Chapter 45: Lead the Way
We had reached the bottom of the underground.
Even craning my neck, I couldn't see the ceiling above. We'd descended so deep that no sunlight could penetrate.
Now, the only things illuminating our path were the torches embedded in the walls, flickering away.
A random thought crossed my mind: how many caves is this now? Places you might only visit once in a lifetime, and here I am hitting them one after another.
Even if wuxia and caves are inseparable...
Anyway.
The first thing that caught my eye was the remnants of filth. Food scraps were splattered everywhere, and small creatures like rats lurked in the shadows, waiting for their chance.
The cavern split into dozens of passages. It was a maze if I'd ever seen one.
A bizarre place where the wonders of nature clashed with the ugliness of humanity.
"They say if you take a wrong turn here, you'll wander forever..."
Tak Horak said in a voice that trembled just a bit.
"No wonder I feel so heavy all over, Young Master. It's awfully chilly down here—think I'm coming down with something. Can't we just head back once I'm better? Yeah?"
I didn't even need to step in. Sa Wol shot him a cold glare, and Tak Horak backed off on his own.
This was the Punishment Cave—a strange place that could strip even a Peak realm martial artist on the cusp of breakthrough of their confidence.
"Which way should we go?"
"Hm."
I'd figured the warden would come find us once we arrived. But no warden in sight.
Sado Gwang wouldn't just sit this out.
This Punishment Cave was firmly under Sado Gwang's influence. A schemer like him wouldn't let us waltz in unchallenged. He might even be watching from the shadows, using his knowledge of the layout.
"What do we do?"
Tak Horak asked again.
The Punishment Cave came with prisons, but it wasn't divided into neat cells like a proper jail. As the food waste suggested, the Divine Cult paid little attention to this place.
That's why these endless maze-like tunnels were dotted with people just scraping by, forming their own little societies.
And somewhere in here, I need to find Do Il Gwang.
Do Il Gwang wouldn't be hiding away completely.
Pa Cheon.
[What's up?]
Can you sense any presences?
[I can feel them.]
Pa Cheon absorbed energy to function, making him sensitive to qi flows. He might not match a true Super Peak expert's awareness, but if he focused, he could pick up presences. I'd just been too oblivious before.
Where's the strongest cluster of presences?
Do Il Gwang was the former Heavenly Demon. A figure like that wouldn't be alone. People flock to the powerful like moths to a flame, just as in the real world money draws crowds.
[Hm. The west passage.]
That tells me nothing.
But I had capable(?) subordinates for that.
"We take the west passage."
"Got it."
Tak Horak took the lead, with me and Sa Wol following.
The west passage was narrow enough for only two people abreast. We naturally fell into single file: Tak Horak up front, then Sa Wol, then me.
Normally, I'd be in the middle with Sa Wol guarding the rear... but I couldn't fully trust her with that yet. That's why I'd dragged the chatty Tak Horak along.
"Rumor has it the Punishment Cave inmates are like ghouls—they try to devour any newcomers. Of course, they've got restrictions that seal their martial arts, so it should be fine."
"Restrictions, huh."
"Yes. They slap on these seals and mess with their dantians somehow. Just trying to circulate inner energy brings excruciating pain. Force it, and you cough up blood from all seven orifices and die."
Tak Horak kept rambling on. Surprisingly, his chatter often held useful info.
"Still, these are serious criminals—top-tier ones. Having a spear would make me feel safer."
Unlike me and Sa Wol, who were armed, Tak Horak was truly empty-handed. He made a fuss, but deep down, he was honest and straightforward(?).
"Sa Wol."
"Yes."
She rummaged in her pouch and handed something to Tak Horak. His eyes lit up at the sight.
"This is...! A segmented spear!"
It was a rod that combined into a spear with three sections.
Whirl! Whoosh!
Tak Horak twirled it dramatically, then flashed a thumbs-up.
"As expected of the Young Master!"
"......"
"......"
The Tak Horak I knew wasn't this kind of character.
Anyway, we pressed on.
The narrow passage gradually widened. Somewhere nearby was a water source—faint sounds of flowing water echoed.
The tunnel split into three paths again.
[The middle one.]
"Middle path."
As we advanced, a space like a hub came into view. A bonfire crackled there—and
"New meat!"
"New meat?"
"It's new meat! Fresh meat!"
"There's a woman too!!"
A little over ten people huddled together.
Prisoners barely covering their vitals with ragged sacks.
"Fresh, so fresh!"
"Edible!"
White crust rimmed their eyes, madness gleaming through. They looked more zombie than human. But.
"Back—!"
Tak Horak bellowed. His qi-infused shout echoed long and loud.
The prisoners flinched in shock.
"I-inner energy?"
"They've got weapons!"
"Wardens?"
"B-but no masks...?"
"No masks?"
"No maaaasks—?"
Their surprise was short-lived. The ones who'd seemed ready to charge now retreated with sly expressions, faint smiles curling their lips.
"Just wait it out—."
"Kehehek!"
"Wait, just wait!"
I had no idea what they meant.
"These bastards!"
"Fall back."
This wasn't the time for Tak Horak's blind rage. There was a better way.
I circulated my inner energy to my eyes and fixed my gaze on the prisoners.
Conveying haughty disdain: You lot are worth less than inanimate objects.
"?!"
They jerked as if struck by lightning. No wonder.
Even outside, this "glaring technique" worked on Peak experts. On restricted prisoners? Child's play.
"Who."
I channeled authority, continuing.
"Is your leader?"
Their heads swiveled in unison. A filthy middle-aged man leaped to his feet.
"N-no! Not me!"
"It is you!"
The others shoved him forward. He sprawled at my feet.
"I'm going to ask questions now. Answer."
"Y-yes......"
"Where is Do Il Gwang?"
Not just the prisoners—even Tak Horak and Sa Wol behind me reacted with surprise.
Do Il Gwang was a traitor. Speaking a traitor's name was taboo anywhere, even an underground prison.
"Th-that's......"
The leader rolled his eyes. He knew. Something was just holding him back.
His influence reaches even this far in, huh.
This was near the entrance of the Punishment Cave. Yet Do Il Gwang's sway lingered. Even sealed, he was once the Heavenly Demon.
I spoke softly. No need for extra intimidation.
"Answer, and live. Don't, and die. That's it."
"It's just that...... uh......"
"Plenty of others can answer if you won't."
I rested my hand on my sword hilt, as if to draw Pa Cheon.
"Wait! I'll ta—."
That was the moment.
Pa Cheon cried out urgently.
[Presence! East passage!]
I knew the east direction at least. As my head turned—
Whoosh—something whistled past.
And.
Thud!
The prisoner prostrated before me toppled forward. His head had separated from his body.
It didn't end there.
Almost simultaneously.
Thud! Thud!
The retreating prisoners collapsed. Blood fountained from every neck.
Sa Wol had drawn her dagger, blocking my front. Tak Horak was a beat late but raised his spear to guard as well.
A masked figure stood there. A man with his face half-covered.
I hadn't meant to, but turning mid-motion, our eyes met by chance. A brief staring contest. Then.
"Y-you've arrived."
The masked man bowed to me. His mask bore a strange emblem.
"The warden?"
"Yes. I am Sang Tak, warden of the Punishment Cave."
Fitting for Sado family territory—he recognized and approached me. Quite the stutterer.
"I see."
"D-don't speak with the Punishment Cave prisoners. Th-they're de-demons that beguile people."
Sang Tak shook his hand. Blood splattered from it onto the ground.
Claw technique?
"H-here."
He handed me a mask with the same emblem.
"What's this?"
"The Punishment Cave is under a special formation's influence. This is a treasure that dispels it."
"What kind?"
"It weakens your qi and hinders true energy circulation. It continuously drains inner energy from the body, dispersing it into the air. Prolonged exposure turns you into an idiot."
I was fine. No issues circulating qi just now.
To drain inner energy, there needs to be an outlet to the outside. Mine was sealed shut.
In other words, my Heavenly Punishment actually freed me from the formation.
"Oh man... no wonder I felt so heavy."
Tak Horak clapped a hand over his mouth.
"U-unfortunately, we only have two spare masks."
Sang Tak held two masks.
"I don't need one."
"B-but this formation can harm even Peak expe—."
"I said I'm fine."
"......Yes."
"Give them to these two."
Sang Tak distributed the masks to Sa Wol and Tak Horak. Sa Wol donned hers without a word.
"Um... Warden, sir?"
Tak Horak raised his hand.
"There's something on the mask. That dark red stuff looks like bloodstains...? It's damp too?"
"A-acccidents happen from time to time."
Tak Horak grimaced at Sang Tak's odd words. Then.
"Oh, yeah! With the mask on, my true energy's flowing freely!"
His face lit up with delight.
For a Black Shadow Corps assassin used to killings and pursuits, he was ridiculously dramatic.
"I-I'll guide you."
Sang Tak gestured down one passage with an arm.
"Good. Then."
My next words made him stiffen.
"Take me straight to Do Il Gwang."
"......Pardon?"
"The Sado family oversees the Punishment Cave."
I recalled the faction charts from family studies. The warden was indeed Sang Tak. But his signature weapon was a sword.
"My brother never keeps the infirm around him."
Maybe because of his own disability. Sado Gwang never tolerated anyone physically flawed or defective. Not even stutterers.
"Nor does he have a warden who uses claw techniques."
"Ha, ha... S-sometimes hands get fast."
"Is that so. But to me, you look like."
Sang Tak—no, the man claiming to be Sang Tak—grimaced.
"A Baek family rat skulking with claws like a filthy mouse?"