Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Discharged at Last
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After obtaining the ancestor's inheritance.
The family of the Shadow Cavern delved into the martial arts of the secret manuals with a vengeance.
In a way, it was to be expected.
After all, eight years of effort had finally borne fruit.
I didn't tell them that the original owner of the secret manuals was Bukgung Chusan.
For one, the martial arts collected within weren't even from the Bukgung Clan to begin with.
‘Martial arts that were stolen...’
I just couldn't bring myself to tell them our ancestor was a thief.
Besides, they were common property now anyway.
Also, there was one other thing I kept hidden.
The Seven Senses Path.
I suspected there was a reason it had been set aside, and after carefully examining the secret manual, I was certain my guess was correct.
The Seven Senses Path.
Judging by the title alone, it looked like a Daoist scripture, but this was a technique so incredible it could open a new horizon for the art of ki sensing.
Of course, ki sensing itself is a technique used by most martial artists—you, me, and everyone else.
All it takes is using ki to enhance the five senses.
But the Seven Senses Path was different.
It was a method of identifying surrounding objects or enemies based on the patterns of ki reflected after being projected outward.
It's easier to understand if you think of it as being similar to the sonar used in submarines.
Even the principle was similar.
Sonar detects reflected sound waves after emitting them, while the Seven Senses Path confirms the returning ki after spreading ki waves.
Having figured this much out, I couldn't hide my excitement.
To think I could pinpoint the locations of nearby enemies with just a small amount of internal energy.
Wasn't this truly a martial arts version of radar?
The Seventh Sense. It was worthy of being called that.
However, just as the spider-man's uncle said, "With great power comes great responsibility," the first page of the Seven Senses Path bore this very inscription.
[To learn the Seven Senses Path, you must risk your life.]
Well, isn't that a complete deal-breaker?
No matter how useful a radar skill is, it's still just a utility skill. It wasn't worth risking my life for.
Greatly disappointed, I checked the following verses.
[First, if you risk your life to learn the Seven Senses Path, the reward will surely not disappoint.]
Reward, my ass.
Who's going to take responsibility if I die while learning it?
[For you will be able to obtain the treasure I, the Flying Heavenly Fox, Bukgung Chusan, have amassed over a lifetime.]
...Maybe it's worth a try after all.
After all, martial artists are people who live with their lives on the edge of a blade.
I'm no different.
As I continued to examine the verses of the Seven Senses Path, I couldn't help but be astonished.
[...Thus, by exploding internal energy and converting it into force, then projecting it forward...]
‘This, could it be?!’
The secret method of the Seven Senses Path was identical to the War King Arts.
[If you are not a descendant born with the constitution of the Bukgung family, the possibility of losing your life in this process is extremely...]
This changes everything.
I was already using a force far more powerful than what the Seven Senses Path described.
Far from risking my life, I was confident I could learn it more easily than anyone else.
Lost in devouring the verses of the Seven Senses Path, I soon reached the end.
“What? This is it?”
I was soon bewildered.
It was because nothing else appeared.
‘Shouldn't there at least be something like a map?’
*Flip.*
I checked the secret manual several times just in case, but nothing else came out.
“Damn it.”
*Thud.*
Feeling like I'd been scammed, I carelessly tossed the secret manual aside, then immediately stood up.
‘Tsk, still, it was left by my ancestor.’
It's definitely not because I'm afraid of having nightmares.
As I bent down to pick up the manual, a certain phrase caught my eye.
[If you complete the Seven Senses Path...]
In that moment, a well-founded suspicion arose in my mind.
From my twenty-plus years of living in the martial world, I knew that for the people here, nothing was impossible.
Just look at Bukgung Baek; he created fire without gasoline. And there were rumors that the Great Pure Adept had pierced a huge hole through the middle of a mountain peak with his sword.
In a martial world where such monsters exist, would someone declare, 'If you don't know how to use the Seven Senses Path, you can't obtain the treasure even with the treasure map'?
‘No way.’
My ancestor, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, couldn't possibly have been unaware of that.
In other words.
‘He hid it inside the Dragon's Maw Cavern!’
It meant he'd arranged it so that only someone who had learned the Seven Senses Path could find the treasure map.
Having reached this conclusion, I immediately began training in the Seven Senses Path.
Because being able to do something and knowing how to do it were two different things.
Three days passed like that.
I became able to perfectly execute the Seven Senses Path.
It was an incredibly fast achievement, but also an expected one.
The Seven Senses Path was a ki sensing art that originated from the Ultimate Death Force.
The method of execution was simple.
You explode a much smaller amount of internal energy than for the Ultimate Death Force to create a force, then spread it out very wide and thin into the surroundings.
Since it uses such a minute amount of internal energy, it has no physical power to injure an enemy, but in exchange, it can stealthily survey the surroundings.
Having learned the Seven Senses Path, it wasn't long before I was able to find the treasure map.
*Clank.*
It was in a secret compartment, right behind where my ancestor had been sitting.
“...Seeing as you made me recover your remains myself, you truly had a plan for everything, ancestor.”
What came out of the secret space was a large coffin. The treasure map was inside.
The remains and the coffin.
It was a clear request to take care of his body in exchange for the treasure map.
I dug into the ground, collected the remains, and made a small burial mound.
It wasn't difficult at all.
Because in my hand was a treasure map showing the location where the treasure lay dormant.
I returned to my room and checked the treasure map, and excitement surged through me before I could even finish reading the first passage.
[I do not know when this map will be discovered, but if the Bukgung Clan has not been rebuilt, then some of the treasure in the repository should be used to...]
‘Don't you worry. I am the direct heir of the Bukgung family... well, not quite, but the disciple of the direct heir. I'll take good care of it.’
The very intention behind Bukgung Chusan leaving the treasure aligned perfectly with my own.
It was like destiny.
But as they say, life is full of ups and downs, isn't it?
I checked the location written on the treasure map and couldn't help but be horrified.
[The easternmost part of the Kunlun Mountains...]
“Damn it all to hell!”
Because that was the territory of the Ten Demon Alliance.
* * *
Half a month later.
After being seen off by the One-Two-Three-Four-Five Gang, I was discharged at the end of my sentence and immediately dragged to the Grand Chancellor.
“So, have you reflected on your actions?”
This was the Grand Chancellor who had sentenced me to prison for risking my life to uphold justice. For him to speak of reflection—what an utterly shameless bastard.
I suppressed my boiling anger and barely managed to answer.
“Oh, yes. I spent the entire month reflecting with tears in my eyes. Hehe. You can rest assured that nothing like last time will happen again.”
“...I find that incredibly hard to believe.”
“Hehe, please believe me. Your subordinate has truly come out a new man.”
“For someone who says that, you caused quite a big incident inside, didn't you?”
The Grand Chancellor pointed out the commotion within the Dragon's Maw Cavern.
“Ah, I was just about to tell you about that. Well, you see, the atrocities of those heretic bastards and demonic fiends had reached their peak. As a warrior of the Nine Dragons Fortress, I had to clean things up before I left.”
“Atrocities?”
“They were stealing others' food, of course, but also assault, murder, and the Ten Demon Alliance bastards were even worshipping a demon god in there. There was also evidence of human sacrifice.”
I explained with the humble posture of a senior soldier about to be discharged standing before his first sergeant.
I endured today's humiliation for the sake of the future.
Perhaps my efforts paid off, as the Grand Chancellor nodded his head in great surprise.
“Such atrocities... I suppose their innate nature can't be helped.”
“Exactly. It was a waste of the fasting pills that went into their mouths. I think we should take this opportunity to shut down the Dragon's Maw Cavern and execute them all, just like the Lion's Fury Alliance.”
“That is a matter to consider.”
The Grand Chancellor took a sip of the tea before him and nodded.
“By the way, you've handled a problem that even the Military Affairs Division was unaware of.”
“Hehe, it was nothing, really.”
“No. You stepped forward despite the obvious danger, with your internal energy suppressed. You deserve praise.”
“Ah, yes... In fact, I did face the risk of death several times. If anyone else had gone instead of me, they would have come out dead, nine times out of ten. Hehe.”
It was the pure truth, but the Grand Chancellor shook his head as if he didn't believe it.
‘What, this guy?’
I'm telling you, I really would have died if not for the War King Arts.
I wanted to argue right then and there, but how could I?
I swallowed my anger and just drank my tea.
“By the way, what is that?”
He asked, pointing to the bundle containing the martial arts manuals.
Since I might have to return them to the Fortress if their identity was revealed, I escaped the crisis with a prepared line.
“Ah, I took the time inside to organize the martial arts I've learned so far. I didn't have much else to do.”
“I see. Seeing you indulge in martial arts at every opportunity, you've truly become a proper warrior.”
“Huh? I've always been a proper warrior. Have you forgotten that the Killing Demon Mad Ghost of the Ten Demon Alliance met his end at my hands?”
“...I was under the impression that the Outer Hall Master killed him.”
“I just did all the prep work, and he landed the final blow. This is what you'd call 'kill stealing'.”
“...”
“Anyway, where are my belongings that I left in your care?”
“I've had them prepared.”
At his gesture, a servant girl brought over a chest as large as her own body, showing no sign of it being heavy.
I've thought this before, but I wonder if that's why the servant girls of the Military Affairs Division are so plain.
After all, female warriors who are both pretty and skilled in martial arts are rare.
“Check it.”
When I opened the chest, the clothes I was wearing before entering the Dragon's Maw Cavern, along with the Dragon Scale Armor and the Battle Lord Arrow, were laid out just as they were.
“*Sniffle.*”
Seeing them again after a month, my eyes reddened without me realizing it.
Just as I was composing my stirred emotions.
The Grand Chancellor's sharp voice rang out.
“Everyone, leave us.”
As soon as he spoke, the warriors and servants of the Military Affairs Division took their leave.
Even the presence of the personal guards protecting the Grand Chancellor vanished, leaving just the two of us in the office.
“You must have questions.”
“Yes.”
There were still unfinished matters between me and the Grand Chancellor, so I had been expecting this.
“What happened to the children?”
“We found half of them and returned them home. Even that was only possible because we found a hidden ledger.”
“...That's not as many as I'd hoped.”
“The personnel of the Intelligence Pavilion are focused on the Ten Demon Alliance, so it can't be helped. However, as the Grand Chancellor of the Nine Dragons Fortress, I cannot abandon our people. I've ordered a pursuit, so even if it takes time, we will find them all.”
I had to be understanding of this.
The children were important, but so was security.
“Understood. I'll lend my strength as well.”
“You are reliable.”
I threw the next question to the nodding Grand Chancellor.
“Did you find any evidence that the White Dragon Hall colluded with the Hwangju Merchant Guild?”
“We couldn't find it. No, it would be more accurate to say we couldn't even try.”
“Pardon?”
The Grand Chancellor met my gaze and said.
“Joo Gyeong-ryun, who we had locked up in the Military Affairs Division, is dead.”
“W-What do you mean?!”
“I don't know the reason either. It could be due to the injuries you inflicted on him.”
He lowered his voice and continued.
“Or someone could have planted a person within the Military Affairs Division.”
“...It seems the White Dragon Hall has made its move.”
“We cannot touch them without evidence.”
“But all the circumstantial evidence points to the White Dragon Hall!”
Out of frustration, I raised my voice without realizing it.
The Grand Chancellor looked at me calmly.
His sharp gaze brought me back to my senses.
“My apologies.”
“It's fine. I think the same way you do.”
He continued, his voice like that of a teacher instructing a student.
“However, I want you to understand that politics cannot even begin unless you have something that can hold the other party's life in your hands.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I could only nod at his words, which informed me that there was no way forward for now.
Because even the Grand Chancellor couldn't corner the White Dragon Hall without evidence.
That would be impossible even for the Fortress Lord.
However, there was one person who existed completely outside of such political mechanisms. My master.
“But it seems the Outer Hall Master thinks differently.”
“Pardon?”
“Three days ago, the White Sword Unit was attacked by an unidentified master on their way back from a mission. They were all brought back with serious injuries.”
“...”
“We can't confirm the culprit since their face was covered... but more than thirty witnesses saw the Outer Hall Master leaving the Fortress at that time. Thanks to that, the White Dragon Hall Master ran to the Fortress Lord to plead his case. His Lordship is currently ignoring him, citing a lack of evidence.”
“...”
It seems I'll have to buy him some expensive liquor.