Beneath the Nine Springs (1)
Song Hyeon led the infiltration team into a blind spot beyond the gaze of the yellow-robed guards atop the watchtowers.
But they couldn't evade those lofty watchtowers forever.
Sticking to the streets would eventually expose them to the guards' eyes.
They'd only just slipped Chang'an's security net by using a stray cat prowling the alleys. Avoiding the watchtowers' sightlines was now paramount.
First, to that place.
The spot Song Hyeon guided them to was an inn.
"Brothel last time, inn this time?"
Wang Yi Sam muttered with a shrug.
But rather than weaving through the inn's corridors to the kitchen and out the back door, Song Hyeon cut straight across and exited via the rear?
"Huh? If we're just passing through, why bother entering?"
"Streets risk detection."
Seo Baek had already pieced together Song Hyeon's ploy and answered calmly.
Song Hyeon kept at it, slipping into buildings and emerging from back doors.
When no suitable structure lay along the route, he tucked them into the deepest shadows of narrow alleys.
Their pace slowed dramatically compared to roof-hopping.
Yet the payoff was immense.
"Slower, yes—but threading watchtower blind spots. No more spotting from up there."
"If true, that's something."
Wang Yi Sam trusted Seo Baek's word like iron; he couldn't deny Song Hyeon's method, skepticism be damned.
Soon, as the team ducked into a manor, Song Hyeon spoke.
"Here we are. This manor's the goal."
"……!"
The team fell silent, but awe flickered in their eyes.
A mural map, replicating ancient Chang'an's layout.
Song Hyeon hadn't glanced at it since infiltrating. Yet he'd shaken pursuers and delivered them safely?
Worthy indeed of Shaolin's abbot naming him infiltration leader!
Mu Hye, standing in as deputy, said,
"With Donor Song Hyeon, my heart eases. Wise to send Donor Yu So Un to Yunnan."
"World's crumbling—we'd drag him from hell if needed. Heh heh heh."
"Amitabha."
As Mu Hye and Yi Gang traded barbs, Wang Yi Sam whispered to Seo Baek.
"That directionless fool strikes out in Yunnan, yet claims the credit?"
"Thanks to him, we linked up in Sichuan—you, me, So Un hyung."
"Damn fool's luck is filthy good."
Wang Yi Sam snorted—then jolted, catching his own words.
For a Murim lifer like him, top wasn't arts, cash, sect, or bloodline.
Luckiest bastard ruled the jianghu!
So Yu So Un—the ultimate jianghu man by his metric?
Irked, Wang Yi Sam spat,
"Tch. Even bears tumble well."
"Better than no talent at all."
"What?"
Wang Yi Sam glared; Ju Eun-ri feigned chatting with Chorang.
The manor predated the revenant scourge in its abandonment—no wanderers lurked. Eerier for it.
The team trailed Song Hyeon to a secluded building.
Long corridor, sharp turn—basement stairs emerged.
Wooden steps, mold-bloomed and rotting from neglect.
Even sure-footed infiltrators struggled for silence.
Creak. Creak. Squeak. Squeak.
Down they went, single file behind Song Hyeon.
Dim corridor ahead; lone door to the left.
"Here."
No pause for steeling nerves—Song Hyeon flung it open.
Worrying unseen threats? Wasted breath. Boldness incarnate.
Yet unflappable Song Hyeon frowned.
Expected gateway to Seo Bul's city: dead-end room, walls sealing three sides.
Bare save one wardrobe, flush against the wall.
"Déjà vu, heh heh heh."
Yi Gang's quip drew frowns from Song Hyeon and Yu So Un.
Wang Yi Sam prodded.
"What's the fuss?"
"Black Wolf Castle infiltration—same setup. Wardrobe held..."
Song Hyeon wrenched it open; eyes sharpened across the team.
"A revenant's severed head."
As Yu So Un said—a lone head nestled within.
Official's hat from life? Face shriveled like deadwood, ancient death.
Uncanny: fifties man's features, yet philtrum and chin baby-smooth—no stubble scars.
Wang Yi Sam muttered,
"Eunuch vibe."
"Black Wolf Castle's was eunuch Park Hwang."
Song Hyeon eyed Ju Eun-ri.
"Chicken blood."
Pouch in hand, he approached.
"Revenants crave human blood. Black Wolf talismans born of it."
Uncorked, tilted gingerly over the head.
"Yet spirit chicken blood stirs them too. Inferior to human—like talismans' bite."
Drip. Drip. Drops traced nose bridge, soaked face.
Instantly, head—no, revenant—eyes flew wide.
Kweeeek...
Shriek rent air; eyes whirled, locked on the team.
"Who're you lot?"
"Here to end Seo Bul."
Song Hyeon cut straight.
Severed, discarded in remote wardrobe—Seo Bul's castoff, surely.
Spot-on.
"Yeah? Heh heh heh—centuries' wait rewarded! Heh heh heh heh!"
Man's gravel tone, voice neither—eunuch wail.
As Wang Yi Sam and Yu So Un guessed: eunuch once.
"Waited for this day. Emperor's betrayer, immortality thief—arch-traitor! Revenge on my header, discarder!"
Head gaped, mad laughter; wardrobe rattled side to side.
Song Hyeon waited it out, then deadpanned,
"Done?"
"Uh—yeah..."
Cowed by flat calm.
"Who're you?"
"Me? Hwang Eom. Emperor's grand eunuch."
Ages cramped, lonely—stories poured unbidden.
"Served Qin Shi Huang. At his deathbed."
Every tale stunned.
Hwang Eom: Qin Shi Huang perished partly from Seo Bul's treason.
Seo Bul took treasures, three thousand boys and girls for immortality lore—vanished.
Rage rotted the Emperor to death.
Dynasty flipped; luck kept Hwang Eom eunuch.
Seo Bul resurfaced Central Plains, incognito immortality quest in Chang'an—rumor.
"Sent men hunting."
True.
Seo Bul: revenant immortal.
Underlings slew Hwang Eom's crew; revenantized him, lopped head, dumped Chang'an's fringe.
"Time passed—graverobber found me. Riches promised; like Seo Bul, ghosted."
Another eunuch later.
"But years silent."
"That eunuch honored it."
"How?"
"Mapped this spot on inn mural. We followed."
Nods rippled.
Song Hyeon's logic airtight.
"Yeah? Emperor's guards know duty best. Heh heh heh!"
Self-lauding laugh; Song Hyeon stone-still, then toneless,
"Done?"
"Y-yeah."
"Path to Seo Bul, then."
"Naturally. Hurry, though. Awaken Four Great Dharma Protectors..."
Sly grin fled; eyes terror-lit.
"Four Great Dharma Protectors?"
"Reviving dead Central Plains and frontier masters as revenants. His guardians."
"Got it."
"Think so? Blind fool. Not mere revenants—diamond indestructible, ten-thousand poisons immune!"
Mu Hye, Shaolin monks, Dang Ryong frowned.
Diamond Indestructible: Peak external arts harden body diamond-firm, blades rebound.
Common boast; truly Shaolin's seventy-two arts—one real technique.
Four Great wielding it? Shaolin mastery for any—unsettling for the monks.
Dang Ryong's ire twisted different.
"Ten-thousand poisons immune? Curious if survives Sichuan Tang venom."
Unrivaled Tang poison heir—mockery earned.
Then Seo Baek, unforeseen:
"One Four Great won't rise."
"What? Brat knows jack..."
Hwang Eom rolled eyes, dismissing as all first-timers.
Silenced next.
"Western caravan hauled their hero's corpse. Abbot and I returned it—one down."
"……!"
Seo Bul's grand scheme.
Unwittingly, Seo Baek uprooting it piecemeal.
Hwang Eom stunned; team introspected mute.
Sect pride secondary—halt revenant plague!
Reminder from greenest: Seo Baek...
Mu Hye:
"Amitabha. Donor Seo Baek mends my lacks."
Glanced Yi Gang.
Yi Gang caught intent, chuckled.
"Black Wolf test half-baked now. Hearts clear some days, fogged others. Kunlun wench once."
Mu Hye tasked: read Hwang Eom.
Focus tightened; smirk faded.
"What're you—"
"Quiet."
Then to Mu Hye:
"Commander type. Shares senses, thoughts—undetected by kin."
Nods.
Hwang Eom's intel source: commander status. Puzzle solved.
Yi Gang grinned sly.
"Hid something."
"What?"
"Chang'an folk immune to revenant taint."
Team recoiled, stunned.