Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky
Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky.
It was a beautiful phrase, conjuring images of a sky filled with a gentle rain of flower petals.
But in reality, it was a cruel and bloodthirsty name.
The reason being...
"Because the sky isn't filled with flowers, but with hidden weapons."
The Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky was an ultimate technique that unleashed dozens of types of hidden weapons into the air, raining down a devastating bombardment.
It was said that during the great war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, back when the Dang Clan walked the line between good and evil, the former clan leader, the Poison Shadow Lord, had used this technique to commit a horrific massacre.
When the Dang Clan eventually transitioned into an Orthodox sect, they supposedly sealed away and erased the technique, as it had slaughtered more Orthodox martial artists than any other.
The reason many still feared the Dang Clan today...
...aside from the fact that they had aided the Unorthodox faction in the distant past...
...was because they had demonstrated a power so terrifying during that war, through this single technique, that it remained etched in history.
Therefore, I knew all too well what a martial art like the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky meant to the Dang Clan.
So, when I first heard about it from Yoo Chun-gil, I didn't find it particularly strange.
"The old man helped restore the Dang Clan's Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky."
When I first heard those words.
I did wonder why Yoo Chun-gil had suddenly helped restore it, but...
...Considering the old man's sheer ability, I suppose it's not impossible.
Contrary to his eccentric and foul personality.
Yoo Chun-gil was a man revered as the greatest of his era, the World's Greatest.
When it came to martial knowledge, he was a man no one could dare look down on.
So if they had asked him to help restore it, I could somewhat understand.
...But what did he mean by "created"?
Not restoring, but creating it.
It made no sense.
"How could you create that, old man?"
It wasn't a martial art of Cheongwol Gate; it belonged to the Dang Clan.
How on earth could Yoo Chun-gil have created it? When I asked out of sheer curiosity, Yoo Chun-gil replied nonchalantly.
[What do you mean, how? I just made it.]
"...Is a martial art something you can just 'make'?"
[Well, isn't the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky just throwing some hidden weapons into the air and obliterating everything below? I just whipped up something that fit the description, and that rascal Dang Gyeon begged me for it so incessantly that I just handed it over.]
"...Ah, is that so...?"
I see.
So martial arts—and the ultimate technique of another clan, no less—could just be whipped up on a whim. Right.
Like hell it could!
I rubbed my face with a dry hand at his absurd claim.
Even if I tried to understand, it was simply impossible.
If there was one thing I could grasp from that conversation, it was this:
Even if Yoo Chun-gil downplayed it, the technique's completion must have been high enough for the Poison Sovereign to beg for it.
And...
For some reason, the Poison Sovereign chose to erase the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky instead of passing it down to his descendants.
And now, the Poison King was desperately searching for it.
Why was the Poison King looking for the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky?
The answer to that wasn't very difficult to deduce.
It's about symbolism...
The sheer power contained within the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky.
With that alone, the Dang Clan could solidify its position and presence in the Murim.
Even now, the Dang Clan was one of the Five Great Noble Clans, and their position was secure thanks to the Cheolgang smithy.
But putting that aside.
It was undeniable that the current Dang Clan felt somewhat different from the Dang Clan of the past.
Back then, they were feared as masters of hidden weapons and monsters of poison.
Nowadays, they felt more like weapon manufacturers due to the Cheolgang.
Could it be?
Is that why?
Was that the reason the Poison King was chasing the traces of the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky?
It makes sense if you look at it that way, but...
...it felt a bit too simplistic to be certain.
"Hmm."
It was bothersome.
Depending on what the Poison King's true goal was, the things I had to consider would either multiply or vanish. I couldn't just ignore it.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue.
In the end, the fact remained that the Poison King was looking for the Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky.
And that Yoo Chun-gil had created it, while the Poison Sovereign had received it and supposedly burned it.
If these were the established truths...
Then here...
...what can I gain from this?
I decided to focus solely on that for now.
Time passed. Just as the Poison King had said, it was now afternoon.
I had finished training with Cheon Ui-jin and Do-hyeong and was resting in my quarters.
Right on cue, the members of the Dang Clan arrived. Their method was the same as yesterday.
They blindfolded us to block our vision and led us away in the exact same manner.
...What a pain.
It was literally right around the corner. Did they really need to go this far?
Of course, they were doing this because they didn't know I already knew the location.
Still, it felt like a waste of time.
Anyway. After a short walk, we reached our destination. As my vision cleared, I saw the same faces from yesterday, along with the Poison King standing before us.
"Welcome."
"Greetings, Clan Leader Dang."
After offering a polite bow, I looked toward the open entrance.
It seems the door didn't close.
Or perhaps they had opened it again. I had already submitted a report to the Dang Clan regarding how to open it, after all.
And...
...that is.
My eyes narrowed as I spotted a large chest resting against the wall.
"...Clan Leader. Is that...?"
"Yes. It is Man-wol."
I knew it.
The familiar chest contained Man-wol, which the chief blacksmith, Cheolgangju, had reinforced.
To reiterate, it was reinforced, not repaired.
He had said it would be difficult to repair it completely.
Yet, the fact that they had brought it here anyway meant...
"It was of no use yesterday, but I brought it again today just in case it might be needed."
"...I figured as much."
"I apologize for bringing your item without your permission, Young Master Bang. I will send a formal letter of apology to Cheongwol Gate regarding this matter."
"..."
This meant he had done it knowing full well it would cause an issue.
Which meant...
He is incredibly desperate.
Desperate enough that he had no choice but to commit a discourtesy against another sect.
It showed just how urgent the situation was for the Poison King, or rather, the Dang Clan.
Hmm...
I quietly observed the Poison King.
He maintained his usual expressionless face, but if I looked closely, I could detect a subtle difference.
Impatience? No. It wasn't that. It wasn't anger, nor was it anxiety.
What is it, then?
I couldn't tell yet, but it was clear that something was different.
After studying the Poison King, I turned my gaze to the chest containing Man-wol.
The Poison King was one thing, but...
...do we really need to bring that along?
From what the Poison Sovereign said, it didn't seem like we needed it.
Was there really a need to carry Man-wol inside?
As I was debating this.
[Take it with you.]
Yoo Chun-gil spoke to me.
[You will need it.]
I'll need it? That thing?
...Hmm.
Did his words contradict the Poison Sovereign's? Though I had my doubts, I didn't hesitate.
I strode over to the chest.
"I should be the one to carry it, right?"
The Poison King nodded. Since the sword legally belonged to me, it was only right that I carried it.
Creak.
Ugh.
As I tried to lift it, its sheer weight hit me instantly.
Crazy. This thing is ridiculously heavy.
I barely managed to sling it over my shoulder. How could a single sword be this heavy?
I tried my best to hide my struggle.
[Tsk, tsk. You shouldn't be struggling with just that. The original Man-wol was far heavier than that.]
The old man, having noticed my struggle, immediately began to tease me.
Damn old man.
Still.
Perhaps because I had reached the First-rate realm, it didn't feel completely unbearable.
Yes. First-rate.
I am a First-rate martial artist.
A warm sensation welled up inside me. I rubbed my nose and squared my shoulders proudly.
"...Young Master Bang. Is something the matter?"
"Why do you ask?"
"No, it's just that you look rather pleased about something."
"Ah... I just felt a sense of pride thinking about carrying my master's sword on my back."
[Bullshit.]
"Ah. As expected..."
At my response, Cheon Ui-jin nodded in deep admiration. He always made that face whenever I did anything.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I looked over at Do-hyeong.
The Guardian Spirit seems fine...
The Guardian Spirit hovering around Do-hyeong was just as it had been at the start.
That meant it was safe to enter now.
With that in mind, I spoke to the Poison King.
"...Let us go. I am ready."
At my words, the Poison King turned around.
With that, we entered the Poison Sovereign's Secret Vault once more.
Since I already knew the path, navigating it wasn't difficult.
Having been here once before, it felt quite familiar.
I was slightly wary of any potential hidden traps, but since I had memorized the layout, I could walk with a bit of confidence.
After all, I'm First-rate now.
Ah, I needed to control myself, but the corners of my mouth kept twitching upward.
I covered my face with my hand to force my expression back to normal.
You crazy bastard.
Losing my focus in a place like a secret vault, of all places.
If I accidentally triggered something here, I could die. I had to stay sharp.
"Phew."
I let out a long breath.
It was to calm my racing mind.
...I still have a long way to go. I shouldn't be celebrating already.
Not yet. It was still too early.
I was only First-rate.
Just barely First-rate.
I had to keep telling myself that. I had to.
Because I have no intention of settling for just being First-rate.
I had to aim higher. So now was not the time to be excited, but the time to prepare.
As I rationalized it, my racing heart gradually settled down.
"Fhuuuuu..."
I took slow, measured breaths as we walked.
Descending the stairs, I saw a gap to the side. It was the space we had opened last time.
I stepped inside. Man-wol on my back was still heavy, but it was manageable.
Thud.
I took another step forward.
A wide, brightly lit space came into view.
It was the center of the Secret Vault, illuminated by night-glowing pearls.
The moment I entered, my eyes immediately darted toward the vault I had visited with the Poison Sovereign just last night.
The place filled with weapons, containing a hidden room within.
Fortunately, it was closed.
After observing it, I spoke to the Poison King.
"How should we proceed with the search?"
When I asked if he planned to conduct a general search like last time...
"Does anything catch your eye, Young Hero Bang?"
"...Me?"
The Poison King addressed me first, rather than the experts he had brought along.
Did anything catch my eye?
"Well... not yet."
I wanted to give him an answer, but unfortunately, that was the truth.
It couldn't be helped.
Because the Poison Sovereign isn't here right now.
There was no Poison Sovereign to guide me through the Secret Vault.
"I think we'll need to look around first."
"Understood."
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
"...Ah, you want me to do the searching?"
The Poison King nodded.
Look at this guy.
He's just openly using me now, isn't he?
How absurd. He brought along trap experts and formation masters, yet he was leaving the task entirely to me?
Damn it.
This is why I shouldn't have stood out so much.
If I had just pretended to know a little, it would have been fine. But because I solved everything, things had become troublesome.
Furthermore...
...I do know how to open it.
Amusingly enough, I knew exactly how to open the vault.
It was because I had memorized the entire method last time.
I doubted it would be much different this time.
I can see the points.
The locations of the points, and the rules.
Once I found those, opening the Poison Sovereign's vault wouldn't be too difficult.
Only...
Rather than opening it right away...
...wouldn't it be better to observe the situation a bit longer before doing so?
I pondered the thought, but...
...Hmm.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I spoke to Do-hyeong, who was standing beside me.
"Senior."
"...Hmm?"
"Could you follow me for a moment?"
"...Understood."
Though Do-hyeong looked puzzled by my request, he followed without a word of complaint.
I looked at him and said,
"Do you see that wall over there?"
I pointed with my finger, and Do-hyeong nodded.
"Please walk over there."
"Over there?"
"Yes. Just walk over there. However you like."
"...However I like?"
"Yes. Whether you walk in a straight line or zigzag, just go however you want."
"..."
What kind of nonsense was this? Do-hyeong frowned at my request, but once again, he didn't voice any complaints.
He stared quietly at the wall for a moment, then began walking in a straight line.
Slowly. Step by step.
As I watched him walk, I called out.
"Senior! If it feels even slightly dangerous, or if you get a bad feeling, just come right back!"
There was no reply. Do-hyeong walked all the way to the wall before turning back to look at me.
Seeing that, I nodded.
"Hmm. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any problem."
It seemed there were no active traps or dangers. I could put my mind at ease.
As I looked at Do-hyeong with satisfaction...
"..."
"..."
"Um..."
...the people around me were staring at me with very complicated expressions.
What?
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...No, it is nothing. I am sure you had your reasons, Young Master Bang..."
"Pardon?"
Cheon Ui-jin spoke as if trying his best to be understanding. What was wrong with him? As I wondered what was going on, Yoo Chun-gil answered in his stead.
[Well, obviously it is because you look like a wicked bastard who just used his own companion as live bait to check for traps.]
Holy crap.
My eyes widened at his words.
Now that he mentioned it, it really could look that way. I hadn't thought of that.
No, I was just utilizing his Guardian Spirit.
From my perspective, I was trying to make use of Do-hyeong's Guardian Spirit.
Since the Guardian Spirit would prioritize Do-hyeong's safety above all else, it would have reacted before any danger could strike.
...But that's how it looked to them?
Did they really think I was some heartless villain using my comrade to trigger traps?
What a massive misunderstanding—
[...How is that any different, really?]
Wait, is it...?
Even if I knew he wouldn't die, using Do-hyeong to test the path wasn't fundamentally different.
"Ahem..."
I cleared my throat awkwardly and walked over to Do-hyeong.
I retraced the exact steps Do-hyeong had just taken.
"...You did a great job, Senior. Leave the rest to me. I will handle all the dangerous parts from here on."
"..."
Do-hyeong's gaze felt a bit sharp. I did my best to ignore it and began manipulating the mechanism.
I operated it based on the method I had memorized last night.
Then...
Screeech—!
As if it had been waiting, the sound of machinery ground out, and the door slid open.
Thud!
"...That was fast."
The Poison King whispered, his voice carrying clear admiration.
"Now, let us begin the search—"
Just as I was about to speak while looking into the newly opened room...
"...Young Master Bang...?"
I heard someone call my name.
The title used was the one Cheon Ui-jin usually called me, but the voice definitely wasn't his.
Moreover, it didn't come from behind me, but from up ahead.
Ahead... wasn't that the room that had just opened?
Wondering what was going on, I peered inside.
"...Huh?"
An entirely unexpected person was standing there.
"...Why are you here...?"
A woman stood there, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at me.
What the...?
It was the Poison King's daughter, the Poison Flower, Dang Ye-ran.
Why on earth is she in here?
She was inside the vault.