Chapter 734: I Can't Stand Being the Only One Left Out

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Flower Sword Supreme gave up trying to memorize the path. She had attempted to keep a rough mental map after entering the cave, but now she abandoned the effort completely.

A glance back revealed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon following Geom Mugeuk with a relaxed expression. He, it seemed, had surrendered to the maze long ago.

She directed her question to Geom Mugeuk. "How do you know the way so well?"

"I guess you could say I was born with an instinct for it."

"Even the Cult Leader probably couldn't navigate this well. Do you have some kind of secret?"

"Just intuition!"

Geom Mugeuk called it intuition, but in truth, it was the hard-won result of training and experience. He knew this place, the Cave of Ten Thousand Paths, inside and out, yet his keen sense of direction was a skill honed by wandering through countless places in his life before regression. Back then, he had hated getting lost more than anything in the world, so he had forced himself to remember correctly to avoid treading the same ground twice.

A short while later, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's teasing voice cut through the silence. "Looks like your intuition led to a dead end!"

The path they had followed for some time terminated abruptly in a wall of solid rock.

"I had a really good feeling about this path." Geom Mugeuk muttered, refusing to accept it. He walked to the very end of the path and began examining the wall. "There's something down here."

He had found a narrow passage tucked away at the very bottom of the left wall. At a glance, the opening was completely hidden by a protruding rock. One would have to lie flat on the ground just to see it, making it a passage that ordinary people could never find. After navigating a complex maze, no one would press on to a clear dead end, get on the floor, and check both sides.

As for how had he found it back then? He hadn't found it from this side, but from the other side.

"As expected, the Young Cult Leader has a sharp eye," the Flower Sword Supreme praised.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, however, acted grumpy for no reason. "It was just a lucky find. How could he have known about that?"

"Half of the luck was thanks to you, Elder."

"Because of me?"

"Because you were teasing me, I came all the way to the end to find something."

"And the other half?"

Geom Mugeuk looked down toward the opening. "I felt a flow of air coming from this direction."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme exchanged a startled look. They hadn't realized Geom Mugeuk was paying attention to such subtle details.

"I'll go in first," Geom Mugeuk offered.

"Be careful," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said. No matter how grumpy he acted, he was the person most worried about Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk crawled on the ground and slipped into the passage. Soon, his voice echoed from within. "Come on in."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme followed him into the tight space.

The Blade Demon was naturally reluctant. "I can't believe I'm crawling for the first time in decades."

As the two Demon Supremes emerged from the passage, their eyes widened in admiration. They had found an independent space nestled between the cliffs, a world apart from the oppressive cave. Water flowed freely, while flowers, grass, and trees grew in abundance. It truly seemed like the perfect place to build a house and live in peace. Moreover, the unique terrain made it impossible to discover from the outside unless one jumped from the impossibly high cliff above.

Before his regression, Geom Mugeuk had climbed down that very cliff. To exaggerate a bit, he had been in a phase of climbing every cliff he could find. He had descended all the way down and discovered the hole, only learning that it connected to the Cave of Ten Thousand Paths after he entered.

So this place was this beautiful.

When he came here before, he had only scoured it for useful items, blind to the picturesque scenery.

"I'm going to go look around up there," Geom Mugeuk announced before leaping toward the cliff face.

While he was gone, the Flower Sword Supreme slowly surveyed the area. The first things that caught her eye were the flowers blooming in a corner, some of which she had never seen before. "It would be nice to build a house here someday and live quietly."

"Inviting guests wouldn't be easy," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon noted.

The Flower Sword Supreme smiled. He was right. It would be a house where not only the residents but also any visitors would have to be peerless masters capable of scaling the cliffs.

A moment later, Geom Mugeuk returned, carrying something unexpected. He held three peaches which emitted a brilliant glow and a spiritual energy so potent their fragrance was extraordinary.

"I found these on a tree halfway up the cliff. You must be hungry. Please have one."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes widened. "Could this be?! It's not a Heavenly Peach, is it?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Geom Mugeuk replied with a grin. "Why wouldn't it be?"

The fruits were, surprisingly, the miracle herbs known as Heavenly Peaches. Like the Immortal Stalactite Moss they had found earlier, they were a treasure rarely seen in the world.

"It's a spiritual herb known to be especially good for women. Your skin is already good, Sword Supreme, but now it'll be like a baby's. Here, please have one."

If the Immortal Stalactite Moss was more effective for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, this Heavenly Peach was a miracle herb perfectly suited for the Flower Sword Supreme.

Geom Mugeuk offered a Heavenly Peach to each of them. He had found Immortal Stalactite Moss and now Heavenly Peaches, and he was handing them out like fruit bought from a market stall.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't take a bite. "Miracle herbs all have their fated masters. This is your miraculous encounter, so you should consume them all."

The Flower Sword Supreme nodded, sharing his sentiment.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the two of them. Right, before his regression, he had eaten them all himself. "My miraculous encounter is the two of you," he said.

"!"

"You've seen how I do things until now, haven't you?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn't refute that. He knew better than anyone what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was and the efforts he had made. He also knew well that Geom Mugeuk would never eat the spiritual herbs alone. "Still, you should eat them."

Geom Mugeuk watched the Blood Heaven Blade Demon quietly for a moment, then said with a mischievous smile, "Alright. I'll eat two."

"Why two? It should be three!" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon protested, then glanced at the Flower Sword Supreme. She was inhaling the sweet fragrance of the Heavenly Peach.

"It wouldn't be polite to refuse too much, would it?" she said, indicating she intended to eat hers.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and held out his hand. "I'll just eat the Elder's then."

As Geom Mugeuk reached for the peach, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon swiftly pulled his hand back. It was one thing if they all abstained, but he couldn't stand being the only one left out. "Come to think of it, I do feel a bit hungry."

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud, and the two Demon Supremes smiled as well. How could they express their gratitude in words when he was so generously sharing such a spiritual fruit?

"Please, eat up. I've heard that a Heavenly Peach is most effective when consumed within five minutes of being picked."

Geom Mugeuk took a large bite of the peach in his hand. If a heavenly taste truly existed, this was it. A sweet juice he had never experienced before flowed out and slid instantly down his throat.

Though he had no further need for more inner qi, consuming the Heavenly Peach was still a worthwhile endeavor. Its effects went beyond enhancing inner qi. While it didn't grant immortality, it made the body resistant to disease and strengthened the five senses. It could even regrow lost hair and rejuvenate the skin.

"Ah, it's delicious!" he exclaimed.

At his cry, the Flower Sword Supreme also took a large bite. Although she usually ate elegantly, this time she did her best not to spill a single drop of juice. Her expression said everything about its taste. It was no exaggeration to call it the most delicious fruit she had ever eaten.

Following her lead, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also ate his Heavenly Peach.

"Sweet, so sweet."

Who would have thought that after leaving the Cult, he would get to eat a Heavenly Peach he had only ever heard about in legends? This journey with Geom Mugeuk was truly one unexpected and intriguing event after another.

The three of them sat down in their respective spots and began to circulate their qi, using their own unique cultivation methods to absorb the spiritual energy of the Heavenly Peach into their qi centers. Perhaps it was the pleasant fragrance emanating from inside and outside their bodies, but it felt more refreshing than absorbing any other miracle herb.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon opened his eyes after absorbing the immense energy into his qi center. Not only had his power increased, but his body also felt significantly lighter.

Geom Mugeuk, who had finished first, was already looking up at the small patch of sky visible between the cliffs. He had fortunately obtained both miraculous encounters he knew about in the Cave of Ten Thousand Paths. The thought occurred to him that the existence of three Heavenly Peaches might have been fate.

Following the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme also finished circulating her qi.

"Thank you, Young Cult Leader," she said.

For her, who was striving to become stronger, the effects of the Heavenly Peach were a great help. On top of that, she gained a healthier body and firmer skin.

Geom Mugeuk turned to face her, his expression bright. "I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn't left the Cult this time, how would I have obtained such a miraculous encounter? This is all thanks to you, Sword Supreme."

The Flower Sword Supreme stared at him without a word. What could she possibly say to him when he insisted on giving her the credit for this as well? Instead, she turned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. "Did you hear that? You should be grateful to me."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon touched his cheek. "My skin really does feel better."

Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and angled it to reflect the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's face. "Is that all? Look here. Your wrinkles have smoothed out a lot too."

"Really? It's not just my imagination?"

"Later, when you eat the Immortal Stalactite Moss, your skin will put the Poison King's to shame. What does age matter? As long as your heart is young and your body is healthy, that's all that matters," Geom Mugeuk said, hyping him up as much as possible in front of the Flower Sword Supreme.

There were no words more pleasing than being told he looked younger, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn't hide his smile.

Please, live a long and youthful life.

Geom Mugeuk walked back toward the hole they had entered through and started crawling back. "Well then, let's go. How was it? Worth crawling on the floor, wasn't it?"

From behind, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grumbled for show. "I still hate crawling!"

Normally, he would have suggested breaking down the wall and walking out, but for some reason, he obediently crawled through.

After leaving that hidden sanctuary, Geom Mugeuk once again took the lead, heading back the way they came. "This time, I have a good feeling about this way!"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon followed close behind. "We ate a Heavenly Peach thanks to that intuition, so we have to follow."

And so, the two Demon Supremes once again trailed after Geom Mugeuk.

Outside, the scene from hell was still unfolding. The screams echoing from all directions were a stark reminder that they had returned to reality.

After walking for some time, they came upon two martial artists facing off with their swords drawn. Their auras were extraordinary, and indeed, they were figures worthy of such a presence.

One was the Blue Sky Double Axe, who had made a name for himself in the Hunan region with a single axe. The other was the Weird Blood Blade, a master from Jiangxi drawn here by rumors of a treasure map. As fate would have it, two masters of similar skill had run into each other.

The aura emanating from the two men saturated the air. They knew each other well, so neither made a careless move.

"I thought you'd be the one I'd have to fight at the very end," the Blue Sky Double Axe said, holding both himself and his opponent in high regard. He wanted to avoid this fight.

The Weird Blood Blade, on the other hand, intended to settle things here and now. He reasoned that the narrow passage gave him an advantage over a man who wielded a large axe. "If we have to fight eventually, is there any need to postpone it?"

Just as the tension reached a point where a blow could be struck at any moment, a voice interrupted them.

"If you're not going to fight… would you two mind letting us pass through first?"

The two men were startled. Pass through where? Here? Here, where the Blue Sky Double Axe and the Weird Blood Blade were pointing their blades at each other, ready to kill? In this narrow passage, no less?

Just as they were thinking, No way, someone began walking toward them. Truly, both men couldn't help but think, Is this guy crazy? However, the crazy guy really did walk right between them. He even offered a greeting as he passed between the flashing sword and axe blades. "My, you're working hard."

The two martial artists were dumbfounded, so much so that they couldn't even laugh.

If that wasn't bad enough, the crazy guy wasn't alone. An eye-catching woman followed behind him, and finally, an old man carrying something large on his back passed by, constantly stroking his own cheek. These strange people didn't even give them a single glance.

While the trio passed by one after another, the two men couldn't move. A careless action would create an opening for their opponent. Moreover, if those crazy people decided to attack them together, it could lead to an even bigger problem.

"What was that just now?"

"They must have gone crazy from fear."

Of course, contrary to their words, they could feel that those people were no ordinary figures, but whether they were crazy or true masters, the tension of their once-in-a-lifetime battle had completely dissipated. Without either being the first to move, the two men slowly sheathed their weapons and disappeared in opposite directions.

Geom Mugeuk continued onward, the two Demon Supremes following him with torches to light the way. Caves were visible in all directions. The path had been complex until now, but this area was a true maze. A single space could have up to ten openings, and entering one led to another five or six branching paths, and all the passages were like that.

The Demon Supremes could clearly see why this place was called the cave of death. Furthermore, the paths in this section were designed to loop around, meaning anyone who didn't know the way would simply wander in circles.

"Even someone who knows the way could get lost here," the Flower Sword Supreme murmured.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded in agreement, sweating profusely. Even the miracle herbs couldn't dispel the suffocating feeling of being in this narrow place.

Geom Mugeuk asked mysteriously, "So, if someone were to hide, wouldn't they hide around here?"

The two Demon Supremes exchanged a knowing glance. They could tell what Geom Mugeuk was thinking. He intended to find the person with the treasure map right here. He had mentioned earlier that the person might have intentionally entered the Cave of Ten Thousand Paths, and it was clear he had his suspicions.

Following him, they arrived at a place where a new scene unfolded, a breath of fresh air for the suffocating Blood Heaven Blade Demon. A magnificent spectacle created by time spread out before their eyes.

A space as large as a plaza was filled with giant stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites, grown long like the fangs of a beast, hung from the ceiling, while stalagmites soared up to meet them. Among them, some were on the verge of touching, looking as if the sky and the earth were coming together.

DRIP, DRIP, DRIP…

The sound of water droplets falling from the stalactites echoed, breaking the silence.

Geom Mugeuk, who had been gazing at the cavern, began to walk into the mysterious area. "This seems like a place where something good might happen, don't you think?"