The Iron Jiangshis were by no means weak.
The sight of the Iron Jiangshis relentlessly charging forward despite enduring the relentless assault proved otherwise.
Still, it was undeniable.
‘This is a realm that even I cannot fathom.’
Jade Flower could only suppress a gulp as she watched the chaos unleashed by Byul Rak.
It was vaguely known to her that Byul Rak’s martial arts far surpassed those of even the other five greats of the land, but…
Phwoosh-!
Even with this disparity, it was an overwhelming gap too vast to overlook.
Breaking rocks with mere fists might be a tale one hears occasionally, but the concept of piercing steel with a finger alone remains fiction. It’s simply impossible due to the physical structure of human joints.
Yet before her very eyes, Byul Rak was breaking through the Iron Jiangshis using nothing but his bare fingers, without even resorting to internal energy.
These were Iron Jiangshis with bodies hardened like steel, impervious even to her sword.
Jade Flower realized anew that this was no person to be gauged by her meager understanding.
“Kieeeek!”
Overwhelmed by sheer martial prowess, the Iron Jiangshis began to flee en masse, changing their course.
Jade Flower found herself doubting her own senses.
“Impossible! How can emotionless Jiangshis flee?”
A Jiangshi, after all, is nothing more than a corpse reanimated through dark sorcery. Its soul has already departed to the underworld, its body animated by a spiritual force, making it a creature devoid of emotion—a fundamental truth of the world.
“Kiiiieeeek! Kuaaaaak!”
There was no denying what was happening before her very eyes. The Jiangshis were indeed scampering off in terror.
However, Byul Rak made no move to chase after the fleeing creatures, allowing them to escape with minimal casualty.
“Without triggering any trap, the sudden appearance of the Jiangshis is rather fortunate, it seems. The explosion might have been beneficial.”
Byul Rak spoke softly.
“Byul Rak, what do you mean by that?”
“The traps and mechanisms here were all fashioned by Sin Too. Without some form of record, there would be no reason to have such a dense cluster of traps on this lower level.”
“Ah!”
“That is to say, the record must be somewhere on this lower level. The traps confirm it. Certainly… assuming, of course, that we can surmount all these mechanisms.”
“You truly understand the workings of Sin Too’s mind. Your martial prowess defies the natural order; you are, without a doubt, a hero.”
Jade Flower marveled aloud. Byul Rak smiled wryly.
“Not much of an accomplishment.”
“How can you say it’s nothing? I affirm that you are an extraordinary individual.”
In response to these words, Byul Rak slightly bowed his head and mumbled, tinged with self-mockery.
“…After living through all those ages, if this is all I can achieve, then I must be a fool…”
“What?”
“That’s the truth.”
For reasons unknown, Jade Flower suddenly felt that Byul Rak lacked self-esteem.
But she mistook it for humility.
‘Even with talents that could astound the world… how humbly you carry yourself you truly are.’
Such a misinterpretation arose because she had already elevated Byul Rak to god-like proportions in her heart.
‘The arrogance of my past self makes me ashamed. All the more so when compared to you.’
Byul Rak advanced steadily through the misty path ahead. Jade Flower followed close behind, careful not to step forward unless absolutely necessary.
This resolution stemmed from within herself; she had vowed to change, vowing this time to adhere to true justice.
With each deliberate step, they encountered numerous traps along the way.
Hundreds of flaming arrows rained from the sky, giant boulders rolled, shaking the ground, boiling water surged like a flood, and the ghostly whispers of wandering spirits tormented their eardrums.
However, none could deter Byul Rak. They pressed on without pause.
“Kuuuaaaaack!”
The Iron Jiangshis fled in disarray, not toward Byul Rak or Jade Flower, but toward the Four Great Demon Generals.
“Wha-, what the…!”
“These Jiangshi bastards! We are their masters!”
“They’re not listening! Damn, could they have another master…?”
“What…? Someone closer to the orthodox bloodline of power resides in Mucheon Valley? Unthinkable! That’s only possible for the previous and current sect leaders!”
“What do you know? Pull your swords!”
Caught in the explosion but escaping without serious injury thanks to their refined martial arts, the Four Great Demon Generals found themselves face-to-face with an unexpected swarm of Iron Jiangshis.
But the behaviour of these Jiangshis was out of the ordinary.
“Kueeeeeek!”
“The hell? Why are these lunatics charging without looking back?”
“Aren’t Iron Jiangshis supposed to be brutal, why are they diving straight into our blades!”
As if pursued by something, the Jiangshis were charging recklessly.
Their movements were not targeted. Instead, it seemed they regarded the Demon Generals as mere obstacles, not true threats.
“Hold on! Don’t attack them!”
Parachun Demon General was the first to notice and shouted immediately.
The four, accustomed to fighting in perfect harmony as one, hesitated but immediately obeyed.
Exactly as Parachun had predicted, the Jiangshis only shoved them aside with their shoulders and continued forward, barely acknowledging them at all.
“Kiiiiiieeek!”
“…”
Boooom!
Watching the Jiangshis retreat into the distance after the chaos, the Demon Generals remained dumbfounded and perplexed.
Na Cha Demon General broke the silence, her voice wavering.
“What… What on earth are they?”
Parachun Demon General responded curtly.
“They have no master.”
“What?”
“Terrified… They were fleeing.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Jiangshis cannot feel emotions; it’s a basic fact!”
“Is it not an alarming fact that within Mucheon Valley, there exists something that defies this basic fact?”
Parachun’s cold statement caused Na Cha to recall the explosion’s origins—the figure they’d seen just prior.
Sword Sage Namgung Cheolbin. The undisputed supreme martial artist of the central plains, one feared beyond resistance.
Recalling this, Na Cha turned her head toward Daeryeok Demon General, who was being carried on Hyubyeol Demon General’s back despite regaining her senses. She trembled violently, even though they hadn’t fought or been struck by the Sword Sage—merely seen him.
“What are we going to do?”
Na Cha said desperately.
“It seems the Sword Sage Namgung Cheolbin is also searching for the Eternal Youth Pill…”
There was no need to finish the sentence. Everyone present knew the implication; their goals aligned with the Sword Sage’s, meaning inevitable competition against him.
“We’ll be retreating.”
“Facing him in combat, even while just standing in front of him, would be enough to make us choke. How are we going to fight over the Eternal Youth Pill?”
“Why not flee? To some peaceful place even the sect leader can’t reach?”
“Already within Mucheon Valley? Don’t underestimate the sect’s intelligence network.”
“Umm… That’s true, but do we have any good ideas? If you’re going to oppose, at least suggest something better. I can’t believe you’re proposing fighting the Sword Sage.”
“…”
The silence of Hyubyeol Demon General, indicating a lack of options, mirrored the frustration felt by all.
Notably, Na Cha who had thrown the suggestion, had also hoped for a strategy from him.
“Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.”
“All sides surrounded.”
“Even the Overlord of West Chu Xiang Yu, surrounded by Han troops, must have fared better than our current predicament.”
“Hah.. Xiang Yu at least had Yu Meiren by his side. Why must I be surrounded only by these women?”
Hyubyeol Demon General lamented, casting a glance at his companions. Neither Na Cha nor Daelyeok Demon General were physically unattractive, but after years of camaraderie, they were far beyond the realm of being seen as women.
Na Cha too thought the same, and there was no conflict of feelings.
“No, there’s hope.”
At that moment, Parachun Demon General, who’d been deep in thought, interrupted.
“Parachun?”
“If someone were to exist that even the Sword Sage could not defeat, we could simply avoid a fight.”
“Anyone can say that, but does your method work?”
“I do have a way, and the malevolent energies densely packed within Mucheon Valley make it feasible.”
The eyes of the Four Great Demon Generals lit up. For a brief moment, a flicker of hope crossed their eyes, for Parachun Demon General, practically the leader among the four, was known to not speak falsehoods.
“There exists an arcane art that penetrates one’s mind.”
“One wrong move, and we’ll all die. Can you guarantee its effectiveness?”
“Even if not, we’re doomed without trying. Moreover, even the Sword Sage’s father would succumb to this art within Mucheon Valley, where mental fortitude wanes and the potency of this technique multiplies.”
“Good.”
“Besides, the Sword Sage does not regard us as foes. I perceived that during our exchange.”
Recalling her response to the Sword Sage’s inquiry, Na Cha agreed.
“That’s why pretending to come looking for the Grand Circulation Pill was a stroke of genius.”
“Thank heavens for that fleeting mention of it.”
“Thinking about it, the Sword Sage did say Mucheon Valley is also known as Sin Too’s hidden treasure trove, did he not?”
“That’s right. Now the reason why the Eternal Youth Pill resides here has become clear—Sin Too’s secret records.”
“Hmm… Perhaps the Jiangshis here were arranged by Sin Too. Tsk… It feels as if we’ve gotten entangled with something we should have stayed away from. It’s unsettling.”
As if afflicted by an unshakeable mental disturbance, Parachun mumbled before burying his thoughts and revealing the plan he had premeditated.
“Above all, do not provoke the Sword Sage. Ensure he does not realize our pursuit of the Eternal Youth Pill. Given the narrow confines of Mucheon Valley, we will inevitably meet again. Meanwhile, I will gather the malign energies here to prepare for executing the arcane art when the time comes. Make your own preparations accordingly.”
The other three Great Demon Generals, except Daeryeok Demon General, nodded firmly.
“Ugh… My head…”
With a groan, Tang Sobaek, the black-haired jade-eyed scholar, clutched her throbbing forehead.
Lost consciousness due to an unknown explosion after hitting her head on a rock, she had been carried away to an unknown location.
“But… I’ve discerned the locations of all the mechanisms here. How did such chaos ensue, without me accidentally triggering anything…?”
Even with her aching head, Tang Sobaek quickly analyzed the situation; pushing her mind into overdrive was her principle when her head pain kicked in.
“…Is someone else here besides me? Damn, some reckless bastard must’ve triggered a mechanism carelessly…!”
Rubbing the back of her head revealed a prominently rising bump. Tang Sobaek swore vengeance upon whoever had defaced her beautiful skull, her vengeful fury flaring.
“Still, where am I?”
Getting lost inside the bizarre Mucheon Valley was never a good sign.
As Tang Sobaek turned her head to establish her current location, her face stiffened suddenly upon noticing something.
“…Should I really go gamble? Why’s my luck turning out this way lately?”
It was a disbelieving mutter. The dazzling sight before her eyes seemed too good to be true.
Dazzling? No, the more fitting description would be resplendent.
After all, what strange wind blew through to bless her so, so soon after arriving at Mucheon Valley, to already reach her destination?
The Secret Record Repository of Sin Too.
This was the designation of the space she had landed in.
“Seems the heavens are on my side. Well, moving on…”
It was a grand chamber. One wall had been blasted away by the recent explosion, the very ingress through which she had been swept.
Tang Sobaek cautiously surveyed the interior of the chamber. Within, treasures adorned by golden inlays—an ancient sword, a crown, various jewels and ornaments, gold ingots, relics, and inner elixirs of ancient mystical creatures, and much more—items that could each deservedly be called invaluable treasures.
And more, the walls were lined with luminous pearls. The rarest of luminous pearls, which not even an emperor could casually possess. Thanks to them, the chamber was brightly lit, quite contrary to the expectations of Mucheon Valley’s eerie reputation.
Still, one particular entity in the center, shining amid all this resplendent treasure, captured Tang Sobaek’s full attention.
The Eternal Youth Pill? Yes, she had indeed come to Mucheon Valley for it, but…
For someone like Tang Sobaek, who knew the “Secrets of Mucheon Valley,” there was something far more fascinating here.
“Hello there, old man. Don’t we have the pleasure of meeting for the first time?”
Tang Sobaek greeted jovially, but received no reply.
The sight she faced was a Jiangshi, an elderly one sitting cross-legged with a long beard extending past his navel.
“First time meeting someone from five hundred years ago, so any accidental rudeness, do kindly pardon it.”
In a spirited tone, Tang Sobaek continued addressing the Jiangshi who remained silent.
“Sin Too.”
“…”
“Or should I honor you by your true sobriquet? After all, you are the most famous sobriquet in the entire martial history, hic hic.”
The Jiangshi kept his eyes closed and maintained a solemn silence, which Tang Sobaek found highly entertaining given her knowledge of his true identity.
