Chapter 39

Rrrrrumble—!!

Honestly, I didn’t ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) think it would work.

That was the thought that rose in the old man as he watched the wall change.

[......Huh.......]

He let out a thin breath when he saw the young man gripping his sword and panting.

It was absurd.

“You told him to try, and he actually...?”

He’d tossed it out as a joke—go find it if you can—and the brat went and did it. Nonsense.

“...Using the Moon Eyes like that, sure, maybe.”

Eyes that see truth in the dark.

Once you open the Moon Eyes and grow accustomed to the Blue Moon Heart Art, you can wield that power.

It doesn’t end at merely brightening the world; it lets you see more.

But only after the internal art climbs to a certain height.

Yet—

[What is that brat.]

That brat, Bang Sungyeon, opened his eyes as if it were nothing.

He added rotation to the internal art and carried it to the eyes. Easy to say—enduring it is another matter.

[How.......]

Pulling off what he hadn’t even been taught, as if it were nothing, beggared belief.

Truthfully, even that much was fine.

Judged by the old man’s own standard, it was.

When he was alive, the moment he set the internal art into his body, he opened the Moon Eyes; before half a month passed, he could already employ their uses.

Yet—

[What is that brat.]

Bang Sungyeon is different from that. I mean different from pure-born prodigies who possess raw talent.

[He clearly has no talent for martial theory.]

It’s painfully ambiguous to call him a genius. His instinct is markedly dull.

How to move, how to set the flow—that realization comes slow.

But—

“Tell him, and he executes perfectly.”

It isn’t abstract—once he senses it through possession, he reproduces it with pristine clarity.

He says if he’s felt it once himself, he can just memorize it and do it.

“What is he even saying.”

The current of an internal art is that delicate, and the possibilities that unfurl in that moment are legion.

He memorizes all of it in an instant and performs it? With his body, no less?

It makes no sense.

And this time was no different.

“The passage opened.”

The wall slid and revealed an entrance. Bang Sungyeon started toward it with a flat face.

[Boy.]

The old man called him.

“Yes?”

[How did you know?]

“What do you mean? Ah.”

Bang Sungyeon clicked a small smile, as if something had dawned on him.

“It was obvious, so I just knew.”

[What?]

“You shove me forward and then pretend you don’t know.”

[......What?]

The old man’s brow creased at Bang Sungyeon’s words.

What is he talking about?

“The guide line and the way to open the entrance—one by one you leaked just enough for me to notice.”

[.......]

He wasn’t wrong. He had indeed pressed him to push the inner sight deeper, and he had scattered hints in a “try to notice it” way.

But that wasn’t what the old man was asking now.

[Set that aside... at the very last instant, when you used Moon Wave.]

“Yes? Right.”

[Why didn’t you cut the wall?]

At the moment the qi-laden blade brushed the wall—

Bang Sungyeon let it pass by without slicing it.

[Why did you do that?]

The old man couldn’t understand.

Why would Bang Sungyeon choose that?

Puzzled no matter how he turned it over, he asked.

“There you go again.”

Bang Sungyeon’s face said he was deeply annoyed.

“You already knew everything—why do this again?”

[.......]

He was obviously misunderstanding something. Did he think the old man had foreseen and arranged even the final stroke?

No need to deny it.

If he said yes, the brat would puff up; nauseating.

[......Just answer.]

“Hm.”

Pressed, Bang Sungyeon made an odd face and then spoke.

“There aren’t any marks on the wall.”

[What?]

“The blue line is clearly drawn, but there are no other sword-marks.”

He skimmed his palm over the wall. There truly were no other traces.

“I could tell I had to do something with qi, but... there aren’t any marks, and the wall doesn’t seem to regenerate on its own, so that leaves one thing.”

His voice stayed, as ever, level.

“You have to cut the wall with qi alone without touching the wall.”

[......!]

“Is that right?”

He looked at the old man and asked. The old man stared into his eyes for a beat, then finally nodded.

[......Yes. Correct.]

“What, was that a key-check?”

With a faint laugh, Bang Sungyeon started down the passage.

The old man simply watched his back.

“How curious.”

It was truly curious.

“That there’s a human I don’t understand.”

Not once in his previous life had that happened.

****

We went in a little farther past the entrance. Thunk—! A sound behind made me look back; the open mouth had long since shut.

“...How are we supposed to get out like that...?”

[Pay it no mind. There’s always a way.]

I asked because it made me uneasy; the old man told me not to fuss.

“Why is he like that?”

His face puzzled me.

Something in his expression was... off.

“Didn’t I get it right?”

I was sure I’d given him exactly the answer he wanted, but his face said something still rubbed him wrong.

Ah—maybe.

“He doesn’t want to hand over the sword...?”

He’d said if I solved the problem he’d give me something better than a Wrought-Iron Sword. That face—was it because he didn’t want to?

“Very possible.”

Given that temper, he very well could.

“If you’re dead, drop a little greed.”

Why covet someone else’s Wrought-Iron Sword? I didn’t get it.

A short walk later, another door. I grabbed and pulled.

Screeech—!

The rust fought me, but a little strength and it swung without a hitch.

I stepped straight in.

The second vault. The sight made my eyes widen.

“...This is...”

[Heh.]

Yoo Cheongil looked over the condition and let a smile crease his lips.

[Thankfully, this one’s intact.]

“......”

The space was narrower than the first, but it looked stuffed with things.

Didn’t look like anything of true value... mostly junk, if I’m honest.

“...There are more elixirs in here?”

I eyed Yoo Cheongil, dubious.

It looked like a real storeroom—elixirs, here?

[That suspicious stare doesn’t suit you.]

“This is a space where there doesn’t seem to be a single elixir. And what’s this?”

I picked up something rolling at my feet.

“This... a wrist guard you wear on your—ugh—dust.”

The dust plume was ridiculous the moment I lifted it. Why stock this crap?

[Ah, that. I took it off that Overlord bastard back in the day.]

“...Sorry?”

Who?

I stiffened a hair.

“Who...?”

[There’s an Overlord. Man of few words, foul-tempered.]

“......”

That’s not what I asked.

Do I look like I don’t know who he is?

“If it’s the Overlord... he’s the lord of Xi’an.”

Overlord Muk Yeokseong.

The absolute of the Xi’an region, one of the Five Kings Under Heaven.

“...Why is the Overlord’s thing here?”

[I just told you. I took it.]

“I mean why.”

[A hobby.]

“A hobby...?”

[Yes. A hobby.]

What kind of hobby leads to stashing something like this? I stared, baffled.

[Why? If you want it, I’ll give it.]

“......”

I paused.

Want it? Of course I did.

“It’s the Overlord’s wrist guard.”

Could be no ordinary item—and even if it wasn’t, I could sell it or put it to use.

“...I’ll pass.”

I set the wrist guard back on the floor.

[Why? Your eyes just screamed that you wanted it.]

“I told you last time.”

I sighed.

“...You don’t touch a ghost’s things lightly.”

You treat what the dead left behind with care. I can’t let the karma clinging to it latch onto me.

[Hah. The same brat who was drooling over elixirs and a Wrought-Iron Sword is backing out now?]

“That’s because those were things you meant to give me. I paid a proper price; that’s different.”

[Then why not this? I mean to give this too.]

“Don’t lie.”

I cut him off, flat.

“You weren’t going to give it.”

[Heh heh.......]

Yoo Cheongil’s face said I’d hit the mark.

Yeah. The damned vile spirit never meant to hand over anything—he was just testing me.

[Your nose for things is quick, at least.]

“Thank you. Enough jokes... the elixir now, please? We can’t stall.”

[Hm.]

He breathed out, as if reluctant. No idea why he keeps playing around since we came down here.

“Quickly.”

[There.]

At last, under my prodding, he pointed. A box wedged among antiques.

Much smaller than the one in the first room.

That one needed both hands; this one I could lift lightly with one.

“This one’s real... right?”

I grabbed the box with a nervous heart and—

Press.

“...For f— sake.”

It wouldn’t open. Felt familiar.

I started the Blue Moon Heart Art and applied force, just in case.

Click.

Of course the box answered.

“...Just to ask—is this one from the Tang Clan too?”

[Oh...... You finally have an eye for it. Yes, that’s another astonishing masterpiece, and—]

“That much I don’t need.”

[Tch.]

“......”

Childish didn’t begin to cover it.

Whatever. Opening it is all that matters.

“...Hoo.”

Half open, and a tremendous fragrance poured from within.

Nothing like the empty box.

When it opened fully—

“...Hah...”

I couldn’t help the breath that escaped at what lay inside.

Elixirs.

No question. Nothing else could carry a fragrance so pristine and pure.

What was odd—

“It’s blue.”

For some reason, the elixir was blue.

[Good. That one survived.]

From Yoo Cheongil’s reaction, this was what we were after.

“...This is...”

[Swallow it quickly. Once opened, the longer you wait the more the efficacy— You already swallowed it.]

I’d scooped and dropped it in my mouth mid-sentence.

“You told me to eat it.”

[Even so... most people at least wonder if it’s dangerous before they eat it.]

“If you’re going to keep pulling that crap even after we came this far, I’ll just eat it and die.”

[...Impressive brat.]

I meant it. If he planned to pull anything here, better to swallow and die.

Besides—

“I can tell from the smell.”

I’ve never seen a Grand Rejuvenation Pill or a Purple Millet Pill, but I could tell this was an extraordinary elixir.

[Fold your legs.]

The moment he spoke, I dropped and set my posture.

By the way—

“What elixir is this? From the look of it... is it Wudang’s Nine-Dragon Pill?”

Not a so-called divine pill, but Wudang’s prized refinement.

They said it carried a blue hue. Maybe that?

“Even if it’s not Grand Rejuvenation Pill level, if it’s Nine-Dragon—no complaints.”

I’m in no position to be picky. The fact I can take one is good enough.

I was about to move my qi when—

[Ah, that.]

The old man picked his nose and told me.

[It’s the Blue Moon Pill.]

“The Blue Moon Pill?”

A name I’d never heard in my life.

There’s an elixir like that?

[An elixir only the Blue Moon Sect Sect Master may take, generation after generation.]

“...Sorry?”

The added explanation was bizarre.

...Only the Sect Master may take it?

[Back then, the next Sect Master’s share was pilfered and squirreled away. Never thought it would be used like this. Fortunate, isn’t it?]

“...What?”

Pilfered and squirreled away? If it was the next Sect Master’s share—

“Doesn’t that mean Moonlit Sword should have taken it?!”

I shouted, eyes wide.

“Why are you saying this now? Say it before I eat it!”

[I forgot. And who stuffed it down like a starving dog—don’t get shameless on me.]

“If I’d heard that first, I would’ve thought!”

[Sure you would have... Ah, I forgot one more thing.]

“...What.”

I was still reeling from the last bit, and there’s more?

I asked, full of dread.

[In a moment the qi will explode in your body. If you can’t endure it, you die.]

“Pardon?”

[If you die, it inconveniences me, so I trust you’ll live.]

“You crazy old bastard—what kind of insane—”

Thunk—!

“...!”

A heavy jolt thudded through my body.

I snapped my mouth shut and clutched my heart.

[Heh.]

Yoo Cheongil’s laughter reached me.

[I promise you—just endure. If you endure—]

Thud—! Thud, thud—!

Like detonations, shock after shock blasted through my body.

[A new world will open to you.]

Wooooom—!

With his words, my consciousness was dragged past the edge of the explosion and vanished.