Chapter 583: One Man, but Worth a Hundred

TL: FoodieMonster007

"He seems confident he can hold out for at least ten days."

Whatever his inner thoughts, the Fist Demon showed no outward signs of worry. The Flower Sword Supreme was similarly composed.

"I don't know what kind of enemy we're facing, but it won't be easy for them to be with the Young Cult Leader for ten whole days."

The Fist Demon and Lee Ahn smiled together at her joke. Geom Mugeuk was the type of person who could inspire laughter even in a situation like this. This was the faith that he and the Demon Supremes had in the Young Cult Leader.

"Since Mugeuk set a deadline, why don't we wait?" the Fist Demon suggested politely.

The Flower Sword Supreme readily agreed. "Let's do that."

From the circumstances, it seemed Geom Mugeuk had gone underground with the enemy.

Of course, the Fist Demon had no intention of waiting idly. He said to Lee Ahn, "Send word to the All-Knowing Hall and tell them to report all movements related to the Yellow Dragon Academy. Also, confirm that Mugeuk is not at the Yellow Dragon Academy or anywhere nearby."

"Yes, I'll do that."

The All-Knowing Hall, along with the Hidden Moon, was already mobilizing all its information networks for this matter. They would contact this location immediately if even the slightest unusual sign appeared.

The Fist Demon did not let his guard down. He addressed the Flower Sword Supreme again.

"I think we should consider the possibility that other powerful enemies might come to their aid."

If the opponent was formidable enough to make Geom Mugeuk tense, they could certainly have outstanding subordinates or call upon other enemies for help.

"They might try to hunt him in a pack."

This meant they could have driven Geom Mugeuk underground before swarming him as a group.

The Flower Sword Supreme replied politely to the Fist Demon's words. "I will prepare as well."

The Flower Sword Supreme knew the Fist Demon was more than just a man with a frightening face. He had endured all sorts of trials in the murim alongside the Cult Leader since his youth. In an urgent situation, his judgment was trustworthy.

After his conversation with the Flower Sword Supreme ended, the Fist Demon finally turned to his daughter.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, I'm fine."

The Flower Sword Supreme stepped aside to give the father and daughter space to talk. "Then I'll head inside first."

Lee Ahn quickly told the Flower Sword Supreme, "Sword Supreme, if you need anything or if there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask."

"I will."

Before turning to leave, the Flower Sword Supreme added one more thing. "Commander Lee, you've had an achievement in your martial arts, haven't you?"

Indeed, the Flower Sword Supreme had recognized Lee Ahn's progress. Having achieved complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art and greatly increased her inner arts, there was no way the Flower Sword Supreme would fail to notice the change in her.

"I was lucky."

"Congratulations. It's a great achievement considering your age. I hadn't reached this level at your age."

"You praise me too much."

Lee Ahn performed a clasped hands greeting and bowed her head politely. She didn't want to miss this good opportunity to meet the Sword Supreme.

"I still have so much to learn. I would be truly grateful if you could spare some time to teach me, even for a moment."

Though it was a difficult request, the Flower Sword Supreme readily agreed. "I would like that as well."

The Flower Sword Supreme was not just being polite, she was sincere. She knew well that the enlightenment gained from teaching was as great as the enlightenment gained from learning.

In that respect, there could be no better subject than Lee Ahn. She was still thirsty for training.

The Flower Sword Supreme started walking towards the building. As she entered and walked down a corridor, she saw the Fist Demon and Lee Ahn talking in the distance through a window.

Her gaze turned to the smiling Fist Demon.

Is he that happy?

While working together as Demon Supremes, had she ever seen the Fist Demon make such an expression? She hadn't seen him smile once on their way here.

Suddenly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to her mind. He now doted on Geom Mugeuk like a son, but he too had a fateful moment to have a child. And so had she.

She didn't regret it. She had lived thinking it was the best choice at the time.

However, seeing that smile bloom on the Fist Demon's face today, a smile rarer than a spiritual herb, she couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to live a different life, just once.

The mechanism arrived underground.

When the door opened, a young man was waiting in front.

"You've arrived?"

The man, who had politely greeted the Sword King, glanced at Geom Mugeuk.

"Here's the new recruit," the Sword King announced.

A flicker of welcome crossed the man's face, but that welcome soon turned to disappointment.

"Is it just one this time?"

"Is that not enough?"

"No."

They had rested for a while, but everyone was very tired. He had expected at least five or six people to be brought down this time.

The Sword King took off his shoe and smacked the man's butt with it.

"Wipe that look off your face! It's only one man, but he's worth a hundred."

He had taken off his shoes as soon as he came down here. "It's a rough place, so shoes get torn up quickly."

After tying his shoes to his waist, the Sword King started walking and went ahead.

The man's eyes, looking at Geom Mugeuk, were filled with doubt.

You're really worth a hundred men?

The handsome fellow before him seemed far too removed from the rough work done here.

The man turned and followed where the Sword King had walked.

"You have to follow me, stepping exactly where I step. One wrong step and you die!"

The path inside was incredibly complex. They had to pass through an area where mechanisms had been dismantled, and the floor they had to step on also changed dizzily from yellow to red, then to blue.

"Don't even think about coming out alone."

The man was sure that no one could memorize the path by following it just once. In fact, a precise map was being drawn in Geom Mugeuk's head. He might have to escape this place if things went wrong, so Geom Mugeuk did his utmost to memorize the path.

This place was truly dangerous. It was full of mechanisms that had not yet been completely dismantled, and protruding blades were everywhere.

"We have to jump over there in one go. You can do it, right?"

"Just a moment. Let me catch my breath."

Geom Mugeuk feigned exhaustion. He wanted to talk with the man for a bit.

"My name is Geom Yeon."

"I'm Hong In."

Hong In asked Geom Mugeuk with a slightly pitying look. "What kind of money do you need that made you come here?"

"I… came because of my master."

"Master? You mean Big Bro?"

These men called the Sword King "Big Bro." He probably hadn't taught them, so he wouldn't have been a master. From the title, Geom Mugeuk could guess how the Sword King treated them.

"He has something that draws people in."

Hong In nodded as if he agreed with that point.

"Still, you wouldn't have come if he said he wouldn't give you money, would you?"

At the look that said 'you came for the money, so don't give me that nonsense', Geom Mugeuk readily admitted it.

"You're right. It's for the money."

"Alright, jump."

Hong In leaped with an 'I knew it' expression. Geom Mugeuk jumped after him.

"You jump just fine, so what's with the act!"

Hong In led the way again. Geom Mugeuk could see that there were far more mechanisms installed than he had thought. There must have been numerous casualties in the process of breaking through this place.

The two men arrived in a wide space. The trainees were gathered around the Sword King, who had arrived first. Their gazes naturally turned to Geom Mugeuk. Wary eyes wondered who this person joining them was.

Geom Mugeuk also observed them carefully.

First, they were exhausted. The fatigue was palpable.

However, their eyes held passion and fervor.

They were all people who had come voluntarily to earn money. They were all dreamers.

However, Geom Mugeuk read something else in them.

It was madness.

Young men were enduring this suffocating, perilous place where their comrades were dying, thinking only of money. How could they endure without going mad?

They probably thought they were holding up well, but Geom Mugeuk could feel that their eyes were not normal. Gathered together with similar people, they probably couldn't tell what state they were in.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King.

Can't you see that weary madness?

Was he pretending not to see it for his goal, or was he unable to feel it because he was with them?

Geom Mugeuk greeted them brightly in a loud voice.

"I'm the new recruit from the White Dragon Class, Geom Yeon. I look forward to working with you!"

At the words "White Dragon Class," everyone started murmuring. It was the first time someone from the White Dragon Class had come here.

Even though the Sword King was present, one of the trainees couldn't hold back and asked, "How did someone from the White Dragon Class end up here?"

"That just shows how smart and strong my martial arts are, doesn't it? Ah, you ask why someone with such skills entered the White Dragon Class?"

Despite the focused gazes, Geom Mugeuk remained relaxed.

"There were circumstances."

"What circumstances?"

"When a man makes a choice that's hard to understand, what reason could there be? It's a woman problem."

At that moment, a few of the trainees laughed. The sounds were a mix of disbelief and empathy.

It was the first time he saw their expressions relax. When they laughed like this, they looked similar to the trainees above ground.

In any case, the Sword King had brought him, and they figured that for him to speak so boldly in the Sword King's presence meant he wasn't trying to deceive them.

"Where do we sleep? Where's my spot? Ah, I came down in such a hurry I couldn't bring anything."

Instead of ordering a subordinate, the Sword King personally stepped forward to guide him.

"Follow me."

The Sword King first took him to the sleeping quarters.

A large room had been carved out of the wall, and shabby wooden beds were lined up in rows. It seemed everyone here was on equal footing, as there were no better or worse spots.

"The beds are too small and hard, aren't they?" Geom Mugeuk sat on the edge of a bed and bounced his hips.

"If it's too comfortable, you just get more idle thoughts."

"Isn't that the perspective of the one giving the orders?"

"I sleep here too."

"That's not a reason for it to be uncomfortable."

The Sword King stared at Geom Mugeuk and gave another reason. "Thanks to this, they've become much stronger."

"Ah! Then I must lie down."

Geom Mugeuk flopped down on the bed.

The Sword King stood beside him, looking down at Geom Mugeuk. Lying on the bed, Geom Mugeuk silently stared up at the ceiling.

"As expected, it's already suffocating now that I'm underground."

The Sword King started walking again, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind him.

He had to be careful even while walking. Blades protruded from various places in the living space. He sensed they had been left that way as a reminder not to let one's guard down.

Trickle. Trickle.

Following the sound of water, they came to a place where groundwater was flowing down.

"If you need to wash, you can wash here."

The Sword King took out some basic necessities from a wooden box in the corner and gave them to him. He knew where everything was in every nook and cranny of this place.

The last place he guided him to was where the excavation had been halted.

An iron wall blocked the way forward in the cave.

The Sword King had described it as digging the ground, but to be precise, the task was to dig through this iron wall. The wall was covered in unknown letters and patterns, which gave off a vaguely dangerous feeling.

"This is the final gateway."

"How do you know it's the last one?"

"Because we've done enough. Because I don't want to do any more."

It was a joke laced with sincerity, so Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.

Geom Mugeuk, who had been staring intently at the iron wall, placed his palm on it. The cold energy felt like a warning.

Do not enter further.

This wall wouldn't be all there was. A dangerous final gateway must be waiting.

What lies at the end?

The Sword King had said it. That he could become stronger here. What on earth was here?

"Who made this place?"

"I don't know either. I only know it was made a very long time ago. But I'm certain that there are ultimate martial arts and an incredible treasure here."

You don't want that, do you? Geom Mugeuk thought. You're someone who gave me the huge sum of three hundred thousand taels without hesitation.

Geom Mugeuk turned his back to the iron wall.

"Alright, now that we're here, please tell me. Why do you need me? It's not like I have some special talent for breaking through this gateway."

The Sword King's answer was unexpected.

"To be honest, I'm tired too. This final gateway will be truly dangerous. There will be many casualties."

He didn't continue, as if that was all there was to it.

Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise, "Don't tell me you mean for me to save the trainees?"

Surprisingly, the Sword King nodded.

"Because I won't be enough on my own. That's one of the biggest reasons I called for you."

As if he had said all he needed to, the Sword King turned and started to walk away. Then, Geom Mugeuk asked from behind.

"Do you really intend to let these trainees live?"

The Sword King's steps halted.

"When the secret vault containing ultimate martial arts and all sorts of treasures is opened, the trainees will see it too. Of course, with you here, they won't dare to be greedy. But once they return to the world, they will one day spread rumors. That you obtained ultimate martial arts and treasure from this place. That they were there."

To that, the Sword King replied, "What's wrong with that?"

Yes, the Sword King he had seen so far might not care, just as his answer suggested. What did it matter if rumors spread? He possessed skills that no one could take from him.

However, there was a reason Geom Mugeuk had brought this up.

Before his regression, no rumors of such a treasure being discovered had ever spread. He had never heard that the person who spread such a rumor was a trainee from a martial arts academy. Did all these people keep the secret?

Or did you kill them all?

The Sword King turned to face Geom Mugeuk.

"So? Are you suggesting I kill them all to silence them?"

"Wouldn't that be cleaner?"

Terrifying words were exchanged, but the taut tension that had been between the two men vanished.

"Then you can take care of that too."

The Sword King laughed, and Geom Mugeuk laughed along with him.

"It was a joke. You know the rumors about me, don't you?"

The Sword King gazed at Geom Mugeuk and said, "Yes, the Young Cult Leader from the rumors would save those kids."

Their gazes locked in mid-air.

How much of it was truth, and how much was a lie?

Geom Mugeuk felt that as long as the man stood before him barefoot, and as long as they didn't go beyond this wall, he would not be able to find the answer.

He turned back to look at the iron wall, then gently pressed his ear against it.

"Do you hear anything?"

"I do."

The Sword King asked in surprise, "What sound?"

"To get the job done safely…" Geom Mugeuk even closed his eyes gently, concentrating his mind. "It says we need good beds and soft bedding."