Chapter 123
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Descent into the Ten Passes
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Right beneath Tianzhu Peak of Wudang Mountain lay a vertical shaft so deep it seemed bottomless: Taiji Cave.
Mystic mountain vapors formed an ancient, auspicious mist, while frigid yin energy surged up from the depths below and spread outward.
The talismans affixed to the stone walls to ward off stray energies had their seals broken for the first time in decades, and the long golden chains draped across were finally drawn back.
“…….”
Beyond the golden chains, the cave mouth yawned into pitch blackness, like peering into the abyss.
No, it was undoubtedly the gateway to hell.
Yu Hyun stood before it, staring blankly at the calamity he had summoned upon himself before slowly turning his head.
The Daoists of Doctrine Hall, clad in their robes and murmuring prayers for his safe return under the Urgent Yielding Rites decree, along with the throngs of Wudang disciples who had rushed over upon hearing he was challenging the Ten Passes...
Damn it, you bastards come to gawk? Yeah, enjoy the show?
“Uncle, please be careful.”
“Grand Leader! We believe in you!”
“Hmm, Ten Passes, huh? I had no idea Wudang had training mechanisms like ours in the Tang Clan.”
“…….”
Nangong Seong urged him on with a worried expression, while Gido Shin chimed in with a voice that carried not a shred of actual trust.
And that damn Tang Sa-dog guy.
What the hell do you know, you clueless bastard? Training mechanisms?
Kids, I get that you can't come with me, but this isn't some training ground.
It's a vicious hellhole where you might straight-up die if you go in.
But he couldn't say that. These guys would lose their minds if they knew.
Especially Seong-i—he'd throw up both hands and feet in protest.
But... clearing the Ten Passes meant gaining Wudang itself.
And that wasn't all. Just one word of endorsement from them would pave a rock-solid path for his future.
It would be a huge help in averting the coming turmoil, and naturally, crucial backing when he stepped up as the Alliance Leader later.
Ah, but his feet just wouldn't move.
His dazed gaze swept over the gathered crowd before halting on one spot.
“Heh heh, er hem hem hem!”
“…….”
He wanted to rip the mouth off that old geezer grinning awkwardly like he might dash forward any second...
Clenching his fists tight and glaring daggers at Ok Hyun, Yu Hyun dropped his head with a heavy sigh.
Damn it, I'm an idiot. Falling for that conman's tricks again.
From what he'd heard last night, that divine relic belonged to Doctrine Hall. And it was something extremely important...
Then it hit him. He'd been played for a fool once more.
“…….”
Recalling that despair anew, Yu Hyun ground his teeth.
Yeah, I'm the world's biggest moron, and that old man isn't some eccentric genius—he's a silver-tongued con artist with a devious glint in his eye.
All that talk of honorary Wudang membership and earning their recognition by doing this and that? In the end, they just wanted their relic back.
He should've calmly weighed the pros and cons instead of charging in headfirst.
Who'd have thought he'd end up here, duped by frauds peddling talismans to scrape by.
“Ahem! You can still back out now.”
“…….”
Sect Leader Cheonghwa approached, impeccably dressed in his Daoist robes, and spoke up.
“The choice is yours, but no one will take responsibility for the outcome.”
“…….”
“The Ten Passes aren't to be taken lightly. If you wish, I can overlook this and praise your courage for daring to challenge the infamous Wudang Ten Passes—even now, I offer my apologies.”
His expression and tone brimmed with concern, but to Yu Hyun, it felt like mockery.
Even the masters of the Palgong Yi-gwan standing beside him with hands clasped behind their backs, nodding along, wore the same smirks.
Give it up. You? Don't make us laugh.
Even as he kept his mouth shut tight, their voices rang mockingly in his ears like ventriloquism, and Yu Hyun bit his lip.
Fine. I won't accept your empty apologies. And I'm not backing down either.
Now that it's come to this, I'll crush them thoroughly and flatten their noses.
I survived the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner's dogshit formations and mechanisms.
This little Ten Passes? I'll smash right through.
But remember this.
When I emerge victorious, I'll shove these sneers right back down your throats.
And when the turmoil erupts, I'll put you bastards at the forefront of the fiercest battlefields.
The places where others risk their lives and fret over you—I'll shove your backs without hesitation and send you straight into the meat grinder!
“Now then, it's time to go in.”
“…….”
Ok Hyun sidled up and murmured.
You wait too.
If I make it out alive, I'll break your legs so you spend the rest of your days fortune-telling. Count on it.
Yu Hyun stood rooted to the spot, steeling his resolve with repeated vows.
But his feet still wouldn't budge. It was just too damn deep, for one...
“Uh, at least a torch...”
“We can't provide that. Nor can you bring any weapons. The Ten Passes must be cleared using only your innate power, without tools or any other aid. That's the rule.”
“…….”
Son of a bitch, tell me these things ahead of time!
Yu Hyun barely swallowed the words rising to his throat and forced an awkward smile.
Ah, screw respecting elders and honoring martial seniors—I just want to smack that old coot once.
But now wasn't the time to make a fuss; it might not even fly...
“Whew!”
His resolve hardened, Yu Hyun exhaled deeply and stirred his vital energy.
As it spread through his limbs and torso, it seemed to cradle his insane anxiety, gradually calming his mind.
Let's do this.
It's not just about humiliating Wudang—it's laying the foundation to avert the future cataclysm.
Yu Hyun squeezed his eyes shut, then open, spun on his heel, and crossed the golden chains.
He shot a quick glance at those standing beyond, then plunged without hesitation into the pitch-black maw.
Whoosh!
The moment he vanished into the cave mouth, Cheonghwa turned a worried gaze to Ok Hyun.
“He'll be... all right, won't he?”
“Hmm, I couldn't see it perfectly, but the heavens of our Wudang touched that child.”
“Then?”
“Yes. He'll be fine.”
“…….”
At those gentle words, Cheonghwa nodded, looking somewhat relieved.
For all his bizarre antics and disruptions, Ok Hyun was unequivocally the head of Wudang's Doctrine Hall.
He alone had reached transcendence through divination in the current Wudang, and his ability to read the heavens was extraordinary.
He could confidently say his words had never missed the mark once, so it would be fine.
Still, if he truly passed the Ten Passes and emerged with Wudang's forgotten divine relic, what then?
Pondering the future filled him with frustration, and as he closed his eyes with a sigh—
“Gaaahhhhhhh!”
“…….”
A scream echoed from the cave like a haunting wail, leaving everyone slack-jawed and wide-eyed.
“Martial Uncle?”
Cheonghwa whipped his head toward Ok Hyun, hoping for reassurance once more.
But...
“Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha, Urgent Yielding Rites, Urgent Yielding Rites...”
“…….”
Ok Hyun himself was pale as a ghost, chanting invocations without even breathing.
Martial Uncle, you read the heavens right, didn't you? Right? Can I trust it?
Amid the chaos of this backstab at the critical moment, a certain fact flashed through Cheonghwa's mind.
That among Ok Hyun's countless eccentricities, the one holding absolute sway was none other than 'scams'...
“A-A-Amitabha, Amitabha, Urgent Yielding Rites, Urgent Yielding Rites...”
Chanting madly alongside him, Cheonghwa inwardly cried out desperately to the Primeval Lord of Heaven and the Great Refined Immortal.
* * *
Crunch, cruuunch.
With arms spread wide to grip the rock walls, cold sweat beaded on Yu Hyun's forehead.
“…….”
His gaze fixed on the floor below: a forest of spear-tips bristling with murderous intent at a glance.
And skewered upon them, a skeleton—or what had once been a corpse.
Fuck, if I hadn't spread my vital energy everywhere, I'd have been skewered the second I dropped.
He had no idea how far he'd descended, wall-running alternately until the floor suddenly dropped out with a clunk just as he neared it, and whoosh—those damn things shot up.
Along with that skull...
“...Ha, haha.”
Cold sweat poured from his entire body. What a thrilling start.
Fine, I'll inspect every damn thing you've prepared, nice and close.
Yu Hyun gathered his vital energy and heightened his inner sight to the max.
With eyes adjusted to the dark plus vital energy, the surroundings sharpened—not quite daylight, but clearer bit by bit.
Crack, whish!
A passage gaped beside the spear-tip floor. Yu Hyun shoved off the wall powerfully, twisting midair like a flying dragon to land at the entrance.
It looked insidious as hell. Yu Hyun stared into the passage, deep in thought.
Judging from the spear-trap floor he'd just passed, the Ten Passes had already begun. Something was surely rigged ahead.
Mechanisms and formations: devices crafted to block or assault intruders.
But formations and mechanisms differed slightly.
Formations maintained their effects constantly, while mechanisms triggered only under specific conditions.
In other words, they wouldn't activate without detecting an intruder.
“Hmph, taught by the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner himself, hailed as the world's best. Finding this crap is child's play...”
As he reached out to probe the entrance meticulously, Yu Hyun froze for a split second.
‘The easiest, fastest way to break mechanisms and formations? Smash 'em with even greater force. But that's beyond you, so hit the books instead!’
He recalled cursing inwardly at that response after asking because thinking hurt too much.
Back then, he'd died countless times to the Diviner's mechanisms, too weak.
But... now he had power.
Enough to smash through and move on.
If he had company, sure, he'd dismantle them properly—but he's alone now? Just needs to pass through himself, right?
“…….”
The infamous Wudang Ten Passes, which no one had cleared and had turned countless souls into ghosts.
You're just mechanisms at heart, you Ten Passes punk.
Grinning viciously with his decision made, Yu Hyun strode boldly into the passage.
Clunk, shriiiiiek!
The floor dropped, and needles rained from the ceiling.
“These crude-ass mechanisms! I'll smash 'em beyond repair!”
Boom!
His powerful stamping foot shook the passage, vital energy exploding outward.
Bang! Kwabang!
Every spot his foot hit triggered mechanisms with clanks, but they crumbled uselessly.
What dilemma? What dismantling?
Smashing's the best way!
Yu Hyun didn't slow his pace, bursting into mad laughter.
“Krra ha ha ha!”
After thoroughly wrecking mechanisms along the passage, he soon reached the entrance to a small chamber.
“Tamrang (Greedy Wolf)?”
That's the name for the Big Dipper's first star, isn't it?
The Ten Passes punk said ten gates, so what's with the Big Dipper...
“Who cares.”
Tilting his head briefly, he shrugged and reached for the door handle.
What mattered was whatever lay prepared inside that chamber marked 'Tamrang'.
“Big Dipper this, that—I've already decided to smash it all?”
Cheerfully declaring so, Yu Hyun yanked the handle hard.
Creaaaaak...
The door opened with a chilling groan.
“...Huh?”
Expecting something epic, he found only a lone table and chair inside.
And dim glow from night pearls studding the ceiling...
Scrutinizing the ceiling, Yu Hyun scoffed.
“Hah! Pathetic. Just an illusion formation? On me?”
A formation that showed hallucinations to those trapped within.
If he hadn't noticed, maybe—but now that he had, it'd be powerless.
Fine, show me what you've got. What illusions will you use to shake me?
Torture? Or memories of his mother's death?
Hmph! Bring it on!
Yu Hyun tossed his head arrogantly, and the stone chamber transformed into something else entirely. The formation had activated.
Sizzle...
“…….”
A grill packed with sizzling steaks oozing juices, and the table heaped with steaming delicacies...
Ah, that aroma, those mouthwatering sights!
Yu Hyun's eyes, locked on the food, melted into gooey longing.
Gulp.
Saliva pooled unbidden in his mouth and slid down his throat.
In that instant, one long-suppressed instinct broke free of his iron willpower and rampaged.
Damn this body! Stop it!
It's an illusion formation... illusion... damn it!
Against his reason, his body swept to the chair, hands blurring as he shoveled food into his mouth.
Ah, didn't see this coming.
What a sharp illusion formation. To amplify the gluttony of his original self, which he'd barely caged.
Crunch, munch, grind, grind.
“…….”
Stop stuffing your face, you gluttonous pig. Do you know how hard I worked to lose that weight, uh...?