huh?”
Boom!
The jiangshi’s fist sent Moyong Seol flying.
She flew three zhang and slammed into the wall.
Crash!
Part of the stone wall broke apart, and Moyong Seol fell to the ground with a pained cry.
“Urgh!”
Her qi and blood circulation twisted, her internal energy ran wild, and her organs were damaged.
Looking at the bowlful of blood she had vomited, she realized it was over.
‘After being told so many times not to lose my focus…’
She clearly felt several ribs breaking, and her internal energy raged out of control.
She thought she had no right to resent the clan members who had run away.
‘No, I should praise them instead.’
At least those who fled would have a better chance of survival.
The jiangshi looked between her and the direction the survivors had fled.
It seemed unable to decide whom to kill first.
“Over here…”
Moyong Seol barely moved her lips.
“Haa… Come here… first!!”
Moyong Seol forced herself up and released killing intent toward the jiangshi with all her strength.
The jiangshi, which had been about to turn away, abruptly changed direction toward her.
Then…
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
It began to approach with those grotesque footsteps.
It might have looked ridiculous under other circumstances, but now it was terrifying.
Perhaps it was not only because of the jiangshi.
The source of this fear was…
‘Because I’m facing death.’
Fear washed over her.
Terror tried to take control of her mind.
Sadness rose in her chest.
Tears streamed down her face.
Ever since she picked up a sword, she had thought she was always prepared for death. Yet as death revealed itself so clearly and slowly approached, every kind of pain and despair filled her heart.
“Khk!”
Moyong Seol wiped away her tears and gritted her teeth.
The longer she held on here, the more likely the clan members would survive.
The more likely their lives would continue.
Crack.
The approaching jiangshi stopped, leaned forward, and planted its feet firmly.
The same method it had used to kill the investigation Group Leader in a single strike.
Moyong Seol gathered every last bit of strength and took a defensive stance.
Thud!
The jiangshi shot forward like a gust of wind.
As she gritted her teeth and braced for the expected impact…
Boom, boom, boom!
A massive explosion rang out first, and Moyong Seol stopped breathing.
‘T-The jiangshi?’
The jiangshi that had been rushing at her was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a man radiating golden light was walking toward her, staring at her.
“…”
Crack. Crack.
The jiangshi that had been embedded in the wall rose, crushing the pile of rocks around it.
Moyong Seol gasped at the horrifying sight, but the man calmly fired golden sword qi at it and continued walking toward her.
Kraaaah!
For the first time, the jiangshi screamed.
But the man did not care whether the jiangshi screamed or not. He slowly approached Moyong Seol.
Then…
“Are you all right?”
He held out a strong hand and asked her.
“Ah…”
Moyong Seol looked at his hand, then raised her head.
The man was someone she knew.
Someone she had never imagined she would meet here, like this.
Tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.
“Young Master Jin…”
She was the one who should have been relieved to see him.
“Thank goodness. Miss Moyong.”
Yet Jin Sowoon held her hand tightly, as though he had been the one saved, and did not let go.
Footnotes:
