Chapter 31
Tian Ailang's astonishing words—that he could see the path within the formation—made Chanho and Song Sogeol's eyes go wide.
“Brother Ailang. What do you mean?”
“Because of the characteristics of the martial arts I practiced, I'm free from formations and illusions. I was worried since my internal energy is sealed, but I can see the path?”
“Haha! As expected of Ailang! Way better than the big-mouthed little bro. Then let's not waste time and go?”
Chanho laughed cheerfully. Song Sogeol couldn't even muster a comeback to his subtle jab.
He'd heard of people in special realms immune to formations or illusions, but that usually applied only to those whose internal energy and martial prowess had reached the pinnacle. It was a completely different matter from someone like Tian Ailang, who achieved the effect without any internal energy.
If word got out that someone could gain immunity to illusion-based martial arts like formations regardless of internal energy—and if the method became known—it would surely cause a massive uproar in the martial world. At the very least, the Jegal family, masters of formations, would voice tremendous discomfort.
“Sogeol, what're you doing? Let's go!”
Chanho jerked his head toward Tian Ailang, who was already taking the lead. Shrugging at the sight, Song Sogeol followed along. What was the point of dwelling on it? He just thought, I've got some amazing sworn brothers, and smiled.
“Yessir~ Let's go!”
Everyone stepped into the formation behind Tian Ailang. He walked along the visible path, cautioning his brothers.
“I can see the path, so I'm just stepping where it shows, but to be safe, follow exactly in my footsteps.”
“Ahh~ Got it. No problem there.”
“Yep!”
The scenery inside the formation matched the mountain landscape outside perfectly. Most formations gave off a distinct sense of wrongness once you entered, but this one's boundary was so seamless that an oblivious intruder might never realize it was a formation at all. Exquisite craftsmanship.
Tian Ailang proceeded slowly, observing his surroundings.
“There are quite a few winding paths here and there. Looks like a Return to Dust Formation, but way more complex. Can you guys see them?”
Chanho and Song Sogeol looked around at his words, but all they saw was the forest.
“No, Brother. Just the woods for us. You're amazing, Brother.”
“Yeah. Invisible to our eyes, but clear to yours? Handy ability.”
Tian Ailang grinned at his sworn brothers' praise. Part of it was the flattery, but mostly the pure trust laced in their words.
“I see a cave entrance up ahead. This way.”
And so, Tian Ailang's group entered the cave without a hint of confusion. The formation's creator, who'd labored to block intruders, would be left utterly deflated. But the scenes unfolding inside the cave would soon bring a smile to that same creator's face.
“Damn it! Brother, duck!”
Song Sogeol grabbed Tian Ailang's nape and rolled them both to the ground.
Pipipit!
Five or six arrows whistled overhead.
“Up top!”
At Chanho's shout, Song Sogeol and Tian Ailang hurriedly rolled aside. Sgeek! A massive axe blade dropped from the ceiling, vanishing precisely into a floor seam. Had they stayed put, it would've cleaved them in two.
“Chanho! Your right side's the real one!”
Spears thrust from both left and right walls. At Tian Ailang's cry, Chanho parried only those on the right with his sword.
Kagang!
The blocked spears clattered to the ground.
“What the hell?!”
“Illusions mixed with a mechanism formation, I bet! Eek! What're these?!”
Song Sogeol swung his sword wildly in disgust. A swarm of bats poured from deeper in the cave, blotting out the entire front. Even Tian Ailang and Chanho's eyes widened at the sheer number.
Tian Ailang unleashed Pressure Points at the bats with intricate arm movements. They flew off in all directions at his gestures.
“Argh! You damn pests!”
Chanho, visibly annoyed, displayed blinding sword speed. His blade was so fast it formed a veritable sword screen, keeping the bats at bay.
The swarm passed harmlessly overhead, fluttering out of the cave with a padududu. Once gone, only the patter of falling pebbles echoed.
“Brother Chanho. Bats aren't bugs—they're animals.”
Song Sogeol snickered, poking fun at Chanho's knowledge. In response, Chanho swung his sword.
“Eek! What the hell?!”
Dodging the sudden strike, Song Sogeol gawked at him in disbelief. Chanho pursed his lips and waggled his brows.
“Oh! It was you? Thought it was just another damn bat.”
“What?! Are you nuts, big bro?!”
Song Sogeol scowled, and Chanho scowled right back.
“What? Calling your sky-high big bro nuts? Wanna see what nuts really looks like?”
The two bickered as always. That's when Tian Ailang spotted something and reined them in.
“Boys! Enough.”
“No, Brother! Chanho bro's the one—”
Song Sogeol, collared one-handed by Chanho, tattled to Tian Ailang. Chanho casually released him and played innocent. Tian Ailang chuckled.
“I see a faint light deeper in.”
At his words, the pair instantly dropped the fight and peered toward the glow. Amid branching paths, a subtle light leaked from one deep recess—barely noticeable without focus.
“Ooh! Nice one, Brother Ailang! Way more reliable than Chanho bro.”
“What?!”
“Eep!”
Song Sogeol ducked behind Tian Ailang to evade Chanho's flare-up, then peeked out.
“Guess we should switch marching order.”
As Chanho and Tian Ailang turned to him, Song Sogeol pointed at Chanho.
“Chanho bro up front, Brother Ailang in the middle, me at the rear.”
Chanho cocked his head stubbornly.
“Why're you rear guard? Shouldn't it be Ailang with no internal energy?”
Song Sogeol's eyes bulged in utter bafflement, as if he'd asked the most obvious thing.
“Obviously Brother Ailang's stronger than me?”
“……”
Chanho was speechless at Song Sogeol's bold declaration. Most martial artists' pride wouldn't let them admit inferiority, but Song Sogeol showed no such hang-up.
“Alright. I'll take center.”
Tian Ailang smiled. Chanho nodded reluctantly, sword at the ready.
“Sogeol, can't you dismantle this mechanism formation?”
Song Sogeol shook his head.
“Even a genius like me hasn't mastered mechanisms.”
“Tch. Useless when it counts.”
Grumbling from the rear, Chanho moved to the front.
“I'll react to frontal attacks first, right?”
Song Sogeol nodded.
“Yes. Brother Ailang'll handle any blind spots.”
He said it like he was the one calling those shots.
“Fine. Better to just brute-force through anyway.”
Chanho twirled his sword, loosening up. Song Sogeol muttered under his breath, Big shot. Chanho whipped around, but he hid behind Tian Ailang again.
“Let's move carefully! A mechanism formation this elaborate means some serious treasure!”
* * *
Unlike their tension, no mechanisms triggered once they entered the branching paths. Figuring the designer trusted the prior traps to filter intruders, they cautiously peeked toward the faint glow.
And there, sparkling from the ceiling, they saw it.
Fist-sized orbs illuminated the dim cave with a soft light.
“Gasp! Night-luminous pearls! Super expensive—and huge ones!”
Song Sogeol bounced excitedly. Tian Ailang, hearing and seeing them for the first time, just watched curiously.
“Those are big?”
Song Sogeol nodded vigorously.
“Totally. These days, even finger-sized ones are rare and pricey. Rich folks buy 'em for vaults—safer than torches with valuables.”
“Wanna pry 'em loose?”
At Chanho's casual suggestion, Song Sogeol clenched his fists.
“Duh! Leaving these behind would be rude!”
Consensus reached, the sworn brothers began harvesting. To preserve height and value, they went with a horse-and-rider stack: sturdy Chanho as base, agile Song Sogeol atop for the reach, Tian Ailang catching.
“Chanho bro, forward a bit! No, right!”
“Damn it! Speak clearly!”
“Hold! Got one!”
Song Sogeol's precise slice freed the pearl with a clean tick.
“Brother Ailang, catch. Chanho bro, straight ahead five paces!”
Chanho moved silently as directed. Awkward at first, their rhythm smoothed by the second pearl. By the third, they moved like acrobats.
“Hahaha! Chanho bro, right four, forward five!”
Song Sogeol's hands and Chanho's steps quickened. Chak! Chachak! But as the fourth pearl came free, an odd scraping echoed.
“Woo! We're rich!”
High on the thrill, Song Sogeol reached for the fifth—then pebbles rained from above.
“Sogeol, hold!”
Tian Ailang's shout puzzled him into pausing.
“Why, Brother?”
Chanho sensed it too.
“Something… moving.”
Drdrdrduk. Drduk, drdrdrduk…
The rumble grew, shaking the ceiling—and the whole cave.
“Ah… no way…”
Bad vibes hit. Chanho roughly yanked Song Sogeol down.
“Yow! Careful, Chanho bro!”
He rolled into a smooth landing. Scowling at Chanho, his eyes flew wide in shock.
“Whoa?! Damn! Another mechanism here?! Brother Ailang, dodge!”
Tian Ailang had already spotted the falling boulders and rolled clear. Kwang! A massive rock crashed down, intensifying the tremors.
“Shit!”
Chanho eyed the collapsing entrance. This wasn't just to kill intruders—it aimed to destroy the space itself. He unleashed Lightfoot Technique, scooped up Tian Ailang rising to his feet and shrieking Song Sogeol, hoisted them over his shoulders, and dashed deeper.
“Aaaah! It's collapsing!”
Song Sogeol's scream echoed like thunder. Then Chanho felt weightless. In his panic, he'd bolted into the unlit depths—now there was no floor beneath his feet.
“Aaaah! We're falling!”
Song Sogeol's wail reverberated through the void as freefall gripped them.