Chapter 591: If Things Go Wrong Just Because It’s Flipped
Chapter 591: If Things Go Wrong Just Because It’s Flipped
Yeon Baek-in’s heart sank the moment he stepped into his office.
Someone had infiltrated his sanctum during the brief window he was away. The intruder stood by the window with the poise of an owner, gazing out at the view. His massive frame almost completely blocked the light.
Yeon Baek-in didn't need to see the man's face to know who it was. It was Lee An’s father—the man who had been relentlessly pestering him about his daughter’s whereabouts.
The fact that he had entered despite the guards stationed at the door spoke volumes about his skill. He certainly hadn't come through the window; a man of that size could never have squeezed through the frame.
Yeon Baek-in had pegged him as extraordinary during their first meeting, but seeing those massive fists clasped behind the man’s back now made him feel strangely suffocated. Nevertheless, Yeon Baek-in circulated his internal energy and spoke coldly.
“Who are you?”
In any confrontation, the opening move was a battle of momentum. If you were pushed back at the start, you would be suppressed until the end.
However, he immediately regretted his tone.
The moment the Fist Demon turned around, the hair on Yeon Baek-in’s entire body stood on end. Even without a deliberate release of killing intent, the man’s aura was not something that could be faced with mere courage. He looked even more terrifying than he had the other day.
“I have come to ask a favor.”
The Fist Demon was polite. That only made him more frightening.
“What kind of favor?”
“Send all the students away. Now.”
Yeon Baek-in flinched. “What do you mean by that?”
“The Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Hall is closed for the day.”
The Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Hall was too large to ignore the presence of students if a fight broke out. If a battle commenced, many would surely be caught in the crossfire. Yeon Baek-in felt it instinctively: something monumental was going to happen here today.
“Just what are you planning?”
The Fist Demon met his gaze with cold eyes and countered, “And what about you?”
Yeon Baek-in was shaken by the man’s stare alone, but he did not back down. Even if his own skills were lacking, he had him hidden in the basement.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I am Lee An’s father.”
“Reveal your true identity!” Yeon Baek-in barked. There was no way the parent of a mere student would act like this. “I asked who you are!”
The Fist Demon chose the most direct answer. He unleashed his Demonic Energy.
Yeon Baek-in’s skin had crawled when the man was suppressed; now that the Demonic Energy was surging, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
“I am of the Divine Cult.”
“...!”
The moment he heard the words 'Divine Cult,' Yeon Baek-in felt a wave of nausea and dizziness. His rock-solid belief that he would handle whoever showed up was instantly replaced by a chilling doubt. Can he really handle this? To the people of the Murim, that was the kind of weight the Demonic Cult carried.
He had been relieved, thinking no one would know what was happening deep underground. Why was the Demonic Cult intervening at the final moment?
It’s those bastards!
The students who had escaped the basement! They must have spread rumors to the Demonic Cult. It was a misunderstanding, but it didn't matter now. He had to survive this moment.
“Why is the Divine Cult intimidating us?”
“I believe you know the answer to that better than I do.”
Yeon Baek-in wanted to feign ignorance, but he couldn't find the words while meeting the Fist Demon’s eyes. With his Demonic Energy revealed, the man felt a hundred times more terrifying than the day he had first come searching for his daughter.
As if he had no intention of speaking further, the Fist Demon turned back toward the window.
“Close the gates of the martial arts hall immediately. A new gate will soon open.”
Yeon Baek-in knew that 'gate' meant the gates of hell.
*
The masters and instructors of the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Hall stepped forward and began dismissing the students.
“Everyone, go home for the day!”
The students were blindsided. They had never been sent away like this before.
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s none of your business! Leave the hall this instant!”
Even if the masters wanted to explain, they couldn't. They didn't know the reason themselves.
Hundreds of students began to file out. Those who lived and ate within the hall were evicted, followed by the cooks and the laborers. Like a poisonous mist spreading through the building, the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Hall was emptied in an instant.
Finally, the masters and instructors reported to Yeon Baek-in, who stood before the main building staring at the vast, empty training ground.
“We have sent everyone away as ordered.”
They expected an explanation, but Yeon Baek-in simply said, “You all leave as well.”
“Pardon?”
They were stunned. They hadn't expected to be dismissed too. They thought they would be asked to stand together against an approaching enemy. If not that, then what was he planning to do alone?
“What is going on, Hall Master?”
“I will tell you later.”
After dismissing even his closest subordinates, Yeon Baek-in returned to his office.
The Fist Demon was staring at the sparring arena outside the window. It had been empty moments ago, but as soon as the students left, martial artists began to gather one by one. They congregated in significant numbers, effectively occupying the grounds.
Among them, the Fist Demon’s gaze was fixed on a man sitting in the spectator stands. Just as Tongcheon Pavilion had reported, the man had bandages wrapped around both hands. The man was looking back at the office, his presence extraordinary. He was clearly aware of the Fist Demon’s gaze, yet he did not budge from his seat.
Yeon Baek-in’s voice came from behind. “I have done as you wished.”
The Fist Demon prepared to leave the office without a word. At that moment, Yeon Baek-in summoned his courage to speak. He had to know.
“Do you really intend to turn my martial arts hall into hell?”
“Isn’t that why I had you send everyone away? To protect the people who shouldn't be in hell.”
The Fist Demon paused at the door, leaving one final remark.
“And that is why you are still here.”
*
Geom Mu-geuk and the Sword King entered the room.
The moment they stepped inside, they knew. This was the final chamber. No jewel or ancient elixir could compare to the mysterious energy emanating from this place.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the pattern on the floor. It was the same as the one above the door: a square and six small circles. Not just the floor, but the surrounding walls were covered in various patterns of squares and circles, colored in black, white, blue, red, yellow, and purple.
Even without the patterns, there was something else that confirmed this place was related to the Secret Casket. Placed in the center of the room was a Secret Casket.
The color and shape were identical to the one Geom Mu-geuk carried, but it was scaled up to the height of a grown man.
Upon seeing the giant casket, the mysterious energy within Geom Mu-geuk’s body began to react. The power that had been dormant inside him began to squirm and awaken.
Geom Mu-geuk looked at the Sword King. The older man was staring at the casket with trembling eyes, overcome with emotion. He had finally arrived at the place he desired.
“Is that it? The thing you were looking for?”
The answer was unexpected. “I do not know.”
It seemed even the Sword King had entered without knowing exactly what was here.
“I was simply told to retrieve what was stored here.”
At first, Geom Mu-geuk thought a man like the Sword King wouldn't have taken a job so blindly. But considering what he had said back at the formation, it seemed plausible.
“If you deliver that, your debt will be paid.”
The Sword King nodded. Who was the recipient? Was it Hwa Mu-gi? Or someone else entirely?
The Sword King walked slowly toward the Secret Casket, looking slightly flustered. He probably hadn't expected the prize to be such a massive hunk of iron. He cautiously placed a hand on the surface. Nothing happened. It was just cold metal.
He inspected the front, the sides, and the back, completing a full circle. Geom Mu-geuk watched in silence. Although he had claimed he wanted everything in this room, he acknowledged the Sword King held the primary right to the contents.
Swoosh.
The Sword King’s body floated into the air. He landed gently on top of the Secret Casket to examine the upper surface before descending back to the floor.
“I see no mechanism to open it.” He judged that the box itself wasn't the end of the mystery. “It’s fine. You try touching it.”
At the Sword King’s invitation, Geom Mu-geuk stepped forward. The reason the Sword King had taken a liking to him wasn't just his silver tongue; it was his restraint. He knew how to wait and control his greed.
Geom Mu-geuk touched the Secret Casket. Immediately, the energy in his body surged.
This Secret Casket... it’s not just an imitation of the exterior.
The Sword King asked from behind, “Is it Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron?”
He was questioning his own senses. But how could the Sword King be wrong?
“No, it’s just ordinary iron.”
A slight look of disappointment crossed the Sword King’s face. Even if this were made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, Geom Mu-geuk felt the box itself wasn't the goal. Rare metal alone couldn't change the fate of the Murim.
“There must be a way to open it.”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded. “I think so too. There must be a secret. Let’s solve it together.”
The Sword King nodded. For some reason, he felt Geom Mu-geuk could solve even the most impossible riddles. Indeed, the youth was already thinking of things he hadn't considered.
“First, let’s flip it over and look at the bottom.”
The Sword King was startled. He hadn't thought of that. It was a simple idea, but he hesitated. He was worried that something might go wrong if they overturned it, but Geom Mu-geuk saw through him instantly.
“If things go wrong just because it’s flipped, then how great could whatever’s inside really be?”
The Sword King laughed. The boy was right. It was something he would have agonized over for hours alone, yet the youth reached a conclusion so readily. Of course, Geom Mu-geuk treated this giant Secret Casket the same as the one in his robes. He hadn't just flipped his own; he’d even drawn a smiley face on it without a second thought.
“Right. Let’s flip it.”
The two of them overturned the massive casket. There was no hidden passage underneath as they had hoped; the bottom surface was identical to the others.
“I’ve made you waste your strength for nothing,” Geom Mu-geuk noted.
“No. It was a good idea.”
Geom Mu-geuk’s way of thinking was fundamentally different. He walked over to a wall where a small cabinet stood, filled with about ten volumes of books.
“In a game of feints, something important might be hidden in a place like this.”
The Sword King came over to inspect them. He hoped for a key to the iron box, but the books were all martial arts manuals.
“There are manuals here that the Hall Master would kill for.”
Seeing the manuals, it was clear the promise made to Yeon Baek-in wasn't entirely empty—even if they didn't actually care about the man.
“I will give half of these to you,” the Sword King said. It was implied the leftovers would go to Yeon Baek-in.
Geom Mu-geuk sensed the weight of that statement. Giving half the manuals meant the Sword King wouldn't share anything else found here. For now, Geom Mu-geuk accepted.
“I don’t need half; I’ll just take one volume.”
Geom Mu-geuk picked a manual titled Heavenly Dipper Body, a Demonic Art that used Gang Qi for protection.
“This is a Demonic Art thought to be lost to time, yet here it is.”
Heavenly Dipper Body was a defensive technique that raised Gang Qi to shield the user. Its beauty lay in its compatibility; it could be used in conjunction with other body protection arts. This meant it could be layered with the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art or the Vajra Asura of the Thunder Asura Fist.
Normally, a martial artist would concentrate their energy into a single, strongest protection art. But Geom Mu-geuk possessed such vast internal energy that he could fuel multiple extreme-level techniques simultaneously. To him, Heavenly Dipper Body was an extra life.
“Just how much stronger do you intend to get?” the Sword King asked.
“I think I have a death-related anxiety disorder. I can’t help myself when I see techniques like this.”
After tucking the manual away, he carefully examined the patterns on the wall. The Sword King did the same on the opposite side. Since they weren't trapped in a formation, they intended to stay and study the room for as long as it took.
After a long period of searching, Geom Mu-geuk turned around, rubbing his eyes.
“Ah! I’ve been staring so hard I feel like my eyeballs are going to fall out. Let’s take a break.”
The Sword King spoke bluntly without looking back. “Even if you find the secret, I cannot give you this.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you working so hard?”
“I have to find it first. Then I’ll have to persuade you, Senior.”
The Sword King wanted to know the source of this persistence. “Why are you suddenly being so greedy?”
“It’s not sudden. I’ve always been greedy. If I weren't, I wouldn't have come down to this basement in the first place.”
Geom Mu-geuk sat down, leaning his back against the Secret Casket. As the Sword King continued to examine the wall, Geom Mu-geuk asked, “You said there was something here that would change the fate of the Murim. Why did you bring me down here with you?”
The Sword King didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the wall.
“Huh? Uh...?”
Thinking it was another prank, the Sword King didn't turn around.
“Senior!”
At the urgent cry, the Sword King finally turned. His eyes widened in an instant.
Geom Mu-geuk was being sucked into the Secret Casket. He was already almost entirely submerged.
Hey, Secret Casket, your father is eating me.
Was it because he was being absorbed? Even in this desperate moment, Geom Mu-geuk felt no fear. Instead, he felt a strange sense of comfort. Because of that, he didn't fight the pulling force.
Sluuuurp.
The Sword King lunged forward to grab him, but by the time he reached the spot, Geom Mu-geuk had vanished completely. The Sword King pounded on the iron, but the surface was hard and cold, as if it had never absorbed a person at all.