Chapter 54: Cooperation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: Cooperation (1)
‘Damn it.’
If I had reacted even a second later, I would have plummeted straight down.
I’d felt something was off when the Muchen Sword Emperor, Tian Wuxing, kept fiddling with the memorial tablets on the altar. A memorial tablet is essentially a substitute for the deceased. To handle objects that should be treated with the utmost respect—even when being moved—in such a careless manner?
I suspected he was hiding something, but I never imagined it would be a trap like this.
-Wow. Isn’t an Eight Great Master supposed to be one of the most respected figures in the Murim? How can he just drop someone into a trap like this?
The Lesser Conversation Sword spoke up, sounding utterly flabbergasted.
I felt the same way. He was cut from a different cloth than the other Eight Great Masters I’d encountered.
Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak had been infamous as a villain from the start, and even though he’d tested me with the heart of a father, he still carried the dignity of an Eight Great Master. Even if Peerless Fortress didn’t belong to either the Orthodox or Evil factions, trying to imprison someone like this was low.
-He seems to be a very twisted individual, Un-hwi.
‘I agree, Namcheon.’
Regardless, it would have been a disaster if I hadn't prepared in advance. I looked down.
-Shuuuuuuu!
A thick, hazy mist blanketed the floor. He’d mentioned that the vapors rising from the bottom were a mixture of Energy Dispersal Poison and Sleeping Incense.
‘It’s not rising.’
Usually, smoke or vapor drifts upward, but this mist clung to the floor. That was a small mercy. Still, I couldn't take any chances; I had to get out of here immediately.
I infused my internal power into the Silver Smoke Thread, pulling myself upward. Every time the wire retracted, my body swayed like a pendulum.
‘My heart’s racing.’
I ascended cautiously.
-Thud!
Standing on the ceiling as if it were the floor, I pulled the Silver Smoke Thread taut and carefully drew the Namcheon Iron Sword. Looking at the ceiling from this side, it appeared to be made of metal, unlike the wooden planks above. I decided to test it with the tip of my blade.
I gathered my internal power and concentrated it at the point of the Namcheon Iron Sword.
‘What?’
I tried to pierce the ceiling, but it only budged slightly upward. It was much harder than I’d anticipated. I wouldn't be able to break through or cut it with a half-hearted effort.
-Try hitting it harder.
I was worried about the noise. I couldn't hear any presence or the voices of the swords Kang Mu-hyeok carried, but I wanted to be sure.
I waited a moment, giving myself some breathing room to steady my pulse. Then, I opened my middle Dantian, gathering even my Innate True Qi to strike the ceiling with everything I had.
-CLANG!
“Ugh!”
At that moment, a metallic roar so loud it bordered on deafening erupted, and the recoil sent me flying downward. The tension in the Silver Smoke Thread snapped, and the wire unspooled rapidly under the force of the impact.
-Ch-ch-ch-ch-cht!
As I fell, I desperately pumped internal power into the Silver Smoke Thread.
-Ting!
The wire caught, and my body jerked back upward. I regulated the flow of power to retract the thread, swaying as I ascended once more.
“Phew...”
I thought my heart was going to drop out of my chest. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand; it had been a close enough call to break me out in a cold sweat. Below, the mist was still thick.
-Whoa... why is that thing so hard?
-It was likely forged from Guanye Black Iron or Cold Iron.
I looked up. Aside from a slight dent where I’d struck it, the ceiling was perfectly intact. The material seemed similar to the iron sphere I’d encountered in the basement of Bongnim Valley. The side walls were made of the same stuff; it was clearly designed so that no one could escape.
-What now? Are you going to keep hitting it?
The recoil was one problem, but the noise was another. If I kept this up, the Muchen Sword Emperor or his disciple would be back here in no time.
‘I need to change the plan.’
-How?
I looked down at the floor, which was still shrouded in mist.
*
A dark underground passage.
Two men wearing the martial robes of the Mucheonjeong Sect moved through the corridor, carrying lanterns. As they entered the passage, a small cavernous space revealed itself. Along the walls of the cavern were ten prison cells with iron bars—five on each side.
Four of those cells were blocked off entirely by solid black iron walls instead of bars.
“Ha!”
One of the warriors, a man with a mustache, let out a gasp of admiration as he looked at one of the iron walls. The surface of the right-most wall was covered in bulges and dents, as if someone inside had been striking it with reckless force in an attempt to break out.
“To do this to Black Iron of this thickness...”
“It’s been a nightmare for three days.”
“He still hasn't submitted? Didn't you say you started pumping in Heart Medicine Incense yesterday?”
“Even after that, he raged for half a day. He’s finally gone quiet now.”
“He must be weakening at last.”
“He’ll probably give in soon, won't he?”
“Well, there’s only so much a man can endure. Anyway, the smoke should be gone by now.”
“It’s been four hours, so it should be clear.”
“I’ll leave the adjacent Black Iron cell open. Go bring him out.”
“Yes, sir.”
At the mustached man’s command, the younger warrior entered another passage. Following it led to a thick iron door. The door was equipped with a circular handle that had to be turned multiple times to unlock.
-Screeeeeech!
As the warrior turned the handle, the heavy iron door, which had been sealed without even a crack, swung open. The warrior entered with his lantern. A large, square space made entirely of Black Iron was revealed.
‘Huh?’
The warrior frowned. Someone should have been lying unconscious inside, but the room was empty. Sensing something was wrong, the warrior turned around to shout.
“He—”
-Slide.
At that moment, a black figure hanging from a silver thread descended upside down directly behind him. Unaware, the warrior opened his mouth to scream.
-Tap-tap-tap-tap!
The black figure struck the warrior’s pressure points. It happened so fast that the warrior couldn't offer any resistance. His Mute Point and Paralysis Points were struck, and he began to collapse.
Someone caught his falling body.
‘Gasps!’
The person who caught him lowered him gently to the floor and landed soundlessly. In the light of the dropped lantern, the warrior’s eyes widened as he saw the figure’s face.
‘H-how?’
It was none other than So Woon-hwi. The warrior was struck with utter bewilderment; not only was the man he expected to be unconscious perfectly fine, but he had appeared out of thin air.
Then, So Woon-hwi’s voice reached him via Sound Transmission.
[How many people are inside?]
*
-He’s stubborn.
‘Tell me about it.’
Even after I’d sealed his pressure points and ripped out three of his fingernails, he hadn't breathed a word. I told him I’d spare him if he talked, but he held out until the end. He was incredibly well-trained.
‘Even with proper torture, he won't break easily.’
I searched him, but he carried no weapons or belongings. They had likely prepared for an incident like this in advance.
-Thwack!
I eventually knocked the warrior unconscious by striking a pressure point. I’d sensed another presence further inside.
I dragged the guy over and hid by the entrance of the passage. I propped his body up so that only his back was partially visible, holding him in place. Soon, I heard footsteps approaching.
“Kwak Chung. You’re not looting the unconscious guy again, are you? How many times do I have to tell you to keep it professional... huh?”
The mustached warrior who entered froze in shock when he saw me. I moved like lightning to strike his pressure points, but the man threw himself backward.
‘This guy?’
He looked like an ordinary warrior, but his martial prowess was at the Peak Realm. Realizing his hand had instinctively gone to his empty waist, he launched a kick toward my head.
I snatched his flying foot out of the air.
And then—
-Crack!
I snapped it downward.
“Aaargh!”
As he opened his mouth to scream from the pain of his broken leg, I punched him in the philtrum and immediately sealed his pressure points.
‘Whew.’
I quietly sat the man down, his leg broken and useless. He glared at me with bulging eyes.
‘...He’ll be the same, won't he?’
-He looks even more stubborn.
I doubted he’d talk any more than the one called Kwak Chung. Still, just in case, I searched him for a key or something similar. As expected, he had nothing on him. They were more thorough than I thought.
If they were trained like this, the only way to make them talk would be to weaken their spirit over a long period... Ah!
A good idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
-What is it?
‘I don't know if it’ll work, but it’s worth a shot.’
I opened my upper Dantian, manifesting my Mental Focus while reciting the oral formula for the Transformation Eye Method in my head. I maintained eye contact with the man, who was looking at me as if he wanted to kill me.
Suddenly, his eyes grew hazy, and then his pupils dilated in shock. Seeing this, I released his pressure points.
-What are you doing? Why are you letting him go?
‘Just watch.’
As soon as I released the pressure points, the man suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully.
“S-Sect Leader. Thank you for your help.”
-Eh? Sect Leader?
I’d been skeptical, but it worked.
-What did you do?
‘Nothing much. I just used the third stage of the Transformation Eye Method to show him the illusion I wanted.’
-An illusion?
I’d projected the image of the Muchen Sword Emperor, Tian Wuxing, suddenly appearing and defeating me. It worked perfectly. I could tell just by his behavior. In his eyes, I currently looked like Tian Wuxing.
Since time was short, I spoke quickly.
“You fool!”
“I-I crave your forgiveness!”
“What is Mu-hyeok doing, and why are you two here?”
Earlier, while I was hanging from the ceiling, I’d heard the Muchen Sword Emperor tell his disciple, Kang Mu-hyeok, that he was leaving the rest to him. If so, the one who gave these men their orders must have been Kang Mu-hyeok.
My guess was right. The man’s eyes darted around nervously as he made excuses, seemingly trying to defend Kang Mu-hyeok.
“N-no, it’s just that since the brat was going to be unconscious anyway, we told the Young Master that the two of us would handle it.”
With that, I knew there were only two of them in here. No one else. The Transformation Eye Method wouldn't last long, so I had to find the exit immediately. If I just asked him to lead me to the exit, he might snap out of the illusion halfway there.
“Go and bring Mu-hyeok here at once!”
“Pardon?”
“I said bring him!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
The flustered man scrambled out of the iron door. Even if the illusion wore off, he would likely head toward Kang Mu-hyeok to fulfill the order of the "Muchen Sword Emperor" he’d just seen.
I suppressed my presence and followed the man as he limped away on his broken leg. We passed through the corridor and reached the small cavern.
‘Cells?’
There were cells with iron bars on both walls. It seemed this place was used as a prison.
-Wow. He told you to get some rest, and he was planning to lock you up in a place like this.
‘Seems so.’
There were barred cells, and others that were completely sealed off by black iron walls. One of those iron walls was covered in bulges. It looked as if it had been subjected to countless impacts from the inside.
Suddenly, the conversation between the Muchen Sword Emperor and Kang Mu-hyeok came back to me.
[Just like that person, we have no choice but to keep him locked up until his will breaks.]
Was someone else trapped in there?
‘That’s not what’s important right now.’
Escaping this place was my top priority. I wasn't in a position to worry about others.
I followed the mustached warrior. After limping through the passage for a while, he stopped at an entrance that looked like an exit. He felt around the wall and pressed something.
Then—
-Rumble!
The entrance, which seemed to be operated by a mechanism, slid open with a grinding sound. At that moment, I lunged forward and struck the man’s pressure points.
‘Whew.’
It would be troublesome if he actually reached Kang Mu-hyeok. I laid the unconscious man down and stepped through the open entrance.
I found myself in a small stone chamber. In the center of the chamber was a stone staircase leading upward. I suppressed my presence and cautiously climbed the stairs.
-......
I heard numerous voices—the voices of swords.
-There are a ton of swords up there.
-There are over fifty swords directly above us.
I got a very bad feeling. As I climbed, I also sensed multiple presences through my Qi Sense. I had no idea where this exit led, but the sheer number of people and swords was alarming.
At the top of the stairs, there was an iron hatch in the ceiling. It had a handle that allowed it to be opened from the inside. Light leaked through the cracks of the hatch, and I could hear the low hum of voices.
-......Un-hwi, it seems the area above us is the Star Tower of the Mucheonjeong Sect.
‘Damn it!’
I’d heard the swords’ chatter too. I never imagined the exit would lead directly into the sect’s Star Tower. There were over fifty people up there right now. If I tried to escape, I’d definitely have to fight my way through them, and the Muchen Sword Emperor might show up in the meantime.
‘This is crazy.’
Stalling wouldn't help either. Someone else would eventually come down to check on the two men I’d taken out.
‘...What do I do?’
My mind raced. Then, the Lesser Conversation Sword spoke to me.
-Un-hwi! I have a great idea!
‘Huh?’
*
I went back down to the basement and stood before the bulging iron door. I’d decided that the Lesser Conversation Sword’s idea was actually quite sound.
I didn't know who was trapped inside, but the Muchen Sword Emperor must have had a reason for locking them up.
‘Incredible.’
To leave a Black Iron cell in this state, the prisoner was likely a master of immense internal power.
The Lesser Conversation Sword said:
-Just open the door. The person inside will try to escape, and while they’re causing a ruckus up there, you can slip away in the chaos.
I didn't know if it would work out exactly like that, but it wasn't a bad plan. If a master of this caliber went on a rampage to escape, all eyes would naturally be on them. I felt a bit bad for the prisoner, but I had to prioritize my own escape.
I pressed my ear against the iron wall. Whoever was inside was silent—either unconscious or asleep.
-Creak!
I turned the circular handle of the iron door. As the handle turned, the thick slab of the door began to move. The door swung fully open, revealing the pitch-black interior of the cell.
-It’s incredibly thick.
Now that it was open, I could see the iron wall was about the length of a forearm. To have dented such a wall to that extent, the internal energy of the person inside must be staggering.
Right then—
-Flash!
Someone lunged out from the darkness of the cell. The figure reached my position with incredible speed and thrust a hand toward my head.
‘Tch!’
I thought they were unconscious, but I was wrong. I hurriedly parried the hand. The person then executed an exquisite Golden Snake Hand technique, grabbing my wrist and shoving me backward.
‘What?’
The internal power was immense. I’d guessed they were a master, but this was at the very peak of the Supreme Peak Realm.
-Step-step-step-step!
I was pushed back more than five paces in an instant. But the moment their face was revealed in the dim light, I blurted out their name without thinking.
“Baek Hye-hyang?”
This person—no, this woman—was none other than Baek Hye-hyang. Despite her disheveled black hair and dark eyes, her face was unmistakable. Her eyes were rimmed with tear tracks as she stared intently at my face, her brow furrowing as she muttered.
“So Woon-hwi?”