Chapter 199: Marble of Celestial Captivation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 199: Marble of Celestial Captivation (2)
A battlefield is a scar left by calamity.
It stands as proof of past cataclysms, a stark reminder that the world’s hard-won peace remains fragile. With a Gate of Demons left open, the land is ravaged by demonic energy, creating an environment where ordinary humans cannot hope to survive. Such places are inherently dangerous, saturated with malevolent forces.
To address this, the Murim Alliance had collaborated with the Orthodox Faction for years, maintaining watch over these cursed grounds. One such battlefield happened to lie not far from Shanxi. Consequently, the Second Elder was able to arrive swiftly after receiving Gu Huibi’s letter.
“The crack is clearly visible,” he observed, standing before the colossal Gate of Demons that loomed like a wound in the world.
Unlike other battlefields, this land was managed exclusively by the Gu Clan, a duty assigned to them alone.
“Second Elder… I didn’t expect you to be the one to come,” Gu Huibi said. She had returned just a day prior, after spending a month cleansing demons on the far side of the territory.
The Second Elder chuckled at her question. “You called for me, Huibi. How could this old man not come when his precious granddaughter asks?”
“…I requested a professional, since there appears to be a problem here.”
“And that’s precisely why I came! If it’s expertise you need, who better than Gu Ryoon?”
He must have pulled some strings to leave the clan. Gu Huibi sighed inwardly. How can an elder be so irresponsible? I fear my little brother might learn from him…
“Hmm? Did you say something?”
“It was nothing. Thank you for coming, Second Elder, despite your busy schedule.”
Regardless of the circumstances, the Second Elder was indeed a professional. As a martial artist who had reached the Fusion Realm, his presence alone was a significant asset.
“Anyway…” The Second Elder stroked his beard, his eyes fixed on the Gate. “This is my first time seeing something like this.”
Typically, a Gate of Demons swirled with a mixture of murky colors, but the one before him was different. It wasn't just a deep black; it seemed to be fracturing the very air around it, forming visible cracks in reality.
“Are the other Gates in the region like this?” he asked.
“No. Only this one.”
“…Hmm.”
The Gu Clan oversaw three such lands in total. This particular site was known for having the smallest Gate.
“Any other anomalies?”
“Aside from the cracks and the color shift, nothing has been reported.”
The Second Elder nodded thoughtfully. “I should inform the Lord immediately. This may be the precursor to a True Gate of Demons opening.”
“Did Shaolin’s Heavenly Eye foresee this?”
“Even if the Heavenly Eye remained silent, we must prepare for the worst.” One could not place absolute faith in Shaolin’s foresight.
The Second Elder fell into a contemplative silence.
How strange, he thought. So many unusual events have been occurring lately—a mix of both good and ill.
The family’s greatest troublemaker, the one he had worried about most, had awoken his latent talent, soared past his limits, and was now stepping into the realm of masters. A youth like that was sure to make a name for himself in the upcoming tournament.
I did tell him to go cause trouble, but now I worry. A twinge of regret pricked the Second Elder. That young troublemaker would have found chaos with or without his encouragement.
“Um…” Gu Huibi’s voice, suddenly polite, cut through his thoughts.
The Second Elder responded without hesitation. “Yangcheon is doing fine.”
“…Cough!” Gu Huibi’s expression shifted instantly, shocked that he had guessed her question. “How did you…?”
“Wasn’t that what you were going to ask?”
“…Yes.”
Seeing her awkward expression, the Second Elder clicked his tongue. This child was special. Famous throughout the martial world for her nasty temper, she underwent a complete transformation whenever her younger brother was involved.
“You need to stop worrying so much. You’re not his parent, Huibi. You can’t watch over Yangcheon forever.”
“How can you say that when you were the one most concerned about him?”
“That was when he hadn’t found his footing.”
“But my little brother is still a child.”
It was true. Despite his recent displays of maturity, Gu Yangcheon was still young. Yet, the Second Elder held his ground. “What I mean is that he will soon become the Lord. If he is to spread his wings and soar, we must learn to let go.”
“…”
Gu Huibi fell silent, a sign that she understood. Gu Yangcheon’s ascension to leadership was all but certain. While the Second Daughter, Gu Yeonseo, and the First Elder might dissent, their objections would not change the outcome. Even if Yangcheon himself resisted…
Despite Huibi’s remarkable talent, she was not a substitute for her brother. She knew this well; she had never coveted the title of Lord, finding the associated burdensome duties repellent. She would rather leave the clan than be shackled by them.
“I just don’t want that child to shoulder such heavy burdens.”
“I wish for the same, but it’s a weight no one else can carry for him.”
Such was the fate of a lord. Others could stand by his side, but the burden was his alone to bear. The current Lord, Gu Cheolun, had accepted this truth.
“The duties you perform now will one day fall to him.”
“I know.”
Gu Huibi’s only wish was for her brother to live a comfortable life.
Observing her pensive state, the Second Elder spoke in a weary tone. “…Why don’t you show some of that affection to Yeonseo as well?”
“Huh? I do.”
Gu Huibi believed she loved Gu Yangcheon, Gu Yeonseo, and Gu Ryunghwa equally. Puzzled by the Second Elder’s comment, she looked at him in confusion, prompting him to shake his head.
It doesn’t seem that way. He could tell from the difference in her tone when she spoke to Yangcheon compared to Yeonseo. Gu Yeonseo had likely sensed it too, which might explain her resentment toward her brother.
“We exchange letters often. She seems to be doing well.”
“…It’s just… never mind.” Seeing the futility of pressing further, the Second Elder dropped the subject.
As he returned his gaze to the Gate, Gu Huibi added, “He’s not fully mature yet. I hope he doesn’t cause any trouble in Hanam.”
Hearing the worry in her voice, the Second Elder responded with a sense of absurdity. “…You caused plenty of trouble there yourself, Huibi.”
He had been shocked to learn she nearly turned the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament into a sea of flames. The news was so severe that even the typically reserved Lord had scolded her harshly.
“…They kept annoying me, overstepping their bounds. I merely taught them a lesson,” Gu Huibi retorted, frustration coloring her tone.
“Do you have any idea how surprised I was? I heard you burned the hair off every last one of them?”
“I should have sent them all to Shaolin to become monks while I was at it.”
“…Where did you even get that personality… wait.” The Second Elder’s sigh caught in his throat as he noticed something amiss in their exchange. He fixed his gaze on her. “How do you know that Yangcheon went to Hanam?”
“…!”
“I don’t believe I told you that.”
Gu Huibi’s face flashed with rare shock at the Second Elder’s sharp tone. He noticed her avoiding his eyes, a faint trace of cold sweat on her temple—a stark contrast to her usual composure.
“…Huibi?”
“I-I just assumed he might be—!”
As she attempted an excuse, the Second Elder suddenly shoved her to the ground with immense force.
Thud!
“Second Elder…! What are you…!” Scrambling to her feet, Gu Huibi’s protest died in her throat as her eyes locked onto him, freezing her in place.
Darkness had descended upon the desolate land—a sudden, unnatural shroud that hadn’t been there moments before. Along with it came an eerie, overwhelming presence. A presence so vast she hadn’t sensed it until the darkness manifested. A chill crawled down her spine as she realized what might have happened if the Second Elder hadn’t pushed her away.
Her body frozen, Gu Huibi tried to draw her sword, but her limbs refused to obey. Within the profound darkness, a light flared in the distance. It was the Second Elder, his body glowing red as he channeled intense heat, appearing as if engulfed in flames. The oppressive aura made it difficult to breathe, and only when the Second Elder unleashed his energy did she find relief.
As his Qi surged, a voice emerged from the darkness.
“It has been a while, Flaming Fist.”
A man stood cloaked in shadow. The Second Elder gritted his teeth upon recognizing him.
“…Why are you here?”
“I didn’t expect you to be present.”
“You bastard!”
The Second Elder’s roar shook the very earth. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground. His body, hard as steel, seemed to expand, radiating such intense heat that even Gu Huibi, a practitioner of Flame Arts, felt scorched.
“I could have sworn you promised never to show your disgusting face again.”
The man was silent for a moment, then smiled. “Oh, that little promise? I decided to break it. I have far too many tasks at hand.”
“…What did you say?”
Ignoring the question, the man’s gaze swept the area with an air of indifference. When his pitch-black eyes fell upon Gu Huibi, his face split into a wide grin. “Found you.”
Not a single speck of light could be seen in those eyes. They were as abyssal as the darkness surrounding him.
Realizing the man’s target was Gu Huibi, the Second Elder unleashed a devastating punch.
Slaaam!
The single thrust of his fist altered the surrounding landscape, such was the power of a Fusion Realm master. Qi, superheated and immense, surged toward the man.
“Ugh!”
But before the blow could land, the man’s darkness erupted, engulfing both him and the Second Elder. The calamity had arrived with terrifying suddenness.
* * *
-But in the end, I wasn’t able to save Huibi.
That was what the Second Elder had told me before he left. His expression had been one of indescribable despair.
…The Palace Lord appeared on the battlefield?
The Black Palace Lord was notorious for never leaving his domain. He wielded an art that cloaked him in absolute darkness, a technique unique to his title. I’d only heard of it, never seen it.
But why Gu Huibi?
For the Palace Lord to appear in person to take her… such a thing never happened in my past life. The encounter nearly cost the Second Elder his life and prompted Father to leave the clan with an army.
I don’t understand…
This was a grave situation. I was operating in complete ignorance.
[Because of that, you weren’t able to ask anything.]
…It wasn’t the right time to ask.
As curious as I was about the Dishonored Venerable’s letter, the mysterious ring, and the Second Elder’s motives, the severity of the situation and the look on his face had silenced me.
And Gu Jeolyub as well…
I had also wanted to know what was happening outside, but now was not the moment.
It shouldn’t be too dangerous if the other elders make their move.
The real problem was that I was confined here, unable to act.
[Then why don’t you just leave?]
As Elder Shin said, I could break out whenever I wished. My Qi wasn’t restricted, and no physical restraints bound me. This was merely a temporary punishment, according to the Steward.
But regardless of their intentions, the fact remained: I had killed the First Elder. Until a valid justification was found or Father returned, I had to remain.
The formations the First Elder had placed in his basement were formidable. With the clan’s current strength depleted, breaking through them wouldn’t be easy, but I doubted it would take too long.
I wonder if they are doing fine.
All of this happened the moment I returned to the clan. I never even got to see their faces. According to the Second Elder, Wi Seol-Ah had been crying every day since. Though she often vacillated between smiles and tears, the thought of her crying incessantly worried me. Surely Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol were remaining calm? I prayed that was the case.
“But the problem is…”
Even if Father had left with an army, was he capable of finding them? My knowledge of the Black Palace was limited, and I had virtually no information on their whereabouts. The scraps I did know weren’t about the Main Palace, rendering my intelligence nearly useless. In my past life, I’d only heard that the Murim Alliance eventually destroyed the Black Palace.
What should I do…
I began to contemplate my next move. It was already midnight, but sleep was impossible. I considered training, but focus eluded me. As I paced restlessly, the charm attached to my waist fell to the floor. It wasn’t due to my movement; the string securing it had simply worn through.
Just as I bent to retrieve it, a marble rolled out from its small pocket. It had a scarlet hue.
“Oh, this is…”
I remembered immediately. It was the item Gu Huibi had given me, insisting I keep it on my person at all times. She’d threatened to kill me if I lost it, so I’d obeyed without much thought. I had completely forgotten about it until now.
As I reached for the rolling marble, my hand flinched back, stinging sharply. A trickle of blood welled from a small cut.
“…Tsk.”
It was a minor wound, likely sustained during my fight with the First Elder. I’d ignored it. Shaking my head, I picked up the marble.
“It looks expensive, even though she said she bought it from some random merchant.”
[Agreed. It doesn’t seem like complete junk.]
The marble was brilliantly polished, far too exquisite to be mere trinketry. After a moment’s examination, I moved to return it to the charm bag.
Ring-
“Hmm?”
[Oh?]
The marble emitted a peculiar chime and began to vibrate rapidly.
Vbrrrr-!
“What’s wrong with this thing…?” Worried it might explode, I considered tossing it aside.
But then, it emitted a faint pulse of light and fell still, as if nothing had happened. I stared at it, a sense of absurdity washing over me.
“…What did that crazy woman buy this time?”
She’d called it a lucky charm, but it was a vibrating marble. How bizarre. A shiver ran down my spine for some reason.
Clicking my tongue, I prepared to put it away again, but my body froze mid-motion. My field of vision had shifted dramatically.
“Huh?”