Chapter 52: The Iron Venerable
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: The Iron Venerable
‘A treasure map belonging to Jang Bo-do of the Ten Great Masters?’
It was information significant enough to make one's ears perk up.
The Ten Great Masters.
They represented the ten strongest individuals in the entire martial world.
- The Ten Great Masters... That’s a title I haven’t heard in a long time. To think that Jang Bo-do left behind a treasure map, even though those rankings excluded the experts from the Outlands.
- Still, they were all quite formidable in their own right. It means that if someone gets their hands on that map, they could reach that same level.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom shook his head at the words of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress, who seemed to think little of the Ten Great Masters.
‘Something is wrong.’
If a treasure map of the Ten Great Masters truly existed, it was the kind of information that would have set the Central Plains ablaze.
And yet,
‘Why have I never heard of it before?’
In his previous life, even if he had spent his time solely focused on martial arts training with the elders of the Demonic Cult, he had always been sensitive to external information.
Because he had to survive in the martial world, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had sought to acquire every scrap of information available, regardless of its nature. His intense desire for martial prowess was, in fact, rooted in that very reason.
‘A struggle for survival.’
Because of that, he remembered clearly.
There had been no such thing as a treasure map.
“What should we do?”
The question was whether to approach or not.
And if the treasure map actually existed...
‘We must not leave behind a single trace of our presence or anyone who knows about this.’
His mind made up, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom spoke with a grim expression.
“We don’t have much time, but I think we need to check this out.”
“Understood.”
Tae Un-seo was the first to move.
He seemed to have grasped Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s intention immediately.
Slash—
He whipped out his kitchen knife and began carving through the martial artists gathered in the thicket.
“Ah, not again!”
Weizhi Young hurriedly chased after Tae Un-seo.
“Don’t kill them all!”
Baek Mu-yong followed right behind her.
“…Is there anything I can help with?”
“I would like the Young Palace Lord to focus on your recovery.”
They might have to run even faster to make up for the time lost here.
“Ah, yes.”
Cheon Deung-jin seemed to understand Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s point.
Tremble, tremble.
By the time Hyeok Ryeon-yeom approached the men hiding in the bushes, they were already forced onto their knees.
“P-please, just spare our lives.”
“Tell me everything you know.”
“W-we don’t know who you are, but we really don’t know anyth—”
Slash—
Thud.
The arm of the man who was talking too much fell to the ground.
“Aaaargh!”
“If you don’t answer properly, you’ll all end up like him.”
“T-they say a treasure map is circulating, one that marks where the legacy of the former leader of the League of Four Tyrants, the Iron Venerable, is buried!”
“W-we heard rumors it was a treasure map of the Ten Great Masters, so we were chasing the person known to have it!”
At the mention of the person holding the map, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom asked, “Who is it?”
“A man called Jang Seo-gaek!”
It was a title he had never heard before.
“Where is he?”
“We lost him near here. He must be close by.”
At the mention that he was nearby, Tae Un-seo, Weizhi Young, and Baek Mu-yong immediately moved to search the surroundings.
Then, Cheon Deung-jin quietly approached Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
The martial artists, who had been writhing in pain, saw the frail-looking Cheon Deung-jin and their eyes gleamed. Now that the monsters who had beaten them down were gone!
“Hah!”
“Ah. Sorry.”
Crack—
“You lunged at me first.”
Cheon Deung-jin didn't look flustered at all by the sudden attack; he simply split the head of the man who had charged at him.
“…You’re quite capable, aren’t you?”
“Ah, I’ve been subjected to so many assassinations since I was a child that I’ve grown used to it.”
It seemed the Flame Demon hadn't targeted the Young Palace Lord’s body for no reason. His temperament appeared extremely calm, but Cheon Deung-jin’s handiwork was incredibly fierce.
“Are you going to leave the rest alive?”
“Not a chance.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had already made his decision.
If the information regarding the movement of the Ice Palace and Potala Palace, as well as the treasure map, was true, it was vital to leave no traces. Furthermore, if it became known that the two were involved together, it would be the worst-case scenario. If the treasure map of the Ten Great Masters was real, it was that dangerous of an affair.
“Ah. So that’s how it is.”
Rising flames snuffed out the lives of the remaining men.
“Captain!”
Just then, Baek Mu-yong’s voice rang out.
“I think we found him!”
*
Jang Seo-gaek, Sim Myo-yeon, was running like a madman with the treasure map in hand.
‘I can’t let myself be caught like this.’
The special mission Jang Seo-gaek had received was to ensure this treasure map was never taken by anyone. He knew that countless martial artists had come to Qinghai to hunt him down.
‘If I can just reach the Kunlun Sect, an Orthodox sect...’
They would protect him.
This was a treasure map Jang Seo-gaek had obtained through great effort. He didn't doubt for a second that Kunlun would want to analyze the map and claim the treasures for themselves, and thus would protect him and cooperate.
“I’m almost there.”
He was at the entrance of Mount Kunlun. The bastards following him were nowhere to be seen. If he just climbed the mountain like this, he would reach Kunlun. If he put strength into his legs and used his lightness technique, a mountain like Kunlun would be—
Flinch—
He thought he could climb it.
However.
Ping—
He saw shimmering threads installed between the trees.
Gulp—
If he had kept running, his entire body would likely have been sliced into pieces.
“What a shame.”
Step, step.
A woman who had been hiding in the thicket revealed herself.
“You are…”
“Weizhi Young. A member of the Little Snow Unit of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“What does that…”
A warrior of the Ice Palace had appeared out of nowhere.
“I happened to hear about it while passing by. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to hand over that treasure map.”
Just one more step. If he had taken just one more step forward, he could have survived.
“You’ve already surrounded me.”
A strange light flickered in Weizhi Young’s eyes.
“You know that, yet you won’t give up?”
“I can never give up.”
“Then I have no choice.”
Boom!
The ground Jang Seo-gaek was standing on exploded.
Swish!
Jang Seo-gaek leaped into the air, fearing a sneak attack from below, but in that moment—
“Fooled you.”
Jang Seo-gaek flew straight into the arms of Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who was already suspended in mid-air.
Boom!
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who had already gathered Extreme Yang Qi in both hands, struck Jang Seo-gaek.
“Cough—”
Jang Seo-gaek collapsed onto the ground.
Thud, tumble.
His tunic tore open, and the treasure map fell from his body.
This time, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom didn't kill him immediately. There was something he wanted to ask.
“Name.”
“…Why should I tell you?”
“Name.”
“…Ptu.”
The spit Jang Seo-gaek launched turned into steam and evaporated before it could even touch Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s face.
“What in the…”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom slowly leaned down and tilted Jang Seo-gaek’s chin up.
Sizzle—
The sensation of something incredibly hot touching the tip of his chin radiated through him.
“Aaaargh!”
Jang Seo-gaek’s scream echoed through the area.
“Name.”
“…Jang Seo-gaek.”
“Affiliation.”
“…League of Four Tyrants.”
“Why did you bring the treasure map all the way to Qinghai?”
“The reason is…”
Jang Seo-gaek, who was about to lie, stopped mid-sentence when he saw the man’s attire.
“The reason?”
“Are you perhaps the son of the Demonic Cult Leader who is engaged to the Young Palace Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace?”
A look of bewilderment entered Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s eyes. His expression asked how Jang Seo-gaek could possibly know that.
“…And if I am?”
“…Beware of the League of Four Tyrants. All of this is currently—”
Thwack!
Jang Seo-gaek’s head exploded.
Splatter.
Blood sprayed downward as Jang Seo-gaek’s headless body slumped to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Captain!”
“Young Master!”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah.”
- He was hit by a restriction seal.
- How cruel. They placed a restriction on him to prevent him from speaking.
Hearing the opinions of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress, he understood why Jang Seo-gaek had met such an end.
“Beware of the League of Four Tyrants…”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom picked up the treasure map and unfolded it. The location indicated by the map… was not very far from here.
“It seems to be… nearby.”
“The treasure map isn't what's important right now.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom searched Jang Seo-gaek’s body.
[Retainer]
An identification plaque symbolizing a retainer of the League of Four Tyrants was found in Jang Seo-gaek’s possession. Picking it up, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom frowned as he recalled the man’s words.
“How did the news of my engagement reach the ears of the League of Four Tyrants?”
This made things very complicated.
The Central Plains and the Outlands had never been on good terms. While they weren't as hostile as they were during the chaotic periods when the Ice Palace or the Demonic Cult clashed with the Central Plains, the current state of the martial world was one of mutual wariness and not crossing each other's lines.
But now, a marriage alliance was being formed between two powers that had both opposed the Central Plains. The impact this marriage would have on the martial world would be no simple matter. Therefore, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had not wanted the Central Plains factions to find out before the engagement was finalized.
However, if the League of Four Tyrants knew, it meant the Martial Alliance would eventually find out as well. The martial artists of the Central Plains would certainly not look kindly upon the Demonic Cult and the Northern Sea Ice Palace joining forces.
‘There might be those who try to sabotage it.’
If that happened, the person in the most danger would be…
‘Seol Yerin.’
The Young Palace Lord was at risk.
“We need to pick up the pace.”
“What will you do about the location on the treasure map?”
He pondered for a moment.
There was a high probability that the treasure map was a trap. Jang Seo-gaek, a retainer of the League of Four Tyrants, had traveled through the martial world with this map and gathered people in Qinghai. The reason was likely because Qinghai was the closest point to either Xinjiang or the North Sea.
If the martial artists gathered in Kunlun entered the Iron Venerable’s tomb because of the map, and if that tomb was a trap…
‘It’s the same trick again.’
The method was identical. Just like the Demonic Cultist disguised as an Ice Palace warrior who killed the Kunlun disciples. This time, it seemed they intended to frame the Demonic Cult and the Ice Palace as the culprits behind the distribution of the treasure map.
And in the midst of that, the news of the engagement between the Young Palace Lord and the Third Young Master, based on the blood alliance between the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult, would break. The Central Plains would not just sit by and watch the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult join hands.
The problem was…
‘Who exactly is the one pulling the strings here?’
This wasn't something that could be prepared and executed in a day or two. While Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had left for the Ice Palace, saved Seol Yerin, and taken control of the palace, someone had heard the news and was already planning and executing this scheme.
‘Can I really suspect only Hyeok Ryeon-geuk for all of this?’
He felt the scope of what he needed to guard against expanding. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had thought he would be safe as long as he escaped Hyeok Ryeon-geuk’s grasp.
‘But if it’s like this, the story changes.’
Even if he managed to win against Hyeok Ryeon-geuk with the backing of the Ice Palace and Potala Palace, if the Central Plains factions then united to erase the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult in a Great War of Demon Subjugation—no, a Great War of Ice and Demon Subjugation—both powers might vanish from the map entirely.
He decided that he needed to investigate this matter further.
“I think I need to check this out before we go.”
“We will move with you.”
“No, let’s split up.”
“Pardon?”
He was worried about Seol Yerin.
“I’ll move with just Cheon Deung-jin. You guys go back first and protect Seol Yerin.”
“What are you talking about…”
Weizhi Young looked at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with eyes that couldn't understand his reasoning.
“You’re saying the two of you will go alone to a location on a treasure map that might be a trap?”
“We cannot allow that.”
“I agree. If I leave, who will cook for you while you’re on your way back to the Ice Palace, Captain?”
The atmosphere suggested that the Captain’s orders weren't even being considered as orders.
“The Little Snow Unit is a unit meant to protect the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, not the Captain of the Little Snow Unit.”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s words...
“If you’re going, you’ll have to step over me.”
Weizhi Young lay down on the ground.
“We go together, check it together, and return quickly. Even if we left first, it would only be a few hours' difference. You’re just going to do a quick check and follow us anyway, aren't you, Captain?”
“I’ll say it again, you must not skip your meals…”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom covered Tae Un-seo’s mouth. Tae Un-seo’s cooking skills were improving day by day, but the fact that it tasted god-awful remained the same.
“Honestly, everyone is so stubborn.”
“Captain… you are a truly thoughtful leader.”
“…And why are you making that face, Young Palace Lord?”
Cheon Deung-jin, having seen the reaction of the Little Snow Unit members, was looking at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with a moved expression.
“This kind of relationship between superior and subordinate… it’s the best!”
Judging by the way he used his martial arts, it seemed Cheon Deung-jin had lived a life of complete isolation.
“It’s not exactly a normal case… but I’d appreciate it if you could get used to it.”
“Captain, I feel like you’ve been distancing yourself from me little by little since a while ago…”
“It’s your imagination.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom dismissed Cheon Deung-jin’s words with a single sentence. Then, as if he had no choice, he spoke.
“We move to the location marked on the map.”
“Yes!”
A short while later.
When they arrived at the location marked on the treasure map, they couldn't help but frown in unison.
Mount Kunlun, Jade Tower Peak.
The highest peak of Mount Kunlun was the very place indicated on the map.
“In a place like this… there’s no way the legacy of the Ten Great Masters would remain.”
- Hehe, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to Jade Tower Peak.
- It brings back memories.
- The energy here was so good that I used to come and go often.
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress spoke up as they ascended Jade Tower Peak.
‘Was there something related to the League of Four Tyrants here?’
- Hmm? I don’t remember clearly, but I think I might have had a bout with the leader of the League of Four Tyrants when I was young?
…When you were young?
The exact time was unknown. However,
‘Who won?’
- Oh my, I am the Demon Empress Han Seol, you know? Of course I won.
‘Then did the leader of the League of Four Tyrants die?’
- I wonder. I don’t think I killed him.
Just then.
“Captain, I think I feel a sinister energy over there.”
Cheon Deung-jin spoke softly, looking at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. Since the Fire Spirit Energy had left his body, Cheon Deung-jin’s constitution had become extremely sensitive to energies. He was essentially a human detector.
And such a person was saying he felt a sinister energy.
- Hehe, do you really think the treasure map is real?
‘I’ll have to find out from now on.’
If it’s a trap, they’ll run away. If it’s real...
‘Then it’s a jackpot.’
They had arrived at the place where the legacy of the former leader of the League of Four Tyrants—one of the Ten Great Masters, the Iron Venerable—might be hidden.