Chapter 49: Moon Elder (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: Moon Elder (2)
The jade token I pulled out was the Flying Crane Moon Token.
The moment he saw it, Moon Elder’s expression shifted in a way that was difficult to describe. His eyes widened, fixed on the token as if they were glued to it.
I asked him, “Do you recognize this?”
At my question, Moon Elder opened his mouth, his face a mask of confusion.
“How… How do you have the Flying Crane Moon Token of our sect?”
As expected, he recognized it. Just as the Namcheon Iron Sword had said, this man was indeed the Sect Leader of the Flying Moon Hero Sect, the Flying Moon Swordsman, Ha Seong-un.
He was clearly bewildered, but I was no different.
“……It is a memento from my mother.”
“Your mother?”
At my words, Moon Elder’s pupils, half-hidden behind his white eyebrows, began to tremble. He seemed so shocked that he couldn't find his voice. Unable to meet my eyes, he began to mutter to himself.
“Ryeong-a… Did Ryeong-a have a child?”
‘!?’
What was he talking about?
As I stood there wondering, Moon Elder asked me in a trembling voice, “Young hero. Does your mother have moles on the right side of her nose and on her forehead?”
‘Ah!’
He was describing my mother’s appearance. I, too, spoke of the features I remembered.
“My mother’s ring and middle fingers are the same length, and only on her left eye…”
“She has a double eyelid.”
He was exactly right. My heart began to race wildly at his words. Moon Elder’s eyes grew red with tears again as he reached out a trembling hand and grasped mine.
Then, with tears streaming down his face, he spoke.
“You… You are my grandson.”
The moment those words left his lips, my vision blurred. Tears had welled up in my eyes. I had never believed in the idea of knowing someone at first sight, but the more we spoke, the more I felt a deep, powerful connection in my chest—a bond of blood with Moon Elder.
“Moon Elder……”
“To think I would meet my own flesh and blood in a place like this.”
“Heaven has helped us. Heaven itself……”
“Damn it. Is it raining? My eyes are getting misty.”
Even the men standing by Moon Elder’s side seemed moved, their eyes turning red. They served Moon Elder with genuine devotion, and they seemed deeply touched that he had finally met his kin as he neared the end of his life.
The threads of human fate were truly unpredictable. When I was being dragged here by Sama Chak, I thought everything had gone wrong. Who could have known I would meet my maternal grandfather in a place like this?
“My grandson. My own grandson.”
Moon Elder—no, Ha Seong-un—wept uncontrollably. His hands shook as if he had no strength left, so I gripped them tightly. They were the hands of my kin, and I never wanted to let go.
Ha Seong-un spoke through his sobs.
“Heaven has taken pity on this old man and allowed me to meet you, the very image of that child.”
The words finally left my hesitant lips.
“Grandfather……”
At my call, Ha Seong-un’s tear-streaked lips quivered. The bond of blood was truly a powerful thing. My own heart was so full of emotion that I didn't know what to do with myself.
But then, the joy on Ha Seong-un’s face faded into darkness.
“Ah… I thought Heaven was helping me, but I was wrong.”
“Why would you say that?”
“How did you end up imprisoned in a place like this? Heaven is heartless. How could it send you here, as if taking me wasn't enough?”
Ha Seong-un was worried about me being trapped here. Seeing his distress, I felt I had to tell him the truth.
“You don't need to worry about—”
Before I could finish, Ha Seong-un suddenly bolted upright, as if possessed by a sudden burst of energy he didn't have before.
“Your mother…… Is your mother safe?”
I had so much to say and so much to ask, but it seemed my grandfather was the same. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes as he looked at me with such desperate hope. I could see how much he missed her; I couldn't find the words to tell him she was already in heaven.
Seeing my hesitation, Ha Seong-un’s expression darkened instantly.
“How…… How can this be……”
“Grandfather……”
Tears poured down Ha Seong-un’s trembling cheeks. The face that had been joyful just moments ago was now stained with a grief so profound it was painful to look at.
“How can a child die before their parent? Ryeong-a. My Ryeong-a.”
Then, something unexpected happened. As he cried out my mother’s name in agony, the strength in Ha Seong-un’s hands began to fade.
“Grandfather!”
Ha Seong-un clutched his chest with his right hand.
“Gasp…… Hah……”
His pale face flushed, then began to turn a sickly shade of purple.
No. This couldn't be happening. I had only just met my true flesh and blood. Was I supposed to lose him the moment I found him?
“Moon Elder!”
“Move aside! Lay him down, quickly!”
The men nearby rushed to lay my grandfather down. Judging by their swift actions, this wasn't the first time this had happened. After tilting his head back to open his airway, the bearded man climbed over him, clasping his hands together and pressing down on his chest at regular intervals.
“One…… two…… three!”
He was trying to jumpstart the heart. The bearded man’s face grew darker as he pressed down, sweat pouring off him.
“H-his heart isn't beating.”
“Moon Elder!”
“Moon Elder!”
The men wailed in despair.
“Move!”
I practically shoved the bearded man aside. I climbed over my grandfather and began pressing on his chest. I tried to use my Mental Focus as I pressed, but the Upper Dantian was a source of mental power; it did nothing to make his heart beat.
‘Damn it!’
If only I could use my internal energy or Innate True Qi, I could have funneled it into him. I tried to force my Innate True Qi out, but the needles embedded in my body made it impossible to control my Middle Dantian.
It was then that the voice of the Blood Demon Sword rang in my head.
‘What?’
At its command, I scrambled off him and drew the sword.
“W-what are you doing?”
The bearded man and the others tried to stop me, startled by my sudden movement. I pushed them away and placed the Blood Demon Sword directly onto my grandfather’s chest.
I was half-doubting, but then I saw the area beneath the sword begin to bulge and throb as his blood vessels surged.
‘!?’
The Namcheon Iron Sword’s words snapped me to attention. As it said, the Blood Demon Sword was capable of forcing the blood vessels of whoever held it into a frenzy. Was it using that same principle now?
It was then.
“Cough!”
A spray of blood erupted from Ha Seong-un’s mouth.
“Moon Elder!”
Ha Seong-un’s back arched like a bow before slamming back down flat. Then, he began to breathe again. Seeing this, I hurriedly placed my hand on his chest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
“It’s beating.”
“What?”
“His heart is beating!”
Everyone was struck with disbelief at my words.
“H-how is this possible?”
They couldn't believe their eyes. Ha Seong-un, who had been at death’s door, had miraculously returned. I was so overcome with joy that tears threatened to spill over.
Then, the Blood Demon Sword’s voice echoed in my mind.
‘!!!’
So he was still as good as dead?
I looked at my grandfather’s face. He was breathing, but his complexion was still tinged with purple. The bearded man asked me, “How did you do it? You just placed the sword there, so how?”
I answered in a hollow voice.
“……It’s a temporary measure. Nothing has truly changed.”
Anyone could see that my grandfather was still on the verge of death. Then, the one-armed man cried out in frustration.
“Damn it! Heaven is truly heartless! To try and take his life the moment he meets his grandson!”
The bearded man rebuked him. “Don't say that. At least he got to see his kin.”
“I’m saying it because it’s a tragedy! If only we could get the Evil Fire Herb, Moon Elder wouldn't be in this state!”
What were they talking about? I didn't know what this "Evil Fire Herb" was.
“Evil Fire Herb? What is that?”
At my question, the one-armed man spoke in a heavy voice.
“It is a medicinal herb that can save Moon Elder.”
“An herb? There’s no way such a thing exists in a place like this……”
“It does! You can find it if you go down into the depths of the underground…… but damn it all!”
The one-armed man cursed harshly. I looked where he was pointing. Aside from the passage leading into this communal living area, there was another tunnel leading deeper into the caves.
“Is the herb really in there?”
The one-armed man nodded. However, the bearded man quickly tried to stop me.
“No. Going in there is a suicide mission.”
“A suicide mission?”
The bearded man pointed to the men around him.
“Why do you think these men are so badly injured? They got like this trying to go in there to get that herb.”
“……What do you mean?”
I had thought it was strange when I first arrived. Their injuries were quite different from wounds sustained in a fight between humans.
The bearded man spoke, his eyes filled with terror.
“There is a non-human entity inside.”
“A non-human entity?”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Did he mean a monster or a demon like the Human-Faced Snake?
Then the one-armed man shouted, “So you’re saying we should just sit back and let Moon Elder die?!”
“Seven went in, and only three barely made it out alive! We only survived because we collapsed the waterway to block it off! Do you really think anyone can survive an encounter with that monster?!”
They collapsed the waterway? This was different from what I had heard. Gapchan had told me they hit a waterway while trying to dig an escape tunnel out of Bongnim Valley.
“You collapsed the waterway to block it? What does that mean?”
The bearded man answered my question. “It was the only way to stop that monster.”
I didn't know what it was, but they had flooded the area just to stop it? It was frustrating, but that wasn't the important part right now.
I asked, “Just tell me this. Are you certain the herb is in there?”
“Young hero…… I heard you are Moon Elder’s grandson. Moon Elder would desperately try to stop you if he knew you were planning to go in there.”
“Sigh.”
I stood up. I looked down at the Blood Demon Sword resting on my grandfather’s chest. The moment that sword was removed, he would die. The only herb that could save him was inside that tunnel.
There was only one thing for me to do.
“All of you, stay here and guard him. I’ll be back.”
“Young hero!”
“Haven't you heard the rumors about me? I can use martial arts.”
“That’s not the point!”
The bearded man tried to grab me. I shook off his arm and spoke.
“If it were you, could you give up while your precious flesh and blood was dying right in front of you?”
“That……”
The bearded man was left speechless. I pointed to the sword on my grandfather’s chest.
“Make sure that sword does not leave his chest. And just in case, let me tell you this: none of you must ever touch that sword.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you don't want to die, listen to me. I have given you fair warning.”
Since I didn't give them a reason, they all looked bewildered. But I couldn't exactly tell them that it was the Blood Demon Sword.
Then, the one-armed man stepped forward.
“I will go with you.”
“What?”
The man began rummaging through the cave, gathering supplies. He took a torch made of tree roots and wrapped it in something that looked like crude leather.
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to find the herb once you’re inside?”
“……If you tell me where it is……”
“It’s impossible. We don't have time for directions. Let’s go together.”
The one-armed man seemed determined to follow me regardless of what I said.
“How can you go in that condition? I will go and guide the young hero!”
At the bearded man’s words, the one-armed man shook his head.
“At least one able-bodied person needs to stay and protect Moon Elder. Look at this.”
The one-armed man lifted his tattered shirt. There were four deep, sharp gashes across his abdomen, and the wounds were festering and rotting.
“Y-you?”
The one-armed man spoke with grim resolve. “This is something I must finish.”
The one-armed man and I were running through the dark tunnel. As we ran, I asked, “Are you really going to be okay?”
His wounds were rotting, but perhaps they could be saved if they were cauterized and he rested. I didn't understand why he was willing to sacrifice himself like this.
As if answering my unspoken question, the one-armed man spoke.
“Moon Elder is like a father to me. If it weren't for him, I would have died eight years ago.”
“……”
“If I can use the life Moon Elder gave me for his sake, I will throw myself away at any moment.”
I could feel the depth of his gratitude. I understood now why he had followed me with such resolve. To command such loyalty even in a desolate place like this—I felt a surge of respect for my grandfather.
Then, the one-armed man pulled something from his robe and handed it to me. It was a small green bead. Strangely, it emitted a faint glow.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
“A Luminous Pearl.”
“A Luminous Pearl?”
“It’s a bead that shines brightly in the dark.”
How did he have something so precious? As I wondered, he continued.
“Moon Elder and the rest of us were looking for a passage near the waterway to escape Bongnim Valley. We were certain there would be an exit at the end of the water’s flow.”
It made sense. Even now, I could hear the sound of rushing water through the cave walls. If we broke through this wall, the waterway would be right there.
“As we followed the cave passage down, we reached the end. But it was blocked by a wall.”
“Is that where the waterway is?”
“No. It was a place that neither Moon Elder nor any of us expected.”
“What was it?”
“The wall was man-made.”
“What?”
Slide.
The one-armed man ran his hand along the cave wall.
“It wasn't a cave wall formed over a long time; it felt like clay that had been dried and hardened.”
“……Are you saying someone built it on purpose?”
“Without a doubt. Because that Luminous Pearl was found in the chamber beyond that wall.”
This was a startling revelation. If what he said was true, it meant that someone other than the prisoners of Bongnim Valley had been here.
The voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword echoed in my head.
‘Ah……’
Then it was entirely possible. What my grandfather and these men had found might be the ruins of an ancient sect. But one thing bothered me: the wall was man-made. Blocking it off meant they wanted to keep others out.
“Once we got inside, we found traces of the ancient past. Everyone was so excited.”
It was like finding a hidden treasure, so their excitement was understandable. I would have felt the same.
“There were dozens of chambers inside the cave, like rooms. Those chambers were also blocked by man-made walls. We took our time breaking them down to investigate. In one of them, we found a cave where herbs grew even without sunlight.”
“Is that where the Evil Fire Herb is?”
“Yes.”
“Isn't there an herb there that can treat your wounds as well?”
“……I hope so.”
Despite risking his life, he didn't hide his desire to live. Who would want to throw away their life in vain?
As we continued down the passage, we came upon a flooded area.
“Is it here?”
“Yes. If you swim through the water here, you can enter the passage where the chambers are. But from here on, we must be silent.”
“……Is that where the non-human entity is?”
“Yes.”
I could hear the fear in the one-armed man’s voice. It was courageous of him to come this far despite being so terrified of that thing.
“In our excitement over the ancient ruins, we tore down a wall we should have left alone. That monster came crawling out from there.”
“Is it a demon or a spirit beast?”
“No. It’s not like that. It’s more like something that’s already dead.”
“Already dead?”
I didn't know either. His description made it impossible to tell what it was.
The one-armed man tied his bundle tightly to his body, set his torch against the cave wall, and approached the water.
Then he said to me, “If you see it, don't fight. Just run.”
Splash!
He dove into the water first. I followed suit. He must have had another Luminous Pearl, as I could see a faint green light ahead of me. I swam toward it.
After swimming for a while, I saw the surface shimmering above. The green light was heading toward it. As I followed, I heard a strange noise through the water.
Plop!
Then, a faint green object sank below the surface. Sensing something was wrong, I kicked hard toward the surface. As I rose, something red began to spread across the water above me.
The moment I broke the surface—
“Aaaaaagh!”
I saw the one-armed man screaming. A hideous hand with long, razor-sharp claws was gripping his shoulder and thigh with brutal strength, pulling as if to tear him in half.
“Aaaagh…… R-run!”
“Damn it!”
Leaping out of the water, I channeled the energy of Heavenly Authority. I lunged with my sword at the creature trying to rip the man apart.
Thwack!
“Kreeeeeeee!”
With a bone-chilling, grotesque shriek, the creature dropped the one-armed man. I thrust the Luminous Pearl forward. The creature, previously hidden by the darkness, was revealed.
‘A person?’
It was undeniably human in shape.
‘But is this really a person?’
It was completely naked, its body nothing but skin and bones. Its skin was deathly pale, with blue veins bulging beneath the surface. Its hands and feet had long, sharp claws, more like a beast’s than a human’s.
“Grrrrrrr.”
A sound like a predator’s growl escaped its throat. Its mouth was open, revealing rows of teeth as sharp as a saw, and its pupils were a piercing yellow.
My thoughts exactly. I couldn't tell if it was truly human. Its appearance was bizarre enough, but it gave off a stench so foul it smelled like a rotting corpse.
“Kwaaaaaah!”
The monster lunged at me. Its movements were incredibly fast. I used my footwork to dodge and stabbed the Namcheon Iron Sword into its ribs. The blade pierced through its skin.
‘Got it.’
I thought the sword had struck deep, but the monster swung its sharp claws at me as if it felt no pain at all.
“Tsk!”
I threw myself backward to avoid the strike. It had taken a hit to the ribs and didn't even flinch?
The monster swung both hands in succession, trying to shred me with its hideous claws. I swung my sword upward, parrying the claws.
Clang!
‘It’s hard.’
The claws weren't just sharp; they were incredibly durable. I had tried to cut through them, but they had held firm. I shifted my technique, changing the direction of my blade to thrust at the space between its eyes.
Thuck!
With its head pierced, it had to be dead.
But in that very moment—
‘!?’
Rip!
Sharp claws grazed my chest.
The front of my shirt stained red.
I had pierced its forehead, yet the Monster didn't even flinch as it swung its claws at me.
'Damn it... what the hell is this?'
It was absurd.
It wouldn't die.