Chapter 316: The Dragon's Diary (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 316: The Dragon's Diary (7)
The room was steeped in darkness, save for a single candle whose flickering light fought a losing battle against the gloom.
Dribble.
Two teacups sat before me.
With a practiced, graceful motion, the old man filled them slowly, the fragrant steam rising to fill the air. It was a scent I didn't recognize, something new. It carried a sweetness that even surpassed the famed Celestial Plum Blossom tea of Mount Hua.
As I breathed it in, a voice whispered directly into my mind.
-…I have never been more speechless in my life.
It was the Sleeping Dragon, seated beside me. Why was he complaining so much?
-What?
-You have no shame. Absolutely none.
He was still bitter about me selling him out earlier. I met his gaze, my expression completely devoid of guilt.
-You’d have done the same thing in my position, and you know it.
-How can you say that? We barely know each other. I am not that kind of person.
Yeah, right.
I was fooled by you countless times in my past life. I know exactly what kind of person you are.
Selling out a friend? It was a move I learned from the master himself—the Sleeping Dragon. Whenever Moyong Hi-ah caught us scheming, he was always the first to bail, throwing me under the carriage without a second thought. He did the same whenever the Celestial Sword flew into a rage. That bastard would have done the exact same thing here.
-Who cares? It didn’t even work. Don’t be so narrow-minded.
-…Now I’m certain. You are a crazy bastard.
-Yeah, reverse card.
-…
Crack.
I heard the distinct sound of the Sleeping Dragon grinding his teeth. He was seething, and I braced for an outburst.
“It seems you two have much to discuss.”
Our telepathic conversation cut off abruptly at the voice of the Qinghai Sword sitting across from us. He had noticed our silent exchange.
The Qinghai Sword took a slow sip of his tea and let out a soft sigh.
Sigh.
“I am unsure whether to be impressed that two students can converse telepathically, or to punish you for the discourtesy.”
Telepathic communication required an extreme level of Qi control, a feat typically possible only for those at the Peak Realm. For two students to use it so casually was indeed surprising—though, frankly, I wasn't surprised at all.
“The tea before you is made from willow leaves,” the Qinghai Sword said. “I grow them myself.”
So that was it. It seemed gardening was one of his hobbies.
“Try it. I believe you will find it agreeable.”
Sip.
Following his suggestion, I took a sip. The tea was hot, but that was nothing to me. I could conjure flames in my palm; a little heat was trivial. The taste, however, was quite pleasant—a slightly sour yet sweet flavor, reminiscent of green plum tea, but even sweeter. As the warmth spread through my body, warding off the chill of the night…
Tap.
The Qinghai Sword gently set his cup down.
“I will ask you now.”
The relaxed atmosphere instantly tightened.
“What were you doing down there?”
“…”
He was direct, cutting straight to the point. That sharpness was fitting for one of the Five Great Swordsmen of the Central Plains.
Fuck.
I hadn't expected things to turn out like this. If that memory from the past hadn't caused a scene, I could have slipped away cleanly.
Sigh.
My mind raced. Nothing ever went smoothly for me. What would have happened if Elder Shin hadn't intervened? Nothing good, that was certain. I didn't know what that memory intended, but judging by how the very space around me began to crumble, I would have been severely injured, if not worse, without his help.
And why is this old man so silent now?
Ever since Elder Shin used his mysterious power to save me and the Qinghai Sword dragged me here, I’d been calling out to him mentally, but there was no response. Had he fallen asleep again? Was he even awake before?
The Qinghai Sword.
Tsk.
I glanced at him, searching for a way out, but his strange, white pupils were fixed on me. He wasn't going to let this go easily. And I couldn't blame him; in his position, I wouldn't either.
Steadying my breath, I answered. “I was looking for a secret vault.”
There was no point in making flimsy excuses. Lying would only dig a deeper hole. Since things had escalated, I had to face them head-on.
“A secret vault?”
“Yes.”
The Qinghai Sword’s expression turned peculiar. Of course it would. My statement implied two things: that a secret vault existed beneath the Heavenly Dragon Academy, and that a junior like me knew about it.
But this is only the beginning.
I had asked the Sword Queen for help, but I’d prepared a backup plan for a situation exactly like this. I just didn't know if it would work.
As I frantically calculated my next move, the Qinghai Sword pressed on. “If such a vault truly exists here, how did you come to know of it?”
It was the expected question. Slowly, I reached into my pocket and produced a token.
“This is…?”
The Qinghai Sword’s eyes widened slightly at the sight. It was the First Class Beggar’s Pass—a symbol of the Beggar’s Sect Leader, given to me by the Immortal Healer. I had shown it to the Beggar King once before. I’d always wondered when I might use it again.
…Will this work?
My reason for showing it was simple: I was implying that I received the information from the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect. Of course, that wasn't true. Even if the Qinghai Sword could verify it with the leader, I could always claim I heard it from another high-ranking member. But if that failed?
Then I was simply fucked.
If I’d truly considered the worst-case scenario, I never would have gone looking for the vault in the first place.
“…A First Class Beggar’s Pass,” the Qinghai Sword murmured.
“That’s correct.”
“Did the leader grant this to you personally?”
“I cannot answer that.”
“You are not in a position to refuse to answer.”
“I am aware. Nevertheless, I cannot answer.”
“…”
I was essentially telling him he’d have to torture me for the truth. I feared he might, but I had no better option. Any further explanation would only entangle me further.
“Fine. Set aside how you obtained the information. What did you see inside this vault?”
“There was nothing in it.”
“Ha… Nothing, you say?”
It was an obvious lie. I’d nearly died in there precisely because something was happening. What frustrated me more was that I hadn't even managed to properly search the place or take a single treasure. But I couldn't let that frustration show.
The secret vault is closed now.
I checked later; the entrance the Sleeping Dragon and I used had vanished. The formation surrounding it had also disappeared without a trace, as if it never existed.
Was it the power of that memory?
Did he erase the vault after failing to implode it? If so, it's possible the vault itself was a fabricated space. The entrance was real, and the Sleeping Dragon remembered it, so it wasn't entirely an illusion. But that entity didn't just create a space—he stopped time within it. Could that even be considered martial arts?
Elder Shin said it was Yeon Il-Cheon’s power.
If he could do that, was he even human anymore?
And how did we escape?
According to the Sleeping Dragon, shortly after I vanished, he sat down, yawned, and then blinked to find himself outside with me lying unconscious behind him.
In terms of external time, barely ten seconds had passed.
But my conversation with the memory felt much longer. That confirmed time within the room was distorted, stopped. As long as what I experienced wasn’t just an illusion.
Should I be grateful? I did have proof it wasn't an illusion, right on my arm—though it was hidden from the Qinghai Sword's view by a cloth wrapping.
“As you heard from the Sleeping Dragon, I didn’t have time to search for anything,” I said, deciding to use the time discrepancy to my advantage. Only I had experienced the stretched moments inside. It was a gamble, banking on the Qinghai Sword believing the Sleeping Dragon's account. Personally, I wouldn't have believed him. I'd have beaten the truth out of him, but that's just my way.
“…So you lost consciousness immediately upon entering.”
“Yes.”
It wasn't a convincing story. Who would believe it?
“So you entered the Heavenly Dragon Academy already aware of the vault beneath it?”
“Yes.”
There was no point denying it now.
The Qinghai Sword fell silent, deep in thought.
“…Since an unknown secret vault was discovered beneath the academy, I must report this incident to the Murim Alliance.”
He sighed before continuing. “Your punishment will be decided after I confer with them.”
Could I be suspended? Worse, I might face interrogation by the Murim Alliance.
I doubt they’ll go that far, though. They didn't know about the vault either, so they'd likely want to keep this quiet. Their main concern would be what was inside. Even if they interrogated me, I took nothing. And if they can't even find the vault, it becomes a minor issue.
“I will also send a letter to the Gu Clan regarding this matter.”
…Oh.
Now that was a problem.
If my father found out I caused trouble at the Heavenly Dragon Academy…
I’m fucked.
He would not let this slide. I was a magnet for trouble, but this time the consequences could be severe. Facing my father's wrath was a terrifying prospect.
“…Given the late hour, we will stop here. I will summon you both separately another day.”
Since it was already midnight, the Qinghai Sword decided to dismiss us for now. He also ordered us not to speak of the vault to anyone. The fact that he planned to call us back meant he wasn't finished with us.
Am I going to be suspended?
It was a distinct possibility. Honestly, a suspension wouldn't be the worst thing, but I still had unfinished business at the academy, even after the vault. I still needed to deal with Jang Seonyeon and Cheol Jiseon.
As I pondered this, I noticed something.
His hand looks strange.
The Qinghai Sword’s hand was wrapped in cloth, but something about it seemed off. I couldn't see it clearly, but I sensed an abnormality, though I couldn't pinpoint what.
“You may both leave now.”
While I was observing his hand, he dismissed us. I had expected more questioning, but he let us go surprisingly easily.
How should I put it… He doesn’t seem to be in the best condition.
Perhaps his weary voice and exhausted demeanor were why he ended the session early. Outwardly, he appeared the same, but I sensed a difference.
Pushing my thoughts about him aside, I stood up. For now, I was free, and I had to appreciate that small mercy. After bowing respectfully alongside the Sleeping Dragon, I left the building.
“You’re here.”
The Sword Queen was waiting for me the moment I stepped outside. She had been there all along.
The Sleeping Dragon started slightly at her presence, then shot me a curious look. “I shall take my leave first,” he said, addressing the Sword Queen. He seemed to understand she had business with me. It would have been logical for her to stop him, to prevent rumors about our connection, but she didn't bother.
This woman… What is she going to do if people find out?
Once the Sleeping Dragon was gone, the Sword Queen began walking without a word, and I followed. She seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. Soon, we were back on the path where we had first met.
“Uh…”
“We have matters to discuss, do we not?”
“Could it perhaps wait until tomorrow? It is rather late.”
Her expressionless stare was answer enough—there would be no delay. She had stalled the Qinghai Sword at my request, and now she expected her payment: the Stone of Mount Hua that was supposedly inside the vault.
“As I said, I didn’t have time to retrieve anything from the vault.”
The Stone of Mount Hua, my ass. I was nearly crushed to death when that space collapsed.
“I apologize, Sword Queen, but—“
“Arm.”
Her terse command made me flinch.
“Roll up your sleeve.”
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue inwardly. She was far too certain. It seemed I was already caught.
“Sword Queen.”
“You may deceive the Qinghai Sword, but not me. Especially not when my eyes have blossomed with plum flowers.”
The heavy scent of plum blossoms was radiating from my arm. She had noticed it. I’d tried my best to conceal it, but apparently, I’d failed.
“…This isn’t the Stone of Mount Hua.”
“Roll it up.”
With a sigh, I complied. Her serious tone brooked no argument. I revealed the object bound to my arm.
“…”
The Sword Queen was speechless upon seeing it.
As I’d said, it wasn't a stone. It didn't look like one, nor did it feel like one. The object glowed with a soft pink light, wrapped around my arm like a silken bandage.
I don't think it felt like this originally.
When Elder Shin controlled my body, I had grabbed it in the vault, and it felt more like a large marble then. But when I woke up, it had transformed, clinging to my arm like a second skin. And why my left arm, when I'm right-handed? For some reason, that annoyed me immensely.