Chapter v10c10

“Number 46!”

It was Wijicheon’s turn. He stared at his hand, where a dark, round pill lay. He fidgeted with a silver cylinder carefully kept in his pocket, seeking comfort from his anxiety by continuously touching the cylinder.

The events of that day were vivid in his mind as if they happened today, buzzing in his ears.

“Take this.”

That day, at that place, someone suddenly extended something towards him. What was handed to him was a pill.

“What is this?”

Wijicheon, still dazed, managed to compose himself to speak.

“It’s a Hoshimhwan (Protective Heart Pill). As the name suggests, it’s a pill to safeguard the heart, specially formulated to withstand the environment inside Phantom Demon Cave for a while. You’ll understand once you experience it. Upon entering, you’ll find this pill absolutely necessary. Make sure to consume it as soon as you enter. And remember, the effect of the pill lasts only for an hour, so make sure to conclude all matters within that time. Don’t forget! The effect lasts for only an hour! Failing to remember that the pill’s effect disappears after an hour could lead to severe disappointment. You must finish your tasks before then.”

“Is such a thing necessary? For that Phantom Demon Cave…?”

It seemed to surpass his imagination.

“Indeed, I haven’t entered myself, only heard about it, but I’m certain. That place isn’t safe just by being careful.”

“What should I do, then?”

Gathering as much information as possible was advantageous for him. It was clear that it would significantly lessen the constraints on his actions. Wijicheon was desperate.

“The heart!”

“Pardon?”

“It’s the heart I mentioned.”

“Uhh…”

When speaking, don’t cut off your head and waist so you can distinguish the identity. A mutilated corpse, with its head and legs severed, making it impossible to identify, was undesirable.

“That’s all I heard. Just remember that.”

He emphasized again.

“Make sure to take the pill the moment you enter! It’s imperative!”

Now was the time to take that pill.

Entering the Phantom Demon Cave

The inside of the Phantom Demon Cave was wider than expected.

At the end of the narrow path leading from the entrance was a sizeable open plaza. There, another Master was waiting.

Torches were embedded on both sides of the plaza, preventing darkness from being felt. Walking further into the plaza revealed several paths branching off. There were eight in total, each leading to a door.

“Choose a path to enter!”

The test administrator instructed. It appeared they had to choose one of these paths to proceed. As Bi Ryu Yeon pondered which path to take, Jang Hong’s words revisited his mind, suddenly igniting a sense of defiance within him.

“The fourth one!”

Bi Ryu Yeon declared.

Without any objections, the test administrator opened the fourth door for him. Beyond it lay deep darkness unfathomable in depth. Bi Ryu Yeon stepped into it without hesitation.

Creeeak! Thud!

As the door closed, all traces of light vanished. Darkness enveloped Bi Ryu Yeon completely.

“Huh?”

Only darkness existed after the light disappeared. There was no sight of any light-emitting object in any direction. It felt as though the light was fully blocked by some walls. The inside of the branching path was so dark that it was impossible to distinguish up from down, left from right. If he hadn’t trained to see objects in the dark, he would have been as helpless as a blind person.

“What’s that smell?”

An exceptionally unique fragrance wafted through the entirety of the Phantom Demon Cave. The scent, not easily described in words, had a soothing effect on the body.

“Sniff, sniff! It doesn’t seem like poison!”

Although the aroma’s purpose wasn’t clear, at least it didn’t seem toxic. There was no immediate discomfort breathing it in, but it was certain that the smell wasn’t merely to mask the cave’s scent. Its origin was inscrutable, with the fragrance enveloping his path ahead like a fog. It was likely that others were having a similar experience.

“Standing still only leads to stagnation.”

Bi Ryu Yeon walked forward without hesitation. For a while, there was no sign of any sudden, life-threatening traps or hidden mechanisms. The path was so uneventful that it bordered on tedium.

“What on earth is in here?”

For now, not even Bi Ryu Yeon could determine the answer.

“Damn it, why can’t I see anything?”

Bi Ryu Yeon grumbled with discontentment as he walked forth.

“Was the oil too precious? So stingy…”

Being frugal with one’s own money was one thing, but there’s no need to be stingy with others’ money – that was Bi Ryu Yeon’s philosophy. But this time, he felt it was excessively miserly because the darkness inside the cave was impenetrable. While he wasn’t afraid of the dark, having light was undoubtedly preferable. Fortunately, his excellent vision allowed him to distinguish objects without relying on light.

Bi Ryu Yeon stood at a crossroad between two paths. As expected, it seemed to be a maze. One path had a steep incline and looked treacherous, while the other was gentle and smooth.

“Which way will earn me praise for choosing wisely?”

Bi Ryu Yeon paused to consider. However, his contemplation was short-lived. His disdain for the proud members of esteemed sects stemmed from their avoidance of hardship, trial, and loneliness. They sought ways to circumvent rather than face challenges.

What was so frightening?

Injury? Harm? Separation? Or death?

Trials were a systematic way to expose the challenger to artificial and deliberate danger. That couldn’t be changed. So one must at least have the guts to confront and break through them. But…

“Safety first, above all!”

Following his principle that it was better to walk on a smooth path rather than a rough one, Bi Ryu Yeon unhesitatingly chose the easier path.

His tendency to act impulsively was not a good habit. There was a saying about tapping a stone bridge before crossing it; his actions were akin to crossing a bridge blindfolded.

“All participants have entered.”

Upon hearing Ice Sword’s report, Majinga nodded.

“Now all we can do is hope they finish the test safely.”

Majinga commented.

“What will they see in there?”

Ice Sword knew what Phantom Demon Cave was about, having heard descriptions, but had never experienced it personally. So what people would face inside was unknown to him as well.

“They might see the most terrifying thing in this world or endure the most heartbreaking event. Fear might swallow them whole. Among them, there might be people who become insane from the shock.”

Ice Sword remembered seeing such a person when he visited the medicine hall. What could they have seen inside…? Only those who experienced it could answer.

“Everything depends on their mental strength and will. There’s nothing more we can say but encourage them to stay strong.”

Majinga stood up, his martial robe fluttering in the wind.

“Close the gate!”

Following Majinga’s command, the doors to the Phantom Demon Cave shut tight.

“Now, we wait. Finding the exit is up to them.”

“Why are you walking so hurriedly like someone desperate for a toilet?”

“…?”

Bi Ryu Yeon examined the face of the person obstructing his path.

‘Hold on? Haven’t I seen this person before?’

It was a face he had seen quite often…

“You… You’re!”

As he scrutinized the person’s face, Bi Ryu Yeon’s eyes bulged with recognition. Any hint of relaxed demeanor vanished from Bi Ryu Yeon’s face. For the first time, the man who had never felt tension was on high alert, warily bracing himself.