Chapter 544
“I’m heading into the depths of the dark ruins with Mangnyang.”
The ruins grew darker and deeper as we went. Just as we emerged from a cave, an open space appeared ahead, and the sound grew louder as we walked through the corridor.
BOOM!
CRACKLE!!!
The sound was incredibly huge and almost deafening. But as I strolled down the corridor, decorated in the style of the old Balhae, I realized the nature of the noise, and my expression changed.
“… Someone’s striking something!”
“That’s right.”
As we moved forward, a grand spectacle unfolded before us.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Heavenly Lightning filled the sky!
A tremendous bolt of lightning erupted, continuously pounding against a massive door. It seemed like thousands of bolts were attacking with terrifying speed, each like a spear or a sword, packed with immense potential. A barrage of strikes stung my vision like a storm of arrows.
Then, after a while, the deafening noise subsided, and a figure made of blue lightning appeared before us, transforming into a human form. Of course, it was Lee Cheong-un, wielding the Thunder Spirit, striking the giant door. Upon seeing me, he smiled.
“Oh, Baek Woong! Have you finally acquired the Thunder Blade?”
“Can you tell just by looking?”
“You’re not the type to rush out without training.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed by his words, I scratched my head. Mangnyang, standing next to me, spoke up.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion, but is breaking down this door really impossible?”
“Hmm, it won’t budge. That door doesn’t open physically.”
Lee Cheong-un sighed and continued, “Having the Heavenly Spirit Pill, I’ve increased my infinite inner power and poured it all into the power of the Thunder Spirit, striking it for seven full days and nights. With just one hit of my Thunder Spirit, I could turn that massive gate into scrap metal, but at this point, even a hundred thousand tons of explosives wouldn’t break it.”
“……”
I stared at the door ahead with a dazed look. It wrapped around a circular space, seemingly dried together, and without opening the door, it felt impossible to enter.
“What if we excavated the outside of the door? Like digging a tunnel underground…”
Lee Cheong-un pointed out a space with his index finger. There lay evidence of a gigantic tunnel and what looked like cliff cuts. He said, “It seems that what we see isn’t the only barrier. Even trying from different angles appeared to block us as if the very space itself was shifting.”
“Hmm!” Mangnyang commented, “Baek Woong, let me explain what’s going on. We’ve gathered and researched quite a bit of Balhae literature since we came to these ruins, but we discovered that the most important secret of the Balhae royal family lies within that royal estate. We’ve been trying to open the royal door since the seventh night, but we’ve had no luck.”
“The royal estate?” I sharply gazed at the immense iron door.
“That must be a powerful barrier sealed with immense techniques.”
“We think the same. That’s definitely a barrier crafted with the last strength of the Balhae royal family. Just to be sure, we’ve attempted to open it but if Lee Cheong-un can’t break it, then no one in this world can, not even with brute force.”
“Then we have no choice but to call Cheon Woo-jin?”
“That’s the only option…”
Lee Cheong-un added, “Baek Woong, there’s another method. It’s to obtain the key for that door.”
“Key?”
I followed Lee Cheong-un forward. Right in front of the iron door, he pulled out the Silver Phoenix Fragment from his pocket, and strangely enough, it fit perfectly into the door’s engraving. But the door didn’t budge at all.
I realized something as I watched.
“It only goes in the left side.”
“Exactly. Just as you said. That fragment is certainly the key to opening this royal door but… it appears there are two keys. Both the left and right engravings must be fitted with fragments to open it.”
“Hmm!”
So I need to obtain another Phoenix Fragment?
I pondered and said, “But in my past life, Mangnyang, who ran the Bancheon Alliance, uncovered some of the truths about the Balhae royal family’s secret and the Earth Spirit.”
“It’s likely that Mangnyang back then got both fragments that serve as keys to open the door. I’ve gathered quite a bit of information from the ruins of the Aspire of the Heavenly Spirit, but I haven’t managed to gather as much information as Mangnyang did back then.”
“Hmm.”
“There’s no other way to think but that they must’ve ‘opened the door’.”
Mangnyang continued calmly, “It must have been Heaven’s Fortune. And during that time, Mangnyang had operated the Bancheon Alliance for over ten years, investing all sorts of human resources and finances into it. Of course, compared to our current influence, it was humble, but it must have been a major faction capable of suppressing the Golden Eagle Guard alongside the White Lotus Sect.”
“Got it…”
“Unlike back then, we’ve only just now uncovered the existence of the royal family, so it might take at least ten years searching through the Central Plains to possibly find another Phoenix Fragment.”
“……”
I couldn’t help but silently lament.
‘Damn it! Why did I do something so stupid back then…’
If I hadn’t fought Bi Gang-jang so recklessly to showcase my martial arts to Mangnyang, I might not have died so easily near Jinrang Valley. And if I had escaped with Mangnyang then, I could have obtained more information from him. Regretfully reflecting on my past foolishness was unavoidable, but what’s done is done.
I spoke heavily. “Then, for now, let’s bring Cheon Woo-jin and see if he can use his techniques to break the seal of the Balhae royal family.”
“We should.”
BOOM!
I went with Mangnyang to find Cheon Woo-jin. As soon as Mangnyang met him, he got straight to the point.
“Priest, I need your help with something.”
Cheon Woo-jin replied gruffly, “What do you want to have me do?”
“It’s not for free. I’ll pay you upfront.”
WHOOSH!
Mangnyang suddenly took out a splendid treasure, the Fire Adoration Flame. Seeing Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes widen slightly, he instantly tossed the treasure over without hesitation.
“This treasure is yours now. In exchange, I ask for one favor.”
“……”
CLAP!
Cheon Woo-jin accepted the Fire Adoration Flame and thoughtfully said, “Alright. If it’s something I can do, I’ll take care of it. What is it?”
“To open the Balhae royal family’s door.”
“Sounds interesting.”
WHOOSH!
We moved back to the door with Cheon Woo-jin. Showing him the Silver Phoenix Fragment, I explained the current situation. After listening, Cheon Woo-jin frowned slightly and said, “… This is a headache.”
He walked up to the sealed door and lightly patted it.
“This barrier is maintained by Grand Sorcerers who traded their lives for it. Moreover, the spirit itself is intertwined within the barrier, making it one of the most potent barriers in existence.”
“How powerful are we talking?”
WHOOSH!
Cheon Woo-jin tossed the Fire Adoration Flame back to Mangnyang and continued, “It’s not a worthwhile deal. Older Brother, let’s ignore this request.”
Mangnyang looked bewildered.
“What do you mean? Didn’t you say you endured the Divine Fever and became a Grand Sorcerer if not even higher? If a sorcerer like you can’t break it…”
“Hoo, Brother. It’s true my realm has improved greatly, but… there’s a cause-and-effect in sorcery. This barrier is formed through immense grudges and self-sacrifice, and thus cannot be broken through sheer power. Self-sacrifice is the most powerful form of sealing in curses.”
Cheon Woo-jin pounded on the door.
“Listen. This represents the souls of Grand Sorcerers who pledged their loyalty to the Balhae royal family. At least a dozen sacrificed their lives to maintain this barrier and rejected reincarnation to become part of it. Frankly, this insane barrier is something I’ve never seen in my life.”
“……”
Oooooh!
I could definitely hear the anguished voices of spirits as if they were whispering in my ears. If I focused more on my Spirit Vision, I could probably see the souls of the sorcerers, but I didn’t want to witness such gruesome sights. I swallowed nervously and asked Cheon Woo-jin.
“Cheon Woo-jin, would you be able to open it without the key if you’re a legitimate heir of the Balhae royal family?”
“Hmm? Interesting idea.”
Cheon Woo-jin shook his head after a moment of thought. “… There’s potential in the legitimacy of your bloodline, but this barrier has only one way of being breached. You need to insert both Phoenix Fragments into their engravings. How will you find that bloodline after the fall of Balhae?”
“So it all comes down to the Phoenix Fragments…”
“Then take me there.”
Cheon Woo-jin said with a hint of annoyance, “I’m not done with my farming chores.”
“……”
Now that I think of it, this guy was busy farming…
I had no choice but to take Cheon Woo-jin back to the village before returning to the sealed door. Mangnyang stared intently at the door and said, “For now, Baek Woong, let’s head back to the base.”
“Got it.”
“There’s nothing we can do for now.”
BOOM!
We returned to Jangryeong Valley. There, Zhuge Sa was conversing with Mangnyang about something for quite a while and after about a meal’s worth of time, he called me over and said.
“Baek Woong, call Yeon Jong-hwi.”
“Why?”
“I think he might have a clue.”
I brought Yeon Jong-hwi as he requested. Zhuge Sa looked at him with calm eyes and said, “Yeon Jong-hwi, as you said, the two Phoenix Fragments are required to open it. How did you come up with that thought?”
Yeon Jong-hwi replied without hesitation, “I think I saw a similar design when I was young.”
“When you were young?”
Yeon Jong-hwi nodded and said, “As a descendant of the Yeon clan, we had many ancient books stacked in our house. I remember seeing a similar design while devouring those books when I was little.”
“Do you know where that book is now?”
“Well…”
Yeon Jong-hwi hesitated awkwardly before saying, “When I was sixteen, a band of thieves attacked the village, and our home burned to the ground.”
“You’re not lying, right?”
“Why would I lie? If it helps our cause, I’m ready to offer this Ink-scaled Long Bow as well. I serve Baek Woong as my lord.”
“What happened when you fought those thieves?”
“What else? I killed them all.”
“……”
So he was already a master archer back then?
While I marveled in my thoughts, Zhuge Sa asked his next question.
“Alright. You mentioned you were going to Zhongnan Mountain; what’s there?”
“I told you before. My parents said if I went there, I might learn the origin of my bloodline.”
“But usually, people don’t go without a specific goal in mind, be it a person or a ruin. There must’ve been something concrete that motivated you?”
“Hmm…”
Yeon Jong-hwi hesitated before answering, “To be honest, I was asked to find someone.”
“Why didn’t you mention this from the beginning?”
“Since you are all focused on helping with Baek Woong’s training, I thought it would be a distraction to bring up my personal circumstances.”
Zhuge Sa scoffed.
“You don’t have to worry about that. Don’t hide things from now on.”
“Got it.”
“So, who is this person?”
“Hmm… I was instructed to find a distant relative named Yeon Mu-rin.”
At that, Zhuge Sa’s eyebrows twitched.
“Yeon Mu-rin… Do you have any information about his age, appearance, or characteristics?”
“I don’t really know. However, my father mentioned that Yeon Mu-rin is exceptionally gifted and could easily be found. I heard that a family member of my father had taken him in.”
“Gifted? A martial artist?”
“That’s likely.”
Zhuge Sa pondered for a moment and said, “I’ve never heard of someone named Yeon Mu-rin. There doesn’t seem to be a prominent martial artist with that name.”
“I think so too.”
I’m somewhat familiar with the prominent experts of the Nine Great Sects, including the leaders of Jianghu. After all, I’ve been in Jianghu for dozens if not hundreds of years, so there’s hardly someone who knows it better than I do. Yet, Yeon Mu-rin was a name I had never heard of.
Then Mangnyang, who was standing next to me, said, “But Uncle, don’t you have a hunch?”
“Right. But it’s so absurd that…”
Zhuge Sa stroked his chin and said, “Delaying won’t bring good outcomes. Baek Woong, you should take action yourself.”
“Me?”
“Yes. The best situation would be you and Yeon Jong-hwi going together if the predictions are correct.”
He continued, “Go directly to the leader of Zhongnan Sect.”
BOOM!
I arrived with Yeon Jong-hwi at the lake near the place I had been before.
‘It’s been a while since I last came here.’
This secluded place on Zhongnan Mountain was specifically set aside for the leader of the Zhongnan Sect of the Nine Great Sects, and I knew that even elders rarely entered this area. As I observed a distant hut, a middle-aged man who was watching the lake turned his gaze towards us.
We were about seventy paces away.
For an ordinary person, this would’ve been a leisurely walk, but the middle-aged man used his technique to swiftly close the distance between us, appearing like a ghost, arriving just ten paces away in the blink of an eye. Truly a Peak Expert level technique.
He stared intently at me and slowly drew his sword.
SWISH!
“You’re a remarkable expert. Did you come to spar with me?”
“……”
I felt awkward. I might not lose if it turned to a fight, but still, creating a combat atmosphere unprovoked isn’t ideal. Fortunately, Yeon Jong-hwi, standing beside me, performed a martial salute to him.
“Wait! I am Yeon Jong-hwi. Are you the leader of Zhongnan Sect, Yeon Jeong-hong?”
He flinched.
“Y-Yeon Jong-hwi?”
He seemed a bit startled but then focused on the Ink-scaled Long Bow slung across Yeon Jong-hwi’s back.
“Young man, what business do you have with me?”
“Do you happen to know someone named Yeon Mu-rin?”
“……”
A silence lingered for a moment, and unable to endure it, he sighed and replied.
“Yes, that is my childhood name, now abandoned.”
“Then, could it be that…”
He spoke with an expression as if he had given up on something.
“Is your father’s name Yeon San-se (燕霰貰) by any chance?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hoo. Then you are my eighth cousin.”
He forced a smile at the absurdity of it all.
“I never expected you to come looking for me…”
“……”
Yeon Jeong-hong, the leader of the Zhongnan Sect from the Nine Great Sects, renowned as the “First Sword of Zhongnan,” was actually a descendant of the Yeon clan from the Spring and Autumn period and was Yeon Jong-hwi’s eighth cousin.
As we sat facing each other, he quietly began to muse.
“Did you come to find me for the purpose of blood ties?”
“That’s correct…”
Yeon Jeong-hong glanced at me and said, “Who is this person?”
“This is my lord, Baek Woong.”
“Baek Woong… That name is unfamiliar. But he’s quite skilled.”
He sighed and asked me, “What is your objective?”
I answered calmly, “I don’t intend to seize power or cause chaos in Jianghu. I’m simply a traveler with no business with the Zhongnan Sect.”
“Sounds nice regardless. So are you really here only to confirm blood ties?”
“That’s part of it, but I have another question.”
“What is it?”
Yeon Jong-hwi took out the Silver Phoenix Fragment from his pocket and showed it to Yeon Jeong-hong, saying, “Have you ever seen something like this?”
“……”
