Treasure Hunt
I entered the vast cave and immediately began a thorough search of the surroundings.
Anyone hiding here would be a problem.
I deliberately ignored the treasure piles that loomed like mountains of gold and jewels.
“No one’s here.”
“It seems the thieves have already escaped.”
After carefully checking for any possible formations, we concluded this place was completely empty.
“Wow… leaving all these treasures behind and running away, that’s sad.”
“Judging by the single exit, it looks like they left before we even arrived.”
“Really?”
“I guess the assumption about the Murim Alliance was correct. It seems all the expensive treasures in the world have gathered here.”
People sighed in admiration at the glittering gold and jewels that caught everyone’s eyes.
Namgung Yurin quietly approached a large bookshelf.
“There are martial arts manuals too.”
The warriors and escort masters present all showed interest.
“Most seem to be mid-tier or small-clan techniques, but there are even some from the Five Great Families!”
“It’s a copy, of course, but it’s impressive. How did they steal this?”
“These books look quite old, so they must have been taken over several generations.”
Warriors valued the martial manuals containing their personal insights as if they were their own lives.
Small and mid-tier clans could be lax with defenses, but large sects worked hardest to protect their manuals.
Even when Yuseong was introduced to various sects, the places where they stored their manuals were always guarded by masters.
“Yuseong! Over here!”
Tang Harin’s shout while holding her pet’s leash.
Under the lively jumping spirit beast lay neatly arranged Heavenly Meteorite Stones.
And around them, more Heavenly Meteorite Stones.
“These are all Heavenly Meteorite Stones? That thief must have gathered them all up! Now I can make hundreds of needles!”
Tang Harin enthusiastically gathered the Heavenly Meteorite Stones.
There were countless treasures piled up in this cave, but right now, finding the Heavenly Meteorite Stones made Yuseong feel the best.
‘Even in Haowon, it was hard to get Heavenly Meteorite Stones, but they’re all here.’
It was more than enough for making one sword.
However, everything here was clearly stolen goods.
“What happens to the ownership of these items?”
Yuseong asked Tang Harin in a low voice.
She glanced at the escort masters near the manuals.
“Our… or rather, the Murim Alliance? Some might even be able to return to their owners. But this much should be ours. Since we found them, I think the personal reward for someone like me might be given too?”
Excluding Tang Harin, everyone here belonged to the Murim Alliance, but they hadn’t formally received orders.
The group lacked the ability to absorb all these treasures assumed to have been gathered by the Murim Alliance over generations.
Even though it was near Luoyang, they would need to mobilize Murim Alliance escorts to move the treasures.
Despite the complex relationships involved, Tang Harin’s words were correct.
Not just Heavenly Meteorite Stones, but other rewards could be obtained.
Right now, this moment, Heavenly Meteorite Stones were the best result.
“Perfect.”
“You really like Heavenly Meteorite Stones that much?”
A pleasant laugh escaped.
Holy power was sufficient.
With the sword completed, he could imitate a Holy Knight until he recovered his Dantian.
“These are all for needles?”
“No, these are for swords.”
“Huh? Swords? Heavenly Meteorite Stones are too light… Isn’t it better to make them from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron? It looks like he can make dozens of good swords by melting that…”
Tang Harin pointed at the split Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron with an admiring look.
The craftsmanship of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron door was excellent, but making it into a sword would be far more profitable.
Yuseong picked up one piece of Heavenly Meteorite Ore.
Heavenly Meteorite Stone was light.
Light weapons were never advantageous.
Swinging was easy, but without proper power, the effect was reduced.
In contrast, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron expelled cold energy, allowing for property effects, and the weight made it suitable for weapons.
It combined well with other metals, offering far greater versatility than Heavenly Meteorite Stone, which did not mix with others.
Of course, this was resolved by creating aura with holy power.
“I have an idea. Can I get help from the Tang Clan to make these too?”
“Of course! The quantity is huge, so it’ll take a bit longer than needles, but since it’s a request, I’ll nag you to hurry up too!”
Yuseong stared at Tang Harin.
“Well done, well done.”
Before he knew it, she had taken a dried piece of meat from her bosom and was feeding it to the spirit beast. When he stroked its head, the beast curled up happily.
‘If Tang Harin hadn’t buried the Thousand-Li Tracking Scent, we would have been in real trouble.’
People were supposed to say “under the lamp it’s dark,” but they had no idea that the Murim Alliance manual was hidden near Luoyang.
They might have had to live without needles until new Heavenly Meteorite Stones were obtained from Haowon.
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for between us? If you’re really grateful, how about having dinner together again?”
“Sounds g—”
“Except for Physician Cha.”
“Huh?”
Betraying Physician Cha at this late stage?
Yuseong imagined his sad eyes when he learned the truth too late.
‘But that can be easily forgiven.’
Yuseong answered readily.
“Okay then.”
The group, distracted by the treasures, returned to practical matters.
“I will guard this place. Return to the Murim Alliance and send people to move the treasures.”
One escort master suggested.
It seemed the best method.
No dangers were encountered on the way here.
“Then I’ll send people right away. Please leave it to me!”
“Leave it to us!”
If the woman they saw earlier really was from the Murim Alliance, her martial skills weren’t that great anyway.
An Ultra-Transcendental Master could easily handle her.
If she returned here in time, they might even capture her.
For now, they took only Heavenly Meteorite Stones and a few simple items as evidence and were heading out of the cave’s only entrance.
Suddenly, Godon raised his arm to stop the group.
“...”
While everyone held their breath, a deafening voice echoed from outside.
“There’s a cave here. Go inside and search!”
The cliff, whose formation had been dispelled, now exposed the cave entrance.
Loud footsteps entered the cave. Even considering the echoes, it didn’t sound like just one person.
The group exchanged glances and carefully retreated.
The cave interior was much closer than the entrance on the cliff.
They didn’t know who was outside, but they decided to return and assess the situation.
“Why, again—”
“Shh!”
Godon, who had quietly silenced another remaining escort master, spoke with a serious expression.
“We have no information about the opponent. Shall we block them here?”
Multiple people were pouring in without hesitation through the only passage.
They couldn’t rule out allies, but there was also the possibility of reinforcements summoned by the Murim Alliance or others.
Even though the group’s strength wasn’t weak, facing unknown opponents felt risky.
“Come this way.”
Yuseong’s words made everyone’s attention turn toward him.
---
A group of ten people was secretly moving through the night.
The group consisted of two living people and eight jiangshi.
“Control the jiangshi thoroughly. And find a place to rest.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Godon, the elder of the Blood Sect, watched his subordinate blow a flute.
He had deliberately chosen a deserted mountain path while passing through Luoyang.
It was still the time to secretly increase their strength. They couldn’t afford to be discovered by the Murim Alliance.
‘The King of Power’s attack failed, so the vigilance has risen. I must be especially careful.’
Insufficient funds and bodies of masters.
This mission was to secretly strike a weak spot of the Murim Alliance and supplement both with the two items.
As they passed in front of the cliff, Godon spotted the cave entrance in the cliff.
“There’s a cave here. Go inside and search!”
The subordinate led two jiangshi into the cave.
He had thought there might be a beast, but when the subordinate emerged and reported, Godon’s eyes widened.
“Treasures inside?!”
“Yes, the amount is enormous. There are martial manuals, spiritual medicines, and plenty of gold and jewels. Oh, and traces of a door made from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.”
“Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron! It’s definitely empty inside.”
“Yes, we searched thoroughly, but it was completely empty. It seems something happened because the door was split.”
“Really? Let’s go in. In case, place one jiangshi to guard the entrance!”
“Yes, Elder.”
A jiangshi, instructed to defend against intruders, stood firmly at the cave entrance.
A jiangshi made from an Ultra-Transcendental Master’s corpse had the ability to easily defeat even a Grandmaster.
Space behind the subordinate.
“Hahaha! Amazing!”
Godon couldn’t hide his joy.
Even if only the expensive items were taken, it would greatly help the Blood Sect’s finances.
“I don’t know what happened, but we should hurry and take only the wealth and leave. If we move quickly, we can transport it several times. Take this first!”
A strong jiangshi held up a piece of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron door.
The blue arm that was wrapped tightly in long clothes was revealed.
Evidence of the jiangshi.
But what did it matter?
As long as they moved the wealth to a hidden place before anyone came, and then slowly transported it to the Blood Sect, they would achieve even greater results without going far.
The subordinate was also running around busily and gathering the highest-value treasures.
Then.
Godon, who thought no one was there, felt an aura shooting toward him like lightning from behind.
“Enemy? It definitely wasn’t anyone!”
He hurriedly threw his body forward and dodged the blue thing. Since his back was completely exposed, it was dangerous, but surprisingly, the sword strike wasn’t threatening, so he only suffered a slight cut on the arm.
“Defeat the enemy!”
Godon shouted while pointing at Yuseong’s group that had emerged from the space where the formation was dispelled.
Ignoring the treasures, seven jiangshi of Ultra-Transcendental Master level rushed toward Yuseong’s group.
And Godon himself charged forward while raising Sword Gang.
‘Two Ultra-Transcendental Masters and one Grandmaster! I can obtain wealth and the master’s corpse all at once!’