Chapter 113: May the Destined One...
Chapter 113: May the Destined One...
I walked slowly into the Ten Thousand Evils Cave.
Since the Unorthodox Path Alliance had designated it a sacred site, the interior was impeccably maintained. The air circulated freely, and Night-shining Pearls embedded throughout the walls bathed the cavern in a soft, constant light.
After walking for a while, I reached a wide, open cavern. This was the heart of the Ten Thousand Evils Cave. On the newly constructed walls, the life of the Mansa Sect Leader was recorded through intricate text and illustrations.
It detailed everything: his birth, his impoverished childhood, his years of grueling martial arts training, the heroic tales of his youth, and his eventual rise to becoming a Grand Master of the Unorthodox Faction.
But that was all. There was nothing else. This was why Bi Sa-in had allowed me inside. To him, this was merely a place recording the life of a legendary Unorthodox master from three hundred years ago.
The climax of his life had been his battle against the Heavenly Demon.
Though he hadn't won, the mere fact that he survived that fight made him a figure of legend even today.
According to the records on the wall, he stayed here for ten days to treat his injuries before leaving. Fortunately, there was a water source inside, which allowed him to endure. It was written that he went into seclusion afterward and never appeared in the Murim again.
The records did not mention that he had left behind a discourse on his martial arts here before he died.
So, how did that fact become known?
Ten years from now, an earthquake would strike this area, causing the walls to collapse and revealing a hidden chamber.
I drew the Black Demonic Sword.
Zing.
An azure Sword Force coated the blade.
I thrust the sword into the lower section of the western wall. Following the seams of the masonry constructed for the records, I neatly cut out a section large enough for a person to pass through.
This western wall was the one destined to collapse in the future. It wasn't particularly thick. After cutting deep enough to penetrate it, I used my internal energy to push the stone block inward.
I crawled through the opening. This inner chamber was the sanctuary where the Mansa Sect Leader had left his final thoughts on martial arts before his death.
His discourse was inscribed directly onto the walls. Judging by how he had hidden it in a secret room, it seemed he didn't want anyone without the right destiny to find it.
I read it slowly.
It was a lecture on the entirety of martial arts, based on the enlightenment he had gained through his battle with the Heavenly Demon.
The Mansa Sect Leader’s martial arts were incredibly profound and lofty. To an ordinary master, these words would seem like nothing more than grasping at clouds—useless even if read a hundred times. But I was no ordinary master.
I read it over and over again. These were the principles left behind by the greatest Unorthodox master of the last three hundred years. There was no need to memorize them; this was a matter of pure comprehension.
At first, I gained enlightenment from the differences—new lessons provided by Unorthodox martial arts that were entirely distinct from the Cult’s demonic arts.
But as I read and re-read, I realized that all martial arts ultimately shared a single root. I gained enlightenment from that commonality.
They are the same, yet they are different. Understanding the profound mystery within this subtle difference was the line between becoming a peerless master and remaining mediocre.
I drew my sword and swung it, then returned to the text, then performed forms like a madman. The experience was fresh and intense.
If I had only learned demonic arts, or if I had only learned Unorthodox martial arts, his teachings wouldn't have resonated with me so deeply.
However, while my foundation was in demonic arts, I had lived a life that transcended factions. Thus, the Mansa Sect Leader’s final enlightenment struck a powerful chord within me.
As I was performing the forms of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique, I suddenly realized something.
Without even noticing, I had reached the Twelve-Star Great Achievement of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
Like water flowing naturally downstream, the Mansa Sect Leader’s insights had guided me toward the next threshold.
The Ten-Star stage and the Twelve-Star stage were on entirely different dimensions. A single martial art had reached its ultimate state and was finally complete.
"Ah...!"
I was overjoyed. Even in my past life, I had never reached the Twelve-Star Great Achievement in any martial art. Now that I had mastered the lofty Flying Heaven Sword Technique to its absolute limit, I felt as though I could fly.
I prostrated myself on the spot. Even though he was a Grand Master of the Unorthodox Faction, I offered my sincere gratitude.
"Thank you truly for leaving behind such great teachings. Though a man of the Unorthodox Path did not receive this precious fated encounter, it was received by someone who intends to help your descendant. Please do not be too disappointed."
As I went to stand up after my bow, something caught my eye.
Something was hidden in a spot that could only be seen while prostrated. Moving closer, I saw it was a letter. It was a letter left by the Mansa Sect Leader. The final formula caught my eye.
...I realized that even if I were to consume this Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom, I would still be unable to kill the Heavenly Demon. Therefore, I do not take it and leave it for future generations. May the destined one cherish this encounter.
"A Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom?"
Startled, I searched the area around where the letter had been placed. There was a small hole behind it. Looking inside, I saw a Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom actually growing there.
I gave it a slight push with my internal energy, and the earthen wall crumbled, revealing a small cavity.
Amazingly, what was growing there was indeed a Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom. It was an elixir more potent than any I had consumed so far.
If I hadn't bowed to the Mansa Sect Leader out of gratitude, I would never have found the letter, nor the mushroom. Whether the Mansa Sect Leader had intended it or it was mere coincidence, I had gained a second fated encounter.
Thank you once again.
I carefully harvested the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom. It was actually smaller than a common spirit mushroom, but the divine energy accumulated over eons was concentrated within this tiny fungus.
I consumed the mushroom right then and there.
An immense surge of energy spread through my entire body. It was a massive amount of power; if someone unable to handle it had eaten it, their blood vessels would have burst instantly.
However, thanks to my sturdy meridians strengthened by the Thousand Meridian Strengthening Technique and the pure internal energy I had built up from previous elixirs, I was able to refine the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Spirit Mushroom without any side effects.
I focused on refining the energy, completing one, two, and then three full circulations of my True Qi. After storing the energy in my Dantian, I opened my eyes.
I didn't know exactly how deep the internal energy of my father, the Murim Alliance Leader, or the Unorthodox Path Alliance Leader was, but I was confident that in terms of raw internal energy alone, I was now their equal.
I left the letter and the teachings on the wall as they were. When the earthquake eventually collapsed the wall, most of it would be destroyed anyway, so there was no need for me to erase his teachings myself.
I crawled out and replaced the stone block I had removed.
Since there was still time before the two-shijin deadline, I read the section about the final battle between the Heavenly Demon and the Mansa Sect Leader.
The Heavenly Demon Soul was depicted in the battle. Since it was drawn by Unorthodox artists, the Heavenly Demon Soul was portrayed as a terrifying demon.
I stared intently at the image.
One can manifest the Heavenly Demon Soul upon reaching the Great Achievement of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.
Would I be able to manifest a Heavenly Demon Soul one day? What form would mine take? Would it appear in a smaller form rather than something so massive?
My heart raced just thinking about it.
Right then—
Ssh. I had the sudden illusion that the Heavenly Demon Soul in the painting was looking at me.
Startled, I looked at it again, but the Heavenly Demon Soul remained just as it was in the painting.
Actually, this was the second time I had experienced this.
Back when my father had pressured me with his demonic energy, I felt as though something massive was watching me from the abyss.
It felt exactly like that now.
Was I seeing hallucinations because of my desperate desire for the Nine Calamities Demonic Art?
"Let's meet when I manifest you myself, not in a painting."
After bidding farewell to the Heavenly Demon Soul, I left the Ten Thousand Evils Cave.
Bi Sa-in was waiting outside. He examined me with eyes full of curiosity. However, at his level, he couldn't perceive any of the changes within me.
"I read it well. It truly is a place worthy of being called a sacred site. The Mansa Sect Leader was a truly great man."
"Don't even think about coming back," he grunted.
"It's a sacred site to you people; to me, it's just a stuffy underground cave. Seeing it once was enough. Come, let's go."
We exited through the pond we had entered from.
Emerging below the waterfall, we soared up the cliff. Compared to me, who reached the top in a single leap, he had to kick off the cliff face once midway.
We began running toward the Unorthodox Path Alliance headquarters.
After running without rest, we decided to take a short break. As we sat side by side on a hill, Bi Sa-in spoke worriedly.
"There must be an uproar by now. The successor of the Unorthodox Path Alliance is missing, after all. And with the child of the Heavenly Demon, no less."
"It might not be as big a deal as you think."
Bi Sa-in looked at me. "Why do you think so?"
"The Smiling Demon likely gave the 1st Wolf a hint. He would have told him that nothing dangerous happened, so there's no need to make a fuss."
"Did you tell the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon to do that?"
I shook my head.
"Sometimes you just know things without being told, don't you?"
"This is the first time I've been away from the 13 Wolves since becoming the successor," Bi Sa-in said. "Even so, I can't predict how they'll move at all."
He couldn't hide his bitter expression. Since I was the one who had induced their division, I felt a slight bit of pity for him.
"How does it feel to be alone?"
"I'm not sure yet. I thought it would be very uncomfortable, but it's not that bad. Nor am I that anxious."
"That's probably because you're with me. I have a charm that puts people at ease."
At my shameless remark, Bi Sa-in looked at me with an incredulous expression. Having spent time with him, I could now read his subtle facial changes. At first, his mangled face always looked the same, but if I looked closely, there were differences.
"I can read your expressions now, Young Master Bi."
He flinched when I mentioned his expressions. Just as the mask was for the Smiling Demon, the scars on his face were like a reverse scale for Bi Sa-in. But I didn't hesitate to touch upon it.
"Later, when you have subordinates you can trust, show them your expressions clearly. That way, they can read your emotions. In fact, the closer the relationship and the more they respect you, the more likely they are to fail at reading your face. Don't make that mistake."
"Why are you giving me this advice?"
"Because I want the Unorthodox Path Alliance to function well. I want the Cult, your Alliance, and the Murim Alliance to maintain a balance. If that balance breaks... you know what will happen."
"Is that really all?"
"Do you think I was taught to trust people? Even so, I trust when I must."
"I just don't understand why you're taking such risks."
"The reason is simple. That bastard tried to kill us. He tried to use the Smiling Demon. That's reason enough to kill him. But don't think I'll help you until the very end. We aren't greenhorns blinded by revenge; if the situation looks bad, I'll pull out immediately. This is your problem, after all."
Bi Sa-in seemed conflicted.
"I'm not sure what to do. Honestly, I'm a bit confused."
The Bi Sa-in I first met and the Bi Sa-in now were definitely different. Wounded pride tends to blind a person. But the current Bi Sa-in clearly had a stronger will to overcome reality than to cling to his pride.
"Isn't it simple?"
"What do you mean?"
"Can't you just pay them back exactly what they gave you? He tried to kill you, so you kill him. You aren't trying to kill the Alliance Leader to seize power; he tried to kill you, the successor, so you do the same to his grandson. Throw away your fear and awe of Seok Gwan-chu. He's just a disgusting old man greedy for power. Forget about evidence or whatever and just kill him."
Bi Sa-in nodded deeply.
"You're right. This was a very simple problem."
It seemed something that had been blocked within him was finally cleared.
"I will kill them all. And I will kill anyone who stands in my way."
"Of course you should. Don't make a simple problem complicated."
After staring at me for a moment, Bi Sa-in asked, "Can you still read my expression?"
"I can."
"How is it?"
"You're happy."
"So I really did have expressions."
"You didn't know?"
"I didn't. Everyone was too busy avoiding my face."
"It wasn't 'everyone,' it was you. Now, stop breaking mirrors."
A deeper smile formed on the face that would normally have flared up in anger. I stared at that face for a moment before standing up first.
"Now, let's run!"