Chapter 88
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Hiding the Moon Tribe
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Yu Hyun had subdued the warriors who raided the Moon Tribe's village and tied them up to prevent escape. He asked the old man Musong, who sat before him.
“Do you have a place to hide?”
“A place to hide?”
“Yes.”
At Yu Hyun's words, the old man fell deep into thought.
He had chosen him because those remaining in the Moon Tribe's lands trusted and followed him.
In moments of crisis, people gather beside someone reliable—human nature.
“From the situation, the other tribes have already turned their backs on the Moon Tribe. Haenam Island is as good as in the new sect leader's hands. Because I stepped in, the Moon Tribe is in even greater danger now. We must relocate before they arrive.”
“Ah…….”
His words brought back memories of the recent tragedy, darkening Musong's face.
“If such a place exists, lead the people there and hide. I'll handle the rest.”
“Yes? Handle it how……?”
“…….”
Musong stared at Yu Hyun, then widened his eyes.
“A-Are you planning to fight the new sect leader alone, for our sake?”
“One must take responsibility for one's actions.”
“But…….”
“It's fine. That's a matter for later. Right now, all I can promise is that they won't harm those left behind anymore. You'll be able to live as Haenam Island folk, just like always…… If not, I'll help you relocate elsewhere.”
“…….”
Musong's brow furrowed deeper at the steady words.
Yu Hyun meant every bit of it.
His masters taught that ends justified any means, so he should have ignored the Moon Tribe entirely.
But having intervened, responsibility fell to him.
If needed, he'd use his father Yu Seong-hwan's influence to protect them.
“In truth, the chieftain prepared a refuge for the tribe in case of emergency. Their raid was too sudden…….”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. There's a cave in the coastal cliffs known only to the Moon Tribe.”
“Is it safe?”
“Yes. The entrance can't be easily spotted from outside…….”
“Then that's perfect. How long can you hold out?”
“Not sure. Depends on the remaining food.”
“Good. I left a beast on the beach. It'll feed you for a while. Pack what you need and hide there with everyone—endure. I'll take care of the aftermath.”
“…….”
His unshakable demeanor should have inspired confidence, yet Musong's eyes brimmed with worry.
“I'm sorry. If it were just us old ones, but with women and children, we can't help…… We're imposing too much on our benefactor.”
“It's fine. Don't worry about it.”
“……Yes.”
Musong nodded limply, shoulders slumped in embarrassment and regret.
“No time for this. Move, quickly!”
“……Yes.”
Under Yu Hyun's urging—his voice laced with forced vigor—the survivors, led by Musong, began relocating to the secret spot.
* * *
The Moon Tribe's seaside cliff cave was a natural fortress.
Narrow entrance, but inside sprawled an underground chamber vast enough for hundreds.
Once everyone was safely hidden, Yu Hyun returned with the beast from the beach.
Musong gasped at the sight of it.
“Heavens! This is!”
“Why?”
“The legend was real…….”
“Legend?”
“Yes. Called the Eight-Tent Eel. Normal ones live three or four years.”
Yu Hyun cocked his head at Musong's words.
Far too massive for that lifespan.
“But this one's lived centuries, at least.”
“Centuries?”
“Yes. Passed down from my great-great-grandfather.”
“…….”
“Storms brought a colossal Eight-Tent Eel, wrecking fishing boats for days on end.”
“Ah! A sea monster.”
“Exactly. We dubbed it the Great Evil. Countless dead. The Moon Tribe tried catching it through history, but the spirit-like beast always vanished into the depths…… Heh heh, for our benefactor to slay it. Incredible. The chieftain would've thanked you profusely for the boon.”
“Haha, really?”
Yu Hyun scratched his head with a grin.
Fortunate. Saved the people, snagged their Great Evil by chance—might offset trespassing the sacred grounds later.
“You aid us so; words fail my gratitude.”
“No thanks needed. Just did what was right. This food should last days.”
“Yes.”
As Musong eyed the Eight-Tent Eel in awe, Yu Hyun gazed at the entrance.
Hard to find or not, complacency was folly. Once the search began, discovery was inevitable.
A countermeasure was essential.
“Elder, I'm setting a formation at the entrance now.”
“Formation?”
“Yes.”
An illusion array from the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner. Simple, but once active, invisible from outside.
Yu Hyun finished swiftly, then gathered Musong and the rest for instructions.
“This is the axis. If exiting, ignore all else—check this axis only. From beside it, three steps left exactly, then enter. Same for leaving. Slight deviation corrupts the array. Be cautious.”
“Yes.”
All measures taken, Yu Hyun departed for the Moon Tribe's sacred grounds.
Safety secured; now his preparations.
The Thousand-Year Spirit Tablet's spirit energy remained unrefined. Unknown conflicts loomed—melt and polish it swiftly.
Unchecked power menaced self and others alike.
Spirit energy especially differed from internal energy.
Pure, primal force of nature demanded meticulous handling.
Unlike martial artists' qi cultivation, the Spirit Heart Core Method mimicked spirit beasts' inner core formation.
First: Returning to Yu Clan Manor, reforging heart as core.
Second: Ingesting Child Ginseng, constitution shift to wield spirit energy freely—Spirit Awakening.
Now, third.
Spirit energy suffusing every fiber, flowing unhindered—Spirit Transformation.
Previous life reached Awakening.
No spirit beast surplus; Transformation and beyond mere theory.
Untraveled path demanded utmost care.
Yu Hyun closed his eyes slowly, delving inward to caress the spirit energy coursing through him.
Toward the next stage……
* * *
Thud thud thud thud!
A cavalcade of riders galloped in formation, two outpacing the rest at the fore.
Nangong Seong and Gye Du-sin.
Righteous Alliance envoys to Haenam Island, they met the new sect leader at once, locating Gok Ja-heon in qi deviation per Yu Hyun's request.
No oddities noted, they awaited Yu Hyun—until the new leader struck the Moon Tribe.
A Return Tribe leader's report, pretext of rebel subordinates.
Beyond their purview, they could only watch.
Anxiety gnawed: Yu Hyun, departed far earlier to aid the Moon Tribe.
Covert action barred disclosure.
Stranded at Haenam Sect's guest hall, they fretted.
Rebellion crushed swiftly; chieftain and warriors carted to Oji Mountain's main base.
Spotting Yang Hyo from the procession deepened worries.
No Yu Hyun.
Eager to probe, query his fate—but Moon Tribe traitors under iron guard, probe internal.
Excluded and restless, then the incident.
A warrior dispatched for remnants returned terror-stricken.
His report named Yu Hyun.
Righteous Alliance Latent Dragon Captain Yu Hyun.
The attacker named him outright.
Details withheld, motive for assaulting Haenam warriors unknown. Position compromised regardless.
Thus, they raced with bamboo-slip warriors dispatched by the new sect leader to assess.
“Beyond that beach lies Sama, Moon Tribe territory.”
Nangong Seong nodded grimly at the bamboo-slip warrior leader Bang Hae-gun's curt tone.
Days later, blood reek lingered amid strewn corpses……
Grimmer than imagined; he frowned, yet Yu Hyun dominated his thoughts.
If Yu Hyun struck Haenam warriors for the Moon Tribe, what then? Gye Du-sin?
Judgment eluded.
Personally, back Yu Hyun—but stakes loomed large.
Linked to rebellion, new leader's ire inevitable; Yu Hyun culpable.
Nangong Seong sized the dozen escorts.
Sect leader's personal guard……
Aura bespoke prowess. Leader Bang Hae-gun formidable.
Even sword aura veteran Nangong Seong couldn't gauge him.
Combat here? Yu Hyun plus aid wouldn't suffice.
Damn……
Mind tangled, horses rounded the beach into Sama's approach.
“Huh?”
Entering the charred village gate, Nangong Seong yanked the reins instinctively.
All did.
Neigh! Whinny……
Horses halted sharply; riders gaped speechless.
Nineteen knelt, hands bound behind, heads bowed: Haenam Sect remnant-hunters.
Behind, lounging on a roadside rock like he'd awaited them……
“Uncle?”
“Captain?”
Nangong Seong and Gye Du-sin muttered, exchanging glances.