Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Master (1)
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Rumble! Crash!
Two mountains came crashing down.
There was no rain, no typhoon—yet a landslide swept through the entire valley.
"Radiant Stream!"
Radiant Stream calling for help? Unthinkable. Even if the heavens collapsed, that wouldn't happen. And yet, it did.
He'd come begging for aid without even managing to kill Vanguard.
But no help arrived. As Chilryang Valley crumbled, he was buried along with it.
Buried here didn't mean just getting trapped under dirt. It meant getting caught in a storm of thousands, tens of thousands of hidden weapons.
Radiant Stream and the cleaners he led were annihilated.
"What the hell...!"
I was too stunned to speak.
From the moment I heard Radiant Stream had entered Chilryang Valley, I'd sensed his death. But partial collapses exist—you trap the enemy inside, destroy only the pillars between sections. The innermost person could survive.
Of course, even they couldn't escape alone.
Experts in mechanisms would have to dismantle Chilryang Valley for them to get out.
That's what we'd prepared for.
But Chilryang Valley collapsed entirely. Not partial—total destruction. That meant Radiant Stream chose full collapse. He'd sacrificed himself to break the formation.
What the hell had Radiant Stream gone through!
"Scatter!"
He ordered immediately.
With Chilryang Valley down, everyone gathered to breach the formation was useless now.
No full collapse of Chilryang Valley had ever happened before. But we had contingency plans—withdraw instantly, no looking back.
"Understood."
Replies came as withdrawal began.
In times like this, no one faults you for moving first. The goal: fastest, safest, stealthiest retreat.
Swoosh!
The group vanished silently, each heading different ways.
"It's Chilryang Valley."
Vanguard said gravely.
They'd heard rumors of a nearby wild mountain collapsing inexplicably.
Mountains don't collapse without cause.
They raced over and saw the ruined mountains.
The valley was a devastated wreck, impossible for anyone to enter. The path was severed, boulders everywhere—step wrong, and you're dead.
"Radiant Stream bought it here, right?"
"Seems like."
"Lured that Muyoungbi into Chilryang Valley... and then full collapse? Doesn't make sense. Means they couldn't catch Muyoungbi here either."
A month had passed since the tavern incident.
No cleaners or Muyoungbi had shown for Vanguard since.
They'd been here.
"Did Muyoungbi die here?"
Fox asked.
No one answered.
The whole gorge collapsed. No one survives that—no doubt. But certainty eluded them.
"This place wasn't made for martial artists."
Vanguard said calmly.
"Heavenly Annihilation Division has enemies everywhere. Tons of grudges. Could include imperial troops... so they made it to counter raids from officials or the jianghu. If Muyoungbi got trapped here, he couldn't escape."
"So killers are coming for us again?"
"Probably."
"Let's go. Nothing to do here."
Hanbi grumbled with a smirk.
Heavenly Annihilation Division had abandoned them—their deaths unchanged. Cleaners would come, but Muyoungbi wouldn't save them. Death loomed.
Just delayed.
Who could enjoy such a life?
'Muyoungbi?'
Most folks never heard of Muyoungbi.
No jianghu warrior bore that moniker. No such technique existed. No place or sect named Muyoungbi.
Utterly alien word.
Yet Vanguard's crew tossed it around casually.
'Muyoungbi... intriguing.'
Bone Awl grinned slyly.
"What the? When'd this happen?"
"Huh? Landslide?"
"This ain't no landslide. War break out here?"
Two merchants gawked at Chilryang Valley.
Merchants? Nah—short swords at waists, sharp eyes.
"Go in?"
"Nah. Lightning strike waiting."
"Yeah."
They chatted as they left, detouring far—originally meant to cross the mountain.
Crowds gawked at the gorge.
Whole mountains collapsing? Rare. No weather for slides, yet here it was.
Spectators: jianghu folk, civilians. Real traders, hunters—but mostly martial artists in disguise.
Sects dispatched warriors.
Couldn't uncover secrets from rubble, but rough intel was gold.
Some scored. Others left empty-handed.
"Muyoungbi!"
Zhuge Soso scowled at the name.
"Really Muyoungbi?"
"Gotta be. Beggar Clan intel."
"Who in Beggar Clan?"
"Big-Head Old Beggar was there by chance."
"Hmph."
Zhuge Soso grunted.
Big-Head Old Beggar—an elder. His word was ironclad.
But Muyoungbi? A legend, right?
"Muyoungbi's real?"
"Heh."
Zhuge Ming just chuckled.
No one in the current jianghu believed Muyoungbi existed. Nor the technique. If legend were true, he'd be invincible.
No way to strike what you can't see.
Attacks from nowhere, unstoppable.
"Beggar Clan'll be busy."
"Always are. More importantly... venue changed to Mount Huang."
"Safe travels."
"Wish you'd come."
"Me?"
"Father's gone... I should lead nominally, but you're better. I'd hand clan head to a woman in a heartbeat."
"What's this sudden?"
Zhuge Ming smirked.
Zhuge power flowed from clan head. All combined couldn't match his prestige—Soso came closest.
But no head.
Zhuges lost Mount Huang summit rights. Invite meant for Soso, not him.
"Fine. I'll go."
Zhuge Soso shelved Muyoungbi thoughts.
Should ponder deeply, but summit news scattered her mind. She rarely lost focus—yet did now.
Mount Huang summit was crucial.
Its decrees ruled the jianghu for a year.
Could decree "Hands off Heavenly Annihilation Division."
Then Zhuges couldn't act—no fights, probes, punishments.
Couldn't allow that.
Must voice at summit.
Thus... Muyoungbi slipped her mind. At a pivotal moment.
The traveler entered the temple grounds.
The temple was silent. No one to see passing by. All indoors.
A squirrel scampered up a tree.
The traveler strode past the sign: Silent Retreat in Progress—No Entry.
He glanced around.
No pursuit. No people, no beasts.
Still cautious, he scanned.
Confirmed alone. He slipped into the room swiftly.
"Heard the news—what happened?"
"Radiant Stream's dead."
"Hm! Foe?"
"Dunno details... Muyoungbi, they say. Absurd. Anyone escape Chilryang Valley?"
"Not yet."
The traveler slumped in relief.
Chilryang rush team couldn't investigate—they'd orders to bail at worst-case.
Others handled probes: merchants, herb gatherers. Unpredictable.
Someone always watched Chilryang. Probably now.
"Second pup dead... wonder how far the sparks fly."
"Shh!"
Traveler clapped hand over mouth, eyes narrowing.
The monk tensed too, clamping lips, gripping beads tight.
Beads could turn projectiles anytime.
Eyes alert. Ears perked. Senses razor-sharp.
Squeak! Scratch!
Rat crossed the ceiling.
"Phew!"
They relaxed.
"Jeez, jumping at a rat now."
"Never happened before. Chilryang collapsing... unprecedented. Rest well."
"Thanks."
Monk bowed to traveler, rose.
Monk released messenger pigeon.
Deep night, but bright moon lit it clear. Pigeon soared visible afar.
Monk watched, then shut door.
World hushed, peaceful—as if nothing occurred.