Chapter 100: Nice to Meet You, Kid (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Nice to Meet You, Kid (1)
The first day of the tournament drew to a close as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Though the crowd was likely exhausted and hungry, their cheers showed no sign of fading.
“I… lost…”
After a long delay, the final match of the day concluded. The last man standing in the arena was Yung Sung.
I’d seen him before with Yung Pung. He was known as one of the top third-generation disciples—one of the most skilled among his peers, second only to Yung Pung himself.
Gu Ryunghwa did not advance further after her initial victory. She’d won because her opponent underestimated her, and though she’d shown a sudden burst of power, her limits were still clear.
Even in defeat, however, she stepped down from the stage looking refreshed. It seemed the experience had given her more than a simple win ever could.
“That second-generation girl from earlier…”
“Ah, yes—the pretty one…”
“I’ve never seen her before. What was her name again?”
The crowd was beginning to take notice of Gu Ryunghwa. It was only natural; her movements had been shockingly impressive for someone so small.
After the final match ended, the two fighters bowed respectfully to one another. Disciples soon climbed onto the stage to clean up, and spectators began to disperse. Mount Hua stood at such a height that descending after dark would be dangerous.
Wi Seol-Ah lifted a half-asleep Namgung Bi-ah, who had long surrendered to boredom. I, meanwhile, made my way toward the cleanup crew. A familiar face had caught my eye.
“Master Yung Pung.”
“Ah, Young Master Gu…?”
The man working diligently alongside the other students was indeed Yung Pung.
To think I’d see the Sword Dragon wiping down chairs… This world truly is a strange place.
Yung Pung looked over, a bright smile gracing his lips.
“Did you watch the tournament?”
“I ended up watching the whole thing, somehow.”
It hadn’t exactly been by choice. I’d planned to leave after Gu Ryunghwa was eliminated, but Wi Seol-Ah begged to stay a little longer. Then Namgung Bi-ah fell asleep, and… well, here I was.
As we spoke, Yung Pung suddenly jolted as if struck by a thought.
“Ah, my apologies, Young Master.”
“Hm? For what?”
“I’m afraid I cannot join you for night training today. I must retire early…”
“I never suggested such a thing…?”
What was he thinking? And more importantly—did I just get rejected? By him?
Strangely, I felt a little offended.
“Then what brings you here…?”
Hearing his question, I adopted a serious expression. I did have something important to discuss. Noticing my shift in demeanor, Yung Pung grew solemn as well.
Leaning close so as not to be overheard, I whispered into his ear:
“Could you tell me the name of that suc— the one who fought my sister?”
Yung Pung frowned.
“…Pardon?”
He looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.
* * *
It was around the first hour of the morning. Most people were deep asleep by then.
Namgung Bi-ah had dozed off the moment we returned, worn out from the tournament. The Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah were also fast asleep.
Seizing the opportunity, I slipped outside and surveyed my surroundings. A few escorts were on night watch, but thankfully, Muyeon wasn’t among them. That was precisely why I’d chosen this late hour—and luckily, it paid off.
I concealed myself as best I could and scanned the area. Once certain the coast was clear, I vaulted over the wall.
Even if caught, I could claim I’d gone out for a walk—but in the end, no one noticed. I’d improved, yes, but I hadn’t expected my nighttime stroll to go quite this smoothly…
I’ll have to tell Muyeon to reprimand them later.
Are they really this careless just because we’re at the Mount Hua Sect?
Whatever the reason, it worked in my favor.
I channeled my qi to descend the mountain swiftly. To avoid trouble, I needed to return before early morning. Speed was essential.
The west forest, I believe.
I’d gotten a rough idea of the location, but without a map, I had to stay alert. My destination was one of the Black Palace’s hideouts, now under Mount Hua’s control—specifically, the place where Ya Hyeoljeok had lived.
Originally, I’d planned to go right after Gu Ryunghwa’s match, but my plans were delayed. Now, the cover of night would have to do.
Good thing Yung Pung knew about this place.
That was the real reason I’d approached him after the tournament. Asking about the disciple who fought my sister had been little more than a jest.
Yung Jin, if I recall correctly.
I remembered his name clearly. And that foolish face of his.
Had Yung Pung refused on sect grounds, I would’ve turned to the Beggar’s Sect or the Hao Clan for the information. But after his initial surprise, he answered without hesitation—so quickly, in fact, it made me wonder why he didn’t question my motives.
- If you’re asking, you must have your reasons.
The thought made me smirk.
Why does he trust me so much?
His faith almost bothered me. Lately, more and more people seemed to trust me. While I knew it wasn’t a bad thing, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
Maybe I’m just not used to it.
That was likely the case. I’d never experienced anything like it in my past life, and even now, the feeling remained unfamiliar.
- Tap!
After running in the direction Yung Pung had indicated, I came to a stop. He hadn’t given an exact location, so I relied on my qi to guide me.
This place should be under the Murim Alliance’s jurisdiction now.
Mount Hua served the Alliance, and though they were first to discover the hideout, the Murim Alliance had quickly taken control.
“I hope they’ve finished their search…”
They should have completed their investigation and started cleaning up by now. If not, it’d be wiser to turn back rather than force the issue. Coming here was already a gamble.
I ran a long while before finally arriving. A large cave came into view, concealed by leaves and foliage. The area was remote—rarely traveled—and the thick tree cover made it nearly impossible to spot in the dark.
They’ve even set up concealment spells around it.
No ordinary person would find this place based on Yung Pung’s vague directions.
But I was no ordinary person.
Faint traces still remain.
I could sense a wisp of Demonic Qi emanating from the cave. That thread of energy was all I needed. No matter how well it was hidden, it wasn’t particularly difficult for me.
Has the Murim Alliance left already?
I probed the area with my qi but detected no other presence. Staying cautious, I stepped into the cave.
- Sssss…
Darkness and ominous whispers filled the cavern. I summoned flames in my palm, casting much-needed light into the abyss.
The cave was far larger and deeper than I’d expected. I walked for what felt like a long time before finally reaching an open area—still enclosed within the cave, but spacious enough to move freely.
This was their branch office?
Even seeing it with my own eyes, I found it hard to believe. The place seemed far too meager to serve as a proper branch.
Though Mount Hua and the Murim Alliance had cleaned up, traces of previous occupants remained. Yet the area felt intentionally barren, as though designed to appear empty.
What purpose did they have, staying in a place like this?
Moving further in, I entered a chamber slightly larger than the others—the first space tall enough for a person to stand upright. A large chair leaned against the wall, suggesting it had been Ya Hyeoljeok’s room.
Though it feels strange to even call it a room.
Nothing remained. Had they taken every last trace? Like the rest of the cave, it was empty. I was beginning to think I’d have better luck seeking help from the Beggar’s Sect or the Hao Clan—
“…Hm?”
I froze as a certain scent hit me—the metallic tang of blood, still lingering in the air.
What in the…
The stench was so thick it felt unnatural.
It’s foul enough to turn my stomach, yet the Murim Alliance left this place unguarded?
An ominous sensation crawled down my spine, and I took a step back.
That’s when I realized…
This isn’t just a smell.
It wasn’t a mere odor. It was closer to qi.
Then it hit me.
Where is this energy coming from?
And if it’s this palpable, why didn’t the others notice?
If they had, they wouldn’t have left this place unsecured.
Where is it emanating from?
I conjured a larger flame, brightening the room. As expected, there was only one exit—the way I’d come in—and the rest was solid stone.
Yet the qi I felt was clearly coming from one of the walls…
A concealment spell?
That didn’t seem right. Even when I focused, I sensed nothing from it.
A hidden mechanism, perhaps?
I doubted they’d go to such lengths for a mere branch office. Nor did I believe the Black Palace had the skill for it. But if they truly had ties to the Demonic Cult, nothing was off the table.
I ran my hand along the cave wall, searching for traces of a device.
I’m no expert, but considering this was Ya Hyeoljeok’s…
He wasn’t one for complex puzzles. Any mechanism here would likely be straightforward.
Still, it was all speculation.
I moved away from the wall and approached the chair.
This spot doesn’t seem unusual either…
- Tap. Tap.
“…!”
Beneath the chair’s armrest, I felt something. The difference was subtle, but something had clearly been added to the left arm. I pressed the slight protrusion, and it slid inward easily.
Contrary to my expectations, nothing happened. The room remained unchanged. Surely the search team would have found something so obvious.
Thinking the chair was a dead end, I turned to leave—but a sudden thought stopped me.
Just in case…
I stirred the faint strand of Demonic Qi lying dormant within me. I had to circulate it separately; it couldn’t mix with my other energies.
The Demonic Qi stirred faintly in response.
- Flicker.
I pressed the hidden button once more.
- Creak… Creeeak…!
“Heavens…”
My fears were confirmed. Now I understood why the Murim Alliance and Mount Hua Sect had failed to discover this.
The mechanisms crafted by the Ferocious Beast were meant for future use by the Demonic Cult. This chair was no exception—it could only be activated with an infusion of Demonic Qi.
- Slam!
A heavy sound echoed through the cave as dust billowed and the walls trembled. Behind the chair, a massive door slid open, revealing a dark passage.
And with it came that sickening stench of blood, stronger than ever.