Chapter 604: If You Don't Come Out Today, I'll Take You While You're Inside
Chapter 604: If You Don't Come Out Today, I'll Take You While You're Inside
Six pillars of light cascaded into Geom Mu-geuk.
Sshhhhh.
The radiance seeped into his body like rain soaking into the parched earth.
Once inside, the light flowed through his veins like a river of molten internal energy. With every beat of his heart, the brilliance surged toward his extremities.
The light was both searing and freezing; it was electrifying, yet strangely soothing. It felt cozy, yet it inspired a profound sense of dread.
Geom Mu-geuk did not resist.
He knew instinctively that this light was meant for him—no matter how much it burned, how deeply it chilled, or how much terror it stirred in his soul.
The six lights swirled through every corner of his body before finally converging in his mind. The brilliance gathered in his brain and erupted all at once.
Flash!
In the next instant, the Black Essence, Blue Essence, and White Essence—the three energies that had been dormant within him—began to move through his vessels of their own accord.
To his surprise, Geom Mu-geuk already knew the oral formula for the mental method.
The cluster of light had etched the formula directly into his mind the moment it entered. It was more than just teaching; it had brought him to a state of complete mastery in a single breath.
He had heard of masters transferring internal energy to others, but he had never heard of knowledge being transmitted so perfectly and instantaneously.
The mental method revealed by the Secret Casket was entirely different from any conventional method of circulating qi.
The three energies moved through his vessels in an unthinkable sequence. The internal landscape of his racing blood vessels was unlike anything he had ever known—a path that felt incredibly precarious and dangerous.
His True Qi sometimes flowed in reverse, and at other times, it forced its way through paths that seemed certain to cause internal injury. This mental method utterly shattered every law of martial arts he had known until now.
However, Geom Mu-geuk trusted the formula. Though he didn't fully understand the energies in his body or the nature of this mental method, he decided to place his absolute trust in everything related to the Secret Casket.
Just like the inexplicable sense of relief he felt when he first absorbed energy from the casket, his instincts told him this power was benevolent.
As he completed one full circulation of True Qi, the three energies merged into one at the final moment. In that instant, he felt a surge of immense, overwhelming power.
Then, just as quickly, the three energies dispersed and settled quietly back into his vessels.
Mu-geuk understood. Just as the Secret Casket had previously indicated, this mental method would only be complete once all six energies were gathered.
Beyond that, everything remained a mystery.
He didn't know what would happen when he operated the method with all six energies—whether they would function independently or merge with his existing internal energy. He didn't know if there was a specific martial art designed for this mental method, or if the method itself possessed its own destructive power.
And he certainly didn't know how it was supposed to grant him power that was Unrivaled Across All Time.
Right then, his surroundings began to shift.
Chime.
The Secret Casket let out a light, cheerful sound he had never heard before, as if bidding him farewell.
Fsssh.
The six circles engraved on the casket vanished. The patterns, which had looked as though they were carved deep with a blade, began to fade until they disappeared entirely.
With that as the signal, the world began to return to normal.
Riiip.
The rift in space before him began to close, sealing away the deep darkness within. Mu-geuk didn't mind that darkness. He knew better than anyone that a night spent awake alone was less lonely than the day.
Rumble!
The upturned earth began to settle. As it descended slowly, it almost seemed to be greeting him, telling him to rest easy because it would always be beneath his feet.
Clatter.
The white, glowing icicles retreated back into the ceiling. As if reluctant to part, the ice gave one last flash of pure white light. The terrifying flames that had been soaring upward began to die down, the flickering fire looking like a hand waving goodbye.
Whoosh.
A gust of wind blew past, brushing over the lightning scars on the floor. Miraculously, the marks vanished instantly, like a sand drawing washed away by a wave. The wind gave Mu-geuk’s clothes and hair one last cool flutter before disappearing completely.
Everything returned to the way it was. The chamber looked exactly as it had when Mu-geuk first entered.
It felt like he had been dreaming.
However, Mu-geuk could feel the change. The three energies were still dormant in his body, but they felt different. If before it felt like he was merely storing them, now he felt as though they truly belonged to him.
It was the difference between being a guest in a room and being the master of the house.
Furthermore, he could sense an unprecedented potential within that energy. If this was what three energies felt like, he couldn't imagine the power he would wield when all six were gathered.
Mu-geuk pulled the small Secret Casket from his robes. The brightly smiling face on the casket seemed to mirror his own heart.
He was happy. Truly happy. More than anything, he was glad this power had come to him instead of falling into the hands of his enemies. Since his regression, he had steadily changed his life, but he felt as though he had just passed a major turning point.
‘I must not let my guard down. I have to keep working hard until the very end.’
Mu-geuk tucked the small casket away and looked at the large Secret Casket. His gaze deepened as he stared at it. He performed a deep kowtow toward the artifact. He felt with his entire being that this ancient power was not something that could be obtained through a mere elixir.
“If this is the will Heaven has bestowed upon me, I will gladly accept that destiny.”
He meant it. After all, his very regression was only possible because Heaven had looked favorably upon his efforts.
After offering his formal respects, Mu-geuk approached the casket and placed his hand on it.
“Thank you, Secret Casket.”
Heaven’s will was one thing, but he still considered these caskets his friends.
In that moment!
Suck.
Mu-geuk’s hand sank into the casket. Before he could even think to resist, his entire body was pulled inside. The casket was absorbing him.
“Wait! No! I haven't seen the final battle yet!”
But the Secret Casket seemed to say that such a thing was not permitted, swallowing him whole in an instant.
Mu-geuk didn't resist. It had been the same when he first entered.
Fine, if this is the fate you’ve decided.
‘See you in three hundred years!’
*
The Sword King was examining the walls of the chamber where the Secret Casket sat.
Several days had passed since Geom Mu-geuk had been sucked into the casket, and he had yet to return. During that time, the Sword King had searched for any way to enter.
Naturally, he had inspected the casket itself from top to bottom. He tapped it, tried to move it, and even injected internal energy into it. But the casket remained unresponsive. He had gone back through the previous gates, re-examining them and re-reading the martial manuals stored there. But nowhere was there a clue on how to enter the Secret Casket.
After finishing his inspection of the walls, the Sword King came back and leaned against the casket. He sat exactly where Mu-geuk had been when he was pulled in. He sat there at least once a day, hoping he might be pulled in too, but today, the casket remained cold and hard.
“Sigh.”
A heavy sigh escaped the Sword King’s lips. He couldn't wait here forever. In truth, his mission was simply to retrieve the Secret Casket. Whether Mu-geuk was inside or not, his job was done once he delivered it.
And yet... he had been waiting for days.
He was worried about Mu-geuk, but at the same time, he wasn't. To be blunt, he leaned more toward the latter. Though the way the boy had been sucked in looked like someone falling into a swamp, he didn't get the impression that the casket intended to harm him. It was likely because of the sheer uniqueness Mu-geuk had shown.
‘You’re not the type to die such a meaningless death, are you?’
Thinking of Mu-geuk brought a wry smile to his face.
“If you don't come out today, I’m taking you while you’re still inside.”
Mu-geuk did not emerge despite the threat. Next, he threatened the casket.
“If you don't give me back my student, I’ll slice you in half.”
He said it as a joke, but part of him truly wanted to cut the casket open to see what was inside. However, there was no way Mu-geuk was actually inside that solid object, so he couldn't bring himself to do it.
‘If this thing really can change the fate of the Murim, why did it swallow the Young Cult Leader?’
Fiddling with the shoes hanging from his waist, the Sword King muttered to himself.
“Could it be that the one who will change the fate of the Murim... is you?”
It was at that moment.
“Aaaaaagh!”
With a scream, something popped out from behind the Sword King’s back. The person who tumbled over the Sword King’s head and onto the floor was none other than Geom Mu-geuk.
The Sword King stared at him, eyes wide with shock. He had been so startled that he nearly drew his sword by reflex. To think the boy would give him such a fright.
“Instructor, you’ve grown quite haggard over the last few days.”
At those first words, the Sword King replied with an incredulous expression.
“And you look like you’ve been off enjoying yourself.”
Mu-geuk’s eyes were clearer than ever, and the life energy radiating from his body felt more vibrant. It was a change only a master of the Sword King’s caliber could perceive.
“Phew, don't even get me started. I went through a lot without any internal energy.”
Mu-geuk checked his own body. He felt the vast, profound internal energy in his dantian. Fortunately, he had returned to the body he had before entering. His sword had also returned to being the Black Demonic Sword. The small Secret Casket was still safe in his robes.
Mu-geuk stood up and took a deep breath. The scent of three hundred years later—he had made it back alive!
“You were worried about me, weren't you? I bet you even stopped eating.”
“Not at all. I had meat every day.”
But Mu-geuk could feel it—the sheer relief in the man’s eyes. He had been waiting here. He had been waiting and worrying for his return.
“What happened in there?”
For the first time in his life, the Sword King was genuinely dying of curiosity.
“Wait just a moment before I tell you.”
Mu-geuk walked over to the Secret Casket. The way he felt looking at it now was completely different from when he first arrived. He had met this casket three hundred years ago and had now returned to it. The casket had endured three centuries of solitude to be before him again.
Mu-geuk placed his hand on it.
‘You must have been lonely for three hundred years. You’ve worked hard. And thank you... for sending me back.’
He regretted not seeing the final battle, but the outcome was already written in history. After saying his silent goodbye to the casket, Mu-geuk turned back to the Sword King.
How much should he tell him? Mu-geuk decided to omit only two things: the prophecy about himself and the fact that he had mastered the casket’s mental method.
“Do you happen to know about the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?”
He wondered how much the Sword King knew about this piece of history.
“I’ve heard of him. He was the Murim Alliance Leader three hundred years ago.”
He was, after all, the most famous Alliance Leader in history.
“Why are you suddenly asking about him?”
Then, shocking words flowed from Mu-geuk’s mouth.
“I just met the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.”
“What?”
The Sword King’s eyes first said, ‘You’re joking, right?’ but slowly, shock began to bloom on his face. He realized Mu-geuk wasn't kidding.
“You’re serious!”
“I even shared a meal with him.”
Mu-geuk’s gaze shifted toward the Secret Casket.
“This box took me three hundred years into the past.”
The Sword King stared at the casket in disbelief. Mu-geuk continued.
“This box was a sacred relic of a mysterious power called the Heavenly Will Palace.”
Mu-geuk watched the Sword King’s reaction to the name. It was a typical reaction—nothing out of the ordinary.
“I know of them. The Martial Emperor Divine Sword destroyed the Heavenly Will Palace.”
That was where the history known to most people ended. From this reaction, Mu-geuk could guess that the Sword King was not connected to the descendants of the Heavenly Will Palace. To him, it was just a piece of history.
“Did you... did you meet the Palace Master of the Heavenly Will Palace too?”
Mu-geuk nodded. He had met more than just the Palace Master; he had met the Divine Maiden herself.
“I spent a few days where the final war between the two sides was taking place.”
“Why did it take you there?”
Since he intended to keep the prophecy a secret, Mu-geuk had no way to explain.
“I don't know either. Maybe it’s because I’m more handsome than you, Instructor? If you’re going on a long trip, you might as well take someone young and handsome...”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
The playfulness vanished from Mu-geuk’s face. It was finally time to ask the question.
“Why did you bring me here? Tell me the real reason.”
There was definitely an intention behind it. It wasn't to save those in the underground prison, nor was it because he was helpful in dismantling mechanisms. There was clearly another reason.
Finally, the Sword King spoke his truth.
“I wanted to see for myself if you are the one who will change the fate of the Murim.”
Their gazes locked in the air.
“Why did you think it might be me?”
After a brief pause, the Sword King answered.
“Because you changed our fate.”
They had believed they were the ones who would change the fate of the Murim, but Mu-geuk had changed their fate instead.
“And now, you’re even trying to change mine.”
Mu-geuk could feel it. This was the moment their destinies would be decided. It would all depend on the answer to this next question.
“And if I am indeed the one to change the fate of the Murim?”
Mu-geuk stared into the Sword King’s eyes and added, “Will our relationship change?”