Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Discovery

Ever since I glimpsed True Immortal Cheongun's "Flow" beneath the Abandoned Martial Hall, my five senses had changed.

I could see and feel more than before.

It was the same now.

I continued moving while following the traces of the Trance Powder.

I could sense its faint scent drifting along the wind.

That way.

I turned toward the direction where the smell grew stronger.

Even while using my movement technique, I didn't forget to scatter small amounts of Nightglow Powder behind me.

This should be enough for the others to find me.

Just as I was about to accelerate again...

“Wait!”

A breathless shout came from behind.

I reflexively turned around.

Two figures emerged from the darkness.

Hyeongwon and Yu Seola.

Why are those two here?

I looked at them as they arrived.

“I told you before.”

“Wait until Master joins you, then move together.”

Hyeongwon and Yu Seola answered almost at the same time.

“And you expected us to just sit there while you went off alone?”

“You didn't even explain the situation properly.”

Yu Seola frowned.

“If you just tell us to wait without saying anything, who would listen?”

“But...”

Before I could answer, Yu Seola continued.

“Senior Brother Myeongjeon went to inform Elder Gwangung.”

“The two of them should join us soon.”

I sighed inwardly.

I didn't think they'd follow me this quickly.

I felt uneasy about dragging them into danger.

Maybe she read something from my expression, because Yu Seola smiled.

“You weren't seriously planning to go alone, were you?”

“Three people are better than one.”

Hyeongwon snorted.

“And I'm not letting you take all the credit by yourself.”

I stared at him.

“Credit?”

“If you really find where the missing disciples are being held...”

He folded his arms.

“everyone will say you solved this incident alone.”

His expression hardened.

“I won't allow that.”

“Absolutely not.”

I was speechless.

He was willing to take this kind of risk just because of that?

Even if his competitive spirit and desire for recognition were strong...

this was a little excessive.

Then Hyeongwon added in a mutter,

“And...”

He looked away.

“like you said before...”

“I do need real combat experience.”

His voice was still grumbling...

but there was something else mixed into it.

Concern.

“Even if this is dangerous...”

“I can't just let you go alone.”

Look at these guys.

Yu Seola's claim that three people were better than one.

Hyeongwon's awkward excuse.

In the end...

they both meant the same thing.

They weren't going to let me throw myself into danger alone.

I almost laughed.

They're more loyal than I expected.

I looked at both of them.

“Fine.”

“You've already followed me this far, so I can't exactly send you back.”

Then my tone became serious.

“But if something feels wrong, run immediately.”

“Don't worry about merit or anything else.”

Hyeongwon scoffed.

“I'm not weak enough for you to worry about me.”

He tapped his chest.

“I am Hyeongwon, Young Hall Master of the Martial Discipline Office.”

Yu Seola nodded.

“Don't worry.”

“It's not like the three of us came here to fight the Demonic Cult.”

She looked ahead.

“We only need to find the missing disciples.”

I let out a sigh as though I were reluctant.

But inwardly...

I felt strangely relieved.

I didn't show it.

“Then keep up from now on.”

“We won't be stopping again.”

I immediately used my movement technique.

Hyeongwon and Yu Seola followed right behind me.

While we moved, Hyeongwon asked,

“But how do you know where the missing people are?”

I gave the answer I had prepared beforehand.

“Ever since I learned True Immortal Cheongun's sword path, my five senses have become much sharper.”

Hyeongwon looked at me.

“Your five senses?”

“Yeah.”

“I can see things that I normally couldn't.”

“And feel things I couldn't sense before.”

I glanced ahead.

“That's how I have a rough idea where the missing people are.”

"...Really?”

I explained that the improvement in my senses allowed me to detect the faint scent of poison scattered through the air.

And that I was moving in the direction where that scent led.

At first, both Hyeongwon and Yu Seola looked doubtful.

But since I had supposedly inherited the martial arts of True Immortal Cheongun...

a man said to have ascended beyond mortality...

they seemed to decide that something like that might actually be possible.

We continued chatting here and there while following the traces of the Trance Powder.

At first, the terrain of the gorge was relatively wide.

The cliffs on either side stood dozens of jang apart, leaving a broad path stretching ahead.

But after moving several hundred more steps...

the terrain gradually began to change.

The gorge narrowed.

Soon, it became difficult for even three people to stand side by side.

Then...

...Hm?

The Trance Powder scent that had been growing steadily stronger...

suddenly disappeared.

Completely.

What happened?

I stopped and looked around.

Then something caught my eye.

A thin stream of water was running down the cliff wall on the right.

It wasn't falling from above like a waterfall.

The water was seeping out from a crack midway up the stone.

That section of rock was noticeably darker than the rest.

The water flowed down the surface, bent once along the grain of the stone...

then disappeared as though being sucked into a narrow gap below.

...Something's strange.

I approached the cliff.

Then I placed my face near the thin gap where the water was disappearing.

...There it is.

The scent of Trance Powder seeped through the opening.

Only a tiny amount.

But unmistakably there.

I struck the cliff wall hard with my palm.

Thump. Thump.

The outer surface was solid...

but the sound had the distinct hollow resonance of empty space behind it.

Hyeongwon approached me.

“What are you doing?”

“Why are you suddenly hitting the wall?”

I kept my hand against the stone.

“I think there's empty space behind this cliff.”

I pointed toward the crack.

“Air is moving through the gap too.”

Yu Seola's eyes widened.

“You mean there might be enough space behind there for people to move through?”

I nodded.

“There's a good chance the missing disciples are inside.”

She stared at the cliff.

“Really... in there?”

“We'll know once we check.”

I carefully examined the surface of the cliff.

My palm moved across the entire wall, searching for artificial traces.

Then...

Found it.

A subtle distortion beneath my palm.

A groove that didn't match the natural texture of the stone.

I brought my face closer.

There was a narrow indentation.

Just wide enough for one finger.

I pushed my index finger inside.

Something cold and metallic touched my fingertip.

As expected.

I lightly pressed the metal piece.

Then...

Rrrrrrumble...

One section of the wall slowly began sliding sideways.

Stone dust fell in small showers.

A dark opening gradually appeared behind it.

Yu Seola inhaled sharply.

“How...?”

Hyeongwon narrowed his eyes.

“Someone made this cave deliberately.”

I looked at both of them.

“Everyone ready?”

“Once we go in, there is a chance we won't come back out.”

Hyeongwon snorted.

“Hmph.”

“Do you think I'd run away after coming this far?”

A fierce grin crossed his face.

“Good.”

“Then I'll finally get some of that 'real combat experience' here.”

Yu Seola nodded as well.

“Let's go in.”

“We need to confirm whether our disciples are really inside as quickly as possible.”

I looked between them.

Then turned toward the entrance.

“Let's go.”

And I was the first to enter the hidden cave.

The narrow, damp passage twisted like the insides of a serpent.

We had to crouch and crawl just to move through it.

Even turning around was difficult.

Every time my shoulder brushed against the stone, I felt its rough surface scrape against my clothes.

I had no idea how long we had been crawling when...

the darkness ahead suddenly began to brighten.

“The space... is getting wider.”

Yu Seola whispered from behind me.

I felt along the end of the passage with my hands.

Then carefully pushed my body forward.

What spread out before me wasn't a narrow cave.

There's a stone chamber in a place like this?

Contrary to my expectations...

the interior was enormous.

Stone pillars stood throughout the chamber.

Torches had been placed at regular intervals along the walls, illuminating the space.

This was definitely not something that could have been built overnight.

And in the center of the chamber...

people were lying on the floor.

The missing Kunlun disciples.

Hyeongwon immediately tried to rush forward.

I grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.

“Wait.”

He glared at me.

“Why? Our people are right there!”

“Think about it.”

I kept my voice low.

“What does it mean that the missing people are here?”

I held my breath and carefully scanned the surroundings.

Then...

“Hide.”

I pushed Hyeongwon and Yu Seola between the nearby pillars.

A moment later...

Step... step... step....

From a dark opening at the far end of the chamber...

around a dozen people emerged in a line.

As they came closer...

I realized they looked nothing like what I had expected.

...They're not Shadow Corps.

They weren't wearing the black uniforms normally used by the Shadow Corps.

But they didn't look like members of the Demonic Cult either.

There wasn't even the slightest trace of demonic qi coming from them.

Who the hell are these people?

Hyeongwon whispered,

“Are those the Demonic Cult bastards?”

“Shh.”

I raised a finger, signaling him to stay quiet.

Then...

the dozen or so people began moving apart.

Almost as though opening a path.

And through the middle...

someone slowly stepped forward.