Chapter v10c19: The Previous Encounter

– Deep in the Mountains

“Where are we?”

“Not sure, but it seems we’re alive.”

The place they had burst into after breaking through the wall was a new cave.

The end of their life-threatening challenge was yet another unfamiliar cave. Though they were sick of caves by now, life rarely goes as planned.

Bi Ryu Yeon looked around the new cave.

“One thing is certain: this isn’t the Phantom Demon Cave.”

While it was still a cave, there were subtle differences from the Phantom Demon Cave. For one, the surface of this cave was smoother and more humid. Moreover, while the Phantom Demon Cave had a strong artificial smell, this place had a natural scent. If someone were to bet, Bi Ryu Yeon would confidently wager his entire fortune that they were no longer in the Phantom Demon Cave.

“So, where exactly are we?”

If this place was entirely different from where they had been, it could be a cause for concern. While they could hope for rescue in the Phantom Demon Cave, being in an unknown and strange place made it difficult to expect a rescue team. It was not an exaggeration to say they were now several steps further away from being rescued. This thought sent a chill through her body, and a sense of unease began to grow in her heart again.

“Hehehe! Hahaha!”

Had he gone mad due to the extreme situation?

From her perspective, Bi Ryu Yeon’s laughter seemed out of place in such a desperate situation. The sudden laughter made Na Yerin shudder momentarily. After all, she was still a woman.

“Did something go wrong?”

She struggled to suppress her rising anxiety and tried to regain her composure.

“We might have hit the jackpot.”

Bi Ryu Yeon said with a broad smile.

“Jackpot?”

From her standpoint, she couldn’t understand Bi Ryu Yeon’s words at all. She glanced at him again, trying to assess his mental state. Outwardly, he still seemed sane, though she wondered how long that would last.

“What kind of jackpot could there be in this eerie, cold cave?”

“Oh, come on! You shouldn’t be so negative about everything. Haven’t you read stories like ‘Tales of the Martial World’? They often talk about legendary masters hiding treasures and extraordinary opportunities in deep caves! We might be witnessing one of those rare, almost impossible events today. It’s a once-in-a-thousand-years kind of thing, isn’t that exciting?”

Of course, Na Yerin wasn’t excited at all. In fact, she was more shocked than awed. Her shock wasn’t about the possibility of finding treasure but about Bi Ryu Yeon’s bizarre and eccentric way of thinking.

‘Still an enigma!’

That was Na Yerin’s assessment of Bi Ryu Yeon. He was still lost in his own world.

“There might even be a note saying, ‘Congratulations! You’ve passed my test! I acknowledge your abilities and leave my legacy and treasures here. Use them wisely for the martial world!'”

Bi Ryu Yeon said, mixing exaggerated gestures like an opera actor. He seemed completely absorbed in his own world.

“That must be the legacy of a legendary martial artist from a thousand years ago?”

Despite the content of her words, her voice lacked any excitement. It was clearly sarcastic, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Of course.”

“And surely there will be legendary martial arts manuals and miraculous elixirs that can make one invincible?”

Na Yerin’s tone remained monotonous.

“Absolutely! And most importantly, there will be money, money, money… The great senior must have left behind a vast amount of gold and silver treasures for his juniors. He would have prepared everything to ensure that his juniors wouldn’t starve. The glorious golden light would have remained unchanged for a thousand years, even today!”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s dreamy eyes were filled with visions of dazzling golden treasures. He was lost in a world of dreams, fantasies, and wild speculations. He was pushing reality into a single, definitive conclusion. But life wasn’t that simple. Life contained countless variables.

Just because Bi Ryu Yeon wished for something with all his heart didn’t mean it would materialize before him. The harsh reality of the world was a barrier that existed.

His words were so earnest and passionate that Na Yerin didn’t bother to argue. She suddenly felt that it would be a waste of time.

“Gold, jade, ruby, agate, cat’s eye, pearl, crystal, diamond, amethyst, money, money, money…”

Humming a tune about his imagined treasures, Bi Ryu Yeon walked forward with a light step. Na Yerin had no choice but to follow his buoyant steps. Despite surviving on just a few Bigeokdan for ten days, Bi Ryu Yeon was full of energy. She was curious about the source of his strength but decided not to ask. It seemed wiser that way. Her choice was prudent.

“But where exactly are we?”

Na Yerin asked as they walked, relying on the light from her precious sword.

“I can only guarantee that this isn’t the Phantom Demon Cave where we were buried. The humidity and temperature are too different from before.”

As he said, the cave was damp and cold, unlike the previous one.

“This cave seems to be a natural formation rather than an artificial one.”

Bi Ryu Yeon said, carefully observing their surroundings. Na Yerin touched one side of the cave wall and made a puzzled expression. When her jade-like fingers brushed the wall, a transparent liquid stuck to her fingertips. It was a sticky, slippery mucus.

Slick!

When she rubbed the mucus between her fingers, she felt a slippery sensation.

“What is this?”

Her eyes were filled with curiosity.

“There isn’t enough information to answer that question right now.”

“That’s true!”

Though the answer was simple, her intuition and foresight were sending strong warning signals. Her foresight whispered to her,

‘Don’t just pass this by carelessly!’

“Shall we keep walking?”

They couldn’t stop now due to their anxiety. The dark cave was still long and deep. Conveniently, the path behind them was blocked, leaving only one way forward. They had no choice. Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin continued walking, paying close attention to their surroundings.

Even in the darkness, the cave seemed endless. It was irregular and chaotic. However, the path they were on was anything but ordinary. Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin felt as if they were walking on an infinite spiral. But all they could do was keep walking on this dark spiral. Sitting still wouldn’t solve anything.

“There is no wind.”

If there was no wind, it was likely that the exit was blocked. In that case, they had no choice but to rely on their instincts to find their way.

They left their fate to the heavens…

**Melody Flowing Between the Rivers of Stars**

**Day 13 of Being Buried!**

Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin were walking through the cave, using the light from the precious sword Hansang Okryeong as their lantern.

It was not a comfortable journey.

The two had been walking for quite some time. The cave’s slope was extremely erratic. The path would suddenly descend steeply, then rise sharply again, repeating this pattern. It was as if they were following a snake’s winding path. The cave was irregular in every direction. The ups and downs continued endlessly, and it was a complex maze.

“Even if someone tried to create this on purpose, it would be too bothersome. If this is nature’s work, nature certainly wouldn’t be praised as a skilled miner.”

Bi Ryu Yeon grumbled.

“Indeed.”

Na Yerin had to agree. The cave’s trajectory was so irregular, uncomfortable to walk, and utterly chaotic.

Still, they kept walking. They needed to reach some destination. A random midpoint in the cave meant nothing to them.

“Let’s rest here for today and continue searching for a way out tomorrow.”

Bi Ryu Yeon suggested. He had naturally taken the lead in this journey. Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin sat down. They sheathed the sword they were using as the world’s most expensive lantern. They wanted to be enveloped in darkness for a while.

Then something amazing happened. Na Yerin’s eyes widened. Stars began to appear one by one in the dark underground space. At first, she thought it was an optical illusion. But it wasn’t. Blue stars appeared on the cave walls, ceiling, and even the floor. It was like a night sky filled with the Milky Way. It was a beautiful and moving sight.

The scene, as if capturing the night sky full of stars, was incredibly beautiful. The stars shining underground were radiant and serene, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The fact that the cave’s rocks contained minerals that glowed in the dark didn’t matter to them. The beauty alone was enough.

“You can only see the true beauty when the light disappears.”

Na Yerin, sitting next to Bi Ryu Yeon, murmured as she gazed at the stars.

Beauty!

If one were to summarize the scene of Na Yerin looking at the stars in one word, it would be that. Bi Ryu Yeon thought so. While the stars shining in the underground darkness were beautiful, Na Yerin within that scene was even more beautiful.

The brilliance, brightness, and serenity of the stars seemed to be absorbed into her. She was more beautiful than the essence of all the stars in the underground night sky. Her beauty was equally noble under the celestial stars and the underground stars.

Suddenly, Bi Ryu Yeon felt very happy. He was filled with a spontaneous joy he couldn’t contain. He picked up the black zither lying next to him and placed it on his lap.

“Now, in honor of the beautifully shining night sky deep underground and the beauty of Miss Na Yerin, I will play a tune.”

Bi Ryu Yeon bowed to his sole audience.

“I can’t believe it.”

Na Yerin said in amazement. She couldn’t believe that Bi Ryu Yeon could play the zither. She had only seen him use it to hit people. But she had to admit that it was a biased assessment of Bi Ryu Yeon.

Ding!

Bi Ryu Yeon’s fingers began to dance on the zither strings.

A beautiful melody flowed through the underground night sky like the Milky Way. The music had a special power to melt a cold woman’s heart. It was the first time Bi Ryu Yeon had seriously played the zither for someone. His ten fingers danced on the zither as if possessed.

Na Yerin closed her eyes and quietly savored the melody enveloping her. The sweet music made her feel warm and relaxed her tense shoulders. Finally able to calm her frayed nerves, Na Yerin unknowingly leaned her head on Bi Ryu Yeon’s shoulder and drifted into sleep. Feeling the weight and softness on his shoulder, Bi Ryu Yeon turned to look at her. He smiled quietly but continued to focus on playing the zither.

The blue stars shining underground were still beautiful. Bi Ryu Yeon continued to play the zither carefully, hoping she could keep listening even in her dreams.

The gentle melody continued to flow between the rivers of stars.

**Day 15 of Being Buried!**

“It’s already been fifteen days since he went missing!”

Yong Cheon Myeong said, closely observing Maha Ryeong’s expression. He deliberately used the word “missing” instead of “dead.”

“Indeed.”

Maha Ryeong replied curtly.

“The longer it takes, the lower their chances of survival. Some people already consider their deaths a certainty.”

“Is that so?”

Maha Ryeong responded indifferently. Yong Cheon Myeong’s face slightly frowned at her continued curt replies.

“Why do I feel like your attitude towards me has become colder since the Phantom Demon Cave incident? Is that just my imagination?”

Maha Ryeong flinched at Yong Cheon Myeong’s question but quickly returned to her usual curt demeanor.

“It’s your imagination! There’s nothing like that.”

Despite her words, Yong Cheon Myeong could feel it.

‘What could she be dissatisfied with?’

He felt he had no reason to be treated coldly without cause.

‘Why is he prying so much?’

Maha Ryeong couldn’t tell Yong Cheon Myeong the truth. That day in the Phantom Demon Cave, she had also seen the shadow in her heart.

At first, it was a mass of flesh. Bulging flesh emerged from her entire body. It was so grotesque that it made her scream. Even now, thinking about it made her shudder.

Maha Ryeong glanced at Yong Cheon Myeong’s face.

‘Why did his face appear after that…’

She was even more displeased with that fact. After seeing Yong Cheon Myeong’s illusion following the grotesque flesh, Maha Ryeong couldn’t treat him the same as before. There was another reason, but it was too dreadful to even think about.

She hadn’t treated Yong Cheon Myeong well before, but after that day, it became uncomfortable to even look at his face. As her silence continued, Yong Cheon Myeong, feeling awkward, changed the subject.

“How do you feel now that he’s missing?”

“It’s like a toothache has been relieved. I feel like I can finally sleep peacefully.”

Maha Ryeong replied coldly.

“For someone relieved of a toothache, you seem full of complaints. What exactly are you dissatisfied with?”

If he knew the reason, he wouldn’t feel so frustrated. She seemed to be dissatisfied with everything these days.

“It’s nothing. Please mind your own business.”

Maha Ryeong shouted.

“It doesn’t seem that way…”

Yong Cheon Myeong still looked at her with suspicion.

**Day 21 of Being Buried!**

It felt like nearly three weeks had passed. But without the sun to mark the days, they could only estimate the time based on their body’s sense. However, that had its limits, and they couldn’t be sure how long they had been trapped in the cave. It was just a rough guess…

Despite having almost no preparation and only a handful of Bigeokdan, they were still holding on. In an extreme situation where ordinary people would have starved or frozen to death long ago, Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin were maintaining their strength and holding on. Martial artists had incredibly resilient life forces and skilled survival abilities, making them well-suited to survive in harsh and extreme conditions.

They could endure a day with just a sip of water. And with Bigeokdan, it was even better. That’s why they were still alive after three weeks. But even that was reaching its limit.

“This is the last Bigeokdan. If we don’t find another way in a few days, we’ll starve to death.”

Bi Ryu Yeon said, handing one of the last two Bigeokdan to Na Yerin. Her hand trembled slightly as she took it.

“Do you think we can get out of here alive?”

It was an uncharacteristically weak moment for Na Yerin.

“Of course. Don’t worry. They say well-fed ghosts look better. I want to be a well-fed ghost. I don’t want to die here and become a dull-looking ghost.”

Bi Ryu Yeon encouraged Na Yerin. They continued exploring the cave. All they could do was keep walking in the direction they had chosen. The cave was much longer than they had expected. And the bigger problem was that it was like a maze. They even wondered if they were trapped in a formation. But Na Yerin was confident that wasn’t the case.

“It doesn’t seem like an artificial formation. There’s no pattern or structure that should appear in a man-made formation. It’s definitely a natural formation.”

She had knowledge of formations, so her words carried weight.

“But it’s certainly a hostile and antagonistic structure.”

At that moment,

‘Hmm?’

Bi Ryu Yeon sniffed. There was a fishy smell coming from somewhere. It was definitely a new sensation.

“What is that smell?”

Na Yerin shook her head.

“Nobody’s preparing sashimi here…”

Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin decided to follow the source of the smell. Bi Ryu Yeon’s heart rate increased. Such ominous feelings often had a high accuracy rate. His spine tingled.

The further they walked, the stronger the fishy smell became. Now Bi Ryu Yeon was certain. There was something ahead in the darkness! It could be extremely dangerous. But Bi Ryu Yeon and Na Yerin had no choice.

Their only option was to move forward.

“Doesn’t it feel colder, Ryu Yeon?”

Na Yerin said, noticing the air getting colder and damper. Bi Ryu Yeon, not letting his guard down, replied,

“A change in the environment is good for us. We need to get out of here somehow.”

He had a point. Bi Ryu Yeon’s words hit the mark regarding their current situation. As they continued forward, they saw a red light. They cautiously approached the light. Finally, they saw what it was. It looked like two burning red jewels embedded in the darkness.

Those two red jewels were eyes.

A body covered in black scales, thicker than a tree trunk!

From their position, they couldn’t see its full length. But judging by the size of its head, it was incredibly long.

“Gasp!”

It was the black-scaled serpent from legend, the Mookrin Blood Serpent

Bi Ryu Yeon stared at the Mookrin Blood Serpent without a hint of fear. Avoiding eye contact would be admitting he was weaker. This applied to both animals and humans. Animals were even more sensitive to such things. Bi Ryu Yeon knew the law of survival of the fittest all too well. Losing the stare-down would mean becoming the serpent’s meal.

Bi Ryu Yeon had never lost a staring contest. With a sly smile, he said,

“You look tasty. How dare you nest here, not knowing it’s the entrance to the afterlife? Are you fearless or just stupid?”

The martial world was full of people who would go to great lengths for spiritual creatures. Even if the Mookrin Blood Serpent was a formidable creature on its way to becoming a dragon, there were plenty of experts at Cheonmu Academy who could slice it up with a few sword strikes. The serpent would easily become a health supplement or an internal energy booster. If it were spotted, it would be quickly turned into a valuable resource.

Bi Ryu Yeon was relieved that there were no other disciples around the serpent. The martial world was a ruthless place. Finding such a valuable creature was advantageous if there were fewer people to share it with.

For the Mookrin Blood Serpent, which had lived for nearly a thousand years, being treated as a valuable food source was probably a first.