The Mine's Imminent Collapse
The Five Beyond Heaven of the Central Plains Murim.
The supreme sect of the One Evil, Heavenly Death Evil: the Heavenly Death Cult.
Beneath the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Death Cult stood the Ten Great Kings and the Five Junior Kings.
Junior King Bochik watched the subordinate who stepped inside.
Click.
The man entered and prostrated himself upon the floor. Behind him, some twenty more appeared, bearing large crates.
The man’s voice rang out.
“I report to Junior King Bochik.”
“Speak.”
Those enormous eyes fixed upon the man looked ready to burst from their sockets.
Yet his voice, thin though it was, carried a sharp inner force that seemed to pierce the man’s entire body.
Head still bowed, the subordinate answered.
“As ordered, the Thunderbolt Sky-Shatter Bombs have been prepared.”
“You have done well.”
Junior King Bochik opened the crates set upon the floor.
An enormous quantity of Thunderbolt Sky-Shatter Bombs filled them.
A look of satisfaction crossed his face.
“With this many, we can bring the entire coal mine down, can we not?”
“It should be more than enough. These are the finest items, obtained in urgency from the Blood Explosion Sect.”
“Heh heh heh. If they are Thunderbolt Sky-Shatter Bombs of the Blood Explosion Sect, they can be trusted.”
Killing intent blazed in Bochik’s eyes.
“It serves our cult far better to erase every expert of the Murim at once than to obtain that item ourselves.”
Having seen the figures who had revealed themselves at Tangshan, he knew seizing the Cheonhwangdo Map would be no simple task.
And once he heard the rumor that Moyong Jeok was hiding within the coal mine, a fine idea had struck him.
If we bring the mine down, we can kill them all in a single stroke.
It was without doubt an excellent opportunity.
Bochik had prepared with all possible speed.
One hundred of the Azure Death Army lay in ambush at every entrance; now they need only wait until the people of the Murim entered the coal mine.
“Kwahahaha. An entertaining game is about to begin.”
Bochik threw back his head and roared with laughter.
“Climb the coal mine at once and set the Thunderbolt Sky-Shatter Bombs.”
“Yes, understood.”
Great numbers of Murim folk gathered at the coal mine.
Orthodox and unorthodox alike mixed among those who had climbed the mountain and now waited before the mine entrance.
Among them could be seen Namgung Jinwoo, together with Yang Hui under the escort of Cheong Yu Jin-in and Yu Jin Do-in.
Baekri So and Sanggwangeong had come as well, leading the Phoenix Dragon Unit.
And not only they—Murim folk belonging to the Hidden Pavilion, sent by the Twin Brains of the Wulin Alliance, had also joined the throng.
Until that very morning Yang Hui had intended to withdraw from Tangshan.
Even the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal who had come from the Wudang Sect to lend aid had been unable to prevail against Jeokbalgoein.
Had Uncheon not appeared before them at that very moment, none could say how the matter would have ended.
It was regrettable that their own strength had fallen short and they had been forced to leave Tangshan—yet regret remained.
Then the rumor of Moyong Jeok had reached her ears, and curiosity about the Cheonhwangdo Map had kindled anew.
She knew nothing of what the coal mine might be like.
Yet the moment she arrived, her expression darkened.
To seek Moyong Jeok they would have to descend the dark shafts into the earth below.
One glance downward, and revulsion rose within her.
“Young lady, will you be all right?”
“Ah… that is…”
Even the wind that sighed up from the depths of the shafts sounded eerie and strange.
She could find no courage to go down.
It was then that a mocking voice sounded behind her.
“If you are afraid, then withdraw. From the moment one sets foot in the Murim, one must be ready to cast life aside. If life is so precious, better to leave the Murim altogether.”
Jeokbal… goein.
She looked at Jeokbalgoein as he approached, red hair streaming.
Cheong Yu Jin-in and Yu Jin Do-in frowned at the sight of him.
Word that they had fought him and lost had already spread through the Murim, lowering the prestige of the Wudang Sect.
Worse, the renown of the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal himself had been forced down a full rank.
“Hmph. Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal—no doubt you wish to fight me, but not now.”
Cheong Yu Jin-in and Yu Jin Do-in conceded that this was no time for a duel.
Whirl.
This time Uncheon appeared before Jeokbalgoein.
“Nephew Uncheon.”
Namgung Jinwoo was the first to call out in glad welcome.
“Uncle, have you come intending to enter the coal mine?”
“That I do not yet know.”
“These shafts run deep. For Lady Yang to enter the mine would be dangerous.”
“And do you mean to go inside yourself?”
“Yes. Having come this far, I ought to search at least once, ought I not?”
As he answered, Uncheon looked at Yang Hui.
Her face was dark.
Unlike the first time they had met, her expression held little of her former confidence.
“Lady Yang, I know you wish to go in, but this time it would be best to wait outside.”
“…”
“Even if we find Moyong Jeok within, there is no certainty he still carries the item. There is no need to risk yourself for something so unclear. Wait outside.”
“…Very well. I understand.”
Uncheon turned again to Namgung Jinwoo and made his request.
“Uncle, it would be best if you waited outside with Lady Yang.”
“I shall do so.”
Baekri So and Sanggwangeong approached.
Seeing their faces again was a glad thing.
“Brother Uncheon, we will go in as well.”
“Then let us.”
Uncheon made no attempt to dissuade them from entering together.
Softly.
Now Cheong Yu Jin-in and Yu Jin Do-in stepped forward. Their expressions were no different from those of the two who had just spoken.
“Young Master Namgung, may we not enter with you as well?”
“Of course. Let us go together.”
“Our thanks.”
Cheong Yu Jin-in gave a light nod, then looked toward Jeokbalgoein.
“No need to mind me. What I dislike is the Sangcheon United Kingdom. If you wish to fight again later, speak whenever you please. I will fight you any time.”
“I shall do so.”
Uncheon regarded those who had finished preparing to enter the coal mine.
“Then shall we go in?”
Beginning with Uncheon, they moved one after another toward the coal mine.
Paeng Hu moved carefully alone through the shafts.
Before entering he had watched the throngs of Murim folk climbing toward the coal mine.
Hah. All of them gathering to find Moyong Jeok. Yet they will never find that place.
He looked up toward the location within the mine that Moyong Jeok had promised.
Already a great many people had gathered there as well, knowing nothing.
Had I known it would be like this, I should have come far earlier.
He saw someone enter through the shafts.
At once urgency seized him.
If too many Murim folk filled the tunnels, even if he met Moyong Jeok there would be no guarantee of slipping out again unseen.
First… obtain the item, then think of the rest.
Whoosh.
Paeng Hu moved swiftly toward the mine entrance.
Within the shafts the sounds of moving people echoed along the tunnels.
Fortunately, the direction they were descending was not the place where Moyong Jeok lay hidden.
There should be marks.
Raising his torch, he scanned the ceilings as he went.
At the junctions where the tunnels branched, marks had been left upon the rock above.
This way.
Paeng Hu followed the direction the marks indicated.
He walked so long he no longer knew how far he had descended.
No more sounds of people reached him.
Drip. Drip.
In the distance came the sound of groundwater falling.
Found it. Moyong Jeok is there.
Paeng Hu’s face brightened and his form quickened.
Past a narrow shaft, a space appeared where a faint thread of sunlight filtered down.
Where is he? We were to meet here, were we not?
Yet the man was nowhere to be seen.
He started farther in, searching for Moyong Jeok.
It was then.
“Keh keh keh.”
Paeng Hu heard a monstrous laugh growing louder along the shaft he had just traveled.
Someone is coming this way.
He had clearly been followed.
I thought I was careful…
Watching the red light draw nearer, he gripped his Curtain-Burning Saber tightly.
Gulp.
The instant the figure came into view, Paeng Hu drew up his inner force to strike.
Swaaaaash!!
As the figure emerged from the shaft, Paeng Hu brought the Curtain-Burning Saber down.
Water droplets falling from the ceiling scattered against the saber’s arc as it cleaved the air and the silhouette within it.
Yet there was no sensation of the blade’s keen edge meeting flesh.
Gone.
Only the fallen torch lay upon the floor; the figure that had entered had vanished.
Paeng Hu spun swiftly to guard his back against an attack.
But he could not stop the hand that closed around his throat.
Thud.
Held by the neck, Paeng Hu looked at the figure that had appeared before him.
“Where is Moyong Jeok?”
“That… I… do not… know well…”
Not only the grip on his throat but the killing intent rolling off the man froze Paeng Hu’s entire body so that he could not move.
Mun Gu looked about the floor where the torch had fallen and saw the remnants of food scattered there.
“You were to meet Moyong Jeok here?”
“Yes… that is so.”
“I ask again. Where has he gone?”
“I-I do not know. I myself was searching for him.”
“Is that so. So the wretch was hiding here. I shall search.”
Thud.
Mun Gu’s hand moved.
At once the Crimson Qi Flame struck Paeng Hu square in the chest.
“Ugh…”
Paeng Hu groaned under the blow.
“I have planted the Crimson Qi Flame in your heart. If I do not withdraw it before half a double-hour passes, that heart of yours will burst as it is.”
“…”
“If you do not wish to die, find him at once.”
Paeng Hu felt his own heart within his chest.
An alien energy writhed there, as though it might explode at any moment.
He lifted the torch and began searching the surroundings for any mark.
If Moyong Jeok had moved to another place, he would have left a sign nearby.
Mun Gu had followed Paeng Hu’s secret entry into the mine, certain at last that he could obtain the Cheonhwangdo Map.
“Hmm. Just where has this wretch… hidden himself?”
Mun Gu touched the refuse upon the floor.
Mm… it is not yet dry. He was certainly here.
He looked at Paeng Hu scanning the area and urged him on.
“What are you doing? Fail to find him properly and you die.”
“I understand. But we were to meet here… I truly do not know where he has gone.”
Wearing the face of a doomed man, Paeng Hu took the torch and moved farther in.
It was then.
“Haaah!”
Paeng Hu, searching the inner darkness, cried out in shock.
He had found a corpse lying upon the floor in the dark.
Mun Gu stepped to his side.
“It… it is Moyong Jeok.”
“This is Moyong Jeok?”
“It seems so.”
Paeng Hu reached to touch the body.
Mun Gu shouted urgently.
“Careful. He has been poisoned.”
“…!!”
They brought the torch close and took stock of the scene.
Paeng Hu examined the poisoned corpse again with startled eyes.
The entire body had turned black in death.
“Poisoning is certain. But… I cannot understand why he was poisoned here.”
“Stand aside.”
Mun Gu laid the corpse flat.
He searched every inch of the body, yet the item he sought did not appear.
“Nothing. Damn it…”
There was no sign of the Cheonhwangdo Map.
He searched again, but nothing that might be the Cheonhwangdo Map revealed itself.
Someone entered this place first, poisoned Moyong Jeok, and took the Cheonhwangdo Map. Just who was it?
Mun Gu’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Paeng Hu.
“Is there anyone else who knew he was hiding here?”
“Absolutely not. No one outside the Wall Heaven Unit knows.”
“Then…”
There was one figure most to be suspected.
The one who had taken the old man from the shrine was the culprit.
Just who… can move through Tangshan without a single person knowing?
Mun Gu no longer needed to remain inside. He was about to leave the coal mine when many footsteps sounded from the far end of the shaft.
They are coming this way.
Uncheon, who had entered the shafts, did not pause in the darkness but kept moving steadily on.
Behind him a great many figures followed, descending the tunnels.
Though branching paths appeared, Uncheon never hesitated, advancing as though he already knew the way.
Hmm… something odd here.
Jeokbalgoein watched Uncheon.
Uncheon had claimed the old man had told him Moyong Jeok’s location beforehand, yet his steps were as familiar as if he were merely strolling.
The others, intent only on finding Moyong Jeok, showed no suspicion.
They seemed to have descended quite deep.
“Cheongryu Geomhyang, is this the right way?”
“A moment… I think I hear voices. Listen.”
At Uncheon’s words, Jeokbalgoein and Cheong Yu Jin-in both drew up their inner force and focused on the distant sounds.
“You are right. Straight ahead.”
Jeokbalgoein overtook Uncheon and strode swiftly toward the voices.
Then Jeokbalgoein and the Murim folk with him emerged from the shaft into the open space.
Discovered.
Mun Gu and Paeng Hu saw several dozen Murim folk appear.
“You people…”
Mun Gu looked at those who had revealed themselves and found himself too flustered for words.
Thud-thud-thud.
Baekri So cried out at the sight of the corpse upon the floor.
Having met Moyong Jeok before, he knew the man’s face well.
“It is Moyong Jeok. But… he is dead.”
Jeokbalgoein unleashed killing intent as he fixed his gaze upon Mun Gu.
“Did you kill him?”
“He was already dead. I merely followed this man in.”
Mun Gu’s eyes turned toward Paeng Hu.
Softly.
Cheong Yu Jin-in was acquainted with Paeng Hu.
“Hall Master Paeng Hu, what has happened here? Did you kill Moyong Jeok?”
“Venerable Cheong Yu, I too know nothing of it. We had agreed to meet him here, yet when I arrived… he lay dead of poison.”
“Hah. This Taoist does not disbelieve your words. Yet this matter seems to require proof.”
“That… but we did not poison Moyong Jeok.”
“If you are innocent, will you submit to a search of your persons to see whether you carry the Cheonhwangdo Map?”
Mun Gu poured out his rage as he glared at Cheong Yu Jin-in.
“What did you just say you would do to me?”
“Keh keh. It does not seem the moment for you to take offense.”
This time Jeokbalgoein turned a murderous smile upon Mun Gu.
Mun Gu grimaced under the weight of so many stares.
“Tch. They say before greed there is neither foe nor friend—so this is what they meant.”
He could not fight them with his life on the line. He was drawing in his inner force, resigned to submitting his body to search, when Uncheon shouted urgently.
“The mine may collapse! Move quickly!”
“What?!”
Taah.
Uncheon unfolded his movement technique and raced back toward the shaft by which they had entered.