Chapter 83: The Treasury
My desire for revenge against Moyong Cheonhwi burned hotter than ever.
But I forced myself to calm down.
Now wasn't the time to draw the blade hidden inside my heart.
Instead, I smiled at Moyong Cheonhwi.
“I will devote myself to training so that one day I can show you the sword of True Immortal Cheongun that you are so curious about.”
For a moment...
something unusual flashed through Moyong Cheonhwi's eyes.
He continued watching me with interest.
“Yes...”
“I hope that day comes soon.”
“It won't take that long.”
I answered respectfully.
But inwardly...
That's right.
Just wait.
Because that will be the day you fall into hell.
Completely unaware of my true thoughts, Moyong Cheonhwi nodded with a bright expression.
“I'll look forward to it.”
“Then I hope you manage to find something useful in the treasury.”
“...Thank you, Alliance Leader.”
I bowed and gave a martial salute.
Reading the atmosphere, Elder Yu Gwangcheol spoke smoothly.
“Alliance Leader, then we will take our leave.”
“Of course.”
Moyong Cheonhwi smiled.
“I look forward to meeting the people of Kunlun again.”
After offering us his final farewell...
he turned toward the subordinates standing behind him.
“Guide them.”
One of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“I will escort you to the treasury.”
As we prepared to leave, Taoist Wonho looked at Yu Gwangcheol.
“Then take care on your way back.”
He sounded genuinely reluctant to part.
Yu Gwangcheol gave him a lukewarm nod.
Master Baekheo pressed his palms together in farewell, while Namgung Changmin gave us a martial salute.
We returned the greeting...
then turned away.
“Young Hero Mujin, this way.”
Moyong Cheonhwi's subordinate led us toward the treasury.
We followed at an easy pace.
After walking for quite some time...
Jin Gwangung suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.
“By the way, brat.”
I looked at him.
“Yes? What is it, Master?”
“What do you mean, what?”
He frowned.
“Why did you turn down that pill and choose the treasury instead?”
He clicked his tongue.
“What could possibly be in there that's worth anything?”
I smiled lightly.
“You never know.”
“Maybe I'll find some incredible treasure no one else has ever discovered.”
“Incredible treasure?”
Jin Gwangung snorted.
“You've finally lost your mind.”
He shook his head.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Yu Gwangcheol, walking beside us, didn't say anything...
but he was probably thinking the same thing.
If only they knew what kind of bastard Moyong Cheonhwi really is.
Then they wouldn't say that.
But what could I do?
It wasn't as though I could tell them the truth here.
So I simply let Jin Gwangung's complaints go in one ear and out the other as we continued walking.
Eventually...
we reached our destination.
The treasury.
Its entrance was sealed behind a thick iron door.
Two Righteous Alliance martial artists stood on either side, holding spears.
Moyong Cheonhwi's subordinate bowed toward me.
“From here onward, Young Hero must enter alone.”
His tone remained respectful.
“As the Alliance Leader said...”
“you may take one item from inside.”
“Anything you wish.”
I looked toward Jin Gwangung and Yu Gwangcheol.
Jin Gwangung waved one hand dismissively.
“Go on and get it over with.”
“Don't waste all day playing treasure hunter.”
Yu Gwangcheol spoke more calmly.
“I hope you find something you like.”
I bowed to both of them.
Then turned back toward the iron door.
Moyong Cheonhwi's subordinate gave the guards a slight nod.
A moment later...
Creeeeeak.
The heavy iron door slowly opened.
Huu.
I took a breath.
Then stepped inside.
The first thing I saw upon entering the treasury...
was weapons.
They were everywhere.
Swords and spears densely covered the walls and racks.
On one side, suits of armor, metal plates, and various weapons had been neatly stacked in layers.
And between them...
boxes filled with Night Pearls, jade ornaments, gold bars, and other valuables reflected soft light throughout the room.
To an ordinary person...
the sight would have been dazzling.
But...
...There really isn't anything that special.
To me, it all looked rather ordinary.
There were plenty of decent weapons...
but none were on the level of legendary divine weapons.
The jade ornaments and gold could probably be sold for a respectable amount of money...
but they were useless to me.
Still... you never know.
I slowly walked through the treasury, examining the weapons with my eyes.
The patterns on sword sheaths.
The material of spearheads.
The joints of armor.
Even from appearances alone...
I could roughly judge their quality.
Hmm....
I even slid open the lid of a nearby box filled with Night Pearls.
Their soft glow illuminated the back of my hand...
but my heart didn't stir in the slightest.
If this is all there is... I might as well grab something random and leave.
It wasn't like I'd entered with particularly high expectations anyway.
I was about to reach toward one of the Night Pearls when...
Ding!
A familiar sound...
one I hadn't heard in a long time...
rang in my ears.
Huh...?
Then a voice echoed directly inside my head.
[An object reacting to the Awakened's energy exists nearby.]
...What?
I immediately raised my head.
An object reacting to my energy?
What was that supposed to mean?
Was there some martial arts manual nearby?
I took a breath and slowly looked around.
Then...
...Huh? What's that?
At the edge of my vision...
I saw a faint blue light.
It came from a dark corner deeper inside the treasury.
I rushed toward it immediately.
