Chapter 203: Mudo Mountain Range. (1)

Mount Wu Dong Range. (1)

Five days.

This is the time Gu Huibi spent in the underground prison of the Main Palace.

During the past days, Gu Huibi had to endure time that was pathetically incompetent.

Due to the Palace Lord’s schemes, his internal energy still wouldn’t move.

Because of that, there was nothing Gu Huibi, whose frail body had lost all internal energy, could do.

Those aspects brought about a great sense of deprivation for Gu Huibi.

Thump-

Thump-

A strange sound echoing from the direction of the iron bars.

At the sound that had been repeating since last night, Elder Muk, who was sitting leaning against the wall, finally shouted.

“Ah, hey, just stay still!”

Thump…. Thump…..

The sound stopped at Elder Muk’s shout.

The reason for the sound was Gu Huibi himself.

It was the sound made because Gu Huibi kept banging his head against the iron bars.

“Do you think those bars will bend just because you keep doing that with your head? It’s noisy, so just stay still.”

At Elder Muk’s words, Gu Huibi, who was radiating gloom, turned his head with a clatter.

His appearance was that of someone half-ruined.

In just five days.

Seeing that, Elder Muk chuckled heartily.

“You look terrible. Anyone would think you were the one being tortured, not me.”

“Why are you bothering me?”

“If you don’t want to hear this, sit still. Or just lie down and sleep it off.”

Gu Huibi wasn’t even sleeping, let alone eating the meals provided.

Of course, Elder Muk ate up all the leftover food deliciously.

“…Won’t they bend someday?”

“Do you really think a rock will break if you hit it with an egg? A descendant of a prestigious family spouting such ridiculous nonsense.”

He seemed relatively fine when I first saw him.

What could have made him like this?

“What exactly is troubling you so much?”

“It’s strange if I am normal after being captured and thrown in jail.”

“Hah, girl, it’s too obvious that’s not why you’re in this state. Stop spewing nonsense.”

The old man is an expert in these matters.

Reading situations.

Gauging atmospheres.

Detecting emotions hidden in voices.

The old man could confidently say he did these things better than anyone else in the world.

Lies wouldn’t work on the old man, who could extract dozens of pieces of information even from a passing stray dog.

Watching Gu Huibi whimpering, Elder Muk finally delivered a decisive blow.

“Is it that upsetting that the bead isn’t obeying you?”

“…”

“Who exactly were you watching to fall apart like this because you can’t see?”

Gu Huibi offered no response to the old man’s words.

In reality, the Heavenly Road Bead didn’t activate with Gu Huibi’s touch.

The bead, which branded its owner by feeding on blood and used the owner’s internal energy as fuel.

The moment Gu Huibi lost his internal energy, it had turned into just an ordinary rolling bead.

Because of that, Gu Huibi could no longer check on his younger brother’s condition daily using the Heavenly Road Bead.

‘…This won’t do.’

Not being able to see wasn’t the problem.

Well, it was a problem, but…

That wasn’t the important part.

The problem was if Gu Yangcheon found out about the bead, and worse, learned how to use it.

‘Even if, by some slim chance, the location or situation here becomes known…’

The important thing is that this incident doesn’t cause Gu Yangcheon to recklessly come here.

I hope he doesn’t come trying to save me just because of the distance he usually keeps.

I hope Gu Yangcheon’s youthful hotheadedness doesn’t create such a situation.

Gu Huibi kept wishing for it.

Because his brother shouldn’t be put in danger because of him.

“Stop staring at the bead and put it away. It’ll be trouble if they notice.”

At Elder Muk’s words, Gu Huibi hid the bead again.

Even while listening, there was still something puzzling.

‘What on earth is that old man?’

During the past few days Elder Muk had stayed here, he was one of the most inexplicable things to Gu Huibi.

The fact that he was alone in this prison before Gu Huibi arrived.

And how he acted nonchalantly, as if he could see everything, despite being blind.

No matter how he looked at it, he was definitely not an ordinary old man.

On the second day, looking at the bead Gu Huibi possessed, Elder Muk said:

-So the Heavenly Road Bead, said to have disappeared from the Meng, was with the Gu family. That explains why you wouldn’t know.

Not only did he know top-secret information casually,

-If the bead is there, does that mean Lord Gunyeom Hancheol is also there?

He casually blurted out information that only a few people, including the family head, would know.

Gu Huibi pretended not to know in response, but…

-Oh… I see. It feels like all my frustration has been cleared, thank you.

Even though Gu Huibi must have said he didn’t know, the old man smiled and seemed pleased, as if Gu Huibi’s reaction was the correct answer.

‘He’s definitely… a crazy old man.’

No matter how you looked at it, he wasn’t normal.

However, that didn’t mean he could ignore the old man.

He was definitely an old man who possessed something.

Gu Huibi’s intuition told him so.

Gu Huibi, forcing his thoughts elsewhere, looked at the window and only sighed.

It was the same for Gu Yangcheon and the old man behind him.

In the end, the biggest problem was himself.

‘I need to know the reason.’

Gu Huibi was curious.

The reason why the Palace Lord went out of his way to capture him and throw him in here.

Even after several days, Gu Huibi couldn’t guess why.

It made sense, because as far as Gu Huibi remembered, the Palace Lord…

Hadn’t appeared since the battle front.

Gu Huibi, left in the prison to the point of neglect,

Still didn’t know the reason he was brought here.

As he kept turning the question over in his mind,

Elder Muk spoke to Gu Huibi from behind.

“Even so, if you act like a dog needing to pee, will you figure anything out?”

“Elder Muk, you’re quite nonchalant in contrast.”

“Well, I’ve been here for quite a while. Kkuhuhu.”

Seeing that, Gu Huibi sighed inwardly and closed his eyes again.

Just as he was about to fall back into his thoughts,

Tsk.

“They’re here.”

Elder Muk’s voice was heard, clicking his tongue.

Wondering what that meant, Gu Huibi tried to ask Elder Muk, but…

Gu Huibi’s shoulders trembled slightly at the aura felt beyond the iron bars, across the massive door.

This was an instinctively felt sense of fear.

Screeeech-

The door opened and someone entered.

One was an old, fierce-looking man covered in age spots;

The other was a face Gu Huibi knew.

How could he forget?

He was the very person who dragged him here.

The Black Night Palace Lord.

One of the Eight Demonic Sovereigns, the master of the Black Night Palace, had appeared.

“You’re awake.”

The Palace Lord calmly met Gu Huibi’s glare and spoke.

“You kept me locked up for days, of course I’d wake up.”

Gu Huibi, suppressing his fear, said to the Palace Lord with a sneer.

At this, one of the Palace Lord’s eyebrows shot up.

“Sword Phoenix. Your mouth is as foul as they say. Well, your surname has always been like that.”

As the Palace Lord slowly approached,

Gu Huibi felt his body tremble slightly.

However, not wanting to show such a state outwardly, he gritted his teeth and endured.

“Why did you drag me here?”

Gu Huibi spat it out like a growl, but the Palace Lord looked at Elder Muk instead of Gu Huibi.

“Have you decided to speak now?”

The Palace Lord’s emotionless voice was somehow chilling.

It was natural for a martial artist who had reached a certain level to exude an unfathomable presence, but…

For some reason, the Black Night Palace Lord before him felt even more unfathomable than that.

In response to the Palace Lord’s question, Elder Muk chuckled.

“Didn’t I tell you, just kill me instead.”

“I can’t do that. You are my hope.”

“It’s not proper for a young man to say such creepy things.”

“It seems you still have hope.”

At the Palace Lord’s words, Elder Muk didn’t reply and simply leaned his body deeper against the wall.

“That’s why you don’t take your own life.”

“Are you telling me to bite my tongue and die? You brat, you have absolutely no respect for elders.”

As Elder Muk spoke with a hearty laugh, the Palace Lord didn’t continue the conversation.

He simply glanced once at the old man beside him.

Then, the old man approached and placed his hand on the iron bars.

Surprisingly, with a ‘Clank!’ sound from the door’s direction, the door opened on its own.

“Come out.”

Although it wasn’t directed at anyone specific,

Gu Huibi knew those words were meant for him.

Gritting his teeth.

Gu Huibi glared at the Black Night Palace Lord, gnashing his teeth.

“I’m asking why you brought me here.”

The Palace Lord calmly stared at Gu Huibi. Into his deep eyes, which seemed filled with darkness.

Gu Huibi felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

The Palace Lord, who had been quietly observing Gu Huibi, finally spoke.

“Because you are needed.”

“…Needed for what?”

“Because you are needed by the Great One.”

The Great One?

Does one of the absolute rulers of the Demonic Sects, known as the Eight Demonic Sovereigns, have someone they call that?

“This Palace Lord engaging in such trivial conversation with you is also for that reason, as is overlooking your reckless words without killing you despite knowing them.”

So do not provoke my patience any further.

Although the last words weren’t spoken, Gu Huibi somehow felt the Palace Lord had meant them.

“Follow me.”

With that, the Palace Lord turned his back.

What would happen if he didn’t follow?

Since his body had no internal energy left, the Palace Lord could easily drag him away if he wished.

The Palace Lord gave Gu Huibi two choices: to be dragged forcibly,

Or to follow willingly.

He was urging him to walk willingly into the slaughterhouse, knowing it lay ahead.

It was doubtful if there were even choices to begin with. From behind Gu Huibi, who was glaring at the Palace Lord’s back,

Elder Muk spoke in a subtle voice.

“Are you alright?”

Halt.

At Elder Muk’s words, the Palace Lord, who had been walking slowly, stopped.

“You don’t look well.”

‘Not well?’

Gu Huibi observed the Palace Lord’s condition at Elder Muk’s words, but…

To her eyes, there seemed to be no major issue. From what aspect did he see that?

“Did you get beaten somewhere? If you were tired, you should have rested. You look quite ill.”

Elder Muk spoke teasingly, but the Palace Lord turned his head forward again.

Then, ignoring Elder Muk’s words, the Palace Lord resumed walking.

Seeing that, Gu Huibi finally followed the Palace Lord, gnashing his teeth.

It was truly a long corridor.

Like in the prison, it was a building that almost completely blocked out light.

Even while following the Palace Lord with his back straight,

Gu Huibi recalled what Elder Muk had said.

-You don’t look well.

-Did you get beaten somewhere?

The Palace Lord neither confirmed nor denied this.

However, anyone present could tell that the silence then was an affirmation.

‘No way.’

Only then could Gu Huibi recall that if the Palace Lord was unwell, the reason must be the decisive battle with Elder Yi.

Elder Yi, who had ultimately suffered a fatal injury from the Palace Lord’s power and collapsed.

Visually, it seemed the Palace Lord had crushed Elder Yi with overwhelming force, but…

It seemed that wasn’t the case in reality.

‘If so, the reason he hadn’t appeared before my eyes for days…’

Did he need rest to be able to walk around pretending to be fine?

It was just a guess prompted by Elder Muk’s words, but Gu Huibi truly hoped so.

That way, Elder Yi’s sacrifice wouldn’t be meaningless.

And a sliver of possibility would arise.

‘Elder Yi…’

At the time, Elder Yi had sustained injuries so critical he was on the brink of life and death.

It was possible he might not even be on this earth now.

Gu Huibi desperately hoped Elder Yi was alive.

Chewing on his lip as he walked for a bit.

Another door appeared in the distance.

Similar to the door seen in the prison, but slightly larger.

And darker.

And.

“…!”

It was a maddeningly chilling door.

“…Hoho.”

Seeing Gu Huibi stop dead in his tracks, his face pale as chalk, the Palace Lord…

Showed a reaction mixed with admiration.

“They say you’re the best among the later disciples; you certainly have good instincts. To feel this.”

Despite the Palace Lord’s words, Gu Huibi couldn’t say anything.

What lay beyond that door?

It was a feeling incomparable to facing the Palace Lord, something that couldn’t be properly described.

Thump.

Just by facing the door, Gu Huibi’s legs gave out, and he collapsed.

Trembling lips.

Shaky vision.

Even his ragged breathing.

Gu Huibi didn’t know why this was happening, but…

He could clearly tell that the emotion he was feeling now was fear.

The Palace Lord, watching Gu Huibi stiffen, made a short gesture.

Then, Gu Huibi’s body floated up.

With the Palace Lord’s level of cultivation, Gu Huibi’s body, unable to use even a speck of internal energy, could easily be lifted.

Gu Huibi tried to struggle against it, but his body, already stiffened, wouldn’t obey.

“Since you seem to have good instincts, Sword Phoenix, perhaps you too might come to know His Greatness.”

“Greatness…?”

Cold sweat from fear trickled down Gu Huibi’s cheeks, down his chin, dripping drop by drop.

“Yes, reverence for a being of a different caliber. You should be able to feel it.”

Is it my imagination?

The slight smile appearing on the Palace Lord’s face, which seemed utterly emotionless.

To Gu Huibi, it clearly bordered on madness.

“If you can realize that, you too can joyfully become a part of Him.”

A madness so vast it filled the dark, black pupils completely.

The Palace Lord led Gu Huibi slowly towards the door.

The door was embedded with purple jewels.

The Palace Lord reached out towards it.

Clank.

Rumble!

Unidentifiable sounds came from the door.

Shortly after the sounds ended, the Palace Lord put force into his hand and opened the door.

The inside of the door was nothing but darkness, invisible.

However, Gu Huibi knew.

That something lay beyond that darkness.

The fear felt in his body.

The darkness filling the surroundings, all of it must be because of something beyond.

“Please, may your flame make Him shine even brighter.”

Whoosh!

A gust of wind blew momentarily, and Gu Huibi’s body was thrown beyond the door.

“Kkuh…!”

Gu Huibi’s body, thrown inside, rolled on the floor.

Despite consistently undergoing physical training without fail. Was it not just his internal energy that was blocked?

He couldn’t even properly control his own body.

Gu Huibi, barely managing to get into position and trying to stand up,

Felt something approaching him.

Thump.

It was the sound of small, faint footsteps.

The darkness filling the surroundings stole even the view an inch ahead, but…

Thanks to that, other senses for perceiving the surroundings sharpened.

Thump.

As the footsteps grew closer, Gu Huibi’s body began to tremble more.

This was close to instinct.

The instinctive fear felt upon encountering an unknown entity.

Flare!

When the footsteps came right up close.

As if waiting, flames erupted in the room.

The flames were very small, but they were purple,

And those small flames were bright enough to illuminate the entire room.

Gu Huibi knew the entity before him had conjured those flames.

Gu Huibi forced his creaking head up to look at the entity before him.

“…!”

It was a child.

Deeply settled black hair.

Naked, wearing nothing, and perhaps having grown up malnourished, its body was so thin it seemed mere bones remained.

Gu Huibi couldn’t help but be surprised seeing such a child.

That the source of the presence ringing alarm bells in his instincts was this small child.

And the Palace Lord’s talk about a being of a different caliber.

None of that mattered to Gu Huibi now.

What mattered was.

The child, holding a purple flame in one hand to light the way, lifted its hair to look at Gu Huibi, and its face…

Looked exactly like someone Gu Huibi knew.

The child approached the astonished Gu Huibi and reached out a hand.

Just as Gu Huibi flinched, trying to back away,

“Book.”

The child said to Gu Huibi.

“…What?”

“Book.”

The child kept repeating the single word.

Only then could Gu Huibi see that the child held a worn-out book in its hand.

---

Around the time Gu Huibi was facing the unknown entity.

Someone arrived at the fog-covered Mount Wu Dong Range.

“…Damn, I really can’t see a thing.”

A boy wearing fierce-looking red martial attire.

Gu Yangcheon scowled as he looked at the area blanketed in fog.

Because there was much more fog than expected.

Gu Yangcheon surveyed the mountain range, then turned around and shouted at someone.

“Ah, I told you! Why did you insist it was left! Right was correct!”

“…”

“If I had listened to you, it would have taken twice as long. You know?”

“…Sorry.”

The person who had appeared with Gu Yangcheon, who should have come alone.

A beautiful person with cyan and white hair, standing while avoiding eye contact as if apologizing.

“Still… if we had gone left, it would have been closer…”

“…I’m going crazy.”

It was Namgung Bi-ah.