I Hate Linked Quests: Seven Hwagyeong Masters
Seven Hwagyeong masters. Over a hundred Chojeoljeong experts to support them. Peak realm martial artists beneath them in numbers too vast to count. And finally, the elite troops from Dong-gu Wang's household and Gi Gangwang's forces. Even if moths drawn to the brilliant flame of the Sero Patriarch's tomb gathered in droves, they'd never dare plunge into the fire—not with this impenetrable barrier formed around it. To break through this wall, the Sero Patriarch himself would have to rise from the dead. Honestly, it felt like overkill. More than half of all existing Hwagyeong masters in one place. Grandfather, Dong-gu Wang, Gi Gangwang—fine, even throw in Jwa Do-eosa. But calling in Yangyang Wang, Hyun-seung, and Taegyeok Geomgong? That was excessive. Still, what could we do? It was the tomb where the Sero Patriarch's martial arts lay dormant, so we had to go all out. Slim chance or not, if some murim unaffiliated rogue snatched those arts instead of an official, it'd be a headache.
"They're here."
As Jwa Do-eosa rose from her seat in the command tent to prepare for the utmost caution, Grandfather spoke softly.
"Said they'd arrive within two si-jin, but here they are in less than one."
"Must mean they're that eager. Any martial artist would be."
Gi Gangwang and Dong-gu Wang rose from their seats at Grandfather's words, stepping forward. Wondering what was up, I didn't have long to wait before I stood as well. I could sense familiar energies approaching from the northwest. More precisely, one familiar human aura and five familiar beast auras.
They got here fast.
Jo Wi-cheo, bringing all the spirit beasts except Samshik. The rear guard who'd said they'd come later had already arrived. Impressive. He'd promised within two full si-jin at latest, but I'd figured it'd be right on the dot. Not under an hour.
How hard did they push?
How desperately had he used lightness skill to shave a two-si-jin journey down to one? Convincing the Jo and Jeong clans was one thing, but he was dead serious about the Sero Patriarch's tomb. Hard to fathom. If I were in his shoes, wedding right around the corner, I'd have stayed in Kaepyeong. No one could complain if I cited the marriage. Still, I tried to understand. It showed just how overwhelming and magnetic the Sero Patriarch was to martial artists. As a reincarnator, my mindset differed from a native like Jo Wi-cheo.
"Greetings to Your Highness Giwang."
As the tent's occupants poured out to welcome him, Jo Wi-cheo bowed deepest to Grandfather at the fore.
"Come in. With your wedding so near, it couldn't have been easy, but thank you for coming."
"I am an official of Daesong before a groom-to-be. How could I neglect the nation's affairs for personal reasons?"
His words made me flinch inwardly. If he put it like that, what did it make me, thinking I'd have stayed in Kaepyeong? Of course, only my heart twinged; the others nodded approvingly at his fervent loyalty.
"A true Gamchal Eo-sa. Your devotion touring the Central Plains with Han Un remains unshaken."
"If only the young ones today emulated even half of you."
"Don't push too hard. Injury to the groom on the eve of his wedding would be a disaster."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Jo Wi-cheo bowed deeply to the three kings' encouragement and praise. Seeing him like this, he was truly favored by the high and mighty. A little nudge from me, and he'd rocket up the ranks.
If this excavation succeeds, he'll get promoted for sure.
I eyed him with mixed feelings. He'd traveled everywhere with me, so his name was surely in the Emperor's ears. And now, as a groom-to-be, he'd volunteered for the once-in-a-lifetime Sero Patriarch tomb project? Promotion was guaranteed. He wasn't blind to it—must've steeled himself for the rank jump just to see the tomb.
The dead Sero Patriarch binding the living Jo Wi-cheo.
Whether Huainan King or Sero Patriarch, those era's bastards were all monstrous. Stay dead and quiet—why torment the living 1,600 years later?
The excavation team, with six spirit beasts at the vanguard, plunged into the tomb.
- Kkieak!Kkieeeak!
The moment we entered, Kkieak went berserk. Cold sweat beaded instantly—something felt off from the start. He'd just greeted the Shaolin folk amiably, wings fluttering happily. Now his eyes rolled back.
- Kki-ing!
- Kki-ong!
The largest among them, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, soothed him. At least the others, especially those two, were calm. If they'd rampaged, the Sero Patriarch's tomb might've become someone else's—mine or the white deers'.
"Yun. What's suddenly got it riled?"
"I-I'm not sure. It's not one to act up without reason..."
The big two calm meant averting the worst, but runner-up Kkieak throwing a fit was second-worst. No comfort there.
Something's here?
I scanned instinctively. Spirit beasts were capricious normally but diligent at work. If one freaked mid-task, there was cause. But odd—shouldn't all six react if something was amiss? Why only Kkieak?
"My lord."
"Hm?"
"That behavior. Like in Gyeirim, no?"
"Gyeirim?"
Jo Wi-cheo's words spun my mind. Gyeirim, Gyeirim... What happened there...
Ah.
Remembered. The anomaly in Gyeirim—some spirit beasts alone had gone wild.
Do-cheol.
When we found Do-cheol traces in Gyeirim, only Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i showed displeasure. In hindsight, qilin—king of furred beasts—and Do-cheol were nemeses, so the fellow furred deers reacted. Buong-i's calm? Chalk it to his sweetness. Not the point now.
No way here too.
I swallowed hard. Like Gyeirim, only some beasts reacted—this time, winged Kkieak. Did that mean a nemesis of the winged auspicious beasts lurked here? Which of the Four Auspicious had wings as king? Bonghwang, the phoenix?
Then whose foe is Bonghwang?
Chaos. No winged fiend among the Four Evils, right? Or did I forget one?
Damn it.
Head throbbed. Sero Patriarch's tomb was headache enough; adding a fiend made it worse. Do-cheol was freshly revived, thrashed by Grandfather. But a tomb-bound fiend? Who knew its age. Worst case, a 1,600-year veteran.
1,600-year pickled fiend.
Terrifying to imagine. Even a third-rate surviving 1,600 years becomes a monster—what of an already monstrous one?
"Gr-Grandfather."
"Speak."
I hurried to him, writing on his palm: Something like Do-cheol here.
"Hm."
Shocking news, yet he closed his eyes calmly—as if he'd guessed from our Gyeirim talk.
"Sero Patriarch had a nasty temper. No surprise if something vicious guards his tomb."
He opened his eyes, chuckling. Too nonchalant—stunning. He'd faced Do-cheol and qilin firsthand, even smashed the former. Not disbelief; he just figured even a fiend popping out was fine. Confident he could smash it too.
"Everyone, stay alert. Seems a millennium-old abomination lurks in the tomb."
"Oh, a yokai?"
"Can't say till we see. But with the beasts riled, it's no ordinary foe."
Gi Gangwang laughed, drawing his sword at Grandfather's words.
"Tombs and underground reek of yin energy—water's symbol too! So the yokai below's no different from water bandits!"
What nonsense is that?
Incomprehensible logic. Honestly, he seemed devoured by his own gimmick. Bashing so many bandits, he'd linked everything to them.
"What drivel. So Sero Patriarch's the Water Bandit King?"
"Character-wise, yeah—Water Bandit King or Sero Patriarch, same difference."
Dong-gu Wang's sensible rebuttal left Gi Gangwang pondering, convinced.
"Ani. Don't hang with those fools—come here. Can't face our ancestors if you turn out like them."
"...Yes, milord."
Amid the chaos, Grandfather called Yangyang Wang from near the other two. Imagination? But he seemed better off with them. Twisted by their influence over Grandfather's? Better the former.
- Kkieak, kkieak!Kkieeeeaak!
"Eh?"
Kkieak's renewed frenzy drew all eyes. Worse than before—previous cries mere displeasure; now choking rage and hatred.
- Grrrrowl!
- Skreeee!
From afar, dozens—maybe more—metal-scraping roars answered.
"All hands, draw steel. Chojeoljeong up front."
At Dong-gu Wang's—the nominal excavation lead—order, the team scrambled. Battle right at tomb entry. What a mess.