Chapter 112: Uncharted
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Uncharted
The Dragon Army.
To be precise, they were a special forces unit within the Murim Alliance, answering directly to the Alliance Leader himself. Officially, their duties were to serve as his personal guard and to manage the Alliance's other swordsmen.
But they knew the truth. Their real purpose was something else entirely.
The Alliance Leader of that era, the Sword Venerable, was not a man who needed protection. He was a master swordsman who had long since transcended the need for a blade, his humanity the only ordinary thing about him. Such a figure had no use for bodyguards.
Nor was there any genuine need to manage the other squads—a task for which the Dragon Army was ill-suited from the start. While they were often deployed to battle Unorthodox Factions or slay demons that threatened the innocent, even that was not their true calling.
Their real purpose was revealed on the day the Sword Venerable conscripted them.
It was the rift in the sky that endangered thousands: the Gate of Demons. And what lay beyond it—the Abyss.
The Dragon Army's true mission was to investigate the Abyss.
Their captain was Gu Cheolun, who commanded the allegiance of the Plum Blossom Sword. Alongside the Sword Queen, many other renowned masters had joined its ranks. When word spread that the army was formed to combat the Abyssal threat to the innocent, the Sword Queen of Mount Hua had volunteered.
The Celestial Plum Blossom had tried his utmost to dissuade her, but her mind was made up. She left Mount Hua to join the Murim Alliance—a decision whose consequences still haunted her to this day.
-Blaze!
Flames erupted from Gu Cheolun's body. He glared at the Sword Queen with fierce eyes. "I had intended to treat you as an honored guest."
"I thank you for your consideration, but that is not why I came."
The flames swelled, gradually filling the entire room. Yet, despite bursting forth from his loss of emotional control, they neither scorched a single object nor harmed the Sword Queen. Gu Cheolun's mastery remained absolute.
The stifling heat made it difficult to breathe, but the Sword Queen still did not summon her Qi. She knew it was unnecessary.
Just as the flames were about to lick at her hair… they vanished in an instant.
Gu Cheolun's voice was calm when he spoke again. "Your stubbornness remains unchanged."
His tone toward her had shifted, carrying a new weight of weariness.
Noting this, the Sword Queen replied, "It seems you have changed a great deal, Captain."
"Indeed. A great deal."
The Gu Cheolun she had encountered when she took Gu Ryunghwa away was vastly different from the man before her now. The Gu Cheolun of her memory was as wild and unpredictable as his flames—a dangerous man who would burn through any obstacle to achieve his goals.
But the current Tiger Warrior?
Despite mastering the Flame Arts, his demeanor was icy.
"When you said you would take my daughter," Gu Cheolun said, his expression frank, "I am certain I told you something."
"You did."
"I told you never to ask me about my wife."
"I remember."
"Then what are you doing now?"
"Captain… I am not asking about her."
"Twisting your words does not change their meaning. You know better than anyone that the promise we made back then is not something to be taken lightly."
Gu Cheolun's cold expression grew graver. Still, the Sword Queen did not back down. She had not come all this way to retreat at the first sign of resistance.
"Until the moment you disbanded the army, there was something none of us could comprehend. It is even more baffling now."
"What is it?"
"How could you understand the Sword Venerable's decision?"
"…"
"You know, don't you? You were the only one to return from the Abyss, Captain."
"What are you implying?"
"Merely curiosity. It is too late for resentment; I have grown numb to it over time."
Though it hadn't been that long, the sense of duty she once carried had rusted away with the years. She suspected every former member of the Dragon Army felt the same.
"Do you know how many in the Dragon Army believed in you? Looked up to you?"
The Sword Queen was certain he knew the answer. He could not have forgotten.
"Cheonhee was the same. I wish to know where that girl went, but I never sought to learn where she came from."
She had likely returned to her origins. That was what the Sword Queen hoped. But it was not so. Cheonhee had arrived on a breeze, shared her warmth, and stayed awhile. It was only right that she departed in the same manner. The Sword Queen prayed it was so.
"So I will ask again. What did you see in the Abyss, Captain?"
Gu Cheolun merely stared at her in silence.
The Abyss was a vile realm where anything could be found, a place defying all logic of the mortal world.
A long silence stretched between them, and the Sword Queen began to frown. It was not offense at his lack of response. As Gu Cheolun continued his wordless stare, she realized the truth.
"Captain…"
It was not that he refused to speak. He was incapable of it.
The Sword Queen was all too familiar with this. She had experienced it herself.
"How—"
She could not finish.
If Gu Cheolun had seen what she had seen, she knew he would be unable to speak of it. If he had truly laid eyes on that "tree"…
As she fell deeper into her thoughts, Gu Cheolun finally spoke.
"Were you looking for Cheonhee? And if not, for what reason did you pass through the gate?"
"…!"
"If you saw it for yourself, there is no need for explanation. It is not something that can be explained in the first place."
Now she knew. He had seen it too. That vile, mysterious thing. Otherwise, he would not have said such words.
Gu Cheolun continued, "You asked how I understood that old man. I never did. Nor did I ever forgive him."
"Then, why…!"
It was for that reason that I had to.
The Sword Queen fell silent at his words.
His gaze was hollow, his eyes deep and dark, like staring into an endless abyss.
"I congratulate you on your recovery. I heard it was thanks to my son; I will inquire with him later."
"…"
"I do not know what you saw, or how far you ventured, but I suggest you go no further."
The Sword Queen could not help her curiosity. She had been afflicted by a forbidden formation that felt like a hand around her throat, nearly losing her life to the turbid Qi that invaded her body, utterly powerless to resist.
If Gu Cheolun had seen the same, how was he still unharmed?
She recalled Gu Yangcheon mentioning that the Gu Clan's arts could purify and dispel that turbid Qi.
Is that why?
But if that were the case…
Something felt wrong. Whether it was his words, his eyes, or Gu Cheolun himself, she felt that some essential part of him was missing.
His Qi was the same. As a martial artist, Gu Cheolun was still in his prime. She could feel the insurmountable wall he presented, just like when she faced the Sect Leader of Mount Hua or the Sword Venerable.
‘A man of this realm is merely considered one of the hundred masters?’
It was not a sensation, but an instinct, telling her he was hiding something. Gu Cheolun was concealing his true self.
The rumors circulating the world felt flimsy and weak when confronted with the truth before her. The flames he wielded in the past were not this subdued. And what lurked within those flames felt anything but light.
"What happened to you, Captain?"
"I do not know what you mean."
Gu Cheolun had returned to his normal self, a clear signal that he would entertain this topic no further.
The Sword Queen noticed and smoothed her hair. "I will visit again…"
"The Sword Queen is always welcome."
His tone was utterly soulless. His attention had already returned to the letter on his desk. His disagreeable nature seemed to have evolved in a different direction.
The Sword Queen left the room, walking through the gardens that had caught her eye. A servant followed to guide her, but her mind was elsewhere.
She felt she had gained little from their conversation, yet she had also obtained crucial pieces of the puzzle.
It was for that reason that I had to.
She remembered Gu Cheolun's words.
She had believed that even if everyone else forgave the Sword Venerable, Gu Cheolun never would.
Decades ago, on the Alliance Leader's command, dozens of Dragon Army martial artists—all but a handful, including the bedridden Sword Queen—were sent into the Abyss.
They had not hesitated for a second.
To the Dragon Army, the Leader's command was absolute. They believed every order was for the greater good, for the benefit of countless lives. That was why they had joined.
Some time later, the Alliance Leader and the Dragon Army returned.
The Sword Queen wept in despair at the sight.
Of the more than thirty members, fewer than ten came back. Those who did were silent, their expressions utterly vacant.
Within days, the survivors—all masters who had transcended the peak realm—took their own lives. These were not individuals with weak minds or bodies, yet they could bear it no longer.
The Sword Queen begged them. She pleaded, holding onto them, insisting that having survived, they must continue living.
Despite her efforts, one by one, they ended their lives. The last was the Dragon Army's youngest member, also a disciple of Mount Hua.
In the aftermath, the Sword Venerable resigned as Murim Alliance Leader and secluded himself. Gu Cheolun disbanded the Dragon Army.
What transpired within the Abyss, the Sword Queen could never learn.
But in time, she discovered one thing: the Sword Venerable's goal had never been to achieve peace for the world.
* * *
-Rustle, rustle.
The sound of leaves being swept in the yard reached my ears.
"Did you enjoy your meal?"
When I stepped outside after eating, the Sword Venerable was sweeping the grounds.
"Yes. You should eat something as well."
"A man of my status may eat whenever—"
"I've heard one must eat more with age. Please do not skip meals."
"To be so considerate of an old man… Thank you, Young Master."
"Yeah…"
I was finally growing accustomed to speaking with the Sword Venerable. Or perhaps I had simply grown used to seeing him as a servant.
"Grandpa!"
Wi Seol-Ah, who had also come outside, ran to the Sword Venerable and hugged him.
The old man patted her head but chided her in a stern voice, "Seol-Ah, did you eat with the Young Master again?"
"Uh… it's… um…"
"Grandpa has told you not to!"
Seeing Wi Seol-Ah shrink, preparing for a scolding, I quickly intervened. "It's fine. I was the one who invited her."
"Young Master…"
As I stopped him, Wi Seol-Ah swiftly hid behind me. The notion of a servant eating with their Young Master was unconventional, but it mattered little to me. This was especially true for Wi Seol-Ah, but I would not have minded if it were Hongwa or Muyeon either.
I recalled the servants' shock when I tried to eat with them during our travels. At first, they seemed more uncomfortable than fearful of dining with their master. Lately, however, they seemed to be adjusting.
[That's probably just your imagination.]
Why? They all seem comfortable enough.
[It would be strange for anyone to feel comfortable eating in front of a fierce-looking fellow like you.]
The old man was talking nonsense again. 'The girls seem to eat just fine in front of me…'
[You should be grateful to those girls. They're the odd ones for being so at ease.]
Following Elder Shin's words, I looked at Wi Seol-Ah and the two other girls who had now emerged: Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol.
I didn't expect Tang Soyeol to come.
It was already dinnertime.
It was just lunch. I relaxed in my room for a bit, and now it's dinner?
As the meal was nearly ready, Namgung Bi-ah, who should have been at her guesthouse, naturally joined me. I was used to it by now and did not react.
The surprise was Tang Soyeol, who appeared right after.
I was startled when she emerged from seemingly nowhere and exclaimed, "Sis!"
Of course, Tang Soyeol noticed the others and apologized, but it was still unexpected.
Did they have a fight or something?
They had seemed very close in Sichuan, but now something felt different between them.
While I was assuring the Sword Venerable that Wi Seol-Ah's actions were fine, Tang Soyeol approached me. She began to thank me, fidgeting with her hands.
"I apologize for appearing so suddenly. It was disrespectful."
"I was surprised, but it's alright."
"And you even offered me a meal…"
"I asked because I heard you hadn't eaten. Was it bothersome?"
"N-No! Not at all… Actually, you can invite me more ofte—"
"Young Master! Should I bring some yakgwa?"
Tang Soyeol was cut off by Wi Seol-Ah's interruption.
"What's yakgwa?"
"A snack! We've finished the meal!"
"You're going to eat more after all that?"
"Sister Hongwa says we have separate stomachs for meals and snacks."
No, I think you just eat a lot.
But saying that would make her sulk.
Teasing her was fun, but I had to remember we had a guest. And since I wanted something sweet, I asked Wi Seol-Ah to bring some yakgwa.
Come to think of it, Tang Soyeol was saying something.
"My apologies, what were you saying?"
"…It was nothing…"
Tang Soyeol looked rather dejected.
"Even his servant is that pretty…" she mumbled to herself, gazing in the direction Wi Seol-Ah had run off.
I was honestly starting to wonder if a ghost had possessed her.
Still looking somewhat downcast, Tang Soyeol spoke again. "Um… Young Master Gu."
"Yes?"
"About the request I made earlier…"
"Ah."
The Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament.
To be honest, it sounds like a hassle.
The name was grand, but it was essentially a gathering of young prodigies vying for supremacy. While I could ask what the point was, the fact that it was held in Hanam meant there was something I needed there.
"First, I must ask the Lord, so I cannot give you an answer yet."
Of course, my father would have to approve. I assumed he would not let me leave the clan again so soon, after my extended absences in Sichuan and Shaanxi.
And if I'm confined to the clan, I can use that as a reason to decline.
On the other hand, the tournament was a prime opportunity to make a name for oneself, and it would be odd not to take advantage. But this damned clan was clearly anything but ordinary.
"T…Then, please inform me when you decide."
"Certainly."
Our conversation concluded, Tang Soyeol bowed slightly and left for her quarters with her escort.
"You're going?"
I turned at the voice beside me. It was Namgung Bi-ah, her eyes fixed on me. For some reason, a chill ran down my spine…
"What is it? Why are you staring like that?"
It looked like she was glaring. Did I do something wrong?
When she asked if I was going, she likely meant the tournament. I was about to say I wasn't sure, but Namgung Bi-ah spoke first.
"If you are… then I'm going with you."
"What?"
Before I could answer, she was already walking away, leaving no room for reply.
Elder Shi—
[Don't talk to me. I want to kill you right now.]
…
I had been about to ask him, but he seemed inexplicably furious, so I held my tongue.
Just then, Wi Seol-Ah returned with the yakgwa. By the time we finished, night had fallen.
When the household had settled into sleep, I rose and prepared. In my hand was the flower I had retrieved from the Black Palace hideout.
As planned, I would consume it tonight.
My body had finished purifying the Demonic Qi, and I had gained some understanding of wielding Taoist Qi under Elder Shin's guidance. The time was right.
[Are you planning to just swallow it raw?]
"That is the most direct method."
Rather than frying it or brewing it into a soup, consuming it in its natural state was the most effective way to absorb its energy.
[You don't know how your body will react. Be cautious.]
The old man's warning did not concern me. Normally, I would agonize over potential risks, debating whether I should truly eat it. But this time, I felt an odd certainty that it would be fine.
Without hesitation, I swallowed the flower, leaves first.
Elder Shin shouted.
[You crazy bastard…! Why so sudden…!]
"…!"
I had gulped it down whole, not even attempting to absorb its Qi.
"Why did I do that?"
I couldn't understand my own actions. It was as if I had been compelled, moving both by my own will and something beyond it.
"What now?"
-Thud-!
A strange sensation surged within me. I tried to speak to Elder Shin, but my words died in my throat.
An intense vibration shook my core. Something was rampaging inside my body.
Something was coming.