Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Translator: Penny
Chapter 54
"Oh, shit. I almost died."
As expected, the pin mechanism had worked.
The moment he entered the facility, it activated, and needles rained down from all directions.
What if he had only been at the Ejection Qi level? He would have become a hedgehog and later been discovered by rescuers who heard he had entered the cave. But let's forget about the past. It's okay since I'm alive. What matters is from now on.
The mechanisms and formations of the Secret Cave's structure remained intact, without collapsing.
"That's strange. It's night outside, but it's bright in here... I can't even see any night-luminescent stones."
Fortunately, he could still see inside, even if only dimly. Zhuge Munhyeon walked slowly along the narrow passage with a smile on his face.
There was no fear. He was and still is a man brimming with a competitive spirit. What's the difference between a person and a mechanism? The stronger the opponent he had to fight, the more exciting the anticipation became. Now I have to fight this fucking trap. My steps grew lighter, and the sound of my footsteps vanished without a trace.
After walking like that for a while, the passage, enveloped in silence, turned.
Zhuge Munhyeon stopped at the entrance and looked around.
There's no way it could end like this...
He examined the faint traces scattered on the floor and walls with sharp eyes.
"This is a formation."
The very air felt different.
It was clear that the formation was unfolding, disrupting the flow.
Amazing. I never thought they'd be able to set up a formation in this narrow passage... It seems the legendary Zhuge Liang was truly skilled.
Zhuge Munhyeon recalled all the formations Han Siheon had deployed to trap him...
But none of them looked alike. Then something suddenly occurred to me. The Eight Trigrams Formation?
If I hadn't seen the Eight Trigrams Formation spread out on terrain that resembled a miniature version of Yungjungsan on my first day at Byeongju Hall, I wouldn't have known. That day, I forgot even the passage of time, completely absorbed in figuring out how to break through the Eight Trigrams Formation. I tried it. I felt it.
"Damn, I'm going crazy. Is this really the Eight Trigrams Formation?"
It had been lost to the family, existing only in records until his father recreated it.
What lay spread out on the ground back then was also unfinished.
But now, a completed miniature version was unfolding before his eyes.
"Haa, what should I do with this?"
He just couldn't bring himself to step in.
He didn't know this formation.
A method of entering it without knowing what would happen.
Zhuge Munhyeon was forced to stand still at the formation's entrance, pondering for a long time.
But soon.
"It makes no sense to turn back after coming all this way."
He made up his mind.
Let's move forward. It isn't entirely impossible. The Eight Trigrams Formation was developed as a military formation. To fully realize its effect, a wide terrain is required. Therefore, even if the formation were fully completed, the limited space would prevent its effectiveness from being maximized. If this is truly the Eight Trigrams Formation, then its beginning is... the Returning Fog.
A disorienting fog spread thickly, eventually forcing one to return to where they entered.
Damn it.
The moment he took a step, the fog thickened, and his pace quickened.
Thank God. When they cleared away the rubble and discovered the iron bar, they saw the structure of the Secret Cave that Byeongju Hall scholars Yang Hun and Yeo Mungi had roughly predicted. The Middle of the Cave.
In that case, the mechanism would be the last, after the pin trap, leaving only the Eight Trigrams Formation.
The moment he passed the Returning Fog Formation in a single breath and entered the second section...
Ssaeaeak!
What flew with a sharp noise was a heavy, club-like object. Among them, something the size of a person...
"Ugh!"
Startled by the projectile emerging from the dense fog, Zhuge Munhyeon quickly turned back.
Kwaaaaang!
A heavy crash against the wall.
And...
Click.
A clear, beautiful sound that made the back of his neck tingle.
By sheer luck, his hand, which had been leaning back and touching the floor, ended up pressing something.
"Oh, shit! It's been so long and it's still working!"
He was so angry he couldn't help but laugh.
Even if I'm unlucky, how could I be this unlucky? The saying that even if you fall backward, your nose will break seems to apply perfectly to situations like this.
But now wasn't the time to sigh.
The floor sank with a click, and an eerie feeling rose from below.
Yu Gilcheon... You made this so difficult. You even kept shoddy records of people's reputations, but when you died, you left behind a mountain of dirty traps.
"You fucking bastard!"
Zhuge Munhyeon roared in fury, unleashing every skill he possessed.
Flipping, twisting, soaring, running...
The wind stirred his imagination, and he wrestled with memories from his time as the Heavenly Demon.
This is the first time in my life I've ever worked so hard. The Zhuge Clan is truly terrifying. Why on earth are these guys so depraved?
After enduring such hardships and running over and over again, Zhuge Munhyeon finally came face to face with the iron gate.
"Ah..."
It's over. Eight Trigrams.
To be precise, it was like a miniature version of the formation, so it wouldn't have even demonstrated a tenth of its original power, but where was that?
Hadn't he overcome the essence of the Zhuge family's formation and mechanisms with a skill that wasn't even close to that of a master?
"Oh, oh, oh, oh."
When he looked back, the formation had disappeared, and the mechanisms that had been tormenting him were nowhere to be seen.
Baekmu's words rang true. This place was designed for intruders to enter and die. I understood why the Wudang Sect hadn't done it themselves, instead entrusting the task to the Zhuge family. Because everything here was uncertain. It must have taken at least a year to lift the ban without risking one's life. What had they done to cram so much into this narrow passage? The pressure plates were all activated by the mechanisms, and every touch was met with a sharp blade... Oh, shit. It's a good thing some things didn't work because they were broken; I almost died several times. If the poison traps had been in good condition, it wouldn't have been easy to overcome even if I had detected them.
But eventually, he got through it.
That thing that was like hell... Even if you told me to do it again, I couldn't.
Thanks to that, his snow-white robe was torn to the point where it was hard to tell if it had ever been worn, and the exposed body was covered in wounds, blood flowing freely...
But... I couldn't contain the overwhelming emotion that was welling up inside me at that moment. I'm so moved that I'm on the verge of tears.
Now, one iron gate. Based on the structural analysis predicted by Yang Hun and Yeo Mungi, Yu Gilcheon will be there. And something he left behind... Surely not, you little punk. You didn't install something weird on the iron gate, did you?
He couldn't help but be suspicious.
Because I've been through so much. Because I've almost died about twenty times.
Catching his breath, Zhuge Munhyeon slowly approached the iron gate, moving cautiously and listening intently for any further clicking sounds.
And the iron gate hidden in the darkness was revealed.
On it was an inscription:
O, Fated One, you have endured hardship. Since you have come this far, I believe that Heaven has a purpose for you.
"..."
The corners of Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes, which had been blankly staring at the words, suddenly shot upward.
This crazy kid! Fated One? You establish these mechanisms and formations, and then you talk about a 'Fated One'? You'd be dead before you even get to be 'fated'!
The moment he grew angry, dumbfounded...
Rip.
The tattered clothes could no longer hold up and slid down his body.
"Oh my!"
Zhuge Munhyeon unconsciously grabbed the hem of his clothes.
Even though he knew he was alone, he instinctively tried to cover his naked body.
"Damn, there should be clothes inside."
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had tightly wrapped his lower body to conceal it despite his upper body being exposed, grumbled and pushed open the iron door.
Creak. Crunch, thud!
The door slammed open with an unpleasant bang.
Is it because it's been closed for so long?
He pushed it slightly, then stepped back a little, avoiding the crack in case something came out from inside.
Fortunately, it was quiet.
He peeked his head in and looked around, but he couldn't see anything unusual.
"Phew..."
Only then did Zhuge Munhyeon feel relieved. He swung the door wide open and stepped inside.
It was a grotto.
And a skeleton sat in a circular hollow carved out of rock.
It wore a robe with a distinct Taegeuk pattern that looked as though it would shatter into dust if touched.
Though only bones remained, Zhuge Munhyeon recognized him immediately.
"...Yu Gilcheon."
Why was that? Even if we met in the afterlife, I thought I would come at him with my fists flying. But when I actually saw him, my heart grew heavy, and my expression turned calm.
After staring at him for a long moment, Zhuge Munhyeon slowly approached. He plopped down in front of him and looked him in the eye.
"You've aged a lot."
If anyone had heard him, they might have pointed their finger and called him crazy, but that was the feeling at that moment.
An encounter with the past.
Though he was nothing more than a silent relic, Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes reddened as if he were reliving a moment from his life.
"Still, you, you fiend, were too harsh. What is evil? Evil... It's not like I committed any reckless murders."
As if he had returned to his days as the Heavenly Demon, Zhuge Munhyeon lamented his disappointment.
"Anyway, I'm sorry. We're like old friends, so if I'd known you'd be waiting like this, I should have brought you a bottle of alcohol. But, well, you wouldn't have done that either, so just understand."
Even while grumbling, he found himself laughing.
It was obvious even without looking. If the Heavenly Demon had died, they would have danced so wildly that the hems of their robes would have fluttered.
"I couldn't achieve Ascension with what you gave me, but thanks to you, I was able to travel a long way to meet wonderful parents. I'm grateful for that. I never imagined I'd change like this, but they're quite warm."
Even though he was alone, it felt like he was having a conversation.
It seemed as if Yu Gilcheon's smiling face was superimposed on the remains.
"You didn't wish for this, did you? Even if you cleanse yourself of your demonic energy for the sake of Ascension, your true nature won't change. So, you should live again and experience human affection."
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been giggling so loudly that the room gently resonated, gazed at the remains, trying to decipher their hidden meaning.
"So, where are you now? Did you truly ascend to the heavens? Or were you, like me, reborn somewhere and living?"
The questions he had been pondering poured out.
But there was no answer.
He had attained enlightenment, leaving behind only a skeleton that seemed to be smiling.
"Anyway, that's why I hate those Daoist priests. They always ask questions. Let's stop talking. Memories should remain just memories. If you left anything behind, I'll take it. And the Clear Yang Sword. I heard your descendants will keep it in the Patriarch Hall."
Zhuge Munhyeon rose with a smile and extended his hand toward the remains.
I don't know what this fool did to deserve so much, but now it's time to let his body rest in peace.
Fwoosh.
As soon as he grabbed his collar, his remains scattered like dust and settled.
"I'll borrow your clothes. As you can see, mine look like this now."
Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and draped the robe over his body.
It was old, but still wearable.
He carefully gathered up some of the bone fragments and glanced at the sword lying nearby. Then, he drew the blade from its rusted scabbard.
Shing.
A famous sword truly lived up to its reputation.
It possessed a distinct shine, ready for immediate use.
Engraved on the bottom of the sword were the characters Cheongyang (Clear Yang).
Zhuge Munhyeon stared at those two characters for a moment before quickly sheathing the sword and looking around.
He was searching for something Yu Gilcheon had left behind.
Fortunately, the entrance was blocked by the mechanism formation to prevent anyone from approaching, so it seemed there was no need to hide it separately.
On a study table in the corner of the room lay a book titled Hyeoncheonbirok (Secret Records of the Virtuous Celestial).
"Hey, did you even keep a diary?" Zhuge Munhyeon asked with a smirk, opening the book.
And there it was:
The Scourge has disappeared.
... was written.
Oh, that damned brat. From the very first line, the diary was brimming with joy and ecstasy.
📖 Edited Text: Chapter 54
I couldn't read the diary beyond the first chapter.
Snap, snap.
The grotto wall was cracking as if it would collapse at any moment.
It was barely holding on after collapsing once in heavy rain, but the mechanisms started to vibrate as they began to operate.
"Damn it, they're not giving me time. Time..."
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been carefully examining the book for clues about Ascension, quickly tucked the Hyeoncheonbirok into his robe and picked up the Clear Yang Sword.
It would be a problem if it collapsed. He wasn't even a mole, so what talent would he have to escape? Well, since I already brought the Clear Yang Sword to return to the Wudang Sect, I can just take my time and read the diary.
That's what Yeonghwa was like. "If you get something, it will be because it was your destiny..." And I can take care of this. Since he recorded me as a villain, he should take responsibility for it.
"If it's only about the Wudang Sect, I can just return it after reading it."
Zhuge Munhyeon searched the surroundings, but where was the mechanism release device?
According to Yeo Mungi, it's inside... I can't just go back. I nearly died getting in, and I never want to experience that again. The problem is... Oh, it's not there?
Boom! Boom!
What the hell! Some of the ceiling is already falling...
His heart began to race with anxiety.
If this keeps up, I'm going to get crushed to death. Ah, I should have listened to Baekmu... Don't be greedy for no reason.
At that moment.
"Surely... it's the door?"
Zhuge Munhyeon recalled the loud noise that echoed when the iron door opened.
But it won't budge easily. What if, while the structure is collapsing, the mechanisms and formations activate again?
But...
Kung! Kung!
He couldn't afford to worry any longer; the grotto was beginning to collapse.
"Yoo Gilcheon, you fucking bastard!"
The good feelings vanished as if washed away, and Zhuge Munhyeon threw himself out of the iron gate without hesitation.
Fortunately, the mechanism wasn't activated.
It seems the iron door was the trigger. Well, I guess he had a conscience too. I don't think he would have blocked the exit after writing something about a 'Fated One' or anything.
"But why isn't anyone coming? The two disciples guarding outside must have reported it... Naturally, the surprised Wudang Sect and Zhuge Clan would have formed a rescue team and come to my aid."
As he ran in relief, a sudden wave of disappointment washed over him.
"Those damned bastards! Teaching them martial arts is useless. That's why you shouldn't take in 'black-haired beasts' so carelessly..."
While he grumbled incessantly, the cave collapsed from the inside out, and Zhuge Munhyeon fled as fast as he could.
However.
"Huh?"
It was empty outside.
Why is no one here? The rescue team is nowhere to be seen, and neither are the disciples who were here before I entered the cave. Seriously, these guys, their working hours... Did they not report it because they were afraid of getting in trouble? These damn guys. If I had been even slightly less skilled, I would have died in that cave.
And at that moment...
Whoosh, boom!
The cave entrance completely collapsed.
A loud noise and vibration shook the air.
Yet there was still no reaction.
"That's strange. Did something happen?"
Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head and walked straight toward the main hall of Jinbu Hermitage, where he was staying.
If I ran that much, it would be enough. I can take a walk for a while to catch my breath. But somehow, the atmosphere of Mount Wudang is growing increasingly strange. Aren't the distant mountain ridges filled with lights? What if a forest fire breaks out like this...?
When he arrived near Jinbuam, he was filled with doubt, as he had no way of knowing the situation.
"Munhyeon-ah!"
Zhuge Munho, who had been wandering outside, spotted him and rushed over.
He must have found me. Now I need to explain. I entered the secret grotto where I had spent a year, obtaining the Clear Yang Sword and the powdered remains of the Virtuous Celestial.
Just as he was about to strike a proud pose, Zhuge Munho noticed his attire.
"You... your clothes..."
"This is what happened."
"Really? You're wearing a Daoist robe?"
Meanwhile, Zhuge Munho, who had been tilting his head because the clothes were so worn out they looked like they'd been picked up off the street, suddenly snapped out of his daze and spoke again.
"We're in trouble. We're really in trouble."
"Oh, so that's what happened..."
"Daoist Mujin has gone berserk."
"Mujin... Huh?"
What's going on? Suddenly, Mujin is going crazy? So you weren't looking for me after all?
"I heard he suddenly started spewing blood-red light... Wow, it must have been a real mess."
"Blood-red light? What does that mean?"
"I don't know either. The Wudang Sect was being quiet, so I couldn't hear the details."
"..."
"It seems he trained in Taegeuk Cave, where Daoist Mujin was abandoned, but he suddenly emerged and attacked the Wudang disciples."
"Attacked the disciples?"
"I told you, it's complete chaos. All the Wudang Sect elders are rushing out, and all the disciples are searching for Daoist Mujin. They've ordered us not to move at all."
In that moment, the sadness in Zhuge Munhyeon's mind vanished, replaced by one answer and several questions.
This was the reason there were no disciples at the cave. Given what had happened to the Wudang Sect, it was natural that they hadn't been informed of his entry into the secret cave. No, they wouldn't have had time to even care. But why Mujin?
"What was he doing in Taegeuk Cave that led him to attack his fellow disciples?"
"Actually, I was so curious that I asked the Daoist Attendant who looks after the hermitage. He said that Daoist Mujin had revealed his demonic nature and that even the Sect Leader couldn't recognize him."
"What?"
"They say the Heavenly Demon died in Taegeuk Cave a long time ago, and that something he left behind must have transformed him like that."
Zhuge Munho's words momentarily stunned him. Though he hadn't heard them in detail, he knew them relatively well.
But Taegeuk Cave, Heavenly Demon, Demonic Nature... Mujin?
Then an old memory flashed through his mind.
"Ah!"
He had forgotten.
It was a fleeting realization.
That's just how people are.
When death approaches, we try to leave something behind.
Yu Gilcheon left behind a diary called Hyeoncheonbirok, and the Heavenly Demon of that era left behind the enlightenment he gained in his final moments.
"...Crazy Soul Art."
He stared at the inscription on the wall and thought, This isn't it.
This martial art had skipped the refinement process because it was a momentary realization. In other words, it was an excellent but imperfect martial art. I was going to erase it, fearing what might happen if the Wudang disciples found it after I 'ascended' for no reason.
But... I just blocked it with a stone at the last minute because I felt bad... Could it be that Mujin found this?
There was no way it couldn't have happened.
The 'Blood Moon' eyes I saw in him. He said he went berserk, spewing blood and causing chaos.
"This is insane..."
So, was the cause... me? It was karma. That's also evil. A martial art carelessly left behind and forgotten ruined the life of a Daoist with a bright future ahead of him. Oh, what should I do? I don't know how much he's gained, but once he passes the entrance and enters the true stage, there's no turning back. Because it won't stop until it burns all of the true source.
"That Heavenly Demon guy must be a true evil spirit. How could he cause such trouble for the Wudang Sect even after death?"
"Right? That's shit, shit. I told you he left a real mess on it."
"I can't even imagine what it must have been like in the past. He died well. He died well. I wonder why everyone treated the Wudang Sect's Sword-Releasing Pool with such respect."
The nearby cousins, led by Gwan Hwipyeong, began to speak one by one.
These! Without even knowing it properly?
Then Zhuge Munho asked, as if it had only just come to mind, "Hey, where have you been?"
"..."
He asks now?
But that wasn't the problem.
Even without this, it was already recorded that I was a bad person, and if this continues, I will become an eternal sinner. Meanwhile, those Gwan Hwipyeong guys, who specialize in complaining and dissatisfaction, already know. Just imagine how much more they'll talk about it in the future... Oh, shit, really! Back then, why on earth did I leave something like that behind? It would be better to just erase it.
"Munhyeon-ah, why is your expression...?"
"Where is he?"
"Huh?"
"Where did that Mujin guy go?"
"Well, I don't know."
"..."
Zhuge Munho looked up, blinking.
Well, there's no way to know. They said not to move at all in Jinbu Hermitage... I have to find him. Because only I know how to stop Mujin. Haa, this is how I learn to untie the knot I tied.
Zhuge Munhyeon, his face twisted in a grimace, immediately turned to leave.
"You guys, stay here and don't move."
"Well..."
"Don't come out! Got it?"
"...No! Where the hell are you going?!"
Without even answering Zhuge Munho's question, Zhuge Munhyeon sprinted straight toward the mountain ridge.
Damn it, where am I going? I'm going to clean up my mess, you little shit!
He didn't know where Mujin was, but if he followed the trail that seemed to be searching for something, he would find him.
As Zhuge Munhyeon kicked off the ground and soared upward, stepping on a tree branch and vanishing in an instant, Gwan Hwipyeong asked Zhuge Munho, who was left alone.
"Brother, why is that guy acting like that again?"
"Where are you going all of a sudden?"
"Anyway, I told you it's a disease, right? The Wudang Sect told me to stay still, but what kind of trouble is he going to cause now...?"
At their words, which made him shake his head, Zhuge Munho's face hardened.
Munhyeon, could it be... that you're trying to help the Wudang Sect? Well, that's just the kind of guy he is. He can't stand seeing injustice or hardship. Above all, what if we could give the Wudang Sect even a little help?
"I was so stupid. That Munhyeon guy calculated all that in a split second. He pretended not to know the difficulty when I told him to just sit still."
"What does that mean?"
"Gwan Hwipyeong!"
"...?"
"Unlock your Iron Weights and follow me! Let's chase after Munhyeon!"
"What? What do you mean? They told us both to stay put, you and Munhyeon."
"You things! Aren't you coming?!"
As Zhuge Munho ran out shouting, Gwan Hwipyeong chased after him, their mouths jutting out a few feet.
It's all nonsense. Therefore. I told you he was influenced, didn't I?
It was a complete mess.
Wounded people were everywhere.
The noble Daoist suddenly went berserk with demonic energy and attacked his fellow disciples...
Perhaps they felt like they'd been struck by a bolt from the blue. Meanwhile, the disciples of Zixiao Palace would have maintained a solid position.
"Oh my god! This is driving me crazy!"
It couldn't have been just once.
Just because you read the scriptures doesn't mean you'll suddenly explode with demonic power. I'm sure he repeated it countless times. Crazy Soul Art. It's a martial art that preys on people's desires. When you reach a certain level and find it difficult to control your emotions, you'll likely be consumed by anger and hatred, the first of the seven emotions. Furthermore, you'll likely be unable to overcome greed and continue to crave it...
"Which way did he go?"
"Yes?"
"Where did Daoist Mujin go?"
When he shouted and demanded their location, the Wudang Sect's injured men flinched in surprise and pointed in a direction.
"Uh, over there... the elders chased after him."
As soon as he heard those words, Zhuge Munhyeon ran without looking back.
This guy... went to the village? What the hell! Why did you have to go there? You stupid Wudang fools! You should have stopped him somehow! Haven't you even learned how to do a simple containment formation?
But knowing the cause lay within himself, Zhuge Munhyeon ran even harder.
I kept going in and out of that cave, and my stamina is low...
How long did he run like that?
Kwaaaaang!
A deafening explosion shook the air, followed by a powerful shockwave that rippled outward from the blast site.
Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward Mujin's location. Mujin was radiating a crimson aura and wearing a grotesque grin. On the opposite side, the Wudang elders stood in a tense standoff, encircling him.
Thank God. I'm so relieved. Caught before reaching the village.
He shuddered to think what might have happened if that madman had made it to the village.
"Paternal Uncle!"
"...Munhyeon? How did you get here? And what exactly are you wearing?"
Yeonghwa, one of the elders who had formed the encirclement, looked genuinely surprised.
It was understandable that he would be confused, seeing him wearing the robe of the Virtuous Celestial.
An explanation was needed, but there was no time for it now.
His blood flow is excessive... He's about to enter a state of true demonic power. At that time, there is no other way than to kill.
"Huh, huh... I'll explain later, so leave it to me now."
"What?"
"Then are you going to kill him?"
Yeonghwa couldn't help but feel embarrassed by Zhuge Munhyeon's words, which made his face frown.
They can never kill Mujin. Everything is because of the Heavenly Demon, and the disciple will think he did nothing wrong. If they were going to kill him, they wouldn't have let him come down the mountain. But they can't stop him. Not knowing how.
"Me! Only I know how to save Mujin!"
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny